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Chapter 59

Gilbert had a very poor night. He had been at the hospital until he had run out of excuses and the nurses had pretty much kicked him out at one in the morning, when it was evident that even the oncology department was well covered. Cole had sent him a short message telling him he had already spoken with Jerry and Fred, and they would be there around noon, so he shouldn't worry about any of that. And then he went to bed, finding it cold, uninviting and lonely.

He tried sleeping until it was evident it wouldn't be possible, and then got up and did the same thing he did whenever he couldn't quiet his mind: exercise like there would be no tomorrow. He managed to doze off after that and then he cleaned around in the early morning to prepare the apartment for Jerry when he couldn't close his eyes after 5:00 am.

Once started, he decided to just clean the whole place. Usually the cleaning was shared in between Anne and him, but he really didn't want her doing anything once she was back. He started with the bedroom and the bathroom, did the laundry and then went to the living room with some spare sheets and a blanket to leave for Jerry. He was about to drop the bundle on the sofa when he saw the project Anne had been working on and he cursed mentally. It was her latest venture, a tiny romper she hoped would fit the baby that matched the slippers she had first done. He stayed frozen in place, the blankets in his arms as he couldn't stop looking. And they still didn't know anything. Even with all the reassuring signs… And the lack of calls from the hospital (no news was, at the very least, not bad news). He breathed deeply and looked away, leaving the stack on the sofa and going back to the kitchen. He didn't go back to the living room.

As he ate something, he checked his phone once again, like he had done what seemed like every five minutes since leaving the hospital. Still nothing, just a text from Jerry announcing he was already in Montreal. He cleaned after himself and decided to go. It might be early, but he couldn't stand being in the apartment one minute more. He winced as he kneeled to tie his shoelaces. Maybe he had done too much exercise.

Nurse Amelia greeted him as he went out the elevator on the fourth floor and he nodded to her, hoping the small smile under his mask managed to reach his eyes and the nurse could catch it. He walked to Anne's door and knocked lightly, peering inside a moment later. She was fast asleep on her side. He left her laptop on her bedside table, as he knew she had wanted it the previous night. Giving her a small caress, hoping not to wake her, he decided to get on with his work and took his place on the bedside chair, taking out his laptop and continuing what he had been doing. Besides the actual visits to his patients and the scheduled appointments, he could do most of his work from Anne's side. Or he wanted to tell himself that, anyway, he thought as he looked for the reading glasses.

"Good morning," greeted Anne when she opened her eyes and saw him, a slight frown in between his eyebrows, concentrated on the screen. Her voice was still sleepy and raspy.

"Anne-girl! How are you feeling?" he said, setting aside the computer and moving closer to her.

"Sleepy," she replied, yawning.

"How's everything today? How's the pain? Have you had breakfast?" he asked, concerned. She stretched on the bed.

"I'm feeling drowsy… Had some nausea after they brought me something to eat around 7:00, and they told me they would bring something else around 10:00. I'm barely in any pain now, I just want those results so we know what's going on," she told him. He held her hand in between both of his, kissing her knuckles lightly.

"They should be ready soon. They probably are, but they might be waiting for your doctor to arrive so she can explain everything," Gilbert explained to her. "And whatever happens, we're together in this, Anne. We will work with whatever life gives us, ok?" he said, trying to sound as calm as he wanted to be reassuring and not even more stressful for her. She smiled sadly, softly, and nodded. "How was your night?"

"It was ok. They kept checking things every couple of hours, but I slept…" she trailed of, looking at the trees outside

"Did you… did you have any nightmares?" he asked softly after a moment of silence. She bit her lip and he moved closer to hug her. "I will do what I can to bring you home today, Anne-girl. I'll try to be by your side tonight." She breathed deeply, his scent grounding her as it always did. The night had been long, broken sleep, and she couldn't but think of all the possibilities. Eventually she let go of him and looked at his tired face. By any indication, he hadn't slept great, either, the glasses not managing to hide the deep bags under his eyes.

"Continue what you were doing, Gil," she said, knowing he had had a big workload the previous days that wasn't likely to let go just because she wasn't feeling her best.

