"That was terrifying." Stella laughed as she walked out of the Laurence mansions kitchen with Laurie, their families both happy that they had finally admitted her feelings for each other. She had also told them that she was going to France with him- although she hadn't told her aunt.

"I'm just glad they're happy." Laurie replied, pressing his lips to Stella's forehead, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her head.

"Now we just have to tell Aunt March." Stella whispered nervously, and Laurie shook his head.

"It's okay," he said quietly, "We can tell her together." Stella shook her head at his comment.

"It's something I want to do alone." She said, too scared to bring him with her as her Aunt would poke and prod and list all his flaws (which he didn't have many of).

"Are you sure?" Stella nodded.

"I'm exhausted." He spoke up again after standing in a comfortable silence for a while.

"So am I." Stella said, removing herself from Teddy's arms. He pouted.

So, they quickly told their families they were going to bed, and Amy yawned.

"I think we'll go as well," Marmee put an arm around Amy's shoulders.

"No!" Amy whined, "I'm having fun!"

Stella laughed and hugged or kissed each one of the people in the room on the cheek.

"Goodnight everyone!" The couple called, walking out of the kitchen once again and up to Laurie's room, hand in hand.

__________________

The next day, Stella woke up early and headed off to her Aunt March's house to tell her the news. She was scared of what to say, but she hoped that her Aunt would understand. At least Laurie had money, right?

"Aunt March." Stella greeted after the maid had showed her in to the dining room. She took a seat when her aunt motioned for her to and smoothed her dress out.

"Aunt March, I can't go to France with you." Stella deadpanned.

Well that's one way to do it.

"Why ever not?" Aunt March exclaimed incredulously.

"I'm going to Paris with Theodore Laurence. We're a couple now." Stella grinned, and her Aunt shook her head.

"No. You're coming to Paris with me and you're getting married to Dennis."

Stella's smile dropped, and then she laughed slightly.

"Very funny, Auntie."

Her Aunt didn't laugh.

"You're being serious?" Stella whispered.

"You're coming to Paris with me in one weeks time and you're meeting Dennis Primrose, and you will get married." Aunt March repeated.

Stella shook her head, remembering what Amy had told her the night before Meg's wedding.

Amy sat beside Stella, taking the older sisters hands in her own.

"Stella, you're the only one I can tell. Meg's getting married, Jo hates love and Beth's too busy with her dolls to care about me." Amy huffed.

"What?" Stella said as if she didn't hear what Amy had said.

Amy huffed again, "I think I'm in love."

"Amy you're always in love."

"No! This time it's different. Remember Dennis Primrose?" Stella nodded.

"Wait, no!" Stella gasped.

"Wait, yes!" Amy nodded, grinning. "We've been writing to each other."

"Oh, Amy! I'm so happy for you!" Stella hugged the youngest sister and Amy did a little happy dance, pulling Stella off the chair with her and both dancing around the kitchen.

"No. Auntie, I love Teddy, not Dennis. Amy loves Dennis. She can marry him! Amy marries Dennis, I marry Teddy— please Aunt March! We love each other, he's so happy, I can't break his heart!" Stella cried, tears running down her face.

"You can and you will." Aunt March demanded.

"No! I won't! I love him!" Stella stood up, her voice dangerously quiet. Estella March was very angry.

"That is quite enough! Now go home and tell your 'Teddy' you are to leave tomorrow."

"But you said next week!"

"I've changed my mind, Estella. People can do that and I can assure you that you will too before I lock you up and not let you marry anyone."

"I'd rather marry no one than marry someone who is not my Teddy." Stella sobbed.

"Well, tough luck! Go home and pack, Estella."

Stella slammed the door and ran out of the house, all the way home. She slowed as she approached the house, everyone piled in and laughing. Everyone was so happy. She walked in and everyone looked up.

Laurie grinned at her, and Stella brought her hand to her mouth to lessen her sobs and ran upstairs.

"Elle?" Teddy ran after her.

"Stella?" Amy called, and Beth followed behind with Marmee. Jo was in the attic, writing, and Meg was with Mr Brooke. Father and Mr. Laurence sat talking, although they both worried for the girl.

Everyone instinctively opened their arms for Stella to run into, and she ran into Amy's, and Amy hugged her tightly. Beth rubbed circles on her back and Marmee stood, hand on Teddy's back as he stood watching. He knew where she had just been.

"Stella? What's wrong?" Amy whispered, and Stella pulled away from the hug.

"It's Aunt March. She said I can't go to Paris with Teddy, she said I can't be with him. She's arranged for me to marry someone else." The sisters and their mother went silent, but Teddy stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the girl who would no longer be marrying him.

"I tried to tell her, I really did, but she wouldn't listen." She whispered, hugging Teddy as close and as tight as she could.

"Who do you have to marry? I'm sure we can sort something out." Marmee asked, always the voice of reason.

Stella looked at Amy. Amy shook her head.

"No. Not him." Stella nodded. Amy began to cry. "Not my Dennis."

"I'm sorry!" Stella cried.

"It's not your fault." Stella heard Laurie say, but the tears she could feel on her shoulder were suggesting he was just as annoyed as she was.

"I'm going to her house. I'll sort this out. I'll bring your father and Laurie's grandfather if they can, maybe we can all convince her to change her mind." Marmee muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

"And I leave tomorrow." Everyone went quiet again and Stella's comment. The room again was filled with Amy and Stella's sobs, this time Beth joining in, and Marmee trying to conceal hers, and Teddy telling Stella everything would be okay.

Beth tried to calm Amy down, but there was no use. Nobody could calm the three down.

Stella was marrying the man her sister loved, and leaving behind the man she did love.

And she was leaving the next day.

a/n you thought you could get some happy stuff? thought wrong. i've missed you all soooo much and i'm sure you'll all hate me after this but oh well. ya gal needs some drama!! dennis is acted by ben barnes— check 'cast' to see who everyone else is acted by 🥰🥰