Orange Wonders

Anne knocked hesitantly on the wooden door.

A few moments ago his previous patient had left. Which meant he was now alone.

Which meant now was the time.

Now or never.

"Come in."

She took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping in.

"Anne-girl!" He smiled at her, "What a delightful surprise."

Gilbert was sitting behind his desk, writing on what seemed a patient file.

She returned his smile and closed the door behind her.

"Gilbert…" her back searched support on the door.

"Did you want to tell me something?" he asked while resuming his work. "I feel like I don't have a single minute of rest today. Seems like the whole town decided to get sick on the same day," he chuckled at his own joke.

"Gilbert…" Anne pushed herself away from the entrance, walking slowly towards his desk.

"I think… I might need a medical inspection as well", she bit her bottom lip nervously.

He lifted his head, giving her an affectionate and at the same time regretful smile, "You know how I wished I could spend more time with you, Anne. I promise you I'll make it up on Sunday. Just you and me."

Seemed as if the time they've shared had been enough…

"No, Gilbert." She made a pause. "I'm… expecting."

"Very funny, Anne", he smirked ,"You won't believe me what Mr. Miller told me today," Gilbert spoke while writing again, "he just came here to say-"

"Gilbert Blythe", she interrupted him at the edge of desperation. "I. Am. With. Child."

"I tell you, sometimes I think those people don't have anything better to do th-" Gilbert trailed off as his pen and jaw dropped simultaneously. Her words finally sinking in. Slowly he lifted his head, staring disbelievingly at his wife.

Like a fish he opened and closed his mouth over and over again, searching for words.

"Y-you, you - We-" A smile started curling his lips. "We are going to have a baby?"

She nodded vigorously, beaming at him.

Gilbert pushed his chair back and rushed to her, taking Anne's hands in his. "Really?" By now the smile had turned into a grin reaching from one ear to the other.

Tears were glittering in her eyes and she couldn't help but think that he looked so adorable handsome in all his joy. She removed one hand out of his hold and traced the lines of his dimples tenderly.

"Really", she whispered, "You are going to be a father, Gil."

He turned his face into her palm, kissing the soft skin. "Anne…" He didn't know what else to say, but somehow these four letters contained all the love he felt for her.

A laugh bubbled out of his mouth and he lifted her suddenly up in his arms and started twirling her around.

She laughed surprised into his shoulder and clung onto him.

He would always remain a boy, wouldn't he? She truly hoped so.

"Anne…" He slowly released her, without letting go of her waist, "I don't know what to say…"

Tears were sparkling in his hazel eyes as well, and Anne thought she had one more reason why she'd chosen her engagement ring right.

For some moments he simply looked at her, his eyes dancing between hers and saying all the words that wouldn't find their way out of his mouth. Then he slowly leaned in, his warm lips brushing hers in a feathery touch.

"Thank you, Carrots..." he whispered against her, before closing his lips around hers.

His arms tightened around Anne even more, drew her even closer into him. As if he'd be afraid this was just some wonderful dream, some beautiful rainbow bubble which could burst any second.

Gilbert kissed her lips, kissed her cheeks, kissed her forehead, kissed every freckle on her nose. And every kiss was a thank you for the most wonderful gift he would ever get in his life.

Her hands travelled up, finding their way around his neck, her fingers running through his hair she loved so. She tilted his head to capture his lips again, having the desire to express all the love she felt right now as well.

Was it possible that one could burst with love?

If it ever would have happened to two people, Anne and Gilbert would have been two dancing bubbles, bursting into hundreds of tiny little sparkling drops in this very moment.

The sudden squeak of the door broke their ardent kiss abruptly. Still in the arms of one another, they turned their heads flustered towards the door.

"Uh, I'm s-sorry, Dr. Blythe," a very embarrassed middle-aged man stuttered, "I-I didn't know- Uh, I knocked-"

"M-Mr. Hall. I'm sorry", Gilbert let go of Anne, trying to regain his composure, "I-I will call you up in a minute."

The poor man only nodded before closing the door behind him.

Anne and Gilbert looked at each other, both their faces now covered in a blush, and couldn't help but snort with laughter.

"Oh, how embarrassing, Gil", she shook her head laughing.

"Well, seems like we will be the talk of the town", he encircled her once more, "Not that I really mind", he added in a whisper, brushing her nose with his.

"I wish I wouldn't have to stay here…"

She kissed him. "I should have told you at home, shouldn't I have?"

"Oh, but it's a sweet torture, Anne-girl. I can't wait to come home to you." He answered with a kiss of his own.

"We shouldn't start with this again, Gil", she chuckled and released herself reluctantly from his hold. "It won't be long."

He walked her towards the door, looking at her like a schoolboy who had just fallen in love for the very first time, "Take care of you two, Anne-o-mine", he kissed her hand.

