Author's note: This is centered in the future, say in a year or so. Edward has proposed and Meg has accepted. They have been married with blessings from all the members of the family and sent on an extended six-month honeymoon. Nick and Jo have grown quite closer during this time, with Nick settling in the role of a father and Jo, still keeping her distance, slowly accepting his presence. All the kids are in pretty much the same roles as they are in the present - except of course, they are one year older! Anyway, hope I didn't confuse you too much!!! So, if you please, sit back and enjoy!

"Meg!!!" Amy screamed loud enough to shatter Jo's and anyone else less than a mile away's eardrums.

Recovering quickly, Jo removed her hands from her ears and turned to see what her sister was yelling about. "Honestly, Amy, whatever possessed you-Meg! It's wonderful to see you! And you look wonderful!" This last statement was addressed to her unexpected older sister who was looking vibrant indeed. Her cheeks were rosy-colored and she looked ten years younger since the last time her sisters had laid eyes on her.

"Yes." Amy acceded. "Married life must agree with you, dear sister," she said slyly, tilting her head. Meg's cheeks reddened even more if that was possible, but she was saved from answering by Jo's heartfelt hug.

"We didn't expect you so soon, Meg. Nothing's wrong, I hope," Jo scrutinized her older sister, looking for any signs of illness or other problem.

"Oh, Jo, of course, nothing's wrong," Amy scolded, "She just got homesick that's all."

"Is that right, Meg?" Jo continued her perusal, not satisfied.

"Jo, you worry too much," Meg said teasingly, her eyes alight, "Actually, we came home early because we had some great news and well, I couldn't wait another two weeks to tell you."

"Tell us what!?" Amy and Jo said together. Meg raised a eyebrow and decided to assume her role as an older, wiser sister.

"Now,now, patience is a virtue, girls. I believe it's tea time anyway." Giggling like schoolgirls, they led Meg toward the parlor, where Asia had set out tea and cookies for what all of Plumfield called 'Society Hour'. 'Society Hour' was an hour set aside each day to learn the proper way to eat, drink, or what Mrs. Jo called 'etiquette.' Most of the boys hated it, but the rule was: No participation, no food. So, the boys made themselves 'suffer' in order to be able to eat some of the tempting delicacies Asia purposely made for 'Society Hour'.

Reaching the parlor, they found no one there except Nick, Laurie, and Edward. Jo eyed the scrumptious goodies set out on the silver tray, but she forced herself to ask the obvious question.

"Where are the children?"

"Oh," Laurie said, "I asked Asia to take some goodies to the schoolhouse and let the children have them there. I knew they wouldn't mind, and I thought with the good news you'd probably want some time to chat with Meg."

"Ahhh, the good news again," Jo remarked, turning to Meg, "And what might that 'good' news be?"

Meg paused for a moment and then addressed the whole room, "Well, Edward and I are expecting a baby!"

"Pregnant?" Jo said slowly and quietly.

"You're pregnant!?" Amy echoed in a shrill voice.

Meg looked from sister and sister, then focused on Amy.

"Amy, are you alright?" She was shaking and her face had blanched white.

"What? Oh, yes, I'm fine," she answered, "How can you be pregnant, Meg?" She was obviously in shock. Meg looked at Laurie worriedly and then tried to reason with her younger sibling.

"Well, Amy, I don't think I need to tell you how I got pregnant," Meg laughed a nervous laugh that echoed throughout the room.

"Yes," Amy insisted, "Yes, you do." She turned on her husband, and anger replaced the shock in her face.

"And you! How could you know about this and not tell me!" Laurie stared in disbelief at his irrational wife and then realization dawned on his face.

"Now, Amy, I just found out a minute ago. Come now, don't you think you ought to sit down?"

"No!!!" Amy grabbed her shawl and looked at Laurie, "I want to go home now," her voice quivered with rage and then her face crumpled and she began to sob.

"How could Meg be pregnant?" And she ran out of the house sobbing. Laurie stood frozen and then he looked at the shocked group.

"I'm sorry...She's gone through a lot the last few months," he apologized. And then he too rushed out of the house after his broken wife.

The remaining people stood in frozen silence. "Oh, dear," Meg teetered, holding her stomach and Edward and Nick both rushed to help her to a chair.

"Meg, are you alright?" Jo knelt before her sister.

"Yes," Meg took a deep breath to steady herself, "I just didn't expect Amy to react like that."

"None of us did." Jo decided to take the liberty of informing Meg what had happened in last few months.

"Meg, do you remember when you went to visit Marmee and Father for a while?"

"Why, yes," Meg looked confused. "Why?"

"While you were gone, Amy, well..." Jo glanced at Nick for reassurance, but his grim demeanor did nothing for her confidence.

"Just tell me, Jo! What happened to Amy?"

Taking a deep breath, Jo spilled the whole story, "Amy went to the doctor after going through some...well, some woman problems, and the doctor told her she was pregnant."

**** Author's note: To read the entire story, read Rachel G.'s fanfic titled "Baby, Baby" ****

For a moment, Meg look stunned and then she spoke, "Jo, what...what happened to the baby?"

Jo looked down, "The doctor she went to wasn't Dr. Pierce, it was some other doctor filling in for Dr. Pierce and when Dr. Pierce got back in town, he examined Amy and he told her that she had been misdiagnosed."

"Misdiagnosed," Meg questioned, "You mean?"

"She wasn't pregnant," Jo finished for her. "Nevertheless, Amy didn't take it well, as did Bess. Everyone became distracted from it with some trouble regarding Bess, and I never realized how hard she was taking it until now."

"Oh, my," Meg whispered. "Why didn't she tell me, Jo? She always tells me these things."

"Amy hasn't said anything about it to anyone, I think. She has just held it inside her," Jo looked away.

"Until now..."

A couple of days later, Meg visited Plumfield again, but her demeanor was very different than the last time she had been there. Her face was pinched and worried as she knocked lightly on the front door.

"Aunt Meg, how nice to see you," Bess greeted as she opened the door, but her facial expression mirrored her aunt's.

"Bess," Meg smiled for her favorite niece's sake and embraced her lightly.

"How are you?"

Bess knew what her aunt was really asking and truthfully answered, "I don't know, Aunt Meg, she won't let anyone see her."

Meg saw the pain in Bess's eyes and refrained from asking any more questions.

"Daisy came with me, perhaps you'd like to visit with her?"

"Oh, yes." Bess brightened and maneuvered around Meg to exit the house and visit with her little cousin.

