Hi, everyone!

So, we have a couple of take-aways from last Saturday's chapter: one, team suspenders won by a landslide. Two, the ones we managed to trick with the dream stunt... you guys weren't amused. Sorry? :) Gilbert was even more frustrated, we'll give you that.

Today's chapter is one of Hikari's favorites (it might also be one of mine). And unlike others, where the music is a really nice background, here it has more importance. We would recommend you listen to it and then read the chapter, or at least listen as you follow them around their day. These are the songs:

-weak when you're around - blackbear

-The Meetings of the Waters - Fionn Regan

-a beautiful day - yutaka hirasaka

-vhs - zenshou

-Are You down for Love - spring gang, Mia Pfirrman

-Homemade Ice Cream - Tony Joe White

-Light of Hope - DEPAPEPE

-A Horse With No Name - America, George Martin

-I know You Know I Love You - Sunset Rollercoaster

-The Woods - Acoustic - Hollow Coves

-Falling So In Love With You - Rome Hero Foxes

So, with that, enjoy!

Chapter 17

On Thursday Anne was so excited with the prospect of a small day trip she woke up extra early. Going quietly to the kitchen to put coffee to brew, she then peeked at the living room. Gilbert was still deep asleep, his face calm and peaceful, his stubble already present, his eyebrows relaxed. She smiled. He looked so sweet. She went back to the kitchen and prepared some sandwiches to take and then served a couple of bowls of overnight oats she had left on the fridge the night before, adding berries and chopped nuts on top. She set them on the kitchen island quietly.

Nodding at her arrangements, Anne decided to go for a quick shower, thinking about waking Gilbert up when she was ready. As he was deeply asleep, she didn't think of taking her clothes to the bathroom as she did when he was in the apartment, but instead planned on dressing in the room, as she did while he worked.

Anne didn't count on the smell of coffee waking him. She opened the door as he walked into the corridor, still sleepy-eyed, hair a mess, only in pajama pants. He looked at her, frowned, blinked, his eyebrows high, as she stood frozen, clad in the towel, hair dripping on her shoulders, her blush extending way beyond the boundaries of her face.

"Morning?" he said, unsure. That made her react and she walked the two steps separating her from the bedroom door and closed it quickly. Gilbert laughed, now wide awake. So that was Anne in a towel, eh? He went to the bathroom and then to the kitchen, where he found a bag with things packed for the day, the coffee that had woken him and saw breakfast ready on the kitchen island. Someone had been busy. He put the milk to warm and then served two cups of coffee just as Anne appeared, still brightly blushed.

"Hi," she mumbled. "I made breakfast"

"Yes! Thank you. When did you wake up?" he asked, offering her a cup and going to sit.

"About an hour ago? I couldn't sleep… But it was way too early to wake you, so… I kept busy," she said, sitting next to him and looking only at her bowl.

"I saw that. Thank you for everything," why was she so embarrassed? It's not like the situation hadn't been reversed other times over the past few months. "Anne?"

"Yes?"

"There's no need to be embarrassed," he said gently, motioning to touch her hand but refraining to actually do so, unsure if this was alright. He had been so sure not a week ago, but since she was… figuring it out, he didn't know what to do. She looked at his hand, wishing it would touch her. Comfort her. "It's not like you haven't seen me like that."

"I know. It's… embarrassing, still," she mumbled. He chuckled, because he knew he wasn't going to be able to convince her otherwise and he thought her reaction was endearing. He finished eating quickly.

"Let me get a quick shower and we can get on our way, k?" he asked and she nodded, distracted by the prospect of the day out. She went back to the room after cleaning the counter to slather some sunscreen on the arms as she heard him open the bathroom's door.

"Hey, Gil? Can you give me a hand?" she asked. He appeared in the room and she handed him the bottle of sunscreen, trying not to let her eyes linger on him. He was going dressed like that? Was his evil plan to kill her? "I just can't reach the back and if I go out like this I'll turn into a tomato," she explained. He nodded, squirting some on his hand and leaving it on the nightstand. He went to her back and admired her freckles just a second before reacting.

