I ADORE Greta Gerwig's 2019 version of Little Women (still love the 94 version- that's what I grew up on!). This story takes place in Greta's world and with her version of characters. Liberties taken where needed.
As the distance between their bodies increased it caused a deep cold, much like that of an icicle of raw terror to slide down Jo's spine. She wouldn't be exaggerating to compare it to a cosmic shift- a crack in her foundation. Suddenly, everything felt exceedingly wrong. This feeling startled her into action.
"What are you bloody doing?" she murmured.
Looking around the field frantically, upending the earth around her in a bid to scramble to her feet, Jo began to pant from the early onset of a fit about to tear through her body.
"Jo March, what are you doing?!" she cursed under her breath as she struggled to rise.
Clumsy, fumbling- this is precisely what she'd warned Teddy would happen if ever they were to marry. She's uncoordinated and uncouth. Currently squatting in a field squawking at herself like a lunatic. (Ladies and gentlemen- Miss Jo March at your service.)
Laurie's form was shrinking by the second. A moment of clarity, the briefest of flashbacks to her pulling Laurie's cap off his head and plopping it upon herself- the two of them embracing and laughing carefree, caused Josephine Louise March to decide right there and then to square her shoulders and no longer question the unknown.
"Like a cursed fairy tale, my God..." she quietly hissed, self consciously crucifying herself for what she was about to do. It stood against everything she'd loudly proclaimed for years.
Love was for fools, love was for the lame and needy.
Love it so turns out was what she sucked in a breath of air and began to sprint toward.
"TEDDY!" she bellowed.
The Laurence boy's long legs (Damn his wretched height Jo raged) had carried him nearly half a mile out- Jo's voice died within the overly breezy air and he trod along, unaware of his friend's cries.
"TEDDY! Wait!" she hollered, barely keeping her balance among the loose dirt and ditches.
"I swear if I am to sprain my ankle in these fields for the likes of sodding Theodore Laurence..." she silently fumed.
Hiking up her skirts, Jo pressed on, willing her limbs to move faster lest she lose sight of him.
Laurie's head felt fairly empty given the heartache he was currently experiencing. Jo's brash words and rejection as he'd confessed his deepest desires to her left him bare and vulnerable. He was at an utter loss for words. She had snatched them, along with her coveted affections, and left a shell of a man (could he even call himself as such? A real man would have found a way into a woman's heart).
"…and I will watch." Had he truly uttered those cryptic, worthless words mere moments ago? Like hell he'd watch. Already he was busy making plans to start packing for Europe the moment he got back to his grandfather's manor. His feelings may be trampled upon, but he had just enough pride left to not be subject to pity. Word of Jo's refusal surely would get out and he couldn't bear to think of her sad grey-blue eyes and the pitying looks from the likes of the Marches and company. He'd wanted to be a part of their close-knit family so badly and the sting of watching Jo live out her life on the arm of another man was too much, even for Laurie's thick skin.
He'd survived his mother's death and his father's wicked ways that left him chasing skirts around greater Europe (in what eventually culminated in his father's father taking him in). Laurie could stand a lot, but the loss of Jo hit below the belt. He felt as if his heart lay under the floor.
Laurie stopped in his tracks, angrily swiping at the tears that had welled in the corners of his eyes. Just as he made movement to forge ahead, he suddenly became all too aware of a presence behind him.
"Perhaps a bear stands tall behind to put me out of my misery" he forlornly (and quite irrationally) thought, the brisk cold autumn air causing him to sniffle.
Sparing the quickest of glances over his shoulder, the picture painted in front of his eyes moved him beyond words.
There was Jo. His Jo, running at full speed- looking as though a pack of wild hyenas were on her heels.
"Teddy!" she yelled.
She bound down the hillside in her brilliant chaos, her radiant disarray, curls escaping an unruly mop of haphazardly pinned back sun-kissed tendrils. Her cheeks were red at their highest points and he could tell even from far away that she was breathless from the long haul.