"Aunt Jo is in the kitchen with Asia," she threw out before she disappeared.

Meg straightened and purposely walked to the kitchen.

"Hullo, Jo."

Jo straightened and looked up from where she had been slicing cucumbers for the evening meal.

"Meg." She smiled and Meg could see the strained lines in her sister's face. The last few days had been tumultuous, even painful for everyone.

Meg sat by her sister and got straight to the point.

"Have you heard from Amy?"

Jo shook her head dismally and looked sadly at Meg.

"She won't let anybody see her, save for Laurie. She won't even let Bess see her!"

Meg looked down.

"I had guessed that much when I saw Bess at the door."

Anger laced Jo's voice as she spoke, "It's tearing her apart, Meg! Bess understands what her mother is going through...but she doesn't understand why her mother refuses to see her." "What Amy is doing is out-and-out rejection to her."

She dropped her head and said shamefully, "And I have to say that I don't quite understand myself. I don't understand why Amy is acting like she..."

"Lost a child, Jo?" Meg supplied.

"Yes!" Jo lifted her head again and stared at Meg with burning eyes.

"She is acting like she lost a baby, when she was never even pregnant! I mean, if she were I'd understand it! But, she wasn't."

"In her mind she has," Asia interrupted, standing by with a dishtowel in her hand.

Meg and Jo looked up, startled.

"What do you mean, Asia?" Jo asked, motioning to an empty seat.

Asia sat down and started to tell a story.

"When I was eleven years old, my mother went through the same thing. She had been feeling ill lately, so she went to the lady that served as a...well, a doctor to us, and had her examine her thoroughly. The woman misdiagnosed her menopause as a pregnancy and my Mother went home excited and full of joy,"

Asia's eyes saddened as she went on,

"When Momma found out that she wasn't pregnant, she fell into a deep depression and wouldn't eat or get out of bed for weeks."

"At first, I didn't understand. I hated my Mother for pushing me away. But slowly, as I got older and began to feel my own womanly feelings, I began to understand."

Asia looked straight at Meg and Jo as she got to a certain part of her story.

"You see, in her mind, she was pregnant and when she found out that it wasn't true, all her hopes and dreams were dashed," Asia's voice quivered, "It took her a long time to 'get over' the severe let-down."

"I believe Amy is going through the same thing, only her depression is more severe, because she has been putting it off, not dealing with it as she should." "It was building up for weeks and finding out that you were pregnant, Meg, was the last straw."

Tears were running down Meg's cheeks as Asia finished.

"Oh, Jo, what are we going to do?"

"Give her time," Asia answered for her, "All she needs now is for you to leave her alone, let her deal with all the emotions she's goin' through."

Asia patted Meg's hand.

"Have faith, she'll come around."

"Hey, Bess."

Bess looked up from where she had been watching Daisy play with Rob and smiled.

"Hi, Dan."

Dan gestured beside her, "Is that open?"

"Sure," Bess scooted over to make room for Dan to sit down.

"Meg here?" Dan said, throwing out a hand toward Daisy.

"Yeah."

Dan watched Bess curiously. She was quiet and he could tell she was upset, and he pretty sure it was because of her mother. News went around Plumfield pretty fast and Dan had heard all about Amy's temper tantrum. It hadn't taken much for him to link that and the incident a couple moths ago together. Now, he stared at Bess sympathetically, remembering all too well what had happened. He knew if they sat there long enough, she would open up, sooner or later.

"Stop that."

Dan jumped and stared at Bess who was now staring at him.

"Whaddya mean?"

Bess sighed. "You know what I mean."

Dan grinned disarmingly.

"So, you gonna talk, or do I have to pry it out of you?"

Bess sighed again and slid into his arms before her independent, prideful side could protest.

"You already know what I'm going to say," she said to a very surprised Dan,

"So, could you please just hold me?"

Laurie walked purposely to the house and noticed the dog lying on the front porch. He whistled to it and it obediently came to him.

"Hi, you," he said favorably, "I bet you don't have anything to worry about." The canine rubbed his thigh and begged to be petted.

"Yep," Laurie said, fulfilling its wishes, "Just as I thought."

His semi-good mood vanished as he surveyed what lay ahead.

"I'm not so lucky."

When the doorbell rang for the second time that day, Jo groaned. She certainly wasn't in the mood for any callers.

"Sit," Meg said when she started to rise from her chair.

"I'll get it."

"No," Jo protested, getting up. "It's my house. I'll get the door."

Meg's eyes took on a determined hue as she started toward her sister.

"Sit!"

She pushed Jo back down gently and turned to go.

"I'll get the door."

Jo felt a smile push its way out as she watched her usually timid sister walk purposely out of the kitchen. Most of the time, only Amy was that forceful.

Amy...

Jo's smile vanished once again and she wondered how everything was going to turn out.

Because for once, she could not foresee the future of her relationship with her sister...

"Jo?"

Meg's voice jolted Jo out of her thoughts and she turned to see why Meg was calling her from the doorway.

Laurie stood there, face pale, fidgeting with his second-best hat.

"Laurie!"

Jo jumped out of her seat and embraced him tightly. He hugged her in return and then let go. "How are you, Jo?" he said, trying to smile.

"Laurie," she scolded, "Don't ask me that!"

"You're the one everyone is worried about!"

"Besides Amy, of course," Meg added from the doorway.

At the mention of his wife, Laurie's eyes saddened. "Yes, well, Amy and I are not on the best terms right now..."

"What do you mean?" Jo asked, drawing him in the room with Meg following close behind.

Laurie set his hat down on the table and pulled out a chair for Meg. He remained standing though. "Amy won't see me. She's being quite unreasonable." "Says she wants to be alone now." Laurie lifted his head and Meg and Jo saw the hurt reflected in their blue depths.

"I try to bring her food on a regular basis, but she hardly ever eats it. I don't know what to do!"

"Have you had her seen by a doctor?" Jo questioned Laurie.

"I tried," he replied, "She refused."

"That's it!" Meg jumped up and stared determinedly at a startled Jo and Laurie. She started for the hallway, talking as she went.

"This nonsense has gone long enough! When you go through something in this family, you get support whether you like it or not!"

"Meg, wait," Jo hurried after her sister with Laurie and Asia trailing behind, "What are you going to do?"

"Meg turned to talk to Jo while simultaneously wrapping her shawl securely around her shoulders.

"We, are going to over to Amy and we are going to make her talk."

"Meg," Jo said uncertainly, "Do you think that's wise?"

"I don't care," Meg declared, "This cannot continue!" "Now," she continued, " Who's coming with me?"

