A/N: it was 35 degrees today and I have a horrible, horrible cold. And now it's raining. Yet, I feel very loved, so thank you everyone who's reviewed and put their time into reading this. And all the waiting you lot have to do. Sorry.

…

Jo came out of the house and walked down the path to the front gate before she finally noticed the lanky form resting against the iron.

"Well, hullo there!"

Laurie jumped at the sound of her voice and scurried to his feet. Quickly he dusted himself off and pulled out a crumpled not from his vest pocket.

"You're out early –" Jo began before she was cut off when he raised a hand and cleared his throat, testing his voice.

"Dear Jo, I have written down my excuse for being early, and my apology for disrupting your morning, for I am sure to forget what eloquent words I have scrambled together," Laurie read from the note, pausing at every comma to look up at Jo's amused face. "I arrived just after dawn at your doorstep, rather your gate step and have waited for you to come out and start the day for I am sure you've forgotten just what day it is," The young man looked up to see Jo puzzled and he mouthed an 'aha!' before continuing. "I am sorry if my surprising presence startled you earlier and I apologise in advance for my following actions shall disrupt whatever plans you have made for the day."

"So, Jo! Grab your hat and let's go!" He said, stuffing the note into his pocket again and looking at Jo expectantly.

She merely laughed and took his arm.

…

"Just what is today?" Jo asked conversationally as they strolled up the lane to where she did not know.

"Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you" said he, sticking his nose in the air. Jo sighed heavily in response and removed her arm from its proud position on his.

"I'm sorry to have to do this my boy, but" here Jo took a deep breath, "I refuse to take another step until you tell me."

Laurie smiled secretively and continued down the dirt road.

"I demand you tell me, Theodore Laurence!"

He didn't even slow down.

"Teddy, please!"

A very out-of-breath girl appeared by his side after he went past the bend and he smiled knowingly down at her, offering his arm again.

"Your curiosity will be your downfall, Jo March."

"Yes, and yours will be your teasing. So where are we going?" Jo asked after a short while which produced a hearty chuckle from her male companion and some fast boxing from his indignant friend for the rest of the journey.

…

The afternoon sun was warm on her face and had she not stayed in the shade of the willow that day she guessed it might've felt too warm. Laurie appeared on the edge of her vision and she watched him run over, panting with exertion.

"Well, I think that should do it," he said dropping to the blanket and dumping a particularly spectacular-looking bunch of flowers in Jo's lap. She smiled at him questioningly and he replied only with a "For you," before collapsing on his back, still breathing heavily.

Jo took a better look at the flowers, finding that with such a selection of colours Laurie must have run round half the gardens in the neighbourhood. Slowly she realised the violets were just like those they'd once given Meg, the daisies suspiciously similar to the bunch they'd gathered for Hannah last spring and the geraniums in the centre all too reminiscent of Amy's when she first visited…

"Heavens!" Jo cried, understanding finally dawning. "It's the first time we became properly acquainted, isn't it?" She turned to find the young man grinning at her on his back, his hand brushing her skirts.

"Thought you'd never guess." Laurie said quietly.

Jo quickly turned red and looked back at the blossoms in her lap. It was a very sentimental gift to be sure – the kind she usually despised – but he'd put so much thought into it, for her. Jo was touched if not a little put off by the sentimentality.

"Thank you, Teddy." Jo spoke into the flowers, avoiding the steady gaze she felt hotly on her back.

He tugged her braid and she moved to lie beside him, bringing the flowers to her chest as if she was dead. Laurie frowned at the symbolism and rolled onto his front so that he could see her eyes when he spoke. He could read Jo better than anyone and any doubts she'd have about what he'd say would be found there in those grey peepers he spent far too much time thinking of.

"Jo, there's something I need to say."

A light breeze had picked begun to weave through the golden grass about them and Jo felt the entire energy of the world change as Laurie spoke softly.

"For a long time, as long as I care to remember, I've felt… well, Jo, I love you." It wasn't as elegant as he'd planned but he'd said it and now she'd know for sure. Jo's eyes flittered everywhere but on his face and he hoped she'd say something soon, but it was better than the profuse amounts of denial and avoidance he'd prepared for.

Jo's mind was racing along with the painful beating in her heart. Laurie loved her. What was she to say to that? He'd been so good to her, with Beth - and such a saint devoting his time to being a constant companion and he'd done so much growing up… at length Jo looked into his black, serious eyes and knew that he wasn't a boy anymore and that his admittance wasn't one of new passion, although that surely played a part in his feelings, but Laurie was earnest.

And it was at that moment when Jo realised that no other person would be there for her like he had, was and would. No other person would make her feel like she mattered more than she should. No other person would make her feel. No other person would love her like Laurie. And she could love no other person.

Jo pushed herself off the blanket so that they sat face to face. "I –" but she didn't get to finish for Laurie's lips were pressing against hers and she quickly lost all traces of thought. He knew without her having to say it and Jo smiled for it was only right.

They were right.

End.