Sanditon – Optional Season 2

My take on a Season 2. Do not expect a Season 3. If all goes as planned, you will not need or want one.

Note: This was based on the TV show and the novelization. While I cannot recommend the novelization as it adds very little to the TV show, there are some differences that need to be mentioned for people who only watched the show. In no particular order:

Otis and Georgiana are still in communication and Otis had joined the Royal Navy. We are to assume Sidney does not know.

Lord Babington has a sister, Augusta who was the one who loaned Charlotte the dress to go to the ball in London (it was like MAGIC in the TV show)

Eliza Campion's maiden name is Stirling.

There are others but I can't think of them at the moment. If you see that I added something assume it is either poetic license or from the novelization. You can PM me if you are confused.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters. I would hope that I do better by them. This is still not Austen, so please don't expect that level of writing. This is TV FanFic. Something to pass the time as we are all locked in our homes washing our hands.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Be good to your neighbors. March 2020.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Flashback - 10 years - 1809

"Don't think too badly of me, Sidney," Eliza stated.

In twenty-four hours, Eliza Stirling went from promising to love Sidney forever to accepting Campion's proposal. Campion was a grotesque, obese, ridiculous, albeit wealthy prig of an old man. Sidney and Eliza would laugh at Campion and the foolishness of his attentions to Eliza. In the end, Sidney had little to offer financially to a young woman such as Eliza. Eliza liked the finer things in life.

Sidney was confused and angry. "I don't understand."

"I don't love him." She declared as if that made it all understandable.

"So why are you -?"

"You know why," she stopped him.

He didn't. He was eighteen. He knew nothing and anything he thought he knew just blew up in his face.

"I must think of my future happiness," she stated.

"Happiness?" She couldn't possibly be suggesting that wealth and station equaled happiness. "But we were -."

"No," she cut him off again. "We were not. We could not." She fixed him with a cold stare. "I want more than you can offer, Sidney."

He was stunned to silence. She was so cold. So unfeeling. So callous. Was this the Eliza he loved?

"Not that you offered at all," she finished him off. In truth Sidney had not made an official marriage proposal, but it was understood in every look, touch, kiss and conversation. They were eighteen, they did not need to marry yet. Or so he thought.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A few weeks later Tom Parker found himself entering a house of ill repute on Drury Lane; a place he never in his life expected to go. "Where is he?" demanded of the woman who met him at the door. It sickened him to think that his younger brother was there.

Mrs. Harries fixed Tom with a glare sizing him up.

"You will take me to him right now," he insisted.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Sidney Parker's brother," Tom stated.

"Ah yes," she drawled. "The brother. He has spoken of you … often."

"Fine, where is he?"

"He has spoken of you as the person who will pay his tab." She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and offered it to Tom.

Tom took it reluctantly. "His tab?" He saw the total and was stunned. He looked back up at her expecting an explanation.

"He has been here for three weeks, Mr. Parker." She flashed a wicked grin. "And he has a very voracious … appetite."

Tom pulled some money out of his waist coat and handed it to her.

"That is not nearly half the total," she scolded.

"I will have the rest for you tomorrow."

"Then you will get your brother – tomorrow."

"He will come with me tonight," Tom stated ripping the money out of her hand. "Or you will get nothing, and I will call the constable." He held the notes out to her.

"Very well, Mr. Parker." She took the notes from him. "He is at the end of the hall. Good luck to you and I will expect the balance tomorrow."

Tom moved down the hall. In the last room he found Sidney sprawled out face down, buck naked on the bed with two women similarly undressed. The room stunk of sweat, smoke, beer, wine, opium and sex. Tom was appalled.

"Sidney," he called to no response. "SIDNEY!" he shouted kicking the side of the bed. The girls startled awake but were very woozy. "Get out," he told them. "NOW!" They stumbled out of the room dragging their clothes behind them. "SIDNEY!" At this Sidney stirred. "Sidney, get up."

"Tom?" Sidney said groggily. "Is that you? Why are you here? Go away."

