Dear Gilbert

Anne has fallen ill.

Marilla

As quick as lightning speed, Gilbert lept up from the kitchen table, threw on his jacket and sprinted out the front door before Bash could scold him for waking Delphine. All he wanted to do was to get to Green Gables as quickly as possible, and Marilla came out to greet him as soon as he arrived.

"It's just a headache, so I've allowed her outside to get some fresh air." Gilbert sighed in relief that it wasn't serious. "Though I wish she'd stay in bed. But you know how she is—so stubborn…."

They sniggered and Gilbert couldn't help but agree. It was one of his favourite Anne attributes. Bash had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

Of course, he could handle her!

Marilla pointed towards a clump of trees in the distance. "Anyway, she wandered off in that direction. I...trust you to take care of her."

Gilbert tipped his hat in courtesy. "Thank you, Ms Cuthbert. That was a good idea of hers, by the way. Fresh air is exactly what she needs right now. Fresh air and fluids. Has she—"

"I've given her some tea. You'll let me know how she is, won't you? If you can find her, that is. Not the easiest task, I'm afraid given her tendency to daydream. Not to mention, she might be a bit moody from our argument earlier. I hope you can handle that."

Gilbert smirked and placed his hand against his head. "Oh, don't worry. I can handle that. I've got a bump to prove it."

Chuckling, Marilla reentered the house while Gilbert strode off, looking for a patch of red hair. Thank goodness it was summer instead of autumn; otherwise, he'd never find her. Eventually, he spotted his betrothed lying on the grass underneath a willow tree, much to his relief. He would have had to move her if she'd been lying in the sun.

Shrugging off his jacket, he approached her as she opened her eyes to gaze up at him. "Hello." She greeted him with a welcoming smile despite her grumpy demeanour, and his heart raced as it usually did. Gilbert knew perfectly well it wouldn't slow down anytime soon, if ever in her presence.

He dropped down on the grass beside her. "How are you feeling?" Gilbert couldn't help but smile. He felt like a husband questioning his wife, and he felt excitement well up inside him when he realised that would be them in a couple of months.

"A little achy, but it's starting to ease now." Gilbert leaned forwards to examine her closely, and she sat up to reassure him. "You know how Marilla is. I love her to death, but she always makes a big deal out of nothing. Please, Gilbert. You're the doctor. Look at me and tell me she's overreacting."

His eyes analysed every inch of her features, noting the slight paleness in her cheeks quickly fading thanks to the bright sunshine. Though not too much, of course. "Hmm, I think the outdoors are doing all the hard work for me, but perhaps take it easy for now, yes?" He kneaded her shoulders with his doctor's hands, eliciting pleasurable sighs from his patient. "What brought the headache on?"

"Uh... I'm not sure. I've been reading and writing a lot so that's probably it."

Gilbert increased the pressure of his massage. "Yes, in my studies and from personal experience, reading and writing too much can bring on headaches. Here." He placed his thumbs against her temple and kneaded soft circles into her skin.

"Feels good, Gilbert."

He smiled in satisfaction. "I'm glad. I always want you to feel good, Anne." He lowered his voice. "In every possible way…"

Gilbert hoped she'd understand his meaning/innuendo. To his delight, she appeared to, judging from the becoming flush that spread across her face and neck, and Gilbert didn't have to be a doctor to know it wasn't because of the sun. He tried to think of something else to say before he ended up ravishing his patient. "Is the headache going away?" The huskiness in his voice wasn't going away anytime soon.

To his surprise, she laughed cheerfully. "Look at you! You're really stepping into your role as doctor, aren't you? I love seeing it! As much as I love you."

Gilbert felt his heartbeat race even harder at her words. Feeling more in love with her than ever, he leaned forwards to capture her lips, pouring every ounce of love and concern into the kiss. His hands slid down from her head to hold her face tenderly before reaching around to undo her hair. He sighed appreciatively against her lips as it tumbled down her back in glorious red waves—just the way he liked it.

Pulling away, he locked eyes with her, silently asking permission to take it further. She kissed him in response, a soft brush of her lips, and it was more than enough to send him into a frenzy.

Deepening the kiss, he leaned her back against the grass and immediately followed her, not stopping the relentless pursuit of his mouth and fingers. Suddenly, all the fear and anxiety Gilbert had felt since reading Marilla's letter came pouring out, and he broke away from her swollen pink lips to trail hot kisses from her face to her neck.

