"That's it," Jo pointed to her small home. It hadn't changed at all. Funny how when everything else is evolving, your home never really seems to.

It was the same cottage home with the same garden around it. But today it was covered in bright white snow like a loving blanket.

There was the Laurence's house, right next to their own. It seemed out of place with its grandness and boldness. It was as white as the snow around it.

Jo felt her heart lurch to be back there. Back at her dear home.

"Oh, Jo," Professor Bhaer reached into the backseat of his car and presented her with a black notebook, "Your manuscript. You left it in here after you met with Henry Dashwood."

"Oh, yeah," Jo said, taking it from him. "I'm being published." She felt herself almost smile and then remembered Beth. "Beth will be so excited." She looked up at the house and saw a light coming from the upstairs window. Meg was standing near it, talking to someone.

Jo saw her attic window at the top of her house. So many memories in that tiny room.

"I have to go now," she said blankly. "Thank you, Professor."

"For what?"

"For being my friend," Jo undid her seat belt and stepped outside. "Oh, and for the ride."

He nodded, "I wish your sister well."

"Thanks," she turned to close the door.

"And Jo," he started, "I...um...I'll miss...I mean, goodbye."

"Bye," Jo said, seeing him frazzled for the second time that night. She clutched her manuscript in her hand and rushed up the little walkway to the front door.

Her mother opened it before she even got there.

"My Jo," Marmee said, wrapping her arms around her daughter. "Look at you. You look so worldly."

"You saw me last month," Jo came into her house, marveling at its sameness. "How's Beth?"

"She's upstairs," Marmee said, avoiding the question. "Meg is with her."

"Hello, Jo," John Brooke, Meg's husband was seated at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in his hands.

"Hey," Jo looked around the room, noticing how unclean it looked. She doubted her mother had thought about the dusting. "Why isn't Beth at the hospital, Marmee? She should be at the hospital."

Marmee's grin faltered, "She wanted to be home. We have doctors with her all the time. She just wanted to be home."

Marmee was fighting back tears. Jo had seen her mother do it often. She'd done it when their dad had first gone to Afghanistan. She'd done it when they first found Beth's cancer.

"I'm going up to her," Jo started for the stairs and rushed up them quickly, taking every other step as she had done when she was younger. "Beth?" Jo said, using a playful tone.

Beth was lying in her bed, her bright pink comforter covering her up to her neck. She looked so pale.

Meg was sitting near her, her long brown hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Jo!" Both sisters said at the same time. Meg pulled Jo into a hug, "How's school?"

"Unending," Jo said dramatically, falling onto the edge of Beth's bed. "How are the twins?"

Meg's eyes widened, "They're little heathens. I haven't slept in weeks."

"That explains why John is downstairs drinking his body weight in coffee," Jo said, knowing it would make Beth laugh which it did.

Meg glanced out the window again, "Who's car was that?"

"Professor Bhaer's," Jo answered.

Meg squinted, "Your friend from New York?"

"Yeah. What?"

"Nothing. I just never had any friends willing to drive me four hours in the middle of the night in horrible conditions. You know, people who are JUST friends."

Jo leaned back on her hands, "What are you insinuating, dear sister?"

"Me? Insinuating?" Meg moved slyly out of the room. "Nothing at all. You know, he seems pretty handsome from those photos of him you put on Facebook."

"Get out," Jo barked, pointing at the door.

Beth giggled lightly, "She's only teasing you, Jo."

Meg moved out the door, "I'll leave you two. I've got to go make sure John doesn't OD on caffeine."

Jo moved closer to Beth, smiling at her sister. Beth's skin had an odd sheen to it, her eyes a glassiness, "How ya feeling, Bethy?"

"Oh, it's not too bad," Beth smiled. "I'm so happy you're here with me." She took Jo's hand. Her hand was so cold and clammy.

Jo smiled, "I sold a story."

A bright glow filled up all of Beth's skinny face, "That's great! I'm so proud of you! I always knew you could."

Jo brushed a piece of hair away from Beth's eyes, "I know you did. And I have friends in New York and at school. In going to take you one day."

"To New York..." Beth sounded far away. "Who's this Professor?"

"A friend," Jo answered. "Just a dear friend. Anyway, you and I in New York! We shall see Broadway shows and mingle with the Bohemians and we'll go to the Empire State Building and-"

"Jo, I'm not going to go to New York," Beth swallowed. "I probably won't be here much longer and-"

"Don't talk like that."

"Don't deny it. You know it's true. And I'm not scared. I never thought I could ever be brave like you but now I know I can," Beth shifted in her bed. "You shouldn't feel sad for me. I couldn't bear it if I made you upset."

Jo felt the years sting in her eyes, "You'll get through this. You did before-"

"But not really. It came back," Beth blinked. "I never really had plans for the future. Not like you. I knew I just wanted love. It's the only thing we can take with us when we go. Don't be scared of love, Jo."

Air felt hard to get a hold of as she clutched her sister's hand. Beth always could say just the right thing. Beth might not say much, but she always said something worth saying. Jo just spoke to fill silence. Jo spoke a lot, but she hardly said anything at all.

Beth was right. Jo was scared of love. It terrified her. It felt like a betrayal to her plans. Her plans never involved being in love.

And there was love in her. Jo started to feel it take over her at once.

Jo felt love that wasn't for her family and it absolutely terrified her.

"Alright," Jo said, walking around the room. "What shall we do tonight? Watch a movie? Read a book? Make fun of reality TV?"

"Let's just talk," Beth said.

Jo sighed, "Fine. What about?"

"Tell me everything," Beth insisted.

"Well, in the beginning, there was the Big Bang..."

"Jo," Beth laughed.

"Fine, I'll tell you about everything that happened this month." Jo leaned against the head rest, "Well, when I got back to New York I surprised the Professor by barging into his room. I scared him shitless but I know he was happy to see me. Kelsey took him and me to dinner and it was horrible so the Professor and I ate some popcorn later and watched Doctor Who. He was confused, but I think he liked it. Anyway, at school the next day some girl..."