"Shoulders done?" he asked.

"As far as I could, yes," she said, which was… not much of an answer, so he decided to put more just in case. It wasn't going to harm, anyway. He slathered the cream, feeling her soft skin under his arms and trying not to think of it. One day, hopefully soon, she would be ready. And if not, he would end in the psychiatric ward. This uncertainty was killing him. He cleared his throat.

"Ok, let's go now," he said, and they went to the door. Grabbing his keys and facemasks, they went to the car and started the day's trip.

First stop: Niagara falls. He parked a bit far, so the first look she got of the falls wasn't from the parking lot and walked beside her, wishing he could actually grab her hand but not daring to do so. As they got close, she went giddy. The air was warm and humid, the roar of the falls already present. When she saw them, their horseshoe form and the seemingly infinite amount of water, she turned to look at him, her eyes wide. He smiled softly, just watching her enjoy herself. They got closer and she seemed hypnotised by the water, the energy, the noise. It was so early, not even nine, so there were hardly any people around.

"Gilbert, come see!" she urged him. He chuckled.

"I've seen them, Anne, I can enjoy the view from here," he said. She laughed and turned. He could see her from where he was standing, and that made the image all the more perfect. He took out his phone and snapped a couple of pictures. He walked a bit to the side and managed to catch her bright eyes without her noticing. He smiled and went next to her. "Everything you imagined them to be?"

"Much more, they are the most vivacious and vibrant and… can't you feel the energy, Gil?" Anne asked, so excited she couldn't contain it. He nodded, resting his hands on the rail, watching the deep blue water go in such immense quantities he couldn't even dimension it. "Can we take a picture?" she asked, wanting to record the moment. If nothing worked out, at the very least she'd have this. He nodded and smiled beside her as she took the selfie.

"That's a nice shot," he commented as they watched it. She nodded in agreement. His stub complimented the linen shirt he had put on with some thin suspenders, his hair wind-swept. She was beside him, rosy-cheek and overly freckled by the summer sun, her hair flying to the side. This wasn't like the haircut picture, with Gilbert's suffering face. Here, they both looked so happy, so open, so real, their eyes lit up. Like on that way too old picture he had on his dresser. "Are you publishing that?" he asked. She shook her head. No, this one she wanted for herself. Too vulnerable to be scrutinized by their friends.

"This is just for us," she explained as she saw Gilbert's frown. He nodded, releasing a breath. That was good. As much as he loved her publications, sometimes it was tiring to be dissected by their friends and acquaintances.

"Come, we can walk along and go watch the other two."

They spent a while more there before going back on the car to the trail. Gilbert suggested they go to another, but she was firm on going to the same one. Just by going that once, after those very hard days, she had gotten to love the place. They took their bag and had lunch in the same spot where they had stopped the last time. In her mind, it had become something of a special place.

"Want to go?" he asked when they were done eating.

"No. I like it here. It's peaceful. What time does the nursery close?"

"Around five? We have plenty of time," he assured her. She nodded and lay down on the ground, resting her head on his lap without even thinking.

He smiled, adjusting his position so she was more comfortable, and caressed her hair absent mindedly as he admired the view. This had been a great day. One of the best days they'd had in the past months. One of the best he'd had in the last few years, probably. It was just so fluid, so easy, so comfortable, as if they had done it a thousand times and it was exciting and comforting at the same time. He never wanted it to end, and yet it was already the afternoon. They stayed in silence, enjoying the songs of the birds and the whisper of the wind in the trees.

"This could be our life, you know, Anne-girl?" he whispered at some point, not sure if he even wanted her to listen. She had her eyes closed, but he knew she wasn't really sleeping, as her hands were drumming on her tummy to an unknown rhythm. She sighed and he knew she had heard, but didn't push it when she stayed in silence.