Silence reigned and then Asia moved over to join Meg.

"I am."

"I don't know, Meg.." Jo murmured.

"Me either," Laurie agreed.

"You're right," Asia said firmly.

"You don't know," she continued in a voice dripping with hidden meaning, "You haven't the slightest idea."

The two objectors pondered this awhile and then Laurie made up his mind.

"Ok,"

He crossed over and left Jo standing alone in the place of opposition.

"Ooooh," she fumed.

"You all give me no choice!"

She moved over and grabbed her cloak while the other three shared grins.

Jo fidgeted with her reticule as they rode in Laurie's fine carriage. She was extremely nervous. She wound and unwound the tassels on the little bag until Meg laid her hand on it.

"Jo, please stop, you're making me nervous."

Jo smiled at her sister and purposely lay the bag on the seat between them.

Meg watched as her sister folded her hands and sighed as she predictably starting picking at the hem of her shirtwaist. Jo had never outgrown that little habit and it always drove Meg crazy.

She simultaneously wished with Jo that the ride would be over soon.

As it was, neither sister had to wait long, for as soon as they made their wishes, the carriage began slowing.

Looking out the window, Laurie stated the fact.

"We're here."

"Here, Jo," Laurie held out his hand for the second time and Jo took it gratefully. For some inane reason, she was shaking and felt extremely queasy. As he helped her out of the carriage, Jo glanced at Meg. She was cool as a cucumber-that much was obvious. She almost smiled at the switch she and Meg had made. Her nervous and Meg confident? Pure idiocy. Yet, here she was watching it all unfold like she never would have imagined it could. With this sobering thought, Jo took a huge gulp of air and gathered her courage.

"Let's go in, shall we," she proposed and then led the way, thankful that this small step was returning her confidence bit by bit.

"The door's open," Laurie said, when she paused at the threshold. "Go on in." Jo threw him a tremulous smile in return and did just that.

When the door opened and the Jo got her first look inside the house, her mouth dropped open. She heard Asia gasp as they took in the inside of the usually meticulous house. It was meticulous no longer. Papers and food and clothes (and some things Jo couldn't identify) were strewn across the open living area. Jo guessed that Amy hadn't been downstairs for quite some time, for if she had, she would have horrified at the condition of her prized domain.

"Oh," Laurie said sheepishly, "I forgot how messy it was in here. I've been looking after myself for a couple of days and I didn't think about the mess."

All three women turned to look at him disbelievingly.

"Um, I better go check on the horses," Laurie said, dropping his eyes, "I'll be back soon."

"Whatever happened to all of Amy's numerous servants?" Jo called after his hurrying form.

"She fired them all," he called back, not bothering to turn around.

"Oh." Jo said, "and I thought they were all tending to her."

"Hardly," Asia remarked dryly.

"Men..." she muttered as she made her way to the kitchen, "I don't even want to imagine what condition the kitchen is in."

Jo had to smile as she picked her way through the mess.

"It looks like it's been burgled, don't you think Meg?"

"Mmmmm..." her sister replied, heading for the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Jo questioned, reversing direction to follow Meg.

"To see my sister," Meg replied without turning around.

"Don't you want to wait for Laurie?"

Meg turned and threw Jo a look.

"Noooo, I want to see my sister whom I haven't seen for a week!" "Besides," she berated Jo; "She's just Amy, not a tiger!"

Jo got the message and followed Meg.

"Amy's claws can be pretty sharp.." She muttered.

Meg and Jo tentatively climbed the staircase, wincing at any sound.

"Watch that step," Jo whispered, "It's tricky."

"I know," Meg replied, then remarked, "Why are whispering?"

Jo stopped to look at her elder sibling and shrugged.

"I don't know."

Meg took her hand and Jo squeezed it gratefully.

"This is just like when we had to visit Aunt March," Meg said fondly, "We used to climb those ancient stairs and wince at every creak that might cause Aunt March to scold us..."

"And Aunt March would yell at us for coming too slow," Jo finished.

They giggled like schoolgirls at the memory of wizened old Aunt March yelling for Meg to race up the staircase.

They reached the top of the stairs and stood in front of Amy's bedroom door. All traces of merriment were gone as Jo looked at Meg and reached out a hand.

"Well, here goes..."

The door swung open at Jo's touch and both women stayed perfectly still for a moment. Then just as Jo picked up her foot, a voice broke the stillness.

"Go away, Laurie," Amy's weak voice pleaded, "I want to be alone."

Jo looked at Meg and then stepped into the room.

"I said go away!!"

Amy was lying on her bed, her back to the door. She was wearing the same French silk dress she had been wearing the day of Meg's announcement but her hair was loose and flowing.

"It's not Laurie, Amy, it's Meg and me."

At the sound of Jo's voice, Amy's back stiffened and then she turned and sat up, trying to brush stray hair out of her face. Meg and Jo were shocked to see how pale she was and how much weight she had lost in just a week.

Without looking at her sisters she moved to an ornate chair by her bed and spoke, "Why are you here?"

Meg moved swiftly to the chair and knelt in front of her younger sister.

"Why do you think, Amy? We're worried about you!"

Amy's head came up and Jo saw them fill with water as Meg's words seeped in. Then she dropped her head and said bitterly,

"Well, don't be, there's nothing wrong with me except some old-fashioned jealousy and not even you can cure that, Meg!"

Amy's words stung Meg and for a moment she said nothing. When she did speak again, her voice was missing some of the strength it had had a minute ago.

"Amy, Jo told me what happened with you and the.uh, the doctor," she began, but Amy interrupted her angrily, shooting Jo an angry look.

"Well, she had no right! That was my business, not hers!"

Meg grabbed Amy's hands and though Amy tried to pull them back, Meg gripped them with strength that only comes from desperate love for someone.

"Amy, it was her business! This family deals with all its problems together! We are sisters and all our problems are family business!"

Amy's face lost some of its anger and desperation took its place. As she spoke, her voice reflected all the tears she was holding back.

"Oh, Meg, I don't know what to do!" And the tears broke loose, fast and insistent streams down her face. "I almost hate you for having a baby, a baby I should have had."

"Oh, Amy," Meg sobbed, grasping her sister's arms, "I didn't know how bad it was for you!" Jo moved up to kneel by her sisters and felt her own warm tears slide down her face.

"It hurts so much," Amy continued, "it hurts inside, inside here!" She tapped her chest and Meg started to stand and pull her sister into her arms but suddenly she bent over double in pain. She gasped and grabbed her stomach in pain.

