Author's Note:

WARNING! THIS IS A HARD CHAPTER… HAVE TISSUES. WE ALL KNOW IT WAS COMING BUT IT'S HARD TO READ WITHOUT TISSUES.a

Also I'm back to weekly updates. Business has gotten busier and I'm still on hold of chapter 20 and don't know when I'll be able to write enough to keep ahead. As I like to edit as the story twists instead of posting as I write a chapter. If I get a gap where I'm far enough ahead again I'll post extra chapters as I can on Mondays.

Chapter 9: Christmas Dance

Christmas morning broke on a beautiful white world. It had been a very mild December and people had looked forward to a green Christmas; but just enough snow fell softly in the night to transfigure Avonlea. Anne peeped out from her frosted gable window with delighted eyes. The firs in the Haunted Wood were all feathery and wonderful; the birches and wild cherry trees were outlined in pearl; the plowed fields were stretches of snowy dimples; and there was a crisp tang in the air that was glorious. Anne ran downstairs singing until her voice reechoed through Green Gables. - Chapter XXV, Anne of Green Gables

Gilbert escorted his wife home, reveling in her new title. Wife. Though when he'd spoken it she'd corrected him, betrothed wife, some of her bristles of their youth coming out in her voice. He'd escorted her back to Green Gables, and came up to say goodnight to Marilla. Then satisfied that all was well, at least for the moment he stepped into his first duties as husband to seeing that the women folk of Green Gables had enough firewood and the home secure before returning to his parents home. With the promise from Anne that she and Mrs. Lynde would each sleep at least part of the night, he'd return at dawn before Diana returned with the twins for breakfast.

He dreamed about kissing Anne, but then it turned into a nightmare, for in his dream not only did Marilla die, but he'd gotten Anne pregnant such that they'd both had to drop out of school to raise the twins and a second set of twins, for Anne always said she couldn't escape twins. He'd woken up with a sweat and spent the early morning hours going over his accounts to see how he could stretch things farther to protect and provide for his family. Finally with the first glows of the sun rising, purples and oranges filling the sky. He dressed warmly, saw to the chores for his folks then headed over to Green Gables to do the same.

Anne was sitting beside Marilla's bed when he let himself in. "How is she?"

"Resting. She slept most of the night, oh Gilbert she hasn't had a seizure since the wedding. Might we hope? We'll make this the best Christmas she's ever had won't we?"

"Sure we will." He nodded. "How about I sit with her so you can rest, or freshen up or what ever you need."

"Oh I'm not tired. I slept soon as you left last night and in the bewitching hour woke to send Mrs. Lynde to bed. Dr. Blair said he'd come by this afternoon. Gilbert, she'll need more care than Mrs. Lynde can do and we can't rely on the Barry's to take on the twins indefinitely..."

"After Christmas." Gilbert sighed. "We'll sit down and decide what's best, taking the twins with us to Kingsport, or you..."

"I'll stay." Anne sighed. "I'll continue here and return in the fall, only a term behind. Marilla should be better by then..."

"Neither of you are dropping out of school." Marilla spoke shakily. "Rachel and I will manage. I don't need a nurse maid round the clock. And I'm not in the grave yet. Sit quiet if you're going to keep me company."

So Anne had gone and he sat quietly keeping Marilla company, thinking more about the future. He'd found himself spending most of the day with the twins rather than his betrothed wife, only coming in when Dr. Blair came to examine Marilla.

"Hopeful, she might be making a turn. We can only pray. Prepare for the worse yet hope for the best, keep her rested. She'll never recover to where she was, but might yet enjoy life. Her eyesight's gotten poor but not lost, and her headaches she can manage with medicine. There's hope. Yet she'll need care the rest of her life..."

Plans were made for Christmas Eve the next morning, and at Mrs. Lynde and Marilla's insistence he and Anne would escort the twins to church the next morning.

—

Christmas morning, Anne woke from dozing in the chair beside Marilla. She'd had no more seizures, only the pain in her head. Not that she complained much. There was hope. Even marrying Gilbert was worth it if Providence let them keep Marilla with them.

Anne rose, kissed Marilla's cheek whispering, "Merry Christmas." Then slipped out of the room to wake Mrs. Lynde before seeing to her toilet. Diana, Minnie May and the twins came with a big hamper for breakfast, and they all picnicked on the parlor floor with Gilbert arriving part way through. He'd stood in the door way grinning, then with a swagger in his step came to Anne, leaning down to kiss her cheek before insisting he'd escort them to church and that Fred would be joining them soon as they reached the Newbridge road.

