Journey to Sensible Land

By rese

Summary: "Marry, - no, we shouldn't!" (L.M.A. Little Women) So why not live in sin?

Disclaimer: Louisa M. Alcott owns Little Women and all those characters. I'm just AUing.

A/N: I'm not a Christian (if they're the values you get out of LW) and I'll probably never legally marry so I don't actually believe it's a sin to live/have premarital sex with someone. Just so you know and I don't get anger monkeys flying at me.

…

"Look away!" Jo called over her shoulder, turning only when she saw him staring back with his arms crossed. "Oh, Teddy, turn away." He just shot her the biggest, widest grin she could recall, stunning her briefly before she felt the fire of her temper rise. "Turn about this instant!"

"Yes madam!" Laurie returned saucily, spinning so that his back faced her.

Jo decided to watch him as she undressed, unsure that he would keep looking away. Every other moment he'd spent trying to play with her laces, buttons or hair so her trust was wearing a little thin.

"You know, I'm sure you'd change faster if I helped?"

Jo glared at his back, "I'll thank you but no. Keep your mind looking out that window too, young sir." She knew it was a pointless warning for in their short trip she'd learnt more about the mind of men than she had ever cared to know.

"Alright, alright, Jo." said Laurie who couldn't wipe the grin from his face. He was in an inn with Jo, alone and unescorted. Hence the alone. With Jo!

"Oh bless me, that does feel better." Laurie turned, knowing she must have finished and was greeted by the sight of Jo with all her hair down, the brown mane concealing a large portion of the plain frock she wore in place of her traveling clothes. Unable to deny his fingers the pleasure of caressing the locks he leaped over to her side, unabashedly running them through her hair as he talked.

"Well, I've worked it all out with the man downstairs, and I think you'll be pleased with the plan, dear lady."

Jo cleared her throat meaningfully and crossed her arms.

"Fellow." Laurie quickly corrected himself, pulling his hand out of her hair. "I suppose you wouldn't care to hear it?"

Jo raised a brow and watched him as she moved out of his reach, laughing as he comically tried to grab her.

"Not so fast Miss Jo!" Laurie caught her arm, smiling back when he saw her red cheeks and sparkling eyes. "I'm not giving you up so easily after all that."

"Oh no, I shouldn't think so!" Jo chuckled, even when Laurie's look turned sober. "You've done quite enough dear boy, so much that I should never take myself from this spot." Jo stomped her foot and pointed to the ground, her resolve wavering at the instant glimpse of mischief in her tall friends gaze.

"Truly Jo?"

She had the odd urge to swallow back her words as he stepped close.

"Because one might feel obligated to challenge such assuredness." She felt him lower his hand onto her shoulder, the other circling about her waist. She felt rather than saw him around her, her grey peepers too consumed with Laurie's dark orbs and she wished that whatever he was up to it didn't involve him pulling back too quickly. She felt she was going to fall over.

"Might one?" she asked wobbly.

"Oh yes."

Jo had been kissed only two other times before in her life, but this was quite different. Laurie was hot and everywhere to her overloaded senses and she practically clutched his clothes, afraid that her legs would give way. He pulled back and gave a victorious smile at Jo's unfocused look.

"I don't think you'll want to stay right in that spot when there's a lovely… bed" both coloured deeply at the word and all its implications "just over there." Laurie finished lamely, waving his hand in the loose direction which was a few feet from their current position.

Jo made a noise which sounded suspiciously like a scoff and Laurie decided further persuasion was necessary. He bent and Jo watched him in helpless curiosity until she felt his left arm knock her knees forward, sending her backwards as he lifted her clear off the ground.

"You're going to have to eat more, Jo dear. But don't worry, I'm looking after you now."