A/N: Hello again! Thanks so much for your delightful responses to the previous chapter. It's been a lovely welcome back to this site. :)

I think in my excitement, I may not have properly acknowledged our lovely Maud last time. In this chapter, as with the last, and all my stories in fact, everything starts with LMM and her gorgeously evocative words. I may have borrowed more than a few of them here, and I'll leave it to you, dear readers, to notice where they are.

I don't know about you, but the final chapter of Anne of Ingleside has always bothered me. I mean, I know Gilbert had been up all night with twins and worried about Mrs Garrow and everything, but seriously, was that it? So, this is my humble attempt to add in a few more details about that particular evening. This chapter is an entirely different type of homecoming...

Anne felt like a released bird… she was flying again. Gilbert's arms were around her … his eyes were looking into hers in the moonlight.

She was too happy to sleep just yet. She moved softly about the room, putting things away, braiding her hair, looking like a beloved woman. Finally, she slipped on a negligée…Gilbert, who seldom snored, was indubitably snoring now.

~ Chapter XLIII, Anne of Ingleside

On the evening of her fifteenth wedding anniversary, Anne Blythe stood at the side of her bed, taking a moment to admire her husband, who had fallen into an exhausted sleep almost in the same moment his brown curls had touched the pillow. Although he was almost forty-three now, Gilbert's broad-shouldered body was still lean and well-muscled, his stomach just as flat and his long legs as strong as they'd ever been. He was naked under the covers, lying on his back with one sinewed arm flung out beside him. His mouth was open slightly and his soft snores made her smile indulgently. Dearest, tired Gilbert.

The smile on Anne's face grew wider as her eyes roamed over the beloved lines of his face. Thick brown curls were slightly rumpled on his head and the tiny glints of grey she'd noticed earlier in the hair above his ears made her want to comb her fingers through them soothingly. His twinkling hazel eyes were closed, long dark lashes fanned his cheeks and the crow's feet around the corners of his eyes were just discernible in the dim moonlight. Her gaze drifted along the profile of his straight nose, his full lips, the creases on either side of his mouth which had grown deeper over the years, the faint dimple on his cheek. The lines of his strong jaw and splendid chin were just as delicious looking as they'd ever been and his Adam's apple just as kissable.

Anne's eyes were still appreciating the muscles of his shoulders and chest as she slipped under the covers beside Gilbert as carefully as she could, so as not to disturb his well-earned rest. With one last, long glance at her sleeping husband, she curled up on her side, turning her back to him, one slender hand tucked under her cheek on the pillow. There was a dreamy smile on her face as she reflected on how her life suddenly felt golden and rose and splendidly rainbowed again. Anne sighed as she remembered how Gilbert's eyes had crinkled up with the smile he kept just for her when he gave her the beautiful diamond pendant tonight. The gleam she hadn't seen in his eyes for so long now.

The moonlight was spilling through the window and illuminating the bed in its silvery glow. Anne hummed contentedly and nestled her cheek into the soft cotton sheets, still gazing at the moon. Behind her, Gilbert rolled onto his side towards her and one well-muscled arm skimmed around her waist until his warm hand settled comfortably on her stomach. His other hand slid along the sheet until it was placed beneath her ribs, his fingers grasping the fabric of her negligée.

Anne's smile grew wider as she snuggled into the warmth of his body until the hard muscles of his torso were resting securely against her back. Gilbert's large hand was splayed across her belly and suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her body and he was pulling her even closer to him. When Anne's bottom was nestled snugly against him, he curled his legs behind hers until she could feel the hot length of him pressed into the base of her spine as he hitched his hips slightly towards her. Gilbert's hand was now sliding in a long, languid caress from her knee upwards along her thigh until his fingers were grazing the soft skin on the curve her hip.

"I thought you were asleep," Anne whispered, turning her head to glance at his face over her shoulder.

"Mmm, I was," Gilbert smiled sleepily with his eyes still closed. "Until my bewitching wife got into bed wearing nothing but an indecently diaphanous nightgown and started rubbing her body up against me."

Gilbert's fingers were playing with the silky fabric of her negligée as he hummed pleasurably. Slowly, his hand moved from her hip upwards along the side of Anne's body until he was cupping her breast through the gauzy fabric. He brushed his lips along her shoulder before nuzzling his nose into her braided hair.

