Author's Note: warning! Slight out of character-ness throughout this fan fiction.

Shortly after his visit from London Mr Knightly arrived at Hartfield to pay Mr Woodhouse and Emma a visit. He had no expectations of any great change in Highbury during his month-long visit in London. The only change he expected to happen was Miss Taylor's marriage to Mr Weston and her removal from Hartfield. He was surprised to find there had been another change while he was assisting his brother in taking care of his noisy nephews and niece while Isabella was giving birth to baby Emma.

"It is dreadful news!" Mr Woodhouse cried out. "To be removed from a home once is most dreadful enough but to be removed from another one is even more dreadful. I can barely think of the horror poor Miss Bates must be in!"

"Father!" Emma scolded gently. "There is nothing dreadful about this happy news. It is not that Miss Bates has lost her home but has gained a better home, one where she is allowed to care for both her mother and Jane Fairfax. We should do as all good friends do and give them our full support."

"There is a change in Miss Bates' circumstances?" Mr Knightly asked confused. He had literally only stepped through the door and asked about the Westons' wedding. He did not expect Mr Woodhouse to be on a verge of a breakdown and Emma look so similar to a cat that got the cream.

"Indeed!" Emma smiled. "Miss Bates is engaged!"

A slow stone cold dread began to fill Mr Knightly's stomach. He remembered a conversation he had with Isabella and John a few days ago. 'You will return to find Miss Bates engaged' Isabella had teased him. He had laughed at the idea, Miss Bates leaving her poor mother behind to pursue matrimony? Miss Bates who, like Emma now, had sworn to never marry finally breaking her lifetime vow? The idea was incredibly amusing, there was only one eligible man near Miss Bates that she might consider to marry and he hated change. On top of that Emma could not possibly make a real match. She may have a strong understanding of people but she did not truly understand society. She could never understand why a rich man, especially a gentleman, would never really marry a poor woman. So how could she find someone who was willing to ignore Miss Bates' poor circumstances in hopes of having her hand in matrimony?

At this moment of time he had a horrible feeling that someone was laughing at him.

"Who is the gentleman?" he managed to ask.

"Mrs Weston's uncle!" Emma said cheerfully. "He had stayed with us for the wedding. He is a very kind and yet very reserved soul. He could barely speak a word in our presence! Though I had managed to appeal to his confidence and assisted him in acquainting with those in Highbury. He had adored Miss Bates from almost the moment they had met and confided in me that he found her voice to be very soothing, I cannot imagine why, and had asked for my help in winning her affection! He earns over a thousand a year and keeps a small but lovely house in the next county. He has no heirs and has no expectations in gaining one from Miss Bates; therefore he has promised to leave Jane Fairfax everything! They are all very grateful and happy!"

"Emma dear," Mr Woodhouse croaked, "I feel rather cold, could you not go and fetch me another blanket?"

"Of course Father!"

The moment the door closed Mr Woodhouse let out a small sigh. "Oh Mr Knightly, it is dreadful business, dreadful indeed," he said. "I do not know how to restrain her tendencies to make love matches. I have tried to prevent her from sending poor Miss Bates off to marriage and leaving Highbury, but she did not listen to me. I had thought she would stop after poor Miss Taylor but she did not keep that promise. I must do my duty in keeping Highbury safe from Emma's attempts to marry everyone off, and to do such a duty I must make a sacrifice, one last marriage must be made. I must insist on you marrying Emma!"

Mr Knightly almost chocked on his own saliva. Surely he did not hear correctly? Surely Mr Woodhouse did not consider the idea of matrimony in any shape or form? Surely he did not decide it was for the best for Emma to actually marry? And what more, surely, Mr Woodhouse did not intend to give his youngest daughter to a man sixteen years her senior? "Pardon?" he coughed. "I do not think I quite heard you."

Mr Woodhouse stared at him with a sad solemn look that Mr Knightly had not seen since the Mrs Woodhouse had died. This was indeed a very serious business.

"Mr Knightly, you are the only gentleman that I could trust, the only man who could restrain Emma, I am certain if you were to take her away as your wife you will be able to curb this terrible habit of hers of making love matches. I do not wish to lose my daughter but I have no choice but to send her away if she continues to persist on this matchmaking business. All I ask is that you allow her to visit me daily."

"O...Of course, I would never keep Emma away from you," Mr Knightly stammered slightly.

Surely the world has gone mad. There was no reasonable explanation for Miss Bates to leave her home and marry a man she only knew for a week or two. There was no other explanation for Emma to actually make a match and not think to herself how well suited they are. The start of the apocalypse must here at this very moment because this must be the end of Highbury if Mr Woodhouse was insisting on a marriage.