"Do you really have to go so soon?" Stella asked Beth, who had her arms wrapped around her older sister, holding her as she sniffled.

"I do, Stel, I'm sorry." Beth said, hugging the middle March sister.

It was the day the remaining March sisters were leaving, Amy and Stella being the only ones left behind.

"Just us now?" Amy asked quietly as the three other sisters got into the train, Marmee and Father following.

"Just us." Stella smiled sadly, and with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Amy's shoulder, she waved as the March's left.

"I suppose we should go home now." Amy said, acting rather grown up and dignified.

"You know what? Let's go on a picnic." Stella suggested, needing to cheer herself up.

"Will we bring the boys with us?" Amy asked. Stella thought for a moment, before nodding.

"I think they'll be able to cheer us up. Bring your pencils and draw something, I'm sure we can entertain ourselves." Stella grinned, before they began to walk home.

The walk from the train station to the mansion wasn't very long, and nobody had seen old Aunt March since the wedding, so they didn't have to worry about her.

"Teddy! Dennis!" Stella called, and eventually they arrived.

"Stella and I are going on a picnic, care to join us?" Amy asked, and the boys ran off to get ready. Amy left to get her equipment, and Stella went to the kitchen to grab some food.

Water, croissants, grapes, strawberries, a Victoria Sponge cake, peaches, apples, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, oranges, lemon juice, jam, pain au chocolat, and some other things she found lying about all were placed in Stella's picnic basket.

Stella ran upstairs and changed into a more comfortable skirt, keeping her white blouse the same, and grabbed a book, a notebook and a few pencils.

"Is everyone ready?" Amy called as Stella walked down the stairs, books and pencils in hand, her picnic basket and blanket ready at the front door.

The others descended the stairs as well, Amy and Stella gathering their things and walking round the back of the mansion where the bikes were.

"Hurry up!" Stella laughed as she cycled away from the other three, who were only just getting on their bikes.

They followed Stella the short distance to the park, and caught up with her after a minute or two.

Stella hopped of her bike and grabbed her things, walking hand in hand with Teddy, their arms swinging as they walked.

"It feels so refreshing to be free, doesn't it?" She asked as they set the blanket down and sat on it, taking everything out of the basket.

"It certainly is."

Teddy lay down as the newly wed couple joined them, and Stella lay down beside him, throwing a strawberry at him.

"Hey!" He exclaimed, and Stella laughed quietly, burying her head in his shoulder.

"Do you like my new look?" Dennis asked, smothering strawberry jam on his lips. Any kissed it away, and Stella covered Teddy's eyes, him doing the same for her. When they took their hands away, they were still kissing, so the older couple made kissing noises, their hands pretending to go all over each other's bodies, and they laughed as Amy and Dennis looked at them strangely.

"We're older than you are, shut up." Stella laughed, and eventually the married couple joined in.

________________

Stella drew her eyes away from her book, finally finished the French novel. Her eyes hurt from the strain, and her back hurt from sitting up so long.

Amy had taken to drawing, laying on the blanket, occasionally looking up at her sister.

"Ellie?" Laurie whispered, not wanting to disturb the peaceful aura they had unknowingly created.

"Teddy." Stella replied, smiling dopily up at him.

"I love you." He grinned at her.

"I love you."

The rest of the day was uneventful, and they cycled home when it was sunset. The pinks of the sky matched the pink ribbon and the pink skirt that Stella wore, and the light hit her face just right to show off all of her best features.

And Theodore Laurence was smitten.