A/N: I'm sorry you had to wait so long for this update, but it just wasn't
coming out right. I hope you enjoy this chapter and forgive me.
Gufa: I'LL MISS YOU!! Have a fantastic Christmas vacation and I may just write to you. I, too, love chocolate cake and rainy days. While I was writing that part, all I could think of was Bill Cosby and his 'Chocolate Cake for Breakfast' routine on his 'Bill Cosby Himself' album. If you haven't heard it, you should. It's very funny. I'll try to work the King family in a little more, but it's kind of difficult.
Anonymous327: SEVEN!! Wait a minute. EIGHT!! You must have more patience than I do. I only have four and I don't even live with them anymore. They still get on my nerves. I thought it would be perfect for Ken to not want to 'give up his little girl' and I was sure that Rilla was the only one who could convince him.
Beck: I love any type of review, as long as I don't get flamed. So you just keep on reviewing and I'll keep on writing. Thanks for your compliment. I am sorry I didn't get this chapter up sooner, but my muse inspired me in the direction of Captain Jack Sparrow.
On-fire-for-Christ: LOL. Hopefully, you know where I'm going with this now. I just reread my chapter and I realize it could be a bit misleading. I'm glad you understand it, though.
PhiloNysh: Always good to hear from you, my friend.
WhenAngelsCry: Hello there! Welcome aboard! I love getting new reviewers. Thank you for the compliment on my writing. And I can't make any promises about Will or Walter, but I'll do my best to keep them safe.
Steph: Yes, Will has to go fight. I haven't figured out yet how to write his departure, but I'm hoping I won't make it too depressing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gilbert, do get that sour look off your face. They'll be here any minute."
"I still don't like this."
"Nonsense. I think it's very romantic. Come help me with the lunch."
Gilbert reluctantly rose and followed his wife into their kitchen. She had been cooking nonstop since Rilla had called and informed them of Chris and Will's impending visit. Her face was flushed with excitement as she carried a chocolate cake to the table. Gilbert eyed it with a bit of distaste. Chocolate cake was not his favorite thing in the world.
"Don't you think she had enough chocolate cake this morning?" he inquired.
"No, I do not. What a ridiculous thing to say, Gil darling. One can never have too much chocolate. Besides, Will didn't have any chocolate cake. And Faith and the children will be over as well. I wish Jem could come."
"And I wish I'd gone with him to Four Winds this morning," Gilbert said grumpily. Anne merely smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't be so grumpy, Gil. The only reason you're not ecstatic about this is because Rilla told us about Will planning to propose to Chris."
"She's too young," Gilbert replied, echoing his son-in-law.
"You're as bad as Ken, Gil," Anne shot back, sailing breezily past him with a smile.
"She is too young," repeated Gilbert, putting extra emphasis on his 'is'. Anne paid him no heed. Gil had been in such a mood since he had learned of his granddaughter's impending engagement. Why did men have to make things so complicated?
"Will loves her very much. And she loves him. Besides, Rilla explained that they wouldn't be married until-. They won't be married for a while, yet."
Anne couldn't bring herself to say 'after the war'. If she did, then the happiness of the day would be spoiled. Gilbert saw his chance to bring up a good argument.
"And if they won't be married for a while, then what's the point in proposing now? Why make her wait all those years?"
"When did you become opposed to long engagements, Gil?" Anne inquired as she checked on her chicken. Gilbert's face fell as he remembered the three years between his proposal to Anne and their actual wedding.
"Why do you always have to be right?" he finally asked after a moment of silence. "You've taken away every one of my arguments."
Anne walked over and wrapped her arms around him. He looked into her eyes and was unable to keep his grumpy mood in tact. He grinned at her and Anne rewarded him with a kiss. When she pulled back, she returned his grin.
"That's much better, Gil. Now please be nice to your future son-in-law. I'm sure he's very nervous and he doesn't need you giving him your Spanish Inquisition bit."
"I beg your pardon?!" exclaimed Gilbert. His face held a shocked expression. Anne rolled her eyes.
"You know very well what I mean, Gilbert Blythe. It's a wonder Di and Jack ever got married at all. Poor Jack. You'd known him his whole life, but you still saw fit to frighten him half to death."
"Oh, Jack just has no sense of humor."
"He does have a sense of humor. It's exactly like yours. Now, are you going to stand here and argue with me about the personality traits of our son-in-law, or are you going to help me?"
