Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters created by L.M. Montgomery and Moira Walley-Beckett. I do not claim any ownership over them and offer my writing to the world as a homage to their creations as well as an outlet of imagination to imagine an infinity of alternate storylines. This is just one of them!
II.
There was a great heap of snow that fell the next morning, but it did not deter Gilbert from his purpose that morning. He could hardly sleep, it continued to occupy his thoughts as he rode his horse through the snow drifts back to Green Gables. He thought of how his reunion with Anne surpassed all of his expectations, and how well she looked the previous night. Was it the glow of the firelight, or the manner in which she looked at him with such love all evening?
Gilbert could not believe his good fortune; at that moment, he wanted to pinch himself and immediately laughed at the memory of Anne doing just that after they first kissed. He knew the path that lay before him, and he hoped everyone else could see the same.
He was about to knock on the door when Marilla opened the door. "Good morning, Gilbert! I was just about to go to the barn. Please, come in!"
"Good morning! I didn't mean to startle you, I'm so sorry." Gilbert took off his hat as he shook off the snow from his boots before stepping in.
Matthew was seated at the dining table, eating breakfast. "Oh, good morning, Gilbert!"
"I thought you knew that Anne would be away at Diana's until the afternoon..." Marilla watched Gilbert take off his coat before taking it for him and hanging it.
"Yes, Anne told me last night. Well—that is why I came on purpose at this moment. I wanted to talk to both of you alone."
"To Matthew and me?" Marilla sat down next to Matthew. Gilbert nodded and sat down across from them.
"Do you want some breakfast or coffee?" Matthew asked.
"No, thank you." Gilbert took a deep breath and was determined not to be delayed in his purpose. "I wanted to speak to both of you because I know that Anne means the world to you. And I hope you know Anne means the world to me. I love her very much."
There was a moment of silence as Marilla beamed and Matthew blushed, hardly able to meet Gilbert's determined gaze.
"We know and we see it," replied Marilla. "Anne loves you very much as well."
"And for that I count myself as the most fortunate man in the world," Gilbert said solemnly. In the voice of any other person, those words would seem disingenuous. But with Gilbert's sincere, heartfelt tone, it left the Cuthberts speechless. They were already in his thrall.
"I know we have each both just started school and have our lives before us, but I know there is no one for me but Anne. I am asking for permission to ask for her hand in marriage. Bash has really helped me turn the farm around and now I am able to fully support Anne and myself. She would want for nothing.."
Matthew looked stunned, and Marilla was surprised but pensive. "But how soon would you wed? And how will this work with you in Toronto and she being in Charlottetown?"
"I was thinking perhaps she could finish the year at Queens and transfer to U of T next fall. She would have no problem being admitted as a transfer student. But of course it would have to be her choice."
"Of course. Otherwise it sounds almost like an ultimatum."
Gilbert's calm and serious demeanor was unsettled, and his face fell.
"It does? I am not demanding she come with me to Toronto, but it would be difficult for us to be apart from each other for the next several years. As you may both already know, I am studying to become a doctor. What she is studying at Queens could easily be done at U of T..."
Gilbert paused, looking down at his hands on the table, deep in thought and frowning. "I think you're right, Marilla. It does sound like an ultimatum. I would happily wait to marry her if it was what she wished."
Matthew smiled, and reached out to pat Gilbert's hand. "I always knew Anne would be an adventurer and I know we wouldn't hold her back if that is, uh, if-if that what she wanted. Of course, we'd m-miss her so much, but as long as she's safe and happy with you…"
Marilla put her arm around Matthew. "Why, Matthew, you surprise me."
"Do I now? I, uh, I-I believe I learned my lesson on this. You see, Gilbert, I was so afraid of holding back Anne from going to college, that-that I tried to distance myself from her. I, uh, wanted t-to show her that I w-would be just fine without her. But-but in doing that, I ended up hurting her." He looked directly in Gilbert's eyes. "I-I ended up apologizing to her, l-letting her know m-my feelings. That's all you need to do, let her know how you feel, and uh, you and she'll be alright, n-no matter what you and she decide."
Both Gilbert and Marilla were a little astounded by his words. It was not just the content but the quantity. Gilbert could not recall Matthew speaking at length like this to him before, and on such a delicate subject. Marilla was also moved by his unprecedented candor with Gilbert.
Gilbert smiled, tears in his eyes. "There have been too many misunderstandings between Anne and me, and I've seen how misunderstandings have torn other families apart."
Marilla nodded. "Yes. I'm glad that Bash and Elijah are getting on better than I ever expected. In fact, he is helping at the soup kitchen in the Bog this week."
"Yes, Bash told me. He comes back tomorrow. He's even written to me in Toronto. He's been a great help to the farm and has really become part of the family. Just as Mary would've wanted..."
Marilla looked at Gilbert and thought fondly of John Blythe, and how proud he would have been of his son.
"Marilla?" Gilbert gently touched her on the arm. "Are you alright?"
"Sorry, I was momentarily distracted. I couldn't help but think of your father just now, and how proud he'd have been of you."
"Your former beau?" Gilbert saw Marilla's look of surprise and continued. "Yes, he did tell me about how he had courted you, but said very little else on the subject despite my questions."
"Well, he was always a gentleman and I've always felt badly about how things ended between us." Marilla smiled at Gilbert. "In a way, your understanding with Anne makes up for that old misunderstanding I had with John." Marilla did not think it was the time or place to elaborate on this, but she silently promised him she would someday.
It was clear Gilbert wanted to know more, but he wisely kept silent. All of sudden he smiled, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, here we've been conversing and I haven't even allowed you to answer my request. May I please have your blessing for Anne's hand in marriage?"
"What do you think, Matthew?" Marilla looked at her brother with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well now, I dunno, this is a big decision…" Matthew's eyes were also twinkling.
Gilbert could readily see that both siblings looked like they were trying not to laugh and he smiled. "If you need some time to think this through..."
Marilla stood up and cleared her throat. "Gilbert, it is clear to us how much you and Anne care for each other. I can imagine no other person more worthy of her than you. I'll let Matthew speak for himself, but you have my blessing and best wishes. Oh!"
Before she could finish speaking, Gilbert stood and rushed to embrace her enthusiastically. "Thank you, Marilla."
Matthew smiled as he got up from his seat, offered his hand to Gilbert, and shook it. "You, uh, you have my blessing too. I know our Anne would be happy with n-no one else but you."
Gilbert shook his hand and then embraced him as well. "Thank you, Matthew." There were tears in his eyes, and really in everyone's eyes. "You don't know...or maybe you do know how much this means to me. Both of you have always looked after me, since my father passed away. You've also helped Bash and me so much after Mary passed away. Well, you're already part of my family. This almost makes it official." He smiled. "Now I just need to ask Anne."
Gilbert took a small velvet bag out of his pocket. He then gently shook out a small gold ring with a blue stone and showed it to the Cuthberts. "This ring belonged to my mother. It's small…"
"It's beautiful," said Marilla. "Anne will love it, I'm sure."
Marilla convinced Gilbert to stay for some breakfast before he left. He would return later that afternoon to meet Anne when she came back from Diana's. While eating breakfast and drinking coffee with Marilla and Matthew, he shared with them his plan on how he would ask Anne that afternoon. They agreed eagerly to help him.