A/N: I will pour my heart out into this story. For I have never been able to get over the fact that Jo and Laurie do not get together in the actual story.
A/N: Disclaimer: The Little Women story line, characters, etc. do not belong to me. I am only borrowing them for this fanfic, not for a profit or anything of that nature…
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Chapter 1: Routine Life
Not two days ago, Jo was living her now routine life. She would get up early every morning and see that breakfast was being made as she and her husband proceeded to wake up all the boys living in their school. After breakfast came lessons, play, more lessons, lunch, more play, Jo reading to the children by the fire, dinner, then prayers and bed. Despite her unsettled nature, Jo was happy with all she was able to do for the little men. She loved watching them learn and grow, and wondered what they would do with their lives once they came of age.
Still, every now and then, when reality crept back in, she admitted to herself she was not really happy. She could never forgive herself for letting her other half go, and would quietly sob at night in the backyard when she was sure no one was listening. She did not want to make her unhappiness known, for she knew Prof. Bhaer needed her. He was an aging man and loved her dearly; she knew he could not manage without her. In time, she began to love him too, but not the same kind of love she reserved in her heart for her childhood neighbor and her now best friend and brother-in-law.
Meanwhile, Laurie was truly happy when he married Amy. For she was his best reminder of Jo, though more handsome. For reasons unbeknownst to him, his heart ached and longed to cry out whenever he thought of the time he told Jo that he switched her place in his heart with Amy's. It's true, isn't it? Then why don't I believe it… Why can't I tell myself that I now love Amy as a lover and Jo as a sister?
He found relief, if not contentment, when he would go to Jo's school and play with her pupils. Meg's hyper twins Daisy and Demi never ceased to bring a smile to his face. When at home, he would walk with his wife up and down the halls, contemplating in silence. He could not get over how they were never perfectly in step together. There is another he knows, however, who's every action mirrors his own. Someone he should stop thinking about but can't. Someone he must treat as a sister and hide his true feelings from. Someone who completes him.
One rainy afternoon, sitting in the library of his house and reading one of the books Jo recommended to him, he learned of the now harder life Jo was destined to face. His face was that of confusion as he saw Amy running towards him, as fast as her legs would carry her in those heels. He turned pale at the horror and sorrow present in her face.
"My lady, what is it?" he demanded.
But she was out of breath, and could not yet speak, so he bade her to sit in a chair and clam down.
Moments later, with unbearable dread, she turned her fact towards her husband and reluctantly told him the dreadful news that happened that very morning.
He voice began to quiver as she spoke, "Professor Bhaer. This morning, he, he had a dreadful fever since the night before. He's been sick for months, but Jo did not tell anyone. You know how she is. You know that Meg and I spent the past week with Jo, so we witnessed it all. Drawing his last breaths, he gave her a note from his pocket and kissed her tenderly. Then he was gone."
She tried to read Laurie's reaction, but his face was stone cold.
"Then," she continued, "Jo quietly went to a corner and opened the note. It was very short. Upon reading it she became very quiet then went into a huge fit of rage and locked herself in her room. She won't let anyone in and just keeps yelling out 'Fritz! You have left me all alone! How could you? Why did you go after Beth? I am the one who can take care of you.'"
Amy wiped away the drops that were involuntarily dripping on her cheeks and put her husband's hands in hers. "You must go see her and calm her down. You are the only one who can."
Laurie nodded his reply and put on his hat and coat, hurrying out of the house into the rain. His heart ached to know the pain Jo was currently feeling. Although he could not help but find pleasure in the fact that he was the only one who could appease her.
The day was unusually gloomy indeed. The sun hid herself between her faithful clouds, who were all crying out for Jo's unexpected loss.
A/N: Well what do you think? I have so many ideas for this and will try to update periodically and fast! Please review and give me your thoughts. It would also be interesting to know in which direction you would like to see this story go. I have an idea already but I want to know what you think. Thanks for reading!
