Sit With Me, an anne with an e fanfic

Anne and Gilbert sitting on Ms. Stacy's marriage chest.

Things happen as it should have. There are no regrets whatsoever with the outcome, even though here they are, cramping inside Miss Stacy's house with wherever they can find a sit and do their daily study session for Queen's entrance exam.

But studying is an overstatement for most of them. There might be open books, notebooks, papers, and pens but no one is really paying attention on what were written there, but Muriel couldn't care. She was still bursting with anger and rage.

They will pay for this! Soon enough, they will.Muriel thought, growling while putting her mind and soul in stirring the lemonade she is preparing for her students that seems to have no end.

Chatters and buzzes are all over the place, giggles and chuckles of the boys and girls of Avonlea that has been staying in her house because their schoolhouse has been burnt down did by the cowards of man calling themselves as "the board".

After Anne talked to Mrs. Lynde, she understood that all this non-sense had happen not because she stood up for a friend, not because they stood up for justice, not because they defended their right of freedom of speech. This horrible thing happened because of the coward of man "the board" has, none of this was her or her classmate's fault.

She will never regret anything that has transpired. She will not even regret that their schoolhouse was burnt down to ashes – but she will be sad, that is for certain – but this is the price that they probably need to pay, or the unnecessary collateral damage for them to be heard, for them to be free.

I will never let this affect me negatively because we did what is right.Anne repeats this in her head over and over and over again until she reached Miss Stacy's house.

This is where they were ushered so they can continue their class as they will not be deterred by a burnt schoolhouse. Although crowded, this would still do as they have roughly a day before their examinations come.

Anne, with a lemonade in her hands, tried to find a place – a quiet place – where she can just enjoy herself and continue reading her history book.

"This lemonade is good!" she said after taking a sip, eyes still roaming around to scout a place for herself. Then she saw a chest near the window with an available chair, there you are! She thought.

Anne made her way to the spot and was so pleased to see that the chest is bigger than she though it was, so instead of taking the chair next to it, she opted to sit on the chest, bringing her legs up crossing them together under her thighs and placed her lemonade on the chair. She immediately felt comfortable and started reading her book.

"May I join you?" Anne heard a familiar baritone voice that she knew all too well just after a few minutes of reading. She raised her head and looked at him and mumbled, "Gilbert" in her softest voice.

After few moments of staring at each other – which is not new for the two of them – she offered the space on the chest next to her. She could have offered the chair where her lemonade sits, surely, but he specifically asked if 'he can join her' and sitting next to her would fulfil that.

"Yeah sure." she said and patted the space next to her which Gilbert gladly accept, far too eager if anyone had noticed, but no one has.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

"Oh, just history. For the exams. You?" Anne asked back.

"I was just trying to review my essay, proofreading, if you will." he smiled.

"Well, that would be a tedious job. Do you need help? she offered.

"Sure! It would be an honor if someone with immense vocabulary and imagination can proofread my essay." he said, eyes twinkling, but Anne didn't notice of course.

"Do you want me to read it now or will you finish reading it yourself first?" she asked while looking at her book, trying to catch up where she left.

"I will read them first, then I will pass it to you, is that okay?" worried eyes met Anne's as she raised her head to look at him again when she heard the panic in his voice asking if it was okay with her.

"Sure." she smiled at him and continue reading her book of assignment.

They work in comfortable silence for about fifteen minutes when Gilbert nudges her arm causing her to look at him. As expected, she saw him looking at her intently, nothing has changed really, this is just Gilbert being Gilbert. She gave him a questioning look as an answer.

"I am done reading it. Here." he said as he handed her the paper.

Anne started reading and she was engrossed with the task. Gilbert, for the life of him, doesn't know what is happening. As his usual self, when it comes to Anne, he just stayed there, entranced, watching her intently while she was reading his essay. She reads through his words with all seriousness and focus she can offer while he studies her face. He is so close to her, this is probably the closest that he has ever been with her – apart from few circumstances – but right now, he can freely study her features.

Her face, even though graced with freckles that looked like star dust in the dark, dark skies looks soft and white, really white that he can still see her natural blushing cheeks. Her perfect nose, yes, it is perfect and her only feature that she takes pride on, which he still doesn't know why. Her lips that move ever so gently while she reads, the lips that haunts him in his dreams. Her eyes… her dimples… her everything! She is everything~

"Gilbert." he heard her call from a distance, he still studies her face, trying to memorize all that he can store in his memory.

"Gilbert! Are you okay?" this time, he was summoned to the now with her calling out his name, her hands on his forearm, and the other waving in front of his face. He was caught gawking and he was not ashamed one bit.

