Hello, everyone!

Here's the music for today: open .dot. spotify .dot playlist/4q9ZPwXI3kx4U6Gdu1SCaL?si=qNJhJBBQQq6whAyzNhBHvA

The next day passed quickly. Bash and Gilbert had taken advantage of the visit and had scheduled many appointments. All boring business, he assured Anne, but things that needed to be done at some point anyway. So he was locked in the office most of the day. When he wasn't working with Bash, he was reading the paperwork dr. Yang had sent him and texting Fred about his doubts and concerns, including how to tell Anne and how she might feel about the whole thing.

Anne had an appointment with Patel and they tried to go deeper into the insecurity she felt about the future when Anne commented on it, and how it trailed all the way back to the orphanage days. They reviewed the nightmares she'd had over the past few days, looking for a meaning behind the pattern that Anne could correlate with her current worries.

They also talked about trust. Not only her worries about trusting herself to let go with Gilbert (she was increasingly comfortable with that), but also about the trust she shared with those closest to her. How was trust present in all the relations she considered the closest ones. How it was different with each person, and how that was good.

With Diana, she had always had an inherent fear of somehow being less, even if she knew it was irrational, even when she was the dearest bosom friend anyone in the world could ever even imagine. She loved her so, but she could never be with her who she was with Gilbert. Unapologetically herself.

With Cole, it was pure desperation and the fear of being alone in their own weirdness that had brought them together as kindred spirits, a closeness out of everything they trusted they could be for each other, and it had grown and grown from there. But still, even after all these years, the knowledge of their own fragility laid a base not of reserve, but of sheer worry of losing each other. But she would trust him, as well as Diana, with her life. Jerry as well.

With Jerry… He was there, because they were siblings out of their hearts, an understanding that was beyond liking each other. One didn't choose family, even when you already had one or were an orphan, and they were like that: harsh truths without embellishments, sarcasm and pure love. An exasperated trust that the other was going to be direct and honest, whether one liked it or not.

But Gilbert? He was always expansion, hope, the realm of possibilities combined into one person. The possibilities not only to be her quirky self, or her orphan, I'm from a tiny farm with the best of weird families self, but everything she could become. He saw her for what she had been, yes, but also for what she could become, and it had always helped her to be ever so lighter and grounded. To find herself, even.

This kind of trust was beyond anything she could ever imagine having with anyone else. It was just there, pulsating, waiting for her. He was both her best friend, but… also so much more than that, if she allowed herself to accept it. If she decided what she wanted in life, and how he fit in it, as she had talked with Mary the previous day.

She tried not to dwell on the session after it was over, instead spending the day quietly with Mary and Delly. Mainly with Delly, playing and telling her stories, seeing her practice on her new skates as she read a book, accepting when she proposed they danced together a choreography she had to study for her dance class.

"But, fairy Anne, you're doing it all wrong!" Delly protested, going to the ipad to put on the song from the beginning. "You move your arms to the right and then to the front!"

"I'm so sorry, Delly," Anne said, stifling a laugh.

She had always been a lost hope for choreographies. Acting? Bring it on. She could learn all the lines. Be as histrionic as needed. Choreographies? She messed right with left. Delly, however, seemed to be a master of organized dancing. Mary had given her a heads up when Delly had insisted on taking Anne to the upstairs playroom to practice the steps she had been learning in her zoom dance class.

And so they were trying. Delly, to learn to have patience. Anne, to actually do whatever Delly was telling her to. All to the catchy rhythm of Sugar Suga r by The Archies on repeat. Mary had called the whole thing a lost hope and had gone downstairs to bake some chocolate chip cookies and brew some tea for when Bash and Gilbert decided to call it a day.

"Ok, so your arm goes to the front when the leg of the other side does it, ok, fairy Anne?"

"Right leg and left arm?"

"Yes!"

"Ok, let's do this Delly!" Anne said, a small frown of concentration. Right leg and left arm, she thought, not realizing that Bash and Gilbert were on the door, trying not to laugh at the scene developing in front of them. Delly went to the ipad and put the song from the beginning.

