Recap: After Elizabeth and Darcy come to an understanding, Fiona Bingley attempts to steal him away for a dance. Georgiana doesn't allow it but then Catherine tries her hand at disrupting the lovebirds.

Darcy and Elizabeth briskly exited the reception. Catherine wasn't immediately outside of the tent and so Darcy started walking towards the garden. "Over there," Elizabeth whispered, pointing towards the ceremony site. Catherine stood with her back to them at the entrance to the West Garden. The moon was lending much of the light to the area though a few lanterns had been lit and placed here and there. Elizabeth shivered as they approach his aunt. The temperature had dropped after sunset and the impending clash was making her nervous. She had been filled with ire for this meddling woman just a short while ago but when it came down to it would Darcy side with her?

"Catherine," Darcy intoned flatly as they approached.

She turned around slowly, narrowing her eyes and scowling as she spotted the spare. "I asked to speak with you, William. I've already spoken to that one." She waved her hand dismissively towards Elizabeth.

"I know," Darcy replied coolly. "That is why I brought her with me." He stared at his aunt who returned his icy gaze. Elizabeth watched the stand off, unsure of when to speak or if she should. Normally she would pipe up, raise some hell and then move on with her night. Tonight she felt frozen to the spot. Darcy's face looked impassive at first but she read the slant of his brow and curl of his lip. She marveled that he looked less angry when he actually was furious. I'll have to remember that, she thought.

"Very well," she snipped. "You've had your fun but this little dalliance has run its course. Tomorrow we will return to London, you will not be in communication with each other and everything will be as it were."

Darcy laughed shortly. "No," he said simply and quietly. The sound hung in the air for a few moments until Darcy broke it again. "Catherine I cannot believe your audacity. I cannot believe you think I would give her up because you, my aunt, forbid it. I am my own master. I do not answer to anyone but myself."

She eyed him evenly. "Pretty speech William but I know that you have thought about the consequences and I'd wager they're eating you up inside. She isn't one of us. She doesn't know how to behave, what to do in our everyday world. She's American, for God's sake. Would you really want her standing by you at The Pearl's next gala?"

"Desperately," he answered swiftly. Darcy reached for Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it. Her chest constricted and she felt overwhelmed that he was so quick to stand by her after only knowing her a few days.

Catherine's eyes narrowed to slits that Elizabeth wasn't certain she could see out of. "I am ashamed of you William. Have you forgotten what you owe to yourself? To your entire family? I know you'd never consider marrying her but to even be seen with her?"

"Whom I choose to spend my time with and ultimately whom I will marry is up to me. I will marry someone when I am madly he love, not solely because you think they're suitable for me." His face remained stony but he lifted an eyebrow slightly at Elizabeth. She tried to hide her smirk at the repetition of the words she had earlier used with her mother. What was with meddling relatives?

"You have such infantile notions of marriage William. In our world a wife's duty is not only to her husband but to the family name and reputation. This is something she could never even aspire to understand."

Elizabeth's fear finally thawed enough to exclaim, "Really Catherine, join us in the 21st century! I may not be a part of your world but I sure as hell am a part of your nephew's. Do I know what to do in every situation, no, but I don't think you're a sterling example of that either. This is a wedding Catherine. You've insulted the bride's family repeatedly and your own daughter has to sneak cocktails because you're too terrible to be around sober."

Catherine stood erect, failing to mask her fury. Her wrinkle free face was contorted and her nostrils flared as she struggled to breathe calmly. "Anne?" she asked quietly.

"Um," Elizabeth stalled, realizing that she just may have put Darcy's cousin in a bad situation.

"Catherine," Darcy interjected, "the point is that I want Elizabeth in my life. She brings out the best in me and I'm convinced my life would be a little less bright without her in it. I hope you have a safe flight home and we'll speak later." He turned back to the tent, leaving a flabbergasted Catherine to work out what had just occurred. Elizabeth followed, a skip in her step as she felt gratitude swell in her chest for the man beside her. Darcy had sided with her. Darcy had chosen her. He smiled at her as they reached the entrance. "How about we finish at least one dance?"

ONE MONTH LATER

"Elizabeth," a voice called from the front of the house.

"Back here Jane," she replied. "I've tried to gather what I could find," she said hugging her sister. "I can't remember if some of this is yours or mine." Elizabeth looked around her sister. "Where's Charlie?"