Thoughts raced through Laurie's mind- each too swift to land on any given one. How long had she run, what was she running for and most importantly why was she running were just some of the questions that immediately sprang forth.
Laurie gave a timid smile that quickly broke into an all out wide grin when he saw her beam back at him.
"Teddy!" she called, nearing his lanky form.
Jo March, for all her dizzying, trying, mind-boggling rebellion came defiantly flying into his open arms- a mess of red and yellow fabrics, carrying with her the scent of freshly picked wildflowers.
"Oh, Jo" Teddy sighed heavily in relief, burying his nose in her hair, letting the scent overpower his senses.
She pulled back, eyes bright and smile still very much in place.
"Jo, I-"and before he could get out any of his questions, she gave him the surprise of his life by leaning forward and soundly kissing him. Immediately he pulled her body closer, his instinct to be near her taking over without his say in the matter. Jo ran one hand up his wind-battered dark curls, tightly grasping the back of his head. Laurie's fingers mimicked similar positioning upon her locks as he cradled her warm cheek in his other hand, thumb brushing against the smooth ivory skin. He felt Jo's small free hand flat against his chest, right above his heart- gently calming him. They kissed for what felt like endless minutes, but could only have been seconds given Jo's lack of oxygen from her impromptu sprint.
Jo pulled back just long enough to steal a few breaths of air, intently eyeing Laurie's wet bottom lip as she did so before diving in for more. Her actions were thrilling and just like the rest of her- wildly free and unabashed. Jo kissed Laurie like he was set to sea for a long voyage. To Laurie's utter delight, she opened her mouth for him to gently graze their tongues against one another, curiously exploring the depths of one another for the first time. He was home in her arms and prayed this signaled a change of heart.
Finally- regretfully, the two pulled apart, both lightly panting at the exertion put into their embrace.
"Teddy, I know I've no right to ask this of you- but if you'll please just allow me to say this now, I need only for you to listen. Can you do that?"
He nodded, subconsciously tightening his grip on her shoulder in a bid to keep her in place. (My dear boy, I'm not going anywhere she fondly thought as she felt his fingers burrow into her jacket.)
"Back there was a mess" she gestured to the field full of trees. "You caught me off guard and I did what I always do which is speak before thinking and lashed out. I hate fine society and politics. I don't want to have to stop being me. You're of higher rank than I and the idea of having to host dinners and countless parties seems a fate worse than imprisonment."
Laurie gave out a light chuckle at that. Jo slapped at his chest, poking a finger against his ribcage.
"Don't make fun, Teddy- I'm serious! I don't want to be trapped. I want the freedom to do as I please, talk like myself and not put on airs and show for others. I've no desire to perform like some dancing monkey for the richer patrons of society. I'll not have it."
Jo looked deeply into his green eyes, openly admiring his handsome features for maybe the first time. Had he always had freckles on his nose? she found herself distractedly musing before gently shaking her head and getting back to her important speech.
"Don't ask that of me, Teddy. Don't ask me to live a lie and shelf my true character for favor amongst your peers. It's like I said that first night we met- I'm only Jo. That's all I know how to be. All I'm interested in being, truly. Your proposal" her brow furrowed, "it was a proposal, yes? I'm not reading wrong into things? It wouldn't be the first time I blundered ones' mannerisms for something they are not" Laurie barked out another laugh, emphatically nodding his head in approval. "Your proposal… it scared me. I got scared and I got mad and I said whatever I needed to say to push you away. If you're at arm's length I figured you'd come to your wits and realize we're better off as friends- not the marrying kind. But if I may be honest…" she hesitated "the idea of spending the better part of my days with you, well… you're my best friend and the person I most enjoy being with, so honestly what could be so bad?"
Laurie gazed at her in wonder. She was saying everything in this moment that his battered heart could hope for and more.
