Two years had gone by quickly without her two elder sisters and Laurie around. Amy had quickly graduated from Concord Academy with stellar grades and a very long list of achievements. So good in fact, that it got her acceptance to a school in Paris, one that Aunt March offered to pay for. Amy had garnered enough scholarship to pay half, while Aunt March insisted on paying the rest. Telling Amy to make something of herself. Amy had smiled sweetly, thanked her aunt profusely, and packed her bags for Europe. The fleeting thought that Laurie was still in Europe had crossed her mind once or twice, but this wasn't about him. Europe was where Amy had decided she was going to stop wishing for things to happen.
She'd ended up living in an apartment with three other girls in her second year of school. One was a very pretty, tall, blond girl named Dominique, a lively brunette named Gabrielle, and a sweet, motherly girl named Charlotte.
Dominique, who had refused every attempt at a nickname, was from France. She was every bit a beautiful French masterpiece, with her golden hair, slender frame, and impossible radiance. Her goal in life was to make everyone jealous of who she was, both with her modeling career and genius brain. Modeling was how she was paying her way through school, but her real goal in life was to win a Fields Medal for mathematics.
Gabrielle was her opposite, she had dark hair, dark features, and a striking personality. She was bold and crass, but still had a dark allure to her that made people so curious about who she was. She, as Dominique's opposite, hated her name, and demanded that everyone called her Gabby. Amy had met Gabby on her first day of school in some art history class. Gabby had taken one look at Amy and decided they were going to be friends.
The last girl in their apartment was sweet Charlotte, the poor, poor victim to many of Dominique and Gabby's arguments. Mostly because she was their equilibrium, the mother who made sure they ate and did their homework, settled their fights, and comforted them when they needed her. She was a lot like Meg, and Amy couldn't help but cling to her more than the others sometimes just based on their similarities. Which is also why Amy wasn't all that surprised when she found out Charlotte was going to school to become a teacher.
The four girls were on their way back to school after going out shopping for something nice to wear to their school charity function that night when Amy had spotted a familiar figure walking down the street with four boys behind him. She honestly thought she was seeing things until she noticed the way he dressed and walked, and Amy definitely knew it was him.
"Stop the car!" Amy cried suddenly, causing the three other passengers in the car to jump.
"What?" Dominique asked, looking behind her to stare at her blond friend from the passenger seat.
"Gabby, stop the car!" Amy exclaimed again and ushered her friend to pull over. Gabby looked worried, but kept her eyes on the road.
"Amy, what's wrong?" Charlotte asked, placing a hand on Amy's arm concernedly.
But none of the girls got an answer as Gabby pulled off to the side at Amy's insistence and Amy fled from the backseat.
"Laurie!" She cried, making her way past the people and to the familiar boy she'd grown up with. "Laurie! Laurie!"
The boy in question turned around at the sharp sound of his name and knew exactly which voice it belonged to. Amy March, a girl he was quite fond of. Laurie pushed past his friends and turned just in time to see Amy running towards him, her blond hair flowing behind her secured with a baby blue ribbon, and the matching baby blue satin dress blowing through the wind.
"Amy!" He called and caught her as soon as she was within reach and picked her up, spinning her in a circle before placing her back on the ground. "My God, look at you!"
"You said you were going to meet me at my school." Amy said in a rushed breath, still ragged from running after him. Remembering that he'd sent her a vague text about him being in Paris for the week and he'd come see her, but he'd never actually showed up.
"I couldn't find you anywhere." He answered her, his eyes still trained firmly on hers and clutching her hands. The familiarity and warmth comforting him, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Well maybe you didn't look hard enough." She accused him with a sweet smile on her face. She was staring into his eyes, and her heart involuntarily fluttered.
"Well maybe I didn't recognize you because you're so beautiful." He retorted cheekily.
"Oh, stop it." Amy said and rolled her eyes at him.
"I thought you liked that sort of thing." Laurie said, but was quickly cut off again.
