May I just make one teeny alteration to my master plan, beloveds? I need to squeeze one more chapter in. Trust me- we need it.

Four….

Chapter 39

On a bright morning just four days before the wedding, Anne arrived at the station to meet Fred, Diana and the children, accompanied by her future mother and father in law. She was flushed with the success of coming to meet the train on her own- Susan was tending to the wedding cake, and was insistent that the house needed peace and quiet for her to deliver it safely.

After she had spent several minutes chatting with Mr Saddler, she saw him turn to her with a smile, hearing the train in the distance. "She's coming now- be here in about four minutes, I reckon."

Anne turned to see a wisp of smoke in the distance and felt a sudden wave of emotion. How much had changed? She had a home to welcome Diana to now- a community, a family, not even twelve months after she had stepped off the train for the first time. She drew in a deep breath to steady herself, not wanting to terrify Diana by bursting into tears the moment she saw her- although perhaps it wasn't so strange. Anne's stick was in her hand, and she looked down at it with a quirked smile. Susan had ordered- and Gilbert had mildly suggested that it would be a good idea to take it when she was out on her own. She chuckled, thinking about the self-restraint that Gilbert was employing to stop babying her- and he was mostly successful. Her chin lifted, and a smile was on her face. She didn't need to be coddled- but it was love, she now saw, love that made those around her protective- and she was learning to accept it without having to prove her independence.

She rested on the stick now, her look thoughtful. Soon September would come, bringing with it the brilliant colours of the leaves again. She lifted her head to look at the bright green of the foliage around the station with a smile- the summer had been beautiful in the seaside town, with brisk winds, a glittering, sapphire sea and wildflowers in abundance.

Anne's mind turned to the future, her heart giving a leap of excitement. Soon, she would learn to know Ingleside in every season- she would make friends with the trees that surrounded their home, she would look out on snow-covered gardens. Spring flowers would come again, and summer storms would sweep across the gulf, unable to penetrate their dwelling. Together she and Gilbert would create the heart of their home- with firelight and friends, beloved anniversaries to celebrate, and a oneness of heart and body.

As a gentle wind rippled along the platform, Anne let out a breath that she hadn't even realised she was holding, watching the column of smoke move down the hill toward them. She turned at the sudden footsteps on the road behind her, smiling to see Gilbert bounding up the steps two at a time to her side. She reached for him gladly, as he pulled her into his arms for a hug.

"I was worried that I would miss them," he said, kissing her temple with a grin. "My last patient only just left."

"No- quite perfect timing, instead." Anne leant into him contentedly, and his hands came to rest on her waist.

Gilbert looked at her critically, well aware that he hadn't been able to see her as often as he would have liked that week. "Now, before we're hit with everyone, sweetheart, how are you?"

Anne turned to him in surprise. "Fine- why, Gil?"

He quirked his eyebrow, as the sound of the train grew closer. "Because weddings have a way of exhausting brides even before they even get to the ceremony. And with everyone around us fussing, I don't want you the same- run off your feet, and worried about things that don't matter."

Anne's hand came up to stroke his cheek, and she smiled cheekily. "I wouldn't worry, dearest. I can see plenty of rest coming for me. That is what that lovely big bed is for, isn't it? I'm sure we'll be able to catch up on all the sleep we've missed," she commented, giving him a wink that made him laugh. He kept a tight grip of his fiancée's waist, and bent to whisper in her ear.

"Not likely, Miss Shirley," he muttered mischievously, as the steam and noise of the train filled the station once more. Together they stood back, watching the porters run to open carriage doors, and summer visitors begin to flood onto the platform.

Within minutes the travellers had found Anne and Gilbert in the throng, and the first incoherent and ecstatic greetings had been exchanged. Gilbert found himself standing with his father some minutes later, holding a young Jack Wright who had been determined to escape his older brother's clutches. Fred had just corralled small Anne Cordelia from amongst the crowd, and Gilbert turned to see Anne's huge smile as they gathered around them. Diana was exclaiming over how well Anne looked, and his mother had a hand on his shoulder while clutching Anne to her joyfully. Gilbert chuckled, shifting the hefty young man on his hip. It wasn't unlike the chaos that had erupted when they had last gone home- and yet he looked across at Anne, seeing no tears or exhaustion this time, animatedly talking with Diana and his mother. He smiled, then. All was going to be extremely well.