After the initial shock of the previous day, she had talked with both him, Fred and Patel and felt, if not well, at least much more at ease than before. That the bleeding and the cramps had subsided to almost nothing only contributed to reassure her. She still felt the crippling fear inside, but she didn't feel as frozen and blocked as she had the day before. And she knew she had done right by calling Gilbert when she did and she had made peace with that. There was nothing else she could have done, and even going to the hospital on her own wouldn't have been as fast or efficient as Gilbert calling his contacts within the building. She had needed support and she had been able to reach out for it, which was such an improvement from previous times.

"I just…"

"I don't mind. And I enjoy seeing you concentrate. And I have my book. Plus, if I manage to go home today, you won't be there," she said. He chuckled quietly and went back to the chair. They were quiet, neither wanting to dig more into the sensitive subject, until they heard a knock on the door. Gilbert stood up, closing his laptop. Dr. Oak came in and he went by Anne's side immediately, knowing that whatever the news, she would fare better with him close by. And him as well, if he was honest.

"Good morning, Anne, Gilbert," she greeted. She had a couple of residents trailing close by. "These are doctors Edwards and Fasari, residents in obstetrics. Doctors, you may have seen doctor Blythe around, he works in the oncology department."

"Pleasure," Gilbert said, formal. The younger doctors nodded.

"So, Anne. I'm really sorry about not being here yesterday, but dr. Smith already briefed me on everything and I know you were in really good hands. We were just checking your lab results and while there are a couple of things off balance, it's not the end of the world and we will begin the treatment shortly," dr. Oak started.

Anne felt her eyes well up with tears of relief and she just tuned out the rest of the explanation when it started getting too technical with Gilbert's follow up questions as she cried silently in his arms. The end message for Anne was clear, and she couldn't care less about the details: baby Blythe was viable, even if at risk, and she would have to receive a hormonal treatment that would keep her in the hospital at least until the following day, and then with frequent visits to follow up until everything was considered to be stable and normal again. She wasn't a fan of going to the doctor, but she had no problem going every day if that meant she was doing her best to keep the baby well.

Gilbert was doing his best to keep it together, because he didn't want to let go just yet. He would have time later and right now, his priority was Anne. So he focused on all the details about Anne's and the baby's condition and their treatment and everything related he could think of, because he would absolutely not cry in front of dr. Oak and those two residents he had never seen, even if he could feel a lump in his throat and waves or relief washing over him with every one of Anne's grateful sobs. Still, a tear managed to escape and dr. Oak smiled kindly.

"So, Anne, you'll stay here tonight and go home tomorrow morning, unless something comes up. You are not to do anything strenuous, no exercise, no sexual intercourse, ok? At least for some weeks and then we'll reassess. Go for a short, calm walk when the weather is nice but not a two hour trek, ok? We will reevaluate then," dr. Oak explained once Gilbert couldn't think of anything else to ask. Anne nodded, paying attention once more when she heard her name. She would stay in bed indefinitely if that meant keeping the baby safe. "Well go over everything once we're ready to discharge you, don't worry. Other than this, how have you been feeling? I remember you were suffering a bit with the nausea and I have a note here that says you couldn't keep breakfast down?"

"It hasn't been great, to be honest," she replied, looking down. She had lost count of how many times she had actually vomited over the past few weeks.

"But you've been able to keep food down, you're not losing weight?"

"Oh, yes. I just try to eat little and often and that way… some goes out but some stays in?" she provided, shrugging. Emily nodded.

"Let me know if you feel it becomes unbearable, ok? Or if it doesn't start to get better after once you enter the second trimester… So about two weeks from now. I'll be seeing you before that, anyway." Anne nodded. "Well, I'll come by later to see how you're feeling. Try to rest now. A nurse should be here any minute to start with the treatment, ok?" She went over how it was going to be and some possible side-effects she might experience, and finally left them, taking the residents with her. Gilbert finally relaxed, alone with Anne, and held her tightly as he breathed deeply, feeling the tears he had felt before finally escaping his eyes.

**Jerry Baynard (12:15): We're here. So you come down or how does this work?

Gilbert looked up from his screen to the bed. Anne was fast asleep, curled in a little ball with her hair all over the pillow. He bit his tongue. He really didn't want to wake her up, but didn't want her waking up alone.

**Gilbert Blythe (12:16): She's asleep right now. I'll text Fred so he goes fetch you, and I'll meet you here. Where are you?

