Theodore Laurence only spoke two words, but those words held more meaning to Estella March than anything anyone had ever said to her before (apart from perhaps when he admitted he was in love with her).

"Don't leave."

That was all it took. The broken look in his eyes, red clouding his irises. They had stayed up all night talking and crying in each other's arms, so both of their eyes were red, puffy, and black bags where heavy underneath their eyes.

"I don't want to." Estella replied.

"Estella! Time to go!" Her Aunt March yelled. It was almost as if she was mocking the pair.

"Coming!" Stella replied. And for the last time, she kissed her Theodore. Her Laurie. Her person. And he kissed her back with just as much bittersweetness as she poured in.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I'll run away. Dennis and I will escape and he can marry Amy and I can marry you and-"

"I'll come for you. I'll get you out." Teddy wiped Stella's tears away as she had just done for him. She kissed the palm of his hand, her forehead against his, and with another call from her Aunt, she smiled sadly and walked off.

That was the moment Theodore Laurence's heart broke more. Watching her walk away. And what hurt even more? He couldn't go after her.

___________

"Dennis." Stella smiled at her fiancé. They had a plan. They were 'in love' and Aunt March could not be happier. But tomorrow, tomorrow was exactly three weeks before the wedding. They were not getting married. But someone was coming to visit. To watch Stella and her love get married, and she was bringing Stella's love with her.

Amy would pretend to be Stella, the veil covering the obvious difference between the girls.

Whilst this was happening, Stella and Laurie would make a fun for it, and with the wedding going on— nobody would notice. They'd find a nice house in France and visit home nine times a year. They would get married and have a family and nothing would stop them.

But it was all destroyed when Aunt March told them that the veil had tragically been destroyed, and they would have to do without, instead make do with a tiara.

So Stella and Dennis sat on the bed that they were supposed to share, although every night they snuck out and slept on the balcony as it was summer and very, very warm, and they wrote to Amy and Laurie.

Dearest Teddy,

Our plan has failed. The vail was destroyed so Amy will not be able to cover her face and pretend to be me. We won't be able to escape and we won't be able to find a nice house in Paris and visit home a dozen times a year.

I am devastated. You arrive in two weeks. If you can think of a plan, please tell me. I need to be with you, and Dennis needs to be with Amy. We're going insane.

I love you more than you could ever imagine.

Yours,

Ellie.

She kissed the letter for luck, before sealing the envelope it was enclosed in and running with Dennis to the door where the postman would be in exactly three minutes and twelve seconds. Every detail was planned out when sending letters, and the postman knew not to tell of the letters.

Stella handed the letter to Dennis and he handed the letters to the postman. Stella leaned against the wall.

"What do we do now?" Dennis asked, copying her actions.

"We wait."

___________

Two weeks later

Dennis and Stella had to pretend that they were in love, tonight. They had to kiss and dance and socialise like a couple, in front of Amy and Laurie. In front of their true loves. Stella could hardly wait to see them, and Meg, Jo, Beth, Marmee, Papa, Mr Laurence, Charlotte and Hannah.

"Remember," Stella began, wringing her hands and pursing her lips, "We never kiss on the lips, only cheek, forehead, or make it look like we're kissing. But so help me Dennis Primrose if your lips touch mine you are a dead man."

Dennis nodded, sighing. He wasn't listening to a word she said. He wanted his Amy. His love.

Stella's harsh gaze softened.

"It'll be okay. We'll think of something. We still have a week, and Laurie's smart. I should know, I taught him." Stella joked, but trailed off at the thought.

He had always made her say the stupidest things in Latin, and then say them with the sweetest voice to poor, unsuspecting Mr Brooke. Laurie then realised that Mr Brooke also spoke Latin.

It was moments like those that made Stella know Theodore Laurence was hers. No matter what.

And not even Aunt March could stop her.

_____________

"It's nearly perfect." Stella spoke up, scanning the room for her family. "They mustn't have arrived yet."

Dennis knew exactly what she was talking about. His leg was bouncing up and down with nerves, before Mr and Mrs Primrose came and swept him away. Stella looked around again. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Stella grinned. She knew that face from a mile away. Josephine March, wearing a beautiful ball gown. Jo scratched her arm. Stella laughed with relief. Same old Jo.

Next came pregnant Meg and not- pregnant Mr Brooke, looking ever so happy, and Meg looking ever so glowy.

Then Beth, her head ducked down to avoid the stares of the people watching her walk down the stairs.

Then came Amy, and Stella reached blindly for Dennis, him immediately seeing her and his eyes lighting up.

Then was Marmee and Papa, and Stella was trembling with anticipation.

Then Mr Laurence walked out, a blushing Hannah on his arm. Stella giggled at that, imagining the old ladies mutters. "Oh my!" She heard.

Then Kate and Fred, Charlotte standing further away from them, smiling at Jo. She caught Stella's eye and Stella winked, making Charlotte blush, knowing they'd been discovered.

Then was Laurie.

Time stopped as he looked around for her. He saw her, standing with Dennis, in the most stunning ball gown he had ever seen. But he wasn't quite sure if it was the actual dress or if it was just the wearer.

Jo tackled Stella in a hug, Meg joining in soon after. Stella's hands went to Meg's stomach, and she felt a kick.

"She likes me." Stella giggled.

"How do you know it's a girl?" Meg giggled.

"I just know." She smiled.

Then came Amy, who kissed her on the cheek, and whispering how everything would be okay, before ditching her to be with Dennis.

"Beth!" Stella exclaimed.

The party guests looked on at the sisters fondly, they obviously loved each other very much.

"Marmee, Papa." She hugged each of them, before kissing Mr Laurence on the cheek and hugging Hannah.

And as much as she had been looking forward to seeing the next guest, she didn't want to look up, as she knew what it meant.

"Hello." She whispered, finally facing her Laurie.

a/n here it is. sorry for breaking your hearts but like at the same time i'm not sorry at all