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!

IV.

After taking her leave at the Barry household, Anne walked back toward Green Gables, savoring the warmth of the sunshine that overpowered the clouds. The fresh snow of the previous night frosted the bare branches of the trees, and Anne delighted in how the sunlight made the snow-laden tree branches sparkle. Every once in a while a soft breeze would blow some of the snow down, and Anne felt as if she were being bathed in a glittery haze.

When she reached Green Gables, Anne found Marilla putting something in the oven.

"Marilla, what are you baking?"

Marilla closed the oven door, turned to face Anne and smiled perhaps a bit too brightly. "Oh, you're back already! How were the Barry festivities?"

"Wonderful as always! Your plum puffs disappeared almost immediately, I am happy to report. I do wish you and Matthew could have come this year. You know you're always welcome. "

"Yes, but well, you know how Matthew is about social gatherings. Anyway, we had a lot of chores to finish here today."

"But I could have helped!"

"No, it's the holidays and aren't you going to be seeing Gilbert this afternoon?"

"Well, yes, but there still would have been time for me to help!"

"For today, we are fine. There will be plenty of other chores for you to do during the rest of your stay."

Suddenly there were quick steps on the porch and a rapid knock on the door. "Marilla? Anne?" They heard Bash's voice.

"Bash! What are you doing here?" Anne let him in and saw that he was distraught. "What is it? What's happened?"

It was clear that Bash had ridden there at full speed from the Blythe farm. He was out of breath. Marilla offered him a glass of water, but he nodded and gestured to her that he would drink it after he had his say.

"Anne, Gilbert - he asked me to let you know that he could not come today. He had to help Elijah…"

"What happened to Elijah?" Anne and Marilla asked this question almost in unison.

"I think I told you he was working at the soup kitchen in the Bog, right? Well, this morning he wasn't feeling so well and he passed out in the dining area. One of his friends came and let us know, and Gilbert went straight over to Charlottetown to help him. I believe he's fetching Dr. Ward. He sends his apologies to you, Anne, and didn't want you to worry..."

"Bash, it wasn't necessary for you to come all this way to apologize for Gilbert. I'm sure you wanted to go with him…"

"Yes." Bash paused, looking down, before looking into Anne's eyes. "But I was also hoping you could help."

"Of course I will help! So all we know is that he's lost consciousness…"

"Now wait just one minute, Bash," said Marilla in a concerned tone. "Why do you need Anne's help?"

"There's no one like Anne in a crisis, she can help Dr. Ward and Gilbert. Diana told me once about how she saved Minnie May's life and..."

"Yes, but did Gilbert ask for Anne to come?"

"No, not at all. Gilbert knows only that I'm here to apologize for his absence. However...I'm also here to beg your assistance."

Matthew walked in at that moment. "Wh-what is it? What happened?"

Anne quickly recapped what Bash had recounted to her and Marilla.

"Marilla, I'll accompany her to Charlottetown myself. Don't you worry now. Let's go." Matthew surprised them all with his decisive tone.

"Marilla, it's fine, you know I can be of help." Anne spoke to Marilla, her hand on her shoulder. "This is Elijah! Didn't he help you and Matthew with the rest of the harvest after I went to school? He's even become friends with Jerry. He's really the only one who was missing yesterday from our family gathering, and for good reason, as he was helping the less fortunate during the holidays."

Marilla smiled weakly. "I know full well that nothing I will say will change your mind. Let me pack some food for you to bring over to Gilbert and Dr. Ward." She sighed in resignation. "I know you'll take great care of Mary's son."

"Thank you for understanding, Marilla." Bash embraced her with such gratitude that Marilla blushed.

Anne embraced her as well and then went to fetch some medicines and other supplies from the kitchen cupboard just in case, although she knew Dr. Ward would have what was needed. Anne knew it would be better to be doubly prepared in medical emergencies like this one.

Anne brought the basket of food and medical supplies and rode in the buggy with Matthew while Bash rode his horse.

It was nightfall by the time they reached Charlottetown, and after Matthew had put away the buggy and horse at a nearby inn, they all rushed in the direction of the Bog. Anne and Matthew had not been back to this part of Charlottetown since Delphine's christening and Bash and Mary's wedding before that, so they relied completely on Bash leading them through the dark streets and alleys.

Bash led them to a house not too far from that very church, where the church's pastor resided. He knocked and they were let in by that very pastor. "Sebastian! You made it! And you brought reinforcements!"