An hour later, the two wagons were parked beneath the trees on the Ingleside lawn, while the Wrights and Blythes went all over the house exclaiming at the grounds, the view of the lighthouse from the garret, and the new rooms that had been built. Gilbert could hear Diana's raptures over the kitchen from where he stood in the living room. His parents were in the new bedroom, and Gilbert looked up from the sofa when his mother came to sit beside him, a sigh of relief escaping her.

"It's so lovely, dear," Sonia said with a proud smile. "And so much closer to town than your old house!"

Gilbert grinned. "Not that it was so very far. And we'll be there a few days yet."

"Four days is not so long," Sonia reminded him and turned to him with a worried look. "And why isn't there any bedroom furniture in there yet? You aren't leaving yourself much time-"

Gilbert held up his hands in protest. "Mother, it's all under control-"

"You say that with worrying confidence, dear."

Gilbert grinned. "For good reason. It's all in the barn. I didn't want Anne to see it until it was all set up- and that isn't happening until I can get to it tomorrow."

Mrs Blythe gave a sigh of relief, turning to him with a frown. "And what if she doesn't like it?"

"She will, mama, I promise you that."

The bed discussion had been a singularly diverting one- in amongst the many decisions they had had to make, Gilbert had asked for Anne's input on their bed. At first, she could only laugh, protesting that comparing their current beds was pointless- how could they compare what the other had never experienced before?

They had gone to the shore for this discussion. Sitting high on the rocks, they looked out of the water, talking of their home. Susan had been involved in many similar talks, however, Gilbert hadn't wished her to be present for this one.

"Is there no preference that you have?" he asked, looking for a way to discuss the problem logically. "Yours is a part of the cottage- so we either have to buy one, or we keep mine."

Anne turned to him, teasingly. " Gilbert, I'm sure Mrs Lynde would think this discussion terribly improper."

"Well, I'm not marrying Mrs Lynde," he said stubbornly. "Over a third of our lives will be spent in that bed- and I don't plan to sleep badly for the next sixty or seventy years. We've made every other decision together, I don't see why we can't make this one."

"And I am happy to make it with you, dearest- but I simply don't have enough information." Anne scrambled to her feet then, and held out her hand to him. Gilbert looked at her in bewilderment.

"I thought we were having a discussion."

She shrugged, her loose red curls blowing in the breeze. "We are. I'm just moving the discussion to your house."

Now seriously considering that his beloved had lost her mind, endeavoured to be rational. "Sweetheart-"

"You have a large bed- apparently- that may be suitable for the two of us," she said evenly. "And you want my opinion on what sort of bed we need. I think it only logical for me to see it, at least. Otherwise we could unnecessarily spend money on a new one when an old one might do."

He shook his head, grinning. "Anne, you've never been to my house before, most likely owing to the chaperone problem- which we still have for two more weeks, by the way," he said dryly. Her eyes twinkled at him in challenge, and he stood up and took her hand with a grin, turning to help her up the rocks.

A short time later, a flushed Gilbert stood in his kitchen, determined to remain an appropriate distance from his fiancée while she was evaluating his bed. He leant against the counter, wondering what she was doing in there for so long.

"Gil?", he then heard her call.

"Yes?"

"Which side of the bed do you sleep on?"

Gilbert raised a hand to ruffle his thick brown hair, unable to keep from chuckling. "Anne, I'm a tall fellow- and I've been sleeping alone for nearly thirty-two years. I sleep in the middle."

"Well, that will need to change."

Her pragmatic statement made him laugh, and unable to resist, he came to stand in his doorway. His face heated when he saw her lying on his bed thoughtfully, as comfortably as if she were discussing the weather. He cleared his throat at the sight of her and grinned. "I'm quite resigned to the change, Anne-girl."

She looked up at the dark green of the canopy, a frown on her face. "I'm trying to picture this in our house."

"And can you?" he asked, loving the way her red curls looked against his pillow.

Anne turned to him in chagrin. "I can't, I'm sorry, Gil. It's too dark, and our room is so lovely and light, dearest."

Gilbert approached the bed with a boyish smile. "I know. I thought the darkness of the curtains was an advantage when I moved here- I assumed that would be necessary to sleep through the day. My bedroom in Montreal was too bright- when I saw this at an estate sale, I thought it would solve the problem."

