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

Author's Notes: So sorry for the delay...I was waiting for edits, but I can now assure you that there should be no more long delays between now and the conclusion of "Distances Between Hearts"...I am working on the final chapter and Part 19 is currently being edited.

Also, this part became so long that I needed to break this chapter into two parts. So I present Part 18A (and Part 18B will follow soon)! (You can blame Bash, he can be quite loquacious!) Hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you so much to all of you who have shared feedback and reviews!

XVIII.A.

Bash wiped his sweaty brow with his sleeve as the sun slowly made its descent in the summer sky. He had just cleared some weeds and cleaned the gravestones, including the newest one belonging to his beloved Mary. He missed her so very much; his only solace was seeing how their daughter grew to resemble her more and more each day.

As time passed by far too quickly for his taste, Bash grew ever more grateful for the time he and Mary got to share together. He knew it would have been easier to be embittered and upset at being robbed of more time with her. But he also knew that dwelling on his loss would be breaking the promise he made to Mary: to give Delphine the best upbringing and every opportunity for a bright future. He couldn't and wouldn't let them down by looking backwards instead of forwards. He wanted her to have a father with his feet firmly planted in the present moment and capable of providing her both security and love.

Bash never forgot that Gilbert provided him the path and the means to build a solid future for his family. Their relationship went far beyond just a business partnership; he sincerely loved Gilbert as a brother. Despite coming from such different parts of the world, they had so much in common beyond both being fatherless island boys. They both saw the good in people, even when others didn't. They were equally abysmal as cooks and were so happy now to have Hazel make them proper meals. They both loved their family and friends fiercely, understanding perhaps to a greater degree than most just how precious love was when it had been so cruelly taken away from them. Gilbert had lost his mother when he was born and lost his father to illness only a few years prior. Bash thought his father had abandoned his family when he was a young child but recently learned that his father had actually been lynched. Both of their lives were marked far too often by loss, punctuated most recently by Mary's untimely death.

Bash would not soon forget how Gilbert looked when he came back to tell him about Anne's accident. Bash had never seen him look so out of sorts with worry. He couldn't help but be reminded of how he felt when Mary quickly fell ill and passed away. It was a long suspenseful day until Gilbert finally returned with the jubilant news that Anne had awoken and was in physically good health. The only consequence of her injury was lost memories from the last few months. Gilbert had told him what Anne said and did once she was awake: she thought it was April, with Mary's death foremost in her mind. Anne had been in tears as if only a few days had passed, not a few months. Hearing this brought back to Bash all the emotion and pain of that time, and all he wanted to do was help comfort Anne as she helped comfort him.

When Bash first came to visit Anne after returning home from Charlottetown, he had brought Delly with him, thinking Anne wanted to see her. He hadn't expected Anne's initial reaction, but upon reflection it made perfect sense once he better understood her predicament.

"Anne? What is it?" Bash saw Anne's eyes water as she held Delly in her arms. Delly cooed and laughed, as Anne was one of her favorite people in the world. Bash could tell that Delly was expecting Anne to swing her up into the air as usual, but Anne had no memory of doing this yet. It was clear that all she could remember was Delly when she was several months younger. It had been Easter; Delly was wearing the delightful crown of flowers Anne had created for her that matched the beautiful hat Anne had decorated for Mary. Bash had the images etched in his heart for many months and he thought about how it was just the previous week for Anne. Tears welled up in his eyes at the thought.

Anne had quickly tried to cover her tears, but it was clear she was disoriented. She then sniffed her nose quickly before forcing a smile and holding Delly close. "Delly, you are such a big girl now. I still remember how tiny you were when I first beheld you." She then made a silly face and Delly then giggled, which made Anne and the rest of them join in the laughter. Then Marilla gently lifted Delly up from Anne's arms, not able to resist her charms, and Anne's eyes connected with Bash for a moment: her expression was a mixture of bewilderment and sadness.

Anne then approached Bash and embraced him. "Thank you for visiting. It's so wonderful to see you and Delly. At least you didn't change and grow as much as she did." Her expression was sunnier though there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"You sure I haven't changed? I think I gained a few pounds here," Bash said as patted his belly and laughed. But he held back from telling Anne about all the food she'd brought over herself after Mary's passing, remembering Gilbert's admonition not to mention her lost time unless she brought it up first. "Anne, we would've come to Charlottetown if we hadn't been so busy with the harvest—"

"Oh Bash, no, you didn't have to—"

"You Cuthberts are family to me. And family is always there for each other, no matter what." He paused and looked into Anne's eyes which still looked wet with tears. "Anne, I'm so glad you're on the mend. Gilbert told me everything and that when you woke up, you thought it was April."

