Little Women: The Extra March

Chapter 8: Jo

Everyone was talking around the table while Father and Fredric were talking about philosophy and religion and politics. Father obviously very much likes him and Charlotte could tell. She could also tell Jo and Fredric are in love, just by the way they look at each other.

"And you intend to stay in New York?" Father asked as Friedrich shook his head.

"No, I've been offered a professorship in California, and as I have nothing keeping me here, I thought I might go West. It is new there, and they are less particular about immigrants." He said, looking at Jo.

"Perhaps I should go West." Father said as Marmee laughed and smacked him over the head.

"You aren't an immigrant, so perhaps you should stay home." She said as they all laughed.

"Oh, I'm going."

After dinner, everyone retires to the living room, where Fredric spots the piano.

"This is a beautiful instrument. Which one of you plays?" He asks as the room falls silent.

"It was our sisters, Beth." Jo said.

"We all play a little, but not as well as her." Meg said, looking at Amy.

"It is very hard to lose a sister. I'm sorry." Fredric said as Charlotte smiled.

"Do you play?" Charlotte asked as he nodded.

"I would make us so happy if you played one, she wouldn't want the piano to sit silent." Marmee said.

"I don't wish to offend...." Fredric said as his father cut him off.

"Not in the least." He said as Fredric nods and takes a seat at the piano and starts playing. The sound of his music plays and makes the whole family smile and have a sense of peace for the first time in a while. After the song Fredric tells the family, he really should go, if he were to catch his train.

"Jo if you ever come to California, I would love to see you." Fredric says as Jo smiles.

"I don't know that I will, but thank you." She says as he stiffly nods his head.

"Well... yes, goodbye." He says as Jo waves and then closes the door only to see everyone staring at her.

"What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Jo asks as Father smiles.

"What a wonderful man. I hope he comes again, he would be a terrific friend for me." He says as Charlotte rolls her eyes.

"Oh father, he wasn't here for you!" Charlotte says as he pouts. "Jo you love him!" She says as Jo gasps.

"I do not!"

"You do too! I can clearly see it so plainly, you love him. I have never seen you happier. What else is love? Doesn't she love him Mr. Lawrence?" Charlotte says as he nods. "Go get him. Laurie prepares the horses. We can catch him before he gets on the train!"

"I'm coming too." Meg said standing.

"I'm not going!"

"Yes you are, Charlotte is right." Meg said, grabbing both hers and Jo's coat.

"I never thought I'd prepare a carriage to help Jo March go after a man, but I like it." Laurie said, smirking.

"He's moving to California!" Jo said as Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"That's fiction. He was practically Begging for a reason to stay." Charlotte said.

"But it's raining.."

"It doesn't matter, you put on a better dress, follow me." Charlotte says running up the stairs. "Laurie. Stop standing there and go set the horses!" Charlotte yells at Laurie starling him.

"Yes, my love." He says jumping into action.

"Go find him!" Meg said, practically pushing Jo out of the carriage as she ran out in the rain and into the crowd in front of the train station, looking for Fredric.

"There!" Charlotte said pointing to Fredric Jo spots him, they talk for a few seconds before they passionately kiss, while Charlotte and Meg squealed in the carriage