Hi All,

This story may go on forever do you all know that?

I have had a hard time with times on this chapter, it covers quite a large section and I found it difficult to write!

Thanks CatieGirl, your advice hopefully shows, though I think the timeframe of this chapter is even tighter then you might have thought, which does imply it was needed so thanks!

Welcome back Kim Blythe I think you are all up to date now!

love

Carrots


14 Feb,

Dearest Gilbert,

During your Christmas break love I asked you to woo me the old fashioned way, and I realised love, that I didn't woo you in 'the old fashioned way'. Many have said of our generation that the art of writing a letter has been lost, so I thought this would be an excellent chance to prove people wrong and to woo. So of course, this letter should not be viewed as practical, because there is no practicality in love letters, but a letter from the heart, which hopefully in years to come with remind you of the old flame which was lit in Avonlea, I hope in that day I find that it will still burn brightly as it did the first day you pulled on my pigtail in class (no, you shall never live that down love!)

So here I am, a hopeless romantic getting to write a love letter to you, and what to write seems so alien to me, for I am used to expressing myself in quick texts the fewer words the better right? I mean sometimes we don't even write words anymore just a long line of pictures. So forgive me if I need to pry out the Jane Austen in me.

Or perhaps the John Keats in me, he said "My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you – I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again – my Life seems to stop there – I see no further. You have absorb'd me…I would be martyr'd for my Religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you…"

Could love be selfish? I mean really?

What we said about not being able to put our finger on a moment where we fell in love that we were already there by the time we realised, its true. But its because, or at least it was for me that the kind of love you showed, you shared with me was so unselfish that by the time I realised I loved this about you or I loved that about you it was already so unselfishly given and shared that I loved you already, that feeling was already there.

And I have to ask myself something Gilbert and it worries me, I know you never shared such intimacy with the others, and by intimacy I mean the little stories about who you are, the little boy who wanted to play ice hockey, the teenage boy who thought he was selfish and caused his father pain, the boy who I didn't know just a year before hand, how lonely he was, I've had from several people, I've seen it that they don't know these things about you, that you were quiet and reserved with everyone, everyone except an undeserving redhead with a bad temper, and I have to question, why me?

I'm glad its me, I'm glad every moment of every day I know you and I really know you, I know all of you and I want to share forever with you.

I don't know if I say it enough Gilbert, but that time we spent apart while you were in New York and I was with Roy, I can't begin to tell you how much I missed you! Every second, I felt it and the fact I was dreaming of you, that it was just us, how we were before it happened, I think it shows how much I missed you, I missed your wisdom and I missed your advice, I missed your smile and the way you could put me at ease so easily. And I know we promised not to look back in our relationship but I think it's important that we do, because we had such a kinship and it made our love. This real tangible love which I can touch, I can see and hear, smell and taste, but love I also feel! I've never felt anything like it before and you know something, I'm glad!

...

Do you know, Gilbert, there are times when I strongly suspect that I love you!

Forever yours

Anne.


17 Feb

Dear Anne,

I can't believe you sent me a love letter! I mean that in only one way love, and that is how lucky I am that you love me! Me, and on Valentines day too (funnily enough we spent the day studying the human heart, do you think that was on purpose?) You could have a man write sonnets about, oh I don't know your eyebrows (they are lovely and even sweetheart and the same colour), or write verses which could sweep you off your feet, but you chose me! Inarticulate, practical, not at all melancholy me! Oh Anne, the romance you might have known, instead you chose the wag I am, (Oh on paper its a miracle anyone fell in love with me, never mind you!)

Trust you to want to woo me the old fashioned way, oh and Anne, love, you do! You must have the exact right kind of pen my love! But then, you are an authoress so its no wonder you can write a love letter so well.

I, your faithful servant, am a simple medical school student and as such all I can write in return is that I love you. I'm writing this instead of studying for my reproductive system review love, is that romantic enough for you?

