After they came out of the house, they stood on the porch talking just briefly. Marilla gave Gilbert a long hug, telling him to be sure to write, and don't hesitate to call on Matthew should he need anything- even if what he needed was just a bit of company.

Matthew, surprising Marilla, came forward and hugged Gilbert, too. Matthew had no need of goodbyes, he wasn't leaving town with Marilla and Anne, and he would be seeing Gilbert the very next day. But Anne had a feeling that Matthew's display toward Gilbert was really meant to send a message to her. And Anne, who already loved Matthew with all her heart, felt her heart grow even fuller: Seeing Matthew's affection given away like that made it easier for her to leave Gilbert behind.

"Anne, we'll, uh...we'll give you a few minutes," Matthew said, after seeing the expression in her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her. "We'll wait in the buggy."

And then they were alone.

Anne looked like she might cry. "Oh, Gilbert," she said, leaning into him. "I know I went on and on about traveling looking like this, and I know what you said- and Marilla says the same thing- but it's going to be awful, too awful, I can't bear it-"

She had started to cry against his shoulder. "And it isn't just about being...being...expecting. When we come home- if I don't find somebody else to take it away- I'll have to bring it back with us, and everyone's going to see me carrying a baby!"

"Anne, darling- please don't cry," Gilbert said, holding her close. "Why does it have to be embarrassing?"

"Because I'm not married and I look so young!" Anne said, broken.

Gilbert did not know what he could currently do about the 'not married' part, but he could at least confront the issue of her age: "You think it'll embarrass you because you look young? That's exactly why it shouldn't- you do look young, so young that no one will think you're it's mother! They'll think you're just looking after your little sibling. Or that you're employed as it's nanny. That's all they'll think, I promise you."

"But what if the dreadful thing looks like me? I don't want it to look like me! Everyone will know it's mine!" Anne cried.

"I'll be a newborn, Anne, and they all look the same, don't they- just wrinkly little creatures?" he smiled at her. "No one will think it looks like you."

Anne was unconvinced.

"And even if you think it does, remember, it'll be all wrapped up in that basket, darling, no one will even see what it looks like," Gilbert said calmly, holding her.

Anne tried desperately to stop crying. "I hate this," she said wiping her eyes. "I hate this so much. I don't want to get on that train looking like this! I don't want to come back on the train holding it! I'm an unwed mother and everyone's going to know it! I'm so tired of being judged, Gilbert! All my life..."

Gilbert just held her; he didn't know what else he could do. After a moment, he kissed her on the cheek, and instantly regretted that he hadn't asked her first. But Anne only seemed to sink into him further.

"I love you," he told her, his voice full of emotion. "So, so much. I wish I could come with you."

"I don't want you to!" Anne said miserably. "Even though I do want you to! Oh, there's no good way to be. You need to stay with your dad, Gilbert, but even if you could come, I don't want you there- I don't want you to be around, seeing all that- what if I get even bigger? And I don't want you there when it happens. ...Oh, Gilbert, I'm sorry…"

"What for, love?"

Anne tried to catch her breath. "I told myself I was going to be very brave and not let you know how scared I am!"

"Oh, Anne...:"

"And I told myself that I'd be selfless and giving and only think of your predicament and not my own! I didn't want you to worry about me, not when you have your father to worry about! But I couldn't even do that! I'm sorry. I don't mean to be selfish, I just-" but she could not continue, because she was crying too hard.

Gilbert held her. "You're not selfish, love. Not at all. You don't have one selfish bone in your body. Everything will be fine. My dad will get better and he'll be good as new when you come home. You just think about feeling better, and about the baby. Nothing else matters."

Anne breathed in his scent and tried to memorize the feeling of his lips against her cheek. She put her hand through his hair, so she could memorize that, too.

"Anne," Marilla called, walking back toward them. "We need to go."

She did not bother saying anything about the two of them clinging so closely to each other. She realized sadly that Matthew was right when he'd pointed out that there was really no danger in letting Anne and Gilbert be close to eachother now. Marilla thought a mother had a duty to be sure her daughter didn't lose her purity. But it seemed a foolish thought, when the daughter she was raising was already pregnant. She decided there was nothing to guard, at this point, and if Gilbert showed Anne that she was worthy of being loved- that she was not "damaged goods" that no man would want- the message that society would have her believe- then Marilla was glad for his affections.

Anne pulled away so they could look into each other's faces. They just stared, wordless, until Marilla repeated herself, gently: "Anne, dear- we need to go."

Anne shuddered, and broke apart from him. "I'm about to go be shamed. Publicly." But she tried to laugh this off.

"No one on that train, or in that hospital, matters."

Anne wished she could feel that easy about it. "I feel as though the whole world is watching," she murmured.

"The whole world is watching. Me, and you, and Mr. and Miss Cuthbert, and my father, and your baby. That is the whole world." He stroked her cheek. "It's my whole world, anyway."

This only made Anne break into fresh tears.

"Anne," Marilla said, insistent. "We must go. Now."

She hugged him one more time, then went with Marilla.

He helped her up into the buggy, and kissed her hand as they pulled away.

Anne stared back at him as they drove off.

He watched until she disappeared, and then he slowly went back into the house and shut the door. He leaned against the doorframe for a long moment, breathing.

Suddenly, as the image flashed before his eyes again- the image of her leaving- her face lined with shame, and her hand, naked of a ring, over her pregnant belly- he had an idea.

But he'd have to ask his father first.