The whispers started when Anne entered the small church where all of Avonlea attended on the arm of her betrothed husband. The gossip and whispers grew louder when he lead her and the twins into the Green Gables pew and sat beside her, with one twin on either side of them. Only the loud clearing of Superintendent Bell's throat quieted down the visitor, before he lead the church in the opening prayer.

Her thoughts drifted as they stood there, she could feel his ring under her glove and with one twin on either side of them they had the appearance of a little family. She glanced up at Gilbert in the middle of one of the hymns. He held the hymnal he shared with Davy, she watched as he quickly pulled Davy back who in boredom had started to try to reach for Minnie May in the row in front's hair.

"Don't make my mistake Davy boy." Gilbert whispered.

When services ended, several came crowding around and Anne found herself repeating several times how Gilbert had proposed on the boat when he rushed to escort her home with the news of Marilla. Marilla who was finally rallying now that they were betrothed. There were comments about her finishing school now that she snagged him, wondering if Marilla would die or not. It was horrible. Yet she held her head high and was grateful for the support of Gilbert's arm.

She pulled the twins and Gilbert away from the church yard as fast as she could. They returned to Green Gables, for Christmas Eve supper, with promises from Gilbert's folks to come the next day for Christmas Luncheon.

That afternoon they finished the Christmas decorations, and with Mrs. Lynde keeping Marilla company upstairs, she and Gilbert lead the twins in finishing cookies. It might be the sabbath but their hands ached for action to not think of the fears of the worst.

She lead them in decorating the cookies, preparing cones of homemade frosting tinted to various hues from onion skins, beets, and other rich vegetables in the cellar. She'd lent one of her two aprons left at Green Gables for Gilbert, while Davy having refused Dora's oldest apron was billowing in Marilla's favorite apron. They each decorated their cookies, taking turns reading the Bible stories of the first Christmas in each gospel. For, Anne had promised Mrs. Lynde and Marilla when she'd suggested this - they would be respectful of the sabbath, and do no real work.

Dora's cookies were dainty decorations slowly and carefully done. Davy's appeared to have survived an explosion. Gilbert's she noticed were filled with his humor in little ways. As he painted carefully stick figures onto a round cookie of Mary and Joseph and the donkey, only Mary had red hair, or at least that reddish purple color from the beets. Anne looked down at the only completed cookie she'd done. It was covered in flowers and too sweet to eat.

That night Gilbert kissed Anne on the cheek when he said his farewells, waved them all off, and they all felt lighter. Marilla still had no more seizures, though her eyes were having trouble seeing. She'd agreed she'd be up to Gilbert carrying her downstairs to join the families in the parlor for Christmas the next morning. Marriage wasn't so bad she thought, it was just a continuation of their friendship with his greeting changing. Perhaps she could survive a lifetime with him?

—

Gilbert and his folks after seeing to the chores Christmas morning, rode over in the buggy to Green Gables in time for a late breakfast. They found Mrs. Lynde busy baking and directing the twins to assist her. His mother had pulled an apron from the basket she'd brought and insisted on helping, while Anne called for his help to carry Marilla downstairs. He'd carried her bridal style, shocked by how shrunken Marilla was, slightly more than just a few days before. Anne fussed over them both as they settled Marilla on the sofa in the parlor, while his father built up the parlor's fireplace so that the room was quickly quite cozy.

She'd had to rest her eyes often and he'd suspected her head hurt more than she'd let on. Yet she had a constant smile. The Barry's stopped by to visit, as did various other friends to wish a merry Christmas and health to Marilla. Congratulations also to Gilbert and Anne. He'd loved the sparkle in Anne's eyes as he'd given her the skates, telling her he'd seen them in a shop and had Phil help him with the size. They'd go skating he promised on the lake of shining waters in a few days.

He grinned with pride as Mrs. Harrison next door gushed over Anne's ring as he heard Anne recount again how Gilbert had proposed on the boat coming over though she'd not given him her answer until he'd asked again in Charlottetown. His Aunt and Uncle also came to visit, joining them for the Christmas Luncheon. "To the family brought together by Gilbert and Anne." His mother had cheered during the luncheon. He thought it was the best Christmas ever.

Marilla had not the strength to sit up and join them at the table but had sipped her simpler meal propped up on the sofa. "To Anne and Gilbert. Now enough of revelry. I'm hungry and the young people mean to attend the dance tonight. And I don't need a watch dog anymore. Either I'll recover or go to my reward."

