Gilbert had insisted on carrying the basket laden with bacon sandwiches and leftover chocolate cake. As she packed the cake into the basket before leaving the house, Gilbert had asked her why she had made an entire chocolate cake. Blushing, she had explained that the cake was intended for Friday night and with a sorrowful look he apologized, again. She brushed him off, reminding him that they needed a silly argument every now and then or else they would forget how and then they would fail to be Anne and Gilbert. This made him laugh right out loud. They were notorious in Avonlea for their spirited discussions that often wound up in a screaming match. Almost everyone in town had witnessed one of their loud disagreements whether it was at an AVIS meeting or just passing them on the road while they were rambling around the town. Their regular arguments were probably the one thing that kept the majority of townspeople from outwardly expressing that they should be engaged right to their faces. Of course the whole town gossiped behind their back but they did their best to ignore them. They had both mellowed a bit since coming to college so their arguments were less frequent but no less spirited when they did occur.

As for Anne, she secretly loved a good argument with Gilbert. He was normally so practical, studious and proper and she loved seeing Gilbert's passionate side come out. His eyes would flash, his curls would be wild after he ran his fingers through them in frustration and he would seem so utterly alive. She also loved how he almost never backed down just to appease her and challenged her as his equal. Gilbert was never one to coddle her just because she was a girl and it was one of her favorite qualities he possessed.

As they walked toward the shoreline, Anne had impulsively tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. Gilbert looked at her with a touch of suprise but otherwise did not react. She usually only took his arm when they attended functions together as etiquette required. When they were just together as friends, she often avoided physical contact with him. Looking back, she understood why. Physical contact with Gilbert had always made her uncomfortable because she was unknowingly in love with him. Now that her feelings were clear, she wanted nothing more than to touch him and delight in the chills it sent through her body.

She thought about the picture they presented as they walked. Two young people, arm in arm, with a picnic basket. Passerby's likely assumed they were a young newlyweds or courting couple out for a Sunday picnic. Ruefully she regretted that this was not true. Instead, they were simply close friends no matter how much she desired something more.

Soon the city gracefully gave way to the shore and the first few waves of ocean air passed over her face. She smiled and any tension she carried eased away. The sea never failed to sooth her busy, illustrious mind. She had slowed to a near stop without realizing it. She felt Gilbert tug lightly on her arm and looked over to see him smirking with a touch of annoyance at her, almost a full step ahead.

"Why the hurry Gil? Slow down and enjoy this magnificent sea air!" She said in a breathy voice, raising her face into the soft breeze. He rolled his eyes slightly, familiar with her whims of fancy over nature.

"I have nothing against the sea air. I would just prefer to enjoy it while sitting on this blanket and devouring a bacon sandwich because breakfast was an awfully long time ago," he replied evenly, a low growl from his stomach punctuating his point quite clearly.

She stepped up with him then, rolling her eyes and whispering under her breath, "Men and their stomachs..."

"I heard that." She laughed and scanned the rocky shoreline for a good place to sit. She steered them toward a large, smooth rock. Once the blanket was laid on the sun warmed stone and Gilbert was happily scarfing down the bacon sandwich, Anne leaned back on her hands, closed her eyes and lifted her face up to the sun. She knew she should be concerned with her complexion and avoid the sun but she loved the feel of it's warmth on her face too much to care. She felt peaceful for the first time in a few days; her swirling feelings forgotten as she absorbed all the beauty nature had to give on this summer Sunday.

Noticing that she no longer heard chewing from beside her, Anne opened her eyes and looked over to Gilbert. He was staring intently at her, eyes dark as night surrounded by long eyelashes and lips slightly parted, his sandwich forgotten momentarily in his left hand. She felt a crackle of intensity between them as her grey eyes met his hazel. Unable to break the heated gaze, she felt a pull toward him deep in her heart. How she had gone 10 years without knowing she loved this boy she would never know. He was everything. The sound of giggling children a little ways down the beach finally broke the moment and they both looked away, heat rising in their sun warmed cheeks. Both slightly disarmed after their short moment, they quickly finished the simple lunch.

"This cake is excellent Anne. You can't even taste the liniment!" Gilbert teases her as he dug into a large slice of the rich cake.

"I put liniment in a cake one time and I'm still hearing about it. Truly you must find something new to tease me about," she huffed at him.

