Chapter 11

You know quite well, deep within you,

That there is only a single magic, a single power, a single salvation...

And that is called loving.

Hermann Hesse

„Are you sure Diana won't see us?" Gilbert carried some festoons, following Anne. "You did realize this is her garden, did you?"

Anne turned her head around and grinned at him, "Why haven't you told me sooner, Mister Blythe?"

He rolled his eyes, causing a chuckle to escape her mouth.

"Honestly Gil, Diana will shut herself in her bedroom the whole forenoon. I am supposed to hurry anyway to help her with her dress."

They reached the ladder beside the seats where Anne wanted to hang up the festoons.

"Why ever are you wearing your suit already, Gil?" She turned around to take the decorations from his hands. "It could get dirty you know, working with those flowers and all."

"No, I'll take care. I didn't have much choice anyway. Fred asked me to be his groomsman and help him with some things. I wouldn't have the time to go home before the wedding starts."

"He asked you to be his groomsman? I thought his brother was supposed to do that?"

"I know. He only asked me yesterday", Gilbert shrugged.

"Strange", Anne climbed the ladder, "Would you reach me one end?"

"Are you sure you want to do this, Anne?" He looked up at her, "It's pretty high. Let me do this."

She put her hands on her hips, "Gilbert Blythe, I'm quite capable of hanging up some decorations, thank you very much."

"Oh, it's not your capability I doubt, Anne. It's just quite high. And I am taller than you are. I don't want you to fall down."

"I won't." She wiggled her outstretched fingers, "Now give it to me. No need to hold my smallness against me."

He groaned and held it out to her, "I didn't even say you were sm-"

"Why Anne! I see you're already completely occupied!" Jane interrupted him as she walked by. "I saw we still need some tablecloths for the refreshments. I will go home and get some."

"Alright, Jane. Thank you."

"Do you want me to bring Sam along?"

Anne made a face, "Ha-ha."

Jane only snickered before leaving them alone again.

"Who's Sam?" Gilbert knit his brow.

"Oh, no one." Anne had fixed the first end and leaned down to get the other one from Gilbert.

"Jane just likes to tease me about it."

"Well, don't keep me in suspense", He looked up at her while she fiddled with the strings in attempt to tie a knot.

Anne sighed, "It's nothing, really. Sam was only some hired boy at Valley Road. I don't even know how Phil could tell her of this!"

He waited for her to continue, "…And this was already the funny part?"

"No…" She blushed, "Someday the ridiculous idea of proposing to me hit him."

"What?" His jaw dropped, "He proposed to you?" Gilbert felt as if someone would have punched him in the stomach.

"But I didn't even know him at all!"

"Then why would he propose?" Was she keeping something from him? Whenever did she spend so much time with all those men?

"What would I know, Gil! Maybe he ate too much of his peppermints! Could we drop the topic now – please?"

Proposals weren't really the subject she loved to discuss with Gilbert of all people.

"Sure…" He couldn't deny some green liquid was spreading through his veins.

"Hm…", Gilbert mused to himself, "It sure feels like everyone proposed to everyone during those four years…"

First Diana and Fred, and then he learned of all those men who wanted a piece of Anne. Who knows what else was to come!

Who could say she wasn't already in love with someone he didn't even know of! Gilbert caught his breath.

But no... How would she find so much time for him and all her activities, if there would be someone else she was in love with?

He shook his head in order to get rid of his tangled thoughts, and tried to lighten up the mood, "Well, you would have told me if I had to fear some fiancée of mine could suddenly appear, wouldn't you, Anne?"

Anne had just stood on her tiptoes on the last rung of the ladder - bending her body forward as far as possible so she would be able to reach the nail with her outstretched hand - as those innocent words left his mouth.

Innocent maybe to him. Worldshaking to her and her knowledge.

The blood froze in her veins and her eyes widened in shock. Terrified, she noticed how she lost her balance and tried to shift her weight back to the spoke, but it was already too late for that.