"Meg!" Jo held her sister as Amy recoiled in fear at the unexpected change in events.

"Meg, talk to me," Jo commanded, ignoring Amy, "Tell me where it hurts!" But Meg could only moan in pain, her eyes wide with fear. Jo felt her own fear fill her and panic rise up but she fought it back down. Meg needed her calm.

She finally noticed Amy and ordered in a calm quiet voice for her to get control of herself. While Amy relaxed and stopped hyperventilating, she yelled for Asia and heard a voice answer in reply.

"Amy, help me get her on the bed." Amy's eyes filled with fear again and Jo restlessly berated her.

"Amy, now! Meg helped you when you needed her, the least you could do is help her when she needs you!" Amy pulled herself up and out of the chair and knelt beside Jo.

"What do I need to do?" Her eyes still had some fear in them, but they were clear and lucid. Jo smiled reassuringly to her.

"Put your arm here, no, no, here," she directed Amy, "Now, when I say three, lift her up gently!"

"One...two...three!" They lifted Meg up and deposited her on the bed just as Asia entered the room accompanied by Laurie.

Amy sat by Meg and stroked her sister's brow, tears running down her face.

Jo took charge, "Laurie, go for Dr. Pierce, and have someone go for Edward." Laurie nodded silently and looked pointedly at his wife. Jo nodded back and he hurried out.

"I'll go warm some water,' Asia said, "We might need it."

"Am...," Meg forced out between gasps, "Am...I....going..to..lose...my...baby?"

Jo looked away and Amy let out a wail and retreated from the bed.

Jo gritted her teeth and tried to sound assuring for Meg's sake.

"I hope not, Meg, I hope not."

"Meg, hold on!" Jo urged, her face streaked with sweat. Meg was half-lying, half-sitting, as she strained against the pain.

"I'm...trying...," Meg got out between gasps. She panted and her eyes found Amy cowering in the far corner of the room. Amy's eyes met those of her suffering sister and she withdrew even further into her dark corner, tears streaming down her face.

"Oooohh," Meg wailed, her eyes searching for Jo. Jo moved to where Meg could easily see her and took her hand.

"I'm here, Meg."

"It's...getting...worse...Jo!" The name came out almost as a scream as Meg squeezed Jo's hand tightly.

"Don't...let...go!" she begged, her eyes locked with Jo's.

"I won't," Jo promised, tears running down her face.

Just when Jo thought she could bear it no longer, the door opened and she turned to see Dr. Pierce striding in, looking very grave. Relief coursed through her and she felt her back relax from its rigid line.

"Mrs. Bhaer," Dr. Pierce acknowledged, his attention fixed on the woman on the bed.

He examined her quickly and looked at Jo, who had retreated to the side, still holding Meg's hand.

"I need to ask you to leave, Mrs. Bhaer," he intoned seriously. She nodded and started to rise, when Meg dragged her hand back.

"No! Don't leave me, Jo!" Jo looked helplessly at the doctor, but he remained firm.

"I need room to work, Mrs. Trenton," he explained to Meg, who for a moment, seemed resigned to the weakest pains of the whole ordeal, "Besides, your husband is here."

Jo glanced at Edward, who was standing quietly at the end of the bed, his head down. She hadn't even noticed him come in.

"Al---right," Meg agreed, her breathing ragged. Jo stood and slowly pulled her hand out of Meg's.

"Wait." Meg pulled her down almost eye-level and spoke softly, so softly Jo could barely hear her.

"Whatever happens," she said urgently, "Don't let them take the baby."

Jo licked her lips and decided to humor her. "Alright-"

"No," Meg's voice rose a little, seeing Jo's hesitation, "Listen to me! Edward will want to save me over the baby. I want you to make sure that they will do everything possible to save it. Including." Meg's voice trailed off and her eyes closed, anticipating another round of pain, but she continued, "Including...letting the baby live over me."

Jo felt tears well up again.

Meg panted as the pains grew intense and the doctor began to tug on Jo's other arm, but Jo's attention was fixed on Meg's pleading eyes.

"Promise me you'll make them save the baby," Meg appealed.

Jo hesitated again and Meg rose up on the pillow, her voice even more urgent then before.

"Promise!"

"Promise!"

"Alright!" Jo felt the tears break free and slide down, hitting Meg's pillow.

"I promise."

Meg smiled gratefully as well as she could and weakly leaned back on the pillow.

As Jo drew away, she saw the smile turn into a grimace.

"Jo, you have to eat something." Asia pushed the bowl of steaming soup toward Jo, and Jo, for the third time that night, shoved it away.

"No, Asia," Jo said irritably, "I'm not hungry."

Asia sighed and took the bowl back, shooting her own irritated look around the room like a laser beam.

"Yes, I know," she countered, "And you'll be not hungry all the way to starvation."

Jo chose to ignore Asia's pointed comments and instead focused on the door that led out of the kitchen and to the stairs that went up to where, for all she knew, her sister was dying. She had tried twice to get Dr. Pierce to let her see Meg or at least let her know what was going on, but both times he had refused to talk to her. The second time, Asia had warned her that if she tried to go up those stairs and "bother that poor doctor again", she'd haul her bodily back down and tie her to a chair.

Jo had deemed it safest to stay in the designated chair and listen to Asia harp at her for not eating and everything else. Still, it was tearing her apart not knowing.

Amy lay in the servants quarters that were just off the south side of the kitchen. Jo had been afraid that Amy would balk at lying on a "hired help's" bed, but she had quietly and peacefully submitted to Laurie's ministrations. She seemed in shock and in a way, subdued. Laurie had disappeared after taking care of his wife and once in a while, he poked his head in to ask for news. When he heard they had none, he would always depart to do whatever he did to ease his mind. Jo almost wished that she could run away too. This hellish waiting was making her feel useless. And Josephine Bhaer hated feeling useless.

A door opened and closed somewhere in the house and Jo jumped up, oblivious to Asia's frosty glare. She swept out of the room to meet Dr. Pierce.

He motioned her back into the room, "If you please, Mrs. Bhaer." He glanced at his pocket watch and addressed Jo.

"It is now six in the morning and I really don't know what else I can do."

Jo's face blanched white and she forced herself to sit down and compose herself.

"What do you mean?"

Dr. Pierce seated himself across her and got right to the point. "Right now, it does not look good. Mrs. Trenton is weakening fast and I don't think there is any way I can stop her from miscarrying without jeopardizing her health."

Jo drew a deep breath. "How far along is she?"

