The two families had a simple but good dinner of sandwiches that the womenfolk prepared out on the Merediths' spacious veranda. Naturally, the main topic of conversation was the house and similar matters.

"The house matter is all settled then," said Rosemary brightly. "Norman has worked very hard to maintain its upkeep and it shows."

"Yes," agreed John Meredith. "I'd say a few weeks of hard work, repairs, and cleaning and it would be all ready for you two."

"Which brings up another matter," said Jem. "I still have two years of medical school to complete, and evidently we can't move in until after we're married, which won't be until I'm done with school."

"That is true," Anne said, hoping she was hiding her disappointment that they were not getting married for another two years well. Turning to Faith, she asked, "Faith, what do you plan on doing during that time?"

"Well," said Faith, "firstly, Jem and I haven't discussed that part of the future in depth for a long time. Aside from that, I planned on teaching for a year or two until we marry. I've done it before and I enjoyed it. Having extra money on hand would be helpful as well."

"That's a good idea," Anne responded, brightening. "Have you any ideas on where you'd teach?"

"I have a few," said Faith. "None of them are certain . . . the only ones I have in mind are schools I learned about before the war."

"If you need any help looking," said Anne, "I'd be happy to help."

"So would I," said Nan. "Both Di and I continued to teach after you left."

"That would be wonderful," Faith smiled gratefully.

Conversations continued for another twenty minutes or so before Rosemary rose to her feet and began collecting the dirty dishes. Faith and Nan stood to help.

"You children are excused from cleaning up," said Rosemary as Faith and Nan started to gather plates.

"Are you sure, Mrs. Meredith?" asked Nan. "It's no trouble."

"Rosemary is right," said Anne, who stood up. "You children go enjoy this lovely spring evening."

"If you're sure, then," said Faith.

Nan whispered something in her mother's ear and Anne nodded. Kissing her mother's cheek, Nan winked at Faith before she and Jerry left the veranda hand-in-hand, heading towards Rainbow Valley. Jem and Faith left soon after, walking down a path that led to the woods on the outskirts of the Merediths' property, eventually circling back through Rainbow Valley.

Jem caught Faith's hand in his own as they walked silently, paces identical. Faith broke the silence first.

"We do need to talk, Jem," she said. "This summer will be even more wonderful if we've made all of our plans for the future instead of worrying about them."

"I agree," Jem responded.

"Thinking about it and planning for it makes everything seem so much more certain," Faith said softly. "I forced myself for so long to stop thinking about this part of the future because everything was so hard and uncertain and fragile. I couldn't get my hopes up. Of course I prayed daily for your safe return, and I never gave up hope, but that's as far as I went. Minute by minute . . . hour by hour . . . day by day, I trusted. And now . . . it doesn't have to be like that. Not in the way it was during the war."

Jem listened silently, waiting for her to get what she had to say off of her chest, before responding. "No, sweetheart," he said, stopping so he could look in her eyes. They were surrounded by trees radiating beautiful, fresh green buds with golden sunlight filtering down, lighting up her eyes. "No . . . we don't have to worry about it now. Because it's here. We can plan and dream and live fully and truly now."

Her eyes sparkled with tears. He was surprised; she didn't cry often. "You're right," she simply whispered.

Wrapping his arms around her, he spun her around in a giddy, blissful embrace. "I love you so much, Faith Meredith."

She giggled like a little girl, and he set her down to smile at her. Faith laced her fingers through his again.

"It makes sense, you know," said Faith after they'd begun to walk once more. "My teaching while you finish school, I mean."

"I thought it did as well," replied Jem. "It was a good idea."

"I'll have to start looking for an opening then," said Faith. "Maybe, if I'm lucky, I can secure a position for the upcoming school year."

"Talk to my mother about that," Jem said. "She was a teacher for several years before she and my father married. She'd know of some good options. Nan and Di, as well."

"I will," replied Faith. "It's just—well, I didn't realize truly up until dinner that you still had two full years of medical school to complete."

"I know," said Jem quietly. "As much as I still want to become a doctor, I'm not looking forward to two more years before I can marry you."

"We have a few options when it comes to getting married," mused Faith.

"Getting married before I finish medical school would pose many dilemmas," said Jem, ever the practical thinker. "We wouldn't have a house, and I don't know if the school has a boarding option for married couples. Rent would be tough to manage. I doubt I'd have much time to work."