"Father sent me to get you," Tom stated. "Enough is enough. You are coming home."

A bitter fight ensued both physical and verbal which ended when two doormen threw both Tom and Sidney out on the street.

Two days later, Sidney was on a boat for the West Indies and did not return for eight years.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Chapter One – Sanditon – Mid-September 1819

Sidney was back in Sanditon much to Eliza's vexation. It had been eight weeks since the fire. He went to Sanditon only twice since the night of the fire. He came back once to report his engagement, he stayed the day and left early the next morning. He could not bear to hear his brother's constant praising and congratulations on winning the heart and hand of the love of his life. The second time he snuck back into town to see Charlotte on her way back to Willingden, but no one knew about that. Seeing her that one last time nearly broke him for more reasons than just losing the glimpse at a life he might have had. He hated the man he was becoming.

The notion that Eliza Stirling Campion was the great hero of Sanditon was ludicrous. When he went to her originally it was to request her investment in the town. She readily agreed if he would marry her. It took him the remainder of the week and nearly a hundred other rejections before he accepted her terms. There was no misunderstanding between them; saving his brother from the poor house was his one and only priority. She had told him that they would find love again, he did not answer. Since then she made numerous demands on his time – balls, parties, excursions with friends. To his great relief he and Eliza were rarely alone, and Eliza seemed quite happy with that. He discovered that she was shallow, gossipy and mean. Maybe she was always that way.

She introduced him to many of Campion's business associates; Sidney knew these people only by reputation. There was not one that he would ever call a friend – caustic, snobbish, racist, opportunistic and downright rude - but they were wealthy. If he could not get them to invest in Sanditon, he got information on where to invest his money for the fastest and largest return: The East India Trading Company, the source of Campion's wealth. He wouldn't have considered the EIT in normal circumstances, but since he was planning on using Campion's money to save Tom, the line between right and wrong was very blurry. Her money, his money; it was all a devil's bargain. Dealing with these people was wretched. He was drinking too much, sleeping too little, smoking too much, eating too little and gambling too much. The whole exercise made him literally sick. It was all he could do to look himself in the mirror in the morning to shave. The upside? His bank account was on the rise.

Eliza had yet to invest, yet to even commit to invest. She had put off the wedding several times. She castigated him for his focus on work and money. She wanted to marry a gentleman, not a businessman. What she really wanted was a very pretty lapdog totally devoted to her to look good on her arm at society functions. They fought constantly. Their biggest discussions were of his guardianship of Georgiana. She was shocked that he would ever agree to such an arrangement and wanted him to renounce it before they were married. He of course refused. It remained an issue between them. The relationship with Eliza was deteriorating rapidly. A very small voice in his head told him that she should be careful, because soon he would not need her or her money.

The argument they had before he left nearly ended it:

"I will be gone above a week, Eliza," he stated. "No longer than a fortnight."

"That is too long, Sidney," she stated.

"I cannot continue to manage this with Tom via the post," he said.

In truth the information he was getting from Tom was perfect – or it had been up to two weeks prior. All he needed to keep working. Recently he was getting next to nothing and what he did get was useless. It occurred to him that Charlotte was the one who was corresponding with him and keeping him updated through Tom. Now that she was gone, Tom was floundering again.

"I need to be there, Eliza. In person." He was going to add that he needed to see Georgiana, but he left that out.

"You need to give this up, Sidney," she stated. "After the wedding, you will need to give it all up. You will be a gentleman, and I won't have you - "

"Be very clear, Eliza." He cut her off. "I agreed to this marriage to save my brother. If you will not help with that, if you will not ensure that my brother will stay out of bankruptcy, then there is no reason for us to marry."

"I know very well what I agreed to."

