"Teddy, I'm ready."

"Good for you Jo," he replied sleepily, patting her hand in the dark.

"No, Laurie, it's coming." The man next to her creased his confused brow before his head shot up in realization. Cussing softly while he detangled himself from the sheets and bed lining Laurie leaped out of their bed and ran to the door, "Wait Jo, what do I do?"

Jo watched her husband's panicked form, laughing at the bewilderment on his face. "Get the doctor Teddy." She rolled her eyes as he took off.

…

Not only was the doctor called for, but a midwife and Mrs. March arrived, hurriedly ushered into the house by Laurie who gave a worried look upstairs whenever he heard Jo's voice. Mrs. March smiled at her son-in-law and took him into the kitchen, explaining what would happen and his role.

Laurie was horrified to learn he had to wait outside the bedroom during the labour. Mrs. March tried vainly to calm him as he stalked back and forth the lit corridor, tensing at every sound from Jo in the next room. It wasn't fair, leaving her alone to go through what sounded unbearably painful.

"Are you sure I can't –"

"No, dear."

"But Jo –"

"I know, but the answer's still no."

Laurie stomped a bit and sat down at his mother-in-law's look, albeit fitfully as he waited the slow hours. Like all things Jo cared especially for it took a dreadfully long time to complete, but finally the morning greeted a new Laurence with the household.

The doctor opened the bedroom door and Laurie was instantly on his feet, "Well?"

Mrs. March stilled the tall man with her hand and she went to speak Dr Banks quietly before facing Laurie with a proud smile, "You can go in now."

He moved towards the bedroom, when a sudden feeling of anticipation took hold – all this waiting and now he hesitated! Pushing himself forward he entered the room, pausing in the doorway at the sight before him. A very tired Jo, sweat-soaked but smiling was intently watching the package in her arm. Their child!

Laurie's throat tightened and he coughed to clear it, grinning when Jo looked up. It didn't take long for him to reach the bed to kiss his wife and touch the red baby. "It's so tiny! Oh, my Jo!" he kissed her again, before stroking the pink ribbon on the infant's head "she's perfect."

Jo smiled again at his perceptiveness, and sighed happily despite her complete lack of energy. Mrs. March appeared beside Laurie and Jo met her proud gaze feeling quite accomplished. Her mother kissed Jo's forehead, tears in her eyes as she patted her son-in-law's hand and she asked the little family before her, "What shall you call her?"

Jo looked at Laurie for a moment, smiling softly before she answered, "Sophia." He ducked his head, overcome by emotion – his mother's name! His wife touched his hand and he looked back at her, love had never been so lovely.

…

"Are you certain she's well?" Laurie had done nothing but fret since his daughter began her seemingly endless tears. Jo was by his shoulder, her long hair loose and draped over his arm, "how should I know? We've tried everything and still! Such noise!"

Laurie watched her irritation, desperate not to laugh. Jo had made a pact with him that she'd be infinitely patient with their child but after having few hours of sleep over the past week, Jo was looking worse for wear.

"Maybe she's hungry?" he suggested before the idea was shot down with Jo's glare. That was the first thing she'd tried. "Alright, alright, how about you go try getting some sleep? I'll fetch your mother or something. Maybe she'll stop anyway?"

Jo looked between her daughter and Laurie; she frowned a bit and then went to lie on the bed. She was never going to sleep.

…

"Oh don't look at me like that!" Jo had her hands on her waist and she looked like she was going to thrash him. "It's not my fault! Honest, I just went to see if she was sleeping and then she saw me and started crying again. Okay, so maybe that was my fault, but –"

"Laurie, go and heat the milk." He looked at her queerly and she rolled her eyes, "Not for Sophia, for me! I'm going to get some sleep, no matter what!" and Laurie had to give her credit, Jo looked like she would just through sheer will.

He stood in front of her for a moment, debating whether she'd be in the mood for a kiss before he jumped off, "Alright, I'm going! I'm going!" when she lifted her hands.

…

It was a rare moment of peace and Laurie lay stretched out beside Jo on the bed. He watched his wife, her eyes shut and mouth slightly parted. The only time she seemed to finally rest was when Sophia had bawled herself to sleep. Sure he felt bad, Laurie could sleep through almost anything but his wife had frayed nerves and sensitive senses.

"Stop staring at me," Jo's voice surprised him. She opened an eye and watched him move closer, his gaze still on her face despite her request. Laurie was laying directly next to Jo now, their sides touching and she involuntarily molded into his shape.

"I thought you were asleep." She made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a scoff. Laurie smiled lightly, holding her against him, and he realized how much he missed having her to himself. It had only been a few weeks but he'd spent so little time alone with her. Well, they weren't alone now, but undisturbed.

"I miss this." They were so alike.

"We got a good trade though." Laurie wouldn't give his daughter up for the world; she was so precious he thought Jo might have some real competition on her hands. But then, a wife was always dearest and a daughter was always blood. Theodore Laurence had the family he'd wanted.

There wasn't a thing he would change.

End.

A/N: I know, abrupt ending and not much plot but hey, I'm gonna make a prequel. I didn't mean for jo to get preggers so quickly, I have another story in mind to fill some spots. Thanks for reading though, even if it was just snippets from an unrealized reality.