This is my first shot at a Pride and Prejudice fic, and it will be short, a two or three shot. At first it was going to be a one-shot, but I changed my mind at about...the end of this chapter. Fear not, I haven't abandoned my HP fics! But anyway, I hope you enjoy The Talk, cheers!

Chapter 1: Of Walks & Siblings

It was a sunny day over Longbourn, and Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner sat in the parlor embroidering together while talking about the upcoming nuptials. After a short pause, Mrs. Gardiner said,
"Lizzy and Jane are going to be married in a week's time," she paused, as if trying to find the proper wording, "Perhaps...we, you and I, of course, should speak to her about," she paused again, urging her sister in law to draw the conclusion herself.

Luckily for the younger woman, Mrs. Bennet had been quite expecting this. In fact, she was rather relieved that she would not have to subject her two eldest girls to this particular conversation alone.

"Thank goodness you mentioned this, Margret, I was rather afraid of subjecting the girls to this conversation myself," she said, much to Margret Gardiner's surprise. Jennie Bennet was never one to be nervous for anything, never mind something that lacked the certain amount of…propriety, this conversation would. Of course, Mrs. Bennet was not quite through speaking yet.

"Someone will need to speak with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy as well, you know," she said thoughtfully. In the same breath, she answered Mrs. Gardiner's unspoken question, "Why, because neither of their fathers are around to speak with them on such matters of course!" she explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Perhaps I can get Mr. Bennet…" she mused, mostly to herself. Mrs. Gardiner, being several years younger and a good deal more sensible shook her head quickly and widened her eyes in horror.

"Oh, no Mrs. Bennet! You cannot have the girls' father speak to his daughters intendeds about…marital relations! They may very well die of embarrassment, should Mr. Bennet not run them through first," she shook her head, "No, no. I will have Edward speak to them. Although, men of their status, they ought to know what they're about," she trailed off, a faint blush gracing both hers and Mrs. Bennet's faces.

After a moment of silence, Mrs. Bennet spoke, "Well then it is settled. You and I shall speak with Jane and Lizzy, and my brother shall speak with Darcy and Bingley. We must do it today, for it is not even noon yet."

Lizzy and Jane sat on a stone bench outside, overlooking a vast meadow that resided next to Longbourn. They both understood that they were thinking similar thoughts: they were to leave the home of their childhood soon, for something unknown, but far greater. It was a strange, wonderful sort of goodbye that they were soon to face.

If only they knew what the next few days had in store for them, they would have wished to sit on that stone bench forever. As it was, Jane turned to Lizzy.

"We are leaving in a week, Elizabeth dearest. I do wonder, how different and strange it is to leave everything we know!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, it is quite strange. Whatever shall I do without you to share my chambers with, Jane!" both girls laughed at the unnecessary drama that Lizzy had injected into her voice. Jane giggled a bit, before saying,

"Yes, however shall we be able to help with one another's ribbons again?" she laughed.

"I agree, because I am quite sure that neither Darcy nor Bingley, no matter their state and kindness and wealth, and even bearing the fact that they both have sisters, has any taste in what ribbon matches with what dress," Lizzy returned. She continued on a different vein, "How I shall miss you, dearest sister. But you must agree, it is strange not having them with us right now, is it not?" she asked. Jane understood what she meant exactly.

"Shall we find Bingley and Darcy then?" she asked her sister. The two couples had been nearly inseparable from their respective fiancés since their engagements. Only when the two sisters needed quiet time together did the gentlemen take leave to talk about whatever it was that two gentlemen talked about. This morning was the first that the sisters had set out of Longbourn without them. Lizzy's eyes came back from whatever far away thought she had.

"Oh yes! It is a lovely day for a walk, is it not Jane?" she smiled, and Jane returned her sentiments. The two sisters rose at once, arm and arm, still smiling at their private jokes, to find the two soon-to-be-brothers.

