A/N: Hello! This is my first fanfic on this website. I am an absolute sucker for Pride and Prejudice, so I figured I'd combine it with another thing I like: soulmate AUs. I'm definitely not Jane Austen, but I hope you enjoy it!

Please Note: Character's thoughts are written in italics.

"Oh, Jane, you have saved us!"

The excitement was nearly tangible throughout the halls of Longbourn. Kitty and Lydia flocked to their eldest sister, asking to see her mark. Jane, angel that she was, bore it all with patience. Even the most outrageous display from her family could not dampen her mood...for she had found her soulmate.

Elizabeth smiled happily at Jane, catching her eyes before their youngest sisters could claim her attention once again. Between her mother, Kitty, and Lydia, Jane and Elizabeth had not gotten a single moment to discuss the assembly alone. The other members of the family were happy, of course, but those three were by far the most exuberant. Mr. Bennet had lovingly kissed Jane on the forehead, before retreating to his library to get a moment's peace from his wife's effusions. Mary congratulated Jane and quoted a passage in Fordyce's Sermons on marriage. Lizzy did not yet vie for her favorite sister's attention - she knew they would discuss the day's events while preparing for bed.

With that thought in mind, she allowed her mind to wander off toward the Meryton Assembly. Every mother, including her's, was in an uproar. After all, this would be the first public assembly with Mr. Bingley in attendance. The gentleman was not even in Hertfordshire for an hour before knowledge of his 5,000 pounds a year became public. Naturally, every mother was ready to throw their daughters into his path.

As Lizzy laughed at that thought, she again became aware of her mother's voice. "And you should have seen Lady Lucas's face! As if Mr. Bingley would have gone for her Charlotte. She is so plain! Nothing like my dear Jane."

Elizabeth grimaced at the slight toward her friend. It was not the first time she had made such a comment, nor would it be the last.

Charlotte had actually been the first lady Mr. Bingley danced with. Mrs. Bennet made her displeasure with that quite well-known. His second partner, however, was Jane. Throughout the dance, the pair were looking progressively more flustered. Then, right in the middle of the set, they both simply stopped and stared at each other. With the flow of the dance interrupted, the other couples watched them in perplexity. It was an odd sight. Mr. Bingley had a wide smile on his face. Jane had a similar look, though her face was as red as a tomato.

"Ah...terribly sorry," Mr. Bingley said, not taking his eyes off of Jane. "Please continue with the dance." With that, the couple walked off. Elizabeth had been terribly concerned. As soon as the music started back up, she followed them, reaching for Jane's arm.

"Jane? What happened? Do you feel unwell?"

"No," the girl replied somewhat breathlessly. "No, Lizzy, I am quite well."

Before Elizabeth could reply, Mr. Bingley leaned closer to Jane. "I will go find your father."

Jane nodded, smiling, and the gentleman was off.

"Jane?" Elizabeth repeated, grabbing her sister by the shoulders. "What has happened?"

She was surprised to find her usually serene sister with a bright smile on her face. "Oh, Lizzy," she cried, "Mr. Bingley is my soulmate!"

The news spread quickly after that, mostly perpetrated by their mother. Elizabeth spent the rest of the evening observing the man who was to be her sister's husband.

Her thoughts soured, however, as she remembered his proud friend.

Mr. Darcy was the complete opposite of Mr. Bingley. Whereas Mr. Bingley was charming, jovial, and easy to please, Mr. Darcy was cold, haughty, and clearly thought himself above their company. He had not been at the Assembly for fifteen minutes before everyone in Meryton had taken a dislike to the gentleman, despite his 10,000 pounds a year.

Elizabeth's frown deepened as she recalled his personal insult towards her. Needless to say, Mr. Bingley was in a wonderful mood. When he was not dancing with dear Jane, he was talking amiably with his friend. Lizzy happened to hear one of their conversations while she herself was talking to Mary.

"Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about in a stupid manner."

"Dance? At an assembly such as this? It would be insupportable."

At this, Elizabeth nearly scoffed. Who does he think he is?

After making a rude remark about the beauty of Elizabeth's neighbors, Bingley replied as amilably as possible, complimenting his love along the way. Then, the conversation took a turn for the worse.

"Look. There is one of Jane's sisters," Mr. Bingley pointed out, unaware that Elizabeth was listening to the whole conversation. "I dare say she is very pretty, too."

Before Elizabeth even had time to be flattered by the compliment, Mr. Darcy answered in the most insulting way.

