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A week or so later Gilbert had sat down to his tea with his parents. Anne had spoken to him quite a few times since the incident by 'the lake of shining water' and had come back to school and was sitting beside him without any complaint. They'd even whispered once or twice to each other and had a look that they gave to each other when they thought Mr Phillips was being ridiculous. They had started a comfortable rivalry when it came to being top of the class. He reached for the potatoes when his mother asked

"Gilbert wasn't the girl the Cuthbert ' s adopted who broke that slate over your head?"

"yes but that's old news now mother we are friends you see. And her name is Anne." He didn't quite know why he was being touchy but he seemed to be.

"ohhhh." His mother replied. "Well I think it better you're done associating with her Gilbert." The spoon he held clattered to his plate.

"What? " he asked on disbelief "why?"

"well Mrs Barry said Anne had sent Diana drunk. She claims it was an accident said she couldn't tell the difference between cordial and current wine... I mean what child doesn't know the difference?"

Gilbert went on the defence "I dunno probably one who has never had either."

"Mrs Barry won't let Diana near Anne anymore. I don't think..." his mother started

Gilbert rose from his seat and almost ran for his coat

"Gilbert where are you going? " she asked him.

"if Mrs Barry refuses to let Diana near Anne she'll be devastated. She needs a friend." He picked up a book not sure if she had read it or not but it didn't matter, they could read it together.

"But Gilbert..." She started but he was already out the door.

When he got to Green Gables he had realised how this could be... misinterpreted... oh he shouldn't… but he must! Feeling braver then he should he knocked on green gables door. His bravery shrunk when Marilla answered the door.

"Hello Miss Cuthbert." He started nervously. "You don't know me but I'm Gilbert Blythe I know Anne from school."

He saw a look of shock on her face, he thought it was because a boy was calling on Anne but in fact it was because she looked at Gilbert and saw the youthful embodiment of his father.

He had already risked her anger by being bold enough to call he might as well tell her what he doing. "I heard what happened with Diana Barry and I know Anne must be upset. I know I'm not an appropriate replacement or anything but I... I brought a book to cheer her up..." He was starting to lose his nerve. "Would you mind if I could. .. I mean you could... if you prefer..."

"Anne!" She shouted "you have a visitor." Marilla called.

"I don't want to see anyone I'm in the depths of despair!" He heard her call.

"It's Gilbert Blythe he has a book for you." They heard a clatter above them. Marilla looked directly at Gilbert "you stay out here on the porch." She said sternly.

"Yes ma'am." He said half terrified. Anne appeared behind Marilla. Her face was red and her eyes shone green from crying, his heart fell for her. She stepped out onto the porch. Marilla left them but made clear she was keeping an eye out.

"You heard what happened?" Anne asked.

"Of sorts." He replied "why don't you tell me." He said directing them to the swing.

Anne recounted the whole thing to him tears split from her eyes. "Oh Gilbert, I will never have a bosom friend ever!" She said finishing. Her head on his left shoulder he awkwardly brought his right hand to her back tapping it gently. He still felt Marilla's eyes watching them it was the only thing stopping him from wrapping his arms around her and completely surrounding her with him.

"I knew it was a misunderstanding as soon as I heard it. And I told my parents too" He comforted her. "Once Mrs Barry realises it she'll come round and let Diana see you again."

'But when?!" She exclaimed looking up at him.

He sighed. Oh he wished he could give her an answer. "Everything in life worth anything is worth waiting for. Diana's your..." He paused at the word it sounded rather intimate "bosom friend. That won't just disappear overnight." He comforted.

She sat up and looked at Gilbert. "Oh Gilbert! You're always so nice. How did we ever get off on the wrong foot?"

"I could remind you if you like... but I actually want to be here for you."

She looked at him a serious look came across her face "won't your parents object? A nasty orphan girl did set Diana Barry drunk? The same nasty orphan girl who broke a slate over your head."

"It's okay I can talk them round." He said confidentially. "Once they realise the truth it won't matter." He continued "I know I'm no Diana but... I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you."

"Thank you Gil." She said he smiled at the shorter version of his name "What?" she asked.

"Gil." He said plainly.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't even notice… if you don't like it..." she started

"No no, Anne. No one has ever called me that before. I think I like it."

"Your parents never shortened it… or gave you a nickname?" she asked.

"Well yes but… well I'd rather not tell you the names they gave me… I think I would prefer just plain Gilbert."

She smiled "Like sweet cheeks, didddums…"

"Okay you are far too close to the wire." He told her. "But yes you have the general idea."

