𝐈'𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒
⋆⋅✧⋅⋆
(under the umbrella)
𝐓he laughter that rang from Judith sent a smile to old Mr. Laurence's face as the two stepped through the door of the March household for dinner that night. It was a tradition they had picked up since the passing of Beth where they would spend most of their meals together as one big family in her memory. Mr. Laurence patted her arm that was linked with his as Theodore closed the door behind them. "Do please tell me more stories of your adventures with my grandson in Europe." He insisted with a wide grin. "It brings me quite a joy in hearing how someone was finally able to level him out. I had been trying for many years, you know." It was Judith's turn to laugh as she looked over her shoulder to her husband who was shaking his head with a heavy sigh.
"Oh, Jo." Judith softly scolded as she took in the sight of the bread loaf already dug into. "Couldn't wait for anyone else I-" Her words died on her tongue at the shock of a new body in the room. "Oh." The man was one she had never seen before. His curly hair had been parted to the side and glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. He looked highly educated in the way he presented himself. Judith fixed her surprised stare as she turned her lips up in a pleasant smile. "Hello."
Theodore took his place beside Judith, a look of confusion pulling his brows together as he stared at the new man. "Who's this?" He inquired as he looked to Jo, though his impatience for an answer led him to quickly look back to the newcomer and ask again, "Who are you?"
"I'm so sorry to intrude. I was close by and thought I'd..." Meg and Amy entered the room, their husbands behind them, as the man began to explain himself. Their confusion was just as evident as Judith's and Theodore's as they looked to the two for some kind of explanation. But they had none to give, for Theodore's question remained unanswered by both Jo and her mystery man. "But I'll be going."
"No, no!" Amy quickly spoke up. Her eyes darted between the smile on Jo's lips and the man. She didn't know who this person was but she could see the joy he brought Jo and that alone was enough for her to like him. "Please stay. We have more than enough room." She insisted happily.
"Will someone please tell me who this man is?" Theodore quietly muttered in irritation.
Judith rolled her eyes as she pulled her arm free of Mr. Laurence's to place her hand on Theodore's back, her other pressing against his arm as she shushed him. "Quiet, Theodore." She scolded with a pointed look.
The man looked around at everyone as he fiddled with his tophat in his hand, "I don't wish to be a burden."
"Oh, you're not a burden at all," Meg reassured as Jo frantically shook her head.
"Yes, of course." Jo invited with a wide grin. "Please."
"I'm Laurie." Theodore suddenly spoke up beside Judith, earning a pinch in his arm from the girl. She did her best to smile at the man as he was now staring at the two of them while also trying to muster a glare at her husband. She knew where he was coming from, of course. For so long he had been the only male around the girls that they had all grown to become his women and whether he admitted it or not, he was very protective over all of them. "Who are you?"
"I'm Friedrich Bhaer." The man introduced himself, finally gifting Theodore with the answer he craved.
"We were at the same boardinghouse together in New York," Jo explained, her happiness at his appearance shining through her words.
Judith felt her heart swell at the sight of her so happy. "Oh, Jo, he's very handsome." Hannah applauded with a soft smile. Laughter rumbled throughout the group at her comment.
"Well then," Mr. March said as he clasped his hands together. "Shall we?"
The group all sat around the table, talking amongst themselves as they enjoyed their meal. Jo had gone around the table introducing Friedrich to everyone before they all broke out asking him many different questions in hopes to get to know him as fast as possible. It had been so long since anyone at the table had seen Jo as happy as she was beside him.
"Have you calmed down enough to enjoy his company?" Judith asked Theodore beside her with a small smirk before taking a sip of her water.
"He makes her happy, so I assume so. Yes." He responded with a short nod.
Judith laughed as she leaned to rest her head on his shoulder. "My dashing fellow." She mused with a soft hum as he leaned into her touch. "What a protective soldier you are."
"I didn't mean to come off rude." He softly apologized as turned to kiss her head. "I only want the best for all of you."
Judith's smirk only grew as she placed her hand on his knee in a comforting manner, "I know."
"Do you intend to stay in New York?" Mr. March inquired toward Friedrich.
The side conversations between the women and their partners slowly disappeared as they all listened in on what Friedrich had to say, "No. I've been offered a professorship in California." Judith's eyebrows raised in shock at the statement. California was quite far from here. Friedrich's gaze dropped from Mr. March to his plate where Judith could make out his side glances at Jo. "And, as I have nothing keeping me here, I felt I might go west. It is new there, and they are less particular about immigrants."