"And you never thought to use thicker curtains on the window?"

He shrugged. "Nope- it never occurred to me. I draw the bed curtains here, and it becomes completely dark."

"I shouldn't like that, I think."

He smiled, seeing that she had chosen the pillow he usually used. Carefully, he sat down on the opposite side of the bed, kicking his feet up on it next to her. "It was never as comfortable as my bed at home, I'll grant you that."

Anne turned to him, puzzled. "What made you choose the lower floor, Gil? There must be other bedrooms above."

He chuckled, then. "A close call when I first moved in here. The phone went, I ran for it, and fell down the stairs."

He saw the sharp flinch she gave and kicked himself for his tactlessness. "Anne, I'm sorry- I should have thought that through," he muttered, taking her hand in his and holding it to his chest tightly.

She was slightly pale but shook her head. "No. I'm sorry- every now and then it catches me by surprise. It's fine." She drew in a deep breath and looked at him. "So you fell."

He grinned. "I did. My knee caught the bottom step- I was black and blue for a week. When they came to deliver the bed, I just told them to bring it in here." He looked around with a smile. "So, we need to buy a new bed. I'm not sorry- I spent a lot of time awake and lonely, in here. I'm heading to Lowbridge to consult with Parker tomorrow- I'll see what they have available."

Anne chuckled. "The mattress is quite comfortable, though, Gil- if it had filmy white curtains around it, I would be tempted to suggest that we keep it. Very romantic."

Gilbert looked over at her, grinning. "Oh?"

She began to laugh then. "Oh, yes. We were always writing about canopied beds with gossamer curtains in our Story Club tales."

Gilbert promptly began to choke with laughter. "Anne! You never told me that was what you girls were writing about, back then!"

She chuckled, loving the utterly stunned look on his face. "Well, we did. Of course, we wrote about maidens in their maidenly beds- mostly, anyhow." Gilbert came up on one elbow to watch her, his eyebrows raised so high that a blushing Anne laughed again. "Gilbert, remember that Ruby was the youngest of four sisters- some of whom were married with children by then. We didn't encourage those stories, I assure you- Jane got up and marched home after one of Ruby's, in which the hero dared to leap through the maiden's window to save her from a masked intruder. That was quite enough for her."

Gilbert sighed, clasping her hand in his tightly. "What I wouldn't have given to have known you better back then."

Anne leant over to kiss his cheek and rested her head against his shoulder. "Ruby did want you boys to join in, of course- it was me who was adamant that you shouldn't. She used to tease me about forever remaining single."

This made him start. "Anne, Ruby would never have been so mean."

"Oh, I didn't mean it that way, Gil- she only meant that I might choose to stay single. After all, the other girls were used to close friendships with each other- and by the time I came along, they were beginning to cast their eyes toward the other sex."

"But you weren't ready for that."

Anne smiled. "No. I was fifteen or sixteen by the time I started wondering what a boy's friendship might be like."

Gilbert snorted, making her giggle. "Depends on the boy. Imagine you being best friends with Charlie?"

Anne began to laugh. "He and I didn't have enough in common for friendship. You and I though- well, look at us. It doesn't matter where we are, or what we are doing, we're just happy to do it together. We wouldn't have done this before, but doesn't this seem natural to you?"

He looked across at her next to him on the bed, and his glance was tender. "If you exchange my room for fields and brooks, then it's exactly what we used to do." He leant in and permitted himself one small, chaste kiss on her lips, and then got off the bed reluctantly. "And now we had better be going- I need to get you back to Susan, and stop being a terribly scandalous fiancé."

Anne sat up, an amused look on her face. "It was me who suggested this, remember."

Gilbert gave her a droll look. "I know. Now you'd better head out of here before I suggest something else."

The same afternoon they arrived in the Glen, Diana's children were tumbling around in the garden at Rosewood Cottage, and Anne smiled to hear the sound of laughter drifting up from the garden beds. Guinevere had been introduced, and the children had been given permission to run up and down the pathway to the old schoolhouse. From where they sat on the porch, Diana and Anne could keep an eye on the youngsters and sat sipping the tea Susan had insisted on preparing for their guests. Fred had been at loose ends until Mr Blythe swung by in the buggy, keen to return to Ingleside and complete some of the work that Gilbert had said needed doing. Diana laughed at the relieved look on her husband's face at so easy an escape, and told him to run along- Susan, already devoted to Gilbert's family and the friends who had cared for her girl waylaid the two men, handing over a bag of cookies and stern instructions to be back by suppertime.