Anne nodded. "Yes. Because of my head injury, I don't remember anything from the last four months, just as if they'd never happened. But I can feel it and I smell it in the air that it's summer, not spring, and I can see it from how much bigger Delly is than I recall. The evidence of my lost time is all around me, and frankly, it's all very frustrating!"

Anne's tone of voice and emphasis on her last two words made Bash chuckle in spite of himself. "I'm just so relieved that your injury wasn't more serious." Bash put his hand gently on her shoulder.

"Yes, you're right. I've thought about how much worse this all might have been and it humbles me so." Anne looked up at him with a wistful smile and Bash knew Mary was on her mind. "And I am ever so grateful to Aunt Jo and Dr. Holmes for saving my life." Anne paused, seeing Bash's stricken reaction to her words.

Bash quickly embraced Anne again tightly, thinking about how easily fate could have taken a different turn and claimed her young life. "And I am grateful to them as well. So grateful."

Gilbert approached them as Bash and Anne drew apart, each wiping their eyes. "Is everything alright?"

Bash and Anne nodded and as their eyes connected, he felt more at ease about her state of mind. She was alive and present, and that was far more important than losing some memories. She would live on and make new memories. She was all right, she was here. He grinned and squeezed her hand as if to say, "You're alive and life is good," and he was certain she understood him.

Gilbert continued to look at each of them with concern, waiting for a response.

"Just—just grateful to be alive," replied Anne to appease Gilbert, then her eyes connected once more with Bash, with a deliberate glance reassuring him that she did indeed understand him.

As Bash thought about Anne, he watched the sun descend in the distance, as he sat on the graveyard bench. He was grateful for the longer summer days, as it reminded him of Trinidad and the long warm days there. He sometimes missed his home country, but he knew that he could never have a life there like the one he currently led in Canada. He still found himself at times in disbelief that he was now a farmer, not a sailor. Gilbert sometimes teased Bash for his tenacious dedication to learning more and more about farming. Bash would talk to any other farmer in Avonlea who would tolerate all his questions and find out all the best and latest methods. Bash was determined to be the best farmer he could be to help make the farm successful and to support his daughter's future.

There were still a few townsfolk who refused to talk to him because of the color of his skin. But Gilbert's embrace of him as a partner in the farm and a brother in all but blood had certainly helped him be accepted by most in Avonlea. He had genuinely been surprised and touched by the number of townsfolk who had come to Mary's funeral to pay their respects.

Earlier in the day, Bash told his mother that he would be sharing a late dinner with Gilbert once he got home. Bash hadn't really had a chance to have a heart-to-heart talk with Gilbert in days and felt this was his first best opportunity. They were in the throes of harvest season, so they often needed to be at opposite ends of the farm and in different orchards. As a result, they rarely got to see one another, much less have any time for conversation. Bash remembered that Gilbert had been on his way to propose to Winifred the morning he found out about Anne's injury. And ever since Anne returned from Charlottetown, Gilbert visited her daily all while still doing his share of farm work. Bash presumed that Paris was certainly now out of the question; he was convinced that Anne nearly dying had helped Gilbert understand his true feelings. But he wanted to hear it directly from Gilbert.

Bash approached John Blythe's gravestone. Although he never met Gilbert's father, he felt a sort of kinship to him through Gilbert. After all, it was his death that had prompted Gilbert to search out adventure beyond Canada. And had Bash never met Gilbert, he might still be toiling on a ship, a far cry away from the firm ground beneath his feet.

Bash kneeled down and whispered. "Mr. Blythe, your son can sometimes be a stubborn fool, but as long as he listens to his heart more than his brain, he'll be just fine. You'd be mighty proud of him now, but I don't doubt you've been proud of him from birth. But still I worry about him, and try to watch out for him as you would if you were still here. I promise you that I'll do my best to look out for your boy."

Bash felt a strong breeze cool the back of his neck, and he smiled. He couldn't help but feel it was a positive response from beyond.

Bash glanced quickly around to make sure he was actually alone. Mr. Blythe's was the only other gravestone aside from Mary's to whom he conversed. He took special care not to let anyone—especially his mother and Gilbert—catch him in the act of talking to ghosts. He didn't want them or anyone else to think he'd gone mad as his one-sided conversations gave him a small measure of comfort. It helped him work through his grief and sorrow, and speak aloud his emotions rather than keep them bottled up inside.

Bash sat down on a bench near Mary's gravestone and sighed. "Oh Mary, I wish you were here to talk some sense into my brother. Well, I'll do my best tonight, but I can't help but think you'd do a far better job of it. He listened to you more, I think." He smiled as he thought about the times he would walk into the kitchen and see Gilbert and Mary chatting quietly while Delly slept nearby.