"Perhaps I should go west." Mr. March commented as he cut into his meat.
Marmee's brows pinched together with a small shake of her head. "You're not an immigrant, so perhaps you should stay home." She bluntly stated, earning laughs from the others around the table.
Mr. March laughed as he placed his hand over her own. "Oh, I'm going!" He declared earning a smile from Marmee at his antics.
The group all moved into the living area after dinner had been completed for dessert. They all sat around the furniture, spare Daisy and Demi running around upstairs, with Judith and Laurie sitting beside one another on the couch. His arm was wrapped around her, pulling her close to him as she held a plate of carrot cake in her hands. Laughter filled the room as they conversed more. Judith had grown quite fond of Friedrich in their short time together and not only because he made Jo happy. He seemed to take interest in the things Jo did and was quite funny as well. She was even certain the two would make a perfect pair. He would level out Jo's wild side and she would bring adventure into his life.
Theodore's thumb swiped over Judith's bottom lip to wipe away the white frosting there before he placed it into his mouth. "Ah, ah." She scolded him as he tried to then stick his finger in the frosting of her cake. She moved the plate out of his reach with a scolding look. He stuck his bottom lip out in a fake pout to which she rolled her eyes. "If you want a bite you must ask instead of destroying it." She advised as she dug her fork into the cake, making sure to scoop out more frosting than actual cake. "I thought you ought to know such by now, but I figure you still do act quite childish."
Theodore scoffed at her words, "Jude, you're being mean." He whined as she raised the fork up for him.
"Open your mouth or it's going in mine." She warned. He playfully rolled his eyes with a grin before opening his mouth to take his bite of cake.
"Jo!" Meg scolded her sister for something she had said.
"Joseph, not Josephine," Jo reassured Meg with a soft smile.
"I know Joesph," Amy commented. "Pretty well, actually."
"This is a beautiful instrument," Friedrich's voice broke through their loud chatter, the statement causing a wave of silence to wash over the room. Judith couldn't help but frown slightly as she followed his gaze to the piano that sat beside the window. The same piano that Beth once adored to play. "Which one of you plays?"
"Oh, it was my sister Beth," Jo answered Friedrich's question.
"We all play a little, except for Jude. She never learned." Amy added with a sad smile.
"Never needed to," Judith said as she placed her hand over Theodore's. "Beth was my pianist and now that duty falls to my husband." She felt his arm wrap tighter around her in reassurance. She turned to gift him a small smile before kissing his cheek.
"None play so well as her," Meg sadly spoke as John gently placed his hand over her arm to comfort her.
"It is very hard to lose a sister." Friedrich said with the sincerest apology, "I'm sorry."
Silence overtook the group as they struggled with the mention of Beth. It wasn't until Mr. March spoke again that it returned somewhat to normal, "Do you play?"
"Yes," Friedrich said with a short nod. "I do."
"It would make us so happy if you'd play now," Marmee said with a soft smile. "She wouldn't want the piano to sit silent."
"I don't wish to offend." Friedrich voiced before moving to play the instrument.
"Not in the least." Mr. March reassured.
Judith could feel the tears welling in her eyes as she listened to him play. She couldn't help but close her eyes and imagine it was her Beth. It wasn't until after the sun had begun to set that night that Friedrich stopped playing and moved to leave the household.
"It was a great pleasure to meet you, Friedrich." Judith bid him goodbye with a quick shake of her hand.
"You as well, Jude." He returned with a smile before moving on to Theodore beside her. "Goodbye, Laurie."
"Goodbye." He returned with a dip of his head.
He made his way around the group, making sure to say goodbye to everyone before talking with Jo. Judith couldn't contain her excitement as she clung to Laurie's arm, her smile stretching back the corners of her eyes as she looked between the two of them. "Calm down, Jude," Theodore whispered in her ear. "You'll scare him off before he says goodbye to her."
"I can't help it," She whispered back as she clung to his arm tighter. "Look at her, Laurie. I've never seen her happier."
His own smile grew, "Indeed."
"If you ever come to California, I would love to see you," Friedrich said with a small smile.
Jo nodded, "I don't know that I will, but thank you."
