"Excuse me, Marilla, but could I speak with you?" Mrs. Andrews was an unexpected visitor Saturday morning. She had driven her buggy over to Green Gables after an interesting conversation with her son that morning.

"Of course, Mrs. Andrews, please come in." Marilla opened the door and motioned for her guest to enter the house. "I was just putting on some tea. Would you care for a cup?" The lady nodded and smiled in response then removed her coat and gloves.

The tea was placed on the table , and the women exchanged pleasantries before the reason for Mrs. Andrews visit was discussed. "Marilla, I wanted to speak to you about your Anne and my Billy. At breakfast this morning, Billy said that he and Anne are an item. He told us this morning that he has become quite smitten with her. Has she discussed anything with you and Mr. Cuthbert?"

Marilla was taken aback. Anne had been acting odd the night before. She was quiet at dinner, and kept glancing at Marilla and Matthew as if she had something to say. "No, she has not mentioned anything. Excuse me for a moment." Marilla got up and headed upstairs to Anne's room. As she got closer, she thought she heard whispering. She knew it seemed out of character for her, but she put her ear against the door to listen.

"No, really. My mother's downstairs right now talking to Miss Cuthbert. I'm sorry, Anne. It just slipped out." Marilla could hear the Andrews boy's voice. "I tried saying something to them last night, but couldn't find the right words. Billy, what if they send me away?" Anne's voice sounded broken. Then it got too quiet, so Marilla opened the door. What she saw caused her to gasp.

Billy Andrews laying on Anne's bed with her next to him, her head on his chest as he held her. "What do you think you are doing?" Marilla screeched. The two jumped apart and Billy made for the window. "Don't you dare, Billy Andrews! You both get down those stairs this instant!" Anne was blushing and followed him down the stairs with a very flustered Marilla Cuthbert behind them.

Mrs. Andrews must have heard the commotion because she had stood from the table. "Billy! What on Earth were you doing in Anne's room?" His mother wore a look of horror on her face.

"We were just talking, mother. Only talking." he said, although he knew it was more than that.

"He was laying in her bed with her. On top of the covers, but still, way too intimate for a thirteen and fifteen year old. Anne, what were you thinking allowing him to come in through the window and cuddle up in your bed?" Anne looked down at the floor but said nothing.

"Miss Cuthbert, it was all my doing. I came in through the window. I asked to hold her in her bed. I was just trying to comfort her. I had told my parents about us this morning and wanted to warn Anne that my mother was coming. But nothing happened, I swear." Billy had come to stand next to Anne, finding her hand to hold. "I would never do anything to hurt Anne. I, well you see, I think I am falling in love with her, so I couldn't do anything to hurt her, you see?"

Anne squeezed his hand in response to his declaration causing him to smile and continue, "We are too young to court, we know, but we cannot help the way we feel. I know I should not have snuck in through her window, but I just needed her to know that our secret was out. I'm so sorry. Please don't take her away." Billy couldn't help but get choked up at the thought of Anne being sent away.

Marilla scoffed, "Oh, stop. I am not sending Anne away. But you both need to understand that you cannot be alone without supervision. Mrs. Andrews?" Marilla looked to the woman. She still seemed to be in shock.

"Well, of course I agree, but Billy, how did you know which room was Anne's?" Well, now he was rendered speechless. Both women were staring at him now.

Anne saved the day when she spoke up, "Well, I was sitting at my window when I noticed Billy running up to the house. I waved and that's when he saw me in my window." That satisfied the ladies. They allowed the two to sit on the front porch together while Marilla and Mrs. Andrews finished discussing things.

"Well, I certainly did not see this coming. Should we force them to part? I have no experience with this." Marilla really did not know what to do. If she split them up, then Anne would be upset and unhappy. If she let them stay together at only thirteen and fourteen years old respectively, what will everyone think?

"Billy is adamant that he is falling in love with your Anne. If we try to tear them from each other, I fear what it could do to the both of them. I think, if we set ground rules for them, they will abide by them and not cause any more of a scandal as they already have. Let us think of some rules together and then call them in." Mrs. Andrews and Marilla got a sheet of paper and began their list.

Meanwhile, Anne and Billy sat on the front porch together holding hands. "That was scary. I can't believe she saw us in your bed together. Good thing she didn't catch us one minute before that." Billy and Anne giggled remembering that they had just kissed right before Anne laid her head down on his chest. Billy looked around and saw nobody so he turned toward Anne and gave her a quick peck on her lips.

Anne blushed, "Billy, we need to be careful. If your mom or Marilla saw that, they'd break us apart for sure." Billy looked abashedly at her. "Sorry, Anne. I can't help but want to kiss every time I see you." He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, "I love you, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert." Anne wasn't quite there yet, but she did like him an awful lot.

The moment was ruined by the arrival of Gilbert Blythe. "What do you think you are doing, Billy Andrews? Anne? Is he bothering you?" She could see the concern in his eyes, and Billy's grip on her hand tightened.

"She's fine. I'm her boyfriend. Why wouldn't she be, right Anne?" Billy spoke with a haughtiness Anne had not heard since that day in the woods. "You... you're lying. He's lying isn't he Anne?" Gilbert's face changed from concern to hurt with seconds.

"Well, you see, the other day when Billy and you had walked me home, he told me how he's been feeling toward me, and well, I like him too so he asked me to be his girl and, um, I said I would." Anne stuttered out her explanation and Billy felt hurt that she seemed ashamed of her feelings toward him.

Gilbert looked heart broken as he stepped back and started to walk away. Billy watched as Anne let go of his hand and ran to catch up with Gilbert.

"Gil, wait! Please don't be mad at me!" Anne cried out as she ran to catch up to him. He turned and caught her in his arms before she ran into him. "Anne, it's okay. If you like him, then you like him. It's just...I thought you knew how I felt about you. And he has hurt you before. I just didn't think you'd want to be with him like that is all."

The sadness in his eyes affected Anne more than she thought it would. She liked both boys, but Billy had made his feelings known first. "Gil, I do like you as well, but Billy and I are together, and I cannot just stop seeing him because you told me, after seeing us together, that you have feelings for me. I'm sorry." Gilbert gave her a small smile. "I understand, Anne. Friends?" he held his hand out to her to shake, so she did, "Friends." she agreed.

Billy watched the exchange and breathed a sigh of relief when Anne and Gilbert shook hands and he left. Anne walked back over to Billy and he pulled her into a hug. "Thanks. I needed that." she said as he hugged her. "Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked, but she shook her head no. Anne did not want to upset Billy or hurt him by admitting her feelings for both boys.

"Anne! Billy! Come inside please. We need to talk to you!" Marilla called from the front porch. The two looked at each other, then headed into the house. "Well, here we go." Anne sighed.

Next chapter in 2 weeks! There's going to be some changes!*