Anne to walk to the Post Office. She found a letter awaiting her there, and when Gilbert overtook her on the bridge over the Lake of Shining Waters she was sparkling with the excitement of it.

"Priscilla Grant is going to Redmond, too," she exclaimed. "Isn't that splendid? I hoped she would, but she didn't think her father would consent. He has, however, and we're to board together. I feel that I can face an army with banners—or all the professors of Redmond in one fell phalanx—with a chum like Priscilla by my side."

"I think we'll like Kingsport," said Gilbert. "It's a nice old burg, they tell me, and has the finest natural park in the world. I've heard that the scenery in it is magnificent."

She paused wondering in her mind, she noticed him looking " what?" she asked.

"You're feeling homesick already Anne," he said quietly, "I can see it playing on your mind,"

She looked back at him. " I sometimes forget how well you know me. Before we were together you're that boy who ran to my side in my very hours of need."

They sat on the bridge of the old pond, legs dangling over the side of the bridge, his arm casually around her, drinking deep of the enchantment of the dusk, just at the spot where Anne had climbed from her sinking Dory on the day Elaine floated down to Camelot. The fine, empurpling dye of sunset still stained the western skies, but the moon was rising and the water lay like a great, silver dream in her light. Remembrance wove a sweet and subtle spell over the two young creatures.

"You are very quiet, Anne," said Gilbert at last.

"I'm afraid to speak or move for fear all this wonderful beauty will vanish just like a broken silence," breathed Anne.

Gilbert laid his hand over the slender white one lying on the rail of the bridge. His hazel eyes deepened into darkness, his still boyish lips opened to say something of the dream and hope that thrilled his soul. But then paused.

Anne's heart ached, she didn't know why but in that moment she brushed her lips over his, there was no pressure to it preventing it from being a kiss but the brush was enough she felt Gilbert's shiver in her hand.

" sorry Gil." She said quietly.

" that's alright." He answered quietly.

" no please don't read into it." She asked him.

" I'm not, Anne it's okay, I'm not assuming anything, just let it be, it'll work itself out."

He took a sigh, " let's walk home."

She chattered ceaselessly and inconsequently until they reached the Green Gables lane. Poor Gilbert hardly had a chance to get a word in edgewise. Anne felt rather relieved when they parted. What had she done?! Why why?! After the past year of convincing herself they were just friends did she just try to do that! She stomped up the stairs to her bedroom, now she KNEW what she would dream of that night! Why can't she just stay friends with him!?

Gilbert was trying to be sensitive to Anne's needs but she was giving him nothing but mixed signals!. He thought it would be better tonight to stay away, she didn't seem to mind, Charlie was paying her enough attention. He thought a little bitterly. He looked around the room for a palatable companion for a walk home.

Diana, rusty cheeked and dark hair was engaged to Fred so they would walking together. Jane Andrews, neat, plain and far too sensible on her own... that wouldn't do at all he needed someone with some mirth about them. Carrie Sloane would only be pining and even Gilbert had more sense them to request the presence of either of the Pye's... He looked to the last female other than Anne. Ruby. Yes, Ruby. That made sense, he had always got along well with Ruby, alright she was a little fickle and she didn't quite have Anne's conversational abilities so their topics would be limited but she was pleasant enough.

Of course Gilbert hadn't predicted the close proximity of Anne and Charlie to his own journey, he half listened to Ruby smiling slightly as he saw Anne's discomfort at Charlie's attempts to flirt with her.

Oh he couldn't let Anne's last memory of Avonlea be of that uncomfortable conversation with Charlie!

So the next evening he decided to show her that Apple tree! Yes, they would ramble about the woods as they did before their relationship became so complicated, yes for that evening they would just be Anne and Gilbert again, best friend, always with each other and they were! Clasping hands, laughing and joking they arrived at the tree.

"Here's a fallen tree with a cushion of moss. Sit down, Anne—it will serve for a woodland throne. My queen!" He said sitting her on the chair bowing before her she laughed. "I'll climb for some apples. They all grow high—the tree had to reach up to the sunlight."

They spoke as he went " Gil, do you suppose, we can remain such good friends forever?" she asked him.

"I told you once I'll tell you again..," he called down " I'll never change. I'll always be here for you."

" but what if you marry someone who hates me?" she called to him.

" I have a very specific taste in girls Anne." He called down as he picked the apples "I doubt anyone else could fulfil the requirements." He said matter of factly. " so you don't need to fear I'll die an old bachelor before a wife will separate us." He climbed down the tree. " and you my queen?" he asked her.

