Authors note: at the top today! you'll know why at the end ;) . i want to know if i should make a part two of this fic in which the 'present' part plays out? (like Amy and Laurie and Stella in France and THERES DRAMA and stuff) because i have a great idea for two of the characters and want to know if anyone is interested in reading it. Also this ends weirdly oopsies. Last update for a while! I have exams starting soon so I'll be really busy sorry :(

also this chapters crap,, but i hope i've done this justice.

without any further ado, here's the chapter we've all been waiting for!!

The ceremony was quaint. Peaceful, and very, very pretty.

Meg looked stunning in her white dress, and Stella could feel the love radiating around her.

The picnic reception was equally as wonderful. Marmee and Hannah outdid theirselves with the food.

Stella watched as Laurie and Beth danced, Beth twirling around and laughing. Stella grinned.

Amy sat beside her, and looked at her carefully.

"You love him. You have to tell him." Amy told her sister.

"Maybe."

Amy hands her a glass of alcohol and Laurie runs over with Beth.

Stella takes a sip and immediately spits it on the ground.

"That is disgusting. Here, try it." Stella handed the cup to Laurie, and he copied her actions.

They all got up again and danced with each other, the music jolly and fun. Stella watched, laughing, as Mr Laurence offered to dance with Aunt March. She turned him down, of course. Then his grandson approached Aunt March, and the old lady feigned horror, although everyone knew she was thrilled.

Stella laughed even harder, before dancing with Mr Laurence.

Stella walked into the building near the garden which had all the food and drinks to find something she'd never liked the sight of.

Her sister— Josephine March, sitting alone, crying.

"Josie, what's wrong?" Stella sat beside her sister and pulled her closer to her, hugging her gently.

"Stella, I think I'm in love. And I'm scared." Jo whimpered.

Stella's eyes widened. It had to be a dream. Jo? In love? 'Okay. Wake up Stella.' Stella thought to herself. She pulled her own hair and winced when it hurt. 'Not a dream. Alright.'

"Why are you scared?" Stella asked.

"Because I know it's wrong. It's wrong in so many ways, Stel. But i can't stop. I can't." Jo sat up.

"Can you tell me who it is? Then maybe I can help." Stella held her sisters hand sympathetically.

"No, I can't." Jo whimpered.

"Can you tell me why it's so wrong, then?"

"Fine, but just know that I know that it's real and I know that there's something there. Just, remember, I'm your sister and we're best friends. Please don't hate me."

Stella internally began to panic. 'Please don't be in love with Laurie, please don't be in love with Laurie, please don't be in love with Laurie.'

"I like a girl." Stella looked up in confusion.

"But..."

"But I love her. And I don't understand, because I've never met anyone who loves girls who is a girl."

Stella thought for a moment.

"Do you really love her?" Jo nodded frantically. "Then that's okay. I don't understand either, Joey, but that's okay. We can work it out. Tell her how you feel. And you don't have to tell me who it is, but I'm sure I would love her."

"I don't know if I can-"

"If you tell her, I'll tell Teddy." Jo nodded after a moments hesitation and Stella grinned, shaking her sisters hand to confirm the deal.

As Stella danced with her sisters and her best friends and closest family members, the sun then began to set, and people were beginning to leave. Stella stood by her parents to say goodbye to her Aunt March.

"I hope you're happy. Now that you've ruined your life, just like your mother did by marrying your father." Aunt March said, and Stella laughed loudly, the rest of the family joining in.

"Dear sister, you are too kind. And thank you for the festivities." Father said.

"You are most welcome." His sister replied.

"Thank you, Aunt March." Meg leaned in to kiss her, and Stella bit her lip, knowing it couldn't end well.

"Oh, OH! I don't like to be... kissed."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Meg turned to her family, and Stella grinned at her aunt.

"You'll be sorry when you've tried love in a cottage and found it a failure."

"It can't be worse than some people find in a big house." Meg smiled sweetly.

"I understood your meaning, my dear."

Meg and John walked away happily, kissing and laughing.