You asked me sweetheart, why I shared myself with you, why I'm so willing to share my life with you when I'm quite introverted with other people. Honestly, fully, I don't know the answer to it, but I suspect its a few things.

When you came to Avonlea, you didn't know me. All my life I've been with the same people who had been more or less the same people since we started school. When I was a child I was quite the extrovert and I suppose by the time I had met you, life had changed me and I wasn't that same person I was the day I started kindergarten, yet everyone treated me as if I was the same person. You, were new, you were from outside of that circle and you fascinated me. I mean you were brand new and you rejected me! Crazy me, saw that as a challenge and I wanted you to like me, so I shared with you those intimate moment, even when you hated me, because I suppose all that time ago I told you, you could trust me, but in order for you to trust me, I needed to trust you. I wanted to, I suppose, I wanted you, right from the start I wanted your friendship, your trust and slowly I wanted more, and Anne, if only you knew how much I still want you! I find myself impatient with this term because I want to be with you! I can't wait to start our lives together!

When I was in New York and then when you were with Roy, do you want to know something so hopelessly romantic? I pined. I pined after you, and I don't say that easily Anne, but its true I pined! When I came back from New York and you had changed your hairstyle, you didn't have your parents necklace on anymore, and sweetheart, what worried me the most was that you looked sad, you had this sadness in your eyes I had never seen before, although you gave pretty smiles, and that first time I saw you at the dance my hand was drawn to yours, I wanted to hold your hand and comfort you, to tell you everything would be okay and my love, you didn't look like my Anne and I was utterly ashamed of myself for thinking of you like that, because you weren't! You weren't my Anne, and you want to know a secret? I seriously thought my chance of ever being with you was well and truly over. I couldn't just read you, it was like we were back in detention again and I didn't know you ever. See pining! You know, that night, the night you told me everything, Charlie told me to run after you and I'm glad I listened. I know it wasn't back to normal immediately but I know, and I know you know, it fixed what went wrong. My Anne, you're right, so much of our relationship was made in our past and we should look back and rejoice in it! It made us, us!

I find myself wanting to talk to you about the practical things happening but I know these letters aren't meant to be practical they are meant to be romantic! Six paragraphs, my romantic pen lasts six paragraphs! (I'm not sorry but I am sorry you've ended up with me!)

You know something love?

I love you too!

Love Gilbert.


Anne smiled at his letter and pulled out her phone.

Anne-Girl: I got your letter x

Gil: Good I'm glad, the Canadian postal service still stands.

Anne-Girl: Hey Gil?

Gil: Yeah.

Anne-Girl: I was always your Anne. ;-)

Gil: :-) Good I'm glad. Right back at you. I love you.

Anne-Girl: I love you too.


"What are you doing out here Anne?" Marilla asked her, finding Anne sitting in the porch. She sat on the sofa swing which had sat on the porch for as long as Marilla could remember but something about Anne made it seem a little younger a little fresher. But tonight, she found Anne sitting on said sofa swing not rocking it she was sitting perfectly still as if she were a statue, had it not been for the peak of red hair Marilla never would have known Anne was sitting there at all, Anne's eyes snapping out of a gaze. "What are you studying so intently?" Marilla asked her.

"Nothing really," Anne admitted her eyes focusing on her company "Only, the past the future..." she said mysteriously.

"Like all the great philosophers." Marilla tried lightly, knowing where Anne had been in her mind.

"I deserve no such praise." Anne admitted with a little smile tugging at her lips.

"I think even Plato succumbed to thinking of love sometimes." Marilla said with a knowing smile which made Anne look at her curiously for a moment, wondering if Marilla had read her mind for the spilitest of seconds before Anne smiled an burst into a short giggle.

"Oh Marilla, when did I scoop so low as to be pining after him." Anne laughed.

"Hardly scooping low." Marilla said to her. They were silent for a moment before Marilla spoke gently "It's a long time to be apart for a young couple."