Jane started looking through some papers her sister had stacked up. "He's coming separately. I wasn't sure if I could fit everything in my trunk so we decided to bring both cars."

About twenty minutes into sorting Jane's things into boxes Elizabeth took a break to make some coffee. "Packing is exhausting," she complained melodramatically to her sister who was sitting cross-legged on the floor wrapping knick knacks in tissue paper.

"Wimp," Jane said with a sly smile.

"Hey, you're teasing me," Elizabeth laughed. "Charlie is a bad influence on you."

"Hello?" a voice called.

"Speak of the devil," Elizabeth said.

"I hate that phrase Lizzy," Jane protested.

"Charlie," Elizabeth called. "What have you done to my sweet sister? She's teasing me now."

"Can't take what you dish out?"

Elizabeth's eyes flew to the door and she squealed. "Darcy!" She scrambled off of the floor and ran the short distance to jump into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him deeply.

"I didn't pick you up from the airport so you could maul my sister-in-law Darce."

Elizabeth disengaged one hand to reach out and smack her brother-in-law. She finally broke away and looked into his eyes. "You're here," she said in wonder. "What a nice surprise."

He stared back at her. "I was hoping it would be." He helped her back to the ground. "I couldn't wait until next month. I had to see you sooner."

She blushed and looked back at her sister. "I love you dear sister but Darcy and I are going to go hide away for a bit."

An hour later Darcy and Elizabeth emerged. The house was quiet. "I suppose Jane and Charlie got uncomfortable and took a load of boxes to their apartment," she observed. She turned to Darcy and kissed him passionately. "She'll forgive me. If I only get to see you every couple months..." she trailed off, choked with emotion. How could she only see him every couple months?

It had been an intense few weeks since the wedding. That last night they danced until the DJ finally closed up shop. Catherine had left Georgiana and Anne at the reception and hadn't returned for them. Jane had offered to set them up in the living room downstairs rather than have anyone drive them back to the hotel at the late hour. Elizabeth was originally going to offer her room to the two girls as Jane had plans to vacate but she quickly realized Darcy was without a bunk and kept her mouth shut.

Darcy and Elizabeth spent every moment together from then until his plane took off on Sunday. She had put on a brave face, said goodbye, kissed him passionately and then ran out of the airport. Since then she and Darcy texted, talked on the phone, did Facetime and Skype. The time zones presented a challenge but they decided regular sleep patterns were completely overrated.

"I'd like to talk to you about that," Darcy said.

Elizabeth looked into his eyes. "What?"

He cleared his throat uncomfortably, unsure where to start. "I... I want you to come back to London with me." She raised an eyebrow as he went on. "You can fly out of London for your assignments. We have three airports. Georgiana would love to see you. I can fly you home whenever you want to see Jane or your family and Charlie is set to come out several times this year."

Elizabeth swallowed, unsure of what to say. She had been fantasizing about moving to England with Darcy but it always ended with a stern lecture about being realistic and not allowing herself to harbor nonsensical notions about their relationship. Darcy ran his fingers through her hair. "I need you, Elizabeth."

Tears pricked her eyes. "I need you too, Darcy." She leaned in to kiss him again. "Okay," she said softly as they drew apart.

"Okay?" he asked. "Really?"

She nodded briskly. "I'm kind of terrified but let's do it." She squealed excitedly. "I'm moving to London!" Elizabeth frowned. "Damn, I just told Jane how much I hate packing. She will so make fun of me. Do I need a visa? Where will I live? With you?"

Darcy kissed her swiftly to stem the flow of questions. "We'll figure it all out. Let's go get some food, I'm starving."

She pinched his side, grinning widely. "I wouldn't want my new roomie to faint from hunger."

THE END

A/N: I can't believe we've come to the end. Thank you all for your follows and support during the past couple months. I've had a blast with the writing, editing and posting of One Narrow Aisle. For those of you that are interested I have posted a few fun details about ONA on my profile.

New story update: As I mentioned before I have completed the first chapter on my new story which will be Regency instead of modern. I am at a crossroads, however. I have the entire story outlined but another plot is niggling at my brain and I am worried that I will continue to compare my original idea to this new brain invader. For this reason, it may take me a bit longer to get everything out to you. If anyone is interested in helping me decide which story to write, PM me and I'll send you the two options for your vote.