Jo felt tears run down her face. Beth was dead; they had just had a mini burial. They would not have a funeral until Amy got back, Teddy too. She ran through the woods. One of the places she and Laurie used to play. She got to the gate at last and slumped against, holding onto the post for support as she wept for her favourite sister, Beth. The one she wanted to be like. The one who wanted to be like her. Her thoughts went back to Professor Fritz Bhaer, he wasn't very sympathetic, and he hated her stories. He told her to take a hold of herself when she told him, tearfully, of Beth being ill. She missed Laurie too. Why had she rejected him? She loved him. But so had Amy, he probably loved Amy now anyway. She sighed and looked of into the distance.

"When I have a daughter, I will name her Beth, I will teach her to be like her, and the world needs Beths."

She had written a letter to Laurie a week ago, by express mail, to tell of Beth's death. Amy knew too. Jo knew that no-one could feel Beth's dead as much as she did.

A few days ago.

Laurie turned the letter over in his hands; he dropped it on the floor and raised a hand to wipe away his tears. Beth had died. She was only nineteen. The sweetest, dearest person he had met. Or ever will. She didn't deserve it. He got up. Amy needed family, she was alone out here, and Jo had Meg to look after her.

Laurie got up. He fetched a carriage and rode to Amy's house. Amy was sitting in the lounge.

"Oh Amy, I'm sorry."

Amy looked at him flirtatiously. "I guess you owe me that kiss, now."

Laurie looked angry. "Amy, come with me, I can take you home."

"I don't want to go. You can go. I want to complete my year here."

"Beth has died, she was your sister, and do you feel anything for your sister, who'd do anything for anyone, put everyone else first. Don't you care?"

"Why does everyone go on about Beth's attitude? She had no skill. Go away, I bet if you had the chance you would marry her, you like her more than me! She does not even look attractive!"

"Fine, forget it."

Laurie walked out fuming; Amy had used this as an opportunity to get what she really wanted. Him. He went to a ship port and got a ticket back home. Back to Jo. Someone who would care for Beth.

A few days later.

Jo was crying against post.

"When I have a daughter, I will name her Beth, I will teach her to be like her, and the world needs Beths."

"They sure do."

Jo jumped and turned around. "Teddy"

She threw her arms around him and sobbed onto his chest. "Oh, Teddy, she's gone and she's not coming back." Jo collapsed against him sobbing. Laurie felt her pain, the true pain, not put on to gain sympathy.

"Where's Amy?"

"She wouldn't come." Laurie was crying too.

"I feel that all my sisters are leaving me, Teddy, I told Professor Fritz Bhaer, he didn't even care for Beth's illness he told me to stop crying. To take a hold of myself, Oh Laurie I hate him so."

Laurie dried his tears "Oh, Jo, poor Jo. Beth will always be with us, you know."

Jo looked up at him; eyes full of love, Laurie looked back. Jo found his hands and held them.

"Teddy, I'm sorry I rejected you, I don't know what was wrong with me, I have regretted it ever since, oh please say you forgive me."

Laurie response was to kiss her, long and deep. They broke apart

"Is that yes?" Jo teased

They both looked up into the sky. "There's defiantly one angel in Heaven today, Jo."

"I love you, Teddy," Jo said, it was barely a whisper but Laurie heard it.

"And I you"

The walked back off down the path to the future, they would never let Beth leave or be forgotten about because as Laurie said "Saints are never forgotten, they don't come around every day."