A/N: Just to reply to some of your wonderful comments :)

lena-jade: I figured that LMM's football would be Canadian football, and as I know nothing about it, I was really vague! If it had been soccer, I would probably have put in some tactical analysis, lol! I remember Jerry Thornton, he'll be making a guest appearance later on...as will a few other people from RtY :) Thank you for your very constructive comment.

r6144: Yes, I am the admin of that website. Thanks, glad you liked it :)

blythetwin: I will try to incorporate Shirley into one or two of the chapters.

PurtyinPurple: I'm sorry to hear you found YNWA boring. Hopefully it'll pick up life for you in the later chapters :)

Chapter 3 – Romantic Entanglements

Dr. Gilbert Blythe, a respected, well-to-do man in his fifties, smiled his 'morning' smile at the Blythe family as he sat down to breakfast. His heart never failed to give a throb of pride at the sight of them; Anne was as youthful and charming as she had ever been at twenty, and his brood was such a bonny, merry lot. He would not have exchanged his family and job for any of his youthful ambitions of big city hospitals.

Di handed the papers to him as Susan poured out his tea. 'GERMANY DECLARES WAR ON FRANCE' ran the headlines in big, bold black lettering and he frowned in concern, sipping his tea almost absent-mindedly. Only a few days ago the news had come of a student assassinating the Arch-Duke of Austria-Hungary, and he had anticipated that it would put a lid on the undercurrent of tension in Europe.

"What's the news this morning, dad?" asked Jem casually as he buttered his toast, still thinking of the night before in Rainbow Valley where Faith had looked like a nymph in the twilight. He could feel himself falling deeper in love with her each day, this beautiful, goddess-like girl with her sparkling eyes and dimpled smiles, and could barely believe that she actually loved him back.

Dr. Blythe turned the paper briefly for his eldest son to see the headline. Jem's attention was instantly diverted. "Germany declares war on France! Why, dad, this is serious!"

"Germany is at war with two nations?" asked Gertrude Oliver, the clever, striking teacher of Rilla's who was boarding with them. "Just a few days ago she declared war on Russia. Is she trying to make this into an international conflict?"

"So it would seem," said Dr. Blythe, running his eye down the article and catching at the salient points. "Germany has invaded Belgium on its way to France."

"But Belgium is neutral," interjected Jem.

"I do wonder what the world is coming to these days," remarked Susan as she poured out milk for Rilla. "One never opens up the papers without seeing somebody or other being murdered or these nations trying to battle each other. Not," she added, "as if it matters much to us, Mrs. Dr. dear."

Walter, disregarding all table manners, leaned forward and craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the article. "France is in the Triple Entente, isn't she?" he said, frowning as well. "Britain has to come to France's aid – if Britain chooses to enter the war too, why then…"

Jem was looking at him with bright eyes. "If Britain chooses to enter the war? If things aren't patched up, Britain will definitely be in the war."

Dr. Blythe looked slightly troubled. "Yes, Britain will definitely be in the war. I only hope it doesn't get as serious as that. A war of countries…"

Walter turned pale and sat back in his chair thoughtfully. In his mind's eye he could see the entire Canada lying out before him, with a shadowy, mythical figure evoking beautiful, irresistible music from a pipe…and all the lads of the maple following…

"Mother, do you think you could lend me your pearl necklace for the lighthouse dance?" asked Rilla pleadingly. "It would look so pretty with whichever dress I'm going in – the white one or the green one. All the girls would be wild if I wore it, and I promise to take care of it."

"I think it will certainly go very well with your white dress," said Mrs. Blythe, "but as for your green one, I think you'd much better try it on first to see how it looks. Why not have a trial after breakfast and we'll decide which necklace looks the prettiest?"

"Rilla's first grown-up party," Nan laughed. "I hope you'll enjoy it with all your heart, dearest of babies. I know I enjoyed my first, and you're much prettier than I am or ever will be." She affectionately ruffled up her younger sister's hair.

Jem clicked his tongue slightly impatiently and wondered inwardly why girls worried so much over the latest fashions and parties. Faith was the only one he knew who did not worry unduly over her dresses and hair styles. The mere thought of her made him yearn to see her again, so he took a last drink of his tea and turned to Mrs. Blythe. "May I be excused, mother?"

Mrs. Blythe hesitated. "Are you sure you should call on the Merediths at this hour? It's only eight thirty."

"Don't worry, they wake up earlier than we do," Jem assured her. "So long, everyone – don't look so anxious, Spider, you'll be the belle of the ball." Before Rilla could object indignantly to being called 'Spider' again, he was already out of the house. He loved his mother and sisters as well as any young man could, but there were times when he felt what Highland Sandy of Upper Glen had once said to his father was very true, "Too much wimmen, doctor, too much wimmen!"

Back in Ingleside, Di observed the sudden gloom that came over Walter's face, but made no comment about it. She knew only too well what was troubling him, but as nobody else knew it, she kept quiet and waited for him to make the first move on the subject.

Her mother and Rilla soon left the table to experiment with jewellery, and Nan went up to her room to prepare for a Rainbow Valley tryst with Jerry. Di followed her and sat on the bed watching her twin dress, thinking how Rainbow Valley had transformed from their childhood playground to a lovers' hideaway. It possessed a certain sort of romantic magic, a magical allurement that was completely suited for any amount of 'sweethearting' – and Di often wondered, with a little pang, whether she would ever follow in Jem and Nan's footsteps. It wasn't that she envied Nan Jerry Meredith – oh dear, no – but the idea that Nan had someone who loved and wanted her while she didn't, grated on her slightly. And she would have died rather than make that admission to anyone but Walter.