"Yes. I am looking at you while you read it so I can see your reaction. Sorry." he said but he knows he is nowhere close than sorry.

"Okay. I thought I lost you somewhere. To think that I was the one who is always being teased because of my vivid imagination." she answered with a teasing smirk on her lips.

"You are still the mistress of imaginative conquest Ms. Shirley-Cuthbert. I will never beat you to that." he said back with same teasing she offered.Well, this does not happen every day, alright.

"Okay here is my suggestion on your essay…" Anne kept on explaining her pointers regarding Gilbert's essay.

Apparently, it is far more interesting as she though it would be. It was not an ordinary topic as it is one of his requirements for his application for medical school. There are few terminologies that she is not aware of so she needed to ask him to further understand and give the most fitting suggestion she can give.

"So, I think, you may need to add two more paragraphs at the end to solidify your argument on this essay. A good closing perhaps, or a quote from someone renowned in the medical field. What do you think?" she asked.

He knows he's been doing it for the last couple of years – watching Anne from afar. Even back when Mr. Philips was still their teacher, he has spent most of his time looking at Anne, watching her and trying to decipher her character since she was not really welcoming his friendship at the earlier part of their relationship or the lack thereof. Now, he has proven to himself that when it comes to Anne and another thing, Anne is his priority. So even though she has been talking about his essay, laying her suggestions on how to make it better, she is still his priority. He mentally took note of the pointers she has mentioned but continued looking at her, studying her all the same. Without him noticing it, he is now holding one of her braids and playing with it with his hand.

The scenario played in front of Anne in a slow motion as Gilbert – absentmindedly, she thinks – reached out for her braid, run his fingers through it and played with it while listening to what she has to say regarding his essay. To be honest, she was afraid that he will pull her braid like the first time they met, but to her surprise, this time he didn't. He was playing with it as if it is a natural thing to do and to her surprise, she liked it this way.

Gilbert then noticed that he was holding Anne's braid and playing with it, momentarily stopped, and looked at Anne. She saw her eyes widely looking at him, probably out of surprised but not scared or angry. Eventually, the surprise in her eyes disappeared and she relaxed when she saw that he finally noticed what he has done.

"Anne…" he said, continuing playing with her braid. "I never had the chance to say this before, but I'd like to apologize to you. Apologize on what I have done when we first met when I pulled your braids." He added nervously.

"Gilbert, that was too long ago. Contrary to what most people think about me, specifically to that debacle, I don't hold grudges to you. Well, maybe for the first few months after its occurrence." she laughed.

"Really?!" he asked, delighted. "Oh, Anne!" he exclaimed in relief and a huge smile appeared on his face.

"But all the same, I still would like to apologize properly. I only did it because I wanted to know you so badly, and… and I wanted to be your friend."

"I'm sorry on how I treated you all these years." she whispered as her head bowed. "I am so ashamed on how I treated you when in the first place you have helped me in the woods. You saved me from Billy, but that is how I repaid your kindness." she added, looking into his eyes now. "I was just a misfit trying so hard to fit in and be accepted. I'm sorry."

"Anne…" Gilbert said with an earnest voice, his hand that was playing with her hair earlier is now holding her hand, "I never wanted to put you in any inconvenient position from the start, please know that you have done nothing wrong to me. All that has transpired triggered you to react the way you did. but I know you will insist that you need to say your apologies still, so I forgive you." he smiled.

"I forgive you too. Besides, we already had a truce, right?" she beamed at him.

"Yes, but that is for a different topic of transgression." he said looking at their joined hands. He then slowly released it and murmured "I'm sorry." but the universe know he wasn't.

A few awkward moments passed but they continued with what they are doing – Anne reading her book and Gilbert re-reading his essay – with side discussion of what has transpired with the newspaper and how Anne should be a relentless thorn not following the status quo.

"May I borrow your pen please?" Gilbert asked. Anne extended her hand holding the pen so he can get it.

Gilbert saw this as an opportunity as an excuse to hold her hands again. He reached for her pen, grazed his hands hers before getting it out of her hands. Anne smiled, Gilbert focuses his gaze to his papers, smirking still.

"ANNE!" Jane shouted, gaining the attention of most of the whole class.

What now?! Anne and Gilbert thought silently at the same time.

"Tell her to focus please!" Jane said exasperated, Ruby in tow. "The exams are tomorrow, right? And all this girl is doing is turning geometric shapes into heart!" she added.

"I believe being romantic is any less respectable than being studious." Ruby huffed, proud of herself. "Ask Gilbert! He is of both qualities!" she said, eying Gilbert intently to help her support her stance.

Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows and looked questioningly to Ruby. What the hell is this girl talking about now? he thought.

"You are studious and romantic." Ruby says, plainly.

"Hold on, hold on!" Anne retorted. Did they see us? she thought. "What is it with Gilbert being romantic? WE are not being romantic, Ruby. WE are studying for the exams tomorrow." she said, willing the divine deity to make it a good argument.

"NOT with you Anne, with Winifred!" Ruby answered sarcastically.

Oh. Right. Winifred. Her heart drops to her stomach. She has forgotten about her. Ruby was right, he has Winifred, what on earth was she thinking flirting with this annoying boy beside her.

Gilbert was looking at Anne the whole time while she tried to defend herself – or them? – with Ruby's accusation that they are being romantic. Well, I want to be romantic with you alright, he thought to himself talking with Anne inside his head while studying her face and action.

She was flushed, that little blush creeping from her neck up to her cheeks. He saw how hurt registered in her eyes when Ruby said that she is not the one she was referring to him being romantic but Winifred. Right there, he knew that she has feelings for him too. He recognizes that hurt because it reflects his.

Their classmates have begun talking on one after the other, throwing curious questions about him and Winifred and just by listening to them, he realized how this Winifred business is beginning to ruin his chance with Anne – everything they are saying were pure assumptions and contains zero truth in it. Anne remains mute, either doesn't want to comment on anything or is boiling inside her mind. This is a pure misunderstanding and miscommunication, and he cannot let this be.

"Hold up!" he shouted, and the buzzing sound immediately stopped. Anne was looking at him attentively. "Why on earth do you believe that I and Winifred are together?" he asked to everyone inside the room.

"Ahm, well you brought her to the country fair with her parents, didn't you?" Ruby was the first one to catch up.

"Yes, that is true. And I believe you are all there to see that fact. But that doesn't mean that I am courting her. She is a valued friend and colleague in Dr. Ward's office. We work together." he looked at Anne, making sure that her attention is with him, and she is hearing him clearly. Anne is looking at him questioningly, eyes glassy.

"I decided to leave my apprenticeship with him because of Mary and her sickness and I needed to be at home to support my family during these difficult times. I asked her if she wanted to go and see the country fair as a friendly outing and she opted to bring her parents with her, as this is a good opportunity to visit Avonlea. There is nothing romantic, malicious or anything about that. I think you have just all conjugated this notion in your heads without verifying the information with me and that is rude." he said firmly, a little agitated to be honest. How could the people of Avonlea though about this? He looked at Anne once again caught her gaze and she smiled timidly at him.

So, they are not courting! He is not with Winifred! Anne thought, rejoicing in her head.

"But it is the talk of the town Gilbert." Charlie said, blinking, not really buying his explanation.

"I don't care about what the town talks about Charlie. I will be the who will decide to whom should I commit romantically." Gilbert said with finality.

It is evident that the whole class has nothing to say on his outburst, but he cannot let this speculations continue as this will affect his relationship or the lack thereof with Anne. It is clear as a summer day, from the start that he cannot be with anyone apart from her, well if she will accept him, that is. But he cannot back out just like this, he needs to get his shot. If she said no, then he will probably try again.

Soon after, their classmates dispersed to their seats and engages in their own conversations.

"That was quite a denial you got there." Anne eventually said, her breathing still a bit shaky.

"These people are just absurd, Anne. How could they just jump into conclusion like that, it's annoying." he responded with deep furrow on his forehead.

"Its… its pretty evident in the country fair. That you are together." she said quietly that he almost missed it if they aren't siting this close. "I though so too." she added, sadly.

"Anne… please don't think of that as a romantic affair, there is no affair at all. It is just a friendly invitation, nothing more." he said eagerly as if this is where his life depends, his voice was almost pleading. Anne looked at him concerned, puzzled, questioning.

"Let's not talk about this here. Please walk with me later after the study group, okay? I need to tell you something, but not here." he said authoritatively.

If not for his earlier outburst in the middle of the class, she would have though this authoritative Gilbert as a controlling mess, but that she can't because she can see the eagerness in his eyes. "Okay." is all that she can say. Gilbert reached for her hand again and squeeze it gently, but firmly.

"Okay everyone, please gather around." Miss Stacy shouted, getting the whole class's attention. They gathered around the center table in the living room. Gilbert and Anne didn't join the midst of their classmates, instead, hover at the back, standing closely to each other.

