�It was great, the architecture school was fantastic!� Charles answered, but Will noticed his eyes didn�t reflect the same level enthusiasm as his words.

�How long before you go home?� Charles asked, noticing what looked like several packed suitcases beside the door. �Are you going to Pemberley for the summer?�

�Yes, I�ll be returning�um�right away, I imagine.� Will hesitated. He knew what he had to do, and he did not anticipate sticking around after he gave Charles his news.

�I�m hungry. Let�s go get something to eat. Bond�s?� Charles raised his eyebrows to Will. �I�ve been dying for an Awful Awful for the past five months!�

Will nodded and they set off.

Bond�s, their favorite hamburger hang-out with the world�s best milkshakes, was hopping with teenagers and the local college crowd. Darcy began his daunting task as soon as they found a seat in a booth. He decided to start slowly, asking about Charles�s time away.

�So tell me about London since I�ve no idea what you thought of it. Have you never heard of writing a letter?� he asked sarcastically, but with a touch of warmth in his tone. Charles was not known for his expertise in correspondence.

Charles shook his head. �You know me, Will.� He looked around the place with a preoccupied air about him, his eyes glancing to the door whenever it opened. �What�s been going on around here?� he asked absentmindedly as he started tapping his fingers to the song now playing on the jukebox.

Click Here for Song

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah

Will found Charles�s tapping a bit distracting, he wanted his full attention before he launched into his confession, but his friend already seemed lost in the rhythm of the song.

You think you've lost your love
Well, I saw her yesterday
It's you she's thinking of
And she told me what to say

She says she loves you
and you know that can't be bad
Yes, she loves you
and you know you should be glad

Will�s ears perked up at the words, thinking how apt they were at that moment. An absurd thought flashed through his mind. Are the Beatles trying to give me subliminal messages? He shook his head, dismissing the thought as ridiculous, still intent on bringing up the subject, hoping Charles would pay attention, although now he was bobbing his head to the beat as well as tapping.

�Umm, Charles, there�s something you should know.�

She said you hurt her so
She almost lost her mind
And now she says she knows
You're not the hurting kind

Charles turned to look at Will, noticing his serious expression. �What is it?� he asked, still tapping, but thankfully his head stopped moving.

�I saw Jane the other day.�

Charles eyes lit up, looking delighted for a moment, but then reality returned and his eyes darkened as if a mask were pulled over his face.

�Is she seeing someone else now?� he asked bitterly.

�No, the opposite, I�d say.� Darcy paused knowing it was now or never. �Charles, about what I said about Jane�s intentions the day you left�� Again, he stumbled, considering what he should say next.

�What I told you wasn�t right. I believed Jane was going to drop you and I tried to prevent you from being hurt. I was wrong Charles, and I�m very sorry.�

Charles looked at him blankly, trying to grasp what Will was saying. He wasn�t sure if he heard him correctly.

�It�s true, Charles,� Will said, as if reading his mind. �She loves you. She�s always loved you.�

Charles was dumbfounded. He couldn�t say anything in response for a few moments. He needed to think this through. Jane still loves me? As much as he wanted to rejoice, he held back, not completely sure of himself � or Will�s involvement.

�Do you mean to tell me, after all this time, Jane never stopped loving me and you admit you were wrong?�

�Utterly and completely.�

Still in shock over this revelation, Charles had to think about this some more. It was an answer to his prayers.

Will broke the silence. �I think you should call her.�

You know it's up to you I think it's only fair
Pride can hurt you too
Apologize to her

�I can�t after all this time, Will,� he said. �She�ll probably slap me in the face, and I deserve it! I haven�t written or called her in five months. How can I go crawling back?� he asked dejectedly.

�Forget about that!� Will urged him on passionately. �Do you still love her?�

�Of course I do. I�ve never stopped! I never could!� Charles shouted back at him.

They both caught the words of the song at the same time, and a rueful expression came over Will�s face. He gave Charles a meaningful look.

�Then go to it!�

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah
And with a love like that
You know you should be glad
And with a love like that
You know you should be glad*

Charles scowled, he knew Will was right. With a look of appreciation he said half-seriously, �And don�t think you�re off the hook either, Darce.�

Charles determined to see Jane in person. It was very likely he�d see her at Caroline�s graduation in three days. He saw Caroline�s schedule and noticed Jane Bennet was one of the volunteers for the ceremony. With that matter settled, he lay into Will about how wrong he was to interfere in his love life. Charles wasn�t soft but Will took the tongue lashing gracefully; thankful Charles wasn�t the type to hold a grudge. Business out of the way, drinking their Awful Awfuls and devouring their burgers, the two friends caught up with each other. Will thought it best to leave out the part of falling in love with Elizabeth and making a fool of himself over her at his aunt�s. Now that he had come clean with Charles, Elizabeth was one part of his life he would try to forget.

