The press was camped outside the hospital for any news of the Darcys or their son. No one quite knew what happened that night, but they were about to find out a little more. Sir Charles Bingley, brother-in law of Elizabeth Darcy and best friend of Will Darcy, was about to give the press a statement and answer a few questions. His beautiful wife was nowhere to be seen, but most assumed she was with her sister.

"This is why Will and I were so set on passing these laws through. We both firmly believe in the freedom of the press, but not at the expense of innocent lives." Charles said. "No one has the right to break into a home with the express purpose of murder – no matter what wrong was done to him. We must protect our innocents, even our public figures – if we all had such an attitude, this attack, and I will call it that, on a family – on a woman and her infant son, it could have all been prevented."

"Sir, how is Lady Darcy? And the baby?" One reporter, who seemed genuinely concerned, asked.

"Lizzie is fine, and Jimmy is doing fine. I believe he slept through the entire ordeal, by some act of God." Charles replied.

"And Lord Darcy? We have heard nothing about him." Another reporter asked.

Charles sighed. This was going to be a difficult day.

Elizabeth could not be moved. More than a dozen nurses had tried, told her there was nothing she could do, she did her best, but Lizzie refused.

"Lizzie. Come on, eat something." Jane whispered.

"How can I eat?" She was almost despondent.

"You must, you have your son to think of, you know. You're all he has right now." Jane replied.

"Don't you think I know that?" Elizabeth snapped, then sighed. "I'm sorry Jane…I just…I can't handle this."

"No one should ever have to handle this." Jane patted her hand gently. "But he wouldn't want you wasting away like this. So come on, get up, we're going to get some food, and you can bring it right back here."

"I'll just send a nurse. You go home and get some sleep, be with your husband for a while. I promise, Jane, I'll be okay." Lizzie smiled reassuringly at her sister. "Go Jane."

"Okay. I'll be back in a few hours." Jane kissed her sister's head and walked out.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to the man lying prone in the hospital bed, a thousand tubes coming out of his body. He was alive, but he'd lost so much blood, he was in a coma. The Doctors told her that Will could wake up anytime, or he could stay like that forever. He had lost a lot of blood, so his body could make a complete recovery from the rest of the coma or it could just stay the way it was. It was all Lizzie could do to maintain her composure and pray for him to come back to her. He'd been like that nearly a day, and she hadn't left his side. As soon as Will was out of surgery, she sat beside him and held his hand, talking to him, sometimes crying, but never leaving his side.

"Will…you can't leave me. I love you too much." Elizabeth kissed their held hands and laid her head down to sleep a little.

She awoke a few hours later to a slight movement from his hand. Lizzie blinked, not sure if she'd really felt it, then she looked up at his face and saw his loving eyes staring back at her.

"Why is it that every time something bad happens to us, I'm the one who ends up being shot?" He asked.

Lizzie sobbed and laughed all at once, kissing his hand.

"No dear, don't cry." Will said, though he had tears in his eyes, "I can't handle it."

"I…my darling, I'm so glad you're okay." She grinned, crying.

"You think I'd leave you all alone?" He asked. "Never. Did they get everyone?"

"Yes. It's over. It's finally over." Elizabeth nodded.

"How's the baby?" Will asked. "You look terrible."

"That is no way to speak to your wife, sir." The Doctor smiled walking in with Jim in her arms. "And your son is more than fine. He's doing great. Glad to see you up and about, maybe now Lady Darcy will follow our orders and get some rest."

"What do you mean? Lizzie?" He shot his wife a glare.

"She hasn't left your side." The Doctor smiled. "But right now, I need her to feed Jim and I need to check your vitals. You gave us quite a scare."

Pemberly had never looked so welcoming, especially after their ordeal. Lizzie planned to spend a time just being with her family. Will was rapidly on the mend, Jim was growing bigger and bigger every day, and she was rapidly getting back to the shape she was in before Jim. Things were finally getting back to normal. Well, as normal as their lives ever got. She and Will spent rainy days lounging about in their pajamas, watching movies and playing with Jim, and sunny days out on the grounds, riding or taking long walks.

"How is this for the peace I promised you?" Will rolled up on one elbow so he could look at her.

"Took you long enough." Elizabeth giggled. "I never knew when I met you that life would take this kind of turn."

"Neither did I." He grinned. "I was just trying to land the world's most beautiful wife and live happily ever after."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." She replied as he bent down and kissed her neck. "And neither will that."

"But I think it will." Will said and continued to kiss her, finally finding her willing mouth. "I love you, and I promise, if it's within my power, we will have peace like this for the rest of our lives."

"I'm holding you to that, you know." Elizabeth smiled up at him. "So you are in big trouble if this doesn't work out."

"What are you gonna do? Divorce me?" He asked.

"No. I couldn't stand it." She shook her head, grinning. "Because it is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a wealthy, single man is in the market for a wife. Every woman who meets you will consider you the rightful property of their daughters or themselves, and I couldn't stand to see you with anyone but me. So I guess you're just stuck with me."

"Damn." Will grinned, and pulled her close. "That's just too bad, isn't it?"

The End.