"Gilbert," she laughed. "I was not rubbing up against you! Why, you were the one who -"

"So, you weren't trying to seduce me?" his voice rumbled into the curve of her shoulder as his hands pulled her even more tightly against his body. The warmth of his breath was tickling her skin as he pressed a kiss to the shell of her ear.

"No," Anne said a little breathlessly as she tilted her head, pushing her long red braid to one side so that Gilbert's lips could continue their path down to her shoulder blade. Anne shivered as he dragged his lips slowly across her skin. They were both still lying on their sides, and Anne gasped as his warm mouth lingered at her nape and then along her throat and back to the corner of her jaw. Her heart began to flutter wildly in her chest. "I was trying to let you sleep."

"I'm a little disappointed, Anne-girl," he chuckled. "It is our anniversary after all."

His tongue flicked out to touch her earlobe before he took it between his teeth and bit down gently, making her gasp. His hard chest and stomach were still pressed to her back, the front of his thighs pushing into the back of hers, his hands sliding over her belly and Anne hummed in pleasure. Suddenly, one large, warm hand slipped under her negligee, dragging the delicate fabric with him as he ran his fingertips lightly upwards along her skin until he was grasping her breast, his thumb brushing against the rosy peak.

Anne arched her back into his chest and gyrated her bottom slowly against his erection as a familiar thrill began curling deep within her belly.

"Mmm," he hummed. "We haven't done this for so long, sweetheart…"

Anne gasped and writhed a little as he pinched and rolled the nipple between his fingers.

"Too long," she agreed.

In truth, it had been months since they'd touched each other like this. Anne had been so busy lately with the family and Gilbert had been occupied with his work night and day for so long now. Between measles and twins and all manner of diseases both in the Glen and over harbour, Gilbert had barely been home for weeks.

With one hand still squeezing her breast, Gilbert's other hand was slowly tracing a light path down her belly. His long fingers paused to leisurely circle her navel before they moved unerringly downwards until he was caressing the soft curls between her legs.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Her spine still pressing into him, Anne's thighs were trembling as they parted slightly in anticipation. Her breath was coming in short pants now and her fingers were digging into his hip, pulling him closer to her.

"Oh, Gilbert," she breathed. "Please, dearest…"

Gilbert's chin was tucked into the curve of her shoulder as his hand gripped her thigh, sliding Anne's leg over his before long fingers drifted back across her hip and lower. His low moan in her ear when he found her sent a shiver of delight through her body, and Anne gasped when he tenderly began stroking the sensitive flesh between her legs.

"Anne, you're so beautiful," he muttered, his teeth scraping along her shoulder making her shudder. "I love you. God, how I love you."

Gilbert's finger moved in lazy circles and Anne arched against him, whimpering with joy at his words and his touch.

"Yes," Anne hissed, still lying on her side and reaching to grasp his strong forearms in her hands as he worked her. "Tell me again."

Anne closed her eyes, biting her lower lip as she attempted to muffle her cries. She could feel his ragged breath hot on her neck as she wriggled her hips against him.

Abruptly Gilbert withdrew his hand from her breast and pulled his hips away from her slightly. With one strong arm still wrapped around her waist, Gilbert was holding Anne's body so that her back was pressed firmly into his chest. His other hand had slipped between them to guide himself into her and Anne shuddered. She could feel the tip of his arousal sliding between her thighs, as his tongue dragged along the nape of her neck. Anne moaned as his hand gripped her thigh, pushing her leg higher.

"I love you," he rasped and then he exhaled into her shoulder as she felt every inch of him slowly push into her. "You must know that, Anne."

She gasped as he withdrew almost all the way out before thrusting deep and hard. Anne knew he was seeking that sweet spot within her as she reached her hand behind her and clung to his hip, her fingers digging into his skin. Gilbert's lower belly was pressed hard against the small of her back and then he pulled back and rammed into her again.

"I've always loved you," he breathed into her ear.

"Oh, Gilbert," her voice was thick with desire. "Yes."

"The life we've built together," he muttered, still pounding into her. "It's more than I ever dreamed possible…"

"I love you," she said. "More than you'll ever know."

"I'm never going to let you forget," he mumbled as he dragged his lips along her throat. "Never."

When his hand returned to caress her breast again, a violent shuddering possessed her body as the urgency of his words touched something deep inside her.

"I adore you, Gilbert," Anne avowed, her voice quivering with emotion. She could feel the bliss spreading, about to overtake her.

"I thank God for that every day," he said, with his hips still hammering into her. His relentless pace was devastating.

