Hi everyone! Ok...we got little sneaky last chapter about the whole Montreal sequence...but all for a good reason! Who would not enjoy a day in the beach with Anne and Gil?

Now, for who was guessing the songs from the scenes of last chapter: UNION for the lake shenanigans, Sunkissed during the wild carrots talk and Making Love in the Mountain and Electric Feel throughout all the make out scene.

Sooo... Ready to see what will happen now? Go ahead! We highly recommend you to listen to this soundtrack as well... it will do wonders ;) open .dot. spotify .dot. playlist/72Rxb4eweKxX4FWcrELz8R?si=Rmv3VGEDS7OhZWzD8faoUg

Chapter 25

"So, I'm calling Bash in a bit to check any details and whatever he needs for us to take there. He…" Gilbert trailed off, trying to think of how to voice his question without it sounding like he was making many assumptions.

"He...?" Anne prompted him, as they closed the trunk of the car and got inside.

"Well, some weeks ago he asked how we wanted the… sleeping arrangements. It's Bash. He was teasing at the time. I'm just assuming here he's going to ask again, but if he did, what would you prefer I say?" He noticed her blush as he moved from the parking spot.

"What did you say before?"

"Two rooms. It was weeks ago, Carrots, when I only hoped for you to see me in a different light" he explained. She nodded, not really wanting to sleep alone but not sure about telling about their relationship yet. "It can stay that way, Anne-girl," he commented gently, but not really wanting to. There was nothing to hide. To shy away from. Every minute he spent with her he was sure this was it for him, everything he had ever hoped and wished and imagined. She bit her lip, unsure. "What is it that worries you?"

"I… am not sure?" she answered, as she really was at a loss. No one knew about them. She wasn't that sure about telling anyone yet. What if in the end it didn't work out? "Do they know about us?"

"Not yet. Only Fred… and the whole hospital, by extension, because he's a gossip. No one from home. Would it bother you if they did?"

"I…" she started, but trailed off, looking out her window. Gilbert frowned, confused, and reached for her hand.

"Anne?" he insisted, squeezing it, as he incorporated into the highway.

"It's not that it bothers me. It's just… What if this doesn't work out?" she said, looking at their joined hands.

"Why wouldn't it? We're not teens anymore, we are better at communication, we know what we want…"

"Do we?" she asked, frowning. She still wasn't sure about staying in Ontario or going back to PEI, how could she be sure of anything else?

"We can't keep living in a bubble, Anne. Eventually people are going to find out. Heck, I almost want them to. Save for becoming a doctor, this is the first thing in years I'm completely sure about and I don't even care what anyone says"," he said. She didn't answer. He drove in silence for a few minutes. "Anne… what if it works?"

She remained in silence, but put on July , by Leon Bridges, to fill the air, not really wanting to continue that conversation. Somehow, this felt too rushed for her, too quick, almost as she had leaned forward on a cliff and was falling. Not a bad sort of fall, but one she'd had no say in nonetheless. She wanted to hold on to what little control she had of the situation. But she didn't want Gilbert to think she didn't want this, because she did. Maybe there was a way to compromise?

"What about we tell Bash and Mary… and we see about the gang later on?" she proposed. He looked at her, not really comfortable with her proposal. They had been able to keep it quiet, for now. But going beyond the borders of his house, this was probably going to go out, and not in their terms. Like when the gang had figured they were living together and it had all ended in a huge discussion he would rather forget. Plus, he didn't have anything to hide, as far as he was concerned. "Please, Gil? Maybe when we come back from Montreal, see how Mary and Bash take the news?"

"Ok," he sighed, not really happy. "When we come back, then." They kept in silence for a few minutes and Gilbert tried thinking of anything that could change the mood. "So, what about some ice cream before we go to the supermarket?"

"Yes!"

They went to the same ice cream parlour Gilbert had taken her last time, when she had given her silent yes to him. The mood lightened as the minutes passed and they ended in their easy conversation, looking at the full playlist Anne had put together and adding a song here and there.

"It's going to be the best road trip ever," she declared, her eyes shiny.

"Have you noticed we've never actually gone on one?"

"Of course we have! We used to go to Charlottetown!" she countered, and he raised his eyebrow.

"Charlottetown. About forty minutes away by car. You count that as a road trip, Carrots?" he asked and she bit her lip, giggling. "This is a first, for me. And I'm glad we get to do it," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek, his arm holding her close by the waist. They were leaning against the same fence as the other time, and he was trying not to be overly possessive of Anne. Because he didn't like feeling that and he knew it was wrong. But the way a group of guys had watched her had made him want to reconsider his relationship with jealousy. Of course, she was oblivious. Which made it even more frustrating, because if she saw them he knew she would be grossed out.

"Ok. First road trip, agreed. It's still going to be the best ever. We have the perfect playlist, the weather is nice, we're going to Bash and Mary's…" He let go of her waist, stood in front of where she was sitting on the fence and looked at her in the eyes.

"You really have no dimension of how good you look, do you?" he asked her, not even paying any more attention to what she was saying. She blinked and frowned, about to ask him what he meant, when he caught her in his lips, kissing slowly, deeply.

"Gil, what on earth?" she mumbled, feeling her lips tingly when he let go of her, resting again on her side. Guys were gone. Good.

"What, do I need an explanation now to kiss you, Carrots?" he asked, smiling triumphantly. She shook her head, not knowing what to say. She would have never taken him for someone who would do such… public displays of affection. There again, she had seen him with Winifred plenty of times. So maybe he was."So, what do you say, time to go pack?"

"I'm already packed! But yes, let's go home," she said, jumping to the ground, trying to clear her mind of teenage thoughts. She checked her phone, watching the pictures they had taken just before going into the lake. "So, what do you think of this one?" she asked, showing him a photo before he started the car. It was of the both of them, sitting on the blanket, forest and lake behind. They had propped the phone on a backpack as per Anne's insistence.

"It's a good one. Are you posting it?" he asked. She nodded as she connected the phone to the bluetooth and resumed the playlist they had been listening to. The final chords of a song accompanied them and then Ooh Wee by Your Smith replaced it

callmecordelia Perfect summer day: picnic, splashing and a book in the middle of a friendly forest.🌳 🌲 🌳 What are your plans for Canada Day?

Tag gilbertblythe… publish. She went over her feed from the past few weeks. She liked this. One photo a day to reflect how her life changed, little by little.

bashfromtrini: we'll celebrate with both of you, of course!

Jane The Dirty Details (16:49): And you're seriously not fucking him? 😱 😱 😱 Anne S-C! At least do it for his body! 😈

beardad: and you didn't invite us? Mean! 😢

rubycakes: 💖 💗 💖

Jerryofgreengables: Yes, yes, you both are adorable

What she didn't expect was the music to be interrupted by her phone ringing. She looked at her phone. Cole.

"Should I answer that?" Gilbert asked her, noticing the blush she had for some reason. She shrugged. Why not? The photo was as innocent as photos could get. They weren't even hugging. And if Cole wanted to comment on Gilbert's looks, he would just write in that damn group. He had before.

"Hey Cole!" she greeted.

"Nan, I won't expose you in that group. But can at least confess to me that you're already with Gilbert?" he said directly.

"Cole!" she exclaimed, turning an even deeper shade of red.

"Hey there, Cole. Gilbert here. You're on speaker," Gilbert answered, trying to stifle his laugh.

"All the better! Can you both confess and be done with it? Playing at Blue's Clues is seriously childish and turning too easy for it to be a challenge anymore."

"Whatever are you talking about?" Gilbert asked when Anne shook her head to him.

"Gilbert, darling, I know you, you know me, don't even try to deny this. We both know Anne's the nervous one here," Cole's voice insisted. Gilbert laughed at that and Anne's mortified expression.

"What gave it away, then? I saw the picture before she posted it, there was nothing strange," he conceded. Not giving him all the reason, but not denying anything anymore. It was not worth it, Cole's voice was as certain as it could get. Somehow he had taken her post, dissected it, and threw it to their faces.

"Because there is nothing strange! Two friends having a picnic! I've gone on picnics with you, Cole, and no one has said anything!" she insisted.

"Nana, everyone knows I've been smitten with Roy ever since you introduced us. And you never wear my clothes when you eat something at a park with me." Gilbert was laughing openly now, his point over the t-shirt finally made as Anne opened her mouth, astonished.

"How do you even know it's his?"

"Because it's evident, Anne. Your t-shirts, even the big ones, are never like this. They have other quality on the fabric and a feminine cut. So, may I congratulate the both of you? Finally?"

"You can," Gilbert answered before Anne could try to deny once again what was starting to become too evident. "Carrots, you're just making a fool of yourself, honestly."

"Thank you, Gilbert! Well! Finally! Care to share any details?"

"That, we won't," Gilbert answered, still smiling.

"Oh, come on! Tell something!"

"You're pushing it, Mackenzie," Gilbert insisted, turning right. Anne watched him, wondering how he could be so calm.

"Anne, still there? Come on! I deserve it! How are the kisses?"

"I'm not telling you anything, Cole! There's nothing to tell!" Anne insisted.

"Nothing to tell? So my kisses are not worth telling? Now I might get offended," Gilbert commented, his eyes on the road as he drove easily in the lonely streets, but a glint in his eyes.

"Watch it, Gil," Anne said, a dangerous tone in her voice as she kept blushing.

"See? Even Gilbert wants to know. Two against one. Spill!" and Cole actually sounded excited. Anne looked at Gilbert, who was smiling. Smugly smiling.

"This is so not fair. Why don't you ask him, then, if you want to know so badly?"

"Because it's much more fun to imagine your mortified face. And I know he would tell. Wouldn't you, Gilbert?"

"Of course, what do you want to know?"

"Are you…?" Anne looked at him, her mouth open.

"How are the kisses? Everything you imagined? Are you still on that all-shy phase? Did you jump right into it?"

"Aren't you curious, Cole? Pick something," Gilbert said. He actually had no problem in sharing some of that. Because it was with Cole. And he knew Anne would be sharing as well if she wasn't a mortified stuttering girlfriend next to him.

"Well I pick all! I've been waiting for this since grade eleven!"

"Gilbert, don't you dare…"

"Ok, so… Kisses are… How could I say it," he tapped the steering wheel absentmindedly, actually thinking, and Anne looked at him, curious, forgetting for a second her mortification. "Have you ever really wished for something, knowing full well how impossible it is? And then you keep stubbornly adding layers and layers to make your fantasy more perfect, because even if you never get to have the real thing, at least you have it?"

"I have, yes," Cole said, his voice unsure. "I'm asking about you, kissing Anne, though."

"I'll get there, bear with me. So, picture that fantasy. Embellished. Year after year. And then somehow you win the lottery and there you have it. Fantasy is all yours. And when you finally get it… It's nothing like you thought it would be. It's new, it's refreshing, and it's way better than anything your poor imagination conjured. That's kissing Anne," she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, looking astonished at him. He turned for a second to look at her, his eyes shining again with that weird glint that highlighted the golden specks in his eyes, and then back to the road. He squeezed her hand lightly. "So are they anything I imagined? They could never be, Cole. They're real."

"Mate, you got it bad."

"As if you didn't know that already, Cole," Gilbert said. There was silence in the car as they collected their thoughts. "I'm not answering any more of your questions, by the way," he added.

"Answer me this, then, both of you. Why are you hiding this if it could be the single best piece of news any of your friends could have this year? It's 2020. It's shit."

"That, you have to ask Anne," Gilbert answered, looking pointedly at her. She tried to make herself small in the car seat.

"Anne? Why? Are you still… Anne Shirley-Cuthbert please put aside your insecurities for once in your life! We all love you and just want to be happy with you!" Cole said, a mix of exasperation and fondness in his voice.

"Could you at least listen to him, Anne-girl?" Gilbert whispered, not loud enough for the microphone to pick up. She bit her lip.

"I'm not sure, yet. In a few weeks. After Montreal," she said again. She didn't know why after that trip, she only wanted to do it after. Enjoy that small holiday only with family.

"So, are you done packing, Carrots?" Gilbert asked later that night. Probably Bash was doing a happy dance in his house when Gilbert confirmed that yes, one room with one bed was ok for the week. Anne was reading, curled on the sofa, the skirt she had put on after her shower dangerously high on her leg, the blouse she had on wide and letting very little to the imagination. As in, he really didn't have to imagine she didn't have anything under. It was that evident. She had declared she was done hours ago, but he still had not seen any bag. She lifted her sight from her book and nodded. "Where's your bag, then? I was thinking of putting them in the car now so we can go early tomorrow morning"

"What time are you thinking of going?" she asked, frowning.

"I don't know. Seven-ish? You always wake up before I do, so just nudge me when you do and we'll be on our way," he replied. She nodded and went back to reading. "Anne, bags?"

"Oh, yes. The carry on? Is in the closet."

"Packed?" he insisted, because he really wanted to have everything ready and not run the next day while looking for a toothbrush.

"Yes, Gilbert. Packed. Ready to go. I did it yesterday when you were working," she explained, closing her book but leaving a finger to mark the page.

"And you're only taking that for almost a week?" he asked, thinking about his regular sized suitcase, where he had put everything, from the presents that he was taking for Delly without a good reason to the book he was reading and clothes. She nodded.

"I pack light. I never bring much. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not really into accumulating stuff, even less when traveling," she said. He remembered that same tiny suitcase when he picked her up in Toronto, what seemed like a lifetime ago. Only four months. And she had lived off that thing until she asked Diana to send her boxes.

Gilbert nodded and left her alone to keep reading. He looked at his suitcase critically. Oh, well. He was not carrying it. His car was. Taking both to the car, when he came back she was no longer reading, but preparing some sandwiches on the counter of the kitchen. They had already eaten. He went behind her and hugged her, giving her a kiss behind the ear. She unconsciously pressed back towards him, feeling his chest receive her gladly.

"Hungry?" he asked, because they'd had dinner a while ago.

"Oh, for tomorrow morning. You know how Timmie's only ever has grilled cheese as a savory veggie option and I don't plan on going hungry or on a sugar rush until we get somewhere decent to eat," she explained. "I'm preparing one for you as well, but I understand if you eat one of those… BLTs or whatever, I know you only eat this way because I cook here."

"It's been growing on me," he whispered in her ear, kissing her down the neck as he hugged her close to him. She felt butterflies on her stomach and swallowed.

"Gil, I'm actually on something here," she tried. He looked at the board. The breads had something on, a bit of almost everything that was still on the counter. The tempeh was on a pan next to her. He grabbed it and distributed it quickly, trying not to burn himself, and closed the sandwiches.

"There, done. We can organize the kitchen and pack them later," he said, going back to nibble her ear, his hands roaming to her breasts. Since she had gone out of the bathroom, already dressed, he had been holding back on this. "You're making a habit out of this… I love it," he whispered to her as she struggled to breathe normally, her hands on the counter.

"Well… it's more comfortable," she said slowly, concentrating on each word as Gilbert's hand continued caressing around her breasts, pushing her gently against him. Against where she could already feel there was a bulge forming in him, just behind her bottom. As she noticed this, she inhaled shakily, feeling how just the image of him behind her, sucking her neck, was enough to turn her on.

"It's perfect," he whispered, his fingers going ever so lightly over her nipples, already perky and hard, as he felt her pulse quicken. Noticing the little signs of her excitement turned him on even more, and he moved his hips slightly, teasingly, against her back, feeling her bottom press against him. She wanted him. After the taste of the afternoon, she wanted him even more than before. Not with the apprehensive curiosity she had felt, but with the knowledge that this was going to be good. He moved again and she whimpered.

"Gil, I…"

"What do you want, Carrots?" he asked, trailing slowly one hand down her belly and feeling how she inhaled sharply. "You want me to touch you?"

"I… yes," she managed to say as his fingers reached the skirt. He moved the fabric to the side, going over her panties, and moved against her again. He trailed a finger up and down the moist fabric, causing her to moan.

"Goodness, Anne… How can you be this wet already?" he asked rasply, pinching her nipple with the other hand as she arched into him, not knowing how to get closer as she whimpered. For all she had been all but silent the first time he had ever touched her, she now didn't control, or made the effort to control, any sound that came from her. And he just loved it. Pushing the fabric slightly to the side, he ran his fingers against her center, a moan on her throat and one escaping his as well as she put one hand behind her, looking for his erection over the sweatpants he was wearing.

Gilbert put on some more pressure, making smooth circles with two fingers as she panted, her hand distracted. He felt her tense slightly, a small moan, and he picked up her pace, feeling her heart beat wildly under his hand, still massaging her breast, pinching her nipple, as he gave small bites to her neck.

"Gil… I…"

"You let go, Carrots, I have you," he said, as he saw her white knuckles on the counter and felt how unsteady her legs were now. He didn't relent on his pace, her moans going deeper until she tensed, flush against his chest, arching, a cry on her lips as he smiled against her neck, holding most of her weight. "I've got you, darling girl, I've got you," he whispered, slowing the movements of his hand as she rode out her orgasm.

Anne turned to face him and Gilbert saw her face, pupils dilated, eyes bright, blush in her cheeks, and he kissed her deeply, nibbling on her lip, exploring her mouth. He moved the chopping board to the side and helped her on the counter as she fumbled with his pants, pushing them down with his boxers. He chuckled, but stopped short as she grabbed his erection, her eyes still on his. She hadn't looked down, yet. It felt as firm, hard, but soft as it had in the afternoon. Moist on the tip. He closed his eyes, sighing controlledly as she found a rhythm.

"Anne-girl…" he whispered forcedly as she bent over to nibble his neck. "Oh, god, Anne, I…" he put his hand on top of hers, slowing it. "I… wait, just a…" he tried, but his heart was beating too hard, his breathing too shallow. She kissed him, her legs circling his torso and joining behind him, and effectively getting her center as close as it was humanly possible with her underwear still on. He moaned at the feeling of her moisture, or her warmth, the barrier there but still allowing so many sensations. She whimpered as well, feeling his hardness so close to her and yet needing more. This was it, she knew it now, how it felt to need someone inside. Gilbert . To know it would be good. She moved against him, noticing how his erection took whatever space her panties allowed and moved against her center.

"Gil," she moaned as she felt the tension, the knot inside her forming again. But that was not possible. It wasn't. Was it? She tried speaking again, because something must be wrong, but only a moan came out. She felt him breath raggedly against her neck, bringing her closer.

"Don't hold, Carrots," he tried telling her, but his words were probably unintelligible as he was trying so hard to control himself, the feeling of her wrapped against him, her moistness, her scent, her moans, almost too much for him.

Please let her come quick, was the only thing he prayed for now, because he didn't want to cut her inspiration, for lack of better words, but really wasn't sure for how long he could hold himself now. She must have gotten the idea as she tensed and cried into his shoulder, not knowing or understanding how she had gone all her life without this to have it happen so often now.

"Gilbert, I…" she tried, still not feeling in control of her body as he caressed her back, stopping the movements as he tried to compose himself. He really wanted her now. He had been holding, and waiting for her clues, but he needed to be inside her, to know how her folds felt, to have her cry his name with him inside her, to let go inside her. He still waited a moment. "How could…?" She asked, when her breathing finally slowed down some, when she could speak, the energy in her body lowering to a pleasant simmering. He chuckled, a strain still in him, his erection painful and waiting for any kind of release.

"You're a woman, Carrots. Comes with advantages," he explained with a hoarse voice, and it dawned on her that there was another myth that was real. How far could this go, then? How would it feel to come unsewn with him in there, if she came like this with him only hovering on her entrance? He tried breathing deeply, his jaw tense and his eyes shut, but felt her move again. "Anne…" he forced himself to say, his voice strained and raspy as he forced the words, "unless you know what you want, I think it's better to let this go".

"I… do. I believe I do," she whispered, blushing. Not understanding why she was blushing, having come so far with him. There was really no need to feel self-conscious anymore, yet she still did. He pulled slightly apart and looked into her eyes.

"Tell me, sweet girl," he asked, not daring to assume anything. She swallowed.

"You," she said, biting her lip. He frowned. What would she call this, then? "I want you. All of…" she didn't get to finish, his kiss interrupting her. There was a need, a desperation, but also a relief in the way Gilbert was kissing her, the moment finally there. But he didn't want to fuck her against a kitchen counter, and he realized that, if he didn't change something, that's just about what was going to happen. He was starting to lose what restraint and calm he had left. He wanted to make love to her in a place that was comfortable for her, where she could relax after he was done with her.

Shit, he thought, as he grabbed her buttocks again and carried her flush against him towards his bed, pushing the sweatpants and leaving them a puddle on the kitchen's floor. He didn't have any comdoms because he had been all but celibate for the past five or six years. Even if there were any, they had to be well past their best before date. Fuck fuck fuck He carefully let go of her in the bed, her hair pooling in the white duvet. He bent down to kiss her, her legs still wrapped against him, pushing closer to him. Then he looked at her in the eyes, her pupils dilated, her cheeks flushed.

"I'm afraid I'm going to be a spoilsport, darling girl" he whispered strainedly, locking his eyes with hers. Fuck. How could he not think about this any of the past few weeks? This was going to happen, eventually, and he should have prepared in some way. He even considered for a split of a second just going with it, but his mind caught up with his body pretty quickly and he retreated more, lying to her side. She frowned. "Unless you are on some kind of contraceptive and…"

"Shit. I'm not, Gil. I mean, I'm clean, but I'm not on anything because… It's never been worth it," she closed her eyes, frustration evident in her face as she tried to catch her breath. For the first time she had felt so ready, not apprehensive or tense. He held her hand, squeezing it tightly, his eyes shut and jaw tense.

"For the record. Clean as well," he said, still cursing mentally, covering his eyes with his other arm, trying to calm down his body, to get some reign of the needy pain his erection felt.

Anne turned her head and watched his struggle, how his chest tried to go up and down in a smooth breath but how shaky it actually was, and as she lowered her sight she saw in detail his erection for the first time. Skin slightly darker than the rest of his body, so silky it had felt before, so warm. She turned to her side and held it tentatively, making his hips arch instinctively as he hissed.

"May…" she whispered and saw him nod. He needed her. Whatever way she was willing. But now. It had been too long of a wait to be shattered by his unpreparedness and if he didn't get some release he was actually going to be in some kind of physical pain. He could just feel it. Anne kneeled beside him, her hand moving slowly at first, as she curiously watched his reactions, adjusting the pace as she saw Gilbert moan. He felt he was so close, having held for so long, it was not actually going to take much to finish him.

"Carrots… yes… that's..." he mumbled, breathing fast, the muscles on the arm he had over his face tense, as were the ones on his neck.