And what a life it would be , was the only thought in her head, but she didn't dare expressing it out loud. Anne longed for him, now she was sure of it. She wouldn't be able to get by without him. That had been a given most of her adult life, when she had just coped with his absence, but… She couldn't be without him. She knew that now. A mere friendship wouldn't do. How could she ever let him know she had figured it out? She yawned, relaxed by his touch. Maybe she could… be more direct? Not teasing him as she had before, but he always had the smallest gestures, so intimate and direct. Like this, just his fingers on her hair. Maybe she could do the same? She allowed herself to drift over, his caresses lulling her to sleep, trusting him completely, and confident she would come up with something. There had to be a way. Or she could maybe kiss him. There was no reason to wait for him to do so… Other than her insecurities.

**Gilbert Blythe Family (13:12): Hey hey hey how are things in Montreal?

**Bash Family (13:14): Lovely as ever. With a daughter that wants to know when her favourite uncle is coming up to see her.

**Gilbert Blythe Family (13:14): Canada Day Just got it cleared up yesterday. So we go on Tuesday evening when I finish working and come back on Sunday. Or something like that.

**Mary Family (13:14): How lovely! She will be ecstatic. Anne coming too?

**Gilbert Blythe Family (13:15): Of course she is. She's as excited as Delphine, I'm sure.

**Mary Family (13:15): So how are things going with her?

**Gilbert Blythe Family (14:15): Good, actually. Things seem to be improving by the day 😊

**Bash Family (13:15): Should we set up the double bed guestroom then? 😉

**Gilbert Blythe Family (14:16): Not quite yet, Bashy 🙁 😢

**Bash Family (13:16): What?! Seriously?

**Gilbert Blythe Family (13:16): Yep. Not by my account, believe me. But cross your fingers. I… am daring to hope.

**Mary Family (13:16): Oh, Gilbert. We will pray for you

**Gilbert Blythe Family (13:16): 😚 😚 😚 Please do, Mary. God knows I need it.

He felt as Anne stirred, a frown on her forehead. He soothed it with his fingers, gently, leaving his phone next to him. She opened her eyes, looking directly into his. He smiled.

"Slept well?" he asked softly, his hand still caressing her cheek. He was probably overstepping, but she had rested her head on his lap in the first place. She nodded, also smiling. She yawned.

"How much was I out?" she asked.

"Ten, twenty minutes? I wasn't keeping track," he answered, looking back to the forest. She motioned to sit up and he took off his hand. "So, ready to come back?"

"Yes," she said. "To the nursery? I can't wait to meet all the plants."

"To the nursery," he accepted and helped her stand up. They drank the last of the water they had brought before starting the way back. It was hot. "Or you know what? We can go a bit later. We still have time. Are you up for some ice cream? There's the best place about half an hour's drive from here. I think you'll really like it," he proposed, smiling. She nodded. The longer this trip could last, the better for her.

As they got into the car, Anne connected her phone. After he had told her the news of how the hospital had approved his days off in July, she was serious about organizing the perfect road trip playlist for the two of them and had been adding songs all through the morning. He proposed some once in a while, but was mostly curious about her choices, especially the ones that were not related with any of their past history. They helped to fill the voids in the years they hadn't talked.

Gilbert drove into smaller country roads, driving among the lush orchards, vineyards and plantations of the region and eventually saw the small roadside cottage he had visited once with Fred last summer. He remembered how they had vegan ice creams at the time, not that he had cared about at the moment. But Ella had said the chocolate one was even better than the dairy version, and she had been so right.

They went to the side of the cottage, close to a fence, away from the few cars that were parked, eating the melting ice cream relatively quickly. Even if they were only at 32º, the humidex was nearing the forties, a heat alert in place. Anne sat on top of the wood plank and Gilbert reclined on it, relaxed. Anne glanced at him sideways, just admiring how the arm he was resting on the fence was tense and marked, the sleeve folded up to his elbow, how he had the first couple of buttons from his shirt open, a smidge of his chest hair out, dark glasses on. He turned and looked at her, questioning. She blushed and looked at her ice cream.