**Gilbert Blythe (12:16): Freddie. Anne's asleep and Jerry is here. Are you busy or could you pick him up?

**Jerry Baynard (12:16): Ok. Cole will wait for you close to entrance 5. That's where we are now.

**Fred (12:17): On my way, where is he? I was about to try to convince you to have lunch so this might work out perfectly.

**Gilbert Blythe (12:17): Entrance 5. Ok to lunch, just with Cole.

Gilbert closed the laptop and organized his stuff. With Jerry there, he felt confident enough to go down to his office and tend to the afternoon's patients. Putting everything in a stack on his legs, he tapped it impatiently. He wasn't sure about seeing Jerry. He was overly thankful that he was there for Anne, yes. He would always be. But he never knew what to talk about with him and always felt awkward, since they were in grade first. And they hadn't really been alone in… so many years he actually had no idea, Diana always being there as a buffer of sorts, especially all the years Anne and him weren't on speaking terms. He sighed. Maybe they would manage to get closer over this and then this whole horrible situation would have an unexpected good outcome. He heard a knock on the door and got up quickly.

"Hey," he greeted, going out with the stack under his arm and softly closing the door behind him. "How were the flights?

"Long, but mostly fine. Annoying to travel with all these new measures, I hadn't been on a plane since January. Feels weird being here," Jerry replied, looking at the aseptic corridor. Fred was next to him and Gilbert nodded at him in greeting before turning back to Jerry. "So how is she? Other than asleep. I know you told me the miscarriage seemed to be ruled out for now and that she's receiving some sort of treatment… But how is she, Blythe?"

"Emotional, as you could expect," Gilbert replied, sighing, knowing Jerry wasn't asking just about his sister's physical health. "It has been a very scary day, I'll be honest, Jerry. But she feels better now that there's some answers and she knows she's not alone. She also knows there was nothing she could have done to prevent this."

"She has to be feeling shitty anyway," Jerry commented, frowning.

"She is. She has a wicked headache because of the treatment, as well," Gilbert replied, sighing. "Have you eaten something?"
"Yes, I bought something in the airport and had it in the car. Go ahead, I'll be here with her. You're working this afternoon, right?"

"Unless she wants me here. I'll be just one floor down, so I can be here in five minutes if you call me or text me."

"That's good to know. Go with Fred, Cole's waiting downstairs. I'll text you if something comes up," Jerry said, his hand on the handle, and Gilbert nodded. He went inside the room and Gilbert stood there, looking at Fred.

"Come, let's get you something to eat and to clear your head," he said. Gilbert nodded and they walked side by side, in silence. "I haven't heard from you since you told me Anne's diagnosis."

"It's…" Gilbert began, but trailed off. Fred looked at him. "It's just been… Can we just discuss something else, please?" He felt he had a thousand things in his mind and just wanted to focus on the little he could actually control. Fred shook his head. "Where are we eating, anyway?"

"There's the restaurant we went to for your birthday… Or that nice Italian place," Fred commented as they approached the door. "Or faithful Timmie's."

"Let's go to the Italian, it's closer, just in case…" Gilbert replied, reaching for the door. Cole was standing close, his mask on, leaning against a column. They walked over and he straightened himself.

"Gilbert!" he said, reaching over to give him a hug. Gilbert relaxed a little, the familiarity and support evident. "Fuck, I don't even know what to say to you. How's Anne?"

"Emotional. Achy. Asleep," he replied. If he kept talking about her, he might as well just stay by her side where he wanted. Cole nodded and exchanged a look with Fred.

"Blythe was proposing an Italian place for lunch, if that's ok…? It's close by," Fred commented. Cole shrugged, clearly having no preference, and they started walking in that direction.

While the restrictions that were in place at the time restricted meeting people from other households in most circumstances, and they all had been faithfully following every measure, they had agreed that this was no ordinary time. Cole, who hadn't been out for more than groceries in weeks, was as cautious as they were. Restaurants were still open for dining in, as was most commerce, and Gilbert and Fred had a running bet on when that was going to end, the cases going up every day.

The lunch was quiet, Cole doing his best to distract Gilbert when it was evident he wasn't letting a single muscle relax. He told them about the new projects, how the loft was coming along, the latest story Roy had about the school kids and his distanced teaching. Fred pitched in as well with stories about Bear, which prompted Cole to talk about the cats. Gilbert listened to them, grateful for the distraction, until they were out of the restaurant.

