Tumgik
#laurie x amy
hellcheerful · 1 year
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
“Amy turns around to get one last look at Laurie. She loves him, as she’s always loved him.”
“She suddenly blushes, but smiles in thanks. And then runs off to greet Fred. From the top of the staircase, Laurie looks at her and Fred embrace, not sure of what he’s feeling.”
— Little Women (2019) script by Greta Gerwig
1K notes · View notes
clover-blossom · 24 days
Text
Tumblr media
79 notes · View notes
Text
I’ll borrow this music and give it to you.
Anon requests:
N/A
Wordcount: 17.8K+
Masterlist
Description: From Childhood crush, first love, and heartbreak, Amy and Laurie were staples in your life and you wouldn’t where you’ll be without them. Through fights, tears, and break up your roads always led back to each other.
A/N: So here this is. It’s insane how long this is. It is the longest thing I have written to do and I am very proud of myself for writing something this long. It took working on it off and on all month and I kept adding new scenes, I hope you all love it. Title is long but it is based on a song I listened to on repeat while writing them.   Tagging @livresjaunes​ I hope you like it.
And also tagging @sufferingstarlight​ as their Queer week and Throple fic inspired me.
Warning: Fluff, Angst, Slow burn, friends to love, Reunited lovers, first love, young love, Traid couple. Smut. A lot of flashbacks. Mention of child abuse, abusive family. Homophobia and innerhomophobia.  Character death- not major.
Tumblr media
Amy
Amy
Amy
Those were the first words you thought of in the morning and the last words you thought of at night.  Amy was your best friend. How could you not think of her all the time? No one made you as happy as Amy, no one knew you as well as Amy did, and no one held you together quite like Amy did.
She was more than your best friend, she was your life, your person. So she was a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but she was young and eager to be different from her sisters. To have 3 lovely sisters that everyone loved was hard for her. She wanted to be just like them and stand apart from them.
You saw Amy apart from her sisters. You saw how smart, talented, and strong she was.  You always had her back, always by her side to build her up when she was down, to make her laugh when she was sad.
“Amy, you’ll get into trouble if you do that,” you whispered over her shoulder, biting your lip nervously, looking around the room to ensure the teacher was still gone.
“You worry too much. I want to show everyone my skills,” she said, smiling over her shoulder at you. The other girls laughed at your fear, egging her on.
“We all know you are talented, you don’t have to get into trouble to prove it,” you huffed going back to your seat and pulling out a book to read. You enjoyed school and you didn’t like being on your teacher’s bad side. 
“Miss March,” The teacher snapped when he saw Amy drawing on the desk. His loud voice made you jump slightly and you stared at Amy.
“Hand, Miss March,” he said. 
When Amy started to cry you stood up. “You can’t just hit her. You can’t just hit any of us,” you said, stubbornly.
“Would you like to take her hits for her?” He asked glaring at you.
“No,” Amy said standing up. “It is my punishment,” she said to him, but her eyes were on you.
You pouted slightly. You were stronger than Amy, you were used to being hit. Something that Amy was well aware of and always tried to protect you from it. The last thing you would do is to allow you to get punished for something she did.
You had to look away as his ruler came down on her knuckles again and again. Her sobs made you sob as well and then she was running out of the school, ignoring the calls of the teacher.
“You are a horrible teacher,” you spat at him.
“You all will thank me one day,” he said, going to the front of the room.
You scoffed, slamming your books on the desk. “I wouldn’t ever thank you and if I had my way you’ll never teach again.”
“Well, I am glad you have no say then. Now sit down before you are punished,” he threatened.
You glared at him, grabbing your things and leaving. You refused to be around him any longer. You were sure the male students were not hit like you all were, it was unfair.
You ran straight to the March household looking for Amy, only for her family to be just as shocked to know she left school. “I am sorry, Marmee. I should have left with her. I should have never let him hurt her,” you sobbed on her shoulder.
She hugged you close. You were her bonus daughter. She knew your home life was less than ideal and while she didn’t know all the details, just that your father and brother had died years ago and your mother didn’t know how to cope with the loss, she knew you needed love.
 The abuse wasn’t something she could fathom. She just thought your mother was suffering and you fell to the side in her suffering.  It didn’t matter to her, she saw you as a March, and loved and adored you as one of her own.
 “It is alright, my darling. It is not your fault. He was wrong for hurting her and Amy should have come straight home,” she said, kissing your forehead.
Just then, Meg came into the room. “I found Amy, she is next door.”
The moment you saw Amy on the sofa you ran to her side hugging her tightly, sobbing into her shoulder. She sobbed as well as the whole family hugged her tightly. Both of you crying too much for anyone to understand your words.
A throat clearing and a slight cough had you pulling away from Amy and seeing a boy a few years older than you and Amy. His eye caught yours and he smiled kindly, you sniffled wiping your face.
“Hello,” you said politely.
“Hello,” he said back, walking forward and giving you a tissue.
You thanked him and took the tissue. Amy giggled from your side pulling your attention to her. 
“That is Laurie Laurance,” she whispered into your ear. “This is his home. He is new in town,” she said, never taking her eyes off of him. “Isn’t he beautiful?” She asked.
You looked back at him. He was beautiful. Astonishingly beautiful, his eyes soft and kind. He stood tall, but not overly confident, he had a look in his eye that you liked. But you didn’t like the way Amy looked at him. “He is okay,” you stated.
“He was so kind to me, and look at his curls,” she gushed.
You ignored her commented and grabbed her hand, kissing it softly. “I am sorry about your hand.”
Amy smiled, touching your cheek. “You are my best friend, I love you, but you shouldn’t have tried to take my punishment.”
“Maybe if your punishment was worthy of the crime, hitting us like that  is barbaric.”
“That is why Jo should teach us both at home, right, Jo?” Amy said turning to face her.
“No no. You two are too young, too rowdy, and never listen,” Jo said, shaking her head.
“Oh please oh please. We are mature enough, please,” Amy begged.
“Please Jo we can’t go back to the horrible man. I’m sure my mother will pay you a lot.” Your father was a wealthy man and when he died it all went to your mother. While she didn’t care about you much, she never had much of a problem with spending money on you. Her way of trying to make up for the neglect.
“I will think about it,” Jo sighed.                             
With your mother offering Jo a number she couldn’t refuse, she began teaching you and Amy at home. It was heaven being taught at home and being able to be with Amy without having to fight for her attention from your former classmates.
The only time you didn’t have her attention is when it was on Laurie. You hated him for it. His stupid smile and his stupid eyes. He was so kind and sweet all the time and you hated it. 
As you grew up you realized that your feelings for Amy changed. They weren’t the sisterly/ best friend feelings you had once, no they had grown deeper. Feelings you shouldn’t have for another woman and it frightened you.
“Amy,” you asked when you were 15. You both were sitting by the lake. Her head was in your lap and your fingers ran through her hair, she looked up from her sketchbook at you when you spoke. “Have you ever kissed anyone?”
“Kissed anyone? Like a boy?”
“Yes. A boy or maybe a girl…”
“A girl?” She asked sitting up, staring at you with wide eyes.
“I don’t know, just. You hear about things right? Like women in Europe that never marry and spend all their time together. People say they are in love.”
“Women in love with other women?” She questioned her face pinched up in confusion.
“And men in love with other men,” you added, worriedly.
“Well, I suppose love is love. You can’t help who you love,” she shrugged. “I’ve never kissed a boy or a girl. Have you?”
You shook your head. “No never.”
“Really? But your mother takes you to all those fancy parties with all the rich and handsome boys and girls.”
“I guess I don’t like any of them.”
“Have you seen Laurie at the parties?” She asked.
You furrowed your brows. “Sometimes, but I have never kissed him.”
She looked off in a daze for a moment before turning back to you. “Shall we kiss?” She asked.
Your eyes widened and your heart sped up. “What?”
“Well, I love you and you love me. Marmee always said your first kiss should be with someone you love. That way we will have practice for later on,”
“Later on?” You asked.
“Yeah, later on.” She grinned moving closer to you. She cuffed the side of your face tenderly. You’ve never been touched so softly before your breath caught. “Can I kiss you now?”
You nodded, closing your eyes as your lips slightly brushed against each other.
“Amy is that you?” Jo shouted from down the lake.
You and Amy jumped pulling away from each other. Your face grew hot and Amy flushed bright red. Jo quickly ran over with Laurie in tow.
“I’ve been looking all over for you. Have you finished your schoolwork? And you didn’t clean the attic like you were meant to,” Jo scowled.
You sighed in relief as it seemed she didn’t see you two kissing.
“Jo, I will get to it later,” Amy whined. Jo was having none of it and grabbed her arm and started to drag her away chastising her the whole way. Amy tried to pull away, looking back at you, but Jo kept walking.
You stared wistfully after her.
“What are you thinking?” Laurie asked. You jumped having forgotten all about him, you flushed looking up at him, seeing him already staring at you.
“Theo,” you said. As your feelings for Amy grew and her admiration for Laurie grew, you started to call him Theo to annoy her which turned into you calling him that to his face sometimes.
“Why do you call me that?” He asked, laughing slightly as he took a seat next to you.
“Do you not like it?”
“Hmm, I’m unsure. My mother used to call me that.”
You gasped slightly feelings horrible. “Oh, Laurie, I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I-I”
He laughed, placing his hand on yours. “It’s okay. I guess I missed being called that. Most people call me Laurie. Jo calls me Teddy, but I miss being Theo.”
“Then I will call you Theo,” you smiled.
Laurie’s smile back was heart stopping and for a moment you felt your own heart skip a beat. 
“What were you and Amy doing?” He asked.
Your heart skipped again. “What did you see?” You asked.
“Nothing if that is what you wish.”
“Did Jo see?” You asked fearfully.
“No, she was too upset.”
“Thank you, Theo.”
“Of course, that is what friends are for.”
You felt bad for your disliking of Laurie and after that, you two became a bit closer.  He saved you from your mother's overbearingness at parties and you two made jokes together and almost had your own language, which was just a mix of French and Italian. 
“Do you think about going to Italy for your studies?” You asked him once.
Laurie was walking you home after you both spend the day putting on plays with the March girls. You were arm and arm and the night was cool and you both walked close together to stay warm.
“I don’t want to leave here. It’s home for me. You, my grandfather, the Marchs’, it’s home.”
“But Italy was home once. You lived there with your parents.”
“I think it would be too emotional to go back home for school. To be surrounded by the memories but alone, would be too much for me,” he said, shrugging, looking at the ground
You stopped walking tugging on his arm until he looked at you. “ Theo… I will make a promise to you. If you ever want to go back, I will go with you. We will walk down the street, eat all the food and be happy. 
You can show me all the places you remember and then we can go there and make happy memories and then if you need to let out your emotions, my shoulders are here for you,” you smiled, patting his cheek.
Laurie was silent for a moment before a smile took over his face and he pulled you into a hug. He buried his head into your shoulder, he sniffled slightly. You let him hug you for as long as he needed, patting his back lightly.
When he pulled away he was smiling. “I am glad we have grown closer. I adore Jo and all the girls, but I feel like there are things I can talk to you about that I can’t with them.”
You nodded in understanding. “I feel the same. Amy is my best friend, but you Theo are someone I can be myself with.”
“I know you have lost your father and brother. And I want you to know you can talk to me about them, you can talk to me about anything.”
“And you can do the same.”
He told you about his feelings for Jo, but never pushed to hear more about yours for Amy but let you know if you wanted to talk about your feelings that he was there. He made you laugh and made you feel safe. Along with Amy, he was your person too.
The three of you were a little unit. A combined subunit of You and Amy and Laurie and Jo. It wasn’t often that the three of you were together but it was always a good time when you were
“So tell me, Theo, what is it you want to do with your life?” You were at the Marchs’ and after a slight incident, you were huddled by the fire wrapped in a thick blanket with Laurie and Amy, you all shivering.
“What do I want to do with my life? Why must I do anything? I have money already,” he said with a wide grin. Amy giggled behind her hands and he shot her a quick wink.
“He does have a point,” she said, from your other side.
“There must be something you are passionate about though?” You asked.
He twisted his mouth towards the left and thought about your question. “Music, I suppose,” he said with a shrug. “I like constructing it, operas, symphonies, anything really.  I like telling stories through music.” Laurie glanced over at you both once he was finished and ducked his head slightly.
“Wow that’s amazing Laurie,” Amy said. “You should do it.”
“I agree that’s an incredible talent,” you added.
“How would you know, you haven’t heard any of my works.”
“I just know,” you grinned.
He blushed and looked away from you.
Amy cleared her throat and hugged her mug of cocoa. “Well, I for one want to hear with you wrote. Oh please let us hear some,”
“Yeah, Theo, please,” You begged along with Amy.
“Alright. Alright, I promise when I write something good I’ll show you both. Now what about you, what do you want to do?”
