Long awaited fort night is here! Well, not really long awaited considering we're spoiling all of you with the three updates this week, but it has been so worth it! It felt like the best gift we could give you for all your comments and kudos and all that keeps us smiling. Thanks again!

Now, I won't keep you away from the forts shenanigans any longer... only to give you some accompanying music, as always:

-Movie Night - Joey Pecoraro

-Unspoken Words - mxmtoon

-Falling for you - Peachy!, mxmtoon

-Something About You - Cary Brothers

- Kaerimichi - Hiroaki Tsutsumi

-Night and Day - DEPAPEPE, Hachimitsu to Clover

-Your Loving - Will Davila

Chapter 12

And the fort was indeed ready when he got home. He entered the apartment and looked over at the living room while taking off his shoes. She had pushed the coffee table to a corner and had somehow made the most fantastical fort ever, complete with the Christmas lights he had stashed somewhere in his closet after puting down the decorations MAry had insisted on some years ago. They had gone to Hamilton to spend the holidays with him since he couldn't get any time away from the hospital. How did she find them?

"Anne? Hello?" he called.

"Hi! So, ready? Pizza is in the oven and we have popcorn! How was work?" she appeared from the room. She had just changed into her pajamas. Another pair of shorts and something that was not as transparent as her camisole but definitely as flimsy. Oh, she was so doing everything on purpose. He was not imagining things. She had not taken his hoodies off for months and now she was clad in only that? Yes, weather was nicer, but not that nice.

"Good. Normal. Let me just get a quick shower, do I have the time?" he asked. He wanted to change out of his scrubs, at the very least.

"Yes, you have about ten minutes. So quick shower," she said, pushing him towards the bathroom. He entered the room and grabbed a pair of sweatpants. He showered fast and put on the pants that rested a bit low on his hips. He didn't particularly care for that pair, but it was the first he had found. He should open more space for Anne in his closet. He went to the kitchen as his phone buzzed.

**Fred (18:20): So how's the fort?

**Gilbert Blythe (18:21): Very pro. Has little lights and everything.

**Fred (18:21): I have to meet that Anne of yours.

"Right, help me bring the drinks," she said, signaling something and ignoring him completely as she grabbed a big oven pan with the pizza. Homemade, because that's how she was. He followed her, climbing under the duvet she had hung, and found a bed made of blankets and soft cushions. There was just enough space to sit.

"When did you learn so much about forts?" he asked.

"I have a good memory," she answered, smiling brightly. "Your dad said the secret was to have a soft base and twinkling lights. So I found some. I have a lot of time during the day, you know?"

"That you do. And he did know everything about forts. You have to get all the pillows in the house, Gilly boy, he used to say when I was a kid. We had so much fun because he never cared for all the detachment the other parents had, and only wanted to have fun with me," he said, reminiscing of when he was small, grabbing a slice of pizza. "I only wish you had come sooner, so you could have shared more with him."

"We were kindred spirits. I liked him way before I liked you," she confessed, choosing a piece. The pizza was good and he made some appreciative gesture to her. She smiled.

"I knew that. Or do you think I thought you were going to visit me when it was evident you only wanted to be with my dad?" he asked. "I was overjoyed because you were at my place, but I knew I wasn't what brought you there."

"He just had the best stories ever! You could learn so much from your father just listening to him tell his adventures…" she said, as if it was evident. "And you were such a prat back then, I couldn't stand you."

"I know I was," Gilbert agreed. "I really deserved that blow with the slate at lunch," Anne laughed as an answer. "Jerry laughed at me for days."

"He was awfully proud of me at the time. Just he didn't know he escaped his own blow because I had Marilla on my back the whole time after I hit you," she laughed harder, Gilbert accompanying her, remembering her first weeks at Avonlea, when she was trying to figure out everything.

"So, where are we watching a movie?" he asked. Anne took out her laptop and opened it directly on Netflix. She passed it to him and he typed, looking for the movie he had decided on, against all of Fred's recommendations. "We're watching the Breakfast Club ," he declared, setting the laptop on the stack of books Anne had defined for that purpose. "It's the most fort-y movie I could think of."

