Author's Note:

Anneomine and BHB168 - yes he barfed on Anne! The idea came to mind and I couldn't resist... It's memorable, and I think believable for how sick Gilbert is. It also raises the stakes because we're suddenly confronted with Gilbert's sick... something he hasn't realized yet.

And previous comments from the chapter before on Davy — TLWtlw yes! I tried to remember without digging into the books who Davy might come up with and remembered two sailor cousins (from a Tangled Web actually) - but believable also in Avonlea. And Anneomine yes! And you know who he's going to champion. LOL.

The characters are created by LM Montgomery, and are her property... the original characters & storyline are unique to this story are copyright 2021, by Nell Lime.

— Anne —

Saturday June 19th, 12:30pm

Kingsport Train Station, Kingsport, Nova Scotia

I'd been just catching my breath as the connection had been so tight in Kingsport, that I'd barely had time to register as with the train just picking up speed one last traveler jumped on board, and with the tight space, barreled right into me knocking us both to the ground.

The first thing I'd registered was man. I'd shut my eyes at the impact, and had blinked in confusion as I recognized the curls loosened from the man's hat that had spilled. The eyes that normally always looked full of laughter but now as though dead. "Gil..."

"My Anne..." He whispered, as his eyes rolled back.

"Gil!" I tried to shake him.

"Ma'am?" The Purser asked trying to shake Gilbert who lay on top of me. We'd both startled as Gilbert woke only to loose the contents of his stomach, spiraling onto my face, hair, and traveling suit.

"Anne?" He started at me confusingly as the Purser helped us both to rise, and adjust ourselves.

"Ma'am, is the gentleman an acquaintance? He doesn't appear so well..." The Purser was trying to help support Gilbert.

"A friend actually, yes I mean, we live only a mile apart and have known each other for ten years. I was just returning home."

"Home to Avonlea..." Gilbert spoke holding his hand to his head. "Mrs. Carol sent a basket..."

"Over the other side sorry…" The purser guided him towards an empty seat placing their bags on the rack above the bench. "Your tickets?"

He pulled his out of his inside pocket while I did like wise from my purse and then in shock, his bile still drying on my traveling suit and I felt my heart quicken to see my old friend. Perhaps the last time. Sinking down beside him on the seat as we moved out of Kingsport.

The Train was full, and were he not so clearly ill, I would have been forced to choose to sit with him or a stranger. I'd placed my hand on his forehead. Rather warm. "Honestly Gil, what ever possessed you to travel in this state. You should be in bed not on a train!"

"Nurse Lewis insisted, been working too hard. Lost Little Anne… Too scared of Nurse Lewis. Then heard about the Gardiner Wedding. Had to get away from you." He babbled before turning away to stare out the window.

I gulped… "Oh Gil. I think you mean Aline Gardiner's wedding. Dorothy wrote to me about it. She's promised to stay in touch as I teach this summer at Summerside. Why you're looking at the new Principal at Summerside High School! I… I refused Roy."

His head whipped towards me. "Anne…"

"Just think tonight we'll be seeing the Island again! I cannot wait to walk the woods again. All the old beloved haunts. How long will you be in Avonlea for? I know you'll be coming back. I heard you'll be studying medical, and of course…" I gulped. "I heard congratulations are in order, one of Christine Stewart's friends is Phil's cousin, was telling me all about it at Phil's wedding today…"

"Christine Stewart?" He stared blankly at me. Then shook his head. "Yes, Ronald told me their folks finally accepted her fiancé, as he's finally made his business turn a profit."

My eyes went wide. "I thought you…"

"She told me it was common knowledge. Her brother Ronald asked me to watch out for her as she'd know no one. And she wasn't a bad sort truthfully. She's engaged to someone back home, Mr. Andrew Dawson. Her Virtuosso as she calls him. He's been working to build is business out west and they mean to marry as soon as his business thrives. Guess that's a reminder to never listen to gossip."

"Everyone said you and her were engaged…" I stared, then shook my head, pulling off my hat, now squashed from our fall with specks of his bile all over, it was truly ruined. "Well, that should be a listen to never listen to gossip. Truth be told I've quite enough of romance for a lifetime. It's not all it's cracked up to be and am determined to be an old spinster."

I'd turned only to notice he'd fallen a sleep.

We spoke nothing else for an hour as we rode, crossing Nova Scotia towards the eastern coast. He slept, and my own lack of sleep I must have dozed off myself for I woke with my head on his shoulder as the train slammed to a sudden stop, throwing us against the back of the seat in front of us. We were again a tangle of limbs. The purser was announcing to the car as I felt Gilbert's forehead, I could have sworn he'd grown warmer as he'd slept. "Anne?"

"Some accident ahead. No one dead though, thank providence. We've to walk the mile to the next station where a local line will continue on to Pictau. Might put us back, but we still may make the boat. Where's your bag, there it is. Oh this brings me back, why I could swear you've got my old carpet bag I arrived with when I first came to the Island though the colors are different. Give me an arm, what a scrape this is."

I'd glanced at him several times as he stumbled beside me. I'd held onto our two bags with one arm, as I helped him in the late sunlight towards the town. We'd been in the midst as we started, but his uneasy gate was slowing us down. "Gil I'll have to tease you about such slow walking when I'd barely kept up with you that time we'd walked to Ecco lodge the last time."

I began to calculate in my head. We had to get to Charlottetown tonight. I hadn't the funds for a hotel, and Gilbert was in no condition to be left on his own. No matter what we had to make that boat. Even if we missed the boat train. He'd paused, his glazed eyes shaking as he focused on me. "Anne…" He'd cupped my face with his free hand. "I don't feel so well…"

"Gil," I glanced, most of the other passengers were ahead of us now. We were I'd guess halfway. The train they said would leave in half an hour to keep the time table, plus one more afterwards. But that later train would be no use. We'd miss the last boat to Charlottetown. "We've got to hurry, we've got to catch that train."

He nodded, wrapping his arm around my waist. If that steadied him, so be it. He'd tried to take one of the bags, then glanced down at me in the late summer light. "Come on Carrots."

—-

Author's note:

I didn't want to drag out the Christine and Roy at all... So we're getting that into the open quickly. Trust me I think there's enough hidden fears from both of them to up the angst. Without having Christine or Roy show up in Avonlea. Others have done that, and well, so instead I wanted to dig into their hidden fears. Especially as I suspect Gilbert has his own romanticized ideal of Anne that would put Anne's romantic ideal to shame for how much he dreams about his dream Anne... And how absolutely uncomfortable that would likely make Anne feel.