“Oh, I am unsure,” you said looking down at your hands. “I don’t think I have any talents.”
“Oh, she is being modest, she is multitalented. She is a wonderful singer, and she is so good with words and languages, and she is the best model, she poses for all my sketches.”
It was your turn to be flustered and you looked into your cup. “I like learning most, reading and I don’t know.. I like  words a lot, but I’m not sure that is a talent.”
“Are you joking? That is an amazing talent, “Laurie said, wrapping his arm around your shoulder.
“Well if you are talking talent then we can’t leave out Amy, her drawings are so detailed and done with so much care and patience. One day we will see her work in museums all over the world.”
Amy buried her face into your shoulder. “I am not that good. Laurie, she is exaggerating.”
“I am not. She is amazing.”
“I could be better,” she mumbled.
Laurie smiled at the two of you. He reached around and pat her head. “You have so much time to perfect your craft, Amy. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I won’t. With both your encouragement, I’ll work harder,” she said determined.
“Okay, I have cookies, who wants some,” Hannah said coming into the room.
“We do,” you all shouted at the same time, laughing.
For a while, life was nice, simple, and perfect.
“You should marry soon.” Your mother said, years later, walking into the room and interrupting your reading. You sighed softly, closing your book.
“Mother, I am only 17,” you said.
“At your age, I was married and on my second child,” She huffed.
“I will marry when I meet a nice man,” you said.
“There are plenty of nice men. How about Simon Baker?”
“He is 35,”
“And rich and without a wife.”
You huffed.
“Is this about that March girl?” she questioned walking closer to you, putting you on high alert.
“Amy is my friend.”
“Don’t lie to me. I see the way you look at her. It’s disgusting.”
“Amy is my friend,” you repeated.
“And what about that Laurence boy?”
“Also a friend.”
“At least that one would make a good partner.”
“He is a friend.”
“Maybe if he was a friend in the same way as the March I wouldn’t have to marry you off.”
“You can’t marry me off,” you said, gasping at her.
“I can do as I please.”
You didn’t want to argue it never ended well, so you turned back to your book huffing.
“Don’t huff at me. You will marry someone and do it soon. I am sick of you in this house,” she said, grabbing the back of your head and pulling your hair roughly a few times, pulling a few bits out.
You cried out and she shoved you to the ground. “Disappointment, why couldn’t you be like your brother.”
“He is dead mother. I can’t bring him back and you can’t keep punishing me. I didn’t kill him or father.”
“Shut up, you insolent girl,” she said, slapping you.
You stood up and ran out of the house. You ran all the way to the March house, but no one was home. You sobbed, needing to see Amy. To have her wrap her arms around you and tell you everything will be okay.
You left the March house a mess. Having no place to go you ran to the lake. You were so distraught you didn’t even notice Laurie or that you were close to falling into the water. Luckily, Laurie wrapped his arms around your waist to stop you.
“What’s wrong, what happened? You’re bleeding,” he said, touching your head, making you sob harder, and wrapping your arms around his waist.
Laurie held you close, whispering softly to calm you down as he led you to his home. He sat you down and grab a cloth to clean you up. “What happened to you?”
“My mother. She hates me. She hates me because I am not dead, she hates me because I am not my brother, she hates me because I have feelings for Amy. Everything about me she hates,” you sobbed
“I am sure she doesn’t hate you.”
“She does. And maybe she is right, I am odd. Unnatural,” you sobbed.
“No. There is nothing wrong with you. You are perfectly fine. She is wrong, lost in grief, and takes it out on you. You are not unnatural. Nothing about love is unnatural.” Laurie wiped your tears, smiling softly at you. “If you are unnatural. Then, I am as well.”
“She wishes to marry me off to some horrible man. He’s 35 years old and lives in Europe. I’ll never see any of you ever again.”
“She won’t.”
“She will. She will.”
“Do you dislike men? Maybe you can marry someone else. Someone kind? Or at least court someone to get her off your back.”
“I’ve… I don’t know. I’ve never thought about men or other women, it’s always been Amy,” you sniffled.
“Well then maybe you like men as well. Maybe you could fool her for a bit.”
“What if I can’t what if I don’t like them? What if I can’t pretend or kiss them or-” You were cut off by Laurie’s lips pressing against yours.
Your eyes widened slightly, but his lips were soft, warm, and just Laurie's. Your eyes closed and you leaned into his kiss. He cupped your face and you placed your hands over his.
He pulled away after a few moments and your eyes opened to stare into his. “How was that?” He whispered.
“It was nice. Really nice,” You smiled. “Have you done this before, Theo?”
He shook his head. “I am glad to see you are not crying anymore. You are my friend and I hate to see you down. I won’t let your mother marry you off,” he assured you.
“Laurie have you seen- “Amy paused as she came into the room with her sisters and saw you and Laurie. His hands are still on your face and yours on top of his.
You quickly pulled away from him and his hands dropped quickly as he looked at Jo, but your eyes never left Amy. Her face pinched slightly but then she was running to you, and cupping your face.
You were confused until you remember the way you looked. Face puffy and probably dried blood in your hair. 
“What happened, sweet girl?” She asked.
You just moved closer to her wrapping your arms around her neck. You felt Laurie get up from the sofa and you pulled back from Amy slightly to grasp his wrist. “Theo, thank you,” you whispered in Italian.
He nodded and walked out of the room with the rest of the Marchs’.
“Sweet girl?” Amy questioned.
You turned back to her telling her about your fight with your mother, going to her home and Laurie finding you. Leaving out the part about your feelings and kiss.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t home. I’m sorry that she hurt you. You know she is wrong, you don’t need to be your brother. You are beautiful, smart, and so talented. You know one day we should move away. Go to Paris I can paint and you can study all the languages and read all the books you want.
“We would run away together?” You questioned.
“Yes just the two of us. Won’t that be fun?” she said, wiping your tears and kissing your forehead. 
“I would like that very much.” 
Amy smiled, pressing her lips to yours quickly. Since your first kiss, you two shared kisses on multiple occasions. Amy moved to the sofa and pulled you into her arms, holding you close. “I would like that as well.”
It was only days later, when things took a turn in your life.
“You and Laurie are really close these days,” Amy said on one of your walks days later.
“He is closer to Jo,” you said. “And I’m closer to you,” you added, bumping her shoulder.
She didn’t smile.  “Yet closer than I am with him.”
“Are you jealous?” You said, trying to hide your smile. You were 17 now.  Despite all the kisses you two shared over the last few years, you were always uncertain about her feelings for you, but if she was jealous then maybe she felt the same.
“Maybe, I don’t like it.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t lose me.”
She groaned, “I know that, but still.”
You chuckled. “You are my best friend. Theo is just a friend.”
“You call him Theo.”
“You are my best friend,” and then you grabbed her shoulders, stopping her from walking, and kissed her pouting lips.
Amy pulled away. “Stop it, don’t kiss me when I am upset with you.”
You frowned. “Why are you upset? You won’t lose me,”
“Yes, but I could lose him. I first had to compete with Jo and now you for his affection.”
“You… like Laurie?”
She threw her hands up. “Of course I like Laurie.
“Laurie? Laurie? You like Laurie?” 
“Yes yes. Has it not been obvious?”
Of course, it has been. Of course, you never thought about it, you had a suspension once, but you thought it was something small and passing.  You thought that… you thought she felt something for you. You were stupid.
“Why did you kiss me all the time if you like Laurie?”
“For practice. We were practicing,” she said as if it was obvious.
Practiced. You thought about her words when you were young to practice for later. You wanted to be upset with her. You wanted to yell at her, but it wasn’t her fault she didn’t love you. That she didn’t know that the kisses meant more to you. 
Your eyes filled with tears. “Laurie doesn’t love you, Amy,” you said hurtfully.
She scoffed, “And he doesn’t love you either.”
“I know that. I know he is in love with Jo,”
“He is not. Stop trying to say things to hurt me.”
“I am not. I am telling the truth.”
“How could you be so cruel to hurt me because I like him? Are you jealous?”
You were now in a state of panic. You couldn’t tell her about your feelings now. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would have told you that I kissed Theo.”
She gasped. “What? You kissed him?”
“He kissed me actually.” You were being cruel now, and you hated yourself for it.
Her eyes filled with tears as well.  “I thought you were my best friend,”
You scoffed. “I’ve been more than your best friend for years.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing Amy, nothing at all.”
She frowned. “No, tell me.”
“No.”
“If you are my best friend then tell me.”
“Don’t use that, Amy March.”
“I just did. We tell each other everything.”
“You didn’t tell me about your feelings for Laurie.”
“And you didn’t tell me about your kiss with him.”
“I suppose we are not as close as we thought then. Good night, Amy.”
You turned and walked toward your home. You so badly wanted Amy to run after you, shout after you or something, but nothing happened and you slowly let the tears fall as you walked away with a broken heart and a destroyed friendship. You ran home and sobbed in your room for hours. 
For the next few weeks, you avoided going out into town you didn’t want to see Amy or any of your friends.  It was awful being alone and with your mother, it was worse. She spent every moment telling you how worthless you were or trying to push Simon onto you. You spent time with him just to get her off your back and to not be alone.
The first time you left the house you ran into Amy with a group of girls you once went to school with. They were laughing about something and having a good time. You made eye contact with Amy and she quickly turned away as if she didn’t see you.
Your heart ached and you ran all the way home. Making a rash decision, you told your mother you would marry Simon and move to Europe with him. She was overjoyed and within two weeks you were married and on a plane to England.
You sat under a tree in a busy park in France. It was a warmer day, but there was a nice breeze. The perfect day to enjoy a good book. You took a deep breath and enjoyed the French air.  Children ran around causing a smile to grow on your face. You were happy and content.
You were 23 and a widow. Your late husband was not the cruel man you thought him to be. He was kind and gentle and understood that your feels laid elsewhere as his own did. A friend from his youth, a male friend he loved and lost in war. 
He declared he would never love again after loving so deeply. But pressure from his family had him scrambling to find a wife to keep his secret, but he hated the idea of someone loving him when he was unable to do it back.
And then you two got married and while you never told him in so many words about your feelings for Amy. He knew that you were also heartbroken and in need of protection and a friend.
So you married as friends and he became your best friend when you moved to Europe with him. You two had a happy life, one that was just as happy as people actually in love, because you both cared about each other and enjoyed each other company, when he died you were broken. You were happy with him as your companion and without him, you were alone again.
Well, you weren’t always alone. Laurie was someone that you didn’t think you would have run into in London one day but you did. He was studying in London after traveling around with his grandfather and you two find comfort in each other for a while.
“Laurie? What are you doing here?” You asked when you bumped into him with Simon. It was one of his good days and he wanted fresh air and you two decided on a stroll together. “Simon this is a dear friend of mine from when I was a girl, Theodore Laurence.”
“You are still a girl, darling,” Simon teased, patting your hand before turning to Laurie. “I believe we met during my brief time in the States, it is nice to see you again.”
Laurie looked between the two of you as if in a daze. But then something snapped him out of it and he shook Simon’s outstretched hand. “Oh yes we have met before, nice to see you as well.” And then he turned to you. “I am here for university. My grandfather sent me here.”
“Really? Why did something happen?” you asked concerned. When you moved you cut ties with everyone, not hearing from anyone for the last few years.
Laurie looked down sadly at your words. You reached out to him, moving to untangle yourself from Simon when he began coughing. He bent over as he had a fit and you quickly grabbed his upper arm. 
Laurie jumped into action, grabbing his other side. “Is he alright?” He asked you.
“Yes, um can you help me get him home, it isn’t far from here,” you said, feeling Simon’s forehead and seeing he was burning up.
With a nod, you and both walked quickly towards your London home. Once inside you helped Simon into his bed, tucking him in. And getting a wet cloth to put on his forehead. You sat by his bed worriedly as he wheezed.
“I’ll wait outside,” Laurie said.
You nodded not taking your eyes off of your husband. You brushed his hair out of his face and patted his face with the cloth. “Simon you should not try to overdo it for my benefit.” You said.
“You are young. You should not have to take care of a dying husband. You should be going to shows, walking around London and exploring. You deserve it, my darling.”
“You are my husband. My best friend, I want to be here by your side,” you rebutted.
“I will feel bad if you spent your youth inside with me.”
You sighed, kissing his forehead. “Simon. I like being indoors. Reading, learning, and taking care of our home and you. I could not ask for more,” you assured him.
“That can’t be true. What about love?”
“I’ve loved and that time for my life is over.”
“You are too young to be cynical.”
“You were cynical too at my age,” you teased.
“Yes, and I was miserable until I met you. I don’t want that for you. You should have someone. Would you like a child?” He offered.
You kissed his forehead. “Simon, my best friend. I could not raise a child without you. I-I fear when you go and I don’t think having a babe to take care of will be helpful.”
“I hate that I will leave you alone.”
