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Chapter 38

"I have a surprise for you," Gilbert told her next Saturday as they cleared the breakfast dishes.

"You're kidding! What is it?" Anne asked him, excited, putting away the rest of the things as he washed the coffee pot.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, Carrots," Gilbert said with a smile. "Are you ready to go when we finish here?"

"I am always ready for surprises!" Anne exclaimed and they were out within ten minutes. Gilbert drove happily, humming along Anne to the music she chose for the day, windows down taking advantage of the warm breeze. Eventually he pulled off in the parking lot of a store. A bike store.

"So here's the thing, Anne-girl," Gilbert explained as he turned off the car but didn't move to get out. "I know you have never liked driving much. Public transport works most of the time but the frequencies suck in this city and there are some areas where you can't even get to, like Fred's house. So I thought you might like a bike."

"We're getting bikes?" Her voice was so unbelieving and excited it made Gilbert smile.

"You're getting a bike. I don't like bikes. I skate," he explained like it was obvious. "So, ready to pick one? Someone at work told me they have lots of options and accessories and stuff. I've never actually been here myself."

"Let's get a bike!" she said excitedly before getting out of the car.

They walked into the store, hand in hand, and she was immediately drawn to the vintage style area as Gilbert had been sure would happen. Anne kept looking at the bikes and at him, alternately, like she couldn't believe it.

"The only bike I've ever had was the second hand one Matthew gave me," she told him, eyes bright.

"I know. And it was a menace of a bike. Time for you to get one you love, Carrots," Gilbert said, just as an attendant of the store went to meet them. Neither knew much about bikes, so they let him guide them through the specifics and not long after they had a bike and the support for the car so they could bring it home.

Anne couldn't stop looking at the bike as if Santa really existed and had brought her that for Christmas. Powder blue, a light and stylish but strong frame, vegan leather accents and the cutest basket in the front she had already explained to Gilbert how she would decorate, depending on the season.

"Oh, I can't wait to really try it!" she exclaimed, looking to the back where some of it could be seen.

"Is that so?" Gilbert asked her, smiling. "How about we leave the car at home today, then? You can go on your bike and I can skate to Fred's for lunch."

"Won't we be all sweaty?"

"Do you think they'll even care? We can shower there, I'll send him a message," Gilbert assured her. She beamed at him, happy to try her new toy. Soon they were at home, Gilbert looked for his skates on the back of the closet and they were out with time to spare to get to Fred and Ella's, who had invited them for a barbecue and cooking lessons from Anne.

Gilbert saw as she got on the bike tentatively, pedaling with care the first few meters, but then confidently as she got used to it. He followed her easily on the skates, adjusting to her rhythm, guiding her through side streets and enjoying the ride. He had missed so much going out just to skate and he hadn't even realized it, feeling the freedom his pair of skates brought him, the warm summer air on his face, the smooth pavement under the wheels.

"We should totally do this more often," he said to Anne, smiling, and she smiled in return. She noticed how much he looked like the young teen who used to go skate at every opportunity after the hockey training.

"We should," she answered. "Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk tomorrow, I feel like my legs are going to kill me," she added honestly, and Gilbert laughed, turning left finally on Fred's street. His friend was waiting for them outside with Bear, who ran to meet them.

"Look at you all fitnessy," he said smiling. "That's a really nice bike, Anne."

"It is the best bike ever! Gilbert has the best ideas always," she said, going down as Gilbert sat in the steps to take off the skates.

"I haven't seen a picture yet," Fred teased.

"What, of Juniper?" Anne said and both Fred and Gilbert frowned their eyebrows. "That's completely true!" she bit her lips, thinking. "Oh, I know! Against that lovely brick wall with the ivy!" she pushed the bike there and was about to snap a photo when Fred interrupted her.

"What, you're not going to be in it? Give me your phone," Anne did as directed and went to the wall. "Well, pose! Do something! It's a picture for your feed, Cordelia!" Anne laughed and posed for several pictures as Gilbert just smiled fondly and Fred took pictures. "Here, choose. You have tons. You should train Blythe so he can do this, honestly."

"I don't think he has your eye, Fred, these are good!" Anne said, scrolling. "So, what's the plan? We try teaching these two how to cook an egg and do a nice barbecue?"

"That's about it," Fred said smiling. "By the way, I still think you're way too optimistic. I've dealt with them for ten years and they truly are hopeless."

