Good morning, everyone!
So, ready for Montreal? The big old road trip and that playlist Anne was preparing so happily? Well, you're in for a treat today! If you don't have a headache ;)
On a completely irrelevant side note, I'm still bingeing House (and writing exciting, doubts-solving stuff with Hikari). We're trying to reply to all comments with time and everything, and we keep talking and looking up useless information such as Wilson's age and House's parents first name. Ever wondered? John House and Blythe House gave birth to baby Greg. Yes, read that again. It's useless and hilarious.
Anyway, let's start the music and the fun! open .dot. spotify .dot playlist/7mA9ruYSCjSnsUnHHAfIQ4?

Chapter Text

"Are you seriously wearing that?" Gilbert asked. He didn't consider himself a jealous guy. Not really. He knew that Anne was way too much for him and that he really didn't deserve her, but also knew that if she didn't want to be with him she simply would not be. But this was something else. "Carrots, honestly, it looks just as if you're walking around naked in just my t-shirt," he said. She frowned, unbelieving, and laughed.

"Of course not. It wouldn't make sense. It's obvious I have shorts under, and I want to be comfortable. We're going to the beach, not to a parade. Plus, you told me it wasn't even a popular beach and it's the middle of the week, most likely it's deserted," she said, not paying him any attention. She had grabbed one of his soft white t-shirts, claiming it was way better than any of the ones she had, and put it on. It was long, yes, but soft. And it was not her fault he had grown so tall, when he was sixteen his t-shirts were just the perfect size for her.

"Anne, really?" he tried again. She shook her head, rolling her eyes.

"Seriously, Gil. Come on! It's going to be late and I want to enjoy the day!" she said opening the door, even when it was already almost midday. They had woken up late on the last day before going to Montreal and stayed in bed for far longer than they used to, just enjoying each other's company and cuddling as each read their preferred book.

Gilbert had proposed the beach trip almost as an afterthought, feeling that the day was slipping away. So they had gotten up, Anne had prepared some picnic food on a pinch while he looked for a blanket he was sure Mary had left on some previous visit and they were on the way to the door when he realized that no, Anne was not going to change into clothes of her own.

He bit his lips. For all he felt uncomfortable, it was not his place to say anything. Especially when she felt good. Following her, Gilbert closed the door behind and they walked to the car and drove, adding the last couple of songs to the playlist for the road trip. Tomorrow they would be halfway there by that time. Oh, how he wanted to see Delly and give her the present he had selected so carefully. And hug Mary. And tease Bash. And just be with them and with Anne.

"I thought you were kidding, but this has to be actually secluded if you're calling that a parking lot," Anne commented, grabbing a backpack as he took the blanket and the heavy bag with the food and the beverages. She was referring to a small lot where not three cars would fit, only a small sign.

"I'm not one for crowds, you know that," he commented softly. She nodded. "Plus, it's a bit of a walk to get to the water. I thought you'd enjoy it." She squeaked, going towards the small path between the trees. They walked in easy silence until they arrived at an opening from where the lake could already be seen. "Just like ten minutes more and we'll be there."

"It's so nice. The heat doesn't make sense, but there's the promise of water… Remember how we used to dip on the beach near Avonlea?" Anne asked him. He smiled at the memory.

"Water was freezing there. I still don't get how we kept going all the way to late September. Now I understand our parents."

"We always wanted to go for your birthday, and we didn't want summer to end," she explained. "So that's why we didn't care about going to the beach when it was only 15 degrees outside and the water temperature at freezing unknown. Oh, Gil, it's so beautiful."

"It is," he acquiesced.

"And you were worried about anyone looking at my choice of clothes? Even if I cared about what anyone thought, which I don't, mind you, we haven't seen a soul. There was no one else in the parking lot. We're all alone here," she said, dropping her backpack on the coarse sand, kicking her sandals and running to the water until it reached her knees. He laughed and stayed behind, extending the picnic blanket and unpacking some of the things they had brought. "You're not coming? It's so refreshing!"

"I will! You brought anything to change into later, if you're going in there like that?" he asked.

"I… didn't, actually. I just have dr. Blythe's unapproved clothing on me" she commented, and he laughed. She walked back to where he was sitting on the blanket, already only in his shorts, and sat beside him.

"I approve of all your clothes, Carrots. That I prefer to enjoy them by myself sometimes is something else entirely," he said, admiring her. She stuck her tongue out to him, playfully. He laughed. "And that's your answer?"

