A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! This is the first fanfic I've written in a really long time, so I really appreciate the comments! I almost wish that I could rewrite chapter 3 because there's so much I know that I could have added but didn't. Gilbert's a real thinker, huh? He's a pretty conflicted fellow. Let's hope everything is sorted out once and for all!

RIP, Jonathan Crombie, the best actor to ever play Gilbert Blythe. :'(

Chapter 4: Another Goodbye

As Gilbert walked into his room, he set down his bags and sighed heavily. He was never so glad to be home. As he turned to go to his room, he noticed a note for him on the kitchen table.

Gilbert, let's do lunch tomorrow at noon at O'Brien's? I can't wait to see you! Always, Christine.

Gilbert sighed again. Now that he was back in Nova Scotia, he felt confused. Christine. Anne. Christine. Anne. Was he in love with Anne all over again because he just saw her? Did he claim to be falling in love with Christine because Anne was so "unattainable"? Why were feelings so complicated to sorted out?

The following day, Gilbert waited at the restaurant for Christine. He was unsure of what to do, much less what his feelings were.

"Gilbert!" Christine said walking up. Gilbert stood and Christine greeted him with a quick hug, before Gilbert seated her. "It's been so long!"

"What do you mean? It's just been a few days," Gilbert said. Christine laughed lightly.

"Well, it feels like it's been forever. Tell me about Kingsport!"

Gilbert started to talk about the convention and all the things he had learned. As he spoke, he noticed Christine zoning in and out while he was talking. He decided to change the subject. "You know, Christine, I was thinking, I'd really like to go back to the Island and set up my practice there."

Christine was silent for a moment. Gilbert didn't see that as a good sign. "But, what about Halifax?"

"I'm very grateful for the opportunities here."

"But, my father has everything set up. I believe he's fully intending on you taking over his practice. You'd have your patients already set up and you'd have everything handed to you. It'd be such an easy transition from med school to a practice," Christine said. "I know you are an island boy through and through, but—" Christine stopped herself.

"But what?" Gilbert asked.

"But, I just don't see myself in PEI," Christine admitted. "I always thought that we would be here in Nova Scotia. Maybe not Halifax, but close by."

Gilbert was silent and Christine sat across from him uncomfortably. Thankfully, the waiter interrupted them with their food. The rest of lunch consisted of small talk about other things. After lunch, Gilbert walked Christine back to her home. As he walked her up the steps to her home, Christine turned and looked up to Gilbert. "Gilbert, I was just surprised about your thoughts about maybe moving back to Avonlea. When we get married, I'll go wherever you go," Christine smiled lightly. Before Gilbert could say anything, she stood on her tip toes and kissed Gilbert. She let it linger on his lips for a few moments before turning and walking into the house. "Goodbye, Gilbert. I'll see you later."

As Gilbert walked away, he realized one thing he hadn't noticed before. When Christine kissed him, he felt nothing. There was no spark. No passion. And honestly, when he did kiss her this last time, he didn't feel love. Christine just happened to be the next girl that happened to come across his path. Suddenly, Anne's words from that fateful day popped into his head. "You want someone who will adore you; someone who will be happy just to hang on to your arm and build a home for you." Those words stung even now, but it stung even worse when he realized that Anne fueled the fire into Gilbert asking Christine to be his date for Diana's wedding. Back then, he rationalized in his mind that he was doing a kind gesture to be nice to Doc Stuart's daughter. But really, he did it to use Anne's words against her and to get back at her. Everything escalated from there. When he moved to Halifax, Christine was the only person he knew his age. She took him around introducing him to the city and her friends. To shove Anne out of his thoughts, he poured his life into school and into Christine. Love is a funny thing. Sometimes love blinds you from your own faults. He never told Christine that he loved her; only that he was falling in love with her. And he truly thought that what he felt was love. But it wasn't. Gilbert realized that he fell in love with the idea of loving again.

It had been a couple of weeks since returning from Kingsport. Gilbert had a lot of schoolwork and studying to do for his upcoming midterms. He was glad for it too. It was a way for him to avoid the inevitable with Christine. As he dutifully studied in the library, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Gilbert looked up and saw Christine standing there.

"Christine! What are you doing here?"

"Darling, I've barely seen you in almost two weeks! Will told me I'd find you here. I know you're busy, but can I just steal you away from your studies?" Christine asked. Gilbert wanted to say no, but felt that he couldn't.

"Sure." Gilbert gathered his books and headed out of the library. Christine chattered about the news from the last two weeks and a little bit of the wedding. Gilbert was so distracted.

"Gilbert, are you listening? Would you rather have the wedding in Halifax or out of the city?"

"Um, I don't know." Gilbert stuttered. Christine stopped walking.

"Are you okay?"

Gilbert sighed. He wasn't prepared for this moment. "Christine, I don't know how to say this." The words couldn't form coherently in his brain. "It's not you. It's me. I, uh, can't marry you." Christine looked down avoiding his eye contact. She wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"You saw Anne, didn't you?" Christine said sadly.

"I—"

"In Kingsport. It's okay, Gilbert. I know. I've known that you've loved her since Diana's wedding. I only thought that you could—" Christine faltered. She took a deep breath. "Love me, the way you loved her."

"Christine, I'm sorry." Gilbert let the words trail off.

Christine nodded. "Good-bye, Gilbert." She grabbed Gilbert's hand and clasped it tightly before leaving. "Good-bye." Gilbert watched her run off. No doubt he felt sorry for her. He knew all too well what it was like.

Midterms came and midterms went. Gilbert was feeling quite exhausted. He figured it was stress from all of the events from the past month. Emotional and mental stress was starting to wear on him. Thankfully, there was a short holiday that weekend and Gilbert decided last minute that he would go home. He needed a break from Halifax, school, and just life in general. Avonlea never sounded better.