"Where's your grandfather?" She asked, looking around, as if he might pop up and greet her.
"He's in Germany," Laurie replied, finally letting go of her hands, "still traveling, I'm traveling with my friends-"
"Flirting, and gambling, and drinking." She scoffed lightly, but had a smile still attached to her face.
"Yes, well, don't tell your mother." He said, and to his credit, did look semi guilty at the thought of Marmee being disappointed in him.
"Are you chasing some young girl across Europe?" Amy asked, because she was sure it was something Laurie would do.
"No." He said simply, the happy tone of their conversation turned slightly melancholy.
"I-I, couldn't believe Jo turned you down, I'm so sorry." Amy said, and although her words were short, she meant them, and Laurie knew it too. He was sure she'd heard the story of what happened between him and Jo from Meg or Beth.
"Don't be, Amy, I'm not." He amended and smiled softly at her.
"Amy!" They heard from behind them, three very frazzled looking girls chasing after her. "Amy!"
"Oh my." Amy said guilty. "I think I might've scared my friends."
"Are you alright?" Charlotte asked as soon as they caught up to her, grabbing her arms and checking her over for injuries.
"I'm fine, Lottie." Amy said and patted her hands. "You guys I want you to meet someone," she said and forced all three of her friends to quiet down and look at Laurie. "This is Laurie, Laurie these are my friends, Gabby, Dominique, and Lottie."
"Hello." Laurie greeted them and couldn't help but chuckled as they sized him up. Well, it was more of the former two who were looking him up and down, while the latter girl stared sweetly, but still had a questioning look in her eyes.
"What about us?" A voice called from behind Laurie, four very attractive boys walking towards them. Amy couldn't help but noticed how similar they all seemed to the boys back in Concord Academy. Tall, stunning, and perceptive.
"Right, right." Laurie said and motioned for his friends to stand before the girls. "Amy, these are the friends I'm traveling with, William, Elijah, Christian, and well you already know Xander."
"Well, well, look at you, Amy! Still as gorgeous as ever." Xander said and pulled her forward to plant a kiss on her cheek, old habits die hard. "I figured I'd let you have your reunion with Laurie first so I could have your full attention."
"Still a flirt, I see." Amy retorted, but leaned into his touch. "It's nice to see you, Xander."
"This is lovely and all." Dominique interrupted. "But we have to go, Amy, we're going to be late."
"Late for what?" Laurie asked, his voice faltering at the thought of Amy leaving so soon after their reunion. Unconsciously he had grabbed for her hand and ran his thumb across her knuckles. Amy's breath hitched, but Dominique wasn't about to give her the time to contemplate over the action.
"Our school is having a charity ball tonight and we have to get some of our assignments in before it starts." Amy explained, already being tugged away. "Oh, you should all come!"
"We'd love to." Xander said and smiled flirtatiously at Amy. She winked at him and laughed lightly.
"Meet me at our apartment." Amy said and looked expectantly at Laurie, she wasn't asking, she was telling. He nodded at her and grasped her hand one more time before their fingers slipped apart. "Eight o'clock." Amy said while Gabby dragged her away. "Top hats and silks!" She called one more time before she was shoved into the car.
"It's been almost an hour, Amy, we have to get going." Lottie said softly, adjusting the ribbon around Amy's neck. It was a black ribbon attached to a pendant, one that Laurie gave her almost three years ago. She'd never even had a chance to wear it till tonight.
"Alright." Amy sighed as they all made their way to Gabby's car and drove to the charity ball. When she'd gotten there, Fred Vaughn was waiting for her, they weren't officially dating yet, but they were definitely on the track to becoming official. They had met at some event when Aunt March had taken her to when she'd been visiting a couple months back. Fred had asked her on a date, and Amy had swooned at his charming smile and accepted.
"Amy, you look beautiful." Fred said as he saw her black and gold dress.
"Thank you, Fred." She said and smiled tightly. He didn't seem to notice anything wrong with her mood, and Amy liked that. So she threw herself into drinking, dancing, and having a nice time.