She made a move to go past him, but Gilbert caught her hand and pulled her close.
"Not so fast, Anne-girl. I rather like to argue with you. It means we get to make up."
Anne's eyes shone as Gilbert pulled her in for another kiss.
*************************************Later
Chris enjoyed herself immensely at Ingleside, but there was a small cloud over her otherwise perfect day. Will seemed very ill at ease and she could only guess it had something to do with the fact that her grandfather kept giving him stern looks throughout the meal. It was all very puzzling to Chris. Grandfather had always liked Will before. Why had he changed his mind?
Not long after lunch, Chris whisked Will away from her grandfather and off to Rainbow Valley. It hadn't rained much in Glen St. Mary and the rain had stopped altogether just a few minutes after Chris and Will left Green Gables. Will had never been to Rainbow Valley and Chris was eager to show him what a beautiful place it was.
Now that they were alone, Will seemed more like his old self. They talked about everything and nothing as they strolled along the paths so many lovers had walked upon. For Chris, it was a pretend day. As long as they were in Rainbow Valley, hidden from the rest of the civilized world, there was no war. Here, she could pretend that Walter, Joseph, and all the other boys were home and that Sara was still alive.
Just as they were leaving Rainbow Valley, Cecelia Blythe came running towards them, her red curls streaking behind her like flames. She obviously had some exciting news.
"Mother wants to know if you'd like to go to Four Winds."
Chris's eyes lit up. She loved Four Winds and Will hadn't been there, yet. But Will had his eyes on something else.
"I wish we could, Cecelia, but I think we better get back to Ingleside and then head home."
Chris started to protest, but she noticed Will looking at the sky. Looking up, she saw the reason for his refusal. Dark clouds were gathering in the distance, but it was obvious they were headed that way. If they hurried, they might be able to beat the storm back to Avonlea. Cecelia, too, had seen the clouds and nodded understandingly before turning and heading for her own home. It looked as if the entire trip would be off for her family as well.
********************************************
They left Ingleside just a few minutes before the rain started. And once it started, it poured all over them. What began as tiny little drops soon turned into a torrential downpour and Will was overtaken by a bad mood. Why was it raining now? He had planned on proposing to Chris that very evening in Hester Gray's garden. This storm ruined his plans. Chris sensed his mood and wisely said very little to him as they were driving home. This was probably a good thing in part. The roads were so slick and the rain so heavy that Will needed to keep all his focus on driving.
But Chris's hopes for a completely enjoyable day were completely dashed just a few miles away from Avonlea. She didn't need to ask Will what had happened. She had experienced the sensation before. Stuck in the storm and the mud and the rain, they were the proud possessors of a flat tire.
Will got out and rooted around for the spare, but he knew it would do no good. How could he change a flat tire on a muddy road? Disappointed, drenched, and rather angry, he made a snap decision.
"You stay here, Chris," he directed as he opened her door and poked his head inside the car. Her eyes flashed at him.
"In this storm? I don't think so. Where are you going?"
"The Sloane place is only a mile or two from here. I'm going to walk there and phone for someone to come get us. I can't change a flat tire on this muddy road. There's nothing to support the car."
She knew this to be true, but she wasn't about to be left on the side of the road.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not," he said firmly. "You'll get sick in this wet weather and then I'll have everyone down on me for not leaving you in the car in the first place. Not to mention the fact that I don't want you to get sick."
"I'm not a delicate little flower, Will."
"You're my delicate little flower," he said with his most charming smile. In this case, his charm failed to work. Chris had made up her mind and she was just as stubborn as her grandmother, which did not bode well for Will's argument.
"I'm going," she said with an air of finality. That, coupled with the lift of her chin, made Will realize that he had no hope of winning this one.
"Alright, but put this over your head," he said, helping her out of the car and placing his jacket over her head like a shawl.
"But you'll get wet," Chris replied.
"I'm already drenched, Chris. That jacket isn't going to help me anymore, but it will keep most of the rain off your head. I wish we had an umbrella in the car."
It was soon apparent that an umbrella would have done them no good. The wind kicked up, blowing rain into their faces and bodies, making them shiver with cold. Chris tried to get Will to take his jacket back, but he insisted she keep it. They made a rather pitiful sight, really, walking down the road in the pouring rain. Chris kept hoping that some familiar face would drive by and take them home, but it was obvious that she and Will had been the only ones crazy enough to go for a drive that day.