She chuckled under her breath "babykins…"

"Anne!" he said half shocked half laughing.

She let a laugh escape her "snugglebunny…doodlebug,,," he looked at her laughing, she was deliberately avoiding eye contact

"Stop it!" he said laughing nudging her.

"Smoochie..squeaker…" she continued as he continued laughing.

"That does it Anne Shirley!" he said laughing he reached for her side and started to tickle her. Little did he know that was the most sensitive tickling spot for her he could have found.

"No… stop… hugabug!" She teased between spots of laughter

"Not until you stop it!" he laughed.

"Boo-boo… fuzzy bunny.." both in giggles of laughter the pair continued "No Gil please!" she squealed between fits of laughter.

He stopped and pulled back "That's better." They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Marilla opened the door and peered at the two friends walking over.

"What on earth caused such a rumpus out here?" she asked.

Gilbert stopped in terror. Anne struggled between giggles "oh… its… nothing Marilla… just… oh you had to be here." She looked to Gilbert who looked terrified.

Oh no, Miss Cuthbert he thought. he'd been so wrapped up in Anne he'd forgotten their setting. "I'm sorry Miss Cuthbert." He said sincerely "I just wanted to make sure she was happy that's all."

Marilla wrung her smile. The boy was sincere all right, those sorry hazel eyes cut to her core as a younger Marilla seemed to call her to forgive him. Forgive Him. He's done nothing wrong. She patted the feeling away

"Well I don't know how you've done it Gilbert Blythe, but you have her smiling which is more than I've seen all day." She paused "Anne you have a couple of hours before dinner, would you two like a snack?" She asked.

"Yes please Marilla." Anne replied.

"Well smiling and wanting some food. You've certainly worked your magic Gilbert." Marilla said walking away.

Anne looked at Gilbert again. "There's no need to look so scared. Marilla doesn't bite." Gilbert looked at Anne again.

"I'm worried what she must think, a strange boy calling on you." He said to her.

"She will think what a good friend you must be to try and enhance my mood." Anne tried to reassure him. "Oh you have a book, I haven't finished the last one yet." She finished.

"Yes I know I haven't finished Lorna Doone yet either but, I thought we could read this one together, it's a classic you've probably already read it but I thought it would be fun to read together.." He handed her the book.

"Oh Moby Dick!" she said excitingly. "I have read it before but I would love to again! Oh Gil! How do you know what I like?" she said exciting.

"Probably because I like them too." He said smiling. "Come on lets see if Captain Ahab catches his whale this time. Paragraph each?"

Marilla brought the snacks as required the two friends took a small bite to eat and half the glass of milk each but the rest remained untouched, she watched through the window at the two friends. The whole exchange was perfectly innocent, they seemed to have a connection Marilla had never seen since… but that couldn't be right, Anne wasn't even yet 12 they boy couldn't have been much older, yet they seemed to enjoy the same literature and spoke and acted quite freely around each other . She knew they had met at school and she knew she had sworn to hate him as little as three months ago. How had they bonded so fast? But still she found herself not wanting to shatter their dream world. The two friends dramatically reading out the book and exchanged ideas, but she would have to very soon as dinner time was set upon them and the boy must return home sometime.

She came out to the porch the two aforementioned friends stopped as she appeared.

"Gilbert, would you like to stay for some dinner? I must say I'm surprised your mother does food this late, a farmer normally has dinner earlier as Matthew did."

"Oh erm, they do actually, I left mine immediately when I found Anne might be…" He trailed off going a little blushed in the face.

Anne's faced dropped. "Gil!" She exclaimed quietly.

Gil? Marilla thought she has a nickname for him now.

"its alright I wasn't hungry anyway." He lied to her. "I should really go back. Thank you for the offer Miss Cuthbert." Marilla nodded. "May I call tomorrow evening so we can read some more of our book?" He asked her meekly.

"Of course." Marilla said softly not expecting to have given the answer she did.

"Thank you." He turned to Anne. "You'll be at school tomorrow?" He asked. She nodded her head to the floor. "Good, maybe…" he was about to suggest reading more when they were on lunch break but then realised how this might have sounded to Marilla so refrained from the question. "I'll see you there." He said. He seemed will just to go on his own reaching the steps.

"May I walk him across the field to the gate Marilla?" Anne questioned. "I promise I'll come straight back."

Marilla simply nodded, she watched as the two friends started to walk through the field together. There was nothing about the way they walked that seemed any more intimate then a usual friendship but it was almost unheard of for a boy and girl to be as good friends as they were. Did literature transcend gender? One day she would need to worry about their "friendship" but at least, she thought that day is not today.