C H A P T E R   F O U R T E E N
A   Year   In   Waiting

It was happening all over again, like a time loop. Delia stepped off the carriage, thanking the coachman before helping her sisters out. Their mother decided it was best for her to stay home as she had to keep the house running and make money for the family.

     None of them argued, it seemed like arguing wasn't the way to go for their household in the past weeks.

The coachman stepped off of his seat behind the horses and ran to the trunk to get the girls their suitcases. The coachman looked familiar to Delia but she decided to not say a peep, she didn't want to make the man uncomfortable.

"Where are we staying at?" Charlotte questioned, looking out at the vast land.

"Aunt Marie and Uncle Daryl, hopefully, they won't torment you two." Delia joked before walking forward and onward to the Acker household there in Concord.

Delia's joke wasn't a very funny one as no one laughed however, her mind was in cloud nine, she didn't even notice the negatives at that point. 

On the long trek to their Aunt and Uncle's house, Charlotte and Harriet were refusing to let out screams of joy, they bit their lip and balled their hands into fists and Delia noticed.

"Stop that," She nudged both of her sisters with a reasonable amount of force.

"We can't help it," Harriet said, staring at the ground.

"Yeah, we aren't like you. Sometimes you're like an emotionless ghost." Charlotte mumbled that comment made Delia take Charlotte's hand and forced her to face her, glaring at her younger sister before dropping their hands and continuing to walk.

Once Delia saw the Laurence house, she stopped, breathing in the fresh air and looking at the home with a thoughtful expression.

Charlotte and Harriet seemed to notice something was off and decided to continue walking even though they had no idea where their aunt and uncle's house is, they just wanted to leave Delia alone for a moment.

By the time they walked 6 feet, Delia snapped out of her daze and ran to up to catch up with her sisters.

"Hurry up you two, our aunt and uncle are awaiting us." Delia surpassed her sisters and started running full speed to the Acker Household. Feeling her hand cling onto her suitcase for dear life.

Secretly, Delia hoped they'd have to stay somewhere else but there wasn't anywhere to go. Delia would've asked her mother to find them somewhere else to stay but her mother had enough to worry about, like finances.

Part of Delia though... wanted to stay with her aunt and uncle again. They weren't all too bad but Delia liked holding grudges against people who did something unforgettably horrible to her. In this case, it felt more like a betrayal to her.

To her surprise, Delia found Aunt Marie lounging at their front deck. When her aunt saw Delia, there was a slight curvature in her lips.

"Delia, welcome back. It's been about a year in waiting." Aunt Marie opened her arms for a hug, it was an awkward one it was.

They both seemed uncomfortable, luckily Charlotte and Harriet arrived immediately after the hug so Delia didn't have to make conversation.

"Oh! The twins!" Harriet and Charlotte waved to their aunt, shutting their mouths and trying to be polite.

"I haven't seen you two since you were little toddlers." Aunt Marie seemed happy enough, maybe way too happy. There was something else off about her to Delia.

"Well, come in." The aunt swung the door wide open, it looked the same to Delia, except some things were out of place.

"Where's Uncle Daryl?" Delia studied the dining room and kitchen which are visible from the doorway.

"Uncle Daryl's been running errands, he'll be back soon." Aunt Marie assured them and brought them up to Delia's old room.

There were a few things that caught Delia's eye, there was another mattress that was sat on the ground. As well as a paper bag that sat on the bedside table to the sister's right.

"You can decide who sleeps where Daryl and I thought one bed would be a bit uncomfortable for three of you to sleep in."

"I'm not sleeping on the—"

"It's fine, Aunt Marie, thank you for all you've done." Delia cut off Charlotte who was about to claim a bed for herself.

"Hey! Manners, Delia." Charlotte pushes her sister with all her might but Delia didn't budge.

"Not now, little Charlie," Delia called her sister by her nickname, luckily that got her to shut up for just a moment.

"I'll leave you all be then—"

"What's that?" Charlotte pointed to the bag, asking her aunt with a burning curiosity.

"That's a little something for Delia, you'll have to ask her what it is once she's opened it." And with that, Aunt Marie left the room, shutting the door behind her.

The room seemed a lot more crammed inside and crowded after they placed the other mattress in the room. Harriet turned to Delia who had a smirk on her face.

"I'm gonna guess you know who sent that."

"Wise ol' Harriet, of course, I know who sent it." Charlotte snickered at what Delia called her twin, stopping herself because Harriet was glaring at her.

"Then you better go thank them," Harriet replied and Delia bobbed her head, walking towards the bedside table and hesitantly taking the bag.