Will was lost in his own thoughts. His question burned inside of him and the nervousness he had felt for so much of the day had all but disappeared. He wanted to ask Chris to marry him today. He had planned it for over five months. The amethyst ring Lorelei had helped him pick out was practically crying out to be put on Chris's finger. He had heard her say once how much she loved amethysts and had gone to great pains to find one. It hadn't been easy, buying this ring. But he had worked long and hard on his grandfather's farm, saving each penny he earned. It wasn't a big ring. Chris hated ostentatious jewelry. But he was almost sure she would like this ring.
Thinking about it proved too much for Will. He had to do this now. It all seemed very odd, proposing to the love of his life in the middle of a rainstorm, but he had to do it. Grabbing Chris's hand, he pulled her to a stop.
Chris looked at Will, puzzled. What on Earth was wrong with him? He had an odd look in his eyes. A look that Chris had never seen before.
"Will, are you alright? What is it?"
"Chris, I've got something important to tell you."
"Now?"
"Yes, now. A lot of things have happened in the past year. Some of those things have been absolutely terrible. When my sister died, I felt so empty. It was as if I'd lost a part of myself. I still feel that way, but when I'm with you, it isn't so hard. You've been my strength these past few weeks, Chris. And I want to thank you for that."
"You're welcome," she replied, moving to give him a hug. But he stopped her.
"I'm not finished. With all these terrible things happening, it made me start wondering. What would be the most terrible thing that could ever happen to me? It didn't take me long to come up with an answer. The most terrible thing I could think of was living a life without you by my side."
Chris felt her heart began to pound as Will slowly sank to one knee. Was this real? Or was she dreaming?
"Chris, I love you. I'll always love you. Will you marry me?"
The tears that stung her eyes served to assure her that this was definitely real. In the middle of a rainstorm, with one of his knees firmly planted on the wet, wet ground, William Pike had just proposed to her. And it didn't take her long to answer.
"Yes."
She had planned to say more, but got no further. Will jumped up and kissed her. His jacket fell off her head and onto the ground. Both of them were soon drenched, but neither of them cared. They were still standing by the side of the road, kissing, when Ken Ford and Gus Pike, having been sent out by a worried Rilla and Felicity, found them and brought them home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I hope you're happy with the chapter! And I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah!
Gufa: I'LL MISS YOU!! Have a fantastic Christmas vacation and I may just write to you. I, too, love chocolate cake and rainy days. While I was writing that part, all I could think of was Bill Cosby and his 'Chocolate Cake for Breakfast' routine on his 'Bill Cosby Himself' album. If you haven't heard it, you should. It's very funny. I'll try to work the King family in a little more, but it's kind of difficult.
Anonymous327: SEVEN!! Wait a minute. EIGHT!! You must have more patience than I do. I only have four and I don't even live with them anymore. They still get on my nerves. I thought it would be perfect for Ken to not want to 'give up his little girl' and I was sure that Rilla was the only one who could convince him.
Beck: I love any type of review, as long as I don't get flamed. So you just keep on reviewing and I'll keep on writing. Thanks for your compliment. I am sorry I didn't get this chapter up sooner, but my muse inspired me in the direction of Captain Jack Sparrow.
On-fire-for-Christ: LOL. Hopefully, you know where I'm going with this now. I just reread my chapter and I realize it could be a bit misleading. I'm glad you understand it, though.
PhiloNysh: Always good to hear from you, my friend.
WhenAngelsCry: Hello there! Welcome aboard! I love getting new reviewers. Thank you for the compliment on my writing. And I can't make any promises about Will or Walter, but I'll do my best to keep them safe.
Steph: Yes, Will has to go fight. I haven't figured out yet how to write his departure, but I'm hoping I won't make it too depressing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gilbert, do get that sour look off your face. They'll be here any minute."
"I still don't like this."
"Nonsense. I think it's very romantic. Come help me with the lunch."
Gilbert reluctantly rose and followed his wife into their kitchen. She had been cooking nonstop since Rilla had called and informed them of Chris and Will's impending visit. Her face was flushed with excitement as she carried a chocolate cake to the table. Gilbert eyed it with a bit of distaste. Chocolate cake was not his favorite thing in the world.
"Don't you think she had enough chocolate cake this morning?" he inquired.
"No, I do not. What a ridiculous thing to say, Gil darling. One can never have too much chocolate. Besides, Will didn't have any chocolate cake. And Faith and the children will be over as well. I wish Jem could come."
