EC 14 Reunion

Emily's Chronicles: Part 14: The Reunion
By Trish and Tammy

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction. Emily of New Moon was created by L.M. Montgomery and is the property of her, her estate, and her heirs, not me. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit was made.

The little buggy carrying Isabel, Sarah, Emily, and Ilse back from
Charlottetown turned into the little lane that led to New Moon. Sarah saw
Isabel sit forward a bit scanning the yard for any glimpse of the man she
now knew waited there for her return.

The trip back had been a bit unsettling for Isabel. She sat in the front
passenger seat trying to calm herself. Her heart seemed to race most of the
way, and she wished Sarah would go faster. Sarah had seen her nervousness
and had done her best to calm Isabel, but she knew that it did little good.

The morning had been cool after the rain of the day before and Isabel had
brought along a short summer weight driving cloak which she now had placed
over her lap wringing it in her hands. Isabel knew that allowing herself to
become so flustered was not good for the baby, but she could not help it.
She would soon be reunited with the man she loved.

Laura, Elizabeth, and Perry were sitting on the porch with Dr. Burnley
who had come to check on his newly sober patient, and to discuss with
Francis the risks that Isabel faced. Jimmy, Eve, and John came out of the barn as
they heard the buggy approach. Sarah pulled the horse up alongside the
house, and reached out to greet her husband who had run over to meet her.

Ilse and Emily practically jumped down from the back seat to greet their
family members eager to tell them all they had done. Jimmy helped Isabel
down from the front seat. He could tell she knew, and was anxious to join
Francis.

Inside the house Francis stood staring into the fireplace anxiosly
wringing his hands. He had heard the buggy pull up outside. His first
impulse was to rush outside and scoop Isabel up in his arms, but he knew
that this needed to be a private moment between them. She had waited for him, he
could wait a few more moments for her. He would wait forever if need be. He
still could not believe it was true. He was going to be a father. Isabel,
his Isabel, was carrying his child. He thought of that glorious day when
they were alone in the lighthouse. They had declared their love for each other.

Their deep true love, that could withstand anything, and they were right. He
hated himself for leaving her then, hated himself even more now. What she
must have gone through. She needed him, and he hadn't been there. He vowed
to spend the rest of his life trying to make it up to her, but he feared he
never could. To think, if not for Emily's letter, he may have gone through
his entire life never knowing.

He heard her light footsteps now on the porch and paused for a moment. All
these months he had dreamed of her, seen her in his thoughts day and night,
tasted her kisses, and felt her arms around him. She was now in the fifth
month of her pregnancy. He knew because it had been five months since the
last time her had seen her. He had counted the lonely, agonizing days of
longing for the woman he loved. How much he had missed. Now she was just on
the other side of the door. How would she react when she saw him? And what
of the shock, what would that do to her, and to the baby? He knew she was
aware of what his brother and her cousin were trying to do, surely she must at
least hope he will be there. Surely she must want to see him.

Outside Isabel looked around in vain. She could see nothing of Francis.
"Where is he?" She was growing alarmed at his absence from the welcome. Her
face showed her urgency.

Gestering towards the door, Eve said--"He's inside."

Not waiting to greet the others Isabel hurridly struggled to climb the
few steps to the front door. She had to remind herself not to run. She
rushed into the old house yelling his name. "Francis!" She called out.

In the front hall as she drew parallel with the parlor doorway she
stopped frozen in her path, still clutching the driving cloak which obsurred
any view of her delicate condition. Her voice had barely left her lips when
she saw him, turning from the fireplace to meet her eyes. They both drew in
their breath and almost disbelievingly at each other for a moment, both
afraid that the other would simply vanish at the slightest sound. Finally,
at once they rushed to each other. Francis took Isabel in his arms and
kissed her long and slow. He had dreamed of this moment for months. She
gladly let herself melt into his embrace. It was as if life was beginning
anew for them, a life together.

He stood there tracing every curve of her face in his mind. She was so
beautiful. Even more lovely than the images in his mind he had lived on
these past months. She took his breath away. All he could do was stare at
her.

Finally, he came back to himself. His first thought was to declare that he
would never leave her again, and reassure her of his love for her. But
there would be time for that, and he had not seen her in what seemed like an
eternity. He just wanted to look at her for a while. He drew her gently to
the small settee, and helped her to sit. She had said nothing yet. She was
too overcome. How long she had dreamed of this moment. He quietly sank down
onto the sofa beside her. That's when he noticed how tired she looked. What
must she have been through. 'An ordeal, if I know this town.' Francis
thought bitterly to himself. He should have been here. His eyes traveled for a
second over her form, thinking of the life they had created through their
love. Isabel was still holding the cloak tight to her, she had forgotten
about it, and it was hard to tell.

