Anne and Gilbert's wedding at Green Gables had been lovely. And before they knew it, the newlyweds found themselves wound up in their new bedroom of their new house.

Gilbert made a hasty exit soon after.

Anne embraced the quiet, content to finally be alone with her thoughts. Especially after being surrounded by hoards of people all day.

She dressed in her nightgown.

Then, itching for something to do to calm her nerves, Anne picked up the wedding dress and placed it in the wardrobe. Marilla had passed it on to her, so she wanted to keep it safe. She did the same with her petticoat, corset and chemise. Closing the door, she ran her fingers over the dark mahogany before moving on to every other room surface.

She stopped by the large bed and touched it too. Bedposts, linens and pillows. Committing everything to memory, in case they decided to leave one day.

Anne sat at her vanity and pulled out her hairpins. She was a married woman now, so she left her hair down instead of braiding it like a young girl.

Anne was so nervous, she almost didn't hear the bedroom door open and shut. Gilbert reentered the room, hung his suit in the wardrobe before dressing for bed. He turned to face her, and Anne couldn't fight the blush. She stood and considered covering herself. They had never been so underdressed in each other's presence before.

However, her thoughts diminished as she observed the way Gilbert was looking at her. It was the same look she received years ago; when he showed up outside her boarding house. Gilbert offered his hand and she closed the distance, her heart racing a million miles per second.

He raised a shaky hand, and pressed it against her cheek.

"We don't have to do this, you know," his voice soft, "we can wait if you'd prefer."

Anne considered his words.

She thought of the Hammonds, those wretched people she used to live with. Although it was years ago, the memory of those encounters had haunted her since. Her face grimaced, remembering angry voices, slamming doors, sounds of breaking glass…

…then a gentle voice, soft touch and tender gaze brought her back to the present.

Before Anne knew what was happening, Gilbert's arms were around her. She stiffened, unprepared for the contact, but soon relaxed. Anne knew that despite her fears, despite her anxieties, there was no place she'd rather be. She couldn't stop the trembles, though, that took over her body. No doubt he could feel them too.

"Anne, you're shaking," he whispered into her hair.

She nodded in reply. "I can't help it."

Gilbert pulled back and rubbed her arms, moving his hands up and down in a soothing fashion. She watched as he lowered his gaze from her eyes to her lips.

"Can I kiss you? Will that help?"

She nodded, and he leaned in to capture her lips after what seemed like a century. His hands cradled her face, before delving into her hair, and she couldn't help but melt into his gentle touch.

He broke away to press soft kisses along her throat and jaw, his fingers grazing the skin of her neck. The sensations were overwhelming, and they soon became too much. She pulled back from him and Gilbert mimicked her.

"Are you all right," he kissed her forehead, "as I said, we don't have to do this."

She shook her head. "I want to do this with you, Gilbert. It's just…I used to live with these people, the Hammonds, and I used to hear them."

Gilbert's eyes went wide, and Anne shook her head in bewilderment. She didn't know why she was telling him this. But Gilbert was her husband now, and she wanted to tell him what she heard many years ago.

"I used to hear them doing what we're about to do."

She lowered her eyes, thinking she'd ruined the moment, but Gilbert lifted her chin back up. "You used to hear...that?"

She nodded, but before she could back away, he held her firm. "What exactly did you hear?" His voice radiated with such intensity, she answered him immediately.

"The most horrible sounds I've ever heard in my life."

Gilbert stepped forward and held her again, almost trying to mould her into his body. He jerked away and cradled her face, his eyes boring into hers.

"Listen to me, Anne," he rasped, his voice husky with emotion, "what you heard is not how it's meant to be."

His words made her hopeful. "I want to believe you, but…."

"Have you spoken to Marilla or Diana about this?"

She answered with complete honesty. "Marilla tried but she's never experienced such things and Diana said they're enjoyable. She's right, isn't she?"

Gilbert smiled, caressing her arm. "Yes, she is. From what I've read, they most definitely can be enjoyable."

She looked at him in confusion, and he nudged her nose with his.

"I'm a doctor, Anne."

"Oh…"

Gilbert chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Not to mention, Bash is an excellent teacher on that particular subject." Anne couldn't help but smile a little at the pun.

The situation soon turned serious once again. "If Diana and Bash are right, and what you've read is right..." she stared at him, her mind made up, "then I'd like to do this with you, Gilbert."

He held her hands. "Communicate with me. Can you do that?"

"I will."

There was nothing more to say after that, and when Gilbert claimed her lips again, Anne didn't pull away.

Soon, she was lost in pleasure, so lost in fact, she barely registered him moving her towards the bed. He laid her down and covered her with his body, resuming his impassioned kisses.

Despite her foggy mind, she managed to find her voice.

"I never imagined it could be like this..."

Gilbert pulled back and raised his eyebrow in that familiar way of his. "You haven't? With an imagination like yours, unrivalled by anybody?"

She smiled, biting her lip. "Some things are too unfamiliar to imagine."

Gilbert chuckled and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I guess my imagination beats yours for once." he pressed soft kisses against her neck. "If only you knew the things I've imagined about you..."

His resumed his attentions, and she let herself drift away again. It was only vaguely that she felt the buttons on her nightgown coming undone. "I'd like to see you, Anne. Will you let me?"

Anne sat up, causing him back to back away in surprise. "I don't want to disappoint you."

Gilbert kissed her then. So fierce was his kiss, she fell back onto the bed. It felt like he was trying to kiss the words out of her mouth, and her heart pounded from the intensity of his actions.

He pulled back, and his eyes were so dark and hazy, Anne couldn't look away. He banished his nightshirt, took her hand and placed it against his chest.

"Do you feel that? That's for you and only you."

The tone of his voice, intensity of his words, not to mention his relentless gaze, became too much for her again, and she averted her eyes.

"Look at me."

He ran a gentle thumb over her eyelids. "Please."

She hesitated before reopening them, and found two eyes full of adoration staring back at her.

"I want you. All of you."

She slowly raised her arms, allowing Gilbert to pull her nightgown off. Every instinct was screaming at her to hide, but she resisted, letting him see her. He stood to rid himself of his drawers before rejoining her on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.

Soon, being exposed didn't register. Anne's insecurities about her too-pale skin, smattering of freckles or the ugly scars marring her back didn't matter. All Anne could think about now was the exquisite feeling of his body pressed against hers. His gentle gaze, soft touch, and tender kisses.

She closed her eyes and finally shut her mind off.

Soon after, Anne was lying in Gilbert's arms, flushed and exhausted; her body tingling all over. Her insecurities weren't plaguing her, and she determined not to think about them.

Instead, she closed her eyes, revelling in the intimacy of the moment.

"I've never felt like this before…."

He cupped her cheek with a tender hand. "Is my Anne lost for words?"

He nibbled on her earlobe, and her giggle turned into a gasp. He leaned back to give her an enticing look, causing shivers go up and down her spine.

"What was it that made you speechless?"

He caressed her stomach, tracing the freckles he couldn't see, obscured by the bedcover.

"Was it this?"

Anne sighed at his touch, letting herself melt into him once again.

"Or this..."

He slid his hand even lower, and her eyes fluttered shut in pleasure.

They were vulnerable with eachother like never before and a future together had never looked brighter.