Gilbert chuckled quietly and stood properly, eating the last of his cone and dumping the napkin on the trashcan. He took his glasses off as the sun hid behind a cloud and hung them on the unbuttoned collar of his shirt before going back to where she was concentrating on eating through her double portion cup. He stood in front of her. Not too close: he wasn't sure yet about anything and didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He smiled as she scrapped the last of the ice cream. He knew her concentration had been half the ice cream, half trying to dissimule the blush that had crept on her when he had caught her watching him, but it was endearing nonetheless.

"Ready to go?" he asked softly, taking a half step closer to her. She looked up to him, not having an excuse anymore. How did he manage to get ice cream on his chin? She giggled. "What?"

"You have ice cream," she said, and he tried to clean it up. Only he missed the mark completely. She set her cup aside and extended her hand, grabbing one of his suspenders and pulling him closer to her as she said, "Oh, come here, Gil. Seriously…" she cleaned the ice cream (yummy chocolate) with the thumb of her free hand and licked it quickly, not even thinking about it. He felt his heart skip a beat as she did so, feeling the energy between them become suddenly charged.

She was so close right now and he felt tied. So much he wanted to kiss her, so much he knew he couldn't just yet do so. He looked at her eyes, looking for any sort of change since that day in the kitchen, and felt that there was not the same doubt as there had been last week, but wasn't quite sure. And without being sure, he would not move a finger. There was nothing that could keep him more still than a stop or a no from her, and there was nothing yet that could be interpreted as a definite lift of the prohibition. So Gilbert stood still, trying not to breathe, the suspender still in her hand holding him captive. He swallowed and closed his eyes.

Anne didn't know why she wasn't letting go of his suspender and examined him, his stubble, the eyelashes as he closed his eyes. She bit her lip, unsure. She went forward, slowly, wanting to kiss him but not totally decided yet. Gilbert felt her breath so close he almost begged, because if she kissed him… that would probably be the best moment of his existence. If Mary was really praying, she seemed to be so damn effective he would ask her to pray for everything from now on.

She so wanted to kiss him, but there again, did not want to do it there, she realized when there was only an inch between them. It was too much of a definite moment in their lives to be done on the side of the road as a truck passed beside them. So she settled on the best next thing and kissed him on his splendid chin as she had wanted to since she was fifteen, hoping that the gesture would convey her readiness and her I-finally-figured-it-out. It felt as scratchy as she imagined, but oh so good. Before retreating, she could not help herself, and touched her nose lightly with his, playfully, just for a second.

Gilbert opened his eyes, surprised, still frozen in place. His mind blank. Or blown. Thinking only about Mary's prayers and their effectiveness and had Anne Shirley-Cuthbert almost kissed him?! She let go of the suspender and hopped down off the fence quickly before he could say anything. She grabbed her cup and went to the trash can, laughing.

"Plants?" Anne said smiling, trying to explain to him silently that yes, she was ready, but no, she would most definitely not say a single word on the subject so don't push her. Gilbert stared at her. Had she just…?

"Anne, what..?" He stammered. She bit her lip and turned to go to the car. He unlocked it from where he was using the remote control, but didn't move yet.

He scratched the back of his neck, trying to define what had just happened. Not two minutes ago he had begged silently for any definite sign of any figuring out she had left to do. Was that it? It had been pretty direct. He took a couple of deep breaths. This… thing Anne had just done, this gesture, this changed things between them. And she was conscious of it, he knew by the look she had given him before turning. He smiled slightly, not being able to help it, and finally followed her to the car. As he sat as she put on the playlist, again.

