The sisters all sat in the attic, dressed as men, sitting like men, acting as if they were men. Meg was standing, reading from a newspaper in a funny accent which Stella understood to be English.

"A new play, written by Miss Jo March, will appear at the Barnville Theatre, in the course of the next few weeks, which will surpass anything ever seen on the American Stage!" The 'men' applauded.

"Starring the greatest actress from here to the Mississippi River— Meg March!" Jo exclaimed, and the girls dressed as men whooped and cheered, Stella wolf whistling.

"Weekly report— Meg, good. Jo, bad. Stella, very good. Beth, excellent. Amy, middling."

"Well done sirs!" Amy cheered.

"Excellent." Beth confirmed.

Stella, or rather Mr. President, stood to say something, and the 'men' applauded as she stood.

"You're too kind." She said in her own English accent, bowing.

"Gentlemen- As the president, I wish to propose a new member. One who highly deserves the honour, would be deeply grateful, and would add immensely to the spirit of the club. I propose Mr Theodore Laurence!" The girls shook their heads and dropped the funny voices.

"No." Meg said clearly.

"Absolutely not!" Jo shouted.

"Come on now, let's have him." Stella pleaded.

"He's a real boy!" Amy exclaimed.

"We don't want any boys, this is a club for ladies!" Meg cried.

"I think we should do it, even if we are afraid. I say yes, it's Laurie." Beth declared, and Stella grinned at her, waving frantically at her sister.

"Then we shall vote, and remember that it's our Laurie and I shall never speak to you again if you say no. Everyone in favor say 'aye'!" Stella put her hand in the air.

Her sisters all followed, some albeit reluctantly.

Laurie fell through the clothes and Stella cackled at her sisters as they screamed and jumped into each other's arms.

"You're evil!" Jo screamed at Stella.

"You traitor!" Amy exclaimed in shock.

"You rogue!" Meg joined in.

Beth simply let out a breathy laugh.

"Ladies please— this is my stratagem! I deserve the blame: Elle only gave in after lots of teasing." Laurie bowed deeply.

"Hear hear!" Stella cried.

Jo groaned at the new nickname. She didn't want to lose Stella. Stella was innocent like Beth, and although she always said she agreed with Jo's views on marriage— she now seemed to be doubting herself.

"I merely wish to say, that as a slight token of my gratitude and a means of promoting friendly relations between two nations, I propose this set of keys for a little post office Elle and I made in the forest by the pond." Laurie revealed a box, opening it and showing six keys.

Taking one of them, he began to speak again, "Allow me to present five copies of the key, and with many thanks for your favour, take my seat as part of the club!"

Stella took the box from him and gave one of the keys to each of them, taking the yellow one for herself.

______________

"Where is my other glove?" Meg asked Stella, and Stella shrugged, before Jo yelled down the stairs.

"That's mine!"

"We're going to be late!" Meg exclaimed, and Stella ran about, hopping up and down as she put her shoes on.

"Where are you going?"

"You're not invited!" Jo said rudely, and Stella sighed.

"We're going to the theatre, Amy." Stella explained, and kissed her sister on the forehead, then kissed Beth on the cheek.

"Have you got the tickets?"

"The tickets!" Stella ran upstairs and grabbed the tickets, and by the time she got back, Amy and Jo were bickering.

"I don't want chords! I want to go to the theatre!" Amy huffed.

Stella showed Meg the tickets and sighed as Jo and Amy kept arguing.

"You'll be sorry for this, Jo March! You will!" Amy screamed, and Stella gave her a quick hug.

"We can go sometime, just us three. Without those boring old women. I've got to go. Don't wait up for us!" Stella called, running after Meg and Jo.

"Come on, Stel! Stop petting her!" Jo called, and Stella shut the door behind her.

____________

Stella sat in the middle of her two sisters and the two men. Laurie on her left and Jo on her right. The play was incredible, Stella expected no less.

Through a particularly interesting part, she felt a pair of eyes on her as she laughed at the joke that had just been told.

Stella leaned over to Laurie and whispered, "Are you staring at me because I'm pretty or because I have something on my face?"

"Because you're beautiful." Laurie whispered back, and Stella smiled at her lap.

"Thank you, Teddy."

_______________

The five exited the theatre, and Stella watched as Mr Brooke offered her sister his arm. Meg took it. Her jaw dropped and she looked at Jo, who mirrored her expression, but she ran on and took Meg's arm.

Laurie outstretched his arm, and Stella ignored it, putting her arm around his back and resting her hand on his shoulder, her head on his other shoulder. He wrapped his, in turn, around her waist. He then dug his fingers into her waist, tickling her.

"Teddy!" She shrieked, running from him, she ran past her sisters, and 'Teddy' ran after her. She circled around Mr Brooke, and hid behind him.

"John don't let him get me! John don't you dare!" John stepped aside, letting Laurie past him.

"Jo help me! Meg!" Stella laughed, Jo stepping in front of her and letting out a battle-cry, running at Laurie and play fighting with him.

Stella stepped between them, kissing them both on the cheek, then, looped her arms through theirs.

"Let's go home, I'm exhausted." Stella walked in the direction of their houses.

______________

"Hello Amy, Beth." Stella greeted, sitting in the middle of the two sisters. She looked to the doll that Beth clutched in her arms. "How do you do, Joanna?"

Joanna and Stella began to have a conversation, with Beth translating what the doll had to say.

"Meg you're a million times better than she was— though she was a terrific fainter!" Jo yelled, running up the stairs.

Beth immediately turned to Stella, asking her about the night at the theatre, and oh! How was Laurie?

"I wonder how she managed to turn that white?" Meg wondered aloud.

