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 - Yes she did. And she'll continue today :)

BJMccoy - Yes I'm afraid there's some wrong names and a few continuation things that get missed. I actually haven't read it through beginning to end myself nor finished writing it, but thanks for catching what you did. I'm currently on Chapter 39, and I find it strange to edit & post before finishing but if I don't I might grow bored with the story, I will though do some minor edits for wrong names / spelling and small continuation issues soon once I finish writing Chapter 40.

— Anne —

Wednesday, June 29th, 11:00pm

Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI

There must have been an unspoken agreement of exhaustion that I'd been left alone with him as night settled. Mr. Blythe slept on the couch near at hand, Mrs. Blythe only taking to her bed, when Mr. Blythe had insisted on something for her sleep. Even Davy had been forced to bed by Aunt Mary Maria, who believed all growing boys should sleep normal hours no matter the depths of despair the house was in. No doubt someone would come to join me in the early hours but now as midnight approached I was alone.

"My love." His voice came out like a whisper. I sobbed, as he became lifeless.

"No… No…" I threw my head on his chest, listening for his breathing, his heart beat. He was still with me, breathing, slowly, but still. He nearly stopped at one moment and I quickly washed his lips, then breathed into his mouth for him, disregarding all of Dr. Spenser's rules to keep him breathing. "Don't leave me Gil!"

I should wake the house but I didn't dare leave him, and this was our battle. Three times that night he'd stop breathing, and I'd spend minutes banging on his chest to come back as I breathed in for him. I crawled on the bed beside him, exhausted and kept my ministrations, dabbling water into his parched mouth and praying for his life. Between my frantic prayers I'd remind Gilbert of what we had ahead of us. The day he becomes Dr. Gilbert Blythe. The day I'd meet him in the Green Gables orchard with a veil that Marilla had shown me once that had been her mother's, as his bride. Our honeymoon. Our own house of dreams. Our children. Our grandchildren. And that I'd finally let him go, to go with me when we were old and gray. That we'd be past ninety when I'd let us die in each others arms.

I cried until there were no tears left. And still I cried.

The third time he struggled to breath I spent nearly half an hour breathing for him. Demanding that he not leave me. I did not care if I got Typhoid also. The only measure for my safety I'd take was washing his mouth and my own often with the alcohol mixture we kept on the bedside to bathe him with. His breath became steady finally. Then with my own exhaustion I fell asleep in the early morning hours curled up beside him, my head over his heart, and my left hand on his chest, the pearls in the firelight the last thing I saw. He burned so hot that I felt my skin blister, my nightgown soaked with both our sweat, but I did not care. I would not leave him.

It was the dimness before the dawn broke as I woke to someone calling me. "Anne…"

The first thing I noticed was he was breathing still shallowly but more normally. The second was his hand was clasped in mine. The third, he was not so warm as in the night. I raised my head, staring into his eyes, love pouring between our eyes. I felt fresh tears. My right hand came to stroke his cheek. "My love…"

"Tired… Thirsty." I jumped up, taking the cup of water by the bed and bringing it to his lips. Holding him up to drink before lowering him slowly. I could just dimly make out the apple orchard beyond. It was going to be a beautiful day. The first day of our future.

He was soaked with sweat, we both were. And now I shivered from the damp chill. I heard his father's snore and with a quick kiss to Gilbert's hair, I promised to return quickly, threw on his old robe, and rushed through the house yelling. "His fever broke!" Giddy with excitement.

Within minutes we were all gathered around his bed, and everyone had to feel it for themselves. He still burned but the fever had lowered substantially in the night. Though with one look at me, Aunt Mary Maria humphed after discerning for herself and exclaiming it had been her presence that had brought him to his senses. I'd wanted to stay, but was lead away by Mrs. Blythe as Mr. Blythe and Davy went to changing Gilbert. She changed me like a small child, for now that he'd live the exhaustion was catching up on me, and insisted I sleep for two hours minimum on the sewing room bed. I slept with a smile, he lived!

I woke to her temping me with a delicious breakfast and Marilla, Dora and Mrs. Lynde coming to celebrate, as Davy had rushed over with the news. Gilbert woke little and mostly slept through the visit. Not even waking much even when Dr. Spenser came to check on him and inform us his fever had dropped down to 103, and not only would he live, but hopefully with no long term effects. We should see it continue to drop over the next week, as his body expelled the rest of the Typhoid. And then a long road to rebuild his strength.

I gathered blossoms for his sick room when I was next kicked out of the room returning to decorate the room, such that even if I wasn't there he'd know I was near. Oh and what else? I went about doing all that I could think of to remind him of my love. I even found in my trunk a more recent photo of myself that Phil had taken one day she'd been given a camera. I'd burned some of the photos she'd given me as Roy had been in them, but one had me alone in the orchard at Patty's Place, flowers in my hair as I smiled. I rushed over to the attic at Green Gables, found a frame I'd seen before, and came back to set it on his bedside, informing him he wasn't to ruin it with keeping it under his pillow.

Visitors came in the afternoon. Fred came by having heard the news that Gilbert had taken turn for the better. Even Jane who had just arrived home for her wedding stopped by briefly with a basket of food from her mother and was very glad to hear the news though she said she could not stay, and understood I'd want to stay with him, and with the wedding so crowded it might be best if I focus on nursing him and she'd understand…

I merely smiled and waved her off. His fever continued to drop it felt each time we'd check him, joyful, at the development. At supper I'd refused to leave his side, insisting the rest eat and that I'd join them as soon as he could also. He woke then and I joyfully fed him spoonfuls of broth, as I ate my own soup that Mrs. Blythe made us. I did not dare kiss him, not just for Dr. Spenser's words, but the memory of the hotel still fresh. And I did not trust myself. I had not known myself in love with him then and now? Those kisses could wait.

Night came, and I changed into my night gown and his old robe hours before the others retired. I was exhausted, and know I should make my own bed that night on the couch and had even gathered the linens I'd need from the linen closet on the second floor. No one though wanted to leave Gilbert's side. The first to go up was Aunt Mary Maria who'd left on the stroke of ten with a firm look that young people should also head to bed. I'd then marched a yawning Davy to bed, leaving Gilbert with his parents. I'd returned downstairs to find them leaving the door open, they said goodnight to me, and headed upstairs, arms around each others waists and smiling as two cats followed them.

Another cat was sitting on the linens I'd brought down earlier for my bed making. Then glancing towards the open door to the spare room, my breath hitched thinking of him. I would go and say goodnight. I would check on him often. Then I'd noticed the family bible sitting on the dining table, for Aunt Mary Maria had insisted on Mr. Blythe reading it where Gilbert could hear the family prayers that evening.

I'd suddenly remembered the story of Ruth, how she'd gone to Boaz and slept at his feet. I would not dare sleep beside him, but I would need to stir less to tend him there. Yes, I would do that, curled up in a ball where he would be the first thing I'd see. So taking the quilt with me, and leaving the linens there I crept into the spare room. They'd found us often enough asleep together... one more night... he would not graduate for three more years. It was romantic though, to sleep there. At his feet like Ruth.

His eyes blinked open as I approached climbing on the bed beside him. "Gil…"

"Anne?" His hand came up to cradle my face. He then seemed to notice the ring that he'd not comment on all day. "My ring? I don't remember…"

I felt one tear fall down. "Do you remember any of our adventure getting home?" I asked.

"No… I don't think so…" He shook his head. "You said yes though."

I smiled as he brought my ringed hand to his lips, and I whispered. "I said yes."

He fell back to sleep, and taking another blanket to cover myself I curled up at his feet. Dreaming of our future.

Author's note: He recovers! Now time to prepare for the gossip to ignite. :D