Amy took in Jo's paleness and the wince that crossed her face whenever she moved. "Jo, are you well?"
The older girl who had taken Beth in her arms the instant she reached the party turned back to smile at her youngest sister. "Oh, never mind me silly, I'm sure you've things to discuss." Jo's smile slipped as she shifted her weight, leaning against Beth. "Amy it's… it's good to have you home."
Amy smiled graciously back, taking Jo's hands in hers. "It's good to be back, Jo dear. You've no idea," she smiled at Laurie and Jo blanched. Laurie smiled weakly back before turning his attention to Jo again and she had to wonder why he didn't take Amy's arm.
"Right well, Bethy and I will just be out of your way," said Jo, hobbling off to the kitchen with the help of her dark haired sister who seemed to be communicating a number of messages to the two in the foyer with her long steady look back.
Laurie watched the two disappear, sighing deeply before he turned back to Amy who seemed too shy to meet his gaze.
"Amy," he begun with great hesitance. "I have to speak to Jo." The girl looked up at that and a strange light entered her eyes as she stepped away from him. He could see her dreams crashing in the sharp intake of her breath, the slight tremble of her gloved hand as they clenched her skirt.
"Oh."
Laurie felt like the worst of devils as Amy shrunk from him, hurt colouring her countenance as she leant against the wallpaper understanding more of his meaning than he intended.
"You're still in love with her." She whispered watching the ground.
He swallowed thickly, wishing he could take back a year's worth of letters and most especially the last five minutes of his life. "I didn't mean to hurt you," he said softly very nearly believing himself. "Amy I hardly – I wish I hadn't… I should go," he finished taking his hat from the stand beside her, knowing he might not be welcomed back even after he said his peace to Jo. "I-" he lingered beside Amy, not knowing what to say when he had likely ruined everything.
"Was it all a lie?" she asked, peering up at him through eyelashes he might very well have loved better than anyone's save one.
"I had hoped…" He'd hoped it wasn't, hoped he could learn to love this girl who so desperately hoped the very same thing. Hoped he could pretend he wasn't pretending she was Jo's kinder self. Hoped he could keep all the promises he'd foolishly made to this one precious girl that saw more in him than Jo ever would.
"You should go," Amy prodded, her broken heart written across her face as plain as day. All of the masks she wore in Europe could not disguise her now.
Laurie left the room quickly.
…
Beth helped her sister sit in the grass, kneeling beside her with worry. "Oh Jo, I'm so sorry," she said, running her fingers through the ends of her sister's hair as Jo often did when she felt like God was calling her just a little too soon. Jo looked out across the garden dejectedly, trying hard to mask her feelings for Beth's sake but her sister knew better. She had come to rely on Jo as her body continued to weaken and Beth had only wanted to return the favour in suggesting she see Laurie and Amy but now she wasn't so certain.
"I thought if you knew…"
Jo looked over her shoulder at Beth, "You thought I might realise I love Laurie."
Beth looked to the ground, a flush staining the skin above her collar. "I'm sorry, Jo I shouldn't have."
"Oh Beth," Jo twisted, squeezing her sister's shoulder. "I know you only meant well, this is just a little foolishness I'm feeling. I'm just sorry I didn't know is all." Beth read through that lie easily but she let Jo carry on. "I'm sure Amy thinks I'm a right goose for carrying on the way I did. You'll tell her it was only because I didn't know won't you?" Beth nodded, knowing she would have to find her worldly sister soon enough.
"It was only because I didn't know," she repeated turning back to the garden.
Beth petted her sister a little longer, the guilt for her mistake eating away at her as she wondered how she would approach Amy who would be over-joyous with her return and Laurie's heart. She should have shielded Jo from this mess, not encouraged her. Oh she would never meddle again!
The back door opened and Beth turned to see who it was. Recognising the tall figure crossing the lawn to them she quickly stood before she kissed her sister who did not hear the approaching person. Beth passed him hoping he wouldn't further upset Jo when she read another emotion entirely in his black eyes as they flicked to her. Beth continued to the house, wondering just what had changed to bring back that determined look as she went to look for Amy.
Laurie walked across the grass to where Jo sat watching the great trees shiver in the afternoon breeze and he silently sat down beside her, crossing his long legs under himself when she turned to look at him. Surprise filled her eyes but she said nothing, propping her chin on her good leg. Laurie pulled at his fingers in his lap until he got the courage to find his voice.