"Fine." He bowed curtly. "I will see you in a fortnight."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sidney chose to ride to Sanditon, rather than take the coach. The exercise would clear his head before he was back - back home. Sanditon was home for Sidney. He grew up there. He loved the sand and sea. Frankly he didn't want to share it, but Tom had other ideas. During his time in out of England he had romanticized it in his memories. There would have been no way to convince anyone from Antigua that a cold, windy, sandy beach with ice cold water was superior to the warm tropical breezes of the West Indies, so he didn't try. He had always loved coming back, even though he professed otherwise. In those all too brief days when he was contemplating a life with Charlotte, he imaged them living in the old Parker home with its garden, orchard and meadows; quite removed from Sanditon town proper. He imaged himself happy there. He believed Charlotte would be happy too but never got the chance. At least this time he told her he was planning on proposing – was that right or wrong in the circumstances?

Now however Sanditon did not hold the same kind of relief for him. It was colder, windier and unfamiliar. It was also empty – very empty – with the departure of one guest, the whole town seemed abandoned. It was two weeks since he last saw Charlotte, but there was a part of him that hoped beyond hope that she would return. He imagined the reproof she would give him about his reason for marrying and he would relish it. To be able to fight with her again. To see the fire in her eyes. To have her take him to task for everything thing he said or did … it was too much to hope for.

Then again, that was the old Charlotte, not the one he kissed on the cliffs. Not the Charlotte who wished him every happiness and told him to due his duty by Eliza. Not the one that did not want him to profess his love for her and her alone. That was the Charlotte he had turned her into; that Charlotte broke his heart.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"I knew you would try to ruin her happiness," Georgiana scolded from the doorway to the morning room at Trafalgar House. Sidney hadn't seen Georgiana since the day he announced that he was engaged to Eliza. Georgiana said nothing that day, but she found her voice since.

Sidney lowered the newspaper he was reading to glare at her. "What are you on about, Georgiana?"

"The good news is that Charlotte Heywood is a sensible, strong and resilient woman who saw right through you and is grateful for her narrow escape." She waved a letter implying that it was from Charlotte. She waited for a response that was not forthcoming. She needed to dig the knife in deeper and twist it a little to get the reaction she was after. "You haven't broken her Sidney, if that was your plan. She doesn't hate you. In fact, she doesn't think of you at all." She stuffed the letter into the folds of her skirt.

Georgiana could not possibly know how those words affected him. Sidney's jaw clenched tightly biting back every defense he had. He folded the newspaper slowly and placed it down on the table. He took a long drink from his cold cup of tea and placed it carefully back in the saucer. He stood, pulled down his waistcoat and reached for his coat.

"Sidney!" she called to him fearing that he would walk away from her.

He did not walk away. "Why do you wish to provoke me this time, Georgiana?" he asked pulling on his coat.

"Provoke you?" She almost laughed. "I hate you, is that not reason enough?"

"And why do you hate me?" He held up his hand to stop her from giving him the list of his offenses, yet again. "I have done nothing to you but tried to keep you safe from those who would take advantage and rob you of your rightful inheritance. I have tried, albeit with a minimum of civility, to honor your father's wishes and introduce you in society. I have paid your lover's considerable debts after I was proven correct about his intentions. Even now I am looking for a new situation and companion for you."

She shook his comments off.

"We are not friends. We are not family." He went on. "You must take your share on that account. But I am not your jailer. You are inexperienced and know little of Britain and society. You know little of the world and less about men. To your detriment you don't try to learn. You are bright, beautiful and have a lively spirit. And you are incredibly wealthy. You can be whomever you choose to be. If only you would try for yourself." He paused to see if she would respond.

"In this cold wretched place, I will never be any more than a spectacle - the Negress heiress. I will never be accepted for anything but my money."

"You are not alone in that." He smirked and shook it off quickly. "The fact is you are under my protection; I will let nothing bad happen to you. It would be so much easier if you stopped fighting me. Do you not think accepting the reality of our situation and trying to make the best of it would be better – for both of us?"

"How can I improve my station locked up with the ridiculous Mrs. Griffiths and those imbecilic Beaufort sisters? And here in Sanditon, no less? You call this Polite Society?"

