Chapter 3:

The week that followed Anne's arrival at Green Gables was filled with pleasantries for her. In the mornings she was met with a ginger tea and bread in bed by a nervous Marilla who was not anxious for a repeat performance in the kitchen. She tried assuring Marilla that such actions were not necessary but was met with resistance from that corner and was backed by a Mrs. Lynde who said one morning, "Now Anne, there's really no need to make a fuss. We are enjoying taking care of you, that's what. I remember well how I felt some mornings when I was expecting and wouldn't I have liked to have someone taking care of me. Just stay put and let us do the mothering. It's Dora who gets up and makes the tea anyway, I know she doesn't show much emotion but she's worried about you same as the rest of us."

So Anne let them have their way, especially when a reproving letter from Gilbert came stating, "Anne-girl, you are to let those good women take care of you. Don't make me regret sending you to Green Gables for Christmas. I could've kept Susan here to take care of you and not have worried, but I wanted you to have a good time. Send word back that you're behaving or your poor husband won't get a wink of sleep for worrying. You mean so much to me; you've only recently regained your strength and I mean for you to keep it. I love you Anne, and I love the child you are carrying. Please rest, darling, I never want to go through such agony again."

A couple days after arriving Davy drove Anne over to Diana's house and left her there for the day. Although Anne looked forward to this visit with her bosom friend she also was a little worried over it. Diana had had another baby a year ago and Anne would be meeting Baby Jack for the first time. She and Diana's pregnancies had overlapped slightly and she had enjoyed the delightful letters they exchanged about the glories of motherhood. Had Anne had Little Joy with her she would have looked forward to the visit with unabashed excitement. However, as things stood she was somewhat nervous. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy her time with Diana, but what if the grief she had only recently been able to tuck away resurfaced?

When the time came she found that she was able to be philosophical, and although holding Baby Jack made her arms ache for her own baby she was able to delight Diana with all the compliments mothers like to hear of their dear little ones. Diana, however, was not completely fooled. She was not blind to the hurt or ache that showed in Anne's eyes as she held the precious bundle.

"Anne," Diana said softly, "don't feel you have to hold him. I understand if you aren't wanting to be around the children."

"Nonsense, Diana, you know I've always adored children. And if I can't have my Little Joyce, at least I can quell some of this dreadful ache by holding yours. Oh Diana, ever since my engagement to Gilbert I had an ache to hold in my arms our own baby. It was my dearest dream for my little house. Even before our marriage I would dream of babies. I never told a soul of course, even Gilbert, such things just aren't mentioned. But oh, I would lay awake at night and just imagine a little baby that had Gilbert's brown curly hair and my gray eyes. Sometimes I would give the imagined baby Gilbert's hazel eyes, but never would I give her or him my red hair. I was so glad to find that Joyce had dark hair," she finished with a sigh. "You don't mind me talking, do you Diana dearest? It's been such an awful ache to bear. I've cried so hard in Gilbert's arms, but I don't want to worry him anymore. He's had his own struggles with it, although he tries to not let me see."

"Anne, I don't mind you talking about it a bit. I'm glad we share a strong enough bond that you feel comfortable discussing such a heartache with me. And with me having three healthy babies of my own, I was nervous about how you would handle things. But I see now that I needn't have worried. You are a dear, and before you know it you'll find yourself expecting again you'll have all sorts of lovely dreams once more."

Anne blushed and looked into Diana's eyes. "Oh Diana, I already have begun to dream again. Although, I often don't allow myself to go too far into the dream without a reminder that all may not turn out as Gilbert and I hope." She then told her bosom friend of the news she brought with her and Diana's response was so enthusiastic that she startled the baby in Anne's arms.

"Does Marilla know?"

"Oh, she knows alright. I could barely keep it from her upon my arrival." Anne then told Diana of how the inhabitants of Green Gables found out and the two women had a lovely laugh over the incident.

"And how is Gilbert? I imagine he is nervous for you?"

