DISCLAIMER: Do NOT stop at this chapter or I swear little purple goblins will come in the middle of the night and steal your clothes. There are 2 more chapters after this one, and both have the right to be read. So please for the sake of closure read the last two! Now I'm done ranting :)

Chapter 36

HOMECOMING

Laurie sat on the train, fidgeting, unable to control his excitement at returning home - for good.

When he had first got on the train, there had originally been a man sitting by the window. But Laurie had leaned over to stare out the window so many times, the man had eventually gotten aggravated enough to let Laurie have the window seat. Laurie had been embarrassed by this but was entirely grateful, although he knew that staring at the passing landscape did nothing to hurry the train along.

He was just so anxious to see her. And when he saw her this time, he knew he would never leave her again. He also had decided to tell her. Finally, he was going to confess to her his long-harbored feelings.

He could only hope that she would have him.

...

Jo was impatient to get back home. Marmee had sent her to fetch some groceries in the town market since Hannah had a nasty cold, and Beth was busy cleaning house.

But today was the day of Laurie's arrival, and Jo had so wanted to be there when he came.

She had rushed as well as she could to gather the items on the list, and was now hurrying to the house, while also trying not to crack the eggs. This in turn became a very difficult task.

But Jo persevered until she saw the house.

With no more reserve for the eggs, Jo broke into a run. She opened the door and stepped into the house, going then into the kitchen to put down her things, all the while wondering if Laurie had arrived, and if so, where he was.

She went to look for him.

Suddenly she heard his voice, and quietly edged into the doorway of the living room, hoping to sneak up on him and take him by surprise.

But what she saw stopped her short.

Laurie was embracing Beth, but this was not a friendly embrace, it was a loving, close embrace.

"I can't live without you, Beth." he said quietly, earnestly.

The effect was as if someone had pierced Jo quick to the heart with the sharpest knife. A small, pained gasp escaped from her lips.

Laurie quickly looked to the sound.

The scene began to swim and blur before Jo. She realized she was about to cry, and bolted from the room, lest Beth and Laurie should see her.

As she ran, she heard Laurie calling to her, but she could not answer. All she knew was that she had to get away.

Jo ran out of the house and as far as her legs could take her, till she stumbled and fell on the ground, sobbing.

But to her immense horror she heard footsteps. She tried to hide her face by turning away.

Someone - she realized it was Laurie - gently lifted her off the ground.

"Jo! You're crying. What's the matter, dear?" said Laurie, his voice full of anguish.

"Nothing." was Jo's feeble reply.

"You're a horrid liar, Jo March. Now tell me what's what." said Laurie.

Jo tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he held her firmly. And so with a sigh of defeat she began.

"I saw you... and Beth...and she loves you, and you her and...and…

"And not me." she finished. She closed her eyes, unable to bear seeing in his eyes the pity she knew would follow.

"Oh, Jo. How could you not know how much I love you?" said Laurie, his voice thick with soft, but intense passion.

Jo opened her eyes, unable to believe what she had just heard.

"What..?" she said, lost.

Laurie gently caressed her cheek, saying, "Jo, I've loved you since the night you stumbled upon me at that silly dance so long ago. While we danced, I realized then and there that I had found the greatest treasure worth keeping. I only hoped that you could love me to, as I feared to be only loved as a brother."

"But...all those other girls - " said Jo, still bewildered but with growing hope.

"Were a feeble attempt to make you jealous, of course." said Laurie with a small smile.

"And then...I saw you with Beth. You said 'I can't live without you, Beth.'" said Jo, certain now that this dream would end, and Laurie would go back to his real love.

A darkness came over Laurie then. "That is a different thing, altogether. Something that Beth must tell you herself, for it is a secret that is not mine to say."

Then the darkness was gone, to replaced with the gentility once more.

"Jo, please say you love me. Say you'll marry me, and spend all of your days with me. I know it won't be easy, but if you could simply care for me - if only a little - I would be the happiest man in all the world. If you can't care for me in the slightest, I promise I shall let you be. As long as you're happy, I will be also. But say now so that my heart may be at peace."

Laurie looked at her with anxious, prayerful eyes.

"Forever and ever, Teddy." said Jo, throwing her arms around his neck.

Jo could feel the joy emanating from Laurie as they held each other.

"How I love to hear you say 'Teddy'. No one has ever called me that but you." said Laurie.

"You will always be my Teddy." said Jo tenderly.

"And you will always be my Jo." said Laurie, and holding her so close their hearts felt as one, they kissed.