"There is absolutely no reason why I can't work," Faith said.

"I couldn't allow that."

At this, Faith stopped. Jem was a very fair person who'd always treated her—and any other woman—with equality, decency, and respect. Surely he did not mean . . .

Jem realized Faith had stopped and turned around to face her. He saw the hurt and confused look on his face and immediately realized the unintentional harshness in his words.

"No . . . no, Faith, you're misunderstanding me. I've nothing against women working. My mother worked. Nan and Di worked. You worked. The thing is, all of you were unmarried. I feel like it's the husband's job to provide afterwards. It's just I don't feel right letting you, as my wife, work to support us."

"Oh," said Faith, understanding. "I understand now, and I agree with you. But I also believe a husband and wife should work together. And if that means you and I primarily live off of the money I earn for a little while, then where's the harm in that?"

"There is no harm," replied Jem, beginning to walk again. "This is my pride and sense of duty talking."

At his words, Faith smiled as she regained her pace alongside him. "I can understand that. And again, this is only one option."

"How I wish I didn't have two years of medical school left," sighed Jem, and he sounded almost angry. "I've waited nearly six years to marry you, and now we have to face two more years of waiting."

"We could get married now, you know," said Faith. "But . . ."

"Faith, we just talked about how difficult it would be. It would be very tight financially to do so. I've still got school fees to pay, and then there's supporting the both of us, as well as securing rent, and then there'd be no money left over for fun or to save." He stared straight ahead, his jaw set. His voice dropped, and he stopped walking again. He took her hands in his own, and she looked up at his face. "And then, Faith . . . it's very likely we would have a baby before I graduate. That isn't the kind of situation I want our baby born into."

Faith sighed and nodded. "Oh, you're right . . . I hadn't even thought about that possibility." She laughed briefly. "What would I do without you? If we'd married based on my judgment, we would have quickly found ourselves in trouble!" Her face became sober again. "I know you're right, though. I want to raise our family in the Hill House. We'll be married for a year or so before then and you'll be a doctor, and we'll have money saved. It is the best decision."

"Believe me, Faith, it may be the best decision, but it's not the one I want."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you want?"

Before she could do anything, he wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her. He pulled back after a few moments and looked deeply into her eyes. "I want to be married to you, more than anything, even more than being a doctor. I want you to call you my wife. I want you to be known as Mrs. Faith Blythe. That's what I want."

Faith giggled. "Jem Blythe, I've waited almost six years . . . and nearly five of those six I had to live every day with the fear that I may never see you again. If I can endure that, I can certainly wait two years with you safe and nearby."

"And if you can do that, so can I." He caught her hand again and they walked in comfortable silence for a while. The path through the woods ended and they soon found themselves in Rainbow Valley. The sun was beginning to sink a little in the sky, sending a rosy glow over everything. Faith let go of Jem's hand, kneeling to smell the flowers whose sweet scent permeated the air.

Jem watched her as knelt to the green earth, surrounded by fragrant blossoms, the sun casting a warm glow about her. She looked up and caught him watching her, and she smiled. His breath caught. She was so lovely in that moment, sitting amongst the flowers. Her hair was shining from the light of the sun and her beautiful eyes were sparkling and glowing a bright gold. Her fair cheeks were flushed with color and her smile was so warm and genuine. His heart swelled with love for her.

Faith cocked her head playfully. "What are you looking at, Mr. Blythe?" she asked, rising to her feet, a small bouquet of blossoms in her hands.

"You," he said boldly. "There's something about you, Faith Meredith, that is endlessly beautiful, endlessly intriguing, and endlessly mystifying."

She took a flower from the bouquet and tucked it into his chest pocket. "And is that a . . . bad thing?" she asked.

He plucked a blossom from the bouquet she held and gently tucked it into her hair. "No," he said simply, and he kissed her again.

"Now, now, you two," chided Nan, using the same words Faith had said to her and Jerry a few hours earlier on the Hill House's balcony. She and Jerry were walking towards the two of them, hand-in-hand.

Faith blushed a deep crimson, but smiled nonetheless. Jem's arm wound around her waist and she laughed. "Hello, Nan, dear."

"Miss Meredith." Nan nodded playfully.

"So . . ." Jerry said, smoothly interrupting them. "What were you two up to when Nan and I just happened to come by?"

Ignoring her brother's teasing tone and unspoken implications, Faith spoke. "Jem and I were talking about the future, and what we'll do until he finished medical school."

