CHAPTER 1

"You can't possibly think I'll let you walk back with this weather blooming about, like this," Gilbert took a step closer, holding down his hat, "I would worry all night about you."

Anne scoffed, "worry about me? If I didn't know any better, Mr. Blythe, I would say you care about me."

"You know I do, Anne. How could you not?"

"So what, you come back here, to Green Gables, and now you love me?"

"I..." Gilbert trailed off.

Anne gasped, putting a hand on her stomach, "you love me?" She started a light giggle.

"I beg of you, Anne, do not mock me," Gilbert mentally kicked himself, when he looked back up he saw Anne spinning her arms up in a field. "Anne, what on Earth are you doing?"

"Gilbert Blythe loves me!" She shouts into the world. She ran back and stretched out her hands. "Oh, Gilbert," she says quieter.

"Anne, you must know I have loved you since you broke that slate over my head," he grabbed her hands and pulled her closer to him. "I loved you through every insult, every competition, every spelling competition, I have loved you." The silence was interrupted by thunder, but he dared not speak until he knew what she was thinking.

"Will you say it again?" Anne spoke.

"Say what…exactly?"

"Say that you love me," she smiled.

Gilbert knelt down, ignoring the sprinkle of water that had started to fall, "Anne, with an E, Shirley, I love you with the passion of a thousand's suns, and if there-" he words were cut off my Anne's body falling on top of him. They rolled around in the damp grains until Gilbert shielded Anne with his body. "Does this mean you love me too?"

"I cannot be certain at this point in time, but I would not go as far as to dispute the claim. I do feel affection for you, Gilbert, and your confession has butterflies all fluttering inside my stomach, but I must have time to think this over."

Gilbert smiled, memorizing the shade of light pink her cheeks had turned. He helped her up, her hands were soft, but parts of her fingers were callused, from all the writing. Anne leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek, they were warm, now he was blushing.

"Anne, may I walk you back to Green Gables?" He asked slowly, making sure his voice would sound as confident as he wanted to come across.

"I would be honored, Mr. Blythe," she took his arm and he walked quickly through the grass.

"May I have the pleasure of seeing you tomorrow, Anne?"

"I would be quiet disappointed if I didn't see you every day for the rest of my life, Gilbert."

That wasn't a confession of love, but it would hold him until she said the words.

Anne waited impatiently on the unmarked road, pacing back and forth, until she saw the dull light of a candle.