"Well don't just gawk at me, Teddy. Say something."
"The floor is mine?" he asked with a gentle smile, unable to resist teasing a little at her tirade.
Jo made a show of waving her hand in the air as if giving him right of passage. "Yes good sire, the floor is yours" she replied playfully in a silly Cockney accent.
"Madam March, you leave me speechless" he began with a jovial smile. "I've spent nearly every minute of every day loving you. I fully intend to do whatever I must to show you with each passing moment that I am worthy of your hand. Jo, I don't take to the idea of marriage lightly- especially not with you. My lovely' he kissed her cheek "frustratingly" he kissed the other, "beloved" his lips touched the tip of her nose "Jo".
Cupping her face in his hands he looked straight into her eyes and declared "I'd never ask you to change. I quite fancy you just as you are."
"I haven't spoiled things entirely?"
"Never" Laurie shook his head.
"Ask me again. With some time, ask again and I do not intend to disappoint."
"For you, I'll wait a thousand lifetimes if that is what you so desire."
"Oh Teddy, save poetry for the empty pages of your journals" Jo chuckled.
Laurie frowned suddenly, looking down between their bodies- a crease developing in his brow. Jo looked round at a disadvantage as to what could have suddenly caused the abrupt change in his demeanor.
"Teddy, are you-"
"Might this be my scarf?" he interrupted, fingering at the burgundy silk tied round her neck.
"… maybe" her cheeks reddened.
"And is this…" he leaned back further, taking in the yellow and red pattern, "also my waistcoat?"
"Perhaps."
"By Jove, I knew you had them! Our poor maid insisted I'd misplaced them when I questioned the whereabouts of my laundry. You must stop stealing articles, Jo."
"Why? You've so many lovely things. I'm sure you can spare a scarf here and there. Besides, it's not stealing when I had every intention to give it back. And while we're on the subject matter, I do believe a much-cared for waistcoat of mine seems to have grown legs and waltzed right out of my closet. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you dear Teddy?"
He answered with a kiss.
After several moments the pair begrudgingly pulled apart. Teddy quickly found himself quite fond of this new intimate development in he and Jo's relationship. She too seemed eager to learn the ways in which his kisses varied.
"Where were you headed in such a rush?" she asked.
"To grandfathers'. With every intention to start packing" Laurie deadpanned.
"And go where?"
"Europe. I've uncles and friends in some of the major cities. I'd have figured something out one way or the other" he shrugged.
"I'm sorry, Teddy. I'd hate to think my muddled behavior would be cause for such a departure."
"You, Miss Jo March, owe no apology. Not in the slightest. You've gone and made me the happiest man there is."
"Oh dear, you truly are mad if you think I am the stuff of dreams."
Laurie stroked the side of her face, his fingers grazing her cheek.
"For fear of further dismaying you I shall only say that I am quite pleased with all of you."
Jo rolled her eyes to which Laurie snickered well naturedly.
"My sisters are going to have an absolute field day with this" she groaned.
"Now come Jo, I think it's been a long-time coming- you and I. You truly believe they'll give you grief?"
Jo cocked an eyebrow at him. "Have you met the March women? Of course they'll ridicule! Especially Amy- she always assumed I'd grow to be some sad spinster."
At that moment a gust of wind blew through the field causing both young adults to shiver.
"Should we be on our way then?"
"Where to?" Jo asked, peeling herself off Laurie's chest to stand by his side.
He picked up her hand, grinning unabashedly when she (by Jove, finally!) allowed the gesture, pulling her along down the hillside.
"To the stars, Jo. To the stars."
Jo slapped his shoulder.
"Teddy!" she complained "your gay musings have me feeling most ill. Do cease."
Laurie threw his head back, laughing cheerfully toward the heavens. The two made their way through the countryside, hand-in-hand back to their respective families, but with the happy knowledge that the Laurence and March family would be more intertwined now than ever.