Anne sighed her knees tucking under her chin she looked to Marilla and said "He's working so hard it seems selfish to be asking him to skype all the time, and I know we're virtually in the same room..." she stopped and sighed.

"But that's just the nick of it isn't it?" Marilla said wryly.

"Virtually." Anne mirrored, she sighed again and said quietly "I have an interview for my master's programme on the 5th April." Marilla looked to her shocked for a moment before Anne admitted "I wanted to tell him first because he was the first person I thought of, but I haven't even told him." She admitted quietly. "I've not had the chance." She admitted "he's in the hospital this term, its more observing more then taking part but he's there and then he's got his lectures and his tests for actually working in the hospital coming up he's working hard towards them, he's packing so much in and I know its that, he just, he doesn't want to seem distant so we don't even skype like we used to.

Marilla looked at the strain on Anne face before she answered to her "Well maybe you can surprise him." She tried. Anne looked to Marilla with a weak smile and she nodded in agreement, Marilla could read the worry on Anne's face "he does love you." She assured her.

Anne sighed again admitting "when I'm with him, I'm really in no doubt, I see it in the way he is, its the same look the same touch, I know, I just know." She continued "but when we're apart and I know it it's just..." she shook her head her forehead going to her knees.

Marilla looked sadly at her "I wish I could make it easier for you, but you know, right now, your life, unlike Gilbert's doesn't revolve around term and semesters, just remember it when you plan to move to be with him." Marilla told her "and don't feel obligated to us, when you come home with Gilbert, which you will, we shall be content to see you then."


"Hey Beautiful!" He said smiling seeing her as he exited the hospital the early April afternoon, Anne had known by the rushed texts that day which entrance to find him come out from, and she stood close enough to the doors that there was no way he couldn't have spotted her coming out, "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow!" he exclaimed giving her a quick kiss before his arm went around her.

"I actually had a couple of reasons for coming down early." She told him as they walked towards her car which was parked a little away.

"Really?" he asked looking at her interested.

"I had my interview at the university for the masters degree today." She told him with a slight smile.

He looked at her shocked "Anne Shirley!" he exclaimed "Why didn't you tell me that?!" he asked her.

"I didn't want to worry you, you've got all this work to do and don't pretend you aren't filing up with notes upon notes upon notes!" she said to him with a knowing smile on her face now.

"Alright," he admitted "maybe I would have worried a little for you but I would have been more excited for you."

"Another good reason not to tell you!" she exclaimed with a laugh of relief "I would have had the added pressure of not disappointing you!"

"You could never disappoint me Anne." He told her quite seriously. She looked to him and gave him a relieved smile. "So how did it go?" he asked her.

"Pretty well I would say," She remarked offhanded as they approached her car, she stopped them and turned to look at him. "They gave me an unconditional offer on the spot!" She said.

His jaw dropped and he cried out a "Yes!" dropping his books on the ground and picking her up suddenly in exclaim. "I knew it, Oh I knew it Anne-Girl!" he told her as he held her close in the hug, a hug she fully returned.

"I'm glad you always have such confidence in me." She said with a smile as he placed her carefully back down and picked up his books, she turned to the car and opened the trunk "Which brings me onto my second bit of news." She said happily, reaching into a box in the trunk of the car and taking out (for a few seconds at least) an unknown book. "This is for you." She said with a smile to him.

He looked down at the book. The front cover had a beautiful scene on from Prince Edward Island which showed the red sand glittering in the morning sun, the waves breaking against the shore, it was unmistakably home. He smiled as he read aloud the title "Avonlea Vignettes" his smile broke into a full on grin as he read again "By Anne Shirley." He looked up at her and stated "Your book!" he almost shouted in excitement picking her up again and holding her in "Its here! Your book!" he exclaimed "I knew it, I know you Anne Shirley I told you, I said you could do it!" he exclaimed.

She chuckled at his reaction, loving him for being so excited for you "You've yet to see the best part yet, open it at the dedicatory page." She said softly.

