Since I've seen 1994 version of 'Little Women', I've been the biggest fan of JoxLaurie and my younger self still refuses to believe they didn't end up together.
His eyes skimmed the letter again and stopped at the words that made his heart clench.
Come back home, Teddy. Come back to me, my boy.
How could he say no to his girl? She'd hurt him terribly, that was true, but what a monster he would be if he didn't come back to hold his aching Jo in such a mournful time?
His thoughts altered then to poor Beth.
She was a sunshine of Marches, her good spirit and caring hands always amazed him and he never forgot how she took care of him when Jo was in New York. Laurie squeezed his eyes as tears threatened to spill on his cheeks.
Marmee's heart must wither seeing Beth's spirit slipping through their fingers.
She's almost translucent, our Beth, our martyred angel. Everything's awakening to bid her farewell and she's the one to fall asleep. I know it, Teddy, I know that her journey is close to end and she can finally rest without any pain or care.
Laurie could only imagine the Marches now, all broken and miserable, but outside they were cheerful and hopeful, careful not to show their pain. He might have done many silly things as Amy said, but her rebuke had given him food for thought and he shall change and stop carrying that martyr lot and go to Concord in an instant to his girl. To his Jo.
I feel so, so terribly alone. I need you, my boy. I miss you, Teddy.
"I miss you too, Jo." Laurie whispered and opened the drawer to take all Jo's letters out. The papers scattered around him and the drawing of Jo that Amy gave him in Valrosa only reassured him in his decision.
Genius burns! Jo exclaimed in the picture clad in her scribbling suit and he smiled tracing her face with his dark eyes.
My love for you still burns, Jo. Don't make me regret my decision.
With a deep breath, Laurie started packing his things.
The March house was quiet when he appeared on the doorstep and he feared he came too late. By the look and a long hug he received from Marmee, Beth departed to the Valley of the Shadows before he could reach Concord. Jo ran down the stairs when she heard his voice and charged into his arms with such force he almost hit the wall.
"You came, Teddy, you're really here." Jo sobbed and he squeezed her tighter. She rarely cried and seeing her like this broke his heart again.
"I am, but too late… I wished to say goodbye to Beth." At the mention of their sister's name, Jo gave a mournful sound and he tried to calm her down, even when his own voice cracked with emotions. "I could not have done differently when your letter came. I had to be with you, Jo."
"Oh, Teddy." She managed to choke before he scooped her into his arms and with a sad look and nod at Marmee and Mr. March, Laurie carried her upstairs.
The purple bags under her eyes faded slightly and Laurie smiled when he saw Jo, Demi and Daisy playing with Beth's kittens outside the house. He was more happy these past few days than he'd been all that time in Europe. His broken heart was rebuilding again and some pieces grew only larger when he looked at Meg's twins.
How he missed the Marches; his family.
Meg and John murmured something to each other and his former tutor hugged his wife, running his hand soothingly on her back. Laurie looked at Jo then and wished he could have the same with her, Jo being his willful wife. As she felt his eyes on her, Jo sent him a tentative smile, probably still ashamed of her breakdown the first day she'd seen him. She got up and took his arm, proposing a stroll.
"I feel heaps better with you here, Teddy." Jo began. "I must admit I wasn't sure you'd come… After what I've done to you-"
"Let's not talk about it, Jo." The upbeat air around Laurie seemed to drop instantly at her words. "It was in the past, let's have it stay there and not open barely closed wounds. Tell me, my girl, have you written anything lately?"
"I did and it was more on Beth's request than my own will to be fair." Jo laughed lightly and plucked the tall grass around them. "And writing for Beth during her last days felt a thousand times better than it did when I was in New York. I hope this feeling lasts even if she's not here but with Angels, watching after us."
Laurie smiled nostalgically. "It's been some time since I've read something of yours. Give me some piece and let us cherish Beth's blessing for your scribbling fingers."