"Hold on, let me just get this idea down." Jo called.

"Beth, what's your favourite eye colour?"

"Purple."

"Mr Brooke has blue eyes and an old soul which is much more important than money."

"Tell that to Aunt March." Stella grinned.

"Has anyone taken my novel?" Jo asked slowly.

"No, but I would love to read it whenever you get the chance, Jo." Stella said, turning back to Beth.

"No." Meg and Beth said at the same time.

"Amy... you've got it." Jo accused.

"No I haven't."

"That's a lie!" Jo grabbed Amy's shoulders.

"It isn't! I haven't got— I don't know where it is and I don't care!" Amy yelled.

"Tell me or I'll make you!" Stella jumped to her feet, grabbing Amy and pulling her away from Jo, as Meg grabbed Jo, yelling for their mother.

"I BURNT IT! I BURNT YOUR BOOK! I TOLD YOU I'D MAKE YOU PAY AND I DID!" Amy screamed. Stella dropped her in shock.

"You wicked girl! You wicked, wicked girl! I can never write it again! I'll never forgive you as long as I live!" Jo lunged for Amy and beat her.

"Marmee!" Stella screamed in horror, shaking with fear, tears running down her face.

Minutes later, Jo sat with her head on Beth's shoulder, Meg hugging her, and Stella curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth beside Jo's feet.

"I'm sorry Jo." Amy whispered, and Stella jumped. Marmee sat down beside the middle daughter and held her close to her. Stella's eyes shut and tears running down her cheeks, nearly as upset as Jo.

Estella was only scared of a few things. And her sisters fighting was one of them. She hated it more than anything, and was grateful it only happened sometimes, because each time it did, she forgot to eat, sleep, drink, and sat for hours staring into space and crying.

"Amy-" Marmee began, but Amy quickly began speaking again.

"It's just the only thing you care about is your writing- so it's not as if I could hurt you by ruining one of your dresses. And I really did want to hurt you. I am the most sorry for it now."

Jo looked at Amy and spoke angrily, her voice shaking, "I care about many things. I care about my family more than I care for writing. But you don't-"

"If you cared for your family then you wouldn't have made Stella cry!" Amy replied, and everyone looked at Stella, who was sobbing silently in her mother's arms, her hands over her ears.

"I will never forgive you! I will hate you forever!" Jo screamed, storming out of the room. Marmee followed her.

The remaining three sisters dropped to the floor to comfort Stella, who had always been the most sensitive out of the five (Beth being a close second, but she was very brave.)

_____________

Stella sat at the table for breakfast early in the morning. She didn't sleep very well that night. The nightmares were back. Beth sat beside her once she came downstairs, and Stella bowed her head so Beth couldn't see her tears.

Jo joined them soon, then Meg.

Then Amy.

She sat beside Jo. Jo stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. Stella jumped.

"Good morning ladies! It's brisk and brilliant and I think the last day for the river." Teddy came into the house full of life and unaware of the drama that had just happened. Jo stood up again and walked out the door. Stella stood up after her and Laurie took her hand, leading her to the door.

"Jo promised I could come too last time! She's foul!" Stella heard Amy say, but she walked out the door anyway, and saw Jo walking into the forest to calm down.

Stella and Teddy were so caught up in talking that they didn't hear young Amy yelling to wait. They skated on, and Amy continued to race after them.

"Stay near the edge! It's not safe in the middle." Stella grabbed Laurie as he nearly fell, and he laughed.

"Ready?"

"Are you?" Stella joked, before they skated away. Further away from Amy who was skating in the middle of the ice. Further away from Jo who was watching from the forest.

Stella skated straight into Laurie at one point, making them both fall onto the snow. They had no time to resister the fact that their spaces were millimetres apart before they heard a scream.

"Help! HELP!" A voice cried, and Stella stood immediately.

"Teddy that was Amy!" Stella screamed, skating towards her.

"Grab a branch!" She called to Teddy.

"Marmee!" Stella screamed, taking the branch from Theodore and thrusting it in the direction of Amy.

"Amy, it's okay! Grab the branch! I've got you!" Jo stood at the end of the ice screaming.

"Teddy!" Stella yelled as she began to slip closer to the edge.

Laurie grabbed Amy's arm, pulling her up onto the ice and into Stella's arms.

"Amy, oh sweet, poor Amy." Stella began to cry harder, partly from the aching of her now bleeding hands, but mostly from the fact her sister almost died. And it was all her fault.

"I thought you were Jo. I only wanted to make things right." Amy said through clattering teeth.

Stella took off her coat and wrapped Amy in it, both her and Laurie helping the child to safety. Jo ran inside and the three freezing teenagers were greeted by Meg, Beth, Hannah and Marmee.

Meg wrapped Stella in her coat, Beth helped her sit down and warm herself by the fire, and Marmee told Hannah to fetch the doctor.

Jo sat with Amy, hugging her and apologising. Beth and Meg went to get tea and bandages for their sisters, and Stella sat for the second time in less than 24 hours, cradling herself and crying.

Stella jumped when she felt arms around her, but calmed upon realising it was only Teddy.

"Thank you." Stella whispered into Laurie's chest.

"It's all going to be alright. I promise." Teddy whispered back.

She simply cried more.

a/n 2020 words for 2020!! i'm writing this ahead of when i'm posting it so bare with me lmao.

also this chapter sucks but i wanted to add it as i felt this part really strengthened jo and laurie's bond with each other— however, they aren't together in this fic, so it has to be different.

i wasn't sure how to do this and i'm sure i haven't done it justice but i needed to put it in.

as well as that, there was a lil bit of harmless flirting there hehe

lots of luv