A/N: I want to thank all of the loyal readers of A Fine Mess. I am so touched by the overwhelming number of positive responses I have received for this story. I wrote this as a way of tying up a bunch of AU and Alternate Viewpoint concepts I had for Jane Eyre, some of them partially written and rejected. When I started it I wasn't sure where I meant for it to go. I have to admit I made a lot of it up as I went along. I'm not sure I meant for it to be a story of Jane and Edward playing cat and mouse, but I still had a lot of fun writing it that way. I feel like all of you who have been reading this and giving me all of this positive feeedback have really been helpful in keeping the creative process alive and helping me bring this story to what I hope is a satisfying end..

So without further ado, here is the concluding chapter where Jane and Edward walk off into the sunset and everyone says, "Awwwwww." At this point I have strayed pretty far off from Bronte's writing style. I think I can hear her spinning in her grave right now over the things I have done with her characters, but heck, it's my story and I'm standing by it!

Thanks again for reading. Know that without the incredible support from the readers, I might never have made it here.

Chapter 14

Like so many other inmates of Moor House that night, Jane spent most of the night awake. She was too excited at the idea of having Mr. Rochester so near to allow herself to relax. Jane knew she would never stop feeling a thrill in his presence. She took so much pleasure in the sight of him and the sound of his voice. Still the conflicting voice of conscience never ceased to tell her this was wrong. There were times when she almost felt angry with Mr. Rochester. How dare he torture her this way! Had she not told him not to come after her if she promised to write? What he was doing was quite wrong. She should chastise him for it, although to do so she would have to spend time in his presence and resist the urge to fall into his arms.

This was all just too exasperating! She would sleep. In the morning she would tell Mr. Rochester to return to Thornfield at once.

She arose in the morning and headed to breakfast. Diana and Mary usually woke at the same time she did. St. John was likely already at breakfast as he rose early to pray and do his daily readings. This morning she met Diana and Mary on the stairs as they descended to the breakfast room. When they arrived, they were surprised to find that St. John was not yet there.

Seeing that St. John was not present, Diana decided it was time to satisfy her curiosity about what was transpiring between her brother and her cousin. "I know you and St. John were quarreling yesterday, but it seems that the two of you are spending so much time together. We have both concluded that he wished to marry you."

"He has asked me," Jane said.

"Oh good!" Mary exclaimed. "You will marry him then and he will stay in England?"

"That is not why he asked me, Mary. He wants me to accompany him on his Indian toils. He feels I would be the perfect missionary's wife."

"Madness," Diana fumed. "What could make him think that you would want to do such a thing?"

"I offered to go. I said I would accompany him as his sister, but he insists that I marry him."

"Accompany him as his sister?" Mary asked. "Why you are too good to be grilled alive in Calcutta. I will not hear of you even considering it."

"Does he love you, Jane?" Diana asked.

Jane sat and put her head in her hands, defeated. "He does not Di, not one whit."

Diana walked over to Jane and put her arm around her shoulder. "You do not have to marry him if you don't want to Jane. He may seem harsh, but he will forgive you. He must know in his heart that what he is asking is wrong."

Jane looked up at her cousin. "I'm glad you agree, Di. He said I was formed for labor, not for love. Can you imagine being married to one who only regards you as a useful tool?"

"Unthinkable," Mary said. "If you feel that you need help keeping St. John's anger at bay, remember we are here for you."

Jane smiled at her two cousins. With their help she could deal with the difficulties with St. John. Unfortunately, she would have to face the danger of Mr. Rochester alone.

Hannah came into the room with the breakfast tray. "Where are the menfolk?" she asked. "Breakfast will be cold if they don't come to the table soon."

"St. John is in the parlor to be sure," Mary said. "I suppose our guest is with him. Jane, why don't you go fetch them?"

Jane did not protest, although she dreaded being alone with both Mr. Rochester and St. John even for those few moments of walking between the parlor and the breakfast room.

As she approached the parlor, St. John and Mr. Rochester were leaving it. "Good morning St. John, Mr. Rochester," she said. "Hannah would like you both to come to breakfast now. It grows cold."

"Good morning Jane," said Mr. Rochester. "We shall not tarry another moment and shall go to breakfast directly." He seemed to be in good spirits, although his face was flushed as if he had recently been agitated.

"Jane," was all St. John said. Jane could see he was clearly unhappy. With no further words they both followed her to the breakfast room.

