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 - I'm afraid I've never seen Hamilton, but if you mean take her shot with Gilbert… I think you'll like this chapter.
Kushinka - Yes Gilbert should start recovering soon… This isn't a tragedy so of course he will :), And Yes, Aunt Mary Maria is a nightmare, and I agree, Gilbert should have said something.
Faith-hope-and-glory - I agree, Gilbert should have tried to romance her, but he had and she kept rebutting him. I did come up with an idea for another story, where what if Gilbert went over the top and thought he was God's gift to women kind, specifically God's gift to Anne Shirley? Sort of like Pepe le Pew? I've been brainstorming for that, and will sit down and write when I finish this story. And Yes, others have pointed out I miss spelled a few names and will be going back to correct over the weekend and repost those chapters with the name fixes on Monday. Yes and I love your comments on the last chapter, yes Gilbert will make it, and don't worry Anne will find a way to ensure they have a properly romantic proposal in the future that makes her own soul sigh with satisfaction - keep an eye out for an upcoming chapter.
— Gilbert —
Wednesday, June 29th, 4:00am
Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI
The nightmares get worse, the pain gets worse, and the temptation to fall into that hole where Little Anne had gone grows. Yet each time I move towards it I see my Anne-Girl sword in hand keeping it at bay. Through the haze and nightmares I hear her pleading with the Lord to keep me with her, for me to stay, to not leave her. But can I? Can I risk it? Risk a world where Anne is always beyond reach? I've lived it most of my life. But can I continue?
I am only vaguely aware of the passage of time. Sunlight comes in at one point as I'm lifted up in Anne's arms to sip cool water. I'm alternately burning and freezing. Others come and go but Anne is always there. The memory of a promise comes back. Each of us holding each others face, being so tempted to kiss her and her promise that hers would be the last I'd see. Was that time? Was she waiting for that?
Another point I wake up and Dad is changing me, while Anne sleep beside me, her back to me, but I hear her soft breathing. "Let her sleep Davy." Dad says and I realize Davy is there too.
Later, the sun isn't as bright and I see storm clouds out the window when I blink my eyes open. I look for Anne but she's missing. "Anne…" I cry. "Anne… You promised."
She rushes towards me, taking my hand and squeezing it, and speaking as someone else bathes me. I slip into more dreams.
I'm back the day I rescued her from the Lake of Shining Waters and she'd refused to be my friend.
The Day that I first saw her with Roy Gardiner.
The day at the convocation dance when she'd refused to dance with me. Even though she'd given me such joy to see her carrying my flowers instead of that Gardiner who would never fit in her life. Not that she'd ever realize it. He was her ideal.
I wake now and it's night again. Aunt Mary Maria is there, and she's lecturing someone. While red hair briefly cascades into my face, one long braid, but I slip back away before they manage to lift me up to drink.
I'm now back to Patty's Place. That horrible Spring night I made a fool of myself and proposed. An offering of May flowers in my hand as I approached her. I'd known she'd not wanted me to turn lover, I'd panicked. I'd unstitched her ring from my billfold, burning in my pocket waiting to finally grace her finger.
She'd known what I was about. Tried to distract me with fetching the girls to pick some white violets she'd found. But I had to.
Her words… "I never, never can love you — in that way — Gilbert. You must never speak of this to me again."
My heart had broken. And I turned, ready to head towards that black hole. Perhaps it was time. Perhaps it was time to leave. Perhaps I should finally take her word.
"I love you Gilbert Blythe. I'm in love with you. I couldn't say yes to Roy, because he wasn't you. Oh I was a fool two years ago. I don't want sunbursts and marble halls, I just want you." There standing with tears streaming down her face stood Anne with her sword. She was praying for me. "Gil, I found a pslam, I've been turning the pages trying to find something to fight with for you. This is for you. Psalm 91. 'Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.' Oh Gil… come back to me. You must win against the Typhoid."
I saw the different Annes then, standing there lined up. The Ghost Anne, Little Anne, The Dream Anne who was Anne Blythe. And there, blinking my eyes open briefly I saw leaning over me, the real Anne. I could not keep them open though. It was too painful. I wanted to leave. To leave the pain.
"My love…" She whispered.
I would not take the emptiness anymore. I struggled to stay awake long enough, to push through the burning pain, to lift my hand to her face, though it took everything in me. Her own hand clasped mine to her face. "My love." I managed to speak before I slipped away, falling back towards the blackness, falling.