It wasn't until an hour later when Laurie stumbled in with Xander, William, Christian, and Elijah behind him. All five were very drunk and waltzing around with random women. Laurie dropped into a chair, laying down sideways, one girl on either side of him. Amy excused herself from Fred and stood defiantly in front of Laurie.
"Laurie." She greeted in an annoyed tone.
"Amy." He replied, not picking up on her demeanor quite yet.
"I waited an hour for you." Amy said in a calm tone, her stance said otherwise.
Laurie paused and stared at her. "I feel caught." Amy rolled her eyes and marched away, while Laurie, finally sensing something, got up to follow her. "Amy, please!"
"You want to know what I honestly think of you?" Amy snapped, weaving her way through the crowd of people.
"What do you honestly think of me?" Laurie repeated, stumbling and hooking his jacket around his arm.
"I despise you." Amy spat.
"Why do you despise me?" Laurie asked, a playfulness seeping into his tone that made Amy's blood boil.
"Because with every chance for being good, useful, and happy, you are faulty, lazy, and miserable." She replied, her tone hardening and lips moving into a tight pursed expression.
"Oh this is interesting." Laurie muttered, still following her.
"Selfish people do like to talk about themselves." Amy quipped, rolling her eyes once again at him.
"Am I selfish?" Laurie nearly mocked.
"Oh, you like that, you old vanity." Amy hissed. "With all these good things to enjoy, you can find nothing to do but dawdle."
Amy turned on him, but he grabbed her wrist and forced her to look at him. "I'll be good for you, Saint Amy, I'll be good."
"Aren't you ashamed of a hand like that." Amy said calmly, but once again her expression and mannerisms spoke differently.
"No, I'm not." He said simply.
"It looks like it's never done a day of work in it's life." Amy corrected him and yanked her arm back. "And that ring is ridiculous."
"Jo gave me this ring." He said, his tone softer and more sober than he'd been all night.
"I feel sorry for you, I really do." Amy hissed. "I just wish you'd bear it better."
"You don't have to feel sorry for me, Amy." Laurie said, glaring at her form. "You'll feel the same way one day."
"No." Amy said, staring him down, daring him to judge her. "I'd be respected if I couldn't be loved."
"And what have you done lately?" Laurie asked, looking down on her. "Oh great artiste! Have you been imagining marrying into the rich society, perhaps Fred Vaughn? Fred Vaughn, ladies and gentleman!"
Amy watched him throw his glass of champagne around, spilling it on the floor and on random guests, unashamed of his actions. Amy rubbed her forehead, and when she didn't think it could get worse, Xander, William, Christian, and Elijah had all fallen before her and looked amused.
"Oh, dear Amy, don't be upset." Xander mockingly begged.
Amy glared at him so venomously, that he even sobered up for a second. "Shame on you, Xander." She spat and whacked him upside the head.
"Amy." He pleaded, this time adopting a soft and apologetic tone, the three boys that she had yet to really meet, following his lead.
"Out." Amy snapped. "Get out."
"Ple-" Xander began again, but Amy had already turned her back.
Dominique, Gabby, and Lottie, were sitting in this little cafe across from their apartment building, having a light breakfast. Amy was still upset about Laurie and locked herself in the covered roof of their apartment building, painting. Mostly only they had access to it because Dominique dated their landlord and had gifted it to her, but she made sure to break up with him on good terms so she could keep all the perks he gave her while they were dating.
Unexpectedly while they were sitting outside, Laurie and his friends had stumbled upon them. The latter four were stunning in the sunlight, looking every bit as privileged and unfairly blessed, while Laurie was behind them looking determined, a bouquet of flowers hanging from his hands were the only thing proving he was a bit dejected over his fight with Amy.
"Well, good morning, ladies." Christian greeted them, leaning over the rails to smile prettily. His shockingly white hair fell into his eyes and he brushed it back charmingly.