"I will", she smiled, placing unconsciously a hand on her belly.

Before disappearing behind the door, she sent him a blown kiss, feeling utterly ditzy and even more blissfully happy.

Hours later, the moon was already gracing the sky with its light, Anne rushed to the door as she heard it being opened.

"Gil!" she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck, "I was starting to worry!"

He kissed the top of her head, embracing her, "I'm sorry. It took longer than I thought, sweetheart. I had to get something in town."

"What?" she looked puzzled at him, "If you'd told me, I could have done that."

"No. Not this time", he grinned and pecked her lips. Then he removed his coat and hung it up, before grabbing Anne's hand. "Come on. I have to show you something."

He led her towards their sofa, sitting down and pulling her into his lap.

"Gilbert. Don't be so secretive! What is it?"

He chuckled at her eagerness and pulled something out from behind his back, "I got you a little something."

She looked surprised at him, then at the brown parcel in his hands.

"Open it."

Carefully she took the present, loosened the strings and undid it.

For some moments she simply stared down at the sight greeting her, dumbfounded.

Then she used one hand to hold the gift up.

"Orange babies slippers? You seriously bought orange babies slippers?"

"Well, of course," he grinned mischievously, "this colour is after all the reason you broke that slate over my head. And if you wouldn't have broken the slate over my head, I wouldn't have fallen in love with you. And then we wouldn't be here, knowing in only a few months we will be parents."

"Gilbert Blythe…" a tear escaped her smiling eyes, "I would have always found a reason to hit you with something", she laughed in-between crying.

He laughed too, kissing her. "And I would have fallen in love with you one way or another. I was just making a point. And trying to be romantic…" He pouted.

"Oh you are", she chuckled, "only in a very mean way." She brought her free hand up to his cheek, caressing him, before adding softly, "Don't ever stop."

"Look into the slippers."

"What?" she knitted her brow.

"Look into the slippers."

Puzzled she looked into one slipper, than into the other, not noticing anything conspicuous. Then she let her fingers surveying the inside, until she suddenly made contact with something solid yet small and even stinging.

Quizzically she met his eyes, but he would only grin mysteriously.

So she carefully pulled it out, releasing it in her palm.

"Gil…" with open mouth she stared at the two sparkling violets gems.

"I searched for something that would always remind you of that special moment. And something to show you how grateful I am for everything you've ever given me, Anne. And then I spotted these amethyst earrings and thought how perfect they would be. A pair of earrings like it takes two people to create this miracle and a pair of earrings for you and…" he gently placed his hand for the very first time on her belly, "for that little Carrots inside of you."

"Oh Gil…" she whimpered and threw her arms around him, the gift clasped tightly in her hand.

He kissed the soft skin under her ear and grinned, "Are you crying because of the gift or because you're afraid the baby could have red hair?"

She chuckled, "Both."

The she moved mere inches away, so she could meet his eyes, "Gilbert. I don't want it to have my hair." Anne wrinkled her nose.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk", he shook his head with an impish smile on his face, before leaning down, speaking to her belly, "Don't listen to your mommy. Red hair is truly beautiful. And if ever a boy-"

"Or a girl", she laughed.

"Ah yes. And if ever a boy, or a girl – but it would be a little bit weird for a girl to tease him, wouldn't it be? Well, never mind – makes fun of your hair, then simply keep in mind that he… or she, is in love with you."

"I wish somebody would have told me that when I was little," Anne whispered smilingly, putting the earrings down on the table.

Then she placed one hand on his cheek to caress it with her thumb, while the other one moved of its own accord toward Gilbert's, until their fingers met and entwined, resting protectively upon their growing wonder.

AN: I'd like to dedicate this to my own bosom friend, who always keeps inspiring me (with bees and all).

"Seriously? Orange babies slippers? In 1890?" Yes, I can hear your thoughts, dear readers ;)

But you see, the old lady who knits these nice baby clothes for the store may still have a light hand, but her eyes aren't the bests. So she confused the orange wool for the pink one.

But hey – isn't orange the new pink anyway? ^^

hihal: Thank you for your nice review! I'm afraid I'm not an angsty-fanfiction-person. I don't really read or write them. I tend to say life's already bitter enough, so I try to sweeten it and concentrate on its positive aspects.

TheNinjaGoalie: Thank you so much! :D Did you mean after Gil gets well? That sounds good! I'd like an interaction between Gil and Marilla. I'll keep that in mind!

Guest: How amazing! Don't tell anyone but I tend to baptize our Christmas tree every year ^^

ANNE: You'll have to talk that out with my muses ;)

RHrGreatness: What can I say? I loooooooooooove our subconscious mind. It's such a great matchmaker ;)