"And I wish I'd gone with him to Four Winds this morning," Gilbert said grumpily. Anne merely smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't be so grumpy, Gil. The only reason you're not ecstatic about this is because Rilla told us about Will planning to propose to Chris."
"She's too young," Gilbert replied, echoing his son-in-law.
"You're as bad as Ken, Gil," Anne shot back, sailing breezily past him with a smile.
"She is too young," repeated Gilbert, putting extra emphasis on his 'is'. Anne paid him no heed. Gil had been in such a mood since he had learned of his granddaughter's impending engagement. Why did men have to make things so complicated?
"Will loves her very much. And she loves him. Besides, Rilla explained that they wouldn't be married until-. They won't be married for a while, yet."
Anne couldn't bring herself to say 'after the war'. If she did, then the happiness of the day would be spoiled. Gilbert saw his chance to bring up a good argument.
"And if they won't be married for a while, then what's the point in proposing now? Why make her wait all those years?"
"When did you become opposed to long engagements, Gil?" Anne inquired as she checked on her chicken. Gilbert's face fell as he remembered the three years between his proposal to Anne and their actual wedding.
"Why do you always have to be right?" he finally asked after a moment of silence. "You've taken away every one of my arguments."
Anne walked over and wrapped her arms around him. He looked into her eyes and was unable to keep his grumpy mood in tact. He grinned at her and Anne rewarded him with a kiss. When she pulled back, she returned his grin.
"That's much better, Gil. Now please be nice to your future son-in-law. I'm sure he's very nervous and he doesn't need you giving him your Spanish Inquisition bit."
"I beg your pardon?!" exclaimed Gilbert. His face held a shocked expression. Anne rolled her eyes.
"You know very well what I mean, Gilbert Blythe. It's a wonder Di and Jack ever got married at all. Poor Jack. You'd known him his whole life, but you still saw fit to frighten him half to death."
"Oh, Jack just has no sense of humor."
"He does have a sense of humor. It's exactly like yours. Now, are you going to stand here and argue with me about the personality traits of our son-in-law, or are you going to help me?"
She made a move to go past him, but Gilbert caught her hand and pulled her close.
"Not so fast, Anne-girl. I rather like to argue with you. It means we get to make up."
Anne's eyes shone as Gilbert pulled her in for another kiss.
*************************************Later
Chris enjoyed herself immensely at Ingleside, but there was a small cloud over her otherwise perfect day. Will seemed very ill at ease and she could only guess it had something to do with the fact that her grandfather kept giving him stern looks throughout the meal. It was all very puzzling to Chris. Grandfather had always liked Will before. Why had he changed his mind?
Not long after lunch, Chris whisked Will away from her grandfather and off to Rainbow Valley. It hadn't rained much in Glen St. Mary and the rain had stopped altogether just a few minutes after Chris and Will left Green Gables. Will had never been to Rainbow Valley and Chris was eager to show him what a beautiful place it was.
Now that they were alone, Will seemed more like his old self. They talked about everything and nothing as they strolled along the paths so many lovers had walked upon. For Chris, it was a pretend day. As long as they were in Rainbow Valley, hidden from the rest of the civilized world, there was no war. Here, she could pretend that Walter, Joseph, and all the other boys were home and that Sara was still alive.
Just as they were leaving Rainbow Valley, Cecelia Blythe came running towards them, her red curls streaking behind her like flames. She obviously had some exciting news.
"Mother wants to know if you'd like to go to Four Winds."
Chris's eyes lit up. She loved Four Winds and Will hadn't been there, yet. But Will had his eyes on something else.
"I wish we could, Cecelia, but I think we better get back to Ingleside and then head home."
Chris started to protest, but she noticed Will looking at the sky. Looking up, she saw the reason for his refusal. Dark clouds were gathering in the distance, but it was obvious they were headed that way. If they hurried, they might be able to beat the storm back to Avonlea. Cecelia, too, had seen the clouds and nodded understandingly before turning and heading for her own home. It looked as if the entire trip would be off for her family as well.
********************************************
They left Ingleside just a few minutes before the rain started. And once it started, it poured all over them. What began as tiny little drops soon turned into a torrential downpour and Will was overtaken by a bad mood. Why was it raining now? He had planned on proposing to Chris that very evening in Hester Gray's garden. This storm ruined his plans. Chris sensed his mood and wisely said very little to him as they were driving home. This was probably a good thing in part. The roads were so slick and the rain so heavy that Will needed to keep all his focus on driving.