Outside in the sunshine, Diana sighed. "It's so lovely, Anne. I didn't think it would be so beautiful, here."

Anne smiled. "It is. We plan to have the wedding under the trees in the garden- the cherry tree is lovely at this time of the year, and Susan and I have guarded the roses carefully," Anne said with a laugh. "She declared war on any blight or insect- I'm not sure that she doesn't come out to check on them at night." She shifted in her chair, resting her foot against the rail, and Diana gave her an intrigued look.

"How is it now?" she asked carefully.

Anne gave Diana a rueful smile. "A trifle sore, today- which Jeremy insists is a good thing. He's coming with the Winstons tomorrow- you will be able to meet him at dinner. You'll love him."

Diana turned to study her friend, her look gentle. "How was the hospital for you really, Anne?"

Anne looked at her in surprise. "Di, I wrote you about it weeks ago-"

"And I'm asking what it was really like," Di insisted. "I know you would have wanted to put a brave face on it for Gilbert's sake- and you probably did that for me as well- but I would like to know, if you don't mind telling me about it."

"For the most part, I didn't, Di," Anne admitted, before breaking into a soft laugh. "I was afraid, yes. But the pain was much less, this time- when I mentioned that to Gilbert, he reminded me that I didn't have a broken leg anymore. The staff were exceptional, and Gil was there as much as they would allow him to be- when he wasn't accompanying Jeremy and the other doctors to view different operations."

Diana gave Anne a bewildered look. "He did that?"

Anne smiled. "Quite a bit, actually. Jeremy tells me that Gilbert is a brilliant surgeon- I think he misses it at times."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't." Diana said flatly, making her friend giggle.

Anne was quiet then, and Diana stayed silent, hoping that she would continue. After a moment, she did. "You know, I never thought about what it would be like for Gilbert," she said slowly. "I was so caught up in what it would be like for me, that I never considered what it would mean for him to see me there. He kept telling me that everything was going to be fine- that I had nothing to worry about."

Diana smiled. "And he would know."

Anne gave a dry chuckle. "Yes, however, I know him better than that, Di."

Diana turned to her, her black eyes twinkling. "Oh? What gave him away?"

Anne's look was fond as she turned at the shouts of the children. "Oh, while we were waiting, he asked me every few minutes if I was alright, if I needed anything- and kept drumming on the bedside table- he drove the nurses quite mad with it. I don't know if he had a fingernail left, after all the gnawing he did- and he wouldn't leave me to get something to eat."

Diana shook her head, a look of wonder on her face. "I can't picture him like that, Anne."

Anne's lips trembled then, and her voice was low. "I teased him about it, at first- until they came to take me to the operating theatre. Jeremy let him stay while they were getting the anaesthetic ready- but then he had to leave. I- I remember seeing Jeremy making him step away- and I saw his eyes."

Anne swallowed, still seeing the look of anguish on Gilbert's face and the way his jaw trembled. Another doctor was waiting at the door for him, someone who gave him a gentle push out of the heavy doors. As they closed, she thought she had seen a tear trace down his cheek- although, in her fuzzy state, she hadn't been sure if it was real.

Anne smiled wistfully, smoothing her long skirts over her knee. "You know, Di, when we became engaged, I imagined all of the drama was over for us- I never thought we would have to deal with so much before the wedding. It hardly seems like the ideal beginning for us."

Diana glanced at Anne thoughtfully.

"Did you know that I was afraid that Gilbert was going to hurt you again?" she asked, out of nowhere.

Anne looked at her friend in shock. "Diana, why would you worry about that? I was to blame-"

Diana grimaced at her. "That isn't the whole truth, Anne, and you know it. I know that it's all in the past. But I was worried that Gilbert wouldn't be able to move on from his anger- and that he would hurt you." She smiled sadly at the look of indignation on her friend's face. "Anne, I would defy anyone to watch what you have gone through and not be affected by it. Outside of Marilla, I would have said that I was the only person who ever knew the whole story." She felt Anne pulling away slightly, and took her hand lovingly. "Anne, darling, think. What would you have done if Fred had- oh, I don't know, left me at the altar?"

