"In the end I just think it was because I could have died, you know." Amy's casual speech was cut off by a very persistent knock on the door. Amy huffed, standing to get it.

Dennis entered, looking very unhappy.

"Stella— you need to go to Laurie, he's a mess. He needs you, you know that. He's just scared."

Stella and Laurie had been playing a game of 'who can avoid the other for the longest' for a week and three days, and of course, they were both counting the days.

The other inhabitants of the mansion had been waiting with baited breath for one of them to break, and the bet was spilt exactly in half.

"Oh but look how he loves her."

"And see how he looks at her."

"At this stage the only reason why he isn't speaking to her is because he's forgotten how to speak."

They said, but the arguments on the opposing side stood tall and strong, too.

"She can't last without him. He's her best friend."

"She needs someone to be there for her, she lives on the feeling of belonging."

"Is there's one thing I know about Miss March, it's that she's in love with Master Laurence."

Quite frankly, everyone had had enough of it.

Amy hated dinners now, because it was tense and nobody talked to each other. In fact, sometimes Stella didn't even show up.

Dennis hated the fact that his best friend and his sister in law were arguing. Of course Laurie was valid, but why on earth did they go to all that trouble in the first place if he didn't want to marry her.

"I've had enough!" Amy exclaimed, and when Stella didn't budge, she continued loud and clear. "You are going to Laurie's room right now, and I don't care if I have to drag you there myself!"

"Fine. But I'm not taking him back just because I'm desperate. I also love him and don't want him to leave-"

"You're desperate." The newly weds couple stated. Stella had forgotten they were there.

Dennis and Amy stood on either side of Stella as she made her way slowly and begrudgingly to Laurie's room.

She knocked the door, suddenly getting déjà vu to the time when she came home from France to find Laurie in bed feeling sorry for himself.

"Come in." He called out.

"I hate you." She whispered to Amy and Dennis. They left, fingers intertwined and arms swinging.

Stella stood in the doorframe, for once awkward and quiet in his presence.

"Stella, I'm-"

"No. Stop. I've been awful and I should have listened to you rather than just brush you away and use the excuse of how much we've been through. I will go through hell and back for you, Theodore Laurence." Stella ranted, her words becoming more powerful and clearer each time she spoke.

Laurie stood and walked to her, stopping in the middle of the room.

She had a choice.

She could walk towards him, and work everything out, and have a happily ever after. She could tell him she would think about it, debate with herself for days, weeks, months, years wether or not it was worth it.

Or she could leave. She could turn around, leaving all they had behind her. Leave the memories, the letters, the kisses, the hugs, the cuddles, the jokes, the remarks, the stories, all behind. She could leave him and never look back.

But Stella March had been smart since she was young, and she knew what was right. And at that moment, stepping into Theodore Laurence's open, warm, welcome arms seemed like a very inviting proposal to her.

So that's exactly what she did.

"I'm so sorry." She mumbled into his shirt. It only really struck her what she had done when she neared him and saw the puffy, red eyes, the ruffled clothes, the tangled hair, the broken man.

"I'm sorry, too." He replied. The couple did not need words to describe what they were thinking. The grip they had on each other, the tears, the relieved sighs, said it all.

Estella March and Theodore Laurence were truly, madly, deeply in love.