When too exceptionally kindred spirits make an engagement pact and and also exceptionally carefree in the wrong aspects, things are bound to get exceptionally out of hand.

Their intentions were entirely innocent, but their jokes and letters were not always so.

Cole, having promised to visit Anne and Diana soon, had received a letter that morning, from his red haired friend, which meant she had excitedly torn through writing a response to his visiting plans.

My darling, perspicacious fiancé,

(Cole was already laughing)

My dear Diana and I are so overwhelmingly overjoyed at the news of your traveling plans. She is rudely watching over my shoulder watching me write this out to you, my love. And laughing. Stop Diana. Anyway, well now she's wailing that we did not include her in our love promise to each other. I've tried many a time to explain to our young Diana that she is too beautiful and easy in finding a husband she needn't be included. Once again, anyway, I've been thinking of our wedding, dearest heart. I will be considering a spring wedding, or perhaps one in autumn, for it mustn't be an extreme chill or hot spell. I do fear, with an autumn wedding the leaves may clash ever so terribly with my hair, so do closely consider a spring wedding.

Diana will write to you separately, but we both send our love. Especially myself. You are rose blossoms, snowflakes, birdsong and pie all rolled into one beautiful bundle.

-your ever loving fiancé, Anne

Good god. At least if anything, this promise had made them both laugh with their consistent letters. He grinned to himself and settled at his desk to write a response.

Anne was having a wonderful time, dancing around her room, wrapped in a strand of lace Diana's mother had discarded when pulling apart an old dress to use little bits of. Diana had snagged it from its crumpled place among the other fabric scraps and brought it for Anne to "use her imagination with".

Diana was perched lazily at the end of Anne's bed, watching her friend prance about. They were both awaiting Cole's next letter, and could hardly wait to snatch it up and tear out to the small cluster of apples trees, which would shade them from the warm sun that fluttered through the windows.

The second the pair heard the slightest knock at the door, they both burst from the room, tumbled down the stairs and slammed open the door to find their letter held straight out in front of them.

Anne didn't even acknowledge the bearer of the letter, only skimmed the outer envelope, ensured it was for her, and scurried off to find her shoes.

Diana quickly thanked the boy, and hurried after Anne.

They leapt out through the grassy field towards their fruit trees, only to find Matthew and Jerry (who smiled at Diana) repairing the fence directly behind it. Well damn it.

Anne glared in the general direction before she declared they would be going to the stream, which was a little further out but still promised to hide them from others.

So they trekked out to Anne's stream and clambered up the rocks to find a patch of sunlight. The letter had survived the hike only because Anne had stuffed it down her dress front. Diana was too excited to scold her.

Anne tore at the outer envelope to reach the inner treasure. Her hands trembled excitedly as she unfolded the fine paper Josephine supplied Cole with. The paper snapped open and Anne began to read with a flourish only describable as "romantically."

My dearest, most beloved sugarplum,

I am so delighted that you take such a joy in a visit. I miss you dearly, beloved, and it causes an ache in my heart every time I see your face in the stars. In reference to your wedding setting request, I could be suited to be married in the spring, as you managed to forget that my hair too clashes painfully with the autumn flora, but I would much prefer a winter wedding over anything. Our guests could wear holly crowns as apposed to the flower crowns Jo is so fond of providing at parties. Alas, even writing to you, dearest heart, causes sharp pain in my heart, and other places, (Diana gasped in shock of his boldness) so I must lay down the pen for the night.

Farewell, my most stunning, blindingly beautiful, ever sweet fiancé.

Cole

Both girls howled with joy at the boldness and overall ridiculousness of his writing. Anne removed a pen from down her bodice and settled to write.

Most heartbreakingly beautiful man,

I miss you more, dearest, and I too have see your face in the most beautiful of things. I see your face shape in the flower fields, your hair in the sunsets and your eyes in the creek before me. These beautiful things are even more so now that they bear your features. Perhaps we could agree on a late winter wedding, as long as it takes place in a warm ballroom so there may be dancing and joy without the chill or snow. I fear my dress would blend into the winter wonders but perhaps my hair with make up for it. Perhaps we could leave the ceremony in a carriage pulled by reindeer. I hope your art is doing well, you haven't mentioned it in your latest letters. Diana has requested you send along a small creation with your next letter so that we may see your progress. And my goodness, I am pleased that I am not alone in these odd sensations, perhaps a girl at school can explain, but even thinking of you causes an incredible heat to spread over..