Anne looked at Diana in shock. "Diana-"

"Well, what would you have done?"

Anne closed her mouth, her grey eyes suddenly twinkling. "Alright, I would have found him and clubbed him to death with his own severed limbs."

Diana fell back on the chair laughing, and she gave Anne a twinkling look. "You see, darling? It's the role of a kindred spirit to be over-protective."

Anne chuckled. "Yes, but you forgot that Gilbert is a kindred spirit too."

"As is Fred. And yet you didn't always get to see that," Diana said gently. "I confess, I thought whatever there had been of that nature in Gilbert was long gone- and you know that I was terrified that he would make things harder for you. I was wrong- and I only knew half of the story. I confess that I made it rather difficult for Gilbert when he spoke to me about you- several times over, in fact." She smiled, then. "I'm lucky he's still speaking to me. I ranted and raved to Fred about him being careless of your feelings and so caught in the past that he couldn't move forward- but Fred was wiser. Anne, nothing would get Gilbert Blythe to come back home. Not until he saw you again. He made himself to come to us just to find out how to fix things with you. Then at Christmas, he came home to see his family- again, something he hadn't done in years- and when I told him you were gone, he followed you to Green Gables, because he was so afraid for you."

Anne's eyes were glittering with unshed tears now. "Why are you telling me this now, Di?" she asked softly. "I know how badly Gilbert and I hurt each other-"

Diana took her hands in his. "Because the man who would put himself in the place he most feared, despite having nothing to gain is the man I know will take care of you. Gilbert Blythe has loved you since we were children- and he was willing to take me on when I told him to mind his own business nine months ago," she said with a chuckle. "He's not afraid to push you when you need it- and I'll never forget that he was the one to make you light up inside again." There were tears brimming in Diana's eyes, and she smiled at the red-headed girl beside her. "He brought you back home to us, Anne."

Anne reached out to take Diana's hand, squeezing it affectionately. "You all had a hand in that."

Diana smiled at her friend. "I know you and Gilbert have been through a heartache that no one should need to experience on the road to this moment- but anything you go through from now on will be together. It's a new day- it won't be that way again."

Anne lifted a shaking hand to wipe the tears from her face and smiled at her oldest friend. "Thank you, Di." She sat up then, seeing the children coming back toward the house. "I'm heart-glad to have you here, darling- I couldn't imagine having our wedding without you here."

Diana gave Anne a mock glare. "I'd have liked to have seen you try to do it without us."

Anne's look was twinkling as she rose from the chair, lifting her nose with pleasure to the afternoon breeze, pine-scented and laced with the smell of rain in the air. She kissed Diana's rosy cheek, before moving to the back door gracefully. "Then you should be extra-glad that Gilbert and I decided not to elope in Montreal."

That night, the Blythes were the guests of the cottage for dinner. Anne and Susan had not wanted Sonia to have to cook on the same night she had arrived, and together the women made plans that evening to utilize both kitchens for the wedding feast over the next three days. Sonia was thrilled to be able to help and had come prepared with numerous Blythe and Fletcher family recipes to grace the table with at their son's wedding.

It was becoming late when Diana and Fred went to bed where their children had been blissfully snoozing for hours, and Anne stood at the door saying goodnight to Gilbert and his parents. Gilbert leant over to kiss her, straightening up with a smile.

"I am officially off duty, tomorrow," he said, grinning. "Justin has assured me that he will only call when necessary- and Bruce is on standby if he needs advice."

Anne smiled. "After the last few months, dearest, I think you and I owe Doctor Parker a good deal for his help."

"Oh, he will come collecting," he said, amused. "He wants to take his family to Kingsport in September- and he wants me to take on his mother in law, as my patient. That should even things up, apparently. Besides," he said nonchalantly, "I still need to get through until tomorrow morning."

Anne's hand came up to caress his chin. "So we need to hope that no one has a baby tonight."

Gilbert shrugged, his smile easy. "None of my patients are due for a few weeks- and besides, Doctor Shelby has impressed the town with his obstetric skills. It was his specialty at Redmond."

Forgetting that John and Sonia waiting on the step, Anne wound her arms around his neck with a dreamy look. "I can't believe we are so close to the wedding. You and I are almost there, beloved."