"Mrs. Griffiths was not my first nor my second choice," he snapped. "And we tried London, but you were not helping the situation by running away at every chance you got and putting yourself in very dangerous situations." He glared at her. "I am looking for a new situation for you, that is part of why I was away."

"I suppose the elegant Mrs. Eliza Campion will turn me into a great lady?" Sidney bristled at the name and knew that Eliza and Georgiana would never be in the same room at the same time nor would Eliza ever stoop to help Georgiana. "Will I be expected to live with you and the love you're your life?"

Sidney visibly winced and turned away resuming his seat at the table.

She laughed. "You don't love her at all, do you?"

"You have lived in the world long enough to know that marriage is rarely about love."

Georgiana did laugh then and walked around the table to face him again. "Money! It is always about money. So, you are a mercenary too. I should have known. I would have had more respect for you had you broken Charlotte's heart because you loved another – but to be rejected for money is so … so … vulgar."

Broken Charlotte's heart?

Sidney could say nothing. She was correct to a degree. It was not money for himself, but for Tom and his family.

"You men and your money," Georgiana went on. "My father's money has done nothing for me but make me miserable and a target for men like you."

Sidney shook his head in disgust.

"If it is only for money," she asked. "Why not marry me? I have enough – you can have it all. I don't want it. Or just take it … you are in control."

"Enough, Georgiana," he bellowed. "Enough."

At that moment, Tom Parker walked in already speaking. "Sidney, I am so glad you are still here. I need your help with – Oh Miss Lambe, I did not know you were here. How are you? You look lovely today, as you do every day."

"Thank you," she said reluctantly.

"I need my brother, Miss Lambe." Tom went on. "Urgent business. You understand."

"I do," she said coldly looking at Sidney. "I understand completely." She glared at Sidney with fire and hatred in her eyes. "Men like you cannot change." She feigned a curtsey and walked out.

The letter she had been waving about slipped to the floor – presumably unnoticed by her, but not by Sidney Parker. He picked it up and slipped it into his waistcoat without looking at it and followed Tom to his study, the condemnation echoing in his ears.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Babington took the long way around from Denham Place to town. He was happy, he could not deny it. In Sanditon no less. His life with Esther, while not perfect, was always entertaining and invigorating. He had business in London which took him away for a couple of days a week, but he always looked forward to his return. And if he were pressed, he believed his wife anticipated his returns with joy too. The only taboo subject was her brother. Edward had been writing and probably visiting while Babington was out of town, but it was a subject he didn't broached with her. He could tell when Edward had been down. Her mood was sour, she scowled more and then of course there were the unexplained expenses. It wasn't enough to cause concern - yet. Babington remained constant and true. He wanted to forbid her from seeing Edward for her own good, but that was not his place. He would encourage her to come to town with him and sometimes she did, but often she wanted to remain in Sanditon to look after her aunt. Babington had faith that the more time away from Edward the better it would be for her and them. That, however, was a conclusion she must come to herself.

On that morning he was expecting to meet Sidney but there was at least an hour until the time of their appointment. He decided to walk along the beach and come into the town from the back way. As he passed a particularly unsavory section, he saw a drunken Edward scurry down an alley like a rat. He considered approaching him. Instead he went into the same establishment that Edward had. He would let Edward approach him – if he was man enough.

Babington took a seat at a corner table in full view of the room, ordered a bottle and two glasses. In moments he saw Edward enter from the back and take a position at the bar. Babington watched as the bar owner refused service to Edward knowing that he had no money. Edward was arguing with him, promising that he could get the money, when he noticed Babington smiling at him from the corner. Babington lifted the bottle and gestured his invitation to Edward; Edward accepted naturally.

"Lord Brother," Edward drawled as he dropped down into a chair.

"Sir Edward," he said pouring a drink for him. "What brings you to Sanditon? I thought your Aunt had banished you."

"My aunt -" Edward started. "My aunt can go to the devil."

"You'll be glad to know that she continues in good health."

"To spite me, no doubt."

"No doubt."

