A/N: Hey there! Just in case anyone needed to know, I'm going to focus on Nan's kids (mainly Emily), but I'll add lots about the others too. Please, Please, Please review! I really want to know what you guys think about the story.

faerie5: Hi! Thanks for reading my story. I love your stories. Hope you update soon. Guess what? There's some stuff about Will in here. Harry is giving me a hard time. I'm not sure how to work in the military thing, but I'll figure it out. Got any ideas? Thanks for reading again, and I hope you enjoy this one.

stella maynard: I'm so glad you like the new version! I was worried about reactions to the updated chapters. Summerside and Kensington aren't that far away from each other. The reason why Nan and Di never see each other is because they are so busy that they don't have time to. Will and Harry can go over there because they don't have much to do. I'm hoping to include as many people at the reunion as possible, so I'm sure I'll put Una, Carl, and Bruce in. I'll put Persis Ford in too, along with the rest of the Fords. Hope you like the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing! :)

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The next morning, Clarence House was full of laughter and happiness. Melanie, Madison, and Audrey were in the parlor, planning out their day in town. Beth and Harry went to the Hughes home for a day of entertainment, while Will tracked Brooke Davis down for some sweethearting. In the gardens, Emily and Chris were in a hot intellectual debate. Chris found himself losing horribly.

"Honestly, Emily, do you think that there will be much danger here on the Island?"

"Chris, think about the last time someone said those exact same words. When our parents were young, they probably thought the same thing about WWI. What has the world become? Doesn't anyone see that we're just letting history repeat itself?"

"Well, it's a good thing most of us are too young to join up."

"But not all of us will be too young as the war progresses. Alex is already 18, and Will is turning 18 in September. Harry is 16, Ben is 15, and Peter is 15. They'll probably all be 18 before the war is over."

"Surely Uncle Jem won't let Alex go so soon, same with Will. They've both got to go to Redmond. The war will be over by the time Harry is 18, and Aunt Rilla wouldn't let Ben go. Uncle Shirley wouldn't send Peter either! You shouldn't be so pessimistic, Emily. We've got to think the war will be over soon."

"Oh! Aren't you naïve, Chris! Germany just invaded the Low Countries last month. The end is far from now, that's all I have to say. If you're going to get so worked up over the war, then don't bring up the subject. I'm just telling you the cold, hard facts!" Emily pushed herself off the ground and stormed off in a huff. Chris was a great pal, but he was young and immature for Emily, who was wise beyond her years. Although they were the same in age, there would always be a certain drift. If only there was someone to talk to!

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, in a certain dusky spot near a crystal clear brook, sat two lovebirds in the warm comfort of a clear June afternoon. Will Meredith and Brooke Douglass's engagement had been announced last December, but the town still couldn't get over this unlikely match. Brooke came from a prosperous family that hardly ever associated with others below their high class. Her father was very protective and rarely let any of his children out of the house, so it was still a mystery how Will actually met her. Ever since the death of Mrs. Douglass, Fred Douglass spoiled his children rotten and kept them at home with him as much as he could. The town considered him eccentric and crazy, many said the children should have been taken away from him, but he just loved his children a little too much, causing them to be impolite and disgraceful. Will, on the other hand, had excellent upbringings. The Meredith family was known to be very well-behaved, mannered children. Will could have had any catch he wanted and parents of pursuable maidens loved him, but how did he end up with Brooke Douglass? Both families reacted rather horribly. The Merediths appalled that their son would choose so recklessly, and the Douglass's ashamed that Brooke would marry below her. Either way, no amount of protest could keep the two lovers away from each other.

"Will, stop pacing around. What are you so worried about anyway?"

"The war is getting worse everyday. Alex sent a letter, and he wants me to…"

"…join up." Brooke's voice trailed off after finishing Will's sentence.

"I know there's still some time before I turn 18, but I can't let my country down. Oh, I wish I had Harry's gut and determination right now. He would go in a heartbeat, but I'm such a coward." Will picked up a rock and threw it into the brook with all his strength.

"Have you told anyone?" whispered Brooke.

"No. I don't want anyone to feel horrible before the reunion."

"I see."

Will looked at Brooke. She was so beautiful with her shimmering dark hair in the sunlight. Her worried eyes became a cloudy, misty blue. Will sat down next to Brooke on a rock, took her hands in his, and looked into her soul. "Darling, everything will be fine. I'm not gone yet, and I'll always love you forever. In this world or the next." Brooke's eyes started to water up, but she fought wildly to hold them back. There were no words that could be said to make anything better or worse. And there they sat in the midst of youth and adulthood, both alluring, yet frightening.

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Kensington may not have been a large city on PEI, but it could certainly stir up as much gossip and scandals as any other settlement in Canada. On a fine June afternoon, three young women walked through the town square on their way to the store. Of course this was a normal thing to do and normally nobody would even give it a second thought, but today was not normal. Today, Melanie Meredith wore the most scandalous outfit ever worn by anyone in their right minds. Madison and Audrey tried to stay as far behind Melanie as possible, but she always noticed and told them to catch up. The Kensington boys, however, did not think this attire as anything but attractive and very becoming, naturally. In fact, some even whistled at Melanie as she passed by. But probably the worst thing of all was that the Ladies' Aid was meeting in Town Hall, where they could see and hear everything.

