"Anne! Anne! Have you heard the news?" Gilbert asked her one morning running to catch up with her as she walked to school.

" news?" she questioned him.

" the Avery scholarship is coming to Queens. Anne its in English," he told her swaggering his arm over her shoulders. He was starting to feel rather confident about the boundaries Anne and he had agreed upon, he was told by Frank not to be so cocky about being Anne's beau but he couldn't help it! Anne was his and he was free to show it off. They turned back in the road and walked towards the school "we're easily the best in English, what do you think? Fancy striking up our old rivalry? How do you fancy a couple of letters after your name? How does it sound on mine? Gilbert Blythe BA?" he said all at once excited.

" Oh Gil, can you be sure?" Anne asked him.

"I heard from Frank his uncle is on the board of governors."

"well a scholarship! Oh Gil, my heart is a galloping!" she admitted.

" well at least something makes it do so." He teased.

She chose to ignore his teasing giving a light smile to him and continued " Anne Shirley BA! Oh Gil can you see the horizon open!" she exclaimed

" not if I get there first Anne Shirley!" He boasted. His face turned serious for a minute " although, I have been thinking on it Anne, even if I didn't get the scholarship, because I know you are stronger in English than I, I could teach for a couple of years and save up to go to college, still get my BA even without..." He trailed.

Anne nodded. " it would put a hold on that dream of ours you mean."

" I'm sorry I'm being selfish..." He trailed.

Anne smiled " you most certainly are not." She assured him holding the hand which was paraded over her shoulder. " what's the point me having the BA, or will I have a home husband while I go out to work? Will you mother the children?" she mocked.

" how very gender reversal of us." He joked. " you don't mind?" he asked.

She shook her head. " I'm here to ensure you fulfill your dreams. Not distinguish them." She smiled at him " I'll still be there waiting for you at the other end Gil. We can still have our dream together."

He shook his head in amazement and looked on her " did I tell you how much I loved you lately?" he kissed lightly into her hair as they walked side by side for a little while longer before they separated little when they entered the school grounds.

" well miss Shirley the heat is on, let's see who can win this scholarship?" he teased her.

" you're on!" she said as they shook hands on it.

Anne and Gilbert often went home on a weekend together, Mr Blythe would come and get them and he allowed them in the back seat to read and exchange ideas. They didn't waste a second in studying. In fact one Friday evening about 6 weeks in to the school term when John and Gilbert arrived home John stopped his son's second

" Gilbert, are you and Anne still a couple?" he asked him

" of course we are." Gilbert scoffed.

" it's just you don't seem to play much romance with the girl, they like that sort of thing." His father hinted. " you two haven't been together long you might not know..."

" pa we've been together longer then you think." His son told him.

"oh?" John asked.

"2 years papa." Gilbert told him. " two years last August." He paused and looked at his father, knowing he seemed shocked. " do you remember when I came home that night and afterwards I didn't speak to Anne for three months?" he asked his father, he nodded at him. " Anne almost dyed her hair that evening, I stopped her, but in the process I may have hugged her and Marilla may have caught us... she forbade us to even talk and she didn't let me explain, well three months later when I borrowed that dory and saved Anne... well... I may have kissed her... we have been together since." He breathed. " so we've had some practice in romance and education."

" Gilbert, why didn't you say?" his father asked.

" we kept it a secret, no one knew. We couldn't risk Marilla finding out and separating us again."

"a secret?! A fine one. Gilbert!" He chuckled, " very well, you clearly know what you are doing. Even with miss Stacy?" he questioned.

Gilbert nodded. " we were couple the whole time we sat together."

John chuckled " that's my boy!" He exclaimed. " come on then let's get inside.

" This school year has both lasted forever and had been so short at the same time. I am sure dearest Gilbert YOU have won the Avery. I'll watch proudly from the side lines that my handsome Gilbert will get his BA at least 2 years before I get mine! I must tell you I'm envious already!" Anne exclaimed as they walked to the school to get the results.

Gilbert smiled " you amaze me Anne, you're one of the greatest minds whole of PEI and you still insist on short changing yourself." His arm casually around her. " has it even occurred to you that YOU might have won?" he asked her.

" not with Competition like you." She smiled at him. " well we're here." She sighed.

They parted a little just as they always did when they entered the school grounds. But this time quite by accident their hands nervously held each others.

" look here they are!" Emily clay exclaimed before they made it to the board." Look Anne look Gilbert!" she exclaimed pulling them in. Anne turned her back now hugging into Gilbert

" Oh Gilbert! I can't look just tell me how terribly, I did don't hold back!" Gilbert chuckled at her in his arms he let her stay there and looked at the board.

He looked to the results and a wide smile came across his face. He leaned over Anne and whispered "I have the gold medal." He bit his lip in excitement.

" then I've failed." She asked him looking up at him.

" there's only one person above me on that board Anne Shirley, and that is the winner if of the Avery." He paused watching her hug into him further. " Anne, it's you." She looked up at him.

" Gilbert you are jesting me!?" she exclaimed looking at him, he shook his head.

" look if you don't believe me." He smiled.

She turned and looked there her name was

Anne Shirley, winner if of the Avery.

Gilbert Blythe winner if of the gold medal.

" Gil!" she exclaimed turning back to him. "I did it! I did it!" she shrieked throwing herself in his arms.

" congratulations sweetheart!" He exclaimed. " my girl!" And in a rare moment they kissed in front of others. There were several gaps and a few wooing sounds before they straighten their behaviour.

As soon as initial shock wore off later in the day she turned to Gilbert.

" Oh my love, is there no hope of you coming with me immediately?" she asked him.

" I'm afraid not, papa, just didn't have that sort of money."

Anne hugged into him. " what will i do without you my love?" she sighed.

" you shall excel without me and I will come and join you in a couple of years. No harm done." He smiled. "I am so proud of you Anne. My girl."