Anne felt Gilbert's hands in her elbow, bringing her slightly in front of him and very, very close she can feel his soft breath on her neck. She doesn't want to dwell on it, but she felt him kiss the back of her head as well, very softly. She shivered with the contact.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate you all in advance for finishing your education foundation here in Avonlea. You all have done very well learning what the curriculum has offered. Secondly, I am very proud of each and everyone of you. Taking this entrance exam and furthering your education is one of the little things that many youths are not taking advantage of. The world is changing in a fast pace, and we need to catch up. I hope all of you will be proud of yourselves no matter the results of tomorrow's exam will be. Thirdly, good luck and thank you! Please know that I will be here should you so wish to have someone to talk to. I am thankful for all of you!" Miss Stacy ended her little speech and one by one, they went to her to hug her and say their thanks for having a wonderful and supportive teacher like her, the first in Avonlea.

The class has started to go out of Miss Stacy's house and go on their way home.

"Anne! Let's go home together with Jane." Ruby called.

Gilbert intercepted right away, not wanting anyone to join him and Anne on their walk home. "Anne! Wait, Miss Stacy needs us at the backyard, she called for us." he said, standing still while waiting for her to respond.

"Oh… okay." she answered Gilbert. "Sorry Ruby, I might need to stay, you both go on ahead." she said and waved goodbye to her friends and run towards Gilbert. She stopped in front of him, but it seems like he has no intention in moving. "Let's go?" she asked.

Gilbert looked into her eyes, raising his eyebrow. Come on Anne don't tell me you believed it.

"Gilbert Blythe!" she said, feigning annoyance but smiling all the same.

"Miss Stacy didn't ask for us Anne, I just wanted to shoo your friends away because WE will walk home together, remember?" he said.

"Right." she agreed. "So, let's go?"

"Come on, but we will not take same route as the others. We might come across them unintentionally. Let's go." he said, grabbing her hands to his while they start walking to the opposite direction of their friends. This will take them double the time to get home but who cares.

They continued walking for fifteen minutes in comfortable silence, hands still intertwined to one another and occasionally glancing at each other and smiling.

Gilbert halt on his steps when they reached the clearing that leads to the Orchard and Green Gables. He squeezed Anne's hand and lead her to the secluded part of the forest, eyeing the log that was under an oak tree where they can sit. He led Anne on the log and let her sit without letting her hand that he is holding go.

"Gilbert…" she whispered his name which made his heart warm. "Sit beside me, please." she added. But instead of sitting, he kneeled in front of her taking her other hand to his – he is now holding both of her hands to his while making small circles on her knuckles with his thumbs.

"Anne…" he started. "Please, listen to what I have to say. Please keep an open mind, and don't runaway, don't leave me here. Can you promise me please?" he asked, eyes pleading. "I need to say this to you. I need you to understand what I have to say." he added.

"Gilbert… I don't understand. Why do we need to do this here? I feel so anxious."

"Don't be please. I just wanted to say this to you, once and for all. We've been dancing around this for so long now." he said pleadingly.

"Okay. I promise to listen. But can you please sit here beside me? You will hurt yourself kneeling for long." she said, worry evident in her eyes.

"I will later, I just want to see you while I say my piece." he said, smiling. He took a deep breath and started. "Anne, I know we have started off in a wrong foot which I have asked forgiveness earlier and you said you forgive me. But I will again say that I am so sorry for giving you misery when I pulled your hair, it was done not out of ill will but because I adored you since." he took another deep breath before continuing, still holding her hands and playing along with her fingers. "I adored you from the first meeting we had in the woods, please believe me." Anne remains silent, but her eyes was never leaving his.

"You have been the constant in my life ever since, Anne. You have given color and meaning to my school life, it was so dull and monotonous, but you gave it color from day one. You have been there while I was tending to my father and left school for a while, you were the only one who get off your way to check up on us, I know you will say that it is because Mr. Phillips asked you, but I know you did it because you also wanted too, because you cared about me, about me and dad. Yes?" he wanted to make sure that what he felt was true.

"Yes." she said softly and nodded. "I care about you, more than you know." she added with a small smile, reminiscing those lonely times.

"When I left Avonlea after dad died, I really don't know what to do with my life. I didn't want to leave but I felt it was a need that I must do so I can move forward with my life, have clarity, you know. I was even lost when we had an argument, and the truce that we had made my heart a little lighter. Because I didn't want to leave Avonlea without asking for an apology for how I treated you when all you wanted to do was to comfort me. I never wanted to leave and go far away without seeing you." he said, loneliness and longing evident in his eyes. "While I was on board SS Primrose shoveling coal, you are my constant thought, you are my constant companion. Wondering how you are, what are you doing, how are your adventures going, you know. You have been my anchor during those lonely and melancholy days."