Gilbert chuckled and kissed her. "We are. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Packing my clothes to move into our home, dearest- and then we have the dinner at the Winstons tomorrow night."

Gilbert raised his eyebrows. "So Susan, Fred, Di and the children- and my parents- Jeremy and Penny, Andrew, Lizzy, and Mr and Mrs Winston. All under one roof."

Anne laughed, not seeing the way Gilbert's parents smiled to hear that sound. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The next evening, as the fireflies danced in the shadowy garden to the children's delight, the Winston house was ablaze with colour, with people filling every room. Andrew had assured Diana that the every room had been extensively child-tested with regards to breakability, and that the children could run as much as they wanted. Lizzie was in her element as she bossed the Wright children around, and the four of them ran happily through the rooms that the adults had settled in. Susan and Mrs Meyer had together produced a dinner that the families delighted in, and after all had partaken Mrs Winston had shooed the women to sit down, while she and Penny cleaned up unhurriedly, and arranged the tea for everyone.

Andrew wandered through the rooms, a slight smile on his face. Gilbert's parents and his father were in the sitting room with Diana and Fred, and Penny was perched on the arm of her chair talking with Anne's friend, laughing at various stories the pretty black-haired woman told her about Anne and Gilbert. Jeremy and Gilbert had been in the study with him while Andrew looked something up for his father, and Susan could be seen in the kitchen wiping young Jack's hands and face, after an unfortunate collision with Lizzie's puppy. She had taken to the adorable youngster from the beginning of their stay, leaving his young mother with free hands for the first time in two years- something she said was a wonderful respite.

Later in the evening, when Gilbert came into the cozy sitting room, he frowned, suddenly unable to recall where Anne was. She had been in the room earlier for Jeremy to announce to the group his and a blushing Penny's engagement, and Gilbert had watched the besotted pair with a warm look in his hazel eyes. The wedding was set for December that year- and Gilbert and Anne were told unceremoniously that they would need to turn around and head for Montreal for the occasion. Gilbert raised his glass to them in salute, assuring them that they would be present, and hastily assuring his mother in the same breath that they would make it home for Christmas at Ingleside as well. As the talk continued around the room, Gilbert stepped away to walk through the rooms, looking for his bride to be. The children were playing happily by themselves in Lizzie's room, and he couldn't find her in the kitchen, the dining room or the study. With a slight smile on his face, he slipped out of the front doors, to the chairs he knew would be covered by darkness. He let the door fall closed behind him, and came to sit beside her. For long minutes, neither of them spoke.

Gilbert turned to look at her, his heart sinking when the faint light shimmered on a tear. He gathered her into his arms then, bending to press his cheek to the top of her head.

"I seem to be keeping company with the ghosts, tonight," she said, the slight breathlessness telling him that her tears had been falling for a while.

Gilbert held her close, his voice gentle. "Which ones?"

Anne raised a hand to brush away tears, her eyes closed in grief. "Gil, Marilla should have been here."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said softly. He tucked her into his side, his hand smoothing the hair from her face tenderly. "You know she and Matthew would be so happy for us- well, Marilla would," he said with a little chuckle. "I suppose Matthew never really knew me."

Anne smiled, hunting for a dry spot on her handkerchief. Gilbert couldn't repress a loving look, seeing that it was one of his. His was still firmly in his pocket- and he realised that it must have been one he had given her months ago.

"Matthew knew you better than you would think, Gil- after all, for someone I refused to mention, it seems that I spoke about you an awful lot."

He gave her a wide grin. "You talked about me back then?"

She relaxed back in his arms, chuckling. "'Gil beat me in the test again, so I have to beat him tomorrow. Gilbert is joining the Queens class, and isn't that terribly annoying? Gilbert used his tie to swing off a branch, and Gilbert just had to walk home with Ruby Gillis from the last prayer meeting'. Matthew couldn't help but know who you were."

The man in question snorted, kissing Anne's forehead. "Ah. So perhaps he would have chased me off his property, then."

Anne snuggled close to him, needing the comfort of his arms. "No- you remember how gentle he was, Gil. And he spoiled me as if I was his own," she said, with a little smile. "If I wanted you, then there was no way he would have kept you away." She looked out on the dim garden with a wistful look. "Marilla- Marilla always regretted that I said no to you in college."