Fred seemed to have avoided talking about Ella and, knowing her, Gilbert could easily imagine why. That was another emotional mess waiting for Fred at home, probably. For all she could be detached and rational, Gilbert knew where her soft spots were and consequently that she was most likely having a hard time hearing about Anne's condition. He would give her a call, but as Fred might say, that would only end in a general meltdown. It was a safer bet to send her a text with a good update later.

"Ok, Gilbert. Now I've told you everything and then improvised some. Please tell me how you are? How is Anne, really? Jerry told me she was under treatment now so she didn't lose the baby, but… It sounds pretty stressful. And for all that I can provide entertainment, I'm also here as support," Cole said as they sat on a bench with their coffees and Gilbert checked his phone yet again. He noticed how Fred nodded very slightly, clearly approving of Cole's move.

"Look, guys, as much as I appreciate it… I just… Can we leave it?" he said, putting the phone back in his pocket, leaning forward and supporting his forearms in his knees, looking to the floor. He didn't want to meet either of his friends' eyes.

"You do realize how dr. Oak said all was controlled now and as long as her body doesn't have a bad reaction you're all set, right? With checkups, yes, but that only means she will be super monitored all the time, so as soon as something even hints out of normal it will be caught. You know how overcautious Emily is with these things. She's out of danger now, Blythe. As is your kid. So if you were waiting for such a time to relax, now is the moment. You're as tense as I've seen you," Fred commented, making Gilbert take in a deep breath, but still avoid them.

Fred was right. Anne might have a headache, but the prognosis for her and the baby was as good as it could ever get. They were in a completely different scenario than they were just 24 hours before, and not only in terms of medical prognosis. The day before they had been on the verge of losing their first child, alone with only Fred as some kind of support. Now, Jerry had flown from PEI, Cole had stayed for a while just to make sure they were fine and Fred continued to be his regular, steady self.

And it wasn't even just that they were physically with them. It was that… they were always there. Even if the scenario hadn't been as encouraging, they would be there. He knew they would- they had been there through every crisis of his adult life, major or not. Especially Fred, since Cole had been all the way in Charlottetown back then, but… This time it seemed to somehow be downing on him. And for Anne as well. Jerry was up there with her and, save for the two guys he had in front of him, Roy, Diana and Ella, he wouldn't trust anyone else to keep her company.

Gilbert swallowed thickly and sighed shakily. Fred was right. He could relax now. There wasn't anything else for him to do, nothing other than let go, as Fred had insisted so much the day before. He didn't need to be strong for anyone. Not because Anne didn't need him- she needed him as much as he needed her in a moment like this- but because they had almost lost their child and there was no instruction manual or expectations to fill about that. He felt like shit about how unfair everything seemed to him, but he didn't need to bury it down where all his hurt was

Fred, sitting next to him, passed an arm around his shoulder, most likely reading his mind in that creepy way he had always had. Cole, on the other end of the bench, put his hand on his back as well.

"You both are not alone in this," Fred reassured him.

"And no one here is expecting you to be anything , Gilbert. It's a horrible situation and you still have months ahead in this, and as far as I understand there's no say in how they will be. You can't close yourself like you've done all these years," Cole said. "It's never been healthy."

"It hasn't," Gilbert agreed, his voice raspy. He cleared his throat. He breathed deeply, steadying himself. They stayed in silence once more, but Gilbert felt as if a weight had been taken off his shoulders. "Thank you both."

"We will always be here, Gilbert."

"You're basically our family. You don't have to keep up appearances around us like I know you do back at work," Fred reiterated. Gilbert nodded, exhaling strongly and getting up, stretching. "All better now?"

"Horrible headache."

"And then you say you're not tense. Come, I'll get you something," Fred said, getting up as well. "We can finish this at my office."

"Is there any chance of them letting me go see Anne?" Cole asked. "I know it's far-fetched, so I don't have any hope, but…"

"In all honesty, I don't think… I managed to sneak Jerry in as her brother and convince the nurses that Blythe shouldn't count because he basically worked there, so Jerry was the logical one support person that's allowed."

"You did that?" Gilbert asked, frowning in skepticism as he realized that Jerry being up there with her probably hadn't been as simple as it looked.

