A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I was truly touched by the praise. Here's some more to enjoy!

Chapter 2/5

Anne awoke the next morning quite early and was the first one into the breakfast parlor. Her nerves were on edge yet again. She was not prone to these nervous fits but it seemed as though she could not avoid them these past few days. It was only in the presence of Captain Wentworth that her anxieties seemed to settle.

She situated herself alongside the window with the best angle of the lively street below, hoping for a distraction to keep her occupied. Not usually being awake at first light, it amazed her how early others got up to carry out their morning business dealings. She noticed a little girl dressed in what could hardly be called clothing, trying to sell flowers to every passerby, but with no luck.

Up ahead was a man pushing a cart so large, loaded with all kinds of trinkets and materials, he could not see where he was going and almost hit the little girl. Thankfully there was a paper boy nearby who had the quickness of mind to move the girl out of the way. Unfortunately, in the process of her rescue the girl's flowers were scattered across the lane and run over and ruined by the overloaded cart.

Mrs. Clay came into the room at that moment, interrupting Anne's silent reverie and sat down at the table situated not too close to Anne but not far enough away to prevent her from initiating a conversation.

"Good morning Miss Anne." Mrs. Clay greeted and continued, "I did not get the chance to congratulate you last evening. Please except my best wishes. I hope you both shall be very happy." Her repulsive yellow teeth protruded from her forced smile.

Anne was a bit hesitant in her replied thanks. She was still trying to process the news she only learnt yesterday from Mrs. Smith; had she decided to marry Mr. Elliot, Mrs. Clay would have been set up as his mistress. "Thank you, I believe we shall." She replied, hoping that was the end of the conversation.

The doors opened shortly after their stilted exchange producing Sir Walter dressed in one of his finest suits. He clearly wanted to make a wealthy impression on Captain Wentworth by fronting his elitist Elliot elegance.

"What a capitol evening we had last night, don't you agree Mrs. Clay? Miss Carteret played so marvelously." He praised while sauntering over to the head of the table. "And Mrs. Dalrymple seemed quite pleased with the evening. I am very satisfied; our connection with the family is most fortunate, for if we were not in Bath they would have almost no one to associate."

He sat down and rang the bell to signal for their breakfast to be served. He evidently was not going to wait for Elizabeth to join them. After all the sobs and tears Anne heard last night she was not surprised Elizabeth had not come down yet and apparently she was not the only one who overheard her. Anne glanced at her father and for all his pompous and arrogant attitudes and speeches, she detected a bit of sympathy in his look. His apparent concern for her sister warmed her heart. She may not agree with the way he carries and expresses himself but he was still her father and she was glad to have witnessed this abnormal moment of compassion, even if it was for Elizabeth and not herself.

Halfway through breakfast Elizabeth joined them at last and without speaking a word of apology for her tardiness. She entered, she sat, she ate and nothing more. Silence took over the room for Sir Walter could no longer elaborate on his praise of the previous evening with his eldest daughter now present and so clearly unhappy.

Elizabeth had spent nearly the entire evening lamenting her current situation. She was overcome with such emotions; she hardly knew how to handle them. The idea that both her younger sisters were going to be married before herself, and especially Anne to the striking and wealthy Captain Wentworth, crushed and mangled her insides to a state of true despair. It appeared her name in the family book was never to have a companion.

Upon waking, she tried to doctor her eyes to make the cherry puffiness beneath them go down, but it was useless. Elizabeth sat at her dressing mirror determined; today would be the only and last day Anne would ever be more beautiful. She resigned herself to her present appearance, set her shoulders and made her way downstairs to join the others.

The rest of the morning went on uneventfully. Everyone was stationed throughout the room in their usual fashion except Anne retook her seat near the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Captain Wentworth before he arrived. She no longer saw the girl with her flowers from earlier, but the man with the cart had established himself for the day in an accessible corner along the street, hoping to increase his business.

Suddenly the flower girl was running back down the way with a whole new basket full of flowers that were of considerably better quality then the ones she had before. She had a bright smile on her face and reclaimed her spot on the walk to sell the new flowers as if nothing had occurred to hinder her. The flowers were selling a lot faster now. Anne observed every other person the girl spoke to would buy a flower.

