Anne saw as Jerry walked towards the airport doors feeling bittersweet about the whole thing. Considering how everything was going, and how tightly sealed the Atlantic Provinces continued, it was very unlikely she would see her brother again before the new year. But at the same time… she was kind of glad to have the small apartment just for her and Gilbert again. She kind of missed their privacy and, considering dr. Oak's restrictions, she wanted whatever she could take.

It was Saturday, late morning, the day just after the wedding. Jerry had insisted he could call an Uber or something, to which Gilbert had been adamantly opposed. So here they were, seeing Jerry off with a new scarf Anne had knitted over the past few days. She looked at Gilbert, his left hand on the steering wheel. It was a gloomy day (as much as October was the perfect month, November was just dreadful), but even with the dark clouds his new ring looked shiny in his hand. So different from the dark metal of the older one.

"So, where to, now?" she asked. Gilbert had been very quiet about their plans for the day, and she couldn't help but wonder what they were. She didn't have any expectations, if she was completely honest- maybe picking up a nice lunch or something like that. She knew how paranoid Gilbert tended to be and she guessed he wouldn't be tempting faith by going to eat inside a restaurant. But still. Picking up take out wasn't exactly mystery-worthy.

"You'll see," he replied, smiling, and put on some music. "We just have to make a stop first."

"Does the stop include food?" she asked.

"Hungry?" he asked, chuckling. She had picked at her breakfast in anticipation of saying goodbye to Jerry, and now was ravenous. "Yes, it does include food, Anne-girl."

"Nice," she replied, smiling. "So how do you feel?"

"About?" Gilbert asked, not sure what she was referring to. Leaving Jerry? It felt weird. Had they been living in the new house, he wouldn't have minded him staying for months if he wanted. He didn't mind sharing a house in the slightest with family or friends, and knew Anne was more or less of the same view- she had lived with Jerry and Diana for months after Marilla passed away, and then the whole situation at the Cuthberts had been something that evolved and was always full of love. Same as his house, opening to Bash, and then Mary and Elijah. And then him living with Fred and Ella until he decided he needed to… find his way. Or something. As he had very poorly tried to explain to Ella, who still didn't get why he had left.

"About being married, but for real this time," she said, "Mr. Laghari did say it was a serious thing."

"Mr Laghari was very right," he replied, smiling in amusement. "It feels good, Carrots. Strangely… like a weight lifted off my shoulders. This is like it should have been all along."

"What's the story in the hospital, then?" she asked. "I'm sure they will notice something- even if just because of the pictures."

"Vow renewal," Gilbert laughed. "Fred came up with that."

"That's a good strategy," she commented. "People change rings when they do that?"

"I don't know. I don't care, Anne. People will believe what they want, there's little control we have over that" Gilbert said. "So, I was thinking about Thai food, but is there anything that interests you more?"

"Can we have pickles with that?" she asked.

"Pickles? Anne, with Thai food?" Gilbert asked, confused.

"I just want something pickled. Like tangy, and…" she tried to explain. "Please?" Gilbert looked at her, taking advantage of the red light. "Don't you want some?"

"Anne, you're talking about something very, very random. No, I don't particularly want pickles now. But… how about we go and get Korean instead. They do have kimchi, does that work? Spicy and pickle-y?" he proposed. She thought for a second, imagining the taste, and nodded emphatically. "Ok, then, we'll get Korean," he said, frowning in amusement as he turned right instead of continuing down the same street, as had been his plan.

They went to a restaurant he knew was on the way and then continued chatting about one thing or the other as he drove to the house. He knew Anne still was getting her bearings around the location of their new place, especially since they were arriving from the other end, but still laughed at her surprise when she suddenly realized where they were when they were about three blocks away.

"So, ready to see the house?" he asked.

"Of course! It must be almost done… I think so, anyway, have they called you?" she asked. She had been so engrossed looking for furniture, sending Gilbert photos and then ordering random things as they agreed on something, she hadn't even thought about the lack of updates.