At once, Isabel brought her hand to his face. Francis had to catch his
breath. Through everything it had been the memory of those firey eyes that
had kept him going, and now she was staring up at him, as if he were a ghost
from some painful past. She watched him for a moment, trying to convince
herself he was actually there. For once in his life he could not find words
to tell her what he needed to let her know. Then she spoke.

"Don't wake me." She pleaded.

"What?" He whispered, not understanding.

"Don't wake me, ... for I am sure this is a dream, and I don't ever want
to wake up." Her eyes now echoed the fear she had kept buried for months.

He could not stand that look. He knew that he had put that fear in her
eyes. He quickly knelt beside her . He grabbed both of her hands and kissed
them. His lips went to hers, and they shared the kiss that each had held in
their hearts while they were apart.

"Does this feel like a dream?" He asked, laying his head against hers .

Isabel looked into his eyes. She had dreamt of them for so long. She
touched his face again. "Yes, it does." She spoke a wide smile appearing on
her face.

"I should never have left you." He whispered holding her face in his
hands and kissing her. "I should have spoken up, and said what I really
felt. That leaving you was ripping my heart out."

"I should not have made you go." She answered tears falling from her
eyes. "When I saw ... your wife..." She couldn't finish the thought, she
couldn't say the other woman's name, not now. "I couldn't be... like...like
Megan Moore."

Francis knew who she was referring to and what she meant. She had told
him the whole story of the woman who had destroyed her parent's marriage and
traumatized her. "You could never be like that." He assured her, tears
beginning to roll down his cheeks. "You weren't destroying anything, there
was nothing to destroy. It's you I love. I told you wanted to spend the
rest of my life with you. That was the truth." He smiled. "You are my wife, my
true wife...in everything but legality, and that will be changed soon." He
vowed.

"I know." Isabel confirmed. "Of, that I have always been certain."

"You'll never have to doubt it." He took both of her hands in his and
kissed them. Then looking into her eyes he formed the words he had not had
time to say before. "Marry Me." He begged.

It seemed an enternity before she was able to speak. She was lost in the
words, the thoughts, the feelings of what he had just said. It seemed all
she could do was stare at him her heart in her throat. Finally she was able
to voice the answer she has been saving for months. "Yes...Oh, Yes!" Her
smile turning to joyous laughter.

Again the two reunited lovers kissed. This time both knew that nothing
would ever come between them again. That their's was a love somehow
destined to be. Suddenly Isabel knew why everything had happened. Why she and her
father had come to the island. It was all meant to be. She and Francis were
supposed to be here together at this time. They were supposed to fall in
love, they were supposed to have a child, and maybe even they were supposed
to be seperated for awhile so that they would realize how desperately they
needed each other. As she look at him she saw the face of her child, and
the face of her future.

"Francis. There's something I need to tell you." She grinned at him
certain he would be overjoyed at the news.

He smiled a laughing smile at her. "I know. I know about everything. The
letter remember." He kissed her forhead.

At that, keeping one hand tightly locked in his, Isabel pulled back the
cloak that covered her to reveal her rounded shape beneath her dress. She
smiled at her baby's father with the brightest gleem in her eye. She saw
his face grow amazed with wonder.

"Oh, Isabel..." He whispered. He had not realized just how she would be
showing. This was his child. Their's together. His hand hovered over her
abdomin as if he didn't know what to do. He was so afraid he would hurt her.

Isabel gently took his and and lightly placed over the spot on her belly
where she had felt most of the baby's kicks holding it there with hers. As
if on cue, the baby's foot again found the same spot with a great force.

"See, the baby knows it's father is here." She smiled at him.

He was speechless, scarely able to believe what was happening. The woman
he loved was carrying his child. He was feeling it move through her skin.
He also felt Isabel tense with the blow. "Does it hurt?" He asked
concerned.

"Oh, maybe just a little sometimes." She said trying to relieve his
worry. "I don't mind." She grinned.

He stared at her. What she had gone through the past months, and still
she welcomed him back. The changes she was experiencing and not a word of
complaint.

"You are remarkable." He said in awe. Then he thought of her facing all of
this alone. "Why didn't your write to me, and tell me? I would have come
back. Nothing could have kept me away."

"I know, my darling. I know you would have." She assured him. "That's
exactly why I couldn't tell you." Then he saw a sadness cross her eyes. "You
had your own life." She said as she cast her eyes down to the baby. "We had
no part in it."

"You are my life." He declared. "You, and the baby."

He knew she had not spoken the words to hurt him. She was just explaining
her reasons, but what she had just said stung like a thousand knives cutting
into his soul. He hated himself for making her feel that she had to face
giving birth to and raising their child alone. "I will never forgive
myself." He told her.

She took his face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes. "There is
nothing to forgive." She smiled trying to take away his guilt. She could
never blame him for anything.

He suddenly realized how brave she truly was, and how cowardly he was.
He kissed her again, and held her for a long time. They both knew that their
feelings were so strong that any attempt to describe them would be
inadequate, but he needed her to know.