Gilbert flinched at her words, relaxing slightly when her arms came around his waist. "Did you tell her?"

Anne shook her head. "No, you can thank local gossip for that, instead." Her hand rested on Gilbert's chest, and she felt the sigh that went through him. "I could never talk to Marilla about it- it hurt both of us too much." She smiled at the startled look on his face. "It was too familiar, you see, for her. She watched us become friends, and assumed that our future was secure together- that somehow, through us, the good would come out of the evil of their ancient bitterness."

"She and my father?"

He saw her nod, and sighed. "Well, my parents adore you, sweetheart. My mother is doing everything she can to not beg you to call them mother and dad- she as good as adopted you years ago."

Anne tipped her head up to look at him. "Even with the eight-year separation?"

Gilbert smiled. "Anne, if we could forgive each other for that, why shouldn't she?"

She looked up at him then, her grey eyes showing her vulnerability. "I- I don't know if I can. I've never called anyone mother before."

His eyes clouded with pain, and he cupped her cheek with his hand. "You don't have to, Anne- she just wants you to know how much she loves you." He cleared his throat, wanting to remove the hurt from her face. "Well, I do know that your parents would have adored me." Anne chuckled at his confident tone and the twinkle in his hazel eyes. "The dashing young doctor, running around saving lives and sweeping their daughter off her feet-"

Anne smiled, getting into the spirit of the game. "After a few years of trying, of course. And unless my father was cross at you for talking me away from him."

Gilbert shrugged. "I plan on being that unreasonable about our daughters, I'm warning you now." After a minute of silence, he bent to kiss her forehead. "Can I ask why, sweetheart?"

She gave him an odd look. "Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes, why?" he said softly. "Why is it hurting so much tonight?"

Anne smiled faintly. "Oh, I suppose because the families are here- and I wondered what it would have been like if Marilla was here too. She could have been talking in there with your parents, staying with me at the cottage." She turned her face to nestle in his side, and exhaled. "If she had lived, Gil, I think that this would have happened between us anyway. I was still going to find work- and the Glen were still the only school hiring. I- I could have had you both."

Gilbert rested his forehead against hers with a sigh. "I know, love. You know she would never have wanted to leave you."

Anne sighed. "Yes. I suppose- earlier, I just saw the pride on Mrs Winston's face when Jeremy told us they were engaged, and it overwhelmed me. Marilla never got to know."

Gilbert surprised her then with a small chuckle. "Don't you think she would have taken my head off, like Diana wanted to?"

Anne looked up in shock. "Gil? You knew about that?"

He rolled his eyes, one hand brushing loose, red strands from her face. "Di never did hide her feelings well, Anne-girl," he commented. "Maybe Marilla would have been just as upset with me."

Anne smiled, drawing comfort from his touch. "She would have forgiven you the moment she knew that you cared. Just like your mother did me."

Gilbert looked into her eyes in the dim light. "She loved you. She would have been so happy, sweetheart. We have to hold onto that." He pressed a kiss to her upturned face and smiled at her in wonder. "Anne, you're almost Mrs Blythe."

Anne laughed, pulling her arms around his neck tenderly. "And you are almost my husband. Is there anything you wanted to do in your last two days as a single man, Gil?"

Gilbert's eyes twinkled. "Yes. I should have liked to have come in through your bedroom window at least once- although I rather think that will be frowned on by our esteemed chaperones, even two days out from the wedding."

Anne smiled blissfully, as his lips descended to hers. "Never mind, dearest. Good things come to those who wait."

Inside, more than one person had discovered that the guests of honour were missing. Andrew Winston turned from his conversation with his future brother-in-law to see Diana Wright looking around, puzzled. He bent toward the dark-haired woman with a smile. "You noticed that they were gone, too? Are these two usually such a flight risk in company?"

Diana sat back on the sofa with a smile, holding a sleeping Jack in her arms. Her eyes twinkled at Gilbert's friend then. "They certainly were, when we had finished school. They were always in their own world, I think- you don't know how wonderful it is to see them like this, again."

Andrew smiled. "So I hear. I don't need to be running around trying to find them in the dark, then?"

Diana laughed. "Andrew, together, the two of them can walk further, run faster and climb higher than just about anyone I know. Even after all of these years. The one thing I am sure of is that wherever they are, they will certainly be together."