"Now!" the girl said, and they started with the first few steps, which Anne had already nailed down. Anne got lost at the same spot as last time. "No, fairy Anne! You started with the wrong foot!"

"Did I?" she asked, confused. Gilbert watched as Anne tried again, how Delly was trying to show her the steps as the song carried on, and he went over them.

"How about you dance with me, Delly-beans?" he said, offering his hands and starting to waltz around the space. Bash laughed.

"Uncle Gilby, you're doing it all wrong!"

"Am I?" he asked, as Anne laughed.

"There's a very defined choreography for this, dr. Blythe," she said, a solemn voice but wicked smile.

"There is! And fairy Anne can't seem to learn it!" Delly insisted. "Look!" she said, going over to the ipad and putting it from the beginning. "I'll show it to you, so you know how to dance!"

She started the well practiced, dance-school steps and Gilbert and Anne followed for a moment, before starting to dance in whatever steps crossed their mind as Bash laughed, Mary catching up to see what all the laughs were about. They looked at each other's eyes knowingly for a second, before Mary put her arm around his waist as he recorded the dancing. Anne and Gilbert really looked more carefree, happier together than each would ever admit. It was just so good for them to finally be together.

"But you're doing it wrong again! Uncle Gilby! Fairy Anne!" she stopped and looked at them reproachfully. "Momma, tell them they're doing it wrong!"

"Well, there is more than one way to dance, sweet pea," Mary explained. "And they are all good, except when you have a team and you're doing a presentation. There you need to agree on the steps." Finally the song died down, all laughing.

"So, you're done for the day?" Anne asked them.

"We are. All looking good, thanks to Bash," Gilbert said, smiling to his brother. He still had on the bowtie he had been using for the day's meetings. Even if by zoom, he needed to look as professional as possible. Bash was the same, wearing a tie and a button up shirt… and some sweatpants, that didn't appear on camera, as he had explained to Mary when she had raised an eyebrow in the morning.

"So now you're done working uncle Gilby? Now we go for ice cream?" Delly asked, reminding him of a promise he had made early on the day. But he actually wanted to speak with Mary and Bash. Without Anne close.

"Tell you what, Delly-beans. Why don't you go ahead with fairy Anne and we will meet you? What do you say? An adventure only with her?" he proposed. Anne looked at him, frowning. This sounded a bit forced. "Would you do it, Carrots? We just have one last minute meeting that came up over the afternoon… But we'll be done in half an hour tops, and we'll meet you in the park."

"You can take my car, Queen Anne," Bash offered before she could even answer. Delly looked at her, expectant eyes. "You do drive, right?"

"Eh… sure! How is the place called? I don't know anything around here… Got your mask, Delly?" she asked. She wasn't really fond of driving and hadn't done it for months, but she could take the kid for ice cream. The girl went out running to look for one as Bash sent her the location quickly. "Ok, I'll guess I'll see you there?"

"Yes, we'll text you as soon as we're on our way," Gilbert assured her. "I'm sorry about this…"

"Don't be, I understand. I'll just go for my purse and a mask, and we'll be going," she said, leaving the playroom. Not a minute later they heard the sound of Bash's car. Neither of them had spoken a word.

"So what's the thing you desperately need to discuss so in private with both of us, Gilly-boy?" Bash asked him, going to sit on the couch, surrounded by Delly's stuffed animals. Mary joined him, grabbing an old fox that uncle Gilby had brought Delly to the hospital when she was born. Gilbert scratched his nape and went to sit in the rocking chair opposite to them.

"I'm at a loss of what to do," he confessed. Neither of his siblings said anything. "Nevermind, I know what I want. God, I'm so sure about it. But I don't want to mess up again. And I need your advice in order to… not do so."

"What is what you so clearly want?"

"If I could get away with it? Marry her tonight, have her study for that thing she wants and move to a house on the mountain, close to the forest, where we could raise a family and have cats and dogs, friends visiting. God, I want red-haired kids more than anything. I'm so ready for it," he said, not even thinking. Both Mary and Bash smiled. Genuine, big, accepting smiles. "But I know for a thing if I even propose today that'll just push her away. So I don't know how to… reconcile all of this."