"I'm charming and convincing," Fred replied, shameless. Cole laughed as Gilbert shook his head.

"That you are. Ok, then I'll get going guys. No need to idle more than needed. Gilbert, keep me posted? And call if you need to speak or whatever? Remember I basically have no schedules, so I'm available whenever," Cole said.

Anne woke up slowly and hugged the blankets even tighter. The headache was still there, but at least it had receded some. She yawned and opened her eyes, expecting to see Gilbert working in the same chair, the persistent furrowed brow he sported whenever he was dealing with some difficult case, the glasses she still found so endearing. He had insisted she would not be alone, but the side table was void of his stack of books and folders. In his place, however...

"Jerry?" she asked, her voice raspy, because her brother couldn't quite be there. It was impossible. He was all the way in PEI and she was in Hamilton and where was Gilbert? Was this some kind of joke?

"Anne! Sis, ma fri, comment… how do you feel?" he asked, leaving the trade magazine he was reading and walking to the bed,his mask on as was required for all visitors.

"So confused right now, how come you're here?" she asked, still stunned, as he enveloped her in his arms. Jerry chuckled and leaned back a little, as if to examine her. She continued to look at him with wide eyes. "I'm glad you're here, I honestly am, but…"

"Blythe called me. Thought I should know you were in the hospital," Jerry explained, going back to the chair and pulling it a bit closer. "I offered to come. I trust the git to care for you, but I also know he can't just drop everything… So here I am," he concluded. Anne looked at him, still not understanding, and he added, "I already do most of my work from home anyway."

"Here you are? And where's Gilbert?"

"Here I am, to be with you for a couple of days. Or weeks. Or whatever. So you're not all alone in that apartment of his. I sent him to have lunch. He will be working in the afternoon but he told me you could call him at any time and he will be here in five minutes." Jerry specified and Anne nodded. That was good. He needed to eat and she knew there was a rare case he was trying to deal with. And he had managed to get Jerry there, which seemed like the most impressive feat of all… Well, the most was actually the advances in science, and her having a headache but also the baby being relatively well... "So, how are you?" Jerry asked as Anne thought that and as she looked at him, blinking, her eyes welled up with tears. Jerry went back to her bedside and sat on the mattress. She immediately curled on his chest as she had done for so many nights before and he held her tightly. "There, there, ma chère… all will be good. You're having the medicine now and it will be over before you notice."

"I can't believe any of this is happening," she said, her voice choked. Jerry looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Any of it. The whole year. You here." By then his mouth had a slight curl. "And quit that smug expression."

"I'm just saying…"

"Don't," she cut him, because she could see where he was headed. He chuckled. "But yes, Marilla would be thrilled."

"About the whole thing. Can you just imagine her, becoming a grandma of your kids? The amount of knitted things they would have?" Anne snorted, blushing slightly. "No, don't tell me."

"I surely won't."

"You're knitting like crazy, aren't you?" Jerry asked, teasing. Anne stuck her tongue out to him and Jerry laughed, letting go of her. She felt better with him there, and rested her head on his shoulder, sighing. She needed and loved Gilbert. Cole was the best support. But Jerry? Somehow, he always knew how to make her laugh, feel better and put things in perspective at the same time. "So what have you done so far? Blanket? Cardigan?"

"...And booties, a sweater, and I'm halfway on a romper," she completed, which prompted Jerry to bark another laugh. "I just spend too much time inside and when I can't concentrate on writing or making something for that blog, I knit!"

"Weren't you writing?"

"Oh, I am. I just told you, I just knit whenever I can't concentrate. I'm waiting with Kak'wet for an editorial, it has to be any time now that we receive their answer. Miss Stacy put a word in some days ago. And I started writing a fairytale book. For little kids. And that blog Diana's been helping me with."

"I thought that was what you were writing," Jerry said, confused.

"No, the one with Kak'wet is for older kids. I'm writing now for… like Marie's age group. Around four, five years old. It's coming nicely, actually, I can show you once we get home… you're staying with us, right?" she asked, suddenly apprehensive. She wasn't ready to let him go just yet. Not when he had just come and she hadn't seen him in so long.

"Of course. That's the whole point of me coming here," Jerry said, his voice leaving no space for nonsense.