"Are you going to warn me against seeing my sister. Threaten me with -."

Babington interrupted him. "No." He studied him for a moment. "But why do you continue to pursue her?"

"Pursue her?" Edward feigned offense. "She is my sister. I have known and loved her -. Why should I not want to keep her in my life?"

Babington stayed quiet.

"She doesn't love you; you know." Edward said triumphantly. "She will never love you. She married you for your money and title." He drained his glass. "And to make our aunt happy. Anything she had to do to get back in the will. When she is secure of my aunt's fortune, she will leave you."

"And run back to you, I presume."

"Of course." He said pouring another glass. "Where else?"

Babington stood pushing the bottle toward Edward. "When that day comes, I will be heartbroken."

"Well don't go shedding any tears until the will is read, brother." Edward clutched the bottle to his chest. "My aunt's last will gave everything to the development of this wretched town including a Denham Donkey Stud – of all the ridiculous -." He drained his glass and poured another. "Miserly old bitch."

Babington looked quizzical for a moment. But he nodded curtly to Edward and left. He had gotten all he needed from the interview and a bit more. Edward had not changed, and he was pressuring Esther to give him money. To keep his promise to Esther, Babington would need to intervene, but could not do it without her blessing.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Tom was riffling through papers muttering to himself as Sidney waited not so patiently.

"I'm sorry, Sidney," he proclaimed. "I can't seem to keep this desk organized." A stack of invoices slipped to the floor in a heap. Tom sighed. "I miss Charlotte," he sighed.

Sidney turned away to take a seat in the corner of the room.

"She was amazing, that girl."

Sidney did not respond.

"A real wonder. Smart. Pretty. Full of glorious ideas. We owe it to her that the regatta was such a success."

Sidney still said nothing.

"And bringing Lady Worcester to town. However did she manage that? I should have convinced her to stay on. Up until the night of the ball, I had assumed that she would. She was showing no signs of homesickness." He looked away. "But a lot changed that night."

"Yes," Sidney finally said. "A lot changed."

Tom looked at him and saw the irritation. "I know you two didn't really get on, at least in the beginning but I thought you had worked through that before she left. The business with Miss Lambe in London -." He resumed looking through the stack of papers and finally found what he was looking for. He pulled a piece of paper from the middle of the stack and held it aloft. "Here it is."

There were times when Sidney was shocked at how oblivious his brother was of the people around him. "What is it?" he said with a great deal of annoyance.

"It is a listing of the debt coming due on the rebuild of the terraces." He shoved that paper toward Sidney who took it reluctantly. "It isn't due for a month and I have some of the money that Arthur invested left, but I wanted to let you know the total as soon as possible. With the wedding rapidly approaching … and your honeymoon … I just didn't want it to get lost in all the festivities."

Sidney looked at the list. It was a lot, but less than he was expecting. "Here's the thing, Tom," he stated. "Eliza has put off the wedding again. Now she wants it in June."

"June!" Tom exclaimed. "June is eight months away."

"I am aware."

"But is she still willing to invest in Sanditon? We need to be finished by spring to fulfill the summer guest list that we have and add to it."

Sidney swallowed hard and pursed his lips. "She is concerned about the costs and questions prudence of the investment."

"Prudence!" Tom exclaimed.

"Don't worry, brother," Sidney reassured him. "I will convince her, but as you know I can do nothing myself until after the wedding. I have some money I can give you." He didn't add any information about his latest investments.

"No," Tom exclaimed. "You would be investing; this is not a loan or a gift. You will be paid off with the profits of the town. And reap more than twice what you put in. Five times! Ten." He paused. "But I suppose after you are married you will not need your own fortune anymore. You will have Eliza's … well Campion's"

Sidney bit back his response. His ego could not take the idea that he would be living off another man's money. But that is the contract he signed with the devil when he agreed to marry Eliza to help Sanditon.

"We'll get by, Tom." He stood abruptly. "But I must go. I am late for a meeting with Babington."

