"You're WHAT?" Amy screeched, her voice carrying through the parlor of Meg's home. Jo was certain that the entire neighborhood had been made aware of her surprise.

"Nick and I are getting married this afternoon," Jo repeated, taking a seat on the settee across from her siblings, both looking at her with astonishment. It had taken some time to build up the courage to talk to them; Jo had spent part of the previous night lying in bed, trying to think of an easy way to break the news. In the end, she had decided to just come out and tell them at the same time, luring them to Meg's for early morning tea. She had hopes they would understand but also the fear that tradition would conquer compassion gripped her mind.

"But Jo," Meg said gently, a look of concern coming over her face. "Have you thought this through? What about the guests? The venue?"

Jo sighed and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "It'll be small… at Plumfield… with just family and the children." She looked down at her hands as she played with her teacup, frustration mounting. She didn't want to convince them - she knew this was the right thing for her and Nick. "We don't want anything grand - we don't need it."

She heard Meg sigh. "But it's just so sudden."

"Yes!" Amy jumped in. "Too sudden… and impetuous! Don't you want time to plan things out?" Jo looked up as Amy began pacing. "There is just too much to think about… the food, decor…" Amy stopped in front of her, hands thrown up in the air. "What about a gown? What will you wear? It can't be white! It's just not done…" Amy dropped onto the settee beside Jo, obviously overcome with everything. "Oh, Jo… what will people think?"

Jo took a deep breath, trying to control her anger. "I don't care what people think, Amy. Nick and I are doing this for us - and no one else." Discouraged tears came to her eyes - she had hoped if anyone would understand the situation, it would be her sisters. "I just thought you would be happy for us."

Meg stood and knelt in front of Jo, taking her hands. "Of course we're happy for you," she said, glaring at Amy. "We just want to make sure this is what you want."

"It is…" Jo squeezed her sister's hands. "I lost him once - I can't waste anymore time."

Meg looked over at Amy and then gave Jo a weary smile. "That's it then - you are getting married today!"

Jo glanced at Amy, awaiting additional disapproval. After a few moments of tense silence, her younger sister finally nodded, breaking out into a huge grin. "You're getting married today!" she cried. "And I think I have just the thing for you to wear…"

Jo breathed a sigh of relief as her sisters began to fuss over the dress she would wear and how to do her hair. It was a comfort to know that the two of them would see her through this, regardless of how impetuous it all might seem. The knot in her stomach was now replaced with a sudden excitement that wasn't there before. Maybe it was the hastiness of plans or the idea that she would be waking up tomorrow someone's wife. Whatever it was, it was desirable and seemed to take her breath away. She didn't remember feeling this way with Fritz.

"I'll pick up the gown from my place and we'll meet at Plumfield around 1." Jo heard Amy say and realized she hadn't paid much attention to the plans set. "Jo?"

"That sounds great," she said, getting to her feet and making a rushed effort towards the door. She still had her own plans that had to be finished before 4 and she was using up precious time sitting there. "I will see you both at 1." She took one last glance at her sisters and their shocked expressions and made a quick exit. Once outside she took a deep breath - one thing down… so many more to go.

XXXXX

Jo hurried up the staircase towards her bedroom, a list of things running through her head. Even though it was to be a small affair, it seemed that she would be busy right up to the moment of the ceremony. And regardless of what Nick thought, she had more to think about than just a dress. She made note to speak with Asia about dinner when she heard laughter and Nick's voice coming from Rob's room. Not wanting to impose but curious nonetheless, she quietly inched towards the door, trying to hear their conversation.

"How about 'nother round?" she overheard Nick say over the sound of the little boy's checkers clanking against the board. "You won that game too fast!"

"Mother says I'm a tough competitor," Rob replied. Jo reached the door and carefully peered in, trying not to interrupt. The sight put a smile on her face - both Nick and Rob were sprawled out on the floor, one on each end of the board as they reset the checkers for a new game. Nick was proudly watching as the boy carefully placed down each piece, Rob's face intense with concentration. Nick suddenly became serious, and he put his pieces to the side. "Hey Rob," he said, sitting up. "Can I talk to ya 'bout somethin'?"