"Yes, quite. Gilbert is a very rational man but with how things went during my labor with Joyce he has been, in my opinion, a bit overprotective. For instance, he insisted on keeping Susan on at the house during the summer even though I had become quite capable of doing the work again. And when I informed Gilbert of our expecting another little one he was quite demanding that I keep her for good. He wouldn't hear any objections! Every time I went to insist that I was perfectly capable of doing the work he would kiss me and then place a finger over my mouth to stop me talking. Oh, the man does know how to quiet me. He had me positively in stitches over it. I finally dropped the subject after talking it over with Uncle Dave and his wife. I was rather shocked by what Uncle Dave had to say on the subject."

"What was that?" Diana questioned as she took a now fussy baby from Anne's arms.

"He told me of how Gilbert behaved during my labor and I could hardly believe it. Of course, I can't remember much of what anyone else did or said, but apparently Uncle Dave has never seen a man so distracted with fear and agony as what he saw in Gilbert that night. And he's had so many years of practice on his hands! And it's not like Gilbert hasn't delivered his share of babies either. He knew what was going on and how to handle things. And now that I look back I remember him pacing the room and running his hands through his hair when he wasn't letting me practically rip his arm off."

"Do you mean to tell me that Gilbert was present at the birth?" asked a shocked Diana.

"Yes, he insisted. He said he'd be much less worried if he could stay with me. This naturally made me nervous but then he reminded me of his profession and I realized it would be alright. And believe it or not, Diana dearest, I was actually glad to have him there. Don't look so shocked! He was really such a help. I do remember Gilbert wearing a very serious expression on his face and at one point leaving the room. When he came back in his eyes were red and his face wet. Uncle Dave said he had a bit of a break down and cried uncontrollably for a spell and said over and over that he couldn't live without me. Well, when I heard that I realized that Gilbert was just worried about me and this was his way of easing his own worries. So, really, Susan is as much a help to him as to me."

"You're lucky to have her. I would love if Fred could afford some help for me around here. I'm glad Gilbert's practice is doing well enough that he can afford it," expressed Diana without a bit of envy in her voice.

"Yes, me too," agreed Anne. "And let me help you while I'm here. I would love to think that I could be of some help. Now don't give me that look Diana, I'm not an invalid even though Marilla and Mrs. Lynde would like to treat me as one. I'm not saying we have to repaper the parlor, but let me help you with the baking and maybe some washing. I love to be needed, and I promise I'll let you know if I'm getting tired or not feeling well. I'll even take a small nap in your guest room this afternoon to appease Gilbert."

And with that the two bosom friends had a delightful day of baking and taking care of babies. No wash was done, but Anne did have a lovely tea with Anne Cordelia which her namesake was so delighted by that Anne was proclaimed as her new "favorite aunt." Anne found the work so rewarding that when she went up to the guest room for her nap she found that she could turn her mind to the sweetest of dreams and imagined all sorts of family scenarios that might soon be played out in her dear House of Dreams.

When Davy came for her later in the evening it was with the promise to come back often during her visit to Green Gables. "Gilbert dearest," wrote Anne that night in her old room, "Today has been a golden day that opened the door again to the sweet dreams of my imagination. I've decided that to dream again is a blessing and I'm going to give myself up to them. A shadow of fear goes along with them, of course, but for the first time I'm hopeful that at some point the dreams will outweigh the ache."

Gilbert, upon receiving the letter, smiled and for the first time felt that maybe, just maybe, he could allow this dream to consume him also without worrying so much over Anne. A tightness that had been present in his chest ever since losing Little Joyce eased itself and a warm glow took its place. Yes, sending Anne to see Diana had been a good decision.

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AN: Thanks all for reading. I'm not wanting to drag this out too much longer, but I am having difficulty with trying to come up with some kind of conflict to make it interesting. As I review the story I'm finding that I'm really just using it as a way to explain parts of Anne and Gilbert's relationship and how they have been working through losing a child and how that would have affected her second pregnancy. I don't know if this is acceptable or not, or if more action is needed. I do, however, want the story to remain mostly happy as that is how I picture it from the way Maud wrote about it in the book. But I'm up for any and all ideas you all might have. :)