Teddy and Stella talked together for a while, before Aunt March called for her, and she ran ahead, shouting a short goodbye.

"Thank goodness, a sane member of the family!" Aunt March exclaimed.

"Now listen closely. I want to go to Europe one last time, and would like for you and Amy to accompany me. Run along and tell her."

"Oh thank you, Aunt March!" Stella exclaimed, running to Amy.

"Amy! Aunt March wants to go to France and wants to take us with her! Us! So you can work on your paintings and French and I can work on my French and keep her company, as well as sing I suppose!"

Amy and Stella hugged each other excitedly and ran to their mother.

"Marmee! Aunt March is going to Europe and-"

"Wants me to go with her and Stella!Now I know why I spent all those boring hours reading to her." Amy and Stella shared guilty looks.

"Actually, she wants me to go with her and Stella."

"Oh... I- that's wonderful Amy."

"I'm sorry" Stella mouths to Jo, but she shakes her head.

________________

"Aunt March wants me to go to France with her again." Stella blurted, and Teddy ran a hand through his hair.

"Oh. For how long?"

"I don't know, but I feel awful. Meg's married, Amy and I off to Paris, Jo's mad at us, Beth will be lonely, and now that you're about to graduate you'll want nothing to do with us." Stella sighed.

"What if I did?"

"What, are you suggesting we run away together and join a pirate ship?" Stella laughed.

He looked at her and inhaled deeply, "No. I'm suggesting that we go to Paris together. As a couple."

"Teddy, I-"

"Stella, please just listen."

Stella nodded and watched as he fell apart.

"I've loved you ever since I've known you, Elle. I can't help it! And you've been so good to me, I've tried so hard to show you but you're so oblivious and you can't see it! Now I'm going to make you hear it and you're going to give me an answer because I can't go on like this any longer!"

"Teddy-"

"I've worked so hard to please you. I've been patient and kind and I've tried so hard and you can't see it. I've waited for you and never complained. I've waited for you to love me even though I'm not half good enough for you."

Stella cut him off.

"Teddy, you're a great deal too good for me. I can't say yes even though I want to because I'm going to France and you're graduating. I'm just that silly little girl who's loved you for so long, and you're this kind, smart, wonderful, beautiful, man who seems to be the best person I've ever met. I can't, Teddy. I want to but I can't."

She closed her eyes tightly to prevent the tears, but as soon as she opened them, she knew she failed. She had made Theodore Laurence cry. She was a monster.

"You can't?"

"I- Teddy please don't cry-"

"I can't love anyone else." He yelled.

"I'm not good enough for you, Teddy! We'd both be disasters if it didn't work out. I can't live without you and I'm terrified of that!" Stella yelled back.

"It wouldn't be a disaster, Stel! Don't you see that we're in love? Stop pretending that you don't because Amy told me and Amy never lies to either of us. Please, Elle."

"Amy told you? Teddy, please just listen to me-"

"Everyone expects it! My grandpa, your family, we can't just not."

"Teddy, listen to me!" Stella yelled, grabbing his hands.

"Just tell me. How you want nothing to do with me. Get it over with."

"Teddy I've loved you ever since we stood outside the party and danced up and down the porch. I've loved you so much for years now and I've never expected you to love back. But I have to go to Paris with my Aunt March. She's old and she's going to die sooner or later and-"

"You know what? Screw your Aunt March! Screw anyone who told you that you weren't good enough! Screw you- Estella March for making me fall in love with you!"

"Excuse me?" Teddy took two steps forward and wrapped his arms around Stella, bringing her closer to him and connecting their lips.

He brought his hands up to her, cupping her face with one, and pulling her closer with the other.

Stella felt him smile into the kiss as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, one hand snaking into his hair, one on the back of his neck.

"Come with me." Stella whispered, her lips red and swollen. "Don't let me go this easily."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Theodore Laurence was madly in love with Estella March. Since the moment he met her, he knew. Since the moment she met him, she dreamed.

And boy, was she a beautiful dreamer.