"You do have to have patience, Gilbert," Mary said after a moment. "It's not that she doesn't love you. I think it's clear she does. It's more about… her not being so clear about what she wants for her future. Have you thought about that?"

"Of course! Hence her going back to study!"

"Not on that level, boy. On her deciding where to live her life. What to do with it. Yes, studying might be a part of that answer, but it's only a bit."

"Have you even talked about her living with you? Or is it just an assumption you have?"

"Well she is legally living there…" Gilbert said, half heartedly.

"Legally, maybe. On her mind? Does she truly know she has a home there, Gilbert? Because that's what she's always longed for. Since both of you were kids. So have you given her that assurance so she can stop her search?" Mary asked him. He bit his lips.

"Do you think I'm mental? I mean, I know I've only been with her for some weeks…" he asked, feeling insecure about if what his heart wanted was even right after so little time.

"Gilbert, in your mind you've been with her for half your life. It's not that surprising," Mary said.

"John used to tell me that, you know? When we would stay home working and you were off with her. He would say that Gilly-boy, he might not know it yet, but that's the girl for him," Bash commented, and Gilbert felt a knot on his throat.

"He said that?" he asked, trying to fight the tears on his eyes.

"Of course he did. I don't invent stuff your father said, he would come hunt me if I did. I just never thought about sharing that before. What would have been the purpose? But he would so approve of this. He always thought of her ray of sunshine as part of the family anyway, this would only make it official. He would approve of you going after her, 100%. He'd probably be egging you on it. So do it, Blythe, or god helps me, I'll set you up," Bash declared. Gilbert smiled sadly.

"But don't scare her! One thing at a time, Gilbert, please!" Mary pleaded, the voice of reason that she was. Gilbert sighed.

"And how do I know any timing for this? How on earth am I supposed to know when she's ready when I've been at that point since always?" he asked after a few minutes.

"For one, when she is comfortable telling the world about the two of you. When she knows home is with you and not somewhere abstract back in PEI. You'll know when the time comes, Blythe, trust me," Bash said. Gilbert scoffed.

"Yeah right, coming from the guy who proposed on the third date," Gilbert said sarcastically.

"Great communication skills, Gilly-boy! Something you could get some use of!" Bash teased him. Gilbert threw him a stuffed bear. "But in all seriousness, Gilbert, you will know when she has no doubts in her mind. She has been there for as long as you've been, only she takes more time to accept things than you do. You're not going mental. This is not going too fast unless you force it. It is evolving, and will evolve, naturally. If you allow it."

"So you're saying it will make sense in the end?" Gilbert asked, feeling much more confident about not going crazy after having voiced his concerns with his family.

"Of course. We've been telling you that for years and look where you are now. With her on a holiday. Together. Letting her take Delly for ice cream… we should probably be on our way, you know? Before the kid convinces her that she's allowed three scoops?"

"Delly, you pick one flavour and I pick one, that's the deal, ok?" Anne said. Because the last thing she needed was a four-year-old with a sugar rush. "What's your favourite?"

"Butterscotch! Yours?"

"Here…" Anne looked quickly at the selection, almost all dairy. "Grapefruit sorbet." They sat outside five minutes later, each holding a one-scoop bowl. "So, Delly, tell me… what were these stories about fairy Anne that uncle Gilby told you?"

"Well, they're all about you! So you must know them! All about how you saved the forest with Foxie friend!" Delly answered. "You were in them, how can you not remember?"

"Well, I just want to know your perspective," she said. "You know, so I can tell you all the details you don't know yet," she added conspiratorially. But she only wanted to know what Gilbert had told this girl for her to like her so much.

"He said you were the kindest fairy... And that fairy Anne always fights for what is fair. So fairy Anne fighted for the rights of all the animals. She tried to save a squirrel once, but the squirrel didn't understand it at first. But that didn't stop fairy Anne from doing the right thing so she told all the animals of the forest how a mean cat was bad with the squirrel. And there was also one story about how she met Foxie. And how they had a magical library in the woods where each leaf from each tree would tell a story and hold a wish. And then in the fall each leaf would change the colour as the wishes came true, and the trees would prepare during the winter to hold all the new wishes. And Pilbert…"

"Pilbert?" Anne interrupted her, trying to contain her laughs. Pilbert? Oh, he was never living this down. Pilbert.