"Of course it is. As mature as your argument," she replied, a big smile on her face. She felt so relaxed in that precise moment, knowing they were in nature, away from privy eyes, in their small patch of summery heaven. They stayed in the blanket for a while, Anne even snapping some pictures.

"Come! Water really is nice," she insisted, going back to the water and this time going all the way in.

"How is it?" he got up, going to the edge, just before the waves licked his toes.

"Frigid! Come here and hug me!" she answered, some three meters into the lake. He shook his head, but did as ordered, the shock of the temperature surprising even when expected. He walked over to where she was, half floating, her red hair pooling around her. She stood up when he was close, her cheeks flushed from the heat and the cold water, her eyes bright. "Isn't it marvellously refreshing?"

"It is," he answered, walking over to where she was and extending his arms. "So you wanted me to hug out the cold?"

"I wanted you to come in," she explained, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Oh, really, Carrots? You made me come in here by guise?" she nodded, still grinning. He walked closer to her, her mischief still reflected on her expression. "I think I might as well warm you up, now that I'm here. Water is freezing, you know?" he teased, catching her as she melted in giggles and tickling her mercilessly. She exploded in laughter until she managed to scurry away from him and proceeded to splash him. They played in the water like kids for a while, until he managed to attack her with tickles again, this time not letting her go as easily.

"Truce!" she said between laughter. "Truce, Gil!" she insisted.

"And how would you spell that?" he asked laughing, not letting her go, reversing to the game they had as teens. No truce was valid unless you could actually spell the word. If you couldn't, it was better to just surrender. Something neither of them, stubborn and proud as they were, ever did.

"T...R…" she dissolved in a fit of laughter again but forced herself to continue. "UCE!

"What? You have to actually say the letters, Carrots!" he teased as she contorted, her stomach hurting so much she was laughing.

"T-R-U-C-E!" she repeated, vocalizing as best as she could but speaking as fast as was possible, managing to do the spelling between two fits of laughter. He let her go, but she was still in between laughter, not able to contain herself. "You'll see, Slateface! No fair pulling out the spelling!" she finally said, her breath steadier, her face hurting from grinning so much.

"Not fair, Carrots? Fair by all means!" he defended himself, a mock offended face, his eyes merry. She swatted him playfully.

"Let's go have something to eat. I'm ravenous," she declared, swimming towards the shore. Gilbert followed her, in a better mood than he remembered in a long time. And these past few weeks he had been pretty happy, all things considered.

They wrapped themselves in the soft towels, sharing the sandwiches, cut up fruit and salad Anne had packed before resting on their back, talking animatedly as only the rush of play, hot sun and cold water could awake on them. They felt alive and younger, as if they were not nearing the thirties but instead were living their twenties together, as they had been meant to do.

Anne was relaxing on her back, half covered by her towel, her simple dark green two piece making her skin glow under the shade of the tree where he had extended the blanket. Gilbert decided to pick up everything when they were done, having more peace of mind knowing he was not leaving anything behind in the forest. He saw her, eyes closed, forehead relaxed, wildflower crown on her damp hair, slight smile on her lips.

Smiling wickedly as a plan formed in his mind, he picked a long stem full of bright white wild carrot flowers that was close by and sat beside her. He caressed her stomach lightly with the tiny flowers. Anne tried to swat it half heartedly, probably thinking it a fly, and he laughed silently. Watching her little hairs stand up as her skin got more sensitive, he trailed the flowers up her stomach, all the way to the base of her breasts. She opened her eyes, lifting her head and finding his bright eyes focused on her.

"Gilbert, what on earth…?"

"Shh…. just a carrot saying hi to a carrot," he whispered.

"You prat! That's Queen Anne's lace!" she said, annoyed. Had he not gone over it in all this time?

"Wild carrot saying hi to another wild carrot," he conceded, as if that was just what she had said. "Look how it's awakening, already…" he mumbled, as he passed slowly the flowers over where her nipple would be, watching it stiffen under the still wet fabric. He swallowed, watching it. "See?"

"You tease, Slateface," she mumbled, trying to ignore the light touch, taking her hands to her face and rubbing it before covering her eyes with her forearm. Because it wasn't tickly. Not really. It was just tingling. He chuckled, the light touch of the flowers starting to send shivers down her spine, some familiar heat gathering down. Slowly. Almost unrecognizable.

"Your inner carrot is liking this much more than what you care to admit," he teased.

