Gilbert tore the envelope off the letter he had been expecting for days. A smile grew on his face as he read its contents. He knew Anne had a wonderful way with words but it was an amazing sensation to see it used to describe her love for him. As the letter drew to a close Gilbert couldn't help but think. Had he made the right choice by coming to Toronto? Should he have stayed with Anne?

He wrote back to her as soon as he worked out the answers to her questions. She had stated that she had follow up questions and had written them all in the letter. Gilbert had hurried answers for all of them bar one. Anne had written "are we courting?"

It shouldn't be a hard question and Gilbert had wanted to court for forever now. Did Anne? What if she didn't? He shook the thought away from his head. Diana had said she loved him. She had kissed him. He loved her. He smiled as he knew the answer to the question. Yes.

Anne paced around her room, to sick with nerves from the anticipation of soon finding the answer to her questions. She couldn't study at a time like this, her head was buzzing with a mix of excitement and worries. Diana sighed as she entered the room to find Anne like this.

"Anne calm yourself" Diana said, "it's Gilbert Blythe you are worried about, remember? Gilbert would never say anything to hurt you. You know that." Anne knew that was true but she just couldn't help herself. A letter dropped through the door.

Anne ran over picking it up, shaking. Diana sighed at her friend, shaking her head and laughing, "Well Anne what are you waiting for? Open it!"

Anne sat on her bed, kissing the envelope. She had decided that kissing it was good luck. She broke the seal and took out the letter. A smile grew big on her face. This was a comfort for Diana, but she couldn't help being curious. "What is it Anne?" She said, walking over to her. A tear splashed onto the letter from Anne's eyes.

"Gil and I are courting!"

Diana shook her head and laughed. "I thought we had already established that Anne- you kissed him?"

Anne looked up at her bosom friend. "I did, but we never made anything official." Tears welled in her eyes, "I must write him back."

Diana gave Anne a serious look, "Anne you have barely studied, all you have done work wise is attend classes and go to the library." She was concerned for her friend.

"Oh Diana, I shall study right away after this, Don't worry I will not let Gilbert take over my education. This is just such an unexplainable event." Anne sobbed.

Anne wrote him back.

Dearest Gil,

I am glad to hear you are well and that Toronto is meeting your expectations. Your answers to my questions leave me breathless with love. Your courtship is the most amazing feeling. I won't let you down. Promise. I know word may soon get out about us, you know Avonlea! If it isn't to much of a big ask, could we wait to tell Bash, Marilla and Mathew. I feel like that should be done in person. Talking of in person, do you plan to visit coming Christmas? I was thinking we could go and see how Avonlea is faring up.

Love from

Your Anne with an E

Anne thought you herself- was it to bold and romantical? No, she decided. She said what she had wanted to say.

As Christmas approached Anne's excitement grew as she knew soon she would see Marilla, Mathew, Bash, Delly and the rest of Avonlea. Also, if course, Gilbert. Her Gilbert Blythe.

Anne and Gilbert wrote each other every week and sometimes more. They both studied hard and used most of their time to learn and revise new things. They both missed each other dearly but their schedules were so busy their minds were taken off it most of the time.

Diana, Anne, Ruby, Tilly, Jane and Tilly has stayed firm friends. Studying in the library a lot together. On Saturday visiting hours all of the girls bar Anne had suitors to come see them. Anne didn't mid a bit though, as she would use that time to write Gilbert.

Anne and Gilbert had decided that they were to meet on the Charlottetown train on the 21st of December to take the train down to Avonlea. Diana had decided not to return as she had some very important business. She would not even tell Anne what this was though. Not even Anne!

Anne was worried for her friend as her and the rest of the girls set off for Charlottetown, but she decided to trust Diana in her secrecy and move on.

As Anne and the rest of the girls arrived at Charlottetown they all went their different ways. Anne kept a close eye out for Gilbert but he didn't arrive. As everyone started to board the train a sick worry stirred in her stomach. Gilbert wouldn't just stand her up. What if something happened to... she couldn't finish her thought as a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her round. A familiar face looked down at her.

"Gilbert!" Anne cried, wrapping her arms around him. It felt so unbelievably good to be back in his arms at least.

"Anne!" Gilbert said, looking deep into her eyes. "I missed you so much!"

Anne smiled at him, "me too."

They grew closer and closer until they could feel each other's breath against their face. They knew better than to kiss properly in a public place with people everywhere but they set that thought aside and brushed they lips together.

An announcer broke their moment by calling out "final boarding call for Avonlea, A-Von-Lea!"

They both laughed before stepping on the train.

They sat down. There was a bit of nervous tension between them as neither knew what to say.

"Where's Ruby and Diana? I excepted them to be travelling with you?" Gilbert said at last, breaking any sort of tension. that was left.

"Diana stayed at Queens," Anne sighed, she did miss her bosom friend," and well Ruby and Moody apparently had some important business to attend to."

Gilbert chuckled," ah I see." He paused thinking carefully about how to word the next thing he wanted to say. He decided to just go for it. " why did Diana stay?"

His facial expressions changed into a concerned sympathetic look, not wanting to upset Anne.

"Um, she. She said she has some important business to tend to." Anne stuttered, holding back tears.

Gilbert could tell by Anne's expression that he should shut up. He took Anne's hand, wrapping his fingers around it.