"I also need to speak with Cole at some point, we had discussed him illustrating some of the books but then we just left it… So I have to get back to him, now that I have the first couple of stories," she explained. Jerry nodded. Anne looked at him again, smiling. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you're here."

"That's nice to know. Your fiancé seems terrified, somehow," he replied, both unimpressed and teasing.

"What, Gilbert? Why?" The idea was just ludicrous. Jerry shrugged, but she saw a glimmer in his eye that made her think there was more to the story. "Jerry Baynard, you tell me this instant."

"I may have talked to him on occasion since you two started dating him," Jerry explained. Anne looked at him, eyes wide, suddenly remembering. At the time she had been much more focused on other things, such as… the whole Jones' incident, to pay any attention. And she had dismissed it. And then she knew Gilbert had called him before proposing. But what else? For Gilbert to be remotely concerned? "I don't regret anything and you will not talk to me about it. So drop the subject. I did what I needed to do and that's it."

"Jerry Baynard, that was so out of place!" she exclaimed, extremely annoyed.

"Anne Shirley-Cuthbert it really was not! So drop it, ok?" he said, looking at her, his eyes stern. She frowned, not convinced in the slightest, and stared at him. He stared back, unrelenting. "Now, do you want to see what your niece sent you?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I do, but don't think I'm forgetting about this."

"I'm not asking you to forget about it, just to leave the subject alone. So…" Jerry said, going back to the chair where he had left his backpack and taking a folder. He took some papers out. "Here you have. She told Di what to write in there."

"She's too cute for her own good," Anne said as she received the papers. "How's Di, come to that?"

"Worried sick about you. We're supposed to call her at some point, because yesterday we didn't think it was a good idea," he explained. She nodded, knowing her and Gilbert had been barely holding it together as it was, without anyone else asking for updates or news or whatnot." I already updated her, once Blythe told me more this morning and then when I got here," Jerry explained as Anne watched the drawings and the small note in Diana's perfect calligraphy.

They called her and Marie briefly after that, and the afternoon was gone in a blur of Green Gables anecdotes, stories about Marie's latest antics, the projects they had… Jerry was never one to talk much, but after not seeing each other for so long, they just relished being together. Eventually he had to work, and Anne continued reading her book and writing in the laptop Gilbert had brought her in the morning until a knock on the door made them both look up.

"Hey," Gilbert greeted quietly. Jerry made a gesture, excusing himself as he was in the middle of a videoconference, and Gilbert nodded before looking at Anne. "So, what do you think?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought the surprise might cheer you up," he said quietly, walking to the bed and lightly caressing her cheek. She turned her head and kissed his hand. "Was I wrong?"

"No. It was perfect," she agreed, speaking in a low voice as well, trying not to distract Jerry, who wasn't paying attention to either of them.

"How do you feel now?" Gilbert insisted.

"Headache is better. Food was… well, it stayed down," she replied. He nodded.

"And…?" he insisted. Because more than her symptoms, he wanted to know how she felt.

"I'm still anxious, but relieved at the same time," she said. "Understanding what's going on and what is being done has helped a lot, even when I don't understand the whole thing in every detail."

"We will do everything that is in our hands, Anne-girl," Gilbert tried to comfort her. "And we're together. That's what matters the most."

"You're right about that. You're done with work today?" she asked, moving to the side so he could sit on the side of the bed. They were still speaking in hushed tones, as Jerry was still in the conference. Anne enjoyed watching him work the same she enjoyed seeing Gilbert work. Both so, so different, but so close to her heart.

"I am," he said. "It's almost six, you know?"

"With Jerry working like a madman, I actually thought it was earlier," she said, not having kept track of time. Once he had sat to work, Jerry had gone deep into whatever he was doing.

"It's night out," Gilbert motioned to the window. Anne shrugged. "Is there anything you need from home? I know that you'll probably be released tomorrow, but I can bring anything."

"I think I'm set," she said. "At least I can entertain myself if I can't sleep," she replied, snuggling into his chest. He held her close, wishing he could take her home. He sighed, but the sigh got caught up in a yawn, the exhaustion from the day starting to catch with him. The sleepless night, the stress and the emotional meltdown of the lunch hour certainly weren't helping. "You're ok, Gil?"

"Just tired, Carrots," he explained.

"You both should go home. From what Jerry told me he had to wake up early to catch three planes and he hasn't stopped working for hours. And you both have to be hungry."