Dr. Pierce looked down. "Seven months," he answered, "I know she looks much sooner, but with her small body type, it is very easy to cover up the effects of pregnancy."

"Seven months..." Jo breathed. "Could it.."

"I don't know if the baby would survive," Dr. Pierce replied, his forehead wrinkled, "That is why I came to you, Mrs. Bhaer. I know that Mrs. Trenton put the decision on you."

All was silent as Jo meditated on the options and when she looked up from her thoughts, tears glistened in her eyes.

"Try..." her voice cracked and she cleared her throat noisily, "Try to save it."

The doctor stood and laid a hand on her arm.

"Thank you, Mrs. Bhaer. You've told me what I need to know."

As he left, Jo looked at Asia and broke into heaving sobs.

"Oh, Asia, did I do the right thing?"

Asia moved over and held her friend as she cried.

"You just hush now, Jo. You did what Meg wanted."

Asia could hear the desperation in Jo's voice.

"But did I do what was right for Meg?"

"I..." Asia searched her mind for any words of wisdom, but found nothing, "I don't know."

"Jo!?"

The voice came from behind them and they turned to see Amy leaning weakly against the doorpost, confusion and fatigue clouding her features.

Jo wiped her tears and put aside her thoughts. She had Amy to take care of now. Rising, she went to Amy and led her into the kitchen.

"Here, Amy, sit down and eat and I'll tell you all about it."

As she started to fix Amy a meal, Asia gave Jo a funny look. But Jo ignored it. No way was she going to tell Amy the truth about what was going on. Not while she was in her present condition. She determined that she would lie if she had to, because she would not lose both of her sisters in one day.

And Amy could definitely not handle hearing the truth.

After making sure Amy was fed and escorted safely back to bed, Jo took to wandering aimlessly around the house, touching things that Amy had collected from their childhood and reminiscing on past memories. She heard nothing more from upstairs and she spent most of the time in prayer, offering her sister up to God.

She smiled as she touched a china figurine that used to be Marmee's. A chip was broken off the cap of the statue and Jo stroked the little boy's set features. She remembered that day clearly.

"Josephine!" A little Jo looked up to see her great-aunt March parading toward her, skirts bustling. "What do you think you're doing!?"

She reached the girl and snatched the figurine out of her small hands. Holding it up to the light, the robust woman inspected it carefully.

"Hurrumph," she said, peering down at the startled girl, "Thank goodness you didn't damage it."

"But...," Jo tried to put in,

"Never mind, child, just make sure you keep your hands off your mama's precious collectibles." When the girl didn't answer in affirmative, Aunt March went on in her tirade.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with her things?" she scolded, her finger wagging.

Jo bristled as only a nine-year-old girl could. "Of course, she did," she exclaimed indignantly, "I mean, no, she didn't tell me I couldn't play with her things, but-"

"Just as I thought," Aunt March interrupted, her eyebrows going up-and-down, "Your mother has not set firm enough boundaries for you!"

Speechless, Jo just stared at her aroused aunt, mouth open.

Suddenly, a voice rose behind them, its pitch as high as could be.

"Marmee said that we could play with it, Aunt March!"

Jo twisted around to see her older sister standing firmly, eyes flashing, fists clenched. Aunt March gulped, unaccustomed to seeing usually unflappable Meg in such a tizzy.

"Well!" She huffed, patting her severe coiffure, "How was I supposed to know your mother gave you such spoiled liberties?"

Meg took a step toward the nervous woman, her body trembling. "AND," she stated firmly, "I don't think you have any right to judge our mother!"

Horrified, Aunt March sucked in a sharp breath and backed away, still clutching the afore-mentioned statue.

"How---How dare you speak to ME in that fashion!"

In her hurry to rush away and collect herself, she forgot about the stepstool directly behind her, and Meg and Jo watched helplessly as she vaulted backwards over it. The statue flew through the air and landed a few feet away.

"Aaaggh!!" She shrieked loudly, her legs kicking wildly.

Anger forgotten, Meg and Jo stared at each other, unsure what to do.

"I'll help Aunt March, you check on the statue," Meg proposed.

Jo giggled, glancing at her upside-down and very angry aunt, "Are you sure you should?"

Meg clasped her hands over her treacherous mouth and shook her head firmly.

"Stop it, Jo, don't get me started. We're already in enough trouble."

Properly chastised, Jo hurried to the fallen antique, hoping it was not broken.

She heaved a sigh of relief. There was only one little chip missing off the cap of the statue of the schoolboy.

"Is it alright?" Meg questioned, joining her sister.

"Is Aunt March alright?" Jo teased, hiding the figure behind her back.

"You first," Meg teased back.

"No, you first," Jo insisted.

"Honestly, Jo," Meg said in mock frustration, "Aunt March is fine. Mad, shaken up, but fine."

Jo rolled her eyes. "We'll end up paying for it in the future," she intoned.

"I know," Meg agreed, "Now it's your turn."

Jo smiled and produced the figurine. "It didn't break."

"Oh, good," Meg said in pleasure, taking it from Jo.

Cradling it in her hands, she smiled sweetly. "I want to have a little boy just like this someday," she murmured softly, eyes bright with dreams of the future.

"Just one?" Jo questioned, subdued by the longing in her sister's eyes.

"Oh, no," Meg replied, glancing at her younger sister. "Lots!"

"You will," Jo laughed softly. "I know you will."

A creak on the stairs jolted Jo out of her daydream and she glided out of the room she was in. Edward met her in the hallway.

"Hello, Jo."

Jo gasped at the sight of his thin, strained face. "Edward! Come, eat something," she urged, grasping his arm.

"No," he said, pulling his arm out of her grasp, "I can't stay, I need to get back to Meg, she needs me."

"How is she?" Jo asked, dreading the answer.

"Not good." He dropped his head, but not before Jo saw the grief welling up. "She lost the baby," he told her stoically.

Head bowed, Jo murmured, "I'm so sorry, Edward."

He lifted his head again and Jo saw the raw fear in them. "She knows, Jo, and now she's just laying there, not doing anything."

"What do you mean?" Jo asked, unsure what he meant.

"She won't fight!" Edward said fiercely, his face flushed, "She's just giving up!"

He dropped his head again, exhausted. "Doctor Pierce says that we might lose her."

"I can't...I can't lose her, Jo," he said weakly, leaning against the wall, "I love her."

He began to weep as a broken man and Jo felt her own tears break free.

"Let me talk to her."

"W-What?" Edward asked, momentarily forgetting his fear.

"Let me talk to her."