"Well of course Pilbert, fairy Anne! How can you not recognize your friend? Pilbert the fox, of course! He is Foxie, but his real real name is Pilbert… did you forget that when you were at sea?"

"At sea?"

"Come on , fairy Anne!" Delly said, as if it was obvious and Anne somehow knew what she was talking about. "So Pilbert, or Foxie, would always hope for fairy Anne, because they are super super good friends you know? So Foxie would wait for her to come back from the faraway land where she is helping… in the sea… And there are mermaids, of course, because fairy Anne would save all the animals from the earth and the sea… But she was very busy in the sea so Foxie would wait and wait for her. And there was one time when she was very very unhappy about her hair, because she didn't understand how it was the colour of fire and of leaf-wishes coming true… So she tried to change it, and Uncle Gilby always said to me to accept myself as I am and not do what fairy Anne did, you know? Because she turned her hair green, thinking she was going to have even more magical hair, but it didn't happen and she had to take it all off… but at least she didn't lose her super powers, because that would have been so so sad, don't you think fairy Anne? Did you really take your hair off?"

"I… did, yes. But you should totally listen to uncle Gilby, he's right about accepting yourself," she said.

"I do now, because I wanted different hair before but I wouldn't risk it now that I know how bad it can get thanks to fairy Anne… And then there was a story where the fairy wanted to play with all the real kids, you know? Because she had friends all over the forest, all the animals were her friends, but she put on a magical disguise just so she could be a boy for one day… But Pilbert saw fairy Anne for what she was, and she was already perfect, so she didn't need to make any disguises for that… And then fairy Anne went to look for more fairies like her… And Foxie helped her look under every rock and into every cave, until they found something… But he would always tell her that she really didn't need to find all the fairies when they were such a good team together and that they could have a home together, but fairy Anne still went to the sea to look for the mermaids… Look! There is uncle Gilby!" she said, signaling to the parking lot. Gilbert was coming with Bash and Mary, looking carefree and happy. Anne looked at him and waited for them to come over.

"So, how are you, Pilbert? How come you're hiding your secret identity from sweet Delly?" Gilbert turned red instantly. What had the little girl told Anne? Delly was looking at them, eyes wide, mouth open.

"Uncle Gilby, you really are Pilbert?" she asked, so impressed. Like, fairy Anne being real? That was incredible. But Pilbert as well? Inconceivable. Bash and Mary stayed behind, laughing with no mercy.

"He is, Delly… He just didn't want to tell you before," Anne said in a low voice.

"But you're not a fox!" she countered, frowning.

"Sh…. don't let that out, Delly! Most people can't see it, but if you really try, you can see that I am totally one. Only I disguise myself as human, you know?" Gilbert whispered, squatting in front of her. Delly turned her head slightly and then nodded.

"Ok! But you should have told me before, Pilbert!"

"You can still call me uncle Gilby, you know? So we don't let out my secret identity?" he winked. Because he really didn't want to be called Pilbert. Delly nodded. "So, what flavour is your ice cream? Give me a spoon?"

"No, get your own, uncle Gilby! Fairy Anne only let me have one scoop…" she said sadly, because uncle Gilby always gave her two scoops. Gilbert laughed, amazed at Anne's talent for convincing the girl.

They went to the park that was down the street, and the four adults gave in to Delly's prompts for plays, making silly faces and acting however she asked, enjoying the carefree moment as they snapped pictures. Gilbert and Anne were not self-conscious around Mary and Bash, who made them feel in between family and at ease. They didn't even notice as Bash took some pictures of them together when they sat on the grass, Delly happy in the playground and Mary resting on her back. Anne was really just enjoying being close to Gilbert, her head half resting on his chest as he caressed her cheek and gave her tiny kisses on the top of the head. Bash's tropical ringtone went off and he stood, going closer to the playground as he talked in French.