“You saved me from the loneliness I will be okay.”
He sighed deeply sending himself into another coughing fit. “You deserve more. You should have passion, desire, and love. What about Laurie?”
“What, Laurie?”
“Yes, he was a friend from before. He is young, unmarried, and beautiful. You could be with him… to cure the loneliness.”
“You are my husband, Simon. How could you suggest… that,” you said flushing. You and Simon had tried to consummate your marriage, but you both were too uncomfortable and decided against it.
“I am your husband in name only. I am your friend that wants good things for you. Just, don’t rule it out. Use the house and enjoy being a woman with power.” He didn’t say while it lasted but you both understood the words in the air.
“I will think about it. Now please get some rest. I’ll bring you something to eat later on,” you wiped his forehead one last time before getting up to leave.
Laurie stood against the wall across from the room. He looked up when you exit, standing up straight. “Is he alright?”
You nodded, your eyes downcast.
“What is the matter with him?” He asked gently.
You chuckled softly, but it broke into a sob. “The doctors have no idea, just that he is getting weaker each day and pretty soon he’ll be gone,” you said, covering your mouth to hold down your emotions.
You truly didn’t know what to do without Simon. The house would feel too empty, and you couldn’t return to America, you didn’t want to but you didn’t want to be alone. Laurie’s arms engulfed you and held you tightly.
“It’s okay, I’m here,” he said against the shell of your ear. “I’m here,” He repeated over and over until you calm down.
You pulled away to look up at Laurie. He smiled softly at you, wiping your tears. “Theo, what happened? Why are you here?” You asked.
“I asked Jo to marry me and she rejected me,” he said, voice full of pain and sorrow.”
“Oh Theo, I am so sorry,” you said, grabbing his hand and kissing the back of it. You lead him away from Simon’s room into your own chambers and into your sitting area. “Maybe she needs time?” You suggested.
Laurie shook his head. “No, she doesn’t love me. And She never will. She didn’t see me as a potential partner, just Teddy her best friend,” He said bitterly.
You took his hand again, squeezing it sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Theo. You deserve better. It is Jo’s loss.”
He shrugged and quickly changed the subject. “Why do you have your own chambers? You two seem… so in love?”
“Simon is my best friend but there is no romantic love between us. Plus we enjoy our own space.” You said.
“Are you happy?” He asked.
“I am. I just am afraid of the happiness leaving when he dies,” you expressed.
“You won’t be alone. I’ll be here too. Like you once said to me, a shoulder to cry on. A friend to have around. I think we both could use one.”
You stared at Laurie for a while, thinking about your talk with Simon, your kiss when you were kids, and about how much you ached for passion in your life. 
“Theo, we have been burned by love. We are both grieving losses, I think we should grieve together,” you suggested, looking at him from under your lashes.
Laurie swallowed thickly, his eyes dropped to your lips. “Sharing the burden of grieve would be beneficial, healthy even,” He said, moving closer to you.
“Yes my thought exactly,” you said, your breath mixed and your heart rate spiked.
His nose bumped against yours and you both giggled softly. “I’ve never done this before,” he whispered.
“Neither have I. we can just learn together,” you said and then your lips were brushing each other. 
You are unsure which one of you deepened the kiss, but Laurie’s tongue was in your mouth and your eyes were fluttering shut.  Laurie’s hands tentatively took your waist and he pulled back softly. “Is this okay?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s okay. You can um, take off my clothes if you want.”
Laurie’s eyes widened at your suggestion but he quickly got to his feet, almost tripping over the sofa. His cheeks blazed as he giggled helping you stand as well. “Sorry, I am awfully nervous,” he confessed.
“I am too, but I trust you, Laurie,” you whispered. 
“I trust you as well,” He replied.
You both smiled at each other for a moment, before Laurie cupped your cheek and placed another kiss on your lips. He took a deep breath when he pulled away and untied your shawl.
“Umm, what should I do with this?” He asked looking around.
“Toss it on the sofa, I don’t care.”
Nodding he tossed it quickly away, moving to unbutton your front-facing corset. Each button, he was painstakingly slow and you were just about to scream when he tossed it aside as well.  Laces, knots, bows, and fabric were taken off your body until you stood in front of him in just your slip.
Laurie grabbed the bottom, but you stopped him. “Wait,” you said, your heart racing. Laurie froze, staring at you with big doe eyes.
“Have I done something wrong?”
“No, Theo, just. I want to see you. It’s odd being the only one naked.”
“Of course of course,” he said, quickly removing his layers of coat, vest, and undershirt. 
You couldn’t help but chuckle at how quickly he removed his own clothes. Laurie narrowed his eyes playfully at you. “Something amusing?”
“Yes. You Mr. Laurence.”
“Well I aim to entertain,” he bowed before moving to remove his pants, quickly causing your laughter to die down and your mouth to dry up.
Once undressed completely, Laurie grabbed your hips with purpose, rubbing his thumbs into your hip bones. You shivered and quickly grabbed his hand and led him to your bedroom.
“Lay down,” he said, before climbing on top of you. His hands moved to the bottom of your slip and with a little nod from you he pulled it over your head. You laid bare before him and your hands moved to cover your breast, but he was already leaning down and pressing burning kisses to them. 
“You are beautiful, you don’t have to hide from me. It’s Theo. Your Theo, your friend, relax,” he said, though his own voice shook. The words were probably meant for both of your benefits.
His lips traced the curve of your right breast before, his tongue circled your nipple. He watched you closely, gauging your reactions to see what you liked and didn’t like. Your eyes closed and you sucked in a sharp breath.
A pulse between your legs had you trying to close them, but Laurie was already between and your legs just squeezed his sides. He groaned switching to your own breast giving it the same treatment.
“I heard that it hurts for women the first time, I don’t wish to hurt you,” He said, pushing two fingers into his mouth soaking them before letting them drag down your body before reaching your most private parts.
“I know, it’s okay.”
“Tell me if something hurts too much.”
You nodded and then his two fingers were inside of you. You gasped which caused you to tighten around his fingers. The pressure was weird, but nothing was overly painful. “Go on,” you mumbled.
Laurie’s fingers moved slowly at first, just barely kissing your tight walls, but the more he worked them inside of you the wetter you became. The room was loud with the little gasp and moan you released and the wet sounds of his fingers inside of you.
You relaxed more, opening your legs wider as the awkward feeling gave way to pleasure. Your moans grew louder and you humped against his hand. Laurie pulled his fingers away and you whined.
“Eager?” He teased, wrapping one of your legs around his waist. The other, he slid the wet fingers from your inner thigh to your calf. You shivered again. 
“Don’t tease me The- Heavens,” you closed your eyes as he pushed into you. You whimpered feeling tears in your eyes.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“Are you all the way in?” 
Laurie frowned shaking his head. You were sweating and he pushed away the hair sticking to your forehead. “Just a bit more,”
“Is it normal to be so big?” You questioned.
He bit his lip to hide his smile, but his shoulder pulled back and you knew you just stroked his ego. 
“Just push it all in and then give me a moment.”
“Are you sure?” He questioned.
“Yes.”
You closed your eyes waiting for the pain but instead, Laurie didn’t move and his lips were on yours again. Your eyes opened in confusion but you kissed him back eagerly. His soft lips mold into yours and you started to feel pleasure again. 
With your distracted, Laurie slowly pushed inch by inch inside of you until he had bottomed out. You whined into his mouth, but Laurie stroked over your sides again and kissed all over your face.
“Let me know when it’s okay to move,” his voice was tight and strained, it was taking everything in him to be still and not hurt you.
You felt so incredibly full and you were completely surrounded by Laurie, his smell, and just him. Your heart hammered against your ribcage and you looked up at him, your eyes met and you smiled nodding.
And then he pulled back slowly and thrust back in quickly. Laurie moaned, your name falling from his lips. You moaned, arching against him.
“Theo, more.”
Your affair with Laurie lasted longer than you thought it would. It went from two friends grieving over lost loves to something more. Something that felt close to love and you couldn’t love Laurie.
No, you loved a friend before and it ruined your friendship. Plus Laurie loved Jo, she was who he thought of when you two were together. And even though it’s been years, your love for Amy still burned bright. And most importantly you were married.
Even if Simon had encouraged an affair, he was still very much alive, and sleeping with someone else was one thing, but falling in love was a different thing. It felt like a betrayal and you couldn’t handle it; So you had to break things off before you were too deep in.
“Theo,” you started one night as he held you close in his arms in your bed. Your head rested on his chest and his heartbeat was almost enough to put you to sleep, but you held on. “Have you answered any of Jo’s letters?”
He tensed at her name but only for a moment before relaxing and placing a kiss on the crown of your head. “No. I haven’t even read any.”
“Do you plan to?” You asked, looking up at him.
He sighed, moving until your faces were close together, his nose bumping against yours with every breath. “Why do you ask?  Are you thinking about writing to Amy?”
“No. Amy does not want to hear from me.”
“I don’t believe that. You are her best friend. She was heartbroken when you left,” he said, rubbing his nose into your cheek, kissing your neck. “What did you two fight about anyways?”
He had asked you plenty of times but you never answered. You couldn’t tell him about her feelings, a fear you refused to acknowledge that maybe they were perfect for each other and he would seek her out and you’ll lose both of them.
 “Girl things,” you replied.
He groaned, biting your jaw. “Why won’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do,” you breathed.
“Tell me, my love.”
You froze at the pet name and Laurie noticed. He quickly pulled back to stare at your face. Neither of you spoke as you stared. You two had been sleeping together for months. Currently naked and pressed up against each other, but the pet name was so softly spoken, so intimate. The intimacy slowly worked its way up your throat, choking you.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why that slipped out. I-I. I’m sorry,” he said, moving to kiss you, but you moved away, sitting up.
“I think we should stop this,” you said.
Laurie sat up as well. “Stop this? Stop what?”
“This Theo. Us sleeping together. It is not doing either of us any good. Using each other to get over the March sisters, it’s wrong. And unhealthy.”
“How is it wrong, we are both adults, consenting and we are friends helping each other out.”
“I am married, Laurie.”
“You were married when we started. You were fine with it then, what has changed?” He asked, reaching for you, but you got out of bed and pulled on your nightgown.
“I just can’t anymore it isn’t helping anyone. You love Jo and I love Amy.”
“I don’t love Jo,” he stated.
You turned to him blinking. “Since when?”
“I don’t think I have ever loved Jo. Or maybe never in love with her.”
You scoffed. “You loved her only months ago. You have already tossed that love aside.” This is why you didn’t want to love him. He was always fickle.
“Jo was someone I was close to. Someone that I latched into when I had no one. I wanted love and the idea of loving Jo was perfect. So I told myself I loved her and now I know it was not true romantic love I had for her.”
You didn’t know what to say to that. You had to look away from him. “You come too often, people might talk and I can’t do that to Simon.”
“I’ll come less. Or come in through the back.”
“No, Theo. We are spending too much time together. You should be focusing on school and your music. You said you were struggling with operas. You should work on that.”
“Why are you pushing me away? Have I done something?” His ask was pitiful and depressing and you hated yourself a little bit for it.
“We have been in a web in my room and it is time to move on. You must prepare for graduation and life and I need to take care of my husband. Not abandon him for an affair with some man.”
“Some man? Is that all I am to you?”
You turned to face him then. “I meant no offense, Laurie. I just think our fun should end before things get too deep and we ruin things between us.”
Laurie was silent for a bit. He stared at you long and hard. You grew uncomfortable, wrapping your arms around your chest and looking away from him.  He sighed heavily. “Very well. Take care,” he dressed quickly with you watching him.
He laced his boots and stood in front of you. “I mean it, take care of yourself.”
You nodded, too overtaken by emotions to speak.
He stood another minute in front of you before exiting your room.
Your vision blurred just thinking about that day. Laurie never replied to any of your letters, never return to your house, and the gift you sent for his graduation, he returned it. You blinked away the tears, clearing your throat. 
Simon died only a few weeks later and you were too busy to think about Laurie and all your confusing feelings. It was one thing to love Amy, another to love Laurie, but to love both?
You thought of your mother’s harsh words and maybe she was right, there was something wrong with you. Something broken that you loved so easily and at the same time.
Being home made you think about it too much and while you were still free from your mother, in Europe, you couldn’t stay home and be sad and wallow.  Simon would not want that and you didn’t want it. So you traveled and that brought you to Paris.
The people were vibrant and friendly and the food was to die for.  You felt like a child again with all the wonder you had.  You loved it and you wanted to stay the whole season. 
Humming a song you missed the first time someone said your name, but as they grew closer and louder you looked up to see Aunt March, Amy, and Laurie. Your eyes connected with Laurie’s first but he quickly looked away and Amy smiled softly but refused to hold your eyes either.
With just left Aunt March. She narrowed her eyes at you. “What’s the matter, girl? Move to Europe and forgot your manners?” Aunt March questioned.
