A/N: See? I told you I'd update soon. Anyway, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of L. M. Montgomery's characters. But it's nice to dream once in a while.

Hilary had decided to drive Pat to Swallowfield instead of just walking from the Bay Shore. From there, they began their walk. But theirs was not the walk of two lovers. Passersby noticed Pat Gardiner, her cheeks red with anger, walking at a quick pace about three or four feet in front of her intended, Hilary Gordon. It raised quite a few eyebrows. Was this engagement doomed as well?

Of course the engagement was nowhere near being doomed. But the two parties in question were having serious thoughts. It was their first argument, really. In all their years of friendship, they had, of course, had their little differences of opinion. But never had emotions run this high or this deep. By the time they had reached Swallowfield in the car, both had realized their mistakes, but both were determined not to apologize until the other did.

Hilary watched the straight back of his beloved for some time. Every movement she made radiated anger. He felt horrible for the way he had spoken to her, but he had been at the end of his rope. Desperate to spend time with her, he had finally snapped. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe she didn't want to marry him any more. Deep down, he knew that couldn't be true, but even the truest of loves have their moments of confusion and doubt.

Pat, for her part, could feel Hilary's eyes on her. She was tired of putting on the façade of being so angry. Of course, it hadn't been a façade at first, but her anger had quickly passed. Especially when she had made a reappraisal of her behavior since he had returned from Vancouver. Goodness, had they really not had a moment alone since then? She had recalled with some shame their conversation on his first night back. He had endeavored to talk of their future together and the wonderful times that were ahead. She had sidetracked him with questions about the flowers for the ceremony and whether or not they should serve fruit cocktails at the reception afterwards. Now she remembered how the light had gone out of his gray eyes as she had manipulated the conversation towards wedding plans. She wondered if he still wanted to marry her.

Ultimately, when they reached Happiness, it was Pat who caved in first. She had, after all, practically driven Hilary to his earlier behavior. She knew him inside and out and realized that only very extreme circumstances could have made him speak to her in such a manner. Pat slid her hand into Hilary's and gave it a slight squeeze. Hilary, who had been gazing off in the distance, turned to her, surprised at her touch and by the repentant look on her face.

"I am sorry, Hilary," she said softly. "I didn't realize until just now what my behavior has been. I must have made you feel terribly unimportant. Can you forgive me?"

He smiled at her.

"I think it is you who should forgive me. You aren't the only one that owes someone an apology. I had no right to speak to you in such a manner. And I promise you, Pat, that I won't do it again. Not purposely, anyway."

"Why don't we blame it all on the moon and just forget it ever happened?"

Hilary laughed. Pat loved to blame things on the moon.

"But there isn't a moon out, my dear. It's early afternoon."

Pat shrugged, as if the fact were unimportant. Whether it happened during the day or the night, she was determined it must be the fault of the moon. But there was one thing bothering her.

"Hilary, I don't think I liked it very much when you told me I was yours. You made me feel as if I were a possession. Will you promise not to do it again?"

"No," came the short reply.

"No?" she repeated. Anger began to rise up again inside her and she started to move away from her fiancé, but he caught her wrist and pulled her close to him. There was something new in his eyes which Pat found a little irritating, yet extremely attractive at the same time. He spoke in low tones, sending shivers through Pat.

"I say no, because you are mine. Mine after years of hope and love and despair. Just as I am yours. Just as I always will be yours. Body, heart, and soul, Pat, we belong to one another."

Pat found she couldn't move, couldn't even breathe as she looked up into Hilary's eyes. She began to stammer.

"W-Well, when you p-put it like that, it sounds much better. Much more romantic and less po-."

But she never finished her sentence, for Hilary had pressed his lips down on hers insistently. The kiss intensified and Pat was rather grateful for his arms around her. She felt like the heroine in those romance novels Rae had read in her teens. Pat had never approved of those novels, but she felt differently towards them now.

She reluctantly pulled away from Hilary, utterly conscious of the fact that, thus far, he had never kissed her in such a way. As she made a show of smoothing imaginary wrinkles out of her dress, Hilary grinned.

"Maybe we should fight more often," he said mischievously, raising his left eyebrow as he watched Pat. Pat looked up from 'pressing' her dress and blushed painfully. Hilary laughed. He sat down on the grass and Pat soon joined him. They talked of the house Hilary had built for them and Hilary told Pat all about his secretary, Laura. Pat felt she would like her and said so, which made Hilary very happy. Laura was also a friend of his. They sat in silence for a while, content to hold one another, until Hilary heard Pat sigh.

"That didn't sound too much like a contented sigh," he remarked, frowning. "What's bothering you?"

Pat shook her head.

"No, you made it perfectly clear that you didn't want to talk about the wedding today and I intend to grant your wish."

Hilary persisted.

"But something is obviously troubling you, Pat. And that is something I simply will not allow. Tell me what it is. I don't like seeing you unhappy."

"Well, it's about Rae."

"Rae? That has nothing to do with the wedding. What's wrong with Rae?"

"Oh, nothing as far as I know, but she sent a telegram this morning saying that she wasn't sure she would be able to make it after all. Oh, Hilary, I did so want her to be there. She's always hoped we would marry. It just doesn't seem right that she won't be there to see it."

Hilary was silent. He, too, had hoped Rae would be able to come. And this was truly beyond him to fix. All he could do was hold Pat and try to comfort her. For the sake of Hilary, Pat pushed all thoughts of her sister to the back of her mind and began to talk of other, unimportant matters in life. The two of them strolled all over Silver Bush, Swallowfield, and the old Gordon place. When they had tired of that, they rode into Silverbridge to see a movie and get a bite to eat. True to her word, Pat never again mentioned the wedding or Rae.

As Pat climbed into her bed that night, with Hilary sleeping down the hall, she thought of the fun she had had that day. But, as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wish that Rae could be with her.

Author's Note: This may be all for a while, with the 4th of July coming up and all, but I'll update as soon as I can. Let me know what you think, please, but no flames. Just constructive criticism, if you must criticize. Constructive criticism I can handle. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!