AN: As promised to those who reviewed...here is chapter on tuesday :) I'm so glad everyone liked chapter one and I hope you all like romances because this chapter definitely goes in that direction.

Anne's Revelation

Chapter Two: Taking Care of Gilbert

Of course, Mrs. Blythe granted Anne's wish easily and Anne proceeded to collapse by Gilbert's bed, who she assumed was asleep. However Anne was quite wrong, Gilbert had simply grown too weak to keep his eyes open any longer, but he did feel it when Anne slipped her hand into his although he didn't know that, he just knew that suddenly his left hand wasn't hot or cold, like the occasional chill could make it, his hand was finally the perfect temperature again. Then Anne brushed his face once and that perfect temperature trailed across everything her fingers touched. Gilbert forced his eyes half-open, but only managed to see the outline of a slender woman kneeling beside him and clasping his hand before his eyes once again shut themselves. Gilbert was quite disappointed over this, he knew this woman was neither his mother nor the trained nurse his parents had brought in, but he had no clue as to who it was and he really wanted to know, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to speak...his throat was just so sore and he really wanted some water too. Luckily for him, Anne had been watching his face and noticed the quick flicker of his eyes.

"So, you are awake." Anne said.

"He spoke with a bit of difficulty. "Anne?" His voice sounded dry and scratchy, even to him, and the nurse had informed Anne of his symptoms, so she couldn't help imagining how painful it must be to talk.

However, she fully understood the meaning of his one word question. "Yes, it is me, love." Maybe that will hint to him what he means to me, Anne thought hopefully, doubting that he was in any condition to hear the story.

Gilbert's lips turned up slightly on his dreadfully pale face, although they faded back to normal when he realized he could have simply developed Delirium to go along with his aches, pains, terrible headache, fever, sore throat, Abdominal pain, thirst, and fatigue, which were all the symptoms the nurse had thoroughly detailed to Anne.

Anne, missing the part where the slight smile faded back to a straight line, said, "Now, dearest, the nurse tells me you have not had water for a while and adding that to your voice; let me help you drink some."

Anne did help him sit up enough to get the much appreciated water, but he wondered to himself why her arm felt so good against his aching, seemingly burning back when the nurse's and even his mother's had simply been something to support him as he drank. When he was finished drinking, God and (maybe) Anne only know how she knew he was without him saying so, she set the cup down and lowered him back to the bed so gently that even the trained nurse couldn't have done it better. While he missed the arm around his back, it was nice to have her right hand back in his left, which had seemed to burn hotter than ever before while it was missing hers. These sensations of perfect temperature being only where Anne touched him assured him that she was real and not some hallucination. Shortly later, he fell asleep; Anne was sure of it this time because his breathing became a little less labored and at one point he lovingly spoke her name which sent a 'thrill', as she would have called it, through her body. He had just unconsciously moved his right hand to rest on top of her hand that remained in his left and scooted slightly closer to the three when Anne began stroking his forehead with her left hand. Mrs. Blythe entered the room and suggested Anne sit on the bed, which Anne had to admit was something she should've thought of as it brought her to a much easier level with Gilbert.

"Anne, I have some things I need to ask you about while my son is absolutely asleep. Is that okay?" Mrs. Blythe questioned.

"Of course you can, this is your home and you have so graciously accepted me into it when, if I were you, I probably would have turned me away." Anne remarked.

Mrs. Blythe, glanced to make sure that Gilbert was in fact asleep before whispering, "Truthfully, as long as your answers are what I think they will be, you were a sight for sore eyes. Almost since the first day he took ill he has been asking for you in his sleep." Then she moved on to her question, "Anne, I knew that look on your face when you came running in here and even now while you're just watching so tell me do you know?"

"Yes, I realized this morning that I have loved him for so long, but was just too stupid to know it even when my heart started giving me hints these years at college after I declined him." Anne answered, much to Mrs. Blythe's approval.

"Well then, dear, my only question is would you like me to send the hired boy to informed Marilla that you will be staying the night?"

Anne reddened. "Please do, I'm afraid I left in a rush today and Marilla must be quite worried, but have the boy tell her I'll probably be here till Gilbert is well and not to worry too much."

"I'll send him right away. Anne?"

"Yes?"

"There is a tub of water and a washcloth by the table. Can you bathe his face and arms and such?"

Anne promised and softly removed her hand from between Gilbert's hands and put the bucket beneath her, while using the cloth to bathe her love's face. As he began to wake, the first thing Gilbert realized was that Anne's hand was gone then he felt the same tender hand cooling his face with water and knew where it had gone. Unfortunately, the joy of a cool face could not last as the cold water brought on chills and he shivered uncontrollably. Anne stopped and held his hand once more waiting for the chills to stop. The chills did stop and it happened much quicker than before as his hand stayed comfortable through it all. Anne was relieved when he stopped shaking and didn't want to ever put him through that again, but the nurse chose this time to come in, and not only gave Gilbert his medicine but also informed Anne that she would have to bathe him through the chills. After the nurse left the room again, knowing that this young man would rather be with the woman he had called for so much, Anne sighed and reluctantly picked up the rag.

Gilbert's hand met hers before she could touch him with the cloth. "Please don't, Anne." He pleaded.

She noticed the sound of his voice and provided more water before saying, "I'm sorry, the nurse says I have to."

"However, darling," He said, chancing that she might not love him (if he died it wouldn't hurt him and if he lived he could always blame it on the possibility of being delirious), "even a trained nurse does not know that your touch is much better."

"Are you sure?" Anne asked, as she struck on an idea.

"Certainly, thy touch neither chills nor heats." He said, hoping the poetical sentence might assure her. "It creates the perfect temperature."

"Then, give me a moment." Anne said, which greatly confused Gilbert and after her presence and hand were gone he felt for sure she had left him.

What he didn't know was that she was talking to Sophia, the nurse. "Will you come to Gilbert's room a moment, Miss Sophia?"

Mrs. Blythe, sitting nearby interrupted Sophia's response quickly, "Is Gilbert worse, Anne?"

"No, he is basically the same." Anne replied and Mrs. Blythe sighed in relief, she hoped that Anne would be the key to Gilbert living through this.

"Yes, of course, did you finish bathing him?" Miss Sophia questioned as they walked.

"No, he stopped me and I believe he should tell you what he told me." Anne said.

Gilbert silently rejoiced when Anne came back although he wondered about the nurse who sat down in a chair that Anne preferred the bed to. "Anne here says you told her something she believes would interest me, so please do tell."

Gilbert had trouble thinking what that he said could interest her until Anne took his hand and explained that she thought it would be beneficial to him if he were to explain to Miss Sophia what the issue with being bathed was and how he thought it could be solved.

"I suppose," Miss Sophia began, "That until Anne gets tired of it and reverts back to a washcloth your technique will be just fine."