Longbourn College was especially beautiful in May. Winter was long over and spring was at its peak. Azaleas and rhododendrons were in bloom, tulips were sprouting everywhere, the dogwood and pear trees were blooming; everything was green and lush. Elizabeth looked around feeling a little sad and lost to be leaving for the summer.

There wasn�t a cloud in the sky on Longbourn�s Graduation Day; it looked to be perfect for the outdoor ceremony. Lizzy and Jane had volunteered to hand out programs to the parents and friends of the graduates, as well as help with the refreshments afterwards. Since their home was in Meryton, it wasn�t difficult for them to be involved. There was no rush for them to leave, unlike most of the other undergraduates who were from out of state and fled campus as soon as final exams were over.

The lawn was crowded with parents, friends, faculty and new graduates. The commencement ceremony went off without a hitch, everyone happy and eager to start their new lives. Both Jane and Lizzy knew Caroline Bingley�s family would be there, since she was among the graduates, but neither mentioned it, not willing to bring up the sad subject. Jane resigned herself long ago that Charles was a part of her past, although she was determined to remember him as the most wonderful and pleasing man of her acquaintance.

Lizzy could see how her sister still felt about him and the way it left her. She noticed that Jane watched Caroline, in cap and gown, receive her diploma then turn and triumphantly smile at someone in the audience. Jane�s eyes immediately followed Caroline�s gaze, hoping to catch a glimpse of her family � of Charles. It saddened her to see Jane was not happy. She still obviously cherished a very tender affection for Charles. Lizzy hoped that in time Jane would be able to overcome her heartbreak, although it didn�t seem likely any time soon. Lizzy knew the feeling; she still had such a pit in her stomach in regard to Will. At least Jane had a real relationship to regret. I didn�t even get the chance.

After the ceremony, Jane ventured off for a quiet moment alone. Lizzy watched her standing by the rhododendron bushes nearby until she dropped some extra programs she�d been holding and bent to pick them up. A young man quickly approached her, dressed in a tan suit. He stood in front of her, as if uncertain of what to do. He looked familiar in his stance and Lizzy realized with a lurch in her stomach that it was Charles. She couldn�t tear her eyes from the scene even though she knew she should give them some privacy. Thinking about how tender Jane�s feelings were, she wasn�t sure what to do. Should she wait or go over there and help her sister?

Jane couldn�t get comfortable; she kept having the disconcerting feeling she was being watched. She ran her hand through her hair, looking about her, discreetly fixing the line of her skirt, making sure it was straight and that her slip didn�t show. What is my problem? I�m so fidgety. She didn�t want to admit it, but her mind was on Charles. She was fully aware the Bingleys were there for Caroline�s graduation, but she wasn�t sure if Charles was back from London and in attendance too.

As she adjusted her skirt, she accidentally dropped her stack of programs and kneeled down to retrieve them. While busily scooping them up from the grass, she saw a man�s pair of shoes step into view; brown leather Oxfords. Whoever he was, he was standing right in front of her. As her eyes drifted upwards, she saw the lines of a tan poplin suit. She recognized the figure, but quickly looked up into his face for confirmation. Charles! Smiling hesitantly, he knelt down in front of her and took both of her hands in his as he helped her up. She allowed him to help her, speechless. Thoughts ran rampant through her head; she could barely contain herself, yet on the outside she remained calm and poised before him.

Charles�s heart had been in his throat as he watched her from afar. This was his moment of truth. One look from her would tell him if he had any hope. He saw her alone, her slim figure standing in sunlight that was turning her hair a bright golden shade. She was as gorgeous as ever. He took the chance to approach her, just as she dropped the programs while adjusting her clothes. Here was his opportunity. Don�t blow it boy, this is your future! She looked up to see him and in one split second he could tell that she still loved him. Will was right; the look in her striking, sky blue eyes was unmistakable. He knelt down before her, and helped her up. Unwilling to let go of her hands, he began to talk.

�I know I have a lot explaining to do, Jane,� he began, but just seeing her again was so overwhelming, he couldn�t go on. She was gazing at him so calmly and sweetly, her eyes so trusting.

�There are so many things I want to say to you.� He searched for words, but her eyes were so�so� it was unnerving! She gave him a little pout with her lips and that was it, to hell with confessions and fancy words!

�But Jane, when you look at me that way, all I want to do is kiss �� His words were cut off as she impulsively threw her arms around his neck and firmly planted her lips on his. It was the last thing he expected � a searing, passionate, lip lock of a kiss! He wasn�t about to stop her! Savoring this moment, not caring who saw them, their hands swept along each other�s backs, reacquainting themselves as they wrapped their arms around each other, holding on for dear life. After the initial first explosive response between them, they broke apart only to look into one another�s eyes quickly, before eagerly kissing each other again. Although in the back of their minds, they knew anyone could see them, they continued in this way for several moments. Nothing could tear them apart � this had been too long coming. Sure, they had a lot of talking to do, but that could wait. At this point, neither one of them was willing to give up their physical reunion for all the tea in China!

