Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star

can’t even tell you when I started. And I know you, Elizabeth. I’ve seen you when you are angry, and tired, and bitchy. I’ve known you when you are sad and upset, and I’ve known you when you are so happy you literally dance on your feet with joy. I’ve seen you in every way, and I love you. I know that I don’t want to miss a moment of you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you being happy and sad and grumpy because you haven’t gotten your coffee yet.” He smiled then turned serious again. “Please, Elizabeth. I know you love me, and I can’t see living my life without you. Please say yes.”

Elizabeth felt her emotions tossed like a tiny boat on the ocean with his words, but in the end, she knew he was right. She did love him and wanted nothing more than to be with him, and she knew he felt the same. It didn’t matter to her whether they married or not, but it clearly did to him, and suddenly the answer was easy. “Yes, my love, yes.”

He crushed her to him, kissing her like he could never get enough. Elizabeth responded, feeling unexpectedly happy and comforted in his embrace. They made love, slowly and gently, reaffirming their feelings for each other throughout the night, until exhaustion claimed them.

*   *   *

Tuesday morning found them back at JFK Airport, the same place they had left from four months ago. The plane was different; instead of the De Bourgh corporate jet, they had a chartered airliner, and instead of watching Darcy arrive, she sat beside him in their limo. Despite the familiarity of having done this before, Elizabeth was struck by a powerful sense of distance as she climbed the steps to the plane, a pair of sunglasses on her face, her guitars in her hands. She had changed so much and become a new person in so many ways. Gone were the nervous uncertainty and the forceful need to prove herself. Elizabeth walked with a confidence that came from knowing who she was and what her strengths were.

Darcy was right behind her, and this time she did not hesitate to move to the front of the plane. Instead of a group of strangers onboard, Elizabeth was happy to find that she knew almost everyone there. She smiled as people called out greetings to her, and surprisingly, to Darcy as well. As she waved, Elizabeth felt the sense of responsibility for them that Darcy had told her about so long ago. But she didn’t find it overwhelming. She knew that they all wanted to be there, to share in their journey and go wherever it might take them.

She passed Richard and Charlotte, who were relaxing with a pair of PSPs plugged into each other. By some rare miracle, Charles and Jane had arrived on time and were holding each other’s hands in preparation for takeoff. Elizabeth said good morning and took her seat next to Darcy. As the plane started moving, he laced his fingers with hers and they shared a tender kiss, the light in his eyes telling her how happy he was.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice as always soft and strong.

Elizabeth smiled at the question. She was ready for whatever was next. “Let’s go,” she answered him, as the plane took off.

Epilogue

 “For MTV News, I’m Mark Cole.

“It was destined to be the wedding of the season, the widely publicized nuptials of Slurry lead singer Charles Bingley to Long Borne Suffering’s Jane Bennet, but it turned into so much more. In this MTV Valentine’s Day special we are going to talk to the members of Slurry and Long Borne Suffering about what happened on that day, January 24, 2011. But first, let’s watch the video.”

The tape first shows Charles, Richard, and Darcy waiting at the front of a tastefully decorated church. They are all wearing dark suits. Flowers are everywhere. The music starts and the congregation stands. All eyes are on Jane as she enters the church on the arm of Mr. Bennet. She is wearing a sleeveless white gown with a pink ombré and carrying a bouquet of white tulips. At the front of the church, she takes Charles’s arm, and they move slightly to the left as the congregation murmurs and turns.

Charlotte now enters the church with her father. The crowd is growing louder but Charlotte smiles happily at Richard. She is wearing a slim, white sheath with sheer bell sleeves that reveal her tattoos. She is carrying a modern-looking arrangement of purple and white orchids. She takes her place next to Richard and they move slightly to the right.

The congregation has grown silent as the music plays on and Darcy is waiting alone at the front of the church. Then the doors open once more and Elizabeth emerges with her father, who clearly slipped around to the front of the church again. She wears a classically styled wedding gown in ivory with a full skirt and fitted bodice and carries red roses. She smiles archly at the gasps as she takes her place next to Darcy. The three couples stand together for a long moment and then turn, and the ceremony starts.

Mark Cole: “With me in our Times Square studio, just back from their Hawaiian honeymoon, are Charles and Jane Bingley, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and Richard and Charlotte Fitzwilliam.”

The camera pans to each couple, who are looking relaxed, tanned, and happy.

“Let me start by congratulating you all, and I have to ask, why a surprise triple wedding?”

The couples laugh.

Darcy: “Well, Charles and Jane were the first ones to set a date, and because of Jane’s condition, we felt that would be best.”

Quiet laughter as Jane pats a very pregnant tummy.

Richard (interrupting): “Don’t believe him. Will was actually dying to get married all through the tour. We kept expecting Will and Lizzy to announce that they had snuck off to a justice of the peace’s office at breakfast one morning.”

More laughter.

Mark: “Will, is this true?”

Darcy (looking slightly embarrassed, with Elizabeth teasingly looking on): “Yes.” More laughter. “I’m the kind of person who, once I make up my mind, I want to do something right away.” He looks at Elizabeth. “Lizzy had other ideas.”

Elizabeth: “Oh great! Now millions of women are looking at the TV and calling me an idiot. Thank you very much.”

Darcy kisses Elizabeth.

Mark (trying to get them back on topic): “So, when did you decide to have a surprise wedding?”

Charlotte: “We finished touring in December, before the holidays, and we immediately got to work on Jane’s wedding.”

Mark: “No break?”

Charlotte: “No break. Richard and I saw how much work the wedding was and what a nightmare it was turning into, and at one point we just looked at each other and said, ‘We’re never gonna do this again.’”

Richard: “So the idea came to us that since Jane and Charles were already doing all the work and since everyone we would want at our wedding would already be at theirs, why not just save ourselves the headache and piggyback onto it?”

Charles (smiling): “Yeah, let us do all the dirty work.”

Mark (looking at Darcy and Elizabeth): “And you basically had the same thoughts?”

Elizabeth (nodding): “That was it. It was a funny coincidence of timing, because we all came up with the same idea on the same day. I was talking to Jane about the idea while Char and Richard were talking to Charles.”

Darcy: “We decided to keep it a secret because we knew otherwise the news coverage would get out of control.”

Mark: “Now, about the timing, is it true that you all met each other on the same night, and you all proposed on the same day?”

Charles: “Within twelve hours of each other, I think.”

Mark: “When was that?”

Charles: “That was six months ago, back in August. We were playing at the Garden, here in the city.”

Mark (continuing with Jane): “Is it true that you proposed to Charles, Jane?”