Flushing, you stood up and smiled as warmly as possible at them. “Hello there. Forgive me, Aunt March. It is lovely to see you.” You turned to Amy and Laurie. “Hello.”
Laurie moved first pulling you into an awkward half-hug. His breath was strong with alcohol and you coughed slightly. “It is nice to see you again, Theo,” you said. The words sound painful to your own ears.
“Is it?” He questioned. “ If you all would excuse me, I have somewhere to be,” And then Laurie walked off.
You stared after him in shock. You knew you two had left things awkward and tense, but you didn’t expect the coldness from him. Laurie was never harsh, with anyone, especially not you.
 A hand on your elbow had you turning to face Amy. Your breath caught slightly as you took her in. It’s been years since you last saw her and she was more breathtaking than ever. 
“You will have to ignore Laurie, he is going through a phase of being an overgrown child,” she said, but she smiled softly at you.  “Hello, stranger,” she said.
“Hello, Amy,” you said, a bit breathlessly. You felt foolish you had grown, married, and fallen for someone else, yet Amy still made you feel warm inside.
You two stared at each other for a moment before Aunt March groaned. “Speak you two,” She said, shaking her head and walking away mumbling about how annoying children were these days.
You both laughed as you watched her walk away. “She never changed, does she?” You said looking at Amy.
“No, I’m afraid she has only gotten meaner with age.”
You both laughed once more. Until you both slowly broke off and stared at one another until Amy spoke up.
“I’m sorry about our fight. And then ignoring you, but how could you just marry and leave?” She said, pouting.
You hugged her then, squeezing her tightly. “I’m sorry about our fight, I was so rude to you. And I’m sorry for leaving.”
“And not writing or inviting me to the wedding,” she added, hugging you back.
“Yes for not writing or inviting you to the wedding,” you chuckled, breathing in the scent you loved most.
“All is forgiven, sweet girl, but you can’t do that anymore. I’ve been miserable without you,” Amy said, taking your hand and squeezing it.
You squeezed her hand back. “I’ve been miserable without my best friend as well.”
“Now that we have made up, tell me about your husband. Has he been kind to you? Do you have children? Oh my gosh, you do don’t you? You have children and they don’t even know me,” she whined, but there was also something else in her voice you couldn’t decipher.
“Amy, take a breath,” you teased, grabbing your book as you two walked around the park. “My husband, Simon.. he was a very good man, but he sadly passed on.”
She gasped, turning to face you with a face painted in sorrow. “I am so sorry to hear that. You are still so young to lose a husband. He wasn’t that old.”
“It was a sickness that took him quickly. Healthy one day and coughing up blood the next. I was happy to try to make his last days the best for him. He grew to be my closest friend.”
“I am glad you were not in a bad marriage, but I am sorry about you having to lose him.” Amy pulled you into a side hug.
You hugged back. “And we didn’t have children. With Simon getting sick it was best that way. I could not imagine raising them alone.”
“I suppose that is the best solution. Did you love him?” She asked.
“Yes. In a way that made us both happy.”
She furrowed her eyes at your comment but didn’t press. “So tell me what brought you here?”
“I came for the art, the culture, the people,” you smiled. “Why did you come?”
“For you,” she said, glancing shyly over at you. “You learned French when you were younger and you always talked about coming here and when Aunt March asked me to tour Europe with her, I knew I had to come here. See all the things we talked about.”
Your heart squeezed at her words and you smiled softly at her words. You wished for nothing more than to kiss her but you were in public. Amy's eyes bore into your own and the same desire filled her eyes. But you reminded yourself of her words, that the kisses meant nothing. They were just practiced.
“I’ve missed you so much, Amy,” you said.
“I’ve missed you as well. With you gone, I felt a part of me was missing. I was an awful friend. Too vain sometimes for my own good. I won’t excuse my actions, but if you give me the chance, I want to make it up to you. Be a better friend.”
“I would very much like to be your friend again.”
“Good. Now there is a ball tonight. I would love for you to attend with me. It will be fun, with drinks, dancing, and music. It will be wonderful. Say you will come?”
“I will be there, Amy. I promise.”
The ball was…well it was a ball fit for the French elite and while you have been a part of the elites before you never felt completely comfortable around them. Your dress was bright and made you stand out too much and you wished to hide in a corner.
You felt like a child once again force at a party by your mother. You searched the crowd for Amy and sighed and relief when you saw her. Luckily, she saw you at the same moment and made her way over to you.
“Oh, you look beautiful. Well, you always look beautiful but this is your color,” she gushed, having your ears and face burn at the compliments.
“Thank you, Amy. You look radiant as well. The center of the party,” you said, then leaned closer. “Everyone has eyes on you.”
She blushed. “Well, that is Fred’s doing.”
“Fred?”
“Fred Vaugh. We met him at the beach once, an old friend of the Laurence’s. We are in a courtship,” she explained.
Your face fell slightly at her words, but what did you expect? For her to love you to wait for you when you left and married. “That’s wonderful, Amy,” you said.
Amy looked around the room for a moment before grabbing your hand and pulling you away from the party. You both walked into you were outside in a beautiful garden. “Everyone might have their eyes on me, but mine are on you,” she said.
“Fred is a nice man but I want to be with you tonight, check-up, talk to my sweet girl,” she pulled you to the ground into a space covered by bushes so no one would see you too.
“What about the ball? And your dress, it will be ruined.”
“First, Laurie drunkenly showing up ruined the ball for me and second, you are much more important and worth a ruined dress.”
“What is going on with Laurie?” In London, he was saddened by the rejection of Jo, but he wasn’t drinking and behaving as Amy mentioned.
“It has to be the heartbreak. He’s just a mess. We had seen a lot of each other in Paris and he was getting better, I thought at least, but then he went to London and his letters seemed as if he was better and happier. And then he came back like this. Drunk all the time, making stupid comments.” She mumbled the last part as she patted down her dress.
You smiled, knocking your shoulder against hers. “Tell me about your art, Amy. Tell me about the new Amy?” 
You and Amy spent the whole night pressed up together and catching up with each other. It was as if no time had passed between the two of you. While you had married and grown, Amy had matured into a woman with a kind heart, determination, and passion.
It was amazing to see how much she changed and you could listen to hear her talk all day along. She leaned against you laughing at a story you told about your wedding day with Simon.
“I cannot see you doing that?” She said between gasping breaths.
“I did. I did. I was not going to wear so awful dress all day and if they refused to let me change I would make them. So I set the dress on fire, while still wearing it.”
“Oh, you have lost your mind. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. That is something that would make Jo very happy.”
You laugh along with her. “How is Jo?” You asked.
Her laughter died down a bit and she shrugged. “She is the same Jo I suppose. She is upset with me for coming here, upset with Laurie for ignoring her, and the world for treating her horribly for being born a woman.”
“Laurie will come around. And we can’t fault her for the last. We know the drawback we have to face for being women.”
“We all know it, but complaining and making things worse is not the way to go about it. We must find ways to be ourselves. To enjoy life within the binds. Wiggle and loosen them slowly. Any other way does more harm than good.”
“Wise-words. You really have grown, Amy March.”
“I have. I know I seem proper and happy with my station in society but I know that it is a man’s world and nothing will ever be mine. My life is not my own and never will be, it’s frustrating but if I want to take care of my family, I must play the part.”
You grabbed her hand. “And if you didn’t- if you didn’t have to play a part what would you do? What is your dream?”
Amy looked at you. “I would like to be happy be with someone that I love who loves me. I want to paint be a true artist and make my own money. I want so much, I want that dream we had as children. I want-” You cut her off by kissing her.
You thought she would pull away, but instead, she placed her hand on the side of your face and kissed you back, deeply and full of emotions. You kissed until you needed to break away to breathe air in your lungs.
“I-I’m sorry, Amy. I don’t know what came over me,” you said, looking down. You fan your cheeks as they burned and you looked around making sure no one was looking.
Amy grabbed your hand, shaking her head. “No, please don’t apologize. I wanted to kiss you since the moment I saw you, maybe since the day we fought. I am sorry for the words I spoke. I.. kissing you was never practice. Or maybe it started as such, but it was a comfort.”
She paused moving so she sat in front of you. She took both of your hands and placed them in your lap. Your heart fought to leave your chest and your whole body felt as if it was being pricked.
“You were my best friend. You are my best friend and I like being with you. I love spending time with you, laughing, reading, and kissing you. I didn’t understand what it meant. What you were to me,” she looked down at her hands. “But then realized that I missed you like Marmee misses father.”
You bit your lips, holding your breath as you waited for her to finish talking, but instead, she bit her lip and began to cry softly. With furrowed brows, you moved closer hugging her to your chest. “What’s wrong, Amy? Don’t cry, please. You know it will make me cry too,” you said.
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it, it’s just. I love you and it is unfair that we can not be together. It is unfair that we can’t do anything about it. We are women and I have duties to uphold and I’ll never be happy.” She sobbed, her shoulders shaking and her breathing grew erratically.
“Amy, you must calm down. You know you get worked up so easily, you could pass out, calm, Amy. Calm, I’m here. I have you,” you patted the back of her head and held her close until she slowly stop crying.
“Are you alright now?” You asked pulling back to regard her face.
She frowned adorably nodding, wiping her eyes as embarrassment settled in. “Yes, I am sorry for losing it like that. And springing feels onto you. It was wrong of me.”
You smiled, cupping her face and brushing away the rest of your tears. “Don’t be sorry for having emotions or expressing them. I will never fault you for it,” you said, kissing her softly.
She kissed you back, breaking away after a few moments. “I should not have expressed my feelings because if you return them, there is nothing we can do about it, and if not, I could make you uncomfortable.”
“Oh Amy March, I have loved you my whole life,” you giggled, pecking her lips.
“Don’t say that. I will only make me sadder.”
“But we love each other, is that not good news.”
“If one of us is a man, but I must marry Fred,” she said miserably.
“But why? I have my own money we can live together, happily.”
“Because marrying  Fred is what is expected of me, and must do it for my family. I am sorry.”
You shook your head, squeezing her hand. “I am not upset with you. I understand doing what you have to do for your family.”
“Can we still spend time together like now, until I marry?” She asked.
“We can spend all the time you would like, Amy,” You assured her.
You went to your lodging that night with only thoughts of Amy and how you must be dreaming. She loved you. Amy loved you back. You knew the sneaking around was not ideal, and that you wanted more with her, but you would take whatever you could get.
But your mind thought about the women you read about as a child. The women who  lived together and were happy, but family meant something to Amy. Her family was her life and you didn’t have it in you to take her away from them.
Just as you were about to slip into unconsciousness another thought came to mind. Another person, Laurie. You didn’t see him the whole party, you were sure he was avoiding you which hurt. You were worried about your feelings for him and your feelings for Amy. You fell asleep with guilt heavy on your mind, for loving them both.
Over the next few weeks, you spend as much time with Amy as you could. You two were either in the park, her drawing and you reading, or walking around giggling close together. The only time you spent away from her was the time she spent with Laurie.
The guilt of loving them both only was overshadowed by the jealousy of knowing they were together without you. You wanted to be with Laurie, talking like you used to, or spend all the time with Laurie. You were growing sick of the headaches you were causing yourself, but it came to a head when you overheard Amy and Laurie together.
“Do you love him?” Laurie asked her softly.
“Love him? Do you mean Fred?” She asked.
“Is there another man in your life that you love?” He asked.
Amy’s eyes flickered to his at his words. She loved Laurie. She didn’t want to, she tried her whole life not to, but she did. She loved him as easily as she loved you.  “I don’t love Fred,” she concluded.
“Then don’t marry him.”
“Oh, Laurie why shouldn’t I marry him? He is kind and he has enough money to take care of me, my family, and my future family.”
“But you do not love him.”
“We already had this conversation, Laurie.”
“No. I mean he does not love you either. So you should marry me,” he said.
“Marry- marry you? Laurie, why would you say that wh-why?” Amy closed her notebook and stood up shaking her head.
“Please Amy, I’ll treat you better than him. I can take care of you and your family. I can make you happy.” 
“Laurie stop it. Just stop it. You are hurting and raw because of Jo, but that does not give you the right to be mean to me.”
“Mean? I am not being mean. I am serious, Amy. I want you to marry me. We can be happy together,” He moved closer, taking her arms. “We have spent so much time together in the last few months and I think I could make you happy. I want to try,”
“Try? No no. Laurie, how dare you? After I spent my whole life loving you. I’ve been second to Jo in everything and now I am to be second to her with you? No, I refuse. I won’t settle for second place.”
“So you rather marry someone you don’t love?”
“Yes, I rather be respected if I can’t be loved.”
“You can have both with me,” he shrugged. 
“I can’t. And I don’t want to see you anymore.” And then she was running out of the studio. She bumped into you with tears running down her face.
