Part two: Courtship

Chapter

Summer

With exams upon them most courting would have to be postponed until after, but Gilbert did enjoy the new freedom of holding Anne's hand at any and every opportunity. He enjoyed the feel of her fingers interlaced with his and the fact that he now had the right to gently hold her hand or press a kiss to her forehead. He was caferful to be mindful of the fact that Anne was only 17 and didn't kiss her the same way he had after Queens. He was determined to take things slowly. While Anne was happy to be courting him, he was aware that rushing a marriage proposal on her would likely send her running as it had at Queens. Their courtship would be longer than most of their friends back home, followed by a lengthy engagement. They had three more years at Redmond and if he was successful, then he had three years of medical school, but he knew that at the end of it all he wanted Anne.

The idylic courtship of the summer in Avonlea he pictured was not to be. When the trio stepped off the train platform, they were greeted with the news that as of that very day Green Gables had taken in another set of orphans. Not red heads from an assylum this time, but two six year old blonde twins, Dora and Davy Keith, distnant relations of the Cuthberts who had just lost both of their parents.

Davy Keith, who had been rather convinced girls were creatures to be avoided, took one look at Anne when she arrived at Green Gables and promptly announced he loved her, throwing his arms around her. Anne had bent down to the children's level and softly greeted both. Gilbert, who had insisted that one of the privileges of courting her was he got to see her home, and wanted Matthew and Marilla's offical blessing as well, met Henry's eyes at this. Matthew had indirectly given him his blessing years before when the boys were fixing a section of fence under his watchful gaze and Matthew, when they were done, suddenly announced he didn't think it would be so bad giving his girl away to a fella that did such a good job fixing a fence, before wandering back off towards the barn. Henry had laughed at his shocked face and said, "Just think if I decide I've changed my mind about the whole idea, while Matthew's walking her down the aisle I can intercept 'em and escort her out the church, regardless of your fence fixing abilities. "

When Anne responded to Davy's bold statement saying she loved him and Dora both too already, Henry burst out laughing and whispered to Gilbert, "It took him less then a minute for what took you four years."

"Well perhaps those should have been the first words out of my mouth when I saw Anne," Gilbert said rolling his eyes. "Do you think it would have gone over as successfully as Davy's declaration?"

"If you looked like that, sure," Henry said smirking.

….

Fall

Gilbert sat leaning back against a tree one knee bent his elbow resting on it, the other leg straight while Anne sat in front of him her eyes scanning through a book. Henry sat near by and seeing that Gilbert was no longer focused on his own text book, but rather studying Anne's neck, rolled his eyes and tossed some grass towards his friend.

"Your supposed to be studying, Henry," Anne reprimanded him without taking her eyes off her book.

"What about Gilbert?" Henry protested.

"I am studying," Gilbert said with a grin.

"Studying?" Henry scoffed with a snort. "Would you care to explain to Anne just what you are studying."

"Going over the names of bones for one of my science classes," Gilbert said unrepentantly.

Henry snorted at this excuse. Gilbert with a wicked grin reached out and lightly touching Anne, traced the vertabra on her neck naming them, and thoroughly enjoying the shiver that went through her at the unexpected contact when he did, though she continued to read. He would rather have traced them with his lips, but definitely not in front of Henry, and not for many more years. Knowing where his thoughts were leading he pulled his hand back and rubbed the back of his neck to distract himself from them.

"Gilbert Blythe, don't make me separate you and Anne," Phillipa rebuked playfully as she sat down to join them as Gilbert leaned forward and pulled Anne back toward him wrapping his hands around her waist to do so when Phillipa joked about separating them as Anne attempted to ignore both and continued to read. "She is such a rosy pretty color that I find myself doubtful any studying is being done. We have Math to go over young man, you can moon over Anne later." Then to Henry, Phillipa added teasingly, "Sometimes I wonder if you are adequate chapronage."

"Me?" Henry said with a smirk. "What ever can you possibly mean? I believe Miss Phililipa Gordon, that you will find the Gil here is absolutely terrified of me."

"Gee, if that is how a terriffied young man acts, I'd hate to see a bold unconcerned one," she said rolling her eyes since Gilbert currently had his head by Anne's and her practically in his lap while she was still attempting to do her reading and ignore him.

Gilbert breathed in the scent of Anne's hair and in another bid to get her to look at him, whispered against her ear, "You smell delicious, carrots," but to his chargrin she continued to read.

"That," Henry said rolling his eyes, "is him failing at getting her attention. Poor Gil, is feeling terribly neglected me thinks. He's up against Keats this time."

"And you don't recall what he did when he was up against Dickens?" Phillipa reminded him with a laugh.

"Oh I recall, and it was vastly amusing. I didn't know Anne could blush that much," Henry said smirking remembering the extremes Gilbert had gone to to get Anne to turn her attention from her book to him. It was a game that had started over the summer, Anne would be focused on something, not Gilbert, and he would be focused on Anne and want her attention. She would ignore him and he would esclate his attempts until he had what he wanted, her looking at him.

With Dickens Gilbert hadn't succeeded until he scooped Anne up and pretended to walk away with her claming he was going to go drop her in the nearest water. Anne had ignored him and camly kept reading, even as he whispered in her ear that he remembered her being rather fetching when soaked, whether she was in a dress or trousers. Then she heard her British Lit. Proffessor's voice say her name, she had promptly turned bright red to be found by him in Gilbert's arms. She would have tumbled out of Gilbert's arms in an ungangly heap if he hadn't had such a good hold on her. Instead she was gently sat down and she rushed out embarressed apologies that the professor waved off with a mild admonishment to behave themselves. When Anne had turned embarrassed, furious eyes on him, Gilbert had grinned, kissed her forehead and asked, "Do you need a slate, love?" Causing Anne and everyone else to laugh.

….

Winter

Spring

As Anne and Gilbert approached the house Anne and the girls rented, they were met by a white faced Henry, clutching a piece of paper in his hands. Without any preamble he said, "Anne, It's Matthew. He's been hurt."

Anne gave a small cry, her legs giving out from under her as the joy that had been on her face leeched out. Gilbert though was on hand to catch her as she started to drop.

Henry despite his own fear and anxiety that had ate at him since receiving the letter felt a twinge of guilt for breaking it to Anne so abruptly, but he knew there wasn't any easy way to tell Anne. Fast and quick seemed better than drawing it out in an attempt to soften it, this wasn't something that could be softened. "There was an accident and Matthew, Matthew was hurt real bad," he said his voice sounding unnatural even to him. He glanced back down at the Telegram he held and said, "They don't know if he will make it. Marilla sent for us to come home."

Anne was crying now and Gilbert simply held her in complete shock, dimly aware Henry was still speaking. Telling Anne to pack a small bag and he would secure two tickets for them home. Finding his voice, Gilbert said, "Three tickets." Then more firmly,"Three tickets. I'm going with you."

Henry nodded mutely, and all of a sudden Anne was hugging him and the tears he had staved off since receiving the telegram caming pouring out as he hugged her back tightly and cried.

Knowing someone had to take charge of the situation, Gilbert bundled both of them inside and quickly began heating water for tea since Aunt Jimsie was out. When Phillipa, Priscilla and Stella burst into the house, having run into Roger Stuart, who had been on hand when Henry received the news, they ran instantly to Anne and Henry. Stella reached out a hand to Henry, who grapsed it as if it was a lifeline. And nonsensical Phillipa declared that she would see to packing a bag for Anne, stating that Anne wasn't in a fit state to do so.

Gilbert didn't want to leave Anne and Henry's side but he kneeled down to where they sat next to each other on the sofa, holding hands. Gilbert grapsed Anne's free hand in his and quietly stated that he would go secure their tickets and pack his and Henry's bags, but that he would be back as soon as he was able.

Realizing Gilbert really did mean to go with them, both Anne and Henry felt obligated to protest with the end of the term almost upon them and exams coming up. Claiming he should stay and study, his place being at Redmond, but neither of their hearts were in it, and Anne gripped his hand tighter,as if afraid to let him go.

"I'll have Roger talk to our professors. Phil can throw in her two cents as well, if need be, if any of them balk. I'm not letting you two travel under a burden like this alone. Further more, my place is the same as it has always been. With my best friend, what kind of mate would I be if I wasn't here to support and help you in this, Henry?" Gilbert said quietly looking toward Henry and then turning back to Anne, her hand in his still, said, "and with you, Anne. Always with you. I can't stay behind. I can't. I want to be there for you. I have to know how you are doing, I can't stay here and wonder if, if, well if you needed me. If you needed me and I wasn't there for you, I would hate myself. Please just let me be there for you." Gilbert was interrupted by Anne moving into his arms, and resting her head against him. He shifted so that he wouldn't lose his balance, but not letting go of Anne, and looking down at her he continued, "and Matthew, do you have any idea what I owe him? I owe him my life. Marilla might have made the final decision, but he's the one that said it in the first place, that you should stay at Green Gables. You, Anne. Because he voiced that thought to Marilla and stuck by it, he got her thinking and then acting. Because of him I got to see you and fall in love with you. I owe Matthew so much. I have to go with you. I am going with you both and I am going to see you safely delivered to Green Gables and the man I owe so very much too."

"Thanks, Gil," Henry said grateful that Gilbert would be there to help him get Anne home to Green Gables. Henry wasn't sure if he had enough strength for both him and Anne during the trip, overcome with his own anxiety, but thanks to Gilbert he would have help seeing to Anne.

Seeing Henry once again looking down at the telegraph he clutched as if it could tell him more or the four lines would have changed, Anne herself remembered each line. Accident. Stop. Matthew hurt. Stop. Prognosis bad. Stop. Come home. Stop. She began to once again let her mind go to what type of accident it could have been and how he may have been hurt. It was scant little information, but Anne's imagination easily filled in the blanks.

Seeing Anne was again imaging the worst, while Henry stared blindly, Gilbert reached over to her and said gently, "None of that Anne. We don't know what happened. We won't know until we arrive. Please don't torture yourself like this."

"Oh Gil, I'm so very frightened. Matthew-" Anne said brokenly.

"I know Anne-girl. But it won't pay to borrow trouble. Can you close your eyes and imagine something for me?" When Anne nodded and closed ber eyes, Gilbert said, "Now imagine Green Gables in the full bloom of spring, just like it is right now. The Snow Queen is there, as are Tommy, Marilla and Matthew, Dora and that scamp Davy. Matthew is beaming, a letter has just arrived from Henry proudly proclaiming that you have won the Thornbon scholarship. Marilla is already planning on what she will bake to celebrate your achievement and Tommy is gleefully thinking how he is going to rub your latest achievement in the face of Jacob Pye. He's also likely looking forward to causally dropping mention around Mr. Charles Sloan this summer that it turns out a woman can achieve something at college and hankering to ask Charlie about his own achievements or lack thereof-"

A small giggle escaped Anne at this knowing Tommy was likely planning to do that very thing, he had done the same thing every break they all returned for.

"And Matthew, well he doesn't have words for how proud he is of you other then to tell me that's his little girl that did it, and he hopes I've gotten used to being bested by you."

"Oh, but you have secured one of the science scholarships again, it has been all over campus, it just hasn't been announced which yet," Anne protested her eyes flying open to meet his.

"And seeing as how it isn't your scholarship Matthew will dismiss it entirely. Do you know what he said to me when we tied for first on the entrance exam?" Gilbert asked a smile playing around his lips.

"What?" Anne asked curiously.

"Ask me how it felt to finally see my name in black and white with his little girl's and then before I could even answer he said, just remember boy, she's my little girl and even when you tie with her she has still bested you, afterall they put her name first, I suggest you start getting used to it. Of course I, bold as brass, told Matthew I always intended to put you first with me. And in a move Henry would have been proud of he practically smirked at me and said, just don't first put her in the position of breaking another slate over your head. Her technique doesn't need too much practice from what I remember hearing."

"Matthew, " Anne said with an affectinate sigh. "Henry rather did rub off on him when it comes to humor. Marilla's is a dry wit, but Matthew's became more and more like Henry's all the time, though he doesn't smirk near as much with his delivery. He has changed rather a lot from the day he picked me up in some ways and in others he is still the same dear man. He once told Marilla he thought I was rubbing off on her and she asked him whatever did he mean, and he said that he was rather certain he had caught her eyeing what she could break over Mrs. Lynde's head one visit."

"And what did Marilla do?" Gilbert asked gently, curious but also seeing that he was succeeding in keeping Anne from imagining the worst.

"Told him she rather thought she had rubbed off on Anne since she broke the ruler before Anne broke the slate," Henry said with a chuckle remembering the incident and coming out of his stupor to join the conversation.

When the three arrived in Carmody they were surprised to see Diana Barry and Fred Wright awaiting them. "I knew you would arrive today and I told Fred I had every intention of waiting here this afternoon until you did. I wasn't about to let you make it this far and not have transportation to Green Gables in place. Oh Anne," Diana said embracing her, but not before noticing how Gilbert stood closer then normal, even closer than Henry on Anne's other side.

"Diana," Fred said meaningfully.

"Oh my, yes!" Diana exclaimed."They thought it was blood poisoning when the Telegram was sent, but it isn't! His fever has come down and the doctor believes the infection is clearing up. Fred knows more, he arrived with the good news shortly before you did."

"I'm afriad I don't know much more than that. I was at Green Gables when the doctor was there and as soon as he mentioned that Matthew had a fighting chance now, well I lit out of there to come here," Fred said sheepishly. "I didn't want you to be given inaccurate news, that had been replaced by, well more promising news."

"Matthew will be okay?" Anne asked desperately.

"Well he will be laid up on bed rest for quite some time, and well, there is still his age but well, there is hope," Fred told her. "All of us are willing to pitch in as much as we can on the farm to help, until Matthew is back on his feet."

"Well, I will be here to take over for Matthew," Henry said quietly.

"But college, your exams," Diana said wide eyed knowing that the term would be over soon and that the three would need to return to Kingsport in only a few days.

"I won't be going back," Henry said simply. "Not when I am needed at home."

"Have you met Marilla Cuthbert," Diana said incredously "She will send you right back to Redmond to finish your term and take your exams, least Mrs. Lynde make a remark about your education. Do you really intend to gainsay her? I know all about how you ended up here Henry Mack."

"Well let's worry about that later," Anne said desperately. "For now I just want to get home."

Ideas to include

Marilla argues with Henry about him dropping out. Tells him he's a Cuthbert and Cuthberts don't quit. No child of hers is going to walk away from their education for anything less than death. The farm has Tommy and Green Gables is in no danger so there is no reason for him too.

….

Some School girl has her sights set on Tommy- his parents fought, his dad was abusive, his dad killed his mom durng a fight, he plans on never marrying- hates the Connor legacy of violence.

Anne tries to help him to see he is nothing like his father would never hurt a girl, child, etc deliberately.

...

Priscilla starts at Redmond

...

Ronald Stewart's sister, Christine, comes to visit him at Redmond