"Nah I think I'll stick with this. I'm currently taking bets on how many times I can bring it up before I get another slate broken over my head," came his cheerful voice. She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Who is betting?"

"Me, myself and I," he stated with a wink. She laughed despite her ire. They cleaned up their dishes and tucked them back into the basket. Anne longed to remove her shoes and cool her toes in the cool ocean water but could not bring herself to do such an improper thing in the big city. She settled for walking down to the edge of the water and letting the salty air wash over her. She could feel her red curls start to tangle as the salty breeze played through them. She breathed deep. Ocean air made her think of home. It warmed her from the inside out. It reminded her that she was loved and no longer alone.

She glanced back at Gilbert, who was still sitting in the blanket, his body lightly reclined as he watched her enjoy the shore. Even from this distance she could feel the heat in his gaze and felt that same crackle of intensity from before. Giving into the pull, Anne returned to the blanket and reclined next to him.

For the next hour, they talked and laughed like they always had- since she had given up her grudge that is. She updated him on the newest health books that arrived in the library, earning a brilliant smile when she told him she had put the text on infectious diseases on hold for him. He made her laugh with some more stories from the hospital as well as one about his roommate catching his curtains on fire while trying to melt wax for his beloved mustache.

"So he thought he could just melt a little candle wax and use it to curl the ends of that monstrosity?" She asked, incredulous that someone smart enough to get into college could be so stupid.

"Truly. He then burned his hand with the hot wax he was trying to use and dropped the candle right into the curtain." Gilbert finished. Anne chuckled at the image this brought to her mind.

"I hope you don't get any ideas about growing a mustache." She said without thinking. Gilbert tilted his head and looked at her inquisitively.

"And why is my facial hair of such concern?" He asked, humor evident in his voice as his bright eyes met hers. She panicked.

"You would look like an old man," she fibbed. She refused to admit that it was because she found him utterly enchanting just as he was and didn't want him to change.

"With this face? I don't think so. Haven't you heard the rumors about my good looks?" His tone was exceedingly teasing and she knew he was joking but she saw a flash of a younger, impetuous, self important Gilbert when he said the words. She rolled her eyes at him but the fact was, it was true and it drove her crazy. He was exceedingly handsome. All the girls at school discussed it and she had always gotten so irritated. She realized now that this was jealously.

Gil looked toward the sky with a frown before speaking in a more serious tone.

"I think it's going to rain. We should probably start heading back."

Anne looked at the sky. There were dark clouds rolling in but she wasn't quite ready to leave the peace of the shore just yet. She gave him her most pleading eyes.

"Just a little bit longer?" His softening face gave him away. He wouldn't deny her. She smiled and reclined back in satisfaction.

"If we're going to stay, can I at least check on those stitches?" He asked. Dutifully, she held out her injured hand, now free of bandages as it was healing rapidly. He gently held her hand in both of his and bent over it to get a closer look. His fingers prodded lightly around the healing cut. Soft as a feather, he ran one finger down the stitches and she trembled involuntarily at the feeling.

"It's healing well. I think these stitches are ready to come out. If you stop by the hospital tomorrow I can do that for you," He said with a matter of fact tone, seemingly not noticing her slight trembles and the way her breathing sped up. She fought to keep her voice even.

"Thanks Doc." He dropped her hand and smiled back at her with a twinkle in his eye at the nickname. They settled into a contented silence as they soaked up the summer day.

After another half hour of lounging in the sun, the clouds had darkened enough that even Anne admitted it was time to leave. Ever the gentleman, Gilbert slung the now empty basket over his left arm and offered her his other arm. With a soft smile, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm for the second time that day, feeling the same chills at the contact. They strolled back into town, chatting amicably. They were only a few minutes from Patty's Place when the low growl of thunder sent both their eyes to the now darkened sky. They quickened their step to try to beat the rain but soon the sky opened and a torrent of summer rain came down upon them.

Anne dropped Gilbert's arm as she threw her arms over her head in a useless attempt to cover her hair. Her hair was soon plastered to her face in red tendrils. Gilbert gave her a wry look as he quickly led them through the downpour.

"I told you we should have left sooner." She turned the full force of her glare towards him then.

