Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters created by L.M. Montgomery and Moira Walley-Beckett. I do not claim any ownership over them and offer my writing to the world as a homage of appreciation to their creations as well as an outlet of imagination to imagine an infinity of alternate storylines. This is just one of them!

XII.

Marilla embraced her brother tighter as he wept on her shoulder. Matthew had just apologized once more for not protecting Anne better. She already told him she didn't blame him, and that she knew he did all he could to keep Anne from harm. Still, she could sense her brother's heart was trembling with worry, just like hers.

"Matthew, I know. You didn't mean for Anne to get hurt." She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she wanted to stay steady for her brother, for everyone who cared for and loved Anne. Looking at Anne asleep in the bed, her head partially covered with a bandage, Marilla couldn't help but remember how she felt when her mother first fell ill after her brother Michael had passed away. Not only did she have to take over as a arent to Matthew who had also lost a brother, she had become her mother's caretaker as well. But when Marilla saw Anne looking nearly lifeless on the bed, it felt as if part of her body had been forcefully cut out of her.

Marilla knew that Anne had truly become part of the family, in all the ways that mattered beyond blood. Her worst fears had been realized: Anne being almost killed for her efforts to help someone else in need. She ruefully recalled the time when she had sent Anne back to the orphanage for stealing her brooch. She had believed her wicked confession that turned out to be pure fabrication to appease her! After finding her brooch safe and sound, it seemed like agony to wait for news after Matthew left to recover her. She remembered imagining what could have happened to Anne on her own—she could have been accosted, hurt, or even abducted. And when Matthew brought her back to Green Gables in one piece, it felt as if a miracle had been granted. Anne so easily could have been lost to them forever.

So when Cole had come to Green Gables alone, Marilla felt fear immediately grip her. Not seeing Matthew or Anne with him told her plenty, and Marilla had braced herself for Cole's news. She barely had the presence of mind to think coherently as she informed Jerry and asked him to look after the farm as well as inform Rachel Lynde. When Jerry asked when they'd return, Marilla hardly knew how to answer him. Her only thought was to go to Anne's side, and do whatever she could to help make her better.

Marilla's spirits were lifted when she saw Diana, her parents, and Gilbert at the Bright River train station, knowing that they were all coming to help Anne as best as they could. She was so grateful for the support of Avonlea folk, and realized even more how they had also all become like family.

Marilla was also infinitely grateful to Josephine Barry, who had become somewhat of a guardian angel to the Cuthberts. Not only had Miss Barry helped them save Green Gables, offered Anne medical attention and comfort at her home, she had also reunited Ka'kwet with her family using her considerable influence. Matthew had just updated her on this latest news, and it relieved Marilla to know that Anne's injury was not in vain. As soon as she heard it, she longed to share it with Anne. But then Marilla quickly remembered that Anne wouldn't remember going to the Indian school or perhaps even that Ka'kwet had gone to that school at all.

Matthew told Marilla all about Miss Barry's water closet, and how he wanted to install one at Green Gables. She laughed at the very idea, but then wondered if it would someday be possible to have such a luxury. While Matthew excused himself to use said water closet, Marilla saw Gilbert and Cole speaking at the other end of the hallway. They appeared to be having a serious conversation, and she guessed they must have been discussing Anne's condition. She then thought of what Gilbert had told her on the train.

"I count Anne as one of my dearest friends...I could go all around the world, and well, I very nearly did, and I wouldn't find Anne's equal anywhere."

Marilla smiled and just knew from Gilbert's passionate tone and words that he was in love with Anne. He also sounded so much like his father did at that age; Marilla reckoned that it must be a Blythe trait, all that ardor and eloquence. Miss Rose didn't stand a chance, no matter what Diana might have overheard in Gilbert's conversation with her father. But Marilla then sighed as she thought about Anne's lost memories. Would Anne remember her feelings for Gilbert? Marilla couldn't help but entertain the notion that Gilbert and Anne finding love together would make right everything that had gone wrong between her and John…

Marilla's reverie was interrupted by Matthew's return. "Marilla? D-do you reckon we should go back in? It was s-so good to see her awake."

"Yes, it was," responded Marilla as she put her arm around her brother. "Let's go and see our dear girl." As Marilla followed Matthew into the room, they were delighted to find out that Anne was awake and chatting with Diana and Miss Barry.

Miss Barry had just promised to have some food and drink brought up and then she turned to address them. "Oh Cuthberts, she's awake once more!"

Marilla and Matthew rushed to Anne's side and Marilla could feel her chest swell with happiness as she saw how much better Anne looked. There was more color in her cheeks, and her eyes had more of her usual lively energy.

"Marilla! Matthew! Oh, I feel so much better now." Anne reached out her hands to them and they each grabbed hold. Tears streamed down Matthew's face as he then leaned in to embrace her.

"Anne, I-I'm so glad—s-so glad…" Matthew whispered,. "I'm s-sorry…"

"Oh Matthew," said Anne gently as she looked into his eyes. "Look, I'm fine. Please. No more tears on my behalf." She then turned to Marilla. "You too!"