"That was Simon," he told Mary as he came back. "They're going through with it, making a barbecue out of it to handle it outdoors… And keeping it small."

"Small as in?"

"There's going to be six of us in total, which is well below the allowed ten, so I guess it should be ok. And quite noticeable if we didn't go."

"Do you need to be somewhere? Don't worry about us, we can manage," Gilbert said. "Even look after Delly, if you need."

"You're sure you don't mind?"

"Positive. Where are you going anyway?"

"Simon and Lucille. Those are some close friends here, they're doing a gender reveal tiny dinner. They want me as godfather so they want us to be there and not over zoom as the rest of the guests," Bash explained.

"Good for you, Bash!" Anne said, smiling happily. "Of course we don't mind looking after Delly, consider it done."

"You kids behave," Bash said on his way out, adjusting his shirt. Anne felt herself blush, feeling seventeen all of a sudden.

"Seriously, Bash?" Gilbert asked him, skeptical. Mary patted her husband's shoulder.

"Bash, they're about thirty. Finally together. They do live together and all. Let them be. Just be careful with Delly, please? She's not supposed to be up after 8:30," Gilbert nodded. That was easy, the kid always slept like a log. "Ok, we'll see you tomorrow. Again, a thousand apologies for this, we just couldn't move it."

"Good thing is you have uncle Gilby here to babysit, right?" asked Gilbert, smiling. He did love his niece to pieces. His family laughed, and they were out the door. "So, Delly-beans, what's the plan for tonight?"

"Beauty and the Beast! And cheesy!"

"Cheesy?" Anne asked.

"Pizza is cheesy, fairy Anne," Delly answered, as if it was the most evident answer in the world, walking to the kitchen. Gilbert shrugged and they followed her. "Shouldn't fairies know all cheeses?"

"Is she supposed to eat that at this hour?"

"When she's with uncle Gilby, the only rule is bedtime," Gilbert winked at her, and Anne rolled her eyes.

"Please don't be like that with your future kids?"

"Our future kids?" Gilbert corrected kindly, going to the phone and leaving Anne frozen in the door. He wanted her to picture it. The idea of a family with him. How great could that be? Was it fast? Maybe. As fast as some others? Surely not. Now that he had spoken with Bash and Mary, he just had so much clarity he didn't want to beat around the bush. "Ok, Delly… So where are we getting this pizza?"

"From the freezer, uncle Gilby! That's where pizza comes from! Mamma alwaaaaays takes it out from there! But let fairy Anne cook it, I'm sure she's the bestest of the best," Anne laughed and went over where Delly was trying to open the heavy freezer drawer. Soon they were eating the frozen pizza (Anne had found with surprise that Mary had stocked up in one of the vegan brands available), even convincing Delly to add veggies after she told her a fantastical story of how the cherry tomatoes just blushed at the sight of the spinach.

"So, she's asleep?" Anne asked Gilbert as he came back to the living room, turning off the light and leaving only the glow from the tv. She was snuggled on the sofa, tired after all the day's antics, changing to Netflix after having surfed Disney+ for more than enough time for one night.

"Like a log. She just can't stop and then gets really tired. She didn't make it through the whole story," he answered, going to the sofa and standing in front of her. He caressed gently her cheek and she leaned into it, not taking his eyes off hers. They hadn't really had two minutes completely alone in the whole week and he was getting antsy. Taking some loose hairs and putting them behind her ear, he left his hand at the nape of her neck, holding her gently, watching how her mouth was slightly open.

"Gil?"

"Shh… I'm just watching you," he whispered, because he hadn't had a chance to fully see her in days. He felt some tension grow as she returned his gaze, until he couldn't hold it any longer and leaned to kiss her. He had intended it to be a chaste kiss, but as she corresponded the kiss licking his lower lip and then nibbling it, he knew she was having none of it. He explored her mouth, deepening the kiss and feeling the need he had had inside for days finally find some release. He broke it off after a moment, but stayed close to her, still standing in front of her.