Jo walked into the darkened room and nodded at the doctor standing by the bed. He moved to intercept her path, but Jo quickened her step; she was on a mission and not to be stopped.

As she approached the bed, she tried not to gasp. Meg looked like a corpse; death hung around her. Her face was chalk white and even her hair seemed to have lost its luster.

"Meg..." she whispered hesitantly, not sure if she was conscious, "Are you awake?"

"Jo." Meg opened her eyes and tried to smile, reaching out with a frail hand. The smile disappeared when the weakened hand dropped onto the sheet without reaching its purpose. Jo reached down and grasped it, her eyes shining with unbidden tears. She just stared at her wan sister, saying nothing, letting Meg take the first step.

Meg drew a raspy breath and sighed permissively. "I love you, Jo."

Jo looked away, her grief threatening to overwhelm her.

"If you love me," she began, lip trembling, "Then fight for your life!"

Meg closed her eyes and tears slipped out of her closed lids.

"I...I can't..." was all she said.

"Yes you can!" Jo urged, squeezing her sister's hands, "Listen to me, Meg! You have your whole life ahead of you, and you can't just give that up so easily!"

"I know," Meg replied, "I just...I just don't have the energy left, Jo."

She continued, slowly forming the words with her cracked lips, "I wanted that baby so much, and now after all I just went through, it's gone," she tried to wave her hand in a dismissive gesture but failed, "Just..like..that!"

Her voice fell to where Jo could hardly hear her, "I'm so tired...I just want to go to sleep."

She closed her eyes and Jo felt alarm race through her as she realized that if she let her sister go to sleep, she would never wake up again.

"Meg, no, don't go to sleep," she said urgently, tears falling fast and furious, "Please!"

She shook her and finally Meg's eyes opened, blurry and unfocused.

"Leave me alone, Jo," she pleaded weakly, "I don't want to live."

"Yes you do, Meg," Jo argued, frantic for some way to change her determined sister's mind, "Think about me and...and...Edward, Meg, think about Edward! What would he do without you?"

"Edward, can't understand this, Jo," Meg told her sister, her eyes fluttering at every word, "He doesn't know this pain, he can't even fathom it!"

"Meg, listen to me," Jo said again, nearly pulling her sister into a sitting position, "I know that it feels like there is no hope right now, but it will get better, I promise!"

When Meg still looked unwilling and without a care, Jo made a last ditch effort.

"What about Demi and Daisy, Meg? What will they do without a Mother?" she questioned, and was awarded when Meg began to sob uncontrollably.

"My babies," she got out between sobs, "Oh, my babies, I can't leave them!"

"I know," Jo said soothingly, stroking her sister's tangled hair, "It will be alright, Meg, you'll see."

"Do you promise?" Meg questioned, looking up at her sister holding her like a small broken child.

"I promise, Meg."

"Take care of me, Jo," Meg beseeched, sinking back on the pillow.

Jo looked down lovingly at her sister, eyes bright with hope once more.

"I will."

The funeral was still several hours away, but in Meg's mind it was happening at that very moment. As she brushed her chestnut tresses, she smiled a wan smile. Funny how different her mindset had changed in only two months. It had taken her that long just to recover from the devastating early birth of her stillborn child and painful loss of part of her heart.

During that time, Meg wasn't even sure that she would ever be able to brush her hair again, but through Jo's loving care, she slowly recovered and found herself back to her old self. At least in body. The soul, she now knew and understood, took much longer to heal.

She had just finished pinning up her hair when a knock sounded on her bedroom door.

"Come in," she called out, turning to face the door. It swung open and Edward came in, fumbling with a small box.

"What do you have there?" She questioned her husband, standing up and moving forward to meet him.

"Oh, my," he said, looking up and seeing her the first time, "You look beautiful, Meg!"

"Thank you," she said simply, her eyes fixed on the box he held.

"Is that for me?" She asked, folding her hands primly.

"Yes," Edward answered, leaning in close to her, "But before I give it up, I want a kiss from my ravishing wife!"

"Oh, Edward...," Meg said softly, happily obliging, "I love you."

"And I love you," he replied.

"Sooo," he said dramatically, "I got this for you!"

"Oh," she squealed, opening the lid and sliding out a cloth-wrapped bundle.

Edward grinned happily at his wife's enthusiasm, just thankful that she was there to squeal.

"Ohhhh, Edward," she said breathlessly, holding up the pewter figurine he had chosen especially for her.

It was a pewter figure cast as a little girl kneeling in prayer, her little hands folded demurely, her curly black eyelashes casting dramatic shadows onto her light brown curls. On the front of her skirt there was a label that read simply, "Faith".

Meg looked up at him, eyes glistening with tears and threw herself into his arms.

"Thank you," she whispered into his shoulder, soaking his jacket with her tears.

But they were thankful tears.

Suddenly Edward jerked away with excited movements, startling Meg.

"I have an idea!"

"W-What?" Meg said, confusion written all over her face.

"Come on, dear," he said, pulling toward the door, "I'll tell you on the way."

"Edward!" She scolded, barely grabbing her shawl and hat before she was swept out of the room.

"Well, it's eleven o'clock," Rev. Foggers stated, peering at his pocket watch.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon, Reverend," Jo said for the third time.

Inwardly she wasn't so sure.

"What if Meg relapsed?" She whispered uneasily to Nick.

"Edward would have sent someone," he assured her, squeezing her gloved hand, "I'm sure they're just runnin' a little late."

"I hope so."

Across the lawn, several children stood impatiently.

Meg was a charitable aunt to some of the children at Plumfield, and an unknown benefactress to others. Jo had told them about the funeral several days before, and several of the children had opted to stay as she expected them to. But to her surprise, several unexpected others had decided to come along, including Dan, Nat, and Nan.

Jo sighed and shivered as the cold wind cut through her woven shawl. Noticing her trembling, Nick put an arm around her. He was rewarded with a sweet smile from Jo. Several yards away, the pastor frowned disapprovingly at them. Catching the glance, Nick ignored it and hoped Jo hadn't seen it. He relaxed when she stayed still.

"How much longer do you think it will be, Mrs. Bhaer?" The pastor inquired, his icy voice cutting through their thoughts.

"Why, I don't know, pastor. I hope it will be soon," Jo replied, frowning.

She didn't particularly like this cold, tactless pastor from Boston. Originally, Edward and Meg had planned on using the pastor from their home church, but Rev. Foggers was a family friend and had won the privilege to oversee the funeral. Therefore, Jo felt that she had the responsibility to at least remain civil toward him.

