When He Met Her

Disclaimer for entire fanfic: I am not Jane Austen, ergo I do not own Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, or The Watsons. Furthermore When Harry Met Sally does not belong to yours truly either.

Prologue

-August 1812, Chawton Cottage

Dear Cassandra,

I had just settled in the chair of my writing desk after a morning of piano playing in hopes that I might have a productive day when lo! – I was abruptly called to the front door by a most hurried knock. Normally I would not get it myself, but as both you and mama are visiting my dear brother and the maid was busy doing what maids do, the task fell upon none other than myself. However I must confess I was expecting someone and therefore this interruption was not as unwelcome as you might be led to suspect.

But first, let me explain, dear sister. With you and mama gone I find myself getting lonely. I am in want of entertainment. Yes, the book goes marvelously and it shall be finished soon, but I wish you were here Cassandra. Thus, I have arranged for myself a never-ending supply of entertainment. You see, I intend to make note of it all, and pretend to be one of those Bath columnists we so loath – though I hope my writings will be infinitely wittier. I intend to share them with you when you return to Chawton (that way I will not be made to feel awkward if you come bearing one of my generous brother's gifts).

Patience, Cassandra, I know you are confused. I will get to the point: I have this entire week been engaged in the writing of letters. Many letters. In fact you might as well call them invitations – they were not much less. I have invited every couple I could think of – having met or heard much of them (to their credit or not) – and they are to visit our humble cottage in Chawton for an interview. They shall be grand interviews and I shall record them all. There are but two questions they must answer; one being how did they ever chance to meet and the second being how did they ever chance to fall in love. I can comprehend their going on charmingly, when they had once made a beginning; but what could set them off in the first place? (Does the previous sentence sound familiar? It should – one of my heroines said the same thing, more or less.) And Cassandra: though the possibilities are quite endless, I intend to find out.

So as you well observe Cassandra, I am no longer in any want of amusement at present. I shall be very much engaged for the next fortnight or so before your return. Send mama my regards and tell her the cottage does not go on without her.

Much love,

Jane

A/N: This is going to be so much fun! I hope you all enjoy this as well. First up is Lizzy and Fitzwilliam, I think. The following installments shall all be told in third person, this letter was just to set the tone. And no, I do not mean to imply that Miss Jane Austen had to know a "Fitzwilliam Darcy" or the like to be inspired to write up brilliant characters.

Please send your thoughts my way ^^ Such as if I should continue etc etc Oh! Also feedback on what category I should put this in would be most helpful. I think I will do P&P for now since that is what the first chapter will be. I'll probably end up switching to a crossover soon, but you can only choose two categories T.T Gone are the days of the easy "Jane Austen" category.

~YIEQ