"We could have seen the Lion King…"

"Again? Besides, this is good!"

"I'll trust you. If I don't like it, you owe me one for wasting my fort efforts," she said, grabbing another slice of pizza. Gilbert watched her as if she had two heads. "What? I'm hungry! Put play already!"

"So you've never seen this?"

"I haven't, and I won't if you keep talking," she said. Gilbert shook his head, pushed play and took his place next to her, eating another slice as well. Her pizza was incredibly good. After a while, he crawled outside the fort a while later to bring the dishes to the kitchen, but mostly to turn off the lights. Anne was engrossed by the movie.

He went back in and sat closer than he had been before, just next to her, passing his arm over her shoulder. Anne went even closer to him, her head in his chest, and he covered them with one of the throws she had put around. He tried to relax and enjoy the moment. It was rare to have her like this. It hadn't happened in years and they both were keenly aware of how momentous this seemingly trivial moment was. Each aware of the warmth and scent of the other, so close and yet so forbidden, still. Neither moved for the rest of the movie nor spoke as it finished. He didn't want to move. They stayed there for a while.

"It was a great movie. Thank you," she said finally, not moving.

"Good enough for your fort?" he asked softly, not wanting her to move. Ever.

"Perfect. Jumanji? The old one?" she proposed. She wasn't ready to go to bed. Not yet. It was such a great night she only wanted to drag it as long as she could. He nodded and moved to put it on the computer. He sat back down where he was before, missing her weight on his chest. The movie started, but neither was paying much attention.

She tried to steal a glance at his face, but caught his eyes and looked away quickly, feeling herself flush. Gilbert smiled softly, making as if he hadn't noticed, but feeling his heart skip a beat. No words were crossed, but they were not needed, the familiar movie a perfect background for a stillness of intimacy they both had longed for for many years. They got closer almost imperceptibly.

Feeling brave by how right everything felt, Gilbert let his hand wander until he found hers and he took it tentatively. He had yet to be this bold with her in this calm, non-teasing, honest way. He waited a few seconds for her to retrieve her hand, but to his surprise she left it there. As the movie dragged on, he played with her hand as he had done so many times before. He still knew it by heart, the way her knuckles flexed, where she put more resistance, how they bent so easily and willingly under his grasp. She rested her head on his shoulder.

He had always loved playing with her hands. He flexed it one more time, caressing it with his thumbs, completely absorbed in it and forgetting all about the movie. He turned it and saw the palm, tracing the lines with his finger. Closing the fingers again, making a small fist, he held the hand on his lap and continued to caress it absent minded, turning his eyes to the movie as she rested on his chest again. He instinctually hugged her with his other arm.

"I'm scared, Gilbert," she said after some time, out of nowhere. She was enjoying her hand in his more than she was willing to admit, not only because his gesture transported her to her teen years, before everything went bad, but because it felt so nice, so good and comforting even now. Somehow, it helped her ground herself, feel more steady. And the steadiness and calm scared her because of the implications. Gilbert frowned, wishing he could see her face and not just the messy bun he had in front of him. There again, maybe that was just what was allowing her to speak. He didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue, but nothing seemed to come.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked finally, the movie now officially forgotten. He was still holding her hand and caressed it with his thumb.

"I don't know, to be honest. I understand I should… But I don't really want" she admitted. He held her closer and brought her hand to his mouth, giving it a small kiss.

"What are you scared of, Anne?" she sighed, and shook her head. He didn't insist. The movie continued until it ended. Neither moved, a comfortable silence growing in the room. He held her close to his heart, caressing her arm and the nape of her neck with his free hand, not wanting to let go of hers. How much he wanted to kiss her, he would never be able to express. It was getting harder by the hour not to do so.

"I… I'm scared of letting you in, again" she whispered after what felt like hours and he felt a knot in his throat forming. She looked for more strength to continue."I'm even more scared of accepting that I already did."

