It's been quite a while! With so much going on, I wasn't able to write another story! Glad to be back, and hope you enjoy the story.

***Bold words/sentences are from the 37th Chapter of Lucy M. Montgomery's book: Anne of Green Gables***

Sixteen year old, Anne Shirley, gazed out her small, white window. It was certainly great to be back in Green Gables after visiting a handful of energetic students in her future classroom. To Anne, her bedroom was her sanctuary - her safe haven, a place of peace. In her bedroom, she wept, laughed, and shared secrets. Anne sighed in delight, staring at the pearly moon nestling over the neighboring cottages. The delicate, lace curtains Matthew had dearly gave her, danced gracefully in the breeze. Anne sighed, deep in thought, braiding her flaming, red locks.

A light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and at once, Anne began to panic. Who can it be, knocking on my door this late hour? She thought to herself, glancing at the ivory clock, stiffly placed on her newly-painted, bedroom wall. It is 9:00, and Marilla usually comes back from the Aid meeting at 9:20! Who can be knocking on my door now?

Bracing herself, Anne put on a robe over her nightgown, and gripped a dripping candle, as the knock on the door continued.

"Wh-who is this?" she whispered, inching toward the door.

"It's Marilla," came the tired, but crisp voice from the other side of the door.

"Ohh!" Anne exhaled, collapsing on a white, wooden chair. "You scared the wits out of me, Marilla! I was thinking you were some sort of thief!"

"Well, thank God I'm not! Aren't you going to let me in?"

Anne flew out of her seat, "I'm so sorry Marilla!" she said, gently opening the door.

Marilla crept in, still dressed in her day clothing. Anne had to admit, that Marilla was getting older. Her worn-out eyes were now obviously sunken in. Her hair, bundled in a hard knot at the nape of her neck, was now fully a flint gray.

Anne wrapped her slender, freckled arms around Marilla's thin shoulders, and looked back at her. "I missed you Marilla!"

Marilla managed a smile, "I'm glad you did. I am sorry that I wasn't home when you arrived. I hope you saw the note I left on the kitchen table."

Anne nodded.

"I also hope you found your dinner on the counter, and ate it too."

"I surely did!"

"And you took a bath, and cleaned yourself."

"Yes!"

"And did you-"

"Oh Marilla!" Anne sighed, holding her knotty hands. "You have to remember that I'm not a young child anymore!"

"You're right," Marilla acquiesced, seating herself at the end of Anne's soft, bed.

"For the first time!" Anne laughed, silently tucking herself inside her cotton blankets.

"Well, how was your day?" Marilla asked, taking off her shawl, and neatly folding it on her lap.

"It was tiresome, but at the same time phenomenal! I'm already in love with my future students!"

"That's great to hear," Marilla yawned. "I cannot believe that my Anne is all grown up. Wasn't it just yesterday when you were an eleven year old girl, always getting into scrapes. I did used to think you were possessed. Do you mind the time you dyed your hair?"

Anne blushed, reaching for the long braid of copper hair, running down her back. "Yes, indeed. I shall never forget it. I can't help but laugh every time I think about it. I never knew I was dangerously self-conscious about my hair, and especially my freckles! My freckles are certainly gone, and I'm glad about it; and people are nice to tell me my hair is auburn now-all but Josie Pye. Did you know, that she told me yesterday that she really thought it was redder than ever, or at least my black dress made it look redder, and she asked me if people with red hair ever got used to having it. There were many times when I attempted to befriend Josie, Marilla. But I came to the conclusion that, Josie Pye won't be liked."

Marilla shook her head, "A Pye is a Pye, and all Pyes are disagreeable. Therefore, Josie can't help but to be disagreeable! Do you know if she's going to teach? I can promise you that she would not be a great teacher."

"Certainly not! Josie along with Charlie and Moody are going back to Queen's next year. Jane and Ruby are going to teach and they both got schools-Jane at Newbridge and Ruby at some place up west."

"Gilbert Blythe is going to teach too, isn't he?"

"Yes," Anne said quickly, upturning her pretty nose.

Marilla sighed and smiled, "He's turning into a handsome and polite young fellow. When I saw him at church on Sunday, I was about to call him 'John.' He is beginning to look like his father everyday. John Blythe was a nice boy. We used to be real good friends, he and I. People called him my beau."

Anne's green eyes flashed up in surprise, "What in the world ever happened?"

Marilla looked down at her gnarled hands, "Long story short, we quarreled, and I refused to forgive him when he asked me to. I honestly meant to, but I was too angry about it. All Avonlea folks knew the Blythes were awfully independent, and before I knew it, John left me and moved on."

"So you've had a bit of romance in your life, too," Anne said softly.

Marilla's old eyes, wandered to the moonlit scene outside Anne's window. "I suppose so."

"Well," Anne said, pushing the cotton blankets up to her chin. "How about a bedtime story?"

Marilla's tired eyes suddenly widened like an owl's. "Anne don't tell me you are sixteen and still asking for bedtime stories!"

"And is that a bad thing? Oh Marilla, you know how much I love stories. Why don't you tell me a love story about you and John Blythe!"

Marilla laughed, "Oh Anne, it's getting late. I don't-"

"Please!" Anne pleaded. "This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Before you know it, I'll be married in a big house with seven children!"

"Oh Anne, you don't need to exaggerate."

"It's true, Marilla. Please tell me."

Marilla couldn't resist the pleading eyes of the girl who always made her laugh. The girl who brightened her days. The girl who cried on her shoulder.

The girl she loved...

"Oh, alright," she sighed. "But I'll make it short and sweet."

Anne wrapped her arms around Marilla, and pecked her on the left cheek, "Oh Marilla! You are the dearest!"

Marilla quickly rubbed her hallow, left cheek, and cleared her throat. "But you must promise not to interrupt. I can't stand interruptions, and you have the biggest tendency to interrupt people when they talk."

"I solemnly swear that I will not interrupt," Anne said seriously. "You may now start the story."

Marilla cleared her throat, and looked at the window, "Well, I clearly remember the day I first met John..."

I hope you can see where this story will lead to. I certainly don't expect this to be a chapter book! Just a short and sweet story.

Have a great day/night!

-Kristine