"They might," he replied as he parked. Anne got down, taking the food with her, and he went to the trunk to look for an old blanket they kept there for picnics. He followed her to the door and took the key out of a box with a security code where the contractors left it every afternoon. He opened. "Ready?"

"I feel I'm on one of those shows you explicitly said you don't like," she giggled. "Open the door!"

He obeyed, and followed her inside. Of course, they weren't living in a show or anything, so it wasn't all organized, decorated and ready to move in. However… It was very much finished. All painting done. All finishes completed. All the dust gone. And a lot of different boxes and Green Gables furniture towering on a side, as well as some dubious shapes wrapped in bubble wrap he guessed were the things they had bought so far.

"It's… done? Like actually, finally done?" Anne asked, her eyes wide as she looked at every finish they had agreed on. The beams on the ceiling, the airy color of the walls, the finish on the floors of the exact color they had chosen. The white, smooth countertops, and the huge wood island. "This is for real, Gil?"

"This is for real, Anne," he replied. "Ella was pestering them for days, as far as she told me. She told them they better have it ready by yesterday because we were getting married and we just deserved it. Or something like that."

"Ella is too sweet," Anne said.

"She's also very bossy, intense and organized, not that you would know," Gilbert replied, remembering when they lived together. Anne laughed, imagining Ella bossing everyone in the office around so that they could have this place ready now, giving orders dressed up on top and pyjamas on bottom as, she knew by now, was her usual attire to work from home. All while eating cereal from the box until she knew Fred was about to finish work. "Do you want to go around and see?"

"I…," she bit her lip. "Pickles?" It had been hard enough not to open the bag in the car. Gilbert laughed.

"Ok, then we'll eat and later we can see everything," he proposed. "I don't know if we already received the high chairs you sent me, but what do you think of a picnic by the window?"

"I can't believe the heat is on and everything," Anne commented, as she walked to one of the big windows, taking her coat off.

"I told them to leave it on yesterday. It's quite low, so it's not actually warm, but I didn't want us to freeze," he said, extending the blanket. She sat down next to him, and started taking containers out until she found what she was looking for and started eating. "There's one of those smart thermostats, so we can configure it later. But now…. Oh, you already found your thing," he said, shaking his head. He reached to get his food, Anne had left to the side in favour of her own.

They ate while talking about the house, trying to guess which of the things they had bought was in each of the boxes. Gilbert told her about when he had moved in with Fred and they had arrived at the apartment with a lot of Ikea boxes he had put together with Ella, and how the move to Hamilton had been so similar, yet different. She told him about her search for furnished apartments in Vancouver, deciding very early on she wasn't going to spend her life there and didn't want to deal with moving things from one side to the other of the country. How she had stored everything in Charlottetown after closing Marilla's and her apartment after her death, when she had moved in with Jerry and Diana. All those things were in this house, now, thanks to Roy and Cole who had dropped them off. Also in the corner with the boxes.

"I'm dying to see how everything looks," she said, without moving her head from where it rested on Gilbert's legs. They were lying down on the blanket, the containers to the side, Gilbert's music coming softly from his phone. "But I really, really don't want to move."

"Then don't move," he said. "Let's have a nap- nothing will go anywhere," he added, extending his arm and inviting her to curl next to him. She went and hugged him, resting her head on the crook of his arm. Gilbert sighed. "It's been a crazy month."

"That it has," she agreed. "A crazy year, if you consider everything. Back in January I was still teaching in that school, we hadn't talked… The only other year my life changed so much for the best was back when the Cuthberts adopted me. And look at us, now starting a family. In every way we can."

"In every way we can," he agreed, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to go with you to the last appointment."

"I understand, Gil. Which is also why Jerry was here, from what I know," she said. "And it's not like you forgot about it, you called me as soon as you could and asked me to repeat the whole thing and… I know you care. I would like it if you could go, but I'd rather have you care and be busy sometimes rather than be present and not care at all."

"I'm so relieved you and the baby are doing so well now," he said, holding her close.

