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!
Author's Note: So sorry for the delay! I wanted to get this just right, and hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it I still have one more part and an epilogue to complete this story!
VII.
Anne awoke with a start. December 31st! She opened her window and reached out to the snow-covered branches of her Snow Queen. It was the last day of 1899, and tomorrow would not just be a new year, but also a new century! She breathed in the cold wintry air and spoke aloud.
"Oh dear Snow Queen, let us bid farewell to 1899! Farewell to childhood and hello to the twentieth century. What adventures lie in store for us all?" Anne looked all around at the fresh snow covering the trees and fields that stretched out in front of her.
Anne was finally able to return home just two days after staying with the Lyndes as she did not get sick, although she felt that two full days with Rachel Lynde was encouragement enough to stay healthy. With Hazel and Delly staying with the Cuthberts, Green Gables always smelled of delicious cooking and filled with the sounds of laughter and baby footsteps.
They had to barricade the stairs so that Delly would be prevented from climbing, as she crawled everywhere and was already able to walk. Marilla reveled in having company to cook and care for, even if Hazel sometimes insisted on adding more spices to her cooking. Marilla was grateful for the Trinidadian chocolate Hazel had given her for Christmas, and used it for a delicious chocolate cake that everyone had enjoyed and which disappeared immediately.
Anne had kept her promise not to visit the Blythe-Lacroix farmstead until everyone there had fully recovered. She was impatient for news, however, and was grateful to Jerry for his updates on how Gilbert and Elijah were doing. Jerry had been tasked to bring them food regularly because Hazel didn't trust Bash's cooking skills. In any case, she and Marilla always made more than enough food to share. Elijah had just returned home four days prior and was getting stronger each day.
It was hard for Anne to believe that so much had transpired in just one week: Gilbert's return home, Elijah's fever, then Gilbert's fever, and then the Lacroix guests staying at Green Gables. Anne was grateful no one else in the family had fallen ill.
"Careful there, Anne, you're going to knock that jar over!" Hazel had glanced to see how Anne was doing in the kitchen. She then saw that Anne had the jar of flour so close to the edge of the kitchen table, that had she moved one inch closer, it would have crashed and scattered all over the floor.
"Oh! Thank you, Hazel!" Anne blinked and carefully moved the jar to the center of the table as she continued to help mix ingredients. Marilla had tasked her with making rolls for supper that night.
"You're as much of a daydreamer when you cook as Bash is! Let me finish that, and you can watch Delly!" Hazel was struggling to hold Delly in her arms, as she was squirming to break free.
"Are you sure? I can…" Anne tried to protest, but then Hazel put Delly into Anne's arms.
"I'm sure. And now that she's walking more all over the place, that might be a harder task than making rolls!"
"Thank you. I'm sorry, I do have a bad habit of letting my mind wander when I should be focusing when cooking."
Anne smiled at Delly and tickled her. "Oh Delly, how scrumptious you are!" Delly continued to squeal with delight. She then sat down at the opposite end of the kitchen table and began to tell her stories about Princess Delphine and her adventures in Camelot.
Hazel poured a little more flour into the bowl before putting it back into the pantry. She mixed the contents of the bowl before dumping out the contents and kneading the dough. She watched Anne playing with Delly and smiled. The jolly toddler clapped and laughed as she listened to Anne change her voice for each of the roles of Princess Delphine, Prince Wisteria, and the misunderstood dragon. Anne could see that Delly's eyes were drooping ever so slightly, so she rocked her gently before putting her in the cradle in the parlor.
Hazel set aside the rolls to rise before joining Anne as they watched Delly fall asleep. Hazel then brought over some cups of coffee and cookies for them to share in the parlor.
Anne was happy that Hazel was far much more comfortable in conversing with her than ever before. Hazel saw for herself the reasons why Bash and Gilbert considered the Cuthberts like family, after living together with them under the same roof for nearly a week.
Hazel looked over at Anne and smiled, daring to say something that would surprise her. "You are so good with Delphine. Ah, it won't be long until you have a little one of your own.."
As Hazel expected, Anne blushed in response. "As you know, Delly and I share the tragical bond of having lost our mothers as infants. I want her to always feel loved. Motherhood is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment, Hazel, as I am focused on my studies. I'm not even married."
"Not yet! But if Mr. Gilbert has any sense, that will change one day." Hazel laughed at Anne's surprised face.
"You too!" They laughed together.
