Chapter Thirty Seven: End :(

Elouise had never seen the March household so quiet and eery.

Laurie stood beside her as they stared down at the gray tombstone, where quiet Beth was buried below.

"She wanted to get married." Elouise whispered, "She wanted a life. I told her she would live it, and I lied."

"You never could have known she would fall ill again." Laurie told her, "She is in a better place."

"Everyone always says that, but it means nothing. Her place is right here with her family, playing piano and laughing at Jo's terrible jokes."

Elouise frowned as Laurie held her hand and pulled her towards the house, "We must go in, everyone has departed long ago."

She nodded, following him into the house. Marmee stood by the door, and Elouise couldn't help but break from Laurie to give the woman a hug.

"You are an incredible woman." Elouise said, stepping back. "The strongest of them all."

"Elouise!" Meg walked over, "And Laurie! How are you two?"

"Us? How are you?" Laurie questioned.

"We all could be better."

"Yes, that is true." Marmee quipped as she walked by towards the kitchen, where Mr March stood speaking with Hannah while Jo scribbled at the table.

"Where is Amy?" Elouise asked, spotting everyone around the first floor.

This got Jo's attention, she stood up and walked over, crossing her arms. "Late. Though, she could care less."

"Jo." Meg hushed.

"Amy is always left out of the difficult things in life. She couldn't even show up on time to her own sister's funeral." Jo shook her head, "Beth would agree with me, and you know it."

Laurie pursed his lips, "It's nice to see you all again, nevertheless."

"Is John here?"

Meg nodded, "He just left to go watch the children. He will back as soon as he can."

Marmee walked over, putting an arm around Jo. "I am happy to see you all back together. It's been an awful long time."

Elouise had no idea how that woman managed to still come off as happy. Her eyes, they gave her away but everything else, she masked it so well. "Do you need help with anything?" Elouise asked, but the woman shook her head with a soft smile.

"Why don't you all sit down and talk, like old times?"

Meg nodded quickly, taking a seat on the sofa. They all followed suit, not wanting to upset Marmee. She scurried off into the kitchen, standing close to Mr March.

"Jo, what have you been up to?"

She blinked, facing Elouise. "I moved to New York and sold some stories. Nothing very exciting."

"Her stories have gotten even better." Meg chimed in.

The door opened and they all turned to see Amy shuffle in, she had a frown on her face as she saw them all sitting in the living room.

"Amy!" Meg got up, rushing to her sister's side. "How good it is to see you."

"Yes." She nodded, Elouise couldn't help but notice how grown up she looked.

"You're late." Jo said from her spot leaning against the wall.

Amy sighed, "The journey was longer than expected."

Meg grabbed her hands, "Is that a ring on your finger?"

"Oh, yes." Amy smiled, "Fred proposed."

Marmee rushed from the kitchen, pulling her daughter into a hug. "Congratulations, dear."

Amy nodded as they parted, glancing out the window. "Who is that woman who keeps walking in and out of Mr Laurence's manor?"

They all turned to Laurie, "What woman?" He questioned.

"Did Mr Laurence meet someone?" Meg raised a brow, they all raced to the window and stared out. It almost felt normal, for them all to be doing it.

Elouise gasped, "That looks like my mother."

"You're mother?" Jo questioned. "How can you tell from so far away?"

Elouise turned and headed for the door, she raced out and ran towards the manor. Another thing that just felt right, how many times had she done this before?

"El!" Laurie's voice followed her as she ran, coming to a stop as the woman exited the manor once again, this time freezing in place as she spotted them.

"Mother?" Elouise gasped, running and engulfing her in a hug. "What are you doing here?"

The woman took a deep breath as she held onto her daughter, "I took your advice."

They parted and she turned to Laurie, "Did you know about this?"

He shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I did not."

"I packed my things and snuck out in the dead of night. I did not think it would work, but then I was out and rushing to the train station." Her mother explained, "I followed the directions on your wedding invitation, and I found it."

Elouise couldn't believe her eyes, her mother was here, standing in front of her. "Have you been staying here?"

"Yes, Mr Laurence has been very kind. I've been looking at small pieces of land to build my own home, I also made it out with a good chunk of your fathers money. Serves him well for all those years stuck with him."

Elouise laughed, "I cannot believe you are here with me."

Laurie stepped next to her, "I'm glad you are here, Mrs Myer."

Her mother smiled, walking up to him and grabbing his hand. "I'm very glad you're not like the rest of them, Laurie. You treat her right, can you promise me that?"

"Yes." He nodded, "I love your daughter with every fibre in my body."

Elouise sighed, leaning into him. She wanted to cry, because today was a day of sorrow and mourning, but also a day full of change and hopefulness. Whatever the world threw at her, she would come out stronger.

She pulled Laurie into a hug, "Thank you so much." She whispered.

"But I did nothing."

Elouise shook her head, holding him tighter. "You are a fool, Theodore Laurence, for marrying me."

He chuckled, "Then I am the greatest fool in the world."