"Bingley, how in God's name did you get me to agree to this?" a mildly irate Mr. Darcy said to his best friend. Charles Bingley continued to smile in earnest as he attempted, yet again, to skip a smooth stone across the glassy surface of a small pond.

"Darcy, my dear fellow, you are my best friend! We are soon to be brothers!" he paused, and looked around to ensure no one could hear him, "And you must help me! You see, Jane and I are to be married in a week-"

"You seem to forget that it is nearly impossible that I forget the date of your wedding, as it is also the exact date as mine," Darcy smoothly cut him off, half out of exasperation, half out of excitement.

"Yes, yes. I know that. You know that," Bingley said again, nervously putting his words together. Darcy rolled his eyes. Why he had agreed to help find Elizabeth and Miss Bennet after Mrs. Gardiner had asked Bingley, he knew not. He knew what was coming next.

"You also know," his perpetually nervous and awkward friend continued, "That I promised Jane I would teach her how to skip a stone across the water. Oh, she was so thrilled at the idea, how could I say no!" he exclaimed dreamily. A fool in love, thought Darcy. But then, there are four fools in love here in Hertfordshire.

"How could you say no, you ask, Bingley?" he asked. Bingley flinched. This was the third time they'd had this conversation in the last hour since the two Miss Bennets had left. He knew what Darcy would say next.

"Perhaps, you could have said no, because you held the information, that you do not know HOW TO SKIP STONES ACROSS THE WATER?" To be fair, Bingley thought, he had tried Darcy's patience far too many times today. Perhaps he deserved to be yelled at, even in jest, by his best friend.

"But she is so beautiful when she is eager! Oh- no-," he colored slightly, at Darcy's gratified expression, "You know that is not what I meant!" he cried, "Miss Elizabeth has been quite an influence on your temperament. A year ago you would not have made such a joke," he said, shaking his head wearily.

Darcy simply replied, "Why Charles, I have said nothing. Perhaps it is the eldest Miss Bennet that has been an- ah- influence, if you are making such assumptions," Darcy's barely concealed laughter rang in his voice, as he watched his friend grow redder.

"Oh, do try and recede your blush, Bingley. I do not think your fiancée will find it very masculine," he said, turning his head.

"What in God's name are yo- Jane! I mean, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth! I did not see you approaching," Bingley said, as he grew redder still. Jane raised an eyebrow to the handful of stones that Bingley had just dropped behind his back, while greeting him warmly after the initial bows and curtseys. Elizabeth sent a questioning look towards Darcy, who answered back with a look that clearly meant, I shall tell you later. It is well worth the wait, and a simple shrug of his shoulders. Elizabeth decided it was time to diffuse the strangeness of this situation.

"Jane and I were sitting on the bench overlooking Maybrook field," she announced, "and I declare, is it not a lovely day for a walk?" she asked the two gentlemen, one of whom was looking quite smug, and the other quite uncomfortable.

"Yes, do join us," Jane said sweetly, smiling at Mr. Bingley, whose face, by this point, matched his rather red hair very well. Darcy choked back laughter, hiding it in a coughing fit, as he offered his arm to Elizabeth.

"We would be delighted to join you, Miss Bennets- though, you shall not be for very much longer," he laughed, still glancing at Bingley out of the corner of his eye, "It is a pleasant walk back to Longbourn, and I believe your aunt and uncle were looking to speak with you two, which is why we were sent to retrieve you," again, Mr. Darcy offered his arm, and this time, Bingley imitated this action toward Jane. Elizabeth smiled a very familiar smile towards Darcy.

"But Mr. Darcy, it was we who found you!" she laughed, "You have not done a very thorough job of looking, lest you thought Jane and I would be found in the pond," and this time, she was joined in laughter by a carefree Darcy, as a confused Jane and embarrassed Bingley looked on.

Hope you enjoyed! Two or three more chapters left, depending on how I decide to divide. Reviews, positive or negative, are always welcome!