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5 years previously

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5 years previously

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While Alice and Amy lived with Aunt March, Amy practiced her painting while Alice picked up the habit of singing. One that Amy and Aunt March didn't particularly mind.

At that moment Amy was painting while Alice sat on the arm chair and sang softly. "Amy. Alice. Come here." Aunt March says, both Amy and Alice walking over to their aunt.

"Yes?" Both girls questioned as they left the room they once were in. "Come, sit." Aunt March invites, both girls sitting next to the older woman.

"If you are very good, one day, this ring will belong to you. Then it will belong to you." Aunt March says, nodding at Alice then Amy. "Really?" Alice questions, Amy grinning at her. 

"If you both keep being proper young ladies, just see if it doesn't." Aunt March says as she observes her nieces. "You two are your family's hope now. Beth is sick, Jo is a lost cause, and I hear Meg has had her head turned by a penniless tutor, so... it'll be up to you both to support them all." Aunt March says, Alice's eyes widening.

"And your indigent parents in their old age. So you must marry well. Hm? Save your family." Aunt March says, a pause then ensuing. "All right, that's, uh...That's all I wanted to say to you. So you can go back and do your little painting and singing." Aunt March says, both girls walking away.

----present----


Alice had walked back into the home of Aunt March, Alice eyes looking tired as ever. "Hello, Aunt March." Alice says as she plasters a fake smile onto her face, settling down in the arm chair in front of her aunt.

"Oh. That Laurence boy was just here." Aunt March says, Alice's heart dropping. "He was?" Alice questioned. "He was? What a disappointment he's turned out to be. Must be the Italian in him." Aunt March says in an attempt to make a joke.

"Uh, when... When will he be back?" Alice stammers over her words. "Mm, he's gone. To London. Why? What do you need to discuss with him?" Aunt March says, Alice then standing up.

"Oh dear. Mr. Duvall wishes to see you in the gardens." Aunt March says, the younger woman freezing. "Thank you." Alice says as she walks out towards the garden.

Rose petals led a pathway for Alice to follow, normally she would feel incredibly flattered by such a gesture, but it wasn't done by the one person she had hoped.

"Alice." Allan says as he grasps her hand, leading her beneath a gazebo. "Allan." Alice says as she looks around, her eyes glossing over in sadness, but to Allan he thought she was truly happy.

"Oh, Alice." Allan says as he goes down on one knee, Alice's eyes widening. "Allan I-" "Will you marry me?" Allan questions, seemingly rushed.

"No." Alice says with finality, Allan's face flushing. "What on earth do you mean no?" Allan exclaims as he stands up, towering over Alice. "I don't love you Allan-" "Marriage isn't about love you foolish girl. I marry you, then you produce me an heir to my family name. Love is not a necessary component." Allan says.

Alice cut him off with a harsh slap, glaring up at him. "How dare you speak to me so crudely. Love may not mean a single thing to you, but to me it truly is everything." Alice says as she rushes away from the gazebo, back into the house.

"Alice!" Amy exclaims as she rushes over, Alice grasping her sister's hand and running to her room. "Mr. Duvall proposed to me." Alice says causing Amy's eyes to widen. "W-Well what did you say?" Amy questions.

"I told him no. That I had no love for him in my heart." Alice says, Amy raising a brow. "How did he take that?" The question made Alice shake her head. 

"He is a vile man. Only wanting me so I can produce an heir for his name." Alice says with a distasteful scoff. "How awful." Amy says as she hugs her sister close as Alice covers her face.

"Laurie isn't even here anymore. He's in London." Alice says as she looks up to her. "Do you know where in London?" Amy questions, Alice shaking her head. "If I knew do you truly think I would be here? I would be there with him professing my undying love to him as we speak." Alice says as she flops onto her bed.

"You my dear sister are hopeless." Amy says causing Alice to scoff. "I am not." She says causing Amy to send her a look. "Okay, maybe I am." Alice says as she laughs with her sister.

Alice remembers the last time she as truly happy with her entire family. The Christmas her father came home. When she found out it was Laurie who had brought him home to them, she was simply overjoyed.



Alice was sat on the floor next to Beth who laid on the couch. She was finally able to come home to spend Christmas with her family. 

"How do you feel Beth?" Alice questions as she leans over to brush a stray hair away from her face. "I feel fine." Beth says as she looks around to her family, Alice watching on fondly.

"Merry Christmas, Beth." Alice says as she grasps her sister's hand, kissing it lightly. "Here's another Christmas gift for the March family." Laurie says as he stands to the side. Mr. March walking in.

"Father!" Alice shouts as she stands, helping her little sister stand up as they rushed to go hug their father. 

"My little women." Mr. March says as Alice wipes her eyes, looking back to her father. "How you've grown. Oh, Beth. Merry Christmas, my dear. Merry Christmas to each of you." Mr. March says as Alice grins.

"Merry Christmas, Father." JO says, everyone chorusing some form of greeting. Alice watches on as her father and mother hug, smiling softly at the scene unfolding in front of them.

After her parent's moment, the five girls rushed back over to their father and hugged him close. 

After their lunch Alice walked up towards Laurie. "Did you plan this?" She questions, Laurie looking bashful. "I might have-" Laurie says, getting cut off by Alice pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thank you." She says as she rushes back to her family.

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