"I certainly will entrust you with the fruits of my labor, my boy." Jo's face lit up and she tugged on his sleeves. "Be prepared to shed a tear when you read a new copy from the Pickwick Club!"
They got a letter from Amy that she was currently traveling from Europe to bid her goodbye to Beth. Laurie felt shame whenever he thought about Amy. He once assured himself that she would do and replace Jo in his heart… How stupid he was, how desperate to feel something again and be a part of his desired family. His cheeks burnt with embarrassment and Jo snatched his hat from his head when they laid on the hill.
"What troubles you, Teddy?" She propped herself up on her elbows and waved her hand when he shook his head in denial of her allegation. "I know you, thus speak your mind!"
He scratched his neck with a sigh and grinned. She knew him so well it was almost impossible to lie, but he shan't tell her the heinous truth, so he opened his mouth and said. "I thought about you in New York, you said you wrote for the newspaper. I cannot imagine you writing about carnal effusions! So my skin burns thinking about your embarrassment as you were asking for a romance in the library."
Jo hit him on the arm and flushed furiously. "Stop reminding me of it, Laurie! And stop thinking about it as well! You enjoy teasing me too much as of late."
"Only a bit. It makes me feel eighteen again!" Laurie laughed and covered his eyes while she was throwing blades of grass at him. "I wish I was in New York and bought 'Weekly Volcano'. What a thrill it'd have been to discover which one of the sensation stories is yours, Miss March."
Jo got up with a fuming face and he quickly followed, catching her sides and tickling her lightly, at which angry Jo tried to slap his hands to prevent herself from laughing.
"Would there be a vicious murder? Poisoning without a trace of crime! A forbidden romance? Just a kiss perhaps?" Laurie turned her around and locked her in his arms and she struggled with a pout. "I'd know your story was the best one as I don't expect anything else from my girl Jo."
A smile finally broke free on her face, even if she tried to cover it, and Laurie gazed at her pretty face. Jo was more beautiful than she'd been when she'd left him with a broken heart.
"Let me go, Laurie." She pointed a finger at him. "You're only laughing at me."
"I may tease a bit," He gave her a boyish smirk. "but I missed this. Haven't done this in a really long time."
"Didn't you tease Amy in Europe?" Jo asked with curiosity. "She wrote about you."
Laurie's smile fell a little. "She did?"
"Mhm." Jo nodded. "You spent quite a lot of time together."
"I wouldn't say a lot, but it was nice to have a familiar face around." He raised an eyebrow at Jo's sudden change of voice. "Amy helped to fill the void I had since I left Concord."
Jo grew quiet and lowered her head.
"I-" She hugged herself, putting some distance between them. "I'm sorry, Laurie."
He stayed quiet, not really knowing how to answer. His thoughts turned into a hazy turmoil.
"I'm truly sorry. I know none of my pretty words can atone the suffering I've caused. I just wish that-" Jo trailed off, her eyes caught his and he was able to catch an abrupt determination in them. "I've matured, Teddy. New York changed me as well as Beth's passing, and finally-oh how marvelous it is to say that-I understand myself. I know what I want. It is my turn to risk it all." She laughed. Laurie's heart beat at double pace now.
Jo took a step forward and wrapped her arms around his neck as steadily as she always did, pulling lightly at the end of his hair. "Teddy, my boy, I love you." She flushed; her face beamed with happiness. "I love you as I've never loved anyone before. I love you as much as my pen and ink, if not even more. I wish that once my answer was different, however I don't think it would've been as truthful as it is right now."
Laurie blinked, he swore he could feel cotton balls in his ears, her words were as loud as they were muffled and he refused to trust his brain processed them right.
"Laurie?" Her smile fell and her hands turned limp on his shoulders. "You're awfully quiet. Please, say something or else I shall go insane."
"Jo." His voice was soft when he cupped her cheek. "Jo, my girl."
Laurie didn't have to tell her anything else, because when he leaned down and kissed her, Jo knew very well that he loved her.
Ink spilt on the paper. A jolly overture played in her head.
The new chapter just began.