As they gradually began to come down from the euphoria of seeing one another again, Jane�s eyes filled with tears. She couldn�t stop herself. The realization that she was back in Charles�s arms was too much for her. All her hopes and dreams were suddenly and shockingly coming to fruition; and the suffering she had gone through the past five months had taken its toll on her. Now, at last, she couldn�t hold back any longer.

Bowing her head and wiping her eyes so Charles wouldn�t see the mascara stained tears, she choked out, �I love you, Charles� and looked up at him with adoration. �I�ve always loved you, I never stopped loving you.� The words were music to his ears, although it broke his heart to see her teary eyes. This was his dream � to hear her say these words to him now after he thought all was lost � was beyond compare.

�I love you too, Janie, I never stopped loving you either!� He wrapped her in his arms again, squeezing his eyes shut, trying not to cry himself. �I�ll never let you go again, I swear,� he said into her hair, kissing her as he continued. �It was all a big, stupid mistake. I never should have left things the way I did. I never should have gone to London at all. Not when the best thing in my life was here all along.� He shook his head, still in shock, wondering what he could have been thinking to have left her in the first place. Jane looked into his eyes, knowing he meant every word. She had her Charles back and she believed him. She could be happy again. Tears of joy continued to run down her cheeks, but she had stopped caring � He loves me! He never stopped loving me!

Charles, seeing her tears, pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her face dry. �Janie, Janie, please don�t cry,� he said soothingly. �I�m back, it�s all right, and we�re together again.�

She nodded in pure happiness; her feelings overwhelming her. �I know, I know, Charles, I�m so happy!� She wanted to feel him against her again. �Hold me.� He gladly complied, taking her in his arms again, never wanting to let her go.

From a distance, Lizzy saw the scene unfold before her eyes. She turned away, not wanting to be a voyeur to the happy reunion. She was so pleased for Jane. It seemed someone had told Charles the truth. That someone must be Will Darcy. She knew it had to be. She thought of Will with such melancholy now. If only she had believed him. She looked back on their past with such regret. How could she have so misjudged a person? She turned to take a peek at Jane and Charles, saw them embracing and smiled to herself. No matter what he must think of her now, at least he did the right thing by Jane and Charles, she was grateful to him for that. He kept his word. She realized unhappily that she truly had let what could have been the best thing in her life slip through her fingers.

After a few more enjoyable moments of canoodling, Charles realized with a start, �Jane, my parents are here. I want them to meet you.� He grabbed her hand, starting to lead her in the direction of where he last saw his parents with Caroline.

�Oh Charles!� Jane was distressed at the prospect. �I don�t want your parents to meet me like this, after I�ve just been crying � I must look a fright!� She started wiping her eyes again with Charles�s handkerchief, worried about her appearance.

He shushed her good naturedly. �Jane, you look beautiful. You have nothing to worry about.� She gave him a smile, rolling her eyes at him thinking, what do men know? They have no idea!

�C�mon, my parents will love you! They�re not going to care about that.� He couldn�t understand why she was worried. She gave in and let him lead her to his family who were standing with their backs to them as they approached.

�Mom! Dad!� Charles called out to them. They turned and immediately noticed the pretty young girl standing beside him. This was nothing new; Charles was always meeting pretty young things everywhere he went. But what he said next did surprise them. �Mom, Dad, I�d like to introduce you to someone who is very special to me. Meet Jane Bennet, the girl I told you about.� He looked at Jane lovingly, and they now knew this was the girl Charles had been so heartsick over last Christmas. Whatever misunderstanding these two had, seemed to have been cleared up. His parents� faces lit up with smiles. They were happy to see their son with the young lady. This time it was serious. This was something special.

No one noticed Caroline�s sour expression in the excitement of meeting Jane. Caroline�s parents welcomed her with open arms as Caroline stood back watching from afar. She was none too pleased with the circumstances, but now that her parents were in on it, she knew there was nothing she could do. Charles had his little pet back and they would now be blissfully happy. She felt like she was going to be sick. Those conniving Bennets. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Lizzy Bennet standing off to the side watching the scene as well. Lizzy had a wide, beaming smile on her face as she watched from afar. She was obviously thrilled. Thrilled! Pah! Being truly happy for anyone but herself was beyond Caroline�s scope of understanding. Their eyes met and Lizzy�s expression turned triumphant. Caroline was left with no doubt what she was thinking. She quickly turned away, intent on not seeing a gloating Elizabeth Bennet.

�Well, that�s one thing I won�t miss,� Lizzy murmured to herself as she saw Caroline turn away. She was glad to see Caroline leaving Longbourn for good. She�d be happy not to see that sourpuss�s scowl for the rest of her life!

*The Beatles, �She Loves You� - performed by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. � 1963 Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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