But Chris's hopes for a completely enjoyable day were completely dashed just a few miles away from Avonlea. She didn't need to ask Will what had happened. She had experienced the sensation before. Stuck in the storm and the mud and the rain, they were the proud possessors of a flat tire.
Will got out and rooted around for the spare, but he knew it would do no good. How could he change a flat tire on a muddy road? Disappointed, drenched, and rather angry, he made a snap decision.
"You stay here, Chris," he directed as he opened her door and poked his head inside the car. Her eyes flashed at him.
"In this storm? I don't think so. Where are you going?"
"The Sloane place is only a mile or two from here. I'm going to walk there and phone for someone to come get us. I can't change a flat tire on this muddy road. There's nothing to support the car."
She knew this to be true, but she wasn't about to be left on the side of the road.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not," he said firmly. "You'll get sick in this wet weather and then I'll have everyone down on me for not leaving you in the car in the first place. Not to mention the fact that I don't want you to get sick."
"I'm not a delicate little flower, Will."
"You're my delicate little flower," he said with his most charming smile. In this case, his charm failed to work. Chris had made up her mind and she was just as stubborn as her grandmother, which did not bode well for Will's argument.
"I'm going," she said with an air of finality. That, coupled with the lift of her chin, made Will realize that he had no hope of winning this one.
"Alright, but put this over your head," he said, helping her out of the car and placing his jacket over her head like a shawl.
"But you'll get wet," Chris replied.
"I'm already drenched, Chris. That jacket isn't going to help me anymore, but it will keep most of the rain off your head. I wish we had an umbrella in the car."
It was soon apparent that an umbrella would have done them no good. The wind kicked up, blowing rain into their faces and bodies, making them shiver with cold. Chris tried to get Will to take his jacket back, but he insisted she keep it. They made a rather pitiful sight, really, walking down the road in the pouring rain. Chris kept hoping that some familiar face would drive by and take them home, but it was obvious that she and Will had been the only ones crazy enough to go for a drive that day.
Will was lost in his own thoughts. His question burned inside of him and the nervousness he had felt for so much of the day had all but disappeared. He wanted to ask Chris to marry him today. He had planned it for over five months. The amethyst ring Lorelei had helped him pick out was practically crying out to be put on Chris's finger. He had heard her say once how much she loved amethysts and had gone to great pains to find one. It hadn't been easy, buying this ring. But he had worked long and hard on his grandfather's farm, saving each penny he earned. It wasn't a big ring. Chris hated ostentatious jewelry. But he was almost sure she would like this ring.
Thinking about it proved too much for Will. He had to do this now. It all seemed very odd, proposing to the love of his life in the middle of a rainstorm, but he had to do it. Grabbing Chris's hand, he pulled her to a stop.
Chris looked at Will, puzzled. What on Earth was wrong with him? He had an odd look in his eyes. A look that Chris had never seen before.
"Will, are you alright? What is it?"
"Chris, I've got something important to tell you."
"Now?"
"Yes, now. A lot of things have happened in the past year. Some of those things have been absolutely terrible. When my sister died, I felt so empty. It was as if I'd lost a part of myself. I still feel that way, but when I'm with you, it isn't so hard. You've been my strength these past few weeks, Chris. And I want to thank you for that."
"You're welcome," she replied, moving to give him a hug. But he stopped her.
"I'm not finished. With all these terrible things happening, it made me start wondering. What would be the most terrible thing that could ever happen to me? It didn't take me long to come up with an answer. The most terrible thing I could think of was living a life without you by my side."
Chris felt her heart began to pound as Will slowly sank to one knee. Was this real? Or was she dreaming?
"Chris, I love you. I'll always love you. Will you marry me?"
The tears that stung her eyes served to assure her that this was definitely real. In the middle of a rainstorm, with one of his knees firmly planted on the wet, wet ground, William Pike had just proposed to her. And it didn't take her long to answer.
"Yes."
She had planned to say more, but got no further. Will jumped up and kissed her. His jacket fell off her head and onto the ground. Both of them were soon drenched, but neither of them cared. They were still standing by the side of the road, kissing, when Ken Ford and Gus Pike, having been sent out by a worried Rilla and Felicity, found them and brought them home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I hope you're happy with the chapter! And I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah!