'I can't accept that you believe a past of pain condemns you to a future of the same. I can't accept that, Anne-girl.'
Her tears flowed freely now.
'No, I know not, of course. I've known so much love since I came to Green Gables- from Matthew, Marilla, Diana, and yes, from you. But now and again, they creep in- these thoughts and nagging feelings, that I don't deserve this or..,' she paused as she looked to him, 'that it can all be taken away. If you left me tomorrow Gil- if you changed your mind or found some horrid fault with me...then where would I be.' Anne hugged herself and looked away.
If his heart hadn't completely shattered before, it had now. To know that his Anne had such terrors- it was almost too much for him. But it made sense that her biggest fears revolved around abandonment and rejection. He cursed himself for the thousandth time for his comment about her hair, if anything, because it deepened her sense of unworthiness. He vowed to fill her world with love and light, and if she let him, to let her know that she was safe in his arms.
Cupping her face in his hands, he gently wiped away her tears. 'Real love isn't between two perfect people, Anne. It can survive outside of the sunshine. I wouldn't truly love you if I only loved the pretty things about you, though there are many,' he said, curling his finger under her chin and tilting her face up to meet his. She blushed at this, and he smiled. 'And I wouldn't truly love you if I didn't love you through the storms.'
'And...' Gilbert paused as he tested the waters, 'You wouldn't truly love me if you only loved all the perfect parts of me.'
Hearing it aloud for the first time, recognition of her love for him, sent tingles dancing up and down Anne's spine.
'Yes, you're right.' she said, sure and gazing into his eyes.
Gilbert almost bowled over, one at her admission of love, and two, that she had directed the words 'You're right' to him. But one far exceeded the other in making him elated: Anne Shirley loved him. He felt like he was flying.
He kissed her cheek tenderly before taking her hands in his once more. 'Our pasts may be harsh, and yes, there will be times when we will drive each other crazy, and we will fight, Anne; that's the reality of it. But that doesn't make loving each other any less special or worthwhile.'
He took a deep breath. 'Allow yourself to be loved, Anne. Allow yourself happiness. You deserve it. You are worthy of it. Take hold of it.'
Anne grew pensive. 'It won't be easy,' she thought 'we still have a lot to talk about...to work through.' She still had lingering doubts that he would want to 'deal with her,' though the look in his eyes told her something quite different.
As if reading her thoughts, Gilbert said, 'It wouldn't be us if it were easy now, would it,' he chuckled.
He turned serious at the sight of her weak smile. 'You. This', he gestured between the two, 'is worth it. It's worth everything in the world.'
With this, he offered his hand to her, and slowly, she took it.
THE END
Well, that's it! Thank you to all my faithful readers and reviewers for sticking with me through this short, but I hope special story about our two favorite people: Anne and Gilbert.