"Oh." Gabby mumbled dejectedly, pursing her lips. "It's you."
"I just wanted to apologize to Amy." Laurie defended, looking guilty. "Is she inside?"
"Well she doesn't want to talk to you." Dominique snapped back, glaring at all of them. Copying Gabby and turning her head. The two of them may fight more often than not, but they were furiously loyal.
"Oh, come on." Lottie said softly, nibbling on her bottom lip out of habit. She hated conflict. "He just wants to apologize."
"Don't be soft, Lottie." Gabby hissed, but it wasn't particularly harsh. "He was an ass to her last night, they all were."
"Don't be like that." Lottie said, placing an arm on either girls' arms, they both softened under her touch. "Go on up, she's on the roof."
"Thanks," Laurie said genuinely and darted towards their apartment building. His friends stayed behind and crowded around the girls' table, ordering themselves drinks and food.
"Sure." Dominique hissed, rolling her eyes and waving her hand at their general direction. "Join us, why don't you?"
"Thanks, Darling." Elijah said, catching her hand in the air and kissed the top of it, looking at her from his dark stare.
"That's not as charming as you think it is." Dominique scoffed in disbelief at his arrogance and flipped her hair behind her. Elijah stared at her with a smug smile and threw his arm around the back of her chair. Dominique glared at him, but said nothing.
"I doubt Amy's going to forgive him." Gabby said, looking all three of them down. Intimidation was kind of her thing.
"I don't know…" Xander mumbled, digging into his eggs. "I'm sure they're making up as we speak."
"After an argument like that?" Gabby scoffed, flipping her dark hair and smacking Christian in the face in the process, "not likely."
"You don't know that, Gabby." Lottie said, looking down into her food. "He seemed really apologetic."
"You know Amy, she wouldn't fall for that, he was horrible to her last night." Dominique pointed out, glaring at all the boys.
"And the three of you don't know Amy and Laurie very well." Xander muttered into his coffee. Everyone's head snapped up to look at him oddly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gabby asked, offended. She took everything personally.
"It means that I've known Laurie and Amy since our Concord days." Xander said, looking at the roof of the apartment building, thinking maybe he could've caught a glance of them. "No matter what, he will never truly want to hurt her and she knows that. Besides, she pushes him to be better, do better, and he's just not ready to hear it yet."
"What happened to him?" Lottie asked softly, adopting a sweet, sad smile.
The four boys looked awkwardly between them before turning back to the girls, electing Xander to speak. "He had a thing for his best friend, who happened to be Jo, Amy's sister."
"So he's acting out because of unrequited love?" Gabby snorted. Remembering a drunken night when Amy had started rambling about Laurie. Which turned into her mumbling about Jo and Laurie. Which then turned into a full blown confession that she still loved him, but she didn't think he would ever be ready to love her.
"He's acting out because she told him she was leaving for New York and they got into a fight. He asked her to be with him, or to travel with him, even offered to go to New York with her." William offered vaguely, there was clearly a lot more to that story, but his tone suggested even they didn't know the whole thing. "But, she said no and ran away two weeks later."
"Why does that entitle him to treat Amy the way he did?" Dominique asked bluntly. Elijah fingered one of her blond curls curiously..
"It doesn't and we're not saying it does." Elijah said, grimacing when Dominique swatted his hand away. "But he spent his entire life loving one girl and she ran away from him because she didn't love him back."
"Amy's the first girl in two years that Laurie's bothered to give an actual damn about and coincidentally, I think she's the only one that can get him to pull his shit together and make something of himself." Xander explained, his accent extra thick through his mouth full of food. "You know who Amy is as a person, people naturally want to follow her. She's a naturally flirty person and well Laurie is too, it's kind of their thing. They fight, they'll make up, flirt with each other like they always have, and eventually, they'll be the same Amy and Laurie I've always known."
"You seem quite sure of yourself." Lottie commented, looking at him oddly. "How can you know that?"