Marilla wiped a tear or two quickly from her face as she grinned broadly at Anne. "Oh, Anne, it does my heart so much good to see you awake again! You look so well now!"

"I feel so much better now and my head doesn't hurt as much as before. I think it helps that I'm surrounded by all of you! But I still don't have any memory of what's happened to me or what's happened in the last few months," said Anne with a smile and a shrug. "But I'm thankful it isn't worse. I just can't wait to see the doctor as I have so very many questions!"

Marilla grinned and felt a measure of sympathy for the doctor and what he would soon experience with Anne peppering him with as many questions as possible once he arrived. She then recalled how she had reacted to Anne when she first arrived at Green Gables. Never mind the fact that she wasn't the boy they had asked Mrs. Spencer to bring them to help out Matthew. This girl spoke a mile a minute, had opinions that she wasn't afraid to share with the world, and possessed an insatiable curiosity that knew no bounds. She had never met such a troublesome or outspoken child.

Not only had Marilla been initially resistant to Anne, she had every intention of righting the error and sending her back. She was used to making up for the shortfalls of others. She took over for her mother when she no longer had the strength to keep the family together. She took care of Matthew when he could no longer stand being teased at school. Because that's what Marilla always did—she did all the fixing and mending that needed to be done at Green Gables. But Anne ended up fixing and mending what she hadn't even realized had been broken for far too long: her heart.

Even before Marilla was able to truly welcome Anne into the family, Marilla could plainly see the effects of all the untold horrors Anne had been through in and out of that orphanage. Anne had experienced more than most children her age, which got her into even more scrapes with the children in Avonlea. But that very experience also made Anne stronger and more resourceful than any person Marilla had ever known. She wished her mother had had even an ounce of Anne's gumption, and perhaps she would have been able to climb out of the well of sadness that ultimately consumed her.

But before Anne could say another word, Miss Barry's butler announced the doctor's arrival, and Dr. Holmes entered the room. Marilla observed how quickly Anne and the doctor warmed to each other. She allowed herself to be a bit more hopeful for Anne's recovery, and wondered how soon they could take her home to Green Gables. Just as Marilla looked around the room and wondered where Gilbert and Cole had gone, Diana then announced that she would go find Cole and Gilbert and let them know Anne was awake. Diana gave Marilla a knowing smile before leaving, and Marilla guessed that Diana might have the same thought as she did about Gilbert. She smiled back and pondered about how odd it was that only a few days had passed since they had been convinced that Gilbert had chosen someone else.

When Anne first awoke, Marilla remembered the look in Gilbert's eyes. Certainly there was relief, but also a fiercely tender affection there that was so disarming, that Marilla could feel it in her belly. Marilla also immediately recognized Gilbert's father. John had that same gleam of tenacity in his eyes when he latched on to a new idea or new scheme and wouldn't let it go.

"Come now, Mar, won't you reconsider?" John had asked her to the county fair dance many moons ago. She had initially refused, but changed her mind when he came to Green Gables with a big basket of flowers and a big smile. How could she resist? Later that same year, her brother Michael passed away, and with him, her hopes and dreams for the future. Life was never the same afterwards, and despite John's pleas, she could not marry him and leave Avonlea behind. She needed to stay for her family and for Green Gables.

It was both an agony and a solace to see John's son thrive. She couldn't help but see John in Gilbert—not just in his eyes and voice, but in his manners and ambition. There was another similarity that Gilbert shared with his father: being an only child. Gilbert had lost his mother too soon, and would never have any siblings. Marilla couldn't imagine growing up at Green Gables without having her brothers with her. She often wondered about how lonesome he must have been after his father's passing, and how Sebastian coming into his life had been such a blessing.

Marilla looked at Matthew and squeezed his hand affectionately. He had happy tears in his eyes and he smiled shyly back at her. She could sense that he was feeling the same growing feeling of hope for Anne. She also felt a sense of pride for how far her brother had come in the short time they'd known Anne. She couldn't have imagined Matthew helping an Indian family, any less than she would've believed several years ago that they'd have adopted an orphan girl and made her a part of the family. Yet when the Indian mother expressed her despair for her lost daughter in her own language, Marilla realized there was more they shared in common than not. How could she have believed them to be so savage when there was so much love in their eyes as they spoke of their child? In that moment of understanding, she knew that she had no choice but to relent and let Matthew and Anne go help them.

But at what cost was Anne's act of compassion? Thankfully, she appeared now to be on the mend physically. Marilla wondered if Anne would ever remember everything that had happened since Mary's death.

Just a few minutes later, Gilbert and Cole followed Diana back into the room. Marilla couldn't help herself from observing Gilbert's expression closely. His eyes went directly to Anne, and his gaze transformed from astonishment to joy. All of a sudden, Marilla longed to be back in Green Gables so she could go into her closet and look at John's letters once more. As much as it hurt her to recall what she'd given up, she wanted to remember how she was once so fiercely loved by another. It was something she never wanted to forget, something she never would forget, even without the physical proof of ink on paper, wrinkled with dried tears...

Marilla then surprised herself with the realization that no matter what, Anne would remember in good time how she felt for Gilbert. All Anne would have to do was look into Gilbert's eyes at the right moment, and she would know.