“Oh, d-d-did you hear?” She said, face flushed and hands twitching.
“I did. Amy, what’s wrong? Why did Laurie’s words upset you so much,” you said softly, already knowing the answer. She all but said she still loved him.
She wiped her eyes. “It is not what you think?” She said at once.
“It would be okay if it was,” you said.
She shook her head. “No. No, it won’t be. No. I don’t love Laurie, not after everything,” she said.
“Shush, my dove. Let me walk you home,” you said taking her arm. 
She nodded, looping her arm through yours.
The walk was quiet, with Amy sniffling every few moments. You were too in your own head to really think about making conversation. The idea of Amy and Laurie marrying was heavy on your mind. They would be a perfect couple and Amy deserve love, but not from Laurie, not if he was using her to get over Jo.
When it was with you, you didn’t fault him. You both agreed to enjoy each other, it was mutual and your falling for him was not his fault, but Amy, she did care about him, she loved him and deserved more than a husband that loved her sister.
After walking Amy home you sent a letter to where Laurie was staying demanding his presence.  You were steaming as you waited for him. Your leg bounced with anger as you sat trying to read your novel, but all you could think about what that selfish man.
The moment you heard a knock on the door you were out of your seat. You throw the door open and pulled Laurie into the room. You stood across from him with one hand on your hip glaring at him.
“You’ve invited me here to glare at me?” He asked confused.
“What are you doing with Amy?” You said at the same time.
Laurie’s eyes widened slightly and he moved deeper into the room. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Asking her to marry you? Are you trying to hurt her? Ruin her life?”
“What? No of course not. I was just trying to help her. I-I grew deep feelings for her,” he said. He looked towards the ground, only glancing up at you to see your reaction. While Laurie was not lying about his feelings for Amy, he loved you all the same.
It was spending time together in London that made him realize that he felt only friendship and familial love for Jo. The feelings he got for you were deeper and stronger than anything he ever thought was possible. He loved you with his soul. And he wanted to express his feeling to you, wanted to ask you to marry him when Simon died, but you broke things off and broke his heart first.
“So you have just grown feelings for Amy?” You questioned.
“Of course. I didn’t plan to but I have. I want to make her happy.”
“Fred can do that.”
“Fred can’t offer her happiness. And if I marry her you can still be in her life. You two can still care for each other.”
You blinked at him in shock. “You know about us?”
“I’ve always known. Have you forgotten? Amy might not have known when we were children about  her feelings for you, but I saw them.”
“But you didn’t see hers for you?” You scoffed.
“No, I just assumed she only had eyes for you.”
You scoffed again, but then again you never saw her feelings for you, only her eyes for Laurie. “So you’ve known about our feelings for each other and still tried to marry her.”
“I am not trying to take her away from you. What do you think I am trying to do.”
“I don’t know. I can’t see you falling in love with Amy when you have been a drunk mess in her words.”
“I’ve gotten better. I’ve spent time with her and I see her for the wonderful person she is. I want more for her and with her.”
“Ah, so it seems you are just working your way through us all Theodore. Shall I write to Brooke’s and warn him that his wife is in danger or sweet Beth.”  
“Don’t. You know it isn’t like that.”
“I obviously know nothing about who you are.”
“How could you say that? You know me, better than most.”
“No, I don’t. I know nothing about you and your fickle feelings.” 
“You know I didn’t love Jo. I thought I did I thought what I felt for her was love true deep love but it wasn’t. But you-“ he paused and moved closer to you but you took a step away from him.
He threw his hands up. “I love you. Whether you let me say it or not. I love you. Deeper than I loved anyone in my life entire life.”
You scoffed, “And Amy? Is she just a toy for you to use? Someone to run to when you can’t have who you want.” 
“I love her too. As I love you; with my whole being.” Laurie walked towards you this time and didn’t stop as you took steps back.  “I love you as you, Amy as Amy, and both of you with every fiber of my soul.”
“Always a poet, Mr. Laurence,” you scoffed. You didn’t want to hear this. 
“I love you both. Worship the grounds you walk on.” He grabbed your hand and placed it over his heart. “You know I am telling the truth.”
You looked away from him, feeling your heart quicken and your face heat. “And why is that?” You whispered.
He cupped your cheek making you turn back to face him. He smiled softly leaning closer until your nose bumped. “Because I know you feel the same for us as well. I know you love Amy It’s why you ran away to get married because you love her and…and it’s why you sent me away in London, because you love me.”
“Theo. So you’ve just decided that I love you,” you said softly.
“I wasn’t sure. I was hurt after you ended things, it wrecked me. Amy was not lying when she told you how bad I’ve been, but it wasn’t Jo that broke my heart, it was you. And I’ve avoided you since you arrived here. It was wrong and I felt awful as I started to fall for Amy, but the moment I walked into the room. I realized you are not just upset for Amy but because of her.”
You scoffed again, but you couldn’t deny his words when he was telling the truth to your face.
“You don’t believe I love Amy and you didn’t believe that I could love you, but I do.  love you. I love Amy. And I want us all to be happy and together, is that too much to asked?”
“It is asking the impossible and you know it. That is not the world we live in.”
“Screw the world we make our own rules we have the money to go anywhere and be who we wish to be. All you have to do is let yourself have what you want.”
“I can not.”
“Why? Why can’t you? You have never been one to be so afraid unless you don’t love me. Have I gotten that wrong?”
You said nothing.
“Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll leave and never bring this up again. Tell me your heart does not beat for me and I’ll leave you alone,” Laurie begged, his hands reaching on either side of your face, staring deeply into your eyes.
You feel tears run down your face. “Of course, I love you, Laurie. Goodness, I love you so much. I had to send you away. Every day I was falling more and more in love with you. Every night in your arms I wished for that to be our life forever.”
Laurie smiled widely, his eyes lighting up, shining with pure happiness. He kissed you so softly and sweetly that you felt light-headed. You kiss back in earnest, putting your hands on top of his that still resided on your face.
“W-What is going on in here?” A broken voice said causing you both to pull apart in shock to see Amy standing in the now-open doorway.
“Amy,” you gasped, dropping your hands from Laurie’s face.
“Amy it is not what it appears to be,” Laurie said and you could have slapped him in the face. Of course, it was what it appeared to be but he was not helping.
It seemed Amy shared your sentiment because she scoffed narrowing her eyes at you both. “Not what it looks like? You two were kissing and I heard you expressing your love to each other.”
“Amy please, let us explain,” you pleaded.
“Explain what? How the two people that claim they never want to hurt me, who want to see me happy are doing the exact thing they swear they wouldn’t,”
“Amy it is not like that,” Laurie said, moving closer to her. “I meant what I said earlier, I do care about you. I love you and wish to marry you.”
She shook her head and looked away from him to look at you. “And you? How could you do this to me? And with Laurie of all people.”
“Amy no, please. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t, goodness, just let us explain.”
“Explain then.” Amy crossed her arms and stared at you both.
You glanced at Laurie, but he looked incredibly frightened to say anything. You sighed, “I had an affair with Laurie in London,” You started shutting your eyes as Amy gasped in horror.
“It wasn’t a bad one,” Laurie chimed in, “She was lonely and I was and we needed comforting.
“Your poor husband,” Amy said shaking her head.
“He knew about it. It was his idea. He just wanted me to be happy to experience life. I was hurting from losing you and about to lose another best friend and Laurie was there. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, it just happened. So I broke things off when my feelings grew too down.”
“And That is when Laurie came back to Paris, depressed. Because he loved you and you hurt him.” Amy then laughed bitterly turning to glare sadly at Laurie. “So for you, I am a third option. Can’t have Jo, can’t have her, so you’ll settle for me?”
“No no. Amy that isn’t true. I never loved Jo. It is the two of you I love so much. I was hurt by her ending things and I came back because you are my friend and you always know how to cheer me up and then I realized I was falling for you as well.”
“You love us both? That is preposterous. You can not love us both.” 
“Oh come on Amy, stop lying to yourself. You lied to me early, you love Theo. You always have.”
Her eyes stretched and she stuttered but nothing comprehensible came out. She stared between the two of you before looking away. “I am leaving,” she stated.
“No. You can’t leave, Amy please,’ Laurie said, reaching out and grabbing her hand.
She flinched away glaring at him. “No, you don’t get to tell me. Neither of you do. I can not do this with you, Either of you. I am marrying Fred, I won’t be involved with whatever you two are doing.”
“So you choose him? Why? You love me. You love Laurie. You said you wanted a way for us to be together in this society and to take care of your family. Laurie is the solution. You can marry him and not Fred. It will be perfect.”
“It will be a sham. I won’t have an affair with you while married. I told you that.”
“It won’t be an affair, we would be married, yes, but we will all be in a relationship. The marriage is one of love, but also one of show, so we can be ourselves and not be condemned.” Laurie stressed.
“No. You both lied to me and now you want me to marry you and we are to live happily ever after?” She cried.
“Lied to you? I never lied to you, Amy,” you stated.
“You knew why Laurie was acting strange. You never mentioned your relationship with him, Not ever after what you overheard today. And you Laurie, let me go on and on about Jo knowing it was not Jo who had broken your heart. I thought it was odd you both were avoiding each other, I thought it was to due that kiss as children but I see it was more. I feel like such a fool. You both toyed with me. Is that it? You both couldn’t have each other so went after me?”
“Of course, not, Amy. We would never?” Laurie said.
“We are sorry, Amy. We meant you no harm. We talked about all of us being together,” you added.
“Without me? Because Amy will get go along. Amy is a follower. Amy is desperate for the both of you she’ll do anything.”
“Stop putting words in our mouths. Amy, I understand you are hurt. I shouldn’t have kissed Laurie with our relationship going, I am truly sorry, but please don’t marry Fred when this is the perfect option, where we all can be happy.”
“I don’t want it. This life you two are offering. Not after hurting me. I am going to marry Fred and I wish to never see either of you again.”
You gasped and Laurie looked close to tears. “Amy you can’t mean that. You’ll just throw away our plans, our love, and friendship,” you questioned.
“You did the moment you decide to keep things from me.”
“You are behaving like a child.”
“No, I am being a responsible adult unlike the two of you,” she said walking to the door.
“Amy please don’t walk away from us. We love you, we can be happy. We can travel, get a house and live happily,” Laurie begged.
“No thank you. You two should live happily together. It is what you both deserved,” she spat.
“Fine. Go marry Fred, enjoy your life of being respected and playing by society’s rule,” You said.
“I will.”
“If you won’t marry me, then we’ll marry. Move to Italy and have a life together,” Laurie said taking your hand.
Amy glanced at you both and then at your joint hands. Rivers of tears ran down her pretty cheeks, breaking both your and Laurie’s heart. “Then so be it,” she whispered then left the room.
Amy could barely see as she ran as fast as she could back to the home she was staying in with Aunt March. She always knew she couldn’t have Laurie and one day she would have to give you up and possibly watch you fall in love with someone else, but the idea of you both already loving each other tore her in half.
She was scared and hurt and she couldn’t fathom the offer, which she knew was a good one, but her pain was too raw for her to see that. She ran to her room and threw herself into her bed sobbing her heart out.
Her tears ran down her face for hours until she was too numb to sob and her tears all cried out. She thought about just days earlier when she was happy when she was wrapped up in her love and fantasy future.
“I have never had any sort of, you know before,” Amy flushed bright red. You both were inside your bedroom. You two kissed for hours and when your hands wandered to her waist causing her to flush and pull away.
“Oh, Amy we do not have to do any of that, I just like being with you,” you said, leaning closer to capturing her lips.
She kissed back before pulling away. “Does it work the same way as with a man?” She asked curiously.
“I wouldn’t know. I have never been with another woman. You are the only woman I’ve ever had eyes for,” you chuckled. “I think it would be different considering... Um, the differences.”
“I am not sure I know how it works with men. Meg tried to explain it once, but it freaked me out,” she said embarrassed.
“It freaked me out as well. My mother made me read a book about it, said it was to prepare me for my  wedding night,” you explained.
“Was it painful? With Simon?” She asked.
“My first time was not as painful as I thought. I enjoyed it,” you said. Laurie was incredibly gentle and you were forever grateful for it.
“I do not want my first sexual experience to be with Fred. Can we try something, I want it to be with someone I love.”
You nodded. “We can learn and explore together,” you said, getting off the bed to remove your clothes, you could hear Amy doing the same. By the time you were done, you turned around to see Amy with her hair down, covering her chest.
You grinned getting back into bed and crawling to be in front of her. “Don’t cover up, you are beautiful,” you said, kissing her forehead.
“Don’t make me blush,” she whined.
“I like seeing you blush,” you said, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the bed with you. You laid her down and hovered over her. “I love you, Amy,”
“ I love you, sweet girl,” she said, kissing you again. The kiss quickly grew hungrier and hungrier and you bit her lower lip causing her to moan and arch against you. Causing her core to rub against yours.
