At very long last, greetings! I really did not mean to abandon this story for so long... life just simply got in the way and finding time/inspiration for writing was not possible. Finally, I am so happy to bring an update. I have a renewed vigor for writing and I do plan to finish this story. Thank you to everyone who has commented and followed along! I am glad so many are enjoying this little AU I couldn't get out of my head.
It has been a while and I am out of practice so please have some grace with me as I get back into the groove. This isn't my longest chapter but it is getting me back into practice. And with that, here is the latest installment of Wildest Dreams.
Morning sun creeped through the gauzy curtains as Anne slowly awakened. Slowly blinking, she relaxed in the soothing embrace of two strong arms as the memories of the night before seeped into her mind. She expected an ounce of regret or nervousness or a pang of loss. Though she had been firm in her decision to get into bed with Gilbert, she had also expected a bout of her anxiety and overthinking to surface afterward. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to be thoroughly calm and at peace with her decision. The night before had been a dream. Gil was as gentle and kind as she had expected, so long familiar with his mannerisms. She had also found herself surprised in a thrilling way by his lustful side. She loved to see him lose that supreme self-control and give in to her. The deed itself had been much more enjoyable than she had been led to believe by older women and some slightly scandalous books she had gotten her hands on over the years. There had been just a moment of pain but once it passed, she had thoroughly enjoyed herself. The morning brought just a slight dull ache to her center, reminding her that she was a virgin no more.
Laying snuggled in his strong arms, soft breath on her neck while spooning naked after a night of passion was a pretty blissful way to wake up she finally decided. She was still in a touch of disbelief that everything had actually happened but the feel of the naked man behind her kept everything in laser focus with no need to pinch herself. This was real and it was oh so good. Remembering neither of them worked today and given that she was not ready to remove herself from the happy cocoon, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift back off to sleep and enjoy this moment a little longer.
Her light slumber was broken a little while later when soft fingers started to trail up and down her arm. Enjoying the sensation, she stayed blissfully in that space between sleep and wake while an apparently now awake Gilbert mapped freckles on her skin with the softest touch. It wasn't until those soft fingers made their way to her uncovered breast and started brushing over her nipple that she came back to alertness. The soft touches had already caused heat to pool into her center and the attention to her quickly hardening nipples had her getting almost instantly wet. Thinking two could play this game, she arched her hips back against his groin. Her soft rubs were effective as she felt his erection on her bum the same time soft lips attached themselves to her neck.
Feeling bold, Anne rolled over and caught his lips in a searing kiss. Then they lost themselves in each other and stayed in bed until the sun had risen high in the sky.
As June drew to an end, they fell all too easily into a new routine. They wanted to be together as much as possible without arousing suspicion that would trigger the arrival of chaperones so they got creative. As far as Gilbert's landlady was aware, he worked at least 2-3 nights a week at the hospital and all other evenings were taken up with research for the Cooper. In reality, he was with Anne most of that time (though he did still complete his Cooper research 3 nights a week). For her part, Anne maintained all normal appearances at work and at home. She snuck Gil in and out of the back orchard to avoid her neighbors catching on and probably started a confusing fashion trend at the library thanks to all her high necked blouses. They made sure to never spend Saturday nights together so they each made the proper and respectable walk to church from their own homes. Wicked and lustful though they may be, they still kept the sanctity of some things and church was one of them.
Those days and nights spent together were some of the most incandescently happy that either could remember. Evenings spent moving about the kitchen to prepare meals together. Reading together in the parlor in easy, companionable silence. Preparing for a night of rest together… or maybe a night without much rest in lieu of other activities. Waking up snuggled in the arms of another. Kissing goodbye before heading off to a day of work. True to themselves, there was bickering amongst the bliss. It used to bother Anne how much they bickered and had been a contributing reason she had so long held back from admitting her feelings. She couldn't believe two people could be in love who fell so easily into argument. Now though, she was unbothered by their silly little spats about spelling or whose turn it was to do the dishes. It was part of their rhythm and part of what made them them. Unconventional though the arrangement was, they were happy. So happy even, unbeknownst to Anne, in the weeks following their first night of passion, Gilbert had stopped more than once at one of the local shops to browse their ring selections to see how far his meager savings might stretch so he could make an honest woman out of the girl he had been in love with for so long.
Anne was stirring a pot of boiling potatoes when she heard the squeak of the back door opening. She turned to see Gil shutting the door behind him and flashing her his usual wide grin. Something about the moment struck her. The ease of their routine, the simple joy of spending time together, the way her heart thrilled when he moved so confidently around her space like her was meant to be there. She knew with sudden clarity that she wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted forever.
"Sorry I'm late. One of the doctors wanted to talk to me after my shift," Gil was saying as he dropped his books down in the table with a soft thwack that brought her brain back to the present. She smiled wide at him and tipped her chin up to receive the hello kiss he never failed to greet her with.
"Dinner should be ready soon. Could you set the table?" He moved away from her and did as she bid him. While he set the plates out, he turned those bright hazel eyes on her.
"How was your day Anne-girl?"
"Same as usual. Lots of books, a few annoying patrons and my coworkers were prying as ever. I swear those girls just have nothing better to do than wag their tongues," she replied with a tone of indifference. His eyebrows raised, a silent invitation to elaborate.
"You know that Brianna. Sometimes she just infuriates me. She hardly does anything all day but talk about the boys who come in and which ones she would like to ask her to court. Then she started pointing out ones she thinks the rest of us should match up with, even me. It's nearly as bad as that silly old take notice board…"
She trailed off as she saw a slightly dark look cross his face at her words.
"What do you tell her when she's trying to pick out boys for you," he asked in a tight voice he was clearly trying to make sound nonchalant.
"I have told her 100 times I'm not interested but she just won't stop," Anne said matter of factly, sounding a little like Marilla. Anne was busy draining the potato's so she did not see the visible sigh of relief from Gilbert.
"I guess this is one of those moments it would be convenient to let our courtship be public knowledge…" Gilbert ventured tentatively.
"It certainly would. And I would love to but word would surely reach home and Mrs Lynde would be on my doorstep in a matter of days and that would simply not do. Do you want to deal with Rachel Lynde every time you visit? We have a good plan to tell everyone so I'll just have to endure and ignore Brianna's romantic machinations for a few more months," Anne said without missing a beat. She turned and plopped the bowl of steaming potatoes in the center of the table and following it with a pan of fried chicken. They sat down together and said a very swift grace before serving up their plates.
"Enough about my annoying coworkers. How was your day Gil?"
"Fine. Nothing too wild at the hospital thankfully. I did have an interesting conversation with Dr. Hampton at the end of the day though," Gil explained.
"Oh? All good I hope?" Anne inquired.
"Yes very good. He was telling me about his own schooling. He's only a few years out you see, still quite young. He did a semester away at the University of Toronto doing research and he was encouraging me to consider it. I guess semester exchanges like that are popular with the medical school admissions board and he thought it could help me with gaining scholarship," Gil explained. Anne's eyebrows shot up and her heart dropped. Gil might be leaving so soon after she had finally accepted that she had loved him all along? She wasn't sure she could bear it. But she could never let him see that. She would not be the thing that held him back. Recovering slightly, she schooled her face as she stared down her dinner plate and tried to steady her voice.
"That sounds like it could be a great opportunity for you. I know medical school is expensive so additional scholarship would be a relief I'm sure. And I know you dream so fiercely of being a doctor. And it would be thrilling to explore a new place. I'm sure Toronto is vastly different from Dear Halifax and certainly from quaint little Avonlea…" Anne didn't really catch on that she was rambling. She was trying so hard to focus on the positives and not let her own despair show. Suddenly Gil's hand covered her own. She looked up at him and saw a soft look in his eyes and a small smile playing at his lips.
"I don't plan to study on Toronto. I will continue working toward the Cooper as I have been and that will be plenty of scholarship for medical school if I prevail. If I don't win the Cooper, I'll just work briefly to save up for medical school just like I have always planned as a back up. Toronto wouldn't guarantee me any scholarship anyway. I'm much too content here in Halifax and I don't fancy giving up my role as class president to Roy Gardener. Further, heard it's simply devoid of redheads over in Toronto and that simply won't do," he finished with a smirk. She smiled back at him, relief flowing through her. She should have known that would be his plan but her insecurities sometimes got the best of her.
They finished the meal in soft conversation about the upcoming school year and Gil's plans for his class presidency. She served up slices of a freshly baked blueberry pie before they retired to the parlor for a quiet night immersed in their books and each other. When Gil finally left for the evening, after pressing her up against the back door in a searing kiss, she retired to her little blue room. She settled into bed, mostly content but a nagging small voice in the back of her head wondered if she was holding Gil back from his utmost potential. She knew he would stick close to her no matter what, even if it wasn't best for his career. It was something she loved about him; his unfailing loyalty and devotion to her. Even before they were romantically entwined, Gil had been devoted to her as the most faithful friend and she adored that. At the same time, she wasn't sure if she could reckon with being the reason he held back from his dreams and fulfilling his potential. That night, her insecurities did not allow her a peaceful rest. She merely hoped the next day would bring another beautiful day of summer sunshine and a clearer mindset free from insecurity about the man she knew she loved.
Thank you for reading. I am already working on the next installment- there is still a lot of story left to go!