"Anne, I…" his voice was broken, thinking about her last nightmare, about their fight, about everything. He tried breathing deeply. She didn't say anything and didn't make any move. Not to get away from him, nothing. Just felt his heart beat a bit harder than it had been before. "Please do… let me in. Please. I promise you, you won't regret it." Maybe there was hope. Maybe there was and he was not imagining things. Maybe what he had told Fred was true.

"That's the thing, Gil. I don't think I'll regret it. But I don't know if I'll survive it," she whispered and he felt his heart break at the implication.

"Anne-girl… If you ever let me in again, you don't have to be afraid of that. Not anymore. I told you I'm not going anywhere. I don't repeat my mistakes. I will be with you and we will figure it out together," he insisted, his voice a little desperate. Urgent. She sighed, but he could feel she was relaxing under his arm. "I'm never leaving you if you'll allow me to be with you."

Anne didn't answer. Neither moved, enjoying the silence and the quiet understanding of the change that was coming, his thumb making small circles on the nape of her neck. It would not be sudden, but Anne was starting to allow herself to give herself and Gilbert another chance. A real one. To openly and truly enjoy his company.

Gilbert was coming to understand that there might be room for hope, hope of the full relationship he had dreamt of so many times, if he was careful to do one small step at a time. As much as he wanted it, today was not the day to kiss Anne. Tomorrow wouldn't be either. But it would happen at some point, as she was already starting to trust him again. Finally.

He leaned forward and closed the laptop, complete darkness around them in the safety the blankets provided. The twinkly lights barely noticeable through the blankets. Apart from the night she had that horrible nightmare, they had never slept together, not even when they started doing sleepovers when they were teenagers. Marilla was too proper and always sent him to the guest room, and Mary, although a tad more liberal, always installed an air mattress at the other side of his room. Neither had dared to move to the other's bed at that time. He only did when she had bad dreams, but returned quickly to his bed as soon as she was asleep.

"Come here," he said lying down, inviting her to lie next to him in the blankets and pillows she had spread for them on the floor. "Sleep with me?" She nodded slightly just curled on his side, hugging him willingly and not just falling asleep out of exhaustion and tears. They both slept better than they had any other night, but would return each to their bed the following night, not daring to admit anything.

Gilbert woke up so slowly he didn't know if he was dreaming or if he was truly awake. Anne was curled on his side, her face in his chest, an arm hugging him. The blanket and duvet ceiling of the fort had a warm white hue with the light it reflected. He sighed and hugged her, and she only curled closer to him, snuggling, in response. He smiled. He stretched his right hand to grab his phone, glad it was within his reach. He didn't want to move.

**Fred (08:12): I want to know everything! Spill! Anything good?

**Gilbert Blythe (10:12): You're such a gossip. It was perfect. She hadn't seen Breakfast Club and she loved it. We talked about old memories. She is finally starting to accept the idea of letting me get closer to her.

**Fred (10:13): And THAT'S IT? Blythe, I meant some action!

**Gilbert Blythe (10:14): You're incorrigible. And no, no action for you. Even if there was, I wouldn't give you the details.

**Ruby Avongang (10:14): Guyyyyys are we changing call time finally? We went home early yesterday and can't remember. I still think it's at 3:00 pm and Moody doesn't believe me. And we should let those lovebirds in Hamilton know, anyway.

**Moody Avongang (10:14): I'm so sure we said 10:30. Please? Someone can agree with me? I could win pizza tonight.

Why would they change the time?

**Gilbert Blythe Avongang (10:14): Not lovebirds over here. Plain old pandemic roomies. What's this about changing meeting times with no notice?

**Fred (10:14): :( You're not fun.

**Gilbert Blythe (10:14): I have some sense of privacy, unlike some others.

**Fred (10:15): :( :( :(

**Gilbert Blythe (10:15): ;)

**Jane Avongang (10:16): We all know the truth, Gilbert Blythe. And the time change is because there are some who didn't remember and made plans for the afternoon, right Tillie Charlie Josie? So yes, Moody, you won the pizza. It's at 10:30.