"Me too," she agreed, propping herself up a little bit on Gilbert's chest so she could see into his eyes. "We will be fine, Gil. Dr. Oak has said so every time I've seen her. It was nothing major, and all these are just precautions. And I'm willing to trust her on this, she's the expert by far."

"I know, I know. I'm just… anxious with the whole thing," he confessed. Anne smiled softly. Of course he was- him, having been born while her mother died in the process. Of course he would be anxious. "And dr. Oak is about the best doctor who could see you."

"We're controlling everything we can actually control, Gil. That's the most we can do," she tried to reassure him. Not because she felt completely sure of everything, but because she was working very hard on controlling the general anxiety she felt if she focused too much on that. He smiled in agreement, and she lowered to kiss him.

She had meant for the kiss to be sweet and short- at least, that was the rationale she had followed as her lips met his. But she hadn't counted on how much she missed him, how much she had held back with Jerry in the room on the other side of the wall. She deepened it without even thinking, feeling Gilbert's fingers bury themselves on her hair, holding her close, as starved as she was. She let go reluctantly, sighing at the longing, at the effort.

"She didn't mention anything about lifting your pelvic rest, did she?" he muttered, half hopeful, but just thinking wishfully. If dr. Oak had mentioned anything of the sort, he knew Anne would have told him by now.

"No, she said she would, if everything kept going well," she said, kissing him more gently once more. "Just to be on the safe side," she replied, kissing his jaw and going down to his neck as she talked.

"I really don't want to tempt fate," Gilbert muttered, his voice slightly hoarse as Anne sucked just that spot below his ear, "but fuck, how I miss you, Anne."

"Me too, Gil," she replied, feeling his frustration as her own as she trailed down his shoulder, pushing the cardigan and shirt to the side. "She better give us a green light soon."

"And you better stop that, Carrots," Gilbert said, his voice slightly raspy.

She paid no mind, concentrated as she was in feeling him under her lips, listening to him catch his breath, just sensing his heart beat a bit quicker. He was struggling to keep off her most days for the past week, and this was starting to become too much. He felt like a teen, which made him feel ridiculous because it hadn't really been long since they had had sex. Two weeks, tops. And before ever doing anything with her he had spent more than five years without anyone. But she better stop kissing him like that, or else.

"Anne, seriously." She looked up at him, her cheeks red. Maybe, if she really couldn't… well, maybe she could help him? To not feel as frustrated as she felt? She kissed him again, but he struggled to put in some distance in between them. "No, Anne-girl. It's either the two of us or nothing. I'm not doing this if you can't."

"But maybe I can…"

"I have absolutely no doubt you can," he agreed, kissing her lightly. "But I don't want to. Not like this. And believe me, I do appreciate the intention. I just can't bear the thought of not reciprocating."

"Pelvic rest from hell," she muttered, frustrated, lying on her back next to him. He chuckled.

"I know," he agreed wholeheartedly. They stayed in silence for a couple of minutes, their breaths evening out. "So… Do you want to see what has arrived? Maybe we can start putting some stuff together and organizing a bit. Getting a better idea of what we need and everything."

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed, sitting. "When are we moving here?"

"Well, we could technically move in now," Gilbert said. "But we haven't even started packing the other place, and I know you have a ton of projects for the upcoming weeks," he said. She had a calendar in the fridge with all her plans and the deadlines she had set for herself for all of her holiday posts and courses. And from what he could tell, it was going to be busy. And he had all the finals coming up as well, which would mean a ton of correcting essays and exams for his class. "And I have the end of the semester".

"So?"

"So, I was thinking we can work on this house, get it ready, as a side project of sorts," he said. "We do have the apartment until December 31, anyway. So I was thinking we could bring things and organize little by little, with no rush, while we take care of the other things. And we aim to move here by Christmas."

"Spending Christmas here sounds magical," she agreed with a smile.

"Let's aim for it then," Gilbert proposed. "And we can come by with your projects and take the photos and everything. Much nicer than the apartment. We already talked about how that study could become your studio of sorts… Craft room, whatever."