"What do you mean, me too? We all see it plain as day. Sebastian has been counting the days, he speaks of it so much to me and Delly. On Christmas Eve, the two of you only had eyes for each other! You make a handsome couple."
Before Anne could come up with a response, Matthew came into the kitchen, his hat still on.
"Anne? I-I need your help with something outside. If-if it's no trouble."
"Of course I can help, Matthew!" Anne said brightly as she quickly threw on a coat and scarf, and walked onto the porch.
"Just - just meet me in the barn. I'll be right there."
As Anne walked toward the barn, she saw a familiar figure walking toward her.
"What...how? Gilbert?" Anne saw Gilbert pick up his pace as soon as he saw her. Anne reached her hand up to Gilbert's cheek as soon as he came face to face with her. They embraced and kissed.
Gilbert smiled as he held Anne's cheek close. "Anne, you are a sight for sore eyes. Dr. Blair just gave me a clean bill of health, so my first thought was to come see you. I wanted to see if you would like to go for a ramble in the woods one last time this century. If you don't have any other plans."
"No, no other plans! I'm beyond thrilled you look so much better! I would love a ramble with you. But you must want to see Delly and Hazel first. They'll finally get to go home although it's been so wonderful having them here with us."
Gilbert nodded eagerly as he followed Anne into the house. Marilla, Matthew, and Hazel welcomed him warmly and asked about him and Elijah. Gilbert was happy to report that they were both much improved. He also shared that Bash would arrive later that afternoon to take Hazel and Delly home.
As Anne went to retrieve her warmest gloves, she thought she saw Gilbert wink at Marilla before they left but figured that it was just her imagination, or something in Gilbert's eye. It also seemed as if Matthew were impatient for them to leave, but Anne disregarded this and in any case, she was also impatient to catch up with Gilbert.
Gilbert and Anne walked arm in arm down the snowy path through the woods towards town. There had been a snowstorm just two days prior so that a nice white layer of snow frosted every surface. They lingered near the Lake of Shining Waters to admire its crystalline beauty before taking a path through the woods.
Anne looked up to smile at Gilbert, her heart feeling as if it could burst. He was wearing a woolen cap and a warm scarf over his wool coat. She was relieved and happy to see him look in better health. Although it was just shy of a week, it felt as if they had not seen each other for an eternity.
Gilbert looked down at Anne, returned her smile, and sighed. "That's the smile I've been longing to see for days. Of course, in person it's so much better than I'd imagined."
Anne's smile grew wider, and her eyes looked ahead to the path they were on. "This reminds me of the times I walked to school during the winter, and how I looked forward to our debates and discussions at school."
"Aha, so this path is the very setting you were in that helped motivate you to challenge me academically at every turn?"
"Sorry…" Anne blushed.
"No, don't be sorry, Anne." Gilbert turned to face Anne. "Never be sorry. That is one of the many reasons why I love you. Your intellect and your competitive spirit challenged me and continues to do so. I was so accustomed to believing that I knew the most at school, and you helped make me realize just how arrogant and vain I'd been acting! Until you came to Avonlea."
Before Anne could respond, Gilbert added: "It's true, you know it."
"Well, you can't make the sole claim to arrogance or vanity. After all, I recall you wounding my vanity just before I swung that slate at your head. I suppose you could add temper to my list of faults!" They both laughed at the memory.
"Let's not enumerate any more faults of ours. As far as I'm concerned, they are part of what makes us who we are."
Anne nodded. "Well said. Despite these faults, we persisted in loving each other."
Gilbert squeezed her hand nestled in the crook of his arm, and Anne squeezed his arm in return as they looked into each other's eyes. As a breeze blew down a small cascade of powdery snow from a tree's branches, they both looked up. The snow shimmered down, making it seem like fairy dust was being sprinkled upon both of them by an indulgent winter sprite. The fading sunlight was reflected in the tiny ice particles that fell upon them. They smiled at each other through that brief curtain of wintry beauty.
"Anne, I am a better person for knowing and loving you." Gilbert stopped walking and turned toward Anne, smiling. "Do you remember? This is the spot where we first met."
Anne looked around and saw it was true. Aside from the snow drifts, the path looked the same as it did that day. "Why yes. The day the universe first conspired to bring us together." Anne looked up at him, smiling. Gilbert looked so much taller than he had been that day she first encountered him. While he still looked too pale and thin, there was more of a healthy color in his cheeks that gladdened her beyond measure.
Gilbert returned her smile with pride at her words. "I also like to think of it as destiny pulling us together. I'll never forget the day we met, and how you refused to tell me your name."