**Gilbert Blythe Avongang (10:16): !

**Gilbert Blythe Avongang (10:16): Thanks for the notice?

**Ruby Avongang (10:17): :'( I'm still in pajamas. And I don't want to pay for the pizza.

**Charlie Avongang (10:18): At least you're dressed. I'm thinking Gilbert Blythe over there is looking frantically for some clothes. And Anne, as always, ignoring us. Bet she's going to appear in his clothes again. You have 12 minutes to dress! Go!

Gilbert was actually too comfortable to move, but Charlie did have a point. He could not appear as he was and Anne was still sleeping. And she was not going to appear in that thing she was wearing. Not with Charlie in the same call. He left the phone next to him and stroked Anne's hair softly. She squirmed a little but didn't wake up.

"Anne-girl," he called her in a soft voice. "Time to get up," he said, still stroking her hair. He didn't understand how she was still sleeping if she used to wake very early every day. She squirmed a little more and buried her face in his chest, pulling the covers up her head. He chuckled, and she enjoyed the way his whole chest seemed to vibrate. "Anne, time to get up. We have a call in ten minutes…"

"No. Call is in the afternoon. Five more minutes, Gil," she murmured. She was too comfortable and she had slept too well to let go this easily. Not one nightmare in the whole night. And his hand on her hair felt glorious.

"They changed the time. We should get dressed, unless you want to endure Charlie" he insisted. "Come on, up, sleepy head," he said, giving her a kiss on the head and motioning to stand. She sat up very reluctantly and looked at him, annoyed.

"You have to be joking," she said.

"Check your phone, I'm serious. Want some coffee? I'll put on some to brew as you change," he offered, crawling out of the fort and turning off the twinkly lights they had forgotten the night before. She followed him and stood up next to him as she combed her hair with her fingers. He tried not to look at her, the sight of her just-waken state too alluring for him.

"They have to stop with these calls without notice," she commented to the air, following him to the kitchen. "Coffee would be nice. Do you need any help?"

"No, go change. Can you just bring me a t-shirt?" he asked. She nodded as she stretched, her shirt shooting up, leaving her navel on sight. He turned to put water to warm, ignoring her. Good thing she was changing. She walked to the bathroom and then to his room. She quickly picked a t-shirt for him and looked for something for her. She changed quickly just as her phone started buzzing and hurried to the kitchen, meeting Gilbert almost at the threshold.

"T-shirt?" he asked and she threw it to him. He put it on as she answered with him off camera.

"Hellooo!" she greeted cheerfully as the rest of the gang appeared on screen. She looked decent this time. Gilbert gave her thumbs up and she relaxed some more. This was going to be good and they'd be able to divert all of their uncomfortable comments and teasing. "How are you lovely people? Gilbert is putting some coffee to brew, he'll be here in a sec."

"Brewing coffee or getting dressed?" Cole asked. Anne shoot him a dark look and changed to the back camera and pointed at Gilbert, all dressed, measuring the water.

"Say hi, Gilbert," she said. He turned and looked at her phone, waving. She changed the camera again.

"Coffee, as you can see," she said.

"Right. He just takes so long to take any action he could as well be dressing after last night…" Cole continued as Charlie snickered. Anne wanted to hit him. Roy did it for her. Thanks, Roy. "Ouch, love! It's evident!"

"Nothing is evident. So, what's happening over there? How's life in freedom?" Anne asked, eager to listen about stories of people who actually could get out of the house.

"Oh, there's this new place. They started as take-out only, but now they're adding some tables outside. The food is incredible," Charlie commented. "Well, maybe not for you, Anne… But Gilbert? You would love it."

"Unless Anne here has already converted him to not eating meat," Jerry commented, a bit cold. "You all know he would do about anything for her."