Together with the festoon she fell down, not even having the time for realizations or screams. With squinched shut eyes she waited for the impact. The pain.

The impact did come, but not in the way she had expected to. Without any pain.

Her heart hammered madly in her chest, racking fear still rushing through her veins.

"Anne!" His alarmed voice reached her mind.

Slowly she opened her eyes and stared right into his worried hazel ones. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Gilbert watched her with concern, the racing of his own heart so vigorously that he feared his chest would burst any moment.

He thought he wouldn't make it in time. He had seen her falling and… and he thought he had lost her.

But he had. Gilbert gulped. He had caught her.

"Anne, are you alright?" He shifted her in his arms, feeling her body trembling.

She nodded, "Y-yes", her voice still shaken from the accident.

"Oh God…" she breathed out, waiting for her heartbeat to slow down. Without thinking she leaned her forehead against his chest.

Gilbert wanted to reply something soothingly, but was too distracted by fighting against his inner turmoil.

Something just happened, and he didn't know what. The very second she fell into his arms, it was as if something else, something heavy, fell onto his heart as well. It confused him. All of this confused him far too much. He felt a headache rising.

What was it that was tearing him apart?

"Gil?" her thin voice interrupted his thoughts.

He met her green eyes and couldn't remember that he would have ever been as close to her as he was right now. Her stunningly beautiful face lifted up to his, her anxious eyes resembling a stormy sea, her perfect nose with those teasing freckles on it, her rosy-tinted lips...

"Thank you…" She whispered.

Gilbert shook his head. He wanted to say that it was nothing. He wanted to set her back down onto the ground again. But neither his mouth nor his arms would listen to his mind.

He didn't want to set her down. This warm body pressed against his heart.

Bold whistling ripped them out of their moment. "Isn't Fred supposed to do this with Diana?" Oliver Sloane grinned mischievously at them, causing a growl out of his brother's mouth.

Gilbert was too lost in his feelings, worry, and confusion to brisk up. His eyes returned to Anne.

"Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned voice to make sure if he could set her down.

"I think…"

"Oh just keep on ignoring us!" Charlie bleated and rushed past them, his brother following.

Gilbert rolled his eyes before slowly putting her back on her feet without letting go of her arms.

"And?"

"It's… I'm alright. Thank you." Her legs were still wobbly, but she didn't dare to say so. He shouldn't hold her any longer. She had the feeling that would make it only worse.

He raised his eyebrows quizzically.

"Really", she managed a smile.

Gilbert led her to the chairs. "And, have you learned something from your mishap, Miss Shirley?" He didn't know if it was her he was so desperately trying to distract or himself.

"Always ask Gilbert?"

"I can see your wit has stayed unharmed. Now please sit down on this seat and I will hang it up."

"Wait."

"What?"

"Your… your tie." Hesitantly she reached out to his collar. "It's… it's messed up", she whispered and only dared a brief glance at his eyes.

She adjusted it with a few small movements and draped his collar around it.

"Alright. Done." Her hands still on the fabric, she lifted her head to look at him, and both stopped breathing.

Just one wrong move.

It was rushing through two minds, oblivious to each other.

Just one wrong move.

Green dancing between hazel eyes, their chests rising and falling in unison.

Just one wrong move.

They tore their eyes away from each other.

"I-I have to go to Diana!" Anne stepped backwards, "I-I, she's waiting for certain by now!"

Gilbert managed nothing but a nod, watching her lifting her skirt and dashing off.

Just one wrong move.

...And then what?

AN: RHrGreatness: Gil is a polite man, but he's no coward, and much less when HIS Anne's involved. Excuse me, I mean… his wifey ;D Haha, it would have been funny if Rachel would have appeared at that window! I guess he would have jumped into a hedge xD xD I hope I didn't disappoint you! :)

Amybf19: How kind! Thank you for brightening my days with your reviews! :)