Hazel had insisted on sending Anne and Gilbert along with a lunch, so when she handed Gilbert the basket containing the food to hold, Gilbert mysteriously excused himself into the kitchen, returned a few minutes later with a smirk on his face. Anne eyed him suspiciously, but decided not to say anything. Yet. She would confront him later for sneakily slipping who knows what into their lunch.

After assuring Hazel that they would be back well before dark, and reminding her that the days were slightly longer now than they had been the past few winter months, they said a quick goodbye to Bash, Dellie and Elijah, who were sitting in the parlor.

"Hey Blythe!" Bash called after them, when they had almost reached the back door, both of their faces still a bit slobbery from the numerous wet kisses Dellie had given to them. "Be sure to--"

Gilbert yelped, and practically shoved Anne out the back door, slamming it shut with a relieved sigh as he cut off the rest of Bash's words. He gave Anne an apologetic grin. "Sorry, I just really didn't want Bash to further embarrass us with his unnecessary comments..."

Laughing, Anne shook her head, and took his hand in hers. "Come on, we better get a move on if we want to reach my exceptional place and have time to read and still head back before dark. You and I both know that if we're even a minute late, Hazel and Marilla will have gathered up the whole of Avonlea to come looking for us, with Mrs. Lynde at the head of the pack."

"I have absolutely no doubt that they will." Gilbert agreed with a small chuckle.

Still holding hands, Anne led them across the large field and through the woods that separated the Blythe-Lacroix home from Green Gables. Gilbert would smile softly whenever Anne would stop to pick some of the newly bloomed spring flowers, weaving then together into crowns as they continued walking. When finished, she tenderly placed a crown onto his head, beaming and giggling giddily at how adorable he looked.

Taking his hand again, Anne breathed in deeply as they walked along, taking in the beautiful scenery of lush green trees and brush, and smiling whenever she heard or saw a woodland creature scurry by.

When the woods were long behind them, and Green Gables was as well, Anne noticed that Gilbert's breathing had become a bit harder. She realized that even though she herself may be quite used to the distance of this journey, some in fact, may not be.

"H-How far is it, Anne?" Gilbert gasped out. "We've been walking for over an hour."

"We're almost there. I promise." She said, pulling his hand to her lips to plant a gentle kiss on it.

Gilbert nodded wearily, but kept moving forward. After another fifteen minutes, they came to another small wood, and water could be heard running from somewhere within. With another grin, Anne pulled her love towards it, practically bouncing with each step.

They entered the woods, and golden sunlight peeked through the branches of the tall trees, bathing them in gold. Shutting her eyes, and tilting her chin up, Anne spun around gleefully, briefly letting go of Gilbert's hand. Glancing back at Gilbert, she grinned, and grabbed his hand forcefully, pulling him towards her. She took the picnic basket from his hands, and placed it on the ground by one of the many trees surrounding them, along with her book, and then took both of his hands into hers.

"What're you doing, Anne?" He laughed.

"We're going to dance of course," Anne replied, puzzled that he simply did not comprehend the most obvious thing in the world.

"Of course." He echoed softly, releasing one of her hands and then spinning her around. The wind blew softly through the trees and around them, lifting Anne's hair, as if trying to carry it away.

They took turns spinning each other, after Anne's lengthy point that men shouldn't be the only ones to spin their partners, and that it was just as elegant for the woman to spin the man. They waltzed slowly with each other, with solely the wind and woodland sounds for their music. Somewhere along the way, they began the habit of exchanging a kiss after each spin, so when Gilbert spun Anne again, she gave him a tender kiss on the jaw.

Despite Gilbert having to crouch down a bit in order for Anne to spin him properly, he then gave her a gentle kiss on the nose. Pausing from their dancing, they let their foreheads rest together for a moment, before Anne softly murmured, "We should probably keep moving. We're nearly there. We would be there by now, had we not stopped to dance."

"We got distracted," Gilbert laughed, "But I can't say that I regret it."

"Me neither."