"Jo, I think we need to talk."
"Teddy, really –"
"No, Jo some things need to be said." He interrupted, a hand on her sleeve. "I have a lot of explaining to do and I've no idea where to start."
Jo felt her heart leap as his hand travelled down to hold hers. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, his hangdog expression cutting at whatever had hardened inside of her when she caught him kissing her sister. There was a moment of unsure silence before she finally gave in.
"Go on then," she prompted quietly, ignoring the ache in her ankle as the grass tickled her bare feet.
"I suppose the beginning is the best place to start, and I want you to know everything Jo. I did mean it when I promised over the ash branch, even if I haven't been entirely open with you lately."
Jo closed her eyes remembering the time she'd made them swear to tell each other everything, pretending they were Norse warriors by the river, bonded by fellowship and the strongest of brotherhoods. Laurie had laughed when she pulled out the stick, citing its runic meaning with red cheeks but his eyes had been clear and serious when he repeated her vow. Jo looked across to him now, the darkness of his brow reminding her of the few times she had tried to catch him out in the past few weeks.
She wished she didn't now know what he'd been hiding.
"Amy started writing to me about Fred about a year ago. I felt… I felt something I didn't expect to feel and when I wrote back I believe I may have admitted to something akin to jealousy." Laurie's hand ran across the back of his neck. "Our letters became more frequent and I believe Amy had called it off with Fred within a few months. I didn't intend for her to take my careless words to heart so, Jo. Honest, I didn't think she would read what she did out of it, especially when I realised it was brotherly possessiveness, not a lovers… well-" Laurie coloured, attacking the grass between their legs. "There was a time, I'll admit when I thought – well you'll laugh or more likely scorn me for thinking it but when you gave me such dark looks and Amy wrote such kind things… Jo I confess I think I fooled myself that I could love her more." Laurie sneaked a look at Jo whose face was frozen.
"Can you guess more than who?" he tried.
Jo's face remained as still as stone before she turned to him, fear flashing across her eyes. "Please don't," she whispered, her brow taught with desperation. Laurie swallowed at that look, remembering another not-so-distant time when he had broached this very subject and she had given him the same expression. He'd swallowed his words, bitten his tongue and fought his very nature to stop himself from impulsively blurting out his feelings. He'd saved their friendship.
"Jo, I can't-"
"Please!" Jo tried to scoot away but her ankle twisted the wrong way and she yelped in pain. Laurie was instantly at her side again and she pushed him away indignantly, even though he was trying to help.
"Jo," he admonished when she stubbornly continued to move away from him. Kneeling over Jo he trapped her, placing his hands on the ground either side of her body glaring down at her impressively, "Jo stop it." Jo froze again and he could feel her breath across his chin. It was too cruel that the only chances he got to be as close as he wanted with her was when she wanted to be furthest from him.
"You are so dreadfully stubborn!" he rounded, feeling his wits end fast approaching. He sat back at her big wide eyes, searching for her aching ankle with a set jaw. Jo watched him, feeling his warm large hands run down her leg before they slipped under the hem of her skirt. Her eyes hooded and his fingers sent shivers down her back as they reached for the tender muscle that gave her so much trouble. Jo lifted her gaze to his face, spying the frown that settled across his features from her errant behaviour and his concern despite it all. He was a saint to her and she wouldn't even let him speak his heart.
"Teddy," he looked up at her. She swallowed, knowing well what was coming and still she continued. "I'm sorry I stopped you." He might've kissed Amy but he'd shown her a greater affection in his unending compassion, even when she spurned him.
And he'd waited so long.
Laurie's eyes lit immediately and he dropped her ankle, moving to her side in a hurry. He took her right hand in both of his, leaving the other where she leant backwards on it. His thumbs, the same that had tenderly rolled the strain in her ankle now ran across the back of her hand as he leant in, a thousand words in his fervent black eyes.
"Jo!" Marmee's voice rang out across the garden to where they sat. Laurie's look dissipated as fast as it came and he dropped her hand as she stared dumbly back. "Jo! Laurie! Come in; it's lunch!"
…
A/N: Mariagoner I believe you owe me one smut fic :P