The week before Annes departure was a hectic one. As well as packing her own trunk, Anne had the task of clearing out the spare room in preparation for Rachel Lynde's arrival. Anne did not relish this task, the spare room at Green Gables being somewhat sacred to her, but still Rachel's coming to stay had enabled her to realise her ambition of studying at Redmond. There were also a lot of goodbyes to say - earlier she had been called upon by several ladies of the district whose interntions were probably well meaning but their comments had only served to fill Anne with confusion and self doubt.

The AVIS held a farewell party for Anne, Gilbert and Charlie Sloane two days before their departure. Anne enjoyed it tremendously, except for Gilbert's flirting with Ruby Gillis. She was so cross she ignored him to punish him further walked home with Charlie Sloane, this backfired on her when a laughing Gilbert escorted Ruby home. Anne spent a long night brooding over this, ever since she had told Gilbert she too was going to Redmond they had seemed to drift apart and argue a lot more over simple things, and he spent in her opinion, too much time with Ruby Gillis, for a man who professed to love her!

However, the next evening, her last in Avonlea until Christmas, when Anne saw Gilbert come whistling up the Green Gables path her heart gave that familiar skip and she openly admitted to herself she was glad he wasn't going to spend it with Ruby, (not that she would admit it to anyone else!)

"You look tired Anne." he said.

Anne was tired out with all the packing and organizing, and although Gilbert had said this only out of concern she took it to mean that she was wretched looking.

"Oh too bad I'm not as lively as Ruby." she said icily.

Gilbert rolled his eyes. Anne was in a funny mood again, like last night.

"Come on," he said, ignoring her comment, "Lets go for a ramble in the woods, it'll be our last one for some time." He held out his hand to her. She took it gratefully and the wandered off together. Anne, remembering the unpleasentness of the preceeding night too care to be particularly nice and affectionate towards Gilbert, as they walked along discussing what like in Kingsport might be like. Eventually they came to a stop.

"Lets sit here a while." he said, motioning towards a mossy tree trunk on the ground. Anne sat down beside him.

"What has been going on with you recently, Anne? You haven't been yourself." Gilbert put his arm around her and gently rubbed her arm.

"I don't know. Nerves I expect." Anne laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, she wished that they could stay like this forever.

"You have nothing to be nervous about. You'll probably be top of your class, belle of the social activites and sought after by all the men - It's me that should be nervous!" he laughed, although the laughter didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You've nothing to be worried about." she said, with a reasurring squeeze of his hand. "But if some handsome, mysterious, melancholy stranger does sweep me off my feet, I'm sure you'll not be left wanting."

"I'll only be wanting you Anne." Gilbert kissed her gently.

The darkness fell so suddenly they walked home in the moonlight. As they reached the gate Gilbert took her hand and said, "Do you feel as disgruntled now as when we started out?"

"No. I feel as if I shall love Redmond, and have a splendid four years there."

"And after those four years - what?"

"Oh there's another bend in the road at their end."

"Which we shall turn together?" he asked.

"Which we shall turn together." she repeated, so softly he almost couldn't hear the words.

"See you bright and early tomorrow." he said kissing her hand.

As he walked away her skin still burned from where his lips pressed against it, she thought about turning the next bend together. Four years was a long time to wait, and if Gilbert did go to study medicine it would be another three years after that. Seven years - could she wait that long?

It was early the next morning when Anne Shirley said her goodbyes to Green Gables and its inhabitants and driven by Diana arrived at the station in Bright River. Gilbert and Charlie were already there and the train was ready to leave. Hurriedly embrasing Diana, and bidding her farewell, Anne boarded the train which would take them to the ferry.

"I remember my first time at this station." she remarked to Gilbert as the train pulled out. "I was waiting for Matthew not knowing what to expect."

"And you met this handsome boy..."

"Yes." Anne laughed. "And life was never the same again!"

"What are you two laughing about?" Charlie asked, annoyance in his voice. He was getting fed up with this intimacy that Gilbert and Anne had, making everyone else feel like an outsider, Gilbert should either marry her or give someone else a chance!

They got rid of Charlie on the ferry. As soon as they sailed Charlie had to go down below deck because of seasickness. Anne stood with Gilberts arms around her waist watching her adopted homeland fade into the distance. Wave after wave of homesickness hit her and she turned and burried her head into Gilberts chest, sobbing. He held her like that, soothing, comforting, until dear old Prince Edward Island could be seen no more.

"We'll be back soon Anne." he said.