Bash heard the footfalls of a horse in the distance and guessed it was Gilbert returning home at last. Once Gilbert had stowed his horse away in the barn, he met Bash at the graveyard gate.

"Ah, there you are, Blythe! About time you got back!"

"Bash! I didn't expect to see you out here this late." Gilbert walked up to the graveyard gate at the same time that Bash was about to close it behind him.

"You know, I could've helped you with this!" Gilbert bent down to pick up the bucket of water and brush Bash had used to clean the gravestones.

"Please don't worry about it." Bash picked up his broom and other supplies as they left the graveyard and put away everything in the barn before walking toward the house.

Bash then paused and smiled at Gilbert. "So? How'd you do? Top of the class?" Bash was burning with curiosity and brimming with pride, knowing that he was receiving his examination scores that day.

Gilbert shrugged a bit sheepishly. "Sort of. Actually, I tied for first. With Anne." Gilbert looked at Bash with a smile. "But honestly, I'm surprised she didn't get first outright."

Bash shook his head and laughed. Most boys his age would have been upset to tie with a girl for first place. Not Gilbert Blythe. He took pride in Anne's accomplishments as much as he took pride in his.

"Congratulations to you both! You and Anne are smarter than the rest of Avonlea, by far. Also, you both worked so hard for that test. As a matter of fact, you're still working on it." Bash shook his head, thinking about Anne's summer project of reviewing what she'd forgotten before going to Queens. "Why can't you both just enjoy the summer days you've got left?"

"Once Anne's mind is set, there's very little any of us can do to change it. So Diana and I have been supporting what she wants to do. And she wants to study." Gilbert smiled, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.

"She's in charge, I understand." Bash smiled, patting Gilbert's shoulder. "Now let's go in and have some supper. Mama made you your favorite dessert to help celebrate. Yes, I knew you'd do well enough for a celebration!"

"Chocolate sponge cake?" Gilbert's eyes widened with anticipation.

Bash nodded. "Of course!" He laughed at Gilbert's wide grin. "The way to your heart is always through your belly, that's for certain."

Bash and Gilbert entered the house, washed their hands, and sat down at the kitchen table where Hazel laid out a hearty meal for them. He was glad that Gilbert not only grew accustomed to curries, but actually enjoyed eating them. His mother had been able to bring a good supply of spices with her when she arrived from Trinidad.

"Bash, you didn't have to wait. You could've had supper without me." A guilty expression crossed Gilbert's face.

"And miss out on a prime opportunity to hear about your day? Don't trouble yourself, I had so much to finish today that I nearly forgot to take my luncheon. Then I ate it so late I just told Ma I'd wait for you." Bash then dug into his plate of curry chicken and rice, and Gilbert joined him.

After second and even third helpings, Bash and Gilbert enjoyed a chocolate sponge cake dessert that was Hazel's specialty. Once they had finished eating and cleaned their dishes, Bash checked to make sure his mother was already asleep in her bedchamber by seeing if her lit candle shone out from under her door. Once he saw it was dark, he returned to the kitchen to fetch a bottle of rum he had saved on a high shelf in the pantry.

Bash took out two glasses and poured out a small portion in each one. "This stuff's for special occasions, and I think this calls for it. Congratulations on your exam results."

Bash passed a glass to Gilbert. Then they clinked glasses and hoisted them in the air before they each quickly gulped their share.

Gilbert put down his glass and then coughed and sputtered.

Bash laughed and said, "Hush! Keep it down, let's not wake up Mama or Delly!"

Gilbert nodded as he quietly put the glass back on the table. He blinked a few times as his eyes had watered a bit. He looked down at his glass, then back at Bash before asking in a whisper: "Wait, is this babash?"*

Bash shook his head. "No! I wish it were. Even with all Mama's talents, she wouldn't be able to hide the smell of babash from the rest of the ship. It would certainly have been taken by the authorities before they let her into Canada! And after what happened the last time you had babash, you had best steer clear of it!"

Bash tapped the amber-colored bottle in his hand. "This is a special rum I save for special occasions. Made by a friend in the Bog."

Bash figured he could use a little liquid courage for what he wanted to say to Gilbert. But then Gilbert spoke up and surprised him with news of his own.

"I saw Winnie at Dr. Ward's office this afternoon. And we talked." Gilbert looked at Bash warily. "I told her I couldn't marry her after all."

*Babash is an extremely overproof homemade rum that Gilbert tries when he and Bash are in Trinidad in the fourth episode of season 2.