"GILBERT!" screamed Anne. She threw herself down the stage steps towards the centre aisle. Unsurprisingly, her boot caught on the second to last step and she came crashing to the floor. Gilbert ran for her but in a flash she was back up and on her feet heading his way full steam ahead. The two almost crashed into one another between the 10th and 11th row. Anne flew her arms around her beau.

"What in the heck are you doing here?" Anne wheezed, having had the air knocked out of her by her fall.

"I wouldn't miss your big night, Anne. Not for anything in the world!"

"Oh, Gilbert, how wonderful! Thank you so much for coming! But the curtain came down an hour ago. Why didn't you say anything?"

"Well, I waited at the backstage door but a somewhat crusty gentleman informed me everyone had gone home. I know you too well to think you'd been able to come down off a performance so quickly, so I snuck back in through the front doors and that's when I saw you. I would have said something sooner but I didn't want to … interrupt." There was a tone in Gilbert's voice in that Anne couldn't quite place but she decided to pay it little notice. Gilbert had seen Christopher waiting in the wings with his feelings written all over his face clear as day, but of course Anne didn't know that. Unbeknownst to either of them, Christopher had taken his leave when it became clear who Gilbert was and was presently pacing the streets, formulating a plan.

"It's late, and I can only imagine what Mrs. Rachel Lynde would say if she heard we were alone together at this time of night in a darkened theatre," said Gilbert smiling. Anne laughed.

"Walk me home?"

"It would be my pleasure."

Gilbert offered his arm, Anne took it, and off they went. When they arrived at the foot of the stairs to Mrs. Blackmore's boarding house, they shared a passionate kiss. For Anne's part, she had all of the adrenaline of opening night and her surprise at seeing Gilbert coursing through her veins. Gilbert, on the other hand, was high on the exhaustion of his train trip and had missed Anne desperately. What's more, he had something to prove. To whom exactly? He wasn't sure, but he held on tight and the two lingered a good time longer than was appropriate which suited them both perfectly well.

When they finally pulled themselves apart, Gilbert headed to the dormitory Moody was rooming in. Moody, delighted for the company, had made arrangements to have an extra cot set up in his room for his old Avonlea pal. He was keen to chat and had ever so much to tell Gilbert about life at Queen's and his relationship with Ruby. Gilbert listened for as long as he possibly could until he simply couldn't keep his eyes open at which time he excused himself and went to bed. He had a terrible time falling asleep though which was particularly annoying because he couldn't remember feeling more tired.

"Moody?"

"Yeah, Gilbert?"

"The chap who played Hamlet in the play. Do you know him?

"Christopher? Sure. Anne brought him to the Strawberry Social last month. Great guy. Have you met?"

"No, haven't had the pleasure."

"I'm sure Anne will facilitate an introduction tomorrow. Those two have been joined at the hip ever since they got cast in the play. What is it the girls are always saying about best friends?"

"Kindred spirits?"

"Yes. that's it. Kindred spirits those two are, I'd say."

"Good night, Moody," said Gilbert a little more sharply than he'd intended and proceeded to lie awake most of the night.

Anne awoke the next morning with a smile on her face and a skip in her step. Everything was right in the world. The play was a smash! Gilbert was here! Finally, it was her time to shine.

She was so caught up in her glee that she'd completely forgotten that she'd made plans with Christopher to meet up mid-morning, exchange notes, and get a head start on warming up for the Sunday matinee. When Christopher showed up late morning with her favourite croissants from the patisserie around the corner from the theatre, she was far from ready. What's worse, she had suggested to Gilbert that they have brunch before she headed to the theatre. When she tried to explain the mix-up with Christopher, he was quite forceful.

"Anne, I appreciate the fact that you've missed Gilbert but we're professionals and the show must come first today. There will be plenty of time for fleeting love affairs tomorrow. Oh, and I forgot to tell you! Word of mouth reached Stuart Stern at The Charlottletown Gazette - the biggest newspaper in the Province if I must remind you - and he wants to interview us before the show. We're meeting him at the theatre at noon and, oh my goodness, it looks like we're going to be late. Come on!"

Anne dashed to her room to finish getting ready and pack her things. She had no more than a minute before she and Christopher absolutely had to make their way to the theatre.

"Gilbert! Blast!" she said aloud to no one. Dianna was at church, as were all of her other Avonlea girlfriends. Except for Ruby, who'd stayed behind to work on her John Donne paper. Ruby wasn't able to make hide nor tail of poetry and needed all the extra time she could come by for this essay.

"Ruby!" exclaimed Anne, bursting into her room.

"Anne! How rude. Don't you know how to knock?"

"I'm terribly sorry but I am in a frightful spot and I need your help. Please could you pass along a message to Gilbert for me?"

"Gilbert's here?"

"Yes, he's staying with Moody."

"Moody?"

"Yes! Moody! Please tell Gilbert, who is staying with Moody, that I cannot meet him for brunch. I'll explain everything later but it all has to do with Christopher and the Gazette."

"Christopher?"

"Yes! Christopher!"

"And the Gazette? The Charlottetown Gazette?"

"Yes! Ruby! The Charlottetown Gazette! Will you do it?"

Rudy took a moment to consider and said in her best unaffected voice: "Fine, Anne. I will deliver your message."

"Thank you!" and in a flash Anne was gone. Ruby took much longer than was necessary to ready herself before heading to Moody's boarding house. She wore her favourite pink hat and lace gloves, and carried her blush pink parasol. She took a very deep breath before knocking daintily on the door three times. It was Moody who answered.

"Ruby?"

"Moody, hello. Is Gilbert here?"

"Are you serious? You come all the way here looking the very picture of loveliness and it's all for Gilbert? I can't believe I've been pining for you all this time and you're still hung up on him."

"You've been pining for me?" she said slowly, a smile buried behind her eyes.

"Of course I have. You know you're the loveliest girl this side of Toronto. How is a guy supposed to get over you? But it's no use. I know now that you and I aren't meant to be. I am sorry to inform you that Gilbert has left to meet up with Anne. Anne! Who he is in a relationship with!" Moody turned to leave when Ruby called out.

"I'm not here for Gilbert"

He paused, but did not turn around.

"Anne asked me to pass along a message, that's all. I only agreed because it was … well, because it was the perfect excuse to see you."

Moody turned slowly.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. I am terribly sorry that I broke things off Moody. Please, let me explain." Their eyes locked and an eternity passed.

"Please, come in."

Gilbert waited and waited in Victoria Park until it was clear that Anne was not coming. He hadn't the faintest idea where she was, but he had a pretty good idea of who she was with.