Ma Chérie (Theodore Laurence x OC)

Chapter 8: A Wedding

A couple of years had gone by. It was now springtime. The six of us friends certainly weren't children anymore. Meg is now twenty, Jo is nineteen, Beth is seventeen, and Amy is sixteen. Teddy and I are both twenty as well. Today is Meg and John Brooke's wedding. I had stayed the night at the March's to help them get everything ready for the wedding. I was in a room with Meg and Jo. Jo and I were helping Meg finish getting ready by putting some flowers in her hair.

"I can't believe today is my wedding day," Meg said with a smile.
"Me neither," Jo said glumly.

"What's wrong, Jo," I asked.
"Nothing," she answered.

"Jo," Meg said.
"We can leave. We can leave right now, the three of us," she said.

"What," I asked.

"I can make money: I can sell stories, I'll do anything- cook, clean, work in a factory. I can make a life for the three of us," Jo said.
"But Jo," Meg began before being cut off by her sister.
"And you should be an actress and have a life on the stage. Emmy can be a singer too. Let's all run away together," Jo said.
"I want to get married," Meg said.
"Why," Jo asked.
"I love him," Meg replied.
"You will be bored of him in two years, and we will be interesting forever," Jo said.

"Just because Meg's dreams are not the same as yours doesn't mean they're unimportant, Jo," I said as I put the final flower that I had in Meg's hair.

"I want a family and a home, and I'm not scared of working and struggling, but I want to do it with John," Meg said.
"I just hate that you're leaving me," Jo said.
"Oh, Jo, I'm not leaving you. Besides, one day it will be your turn," Meg said.
"I'd rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe. I can't believe childhood is over," Jo said while hugging Meg as a tear fell down her cheek.
"It was going to end one way or another. And what a happy end," Meg said as Jo let go of her.

Soon, Meg and Mr. Brooke were married. Everyone began dancing after we ate lunch. I had danced a couple of times with Teddy before Jo intervened to dance with me.

"Our dear Meg is married. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see either you or Teddy go next," Jo said.
"Oh, I doubt I'll be married soon," I said.
"Why not? You have natural beauty and a lovely personality. What more could a suitor want in a woman," Jo asked.
"I don't know, but I rather think I'm not suitable for marriage just yet," I answered as a familiar elderly woman walked up to Jo and me.

"Emmeline! It shocks me to see you romping around like a child," the familiar elderly woman said, which caused Jo and me to stop dancing.
"Sorry, Aunt Winnie. It's just that we're celebrating Meg and Mr. Brooke's wedding," I said.
"I arrived just in time. I came to see how you were getting along with the Laurence's since you haven't written to me in over a year," she said.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Enjoy the wedding. I'll discuss things with you later," Aunt Winifred said before walking away and sitting down next to Aunt March.

"I'm sorry about Aunt Winnie," I said.
"She would get along well with Aunt March," Jo said.
"I suppose she would," I said.
"I think that young man would like to dance with you," Jo said as a familiar man walked up to us.

"Hello, Emmy," Henry said.
"Hello, Harry," I said.

"You don't mind if I have a dance with her, do you," Henry asked.
"Oh, not at all," Jo replied before walking over to Teddy.

"How are you," Henry asked as we began dancing.
"I'm alright," I answered. "How are you?"
"I'm doing alright as well," Henry replied.
"The wedding was certainly lovely. Don't you think so, Harry," I asked.
"Oh, yes. Very different than what I'm used to," he answered.
"What are you used to when it comes to weddings," I asked.
"Big, lavish ceremonies and a fancy luncheon after," Henry replied.
"When, I get married, I would like a ceremony and a luncheon similar to Meg's. I just want everyone important to me at my wedding: the March's, Mr. Laurence, Teddy, and Aunt Winnie," I said.
"It's good to know what you want, I suppose," Henry said.
"I suppose so," I said while Teddy walked up to us.

"May I," Teddy asked.
"Of course. I must get going anyway," Henry answered before leaving.

Teddy and I began walking.

"Was he the young man you met at the Gardiner's New Year's Eve party a few years ago," Teddy asked.
"Yes, he was. Henry Downton happens to be a nice man. A gentleman, in fact," I replied.
"And am I not a gentleman," Teddy asked.
"You can be when you choose to be, Teddy," I answered.
"I beg to differ," he said.
"Jo told me earlier that she can see one of us getting married next," I said.
"Really," Teddy asked.
"Yes, but I don't think I'm ready for marriage quite yet," I replied as we sat down at a table.

"I think you would make a beautiful bride some day, Emmy," Amy said.
"Thank you, Amy. You will too," I said.

I enjoyed myself with Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, and Teddy. Meg's wedding was truly lovely.