Breakfast was a jolly meal thanks to the gentle humor and good nature of Diana and Mary. They made polite inquiries as to Mr. Rochester's plans for the day. He was vague, but they made no pursuit. Mr. Rochester seemed unruffled that morning. His demeanor was calm. He seemed a different man from the one last night. Jane remembered how nervous and distracted he had seemed. What had transpired between him and St. John that made him seem so content now? St. John did not participate much in the conversation. He seemed to be the only one who was unhappy. Jane wished there could be a way to make him not hate her for her refusal.

When the meal was finished Diana and Mary declared that they were going to be doing some German lessons. St. John said he had some church business to attend to. Jane was unsure what to do. She needed to stay away from Mr. Rochester, or find a way make him leave, but she could not think of any reason. As they all stood to leave the table, Mr. Rochester declared his own plan for the day. "Jane, I would like to go for a walk. Would you be so kind as to accompany me?"

Could she risk a walk alone with Mr. Rochester? She remembered their walk through St. James Park in London. Every moment they were together they had been struggling with their feelings. How could Jane keep composed when they were all alone on the wild moor? She looked at St. John for some guidance. Surely he would understand her need for some employment for the morning.

As she looked his way, St. John merely looked back at her wearily. His face looked defeated rather than angry. "You should go with Mr. Rochester Jane. It would be to your benefit."

Jane gave him a questioning look, but St. John merely left the table. With a brief word of goodbye he took his hat and headed out the door. Mary and Diana retreated to the parlor. Jane and Mr. Rochester were left alone. "Come Jane," he said to her. Then he remembered how Jane disliked insolence. "I mean, if you please." With no further words, she followed him out the door.

"Which is the best path to take Jane?" he asked as they made their way away from the house. "It all seems lovely."

"This way," Jane said curtly. She walked him in the opposite direction from the one she had taken with St. John the day before. She could not bear to retread that path. Still Mr. Rochester was right. It was all lovely. The day was warm and fine. The moors were bathed in sunshine and covered in flowers. They walked together in silence.

Mr. Rochester finally broke the silence. "Jane I must tell you why I came here."

Jane could no longer control her anger. She stopped walking and faced him directly. "Sir, I asked you not to follow me. Why do you insist on pursuing me? Do you not know how torturous this is?"

There was no need to hesitate. He would tell her everything now. The sooner he told her, the better. He held both of her arms and looked straight into her eyes. "Jane, it is time for me to tell you what has happened. I wanted to tell you last night, but I did not want to say what I wanted to say to you with your cousins hanging about."

Jane squirmed slightly from his grasp. "What?" she asked. "What do you want to tell me that you could not tell my family?"

He held her as still as he could. "Jane, Bertha is dead. She has been dead since November. I have been looking for you since then because I had hoped you might agree to marry me if you knew."

The words rang in Jane's ears. His wife was dead? There were no obstacles to their love now? Could this really be true? "How?" she asked.

Her hard look softened and Mr. Rochester released her from his grasp and continued walking. She walked alongside. "There was a terrible tragedy at Thornfield. The Hall is no more. You know she had a penchant for starting fires. This last one burnt Thornfield to the ground."

Jane was shocked. She was saddened that such a tragedy would happen to such a beautiful place. She had been so happy there, but she supposed the memories were somewhat tainted by the presence that had lurked in the shadows. "Did she die in the fire then?" Jane inquired.

"Yes. Rather than escape with the servants she ran to the roof and leaped from the battlements."

"Were you home at the time?"

"No. I suppose I have you to thank for that. After I found you in London I found myself unable to return to Thornfield. To be in Thornfield meant that I would always be haunted by your memory. Besides, I had hoped that if I stayed in London I might see you again before you returned to Morton."

Jane smiled at this. How like Mr. Rochester to still pursue seeing her. "Sir, I thought I asked you not to follow me."

He gave her a guilty smile. "I know Janet. I just hoped that I might pass you one day, see your face, and maybe hope that you would acknowledge me with a nod or a smile. I did not expect you to ever speak to me again."

"So where are you living now?" she inquired.

"I'm living at my family hunting lodge, Ferndean. It's in a rather desolate spot, but that suits me. Once the fire happened my wife was no longer a secret. I tried to let people think an intruder started the fire, but my secret was revealed and I was exposed. The neighborhood mostly shuns me now."

Jane took pity on her old master when he said this. People could be so shallow and unforgiving. Still she was curious as to the events that caused Mr. Rochester's downfall. "How was your secret revealed?" she asked.

Mr. Rochester snarled, "Richard Mason. He wanted to blackmail me into joining one of his business schemes. He said if I did not invest, he would let the world know I had married his mad sister."