Anne nodded. "I remember. You were rescuing me from Billy Andrews. I didn't even thank you properly until you prompted me! Oh, that entire first day we met was nothing but a disaster, broken slate and all," lamented Anne.
"Well, I did ask for it. But the slate only sealed the deal. I think I fell in love with you at first sight at this very spot." Gilbert paused and held her closer.
"I don't know how you could have!" Anne laughed. "At that time, I was such a homely little thing."
"Not to me" responded Gilbert with a serious expression. "I saw a cute girl with a determined face and bright eyes. All I wanted to know was who you were and get to know you. Later, you even refused my peace offering of an apple!"
"I know!" Anne briefly covered her eyes in embarrassment before looking at Gilbert again. "I was so obstinate and resolute in rejecting and spurning you! But in my defense, I was specifically told not to speak to you that day!"
"You were told not to speak to me?!" Gilbert laughed.
"Yes. As you probably knew all too well, you, Gilbert, were the object of many a girl's affections in those days. They were not about to let the new girl win you over!"
"In the end, you won me over fair and square." Gilbert leaned closer to Anne and kissed her before looking into her eyes and clasping her hands. Both of them felt their hands tremble, and neither was sure if it were from the cold or some strange nervousness that suddenly overcame them.
"I love you, Anne. You know how much I do."
Anne nodded her head, and she opened her mouth to tell him she loved him too, but an instinct compelled her to stay silent and to let him speak.
Gilbert continued. "I know we've both just started college, but I know my heart, and I think, I hope, I know yours."
Gilbert knelt on one knee on the snowy ground, never letting go of her hands. Anne watched him and time seemed to slow down as she wondered if what was happening was really happening.
"You know about my dream to be a doctor, but my dearest wish is to be a husband to you. To share our life together as equals. There is no one else I would rather have as my life companion than you. I am uncertain about so much in this world except you. You illuminate my life." Gilbert took a deep breath, his voice betraying some nervousness. "Would you consider becoming my wife? To promise ourselves to each other for always? Anne, will you marry me?"
Anne was rendered speechless by Gilbert's ardent words. His eyes brimmed over with so much warmth and love radiating out toward her. She felt her cheeks flush, and she wondered how she could possibly respond in any coherent fashion to such a passionate declaration.
She smiled down at Gilbert and nodded, her own eyes overflowing with tears of joy. He wanted no other response as he stood up and embraced her as their lips met in a passionate kiss. A breeze suddenly swirled around them as the tree branches shook even more snow down to the ground and onto them. It felt as if the natural world were conferring their blessing on their union.
A long moment later, Anne and Gilbert's noses were touching as his eyes implored hers for certainty.
"Y-E-S?" asked Gilbert, grinning. "Just want to be sure."
Anne laughed, as she let her tears of joy flow down her cheeks. "Y-E-S. Yes! Yes, Gilbert, I will marry you and be your life companion. My heart is yours always."
Gilbert lifted her off the ground and spun her around in a mad embrace of laughter and happiness.
"I have something for you." Gilbert gave Anne a handkerchief.
"Thank you," said Anne as she used it to dab her cheeks.
"You're most welcome, but I'm not referring to the handkerchief." Gilbert's eyes crinkled in mischief as he took a small velvet bag out of his pocket. He then shook out a ring onto his palm and showed it to Anne. "I know it's modest, but it was my mother's. I want you to have it as your betrothal ring."
Anne's mouth fell open as Gilbert took off her glove and placed the gold ring with a small blue stone on her finger.
"Oh Gilbert, thank you. It-it's beautiful and-and it fits perfectly. I..." Gilbert saw one of Anne's hands reach for the other wrist, and stopped it with his hand.
"This is real, Anne," Gilbert smiled. "Please don't ever pinch or injure yourself again on my account." He leaned in again to kiss her. "But I can understand the impulse, as I'm wondering too if I'm dreaming."
They gazed at one another in rapture, knowing they would treasure this moment forever, and aware that they were on the precipice of a new chapter of their lives.
"What an incredible way to end the year 1899, and the century too!" Anne smiled up at her betrothed, still a little amazed to find she was now engaged to marry Gilbert. After lingering a few more moments at the site of their first meeting and of their engagement, they continued their ramble. One of them walked not knowing where they were going, while the other walked with purpose toward a predetermined location unbeknownst to the other.
