right person, wrong time.

you pompous fool

Chapter Two

It had been a few months since I'd been home. Once I had set up the school I hadn't had much time to visit, having all my hours being spent on the girls. 

I hadn't even been able to write as much as I used to. After my story for Beth, my position had skyrocketed. I didn't expect this much feedback but I am glad I did this for her, for Beth.

I was walking up to my childhood home when I first saw him. Outside playing with Daisy, Demi and Josie. Meg and John must have arrived already.

He looked the same, still as breathtaking as ever. His curly locks, his small physique. I could not wait to tease him later, at this rate the twins were surpassing him. Oh my boy, my Teddy.

Nope.

Not going there again.

Not my Teddy

Abort mission.

Do not do this Josephine March.

Not again.

Seeing that he was already preoccupied, I made my way into the house as discreetly as possible, to which I was greeted with my beautiful sister.

Meg enveloped me in her arms. "Jo! Oh you! My you look as amazing as ever, a bit ratty, but still amazing," swat.

"Ouch!" I squealed, recoiling back, now attending my fresh mark on my shoulder, "What was that for?"

"Wot was that for?" she imitated in annoyance, "You never write to me anymore!" She swatted me again.

"Ouch, oh yes that. I'm sorry. You know how it is. School. The girls. It all gets a bit much sometimes."

"Yeah yeah whatever you say," she smirked. "Well Amy's going crazy for you, we haven't been able to shut her gob since she arrived yesterday," she held onto my hands right before my most troublesome sister entered the room and launched herself at me.

"JOOOOOOOO!" she screamed.

"Amy!" I chuckled, my love, my most treasured sister. The one who kept me up most nights in fear of what she'd do to my newest work. It didn't make me love her any less, if anything more. I always had to keep a watchful eye on her.

"You pompous fool! I thought you weren't going to come for a moment," she said latching onto me.

"Alright steady on there, I wouldn't have missed this for the world," I smiled, looking at my sisters, the two women I loved most in this world.

"Do you know where Marmee is?" She wasn't here. I wondered where she could have been?

"Oh she just popped out for a second, she'll be back shortly. In the meantime, tell us EVERYTHING!" Amy exclaimed, sitting all of us sisters down on the sofa and don't ask me how but I just knew that Beth was there in spirit, smiling down on all of us.

                   ༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

"And well that's about it," I sighed slouching down on the sofa to reveal all my womanly glory.

"Wow and I thought my little ones were a handful and they are my actual children. Well done to you Jo," Meg said, a smile filled with pride beaming on her face.

"Speaking of my children. Where on earth are they?" She leapt up, mother-mode clearly activated.

"Oh, I saw them outside with Teddy when I arrived," I said rather matter of factly. Meg settled down beside me once more, content with this knowledge.

"You've seen Laurie?" Amy asked, her eyes searching my own for any inkling of remorse.

"Yes," I didn't falter. I didn't hesitate. She couldn't know how I felt. This was a me problem after all. Besides - I had Professor Bhaer, kind of.

"But I didn't say hello, I was too excited to see my fellow March sisters," I placed my hand over hers and Megs and gently squeezed.

"Oh," Amy sighed. Was it of relief? If there was anything left to be said, it wasn't as Marmee, my mother entered the house and immediately gripped me tight in her arms.

It was in that moment I felt an overwhelming sense of grief. All of the hardship, all of the devastation, all of the loss I had endured came to me in that moment, in that one singular hug and I held on for dear life. I guess Mother's have that effect on us.

"My darling daughter, my most mischievous", Marmee held the sides my face, inspecting me as any mother would. "Aren't you as beautiful as ever," she pulled a stray hair behind my ear which honestly, wouldn't have helped the colossal mess that was on my head but still, it was the sentiment that mattered.

"Ahem, I'm right here Marmee," Amy interjected. We all laughed. The March women. What a spectacular bunch we were.

Right behind Marmee came a scuffle. Daisy, Demi and Josie had fought their way into the house and behind them hurried the boy who I had been most worried to see after all these months.

Teddy.
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A/N: I have the next chapter written, goody! I'll just wait a while to post it because I'm evil *insert maniacal laughter here*.

Vote & comment if you like. There isn't any pressure. I'm writing this more for my own sake than for others - for closure you know.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to 2020, blessings to you all & keep thriving!

- NDP :)