The news was surprising to Jane. She had always thought of Mr. Mason as mild-mannered and kind. "I can't believe Mr. Mason would do such a thing. He hardly seemed to have that kind of character."

"I would not judge him too harshly," Mr. Rochester said. "I have him to thank for finding you. He wanted to go after you for the money. I could not allow him to woo you into his worthless scheme. When I found out he knew where to find you I said I would give him what he needed if he would tell me where you were."

Jane stopped walking and looked at him. "You did that for me?"

He took her in his arms. She had no reason to resist him now. He looked deeply into her eyes. "Jane, there is nothing I wouldn't give to be with you. I'd have given him my entire fortune if I had thought it would bring me to you."

Jane was speechless. She looked down and away from Mr. Rochester, trying to settle her racing thoughts. This was all too much to hear at once. Mr. Rochester was free to marry her. He had gone to these lengths to find her again.

He touched her cheek and made her look at him again. "Jane, I know I have asked your forgiveness before. I ask it again, just as I asked for God's. I know I have been a deceitful man. I have sinned against many. I do not deserve to have you back, but I feel that if you can really forgive me and believe that I want to be a better man, then maybe you will consider it."

Jane could hold back nothing. She could not contain her happiness. Mr. Rochester had suffered many tragedies. She could not allow him, or herself, to suffer them any more. They had another chance at happiness now. "I do forgive you with my whole heart," she said. "I have always forgiven you. I would far rather love you despite all of your flaws than disdain you for being imperfect."

She felt the old recklessness in him rising. He encircled her more tightly with his arm and without further words or warning inclined his head to kiss her. Jane felt giddy as their lips touched for the first time. She had once said that anywhere Mr. Rochester was would be her only home. Standing here in Mr. Rochester's arms on the empty moor, she knew she had finally come home for good.

He released her slightly from his embrace. "I am forgetting myself and my manners. You must think I am a discourteous rogue." Jane found herself giggling. Yes, his behavior was completely inappropriate but she would expect nothing less from her master. He took her hand and sank to one knee. "I will do this properly. Jane, will you marry me?"

"Yes Sir," she exclaimed. "I will marry you."

"Call me Edward, my little wife."

"My Dear Edward, how I love you!" she said as he stood and took her in his arms once more. He kissed her enthusiastically.

"Three days, Janet. We must be married in three days. There is just the license and then we must marry."

"Three days and not a day more," she agreed, laughing at his familiar impetuosity. She shyly kissed him. For a long time they simply stood there on the moor, wrapped in each other's arms, content to simply relish the joys of their reunion. Jane knew there were things to consider. "We must go back and tell my cousins. I cannot contain this news inside any more." Reluctantly Edward released her and they made their way back to Moor House.

"So where shall we live?" Jane asked as they walked.

"I don't think we can live at Moor House. We don't need to be surrounded by your cousins each day. I believe you will have to return with me to Ferndean."

"I agree," Jane said. "However, I do so love Morton. Perhaps we should build ourselves a summer home here."

"Splendid idea," Edward said. "We could even rebuild Thornfield. Hitherto I never wanted to see that accursed spot again because it was so haunted by your memory. Now I feel that we should rebuild the place where this all began. We can give the home a happy ending."

"Do you not worry about your reputation in the neighborhood?" Jane inquired.

"I care not a fig for the neighbors. As long as I have your love, I will defy anyone's opinion of me."

"Edward, is it possible for us to stay here in Morton to marry? I would very much like to be married here among my friends."

"Of course we can Janet. I would deny you nothing. If you wish to be married in Morton, then you shall be."

They arrived back at Moor House to find that St. John had returned and was busy writing a letter. Mary and Diana were still engrossed in their studies in the parlor.

"Excuse me," Jane said to the room. "We have an announcement to make."

The three of them looked up from their books and papers. Mary and Diana looked eagerly curious. St. John's look was equal mixture of disinterest and dread.

Jane allowed Mr. Rochester to speak. "Jane Eyre has just consented to be my wife."

"We plan to be married as soon as we can obtain a license," Jane added.

Mary's eyes widened. "Married Jane? Truly? This is so sudden, and so wonderful." She sprang from her chair and embraced Jane heartily. Diana said nothing, but gave a knowing smile and joined her sister. She kissed Jane's cheek and welcomed Edward to the family.