"Nice, Jerry, nice," answered Cole, winking. Gilbert didn't answer, slightly confused by Jerry's tone. He didn't remember the last time he ate meat, now that he thought of it.

"So what kind of food is it?" he asked finally, ignoring both Cole and Jerry.

"It's this wings place but the sauces, Blythe. The sauces are glorious. They have about the same ones that they have in every other place, but so well made."

"You're talking about the new one at King and Dorchester?" Moody asked. Charlie nodded. "It's the best. We'll take you when you can come, Gilbert. Absolutely delicious. If you're not a vegetarian by then, of course," he added. Jerry snickered. Gilbert frowned. Anne ignored them.

"Sounds good, we can go. I have no idea when that's going to be, but definitely, count me on," Gilbert said.

"Yeah, you're just hoping the day never comes, Gilbert. You have that face," Jane said, as she painted her nails.

"What? Why?" Gilbert asked, confused and Anne hit him under the table. He was so easy it wasn't even funny. He looked at her, a pained expression on his face.

"Because then you'll no longer have Anne, dummy. She'll be here with us," she answered, as if it was obvious. Gilbert felt a weight on his stomach. He preferred never to taste the wings, now.

"Time to up your game, mate," Charlie said.

"Enough! There is nothing going on and that's enough with all of your comments. We are friends. We talk. It's normal. Nothing more going on, which you would see if any of you were here. So that's it, I don't want any more talk about any of this," Anne said, exasperated, slipping without realizing in her stern teacher voice. Everyone laughed.

"Nan, you're so easy it only makes it more real. We're getting somewhere. We all deserve to be godfathers of your kids, now," Cole said.

"Cole, I'm telling you, this is no longer funny. There'll be no kids," Anne said, warning him. Cole chuckled. She loved him, but this was too much now. Gilbert didn't know what to say. Deny everything would not work, evidently. But accepting it was just going to wind them up all the same.

"Cole, how are your sculptures going?" he asked, remembering the pieces he had been working on, trying to change the subject to something completely detached from them. Cole started talking about what he was doing and finally the conversation seemed to take another course and relieve some attention from them. Anne sighed, starting to relax at last. She had thought it was going to be an easy chat, until everyone seemed to be on them. They touched other topics, the subject of their nonexistent relationship at last forgotten.

"I'll be right back, just going to get some coffee," Gilbert said after a while, suddenly remembering the pot he had put on at the beginning of the call. Everyone ignored him as some were starting to say their goodbyes and he went to retrieve a couple of cups. "Anne-girl, milk?" he asked without thinking as he served the coffee. Suddenly there was no more chat about when to meet next.

"Wait a second there, Anne-girl?!" Diana said without thinking as Anne paled and shook her head slightly, quickly. Way to divert the attention, Di. Her bosom friend covered her mouth, realizing the error, as talk erupted on all the other cameras. Gilbert covered his face and let out a string of swears that Anne could barely make out.

"Time to 'fess!"

"What the fuck is going on in that apartment?"

"Stop denying everything!"

"Finally congratulations are in order?!"

"Guys, seriously, there's nothing going on," Anne tried. "Gilbert, come here and explain yourself, stop hiding," she said. She was not dealing with his mistake by herself. Gilbert stayed off camera.

"Anyway, I really have to go, we'll expect more updates next time!" Charlie said before disconnecting.

"I want to know everything, Anne. All the dirty details. I'll text you about it," said Josie.

"There are no dirty details!" Anne insisted, completely flushed as a tomato.

"There are too! Look at your flushed face! Josie, make a group, put me in!" chimed Jane. "Bye bye!"

"Girls group!" Ruby sang. "Bye guys!" she and Moody, who was waving, were gone.

Josie has added you to The Dirty Details, the notification appeared on Anne's screen not twenty seconds later. She growled. Diana laughed. Gilbert still was off camera and she wanted to strangle him. Now that there were only Cole, Roy, Jerry and Diana (all of whom knew way more details about everything than the rest of the gang), she called on him.