"I'm not hopeless!" Gilbert defended himself. "I do salads, now! That's more than what you taught me, Fred"

"Whatever lets you sleep at night, Blythe," Fred said. "Ella is in the back, she was doing… I don't even know, something about a new table she got."

"Oh! I want to see that, I'll see you in a bit!" Anne said, taking a bag off the basket and leaving them, her bike standing in the support, all shiny and new.

"So you got her a bike? A bike called Juniper?"

"She has to be able to move, that's a fact. And I didn't know about the name either. Does it really surprise you? We'll see how to adapt once winter comes and it's no longer practical," Gilbert explained. "Plus, it is the cutest bike and with Anne on it it's just perfect. And I get to go out to skate with her. So only positives."

"Ok, so for the banana bread is about the simplest thing you can bake," Anne explained to Ella, who had a pad to write down the recipe. Gilbert was seated on a high stool on the island, also watching attentively. Even if he knew he would never bake that, Anne wouldn't just let him. She enjoyed cooking and was so proud of her baking he wasn't going to take that away from him. "I'm going to teach you the vegan version, because it's the one I've been preparing lately and it's delicious. So, first you leave this mix to rest while you mix the rest of the wet ingredients. Measures don't have to be as milimetric as with cakes, so it makes it easier, ok?" Anne explained and then proceeded to show her the rest of the mix.

"So that's it?" Ella asked about ten minutes later when they put it in the oven.

"Well, yes, what were you expecting?"

"It just tastes so good I thought it would be more difficult! Use some weird tool! Something! But you just used a wooden spoon and now I don't know what to think," Ella said as Fred laughed from the deck outside.

"It's banana bread, it's super simple. Just remember to let your bananas go really ripe, the riper the better," Anne explained, smiling. "So, now, about simple dinners… I was thinking of teaching you both some pasta sauces? It's about the most basic stuff. And a couple of soups, but we can look into that when the weather cools a little."

"I for one think you're way too optimistic," Fred said, going back to the kitchen to retrieve some vegetables. "My bet is they will be lost in ten minutes and won't be able to replicate whatever you teach them."

"Hey, I'm a great teacher!" Anne said before any of her two students could defend themselves.

"And we are so not hopeless. I already do salads, Fred," Gilbert said.

"I will just stay to see what it is you're doing, in case there needs to be a rescue mission mid-dinner prep," Fred said, sitting on the stool Gilbert had vacated. Anne started her explanation in very simple, non-gastronomic terms, Ella scribbling furiously and Gilbert just watching her, eyes wide. How he loved her teaching anything. Since always. The shine in her eyes, the passion with which she spoke, how she expressed everything with her expressions and hands. They were midway through the sauces when her phone rang. She looked at the screen.

"It's Cole! Want to say hi? I can't really leave right now," she said tossing the phone to Fred.

"You keep teaching these two to cook!" Fred said, grabbing her phone from her hand and going outside as he answered to put what he had left cooking before on a tray. "Hey Cole! Anne is teaching Ella and Gilbert to cook but I can entertain you. How are you doing?"

"Anne is teaching Gilbert to cook? Boy, that will end badly. Do you have backup food?" Anne heard Cole's voice getting nearer as Fred went back to the kitchen with the grilled vegetables and the vegan burgers they had bought.

"It won't end badly! I'm already learning!"

"Like that time you attempted to make shepherd's pie, Blythe? It was a disaster!" Fred exclaimed.

"I knew how to make it! Anne had taught me!" Gilbert defended himself. Anne turned to look at him

"I never taught you how to do that! I only told you the ingredients once when you asked, Gilbert! Why on earth would I cook something with ground animals on it?" Anne asked, mildly offended, but laughing nonetheless. "What did you do?"

"Well I did the potato mash, which I remembered you had told me went on top," Gilbert said.

"Which had chunks of potatoes that were quite raw," Fred snickered.

"Well, they looked cooked enough!" Gilbert defended himself, the tips of his ears red as the others laughed. "And it had the filling, you told me it had ground meat and vegetables and seasonings, and…"

"Please detail how you did the filling?" Fred said, laughing so hard that there were tears coming out of his eyes. Gilbert's face was now completely blushed.

"Well it had ground meat, I cooked it and then put the vegetables in it and seasoned it,"

"Let's be clear, guys: Gilbert cooked the meat starting with a cold pan, it was all watery, and then he mixed it with frozen vegetables, you know that mix with carrots and peas? Well, he mixed that, put some ketchup on and that was his masterpiece. He didn't even put salt in that. With that mash on top," Fred exclaimed, trying not to laugh as he spoke. Cole was laughing on the other side of the video, Anne and Ella as well, Gilbert was blushing furiously.