You both moan and quickly fell into a rhythm of upward and downward grinds to chase after that feeling. Your kiss grew sloppy as you both moaned and got lost in the pleasure.
“Something happening, it’s building, what is it?” she asked.
“It’s okay, it will feel good,” you said. You quickly moved one of your hands between you both, rubbing the little button you knew would make her see stars. Amy gasped, her hips moving quicker. 
“Yes, please that feels amazing. Don’t stop sweet girl don’t stop,” she begged.
“Never,” you said, attaching your lips to one of her nipples.
When Amy came it was with a loud moan of your name and her thighs squeezing together. Her eyes rolled back in her hand and her nose wrinkled in the most Amy way possible.
You moaned grinding faster against her spamming body until you reached your own peak, your lips coming down on hers. “I love you, Amy, so much. Always.”
“I love you too, my sweet girl.”
You moved to lay by her side, pulling her close. Your chin rested on her shoulder and your hands were around her waist. “I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“I wish there was a way we could be together, A way for everything to work out for us. I want us,” she whispered.
You dropped a kiss to her shoulder, tightening your hold around her. “Maybe one day.”
“I hope sooner rather than later. I want to be with you forever.”
You hummed softly, “Like we said when we were younger. When we said we would run away together?”
She giggled turning around in your arms. “Yes, like that. We can go anywhere in the world. Be like those women you once told me about.”
“I would like that very much.”
“Me too.”
“You rejected Fred? Amy, I thought you were the smart one of your sisters,” Aunt March huffed the moment Amy walked into the room. It was only days after her fight with the two of you. The ache she felt without you both was hard to ignore. She’s always had one of you in her life and it was strange to know you both were gone. That she forced you out of her life.
 “He has money, a good head on his shoulder and you reject him,” Aunt March continued to rant. “It makes no sense. Have you fallen ill with something or are you just stupid?”
Amy ignored her as she took a seat on the sofa. She started down at her hands. Her bare hands. Fred’s ring was beautiful. The life he was offering was beautiful, perfect, and everything she always hoped for. At least that is what she thought she wanted.
He was nice enough. He would be a good husband, a good provider, and a father. He would grow to love her because, as much as he claimed he did, he did not love her. And she could even grow to love him, but it wouldn’t be the sort of love Meg had with John, her parents had with each other. The love you and Laurie had for each other, had for her.
“Honestly, Amy. You were supposed to help your sisters out. Take care of them, they need the money. Instead, you ruin a good thing, and for what reason, hmm?”
“Aunt March,” Amy said cutting her off, “Why did you never marry?”
Aunt March stuck up her nose and turned her head away from her slightly. “I didn’t have to. I had money. I didn’t waste it away like some people.”
Amy took a deep breath to ignore the obvious comment about her family. “Yes but did you never want to marry? Meet someone you wanted to be with? You’ve never been in love.”
“Amy tell me you are not burdened with love?” She said as if she was speaking about a terminal illness.
“Have you, Aunt March?” Amy asked desperately.
Aunt March looked at Amy. Really looked at her and saw what she knew will be there. A sad young woman in love. A look she once saw in a mirror. She sighed deeply, before turning to Amy completely.
“Josephine might have been named after me, but you are the most like me, Amy,” she said softer than Amy had ever heard her speak. Her face was one of sadness and regret, sorrow and pain.
“I loved once. Someone, so deeply I feel them in my bones. I knew them by smell alone. Their foot pattern and their breathing. I was young when we met and it was like love at first sight as dramatic as the term is, it applied.”
“What happened why didn’t you marry?” Amy asked, leaning forward and hanging onto her every word.
“Because I am like you, Amy,” she said.
“Like me?”
“Times were harsher than now. You can live in Europe with a close friend and not get so many looks. Women are choosing to not marry and single women together don’t raise too many looks. And the Laurance boy would protect you both.”
Amy’s eyes widened slightly at both Aunt March’s confession and her knowing about her feelings for both Laurie and you.
“Oh don’t give me that look, Amy March. It is obvious by the way you three of you are together. She has been in love with you forever, and you with Laurie, and now the three of you are whatever you are. I thought you would never act on it. That you would marry Fred and have that life. This choice you are making Amy does not come easy. While it is more of a norm here, it doesn’t mean it is not without issues.”
“But I love them and I don’t care. I want to be happy. I want happiness and them. Money and pretty things, being content and taking care of the family, it’s nothing if I can’t have them,” Amy sobbed, “But I ruined things. They hurt me and I hurt them, and it’s awful and messy, but it is what I want. I want to fight with them, make up with them, cry, and love with them.”
“And what about your family? Your sisters?” 
“It is not my job to take care of them. I know I am being selfish, but I get to be selfish with my life do I not? I must live for myself and be happy. I love my sisters and I will try to help and support them. I will get a job teaching or selling my work.”
“Hmm.”
“What. Say something.”
“Both of them are quite well off.”
“I am not going to be with them for their money.”
“No no, but their money is a plus,” Aunt March, grasped both of Amy’s hands. “I will help your sisters, you should go. Be the strong Amy that you’ve grown into, and the whimsical, romantic Amy you have always been. The Brave March, I was not.”
Amy reached over and threw her arms around Aunt March’s shoulder. “Oh Aunt March, who knew you were such a softie,” Amy said kissing her cheeks, laughing as Aunt March groaned and tried to pull away.
“Yes yes, just keep it to yourself,” she said, patting her cheek. “Now, you have two people to go see.”
Amy pulled away grinning widely. “Yes, I do.”
You walked hand and hand with Laurie down the street in Italy. Neither of you happy to be in the city you two talked about so long ago. The pain of losing Amy, really losing her weighed you both down.
“This is my fault,” Laurie said softly.
You looked over at him in shock. “Theo, it is not your fault. It is both of our fault. We should have told Amy the truth or maybe not been so harsh with her, she is a sensitive woman.”
“I was the mean one. Asking her to marry me like that. And then roping you into it.
“And I am a woman with my own agency. You didn’t force me, Theo. I was harsh as well. I was the one that was with her and then kissed you. She should hate me forever for it.”
Laurie looked down and squeezed your hand. “I am glad that we are together.”
You smiled, squeezing his back. “Me too. I am very happy right now. It’s not something I’ve truly been in a long time.”
“I was only this happy in London,” he confessed. “I brought a ring then. One to ask you to marry me.”
“What? Theo no? Oh, I am so very sorry. I was horrible to you.”
“No. don’t be sorry. I suppose it was for the best. I got to fall in love with Amy and be close to her. And you got to know her feelings. You got to experience being in love with her and her loving you back.”
“Hey, she loved you as well.”
“But I was too stupid to see it,” he sighed.
“And I was too stupid in London to see you loved me.”
“We both are pale with this sickness then,” he said happily and swinging your hands back and forward.
You giggled, “I suppose we are. Someone should write a song about it,” you teased.
“My music is no good.”
“Oh lies, I saw the notebook back in the desk at home, you are talented. You just need to believe in yourself.”
“You saw that?” He asked, flushing.
“Yes, a few pieces about a pretty blonde in blue. Another is about the love of London. I am awfully curious about what those ones are about.”
Laurie, grabbed your waist, tickling you. “You little monster,” he chuckled as he watched you squirm. You giggled loudly trying to get away. People walking past you both stared some laughing along, others in distaste, but neither of you cared.
When Laurie stopped his attack he retook your hand. “Let’s go home?” 
You nodded. While you two didn’t discuss marrying each other you both did want to spend time in Italy and Laurie’s former home was beautiful and you knew how much it meant to him to be back.
Walking into the house you smiled warmly at Laurie, kissing him sweetly. “Shall I make us something for dinner or should we go back out later”
Laurie shrugged, “I don’t know. I might want to keep you in my bed all night long.”
“Oh Mr. Laurence, you deviant,” you chuckled, pushing his hands away as there was a knock on the door.
“Whoever it is get rid of them, you are mine,” he said, rounding the corner and giving you a wink.
You rolled your eyes at his playfulness and opened the door, only to be completely shocked about who was standing on the other side. “Amy? What are you doing here?”
Seeing Amy on your door steps was the last thing you thought you see. Yet there she stood, her hair down and her eyes wide, and her hands wringing in front of her. Her eyes darted all over your face and behind you before dropping to her hands.
Laurie moved into the foyer after hearing your words. He stood behind you, his hands resting on either side of your hips, tapping his pointer finger on your bone, a nervous habit you noticed.
Amy looked from you to Laurie then her eyes dropped to his hands on your waist. Her lips turned down in her perfect pout. “I had to tell you guys, something.”
“What is it?” Laurie asked.
She closed her eyes for a moment, balling her hands into fists before taking a deep breath and opening her eyes. “I was wrong about the poets,” she said.
“What?” you were confused and slightly worried that maybe Amy had lost her marbles, when Laurie pressed closer to you, forcing you both closer. “You’ve changed your mind?” He said softly, a bit of hope in his tone.
“Yes. I still believe that we have some power over who we love, but sometimes it happens unexpectedly. Sometimes you fall in love simply because it is meant to be. It isn’t a choice to fall in love, but it is a choice to fight for your love. To fight for happiness, equality, and love.”
You and Laurie looked at each other for a moment. Having no idea what to say to her confession. Your mind was running a mile a minute but only one thing repeated over and over and your head.
Amy was here.
“I turned down Fred’s proposal.” She continued. “And that was because I couldn’t live a life of lie. I couldn’t put myself aside for someone else. I don’t want a marriage of economic propositions. I rather never marry than be unhappy in marriage. I don’t want marriage if I can’t have it with you both. I love you both. And you don’t have to say anything but I needed to let you both know. I need-” 
You pushed yourself out of Laurie’s hold and pressed your lips to Amy's. You kissed her as if you would never kiss her again as if this was the last day on earth. As if all the oxygen was gone except for the one in her body. “Amy March, you speak too much,” you laughed, feeling tears run down your face.
Amy was crying as well. She released a cross between a laugh and a sob. “I know I know. I ramble sometimes and I talk too much but that is because I am passionate and this is important and you should talk about things that are important to you and you are-”
“Oh Amy, please,” Laurie chuckled, taking your place and pulling her into a kiss. His hand cupped the side of her face. His other hand reached back to tangle in yours. Laurie squeezed your hand and you couldn’t help but laugh and squeezes his back.
Amy pulled away flushing and you grinned grabbing her and pulling them both into the house. “Amy I am so happy you are here. My life would not be complete without you,” you said.
“Neither would mind,” Laurie said.
“My life is not a life without either of you,” Amy said, wrapping her arms around both your waists and hugging you both tightly.
You sighed happily hugging them both to you. Your eyes closed as you let yourself get lost in the hold of the two people you loved most in the world.
“So are we doing this,” Laurie asked, pulling back from the hug and looking at both of you.
Amy looked between the two of you and nodded. “Yes, more than anything.”
You smiled nodding. “You already know my answer.” 
“Good we have a lot to talk about and work out but for now, I just want to be with you both.”
You chuckled at the dark look in his eyes, one you have seen multiple times and Laurie flushed at your words. He was still so embarrassed of his desires and you just found him more enduring and attractive.
Amy glanced between the two of you. She pouted as she felt as if she was left out of some conversation. Seeing her pout, you cup her face kissing her until she melts against you. “Amy, my dove,  sweet Theo wants to spend time together.”
She nodded still lost.
“Naked in bed,” you added. You laughed at they both turned red. Amy glanced over at Laurie and he found the marble floors much more interesting.
“Will it be like when we did it?” She asked. Laurie’s head snapped up at her words, his mouth hanging open slightly.
You smirked at him, grabbing her hand. “It will be much better.” You held out your other hand for Laurie and tugged them both towards the bedroom. Once you closed the door, you stared at both of them.
Laurie was bouncing on his heels as his eyes jumped from your frame to Amy’s.  He looked so excited both you and Amy shared a look shaking your heads at him. “Don’t have a secret conversation about me,” he pouted.
“Poor Theo,” you said walking towards the bed. You slowly began undressing your outer layers, but they both jumped in helping you to undress. And then you and Amy turned your attentions to Laurie, undressing him quickly.  
Now both naked, you and Laurie turned to Amy. She giggled nervously and you smiled pressing yourself against her back while Laurie did the same to her front. “Relax Amy, we have you,” Laurie said, as he unbutton her corset.
“We will take care of you. We will make sure you are having a good time,” you said, undoing the bows and knots.
“I trust you both,” she said.
Once all three of you were undressed you all moved to the bed. Amy in the middle with you and Laurie on either side of her. Laurie grabbed the back of your head and kissed you deeply. 
You groaned against his lips as he bite your lower lip and tugged your hair slightly. You melt into the kiss and his touch, lost in Laurie’s orbit. A hand stroking your thigh and Laurie’s deep moan had you breaking away to look down at Amy.