Both girls screamed when a rustle in the bush sounded, and Anne promptly sat over the unfinished letter. Out of the woods came a confused Jerry, who had been sent after them to call them to supper. They all trudged out, Diana and Anne promising to return to their letter, which they left tucked between two rocks with the promise to return after their meal.

Unfortunate for both parties however, Gilbert Blythe happened to be headed to the stream to clear his head, when he noticed the trio leaving through the underbrush, decided to poke around a bit, which led to him knocking the letter from Cole into a puddle beside the stream. He gasped and hurried to pull it out, praying the damage could be undone, well that was before he read it, in all it's smudged glory.

My dearest mos belov d sugarplum,

I am so deligh d that you ta e such a joy in a v it. I miss you dearly, beloved, nd it caus an ache in my he rt every time I see your face in the stars. In reference to your wedding setting request, I co d be suited to be married in the spring, as you m. aged to forget that my hair too clashes pai fully with the au mn flora, but I would much prefer a winter wedding over anything. Our guests c ld wear holly crowns as ap sed to the flower crowns Jo is so fond of pro ding at parties. Alas, e n writing to you, dearest heart, causes sharp pain in my heart, and other places, so I must lay down the pen for the night.

Far well my most stunning, blindingly beautiful, ever sweet fiancé.

-Cole

To make matters worse, instead of blurring out the word, the water had only made the lettering of "fiancé" bolder and circled. Damn damn damn it. Gilbert dropped the letter on a sunny rock and groaned, dragging both hands over his face. How were they engaged? Had he been away so long? How did the pair become so close that Cole was comfortable with sending a message with such a scandalous little line in it?

He huffed and climbed back up to the remaining letter, which he assumed was Anne's response to such a monstrosity. This one, he took care not to ruin.

Most heartbreakingly beautiful man,

I miss you more, dearest, and I too have see your face in the most beautiful of things. I see the shape of your face in the flower fields, your hair in the sunsets and your eyes in the creek before me. These beautiful things are even more so now that they bear your features. Perhaps we could agree on a late winter wedding, as long as it takes place in a warm ballroom so there may be dancing and joy without the chill or snow. I fear my dress would blend into the winter wonders but perhaps my hair with make up for it. Perhaps we could leave the ceremony in a carriage pulled by reindeer. I hope your art is doing well, you haven't mentioned it in your latest letters. Diana has requested you send along a small creation with your next letter so that we may see your progress. And my goodness, I am pleased that I am not alone in these odd sensations, perhaps a girl at school can explain, but even thinking of you causes an incredible heat to spread over

Gilbert chocked on his shock. Good lord above, what on earth about Cole Makenzie would cause such a sensation as that in Anne? Gilbert was not stupid, he had been around a ship long enough to hear some fairly foul things but didn't fail to pick up on a few facts hidden in the slurs and shouts about each other's women and mothers. So he had a rather strong and disturbed idea of what Anne could be hinting at in her letter, but whether she was actually confused or just teasing Cole was a mystery. He also felt rather wounded that Anne had chosen Cole of all people over him. But it would make sense. They had been ever so close when he still lived around them, and Anne had cried over their parting for several days, according to Diana who confided in the other girls. He hadn't meant to listen, they were just rather loud. And he studied while the others ran wild outside. In the corner closest to the group.

He slammed the paper down in frustration. How on earth….

—

Anne and Diana leaned into their chairs, pleased with their meal. Jerry continued to stuff his face, and when he thought they weren't looking, his pockets. This of course, was for his siblings and the family had learned to ignore when the rolls and the occasional sliver of meat or egg slid beneath the table. A knock at the door caused both girls to jump up and for Jerry to freeze stark stiff in the process of sneaking of a soft slice of brown bread. Both girls completed their rising from the table and straightened their skirts and each others hair ribbons. Anne walked to the front door and Jerry shoved three more pieces of bread down his shirt. Diana tailed Anne and jumped back slightly when Anne whipped the door open wide.

Jerry slipped out the side entrance back out to the barn. Outside Anne's door stood Cole, in the flesh.

Both girls shrieked and jumped on him. The poor boy stumbled back with the force of two girls.

