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.

Author's Note:

Astrakelly - That's a good image for Anne… Of course Gilbert's fever dreams are vivid :) Not that he would dare admit to Anne he's got as vivid of an imagination as her no doubt.

Oz Diva - Thanks for the compliment. Oh Yes he's in love, he's infatuated, and dreamy… Yes I don't think with how he's been hurt over the years he'll let himself believe she's real. Do they know how much he's taking in? Uncertain. But then he's a bit uncertain what's reality and what are dreams… so will he remember anyways any of it? Or think it's all dreams? Or remember all of it? Will he remember the hotel or not at all? Will he remember wait and see…

— Davy —

Sunday, June 26th, 8:00am

Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI

I hadn't seen much of the fellas since Anne & Gilbert had come home Monday night. I'd been too busy helping keep my new brother alive. Of course with everyone walking on egg shells because they're worried about Anne's news, and what would happen if Gilbert does die. I mean, I'll take care of her. But still, best we just keep Gilbert alive.

So until it was time to change for church I tended Gilbert. Anne had fallen asleep in the chair beside him and I'd just left her there as I changed Gilbert and with Mrs. Lynde's help who'd come over early to make sure Anne ate breakfast. She kept talking about how Anne had all the classic symptoms. What were classic symptoms? I added that to Anne's list. Where they different from say modern symptoms? I want to know.

Mrs. Lynde had then tutted, woke Anne up and made her eat some day old bread with butter, even when Anne hadn't wanted to eat, keeping glancing over her shoulder towards Gilbert. Well, with Gilbert changed, even Anne changed for Mrs. Lynde had marched her upstairs to Gilbert's room and helped her. We'd all left for church leaving Anne to tend Gilbert as she'd refused to leave his side and insisted the rest of us should't miss.

I'd arrived and went with Mrs. Lynde to sit in the Green Gables pew between Dora and Mrs. Lynde. Dora just sat properly, she's rather boring, and rarely any fun. I'd waved to a few of the fellas, but I shrugged when they didn't come over. The service was about to start.

The minister was quite boring speaking about David and a woman named Bathsheba. I didn't pay much attention. Then after was a song and as I stood to share my hymnal with Dora she whispered. "Why'd they have to whisper about Anne so?"

Whisper about Anne?

I didn't find out what she meant until church was released and heading over towards the fellas near where the buggies were parked, I waved at them.

"Guess that Typhoid is God's judgement?" Frank Bell laughed. "Guess they teach collage girls to raise their skirts for their beau's… Seems they got caught."

"Don't talk about Miss Shirley that way!" Anthony shoved him.

I stared at them. "What…"

"Don't you know." One of the other fellas, Will Sloane, Charlie's younger brother. "My brother said it was all over Redmond how fast and thick Anne & a Kingsport man were, talk of an engagement announcement any day. No announcement, and instead she comes home expecting and married to Gilbert Blythe. Everyone knows Gilbert's always pined for her. Even willing to take likely another man's child. Or were they sneaking around…"

I saw red as I rushed towards Will Sloane, slamming into his chest. "Don't you dare talk like that about Anne and Gilbert. They'll announce their news when they're ready!"

"Think Dora…" Frank Bell laughed.

And that was enough. Within minutes I was in the midsts of a fight. Some of the other fellas joined in. I had Milty, Sam and Anthony helping me, as most of the other fellas, even some of the bigger ones were helping Frank and Will.

It was Fred who managed to break it up. "What's this about?"

My face hurt. I had a split lip and didn't know what else, my eye was swollen.

Anthony answered him. "They were talking badly about Miss Shirley."

"It's Mrs. Blythe." I glared.

He shrugged. "Soon as we see the announcement. Until then it's just gossip." He glanced over where his cousins Gertie and Josie Pye were laughing at something. "Just gossip, we should always let a man speak for himself."

I was not inviting Frank Bell to my birthday party, and I was certainly inviting Anthony Pye.

Marilla took one look at me, as Mr. Harrison and Mr. Blythe just laughed, and told her the men would take care of me. So after some glares to the other boys to not add to gossip or spread it, they helped me into the back of the wagon the Blythes had ridden over with a warning to not let Anne see me.

I see her briefly, she's fallen asleep again, and I hear Mr. Blythe sigh seeing them. She's leaning against the headboard, having propped Gilbert up in front of her to eat only having fallen asleep. He sends me ahead to wash up and for Mrs. Blythe to get me something for my eye when he walks in to nudge Anne, telling her to go upstairs and sleep. Clearly she's not sleeping. And I realize she's up most of the night tending Gilbert.