"Still, a desk or something for you," Anne said, standing up. Gilbert nodded and followed her so they could start organizing their home.

December arrived covered in snow and with plenty to do. As Gilbert had known, both of them were very busy with work, not that they didn't enjoy it. But they had kept going to the house every few days to organize something a bit in one room, another bit in another. They had agreed not to disturb the apartment as much as they could until they were ready to actually spend a day or two in full moving mode. Gilbert wanted to be done with finals first, though, if it was at all possible.

"You know? I get studying for these things is horrible," he said to Anne, lifting his eyes from his laptop to look at her. She was concentrating on hers, editing a video she was going to upload with a tutorial of some Christmas crafts for kids. Ten ways to make a recycled Santa, it would seem, from the explosion of tiny Santas all over the living room.

"We all hated them as students, yes," she agreed, not understanding where he was coming from.

"I think it's even worse to face them as a teacher," Gilbert said. "I mean, coming up with everything, fine… But then face that you spent months and months doing your best and still, there are some that really are not getting basic concepts…"

"Gilbert, you can't make yourself responsible for their learning," Anne said gently. "Up to a point, of course, it's your job. But not everyone will take the class seriously, and that's something you have to come to terms with. They aren't all nerds like we are."

"Still… I wish all of them could get it, you know?"

"Of course, you would be a crappy teacher if you didn't hope for that. But what's the matter? How many are failing?" Anne asked.

"Failing? Like two or three out of the whole class. Not many. But then there are some really mediocre ones," he said, rubbing his eyes. "Overall they're not doing bad. When I consider the whole class, that is."

"Well, if you consider the whole class and they're not doing bad, then you're probably on the right track. As for the ones that are failing, and the mediocre ones, maybe look if there's a trend in them and you can address that more directly," she said. "It can sometimes work. Not everyone learns the same way, and some might really be having difficulties. Others might just be… lazy. Or uninterested. Or they might have a challenge, if you identify that you might help."

"Makes sense. I'm curious about how they'll manage for the next five years if they're really not invested in this. They'll be gone soon, I gather," Gilbert agreed. They continued in silence for a moment, and upon seeing a dreadfully constructed sentence with appalling spelling, he got up. He needed a break to think about how to grade that thing when he couldn't understand half of it. "I'll prepare some tea, do you want some?"

"Yes!" Anne agreed, her eyes focused on the screen. Gilbert nodded and went to the kitchen. "Just give me a moment…"

"Is it too horrible that I want to add grammar and spelling to my course?" he asked once she got there and he was pouring the boiling water on the cups. Anne snorted.

"They shouldn't know that stuff already?"

"You'd be surprised," Gilbert said, appalled. "Their spelling is atrocious, and they're writing the essays on a computer. That has something built in it that is supposed to spell-check. And yet, they write fascia with "ss" instead of "sc"."

"Ha, you could try and make a spelling bee," she said, laughing. "Spelling bee for medical terms. Invite doctors and everything! It could be fun. Improving spelling at the hospital."

"Don't tempt me," he muttered, still in a bad mood but smiling at her idea. "I still have to go over the tests, and those are handwritten… If they can't spell with a computer helping them, I don't want to imagine how bad it will be. And they seem to be taking it as a personal mission to write with terrible handwriting."

"Awful," she replied, sitting on the counter and grabbing a cup next to her. "Remember our spelling bees? Always running overtime."

"And Mr. Phillips so annoyed," Gilbert chuckled, walking to her and holding her hands, leaving the cup on the counter again. "I wonder what happened to him."

"Ugh, I hope he retired early and didn't inflict anyone with his terrible teaching methods," Anne said. She hated the guy. "Still, it was so much fun beating you in spelling."

"You didn't always beat me," Gilbert countered, smiling. "I did win… Once in a while. And kept you on your toes."

"Because you were the only real competition there!" she countered.

"Because you were so advanced in spelling, Anne!" he laughed. "I knew those words after reading to dad every day, but most of our classmates had healthy parents, so no need to read to sick ones or to avoid reality by reading."