"And melted cheese! I did put it on the grill, and it was not half bad, Wright!" he defended himself.

"I tasted that. It was inedible," Ella said. "After that Fred banned you from cooking and you only washed the dishes for the remainder of the time we lived together. I never got banned. You're worse than I am."

"Gilbert, how did I never know about this?" Cole asked when he could speak.

"Because it's not a good story, that's why!" he said. "Has Anne told any of you about her county fair cake? Eh?"

"That's not fair, Gil!" she said, turning beet red instantly. "And I never forgot sugar again and my cakes are good!"

"You forgot sugar on a cake, Cordelia?" Fred asked, unbelieving, laughing again.

"Just the one time! And I was sick, I had a horrible cold and couldn't think straight" Anne explained.

"And then she took the whole thing, glazed and all, to a contest, The judges spit the cake as soon as they tried it," Cole said and everyone laughed again.

"See? We all make mistakes while cooking, I'm not that special," Gilbert said.

"Oh, but you are, Blythe," Fred said.

"Anyway! The sauce, Ella, Gilbert!" Anne interrupted and continued explaining the sauce as Fred talked with Cole until they finished and served lunch. It was a mix of the dishes Anne had taught them during the day, grilled vegetables and vegan burgers, with banana bread for dessert. Cole, who clearly had nothing to do as Roy was gone on some errand, accompanied them the whole time, adding to the anecdotes and jokes they were telling.

"Guys, I have to leave you, Roy just texted me he's five minutes away and I still have to dress. Great to talk to you lot, though. We have to meet when we move to Toronto!"

"For sure! When are you moving?"

"End of the month, so Roy can start the school year on time," Cole explained, smiling. "It's all moving and packing for the next two weeks, we're actually going to drive one of those U-Haul trucks? It was cheaper than paying a moving truck, and we get to have a hell of a roadtrip that way."

"You should text Bash, have a stopover with them in Montreal," Gilbert said.

"I will, thanks for the idea, Gilbert. Before I forget, anything you both need from the island? Anything you left at Diana's, Nan?"

"Actually…" Anne said, biting her lip. "Gil, do you think I could put Marilla's rocking chair in your apartment?"

"You can do anything you want to that space. You know it's yours as well. We can go look for other things if you want so," Gilbert assured her with a smile, happy that she wanted to put a personal touch to the space. To their home.

"Cole, Diana has the key for the storage unit where I keep Green Gables' stuff, can you go with her and look for Marilla's chair? Since you're coming on a truck and all… do you think you would have the space?" she asked, shilly.

"Absolutely, I will. If you think of anything else let me know, ok? Both of you. We are going to have tons of space because the only truck available is way too big for everything we own. So let me know. I really have to go now, love you all!"

"So, Marilla's chair?" Gilbert asked, hugging her from behind, nuzzling in her nape and peppering her with small kisses. It was later that day and they were back home.

"I thought… Do you mind? I can always tell Cole to leave it," she said, turning to look at him.

"Are you kidding? I've been telling you to make yourself at home for months and it's the first time, other than with the plants, you do something that decisive. I love it, Anne-girl," he said smiling openly. "I was actually thinking if you didn't want to bring more things."

"Well, there's not much space in here," she explained as he traced kisses down her jaw.

"We don't have to live forever in this place," he said in between kisses, making her shiver at the sensation. "You know… if we really want to start a family… And get that dog of yours… we should get a house."

"Wait, are you serious?" Anne asked, trying to keep the fog of sensation out to allow her to think.

"Of course I am, Carrots," he said, taking some distance to look at her in the eye, a smirk on his face. "Do you think we have space here to raise a kid?"

"I…" she started, but trailed off, blushing furiously. She had thought about a baby, yes, but never about the practical stuff of where the child would sleep or anything. That was months ahead.

"It didn't even cross your mind, did it?" he asked, laughing.

"Not really," she confessed, blushing. He let his forehead touch with hers.

"I love you for it," he said teasingly, kissing her quickly. Anne laughed. "Well, thankfully for us, I did… and wanted to propose to you an ongoing date the next few weekends."

"Oh yes? What would that be, dr. Blythe?" she asked, mimicking his serious and teasing tone.