She used her thumb and index fingers to pinch and hold the paper bag, taking a peek and silently gasping once she saw its contents.

There was a flower crown filled with bright green leaves, white and blue hydrangeas as well as blue irises. Underneath the crown was a card that read, "A crown for a princess. For tomorrow, —Laurie."

That quote gave Delia flashbacks to the time when Arry's little boyfriends caught Delia staring down at them. It did make her anxious and her palms started to stress.

"Well, what is it?" Charlotte's eagerness was overwhelming, Delia could feel her emotion from a mile away.

"I'll tell you soon enough, Charlotte."

"What about me?" Harriet chimed into the conversation.

"You'll wait with your sister. Now, get to work and unpack your things."

* * * * *

Meg's Wedding was quite the amusement. Delia has always dreamt of her wedding or going to a wedding, she only usually read them in books and stories, like
at the end of the book, signalling a happily ever after.

Meg looked absolutely stunning in her white dress, she had a long veil and a flower crown on her head, as well as all the other March sisters and of course, Delia.

To be honest, Delia was bummed she wasn't one of the bridesmaids but at least she got to attend the wedding. She and her sisters were seated at the back, Jo, Beth, Amy and Laurie were stood there and Delia could feel Laurie's eyes on her.

Mr. March was the officiant for the wedding, Delia remembered a letter she received from the March sisters detailing their father's return home.
This was the first time Delia would meet the man, he looked nice enough.

And then she saw Aunt March. Delia heard some horrible stories about her but she didn't assume the worst in people she hasn't met. She couldn't be that bad.

The fall air was crisp and cold when Delia breathed through her mouth, her throat had a soothing chilling sensation that calmed her down.

"I pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride." Mr. March stated Meg let out a giggle as she turned to her husband and her husband to her, ending in a kiss as they embraced each other.

Everyone in their seats stood up, clapping and cheering, Delia included. She motioned for her sisters to stand and clap as which they did.

"That was... so boring." Charlotte sighed.

"Hush, Charlotte." Delia scowled at her sister, slowing her clapping.

"The festivities are where the fun happens," Delia informed her sisters, Harriet nodded while Charlotte just stared in front of her.

"Let the festivities begin!" John announced and the invitees cheered in excitement.

Moments later everyone was dancing and laughing. There was food that sat on tables covered in white table cloths and some people were getting food or getting drinks.

Most people were on the dance floor dancing the hours away. Charlotte and Harriet were taking a tour of all the food available, their stomachs were churning for the delectable delights.

"Delia..." Laurie pronounced Delia's name in a way that sent chills down her spine. The girl spun around to face him.

"Laurie..." She gasping and mumbled underneath her breath, her heart pounding against her chest. She recalled the last time they were together, fear in her eyes.

"Did I scare you?" He asked, sensing the fear in Delia like the smell of skunk spray in the air.

"Just a little fright," Delia answered, turning her head to check on her sisters but they disappeared from her sight.

"...You look beautiful." Laurie grinned, his gaze lingered on the blue and white flower crown that rested on Delia's head. His eyes then staring directly into Delia's icy blue eyes.

"Thank you," Delia uttered.

There was a long pause, the music ringing in Delia's ears before Laurie asked, "Would you bring me the honour of dancing with you?"

"We've danced before, Theo." Delia sighed, wiping the sweat off her hands.

"It doesn't hurt to do it again." Laurie had an upsetting expression on his face which made Delia grab his hand and guide him to the dancing area.

Everyone else was dancing with their friends or partners, they looked happy like they didn't have a care in the world.

Delia wrapped her hands around Laurie's neck and his hands around her waist. They rocked back and forth, tripping on Delia's dress and stepping on each other's shoes. It did bring laughs and smiles from ear to ear to the two of them.

"Look at that improvement," Laurie smirked.

"My dancing... has definitely not improved," Delia said, looking down at her dress.

"I wasn't talking about your dancing," Laurie replied immediately.

"Good to know..."

"I was talking about your confidence." There was a smile that appeared out of nowhere after Laurie uttered those words.

"God, you're nicer than I remember." Laurie chuckled at Delia's comment and suddenly twirled her around, a lump formed in Delia's throat as she thought she would fall.

There was that laugh again, Delia thought, hearing Laurie laugh at her shocked expression.

"Dancing really gets my heart beating." She huffs in exhaustion after that twirl move Laurie pulled on Delia.

"I know what gets my heart beating," Laurie commented smugly, he had that longing look on his face again and he was staring directly at Delia.