I sit with Mr. Blythe and Gilbert… I want to ask him about what the fellas were saying about Anne and Gilbert but realize I don't want to know the answers. For once I don't want to know. Anyways he won't have them. Only Anne & Gilbert will, but it's a man's question so I add it to Gilbert's list. I can't ask Anne that! I speak then. "I"m going to wait for my birthday party until Gilbert's better. If he's not there, I won't have one. And I won't invite any of the fellas who are talking mean about Anne and Gilbert."

Mr. Blythe sighed. "Sometimes, folks just jump to the wrong conclusion."

Within an hour Anne's back, insisting on being there, and seeing my face gets quite upset. "Frank Bell kissed Dora." I state. Refusing to tell her more.

She shakes her head and does her best to pull that school Ma'am look she used to have when she taught us. "So you fought him? Was that really necessary?"

I glance at Mr. Blythe who shakes his head. We can't worry Anne about the gossip. We'll, well we'll just keep her home until Gilbert's better. "Yea. No one messes around with my sisters. That includes you too Anne."

She smiles, taking my hand. "Well, I'm glad to have a brother like you."

Mrs. Lynde has gone home for the afternoon, and will be back the next day. The Fletchers come by and sit with Gilbert for a while and I'm sent upstairs to sleep. Anne of course doesn't leave Gilbert's side. I figure when I marry if I've got to. Then I want a wife like Anne. Not Anne of course, but a wife who'll love me like she loves Gilbert.

Milty comes by then. He's got his wrist wrapped up and scrapes the red dirt of the road with the toe of his boot. It maybe Summer but even Milty has to wear his boots on Sunday.

"Dad heard about the rumors and the fight. Said Green Gables folks aren't fit company for a Bolton right now." He grinned. "Was proud of our fighting though. Just he's trying to make a deal with Mr. Sloane about renting their back pasture and the Sloanes are making it clear they won't have anything to do with Anne or Gilbert… They've been warning folks… Loose morals or something. For Charlie Sloane said something about what happened at Redmond. He and Gilbert were roommates and there were nights Gilbert never would come home, and would look simply awful when he finally would. Told my dad he trailed Gilbert once, and saw him heading towards the place where Anne was living. Trailed him three times. Never saw them though. Anyways, Dad said doesn't matter what they've done, but they've got to appease the Sloanes."

"So…"

"I'll be praying for Gilbert, and I figure you won't have time to go fishing until he's better. Then well, we'll see.."

I gulped. "Milty…"

"Maybe it'll all blow over by fall. They say that Jane Andrews is coming home in a week for her wedding. There'll be hordes of Andrews folks, even that eldest daughter who started all the gossip with her letter. And by then hopeful, Gilbert will be on the mend. Anyways with her marrying that wealthy man out west... Well... Folks will be focused on that, I heard its." He shrugged. "Don't know when the wedding is."

"Anne's invited. She said Gilbert should be well by then." I grin.

"We'll go fishing afterwards. But best you stay away from the fellas until then. Even Anthony Pye don't dare disregard his elders. Now, folks will be too busy talking about Jane Andrew's new rich husband to care about any gossip about Anne & Gilbert." He turned to look at the road where his father was coming up with Mr. Sloane.

"Boys…" Mr. Bolton spoke.

"Just explaining things to Davy." Milty said quickly before, Mr. Bolton waved at the cross roads to Mr, Sloane who just glared at me and they all went their separate ways.

I guess I was homesick so I went to Green Gables afterwards. I needed some plum puffs. Or plum jam.

Marilla took one look at me, and I saw Dora crying also. I'd only gotten out of her that Minnie May had been told to never come over again, and that even Diana was warned that her parents would not take kindly to them associating with Anne and Gilbert again. And that Mrs. Berry should have known that an orphan who would set Diana drunk would do such a thing!

Marilla just took out some bread from the day before, the jar of plum jam and lathered it on for us, handing us our slices as we ate.

—*—*—*—*—

Author's Note: Without digging through the books to remember the details of Milty's family. I'm going from what I can remember. Can you imagine what's going on in the minds of the older generation. Especially assuming that the Blythes told Marilla and Mrs Lynde what they saw? Poor Davy & Dora. Oh and for those who remember Chapter 2... I'm imagining the layout of Kingsport as such: Gilbert is close to Redmond Campus, Patty's Place is maybe in a rich part of town on the north side of Kingsport, and in a round about way Gilbert might go past, to the east side where the clinic is and Patterson Street. And of course a lovesick heartbroken Gilbert would have taken the round about way,