Bash nodded. "I don't know if you remember Matthew Cuthbert and…"

"Why yes indeed, I remember this young lady. Anne Shirley Cuthbert, how are you?"

"Good to see you again, Reverend. We are here to help Elijah. How is he?"

Gilbert came out of a room and saw all the new visitors. "Anne? Matthew? Bash, I thought I…"

"It's all right, Gilbert, we've come to help. How is he?"

Gilbert sighed. "Dr. Ward is with him now. He has a high fever…"

"Gilbert, what happened? Does he have influenza, or...?"

He shook his head. "Dr. Ward believes it is typhoid fever."

"Oh no…I remember one of the families who had taken me in before I came to Avonlea. The father had it and was so gravely ill, he…" Anne stopped, tears in her eyes. "Is he awake?"

"He was, but he just lost consciousness. Dr. Ward is trying to help bring down his fever."

Anne looked down at her basket. "We brought you all some food and some medicine, in case you needed any."

"Thank you so much! I haven't eaten since…" Gilbert's eyes met Matthew's briefly but he looked down at the basket again and picked up a glass bottle. "Since this morning. Wait, you brought a bottle of honey?"

"I brought it just in case. Remember how Moody hurt his leg and how that healer had used honey…"

"Yes, as an antiseptic! Hmm, I wonder if this might help Elijah too!" He kissed Anne. "You are brilliant!" He took the bottle and a spoon from the kitchen. "Anything is worth trying! It can't hurt matters, and I don't care if Dr. Ward thinks I'm crazy."

"Wait, Gilbert, how would honey help typhoid fever?"

"Well, I'm not certain it will work, but if it can help fight off infection as it did with Moody, it might help Elijah fight off the infection he has. It's worth a try!"

Gilbert disappeared into the bedroom and Bash and Matthew looked at Anne in amazement.

"You are going to have to explain what just happened!" exclaimed Bash. "Healer? Moody? Honey?!"

"When Miss Stacy took us on a visit to the forest for a science lesson, Moody Spurgeon hurt his leg badly. I knew we were near an Indian village, so I went and found their healer to help Moody. Gilbert thankfully happened to have some honey with him, and the healer used some of it to put on top of the stitches she had to sew on his leg."

Matthew turned a little pale at the mention of leg stitching but Anne continued.

"Anyhow, I remember Gilbert being fascinated by this alternative approach to healing, and I remember him writing to me that he did find some mention in one of his textbooks something about the antiseptic properties of honey."

"I-I'm glad you had the presence of mind to bring the honey along!" Matthew patted Anne on the shoulder.

Dr. Ward came out of the bedroom and smiled. "Gilbert told me there was food out here. Thank you so much for coming!"

"Yes, right here Doctor!" Bash was taking food out of the basket and putting it on the table. "How is Elijah doing? Gilbert said he was feverish."

"Before he lost consciousness, he was complaining of a severe headache and was coughing. His temper is high, so it's important to try and put cool cloths on his head and limbs. The pastor just gathered some snow to help with this. Gilbert is trying to spoon feed him some honey now. I have never heard of honey being a treatment for typhoid, but I am willing to try anything that might help." He sat down and started eating some of the rolls that they had brought.

"Is there anything else we can do? Anything else we can fetch for you?" Bash started to pace around the room.

"All we can do is try to bring his fever down and wait to see if it breaks. It will take him some time to fight this illness."

"Of course, Elijah is welcome to stay here as long as he needs, Sebastian," said the pastor.

"Thank you, Reverend, I appreciate this. " Bash sighed and turned to the doctor. "When can we bring him home?

"If he can regain consciousness and get his fever in check, you might be able to bring him home as soon as the day after next. I can familiarize Gilbert with what needs to be done each day. You just need to make sure and keep the baby away from Elijah until he fully recovers. We don't want to take any chances that the baby or your mother become ill too."

"Delly and Hazel can stay at Green Gables once Elijah returns home, right, Matthew?" Anne looked at Matthew, entreaty in her eyes.

"Of course! No question, Bash. They and you are always welcome at Green Gables." Matthew nodded as he looked at Bash.

"Thank you!" Bash embraced Anne and shook Matthew's hand. "One less thing to worry about. Now we focus on getting this young man well."