**Josie The Dirty Details (11:57): Ok, Anne, now! Time of truth! How's Gilbert in bed? We all want to now!

Anne slid up the notification, mortified.

"I'm killing you for that, Gilbert," she said to him. He shook his head, terribly sorry. He honestly hadn't thought about the endearment, it had just flowed naturally. "If they didn't believe before there's nothing going on, now for sure they won't."

"Sis, remember what Marilla used to tell you. Bad girls who lie, the ghost of the forest comes to hunt you at night," Jerry said and Anne stuck her tongue to him, just because that's what his brotherly teasing did to her every time. Roy excused himself as well.

"Not lying. Nothing going on here," she insisted. Gilbert came with the coffees, now that it was safer, and sat beside her. With those who remained, he could deal. He didn't deny anything, it didn't make any sense to do so. In front of the rest of the gang, maybe. But these were Anne's and his closest friends. Kind of. So it would be futile. They knew just too much.

**Jane The Dirty Details (11:58): Yes to that! And his kisses! Tell us EVERYTHING.

She slid up the notification again, flushing even more. Gilbert's eyebrows shot up but he didn't say anything.

"See? Gilbert might be slow, but at least he's not denying reality, Nan," Cole insisted. Anne growled. Diana only smiled like a Cheshire cat.

"Will you tell them?" she asked Gilbert. He smiled, actually enjoying the teasing even if he too was the victim of it. And now she was in a group with Jane asking her about kisses? Ha!

**Ruby The Dirty Details (11:59): I just want to know if he is as romantic as we always thought?

"I'm not denying anything. You heard Cole," he said, reading quickly Ruby's message, still smiling and then looking her in the eyes as he drank his coffee. Oh, he wanted to be in that group. Anne rolled her eyes, sliding the new notification.

"You're all demented and I'm not participating in this. I'm going to get some breakfast," she said, getting up. Gilbert picked the phone and followed her.

**Josie The Dirty Details (12:00): Priorities, girls! Sex first!

"You heard me!" said Cole, laughing. "Even Gilbert agrees!"

"I don't try to cover the sun with one finger, mate," Gilbert said, helping Anne with the things to prepare some oatmeal.

"About time, Blythe, about time. Anne, why is it that you keep trying to do that?" Jerry asked her, as if it was a real mystery. "I just want to know how you'll answer Josie's questions, sis."

"I don't try to do anything! I'm not acknowledging anything in that ridiculous group! There is nothing to cover, we are just two friends! Diana, some help here, as these three won't hear any reason?" she asked her bosom friend, who only smiled in return.

"I won't say anything, Anne. And I'm curious as well. One of them three is actually part of the situation we're discussing, I'm guessing he knows better than I do. And I'm actually with them. About time you get on with it, too. It's even worse than when we were on highschool. It was evident then, it's ridiculous now," she said in her no-nonsense tone. Jerry laughed and soon the other two joined him. "See? Even Gilbert laughs."

"What group are you talking about?" Cole asked, something evidently not making sense to him. "Why are you leaving me out of it?"

"New thing for the girls, Cole. Josie created this group called The Dirty Details and is asking all about Gilbert's talents in bed. Notifications keep appearing on Diana's screen," Jerry explained, a glimmer in his eyes. Cole's eyes opened wide and feigned a hurt feeling.

"Oh, Diana, if only she'd hear you," Gilbert said chuckling, only half teasing. Because he did want some of this to get through to Anne. He was going to implode otherwise. "And I also want to be in that group. Seems only fair," he commented.

"I'll add you, Cole. You're going to enjoy it so much as well," Diana said between laughs, mischief in her eyes. "Gilbert? Not you. Sorry," she added with a wink. Gilbert laughed as well.

"Enough!" Anne declared, going away from the phone, grabbing the bowls and going to the kitchen island as Gilbert doubled in laughter.