She was stroking your thigh and running her finger along Laurie’s cock. “What do you call this?” she whispered to him.
He bit his lip, his breath hitching. “Um, it’s um it’s called a penis or a cock.”
She nodded. You wrapped your hand around hers and help her stroke his cock slowly. Laurie hissed causing you both to look up at him. “I won’t last long if you both keep this up,” he chuckled.
You and Amy giggled and you released her hand, pushing her shoulder back until she lay flat on the bed.  You situated yourself between her thighs, kissing her heatedly. You moaned and Amy grabbed your hips and grinding against you.
Laurie’s hand slid over both your shoulders, before going down your spine, causing you to shiver. Rubbing the head of his cock between the two of you his hands interlocked with Amy’s on your hips.
“Please, Theo,” you begged, against Amy’s lips.
“What is he going to do?” She asked, her eyes dark with lust and dancing with eagerness.
You grinned down at her. “Something amazing,” you said, dragging your lips along the side of her face, biting little love marks into her jaw.
Raising your hips slightly Laurie, pushing his cock between your bodies rocking his hips and moaning as he slid against both your soaking cores. Moaning you bit down harder on Amy causing her to cry out.
“Sorry, my dove,” you ran your tongue over the area in apology.
“No I like it bit me more,” she said, moving her hands to Laurie’s ass and pulling him closer. Laurie’s ball slapped loudly against your ass along with the sounds of your slick as it dripped from you to Laurie’s cock and down onto Amy.
Laurie groaned picking up speed and pressed his body against yours so he could kiss Amy. You reached between your bodies and rubbed both your nerves Each thrust in had your fingers brushing Laurie’s sensitive head.
“So close, not going to last much longer,” He groaned into her mouth.
“Me either, faster, please,” you moaned.
Amy shudders under you both. The weight of your body felt crushing, but she still wanted more of you both. She wanted you closer. She spread her legs wider, looping one of her legs around your calf and the other around Laurie’s waist.
“Oh, Dio,” Laurie breathed, as he came, shooting cum all over your lower stomach and and soaking you both more. Amy moaned, throwing her head back and scrunching her nose as she came, you followed quickly after her. 
Laurie thrust sloppily a few more times before rolling off of you onto the bed. Taking deep breaths you rolled off of Amy. You all lay in silence for a few minutes as you all tried to catch your breath.
And then Laurie started laughing, causing you both to look over at him.  He continued to laugh, covering his hands with his face. You sat up on your elbows to look at him closely. Amy's eyebrows pinched together, sitting up as well.
“Laurie, what is  so funny?” She asked.
“Yes, let us in on the joke,” you said, draping your arm over her hips and blinking expectantly at him.
He chuckled, removing his hand, and turned to face you both. “I was just thinking about the day Amy fell into the water.”
“What? Why?” You laughed.
“She fell in and we went in to save her. All three of us soaking wet and laid on the ice like this. I remember being so terrified but then Amy complained about her ruined dress and we all laughed.”
You snorted, laughing as well. 
“It was a pretty dress. And it was new,” she defended.
“You almost died,” Laurie stressed laughing. 
You joined in kissing her shoulder. “I was terrified too but it was one of my favorite days with the two of you.”
Amy laughed as well, wrapping herself around Laurie. “We all got cocoa at home and sat by the fire for hours just talking. All my sisters were out with Marmee and I got you both to myself.”
“And now you have us forever,” Laurie said, kissing her forehead then he pressed one to yours.
Grabbing the blanket you wrapped it around all of you, snuggling close together. You all needed to wash up and the sheets would need to be changed but that could wait until after a nap. You closed your eyes, laying your head on Amy’s shoulder as she laid hers on Laurie’s chest. As you drifted off you couldn’t help but think.
Amy loved you.
Amy loved Laurie.
She was here in Italy.
Amy was with you and Laurie.
Amy and Laurie
Amy and Laurie.
You, Amy, Laurie.
                                   Taglist.
@gatoenlaciudad
@iloveneilperry​
@valencia-rou
@s-we-e-t-t-ea​
@robertpattins0nswh0re
395 notes · View notes
dragonsrfire · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
IN A WORLD OF BOYS HE'S A GENTLEMAN - PERIOD DRAMA EDITION
EDIT - PROLLY NOT PERIOD DRAMA EDITION CAUSE I INCLUDED ICONS FROM LOTR :)
93 notes · View notes
angstdelights · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media
100 notes · View notes
usertimothee · 1 year
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
oh, i'm falling in love → a taylor swift soundtrack for theodore laurence and amy march
(insp.)
354 notes · View notes
Text
which ship gives off the most sweet sweet bi4bi energy
204 notes · View notes
Note
Some people says hinny in cos was similar to Orpheus or some even compare them to spiderman. What are other literally significance we can see in whole hinny love story?
Please share your thoughts
Harry and Ginny: three famous love stories before theirs
I still hold the ridiculous hope that one day I'll be able to write a deep full analysis of Harry and Ginny's soulmate dynamic and callbacks to other popular love stories are a part of that analysis. But because you asked so nicely, I want to discuss a bit the two examples you brought up and I'll tell you about another that is one of my favourites.
Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek mythology)
Tumblr media
The whole matter of the Chamber of Secrets parallels Orpheus and Eurydice's story, Harry is Orpheus and Ginny is Eurydice.
It is assumed or strongly suspected that Ginny is dead, and Harry goes after her anyway and finds her in a state between life and death. Eurydice dies but Orpheus still pines and searches for his wife, and the existence of the possibility of bringing her back substantially puts her in a position between life and death.
Harry through parseltongue, a particular talent of his, is able to access the Chamber (which is underground). Orpheus through music, a particular talent of his, is able to access the underworld.
Through their journey, both Harry and Orpheus are obliged to leave behind their companions.
Lockhart in the journey loses his memory, a reference to the Lethe in the underworld, the river of forgetfulness.
Art is an important element to remain alive and get out: Fawkes's song (and tears) for Harry, his music for Orpheus.
There's also the element of not looking in order to succeed in saving the girl, Harry can't look into the basilisk's eyes, and Orpheus can't look back at Eurydice.
Tom is an evil version of Hades. Ginny is also both a representation of Eurydice and, in a way, Hades's wife, Persephone.
The obvious difference is that Harry actually saves Ginny.
Peter and MJ, The Amazing Spider-Man (1963 - ongoing)
Tumblr media
If we talk about the cinematic versions of Peter and MJ we find a parallel with Harry and Ginny in the break-up scene.
At the end of the first movie of Spider-Man starring Tobey Maguire, Peter refuses MJ, recreating the classic scene of the hero lying to the love of their life about their feelings in order to keep them safe. To protect them they push them away. And the scene happens at a funeral. Now, Harry does break up with Ginny at a funeral for very similar reasons. But the very important contrast is that Harry is extremely honest with Ginny, he doesn't lie about his feelings for her. It's a reference and yet a subversion of the trope (a thing JKR often does with them -> The meaning of Ginny's name).
But let's talk about comicbooks Peter and MJ.
MJ is a character that is talked about in the first issues of The Amazing Spider-Man comics as the "nice girl" who is the niece of the neighbour (a friend of Aunt May). Aunt May keeps trying to set Peter and MJ up but the fact that MJ keeps being described as a "nice girl" makes Peter believe she'll turn out to be ugly, so he avoids meeting her. In issue #25 she appears for the first time but is hidden behind a plant. It's only in issue #42 (November 1966) that we really meet her for the first time. She appears in Peter's doorway making arguably the most iconic entrance in the history of storytelling:
Tumblr media
And so it is, that Peter discoveres how MJ is actually a fun, brilliant, extremely good-looking redhead.
Does this remind you of the appearance of anyone else in another doorway?
The door opened and a long mane of red hair appeared. “Oh hello, Harry!” said Ron’s younger sister, Ginny, brightly. “I thought I heard your voice.” -Chapter 4, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, JK Rowling
Until this point of the story, Ginny has been Ron's shy younger sister. We keep being reminded of her, she is constantly associated with Harry's love life, we know that she is supposed to be in a way that we are not allowed to see, we see her but not clearly, like she is hidden, and then she makes this outstanding appearance. She is confident, speaks directly to Harry and makes a funny clever joke about Harry shouting like a maniac. She grabs all the attention and defeats any negative expectations. OotP is in many ways Ginny's debut.
Personally, I think this is the most interesting parallel, but there are some others that I think are worthy of being mentioned.
MJ is in competition with another love interest, Gwen, but she always ends up being the winner, in the sense that she always comes off as the more charming, brilliant, show-stopping one. The one Peter always ends up having more chemistry with (fan fact: this happened in spite of the original plan of the writers).
In OotP, there's a subplot of constant confrontation between Ginny and Cho, and Ginny always ends up being the winner. Not only in absolute terms of her personality but specifically in terms of her ability to connect with Harry (this on the other hand was very much done on purpose).
A turning point in Peter and MJ's relationship is a harsh conversation where Peter is completely distraught over Gwen's death but MJ refuses to make him indulge in his self-pity:
Tumblr media Tumblr media
While the subject at hand is different, it is a scene that holds similarities to the lucky you scene in Harry and Ginny's story. Harry is all rattled about the possibility of being possessed and he is throwing himself a bit of a (understandable) pity party. Ginny is the one that doesn't back down from the challenge of confronting Harry about it, regardless of how horrible that "I forgot" is, and she is there for him. That is a turning point in their relationship because Harry sees Ginny in her entirety for the first time.
'All been talking about me, have you? Well, I'm getting used to it.' 'We wanted to talk to you, Harry,' said Ginny, 'but as you've been hiding ever since we got back — ' 'I didn't want anyone to talk to me,' said Harry, who was feeling more and more nettled. 'Well, that was a bit stupid of you,' said Ginny angrily, 'seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels.' Harry remained quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he wheeled round. 'I forgot,' he said. 'Lucky you,' said Ginny coolly. 'I'm sorry,' Harry said, and he meant it. 'So... so, do you think I'm being possessed, then?' 'Well, can you remember everything you've been doing?' Ginny asked. 'Are there big blank periods where you don't know what you've been up to?' -Chapter 23, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, JK Rowling
Another thing that MJ and Ginny have in common is a very clear identity and storyline that makes them independent from their love interests despite said love interests being the main characters. They also both acquire fame due to their jobs despite coming from a poor family and they both have traumatic pasts (even if for different reasons). They are also both the youngest in their family.
Peter and Harry are both obviously the main characters with special abilities and they are both orphans who lose a surrogate parental figure. Peter though, gets a much better childhood than Harry.
Laurie and Amy, Little Women (1868-69)
Tumblr media
What if I told you that Harry and Ginny have a lot in common with a couple of characters from the work of Louisa May Alcott settled in the Massachusetts of the 19th century?
Laurie is a rich lonely orphan that meets a poor loving family with many children (the Marches). He gets really close to them, and he grows up with them. He is specifically best friends with one of those kids (Jo) with which he has a very tumultuous kind of dynamic and he ends up developing romantic feelings for her. Amy is the youngest of the March family and always seems to hold a soft spot for Laurie. Laurie even saves Amy's life at a certain point, partially helped by Jo. Despite a few years of age difference, Laurie and Amy always get along really well, and they even flirt frequently once they are a bit older. But between his feelings for Jo and his age difference with Amy, for years it's not possible for Laurie to develop proper romantic feelings for the youngest March.
The parallels with Harry and Ginny seem quite obvious. Harry is a rich orphan who befriends a poor loving family with many kids that treat him like one of their own. He is specifically best friends with one of the kids, Ron. Ginny is the youngest of the Weasley family and has feelings for Harry from the start. At one point in the story, Harry saves Ginny and for part of that rescue, he has Ron by his side. Once he grows up a bit, Harry develops feelings for a girl (Cho) with which he has a very short tumultuous relationship. It needs to be clarified though, that while Laurie's feelings for Jo are quite intense, Harry simply has a hallway crush on Cho. Regardless, there's a Jo in Harry's story and she is represented by a fusion of Ron and Cho. And, as it is for Laurie, it takes years for Harry to acquire full proper romantic feelings for Ginny, despite the fact that there was always a certain tenderness between them. What keeps Harry from developing proper romantic feelings for Ginny in this case is not really the age difference but the general lack of time spent together, due to Ginny's paralyzing romantic feelings mixed with Harry's complex life (even if not being in the same year at school doesn't help). Cho also serves as a distraction for a while.
But let's go back to Little Women and talk about when everything changed between Laurie and Amy. Laurie's marriage proposal to Jo gets rejected, which leads him into a spiral of despair and very debatable coping mechanisms that he puts into action all around Europe. But in his travels in Europe, he meets again Amy, now a grown woman, mature, beautiful and commanding, and with a man ready to propose to her. Laurie and Amy spend a lot of time together, they have fun, and they share common values and interests, but more importantly, Amy is the one able to shake Laurie out of his spiral of despair and self-pity. Laurie inevitably develops romantic feelings for Amy, but wonders about his moral integrity because Amy made it so easy for him to forget the hurt Jo caused him. Ultimately, Laurie puts his life together and realises that he was destined for Amy, that he would have eventually fallen for her anyway, that they are inevitable. Laurie and Amy marry and he officially becomes part of the March family.
Again, the parallels with Harry and Ginny are evident. It is when Harry is full of rage and sadness that he meets the real Ginny, a Ginny who has matured, has a boyfriend, is fun, shares interests and values with Harry, and seems the only one really able to shake him out of his misery. She affirms herself as a source of comfort and optimism in Harry's life and the more time they spend together the more Harry's feelings grow. Throughout the entirety of the proper explicit development of Harry's romantic feelings, Ginny is taken, let it be OotP or HBP, which doesn't help matters. And when Harry finally realises his feelings, like Laurie, he is faced with a moral dilemma: Ginny is Ron's younger sister. And while Ron is simply Harry's best friend, it is nonetheless a dilemma of loyalty, like it was for Laurie. Harry, in spite of his best efforts, eventually accepts that he can't escape Ginny or his feelings for her. He has no doubts about him and Ginny, he is confident about them as a couple, and he knows that it is what was always meant to happen:
'I just wish I’d asked you sooner. We could’ve had ages… months… years maybe…’ 'But you’ve been too busy saving the wizarding world,’ said Ginny, half-laughing. -Chapter 30, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, JK Rowling
Harry and Ginny eventually get married and Harry officially becomes part of the Weasley family.
Tumblr media
Other analyses
It seemed to me that the question was oriented on stories that Harry and Ginny reference in their dynamic and so this was my answer. Other analyses of mine though that explore Harry and Ginny from a literary point of view and that you might find interesting are:
Harry and Ginny, two main characters
Harry is still looking at Ginny
Ginny and Voldemort's yew wands
The meaning of Ginny's name
Ginny destroying a Horcrux?
180 notes · View notes
reciprocityfic · 9 months
Text
you
title: you fandom: little women pairing: theodore laurence x amy march rating: t summary: laurie is nervous on his wedding night.
you
They marry quickly - for practical purposes, of course. Aunt March can no longer travel, and it would be inappropriate for her to travel back to America with only him and his grandfather to accompany her. And her staying there in Europe until they manage to find a proper chaperone is out of the question; not only does she need to see her family, but the thought of being apart from each other for an indefinite amount of time, an ocean between them, is simply unbearable for the both of them.
He promises he'll give her a proper wedding when they get back to Concord, on their way to the chapel the morning they say their vows. She protests, saying that she doesn't need it, that he and her family is all she needs, but he persists, because she deserves more than rushed vows in an unfamiliar church in Le Havre. He whispers to her about all a wedding would entail - the beautiful dress she would wear, the elegant party they would hold with beautiful music and delightful food, the way he would dance with her - and her eyes slowly light up.
"That does sound lovely," she relents, and he smiles.
So they marry quickly, and afterwards go to where they're staying for the evening before heading to England the next day. His grandfather had found the nicest hotel in the city, and when they arrive, they are greeted with the finest champagne and a small cake baked especially for them from the kitchen. They sit in the parlor and eat it with his grandfather and Aunt March, who has become even more high-strung as her illness has progressed. She complains about everything - the china patterns, the temperature, the wallpaper in the room. He only half hears her, though, and leaves it to his grandfather to placate and entertain the woman.  His only focus is his bride. His wife.
His Amy.
When the four decide to part for the evening, he leads her to their suite with slow steps, his heart pounding in his chest. He's been with several women before, but this is different - it's Amy. And he doesn't think he's ever been more anxious in his life than he is now.
He barely manages to open the door; his hand shakes as he attempts to put the key into the lock. Eventually, he succeeds, and he opens the door, stepping back for her.
"After you, my lady."
She fights a smile, and looks up at him for a moment before curtsying slightly.
"Thank you, my lord."
He watches her as she walks into the room, taking one deep breath to try and calm his nerves before following her and closing the door behind them with a soft thud.
They don't speak; instead, he sits down on the bed and watches her as she moves around. His grandfather has arranged for their things to be dropped off here, and she looks through her luggage before pulling out a brush and a thin white nightgown. He gulps, his fingers twitching against the sheets.
She sits down at the vanity and begins to take the pins out of her hair. He gazes at her, and catches her eye in the mirror as she reaches down for her brush. She averts her gaze quickly. He frowns; maybe she doesn't want to do anything tonight other than sleep. She's still mourning Beth, of course, and although the day had been happy, it had also been exhausting. Not to mention the long journey they were to begin tomorrow.
It's her decision. He doesn't want to pressure her, and he doesn't want to think she would be disappointing him. He wants her desperately, yes, but he's also willing to wait for her. He'd wait for her forever if it pleased her.
Just as he's about to tell her his thoughts, she speaks.
"Would you help me with the buttons on my dress?"
He looks up, and their eyes meet in the mirror once more. This time, she doesn't look away.
His mouth goes dry, but he manages to answer her gently.
"Of course."
He gets up, takes four long steps towards her as she stands and presents her back to him. He's immediately reminded of that day in her studio, when he'd unbuttoned her smock. It had been the first time he'd realized that his feelings for Amy March ran much, much deeper (and much, much differently) than he thought they did.
He pushes aside her long blonde hair; he doesn't think he's seen Amy with her hair down since she was a child. He immediately wants to run his fingers through it, to see what it looks like splayed out on the bed as she lies below him. But right now, he has a mission to complete, and a dress to unbutton.
But again, his hands shake, and he fumbles with the first few buttons like a fool. She turns around and looks at him curiously, but then, her face softens.
"You're nervous?" she asks, and her voice is almost incredulous. He'd already mentioned the fact that he'd been with other women before. She'd flinched when he told her, and he hated it. He wished he could take back every moment he had ever spent with someone else. But then she'd sat up straight and taken his face in her hands.
"It doesn't matter," she’d told him. "The important thing is that it's only the two of us now, always."
"Forever," he'd told her earnestly.
So he understands her confusion; he should be an expert at undoing the back of a dress, and he is, typically. But yes, he's nervous.
"Why?" she asks.
"Because it's you," he answers simply.
It's Amy. The love of his life. And she deserves nothing but perfection, something she can remember for the rest of her life with fondness and love.
"Are you nervous?" he asks her.
She blushes and looks down, but shakes her head firmly.
"Why?" he asks, echoing her question.
She looks back up at him, the sweetest smile on her face. For a moment, he remembers her face the first time they ever met, her staring up at him from her seat on the floor, her eyes shining with the firelight.
I'm Amy.
Now, she reaches out and takes one of his shaking hands in hers, kisses his palm and then holds it to the side of her face.
"Because it's you."
She smiles softly, closing the space between them and standing up on the tips of her toes to kiss him. And when her lips touch his, his heartbeat finally begins to steady.
a/n: champagne problems is coming soon!
57 notes · View notes
majestickitty · 10 months
Text
Amy march deserves so much better than what the little women fandom can offer for her ngl
59 notes · View notes
valsarchives · 1 year
Text
My babies 🥹💙
101 notes · View notes
hellcheerful · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Little Women (2019) dir. Greta Gerwig
1K notes · View notes
quotergirl19 · 1 year
Text
I could see a Polin season 3 situation similar to the Amy & Laurie story from Little Women. They knew each other for years and he thought he loved her sister Jo and proposed but she didn’t love him romantically and it crushed him. Years later when he and Amy reconnect, she’s older, wiser, more confident and not the young girl he once knew. She’s beautiful and desirable but she doesn’t treat him the way other young ladies do, she really sees him and knows who he is, knows his family and his heart and he doesn’t even realize it’s happening until he’s faced with the reality that he may be too late to win her.
Colin will come back from his travels to a very different Penelope. She’s no longer so eager for his attention or approval. She used to have him on a pedestal but now he’s just Colin and she’s determined to focus on other men, not him. Penelope 2.0 is on a husband hunting mission.
Tumblr media
Colin won’t like that Penelope is being courted by a man she admits she’ll never love but she reminds him that she doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for a love that may never come and unlike Eloise, she has always wanted to marry and have her own family. Colin is the only person in Penelope’s life to tell her she deserves to be loved deeply by her husband and that she should not marry for any other reason. Even if it takes forever to find, even if nobody understands. Her happiness is too important to him for him to watch her settle.
Tumblr media
Emboldened by his blunt honesty about her life choices, Penelope will call Colin out on his drinking, self destructive behavior and the way he uses his passion for travel as an excuse to avoid taking chances with other women to find his own happiness. He used to be someone who believed in love so much he would risk anything for it but now he plays games and guards his heart at all costs. She tells him she wants more for him, because he deserves to be with someone who truly loves him but he’s determined to let the actions of a woman who did not love him alter the course of his life forever.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Colin will finally admit that Penelope makes him happy because she understands and appreciates him. She takes him seriously, encourages him and inspires him to be a better man and follow his heart. Once he realizes how important they are to each other, and how good they are for each other, he finally admits to himself that he belongs with Penelope.
Tumblr media
Colin will decide he wants Penelope to be his wife but he doesn’t word his proposal well and she thinks he’s settling for her because he can’t be with Marina so she refuses him because she wants to be someone’s first choice. When Colin tells Penelope she is his first choice because he finally sees that his feelings for Marina were nothing more than childish infatuation, Penelope doesn’t believe him. Instead she doubles down and accuses him of being cruel, pretending he wants her because he pities his plain, undesirable little friend but she won’t let him fool her into believing he actually wants her because she has always loved him and he has never wanted her love before. She’s known it since she heard him laughing at the idea of courting her with his friends. She tells him to stay away from her.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Penelope’s suitor plans to propose and because everyone knows how protective Colin is of his childhood friend, the man seeks Colin’s blessing. Her suitor clearly adores Penelope so Colin assumes he’s lost her forever.
Everyone is shocked by news that Marina has died (they don’t have to make her depressed/suicidal like the books, maybe she just got sick or there was an accident) and Colin calls on the Featheringtons to pay his respects and it’s the first time he & Pen have seen each other since her rejection and she tells Colin life is too short to let things come between old friends. She’ll tell him she declined her suitors proposal because she decided he was right and she should wait to marry for love.
Tumblr media
Colin shocks her by kissing her and pouring his heart out to her, begging her to reconsider and be his wife because he’s desperately in love with her and didn’t know how to make her understand that she’s not some woman he’s settling for, she’s his oldest and best friend, and no other woman could ever compare to, or compete with her in his affection because she’s the great love of his life and he’s willing to wait forever if there’s a chance she would ever agree to be his. Penelope agrees to marry him.
327 notes · View notes
meganwasbored · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
I’m sorry but his uncontrollable smile when he says that he’s in love with Amy is adorable
234 notes · View notes
farfarawaygirl · 8 months
Text
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve shipped the trope “sharing a love interest, who is your childhood touchstone, with a sibling”, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it has happened twice.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
30 notes · View notes
fanficflaneuse · 1 year
Text
A Rant Nobody Asked For: Shipping Edition
Lately, I've been revisiting Little Women, a novel that reached my hands when I was a young, impressionable reader. Jo and Laurie's story broke my heart into a million pieces. Her not agreeing to his marriage proposal was a formative moment in my immersion into literature: it brought up the notion that not all happy endings are necessarily happy.
As I returned to it, I left with the bittersweet feeling of what could've been. And yes, I understand that, as presented in the novel, his proposal, and their pairing could've been ill-fitted. Still, I also believe the reason why they didn’t end up together has to do with things outside of the novel itself and has more to do with Louisa May Alcott instead, but I digress.
Seeing the (barely existent) Little Women fandom, I've read discourse over why those who ship Jo with Laurie "didn't understand the point of the text," something I've seen before in other fandoms. I don't know why it bothers me so much with Jo and Laurie, but it does.
Here's an unpopular opinion: people who criticize others for shipping pairs that wouldn't work in canon because they "didn't understand the point" of the text don't have a valid argument. We ship them for many different reasons. We might ship them because we hate how he ended up with Amy (not my case, but it is a reason). We might ship them because the first half of the book is coded as such (best friends to lovers kind of situation). We might ship them because we liked the chemistry between two actors playing them (I am looking at you, Christian and Wynona...and also you Saoirse and Timothée). We might ship them because we want a different dynamic other than a platonic relationship. 
Whatever it is, I’m just deeply bothered by people being so intolerant to others out of nothing. We should be allowed to ship whoever we want as long as we're harming nobody.
I know I understood Little Women. I actively disliked some of the choices made by the author and the characters. And I will seek fan fiction to fill in the gaps I missed or would like to change. Sue me. 
59 notes · View notes