"Perhaps we should stay home tonight Gilbert..." Anne bit her lip.

"Nonsense. You two go and enjoy yourselves. The twins are back, and we'll be just fine. I told the Barry's it was right kind of them to take them in, but it's time they slept in their own beds, though Dora best sleep with Rachel tonight. Rachel and I will no doubt talk about our youth and dances and she'll see to the twins are to bed on time."

He saw signs of exhaustion on both Anne and Mrs. Lynde's faces. "I'll stay tonight and sit with Marilla after we're back from the dance. Mrs. Lynde I want you and Anne to get a full nights sleep."

Mid afternoon after sending an exhausted Marilla and Anne both to bed, while his mother sat with Marilla quietly knitting. Gilbert rode home with his father, changed for the dance and packed a small bag for the night. He'd flushed at the thought when his father suggested he nap in the morning before walking home in Anne's bed. Not that Anne would be in it of course, but still. He'd never even seen the dainty room that was hers. Yet she was his wife. Betrothed wife, he corrected his thoughts.

—

Anne prepared in her little east gable room for the evening, combining her pearl necklace with an old evening dress she'd left behind. Long as the lights were dim one couldn't see the burnt panel in the back when she'd stood too close to the bonfire the last spring. He'd arrived with Fred and Diana, and she'd climbed into the back with Diana as the two men drove them towards the hall for the dance.

Her stomach twirled when she'd gone to the cloak room with Diana, removed her outer coat and gloves and with only her lace fingerless gloves she'd crocheted from summer. It took three minutes for the other girls to start grabbing her hand, demanding the story such that the first dance had already started when they'd made it out of the dressing room. There were no dance cards that night, so instead as soon as she made her way back to Gilbert he was already leading her out to the dance floor.

She danced the first with Gilbert and then Fred. After that Moody came for the third dance and the fourth was Gilbert again before taking refreshments. Josie swarmed on them with her sister Gertie, refusing to believe they were really engaged.

"Betrothed, yes." Gilbert smiled kissing Anne on the cheek.

"You can't possibly mean you mean to marry such a blue stocking as Anne? Gilbert?"

"As I'm doomed to never wear pink stockings, yes Gilbert will have to content himself with blue."

"When will you marry?" Moody had come and joined them.

Anne glanced at Gilbert. How to state it such that they were not lying? "We'll have the wedding feast after we're done with school of course."

"Marriage feast?" Josie sniffed. "My you do have high pretensions for an orphan Anne Shirley."

—

The dance ended splendidly in Gilbert's mind. He'd had three dances, stole two kisses from Anne including one on her lips to the laughter of their friends. Josie and Gertie who'd been able to convince one of their cousins to find some branches of mistletoe. When the dance ended, they'd waved off to various friends, wrapped up in their outerwear, though he'd failed to find one of his outer gloves. Stuffing that arm into his pocket, he glorified in escorting Anne home in the moonlight and glistening snow. The moon was in the final quarter, yet just enough to transform the icy snow drifts as they wandered down lovers lane to transform it such that Anne's eyes glistened.

"Anne," Gilbert spoke when they were in the depths of lover's lane. "I... maybe we should just tell them all that we're already married?"

Anne froze, dragging him to a stop. "Gilbert, I... That is... I'm not ready. Anyways, have you heard of a married coed at Redmond? Since the first graduated 15 years before, coed, not a married one, there's been none who have been married. Not one. Oh, we'll tell the school the truth no doubt, but I hate to explain why we're not yet living as man and wife, nor do I wish the comments and questions if I'm already expecting your first child."

His mind was heavy with the thought, her belly rounded with their child. He gulped pushing back the image and all others crowding behind it of the begetting. "Anne, I just... I feel like I'm lying, we've told no untruths but still."

She sighed. "Let's hurry it's freezing." She grabbed his hand. "Gilbert! Your gloves."

He shrugged. "Got lost in the coat closet at the dance. Pockets are warm enough."

"Well, warm up at Green Gables at least before you head home. I expect my future doctor to have all his fingers when he operates."

He grinned, squeezed her hand before returning his hand to his pocket. They'd nearly run back to Green Gables laughing. There was one light on the stairs left on, otherwise it was quiet as though tucked in.

"The kitchen stove should be banked but warm, go warm up while I check on Marilla and Mrs. Lynde." She whispered. He grinned, kissed her cheek to before watching her slip up the stairs.

