Laurie was in heaven. He craned his neck down once again, a wide grin stretching his thin face. It amused him a great deal to see Jo's expression. Her normally vivid and animated face was altered with sleep, casting an angelic and peaceful glow about her. He chuckled softly at his own musings, knowing how she would scowl over his sentimentality.

A slender arm fell from it's precarious perch on her stomach, swinging idly as it hung over the train cushion. Boy, how she had put up a most valiant fight when it came to their current seating situations. The train was bursting with passengers, bags and limbs popping out, overflowing in the aisles every which way you turned. They were lucky to find a compartment with any open spaces. They had taken residence in the one vacancy quickly enough, only to be met with a pair of beady and disconcerting eyes staring back at them from the opposite bench.

The old 'gentleman', for I use gentleman loosely, peered down at them through expensive spectacles all the while radiating a most disapproving glare. Jo had turned her nose up at the man as she clumsily burst in through the sliding door, Laurie behind with bags in tow. She sat down, fastidiously ignoring any ill looks going her way. After tossing the bags up in the overhead cubby, Laurie sat next to her, their elbows rubbing against each other. She turned pale blush, he chuckled.

The comforting loll of the slow journey had taken it's toll on their temporary adversary, for he had fallen into a deep slumber within a half hour of the start. Jo wasn't far behind, her lids began to droop and her back started to slump, then she'd shake herself and blink rapidly to keep any tired thoughts at bay. Laurie laughed at her silly antics, asking her why on earth she didn't just succumb and lay her head down. He didn't know she was afraid of embarrassing herself – she was rather mortified at the possibility of drooling or of her head falling on his shoulder or worse – his lap! Of course, she didn't voice any of these asinine fears and of course, sleep did eventually over take her...and of course, being in such cramped quarters – combined with the young man's hearty lack of objections to said positions – she did fall asleep in exactly the manner that she had feared...her head in his lap, long hair wildly sticking about, an arm hanging limply to the side and her long legs folded, one foot dangling off the makeshift bed.

So, yes – Theodore Laurence was in high spirits at the moment. He stared at his closest friend's face, a million thoughts trafficking through his mind. Could he get away with touching her hair without waking her? 'Her one beauty' as it had been called, but he knew better. Jo was the most beautiful girl that he had ever come across – not in terms speaking aesthetically, per se, but in terms of true human worth. He couldn't imagine meeting another that would even rival that of his little saviour, as he had come to think of her. For she was always there, by his side, leading him and helping him find the golden path – finding the correct route to that castle in the air. He needed her – it scared him.

His fingers itched at his sides as his brain shot down direction to move and feel her silken tresses, just for a moment. He lifted his left hand hesitantly, lightly bringing it down and gingerly touching her untamed waves with a feather caress. A small snort left Jo's nose, causing the nervous youth to jerk his hand away in lightening speed. He sat frozen, ready for her piercing eyes to snap open and demand answer for his impulsive action. A deep breath was released when she didn't.

He looked across at the man, who appeared much less intimidating in this state than he did when he was gracing them with that withering stare. The man was decked in tan and yellow tweed, a shiny pocket watch attached to his grand looking vest. A soft moan tore him away from his examination and his gaze darted back to the girl resting in his lap.

A little noise left the corner of her lips and he strained his ears to make out any words. He thought he heard – no, his overactive imagination must be playing tricks on him. She muttered it again and this time he heard what she said rather clearly...but what did it mean?

A whistle broke his thoughts as the clank and clatter of the train slowing it's pace assaulted the formally silent air. Jo woke with a start, and Laurie found himself suddenly staring into two orbs wide as saucers.

"Oh!" she finally managed, brows knitting together comically. "Oh! Sorry!" she tripped over her own tongue as she scrambled to sit up and off of him.

"Terribly alright..." Laurie murmured, desperately trying not to guffaw at her utter look of astonishment mixed with a healthy dose of mortification.

"Teddy – I really didn't mean to – I'm very – I'm quite embarrassed and I wish you would have woken me!"

"Why would I wake you? I remember stories about how you are when first awoken, and I didn't fancy a hairbrush to the head, thank you." His eyes twinkled with mirth.

"Well, I'd rather have you wake me up than make a fool of myself!" she remarked shrilly.

"Jo, don't tell me you're going to get all feminine on me! Be a good fellow and let's not worry on this, what say you?"

Jo glared at him through slits, her lips drawn into a pencil thin line. "You just let me fall asleep on you like that so you could poke fun at me, didn't you?"

He laughed – and laughed – and laughed. "Honestly, I don't know why you're making such a big deal of this. I hardly even noticed."

"Fine. Don't you ever breathe a word of this to anyone...got it? Not to your school chums, and dear me – not to any of my sisters! I'd never hear the end of it!"

He smiled amicably. "I pledge never to disclose the way you fell into my lap sound asleep, snoring abominably mind you, but I pledge to never divulge any of this to a soul."

"Thank you," she replied stiffly, smoothing her skirt and steadily avoiding his eyes.

"I also promise," he shot a sly sidewards glance at her, "not to tell anyone how you talk in your sleep."

Her neck immediately snapped toward him as she took the bait, staring at him intensely. "I do not talk in my sleep!"

Laurie looked at her calmly. "How would you know? If you're asleep, you wouldn't know if you talk or not, would you?"

"You're telling tales, Theodore Laurence, and that's not good."

He shrugged exaggeratedly. "Alright, Jo, if you don't want to believe me, then you don't have to."

She studied him closely. "Fine – then what did I say?"

"I thought you didn't believe me..."

"I don't."

"Then why would you care?"

"I don't."

"Fine."

She sighed in frustration. "Just tell me, and be over it then."

"Do you believe me?" he looked at her playfully, knowing that her curiously would win over her stubbornness in the end.

She pursed her lips before gritting out, "Fine, I believe you. So, what did I say, then?"

"The most curious thing, actually. I don't even know why you were talking about it..." he stalled, loving the way that she was leaning toward him in hot pursuit of an answer – he loved to make her squirm.

"Out with it, Teddy!"

"Blancmange," he answered simply.

"Blancmange? What about it?"

"I haven't the foggiest – you tell me."

Her brow creased as she stared off in thought, then her cheeks suddenly coloured. Laurie watched her expression change and smiled.

"You remember – so it was a dream? Tell Colonel Teddy all about it..."

"It's not very interesting. Let's talk of something else," she said firmly, attempting to change the subject.

"Oh, no – inquiring minds wish to know, Miss March. What sort of dream involving blancmange could have the normally together Josephine so in a tizzy?"

"Never you mind, you muddle headed boy..."

She was saved by the conductor briskly walking about, telling passengers that they've arrived at their destination and to enjoy the marvels of Washington. The man across from them finally snapped to and rose sleepily. When the train came to a complete stop he stood and grabbed his trunk, exiting while muttering about the evils of youth. Laurie and Jo looked at each after he left, each busting with laughter simultaneously.

Laurie sobered first, collecting their luggage and poking out an elbow for her to link.

"Ready for Washington, Jo?"

"Lead the way, comrade."

They made their way off the train, city sounds and smells smacking them with new vigour. Laurie waved his hand out for a carriage and flagged one in a few moments time. The cabbie grabbed their things, Laurie held his hand out, helping Jo climb inside. He shut the door behind them, and the horses began their clickity clack, swaying their box to and fro.

Laurie leaned toward her and whispered to Jo impishly, his breath making her shiver slightly, "Don't think I've forgotten that dream, Jo..." and he reclined back in his seat, smiling at her.

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Sorry, it's taken me so long to update this one! Thanks for reading! And please leave a review if you have the time, that would be most lovely: