Snow// Theodore Laurence~little woman

22

"Jo who's this?" Laurie asked staring at the man standing in the middle of the Marches kitchen. His hair was jet black, he had a slight stubble, and his eyes looked tired.

"I'm so sorry to intrude I was close by and I thought i'd... i'll be going." The man stuttered a french accent lacing his tone.

"No please stay sir." Clara insisted watching the way Jo smiled at him "we have more than enough room." she smiled looking at how flustered Jo had gotten just by his presence.

"Can someone tell me who this man is?" Laurie whispered to Clara who just laughed at him.

"Shh." Clara shushed grabbing onto Lauries bicep watching Jo and the mans interaction carefully.

"I don't want to be a burden." The man stated.

"Oh your not a burden at all." Meg reassured her comforting smile lighting up the room.

At this point all the Marches and the Laurences were gathered in the kitchen watching Jo and this mans interaction very distinctively.

"Yes of course please stay." Jo nodded still a bit flustered.

"I'm Laurie." Laurie introduced. "Who are you?"

"I'm Fredrick Bhaer."

"We were at the same boarding house in New York." Jo explained looking from Laurie to Fred.

"Oh Jo." Hannah cooed "He's very handsome." she winked with a smile spread across her face.

-

Fred ended up staying for dinner that night. The kitchen was filled with a refreshing amount of laughter and smiles. Clara couldn't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside from all the amount of joy in the room especially after the dark times the March family had gone through.

"Do you intend to stay in New York?" Father asked Fred stuffing his face with a spoon full of mash potatoes.

"No I've been offered a professorship in California." Fred explained "And as I have nothing keeping me here I thought I might go West it is newer and they are nicer about immigrants."

"Perhaps I should go west." Father said moving around the vegetables on his plate with his fork.

"you're not an immigrant so perhaps you should stay home." Marme stated taking a sip of her drink causing the table to erupt with laughter.

"Oh i'm going!" Father joked.

Clara couldn't help but laugh, smiling at the people she loved that surrounded her.

________________

"Jo!" Meg laughed staring at her younger sister. She was sat next to Mr.Brooke, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"Joesph not Josephine." Jo corrected smiling.

"I know a Joseph pretty well actually." Clara said taking a bite of Laurie's pie.

They were all gathered in the living room talking about the many names Jo has been called.

"Don't take a bite of my pie." Laurie laughed scooping up a bit with his finger and spreading it along Claras nose.

"Laurie!" Clara laughed using Laurie's shirt to wipe the pie off.

"Now my shirt is ruined" Laurie complained beginning to scoop up the smeared pie with his pointer finger.

"Will this make it up to you?" Clara asked giving Laurie a quick kiss.

"Y-yes." Laurie stuttered flustered.

"This is a wonderful instrument." Fred admired looking at Beths piano. "Which one of you plays?" he asked looking at the March sisters.

"Oh it was my sister Beths." Jo explained crossing her arms.

"We all know how to play a little but.." Amy began looking to Meg for help.

"None so well as her." Meg finished for Amy.

"She was a beautiful player." Clara whispered as Laurie wrapped his arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner.

"Do you play?" Father asked Fred watching as Fred graced his finger on the gold outlay of the piano. The very piano that made Beth so happy all those years ago.

"Yes I do." Fred said with a small smile.

"It would make us so happy if you played now." Marme smiled. "She wouldn't want the piano to sit silent."

"I don't wish to offend." Fred shook his head slightly, taking his finger off the piano.

"Not in the least." Father reassured with a nod.

Fred nodded his head before sitting down on the chair in-front of the piano. He gracefully placed his fingers on the keys and slowly pressed down.

Fred then began playing.Clara closed her eyes and leaned into Laurie, and she almost could have sworn it was Beth on that piano.