Author's Note: Again, the idea belongs to me, the words are romance-lover19's, and the characters belong to L.M. Montgomery.

Chapter 2-Miss Cornelia Speaks Her Mind

Gilbert sat in his office, tired and stressed out. He'd been called out early in the morning to tend to a young boy whose parents thought he had some form of nasty flu. In truth, it was actually a case of sneaking out of bed and eating too many cookies.

There was also the "small" matter of Aunt Mary Maria. She was beginning to get on his last nerve. Not that he would ever say anything to her. She was family, after all. And, Anne and the children had been quieter than usual as of late. He was just beginning to contemplate what might be bothering them when a knock sounded at the front door. He waited for Susan to answer it so that he could hear who was visiting, but nobody answered the door.

With a sigh, Gilbert heaved himself out of his chair. "Susan must be out," he thought. "And everyone else, too. I wonder where everyone's gone today."

He trudged to the front door and pulled it open. There he saw:

"Miss Cornelia," Gilbert exclaimed. "I'm afraid Anne has gone out and I'm not sure when she'll be back."

"Oh, not to worry, Doctor. It's you I've come to see."

With that, Miss Cornelia pushed past Gilbert and walked to his office. She took off her coat and sat in one of the chairs, motioning for Gilbert to take the chair next to hers. Of course, not wanting to upset Miss Cornelia, he complied.

"Well, now, Dr. Blythe," Miss Cornelia began. "I'm sure you're wondering just why I've come to see you this afternoon."

Gilbert nodded and Miss Cornelia continued. "Now, you'll forgive me if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but I've been very worried about Anne of late."

Gilbert just stared at her for a moment before he began speaking. "Worried? About Anne? I know she's seemed a tad quiet lately, Miss Cornelia, but she doesn't appear to be sick or in any danger."

"Not physically, my dear boy, mentally. Indeed, she's been quiet lately, and dejected. She opened up to me yesterday and told me just what has been upsetting her. I wonder if you can guess what the problem is."

"Well...the only thing that has really changed around Ingleside is...Aunt Mary Maria!" Gilbert answered, understanding finally showing in his eyes.

"Exactly," Miss Cornelia exclaimed, glad that she did not have to spell it out to him. "She feels that your aunt is disrupting the household, upsetting her and the children. She feels as if she no longer belongs in her own house."

Gilbert sat, stunned by this realization. "If she really feels this way, why hasn't Anne told me so herself?"

"Really, Dr. Blythe, I should think that would be obvious. She knows you are very proud and respectful of you family ties. I, however, could not stand by and watch Anne suffer in silence. I want to remind you of your responsibilities regarding your wife and children. Your aunt may be blood, but your family needs and respects you. You must do right by them."

With that, Miss Cornelia saw herself out of the house, feeling proud that she had helped a friend, and left Gilbert to mull over what she had told him.

Gilbert was trying to process what he'd been told. He hadn't realized that his Anne-girl and his children had been suffering so and it was all down to him. He felt guilty and ashamed. He couldn't believe he'd been so oblivious to his family, all to please an aunt he really didn't particularly like all that well in the first place. How had he let his deluded sense of clannishness ruin the mental health and well-being of his true family: the people he loved more than anyone in the world; the people he was most responsible for?

At that moment, Gilbert knew what he had to do. He couldn't go on letting his family suffer in silence. As soon as was possible, he would confront Aunt Mary Maria and tell her to shape up or ship out. There was no other option. He had to fulfill his duty to his family. He couldn't take away the frustration and upset they had felt, but he was going to make sure that their happiness would not be dampened further.

A/N: And there's Chapter 2. Please review, we'd love to hear what you think.