"Now is not the time for reminding me of your superiority- walk faster!" She screeched at him as the rain soaked through her light summer dress and into her corset.

Gilbert paused for a moment and shrugged out of his jacket quickly before handing it over to her. "Here- to keep your dress dry." She wrapped the sodden jacket around her shoulders even though her dress was already soaked and was overcome with his scent. Had she not been so focused on returning home and out of the rain, she might have actually swooned. They hurried down the street, Gilbert now a few steps ahead of her. She couldn't help but notice how the rain soaked through his white linen shirt, making it nearly transparent. It clung to his well muscled shoulders, noticeable evidence of his time on the Redmond football team.

They finally rounded the corner and Paddy's Place came into view through the heavy summer rain. Anne broke into a run, giggling as she past Gilbert and rushing up the walk to unlock the door. Running in the rain made her feel like a girl again. When she pushed the door open, he was right on her heels and they both tumbled into the foyer. Finally free from the downpour, Anne laughed at the predicament. Her laughter faded away as she took stock of the situation. She was soaked to the bone, hair hanging wet and limp around her face and Gilbert's heavy wet jacket hung over her petite frame, going nearly to her knees, and she was surrounded by his intoxicating scent. She looked up at him as he dropped the picnic basket to the floor with a dull thud. His shirt was plastered to his upper body and she could see every peak and valley of his muscles. His sodden dark curls were hanging down over his bright hazel eyes and he had a heady look on his rain streaked face. She gulped as she took him in, heat collecting in her center. He could pass for Mr. Darcy or any romantic hero right now. She had never been so attracted in her entire life.

His eyes traveled over her body then and she saw his pupils widen as he took her in. She looked down briefly and realized why. Her light dress, soaked through from the summer rain, left little to the imagination. It clung to her chest and legs, outlining her figure. She saw his darkened eyes pause longer than necessary on her chest and she felt the heat zap to her core as the realization struck her. He was attracted to her too. She finally saw it, clear as day, on his face. His eyes finally made their way back up to meet hers and she knew the longing and lust she saw on his face was mirrored on her own.

She wasn't sure which one of them moved first but in a second they were pressed tight in a furied embrace. His warm lips were insistent upon hers and she met him with equal fervor. There was no hesitation- no nervousness- as one would expect in a first kiss. Instead it felt like they were fire, burning together in a way they could not control and didn't want to. His large hand gripped her waist to hold her tight against him while his other hand buried itself in her wet curls. Her own hands found their way into his dark curls, drawing a small moan from deep in his throat as she gave an experimental tug. His tongue lightly teased her lips and she opened to accept him, the feeling overwhelming her and she sagged against him as her knees literally weakened.

His mouth didn't slow it's assault as he backed her right up to the parlor wall. Her back pressed against the wallpaper and she felt every inch of him firm against her own body. His leg pressed between her legs and she could feel the heat of his body in her most private place. His lips detached from hers before starting a descent down her long neck, leaving her to whimper in sheer pleasure at the strong sensation. At the sound, Gilbert's head snapped up and she saw his pupils blown wide in what could only be described as pure lust and his lips slightly swollen thanks to her. He seemed to come to his senses then and started to back away from her with a horrified expression replacing the one of desire.

"God Anne I am the worst of men. I am so—-" her lips cut him off before he could finish his entirely unnecessary apology. After a moment, he softened and returned her ministrations. They were less frenzied now, sharing slower kisses with a little more distance between them. When they came up for air, she could not keep the sappy grin off her face. She stared into his hazel eyes, picking out the flecks of gold as her body hummed from their proximity. He wore his own sappy grin mixed with a look of complete disbelief. They didn't speak yet, sharing an unspoken agreement to just exist here for a moment as they processed what had just transpired. Rainwater dripped onto the hardwood floor and in the back of her mind Anne thought about how disappointed Marilla would be in her housekeeping in this moment. Much more pressing in her mind was the fact that she had just passionately kissed her very best friend and he had responded with complete enthusiasm. For one if few times in her life, words were utterly failing her. What a summer this was shaping up to be.

...

Notes:

FINALLY. It was about dang time they let the desire take over.

I have a busy two weeks coming up so likely no updates until early March.

As always, please let me know what you think in the reviews! Thank you to everyone for the kind words so far in this little story of mine! Each one brings a smile to my face!