"Yes, yes of course." He grabbed Sidney by the shoulder. "Are you sure, Sidney? Are you sure you will … will be able to convince her?"

"Do not fear, Tom." He nodded to the stacks of invoices on Tom's desk. "But let's not go too high end just yet, OK?"

Tom smiled disappointedly and nodded.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sidney's mind was whirling as he walked away from Trafalgar house to the hotel where he was to meet Babington. Ahead of him on the street was a woman. It was Charlotte: he knew her hair, her figure, her determined step. He quickened his pace. He was just about to reach out and touch her, call her name, when the woman turned. It was not Charlotte. He smiled sadly and turned away. He pulled Georgiana's letter from his waistcoat. It was from Charlotte. He wanted to hear anything about her life. He nearly opened it but thought better of it and tucked it back in his waistcoat. He needed to forget about her as she was forgetting about him.

I have changed … I am my best self, my truest self, when I am with you.

But in forgetting her, did he need to revert to his old self? It would seem so.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Georgiana was home when she realized that she had lost the letter she had brought with her to see Sidney. She had intended for him to see it, nay she wanted him to read it. It was from Charlotte, but there was not a word of Sidney in the letter and she sounded happy to be home. There was nothing that would hurt him directly, but the absence of any mention of him should sting a bit.

There was a letter waiting for her secreted in by her maid, Miss Crockett. It was from Otis. He wrote rarely but constant in his love for her and a future together. His plan was in full motion. He had joined the navy and was to set sail the day after next. She was happy that he had a plan, but she would be of age before he distinguished himself. This would be the longest three years of her life. She was living for the day when she could do as she liked and there would be nothing that anyone – particularly Mr. Sidney Parker - could do or say to stop her.

Her goal now, was to either get back to London, or get Sidney to return her to Antigua. If he had to join her there, then so be it. A few more well-timed jabs about his hypocrisy in marrying for money would surely turn him in that direction.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Parker!" Babington shouted as Sidney walked into the hotel bar.

"Babs, Well met!" Sidney said slapping Babington on the back and shaking his hand. "Married life seems to agree with you."

"It does. It does."

"Why are you in Sanditon?" Sidney took a chair and poured a glass from the bottle on the table and toasted his friend.

"Denham Park and old Lady Denham." Sidney shook his head. "Edward abandoned it."

"For a price," Sidney offered.

"Of course."

"Still, I thought your new wife would choose Babington House. It is far grander and at least fifty miles from Sanditon."

"She enjoys her time there. She and my sister are thick as thieves. But she feels that being close to her aunt as her aunt has no one left in the world is – and I can't believe I am going to say this about my bride – that it is the considerate thing to do." Sidney was unimpressed. "And she is enjoying overseeing the repairs and remodel of the old estate."

"And that suits you?"

"Anything that makes her happy."

"Spoken like a man still in love."

Babington nodded. "Let's get the business out of the way old friend. Since I will be apparently spending much of my time here in the future, I want to know about this pet project you have going with your brother."

Sidney did not look too pleased. "A very expensive pet. Why? Are you looking to invest?" Sidney asked dismissively.

"I might be," Babington admitted. "My banker has warned me away, but like it or no, Sanditon holds an interest for me now. And if I could help improve the society of the town, it would help me tolerate my time here." Sidney wasn't so sure he wanted to drag his friend into the financial nightmare that was Sanditon. "Truly, Sidney. I would not need much of a return. If I could be assured that the investment was safe."

"I could probably guarantee that, but I could not give you a timeline."

"That is irrelevant. I am married now. Settled. Days, weeks, years … I am settled – well as much as I can be as a husband to Lady Babington."

"It is good to see you so happy."

Babington grinned. "What about you and your soon-to-be bride?"

"The wedding has been pushed to June," Sidney stated without emotion.

"You seem … relieved."

"In a way I am."

Babington shook his head. "OK, Sidney. I haven't asked before as I thought it was none of my business; but being as I am contented in my situation and wish the same for you, I need to ask."

"Please don't." Sidney tried to put his friend off. He lit a cigar.

