A Verbal Response

Disclaimer: I don't own Anne of Green Gables in any form.

Anne was dismayed to find that Gilbert wasn't at home when she so desperately needed to talk with him, but she asked Bash's mother to please tell Gilbert that she needed to speak with him. Urgently. She could not have known that if she'd waited even ten minutes, she and Gilbert would have crossed paths on the lane.

Still, Gilbert arrived home to find Bash and his mother arguing. He'd accidentally surprised them because he had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't heard them. They fell silent as he awkwardly tried to step back out the door.

"Wait, Mr. Blythe," Bash's mother said. "A girl stopped by to see you. Had somethin' to tell you."

After Bash's mother told Gilbert that an Anne had come asking to speak with him, Gilbert rode quickly toward Green Gables, hoping nothing was amiss. He found Marilla in the house alone, and she informed him Anne was out by the barn. Gilbert found her standing behind the barn, staring at the clouds and idly plucking petals from a flower.

"Anne?"

She jumped at the sound of his voice and stood to face him. "Gilbert!"

"I got your message. What did you need to tell me?"

Anne stared at him, opened her mouth, and then closed it. Gilbert had never seen her so lost for words. It unsettled him, but, as with many things she did lately, it also aggravated him. He gave her a few more moments, then sighed.

"Okay. Well when you know, send me a note. I've got to get to Charlottetown," he said impatiently.

He turned to walk away from her, perhaps forever, and Anne's heart cracked within her.

"Don't go," she said, stepping forward to grasp his arm with her hand. "Please."

He turned to look at her, brows now furrowed in concern. "What's wrong, Anne?"

She closed her eyes and take deep breath. "Say it again."

"What's wrong," he repeated slowly. She knew if she opened her eyes Gilbert would be frowning in confusion, brows knit adorably.

"No. My name. Say it, please."

"Anne." She heard it. Even through his impatience and confusion, she heard it. The way he'd said her name since they'd first met. Maybe there was still hope.

"Gilbert."

She opened her eyes just looking at him for a moment. She took another fortifying breath and exhaled slowly.

"I love you," she said simply but clearly.

Gilbert's eyes widened.

Once she'd said it, she couldn't stop. "I love you, Gilbert. And I don't even know when I started. I just realized it. I didn't know when you talked to me at the ruins. You were always there and I...when I thought I'd lost you...when I really thought about it...I knew. As clearly as I've ever known anything. That I love you. And my life would be dreadful without you in it. So stay, please."

Her eyes glistened with tears as all the emotions she'd felt during her revelation came to the surface.

Gilbert, eyes unreadable, placed a hand over hers, drawing it away from his arm. Her eyes widened in dismay, but before she could lose all hope, he took her hand gently in his, lacing their fingers together as he stepping toward her. "I love you too, Anne."

Her eyes widened now. "You do?"

"You didn't know? Isn't that why you told me?" A teasing smile quirked his lips.

She shook her head. "No. I thought...I thought that's what you meant, at the ruins…but then I...I thought you'd chosen Winifred. I just needed you to know. To see if there was a chance." Her breath caught in her throat as she choked back the tears that glistened in her eyes.

"Oh my dear Anne. My Anne with an E," Gilbert said, a tender look in his eyes as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear, fingers trailing lightly across her cheek. "It's only ever been you."

Her smile was blinding. He placed a soft kiss to her knuckles. "But I do still have to go to Charlottetown. To tell Winifred."

Anne nodded solemnly. "I know."

Gilbert raised his eyes to hers. "But I'll go today, and come straight back. After that, can we talk some more?"

Anne nodded, squeezing the hands that still held hers. "I would like that very much."

Gilbert smiled tenderly at her, a look in his eyes that Anne hadn't noticed until that Christmas, hadn't seen since their dance. He slowly leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Anne's breath hitched in her throat, and Gilbert took a hasty step back.

"I have to go. I have to tell Winifred now," he said, hands clenching at his sides, trying not to reach for her.

"Now," Anne asked, feeling bereft.

Gilbert nodded, swallowing hard. "Now. If I don't, I may not go, and that will only delay...things." His voice trailed off in a whisper.

Anne's eyes met his and a blush darkened her cheeks. Gilbert's face flushed to match hers, and they stared at one another.

"All right," Anne said, breathless at the look in his eyes.

Gilbert nodded again. "I'll be back in a few hours," he promised.

"I'll see you when you get back," Anne said.

Gilbert took half a step back and paused, eyes still riveted to her face. Taking a deep breath, he stepped quickly toward her, taking her hands in his once more and raising them to his lips. He pressed a lingering kiss to the back of her knuckles, and then stepped away again, more reluctantly still.

Anne took a deep breath, trying to settle the feelings within her. Exhaling slowly, she spoke. "Go. Go now, Gilbert. Go so that you can come back." To me, her heart supplied. Her eyes watched his with longing, and his stared back with promise.

"I'm going now," he said, smiling brightly. "I'll be back soon." He waved over his shoulder as he ran back to his horse. He would make this trip as fast as he possibly could, so he could come back to his Anne.

Anne watched Gilbert ride off toward the train station, and smiled. Her dear Gilbert. He truly was a kindred spirit, more than she'd ever realized.