-

"Deep breaths." Elena told herself, closing her eyes and deeply inhaling. She exhaled and strongly opened her bedroom door, feeling the sunlight she hasn't seen for days hit her face.

She got out of her room, with her raven hair in a messy braid, her nightgown she's been in for days, making her way down the stairs into the dining room with the servants staring at her, surprised but Elena ignored them.

At the dining table the Bennet family were eating breakfast with no one. They raised their eyes to the front and saw the girl enter.

They all looked at her shocked except for Lord Bennet who kept his normal face.

"Ah. Flower, you're just in time." He stands up from his chair and walks towards his daughter. "Come, join us for breakfast." He said as if nothing happened. He led Elena to her seat which is between Arthur and Elizabeth.

She sat down and not even a few seconds later, the servants brought her some food.

She thanked them and started eating but stopped right away when she noticed all eyes were on her.

Elena loudly swallowed and put down her fork.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked.

Everyone in her family shook their head in sync.

"Then why are you all staring at me?"

No one answered until Lady Bennet did.

"You're right, it is very rude to stare. Children, eat." She said and they went back to eating.

-

It has been days, and now a week since Elena and Benedict have seen each other. Elena hasn't gotten out of her room since and Benedict tried to go to her house everyday but was too scared.

Daphne was right. They needed time but this is the longest they've been apart. They were scared to see each other but at the same time they craved each other. They wanted to feel the butterflies in their stomach when they lock eyes, again. They wanted to feel the heated tension when they were together.

After she ate with her family for the first time after a long time, she went back to her room. Slowly closing the door and sliding down it.

Yes, she tried acting like nothing happened but it was hard. If her father didn't play along, she couldn't have ate. She hears someone knock at the door. She stood up and opened the door only to see all of her siblings huddled up together.

"Well this is a big surprise." Elena said sarcastically.

Without saying anything, they all go inside her room and started to clean up. Isabella opened the curtains, Thomas made her bed, Arthur was cleaning up the drawings and poems on Elena's bench and Elizabeth was putting back all of the books on the floor back on the shelves.

"May I ask what you guys are doing?" Elena asked her siblings, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.

"Elena, please. We are worried about you." Elizabeth took Elena's hands and brought her to the edge of the bed. "Sit." She ordered as Elena obeyed.

They all sat with her as well.

"Why are you all worried?" Elena asked.

"Sister. You locked yourself up in your own room for 7 days and came out like nothing was wrong." Isabella said, concerned.

"Plus, you look like you haven't showered in days." Thomas commented, earning a slap on the head from Arthur.

"What we are trying to say is, sister, is that you were all alone for three years and you had no one to talk to. I think that made you build a wall around your heart to hide your feelings." Arthur said, gently taking Elena's hand.

"But you don't need to do that anymore. We're here now, you can talk to us. That's what siblings are for. You've been through so much stress since the beginning of the season and now you deserve a break. You're back and we're never letting you go again." Elizabeth continued.

Elena was touched by what her siblings were doing. After so long, she finally felt safe. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She released the tears that were forming in her eyes and cried like she's never cried before.

All of her siblings warmly smiled and hugged their dear sister, forming a group hug.

They hugged for a very long time, waiting until Elena has stopped crying. She calmed down after a few minutes and they all released. She whipped off her tears and chuckled.

"Lord, that was a good cry." She smiled.

"You're the middle one, Elena. You're the most important in the family." Thomas told her, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

(For all yall middles ;)

"Alright, let's go." Elizabeth clapped her hands and stood up.

"Where are we going?" Elena asked.

"Out, just the five of us."

-

Benedict was not doing better than Elena, of course. He did get out of bed and had breakfast with his family but other than that, he was the same as Elena. He drank and spent most of his time in the smoking room, always drawing failed sketches. Her mother tried to give him some medicine but the only thing that could heal him now was Elena.

He wanted to run to her and take her in his arms. He wanted to embrace her as tight as possible and tell her how much he loves her. All he ever wanted was the love of his life by his side. But now he wasn't sure he was going to her that.

Daphne wrote to him everyday, making sure if he was okay and if he was healthy. But he didn't reply any of the letters. He was happy that his sister was concerned about him but he just didn't know what to answer.

-

{ the next day }

Elena woke up very earlier than usual. It was like the first day she came back to London. She tried falling back asleep but it just ended up by shuffling around the bed. She humphed and got out of bed.

Nothing better than starting the day at six in the morning. She thought to herself.