"Any new songs?" Gilbert asked, trying to divert his attention as he reversed and got on the road. He wanted to believe she had just lifted the ban she had imposed the other day, but he would still not kiss her. He would… come back to what he had been doing, his heavy flirting and teasing, see how she reacted to that. And then he would consider something more.

"Not for now. Any suggestions?"

"A Horse With no Name," he answered, grinning at her. She erupted in laughter as she remembered how they kept watching over and over the same episode of Friends whenever they got too tired of studying and wanted something plain silly to empty their minds. She added it on the playlist and they sang along, windows down, enjoying the warm summer wind and the sun on their faces. The nursery wasn't too far away and soon he entered the almost deserted parking lot.

"Do you have anything in mind?" he asked as they went into the nursery, putting on their masks again.

"Of course. To turn your apartment into a forest," she said confidently.

"As long as you take care of them, it sounds good," because her taking care of the plants meant her living there. She nodded brightly, not thinking of the implications. Oh well, even if she didn't live in his apartment, but was still close by, she could come once in a while to care for the plants. Or she could give instructions over facetime if she ended up going back to PEI.

They chatted for a moment with the man in charge, Mark. He connected with Anne immediately, all smiles they couldn't see but that reached his clear blue eyes, and she declared him instantly a kindred spirit. They followed him as he showed them everything Anne asked for, setting the pots on a wooden crate.

"Oh, I'm already thinking of the names for all of them!" she exclaimed at some point.

"Are you, really?" Gilbert asked, surprised.

"Of course! This beauty here is Gertrude, of course. Have you seen any plant that looks more like a Gertrude than she does?" his eyebrows shot up, unsure. "That's what I thought. You know, Gilbert, that's the reason plants don't like you. You don't treat them with the respect and attention they deserve. They are all unique individuals," she explained, before wandering down another aisle leaving Gilbert with a huge monstera plant in his arms as Mark carried the crate with the rest of them

"Listen to your girl, mate," Mark advised him. Gilbert chuckled in response, taking out his phone and snapping a picture of Anne surrounded by so many plants. She looked so comfortable, so in her element, that he wanted to capture the moment.

"I always do. It's been something of a problem, sometimes," he answered sadly. He rested the pot on the ground, as it was heavy, while Anne selected some smallish succulents.

"Are you redecorating?"

"Well… Not exactly. I don't have any plants, as I can't possibly care for them… But it's been like an insult to her, so I told her we could get as many as she wanted, as long as she was in charge so I didn't kill them," he explained.

"She's taken you to your word," Mark commented. Gilbert chuckled, nodding.

"I have no problem. As long as she's happy, I don't mind having plants," he replied. Anne called him. "I'll be right back."

"Look! Isn't he a beauty?" she asked, showing him a cactus that looked like it had some silvery fine hairs.

"He?"

"Of course! He's a total Raymond!" she exclaimed. He blinked. Ok, Raymond.

"Raymond is coming as well?" she nodded excitedly, small, happy wrinkles on the sides of her eyes as they did when she was overly excited, and he received the small pot. He knew underneath the mask she would have the loveliest dimples. "I just hope you have an idea of where you're putting all of them."

"I do. I'm checking off spaces in my head as I go along. I'm just missing one…" she commented, grabbing his free hand and pulling him further into the aisle. He followed, grinning stupidly. She was there, he knew instantly. He could feel it now. If he ever tried kissing her on the neck again, he knew he wouldn't be pushed away, and it filled him with joy. He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb and she turned to look at him, smiling, a glimmer on her eyes that hadn't been there two weeks before.

When they came back, Mark had gone to retrieve a small cart and was putting the crate and the pot with the monstera in it. Gilbert put there Raymond and Petunia, a peace Lily she had just baptized. They were complete, she declared. Gilbert nodded, not wanting to let go of her hand, and they followed Mark as he discussed care tips with them. Well, with Anne. He just pretended to listen, but focused on how right everything about this whole day had been.