His hands had been quite cold and nearly blue, yet as he stroked the stove slightly to raise more heat and warmed them, he smiled thinking that one day he'd be warming his hands with his wife in bed. His mind thus pleasantly occupied he heard a scream.

Leaping up the stairs three at a time he'd been in the doorway of Marilla's room where a quaking Anne and Mrs. Lynde were both crying. Seeing him, the tear stained Anne leaped into his arms. "She's gone, oh Gilbert..."

"I..." Mrs. Lynne was holding her oldest friend's hand. "I'd only wanted a wink of sleep. Hard to stay awake when she'd asked me to keep the lamp dim. Guess it was Providence's time. Neither she nor Matthew ever liked much fuss about them. Well the good Lord knew. We best prepare the parlor to lay her out, better sooner than later. Gilbert you'll send for a minister in the morning? Right shame that we've no minister yet here at Avonlea. I thought it foolish you two rushing to marry, but now, guess I'm glad. She got to see it. Knew Gilbert you'd take good care of Anne and the twins. She could go in peace. Now Gilbert comfort Anne while I set out Marilla's best dress. Soon as she's changed and we've set up the table downstairs we'll need you to carry her down. Can't keep the body on the mattress, it'll ruin it. And if there's one thing Marilla would hate me for, its ruining one of her mattresses."

It'd been a haze as the twins had woken briefly, only to be told to return to sleep. They'd tell them in the morning. He'd been in a haze, as they'd laid Marilla out in her best dress. Anne and him had made Mrs. Lynde go lie down to sleep, then sat up to sit with Marilla in the Parlor. Anne sobbed most of the night as he rocked her. Only in the early hours when it just began to grow lighter did he fall asleep exhausted with her in his arms.

—

How could it be worse than when Matthew died? Anne wondered. She woke slowly to find herself on the sofa in Gilbert's arms as the noise of the twins came running down the stairs. "Anne Davy's got my ribbon!" Dora cried.

Davy was the first to rush into the room only to freeze. "What? Why'd Marilla..."

Anne didn't have time to blush instead rushing to the twins pulling them out of the room. "Davy, Dora... Marilla went to heaven last night."

"She died?" Dora asked as both twins burst into tears hugging Anne. She found herself rocking them. "What'll happen to us? Mother died and now Marilla..."

"We'll figure that out, we're a family. Our own little family." Anne sobbed herself.

The rest of the day was a blur. A minister came, though she didn't even register from which nearby church he lead. Carmody, White Sands, East Griffin, it didn't matter. The funeral would be on Thursday morning. Gilbert wrote and notified the lawyer. They'd had many come streaming in and out from the community to pay last respects and she'd dressed in one of her two remaining black dresses from teaching two years before when they'd lost Matthew. It was too short for Anne's current age, and only hit the top of her boots, but at the moment she didn't care.

Diana had whisked away with the other skirt, determined to do something to make it more presentable before the funeral. There were well wishers, and Gilbert was never far at hand. They'd all thought it best until after the funeral to keep the twins at Orchard Slope. What were they going to do for the twins?

She'd forced Gilbert to go home to his own bed after dark that night. Mrs. Harrison had insisted on staying the night to sit with the body overnight so that she and Rachel could sleep. Yet it was past midnight when she'd come down for something to eat and found herself sitting at the table with Mrs. Lynde.

"Can't sleep Anne?"

"No."

"Buried my husband and now my best friend." Mrs. Lynde sighed. "Guess we best talk about the future. Hard to think on it I know. Who gets Green Gables for one, and what about the twins?"

"Gilbert's to be their guardian. And it's Davy who inherited most likely. There's a strict settlement on the property that Marilla and Matthew signed. We'll have to find a way to finish school and graduate, but we mean to finish it."

"I'll help how ever I can Anne Blythe."

Anne bit her lip to keep from crying more. "We go back in two weeks, to school. Marilla made us promise we'd not sacrifice our educations."

"And you two won't. I raised ten of my own. I'll stay here this spring with the twins. We can decide more this summer what comes next. I hate to leave, but I agree, you two should do what's best for your futures, you and the twins."

"Would you?" Anne's eyes glistened through the tears. "Oh Mrs. Lynde."

"I think you deserve to call me Rachel. I'm proud of you Anne. Had my doubt when Matthew went to collect you and that temper you had. Still, you've turned into a lovely woman and you'll make a good wife to Gilbert and mother to the twins."

"Mother..."