She changed into a simple dress and wore her long coat. She quietly went down the stairs, trying not to wake up her family or the servants. She made it to the back door but stopped when she felt a presence behind her.

She turned around and saw Lady Bennet with her arms crossed with a serious gaze. Elena returned that serious gaze while removing her hood.

Her mother lost the staring contest and sighed in defeat. She nodded at her daughter with a smile. Elena knew what she meant and smiled back.

"Thank you." She mouthed and got out of the house.

After she left, Anastasia Bennet gave up. She knew she couldn't control her daughter forever, she just wanted to see her little girl happy again. Deep inside, she was proud of the beautiful and strong woman who was standing in front of her. She got over the past with the Bridgerton's and now waited for the big news.

-

(Bc this scene is inspired by Jane Eyre)

While Elena was walking out of the house, she realized she didn't knew where she wanted to go. The only thing that came to her mind was place. The hidden field in the woods, where she first met Benedict.

It was a long walk but she arrived. She made her way to the perfect spot to see a sunrise. She stood in front of the tree and leaned her back against it. It was the perfect timing, the moment she leaned on it, it was sunrise. She closed her eyes as the warm rays covered her face. She felt alive again when she took a deep breath, smelling the scent of the break of day.

Elena enjoyed the moment while it lasted. She opened her eyes again when her face felt cold. She somehow felt relieved after those long minutes, it's been so long since she's felt like that.

She decided it was time to go home. She turned to the left but stopped right away when her eyes met Benedict's soft ones. She was meters away from him but she was trapped in his eyes.

He started to approach Elena with his eyes still locked in with hers. Each step Benedict took made Elena's heart beat faster.

"The best place to see a sunrise is here, isn't it?" He asked as came next to Elena.

Elena looked back at the sun. "Yes, sir."

She started walking the other direction but Benedict followed her.

"We've been good friends, haven't we?" He asked again.

"You are not wrong, my lord." Elena coldly replied.

"How lon-"

"What is it that you want, Benedict?" She cut him off as she turned around to face him.

"I just wish to apologize."

"Apologize?" She scoffed. "Was I a machine without feelings to you? Do you think because I am not what society expects from a woman, that I don't have feelings? A single apology cannot fix anything after everything you did." Elena's eyes started getting watery. "The way you acted was selfish and stupid. You could've come to me for an explanation but instead, you made the most ignorant decision and decided to get drunk."

Benedict stared at her speak with a guilty face. "I understand you were drunk but the words you said to me were hurtful. The person who I trusted the most, the person who I cared for the most, the person who I loved the most, betrayed me."

"And no words can explain how terrible I felt the moment after I did it!" He pulled Elena close to him. "I was an idiot to hurt the most incredible woman I have ever met. When you didn't attend my sister's wedding, I realized that I lost the woman of my dreams... I lost you." Elena stared at Benedict, dumbfounded. "The past week was torture, Elena. I kept telling myself that if I had made a better decision, you would be by my side. I would've proposed to you, and you would've said yes."

Elena stared at Benedict with teary eyes as he apologized. "Benedict..." She managed to breathe out his name.

"Scream at me and hit me all you want. But I am not going to screw this up again." Benedict took a deep breath before speaking again. "Elena, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are the woman who I've been searching for my whole life. Will you marry me?"

Elena couldn't believe her ears. She thought Benedict was joking at first but he looked really serious.

"Are you mocking me?" She asked.

"Do you doubt me?" He asked back.

"Entirely. I thought you did not wish to marry, that you wanted a different life."

"I do not care what life I shall live if I am with you. Yes, you're different. That's what I love about you. I must have you for my own, Elena."

"You wish me to be your wife?" She asked.

"I swear it."

"You love me?" She whispered.

"I do. With all my heart." He whispered back.

She hesitated, not knowing what to answer while Benedict stared at her with a nervous look.

"Then, sir, I will marry you." And she pulled him into a passionate kiss.

The sun shined brightly and it was beautiful. It felt like a dream for both of them. Elena's mind was blurry as she was only concentrating on Benedict's lips attached to hers. They both felt fluttering in their stomachs. Their eyes were closed, they could only hear the peaceful wind while they tasted the lips they'd been craving forever. Benedict felt warm as Elena felt love. Benedict pulled Elena closer by her waist, making her gasp, giving him access to slip his tongue into her mouth. She moaned into his mouth while wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Wait." He pulled away. "I am still a gentleman, we must wait until the wedding."

"I do not care." She pulled him back in and attached her lips to his again.