"Come here, I've missed you these days," Anne whispered, scooting over to the side and leaving a narrow space next to her where Gilbert laid down, hugging her.

"Me too. More than you can tell," he said softly to her ear, holding her close to his chest, as she felt shivers go down her spine. "What are we watching?"

"I don't know. Something I've seen already… I don't have the mind to pay attention."

"Friends?"

"Sounds good," she answered, choosing the series and putting play from the chapter where Bash and Mary had left last. She traced his chest with her fingers, running one along the suspender, up and down to his pants, hearing how his heart started beating a bit harder.

"Anne…" he warned her. Because he really wanted her, and it had been really hard to keep off at night. He tried to read himself to sleep, not wanting to do anything with Mary and Bash in the same house. He was pretty sure she was in the same situation. Especially after that first night, when Bash had knocked on the door just as something was starting to form.

"What?"

"You know what. Stop it, please, it's hard enough as it is," he said, trying to concentrate on Phoebe taking her bike for a stroll.

Anne didn't move her finger, instead tracing the outline of his pants. Just hearing his strained voice and his quickened heartbeat turned her even on more. She moved her legs, uncomfortable, the feeling that was now getting more and more familiar of a certain moist heat on her underwear appearing. He hadn't given her more than a chaste kiss since Wednesday and she was going a bit crazy. She wanted him. And waiting until Sunday seemed like waiting for the pandemic to be over.

"Carrots, I'm serious here. No teasing," he insisted, his voice clipped and low.

"Didn't you just say Delly is sleeping like a log?" Anne asked in a soft voice as her hand trailed lower, feeling over his pants how he was already hard, even when he was trying to play the detached and reasonable one. He breathed deeply at her touch.

"I… did," he whispered, not sure about what she had in mind. She held his hand with her free one and took it slowly to her breast. She had gone a bit before to take her bra off, just anticipating this opportunity might actually happen and noticing she was already excited at the prospect. "Anne, what…?"

"I just want to enjoy this night, I've missed you. And Bash and Mary said they're not coming back before midnight. It's not even nine," she murmured in his ear, not knowing how she had come to be so bold. Maybe it was the need she felt for him to touch her. She actually didn't know and didn't care, she just wanted him. She nibbled the spot on his neck she knew was the most sensitive before adding, low, "We can be quiet… not wake her up, you know?"

"Goodness, Anne. You wicked, wicked Carrot," he mumbled as she held his erection through his pants and he felt whatever resolution to maintain the facade of a responsible adult fade.

What harm could there be? Delly had a history of sleeping through Bash and Mary's very loud dinner parties. They were known for coming back late. They were not going to get caught, really. Reaching his decision, he propped himself and straddled her, kissing her deeply, his tongue exploring hers as his hand explored her breast under her t-shirt, supporting himself on the other one. She moaned, and he retreated a bit.

"As much as I love every single sound you make, let's try not to wake the toddler, ok?" he hushed her gently. Anne giggled and readjusted herself, moving to unbutton his shirt. He pushed her hand gently. "I prefer not...just in case," he whispered into her ear, and the idea that they could indeed be caught at any moment turned her on even more. She moved her hands to put down the suspenders. He shrugged those off and she moved to undo his pants' button and zipper as he kissed her neck. He let one hand roam lower, pushing her skirt up.

"Yes, Gil... " she whispered as she felt his fingers hover over her panties, just as she pushed his erection out of his boxers, tugging them just a bit down.

"How is it… heavens, Anne, you're so wet…"

"I… I just need you," she said, because that was her only explanation. She did. Now. Badly. Going without him for ten years had been horrible. But then getting a taste of him, only to stop? Her need went so deep inside her she couldn't even point to the source. He rolled down her knickers, only above her knees.

"So you need me, Carrots?" he whispered, as she started moving her hand up and down his hardness. "Good god, Anne… yes, just like that."

"Please, Gil…" she said to him, and he put two fingers in her with no more preamble, causing her to stifle a moan in her elbow. He made small circles with his thumb. She was so wet. So warm. They locked their eyes, a hand on each others' center, both flushed, eyes dilated.

