A/N: All of the characters belong to L.M. Montgomery. Also all of the dialogue in the first chapter belongs to Sullivan Entertainment. I borrowed it for the use of setting up the stage for the rest of my story. I had nothing to do with the dialogue in THIS chapter. Every other chapter will be originally mine, with the exception of the first chapter.
I hope you all enjoy reading. Please R&R
Chapter One: My Ideal Man
I can't believe I let him use me like that. Why do I always let my emotions run away from me? And here I thought he was the perfect guy; my ideal man. He has everything I ever wanted. He's tall, good looking, and full of charm and wit. I'm just ready to be back at the college; where I can finish my letter to Marilla. I walked quietly along the snow covered path, allowing the snow to engulf me in it's icy blanket.
"Anne!" Am I losing my mind or did I just hear him yell my name? Is he coming after me? He is coming after me and he's going to make a scene.
"Anne, where are you going?" Morgan Harris sounded out of breath and somehow full of emotion.
"I'm quite exhausted," I admitted, suddenly realizing how worn out I really was. "Please don't complicate matters by making excuses." I was hoping he'd just leave me alone finally. He'd hurt me enough already. Unfortunately, he hadn't gotten the clue, but I really didn't want to hear any excuses from him.
"Alvira Evans is a business associate," he began, still catching his breath. "For the past year I have been liquidating her father's business estate. Bringing her to Maplehurst was a gesture of hospitality; the conclusion of a lengthy transaction."
What is he saying exactly? My romance novel men are easier to understand than he is.
"I know when I'm being conveniently excluded," I shot back, hoping it would end there. The conversation, it seemed to me, wasn't going anywhere. I was worn out and exhausted, wanting nothing more than to be in the comfort of my bed, writing a letter to dear, sweet Marilla, whom I missed with every fiber of my being. After a few more exchanges in the same fashion, I decided it was time for me to leave, however when I turned to leave Morgan grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. I kicked him and even though we were in the middle of an argument I still felt bad.
"Morgan Harris," I started, appalled by my actions. "Oh, I'm awfully sorry, but you grabbed me."
"I want to ask you to marry me," he stuttered between looks of pain because of his shin.
"What did you say?" I asked, completely at a loss for anything better to say. I stared at him, amazed at what he had just said to me. Am I hearing things? I thought to myself before he spoke. Or did he just say what I think he said.
"I'm in love with you," Ok, now I really must be hearing things. But, that look in his eyes, is he… serious…?
"You really mean that, don't you?" I asked, still in shock at his confession.
"My life on it" Morgan Harris stood there, completely vulnerable. "I only know I could never bear to lose you. Would you do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage?"
I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think of anything to say. And something was on my mind… someone that I hadn't been able to get out of my mind for days. Ever since… that day- in the gazebo. Gilbert. His letter. He looked just liked I'd remembered him. Morgan Harris spoke again and brought me back from remembering.
"Anne, what is it?" he looked at me, with his intense eyes.
"I do care a great deal about you and Emeline," I began, knowing letting him down would be such a hard thing for me to do. "But I can't," I heard myself say. I wanted to look away; I couldn't see the pain in his eyes. I'd already had to look at the same expression from Gilbert, and it tore me up to see someone hurting so.
"What do you mean," he asked, stunned that I had just turned him down. We both knew I loved that family, everything seemed to fit. Except, I knew he wasn't the man of my dreams, and he didn't live at Green Gables with Marilla and Diana and Rachel Lynde. Everything that I thought I wanted, and that had once seemed right, wasn't at all what I wanted.
"I mean that for five glorious seconds I really thought perhaps I could marry you. I used to dream of a moment like this." I felt myself tense up. I hated seeing this look in his eyes. The care that I had for Morgan wasn't anything that I could marry; there was only one man that was meant for me. "Now, I can't describe it- I need to go home." I knew home was where I belonged; Avonlea was my home. Green Gables was my home.
"We could go back for summer holidays. Rent one of those big old places on the Gulf," he was trying his best to stay afloat in the ocean of emotions, but he knew that it wouldn't work. "Not the same thing, is it?"
I shook my head, "No," I confessed. We both knew it would never work. My revelation came at the worst possible moment, but somehow they always do. Thankfully I didn't make an even worse mistake by accepting. Gilbert, I thought, as Morgan Harris and I walked back toward the dance hall. I can't wait to see Gilbert.