Everyone boarded off the train. Anne and Gilbert waited for someone to pick them up- probably Jerry- at their normal spot. Avonlea was so beautiful Anne had almost forgotten the sight of endless rolling hills. Now they were private Anne and Gilbert could be more close. Gilbert took both of her hands and kissed them. She blushed. Oblivious to the clatter of hooves behind them, they kissed properly. Electricity tingled up their spines as Gilbert ran his hand through Anne's braid and pulled her in closer.

Again, their moment was broken as a wolf whistle came from behind them. They both flung round to see Jerry smirking. Gilbert and Anne both blushed as they got up and walked over to the cart.

"I can see ow things ave progressed." He winked at Anne and Gilbert.

"Oh shut up Jerry!" Anne said with a slight laugh as she stepped into her seat.

Jerry trotted belle onwards.

Gilbert broke the awkward silence," just don't mention anything to anyone about this yet, we haven't told anyone and Avonlea news spreads like wildfire.

Jerry nodded his head and smirked, Anne looked as though she wanted the ground to swallow her. Her cheeks were as red as her hair. No one said a word for the rest of the journey but her hand stayed tightly wrapped around Gilbert's.

As they arrived at green gables, Anne practically fell out of the cart, spinning round and taking it all in. She had missed green gables so.

Gilbert walked up to her, he looked into her eyes."now?" He said.

…"now"

They walked into the kitchen of green gables to find Marilla and Mathew sitting at the table, expecting her. When Marilla saw Anne she got up and filling her arms around her. Which Anne thought was quite an unexpected gesture from Marilla. Marilla was surprised to find Gilbert next to her. "Had they finally resolved things?" She thought. Mathew got up and joined the hug before they all sat down.

"It's nice to see you too Gilbert." Marilla said, nervously.

"Um, thank you, Miss Cuthbert." Gilbert answered.

Marilla and Mathew exchanged a knowing glance, if was quite obvious that Anne and Gilbert were romantically involved, yet they were hiding it.

"So Gilbert and I have something to, to, tell you." Anne blurted out.

"Yes…" Marilla said.

Mathew didn't like the tension, "I, barn.." he said getting up.

Marilla clamped his hand to the table and looked back at Anne and Gilbert, their faces redder than a cherry.

"We are courting." Gilbert said before Anne got the chance. He put his arm around Anne.

"Oh how wonderful!" Marilla cried touching Gilbert on the arm.

Mathew looked at Anne. His little girl all grown. Anne got up and kissed him on the cheek before Mathew went out the door, indeed to the barn.

Anne and Gilbert arrived at Gilbert's house next. Gilbert looked nervously into Anne's eyes, "it will be ok" she said.

"I know that much, I'm just worried for bashes snarky comments!" He laughed.

He looked into her eyes and kissed her, putting his arm around her waist, blissfully unaware of bash now standing at the door chucking. They were like that for a good minute before Anne finally noticed bashes presence. They fling apart.

"No, no carry on love birds!" Bash laughed, "I see things have progressed rather expectedly with you two!"

He patted an extremely embarrassed Gilbert on the shoulder before open the door and letting them in. They sat down at the table, bash chuckling uncontrollably and Gilbert and Anne's faces.

"So are you two officially courting now because of not then that display is highly inappropriate" Bash joked.

"Uh yes we are." Anne said nervously.

Before anyone said another word Delphine toddled into the room.

"Aun-Nan Unsel-Gilby!" She hugged their legs and Anne picked her up. Gilbert hugged her in Anne's arms.

"Heyyy that'll be you two soon." Bash said smacking at them. Gilbert shot him a look and bash smirked at him. Anne looked rather embarrassed- the I want the floor to swallow me look came back. Bash laughed at them both.

"Bash we aren't even engaged yet!"Gilbert cried. Anne looked at Gilbert and couldn't help smiling. Bash smiled at her.

"Ah you're right! Knowing you pair you'll take another three years to get engaged and another three years to get married and another 3years too.." bash was cut off.

"Hey hey I think that's enough of that!" Gilbert said looking knowingly at bash, he was a doctor and knew in infamous detail what came next.

Bash roared with laughter as he patted Anne and Gilbert on the shoulder. He opened the door," I have business to attend to, Cary up with you to later!" Bash winked before walking out the door.

"That was, worse than I thought!" Gilbert laughed.

"Oh well, we saw it coming." Anne chuckled at Gilbert.

Before they knew it they were kissing again. The door flung open, "hey just forgot my.." bash started, before noticing the couple making out in front of him. He laughed again." You two! Can't keep your lips apart!" He disappeared behind the door.

Gilbert and Anne were both annoyed, they can't kiss in peace can they, they were always interrupted. They both saw the same look in each other's eyes.

"Let's go into my room!" Gilbert whispered. He took Anne's hand and led her in. Anne knew it was improper to kiss in the bedroom unchaperoned but she was so fed up of being court. So they kissed. Lightly at first but passion grew as their tongues touched.they sat on the bed, not breaking the kiss, wrapping their arms around one another. Gilbert looked into her eyes, breaking the kiss.

"I think Bash is wrong you know." He said

"About what?"

"Anne Shirley Cuthbert, my Anne with an e, will you marry." He paused, no turning back now,"me?"

Anne started crying. Happy crying. Crying on love. She nodded her head. "Yes."

No other word was said that afternoon.