Anne felt his fingers move inside her and she thrusted in them, but it didn't feel enough. She wanted him. All of him. Now. Yesterday. She groaned, coming so close, and he noticed it by how the rhythm of her hand became erratic at best, how she was biting her lips to contain the moans he had worked so hard to free in the previous weeks.

"Yes, Carrots, come for me," he whispered, picking up the pace, feeling how his fingers felt the spasms of her pleasure as she bit her lips even harder, her eyes shutting hard as she tensed completely, the feeling now more familiar, but still surprising. He looked at her, smiling, still feeling like there was not a better view in the world than seeing her become undone.

"I want you, Gil," she forced herself to say, in spite of her breathlessness. Because for the first time, an orgasm elicited by Gilbert Blythe was not enough. She wanted him. Inside her. As his fingers had been. Deeper. Now. "All of you. Now," she insisted, as she saw conflict in his eyes. His erection still in her hands, she put the tip at her entrance, just there, a fraction of an inch inside, teasing him. Daring him to move away when she was so close. Needing him not to move away because this need she felt was raw and new and so insistent she was not above putting him in her if he didn't move already.

Gilbert felt her moistness, her inviting folds, just there, waiting for him to take them. Inviting him in. His hips hitched closer and he worked hard to contain them, tensing his muscles, trying to breath. Swallowing. Her eyes were full, dilated, pure need and lust.

"Anne, we didn't…" he tried to reason. Even when he didn't want to reason. He wanted her, had wanted her for days, for weeks, for years, and he was just there. "We didn't get the condoms and…"

"I don't care. Just you. Now. Please, Gilbert, I need you now," she said, thrusting slightly forward, his tip a bit deeper, a moan escaping her throat only with this taste of him on her, the anticipation. He wanted this. So much he couldn't really describe it. And what was the worst that could happen? Them, ending with a kid of their own. Realizing that a kid with Anne was not a bad outcome at all, he lowered into her completely, a deep groan he couldn't have controlled even if he had tried. Feeling how tight she was, how warm, how slick in her moistness, his mind was blank. This was beyond anything. This was it. "Gilbert," she moaned in awe. This was not supposed to feel this way. This full. This warm. This good. Yet it did. Everyone was right.

"Anne," he answered, his voice hoarse and raspy, his heart beating so hard. He still didn't move, afraid to do so, feeling he would just come undone if he did. This felt too powerful to be true. This was to become one with her. There was no physical way to be closer to her. And it felt so good. He moved slightly then, causing her to stifle another moan, not being able to contain one himself.

"Gil, please," she pleaded, trying to keep her voice down. She needed him to move. To do something to relieve this tension she felt. She moved her hips, nudging him to do anything, please, and he seemed to catch the idea as he started a deep, slow rhythm. She moaned again, not able to contain it this time as she saw the muscles on his neck tense, his arms supporting him, this rhythm something she couldn't quite handle. "Gilbert, yes."

"Uncle Gilby?" they heard. Gilbert froze instantly, coming flush to her chest so the back of the sofa would cover him. Sweaty fabric between them. He saw all blood flee from Anne's face. "I am thirsty…"

"I'll be right there with you, Delly-Beans," he answered, trying to sound as if he was relaxed and didn't have a wilting erection inside Anne. "Shit," he mumbled. He rolled to the side and tried pushing his pants all the way up again, closing the zipper quickly before getting up. "So, thirsty, eh? Come, let's get you some water…"

Anne heard their soft steps disappear into the kitchen and got up as well, adjusting her underwear quickly and trying to ignore the void she felt. Wait a moment. Void. They had been having sex not two minutes ago! On a sofa. On Mary and Bash's sofa. Gilbert had just been inside her. All of him! And it hadn't hurt! It had actually felt glorious... But unless he was a magician… there had not been a condom in all this. He had even mentioned it and she had pressured him. Shit! She had just had sex with Gilbert Blythe! Shit shit shit. This was not supposed to happen, not like this! Fuck. His… shit, when had she had her period last time? Shit, they were not teens to fool around like this!