"Oh, Melanie, let's go back to Clarence House. Aunt Nan will be so ashamed if she ever finds out about this." pleaded Audrey.

"Honestly, I don't see why it is such a big deal to you two. It's the latest fashion in Toronto. Why, everyone is wearing it. Even the Redmond girls."

"You're not a Redmond girl. Out of all the silly trends, this has to be the most ridiculous. Audrey is right, Mel. Mother will be ashamed and disappointed that you deceived her by wearing your smoky blue taffeta out of the house, then changing into the most immoral outfit P.E. Island could have imagined."

Melanie took a look at her outfit. She truthfully could not see the disgrace in her grey dress with her silvery shall around it. It did only go down to the knees, but she did wear her black lace stockings. Of course, it was also a little low around her neck, but only because she made it herself by replicating a gown she saw in a fashion magazine. It was hard to judge where the neckline should be by looking at a magazine. Melanie could see no harm in that. But maybe Madison and Audrey were right. Boys did stare at her strangely, and Melanie resented being howled at. And those girls whispering to each other! Were they talking about her? Oh, the Ladies' Aid gave such disapproving looks. All at once these hit Melanie and she found it unbearable. Soon, tears brimmed in her eyes and she burst out in a wild sob and ran toward Clarence House immediately. Madison quickly followed her sister, and Audrey was so dumbfounded, she had no choice.

"Melanie Anne Meredith, slow down!" But it was no use; Melanie had already reached Clarence House. Her eyes were blinded with the tears, and she ran straight into Mother's arms.

"Oh, Mother! Mother, I'm so, so sorry." sobbed Melanie.

Nan Blythe was not shocked. She knew Melanie had disobeyed her and gone to town in an unapproved dress, by looking at her, but the poor dear needed to calm down and compose herself before being scolded. Nan could never discipline a weeping child. She was too soft-hearted to do such a thing. Diana also sat in the kitchen, and looked absolutely horrified by her niece's choice of clothing, but she too had a soft spot. Madison and Audrey rushed into Clarence House, both out of breath and horrified. Finally, Melanie stopped crying, but there were still a few occasional sniffs.

"Melanie, I am very disappointed in you. You know I would never, never support such a dress, and you defied me. And now you've humiliated yourself in front of the town. That is not why I am saddened; it is because you broke my trust in you. Of course, you will have to deal with the embarrassment you've brought upon yourself, but I don't think I can forgive you for lying to me, Melanie. Where on earth did you get such a revolting dress?"

Melanie wanted to cry. Oh, she hated when Mother was cold and mortified of her own children. Mother could be so sweet, but very bitter too. "I—I sewed it from material out of your closet, Mother. The dress was in a magazine, and I copied it."

"Go upstairs and take off the dress, Melanie. It hurts me deeply to punish you, but I must. You will be grounded for two weeks, and you will eat dinner in the kitchen by yourself when everyone is in the dining room. No desert and no new dresses until Christmas. You'll just have to go back to Queen's with what you have. As for taking material out of my closet, that fabric was not mine. It was Aunt Di's. I think you owe her an apology."

"I'm so sorry Aunt Di. I didn't mean to—I mean, I didn't know. I'm so sorry." Aunt Di gave a sweet, angelic smile, and Melanie went upstairs without a protest.

"Oh, Nan! The poor thing…"

"Di, was I too harsh on her? I didn't mean to be, of course, but the dress was profane. Melanie always has been vain and I'm sure this will teach her a good lesson or two. I have to tell Jerry when he gets home. He'll want to know why the town is gossiping about a minister's daughter working up a scandal! Oh, now I'm sure I know how poor Faith felt that day she went to church without stockings!" laughed Nan.

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Beth and Harry came back shortly after the epidemic, and the other children wasted no time informing them of all the outrageous details. But soon, it was time for Aunt Di and the jolly playmates to return to Summerside. It wasn't a tearful goodbye, for they would all see each other soon, but still goodbyes are—goodbyes. Chris and Emily ended their brief dispute, although Emily wholeheartedly believed she was still right, Audrey comforted Melanie with a warm, friendly farewell, Beth and Harry vowed to finish their books before the reunion, where a debate would take place, no doubt, and Madison and Will promised Tim a nice surprise at the reunion. Nan and Di had a touching moment together too, but they tried to keep it under control, just in case they both burst into tears. Jerry drove the Wrights home to Summerside and came home to find his loving wife waiting.

"Love, what a wonderful day! I'm sure I'll never live this gossip down."

"Oh, Jerry. Melanie will eventually get over this and so will the old spites of Kensington. I'm almost glad she did. This will certainly give everyone something to talk about, dearest."

"Nan! Melanie should have known better. I'm sure you never thought you'd be a minister's wife or that our kids would have to live the exact same way I did."

"No, probably not. But minister or not, I love you Jerry Meredith, and you'll just have to deal with that."

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

A/N: What did you think? Guess what? Reunion starts next chapter! Hoped you guys liked this one. Please R&R! I really want to know what you think.