"House hunting," he said plainly. Her eyes went wide and she actually stepped back in surprise. "As I told you, I have been saving the past few years… And so it appears it has a purpose now. What do you say? I have this idea of a house close to some woods, maybe a trail or a creek?"

"You are kidding," Anne answered.

"Of course I'm not," Gilbert said, mildly offended that she would think so, but then she smiled brightly at him. "Your smile is a yes?"

"Of course it is! I never even dreamt I would do this!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly and burrowing her face in his chest.

"So, tell Cole to bring your stuff. Might be the best opportunity we get to bring everything down here to Ontario," he said softly and felt her nod against him. "Well, you were preparing some tea… What do you say I finish that and you go unpack some of what you have stuffed in those boxes in the closet? Finally get yourself settled here?"

"That's a good idea," she mumbled against him, relaxed as she inhaled his scent. She finally let go of him and went to rummage in her boxes. He turned and finished preparing the tea and put on some music as he heard her move things in the bedroom. Going with a cup to meet her, he passed it to her and helped her get out different trinkets, many of which he remembered from Green Gables. The small porcelain bird had always been a favorite of his.

"Where are you putting this one?" he asked, holding it.

"I'm not sure…"

"Library? It could look nice there. I always liked it," he commented and she nodded, smiling at him.

They continued organizing, sharing stories about some of the things, taking out framed photos of Anne with the Cuthberts, Diana, Cole and the rest of the gang. Soon, Gilbert's apartment no longer looked like it had done for years, but more of a mesh of both their memories, with mostly Gilbert's taste in furniture and Anne's in house plants. Anne looked at him, smiling brightly.

"Welcome home, dear," he said smiling softly at her as they admired their handiwork, before gently tilting her chin to kiss her.

Gilbert had intended for it to be a soft, simple kiss, but soon became overcome with the emotion of all that was happening. Of Anne finally unpacking, of them talking about buying a house… but above all, of starting a family. He turned, wrapping his arms around her waist and deepening the kiss, feeling her soft lips against his as they began dancing slowly to the music that was still on the background.

"Gil...?" she whispered, not even knowing what she was asking, when he broke the kiss.

"Dance with me?" he said, even when what they were doing could barely be considered that. He kissed her below her ear and nibbled along her jaw slowly, to the rhythm of the music, as she sighed into his arms. She had never imagined she would feel so at ease with him again. Even less than he would make her feel this way. It was beyond any hope she could have ever harbored in so many years, beyond what she had actually thought possible. She searched his lips, kissing him with abandon, relishing in how his mouth seemed to blend seamlessly with hers as their tongues played.

Anne wrapped her hands around his neck, bringing him closer to him as the song ended and was replaced for another, the kiss deepening further as their torsos got even closer together. As they ended their kiss, half breathless but eyes dark, Gilbert started to kiss her jaw again, their hips moving against her with the deep rhythm of the new song. His hands went to her hips and nudged it, causing Anne to turn, her back flush against his chest.

His hands roamed now towards her pelvis, to her breasts, the two of them swaying together, him getting hard against her bottom, her feeling tingles all over her body that she knew weren't remotely related to the music and pushed closer to him. Arching her back to try to get even closer. She searched for his nape with one hand, bringing him closer to her, and he obliged gladly, kissing and sucking on her neck, eliciting soft whimpers from her as her heart went off faster. Turning her head, she searched for his lips as she felt his erection bulging on her back, how her center was pulsing and hot. He kissed her hungrily, his lips moving against her, nibbling on hers, his tongue exploring her mouth.

They danced, or made out, or whatever could be called what they were doing until Anne decided this was not going to get her what she wanted and walked them towards the sofa in the living room, music still surrounding them. She pushed Gilbert slightly, who in response laid down the length of the cushions with a big, silly smile at how she was more and more in charge of whatever she wanted. She straddled him, kissing his neck as she pushed his t-shirt up until it was off and stood there, looking at him.

"What, do you like what you see, Carrots?" he teased as she stayed still, her eyes fixed on his chest.

"Don't be so cocky," she answered smiling, leaning down to kiss him. He grabbed the hem of her dress, pulling it over her head as he interrupted her kiss and not wasted a second to get rid of her bra as well. He brought her closer, kissing her breasts, relishing on the whimper she let out as her chest arched towards his mouth, feeling her move slightly against his erection.