Abruptly a sailor's cap caught her eye and her breath hitched in her throat, it was Captain Wentworth. If there was one feeling that she never wanted to lose, it was the pleasure and excitement she experienced upon seeing him again for the first time after an absence.

She smiled as she observed him cross paths with the girl. He was implored to buy a flower and quickly indulged her, paying her a little more than what she was asking. The girls smile brightened and he walked up to their building's door, flower in hand.

The butterflies in Anne's stomach fluttered about as she repositioned herself in the room, closer toward the door. The expected knock and announcement came and Captain Wentworth was standing there once again, just as he had last night.

The Captain and Anne barely got a 'Good morning' uttered before Sir Walter was ushering him into the adjoining parlor for their planned interview. The doors were shut behind them and Anne was once again plagued by solicitous thoughts.

The men however did not stay long separated from the rest of the household. Sir Walter placed himself back in his usual chair picking up the daily newspaper. "Well, now that the business of the day is all settled let us see what the rest of Bath is about." He had an extra lightness in his voice that made him seem practically cheerful. Anne had not thought her father would take pleasure in his meeting with the Captain but all evidence pointed to the contrary. It was quite unexpected.

Captain Wentworth, with the flower he purchased still in hand, walked over to Anne who was seated once again by the window.

"Anne." He whispered and handed her the lovely daisy.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Would you like to take a stroll? It's a most refreshing morning and the skies are rather clear. Perhaps we could even visit Mr. Croft and my sister?" He questioned louder so the rest of the room could hear, for he already knew Anne's answer. They had planned this conference with his sister last night.

"Yes. Yes that would be lovely." Anne answered.

"That sounds like a capital idea. Do enjoy yourselves." Sir Walter replied.

Captain Wentworth turned to the other ladies in the room and formally invited them to join. Fortunately for Anne and Captain Wentworth, Elizabeth was determined not to set foot out of doors and Mrs. Clay was not eager to leave the house, for Anne and the Captain had little probability of running into Mr. Elliot and it was most pressing that she finish their interrupted conversation from the previous evening.

The walk to Mr. and Mrs. Croft's dwelling was thankfully short. Anne was not a good walker and did not think her constitution would last if it were long. Captain Wentworth escorted her in doors and led her into an empty drawing room.

"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Croft?" Captain Wentworth questioned a passing servant.

"Mr. Croft left early this morning and Mrs. Croft is just finishing breakfast, Sir." The young woman replied dutifully.

"Thank you Hannah."

The maid curtsied and left the room as Captain Wentworth turned to Anne, "Wait here Anne. I'll just go and get Sophie."

Captain Wentworth left Anne sitting in the drawing room, but returned directly with Mrs. Croft. She looked a little hesitant upon entering the room but soon straightened her shoulders and prepared herself for the conversation she was expecting to follow. She was unsure of how Anne would respond to her insecurities but she could not deny them.

Once they were all seated in a comfortable fashion Captain Wentworth began, "Sophie I have thought more on our conversation from last evening and I want you to be assured," He paused here to look at Anne, then continued, "we want you to be assured of our mutual affection. Indeed it is not the workings of an overnight infatuation but the building of feelings, torment and delight, these past eight years."

It is true that Mrs. Croft did not know exactly what to expect when Fredrick said he and Anne wanted to speak with her but this speech was surely the furthest from it. 'Eight years!' her thoughts cried out.

"You are surprised, I know, but please let me tell you everything before you judge us." Anne reached out for Captain Wentworth's arm to show her support and this did not go unnoticed by his sister.

"In truth I have loved non but Anne these past eight and a half years. As you have discovered she and I met that summer when I was visiting Edward before I was to be at sea in the Royal Navy. She captivated me utterly and I offered her my hand some three months later. We were very much in love and very happy though, due to…" he paused here having no idea how to proceed without making Anne look easily persuaded and weak to his well travelled and strong willed sister.

Anne continued for him, "some rather unfortunate miscommunications." He looked over to her and thanked her with his eyes. She smiled back. This exchange also did not go unnoticed by Mrs. Croft.

"It was not to be. I left Somersetshire immediately with the only hope of being at sea and as far away from where my heart had broken; from Anne. You may recall my insistence to be at sea." Mrs. Croft merely nodded to express her recollection. "I shut myself off from any feeling that did not directly relate to my Navy career. So much so that I convinced myself I was completely indifferent to Miss Anne Elliot. But I have since come to realize my admiration and esteem was not diminished in the least by my attempts, nah they have increased tenfold."