The boy's gaze never left the board and he simply nodded. "Yup."

Jo watched as Nick took a deep breath and chewed his bottom lip, obviously trying to find the words. "So, you know I love your Ma, right?"

Rob looked up; his face confused. "Sure..." he trailed off, staring at Nick for a moment only to go back to the board in the next.

"Well, I do and…" Nick sighed, struggling. "And I-I was wonderin' what you might think if your Ma and I got married."

Rob stopped putting down his game pieces to think about the proposition. "Married?"

"Yeah… See, I'd like to marry your Ma. I'll take real good care of her," Nick offered, trying to sound convincing. "You wouldn't have to worry about her at all."

After a moment, Rob simply shrugged and went back to the checkers. Nick chuckled with a bit of relief but still seemed uneasy at the lack of an answer. "So, can I have your permission ta marry her?"

"My permission?" Rob was now fully intrigued by the conversation and Jo grinned at how the boy's face lit up.

"Well, sure," Nick continued, taking advantage of the boy's attention, "You are the man of the house… and I couldn't just up and marry your Ma without you bein' okay with it."

Rob gave it some additional thought, pride shining in his eyes at the idea of such a big responsibility. He looked at Nick carefully, mulling things over. "When would you get married?" he asked suspiciously.

"This afternoon?" Nick's face showed signs of uneasiness, not sure of Rob's reaction.

Jo could see Rob's eyes squint in contemplation and smiled at how serious her son was taking his job as the man. Finally, the young boy nodded his approval. "I think Mother would really like that."

Nick chuckled. "I hope so." He went back to the board and replaced his pieces, preparing for the next game.

"Yeah, she will," Rob reassured. "She was real sad when you were gone."

Nick stopped what he was doing and looked up at Rob with all seriousness. "I know. I was too."

The two players went back to their game, the pieces moving without comment. Jo was just about to return to her room when Rob stopped mid-move, a concerned look on his face. "Nick?"

"Yeah Buddy?"

"When you marry Mother, does that mean you're gonna be my Father?"

Jo noticed a halt to Nick's movements as he continued to stare at the board. He took a deep breath. "Nope," he said matter-of-factly, playing with a checker. "You already gotta Father."

"But he isn't here."

Nick looked into Rob's eyes. "He might not be right here but he's always with ya. And I ain't gonna replace him."

Rob nodded. "But then what are you gonna be?"

"Well," Nick hesitated, seeming stumped for a few moments. He sighed, glancing down at the board. "Well, ya see, when I was a kid, I lost my Pa too. And I always wished I had someone who could be my friend, someone who could teach me things that my Pa would have… someone I could talk to." He looked up at Rob. "Maybe I could be that for ya."

The young boy broke out in a smile and nodded. "I'd like that."

Nick mirrored his grin and went back to the game. "OK - one more round then I gotta go." He moved one of his pieces sideways, a teasing glint in his eyes. "I'm gonna beat ya this time."

"I don't think so," Rob replied, moving his piece over Nick's and winning the checker.

Jo stepped away from the doorway, allowing the two men in her life some time to themselves. The tears that had formed in her eyes threatened to spill over - she couldn't have asked for a better man to look after her son - someone to be the role model Rob desperately needed. The doubts had long dissolved, but her thoughts then drifted to Fritz and how things had changed in the past several years. Her relationship with her late husband was precious and while she still missed his presence, the void she had known, even just a year ago, had somehow been mended. It wasn't gone, she knew that, but the emptiness that she had shared with her husband's memory was no longer painful. There was another pull, another longing that was fulfilling and while deep down she knew it made her feel more complete, there was the sudden realization that something else had to be done. Jo blinked back the tears and took a deep breath, moving towards her bedroom with urgency to gather a few things. 4pm would be coming soon enough.