Fancy

By rese

Summary: Dreams can be dangerous things.

Disclaimer: yeah, I think we all know by now Louisa May Alcott owns this shiz and maybe some filming company clamped rights when they remade it.

…

The man was touching her in places she never left uncovered except when bathing. With deep breaths she shrugged off the knowledge that it clearly wasn't Fritz, he was never so bold and his embarrassment seemed to starve off any solid connection between their mismatched bodies. But this lover, he was so – a wave of pleasure it her, blinding her thoughts to anything other than the reaction from foggy loose form's touch. She frowned despite the situation, holding him up to see his face better. He was just as dark in appearance as her husband but he had a youthful energy in his stance, and a lightness in his voice when he laughed as he sought her body.

It wasn't Fritz but for once, Jo didn't care.

…

Jo unfortunately woke before she could finish her dream and she rolled over to find the other half of the bed empty. Her body was still stimulated after the unusual vision and she struggled to cool down before Fritz returned, all the while trying to place the man who stirred her so.

She laid on the bed, sprawled out and imagining other pleasant occurrences with the illusion lover when her husband came in with a few of the boys, a tray in his hands alluding to a celebration.

Heavens it was her birthday!

Jo sat up immediately and smiled for her well-wishers, cursing her memory for not alerting her earlier. "Happy Birthday Mother Bhaer!" the group sung out and she thanked them for her breakfast, giving a kiss to each boy and finally her husband when he lingered longer.

"Mein Jo! Thou haf the face of an angel! I shall love it even when thou wrinkle with time," he said to his wife who felt a little guilty at the words, having compared his lined face and graying head to the youthful one of her dream.

She gave him a crooked smile and patted the space beside her on the bed in invitation. Perhaps if she had his loving close-by she would forget the young man and have her husband's peculiar affection in proper place.

…

Laurie marched his way up to the big house, smiling at the children who ran along the grounds, engrossed in some overly-physical game. He rapped on the door but found no answer so he let himself in knowing the Bhaers were always pleased to have surprising friends.

And he meant to give a surprise for it was Jo's birthday and he owed it to his girl. She'd given him such a good one on his own a few months ago and now it was payback time in Laurie's mind.

He wandered up the stairs, expecting to bump into someone eventually but it was suspiciously quiet. Where was everyone?

…

Jo finally crept out of bed when after waiting for her husband too long. After the exertions of his special gift, she'd laid about while he went to see about "lunch for the boys". Jo knew better, he was planning something. But she was becoming impatient when he didn't come back after a half hour. So up she got, not bothering to dress properly as she knew the children were barred from the house in the morning.

She heard footsteps from around the corner and she dazedly approached their heavy fall, despite recognizing that they didn't belong to Fritz but someone else she knew.

…

Jo was wrapped in sheets of red and white and it was all he could do not to stare at her slender form. She looked frazzled and he could understand – you're bother-in-law wasn't supposed to visit when you were in the middle of – Laurie wasn't going to finish the thought despite the evidence in front of him.

"I – uh," Laurie started to back away, still unable to keep his eyes of Jo regardless of his attempted darting look about the corridor, "maybe I should come back later." He pointed to the stairs with his thumb and after taking one good last look he made a run for it.

Jo just stood there holding the sheets about her and trying to piece her mind back together.

It was him.

…

Jo avoided Laurie and he her during the annual birthday bash for Jo that evening, both looking away hurriedly whenever their eyes would accidentally meet. Only, their eyes would never have met at all if Jo hadn't been taking note of her brother-in-law's figure and equating it to the tall dark man in her dream. Of course that meant Laurie was looking at her too if eyes "met" and this was naturally due to the feel of her watching him. That and the appraisal he couldn't help but take after the shock of the morning wore off, for Jo was indeed more to him once before and she was in danger of returning in his mind.

So Amy was held closer than usual and Fritz's arm clasped tighter as the two friends used their spouses as human shields.

When it came time for birthday kisses and gifts Jo tensed, Laurie would go last as tradition but it was too soon for her liking. After she went through each member of the family it was eventually it was his turn, and Laurie stood awkwardly before her with her gift behind his back.

"Well Jo, trying to catch up again?" he said referring to her age in his usual proud manner, it was one thing he could definitely hold over her. She smiled back despite her discomfort replying, "Only because you're getting old and you'll need some company. Tell me Teddy, is it so bad?"

Laurie shook his head, they were hardly old and the more he looked at Jo he knew it was true. Heavens he felt young by her. He bent down as she sat in a chair and paused, wondering if kissing her was actually safe but Jo moved forward a bit and his lips pecked her cheek. It wasn't lingering yet when he pulled back to give her the package Jo could still feel her skin tingle.

"Happy Birthday Jo."