"Stop it, Laurie." Delia shook her head while grinning to herself, pushing Laurie quite harshly.

"Will you come to find me later?"

"We'll see, Theodore Laurence." Delia leaned in and whispered softly into Laurie's ear. Laurie had an endearing look on his face, biting his lip while thinking of whether Delia's answer wasn't a yes or a no.

The girl walked over to get some champagne, filling her cup up with the fizzy drink. Delia isn't a big alcohol fanatic but she drinks from time to time.

When she turned around to face the large crowd of people, she saw Aunt March being asked by Mr. Laurence and Laurie to dance which caused her to chuckle, nearly spitting champagne everywhere.

For an odd reason, Delia decided to introduce herself to Aunt March to figure out her personality for herself.

"Aunt March, I've heard so many things about you." Delia hid the fear that crept into her voice. Aunt March didn't have the friendliest look on her face at that moment.

The old lady seemed rather shocked, yet tired of people coming up to her and disturbing her peace.

"And who are you?" She asked, tilting her head away from Delia's direction.

"Delia Acker, I'm—"

"You're that girl my nieces keep talking about and the girl that that Laurence boy keeps staring at." She cut off the nervous girl. Delia could feel her face get warmer and hotter as blood rushes to her face.

"You're a bit red, girl." Aunt March laughed at her, turning to look at where Laurie was.

"Oh, he's looking at you again." She pointed at Laurie and he immediately turned his head away so Delia wouldn't catch him checking up on her.

"The Laurence boy is trouble and my nieces like troubled boys."

"Laurie is no trouble boy, he's actually quite likeable." Delia attempted to defend Aunt March's sly insults but somehow, the old lady was able to get into Delia's mind, making her second guess her contradictions.

"Being likeable will get you nowhere in life, now run along, girl. Run back to your friends and your lover." Aunt March bellowed, her words echoed through Delia's head, it felt like someone hit Delia's head every 30 seconds.

Silently, Delia walked off back into the sea of people who were laughing, eating, dancing and talking. She felt lonely, like the odd one out.

When she turned her head around to see what Aunt March was doing, she saw the Aunt's dagger-like eyes piercing her flesh. She was staring at her with a strict and unwelcoming look on her face.

"Lia!" Jo ran over to her seemingly lost friend and hooked her arm around Delia's trying to brighten the dying star up.

"Jo... I thought you hate weddings." Delia frowned at her friend.

"Oh, I do. I'm just acting happy so Meg won't be dejected." Jo said, placing her right hand on Delia's right shoulder, squeezing it to reassure her.

"You... hate love," Delia mumbled, still not looking up at Jo.

"I do but not sisterly love nor family love," Jo replied.

"Your Aunt March doesn't have any love, for anyone." The saddest expression crossed Delia and she looked like a dying deer in the woods.

The wind was whistling softly in Delia's ears like a lullaby that a mother was singing to cheer up their child. There was a sudden twitch in Delia's lip, she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

"She does, she has lots of love. Aunt March may despise most of the family but I think she has a soft spot for Amy." Jo gave Delia a slight grin and took her hand off her friend's shoulder, giving Delia some space.

She could see Delia's trembling hands that were sweating at an abnormal rate and her sad, glassy eyes that never seemed to blink or move.

"I should stop... bothering you." Delia spoke 'bothering' in such a specific way, Jo felt her heart strain as she took Delia's hand as she was about to walk away.

"You aren't bothering me, Lia, not ever. I'll be here to listen when you feel like no one else is. You're  a March sister, you just don't know it." A happy frown appeared on both Delia and Jo's faces as they wrapped their arms around each other lovingly.

"You shouldn't say that." Delia sighed, patting Jo on the back.

"Well, I did. And I don't take back my words."

Across the field near the drinks stand, Laurie stood with a glass of wine, one hand in his pant pocket.

As he stared out into the crowd of people in suits and gowns, his eyes caught onto Jo and Delia embracing each other tightly. The corners of his lips curved just slightly into a grin and he felt at peace for just a moment during the afterparty.

Jo let go of Delia and smiled at her, excusing herself and running to Marmee. Jo looked happy but when she was talking to Delia, she didn't sound the way she appeared.

All Delia wanted was to get out of there but she knew that would be rude. She would stay until most people had left.

A U T H O R ' S   N O T E

Well there's that Delia's and Laurie's reunion for y'all. And there's Aunt March for you all as well.

I just wanna say, I'm sorry for the next few chapters to come lol. You'll know what I mean.
Love you all!!! <3