and he saw her

Epilogue

one year later...

- Baby, I'm home! - Kate shouted from the living room of their apartment while she locked the door.

It's been three months since she moved in and it still felt weird to call Anthony's apartment as her home. Their home. Weird because she never lived with anyone else apart from her mother and her sister. And also because she definitely never lived in such a fancy apartment.

But, if she was being completely honest with herself, living with Anthony wasn't weird at all. It felt... right. Easy. Almost as if they've lived together all their life. They matched, they fit. And getting home to see his gorgeous smile everyday was one hell of a bonus.

- In the bedroom! - Anthony 's voice resonates.

She soon finds him sitting on their bed, back leaning against the headboard and a messy hair that proves he left the shower not so long ago.

- What are you doing? - she questions as soon as she notices him typing hastily on his laptop.

- Kiss first, question later.

Kate rolls her eyes but she's not annoyed in the slightest. Kissing the love of her life is not a burden, if anything it's a blessing. They've been together for a whole year now, but the "honeymoon phase" didn't seem to be going away anytime soon. She was completely smitten by him, and judging by the way his eyes lit up every time she entered the room, Kate was sure Anthony was just as crazy about her.

- Happy? - she asks after giving him a quick but devoted kiss.

- Very.

- Great, so now you can tell me what are you doing?

- I'm working on my new movie. - he says enthusiastically.

Kate's expression was of pure shock. She didn't know he was writing a new project, let alone a new movie. She's seen him working on something lately, but he never mentioned anything to her, so she didn't think of asking before. But now that he was obviously excited she couldn't help but be curious.

- A new movie? Why didn't you tell me about it before?

- Because... It was a surprise. - his eyes were gleaming, full of expectation.

- A surprise? Why?

- Ask me what movie I'm making. - he orders.

- Anthony...

- Come on, ask me. - he orders again, this time gentler.

She rolled her eyes but the silly smile on her face was enough to let him know he had won that round.

- Okay, what movie are you making?

- Pride and Prejudice.

He stared at her, waiting for any kind of reaction. Kate on the other hand was speechless. Pride and Prejudice was her favorite book, and he knew that. He's seen her rereading her old copy of Jane Austen's book at least thirty times since they've started dating. Not to mention those times he had to listen to her endless arguments of why Mr. Darcy was in fact the perfect match to Elizabeth Bennet since the beginning of the story, even though it takes them a while to finally get together.

- Are you serious? - She asks, dumbfounded.

- Yes. - he nods his head excitedly. - It's a new version, obviously. But still, I thought you would like to know.

- I mean, duh, obviously! Anthony this is great. - she threw her arms around his neck, embracing him in a bear hug. - That's my favorite book ever and you're going to do such an amazing job, I just know it!

- Well, I'm happy that you're excited but I'm telling you this first hand for a reason. - he pushes her gently, just enough to be able to look in her eyes. - I want you to be Elizabeth.

Kate could hardly breathe.

In the last year she's been through a rollercoaster of changes in her life. First with all the fame that came along with the huge success of The Viscount Who Loved Me movie. Turns out Anthony's visionary screenwriting and directing skills together with the absurd talent and chemistry of Kate and Dorset, made their movie a box office hit. The fact that the director and the leading actress engaged in a relationship shortly after the premiere only increased the public's interest in the movie.

After that, Kate became the new Hollywood sweetheart, which gave her the opportunity to go to many famous talk-shows and to be invited to make special appearances on many tv shows, including the one Edwina was working on.

Her relation with her sister was much better now, and both of them were finally getting the recognition they deserved in the cinematographic industry. Although Edwina never really apologized for falsely accusing Kate of doing some dishonorable things, she did talk to her sister after the incident (and by incident she means that morning when Edwina caught her and Anthony in bed). Kate explained the whole situation to her and made sure she knew exactly what feelings she truly had for Anthony. Edwina admitted she was still jealous of her sister's role in the movie, but once she understood how that could boost both of their careers, she accepted it a little better. And ever since she got her own leading role in a show, their relationship improved a lot.

Kate also got to spend more time with Anthony's family, which was one of the best experiences she'd ever had. They were all really close (and surprisingly similar) and there was genuine love between all of them. She could tell they cared for each other and they didn't mind what anyone would think as long as the family was together and happy.

That was particularly special to her. As much as Kate had a great relationship with Mary and Edwina, they had always tried to keep some things separated from others, career-wise. Seeing Anthony's family interact and hearing their points of view helped Kate understand how they work together, and how that could be something extraordinary rather than a problem in their professional lives.

For that reason Kate wasn't afraid anymore. She wasn't afraid of what people would think or how that would influence her career or not. She finally understood that what really matters is what she wants and what would make her happy.

Acting makes her happy.

Anthony makes her happy.

The answer wasn't hard at all. In fact, it was probably the easiest decision she made in her life. Well, apart from choosing to be with the love of her life, of course.

- I'll be your Elizabeth... - she says calmly, cupping his face between her hands before adding her condition: - But only if you direct me.

Anthony gives her a smile that could light up the whole city and pulls her in for another kiss. The sweetest one they've shared yet, but far from being the last.