"My inner carrot wants to show you who's boss with the slates," she countered, but was smiling underneath her arm. "I was actually starting to fall asleep."

"Fall asleep?" he repeated. Anne nodded, feeling relaxed and content despite Gilbert's teasing. "What about you don't?"

"Why, do you have any other plans? Non-ticklish plans, preferably?" she asked, lifting her arms slightly to see him, and found his eyes piercing through hers, as he dragged the flowers over her breasts. Slowly. Images of the day before crossed her mind. "Gil…" she whispered, blushing deeply at what she thought his eyes transmitted. Was he actually serious? He smiled playfully, noticing her red tinge.

"Well, I have no idea what crossed your mind, Carrots, but please share," he said, a low voice. He had thought about maybe kissing her. But that blush? That was definitely not a kissing blush.

Anne bit her lips. After seeing what was possible… She was curious as to if it was actually possible to achieve that more than one time in a lifetime. And she felt more confident after how Gilbert had been with her, and after their closeness only increasing after that. No cold shoulder. Only more holding, more kisses, more intimacy. This was good. But they were in the middle of the forest and certainly that wasn't the place for anything… right?

"Anne?" Gilbert asked again, confused, noticing her conflicted lip-biting. But then he saw as she sat up and went towards him, tangling her fingers in his curls and kissing him briefly. She smiled.

"Last one on the water pays the other an ice cream!" she exclaimed and scurried off to the lake, sure that the best way to dispel the way she was feeling was just going into the frigid water. Gilbert shook his head, his ears barely registering what she had said while his body just sensed the anticipation she had elicited and the void she had left. "Come on, Gil!"

Gilbert followed her, catching her in his arms as he got into the water, laughing. She looked at him in the eyes, all myrth, but something else as well. She didn't try to move, to escape, and he didn't tickle this time, instead putting some wet hair behind her ear, causing a shiver to go down her as he traced his fingers down her chin. He leaned forward slowly, catching her lips in a kiss. Licking her bottom lip, as she nibbled on his upper one, the movements calm, persistent, holding her nape just so, his other hand caressing her waist. Hers on his hair, on his cheeks, tracing down his neck.

"Now this is a real kiss, Carrots," he teased, his voice a bit hoarse, when they finally got apart. She didn't answer, just pulling him down to her again, relishing in how he felt, the warm sun, the water that really didn't feel cold at all anymore. Letting the hand he had on her waist roam lower, towards her bottom, then towards her thigh, his other hand going down her other leg. He flexed his legs slightly and pushed her upwards, her ankles crossing behind him as he held her.

As she whimpered, he felt himself grow harder and decided he really did not want this on the water. Breaking the kiss so he could see where he was actually stepping, she kissed his neck, nibbling on it and turning him on even more. Feeling him underneath her, his skin and his muscles, all warm and firm against her torso, she knew she was getting as wet as the other day, lake water aside. She tried moving, feeling how hard he was beneath the swimsuit, so close to where she was. He hissed, stopping mid-way towards the blanket, and kissed her deeply again, biting her lower lip as she let out a moan.

"Now let us get there, Carrots," he whispered in her ear, continuing the few meters they had left. He got down slowly, gently leaning her on her back, trailing kisses down her breasts. Slowly, taking his time. "May I…?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"You're sure no one…" she whispered, her previous worry coming back to her.

"Positive. I've never seen anyone here. And it's Tuesday. Pandemic and all, you now?" he said quietly. She nodded, and he pushed up the upper part of her two-piece. She groaned.

"Gil, come on… If you're doing that, do it right," she said, a glint in her eyes, lifting her back and undoing the knot that was there, effectively taking the piece off and leaving it close. Gilbert swallowed at her boldness, not having really expected it, but watched admiringly as she leaned back, her nipples erect after the cold water. Her skin glistened with small drops of water that caught the sun's light, freckles all over, and he felt something flutter in his stomach. He had seen her yesterday for the first time, but the play of light right now… Or probably it just was how utterly amazing she was in his eyes. Gilbert leaned down and kissed her breast, small, open mouthed kisses getting closer and closer to her nipple, her hands on his back trying to put him closer. He felt her nails scratch him teasingly, lightly, as he slowly blew over her nipple. "Gil…" she mouthed, her voice hoarser than before.

