"Don't."
Laurie drew his hand away quickly, thinking that if she'd been Jo the answer would be the same. He leant away, falling back to the spot his body had grown all too accustomed to occupying on their bed. It never seemed so empty before, even while she lay there.
"I'm sorry, Laurie."
He winced and moved the hand he'd left by her closer to himself. He might have tried again if he knew of the pained tear Amy let escape despite the hollow dryness she couldn't be rid of.
"I am too." Laurie rolled to face the windows, brow creased in a sort of desperate decision. Maybe he needed to try harder, maybe she just needed to be prodded and poked out of this misery. He knew Jo helped him, maybe she could help Amy.
"I need you to tell Jo to go home tomorrow."
It was still afternoon, and the soft light that fell across the pair couldn't have contradicted the currents of emotion that attempted to be loosened.
"I thought she could help. She only means well, Amy. She wants to help."
Amy frowned further, finding it ridiculous to hold the conversation facing away from each other. She'd caught him watching her sister, she'd caught him moping, and she'd caught him watching her with a look of good-bye. Even within her bubble Amy knew Jo might only cause the pain to increase, but then she would worry that it was the thoughts of a depressed woman. Deprived and destructive.
"Maybe you're right, she does miss Fritz and we need to start being a family again. Just you and I."
"Alright, Laurie."
She was tired and she just wished, as she'd found herself wishing of everything, for it to be over. How could they think so alike and be so far apart?
…
"If you're sure, Teddy." Jo took his hands, "I'm always ready to come marching for you both."
Laurie smiled in thanks and bent as she kissed him quickly goodbye, stopping only to pick up her bags before she was well out the door. He scratched his neck, walking off to some other solitary part of the house thinking that Jo couldn't wait to leave fast enough.
He wished she wouldn't make him so lonely.
…
Amy began to smile again, shortly after her husband's attentions had increased significantly and the absence of problematic relations had begun to realize within her mind. It wasn't long before she was laughing at his silly jokes and responding more than favourably to any sign of advance on Laurie's part.
She'd found the past easier and easier to put behind her, where it belonged. Each day was a chance to move on, create new things and never broach the topic which would stab at her heart when she dwelled on it, late at night or in quiet afternoons.
They sat outdoors under a huge pine tree, which Laurie adamantly told her, would throw objects at Jo and he when she was 'ill'.
"Oh?" Amy smiled, curious about the larking he'd done. "What sorts of things?"
"Pines mostly." Amy's breath caught in her throat when he flashed that special smile she saw so rarely directed at her. Jo usually received that look.
"I see." She leant beside him on the blanket, liking Laurie's appearance more and more for she'd always felt her heart catch when he eyed her a certain way. It was a pet pity of hers that she could never venture off and joke about the way Jo could and would with him. But then, she had always been a better flirt and far more sociable than her sister could ever hope to be and that soothed Amy's little worry well enough for most of the time.
"Jo would just laugh and laugh, taking sides with the tree of course." She really wished he would look away when he spoke of her sister.
"I'm sure she did."
He turned back, the blue in Amy's eyes changing his own black. "Well, my lady, how shall we spend this fine afternoon?"
"Not speaking of Jo" she was tempted to say but held her tongue, leaning in as he did, "Whatever you wish, my lord"
He smiled back, laughing a little, "Ah, see that's where you're wrong my dear, it will be whatever you wish; for I know you have me doing your bidding." If he'd been angry his eyebrow wouldn't have cocked and she wouldn't feel his breath on her face.
"I see." Her lids slid shut as she felt him move closer, thinking he intended to kiss her.
"Do you?" he grinned wickedly, pulling back.