A/N: sorry im not updating nearly enough lately, but I've been sick for the past week (oh food allergies I heart you not) and everyone seems to be born around this time so parties are all the rage though I keep missing them from being ill. Yayness anyway here's a very short update that I've had written awhile on paper - soz

…

"Are you sure?"

Laurie had found Jo on her way back from the little cemetery just as she walked down the slope past the Tinwell's house. He was now walking with her tearing a rather innocent flower in his hands as Jo avoided his prodding questions.

"Mhm. If you want to worry think of the other girls. Amy hasn't even looked at her pencils and Beth is caught in bed. I don't know what we shall do if she doesn't cheer herself soon; her health is so delicate."

Laurie took Jo's hand at the note of true fear in her voice. Jo smiled in thanks and they continued down the road, mindless of the tittle-tattling women watching them pass in interest.

"Oh but everything will be fine, in time, I've no doubt." Jo said attempting to throw some optimism into the conversation though she didn't sound nearly as convinced as she'd hoped.

Laurie remained silent and Jo was thankful that he remained such a stalwart figure when her composure lapsed – never altogether shot though, Jo made sure of that after his first return for she couldn't bare the tearing look across his bonny face as he watched her fall apart. It left her feeling exposed when she'd dried her tears and had her fill of sadness and his comfort. She would never truly get over Meg's passing but Jo had no intention of revealing it to her friend though he sort to know.

Still, it was rather nice to feel his hand in hers or her head on his shoulder every now and then.

"Have you sent Jenny Walker any posies this week?" Jo asked, pulling her hand from his when they turned at the bend. Laurie frowned at her before pulling the last petal off his daisy.

"I've stopped all that, Jo." Said Laurie in a voice Jo'd rather not have heard.

"I suppose all that studying is wearing you thin; honest Teddy your shirt don't half fit you and I wonder if I should be ashamed to be seen with you almost half-dressed," she teased with a smile not as bright as it had been in April. Laurie looked down at the shirt that did hang rather loosely before he threw the remaining stalk to the road and buried his hands in his pockets. Well if he didn't feel self-conscious!

"Study will do that to a fellow. Be a saint and take my arm Jo? I'm weak with exhaustion!" he offered slyly now that his hands were unoccupied and the conversation's attention had fallen on him. Jo frowned at that but threaded her arm through his as they strolled on towards home.

"I'm glad you've finished with that nonsense," she said at last, careful not to meet that increasingly intense gaze. Jo's cheeks coloured against her will and she couldn't help but feel it would give her boy the wrong idea – she was only flushed from the exercise, Jo insisted to herself, crossly shoving her free hand into her pinafore pocket.

"Me too," Laurie spoke with a finality that lasted the rest of the somewhat awkward trip home.