"You enjoy this, don't you, Carrots?" he asked rhetorically, because it was so evident she did, before blowing softly again. She moaned lightly, and then he sucked her nipple, making her arch her back. He saw how one of her hands went to her free breast, grabbing it tightly, the image turning him even more. Her expressing herself being the biggest turn on of all. "Talk to me, darling girl, talk to me."

"I… Gil…" she tried, but decided instead to pull him up so she could kiss him. He was supporting himself on a forearm, the other hand caressing her waist, the skin still damp, his legs straddling her. As they ended the kiss, she held his head with one hand on his nape, giving open mouthed kisses on the side of his neck, his hips trusting slightly forward. His lips somewhere different than her nipples and her mouth, she could get through her foggy mind and engage more. Because as earth-shattering as the day before had been, she wanted Gilbert to also feel that. Or however it was for him.

"Anne-girl…" he moaned, his forehead finding her neck, his lips her collarbone, kissing it lightly and sending shivers down her. She didn't let up, instead alternating between nibbling and sucking, and he felt himself getting even tighter. "Heavens, Carrots, what…" he tried again, but he was really not very coherent now, not when Anne was caressing him like that, her fingernails on his nape scratching him lightly, teasingly. He felt her other hand go lower on his back, finding the hem of his shorts, and he closed his eyes in anticipation, not daring to think she would…

Toying with the wet fabric and seeing how utterly undone Gilbert was on top of her, Anne knew she was onto something. She had never imagined his composed, calm self could be reduced to half sentences and shaky breaths by kisses on the neck and a hand on his lower back. Slipping the tip of a finger in his short, tracing it along the edge towards the front, he sucked in a breath.

"Is this…" she felt the need to ask. Mainly because he always did, and she thought it was only fair that she didn't assume when he never did. He nodded against her neck, not really able to find words, his hand still on her waist. Trying to get air, to breathe amidst the pleasure and the anticipation.

"It is, Carrots," he forced himself to say, as she dipped her hand slowly in his shorts. It was wet from the lake, but so warm, she thought as she traced her fingers downwards, making small circles, giving small caresses. His hips hitched. "Goodness, Anne..." she nudged him some, and he understood the gesture and laid on his side next to her, her hand so close, yet so far, his hips moving forward again. He watched her eyes, questioning, insecure, but still with a determined glint on them. "What…"

"I wanted to see you," Anne whispered, feeling much more in control of the situation now that he was a puddle beside her. When he didn't touch her, she could actually think. But then Gilbert took his hand, the one that had been so still on her waist, and mimicked her movements. On the lower part of her belly. Small circles. Closer and closer to the fabric, making her breath become ragged now. Gilbert smiled.

"Two can play this game, darling girl," he whispered, his voice strained, his fingernail tracing all the edge of the moist fabric, her hand going stiller. She closed her eyes and focused on her hand, moving it again, going lower, the elastic of his short digging into her wrist as she finally held him, firm, skin the softest, so warm and pulsating. "Carrots," he hissed, feeling all his blood concentrate on her hand. Gilbert swallowed as she smiled, her fingers moving slowly towards the end. He closed his eyes. He had been on something before, but he could not remember anything as he felt her thumb circle the tip, spreading the pre-cum. Anne literally had him on her hand and his mind couldn't form a single coherent thought.

"Goodness, Anne, do…", but he didn't finish the sentence as she moved back, her hand tentative, but holding him firmly, her movement rhythmical. "Anne, I…" he tried again, but she moved and nibbled his neck, his hips thrusting into her hand, and he ended up moaning hoarsely, his eyes squeezed shut as he burrowed his face in the crook of his supporting arm. This was too much. No one could feel this much and be the same the next day. He felt himself get closer and closer, but he really did not want it, not if she hadn't got there yet. And that was all the clarity he needed. He lifted her face to kiss her deeply, then took his hand down to go over hers, over the fabric, slowing it gently.

"Is it bad?" she asked, ashamed, ending the kiss. She had been convinced she was on the right track! He kissed her again.

"On the contrary, it's indescribable," he whispered to her, his mouth only a fraction of an inch away from hers as he tried to regain his breath. He could feel her breath so close to his. He let go of her hand slowly. "I don't want to come alone," he explained, and she blushed at the implication. "And if you kept going, that was going to happen quite soon, sweet girl." She bit her lip, taking her hand out of his shorts as he went to kiss her on the shoulder, his hand resuming the path he had been into before, just to the edge of her fabric. He felt her breath grow shallower in anticipation.