A calm silence took over the room. Captain Wentworth was unable to continue while his sister was stoic, trying to digest his tale.

Eventually she responded, "To hear that this is not the hurried attachment I feared is indeed soothing, for I would wish nothing but true affection in marriage but, Fredrick what of your return to Somersetshire? Surely the same miscommunications could not still exist?"

"You have pointed out, my dear sister, Anne's greatest fear in disclosing this information to you; that is, that you will find fault with my behavior upon entering her society again. Indeed I blame myself still…

"Fredrick please..." Anne interrupted, completely forgetting the presence of his sister and using his given name.

"I know you have forgiven me Anne. But, I want Sophie to know that she need not reproach my behavior for I do so myself, and strongly." He stopped for a moment caught in his regret, but continued on with his story, "Upon coming to Kellynch I had no thought of Anne still being in the neighborhood, not that I was avoiding her presence for I believed myself completely indifferent but I did look forward to proving that she meant nothing to me in a place that could only remind me of her. I was utterly shocked to find her still residing in the county. I found it was as if God had sent her to me to test my resolve. It was therefore essential that I avoid and disregard her.

"It was not until I realized that my insistence to overlook Anne had led me to indulge another. When I became acquainted of the expected wishes of her family as well as my own sentiments, Louisa had already been injured and I confess I did not know what to do or how to proceed. Surely if Louisa wanted me I was to consider myself spoken for. It was cruel Sophie! To become aware of one's feelings so exactly, only to have them be constrained once more; it was torturous. Thankfully Captain Harville had the presence of mind to suggest I visit Edward after he became aware of my surprise in being supposed already engaged. If not by the hand of God I know not, but Benwick was to take my place in Louisa's heart and I was once more a free man. I set off for Bath immediately. I can remember your surprise at my sudden arrival. I waited to pronounce my love only to make sure I was able to succeed. I needed to be certain I had not lost her affection. The rest Sophie I am sure you can guess."

"Mrs. Croft", Anne began softly after Fredrick finished, but quickly fashioned a stronger tone to illustrate her determination. "I must be allowed to continue this story, for you have only had Fredrick's side of it. Please I want you to be as assured of my feelings as you are of his." Anne paused a moment to try and compose her racing thoughts, but was interrupted.

"That is not necessary Anne. I'm completely convinced my fuss was wholly without foundation. I must say I am even more astonished now then I was on hearing the news of your engagement. To see the two of you interact, there can be no doubt of your previous affection and knowledge of each other's character. Please forgive me for having doubted you. I will never, in future, make such a silly notion. It now seems so obvious that you two should have been in love all along. Pray forgive me." Mrs. Croft reached for a hand from each of her companions in the room, and squeezed them gently.

Mrs. Croft perceptively went over all the matters Fredrick had laid out; recalling, in particular, her interactions with both parties from the previous fall. There were the few occasions when Fredrick's resolve had broken or maybe just fractured a little. He had insisted on her and Mr. Croft taking Anne home in the carriage after their long walk to Winthrop and back. A gentleman would only do such a thing if he had noticed her struggling and Fredrick had declared he was behaving indifferent towards her at the time.

The troubled looks on Anne's face during their initial meeting plagued Mrs. Croft's mind next. She had always wondered what had troubled her during those first few minutes together and now it was so obvious. The implication of her first few words to Anne that Fredrick was married would certainly vex her.

A memory from just the other day captured Mrs. Croft's attention subsequently. Mr. Croft had sent Fredrick with a message to Anne in regards to Kellynch Hall and her marriage to Mr. Elliot. 'How dreadful Fredrick must have felt in that moment.'

"Oh brother, sister, I could not be happier for you two. Oh and what a good story you shall have to tell your many children and grandchildren. For, I entreat you to have as many children as possible. Mr. Croft and I intend on spoiling and loving them as our own."

Captain Fredrick Wentworth and Miss Anne Elliot could not have been more elated with how their conversation went; they had secured one more good opinion and had only one left to attain. Anne was most concerned about this one, for if it was not achieved she could possibly lose the closest friend she has ever had; Lady Russell.