"Because Amy understands every part of his life in the same way he does her." Xander answered her lightly, like it was a statement he'd said over and over. "A big part of both their lives is her family, he was accepted by them and is seen as an honorary March, but they never really understood what it was like to be a Laurence. Amy did though, because she liked that part of him, went to school with us, hung out with us. She was one of us, and that's why she will always know him better than anyone."
Amy wiped off the paint from her brushes, dipping them in water and patting them dry with a used cloth. At this point in her life, she felt like she was supposed to be something more. Yet, staring at her cliche paintings of fruit, that was all she saw, middling talent.
She nearly dropped one of her brushes when the door to the roof opened and loudly closed behind her. Amy had sensed him first, the sound of his Louboutin shoes and clean but refined scent. Her thought fled back to the night before, how he had shown up as promised, but not as the Laurie she'd known. He was rude, and selfish, and a drunk, nothing like the Concord boy who never lied to her and brought her presents.
Truth be told, that's not what she was so upset over. The rational part was upset with the fact that he would act in such a way, while the irrational part of her was filled with a jealousy that had consumed her when she'd been younger.
"Hello, Amy." Laurie had called, walking up behind her.
"I don't want to see you." Amy responded automatically, occupying herself with more cleaning tasks. Part of her wondered if she really just didn't want to turn around because she knew the moment she saw him, maybe she'd want to forgive him. Except she didn't think he deserved it.
"Amy," Laurie pleaded, a hint of amusement in her tone. "Don't be mad at me, I'm sorry for how I behaved."
"Have you been drinking?" Amy asked calmly and Laurie flinched back at her tone. Too calm meant she was disappointed, and Laurie couldn't handle her disappointment as well as he could handle her anger.
"Why are you being so hard on me?" Laurie retorted, following her around. "It's four PM."
"Someone has to do it." Amy commented, turning around only to come chest to chest with Laurie. He had looked down at her with a light smile, one that she sent a withering stare to and then maneuvered around him.
Laurie clicked his tongue and rolled his jacket off his shoulders, he may not have been forgiven, but at least he knew she wasn't as mad as he'd thought. "When do you begin your great work of art, Raphaella?"
"Never." Amy answered, sighing internally. She knew it wouldn't take long to fall back into this easy pattern. She could feel his blank stare in her back.
"Never?" Laurie repeated, falling back into the open chair, his feet dangling off the side. "What? Why?"
"I'm a failure." Amy answered, and it even shocked her how easily the words fell from her mouth. She could imagine all the things her family would respond to if she'd dared utter those words. Marmee and Meg would encourage her to keep trying, Beth would offer some sweet placating comment, while Jo would openly mock her, not believing the statement. Laurie was different though, he'd always been different. "Jo is in New York being a writer, and I'm a failure."
"That's quite a statement to make at twenty." Laurie murmured, and Amy walked around the roof, cleaning to keep her mind at ease.
"Well, Paris has taken my vanity and I've come to the conclusion that I'll never be a genius." Amy muttered, rubbing her forehead. "So I'm going to give up all my foolish artistic hopes."
"Why give up?" Laurie retorted, watching her silky baby blue skirt flow around her. "You have so much talent and energy."
"Talent isn't genius." Amy cut him off, finally turning around to look him in the eyes. He stared back at her for a silent moment, before looking away to fiddle with his ring. Amy was always intense, in anything she did. "I want to be great, or nothing."
"What women are allowed into the club of geniuses anyway?" Laurie asked, taking note of her actions. The tired lines around her eyes, the slight bend in her perfect posture, even the unconscious movements of her mannerisms.
"The Brontes?" Amy joked, dropping down into a chair directly across from him and crossing her legs delicately.
"And who always declares geniuses?" Laurie replied.
"Men I suppose." Amy said blankly.
"Cutting down the competition." Laurie retorted back, smiling. It was easy again, Amy realized that this was her and Laurie.
"That's a very complicated argument." Amy deadpanned, getting up to absentmindedly clean again. "To make me feel better."
