A/N: well, here is chapter 10, this thing is never going to end. Thank you to everyone that read my latest edition. I am also working on a chapter of "The Letter," hopefully that will be out later this week. Please review if you have a moment!

After the picnic everyone parted ways, saying their goodbyes. Laurie and John followed the Ladies to Orchard House to visit with Mister March. Jo ran up the stairs quickly, threw her sun bonnet and apron on her little twin bed and retreated to the garret. Though life had taken several unexpected turns over the past week, Jo had several real life details that would add a bit of flair to her stories. Donning her writing hat, Jo decided to pull out her most recent manuscript. She had recently stopped at the love scene between her characters Abigail and her very wealthy and handsome patient, Nathaniel.

Jo began to write feverishly,

Abigail was alone at last. She leaned against the dresser, removed her hat and sighed to herself, reminded of the events of the day. Nathaniel had fully recovered and would soon be leaving the hospital, he would soon be leaving her. Abigail's heart ached, this should not concern her, how could a man of Nathaniel's status possibly care for a woman such as herself? Abigail cursed herself for allowing these feelings to interfere with her position, she should simply be pleased that she was able to save his life and that he could leave the hospital, what more could she ask for.

Hearing a creak on the floor behind her, Abigail quickly turned and was shocked to see the attractive man that had been plaguing her thoughts. Nathaniel slowly approached Abigail, the closer he came, the faster her heart pounded. Placing a hand on the surface behind Abigail's back, Nathaniel said

"I could not leave without expressing my gratitude."

With those words, he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Abigail's cheek. Their eyes met, soon followed by their lips. Nathaniel slowly took his hands from Abigail's sides and placed them around her back, pulling her body to his. Abigail exhaled a gasp, she could not believe that this was happening. Nathaniel broke from her kiss and brought his mouth to her ear, he whispered,

"Is this alright, Abby?"

It must have been a combination of being called 'Abby' and the warm breath on her ear that brought the situation to reality. Pushing him away, Abigail said

"Nathaniel, I want this so badly, but I don't think that this is right"

Jo scowled at the manuscript, throwing caution to the wind, she decided to be rid of all of this reasonable nonsense for the moment and impulsively scratched through the last line that Abigail had spoken, and with the bite of her bottom lip Jo continued.

"Yes" was all that she could mutter.

Abigail then placed one hand on Nathaniel's back and once again eliminated the space between the two of them. Running the fingers of her other hand through his hair, their embrace became much more passionate. Abigail felt weak in her knees, knowing that the stronghold that her lover had on her just might be the only thing keeping her from the floor. Abigail could feel her body being lifted onto the dresser, the kiss was broken once more. Nathaniel's eyes met hers, searching them to ensure that he was not exceeding his boundaries, Abigail's eyes showed a fear and excitement that told him to continue very cautiously. Nathaniel placed one hand on each of Abigail's knees, leaned forward and began to kiss her neck slowly, yet with fervor, Abigail knew that she may be in this too deep. As Nathaniel continued to kiss her neck, he followed the imaginary line from her earlobe down to her neck. Abigail felt the space between her knees continually increasing, being replaced by an eager Nathaniel. Before they knew it, their bodies were touching once more.

Nathaniel leaned Abigail's neck back and traced her collarbone with his mouth, ensuring to cover every inch. He placed an arm on her lower back and pulled her as close as they could possibly be to one another and began to move his hips. With his other arm, Nathaniel placed his hand back on her knee and slowly began to pull her skirts up onto the counter. With her skirts fully out of the way, Abigail made quick work of freeing Nathaniel's shirt from her pants, and touching the glorious skin that lay beneath. Nathaniel began to unbutton the tedious buttons on the front of Abigail's simple dress. Something that Abigail had never felt before had overpowered her. Finally finished with the buttons, Nathaniel slid Abigail's dress off of her arms, allowing it to rest behind her buttocks. With their bodies moving in unison, Abigail was not completely conscious to the fact her thin pantaloons were the only thing keeping her body from being totally exposed.

With little effort, Nathaniel was down to his trousers. Abigail had never seen a man's bare chest before and examined it thoroughly with her hands. Nathaniel began to unfasten his trousers, allowing them to fall to the floor. Both parties were keenly aware that there was nothing between them but two very thin, undergarments. Nathaniel embraced Abigail, lifting her from the dresser and carrying her to her tiny, well kept bed. Lying nearly completely on top of her, Nathaniel's fingers found their way to Abigail's chest. As he gently messaged her previously untouched chest, she could not help but lean back in a near moan,

"Oh, Teddy

Very flushed, Jo pushed herself away from the offending paper and tried steady her breath. When she finally straightened out her thoughts just a bit, Jo looked back at the page and with a horrified gasp, viciously wrote through Teddy's name until it was nothing but an ink stain. Satisfied, Jo stood and picked up the novella and rereading the portion that she had just written began to redden. There were a few changes that would need to be made, but at this moment, she wanted to relish a few lingering feelings. Jo walked over to her favorite three-legged sofa and sat, curling her legs behind herself and leaning on the threadbare arm. Becoming so engrossed in her own ramblings, she did not hear the steps to the garret creaking or the door slowly open. Jo however was completely caught off guard when a shadow appeared on her paper, making it completely unreadable.