"And . . . ?" Nan prompted.

Taking Jem's hand and swinging it jauntily, Faith grinned. "And . . . we are eloping!"

Jerry suddenly gave a strangled noise that was somewhere between a cough and cry of disbelief. His face turned red as he struggled to regain his composure. Nan patted his back sympathetically as Jem shook with silent laughter.

"Gerald, your sister is only pretending," said Nan soothingly.

"I—sure—hope—she—is," Jerry managed to choke out.

"She is," Nan insisted. "You don't tell someone that you're going to elope. It ruins the whole idea."

Faith grinned broadly. "Do not worry, my dear brother. I am staying right here."

"But really," Nan pressed on. "What do you think you'll do?"

"Jem has school, evidently, and I will almost certainly teach school until he has graduated."

"No wedding anytime soon then?" Nan asked, her slim shoulders falling slightly.

Faith's smile faded, and Jem spoke for her. "We talked about that, and it is best for us to wait until after I'm graduated. Faith can teach during that time, and that way we can marry and live right here."

"Jem, you are so practical," Nan sighed. "Sometimes it's infuriating. Oh, I wish you two would do something romantic and impulsive and elope."

"I don't!" insisted Jerry, who had begun to recover and could speak again. "My sister just got back . . . let her breathe before walking down the aisle."

Nan frowned at him.

"Don't get me wrong," Jerry added. He hadn't meant to sound harsh, for he very much liked the idea of Faith and Jem. He should be by now, after over five years of engagement. If there was anybody he thought was good enough to marry his sister, it would be Jem Blythe. "Of course I want the two of you to get married . . . but get used to being safe and home again first. Make sure the time is right."

Jem smiled. "I second that."

Nan rolled her eyes. "Oh, you boys are so unromantic. Come along, Faith, they can walk themselves home."

Faith laughed and slipped her arm through her friend's. She lowered her voice. "Nan, there will be weddings. Don't worry. We have to try hard to adjust back to 'normal' life . . . not that life will ever be the same as it was before."

Nan's eyes filled with tears. "Walter," she said. "Oh, Walter. He was always closer to Di and Rilla . . . but I still loved him tremendously . . . and I can't believe he is gone . . . oh, Faith, it's been over three years, and I still am not used to it."

Faith wrapped her arm around her friend's trembling shoulders. Nan's eyes still sparkled with tears, but they did not fall. She held her head high, though her chin shook a little. The boys were several paces behind, and Faith was glad. Both Jerry and Jem would be alarmed to see Nan fighting not to cry, and she knew Nan didn't need that. Nan only needed to voice her sadness, feel Faith's comforting arm around her, and be surrounded by the beauty of the Glen in springtime to feel better, and sure enough, that proved to be true.

Instead of turning one way to head back to the manse, Nan turned in the direction of Ingleside. "Ingleside? Why are we going there?" Faith asked in surprise.

"You, my dear," said Nan, "are sleeping over with Di and me tonight, just like old times."

A big smile broke out on Faith's face. "What a lovely idea, Nan!"

"Una was invited as well, but she mentioned having a headache before we left, and decided to stay home so she could get some sleep and so she wouldn't damper our fun."

"Oh, Una," said Faith. "She is so good and thoughtful. It makes me jealous."

"I know," said Nan. "I've tried many times to be as good as her and I just fail miserably every time." Turning around, she called to the boys, "Jerry, bring Faith's things over around eight!"

"What things?" demanded Jerry.

"She's sleeping over with Di and me tonight," Nan explained. "You can come over just as soon as you bring her things over. It'll be just like old times."

Jem smiled broadly at the idea, and Jerry added his approval.

"We'll be over soon," said Jem. "There's a few things Jerry and I need to talk about first."

Nan rolled her eyes. "Boys," she sighed. "Come on, Faith. I'm sure Susan's left some treats out and we can sit out on the veranda and watch the sunset."

Faith smiled, inhaling the sweet scent of the blossoms in her hands. Nan's idea sounded like just the right way to end the day.

Author's Note – I am so, so, so sorry that it has been well over a year since I've updated this story. I've always told myself that I would not be a fanfiction writer that updated once every few months, and here it is more than a year later since I've posted anything new. I hope you enjoy this chapter . . . it's short and not very good, but I've been working on it for a while, and I finally decided to stop begin lazy and post it. More chapters will be coming soon, I promise. Really.