Since this story is focused on Gilbert's road to "trying again," I thought this chapter would help to put Gilbert on the right path. I always envisioned him having this kind of conversation with his father. The man needs some perspective because he's so confused. I hope you enjoy! And thanks to all who have read, reviewed, and favorited this story. I hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

When Gilbert awoke from his slumber he thought of nothing but Anne. She had been very happy to see him, that was certain. But what did that mean for him? Every time he allowed himself to believe Phil's words, he harkened back to Anne's rejection. She had said she could never love him the way he wanted her to. He was completely lost on what to do. If he tried again and was rejected, his chance at happiness would be lost forever. But what if Phil was right and he never took another chance? He would surely regret it forever. There was no doubt something was different. Anne had not shied away from him; in fact he thought once or twice that it was her who initiated contact. It was all so confusing. Was Phil right? Or did Anne just feel sentimental because he had come so close to dying?

Climbing out of bed, he needed to clear his head. He headed downstairs, slip passed his mother, and headed out the front door. He needed to sort out what he should do. He was barely out the door when he saw his father sitting on the porch, a pipe in hand, lazily rocking away as the sun began to set in the distance.

John saw Gilbert immediately, "Well you're up! I thought for sure you might sleep right through until morning. How are you feeling?"

Gilbert walked over to his father and sat across from him, leaning on the railing. "I'm fine dad, just not quite up to my old self yet. I needed to lay down for a bit." Despite his inner turmoil, Gilbert did feel reenergized.

"How was your visit with Anne?" His father smiled knowing this topic would put a smile on his sons face. He was not disappointed.

"It was nice….It was very nice, in fact, to see Anne. She's doing very well. We sort of had the chance to start over." As he talked about Anne and relayed parts of their conversation, he realized that perhaps he should seek his father's advice. John Blythe had managed to win the love of his life, perhaps he could help Gilbert win his own. Maybe if Gilbert would have asked for his advice about Anne two years ago he could have avoided disaster. All of a sudden he wanted to unburden his heart.

"I am glad to hear you had a nice visit. Your mother has dinner ready if you're hungry."

"Thanks, I am." Gilbert replied. John noticed Gilbert's unease. Gilbert didn't quite know how to start the conversation he wanted to have so he was relieved when his father said, "Is there something bothering you, Gil?"

Gilbert decided to lay all his cards out to his father as he said with some hesitation, "You know I still love her, don't you?" It was said rather plainly, as though a matter of fact that just existed.

John nodded slowly. Gilbert gave a small laugh. "Am I that obvious?"

John shifted his body and decided to be frank. "Well, I have always known you cared about the girl, but your fever confirmed you still loved her. You spoke of her often and called for her many times when you were delirious."

Gilbert swallowed hard. He could remember vividly one or two dreams during his fever. Anne had featured prominently. "I suppose you also know I proposed two years ago and she rejected me?" John only nodded again. Gilbert continued, "She told me she could never love me." Gilbert began to unburden himself of the all the feelings he had kept inside since he was thirteen years old. He told his father about his proposal, the loss of Anne's friendship, his devastation about Roy Gardner, the confusion in his heart at the way Anne sometimes looked at him, his hope and happiness when Anne had carried his flowers, and finally the pained rejection once again when Anne refused him a dance.

He talked in detail and John listened in silent shock. It was not shock at the content of Gilbert's confession, but that he was divulging at all. John and Gilbert had always enjoyed a good relationship. But this was the first time his son had shown his heart to him.

Gilbert finished with the letter from Phil and the knowledge that Anne wasn't marrying Roy.

"Dad, Phil's letter has given me hope, but I don't know what to do with it. Anne was so amazing today. And every time I look at her I just can't help how much I love her. I want to scream it out loud. But she sees me only as a friend. There is this nagging part of me that thinks that maybe I either have to fight for Anne or let her go." As he stated it so matter of factly, Gilbert realized he had longed for the wisdom of his father for some time. He somehow felt lighter as he gave voice to what was in his heart.

