-Direction

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm just a fan with an interpretation

"Man, seeing the world, trying new things. What could be better?" Gilbert said in awe of his current circumstances. Looking around the tropical environment, drink in hand, He felt so entirely free and full of joy.

"Gold." Bash said plain and simple. As if there were no competition between the two options. What he wouldn't give to have such a sure option in his future. "Some girl tell you there might be gold in your land and you'd rather move coal".

"I wouldn't say that girl's the most reliable narrator" a smile instantly on his lips at the thought of that girl. As he recalled, Anne was always swept up so completely in her imagination, a quality he found most endearing. However touched by the effort it must have taken for her to track his whereabouts and write to him from across the ocean as he was, he was reluctant to be drawn in by gold fever. If there was in fact gold on his farm it will keep. He left for a reason and no shiny nugget was going to compel him to return before he was ready, if at all. It sure was sweet of Anne to think of writing to him amongst the chaos that such a discovery would have made in town. It felt good to know that he still had a place in her mind despite his absence.

"You are crazy!" Bash found this young man so amusing, his heart written all over his face as he speaks of his girl. "If I had someone pretty back home, gold or no, I'd be up outta here."

Gilbert's demeanour changed instantly at what Bash was implying. "It's not like that with Anne" he said. She had made it very clear to him in there first few interactions that she was not interested in knowing him. As a pair they had made progress since then. She warmed up to knowing him when she realised that his father was gravely ill and perhaps she saw herself in him. She finally saw Gilbert as a kindred spirit through their mutual circumstances of being orphans. The way she expressed that to him came across as callous and had not been received well. But in hindsight it levelled the playing field between them and the next, and last time he had seen her he found himself unwilling to part from her. How captivating her eyes had been, swirling with unsaid... Gilbert didn't want to even let himself think it, it's not like that with her. Although he was entirely sure that was not his first choice. The wistful smile left his features and voice became dismissive. "She's just a friend."

Bash however was persistent "Yeah. A friend that make you smile and act like a moke."

"Be a man" Bash prodded.

"I am" Gilbert said defensively.

"Only a boy can't admit when he is gone over a lady" Bash said teasingly, challenging Gilbert to own his feelings.

Gilbert paused, thinking of some way to get out of the corner Bash is trying to back him into when he saw the other mans drink and perked up at the sight of a much needed distraction from the topic at hand. He quickly picked up the delicacy and threw it back boldly, sitting proud for a half a second before what he had drunk got the better of him and he dashed to relieve his body of the sudden burden. Coming up behind him Bash patted his shoulder and then steered Gilbert away from the establishment.

After the day was done and all his fellow crew mates were asleep in their hammocks, Gilbert could not settle his mind to sleep and so decided it was time to send a reply to Anne. Checking that Bash was asleep, not wanting anymore encouragement, he began with "Dear Anne," And then he paused.

What Bash has said to him played over in his mind.

Anne has been constant in his thoughts throughout the afternoon and evening. It was not like that with Anne. However thinking back to the first day he met her, politely yet meaningfully chatting to Billy in order to stop his bullying ways from bothering the stranger standing before him. There she has been, and then she was gone in a flash, towards the schoolhouse. Gilbert remembered his actions of that day, trying to be charming, opening the door for her, and just as she had begun to talk to him he was swarmed by his classmates. She didn't approach him again so during their recess he offered her an apple to begin a conversation as she had peaked his curiosity. But she shut him down. Sitting across the room from her with the teachers eyes on the board was a perfect opportunity he has thought. He had only wanted... a smile, eye contact, a reaction? So consumed by the urge to know her he put her in a terrible situation and he felt awful. He had never felt so drawn to a person before, let alone a stranger. And so much had passed between them since that day. But that pull, the urge to know her never wavered. He showed it with every smile, every glance her way. Even if she did not feel the same pull towards him he never wanted to not know her.

In the silence of the sleeping compartment, covered by a blanket night, he could admit that much to himself, but for now his life's journey did not lead to where she was. And so he set about answering her letter, telling her of his travels and of his intention to continue as he is now indefinitely, a word in which he added an "a" into after all his thoughts of attempts to grab her attention, he couldn't resist. He carefully signed his name and put the paper away until tomorrow for posting, and leaving his thoughts to the night as he drifted off to sleep. Behind his eyelids he saw blue eyes looking at him, and he smiled to himself. Just a friend.

The following day Gilbert experienced the joy and reward of helping a person who needed assistance in the most personal way. Helping Ruth bring her child into the world sparked many thoughts within his mind, opened up a new pathway he had not thought of before. He has left Avonlea after his fathers death in search of a future he was passionate about. Leaving the small farming community had been the right choice for him at the time as it allowed Gilbert to explore the world and see the immeasurable possibilities it held for his future. And now it seemed he had found a future calling to him. "Doc" Bash had called him. The title 'Doctor' allowed a part of Gilbert's soul to settle. He had found what was looking for, Direction.

And now it would seem that this choice was going to direct him right back home to Avonlea. After all, he couldn't get into a medical school moving coal.