"You are magnificent," Gilbert said, his voice already hoarse, in between kisses and nibbles on her chest. "The sexiest…" he sucked on her nipple and Anne actually moaned, "most intelligent…," he continued as he moved to the other one, "kindest…" he trailed nibbles up to her collarbone, "woman ever."

Anne moved to kiss his neck, nibbling and sucking below his ear, noticing how he inhaled sharply and how his hands ran up and down her torso. Gilbert closed his eyes, all sensation, feeling his erection tight on the jeans he was wearing. Soon he couldn't take more and moved them so he was now hovering on top of her, feeling how her hands went directly to his belt.

"Why are you even wearing this?" she complained as she struggled with the buckle. He chuckled.

"Suspenders with t-shirt and jeans look weird, Carrots," he said, thinking clearly once more as her lips her away from him.

"They don't," Anne assured him. "And they go off faster, which I totally approve of. Not like this… thing" She finally opened it, undoing the button and opening the zipper. "Off- Take this off, now," she urged him, the delay caused by the belt just making her notice how much she wanted him. He stood up and obliged quickly, taking his boxers as well, his eyes trailing on her body.

"It makes no sense how good you look," he mumbled, sitting next to her extended legs, pulling her panties slowly down them as she propped herself on her elbows.

"What are you doing there," she whined. She wanted him. And he was seated. Next to her. And she could see how much his body seemed to want hers as well.

"I'm admiring you," he stated, running a finger down her leg and causing her to whimper, his erection twitching at the sound. He trailed the finger back up and he leaned in, kissing her on her thighs, biting her softly as he went closer to her center. She took in shaky breaths, their eyes meeting as he finally got to his objective, outlining her folds with his tongue.

"Goodness, Gilbert," she moaned as his tongue seemed to bring her so close to the edge, tension gathering in her center and spreading slowly to each nerve of her body. "Gil…" she tried, but she needed to gasp for air as her body seemed to be combusting. "Gil… God, please," she pleaded, but didn't even know what for. He continued, feeling his pre-cum wet his thigh as his erection almost hurt with how bad he wanted her. But he wanted her to come first… and she was getting there, as her nonsensical pleas turned into moans and cries, her back arching, her eyes squeezed shut, her whole body tensing.

"I could look at you come the whole day, Anne-girl," he said hoarsely, still in awe at the image in front of him, as she finally opened her eyes. He moved over her to kiss her, her arms bringing him even closer. His erection so close to her entrance and he didn't even think as he got into her, so wet, so welcoming, but retreated almost immediately, his body remembering he was not supposed to do that. "Shit, the condom," he mumbled, moving to stand up again, but she held him close, crossing her feet behind him and bringing him back to her.

"Gil… we don't need them anymore," she reminded him, intending her voice to be soft but hearing it come hoarse and ragged. And his mind caught up. They were actually doing this. Trying. For a baby. The two of them. He kissed her again, even more love as his lips moved against hers, burrowing himself deep into her as she moaned.

Not able to control his body any more than Anne was being able to control hers as she moaned and caressed him anywhere she could reach, Gilbert caressed her legs, still wrapped around him, as he started thrusting harder, deeper, feeling all of her, her wetness, her tightness. She grabbed his hair in her hands, kissed his neck, trailed her nails down his back causing something he would never know if it was pain or pleasure. Her breathing close to his ear, his mouth on her neck.

He couldn't even think anymore, his mind clouded by sensations and by the overwhelming realization that they could be creating a tiny version of them in that very moment. When that thought crossed his mind, he moved erratically, not able to form words, grunts and moans and half syllabes escaping his lips, and soon he came harder than he ever had before, feeling every cell on his body explode, as if time stood still, Anne moving against him to help him lengthen the moment. She wanted him to feel so much she almost didn't realize how close she was again and just the idea of Gilbert coming inside her, no protection at all, materializing the possibility of her becoming pregnant after this… she came again, hard, moaning loudly as Gilbert kept moving, now more for her than anything else.

He collapsed next to her in the narrow space the sofa allowed, trying desperately to regain his breath, his ability to think, something that could mean he had truly not died in that moment. Anne caressed his sweaty back, feeling how her heart was finally returning to the normal beating. She smiled looking down at their naked bodies.

"Gil?"

"Yes, sweet girl?" he mumbled, his face against her chest, feeling as tired as ever, his eyes closed.

"We may have made a baby," she whispered.

"We may," he answered, kissing her chest as Anne softly caressed his moist curls.