"Isn't that what I've always done, Raphaella?" Laurie asked, coming to stand behind her once more, the flowers he'd almost forgotten hidden behind his back. "Do you feel better?"
"I do think, male or female, I am of middling talent." Amy replied, turning around. Once again finding herself a little too close to Laurie, and she hadn't decided whether she liked it or not.
"Middling talent?" He repeated, bringing the white camellias around and placing them in front of her. She tilted her head, shaking it lightly, but accepted the flowers. "I am sorry for the way I acted last night, Amy."
"I know." Amy responded evenly, smelling them. She smiled up at him, and felt her resolve completely fade away.
Laurie knew he'd been forgiven and grinned childishly, dramatically falling into another chair. "Then may I ask that your last portrait be of me?"
Amy laughed, a soft one she usually reserved for just Laurie. Back when they would have tea at Aunt March's, or during car rides to school. "Alright."
"Without your art, Amy, what do you plan to do with your life?" Laurie asked.
"Find something I can be better at." Amy answered blankly. "Become an ornament to society."
"Is that where Fred Vaughn comes in?" Laurie asked, pushing down the immediate feeling of rejection he'd felt at the thought of Amy giving up.
Amy almost flinched at Fred's name, because she knew the double insinuation. Amy knew that marrying up in the world would open up opportunities she didn't always have, opportunities for her family. Except she also knew marrying someone like Fred would mean giving up on things for herself. At this point in her life though, Amy didn't see marriage and love the same way she did at twelve years old. "Don't make fun."
"I said his name." Laurie defended himself. "Fred Vaughn, though?"
"He's rich, richer than you even." Amy said weakly. She didn't need to explain herself to Laurie, never to Laurie.
"I understand queens of society can't get on without money, although it does sound odd from the mouth of one of your mother's girls." Laurie responded primly. There was a long pause between the two of them, and the silence felt like a physical force, because they weren't back in Concord anymore. "Do you love him?"
"I believe we have some power over who we love." Amy answered, both a direct avoidance of her feelings for Fred, and of her feelings for Laurie. "It isn't something that just happened to a person."
"I think the poets might disagree." Laurie mocked, but it didn't sound mean.
"Well, I'm not a poet." Amy decided, throwing down her cloth and focusing her movements. "I'm just a woman, and as a woman, society is unfair. I need to find a way to make enough money to support my family. To take care of my parents when they're too old, to pay for Beth's medical bills, to help Meg ensure a better future for her kids." She was walking closer and closer to Laurie, and by this point they were just a breath apart. "I want something better for them, and you said it yourself, society needs money. So don't sit there and tell me that marriage isn't an economic proposition. It may not be for you, but at this point, it's all I can see it as."
Laurie reached out and brushed her cheek, his fingers splayed across her neck. "Amy-"
But his words were cut off when a car engine roared outside and they both snapped their heads at the sudden sound. Amy detached herself from Laurie and peered out over the windows, spotting Fred's car.
"Can you unbutton me?" Amy cleared her throat, turning around.
Laurie slowly raised himself from the chair and lightly pulled apart the buttons, one by one. He couldn't help himself and let his fingers brush along her spine where her dress had an opening. Amy tensed at the contact and Laurie quickly moved to undo her bow.
As soon as she was free, Amy ran over to grab her jacket and slipped it on, her movements distracted. All thoughts of her moment with Laurie were pushed away for later analyzing.
"How do I look? Do I look alright?" Amy asked absentmindedly as she adjusted her jacket.
"You look beautiful." Laurie replied automatically. "You are beautiful."
Laurie offered her his arm, and she accepted it as they walked down the many flights of stairs to the door. Amy indulged herself and leaned against his arm, and it reminded her of the days when they would walk around her aunt's estate.
"Amy?" Laurie called right before they walked out the doors.
"Yes?" She answered expectantly.
"Have dinner with me." He said smoothly. "Tomorrow, I'll pick you up from your apartment."