Anne's body was like a tightly coiled spring, and she was ready to burst with joy at his words. The familiar warmth was curling through her body and she was quaking with the building tension. Gilbert's hand was pressed low on her belly, holding her in place, his legs still cradling the back of hers as he continued to drag his length in and out with an insistent rhythm. His panting breath was hot on the damp skin of her nape as her eyes squeezed shut and Anne felt the pure joy of her release break over her in wave after wave. Her ecstatic cry of rapture was muffled into the pillow as Gilbert moaned his exultation into the curve of her neck.

Gilbert's body went rigid behind her as he buried himself deep inside her, gasping her name.

His arms were still tight around Anne's waist as they both slowly drifted back to earth. Anne could feel his chest heaving with his laboured breathing as he placed tender kisses into the side of her throat for a long moment.

Anne felt him slide out of her and she sighed.

"I've missed you, darling," Anne murmured with her fingers tracing light patterns over his forearm. "I've missed this."

She turned in his arms until she was facing him, their bodies still pressed tightly together. Her hands slid upwards until her fingers were threading through his hair. She caressed those grey glints above his ears and smiled into his warm hazel eyes.

"I've missed us," he replied, leaning towards her to kiss her lips tenderly. "I'm sorry I've been so preoccupied. I never dreamed you would think I don't love you -"

Anne placed her forefinger over his lips to stop him.

"I've been taking you for granted, dearest," she whispered, shaking her head. "I should never have -"

Her next words were smothered by his lips covering hers once more. They lay side by side, their legs entangled and arms wrapped around each other. Gilbert had a drowsy smile on his face but he continued to kiss her lips over and over. Anne lifted her hand to cup his beloved face.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I know," he replied, and his delight was evident as a self-satisfied grin spread across his delicious lips. His expression was so endearing, Anne suddenly wanted nothing more than to kiss that smile off his beautiful face.

Anne leaned forward to run her tongue along his sweet lips and she smiled when she heard the delightful humming noise rumbling in his mouth. It made her recall the very first time he'd ever kissed her, when he'd asked her to marry him in Hester Gray's garden.

"Let's not ever forget again," Anne said.

"Never," he murmured, kissing her lips again.

Gilbert's hands slid from Anne's waist and began to wander along the side of her hip. His dark curls were rumpled delightfully and his bright hazel eyes were shining in the soft moonlight.

"Did you know you have some grey hairs?" Anne smiled as she reached up to touch them. "Just here, above your ears."

"Ouch," he pretended to be offended, pulling her body closer. "Are you saying I'm old, Anne-girl?"

"Of course not," Anne said, as her fingertips traced a path around his ear. "I think they make you look rather distinguished."

"Well, that sounds like something a wife should say after fifteen years," he said, his eyes crinkling as they smiled at her.

There was a pause as their lips met once more.

"Remember the first night we slept here at Ingleside?" she said softly. "I was so upset about leaving our dear House of Dreams."

"You told me you were homesick," Gilbert said. "And I wanted to make wonderful new memories here with you."

"I think we made some wonderful memories together that night, don't you, dearest?" Anne's heart began to race as she remembered Gilbert's tender demands that first night at Ingleside. It was apparent that his need to satisfy his wife was paramount in his careful and very thorough attentions to her.

"Not just that night," Gilbert grinned at her lecherously.

"Ingleside has always felt like home to me, dearest," she said. "Because you were here."

They were still lying on their sides facing each other and Anne's heart was overflowing with that warm, safe feeling of a sure love. Gilbert reached up to grasp her fingers in his as he pulled her hand to his lips, brushing gentle kisses along her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers as they smiled at each other.

Suddenly, Gilbert rolled Anne onto her back. Their fingers were intertwined and a mischievous smile twisted his delicious lips before he leaned down to trail kisses along her throat and down between her breasts, setting Anne's skin aflame once more.

"Care to make some more memories, wife?" he murmured into her breast.

His hips were pressing hers into the mattress as he began to tease the tip of one breast with his tongue.

"Again?" Anne laughed with her fingers tangled in the curls at the back of his head.

"Yes, again," Gilbert growled before his lips captured hers in a searing kiss.

"I thought you were tired," she smiled when he drew his lips away from hers slightly. Her fingers were caressing his beloved features as he gazed into her eyes.

"I think the old man's still got some strength left," he chuckled as he bent his head to press warm lips into her neck, making Anne shiver with anticipation.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this little bonus chapter. :)

Love to you all from J x