"Well, yes, but still, that doesn't take away you being the only competition in Avonlea," she countered, moving forward and looking at him in the eyes, the smile big on her face. "And you kept missing random letters for a while."

"Purely on purpose. And always the e," he replied, a lopsided smile on his face as he remembered his teen self trying to catch Anne's attention. It hadn't worked. Not then. "My Anne with an E," he whispered, smiling, leaning closer to her.

"That's why you did that?" she asked, laughing in her skepticism.

"Of course, Anne. I do know how to spell," he said, still sporting the same boyish grin. "I was trying to get you to notice me," he whispered in her ear, making her feel a tremor go down her spine. "It worked, in the end," he continued, trailing kisses down her neck. She brought him closer, laughing, as she wrapped her legs around his hip, making him chuckle in return.

Dr. Oak had lifted any restrictions a few days ago and, even if they had gone barely more than two weeks without sex, she still felt the craving for him as if they hadn't been together in months. Or maybe it was the hormones. She had no idea- but Gilbert didn't seem to be complaining and she certainly wasn't. Not when the baby continued to grow and the exams were coming back within normal ranges.

"What, but the tea?" Gilbert asked, just to tease her, as he continued kissing her on the neck.

"The tea is way too hot to drink now anyway," Anne replied, her hands going to Gilbert's pants directly as she drew him closer with her heels pressing on his back.

"Let's make a change of scenario then," he proposed as he pulled her even closer, so he was effectively carrying her, and moved towards the bedroom. The sofa was full of Santas made with different techniques Anne had been crafting the whole afternoon, so it wasn't really an option. "Wait, wait, I'm gonna trip if you push them down," he laughed as Anne continued to try to take his pants off as he walked. He deposited her softly on the bed and she didn't allow him to get up, her legs still wrapped around him. Soon they were a tangle of extremities, clothes and skin. She groaned as Gilbert finally went inside her, feeling her yearning slightly satisfied as he started to move. "Like… this...?" he asked in between breaths.

It's not like he was complaining, he had been just taken aback by Anne's desire since dr. Oak had taken the restrictions, and while he aimed to please… He felt everyday she was needing something different. And he was all about fulfilling her every need and wish, when he knew what those were. But as much as he knew how to read her now, he preferred to be sure.

"Just… Just…" Anne replied, trying to explain. Gilbert tried to interpret her, moving his fingers slowly to her center and touching her making a circle. "Yes, Gil… That, that," she said in between gasps as he continued touching with his fingers, continuing moving inside her, trying to go deeper. "Yes… keep…"

"Anne, I'm…" he tried.

"Not yet, Gil, not…" she said, feeling her body begin to tense. "Just… god, Gil, harder… Almost..."

"Anne, I…" he really was trying, but he didn't know how much longer he could keep at this unforgiving rhythm she was asking. He increased the movement of his fingers, feeling her moan deeper into his shoulder as he did so, and very soon she was tensing, holding him as he cried and he finally let go, his own groan deep as his release. He tried to regain his breath, his pulse quick, and he turned to lay on his back on the bed next to her, a deep sigh coming out of him. They only heard each other's breaths for a few minutes.

"Is this normal?" she asked after a moment, once she felt she could talk again.

"What is?" Gilbert asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Feeling this…" she made a vague gesture. She was sure it was explanatory enough. Gilbert laughed loudly. "Gil!"

"Sorry, I'm not mocking you," he said. "But yes, it's normal. Not for every pregnant person, but yes, increased libido is a thing. It does happen. It's one of the various pregnancy symptoms you have."

"Well, I'd rather have this one than those weird cravings I had last week. This is enjoyable at least," she laughed.

"You look dreadful," Fred said, standing on his doorway, a couple of weeks later.

"Gee, thanks," Gilbert said, rubbing his eyes under his glasses.

"I'm serious, though. Want to go for some coffee? It won't improve your looks, but it'll keep you awake. Or I can bring it here if you really don't have a half hour."