"Gil, just…" she tried. She didn't want him over the fabric again. She wanted to feel his fingers on her as she had felt him. To work her on. To… Gilbert lifted his gaze, his hand going over the bathing suit as the previous afternoon, interpreting her words. "No, Gil, just…" he took off his hand, scared.

"Anne, I'm so…" he apologised, retreating, but she was having none of it and held his hand.

"I want it, Gil," she whispered, feeling the void his hand had left.

"What do you want?" he asked, suddenly worried.

"You. Your hand, just…" she answered, blushing. He suddenly understood and moved to kiss her, a silly grin, as his hand traced once again the edge of the fabric, slowly moving it down. That was what she needed. She sighed, feeling his warm fingers down her belly, going all the way to her hip, coming back even lower, moving the fabric so slowly it was almost painful.

"This is what you want, Carrots?" Gilbert asked in her ear, his hand pushing the fabric lower, finding her little red brown hairs. He pushed it down some more, and Anne lifted her bottom, wanting the thing to be off. He took on the hint and pushed it down all the way to her knees and she pushed it with her feet. "You wanted me to undress you, Anne-girl?" he asked, going down to kiss her breasts again as she moaned, his hand getting closer and closer to her center, just so slowly. He wanted to admire her, but he would have time. He just knew it. And he wanted to please her first.

"Gil, please…" she managed to say and he finally put his fingers on her center, almost coming himself as to how wet and slick it was and how she moaned at the light contact his two fingers were exerting.

"Goodness, Anne," he hissed, closing his eyes as he started moving his fingers slowly, in circles, noticing her shallow breaths. His fingers felt her moist heat, the slickness she had somehow made because of him. How he wished to bury himself in her. "You feel so good."

"Gil…" she mumbled. This was not enough. Somehow, she needed more than this. More than his slow circles. More than… He watched her, need evident in her eyes. "Gil…"

"Tell me, darling girl," he whispered, feeling how he also needed her now. Her need was his own.

"Gil… more," Anne said, the word becoming a moan as he picked up the pace. She moaned, frustrated. She needed more. More of him. More closeness. More something. She straightened up and he started retreating his hand. "Don't…" she told him, and he left it where it was, moving alongside her as she nudged him so he was on his back, straddling him now, only his swimwear between them. She saw as he took in a shaky breath.

He had not expected this. He had thought she was so, so close, but now he felt it was him who was close. How couldn't he be? Anne Shirley-Cuthbert on top of him, grinding against his hardness, his hand feeling all her moisture, the other one on her breast… This was the stuff his wildest and literally wettest dreams were made of. Before he had thought about the light playing games, but… it wasn't that. Her hair all messy on her shoulders, the freckles playin with the shadows of the leaves, the reminder drops of water glistening on her skin… And how her breasts looked from this perspective, how her skin went down smoothly to her center... She was a dryad, but she really was the woman that had somehow plagued his dreams for most of his adult life. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

Slowly, he began circling his fingers again, marvelling at how she was not containing any sound, whisper or moan any more, the surrounding nature supporting the confidence she had gained over the past few weeks, and he traced the circles them lower and lower. Her eyes on his, as she felt how hard he was beneath her. Considering earnestly for the first time how ready she was to try to have him in herself, to see if it was true it didn't have to hurt… because she believed so, now. She believed that was a real possibility. Wanted to believe, at the very least.

Gilbert watched her in the eyes, asking a silent question as his fingers went impossibly close to her entrance. She nodded, her breathing shallow, and he allowed himself to go deeper on her. She moaned again, louder, the sensation of him inside her almost more than she could have imagined. This did not hurt. This felt good, and she wanted more, but knew not how to get more… Until she moved against him as well. Feeling his hardness under her. His fingers inside her. His thumb circling her center. Everything at the same time as she thrusted on his hand.

"Gil, I… Gil…" she tried talking, but it was too hard. She was too close now, and this time she recognized not only the feeling, but what was coming. Gilbert could see it, his fingers moving dexterous on her, his other hand on her low back, holding her even closer to him.

"Sweet g... Anne… Carrots," he tried, but he was too far gone, the feeling of her warmth over him, the softness and sleekness of her insides, her nibbling on his neck too much, too overpowering for anything he had experienced before. He wasn't sure if he collapsed before she did, crying his name into his shoulder, her back arching, tensing and tightening around his fingers as he felt himself explode, years of frustration, longing and desire simply getting through him, leaving him feeling as whole as he had never dared hope for.