Amy looked hesitantly, glancing at where Fred was waiting for her, before nodding back. "Okay, dinner tomorrow."
"Are you really going to go to dinner with him?" Gabby demanded, typing away on her laptop for some assignment she was missing. Gabby never turned anything in on time, but everyone was too intimidated by her blunt nature to dock her for it.
"Yes, Gabby." Amy answered, the same answer she'd given her six times already. "He's an old friend of mine."
"A very handsome friend who you've admitted to still have feelings for." Dominique cut in, studying one of her many math textbooks.
"Let it go, Dominique." Charlotte interrupted, trying to nip the argument in the butt before it started. She was helping Amy pin her hair up.
When Amy had returned from her date with Fred, she had recounted her conversation with Laurie to the other girls, and they'd all exchanged a look between the three of them that clearly told Amy, Xander talked too much. Regardless, she was still going to dinner with Laurie, because some part of her hoped Laurie needed her.
The doorbell rang a moment later and Amy rushed over, beating both Gabby and Dominique who were trying to get there first with the intent to scare Laurie off. Laurie was standing on the other side, dressed in a simple white henley and dark pants. He still looked so elegant, and Amy couldn't help but think he looked older, but possessed the same easy presence.
"You look beautiful." Laurie said breathlessly, smiling at her. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah." Amy nodded, pushing the door back where Dominique and Gabby were pressed up against it. "Hang on." She leaned behind the door frame and glared at her roommates. "Don't follow us and play nice for Lottie's sake."
They both looked offended at her insinuation, despite the fact that she was right, and nodded. Gabby sulked back, while Dominique pressed a kiss to her palm and patted it to Amy's cheek. "We want her home by twelve."
"Promise, Dominique." Laurie laughed, offering his hand to Amy.
Together he led her back down to his car, which was still some crazy expensive European brand that Amy only knew because the kids back at her private school would drive the same kind of cars. He opened the door for her and she slid inside.
"So, where are we going?" Amy asked, turning the heater up. She didn't like the cold.
"It's a surprise." Laurie said, winking in her direction. "How was your date with Fred Vaughn?"
"Why do you say it like that?" Amy exasperated.
He grinned cheekily. "Like what?"
"Fred Vaughn." Amy mocked his tone. "Like he's a stain on your Moncler jacket."
"Well?" He prompted, brushing off her comment. "I just find it hard to believe Ms. Amy March only sees marriage as, how did you put it? An economic proposition, especially with Fred."
"I'm not doing this." Amy laughed, but it was strained and they both knew why. They were also both aware of the fact that Amy narrowly avoided talking about Fred, and Laurie didn't bother to ask again.
It wasn't long before they pulled up to an old building, but the aged feeling only added to the beauty. Despite the outside looking like it was built as apartments, it was one large estate, which didn't exactly surprise Amy. The inside was just as pretty as the outside, there was a large opening in the middle like a courtyard. There was nice furniture placed strategically throughout the room, and it reminded Amy of Aunt March's estate. To one side, Amy could see a large library, while the other led to a dining room. She wasn't sure what was beyond the rest, but she knew it would be just as grand.
"Where are we?" Amy asked, following Laurie inside. She'd love to paint the room in front of her.
"My house." Laurie answered. "Well, the guys and I are all staying here."
"It's…" Amy trailed off, running her fingers along a potted plant. "I thought we were going to dinner?"
"We are." Laurie nodded, grabbing her hand surprisingly and pulled her into the kitchen. Amy balked at the sight in front of her. One side of the kitchen was made completely of windows and the sight in front of her was the city of Paris. All the old architecture, and softly lit lights, she could see the people walking the streets.
"Laurie," Amy sighed dreamily, "it's beautiful."
"I thought you might like that." Laurie called, and Amy turned around to see that he had placed an apron around himself and was stirring something in a skillet.
"You can cook?" Amy asked, surprised. She tore herself away from the windows and hopped on the kitchen island.
