A/N: I feel the need to warn you all. This chapter is chalk fulla feelings and is almost so sappy it's sickeningly sweet.
Don't say I didn't warn ya'.
Will stared in shock. Did she just say what he thought she said? At the moment he didn't quite trust his hearing. Realistically speaking, this shouldn't have been happening. The woman of his dreams, the first woman to reject him he may add, just claimed she loved him. He had almost convinced himself it was a dream. Almost. Then he heard the unsure voice of a decidedly real Elizabeth Bennet.
"I mean… you're kinda, sorta, basically always on my mind…"
His eyes were unwavering. She set down her drink and laced her fingers together.
"I understand if you know.. if you," she choked a little on the next bit," hate me. After all I said about you and how I acted, God, I'd hate me too."
Darcy tried to get a word in. To tell her how much he adored her, how he could never hate her. What to say though? I didn't seem right to just blurt out the words 'I LOVE YOU' like the answer to quiz bowl question. Then he thought back a few words they had exchanged about a year ago.
"Lizzy… do you remember when you said that you weren't the jealous type?"
The confusion was evident on her face. "Not especially," she said incredulously," Can you always remember your small talk so well?"
Meaningfully he said, "I remember all the conversations we've had."
And he did. Speaking to her was one of the few things that could make him smile. Arguing made her eyes light up and face flush with determination. She posed a challenge he could never win but could spend years teasingly debate with. He wanted to cherish and protect her so much. Not many people could evoke that response in him.
When she didn't reply he leaned forward. "You said 'What's mine is mine. End of story.' That's me too, Elizabeth. I could never quite convince myself that you weren't mine. I just ... resigned myself to the fact you didn't want me."
Lizzie felt horrible. A slight chill hit the bottom of her stomach. She wrung her hands together, embarrassed. Tears pricked at her eyes. Do not cry. If you cry, I swear- chanted her mind.
"Oh, Elizabeth," he whispered hoarsely as he reached for her, "I'm sorry. I can't stand it when you cry."
She shook her head in protest to his apology but wrapped her arms around him. "I can't believe I said all those things to you. They aren't even true. You're... you're so.. so..."
"Lizzie," he admonished her ,"You can hurt me, disrespect me, while making me feel like a total and complete ass. But I still love you for it. "
Surprise diffused over her face. After it all, after everything she said and did, he loved her? He went on to press a small kiss to her forehead. He mouth made a small 'o' as he pulled her closer to him. They sat down on the couch just spending a few moments lost together.
Wiping her face, Lizzie smiled up at the man before her. Softly she confided in Will," I never thought another person could mean so much in my life."
There was a hesitant pause before an equally soft reply came.
"I never wanted to be your whole life- just your favorite part."
FIN.
A/N: …. DONE. Bam. Boom. Bazinga.
Yeah, so that's it folks!
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Thanks for all the loyal readers!