John loved his wife's family. Of course he did, how could he not? They had always been so kind, and supported the two of them-

Well, he wasn't sure about one. Jo was a mystery to him still. The woman who he'd caught weeping at their wedding, unlike the happy tears from the others. The girl who had openly glared at him that Christmas from across the table, who had sighed when he was invited to sit in the parlor. She hardly ever visited Dovecote unless tagging along with Laurie, but always kept Meg at Orchard House longer than she anticipated staying. John felt as if she couldn't stand being around him.

And now they sat together in the little carriage, the reins in John's hands. Mr. Laurence had lent it to the two of them to pick Laurie up from the train station while he finished up preparing for his grandson's welcome home. Laurie's first year of college had gone successfully, and his grandfather was tentatively hopeful that his grandson would maybe take a shine to the business he was learning there. They drove carefully through the mud from last night's thunderstorm. It had been silent the whole way so far. John heard Jo sigh again.

"If you're bored, we could… I don't know, talk?" John suggested, half expecting to get glared at. Instead, Jo rested her chin in her hand and stared at him.

"What do we have to talk about?" she asked, not unkindly but rather bluntly.

John shrugged. He really didn't know what they had in common. He got along well with the entire rest of the family, Amy and Beth being like little sisters, Mrs. March always very welcoming, Mr. March a very respectable man- not to mention they understood each other when it came to their time… away. What did he have in common with the author who often spoke too loudly and had lofty ambitions? He was quiet and rather simple, he would probably bore her.

"What would you like to talk about?" he turned the question around to her, hoping she might have an answer.

"I asked you first, I believe."

"Well, then I asked after, and you can't ask me a second time so you have to answer it now."

To his surprise, Jo laughed. It was nothing like Meg's laugh, which was always soft and sweet and sometimes funny when she snorted. But he considered getting a low, sharp laugh out of his sister-in-law was probably a tentative success?

"Well, I guess I'll think of something then."

It was quiet again while she was thinking.

"When the two of you have children, will everything change again?" The question came in a tone softer than John thought was possible.

He glanced over at his sister-in-law. Meg had announced a few months ago that she was with child, and her family had been over almost every day, insisting on helping with preparations for the baby. Jo had always looked perfectly happy then, telling anyone who would listen that she was going to be an aunt.

"It's terribly selfish of me to think, I know," she added. "But every time something else happens I'm afraid of her slipping further away from us."

"Well, I think a lot of things will change, but not everything. Meg might be busier, but she couldn't ever love her family any less, especially her sisters. You mean a lot to her. Marriage couldn't change that, I suspect nothing will."

"I don't understand it," Jo leaned back. "How one can love so many people so strongly all at the same time. I feel as if we would have to take turns."

John couldn't help but laugh. "Do you think if you had a baby or two, you could ever love Meg less?"

"Well, no," Jo sighed, with a sheepish grin. "I've been stupid about this whole thing. It's only hard to imagine how elastic hearts can be. Mine already seems so full."

"A heart can always handle more love, I think," John said.

"I think you're right."

"So, do you think your heart might be accommodating love for one more soon?"

"If you're going to start acting like Aunt March, I'll walk the rest of the way to the train station."

"Okay, okay, I will cease and desist from questions about your love life, even though I have so generously answered questions about mine," John said sarcastically.

Jo laughed again. "Well, you have a love life to speak of and I don't, so I don't think it works that way."

When Laurie got off the train, he was met with a hug that swept him off his feet from Jo (who was still taller than him, to his exasperation), followed by a firm handshake from John. They had so much to catch up on, he and Jo were going a mile a minute on their way back to the carriage. John climbed back up to the driver's seat, and Laurie stopped to hold the door open for Jo when he reached it. To his surprise, she tossed his other suitcase in and sat next to John. "Sorry Laurie, but we were already having a conversation that I want to finish before we get back. Besides, everyone is going to want to hear your stories so you may as well wait to tell them until we get back."

"With John? Where is Jo, and what have you done with her?"

"Oh please. John isn't bad at all. Now get in, and let's go."

Laurie sat down, flabbergasted.