"Good morning, mein Jo," Fritz greets with a morning kiss. It has been three days since her fever broke, yet she is still unwell. Fritz has not told his beloved wife, but he thinks that she perhaps gave the illness to him as well. His nose will not stop dripping, and he leaves the room to cough quite frequently.

"Fritz?" she calls.

"Yes, darling?" he says as he rushes to her side.
"I would like to go out today."
"That is not a good idea, Jo."

"Please, I am losing my mind on this sofa. I want to get some fresh air. Please help me into some clothes." He obliges reluctantly. She is hit with a wave of deep coughing while he is getting her clothes. He hurries back to her.

"Jo, are you all right?" he asks worriedly. She reaches for his hand to support her getting up. She stifles the cough and stands slowly. She gasps for breath and falls back onto the sofa.
"Jo!"

"I am fine…" she wheezes. "I was simply light-headed for a moment. Help me, now." Fritz smiles. His wife can never be told no, even by her body. He helps her dress and they leave the apartment. They reach the bottom of the stairs, and she is breathing very heavily. She places a hand on her chest and pants. Fritz erupts into a coughing fit.
"Are you all right?" They ask each other at the same time. She laughs, and it makes her cough deeply again. She grabs her forehead in dizziness. She slowly sits on the steps and Fritz takes her hands.
"I am going to get Dr. Adams. Stay here, Jo." He starts to leave, and then turns quickly to look at her.
"What?" she asks.
"You are not going to argue when I tell you to stay where you are?"

"Not today," she sighs.

"I should run to get him then!" He exits quickly.

Jo looks up at the ceiling and drums lightly on her stomach. "Oh Beth," she murmurs. "Please, I know you are in heaven. Please help me. Help us to bring a healthy baby into this world. Right now I feel like you looked in your last days."
Dr. Adams returns by himself and finds Jo asleep on the steps. He lifts her and brings her back to the sofa.

Jo wakes to him covering her with blankets.
"Dr. Adams?" she says weakly.

"Good evening, dear."

"Where is Fritz?" she asks, sitting up as much as she can muster.
"He is downstairs. It seems that he caught the flu from you, so I told him that he cannot be near you. Your baby needs you to get better."
"I am better," she lies.

"You are getting an infection in your chest. If you do not rest, it may be harmful to the baby."
"What should I do?"

"I have sent for your mother. She will be here soon, and she is bringing some medicine. I gave her a note saying that you need to drink as much water as you can, and see what food you can keep down. I know you do not have an appetite right now, but you need to gain strength."

Marmee enters the apartment soon after the doctor leaves. She sighs at her daughter. Poor Jo, she thinks.

"Marmee? Is that you?"

"Yes dear, I am here." She hangs her coat on the back of a chair and gives Jo a hug.

"Oh, Marmee…" Jo moans sadly, "I have tried to do everything right, but nothing is. I cannot even stay healthy enough. It is as if God does not want me to have a child…"
"Shhh. Jo, that is not true. If God did not want you to have a baby, you would not have conceived." They hug and Marmee kisses her forehead.

…

A week later, Marmee helps Jo get dressed to go for a walk.

"Are you sure you feel up to this, Jo?" Marmee asks.

"Absolutely!" she cheers. "We have been in this room for so long. I am tired of sitting still." Jo looks at her growing abdomen. She sighs, "It has gotten bigger just in a few days."

"You look wonderful."

"I feel giant."

Marmee opens the door, and they leave for the market.

…

"How is Fritz?" Jo asks, arm wrapped around her mother's waist.
"I checked on him this morning. He told me that he is going crazy being in one room, just like you. He also said to tell you that you should shout from time to time because he is tired of silence. He misses you."

"I miss him. This is the longest we have been apart since our marriage."
"You two make such a lovely couple."
"I never thought it would happen, Marmee, but I love him so much. He understands me as no one else could. He also cannot keep his hands off of me," she divulges quietly. "Since I told him about the baby, it seems that every time he looks at me he gets this silly smile that means he wants to kiss me."

"Do you mind?" Marmee laughs.

"Not at all!" Jo chuckles. She is sent into another coughing fit by their laughter. Marmee supports her and rubs her back.

"Jo?" They hear a familiar voice in the market.
"Laurie?" Jo says happily. "Laurie! How are you?"

"I am fine. My, look at you!" He says as he spins her around.

"Ridiculous, right?" she asks.

"You look fantastic! How do you feel? I heard news that you were very sick."
"I am fine…" Marmee coughs discreetly at her. "I am better," she resolves. "Still coughing, but I will be fine. How is your family?"

"Beth is fine…" Marmee coughs at him too. "She is not well, but we are hopeful. Amy sent me to get her things at the market. I should be returning…" he trails off.
"Do not be a stranger," Jo tells him.

…

Jo and Marmee return from their walk. Marmee helps her undress, and they hear the door open.
"Who is it?" Jo calls.
"Some poor fool who cannot stay away from his wife's beauty…" Fritz answers.
"Fritz!" They hug tightly, as if they have not seen each other in years. "Are you well?"

"Dr. Adams said I could return today!"

"I shall leave you two," Marmee says. She squeezes Jo's hand as she leaves. "Stay healthy, stay happy."

"Thank you Marmee."