They didn't move much for a while, both just trying to regain their breathing and collect their thoughts. Anne curled in his chest hugging him as she heard his heart slowly go from a mad beating to a calm, steady one. He finally retrieved his hand, wiped it in his still wet, now soiled, shorts and then caressed her on the back, sighing. The only sounds were those of the birds and the small waves of the lake.

"I should probably get dressed," she mumbled against his skin after a while, realizing she was stark naked in the middle of a public forest. But she was too comfortable.

"Mmm?" was Gilbert's answer. He had drifted to some calm state between sleep and wake, and only her voice brought him back. He hugged her tighter. "Just stay longer here? We've gotten away with it for a while, how can five minutes more make any difference?" Five minutes turned into an undetermined amount of time as she slipped from his chest and curled beside him, wrapping herself with a towel and falling asleep with him. Only to awake by his hand caressing her hair slowly, calmy, the shadows of the trees in a different angle.

"I finally got away with it," she commented, smiling as she stretched her arms.

"Got away with what?" he asked.

"Sleeping. With no teasing from you," she said cheekily. He let out a heartfelt laugh. "I just had to tire you out, first."

"Anne, you can tire me any time you want, you wicked carrot," he said, giving her a quick peck and smiling like a kid at Christmas. She giggled and wrapped herself more on the towel, sitting up.

"So, what's next?" she asked. Gilbert opened his eyes. Was she serious? Now? Again? "In the day, Slateface, in the day! We're leaving tomorrow, so what do we have to do today?"

"Well… I should probably go to the lake, wash a bit. But… packing, go to the service station to put on some gas to the car and check the air on the tires and whatnot… probably call Bash…" he commented, standing up.

"I already packed. So that's done for me. Go, wash! I'll see you from here, you tell me how the water is now," she said, smiling at him. He shook his head on his way to the water.

"It's freezing and all your fault!" he called her when he was finally there.

"Deny you loved it!" she answered, smiling to him as she put on the upper part of her bathing suit and the white t-shirt she had taken from his closet in the morning. He shook his head, but his smile was as big as it got, dimples and everything. Examining the lower piece, she decided it was… not quite wearable now and put the shorts directly as he was coming back.

"You're really going like that?" he asked.

"Gilbert, we went through this this morning. It doesn't look like I'm walking around naked in your t-shirt, get over it," she answered, rolling her eyes.

"That's not what I meant. No underwear?" he asked, grabbing a towel and putting it around his waist, kicking his wet shorts down.

"Do you think anyone is going to stop me and ask me what I'm wearing under the shorts?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He smiled wickedly and hugged her, giving her small bites and open mouthed kisses on her neck, bringing her closer to him. The idea of him naked, just in a towel, and how his lips felt on her neck and then how he always went for her collarbone and… she started to feel warm again, but that would not do. Not now. "Gil! I really don't have anything else to wear!" she protested.

"And so? Can't I kiss you then?" he said innocently, smiling at her as he saw her blush. Well, he could. But if he kept doing it that way, her shorts would not do either. He laughed and let her go, satisfied with himself as he rummaged through his backpack, taking out some boxers, shorts and t-shirt. "Why didn't you even bring underwear, that's my only question," he asked as he changed.

"Beach day? I really didn't think about it," she explained, folding her towel. She had been too busy making a point with her choice of clothes in the first place, to think about bringing any more. They packed up quickly and Gilbert did a small round checking they weren't leaving anything behind.

"You're not forgetting anything?" he asked. She shook her head. Bonus point to forgetting everything at home? There was almost nothing to pack here. He squated close to where the blanket had been, the Queen Anne's lace forgotten there. "Your friend the carrot!"

"Are you serious, Gilbert?" she said, and he nodded, all smiles, teasing and something else. He went towards where she was and put it behind her ear, caressing her cheek and giving her a small kiss. She looked perfect, messy red hair over his white t-shirt, blushed from the day, the tiny flowers behind her ear.

Notes:

So... how's Montreal? (We're teasing, of course... don't kill us!) A bit eager to get there, or are we happy taking things calmly? :)
Now, for real: go and google Queen Anne's lace and then Wild Carrot. We weren't joking in the chapter- they're truly the same plant and it has the cutest little white flowers. Can you guess the song that went with that moment? With the lake shenanigans?
And try to tickle someone and have them spell a word, it's good fun!
Well, we'll see you on Wednesday... let us know what you think about this summery day-trip before the big holiday.