An: 2006: Don't worry, I knew what you meant. :) Thank you for all the wonderful comments! I truly agree with Minnie May too. It's obvious to everyone, but Diana!

"Oh, Diana," Mrs. Barry came into the parlor. "I didn't expect to see you this early."

"Hello, mother," Diana rose from her seat. She was gazing at the piano, thinking of all of the times she sat and practiced. It was about mid-afternoon by now. Diana had unpacked her things in her room and ate a light lunch alone. "I woke early at Green Gables. I've missed home terribly."

They exchanged a small hug. "Well, I wasn't quite ready, but I suppose you wouldn't want to overstay at the Cuthberts."

"Exactly," Diana nodded. "Is father also at home?"

"No," Mrs. Barry shook her head. "He had gone back earlier. I told him it was a waste of time, that the news of the harvest wouldn't come until the mail next week. He didn't see my point."

"Will the harvest be alright?"

"We're not sure," she shook her head. "At least we have plenty of insurance and more crop to sell. But the Blythe farm is not so lucky. Almost their entire harvest is on a trading vessel headed straight into a brewing storm. If it hits the ocean, they could lose everything."

"Oh, that's awful." Diana wondered if Gilbert knew, or if Bash was going to tell him when they visited.

"I know," Mrs. Barry nodded. "Well, tell me how everything is at school. Passing all your classes?"

"Yes," Diana grinned. "Everyone had been doing well with classes. The girls are most excited about a ball that's coming up. I'm sure they'll be scurrying around finding a date. I'm just glad that I won't have to look."

"What are you talking about?"

Diana had forgotten that her mother didn't know about Fred. A faint blush came across Diana's cheeks. "Oh, I've been seeing Fred Wright lately. You remember him, don't you? He used to be scrawny, but now he has truly grown up. I hardly recognized him."

"Yes, I recall," Mrs. Barry said in a cool voice. Diana became puzzled. There was a strange tone in her voice.

"Is there something the matter?"

"Oh, no, I just," Mrs. Barry looked down at her lap. "The Wright family is filled with farming men."

"Yes," Diana agreed. "But Fred is going to become an accountant."

"But-" Mrs. Barry cut herself off.

"What do you know, mother?"

"I don't know if I'm supposed to say," Mrs. Barry swallowed. "But...Fred's mother has been ill for a while. Now I believe she is getting closer to death's door." Diana bit her lip. Why hadn't Fred told her? Why hadn't he come home to see his mother?

"And?"

"Well, Diana," Mrs. Barry stood. "I just don't want you to get caught up in it all."

"All of what, mother?" Diana asked.

"The legacy," Mrs. Barry shook her head. "Once Fred's mother passes, the farm will have no rightful heir. It was hers, not her husband's. Fred will have to take over the farm."

"Why are you so concerned with this?"

"Because I know you don't want to live your life here."

Why was her mother getting so worked up about this? Diana thought she could make her own decisions.

"I had such big plans for you," Mrs. Barry shook her head once again.

"Plans?" Diana shot from her chair. "You were going to marry me off?"

"I was going to take you to France once you've finished your daydream."

"Daydream? Mom, I like going to Queens," Diana took in a deep breath. "You still think you can just groom me and I'll follow along. I'm not your pet, mother."

"I'm just trying to look out for you!"

"You can't control my life!" Diana snapped. They were silent for a few moments, then Diana clenched her fists. "Or me."

"Diana," Mrs. Barry called. "Diana, where are you going?!"

Diana slammed the door behind her. As she trudged across the yard, the air becomes colder, clouds had gathered over her head. The windswept through her hair and skirts as she walked through the tree paths. Her teary eyes had blurred her visions. Her pinned hair was suddenly caught up in a tree branch. Diana yanked, but it did not come free.

Diana muttered as she unpinned her hair and let it fall free. The wind picked up once again as she ran the rest of the way to Green Gables. It had begun to sprinkle as she crossed the fence. Looking a the house, Diana saw Matthew and Marilla in the kitchen. Diana then saw the lit lantern inside the barn, and let out a long breath. She didn't bother to pick up her skirts as she entered the barn.

There Jerry was, tending to the animals. Just seeing him made her chest tighten. She watched her breath as she just stared at him. He hadn't noticed her presence at first, but when he did he straightened. "Diana," Jerry looked concerned as he stepped closer. "Are you alright?"

Seeing his face broke her gates open, letting the flood seep through.

"Y-" Diana let a tear fall. "No."

...

Song Suggestion: Unrequited Love (Ari Posner & Amin Bhatia)

...

Diana had broke. After holding it all in, she had finally broke. She didn't know who she truly was, where she belonged, or what she wanted in life. It was a void she always possessed, but only now did she realize. Her mother had made her into what she wanted her daughter to be. Jerry had talked about his future so easily, and Diana didn't even know where to start. She felt so lost, so hopeless, so...unloved.

Jerry put down the rope he had been holding and ran over to her. He took out a handkerchief and brushed her cheeks with it. That was when Diana saw her initials embroidered close to the hem. She pulled back from Jerry and gently grabbed the handkerchief. "You've kept it? All this time?"

Jerry seemed confused why she had suddenly stopped sobbing. He looked from her to the handkerchief. "Of course. It means the world to me."