"I don't think there's room in most marriages for a women who works, I'd have to give up teaching altogether." She admitted.

" why?" he asked her.

" why?" she reflected back. " come on Gil you and I both know the expectation, would you want YOUR wife working instead of taking care of you?"

He shrugged his bottom lip proceeding out " depends on what she wants, it's her life. And I don't see why it would have to be me or work, I'm sure there's room for both."

Anne looked at him surprised. " that's awfully forward thinking Gil." She told him.

" well I've never been backwards in coming forward have I?" He smiled sitting on the ground in front of her giving her an apple.

Anne smiled, no, no he really hadn't been. From that first hug until their last kiss, HE was certain. " what if she could have a career but chose you instead, to take care of you, your home, your children?" she asked him.

" then I would feel the most privileged man in existence. And pray I could make her happy every single day," he said without looking at her but very very softly.

Anne felt herself sway, was she sick? Then stopped the feelings in their tracks.

The apples proved to be delicious. Under the tawny skin was a white, white flesh, faintly veined with red; and, besides their own proper apple taste, they had a certain wild, delightful tang no orchard-grown apple ever possessed.

"The fatal apple of Eden couldn't have had a rarer flavor," commented Anne. "But it's time we were going home. See, it was twilight three minutes ago and now it's moonlight. What a pity we couldn't have caught the moment of transformation. But such moments never are caught, I suppose."

"Let's go back around the marsh and home by way of Lover's Lane. Do you feel as disgruntled now as when you started out, Anne?"

"Not I. Those apples have been as manna to a hungry soul. I feel that we shall love Redmond and have a splendid four years there."

"Yes I agree." Gilbert said out loud. He gently took her hand in his and smiled gently. It had been quite intense for a few minutes there. Like all the awkwardness which had been because they had been together had dispersed and they were finally Gilbert and Anne again, why did it have to be awkward?. They were simply marvellous friends before they had started dating. It had taken the best part of two years but he felt as they walked down lovers lane that evening that (yes he still loved her dearly) their friendship had started to bear fruits again that maybe it didn't have to be hard work anymore to be friends that maybe something even more beautiful than before was beginning to bud.

Charlie Sloane promptly became so seasick that he had to go below, and Anne and Gilbert were left alone on deck.

"I am very glad that all the Sloanes get seasick as soon as they go on water," said Anne mercilessly. "I am sure I couldn't take my farewell look at the 'ould sod' with Charlie standing there pretending to look sentimentally at it, too."

Gilbert looked at her and laughed "Well, we're off," remarked Gilbert, he looked to Anne and saw the tears in her eyes. He put his arm around her to comfort her. " come on Anne we'll only be gone for a short time really."

"I feel like Byron's 'Childe Harold'—only it isn't really my 'native shore' that I'm watching," said Anne, winking her gray eyes vigorously. "Nova Scotia is that, I suppose." She looked to Gilbert who looked slightly cross at her.

" you're an islander through and through and don't you forget it." He told her.

She smiled at him through her tears."I suppose ones native shore is the land one loves the best, and that's good old P.E.I. for me. I can't believe I didn't always live here." She said shaking her head. "Those eleven years before I came seem like a bad dream. It's seven years since I crossed on this boat—the evening Mrs. Spencer brought me over from Hopetown. I can see myself, in that dreadful old wincey dress and faded sailor hat" she looked again to him, he had a grin on his face

"I bet you were beautiful." He said sentimentality.

"I was exploring decks and cabins with enraptured curiosity. It was a fine evening; and how those red Island shores did gleam in the sunshine. Now I'm crossing the strait again. Oh, Gilbert, I do hope I'll like Redmond and Kingsport, but I'm sure I won't!"

"Where's all your philosophy gone, Anne?"

"It's all submerged under a great, swamping wave of loneliness and homesickness. I've longed for three years to go to Redmond—and now I'm going—and I wish I weren't! Never mind! I shall be cheerful and philosophical again after I have just one good cry."

" then come here sweet Anne." He told her tucking her into his shoulder bringing her closer. " here is my shoulder just like almost seven years ago, know I've not changed, I'll always be here, to let your pretty eyes cry into my shoulder." He kissed into her hair allowing himself to love her in that moment.

" you're so good to me Gil." She said through her tears.

"shhh now, I don't need your thanks.." He told her. " just promise me again we'll always be friends."

"I promise Gil, thank you."

They remained like that for most the journey over in the ferry.