Foreword:

You may remember this story from about four years ago. Time goes by so quickly! Lots of things happened in my personal life that stopped me from continuing, and I only just recovered my login details. I'm sorry to those fans who did enjoy the story and kept asking for updates!

I've decided to rewrite a lot of this story, although the plot is, I promise, the same. I'm working through rewrites and will soon be adding a new chapter.

Story Notes:

I was never "into" the AoGG books as much as I was into the movies. So this story is based more closely on Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, by Kevin Sullivan. His movie incorporates the books Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars. This is why avid book fans might see some differences in plot that were developed by Mr Sullivan.

This story takes place at the point in the movie where Anne decides to come home after a teaching term at Kingsport Ladies College. In this version, she does not bring with her Katherine Brook, the sour headmistress. There are going to be a number of similarities between this story and further details of the movie, but most of it takes a completely different turn. (Some may also get the idea that the opening chapter is modelled somewhat on the opening scene from Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story - if you guessed that, you're right!)

Oh, please also note that some minor plot details will be changed to fit in with my story. I apologise to anybody who disagrees with these changes, but it's what I like to call artistic licence!

I do hope you enjoy this story! Please review - I like feedback.

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Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The rippling waters coursing between the Canadian mainland and Prince Edward Island revealed a young woman of twenty-two, with rich auburn hair, gathered loosely and pinned back with a simple clasp; grey-green eyes, shining brightly with anticipation as they gazed over the rail of the boat. Her new lace blouse with well-fitting grey-blue pinafore dress clung to her slim figure in all the right places. She looked immaculately groomed, and though her clothing was not extravagant, her air and her beauty suggested that she could, without much effort, be mistaken for a well-to-do society member from London. However, it was just Anne; plain old Anne-with-an-e Shirley, of Green Gables.

It had been so long since she'd visited her beloved Island; almost four years. While she'd adored her time teaching at an all-girls school in Kingsport, she'd felt as though a part of her were missing, as though there was something amiss that should have been there. And suddenly, as the all-too-familiar curves and lines of the Island sprung out from behind the rainy mist that blanketed the horizon, she felt the missing portion of the puzzle fly back into place. Her heart soared and her pace quickened with excitement, as the Island came more clearly into view with each glide of the ship.

A gentle gust of wind whipped through the air, ruffling Anne's hair; exhilarated, she pulled away the clasp and let her hair tumble to her shoulders; down her back. A few other passengers stared at her briefly, wondering why this well-dressed young woman was being so carefree; but she didn't care. She breathed in the cool salty air, and felt as though she might cry if she did not stop herself. Even the enormous black rolling rainclouds could not dampen her spirits on such a wonderful day; today, the impending rain seemed beautiful and refreshing – symbolic of the opening of another chapter in her life, symbolic of new life and new opportunities.

The dock was slippery as Anne stepped from the boat; rain had begun to fall with more fervour, tumbling in hazy torrents from the rumbling grey clouds overhead. Again, she was not bothered by the rain itself; however, she did open her parasol and held it gingerly above her head, certain that she didn't want to remember her first week in Green Gables as having a cold. She clutched her suitcase tightly in one hand, gazing around the dock. Men and women hurried about, holding pieces of newspaper, books or even pieces of discarded wood above their heads. Children shrieked in laughter as they tried to break free from their parents to dance in the rain. Bells sounded in the distance, signifying the arrival of another ship from the mainland. Sighing, Anne stood, gradually growing wetter and wetter under the rainfall.

And it was then that she spotted a figure in the distance, running closer; she didn't have to think for a moment to know who that figure was. With her long, thick glossy black hair gathered into a soft, loose bun, and that slightly awkward glide, she knew it was Diana Barry, her Diana, her best friend in the entire world. Anne let out a shriek of joy as she instinctively dropped her parasol and raced toward her friend, whose arms were outstretched.

"Oh, Diana!" Anne cried, throwing herself into her friend's arms. "How I've missed you!"

Diana squeezed her friend tight, refusing to let go. "You missed me?" she retorted, laughing. "You're the one who decided to leave us! You're been out having a wonderful time while us boring married spinsters have been stuck in Avonlea reading about your silly adventures!"

Anne couldn't contain her excitement. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" she said. "And I'm here to stay. Quebec was a wonderful city, but…there is absolutely nowhere in the world that I would rather be than Green Gables."

"That's good, then," said Diana, picking up Anne's suitcase, "because nobody (except Josie Pye, perhaps) intends to let you go anywhere now!" She stopped and stared at Anne. "You poor thing. You're soaked."

Anne shrugged. She was sure that her excitement would make her immune to any ailments that might be flying her way. "I don't mind. A little rain never hurt anybody." For a brief second, Anne thought she saw a look of sadness flash through Diana's eyes; but the expression was lost so quickly that she thought she must have imagined it.

Diana slung her free arm around Anne's waist, and they enjoyed an in-step walk rather like the day they'd taken the three-legged race together at Anne's first-ever church picnic. "We are going to have such a lovely time, Anne," she said.

They stopped in front of Diana and Fred's buggy, which was waiting for them just outside the entrance to the shipping docks. "M'lady," said Fred politely, lowering his cap at Anne as he helped her into the carriage.

"Kind sir," giggled Anne. She settled in to her seat and watched as Fred extended his hand toward his wife, who quickly rejected it.

"I can do this myself," said Diana haughtily, and clambered into the buggy of her own accord.

Anne looked from Fred to Diana and back again. "Is something going on that I should know about?" Fred pretended he hadn't heard her as he nudged the horse into movement and they set off down the lane toward Green Gables.

"He thinks I'm too delicate," whispered Diana, leaning in toward Anne so that her husband couldn't hear. "Thinks I can't do things on my own."

"Why on earth would he think that?" said Anne, too loudly.

"Maybe you should tell her, darling," Fred said from the driver's seat.

"Tell me what?" Anne looked at Diana, a million thoughts whirling around her mind. What if Diana and Fred were parting? Marriages didn't dissolve often, but she had heard of the idea of divorce…it happened…what if this was how they were headed? "Diana, tell me quickly, or I'll jump out of this buggy and get on the next ship back to Kingsport!"

Diana sighed. "Fred, we'll discuss this later." She turned to Anne. "I wanted to wait to tell you at a better time, when you were relaxed and settled in."

"Oh, just tell me now, please!"

"Fred and I are having another baby."