"Then when I came back, it is still you that I seek. It is still you that led me back. I was already thinking of going back but I didn't have the heart to do so because I know, I don't have reason to go back to, at least I though that time. Then I received your letter about the gold, and right there and then, I felt the urge to go back and give Avonlea another chance, to go back to you. Then I thought, I can have Bash go home with me to give our life another chance, where we will be happy and secure, and he said yes. And you, the amazing person that you are, you have accepted him despite of him being different to us, him coming from a different origin. You gave him the same warmth you have always offered me. I felt it Anne, that even though we have started off, you still cared for me."

Anne nodded. Not saying a word so she would not interrupt him.

"I already felt that my feelings for you are not of plain friendship Anne, I need to make this clear. And you being with me and my family, every day, and especially with dad and Mary made me believe that you also cared for me much deeply from being a friend. I love being your friend, but I wanted to be more. I want us to be more, I want us to be together, until my last day in this world or even after that, if that is possible. I love you, Anne." a single tear fell down from his eyes to their hands. Anne looked at their hands then to his face, her eyes so glassy with unshed tears as well.

"I'd like to believe that you have feelings for me too. and I wanted to let you know that I am ready, giving you myself, all of me and all that I have, all I could give… when you are ready. Please take my word that there is nothing between me and Winifred, if there was an impression otherwise, I will correct them and talk with her and her parents and to the people of Avonlea. But there will be no one else for me but you, Anne, even beyond this lifetime. I will only love you, please remember that." his tears didn't stop and keeps on falling down as he confess his feelings to Anne. He brings her hands to his lips sealing his declaration.

Anne was stunned with his earnest declaration. She never thought that she will receive such love declaration in her life, more so, coming from the golden boy of Avonlea. She doesn't feel worthy of him to be honest; she is an orphan who cannot offer anything to him, she was adopted, and her origin was a mystery to them all, but being loved by Gilbert of all people, feels right and calm. This boy that was so broken losing his father even before he could grow as a man, leaving him all alone in this world, loves her despite her being this plain. She knows she loves him too, from the start and the same as what he said, she wanted them to be more than what they are already. But would that be okay? Will she be enough?

"I know you might think that you are not enough, or you are lacking, please don't. Please don't, Love. You are enough, you are all I ever need. All those things that people may think about this, about us, doesn't matter and will not matter. It will only be us; you and I are the only ones that matter. And I don't expect you to answer me right now, I just wanted this out in the open, I want to tell you honestly how I feel about you before we start college because I want to build a life with you Anne, only you."

Tears starts falling from her eyes with the enormity of Gilbert's confession – she wants that too. She wanted to build a life with him too. She wanted to be with him, reach their individual goals and dreams but do it together. She wanted the future where a Doctor Blythe and teacher Shirley-Cuthbert exist. She wanted a family with him, she wanted children with him who are loved and supported in all they do. She wanted him and she wanted it all.

"I am not rushing nor pressuring you, okay?" he asked her, worried that she hasn't said anything. "You can think about it, take your time. I just wanted you to know how much I feel for you and that I will be willing to listen and accept your decision no matter what it is."

"I… Gilbert… I wanted it too, a future with you, to build a life with you. But will I be enough? We know nothing about me, none at all. I am a lost soul, who found a home in the arms of Matthew and Marilla, and in Avonlea. I know nothing of who I am…"

"It doesn't matter Anne because the you now over shadow what you do not know about your past. You are far more accomplished than anybody else Anne-girl, you are strong and enough and magnificent. I love you, not your origin, or your past or those things that we not know about you. You are the only one I need, the only one I want."

With this, Anne launched herself to Gilbert bringing them together on the ground as she hugs him so tight, "I… thank you Gilbert. I love you too. Please stay with me forever."

After hearing those words from her, Gilbert immediately cupped her cheeks and gave her a hungry kiss that he has imagined and dreamed of most of the nights. She kissed him back with equal fervor and heat.

Who would have thought that two orphans longing for love, acceptance and happiness will find each other at this early part of their lives? Two people who deserved to be loved and cared for finding their place in each other's arms – loved, supported, and taken cared for.

After their searing kiss, they spent some more time siting on the log close together. Anne's head on his shoulder, their hands intertwined. Gilbert's other enveloping her waist so she is closer to him as possible. Talking about their future, quizzing each other for tomorrow's exam, and talking about everything and nothing. Him occasionally kissing her temple, her occasionally giving him a kiss on the cheek and both finding each other's lips whenever possible.

All will be well as there is Gilbert and Anne, together, navigating this lifetime through think and thin, facing each struggle, celebrating each success not as two but as one…

-End-