"Ready to go home, now?" Gilbert asked as he closed the back door. Plants filled most of the available space in the car. Anne nodded, smiling. Home? Well, his apartment, anyway. "Bye, Mark. Thanks for everything."

"Good bye, Mark! You have the most splendid space!" Anne exclaimed. Mark nodded smiling, and they were off. Anne opened spotify yet again.

"What about The Woods from Hollow Coves?" he proposed before she said anything. She frowned.

"I don't know that song," she commented while she looked for it. Just the name gave her a thrill inside. She put it, adding it to the playlist (if she was entitled to add songs, so was Gilbert).

"I think you'll like it," he said softly, eyes on the road. The way he said it made her warm with anticipation, as if he was sharing a secret with her. The first chords started playing and she was silent, listening, something akin to impatience inside her. He knew the song by heart, as since the first time he had listened to it it had transported right to Avonlea's woods, to his teen years spent there with Anne.

The road went straight ahead, the summer sun still high on the sky and the air as warm as before. He looked at Anne. She was smiling as she listened as if her, too, could relate the words to their special places from their youth. To the new woods they were adopting as their own, now. He held the steering wheel with his left hand, the right looking for Anne's. She gave it willingly, relishing in how strong and steady he always had been.

"We feel a little warmer now...", he sang softly. She turned to look at him, eyes bright. This was the perfect ending to this day, that seemed to be such a momentous one in their relationship. Even if nothing would be evident to any outward eye. She joined him for the last chorus, and he suddenly realised how much he had missed her singing in all these years. He had to take that guitar now, even if he didn't really want to, even if just to hear her sing.

After a whole day of activity and emotion, both of them longed for a bit of quiet. Anne prepared a salad, banning him from the kitchen as she wanted some time alone to collect herself. This day had given her so much clarity about what her heart really wanted, despite the risk that it implied… she needed a moment of quiet to mull on the importance of what was happening right now. She now could say, as certain as she would have if asked at seventeen, that she wanted Gilbert Blythe as her life companion and would do everything in her power to keep him by his side. And that she desired him more than anything.

Chopping vegetables gave her the perfect opportunity to sit with her thoughts, with the expansion of her chest, without the distracting sight of Gilbert around. She sent him to watch a movie or whatever, and he had complied easily when he saw that she didn't appear to be in a bad mood, or even closing off as she had some weeks back. Finally happy with the result of her cooking, Anne set the table.

Gilbert saw from the sofa, where he was on his phone, debating with himself on whether to publish or not any of the pictures he had taken that day. On the one hand, he wanted to- she looked so good and he just wanted to show the world how happy she was. On the other hand, he would never live down the comments- he hadn't published anything for years and to have her as his first post back after such a prolonged absence… it would certainly elicit more comments than not.

"May I do something now?" he asked.

"It's all ready, don't worry about it."

"Anne… I don't really like seating while you do everything, you know?"

"It relaxes me. I wanted to do it. Helps me to think. So you actually did a favour by sitting," she insisted, taking the plates to the table. "Come, it's ready."

"Looks so good. You outdid yourself, and I didn't even think it was possible."

"I think it's the day. I was inspired," she said smiling.

"I should take you out more often, then," he commented, and saw her blush. He smiled. "It surprised me you didn't post anything today," he said finally.

"It… I'm undecided. Too many good things. I will, later on. I have enjoyed keeping this… diary of sorts. Gives a space to sort out the thoughts of the day by highlighting just one of them. Why don't you? I saw you published up to some years ago," she commented. She wouldn't say she had followed him closely, but hey, now it was normal she had scrolled through his aging feed, right?

"Funny of you to say that. I was just thinking about that, but I don't want to deal with it," he explained.

"What, the comments? Just turn them off if they bother you. I always find them amusing, but to each their own," Gilbert nodded. That was a good idea. No need to deal with Bash commenting anything there for everyone to see. He unblocked his phone.

gilbertblythe Day out.

Turn off comments, tag callmecordelia , publish. There. Broken silence after three and a half years of no new posts.