Nan looked almost impossibly pretty in a yellow dress that she had just put on, the yellow shade bringing out the luster of her brown hair and the fairness of her skin. She was the only Blythe daughter who shone in yellow and pink, and Di secretly begrudged her that advantage. She'd always loved pink, but had never worn it due to her ruddy tresses which until now she was not fully reconciled to. Brown hair went with almost everything – but red hair was so much more tiresome.

"Do you think he'll like this?" Nan asked slightly anxiously, straightening her sleeves.

"Of course he will," said Di almost mechanically.

Nan picked up a green hairpin with little glittering diamonds and pushed it into her hair, stepping back to survey the dramatic and strangely harmonious combination of yellow and green.

"Where did you get that?" Di asked, never having noticed that pin before.

Nan flushed. "Jerry bought it for me in Kingsport," she said.

"It's pretty," said Di. "He'll like seeing it on your hair."

"He won't say it, though," said Nan a trifle gloomily. "Oh, he's wonderful, and I wouldn't exchange him for any man on earth – but I do wish he'll be a little more demonstrative – just a little. The hairpin is a lovely thought but he gave it to me so casually, as though it was for anyone, not especially me – that all I'm appreciating is the thought. I wish – he was more like Jem. Whenever I see Jem doing all those things for Faith – giving her flowers and walking her home from Ingleside – I feel so jealous I hate myself."

"You can't expect Jerry to be like Jem," said Di practically. "Jerry is so much more unromantic. Little things from him mean a lot – like this hairpin. He must have been thinking of you in Kingsport to care about buying it. And he does love you, I've seen him looking at you."

Nan sighed, then turned from the mirror with a defiant smile. "Well, I love him for him and that means accepting everything, doesn't it? I won't think about it if I can. I have to run now, he doesn't like being kept waiting. Goodbye, dear."

Di watched her sister hurry down the path from Ingleside in the direction of Rainbow Valley, then loosened her tight hold on the window sill and left in search of Walter. She found him wandering about moodily in the lawn, so immersed in his thoughts that he barely noticed her. Knowing him well enough not to be offended by his ignoring her, she slipped an arm chummily through his and gave him a little shake. "Do you want to take a walk down the harbour road? The day is lovely enough for a nice stroll."

Walter pulled himself out of his reverie and nodded. "Did you hear that we'll be sailing from the creek below the House of Dreams to the light tonight?" he said as they walked out of Ingleside.

"Yes," said Di. "Jem and Joe Milgrave will be at the boats again, I suppose."

"He will," said Walter almost bitterly. "The centre of attention as always."

Di looked at him, mildly surprised. "He is, but it's not his fault. Everyone naturally starts listening to him whenever he talks. Walt, you know that."

Walter forced a grin and nodded. "Yes, I do. Don't mind me, Di. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. In fact – I didn't mean it at all."

"Don't think about it," said Di cheerfully. "Just think about the good time we'll have tonight. The Lewisons always give everyone a good time. You must promise me to dance every dance."

Walter smiled. "That's you all over, always trying to make me enjoy myself! Don't worry, I do intend to dance, if I can. There will be far more boys than girls."

"But none of them will be handsomer than you," said Di, who regarded her favourite brother as quite the handsomest man on P.E.I. "It's a good thing that Kenneth will be attending the dance; we've seen so little of him since he came down." A merry smile lit on her face. "He's so tired of inquiries about his ankle that the last time he was at Ingleside he told me he'd wear a placard saying 'Ankle improving, thank you for asking!'"

"I remember the letter he sent me from Toronto when I was still in hospital," Walter laughed, his face losing some of its melancholy and growing brighter. "Both of us were laid up and he was saying how tired he was getting to be of his bed. 'Bed in early mornings is so desirable, but bed in afternoons and evenings is not!' He made me laugh until the nurse thought I had gone mentally unsound."

"Did you show that to me?" Di asked. "Ken does write awfully nice letters – a knack he inherited from his father, I suppose."

Walter began to say something, but stopped. Di glanced at him in confusion, saw him staring at something ahead of them, and followed his gaze to see Jem and Faith loitering ahead on the harbour shore. They were holding hands, apparently unaware that they were not alone, and the easy intimacy so evident between them spoke volumes about how far their relationship had progressed. Di bit her lip, wishing she hadn't suggested the walk. "Maybe we should go back," she said.

"Yes," Walter said, his voice tight.

Accordingly they turned and walked back towards the Glen, both silent. Di knew that Walter had loved Faith ever since their time together at Queen's Academy. It wasn't difficult to fall in love with Faith; she was so beautiful and brilliant, so much fun to be with. Yet there had never been a chance for Walter – Jem and Faith were such soulmates it was impossible thinking of them with someone else. Di wished with all her heart that Walter would find another girl to love, but three years had gone by and he hadn't looked at anyone else.

Walter didn't say anything until they had reached Ingleside. Then he turned to her and gave her a half-smile. "I want you to know that I do understand I don't have a chance," he said. "I can love her without any hope that she'll love me back. And I do believe that Jem will make her far happier than I can."

"Oh, Walt," said Di softly, her heart aching at the pain she saw in his eyes. "There will always be someone else, you know – someone you'll meet and love eventually."

He didn't respond to that, and they parted until the evening came upon them.