"Well, when you live with four other guys who've admittedly had every meal cooked for them, you have to learn something." Laurie said bashfully. He had his back turned towards her, but Amy knew he was smiling.
"I know how you met Xander," Amy began, kicking her heels off and kicking her feet back and forth, "but how did Elijah, Christian, and William come about?"
"Well," Laurie said, moving over to chop vegetables next to her, "Elijah was an old friend of Xander's back from when he lived in England."
"Didn't Xander move to America when he was five?" Amy asked, confused.
"Their families were close and traveled together during the summer." Laurie explained. "Christian and William were both friends I made during university."
"So how did you all end up living here?" Amy asked, waving her hand around the place.
"We traveled everywhere." Laurie answered her honestly. "Rome, London, Russia, Italy, Amsterdam. We just wanted a break from traveling and settled down here."
"That didn't have anything to do with me, did it?" Amy joked lightly, throwing her hair over her shoulder.
"Who else would paint my portrait, Rahpaella?" He teased back and Amy narrowed her eyes at him, he just pouring her a glass of wine. "How's your family, Beth?"
Amy tensed up, wondering if she could mention Jo's name or not, Amy wasn't so sure where they stood at this point. She had gotten a vague story from Meg after Jo left, and every attempt to find out what actually happened from Jo was deflected. "Bethy's good, still in remission."
"Only you could get away with calling her Bethy." Laurie murmured. "I am sensing a 'but' in there somewhere though."
"I feel like they're not telling me everything." Amy sighed out. "I wouldn't put it past Beth to tell everyone to keep the real state of condition a secret."
"Amy." Laurie said softly, gathering her hands into his. "I'm sure Beth is fine, she's beaten it already, and if her cancer comes back, they will let you know. Besides, if not, I'll call up my grandfather and ask if you want."
"Thanks." Amy muttered, downing the rest of her wine.
"How's everyone else?" Laurie asked tentatively.
"Do you mean to ask how Jo is?" Amy asked bluntly. Laurie didn't respond and that gave her the answer she needed. "Still in New York, writing." She slipped off the counter and began to help him clean up a bit, washing plates. "What happened, Laurie? What really happened?"
"Is that what you really want to talk about?" Laurie demanded, but it wasn't unkind.
"Isn't it something you should talk about?" Amy retorted. Laurie flinched back at her accusation.
Laurie moved back over to the stove to stir whatever he'd been cooking and his back was once again turned towards her, only this time, so was hers. "Jo and I had gotten into my argument. I mean some part of me knew she wasn't always going to stay in Concord, I just never thought it'd be so far away from me."
"And then?" Amy prompted.
"And then I told her I loved her." Laurie answered blankly. Something about this conversation seemed so odd. She assumed it would be heavy and thick with tension, but instead, it felt too mundane to be worth more. "I asked her to marry me."
Amy froze in her movements and turned around sharply, that part of the conversation had been conveniently left out in every account. "What?"
"Don't look at me like that." Laurie muttered under her gaze. "Look, at the time, I'd only ever loved Jo. I didn't think that I could ever love anyone else. I also wasn't stupid, I was well aware that Jo didn't want to settled down with anyone either. None of us could ever see her settling down with anyone." Amy had to admit he was right. "I figured a life married to my best friend wasn't such a bad thing, even if she didn't love me back. She could still do something with her life, become the writer she'd always strived for without all the worries. I wouldn't have minded following her, afterall, we both know she'll set anything in her path ablaze."
They were both silent for a moment before Amy settled a hand on his shoulder. "And now? Is that still how you'd spend your life?"
"Isn't that what you're doing with Fred?" Laurie demanded, turning around so they were face to face.
"It isn't the same." Amy mumbled, stepping back.
"Because you're doing it for your family?" Laurie asked rhetorically. "Does that mean I'm selfish?"
"I think it means," Amy snapped, "that there's more for you in the world."
Laurie brushed one of her blond curls back absentmindedly. "I'm starting to see that, Raphaella."