"Oh, Anne," he rasped into her ear, nibbling on her earlobe before soothing it with his tongue. "I was so worried when I received that letter. I thought perhaps you were dying or…."

He let his body rest entirely atop hers, and Anne embraced him gently in response. "It's alright, Gilbert. I'm not dying anytime soon, and neither are you. We're way too strong for such things, anyway." With a groan of despair, he claimed her lips in another kiss, practically devouring her mouth with his. His hands were all over her, running down her face, over her her body and back up again, wanting to be everywhere all at once. Before long, his fingers found their way to the buttons on her blouse and made quick work of it, kissing every inch of exposed skin.

"No corset?"

"No. If I were going out in public, I'd put it on, but..."

She broke off as he resumed his exploration of her, and all words became redundant. Once his lips had discovered every inch of her uncorseted upper body, he banished her petticoat to explore her lower parts. Feeling particularly bold, he let one hand sneak its way down her torso and, with a nod from her, slid it underneath her drawers to touch her for the first time. He groaned at the wetness he felt and swooped down to devour her mouth, not stopping the gentle caress of his fingers.

"Oh, Anne," he murmured against her mouth, tugging at her lower lip. "I can feel you...I can feel what I do to you..."

She giggled, interspersed with her sighs of pleasure. "You'll have to explain it to me because I can't understand what I'm feeling right now."

Reminiscing about their old rivalry during their school days, Gilbert grinned impishly. He relished knowing subjects she didn't and was more than happy to educate the teacher. Divesting himself of his suspenders and shirt, Gilbert brought her hand up to his lips, kissing it softly. Then staring deep into her eyes, he lowered it, encouraging her to touch his bare chest and feel his rapid heartbeat.

"You should feel what you do to me..."

He ground his hips against hers to further emphasise his meaning, making her gasp. Determined to set her on fire, Gilbert rubbed harder against her legs while nibbling her lower lip. "Still have a headache?"

Anne blinked at the inquiry, obviously too far gone from his hip movements and relentless hand—continuing its wicked ministrations out of sight below.

"What headache?"

Chuckling, he took her mouth in a sensual kiss, his tongue matching the movements of his fingers.

"Oh, Gilbert. It feels good, but it's too much. Please make it—Oh!"

Taking pity on her, he stroked her harder and whispered reassurances against her lips. Once satisfied he'd kissed her breathless, he lowered his head to place sweet, adoring kisses and nips along her belly and abdomen. "My work is almost done…"

"What do you mean almost?"

In answer, he rucked up her chemise, tugged down her drawers, and wasted no time using his lips and tongue to explore the hidden parts of her, elicting the most incredible sounds from his girl. Thank goodness for Bash. Otherwise, he'd have no idea about such things. No idea he could have Anne entirely at his mercy with a single flick or swirl of his tongue."

The fact he was doing this to her outside made it even more thrilling, not to mention fitting. As the ever-curious doctor, he experimented with his fingers and tongue, figuring out what she liked, and Gilbert wasn't satisfied until he'd reduced her to a moaning, squirming mess below him. Writing the letters of her name seemed to do it, and she writhed in agonising pleasure underneath him. He chuckled triumphantly and reached around to cup her soft backside, holding her firmly against his mouth—right where he wanted her.

Gilbert didn't let go until she did and lifted his hand to caress her soft stomach, whispering tender words of encouragement into her skin. He eventually kissed his way up her body and held her in a gentle embrace, doing all he could not to press her back down and make love to her. When they married, Gilbert reminded himself.

For now, he dressed his patient and carried her back to Green Gables, where Marilla greeted them. "Oh, Gilbert! Thank you so much for taking care of her."

Gilbert set Anne down, and she rushed over to hug her mother. "Gilbert's been a great help to me. However, I'm quite worn out. I think I'll head up to bed."

She glanced sideways at Gilbert, who gave her a wink, silently conveying more would come. Though Marilla quickly prevented any more flirtation. "Well, that's wonderful news. Go up to bed now. Gilbert, Bash is here with Delphine to escort you home."

"Oh, great. Thanks

Oh boy! Here comes the inevitable teasing!

"You'd better go now. I don't want Delphine to disturb Anne."

Marilla turned her attention to her daughter. "And after you've slept, we can have a picnic. Matthew's busy, so it'll just be you and me. We can have a discussion."

Gilbert shifted awkwardly.

Hopefully not about him.

"I'd love to, Marilla."

Gilbert bid Anne farewell with a soft kiss on the forehead before heading out with Bash, enduring numerous smirks and interfering questions during the journey home.