"The night of the Mid-Summer ball, your heart, your interest, your desire lay in a different direction. You said as much." Sidney looked away. "Were you rejected? Or did you change your mind?"

Sidney took a long drag off his cigar and let the smoke out slowly. "I was … was … I was compelled … compelled by circumstances beyond my control to make a different choice."

"Circumstances? Beyond your control?" Babington thought for a moment back to the night of the ball. To be fair, he had lost interest in everything else after Ester agreed to marry him. Then he remembered the fire. "You mean … you mean the fire? The fire and the rebuilding of the Terraces?"

Sidney did not confirm or deny Babington's conclusion.

"Why is that your problem?" Babington asked.

"My brother …" Sidney didn't finish. Babington knew enough of Sidney to know that his family was very important to him. A dawning came over Babington.

"Sidney … you are not marrying Eliza Campion for her money, are you?"

Again, Sidney stayed quiet.

"Well, despite the irony of that considering your history with that woman." Babington almost smiled. "You do know that it will be fruitless."

"Fruitless? Eliza is one of the wealthiest women in all of England."

"The money is not hers, Parker," Babington stated. "Oh yes, she has limited control over some of it, but the bulk of it is not hers … will not be yours when you marry."

"What are you talking about, Babington?"

"Campion had an heir."

"A what?" Sidney was stunned and immediately angry.

"An heir. He would be about eight or nine now." Babington looked confused. "Eliza didn't tell you of her son?"

"No," Sidney stated. "She did not."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Author's Note: I have not written fanfiction in years. I honestly thought I was done. For me it was a way to make shows that caught my attention turn out better (in my mind) than the reality. But then I just stopped caring about TV. I haven't written a fanfiction for a book – seemed rude. I had a plan to write a version of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy's perspective (would have been the 1000th one out there) but never saw it through to the end. I am too unworthy to redo Austen. All respect goes to that woman.

Then came Sanditon. I saw an ad for the series in early December and so I got the Audible novelization of the TV series prepping for the show in January. Listened to less than half of it and hated it. It was not Austen – it was not even in the same ballpark as Austen. It was a period piece set in regency England, but it was not Austen. Then the show started airing. I was late to that party by four weeks. Watched the first two eps – was not grabbed. Again, not Austen. This show was 98% Davies. The following week I watched through Episode 5 with Georgiana disappearing. I had to know what was going to happen next. That was the last show I had in my queue. I would have had to wait for the following week to find out. It was eight PM on a Sunday night and I had to be up very early the next day for work. I logged in, donated to PBS got PBS passport and watched the rest of the series that night. Hated the ending. There had to be a season 2. The next day I queued up the audible book and finished it in one day. Since then I have re-watched the series at least 5 times start to finish and many other times just for the Charlotte/Sidney scenes. I have listened to the book probably 3 times through and I got the companion book on Kindle for the behind the scenes stuff. Have also googled Sanditon Season 2 every day for a month. To say I was obsessed with this REALLY REALLY HATEFUL story is putting it mildly. But not the first time I have been obsessed with a show that didn't turn out like it could have. I blame it on Theo James. I know you will all think it is that damn cove scene – nope. It is the dance in London.

So… with no season 2 coming and the likelihood of a sequel book/novelization at zero. I had to write my own. I thought maybe one, maybe two chapters. Here we are 10-12 chapters later with a ton of new characters and not quite finished – outlined but not finalized. It is just out of control. I am not even sure how many people are reading Sanditon FanFic. So I did this for me and I offer it to those of you who want some kind of resolution that TPTB won't be giving us (and a way for us to be entertained as we are trapped in our homes social distancing. It is nearly finished, but I needed to get these first five out there to see if there is an interest and to force me to finish. In either event, I won't leave you hanging – but comments and follows are always appreciated.

The only promise I make – there will be a good resolution for Sidney and Charlotte even if she would be better off with Stringer or some boy from her village (not really). That being said … I hope you enjoy the first five chapters.