"Carrots, you're ok?" Gilbert asked worriedly as he saw her pace from one side of the living room to the other, muttering under her breath, a deep frown in her forehead as she counted something with her fingers, the other hand scratching her head.

"Gilbert we just had sex," she said straight to his face and saw him smile dumbly, like Christmas was just around the corner and he still believed in Santa. She kept walking, growling frustratedly. "Gilbert. Sex. No protection. How aren't you freaked? I'm freaked. Shit. Fuck. How could I..." both hands went to her head, pushing the hair off her face and grabbing it somewhat desperately.

"Anne-girl, come here," he said, sitting on the sofa and lifting an arm, inviting her to cuddle in his chest. She went willingly, wanting the safety he represented, and he hugged her, caressing her soothingly. "I'm not freaked because the chances of a pregnancy are quite slim when there's no ejaculation. They exist because of the pre-cum, yes, but so slim. Even if there had been, I'd still not be freaked. We could buy a pill if that's what you'd prefer. And if you didn't, it wouldn't matter. I'm here with you. I'll be here no matter what. This…. this is it for me. Just remember that, that my love for you really has no bounds," he told her as he held her, his cheek on her head, his arms holding her and caressing her back. She breathed into his shirt, the scent now more familiar than anything else.

"What could be the chances? Still? With the… pre-cum and all?" she asked softly. She was not ready to be a mother. Even less an unemployed, stranded mother who still didn't know exactly what was happening with the father in question. She loved him, yes, but PEI still called her. If it wasn't for that and her… joblessness, she could actually think about the subject. Consider it seriously. Because damn, she had always wanted to be a mother. He sighed, trying to remember any fact from medical school. Reproduction had never been his strong suit.

"Well… I… It would depend a lot on where you are on your cycle, Anne. I remember there was a rate of between 20% to 30% of chances of getting pregnant using the withdrawal method? But I can't really remember. If you're not on your fertile window it really doesn't matter."

"And how am I supposed to know that? Now?"

"Now? Hard to tell. We could try to guess, if you're going to lose sleep over it, I suppose," he answered, feeling a bit lost. "When is your period coming next? How long is your cycle?" he asked, and as Anne pulled out an app she used to track it, Gilbert looked for something on a cloud drive where he still kept random notes and soon it felt like they were researching for a biology project. Bottom line? Chances were close to zero, and Anne curled in his chest again, sighing, much more relaxed.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Gilbert just cuddling her, holding her as close as he could. Delly or not, coming or not, this night still felt precious to him. Anne fell asleep quickly, the adrenaline of the night wearing away, melting under Gilbert's patient and soothing caresses. He continued to cuddle with her, even when her breathing eased away, caressing the line of her jaw, feeling how soft her braid was, giving small kisses to the top of her head.

"Look how cute they are," Bash said suddenly, surprising Gilbert. He hadn't heard them come in and catch him in the middle of a cuddling session with a peacefully asleep Anne.

"How was dinner?" Gilbert asked softly, not wanting to wake her.

"Good, but cut short. Nothing to be done. But hey, we got to go out. Thanks for watching Delly, by the way," Bash answered him, voice low, Mary still holding his hand. Gilbert nodded.

"I'm taking her to bed. I think Delly wore her out more than she cared to admit," he said, trying to adjust her so he could stand up. Bash went over and helped him get steady as Anne burrowed her face in his neck as if she was a kid.

"You're ok?"

"She doesn't weigh that much, honest. I'll see you both tomorrow, thanks for everything," he said, starting to walk towards the guest bedroom.

"Blythe? Make a move already and propose? That moke face will give you away before you know it," Bash told him, winking. Mary swatted his arm playfully. "And we are not waiting ten more years for this to happen, you hear me? Delly will be your flower girl and she still has the age for that!"

"Bash, honestly, not the best moment to discuss this," Gilbert said. Anne might not weigh as much as Fred, the last adult before her he had carried anywhere, but she was not Delly either. And she could hear Bash and freak. Again. And they had been telling him only hours ago how he should wait until she was ready. "Night night."

Notes:

Well, what did you think of the chapter? About Pilbert? About... well, everything?