"No, let's go. I have a headache from reading exams and illegible writing," Gilbert replied, looking for his coat and reaching Fred on the door of his office. "So, what's up?"

"You tell me what's up," Fred chuckled. "Nothing's new with my life. Ella's just not enjoying third trimester, but do you know anyone who's been pregnant who does?"

"Not that I remember, but I'm sure there's an exception somewhere" Gilbert replied. "How was the second?"

"Pregnancy-wise? Uneventful," Fred said, shrugging. "All text-book. But she's doing relatively well, don't take me wrong. Just tired and uncomfortable. Still not speaking to her parents, and with Christmas next week… I don't know, Blythe, she had never gone so long without calling them. Or receiving a call from them. And she's not telling me what happened back in September, so I don't even know how to help. And I do get the irony of me being worried about that."

"She hasn't mentioned anything to me either, so don't go fishing," Gilbert said honestly. Ella used to vent about her discussions with her parents, but whatever happened in September seemed to have crossed some line, because she hadn't said a word. Not even to Fred, apparently. And his friend seldom mentioned anything about the inner workings of his relationship with Ella, so it was clear he was worrying over it. "Even if she had, I wouldn't tell you if she didn't want me to. Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Let's give it a week. If after Christmas it's still like this… we can consider something," Fred said. "So, shoot. What's going on that makes you look like a zombie?"

"Just the combination of everything, I would say," Gilbert replied, not even knowing what to attribute his severe lack of sleep and tiredness. Or well, having an inkling, but it was so over the place it was the same as nothing.

"Are you guys finally in the new house? Or still moving at snail speed?"

"We finished this weekend. Saturday was the first night in the new place," he explained. "It was… so strange moving, Fred. I know it wasn't my first time moving or anything. We did it when we came from Toronto, and then when we moved out of the house and you guys went to your new place and I came to this apartment. And it kind of felt like that, like the end of an era, but… in a different way."

"How so?"

"I don't know how to explain it. You know when I moved to the apartment it wasn't with… the highest of spirits or anything," Gilbert said, not wanting to go very deep in how miserable he had felt at first. Fred didn't say much, and he knew it was because he understood why he had gone then. Sometimes there was no need to say much in between them out of shared history and general closeness, something he appreciated. "I just knew it was time, and it was getting harder and harder to reconcile being alone, while… Anyway, when I moved there it wasn't the beginning of anything. It was more like a verdict. A judgement, or something."

"One you gave yourself, if you recall," Fred said kindly. "You know very well we could have figured something out. It didn't have to be like this."

"I know, I know. Even if I didn't, Ella has been reminding me since we gave the keys to the house back to Mr. Rubens," Gilbert said. "But this time it's so different. So full of hope, of expectations, so full of… well, it doesn't feel final . It feels more like a beginning, you know?" Fred nodded and held the door open for Gilbert. "Full of possibilities. So packing was… like letting go of all that had kept me down. We donated a whole lot of things I just didn't want to trail to the new place. Not when we want things to be either fresh or have some meaning for us."

"That's about the best news I've heard in a while. Like giving up that ring finally started liberating you of all that," Fred said. Gilbert nodded. It had felt very similar, but in a much… visible way. They ordered the coffees and were out soon enough. "So you're in the new place now. I suppose it's fairly organized by now? Considering you've been at it for weeks?" Gilbert laughed. "No? What have you both been doing then?"

"Well…" Gilbert thought, scratching the back of his head. He couldn't mention that , even if it was about the… Fred laughed.

"So now your questions about Ella's second trimester make more sense. I gather dr. Oak said everything is going well?" he asked. Gilbert shrugged, noncommittal.

"Well, there's that, and then… It's the final of the semester, and I have a shit-ton of things to correct, and half the students seem to have not learnt a thing in my class. I don't even know if I'm a bad teacher, if they're stupid… but it's stressing, and a bit discouraging," he explained.

"They're just starting. Have some faith in them- they can't all be as nerds as you were. How's the class compared to the historical numbers?"