"I love you." He vowed to her.

"Oh Francis, I love you." Isabel whispered.

He sat back on the sofa beside her and enwrapped her in his arms. He
told her everything, about not being able to stay with Hattie, about
Stovepipe Town, drinking, and jail, and sobering up in the barn. He also
told her about dreaming of her every minute of every day they were apart.

She in turn told him of returning from Scotland ill, about getting sick by
the side of the road, about how surprisingly happy she was when she
discovered she was expecting, about what she had faced the past months, and
about how she had prayed for him every day. They held each other for the
longest time. They both wished they could stay there forever in each others
arms. They knew, however that there was much to be done. They also knew now
that there was plenty of time for them to spend together.

Together they walked to the front door and stepped out on to porch. He
wanted to carry her but she gave him a grateful and knowing smile letting
him know that she didn't need that...yet. He did hold her close to him as
the descending the steps. He would let nothing happen to her. As the happy
couple strode out into the yard arm in arm they were met by the eager faces of the
family. Everyone seemed on edge with anticipation of the news.

Isabel and Francis looked at each other smiling. They knew what the
family was waiting to hear. Together they gave them the news, smiling and
laughing at the same time. "We're getting married." They annouced to gleeful
cheers and happy laughter.

"Now that's wonderful news!" exclaimed Elizabeth, Sarah, and John, all at
the same time.

"Us too!" agreed Emily and Ilse.

As Jimmy put his arm around Eve's waist, he said--"Why don't we have a
double wedding?" Winking, lovingly at his fiance', he added, "Right, my
Queen of Romania!?"

Hugging him back, a beaming Eve returns his reply, "I should say so!"

It was then that Allen Burnely decided that he and Laura had waited long
enough. They had spent nearly a year skirting the issue they both new was
staring them in the face. He had nearly lost her forever, and he was not
going to take that chance again. Although is was completely out of his
nature, and would stun everyone he suddenly knew what he had to do, and knew
what she would say. Turning to the woman he had loved for years he took
both of her hands in his and announced...

"Make that a triple wedding!" He stared at her with true passion. "Marry
me, Laura Murray!" Allen's eye pleaded.

With happy tears in her eyes, Laura happily replied, "Yes, yes, Allan, I'll
marry you darling!!! I love you so much!!! Yes! Let's make it a triple
wedding." The embraced as if they had been seperated for a hundred years.

Ilse suddenly jumped, throwing her arms around her father and future
mother. "Oh, I knew you too would figure it out eventually." She beamed to
the delighted laughs of the loved ones she held in her arms. Then she
suddenly drew in her breath, an amazed look in her wide eyes. She turned to
her best friend, grabbing her hands tightly. "Emily, do you know what this
means?"

Emily finished her thought with her both girls squeling with delight at
the top of their lungs. "We're gonna be cousins.!!!" they jumped up and
down in a circle, and then threw their arms around each other, as the adults
joined in their merry laughter.

"Oh Isabel, while you were in Charlottetown, a letter arrived for you from
your father. I'll go get it." Elizabeth remembered, running back into the
house to retrieve the small envelope.

She returned a bit out of breath and handed it to Isabel. Isabel stared
at the paper in her hand, noticing she was trembling a little. This was the
news that worried her most of all. Francis noticed her shaking and put his
arm tighter around her. She looked anxiously at him, seeing a look in his
eyes that told her he would protect her from anything, even her father if
need be. She openned it and they read it together. Suddenly a smile appeared
on Isabel's face replacing the furrow that had begun digging its way into
her
brow. "Father's coming back." She announced and then read aloud as the
family listened intently...

' Make ready for my arrival, for I am leaving for Prince Edward Island by
nightfall. No grandchild of mine will come into the world without me there.
I regret the turn that our last visit together took. I will be counting the
hours to seeing your face again. We have much to discuss.'

The big family that had become bigger that day, and was about to get even
larger, stood in the yard at New Moon. If smiles were money they would have
been the richest people in the world that day. Not just one, but three
couples were going to joined together. Elizabeth stood back for a moment and
surveyed the scene. She saw a true happiness in her sister that had never
been there before. She was certain for the first time that she would be
fine. Jimmy seemed to have found a new purpose to his life, beyond the animals
and fields that he tended. She knew great things were in store for him. Her
cousin Isabel, at one time bitter and angry, had been reunited with the love
of her life and would soon be bringing another Murray into the world. There
was another side of family to welcome she thought as she watched John slap
his brother on the back and shake his hand while Sarah hugged a beaming
Isabel tightly. To think she had not trusted them at first. Even Perry, who
was right now pumping Jimmy's hand in congratulations seemed older and more
mature. He would soon be running most of the work around here with Jimmy and
Eve living in that nice little house he thought was keeping secret. There
was a joy at New Moon, one that had not been there for a long time, if ever.
Elizabeth Murray found that joy in the happiness of the people she loved.