"When did you take that?" Anne asked him, surprised, a couple of seconds later.

"When you were meeting... Raymond, I think," he commented.

"So nice," she commented, still watching the picture in awe. She knew (always had) that Gilbert wasn't the best at taking any sort of photo, but this was magical. It really transported her to the moment. Then she swiped, as there were more photos, and saw one of her back as she admired the falls, and the landscape from the cliff of the trail. She smiled, and Gilbert did as well as he saw her.

**Bash Family (19:50): Anything new to add, Blythe? 😏 😉

**Fred (19:50): Blythe! Please please please tell me something finally happened! 😍 Ella and I are hanging here!

**Cole Avongang (19:50): I want a video call now. I need to see what is happening in Hamilton ASAP. Anyone else?

**Josie Avongang (19:50): Was thinking the exact same. Calling in two minutes.

"Gil?" Anne looked at him. He was frowning, as he clearly hadn't thought things through. This day was too perfect to have the gang ask… more questions than necessary.

"We could always not answer the phone. I don't want to deal with them," he proposed half-heartedly. Anne snorted.

"Yes, because that would keep them shut," she said, sarcasm full on her voice. He groaned, because she was right.

"Shit. I don't want to deal with them," he said. She made a sad half-smile and he knew then she had the same feelings, as if the gang calling would only burst the bubble they had somehow created along the day. Their phones started ringing simultaneously. "Let's just answer in mine, ask about anything in PEI and keep it short?"

"Agree," she said, declining the call on her phone and picking up the empty dishes to load the dishwasher as Gilbert answered.

"Hey," he greeted, trying no to sound as annoyed as he suddenly felt. Cole, Josie and Ruby were there, and soon Diana appeared. "Anne will be in a second, she's just in the kitchen. So how are things over there?"

"What were you doing today?" Josie asked, directly.

"Are you finally together? Gilbert, those photos of Anne were beautiful!" Ruby commented, all heart eyes. "I'm so happy for the both of you!"

"Not together, sorry to disappoint. We're just friends and went for a ride," he said, his tone and expression guarded. Anne appeared next to him, keeping a careful distance.

"Hello all of you!" she said, happily.

"Anne, Gilbert here says you're still not together? But what, are we supposed to believe him after he posts finally after years and it happens to be only pictures of you?" asked Josie. Anne nodded.

"Well, of course. He's never been a fan of taking selfies, so there you have it," she replied, nonplussed. Everyone frowned at the absurd answer. "So, what's going on there? Any news?"

"News about...?" asked Ruby.

"Oh! I have to tell all of you. Marie is learning to count! Come here, sweetheart and show them!" Diana said and Anne thanked her silently as her friend effectively diverted the attention and they could hang not even ten minutes after, as everyone had things to do on a Thursday evening. Gilbert sighed.

"Thank god Diana was there," was the only thing he said. Anne nodded and felt her phone buzz.

**Bosom friend (20:06): You owe me one. What's going on there, truly?

**Anne S-C (20:07): Thanks for that. There's… nothing really. Not yet. But I feel there are some… possibilities now.

**Bosom friend (20:07): Finally coming to terms with everything?

**Anne S-C (20:07): I think so. It's getting harder by the day to deny how I feel. It's surpassing my fears, and that's saying something.

**Bosom friend (20:07): Keep me posted! I have to put Marie to bed now. Love you!

**Anne S-C (20:08): Forever and a day 😘

Notes:

Who names their plants as well? Any Raymonds and Gertrudes out there?

But seriously... what do you think of the outing? Anyone feeling some relief at Anne finally getting there? I mean, I do get if you're not happy about stepping back and not kissing Gilbert, but come on, the trucks weren't a nice backdrop ;) At least she's reached a decision, right?

We can't wait to hear what you think about the chapter! And we'll see you this Saturday. More things will move along, promise. It has a really fun scene there.