"They seem to be a bit higher, but still, that makes me double-guess my methods. Am I being too lax or something?" Gilbert explained. He had felt anxious about everything for weeks now.

"I don't think you're lax. You've always been fair to a fault. But why don't we do something, if you still have a couple of classes with them," Fred proposed. "I can go and we can make a… game or something, I shoot questions at them and we see how they're doing. I don't know what they're supposed to be strong in, I'm not as biased as you are. I just saw them the one time I barged into your class."

"You have time for that?" Gilbert asked. He honestly never understood Fred's schedule.

"I can make time for anything, Blythe, as long as I organize myself," Fred replied. "So, all sex and school worries?"

"And moving, and packing, and organizing… And then Anne's website has been picking up, and she keeps asking me to help her with photo shoots of things when she can't do it on her own, so for example we stayed until midnight trying to get the light right for a video of one tutorial she's making…"

"Sounds… like a lot," Fred agreed. Gilbert shrugged, and they sat on a bench outside, despite the cold and the slight flurries that were starting to fall.

"It is," he agreed. "But you know? I wouldn't change it for anything. I feel it's exactly where I need to be. And the semester will be over in just a few days, so then I'll have more time. And then the holidays, and we won't be running with Anne's things. So everything will calm down in a week or so and then I'll sleep or rest or something."

"You better. Or you will have one of those horrible colds you get when you overstretch yourself like that and we really can't have that now," Fred said, leaning forward in his arms, playing with the paper cup. The coffee went cold very quickly in the weather they were in. Gilbert stretched his legs, looking at the bare tree in front of them. "Try to take care of yourself, please. I know you're in a good place now and everything, but that's not a reason to let yourself go. I do worry."

"Thanks, Freddie," Gilbert said, containing a yawn. He did appreciate his friend's concern.

"Ella does, too. And I'm sure Anne does as well," his friend insisted.

"I'll sleep. I promise."

"You're sure there's nothing else on your mind?" Fred insisted. Gilbert frowned, biting his lip. "I do know how to read people. Not just you."

"It's… It shouldn't be nothing," Gilbert said, resigned. There was no reason to ignore, anyway. And Fred might be just the one to talk about it. He sighed. Fred didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue. "I've been feeling anxious about Anne's pregnancy. And about everything else, really, you just heard me talk about the students. I know dr. Oak says everything is going well with Anne and the baby, and there's no risk whatsoever anymore, but… I can't take out of my mind the possibility of something happening to her. Like it did with my mother. And how would I be supposed to cope with that?"

"Gilbert," Fred said, looking at him, "to start, let go of things you can't control. As much as I know you don't want to hear this, you have to trust dr. Oak in this. Also, technology is not the same as it was in 1990. There's better ways to detect things on time, there's better treatments… It's not the same as when you were born. Especially since she's being so closely monitored. And you don't worry yourself about things you can't predict or control. You won't win anything by catastrophizing or over-generalizing, and that's just what you're doing. You're not a seer. You don't predict the future."

"I know, I know… easier said than done, though," Gilbert replied. He couldn't lie. Even when he was exhausted by the time he went to bed, he kept thinking about this for what seemed like hours. "I was actually considering looking for some therapy or something. Get the anxiety under control. It won't do well if I keep going down this path… I need to be able to be there for Anne in a reassuring way, not as a knot of nerves."

"Why don't you go?" Fred asked, genuinely curious. It was about the first time Gilbert was talking about seeking help on his own. "It's not like you need a referral or something."

"I don't have time right now," Gilbert said. Fred was about to speak and he interrupted. "I know you'll say I can make the time, and yes, I know I could. But something would have to give, and right now I don't see how that's possible. There are only so many hours in the day. So I'm considering it, but once everything is a bit more under control. Early January or something. Maybe even before, once I'm done reporting the grades and Anne is out of the holiday season. I just said I'm considering it, you don't even have to drag me there or convince me."

"If you say so," Fred said. "I'm actually relieved that you're aware of how you're feeling enough to know if you're being able to handle it or not."