Diana froze. The world. Of all things he treasured, it was a single white handkerchief with her initials on it. Even after she had taken and broken his heart, he still kept it in close proximity. She thought he didn't care for her at all anymore, but here he was, drying her tears. He had never expected anything from her. Never wanted her to change. To him, she was...just her.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"My mother," Diana bit her lip. "She still thinks I'm chasing some dream that has no finish. I'm starting to think she's right. I don't know what I want or even where I belong. I ran from the house because I was so frustrated. I've never felt so lost and scared and my stupid hair got caught in a tree branch and- "

"Diana," Jerry grabbed her shaking hands, then cupped her cheek. Suddenly, looking into Jerry's eyes, Diana felt comforted and somehow whole. She wasn't unloved. He cared about her and he was there for her now. "What's important is that you're happy, remember?" She nodded and backed away. She gave him the handkerchief back. Diana had her moment of weakness, now she must regain herself.

"I'm sorry to burden you," Diana ran her fingers through her damp hair. Pins began to fall to the floor. When she crouched to retrieve them, Jerry scooped them up.

"You're never a burden to me, Diana," Jerry said as he played with the pins in his hands. "May I?" he asked as she attempted to get a hold of the pins. "I've done my sister's hair at home many times." She looked at him curiously, then turned around.

Diana kept her eyes on the light rain outside and played with her golden heart necklace as Jerry began to run his fingers through her wind-knotted hair. His gentle touch was not much different from Anne's when she did Diana's hair. Diana would have never guessed Jerry to be able to braid, but she felt him gently pull strands into sections and began to intertwine them in an intricate pattern.

He did another small braid on the other side of her head. He pinned them together in the back of Diana's head. At least half of her raven curls still lay on her shoulders. Jerry slowly grazed her sleeve as he pushed her hair back from one shoulder. As he reached for the other shoulder, Diana caught his hand. His skin was ablaze to her cold palm.

Diana gazed down at his hand as she turned to face him. His irises once again flickered with the lantern light as he stared deeply into her eyes. She thought about last night, with only the candlelight between them. She felt that same warm feeling again as she slowly let her fingers open. Jerry closed his fingers around her hand and she copied him. A wholeness had crossed over her. Here, she was content with him.

Forbearingly lowering their intertwined hands, Jerry and Diana both took lingering steps closer to each other. Jerry reached up and brushed Diana's hair behind her ear and slowly traced her cheek with his thumb. Her face burned as she took in a sharp breath. She placed her hand next to his jacket collar. Their bodies were pressed against each other. Not even light was between them.

Feeling his breath reflect off of her skin, Diana couldn't pull away. Her eyelids became heavy as Jerry tilted her chin up and leaned in.

Their lips were only an inch apart before a bell rang furiously.

Jerry and Diana had pulled away from each other, but their hands were still locked together. "Jerry," Diana whispered. "It's not dinner time, is it?" Jerry pulled out a pocket watch.

"No," Jerry said in a panicked tone. They both gazed towards the open barn door. It was completely dark outside. Not because it was night, but because the sky was covered in menacing dark clouds. Diana squeezed Jerry's hand as they walked over to the door to see Marilla on the porch ringing the bell wildly.

"Jerry! Make sure all of the animals are secure!" Marilla called. "Matthew will be out to help. We must take shelter in the cellar!"

"Yes, Miss Cuthbert!" Jerry called back. He looked at Diana. "You should go to the house before it begins to storm."

"I'm not going to leave you," Diana said suddenly. She felt too scared to leave without him by her sides. Fright had washed over her completely. Anne was still with Gilbert, so all Diana had left was Jerry.

Jerry gave her a small smile as Matthew came into the barn. "Alright Jerry, let's act quick." Matthew moved right along to the horses. Jerry gave one more glance to Diana before letting go of her hand and helping Matthew.

As the men tended to the animals, Diana watched the sky with growing fear. The clouds were swirling, and the wind was picking up once again. The rain had gone from a drizzle to more consistent. There were even flakes of snow coming down. She was looking at the swaying snow queen when she saw Anne and Gilbert walking up the path. They had ventured out in the storm.

Diana was about to call out to Anne when she heard the crack of thunder and heavy rain pouring. Gilbert put his arm protectively around Anne when they heard the loud crash. Diana gasped. "Anne!"

"Diana?!" Anne called back. Diana ran out from the barn and into the heavy rain. Anne met her about halfway. They embraced.

"Thank goodness you're alright," Diana said as they hugged.

"Diana!" Jerry called.

Another crack of thunder. Diana had never seen a storm like this.

"Let's get into the cellar," Gilbert said loudly as the rain beat down on them. Jerry ran down to them as Matthew closed the barn. Jerry took his coat and pulled it over his head for protection. Diana was already soaking, but she went under his makeshift umbrella. The four teens ran to the house as more thunder boomed over their heads.

"Come on!" Marilla called as they got closer. Matthew just climbed down. Anne was the first to go, then Gilbert, Diana, Marilla, then last Jerry. They closed the door behind them.

Diana hadn't gone into storm cellars often, but she thought the Cuthberts was nicer than most she had seen. They had a bed big enough for two, and shelves of canned goods, and blankets. Marilla must've kept all of her canning supplies down there because there were some boxes in the corners. It was a cozy little space, but it would have to make do.

It was going to be a long night, but at least Diana was with people whom she had cared about, and who cared about her. As Jerry, Matthew, and Marilla were securing the door, Diana watched as Anne and Gilbert teased each other. Grinning, Diana reached up to clasp her half golden heart necklace but then gasped.

It was gone.