A flood of emotions hit me later that night, when I was in my room, alone, with nothing but my thoughts of the events of the night. Morgan Harris was the type of guy I dreamed for all my life. Ever since Diana and I were younger she's known what my ideal was. Morgan Harris is the kind of man that has been my ideal for as long as I can remember. But tonight, when he told me he loved me, and asked me to marry him it felt so wrong. I knew that Diana was right. When she told me that she and Fred were getting married she gave me a huge piece of advice. I remember that conversation like it was yesterday. Diana told me that sometimes people's ideals change. I can't believe how naïve and stubborn I was. I told her that my ideals would never change. But then again maybe my ideals didn't change. Maybe I just tricked myself into believing that Gilbert Blythe wasn't my ideal. Whatever happened, all I know is that I love Gilbert Blythe, and I can't wait to go home and see him again.
That night was the first night I had fallen asleep thinking about Gil.
----A Few Weeks Later----
The semester was finally over and all of the girls were going home for the summer. I hated seeing Emeline leave for fear of never seeing her again. Morgan Harris asked me to reconsider once, but I knew that I couldn't do that. As much as I once thought I could marry Morgan Harris, he wasn't the man I was in love with. As all the girls ran off to meet with their families and go home for the summer, I felt the need to extend open arms to Katherine Brooke one last time. I asked her to come back to Prince Edward Island with me for the summer, in hopes that we could somehow make amends. I was sure she would say no, but when she accepted I was thoroughly ecstatic. I knew at that moment that there was the smallest glimmer of a kindred spirit in her.
The first few days home were spent with loving friends and old familiar faces. I enjoyed introducing Katherine to everyone in Avonlea and catching up with all of my old friends. Sitting around for tea one afternoon however I received awful news. I was informed that Gilbert had come down with a bad case of scarlet fever, and that the doctors were afraid he wouldn't make it. I was completely heartbroken. I knew that if he died without knowing how I really felt about him that I would spend the rest of my days in the deepest of the depths of despair. I even wrote a book that was inspired by Gilbert and some advice he gave me the day we met in the gazebo in Kingsport. I wrote a book about Avonlea, about our old school days, and all the horrible scrapes I seemed to get myself into. I dedicated my book to Matthew, Marilla, and Gilbert.
Later that day, I went to Gil's house and gave him a copy of my book. I tried my best to be strong as I sat down beside him, but knowing that could have been the last moment to see him made me more upset than I could stand. Sitting by his bedside all I could do was allow the tears to fall from my eyes. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, how much I wanted to be his Anne, forever. I took his hand in my own, and I stared into his eyes, and heard him say "there would never be anyone for me but you." At that moment, I knew that Gilbert would get well. Providence would not have put the two of us through so much if we weren't destined to be together.
----A Few Weeks Later----
I asked Gilbert if I could walk him across the pond. I wanted to spend every moment with him since he had recovered, but Katherine and I were headed to a bonfire later that afternoon. Gilbert and I stopped toward the middle of the bridge and began a long awaited conversation. I was bursting to tell Gil how much I loved him, but knew that I'd have to wait for the right moment. I was sure that Gilbert knew how I felt for him; he must have sensed it when I stayed with him in his room, when I first brought him my book, and told him I was home.
"The dreams closest to my heart are right here." As I spoke I could see in Gilbert's eyes that he knew I was talking about him. He once told me that he would wait for me, and he had.
"Well I hope you keep on dreaming," Gilbert's voice was soft, soothing and full of emotion. He took a hold of my hands and I was giddy with anticipation of his next words. "It'll be three years before I finish medical school." I looked deep into his eyes and could already sense his hesitation. "And even then there won't be any diamond sunburst or marble halls." I wanted to let him finish, but I wanted to be his, right then and there, and couldn't contain myself any longer.
"I don't want sunburst or marble halls," I said, knowing that for the first time it was the truth. "I just want you." For the first time, all I knew that I wanted was Gilbert. He kissed me for the first time, and during that kiss, I got the diamond sunbursts I'd waited for. Gilbert was mine for the first time; and I was his Anne. We stood on the bridge watching the sunset, wrapped up in each others arms.
I didn't want to leave him, but I had promised to take Katherine to the bonfire. I walked back along through the apple orchard, knowing that I was finally in love; in love with my ideal man.
A/N: Ok, I know I know I know… this was in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, however I really felt that I needed that last part of the movie to really get going with my own story. I promise, everything from here on out will be original. Please R&R… I love reviews!
