A/N: so I went for the sex… I wrote it before and seeing as none of you minded the rushness of the last chappy up comes this one. Thanks for your ideas Originalbubble, you and I think alike…

…

"I don't want to hurt you," he spoke roughly; lying on top of Jo was causing more trouble for him than he'd predicted.

"Why would you?" she smiled up at him and he felt his worry lessen. If Jo would smile at him in this position then he doubted too much could go wrong.

"Amy said it hurt. And… well – I just don't want – you know."

Jo brushed away the hair that had fallen by his eyes, "You won't. I promise." She'd done this before after all and that was part of the reason she'd agreed.

"I'm going to hold you to it Jo, dear, you do realize." Laurie shifted before he pressed his lips against hers in an electrifying start. He pushed against her, unable to stop his body from its desperate necessity to be with Jo's. The kiss deepened quickly and Jo couldn't remember anything but how it felt to have him touching almost every part of her being.

"Oh," she cried when he broke away from her mouth to move down her neck, appreciating the slender curves she had grown into. Jo felt the need begin to stir well and good below and her hands clutched at his clothed shoulders as he attempted to undo her dress. "Wait, let me."

Laurie lifted off her so that she could move her hands behind and undo the pesky buttons he cursed. The action brought Jo against him again and he kissed her, distracting her fast hands' from their activity. He finished the work himself, finding the angle afforded him an easier access and greedily removed the heavy material from her shoulders.

Jo wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and closer, enjoying the sensation overload his mouth ignited. She groaned when he separated them to undo his shirt, the jacket and vest having disappeared before they lay down. He chuckled before quieting them both with another kiss.

They finished removing all outer clothes until Jo and Laurie remained covered only in the white of their undergarments. Laurie played with the lace across Jo's chest, smiling slyly at her as she breathed heavily with him, her head against the pillow. She caught his straying hand, her eyes serious before she spoke.

"You're sure?"

Laurie knew as well as she they'd gone too far to stop, but he wanted Jo to know he meant to be with her. He wanted her to know that they were doing this for all the right reasons.

"Absolutely."

…

"Should I feel different?" Jo wondered aloud, relaxing when his fingers stroked hers.

"I don't really know, Jo. I feel different, but then I don't think it's because I have life growing inside me."

She laughed at the notion, turning on the bed to face him. It was any wonder she never realized just how much Laurie meant to her, for he was her dearest friend and he'd always been there when she needed him. "Well, maybe not always," Jo amended as she thought of Beth. "What would she say?" Jo wondered as she watched the man beside her smile back, looking very much in love. "Probably 'I told you so.'"

"When do I have to leave?"

Jo blinked before she cringed and turned away. She'd forgotten that part.

"He won't return today." Laurie saw her touch her belly and he couldn't help the burning inside. He loved Jo so much he thought he might burst, but she still cared for Fritz and he recognized that in some twisted way, Jo must have tricked a small part of her mind into believing that she'd done this for him. Not Laurie.

"What if once wasn't enough?" He touched her arm, hoping that feeling her under his fingers would make the mood lessen. It helped and when she rolled over to smile at him Laurie felt the fire die down and another ignite lower.

"I think that was a little more than once." Jo said pointedly, blushing red with her words.

He grinned devilishly back and wriggled closer, sliding his arm around her middle to rest his hands on her back. "Really? Is that so?" and Jo laughed harder, holding his head back as he tried to rain kisses along her neck.

"What about Amy, won't she miss you?" that stopped him and Laurie suddenly felt sick as he looked down at the woman under him. Amy would already know. The instant the servants reported to her that he was absent for lunch and "gone off to who knows where up the lane" she'd know.

"No," he said honestly. Amy wouldn't miss him, but she'd surely be knowingly alone.

"Well, I will." Jo quietly told him as she sat up and gently pulled them both out of bed. "You'd best go to her anyway." Laurie watched as she avoided his gaze and he thought that his wife might have said a similar thing of Jo had they been on speaking terms.

"Yes. Yes, I'm sure for the best," said Laurie under his breath as he went to dress properly, dropping Jo's hands coldly and turning his back to the bright window.

"Oh, Teddy, please." Jo caught his mood change and sat on the ground by his feet, "Don't be like this."

"Like what, Jo? Angry? Jealous? Upset?" he brushed her hands away as he finished with his laces. He'd felt all that over her before and Laurie wondered if he'd spend his whole life in that circle of love turning to misery but he was determined to make the change. "In love?" he finished his questioning and standing he roughly took Jo's hands and kissed her quickly before leaving the room.