Heart Strings


Soul meets soul on lovers lips.

Percy Bysshe Shelley


Gilbert's nose wrinkled as the first shaft of sunlight fell through the white lace curtains and brushed his face. His senses were awakening more and more under this pleasant light - sleep slowly leaving on tiptoes.

A smile tugged the corner of his mouth as he felt the warm weight on his chest.

He turned his head as his eyelids fluttered leisurely open, something brighter than the rays of sunshine greeting him for the thirty-second time.

Yes, Gilbert had been keeping count on the mornings he woke up beside her, and yet a little part somewhere deep inside of him couldn't wait for the day where he would lose track, for it had been too many times.

But until then, every day would carry its number, and every number he would cherish.

He watched her peaceful face, her slightly parted lips, the warm sunlight emphasizing her fair skin. Anne didn't have as many or conspicuous freckles as she used to have when they had still been children, but there were still these little dainty marks, adorning her high cheekbones and the bridge of her fine nose.

Whenever he looked at them it was itching Gilbert to reach out his fingers and trace them, wondering how something so tiny could point out her beauty and cheekiness in such an unmistakable way.

Sometimes they reminded him of the millions twinkling stars on the midnight sky, and he wished he could count them all.

He pulled his right arm out from under their blanket, and gently laid his hand upon her warm one on his chest, his fingers fitting perfectly between hers.

They haven't fallen asleep this way, but almost every night Anne would eventually turn in her slumber, and snuggle into his side, unconsciously wrapping her arm around his body.

And there it would stay the remaining hours until Gilbert woke up, and was the first thing which welcomed him every day.

More often than not it was him who awoke first - maybe there was still the clock of the farm boy somewhere inside of him, which caused him to - and he would do nothing but watch her dream, and savour the feeling of waking up beside her.

These were the minutes he had only for himself, these were the moments which gave him enough reason and spirit for a new day.

Anne stirred slightly in her sleep and murmured almost inaudible. He could feel that it wouldn't take long for her to wake up as well. A strand of hair has come loose from her braid through her movements, and fell now into her face, shimmering golden in the sunlight.

Gilbert gingerly reached out to brush it aside, lingering on her skin longer than needed, realizing how he had missed touching her.

If it were for him, he would need no night, but stay awake with her for all eternity. Then he would never have to close his eyes, but could look at her forever. Hear her voice and see her smile every hour of the day.

He remembered how she had braided her hair last night, sitting on the small seat in front of her vanity mirror. He'd stepped up from behind, tugging her hair teasingly and saying that not much had changed since he had called her 'Carrots'. She'd tied the ribbon around her hair with a pout, and Gilbert couldn't resist but kiss those sulking lips. As she'd wrapped her arms around his neck then, Anne showed him without words how much indeed had changed since that day.

A smile appeared on his face again as his eyes wandered over her alluring hair. Many things had changed in those fourteen years, but some things had always stayed the same.

The girl who had wrapped him around her little finger in the blink of an eye without even knowing, was still the girl he would do anything for.

Only that now she didn't just have Gilbert wrapped around her finger but also their golden band which would link them forever.

Only that now she was a woman - not a girl anymore - and he didn't need to chase after her, day after day, without ever reaching her. For they walked in lockstep now, catching each other when someone would stumble along the road.

Only that he didn't need to be afraid of slates any longer when he wanted to be close to her, for she wanted to be close to him too.

If Gilbert would have ever doubted her words and vows of love, the only evidence he would have needed was her body which pressed itself against him every night in their sleep.

Somewhere deep inside their souls, they were still this girl and this boy, getting under each other's skin, teasing, and tugging at each other's heart strings. And yet they were woman and man now, wife and husband, displaying their love not in candy hearts or written words, but in touches and merging souls.

Despite all his broken hearts, despite all his tears, and stinging cuts, Gilbert wouldn't change one single piece of their story.

Because it was this broken heart which she had mended with all her tenderness, and which now could love her more deeply than any other heart could.

For it were those tears which were witness of the brokenness when two pieces that belong, were ripped apart.

It was the memory of this pain which made him feel all their togetherness and bliss with every fiber of his being.

The only thing Gilbert wished he could do, would be to write a letter to this boy, and tell him that it all would be worth it. More than worth it. That everything would turn out how it was meant to be from the beginning of their lives.

His fingertip brushed the line of gentle freckles on her cheek, his lips mouthing the numbers soundlessly, "One… two… tree…"

Instead of following their trace to her nose, his finger wandered down of its own accord, brushing the soft corner of her bottom lip, and lingered there.

His eyes were glued to this tantalizing sight, the memories of how her lips felt and tasted beneath his, gnawing on him.

Gilbert decided he couldn't wait any longer to know this sensation again, as he leaned forward and replaced his finger with his lips, pressing them tenderly to her warm ones.

He felt her stirring underneath him and withdrew only inches to see how her eyelids fluttered open and surprised green eyes met his twinkling ones.

"What are you doing?" she asked in her drowsy quiet voice, a faint giggle resonating in her words.

"Counting your freckles. But I lost track."

His nose brushed hers before he kissed her again, more firmly this time.

Anne wrapped her hands around his bare neck, her fingers caressing his hair.

"Then you have to start all over again, huh?"


AN: I hope nobody has a hangover because of too much Raspberry Cordial? But if - please don't tell Mrs. Barry or I'm not allowed to write here anymore! ;D

RHrGreatness: Thank you for this lovely idea, dear Mr. CCT! I hope you like the way it turned out, and I was able to bring M+U sweetness to Shlythe adorableness ;) I'm afraid you and me were the only one enjoying our Boys' music. Shlythe were too occupied with "other" *coughkissingcough* things even before it was your favourite's of my team turn to sing! xD

Guest: Oh, I understand their concern, since I'm very careful with such things myself. I can only say that I never get mails from FF except those telling me that I got a PM or review. Thank you for that lovely idea! I will keep that in mind, it would be sweet! :D

Guest: I'm so happy to read that! :)

Verostar1221: *reaching you cordial and cake* Oh yes, encore her! And what is a party without spin the bottle (and coincidentally Anne is forced to kiss Gil *wink*)!

Amybf19: Oh yes, the Pyes are a nightmare. But without the Pyes Gil couldn't save Anne from Josie – she's the dragon and he the knight ;)

gilda: All the happier I am to get to know you now! Thank you for such kind words, they were truly like hot chocolate on a cold winter day to my heart! :D