"Well," the pastor huffed, "I don't have all day, you know."

"Yes," Jo said, gritting her teeth, "I do."

"Believe me, I do...," she whispered under her breath, disliking this pastor more by the minute.

"Mrs. Jo! Mrs. Jo!" Nan came running up the lawn, skirts flapping. Out of breath, she paused for a minute, inciting Jo.

"Whatever possessed you, Nan..."

"They're here!" Nan interrupted, regaining her voice.

"Who's here?"

"A carriage is coming up the drive," Nan explained, face flushed, "I think it's Mr. Trenton's carriage."

"And," she continued, "The stone carver's coming right up behind them!"

"What?!" Jo cried, forgetting all rules of etiquette and hurried to see for herself.

"Whatever is going on?" She muttered as Nick strode past her to meet the carriage.

The door opened and Edward climbed out, turning to assist his wife. As Meg emerged, Jo rushed to meet her.

"Meg," she burst out, curiosity coloring her voice, "Whatever is going on?"

"It's nice to see you too," Meg said graciously, embracing her sister.

Moving past Jo, she greeted her parents.

"Hello Marmee. Father, I hope you are doing well."

"Ah, but it is you we should be worried about, dear daughter," Father March said in his deep voice.

"Oh, Father," Meg said, smiling, "I'm fine."

"Well, I'm not," Jo said, frustrated, "I would like to know what is going on."

"Oh, Jo," Meg sighed, rolling her eyes, "You have no patience!"

"I have no patience?!" Jo said disbelievingly, her voice shrill.

She put her hands on her hips. "I take care of over ten children, and I have no patience?!"

The group erupted with laughter, drawing a dirty look from Reverend Foggers.

"Y'know," Nick said teasingly, casting a meaningful look the minister's way, "We should probably get into a funeral mood, if you get my meaning..."

The crowd sobered drastically, quenching the lightheartedness that had been present before.

"Hmmm..." Father March hummed, his wise head nodding.

"Seems to me that a funeral ought to be a celebration of life, not death," he continued sagely, "Why, God put us here for a purpose, and through it all, we regard death as a dark, sad thing."

"What do you mean, father?" Jo questioned.

"Perhaps, just perhaps, death has its good qualities. Maybe death is a wonderful thing, because if the person who died went to heaven, perhaps they are better off." "And if we are going to heaven, then that means someday we'll be reunited with them."

"So," he finished, "Maybe we ought to be celebrating not mourning..."

Nick looked away, pain shooting through his blue eyes, and Jo seeing his sorrow, laid a hand on his muscular arm. Meg, tears streaming down her cheeks, moved to embrace her father.

"Thank you," she said brokenly, "I needed to hear that."

All moved in to make a group hug, combined with tears and laughter.

"Now all we need is Amy and Laurie," Nan broke in, realizing her mistake too late.

Fortunately only Bess heard her unfortunate comment, but that was enough. Bess felt tears well up and the sense of family well being disappeared. She felt cut off from the circle and backed off, intending to disappear until the funeral started. She turned around and almost ran into Dan, who seeing her distress, had moved to intercept her.

"Want to go for a walk?" He said smoothly, and felt relieved when for once, he didn't mess up and say something wrong.

Bess started to turn away and then seemed to change her mind.

She held out her hand and wiped away the intruding tears.

"Sure..."

"Are you alright?" Jo asked Nick gently. With his back turned on her, she could barely hear his reply.

"What?"

Nick turned around and repeated his answer. "I said, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Jo asked tenderly. To her surprise, she felt her hand move up to stroke his withdrawn face. His eyes reflected surprise as his head came up and then they softened as he placed a hand over hers.

"Yes," he whispered softly, his eyes telling her more than he could ever say.

"Could we get this funeral started?" Pastor Foggers's annoying voice broke into their moment and they jerked apart.

"Could you go bother somebody else?"

"Well...," the reverend spun around and disappeared, carrying his wounded pride with him.

"Nick!" Jo scolded half-heartedly, wishing somewhat that she had had the guts to say it.

"Well, he had it coming," Nick defended without malice, "He's the biggest sham of a preacher I ever saw."

"Shhh..." Jo said, glancing at the retreating clergyman.

"I gotta go help unload the headstone," Nick said and disappeared.

"So that's why the stone-cutter came," Jo said out-loud.

"But I thought that was already taken care of...Oh, well," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Deliberately putting it out of her mind, she started toward her family.

The funeral went by without incident and Jo was both relieved and disappointed. She had hoped that Amy would have at least shown up to support her sister. Amy had been avoiding all members of the family since Meg's miscarriage and Jo knew that her younger sister blamed herself for the terrible event. Yet, despite repeated attempts at reconciliation, Amy had alienated herself from the rest of the family.

Jo stood with the rest of the family and shook hands and accepted condolences. Afterwards, she hurried to the wagon. She had graciously lent Meg the use of Plumfield for the reception that always followed a funeral in their family. Now she needed to hurry home and help Asia with the cooking.

"Jo," Nick called out, walking toward her, "Do you want me to take the kids with me?"

"Yes, please do, Nick, I need to hurry home."

"Okay," he replied, looking around at the scattered children.

"Hope none of 'em have any qualms 'bout walkin' through a graveyard."

Jo glanced around too and pondered this. "Do you suppose I ought to wait for them?"

"Nah," Nick said and smiled, showing his strong white teeth, "They'll be fine. You go on. Mebbe I'll tell them some stories to go along with the mood."

"Don't you dare, Nick Riley!" Jo called out after his exiting form. His only response was to turn and throw out another attractive grin.

She frowned and slapped the reins on Marty's flank, jolting the cart.

"That man..." she murmured.

But she couldn't help but smile.

"How much longer, Asia?" Jo wiped a hand across her sweaty brow.

"Soon..." Asia offered noncommittally before noticing Jo's frazzled condition.

"What's the matter, Jo?"

Jo threw her friend a roll of the eyes before slumping in a chair.

"Vultures, that's what they are."

Asia chuckled and turned back to the cooking stew.

"Well, they are your relatives."

Jo blew a curl out of her eyes and sighed heavily, "I never knew there were so many!"

"Or that they would like my cooking so much," Asia added dryly.

"Jo!" Meg rushed in and surveyed the mess in the kitchen with wide eyes.

"Please tell me that that stew is done!"

"I wish," Jo grunted belligerently.

Asia frowned at her employer and said kindly, "It'll be soon, Meg."