He looked confused at her for a moment but turned none the less to the said page and read aloud "To Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert for their unfailing love and support," he smiled at it before his eyes read the next line in amazement, Anne could see him re-reading it before he whispered with a little quiver in his voice "and for Gilbert, my love, who inspired me with the idea in the first place." He looked again at the words as if they were about to disappear into thin air. "Anne." He whispered finally looking up at her.

She grinned looking at his reactions, "You, my love, are my muse." She whispered.

Both his arms wrapped around his girl. His head held into her neck, their bodies aligned so they were embraced as close as they could be. She smiled there and whispered to him "I can't believe this is happening!"

"Believe it babe." He smiled pulling back just for a moment to kiss her. "Come on," he said with a wicked smile spreading across his face "I want to get you back to our apartment."

Anne laughed before they kissed again and then got into the car, they remained silent until they left the hospital parking lot before she said to him. "My interviewer at the university was Professor Cooper." She told Gilbert.

"Ah! No wonder! He always did have a soft spot for you!" Gilbert chuckled.

"When I said I was getting published he said he would call the publisher directly and get it put in the university bookstore." Anne told him.

"High praise." He smiled at her.

"And Andrew has ordered in two hundred copies, I think he thinks everyone in Avonlea will want one." She chuckled.

"And if they don't they'll have me to answer to." Gilbert said with his smile twisting slightly. "I think he'll need more copies." Gilbert said looking down again at the book. He opened the pages and started reading the book.

"We'll be home in a few minutes." Anne observed.

"That's a few minutes I can read." He said with a grin on his face but not lifting his eyes from the pages. They were silent for a few moments before Gilbert looked up a smile appeared on his face and he said "You said home."

"I did." She smiled. "Green Gables will always be home, but you're right wherever you are, there is home also."

He kissed her cheek then settled back down to read.

Anne was right, it only took a few minutes to get back to his apartment building, the four by four parked next to his Mini, he didn't look up from the book reading it as they walked towards the elevator. She smiled as they had to wait for the elevator, she doubt he even noticed his head still not up from the book the elevator 'binged' they walked into the elevator one arm went faithfully around Anne the other held the book as he read it.

"You know you have the author right here." She said to him with a smile.

He finally looked up confused for a moment then he chuckled and said "Anne, this is fantastic."

"You're bias." She told him.

"You think a little thing like being in a relationship with you taint my inner critic." He said with a grin to her almost whispering it to her, his nose stroking up her cheek. "Never!"

She giggled as he held her closer where he kissed her on her earlobe just as the elevator binged on the ground level, they separately slightly his arm still around her, Gilbert turned his attention back to the book but Anne's eyes couldn't leave the women who entered the elevator.

The girl had very long blond which flowed down her back. Anne felt her eyes turn green as the girl stared at them for a moment revealing her bright blue (and resentful?) eyes and she had perfect formed pink lips, she wore a little blue mock denim summer dress. The elevator binged again they door opened on the girls floor and she walked out.

"Gil, who is the girl who just got out?" asked Anne.

"Girl?" asked Gilbert, who had eyes only for his Anne, looked up from his book to Anne.

"Yes, she was standing right there, I never saw such a beautiful face."

"I don't remember seeing any very beautiful girls who lived in the building. There are some pretty girls up at the Glen frat house, but I hardly think they could be called beautiful."

"This girl is. You can't have seen her, or you would remember her. I can't believe your head was buried in the book the entire time. Nobody could forget her. I never saw such a face except in pictures. And her hair! It made me think of Browning's `cord of gold' and `gorgeous snake'!"

"Probably she's some visitor -likely some one who's visiting her friends."

"She had keys in her hand and was playing with them."

"People leave their keys with their friends all the time Anne." The elevator binged again on their floor "Look, Anne—We're home now."

Anne shook her head as he took her by the hand and pulled her into the apartment.