"That's right. Now I assume you won't wait to your graduation to announce your marriage? But I guess waiting until summer when the term's over and you've had time to put together a plan for how you and Gilbert will raise the twins and still graduate. As I said, Avonlea is my home, and I'm pleased to help raise the twins. But as you said, you and Gilbert are their guardians and the ones to raise them. I'll help same as I did Marilla though."

"How will we..."

"Let Providence guide you Anne. Guess we best try to sleep. Tomorrow you and your husband best talk more about the twin's futures. Guess we best have things decided by the funeral."

Anne gulped, nodding before rising. "Goodnight Mrs., Rachel."

—

Tuesday and Wednesday went quickly for Gilbert. He spent all day with Anne at Green Gables, overseeing the preparations for the funeral and helping make arrangements for the twins. On Wednesday the lawyer sent a clerk to Green Gables to go over the paperwork and notarize him as the legal guardian for both David and Dora Keith upon the review of his marriage license.

"The particulars of the strict settlement upon the appointment of guardian in the case that the heir is underage and male is such. You are responsible for Green Gables until the 21st birthday of David Keith, while all profits are yours to keep and use for the raising of the heir at your discretion, also all debts will be taken over by yourself, though having reviewed the accounts with you there appears to be none. You will be required to maintain weekly contact with the heir along with be in residence with him for the majority of the year, which is 183 days. You will also be required to walk the grounds of Green Gables and discern their conditions with the heir no less than every four months. As I understand you are currently in college that may be an issue and if need you may surrender guardianship to the next nearest kin, who has been notified of the death and your closer position, Mr. Douglas Cuthbert of Georgetown. "

With each word Gilbert felt him mind race, how were they to do this? The twins would have to come with them to Kingsport if they were to graduate, and that would mean also more expenses." He glanced over as Anne was speaking in the hall to Mr. Harrison, he waved her over. "Anne, if you please?"

"Ma'am." The clerk said as Anne joined him and the clerk in the sitting room. "My condolences, I was just explaining more of the conditions of the strict settlement on the guardian in the case of a heir who is not of age."

"And the heir is?"

"We've reviewed all documents and have submitted per the last will and testament, the strict settlement and all other connected legal paperwork. The heir is Mr. David Keith, the ward of your husband."

"Anne, I'll take care of the paperwork. We'll talk more on it tonight."

She nodded, and hearing more visitors to see Marilla rushed back to the hall.

—

He'd found her sitting with Marilla as the clock struck nine that night. She'd sat there, wondering what this was this future without Marilla. They'd be burring her now in twelve hours. She'd ran out of tears and handkerchiefs. Oh how could she have a future without Marilla?

Gilbert sat beside her, saying nothing, just sitting with his arm around her shoulder. Finally he did speak. "The clerk went over the rules of the guardianship with me Anne. We'll have to have the twins with us half the year at least, and I ran the dates for term through Mother's calendar. Anne, we have to have the twins with us 183 days and we'll be at Kingsport 207 days between the spring and fall term. Not only that I have to be at Green Gables with Davy at least once every four months to walk the land with him. Have to document it with two witnesses that I did." He laughed. "If Mrs. Lynde can stay here for the spring with the twins, we'll have to bring them back with us for the fall."

"How will we afford?"

"We'll find a way." Gilbert glanced towards Marilla's body. "She wanted us to raise them so we will. We just need two rooms, one for Davy and me and one for you and Dora... Maybe we can find a cottage."

"Gilbert..." Anne sighed. "If we can find a way to bring them in the fall without all talking about us being already married. It'll be bad enough..."

"We'll find a way." He promised.

—

It had finally come. They'd had to use pick axes to break open the frozen ground and lower Marilla into it. Half of Avonlea was there for the funeral as they lowered her into a grave beside her brother's. He stood there with Anne and the twins in front, one arm on Anne's waist, the other on Dora's shoulder. There'd been a fight about them coming to the funeral that morning. Funny enough it was Dora who had decided things, little quiet Dora who had insisted on seeing Marilla gone safely. The Lawyer himself had come for the funeral, along with much of the community.

The minster was just reciting scripture when a stranger burst into the church yard. He was older with a great mustache as was popular in his father's youth. That he was dressed finely was clear, though his suit lacked anything dignified about it for its blue and white checks.

"Sir?" The Minister spoke. "This is a funeral if you don't mind."

"Came to give my final respects to the tart." The man hissed. "Thought you could thwart me all those years Marilla Cuthbert. Well It's a real Cuthbert who owns Green Gables now. And your orphan riff raff can just pack their bags."