"Oh Cole we thought you wouldn't come for at least…"

"You have no idea.."

"Billy Andrews actually.."

"Just writing out a letter.."

"You won't believe.."

He chocked and laughed at the girl's excitement. Each was peeled off with one hand and they all linked arms to drop Cole's bag inside.

After all the greetings with the family were in order, the new trio ran laughing and shrieking across the meadow, out towards the stream.

—

Gilbert's head snapped up when he heard the sound of the girl's return through the thicket. He made sure the letter Anne had written was where it was left, and the letter still soggy was laying beside the running water, to look as though breeze had knocked it from it's rocky perch. The boy slithered behind the rocky formation, and back some, far enough to not be noticed but close enough to hear and see most of what was happening. His spot proved to be quite useful when he saw Anne push her way through the ferns and low hanging tree branches, faithfully followed by Diana. But there was a third person with them, one too tall to be Jerry. They spilled from the wooded walkway and clear as day, there was Cole Makenzie himself. Gilbert observed them climbing up onto the rocks, in clear sight of him.

—

"Oh Cole so much has happened." Diana smiled at him, sweeping a wave of glossy curls behind her.

"Yes, yes! We were just writing to you, well, you can see Ruby isn't here and that just because she's been ill for a week or so and hasn't improved much, we can visit later."

Cole grinned at their enthusiasm. "Has the great doctor Blythe examined the girl?"

Both girls giggled and Diana nodded. "We brought over a basket of bread right afterwards and she couldn't even stay sitting, she danced around her room and told us at least a million times all the details of him touching her neck, wrists, legs and shocker shocker, her heart."

Cole laughed. "It seems all her dreams have come true now."

Gilbert scoffed from his hiding place. As if he would touch Ruby Gillis in any way other then medical. And hadn't his orders been to stay in bed? Dancing did not seem to fit the bed rest criteria.

Diana giggled, "Maybe Anne should fall sick, and have Gilbert examine her."

Gilbert scoffed again. Yes he would like to examine Anne but not under the pretense of her being ill.

Cole started to nod, but then gasped dramatically. "How could you ever even mention such a thing, dear Diana? My fiancé had better things to do then to be examined by someone other then myself."

Diana covered her heart and forced her face into a sorrowful mourn. "I'm ever so sorry Cole, I almost forgot how far you two have gone."

Anne threw her head back and laughed, red hair glinting.

The other two joined in.

When the laughter had died down, they all settled, and Anne shuffled on her knees to sit. in. Cole's. lap.

Gilbert felt his breathing choke up. His mouth gaped open and he felt like a dumb fish out of water.

He was pretty sure his heart had stopped entirely.

Diana just rolled her eyes at their antics when Cole began to tickle Anne's side.

Gilbert wanted to bash his head on a rock.

When Anne's pleas had died down, she leaned into him and smiled at her best friend while her other best friend traced patterns in her shoulder.

Diana voiced a question at random. "Where will Cole sleep?"

Anne answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "In my bed of course, Marilla won't mind one bit since she understands it all now.

Gilbert was prepared to throw himself off the rock ledge.

Cole just nodded and shifted Anne from his lap. "Go give your bosom friend some attention, she hasn't got a promised fiancé."

Anne dramatically sighed "Oh to be beautiful, and vulnerable in such a lonely world."

She did as she was told and lazily dropped her head unceremoniously into Diana's skirts and grabbed at her friends wrists to direct her hands into massaging her scalp. Diana just smirked and rubbed Anne's temples and under her hair.

"How is the good doctor Anne?"

The redhead huffed from her relaxed position. "Studious, as always."

Gilbert frowned. Is that really all she saw in him?

Cole cocked his head. "Hit him with any more slates lately?"

Anne giggled and shook her head. "No, but I did slam the window in his fingers when he wanted me to help him out the window to avoid Ruby's little mistletoe branch and he got desperate and called me carrots again."

Gilbert winced and absently massaged his fingers. He could still feel it.

The wind suddenly rose up, causing the trio and Gilbert to rub their arms and burrows into their skirts and coats.

"Tea, my ladies?"

Both girls nodded and they scrambled back out in the direction of Green Gables.

Gilbert frowned, hoping for a decent explanation soon. In the mean time, he chose to head back home to sulk.