A look of disappointment flashed in his eyes as he nodded, but he quickly masked it with the same small smile before bidding her goodbye. "Well, goodbye Jo." He hesitantly kissed her cheek before twisting the door handle and disappearing into the night.
Judith's smile was uncontainable as Jo turned around, the others all sharing similar looks. "What?" Jo asked with a nervous laugh as she looked around at all of them. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"What a wonderful man." Mr. March applauded with a smile. "I hope he comes back he would make a terrific friend for me." He joked, hoping his daughter would pick up on what he meant.
"Oh, Father, he wasn't here for you!" Amy whined as she threw her hands against her skirt.
Marmee chuckled as she wrapped her arms around her husband. "No?" He asked with a laugh.
"Jo, you love him!" Amy gushed earnestly.
Jo's eyes widened, her cheeks painting red. "What?!" She questioned as though Amy were absurd. "N-no, no I don't." She stuttered around in a desperate attempt to clear her name of such accusations.
"Yes, you do!" Amy insisted.
"Oh, Jo you're blushing!" Judith proclaimed as she bounced on her toes in excitement.
"N-no, I'm not." Jo denied as her hands rose to feel her face.
"Yes, you are." Judith insisted as she looked at Theodore, "Laurie isn't she blushing?" He nodded with a small laugh, "Yes, I would say so."
"I am half as smart as you, but I can see it so plainly. You love him." Amy excitedly declared before turning around toward where Judith stood as she asked Mr. Laurence. "Doesn't she love him?"
"Good instinct." He congratulated Amy as he pointed to Jo before stating, "You love him."
"I have never seen you so happy." Amy gushed as she clung to Fred's arm. "What else is love?" Her eyes suddenly widened as an idea popped into her head. "We need to go after him." She suddenly declared.
"What a wonderful idea!" Judith exclaimed before she broke free from Theodore's arm. "Laurie, prepare the horses. We can catch him before he gets on the train."
"I'm coming too." Meg declared with a wide grin.
"Yes." Marmee applauded the three with a loving smile.
"No, I'm not going," Jo whined but it was useless as Judith and Amy were already running off to fetch their coats.
"Yes, you are." Meg sternly declared before rushing after the two. "Amy is right."
Amy laughed as she turned to smugly state, "Exactly."
"Never thought I'd prepare a carriage to help Jo March chase a man, but I like it." Theodore mused with a proud smile as the girls ruffled through the closest to find their coats.
"He's moving to California," Jo argued but the words seemed to fall upon deaf ears as Amy threw her coat to her. "That's fiction!" The youngest March argued. "He was practically begging for a reason to stay."
Judith worked quickly to shove her arms into her coat but found herself struggling to pull it on in her haste. Theodore stepped behind her, grabbing the fabric and holding it out for her to place her arm in. "But it's raining outside." Jo continued to whine, looking for any reason to hide away how she truly felt.
"That doesn't matter!" Amy dismissed it as though the statement was outrageous. "Can you come with me?" She asked as she grabbed onto her sister's hand. "I need to fix you." She stated as she dragged her up the stairs, Meg and Judith quickly following.
"Laurie, will you stop standing around and go get the horses ready?" Judith complained as she found him to still be standing beside his Grandfather. "We don't have much time."
"Yes, my darling Jude." He called up to her before making his way outside.
"Thank you!"
It felt like they were children again, living out some fantasy story. They worked quickly to make Jo appear presentable within the carriage on their journey. They only had enough time to change her dress upstairs before ushering her into the carriage. "Hold still, Jo!" Meg scolded as she placed pins into her hair in an attempt to tame the wild curls.
"You're going to look like a princess," Amy spoke dreamingly.
"That's it!" Judith exclaimed as she looked out the window to see the train station come into view. "That's it!"
"Stop the carriage!" Amy hollared as Meg finished up the last touches of Jo's hair. The carriage came to a stop as Judith excitedly clapped her hands. "Alright go!" Amy ordered. "Out. Out, go!"
"You look so beautiful! Go, Jo!" Meg and Judith hollared after her as she jumped out of the carriage and began to run to the station. "Kiss him with love!" Amy called after her as she disappeared from her view. The three remaining in the carriage all looked at one another with excited squeals as they huddled close, gripping onto one another in pure joy.
At last, all of the little women were happy.