While Bash, the pastor, and Dr. Ward were conversing, Anne and Matthew opened the door to the bedroom. Elijah was lying on the bed, with his eyes were closed and his brow covered with a wet cloth. Gilbert was sitting at Elijah's bedside, gently and patiently trying to spoon a small amount of honey into his mouth.

Anne recalled numerous occasions when she had seen Gilbert act so calmly and grounded in situations like this one. He was always meant to be a doctor and she felt immense pride that he had the opportunity to pursue his medical career in Toronto. This was his calling.

"Gilbert is going to be an incredible doctor," Anne whispered to Matthew.

"He already looks like one," Matthew whispered back.

Gilbert turned his head to face them and smiled. "I can hear you." He put down the bottle of honey and spoon and walked over to them. "Thank you so much for coming. I had only asked Bash to let you know why I hadn't come to call this afternoon."

"You can't be too surprised that I've come. Even if Bash hadn't asked me, I would have offered to come help!"

Gilbert nodded. "I dare not contradict you."

Anne smiled and walked over to Elijah. She felt his forehead. "He's burning up." She removed the cloth from his forehead and replaced it with a cold one from a nearby basin with melted snow water.

Bash and Dr. Ward walked in.

"Gilbert, why don't you go home and get some rest? Bash can take over for you, and I'll check on him in the morning." Dr. Ward smiled. "One lesson you need to learn as a future physician is that you must take care of yourself so that you are able to take care of others."

Gilbert went into the next room and tucked into the generous spread of food.

"I see that we should have brought over more food," Anne smiled as she refilled his glass of water.

Bash had opened the bedroom door while Anne said this. "My mother will make sure he has even more food waiting for him when he gets back, don't worry! Now get going, or you won't get back until sunrise."

Gilbert looked too tired to go on horseback safely, so it was agreed that Anne would drive the buggy with him while Matthew rode Gilbert's horse back to the Blythe farm.

Anne looked up and saw the waning half moon high in the sky, indicating it was midnight. The air was chilly, and she shivered a bit even though she had on a warm coat, hat, and muffler. Gilbert put his arm around her.

"Is that better?" Gilbert's face was just inches from hers, and she could see the fatigue in his face, but the brightness of his eyes in the moonlight tugged at her heart.

"Yes. Much better." Anne smiled right before they kissed. They looked out at the view of the bay as they turned away from Charlottetown northwest toward Avonlea.

"I'm sorry, Anne. Today did not turn out as I had originally planned.."

"There's no need to apologize, Gilbert! You didn't know that Elijah would fall ill. Do you know if any others have the same condition?"

"Yes. We found out that few of the workers from one ship had contracted the typhoid, and they had been quarantined. But it seems that some crew members must have left the ship because Dr. Ward said there were at least a half dozen other cases in the Bog."

"I didn't want to mention it earlier in front of Bash, but the family who had taken me in and whose father had typhoid fever, he had a terrible case and passed away. Somehow they blamed me and I was sent back to the orphan asylum."

Gilbert let out a sigh as he held her closer. "How could you possibly be to blame?" He felt terrible at the thought of a young Anne being made guilty for something she did not do.

"Well, they told me right when I arrived that they did not trust anyone with red hair and that somehow I augured bad luck. And when Mr. Peters got ill, I was a convenient scapegoat. Thankfully, none of the children, the mother, or I got ill. I remembered that he was delirious with fever and had difficulty breathing. I hope that Elijah's condition is not so advanced…"

"He was a bit delirious earlier, he was asking for Mary…" Gilbert fell silent and his eyes met Anne's. "I know Bash would never forgive himself if-if anything were to happen…"

"Elijah is young, I am certain he can fight this." Anne looked ahead at the road surrounded by snow-covered fields and trees. Matthew was riding just a few hundred yards ahead of them. She took a deep breath and felt the cold air heighten her senses. She turned to look at Gilbert and smiled. He smiled back at her.

"It is so good to be back home, and with you." He gave her a gentle squeeze with his arm. "As far as I'm concerned, home is wherever you are."

Anne leant her head on Gilbert's shoulder. "I feel the same."

Matthew took a quick look behind him to see how Anne and Gilbert were faring and looked quickly away, blushing. He felt a mixture of emotions: happiness at seeing Anne reunited with Gilbert and knowing that Gilbert would soon propose; sadness at seeing Mary's son ill in bed, similar to how she had been before she passed away. He knew that Elijah did not have the same affliction, but he still worried for the sake of Bash and Gilbert's family. They had already lost too many loved ones to illness.