Jane extricated herself from her cousins' embrace and walked over to St. John's desk. He almost seemed to be smiling. Could he truly be happy for her? "Congratulations and best wishes," he said. "I believe that the two of you will be very happy." He came from behind his desk and shook both of their hands.

"Truly, St. John?" she asked. "Do I truly have your blessing?"

"Indeed you do," he replied. For a moment it seemed he and Edward exchanged looks. He still managed to maintain a stoic smile, but Jane saw a look of defeat. Somewhere in this house there had been a battle for her, and Edward had won. St. John was accepting Edward's victory with his usual outward calmness, but hinted at an internal sadness. Jane wondered if he truly wished she had chosen him, or if he simply disliked losing.

"St. John," she continued. "Edward and I will return to his home to live, but we would like to be married here in the Morton parish. I do hope that you will do us the honor of conducting the ceremony. It would mean so much to me."

St. John's smile was bigger and more genuine now. "I would be very happy to."

At supper that night St. John took relieve them all from constant wedding talk by mentioning that he had been corresponding with one of his Cambridge friends, a Mr. Wharton. He hoped that when he made his visit there in two weeks he would persuade his friend once and for all to take over the position of the Morton vicar.

Mary seemed very pleased with the news. "Mr. Wharton might be coming to Morton? How splendid!"

"Do you know Mr. Wharton?" Jane asked.

"Oh yes," Mary said. "He is a good man and a fine preacher. He will be a perfect fit for our little village."

During St. John's evening reading and prayers Jane looked around the room and saw her family that surrounded her. Now Edward was there and he would soon be her husband. Jane prayed eagerly with St. John in gratitude of all that she had been given.

Just as Jane was about to go to bed that night, Diana and Mary pulled her into their room. "You cannot go to bed without telling us everything," Diana said. "I knew Mr. Rochester was in love with you when I first saw him come into our home. I was wondering if he would ever say something."

Mary added, "You seemed somewhat unsure yesterday. You looked frightened. Are you sure you love him Jane, or are you trying to avoid St. John? You are so young and he seems so much older than you are."

"Oh no, Mary! I love him very much. I have always loved him. We belong together. The difference in our ages never mattered to us any more than the difference in our fortunes ever mattered when I was his governess."

Diana could not contain her curiosity. "That's right. You said you were his governess. You must really be in love to forget all of that. But why did you leave him Jane? In all of the time you have been at Moor House you never talked about him. Did something happen?"

"It is a very long story," Jane replied. "I left his employ because Uncle John asked me to, but I had to stay away."

"Please tell us," Diana begged.

"Now Jane, don't listen to her," Mary said. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." She turned to Diana. "Shame on your for prying like that."

"It's all right Mary. I don't mind sharing our story." Jane described to them her discovery of her relation to John Eyre, his revelation about Edward's wife, Edward's proposal, and Jane's subsequent flight from Thornfield. "I feel so terrible that he spent so many months looking for me after losing his home. I wish I could have been there for him. I wish we hadn't had to wait so long to find each other and marry."

Diana hugged Jane briefly. "It's all right that you found each other now. You will marry and be happy in the end."

"You're right," Jane said. Then she teasingly turned to Mary. "You seemed awfully interested in this Mr. Wharton coming to Morton. Do I sense that Moor House may have another marriage in the future?"

Mary blushed. "I do like him. I must admit. I enjoy talking to him far more than I do most of St. John's friends. He is not as handsome as St. John, but he is so kind." Then she added with a wicked grin, "His humor is far better than our brother's too."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Diana said. "You make it sound as if our brother is humorless." All three women burst out laughing. Soon St. John came knocking on the door asking them to please be quiet and retire. The women simply laughed more. Finally Jane excused herself to retire to her own room. The sooner she went to bed, the sooner the next day would come. She was growing impatient for her wedding day.

The wedding day did arrive in three days just as Jane and Edward had planned. The wedding was a quiet one with St. John conducting the ceremony and the Rivers family attending along with the Olivers and a few other of Jane's Morton friends.

Hannah served them a delicious supper afterwards. The Rivers were considerate enough not to keep Jane and Edward up too late with talking for it was obvious the couple was highly desirous of some time alone.

That day Jane had become Mrs. Rochester in name. That night she became Mrs. Rochester in body and soul. As she drifted off to sleep in her new husband's arms she thought of the tangled web of events that had brought her to this point. It had been a fine mess indeed. Yet Jane knew that while Fate would intervene as it would, she was meant to be at this point. No matter what had happened from her first day as Mr. Rochester's governess to the day she became his wife, she was exactly where she was meant to be.