"I do, Freddie. I've been considering it since Anne was in the hospital, but since everything seemed to be pretty straight forward I thought I would manage just fine… But I'm obsessing over every detail of her pregnancy and everything else, and it's just not healthy, neither for us nor for me," he explained.

"Has she noticed?" Fred asked. Gilbert snorted.

"Of course she has. She's been trying to reassure me. We've talked about it, but I still…" he trailed off. "That's why I'm considering it. Just talking with her isn't cutting it, and I won't burden her with this. I know she'll support me, I know I can talk with her, but if… I have to be honest and know when to have more support. Which is what I'll do, once I have a bit of free time. You can even send me some options, if you want. Just your regular psychologist, I don't think this is so out of control yet."

"Ok," Fred agreed, letting the topic rest. They stayed in silence for a few minutes. "Ella really hasn't said anything to you?"

"She hasn't," Gilbert said. "What really happened there?"

"I have no idea. It's eating me out, but she won't budge. She hasn't said a word. And since she hasn't spoken with her parents since she came back… I've even suggested she call them and smooth things over, if you can believe that," Fred chuckled sadly. Gilbert snorted, so out of character it was. "I don't know what could have happened for her to just cut everything off with her family and not say a word to us. She's always been determined and everything, so it's not like I don't believe she is capable, but why? Why now, when she's about to become a mother? What could they possibly say to make her decide this that they haven't already said?"

"It's Ella's family, Fred. They've never been the most rational of families," Gilbert said. "I can try talking to her, if you want. Not that I'll tell you what we discuss… But maybe to see if she wants to talk about what happened, ease her heart a little bit or something."

"Yeah," Fred agreed, frustrated, the concern evident in his voice. "I would appreciate that, Blythe."

"Consider it done, then. I'll talk with her, see how I can help her," Gilbert reassured him. "You know I love her too, and we both know that even if she isn't saying much it doesn't mean she's not feeling it."

"Thanks," Fred replied, just as a group of nurses approached them.

"Dr Blythe?" one of them asked. Gilbert looked up, curious. "We're sorry to bother you… We just wanted to know how your wife is doing?"

"She's doing well," Gilbert replied, smiling, feeling warm by being asked about Anne. And her being his wife not being a lie anymore. She really was his wife now. "Working hard."

"Oh, we've seen! We've been following her website, and it's been so awesome. My nephew is a fan of her crafts, and we got the holiday craft course to make over Christmas," one of them said. Gilbert smiled.

"I'm sure she appreciates that. She always enjoys knowing kids are liking her content. You could send her an email or something, I know she would be happy to receive it," he replied. The nurse nodded happily. "I believe there's a contact email somewhere in the course."

"Oh, I've seen it… But I haven't written yet. I didn't know if it was one of those vague accounts no one checks."

"She does. Religiously. Every morning," Gilbert reassured her. She even sent him snapshots sometimes when she received a particularly warm email, and he could imagine her beaming with her cup of tea, cozy at home. "I'm sure she would write back to you."

"Really?" she asked, her eyes bright. "Then I will! And I will attach photos of the projects! Thank you so much dr. Blythe," she said. He smiled.

"Oh, and dr. Blythe?" said another one. He looked at her, curious. "We also wanted to congratulate the two of you on your vow renewal… we saw some photos on her account."

"Thank you," Gilbert replied, feeling warm and grateful. He had no idea if anyone at the hospital thought it was actually a vow renewal or not, but he had received warm comments and it all felt as it should be.

"Have a great day, dr. Blythe, dr. Wright."

"So Anne's project is really picking up, then?" Fred asked once they were on their way.

"More than she thought it would," Gilbert said. "Thank god Jerry helped go over the numbers of the whole thing and make it reasonable. She has clear goals and everything now. I know she started it as a side thing to have some income and then write without feeling bad about it, but I feel she's found something else here. I really see her growing this into something bigger. Not that it'll keep her from writing, anyway."

"That's so good," Fred replied. "So, ready? We should probably go back."