Anne saw him, trying to think how she could even make him feel as much as he had her. She wanted him to experience that level of bliss, of earth-shattering sensation, of being nothing and all at the same time. Maybe she could…? Lincoln had asked, once, but she hadn't accepted and, for once, he hadn't pushed it… But here? With Gilbert? She wanted him. She wanted to make him come as undone under her touch as she had under his. So she lowered slowly and engulfed him in her mouth, marveling at how hot, and hard, but incredibly soft he was. Her tongue running up and down his length, so, so soft. Silky.

"Goodness, Anne!" he exclaimed, pleasure magnifying at something he hadn't even thought possible. She sucked on him, one hand still on his base, the combination of movement and sucking taking him over the edge. He took off his arm, the sight of him in her mouth, her eyes on his, taking him even closer. "Anne, I…" he tried again, but she didn't listen and closed her eyes. He reached her cheek with one shaky hand, trying to move her, because he could not have her there for any longer and hold it. "Fuck, Carrots, I…" he tried again, but she ignored his hand, pulling it away with her free one, instead running her tongue on his tip. He could not restrain himself anymore, releasing into her mouth as he moaned loudly, his back arched, hip pushing and thrusting erratically into her mouth, every cell in his body alive. She tried swallowing the salty liquid quickly, but decided just to clean her face with her blouse instead as he finally relaxed in the bed and she let him go. Looking up, she grinned at him.

"Was that good?" Anne asked softly after a moment, even when not much confirmation was needed after how his body had contorted. Gilbert tried regaining his wits, his breathing going steadier, a tiredness filing his body.

"Come here," he said, and Anne curled on his chest. He kissed her head as he hugged her close. "That's beyond… beyond anything I've felt, Anne-girl." She giggled and he chuckled. "Proud of yourself, aren't you?" he mumbled, his eyes closed, and she giggled more as her only answer. "You should be, Carrots. That's… I can't even describe it." And he really couldn't, he realized. Not because it was the first time a woman did that with him, it had happened more times than he could remember. But because the intensity had been so great, so shattering. He had considered that he had had a pretty decent sex life before he decided it was not worth it if nothing was going to come out of it, but this? This was something else.

"May I propose something?" he said after a while.

"You can," she commented, still giggles in her, feeling more at ease and relaxed than she had in a while. It was good and unexpected that she had somehow the same effect on him than the one he had in her.

"We could make a stop at Shoppers tomorrow and just get some condoms? Not that I didn't enjoy this… But so we are prepared for next time?" he proposed. She laughed.

"Sounds like a plan. Still, maybe something more reliable could be better as well? The pill? An IUD? It's just… condoms are useful, I'm the first to admit, but… if this is going to be long term, maybe…" he caught what she meant and could not help but seek her lips for a kiss.

"Definitely, Anne girl. We could always set up an appointment at the hospital," he commented, as she propped herself up in his chest looking at his face, examining the short stubble on his face, the jaw relaxed now, his chin as handsome as ever.

"What a splendid chin you have," she mumbled, more to herself than anything else.

"What?" he asked, half frowning, half laughing. She blushed.

"Yes, set up that. Sorry," she said, a shy smile on her face. She gave him a peck and returned to his chest. "We still should get them," she mumbled after a moment, almost as an after-thought. The only sound was the one of their breaths in the silence of the night.

"So, I have a splendid chin, eh?"

"Now don't get smug, Gilbert Blythe," she scolded. Gilbert barked a laugh and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead before she snuggled against him.

Notes:

Uff... So some things needed to be arranged before their trip and now Cole is the first from the gang to know our couple is official! He's just sneaky like that and doesn't lose a beat. What are your thoughts about that?
Now, on Saturday the road trip begins! Fuel tank filled, sleeping arrangements done, everything packed up. And no... We are not teasing this time... Pinky promise! So, what do you all things will happen? What do you expect? Tell us everything and hide nothing! ;)