Gilbert put his arm around Anne and held her close, as her arm encircled his waist. Their eyes were fixed on each other's gazes, as they savored each moment they had with each other. Gilbert counted himself the luckiest among men to find himself engaged to Anne. Suddenly he felt shy about his next question, and Anne immediately sensed it.
"What is it?" Anne looked up at him with concern.
"I know that once we tell everyone our news that they'll want to know all the details. When and where and everything..."
"The wedding?"
"Yes, our wedding, and what comes next." Gilbert paused to take a breath. "Anne, I know you've only just begun at Queens, but would you possibly consider transferring to U of T? That way we could be wedded this summer and live in our own home in Toronto in the fall. You could finish your BA while I complete my MD. I know we're still so young, and I would understand if you want to wait until we..."
"Yes." Anne looked into Gilbert's eyes with certainty. "Can you really see me as a student there?"
"Absolutely, and I know you would admire the campus and professors there as I do. But Anne, the last thing I want is for you to feel pressured. I would understand if you want to wait until you finish at Queens."
"I promise you, I'm not feeling pressured. To tell you the truth, this isn't the first time I thought of this possibility. But to be clear, Diana and Cole fully predicted you would propose and that you would possibly ask me to run off to Toronto with you."
Gilbert was stunned speechless for a moment, then he laughed, letting Anne continue her story.
"Well. Not in those exact words of course. They insisted on knowing my answer in case this situation came up."
"The situation of asking for your hand?"
Anne nodded. "Yes. Well that, and if I would accompany you in Toronto. And what I told them was this: That if you did ask me to come with you, I would go. I love you and I would walk to the ends of the earth with you."
Anne's words inspired yet another kiss from Gilbert in response. "What a perfectly romantical reply. You said those exact words?"
Anne nodded. "I thought I'd already lost you once, to a bright and shiny future in Paris. And when I found out you'd given it all up — for me — I was overwhelmed with guilt and happiness all at once. Guilt that I might have prevented you from pursuing your dream and happiness that you loved me after all."
Gilbert gently lifted Anne's chin so she would look directly into his eyes. "My dearest Anne, I didn't give anything up. Once I truly knew my heart belonged only to you, I couldn't fathom any path forward without you. I do have to admit, I'm relieved that you're coming to Toronto with me!"
Anne laughed, feeling buoyant as she leaned toward Gilbert for another kiss. Her expression suddenly grew serious. "Now how to break the news to Marilla and Matthew?"
"About that." Gilbert grinned, knowing that he was about to amaze her. "Since I asked them for their blessing to ask you, they won't be so surprised."
At first, Anne looked confused and then indeed amazed as she made sense of his words, making Gilbert laugh.
"You did what?! You asked Marilla and Matthew their consent for my hand in marriage? When did this unprecedented event take place?" Anne laughed again in surprise, and Gilbert delighted in having been able to surprise her so.
"While you were at the Barrys, I made an early visit to Green Gables."
"The morning of the day we went to Charlottetown?"
Gilbert nodded. "I found out about Elijah as soon as I got back from Green Gables and that's when I asked Bash to share the news so you wouldn't think I'd just forgotten about meeting you."
"You-you would have proposed to me that day if Elijah hadn't been sick?"
"Yes." Gilbert said without hesitation.
"So at the very moment Diana and Cole were predicting your nuptial intentions, you were asking Marilla and Matthew for their blessing?" Anne said as she breathlessly shook her head in disbelief and wonder.
"Indeed. And they gave me their consent. They even understood about the possibility of you joining me in Toronto. They said they would miss you but that they would be so happy for us to be together."
Anne was deeply moved to learn how considerate Gilbert had been about reaching out to Marilla and Matthew before proposing to her.
"Oh, you must share with me all the details on how that conversation went. Did Matthew blush and stay silent the whole while?"
"As a matter of fact, he was not silent! He probably spoke more words in that conversation than I'd ever heard him speak in the whole of my acquaintance with him. I think Marilla even commented on it."
Anne's mouth fell open in amazement. "Oh, even my own capacious imagination can't fathom it!"
"I'll never forget what he told me, and eventually I'll share with you every detail. You and the Cuthberts have already become like family to me, so our marriage will make it official."
"Our marriage!" Anne exclaimed, still a little in shock. "How wonderful that sounds! I can't wait to see them to confirm the happy news!"
Gilbert stopped walking and smiled at Anne. "I have one final surprise for you today."
All of a sudden, Anne became aware of the destination of their ramble.
"Gilbert, why are we at the schoolhouse?"