A/N: Sorry for the out-of-characterness of jo in this one but I just want to see how this plays out. It's about time jo abandoned reason for her wildness.

What was she doing? Jo blinked hurriedly as she looked away from the window she'd taken to daydreaming by. It was hardly safe for her nerves to keep thinking of Laurie in such a manner that brought deep blushes and unsatisfied sighs.

"Poor Fritz!" Jo turned her thoughts to her unknowing husband. He deserved all her heart and more, but Jo couldn't help her strange new dreams which despite lessening after the party a week ago had returned with a vengeance.

It was clearly Laurie in her dreams and unfortunately for Jo's peace, the man's identity wasn't the only thing that had begun to clarify. His mannerisms were always there, his wide smile always captivating and his touch – Jo didn't know what to think of that. She'd never been held that way in real life and she knew it was unreasonable to imagine it.

Especially considering spouses. But that wasn't the only reason surely; she didn't really feel that way about Laurie, did she? "Do I?" Jo wondered aloud, moving downstairs to prepare for the Brookes visit.

…

Laurie maintained his regime of teasing so faithfully, it was no wonder that his little wife rarely saw him parted from Jo's side when they visited. Presently he was chasing one of her sister's charity boys about the path, looking back only to yell something heated to Jo.

She wasn't jealous of the attention. Amy was above that, and with a toss of her golden head she reaffirmed it, despite the slight pang in her belly that hit whenever Laurie's black eyes sought his friend's lighter ones.

Amy watched them intently for a moment, looking for things she'd only looked for before she married him. They were hardly of equal height, but Jo was closer than she could ever hope to be and Amy admired how their brown complexions seemed to match. Her own cream one seemed to contrast with her husband's but that had never been an issue, Laurie's praise for the pale skin of her wrists more flattering than the light on her yellow curls.

Her sister and husband's gazes became steady when he stopped to take her arm and Amy noted how Jo seemed to shrink from his touch. At least she could be sure Jo didn't like him that way. But Laurie, he seemed eager to run his large hand over the small of her back when she bent to pick up a loose toy.

No, that wasn't fair. Amy shook her head, to clear her mind and she looked away to the orchard. She was simply imagining things that weren't there, and would never be there. "Why not?" she questioned her suspicious thoughts in the same theme. Amy glanced down at her hand, feeling it suddenly heavy and cold. Because of that ring.

…

"Are you – Jo, are you well?" Laurie was hard-pressed to get his sister-in-law's attention but when she finally looked at him he saw the darkness about her eyes and understood why. She looked dreadfully tired!

"Oh, yes. Fine." Jo replied distractedly, more concerned with distancing herself from the body she couldn't stop seeing when she closed her eyes. Laurie moved along the sofa with her however, and he took her hands, wondering why she flinched when he touched her. Although not entirely surprised by his own sudden increased heartbeat.

"I'm not so sure. Jo, look at me and tell me again, are you well?"

She wrenched her hands free and spun away, opting instead to look out the window. Jo wanted to rid her body of the sensory overload from his hands, wishing upon anything that it might just be because she missed Fritz's. But then, she'd been the one to ask him not to touch her and he'd yielded because he was the husband and she the wife.

Laurie patted her shoulder and she shrugged him off, regretting the action as it made his hand trail down her arm in what Jo found a most thrilling way. "Jo dear, please tell me. You don't seem well at all." Her odd behaviour was unnerving and he wanted her to look at him. He couldn't read her without seeing those sharp, perceptive grey eyes.

"If you hadn't slept well the past week you'd be the same!" Jo snapped ungraciously. She closed her eyes and turned to him, feeling as though she was about to plunge into some unknown depth." Honestly Laurie, I can't tell y– I have to work this out on my own." It was too late for her to return sentiments he had long forgotten, regardless of what her body and dreams told her.

Laurie watched her for a long moment before standing to leave. He knew Jo wouldn't talk unless she had to. "I'm here if you need me Jo." She looked up at him with such passion that he felt his heart leap into his throat. It was like looking at himself all those years ago and Laurie realized what she was feeling as he felt his own heat rise at the darkening shade in her eyes.

Desire.