Stella woke up, the sun shining in on her face, the blinds open. She groaned and rolled over, looking for her husband. He wasn't there.

She shot up in bed, realising the strange place wasn't where she lived, before realising what had happened. She soon realised that the place she was in was the Laurence mansion.

This had been happening for days. She'd wake up, she'd panic, she'd realise, and then she'd cry a bit. But Stella willed herself to be strong. To be strong for Beth.

"Teddy?" She called, running down the stairs after getting dressed.

"Miss Laurence, he has gone to your childhood house." One of the maids explained. Stella thanked her and rushed towards her house.

"I'm here! Sorry I'm late! I'm here now!" She called, rushing into the house.

"Why's everyone looking at me?" Stella looked at Meg, Hannah, Charlotte and Jo.

"You'd better go into the dining room." Jo spoke up after a moment of silence. Stella feared the worst, so she ran in the opposite direction, up to Beth's room, where she lay peacefully. Stella kissed her sisters forehead and walked down the stairs again.

"You fool!" Stella hit Jo around the back of the head. "I feared that-"

"Estella? Where is she?" A shrill voice cried, and Stella's eyes widened. She hadn't faced Aunt March yet.

"I let her sleep in on Sunday's." She heard her husband reply.

Stella took a deep breath and walked into the dining room.

"Aunt March, what a pleasant surprise!" Stella said sarcastically, kissing her mother on the cheek, Teddy kissing Stella's cheek.

"Yes, my dear. I came to say how I'm still disgusted you didn't marry... what's his name? Damien? Desmond?" Aunt March tried.

"Dennis?" Marmee offered kindly.

"Yes, that's what I said. Anyway, I'm still very disappointed in you-" Stella tensed, "but I shall allow it. And I have money for you, as well. Here you are-"

"Aunt March, as kind as that is, Teddy and I are both very happy and we don't need any help in our economic situation."

Aunt March narrowed her eyes, before shoving it into Laurie's hands anyway.

"Thank you, Auntie." Stella whispered.

"That will be all." The older woman stood up and left.

"Are you okay?" Laurie asked, once Marmee rushed off after her sister in law.

"No." Stella replied, resting her head against Laurie's chest as she simply cried.

"I should go and check on Beth." Stella sucked in a deep breath and walked up the stairs to Beth's room.

She looked out the window, seeing in her minds eye the day Jo pushed Amy and they all spent the rest of the day trying to get the youngest to forgive the boyish sister.

Stella looked at the flower pot that stood proudly on the windowsill, the flower itself dying. Stella clenched her jaw and lay beside Beth.

The sister woke up soon after that, and Stella smiled.

"I love you, Beth."

______________

It was a dull day, unlike the other day at the beach, and the weather matched the atmosphere.

"Stella?" Beth asked, her head on her sisters lap, Stella's head on Jo's shoulder. Stella hummed in reply.

"Will you sing to me?"

Stella thought for a while, before beginning to sing.

"Beautiful dreamer,

Wake unto me

Starlight and dewdrops

Are awaiting thee

Sounds of the rude world

Heard in the day

Led by the moonlight

Have all passed away

Beautiful dreamer,

Queen of my song

List' while I woo thee

With soft melody

Gone are the cares of

Life's busy throng

Beautiful dreamer

Awake unto me

Beautiful dreamer,

Awake unto me"

Stella finished her tune, and looked at Jo, tears in both of their eyes.

"Read us one of your new stories, Jo, would you?" Stella urged, wiping her tears away roughly.

Jo suddenly became insecure, "I don't have any new stories."

"Why not?" Beth asked.

"Haven't written any."

"You have a pencil and paper, sit here and write me something." Beth tried.

"Uh, I can't. I don't think I can anymore."

Stella looked at her older sister, a pleading look in her eyes. She looked at Beth, and mouthed 'Do it for our Beth.'

"Alright. I'll try." Jo huffed.

______________

"The post office in the forest was a capital little institution, and flourished wonderfully, for many things passed through it: poetry and pickles, tragedies, garden seeds and long letters, music and gingerbread, love letters the middle child insisted were just friendly notes, scoldings, and even puppies."

Jo looked up shyly, and Stella let out a laugh.

"It's all about us!" Beth noted.

"It is." Jo confirmed.

"I love it." The youngest of the three said, and Stella bit her tongue to stop herself from crying.

"It's just a little story."

"It's a masterpiece."

"It's nothing like what you usually write." Beth smiled.

"You don't think it's boring?"

"It's my favourite one yet." Beth giggled.

"Really?" Stella sat up and looked at Jo.

"Write another one." Stella demanded.

"Yes ma'am." Jo laughed.

"And keep writing them." Beth said quietly. "Even when I'm not here."

"Don't say that." The older sisters said in unison.

"It's okay." Beth smiled, and they sat in silence— a comfortable silence— until they had to leave for home again.

When they got home, and Beth had gone to bed to sleep, Stella and Jo sat in front of the fire and held each other. They had everything they needed in the world, but soon they might have nothing. Because to them, Beth was everything.