"I don't want to leave you," Gilbert confessed. He wanted to stay there, even if he knew it wasn't practical or feasible.

"I know. But I want you to be well rested, and somehow you and Jerry have to find a way to be around each other and have dinner," she said, chuckling. Gilbert sighed. "Go once he finishes the call. Really. I have my laptop, my books, and I can entertain myself very easily. You know that. And whatever meltdown I was having already happened. I know that, unless something goes seriously wrong, the baby is well.-"

"Can we agree on something, at least?" Gilbert proposed. She nodded. "If you wake up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare, you will call me. Like we used to do back in Avonlea. You call me, we talk about it. Ok?"

"Ok," she agreed, and they snuggled until Jerry hung up.

They entered the apartment later that night, Gilbert carrying the take-out bags and Jerry his carry-on. It wasn't the first time he was there, he had visited with Diana a couple of years before, when he had just moved alone. They hadn't spoken much in the car, other than about where to go get food and finally deciding on some chinese place Jerry had really enjoyed on a past visit.

"So… Do you want to eat at the table?" Gilbert asked, unsure. Whenever he was alone, he used to eat in front of the tv, or while reading a book, and somehow he didn't think Jerry was a sit-at-the-table kind of guy either. Or maybe he was: he had been married and living with Diana for six years, after all. And he was a little bit stressed about Jerry questioning him about his intentions with Anne. Again. Even when the intentions were clear: they were getting married… sooner rather than later, in theory, but this whole thing had put everything on pause.

"No, Blythe. What about we put on a movie or something?" he proposed. Gilbert nodded, grateful, and took out some dishes while Jerry set up the tv. "Have you seen Boys?"

"What, the Amazon series? Fred told me about it, but I haven't gotten around to seeing it. Is it any good?" he asked curiously.

"It's pretty great," Jerry replied. "Here, let's watch the first episode… see if you like it."

After that, they ate mostly in silence, talking once in a while about people they both knew in PEI, about the series (he could totally get why Fred had insisted), about music, about… And when Gilbert realized, they were actually having a good time and he had to excuse himself because he had to sleep some.

He had never had a good time with Jerry, and he couldn't have imagined it would happen under such bad circumstances. But… probably it was only possible because of that? Because they were both trying so hard not to worry about Anne (who had sent both of them reassuring messages) that they forced themselves to focus on each other, talk and… distract themselves? Until they found common ground and tastes after having known each other for more than 25 years?

"Ok, so… about tomorrow," Gilbert said. "I have to be in the hospital by nine, because I have a patient at that time, but I was thinking of going a bit earlier to see how Anne is doing…"

"I'll go with you. She might be released tomorrow, right?" Jerry asked.

"It's what we're all hoping for. And well, with the information I have, I don't see why they would keep her there. So… If you come with me, and they release her, you both can take the car to come back home, if you don't mind driving," Gilbert proposed.

"Not at all. I can go pick you up later if you want," he proposed.

"Nah, don't worry. Fred can drop me off," Gilbert said. "It's easier for everyone, and that way you don't have to leave her alone. If there's anything you both need, text me and I'll ask Fred we stop and buy any groceries or whatever, ok?"

"Sure thing," Jerry said.

"Right. So… Let me help set you up," he proposed. Jerry nodded, and both of them stood up from the sofa. Gilbert converted it swiftly and the bed was made really quickly. Jerry chuckled.

"You do have practice in this," he commented. Gilbert laughed.

"Months of it. It taught me that a guest bedroom is invaluable, believe me."

"So you went ahead and bought a house with more rooms than you know what to do with them?" Jerry asked, serious, lifting an eyebrow. "I'm kidding. Go to bed. So, what time do we leave?"

"We can have breakfast around 7:30-8:00… and get moving whenever we're ready? If you want a shower…" he looked around, pretty sure he had looked for a towel when preparing everything. Jerry signaled to it, left in the armchair. "Yes, well, that. And use whatever you need, you've been here, there's no need to ask for anything."

"Thanks, Blythe. For letting me come for my sister."

"No worries about it. Thank you for coming. It really gives me some peace of mind, knowing she won't be all alone here," he replied sincerely. They stayed in silence for a moment. "Well. I'm off. Let me know if you need anything."