"She is tolerable, I dare say, but not handsome enough to tempt me."

Lizzy tried to shake her mind off of that insufferable man.

Jane meets her soulmate, and I get insulted. God must be punishing me.

Reflecting back on the day, she couldn't help but notice another thing about Mr. Darcy: he didn't seem the least bit happy for Mr. Bingley.

No doubt he was disappointed in his friend for matching with someone in the lower circles of society.

What Elizabeth didn't know was that Darcy's mind tended in a very different direction.

Darcy was, in fact, very happy for his friend. The same could not be said about Miss Bingley.

"Really, Charles, are you very sure? Perhaps you are mistaken."

Mr. Bingley only laughed good-naturedly. "How can I be mistaken, Caroline? You can see our marks clear as day." At that he held up his hand. There was a red and yellow butterfly - the very same butterfly that decorated Miss Bennet's hand.

Caroline huffed. Why couldn't her brother have matched with someone in the upper circles? Why did it have to be some county chit? She turned to Mr. Darcy, clearly seeking an ally.

"What say you, sir? Surely you do not agree with all this."

Darcy had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. "There is nothing to agree or disagree to. Your brother has found the person he is supposed to spend the rest of his life with, and he has rightly decided to do so. Such pairings are never wrong."

At this, Caroline sniffed but did not argue further. She was not one to openly disagree with Darcy. It did not take long for her to realize that she was alone in her dissatisfaction with the situation. Even Louisa could not be persuaded to join her cause. With that, she turned in for the night, leaving the happy party to themselves.

Louisa smiled brightly at her brother, affectionately grasping her husband's hand. "Do you like your mark, Charles?" She knew the joy of finding the person you were meant to be with.

"It may not be the most masculine symbol," the red-head replied laughingly. "But I cannot think of a happier moment."

"You asked her father for her hand?" Darcy asked.

"Yes, during the assembly. We have yet to decide on a date for the wedding, but I hope it shall soon."

Darcy smiled at his friend. He was truly happy for him, and could not help but approve of his soulmate. She was clearly a kind lady, and she was undeniably very interested in Bingley. Still, there was a part of Darcy that was riddled with envy. He was five years older than Bingley, but still without a soulmate. To the surprise of many, it was Darcy's deepest wish to have such a bond with someone. His parents were soulmates. His grandparents were soulmates. His Aunt and Uncle Matlock were soulmates. All but Lady Catherine had found their perfect match, and he was determined not to end up like her. It was not the mark his parents spoke about...it was love.

Darcy was lucky enough to grow up with parents who truly loved each other. He craved that love for himself. He wanted to give it and receive it. As a boy, he would lay in bed and think about what his soulmate would be like.

She will be kind, witty, intelligent - perhaps she'll have a sense of humor like Aunt Matlock. And she will love me. I will love her.

At the age of 28, Fitzwilliam Darcy still had those thoughts. He was not ashamed of them, as his Aunt Catherine said he should be. Instead, he thought of how happy his parents would be to see him have felicity in marriage equal to their own.

As he laid in bed that night, thinking of such things, Darcy was rather startled when a face came to mind. It was unusual to have such a clear image of the person of his dreams. He was even more startled when he recognized her.

The lady at the assembly - one of Miss Bennet's sisters. Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Yes, that was it. Elizabeth Bennet. He found himself oddly drawn to her. He spent most of the assembly shifting his attention back and forth from Charles and Miss Bennet to Miss Elizabeth. She was a joy to watch, he admitted to himself. Her enchanting laugh is what first brought her to his attention, and he found himself unable to tear his eyes away. She did not titter like the women of the Ton. Her laugh rang through the assembly hall. It was genuine, honest, and utterly delightful. Her love for her sisters was also clear. It did not go unnoticed by Darcy that it was Elizabeth who smiled the brightest at Jane's news. He also noted that she was the one who reprimanded her younger sisters - a responsibility that, by all means, should fall on the parents. He admired her for it. She saw that something was wrong and made to fix it, even though she was not the one responsible for it.

If only Bingley was not so blind to my preference. To think he tried to get me to dance with Miss Mary Bennet!

In truth, Darcy felt bad about his words. But he knew Bingley's character - if he showed even the slightest hint of interest, Bingley would not relent. Darcy simply was not inclined to dance that night. He was too focused on his friend, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth.

Soon enough, Darcy found himself smiling, recalling every interaction he had witnessed between Miss Elizabeth and her neighbors.

Her sister is marrying Charles - I will see her again.