For his part, John's shock gave way to compassion for his son. As Gilbert looked to him with pleading eyes, he was taken back to that day eleven years ago when Gilbert came home so forlorn after the slate incident. He had sought his father's counsel then on Anne, asking him how he might get her to forgive him. And now here Gilbert was, a grown man still desperately in love with Marilla Cuthbert's girl. Fate was an interesting thing indeed.

"Son, I don't think those are your only options," John finally said shifting once again in his chair.

"You don't?" asked Gilbert in surprise.

"No, I don't. It's clear that you and Anne both want to be in each other's lives. I don't know if the look I saw on her face when she was here was romantic love, but it was love all the same. For now, just be her friend. Get to know her again and see where it takes you. Maybe you were only meant to be good friends and if that's the case you'll have to live with it." John stopped as he saw a look of hopelessness come across Gilbert's face. But John resumed, "But maybe your friend Phil knows Anne's heart better than even Anne does. Maybe she's right about her. The only way to find out is from Anne herself."

Gilbert was confused, "Are you saying I should declare myself again?"

"No son, all I am saying is Anne can say a lot even when she's not saying anything at all. You said she was different today, more sentimental. And you also said you renewed your friendship, so be her friend. What you need to know will be revealed to you when you need it to be."

"Dad, last time I thought she loved me and I was so wrong. What if I am wrong again

"I think last time you maybe got ahead of yourself. Anne wasn't ready and you saw what you wanted to see. Now you have the hindsight to realize what mistakes you made. If there's one thing I know about us Blythe's it's that we always learn from our mistakes."

Gilbert thought for a moment on his father's words. He was right. Gilbert needed to be Anne's friend first and then let the chips fall where they may. That wasn't to say he wouldn't try to win her love, but it was a starting point at least.

"Dad," he hesitated, "Do you think Anne could ever love me?" Gilbert's question lingered in the air, longing for a response. John was torn. He did not want to give Gilbert false hope, but then he thought back to Anne standing in the Blythe kitchen earnestly asking after Gilbert. John had thought something was different, although that she might be in love with his son hadn't crossed his mind at the time. But something was different, of that he was sure.

"Only Anne can answer that. But I will say this; I have never seen a person look quite so relieved as Anne did when I confirmed your recovery. She was genuinely happy, her face was as bright as I have ever seen, although her eyes did most of the talking. I saw something special in them. Something that told me that whether it's only as a friend or something more, Anne Shirley loves you." John felt he had said enough, tempered his caution with hope. With that he stood. "Come on, we better go in before dinner gets cold," he smiled. Gilbert returned the smile and stood upright on the porch. "Thanks, Dad, for listening."

John put his had on Gilbert's shoulder, "I love you, son."

"I know, I love you too." And with that they went inside.

It wasn't until later that night, when Gilbert was thinking over his father's words that something hit him. He had realized it was nagging him since reading Phil's letter, but he was so happy to hear the news that Anne wasn't marrying Roy that he pushed it down. But after his father helped him realize his way forward, Gilbert began to see that there was a way to know if Anne loved him. This time, instead of thinking of himself and seeing what he wanted to see, he would let Anne's behavior be his guide. But there were things he needed to know. That he had no right to know them unless Anne chose to share them he understood well. But the only way to know if Anne loved him or ever would was to piece together the puzzle that had managed to insert itself in the saga that was Anne and Gilbert. If the first piece was realizing that fighting for Anne or giving up on her was a false choice, the second piece was finding out once and for all what happened between Anne and Roy Gardner. How many more pieces there were he wasn't sure, but he trusted his father's words, that the truth would reveal itself when he needed it to. But he felt sure that the story Phil wouldn't share in her letter contained some answers for his heart. But Gilbert urged himself to be true to his newly rekindled friendship, if not only for the sake of the friendship, but also to protect his own heart. Although had Gilbert truly been thinking with indifferent resolve he would have realized his heart was in as great a danger as it ever was with or without his sworn protection of it. He was madly in love with Anne Shirley, a fact not likely to change in a lifetime.

Armed with his father's advice and the resolve to find the truth, he set out the next morning on the road to Green Gables to see Anne again.

And there's chapter three... Don't worry, there will be much more Anne and Gilbert in the next chapters!