"I think we're leaving this here, guys. Talk to you soon? She might take my head off if we keep this up and I do live with her," Gilbert said. They all said their goodbyes in the middle of laughs. He hung up and turned to look at her, still standing, the bowls waiting for them. "All good, Anne? You know it's all in good spirit, right?"

"Of course! But still! There's nothing going on, and they should leave it be and not pressure and ugh! So annoying! And now Josie with these ridiculous questions!" she said, walking back to him, evidently annoyed but clearly not angry.

"What is it that bothers you?" he asked, smiling.

"That they won't leave us alone! I want to be able to figure this without them asking for every little detail!" she said. He smiled as he looked at her annoyed, flushed face, hands on her hips. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing, just looking at you," he answered, his tone merry. For all he wanted, he could not take the playful mood off him, and Anne could still see the teasing in his eyes as he got closer to her.

"You're incorrigible!"

"I'm not, you're just a dear. And too easy a target," he replied. She gestured with her arms. He was in front of her now, and debated whether he should hug her out of her stubbornness or not.

"I'm not!" she said, but there was a smile on her face threatening to come out.

"Are too, just look at you!" he answered, laughing, deciding it was worth it. He trapped her in a bear hug as she dissolved in giggles and didn't let go of her. "See? A dear and an easy target," he said as she laughed against him, trying to get out of his embrace with absolutely no success, unable to stop laughing now that she had started. It was too much of a good opportunity to let go off it and he tickled her until she managed to scurry away.

"Oh no, Gilbert Blythe, you're not tickling me," she said, getting away from him, watching his mischievous grin as he got closer to her and unable to stop laughing even when he wasn't even touching her. She ran towards the living room but found the fort she had forgotten about. Cornered, she got into it again, seeking refuge in the blankets in between their laughs. She knew she couldn't really go away, and remember better than she wanted how immune he was against tickles. Only his neck was his weak spot and she had no way of getting there now. He followed her in, laughing as he hadn't in years, and found her using a pillow as a shield.

"Really, Anne?" he asked, getting closer and grabbing her feet, tickling the sole. Anne laughed so hard her belly was hurting.

"Stop! Stop! Gilbert Blythe!" she said in between laughs, trying to pull her feet away from him. He finally let go and took advantage of her distraction to pull the pillow she was half-heartedly covering herself with. "No no no no no," she said as she realized he was getting closer to keep his attack going.

He tickled her in the ribs, at the point he knew she was more vulnerable, and Anne contorted in laughter, tears in her eyes. Why was he doing it? He didn't even know by that point, other than it was a way to release the tension he felt around her and couldn't let go in the way he actually wanted. So he tickled. Whatever it took to release the energy he had inside. But he was laughing so hard it was hard to keep going so he eventually collapsed next to her, both of them trying to regain her breaths.

"I hadn't laughed so much in years," she confessed after some minutes, feeling his body so close to hers, her hand almost touching his. She moved a finger and felt his respond, tangling with hers in an unconscious, automatic manner.

"Me neither," he answered, a silly smile on his face, turning his head to look at her, still flushed. He wanted to ask her if it was so bad to admit there was something going on between them. He knew it. He felt it. And he was pretty sure she did as well. But he was too much of a coward right now, remembering the fight they had last time he asked. He preferred to go by her cues, by the pace she set and how she felt comfortable. He moved his hand to properly grab hers, his thumb caressing her. She turned to look at him, still the shadow of the smile in her lips.

"I still need some time," she said very quietly, because she did, but didn't want him to let go of her hand. Or break the spell.

"I know," he murmured. "I won't push anything," he said, squeezing her hand. "I know we'll get there, and then you'll see, Anne-girl, then you'll see." She didn't say anything more and he was relieved she didn't, because he didn't want to go into the details. He looked at the blanket that was the roof from the fort and closed his eyes, trying to relax.

"You have to stop using nicknames when we're on call with the gang," she commented after a while and he chuckled in response. That , he had to do

Notes:

Now, we know everyone has a different definition of shenanigans, mischief and touching, but we absolutely hope you liked this chapter. What do you think?