Piano Lessons

By rese

This series is in response to omg ew's challenge – to write a long story with about ten chapters. Well I took the ten part, and your idea of oneshots, that being you could read each chapter separately if you wanted. It's great fun to write to a challenge and I've not done it before. I hope it was worth it and that you like it.

Pairings: Jo/Laurie, Amy/Laurie, Jo/ Fritz

Summary: Jo asks for Piano Lessons from Laurie, hoping to feel closer to Beth.

Disclaimer: Louisa May Alcott owns Little Women 'cause she wrote it. I'm being sacrilegious and taking them out for a ride is all.

Jo closed her eyes, amazed by the immediate increase in all her other senses. The world was more alive than her sight would have her believe. She listened as Amy tapped her foot impatiently not far from her right; she felt her husband's calloused hand in hers, she smelt the coffee Marmee had served. But as Jo sat there, her eyes shut and face open the thing that caught her attention most was the young man at the piano who hummed along to the soft tune he played with his fingers. Touching. Each key.

So like Beth!

It was one the most heartbreaking moments Jo had experienced. Hardly the most, but certainly just as bitterly harsh. Against her steady will one eye opened slightly, just enough to let one heavy, pain-ridden tear escape. And as suddenly as the moment hit her it had passed by as soon as his fingers paused in the air, "Jo, are you alright?"

Quickly she opened her eyes, blinking roughly and brushing her face, "Of course! Sorry, Laurie, I didn't mean for you to stop." He caught her eye and a brief understanding passed – he knew and felt it too.

Laurie wasn't sure if his family and friends had noticed but he devoted a large percentage of his music playing to watching Jo. She who loved his music most. Not the music itself he understood, and as he discovered all those years ago not himself, but some magical combination that seemed to pull emotion out of the strange girl he cared so much for. Too much for.

He knew she'd been thinking about Beth. Laurie couldn't help it himself anymore, that blessed little girl had woven herself around and into the kind of instrument he liked best and try as he might he couldn't separate the playing from the girl. And by Jove, he tried! So Amy, his wife found her husband less obliging on the piano and noted he only seemed to play when completely alone or around a large number of people. He wouldn't play for her.

"That's ok Jo, I've finished here anyway." In a change of gravity he turned to the others, "Well then! Let's have that tea we dragged you all over for." He approached his wife; she could take over now - Amy's favourite hobby being socializing. It freed him up to do much more pleasant things that involved her sister and his eyes. Watching Jo was never just limited to the piano.

…

"Teddy, could we talk awhile?" Jo asked her brother-in-law. Smiling at his agreeable attitude she breathed a sigh of relief. It would make this so much easier.

It was after their meal and the party had taken themselves to wander the grounds. Laurie took Jo's arm enthusiastically, "We haven't done this in some time, sister Jo!" Jo patted the limb that connected to hers; not knowing how the man wished her fingers would pause a bit, hoping for a caress. She would've stopped, wouldn't she?

"I know and I'm sorry Laurie. I haven't been a very good friend lately, I must be too busy! What with the children and dear Fritz," the edge of his eyes tightened just a bit, "I'm neglecting my boy!" Laurie faced her, a forgiving smile ready. "But surely Amy is looking after you proper and petting you just as well."

Laurie cleared his throat uncomfortably; he didn't like to think about those things around Jo. He frowned at himself; he didn't want to think of his wife? "Naturally! She's a good girl and loves to pour attention onto your boy. And she does it so splendidly, I don't even realize when I'm the one attending her!" Jo smiled, it was like Amy.

Feeling that she had let enough time for pleasantries pass Jo stopped their stroll. She had brought him here alone for a reason. "Teddy," she began her eyes thankfully on the ground, missing the sudden hopeful look in Laurie's eyes. "I – I need to ask you something. It's, well – it's a favour." Jo summoned her courage and looked up. "Could you teach me to play the piano?"

Of all the things Laurie guessed Jo would ask this was not one of them. He was surprised and it showed on his handsome face. "Oh," was all he said before looking away to the trees and actually considering her words.

"I don't have to be very good, I mean – well I'd just like to learn a bit. Beth," Jo swallowed, "taught me some but I was never any good at that sought of thing and so I stuck to writing and," Jo stopped herself, she knew she was rambling but Laurie wouldn't look at her and she wasn't sure it was such a good idea anymore.

"Please," she tried once more. Laurie tensed at that word, and she laid her hand on his shoulder. There was no way he could refuse her now, not after she asked like that. It hurt Jo's pride to ask for things and Laurie understood why she was asking – she wanted to be closer to Beth and she could with music.

"Alright Jo," he turned around and caught her hands in his. Maybe in this pain he could regain a friend he'd missed so dearly. "I'll do it." Jo's relief was visible, she let go of her breath and slumped.

"Thank you Teddy. This means so – you have no idea how – well, just thank you." He smiled down at her, stepping close to hug Jo as she became emotional. As Laurie stroked her back up and down Jo shut her eyes. She felt his hand catch slightly in the friction with her dress; she sniffed his cologne and heard his breath halt. "It's for Beth, I just –" she began to explain but was interrupted with a rough, "I know." Her closed eyes tightened.

"I know, Jo."