"Soon!" Meg cried, throwing herself into another chair, "Soon isn't enough! I need it now!"

"I think.." Jo stated, "...this was a bad idea..."

Suddenly, she did a double take.

"Amy!" She gasped, hopping up out of her chair.

Her younger sister was standing by the open doorway, seemingly frozen in position. At Jo's exclamation, Amy somehow found the courage to walk forward and address her sisters.

"Jo, Meg," she said in an informal tone, "May I have a moment?"

Glancing at Meg, Jo spoke for both of them. "Of course."

Then remembering Asia, and her commitment to the food, she said, "Wait."

"Go ahead, Jo," Asia said, knowing what she was thinking beforehand, "Why don't you go outside?"

"Good idea," Jo said, smiling gratefully at her friend.

Turning, she followed Amy, with Meg right behind.

Amy walked to the fence spanning the corral and stopped, her back to her sisters. Jo and Meg waited, knowing she would talk when she was ready.

When she did turn to face them, they were surprised to see the raw grief etched into her face.

"Oh, Amy," Meg cried and moved to embrace her. And with an air of relief, Amy let her sister hug her. She wrapped her arms around Meg and sobbed as if her heart was broken. And in a way, it had been.

"Shhhhh...," Meg crooned in a soothing voice as if comforting a small child, "It's alright."

"Oh, Meg," she said after the tears had run out, "I'm so sorry."

"Shush Amy," Meg scolded, "Don't you know I've already forgiven you?"

"How could you, Meg?" Amy whimpered in disbelief, "How could you forgive me after I've been so...so...beastly!"

Jo felt herself tear up and she wept unabashedly as she watched her sisters re-unite.

"Oh, Amy," Meg said sweetly, happiness spread across her face, "It's the power of love. I love you and there is no way I could stay angry with you."

Amy quieted and looked down at her hands. "I haven't been a very good sister to you."

Meg took hold of her hands, forcing her to look her in the eye. "It's a fresh new start, Amy. A new beginning. From now on, we'll forget this ever happened."

"How could you forget about losing your child!?" Amy said bluntly.

Meg looked down; the light in her eyes dimmed somewhat. Then they brightened again.

"I'll never forget that, Amy, it's etched into my mind. But even though the pain will always be there, I'm at peace. I'm thankful for the small things I have and I have faith that someday I'll see my little girl again."

"A little girl?" Amy leaned forward and searched Meg's face. "You had a little girl?"

"Yes. And she was so beautiful."

Amy sighed painfully; the old agony was back in her eyes.

Meg reached forward again and grasped her younger sibling's hands. "Please don't blame yourself, Amy. It wasn't your fault I lost her."

"Yes," Jo joined in, "There was no way you could have caused her to miscarry."

"I know."

"Do you?" Meg prodded gently.

"Yes," Amy said firmly, "I do."

"You don't look like you do," Jo said.

"Don't you think it hurts me too, Jo?" Amy accosted, a little bit of anger in her voice, "I'm not stone cold."

"Yes. I guess it does," Jo said, looking down, ashamed at her assumptions.

Reaching over, Amy let go of Meg's hands and took hold of Jo's. "I forgive you, Jo."

"I forgive you too."

"I forgive you too."

"Sisters again?" Amy offered.

"We'll always be sisters, Amy," Meg said laughingly, "We can't help that."

"Then friends?"

"Friends," Jo said, putting out a hand like in her childhood days.

Amy and Meg followed suit.

"Friends."

"Friends."

Raising their arms up to the sky, they finished the childhood ritual.

"FRIENDS!"

Laughing, they hugged each other.

"I feel twelve again," Jo admitted, wiping away happy tears.

"I think it's time for that walk," Meg stated matter-of-factly.

"What walk?" Jo and Amy said simultaneously.

Meg winked slyly. "The one that I was planning on taking Jo on and now have another person to join me on."

"Oh," Jo said in a puzzled tone.

"Come on," Meg said, dragging her sisters into the woods.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Amy said breathlessly, seeing the awakening world through new eyes.

"Spring is always beautiful," Meg agreed.

Jo had her mind on other things.

"Meg," she pleaded, "won't you tell us where we're going?"

Meg laughed heartily, her cheeks flushed from the sharp breeze.

"I hold to my claim, Jo."

"What claim?"

"That you have no patience," Meg said in a superior tone, her nose in the air.

"Jo has no patience!?" Amy said in disbelief, "I'd say she has the most patience of all of us."

"Except for Beth," Jo said, suddenly serious.

"Yes, no one was more of a peacemaker than Beth," Amy said wistfully, remembering days long past.

"We're here!" Meg announced, breaking the spell.

"The cemetery?" Amy and Jo glanced at each other, worry spread over their faces.

Meg laughed at their anxiety, "Oh, come on, girls, I'm not losing it, I promise."

"Why did you bring us here, Meg?" Jo questioned, eyeing the depressing scene before them.

Meg smiled and pulled them forward.

"I want to show you something."

Still uncertain, Amy and Jo let themselves be led along a winding path between row after row of headstones.

"Here we are," Meg announced.

"What exactly are we supposed to be looking at?" Amy asked, hitching her skirt up and out of the mud.

Meg rolled her eyes comically. "Honestly, Amy, the only fresh-dug grave?"

Amy's eyes lit up when she located it and then dimmed as she realized what it was.

"This..is..your baby's grave?"

Meg drew in a deep breath and nodded.

Kneeling by the headstone, she was oblivious to the fresh mud as she stroked the newly inscribed letters on its side.

"Meg?" Jo prodded gently.

Meg held a hand up and motioned her sisters down without looking up. Amy and Jo did what they were told silently, though Amy wrinkled her nose in distaste at the mud. When they were safely positioned, Meg grabbed their hands tightly.

"Read it," she commanded.

Peering closely, Amy and Jo could barely make out the letters.

It read:

"You named her?" Amy asked hoarsely.

"Yes," Meg said, as tears began to fall down all of the women's cheeks, "I named her Faith, because I have faith that I will see her again someday."

"Oh, Meg," Jo said, tears falling uncontrollably, "I've never known someone so full of peace."

"A gift from heaven," Meg replied.

"Maybe...maybe Faith sent it to you," Amy suggested.

Meg's eyes widened and then she threw her arms around her younger sister.

Pulling Jo into the circle, Meg whispered softly, "I think you're right, Amy."

And way up in the sky, a voice whispered back:

"Have faith, dear sisters."

Thank you for reading my story! If you have any comments or critiques of it, please feel free to email me with them at jade21084@ccnmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!