Izzy was helping Cecily wash dishes. Felicity and Gus had many guests at their wedding so they had already been at it for some time, but it didn't seem like that long. She was deep in thought. The entire town of Avonlea was shocked to see Felix show up to the wedding in a Navy outfit . . . especially her. More than that, she was hurt. Why would he want to leave? Things were going wonderfully; Gus had returned after being thought dead for over a year, Gus and Felicity finally were married after so much heartbreak, and ever since Felix and herself made up they were quite happy together. The only imperfect thing that came to mind was that Olivia and Jasper were moving to England. It was weird to think about. Olivia and Jasper had lived in Avonlea all of their lives, it certainly would be different with them away.

All she could do was wonder why Felix wanted to join the navy, and remember all of the memories that they had made together. The one that came to mind the most was when Felix begged her not to go to Boston. She could remember it so clearly . . .

"It's going to be a whole new me!" she told her Aunt Lillian. "You don't need a whole new you!" Felix yelled, "No. I don't think you need to change anything! I think that you're perfect the way you are! Well, I do. The way you dress, the way you look . . . I think you're perfect. Don't go, Iz. Stay here with me. Please," (Woman of Importance).

"Stay here with me," she kept on replaying those words in her head. Maybe he didn't feel the same as he did then. Afterall, it had been a year. She certainly felt the same. No, who was she kidding, she loved him more than she did then. He obviously didn't, not if he wanted to leave.

At this point Cecily was beginning to get a bit worried, Izzy and herself had been washing dishes for over twenty minutes and she hadn't said but hardly two words. All of a sudden, it clicked . . . Felix. Everyone was surprised to see him show up to the wedding in a navy outfit, but she could only imagine what Izzy was thinking. She knew her best friend well enough to know that she probably thought that Felix didn't care about her as much, but she of course knew that it was anything but that. She could see the way her brother looked at Izzy. At times she thought that he might even be more in love with Izzy than Gus was with Felicity. But then again, maybe if Gus's eyesight ever recovered it would be a different story. She had to confront Izzy, but maybe it would be best if she didn't say if she knew what was wrong.

"Izzy," she said, "What's wrong?"

Izzy looked up half dazed, "Nothing, what would make you think that anything is wrong?"

Now, Felix was just about to go into the kitchen, even after all of the food he had eaten he was still hungry. But he heard Izzy and Cecily talking, he wasn't too surprised but then he realized that they were talking about him. He knew that it was wrong but he decided to listen.

"Izzy," Cecily replied, "I'm your best friend, I know when something is bothering you." She decided to give up on trying to get Izzy to convey her own problems, "It's Felix isn't it?"

Izzy was a little surprised. Then she was embarrassed, her worries were probably written on her face. She let out a sigh, "Cecily, I … I … I don't understand. I don't understand why Felix showed up to the wedding the way he did. I don't understand why he would want to leave Avonlea. I don't understand why he would want to join the navy," she hesitated for a bit and then said, "I don't understand why he would ask me to stay with him if he was going to leave."

Felix felt terrible. He whispered to himself, "What an idiot I am! I could have told her my plans as well as my reasons before I showed up in uniform. Honestly, I let the person I care for the most in this world believe that I didn't care enough for her to even explain to her what I planned to do, instead I let her find out the way everyone else in Avonlea did!" It was more than that, he felt hurt that she believed that he didn't care about her anymore. He could just imagine how she felt, he told her to stay with him but now he was leaving. She just didn't understand.

Cecily was just about to say something when Felix came out of hiding, "Hello, now before you say anything about me not helping with the dishes, I was working! I was helping with the tables. I assumed that you would be done by now; so, Izzy, how does a walk sound. I think that we should use this beautiful day to the fullest, don't you?

Izzy didn't know what to say, then she spat out, "Well . . . I'm not done with the dishes yet."

Cecily knew her brother, and what he was trying to do, "I can finish them Izzy, you go. Besides, I am beginning to enjoy doing dishes. It's . . . uh, relaxing."

Felix shot a quick look at Cecily, it was then that he knew what she was trying to do. Cecily hated doing any kind of house work, but he took advantage of this opportunity. He smiled at Izzy, "Well, you have to say yes now!"

Izzy hesitated, "Well, okay," then she looked at Cecily, "Cecily are you sure that you don't mind." Cecily nodded. "Okay," she said again, "just let me get my hat."

—-

In a few minutes the two of them were out the door. Izzy tried to act normal, "So, where do you want to go?"

Felix could hear the shakiness in her voice, "Why do we go by the lighthouse?" She nodded.

They walked in silence until they got there, just marveling at the beauty of the place they called home. Appreciating every aspect of Prince Edward Island, just as everyone else in Avonlea was doing now. Everyone always loved living on the Island, but Hetty's toast at the wedding made them appreciate everything a little bit more. Felix and Izzy continued to replay the moment in their heads.

"I've been fretting and fuming over the changes sweeping over our little town, and change is inevitable. People will leave our town, some may have to. But Avonlea will never vanish. Gus and Felicity will stay here to carry on with the foundling home, and one day start a family of their own perhaps. But wherever they go, all the young people of Avonlea; the memory of this place, the people, the land, the sea. These things will never be forgotten but will remain in their hearts forever. And so I'll ask you to raise your glasses and join me in a toast, to the bride and groom. To friends and loved ones, near and afar. That wherever you wander, whatever glorious adventures lie ahead of you, you can rest easy knowing that you have a place to come home to. The dearest spot on earth, our Avonlea. To Avonlea" (So Dear To My Heart).

When Hetty gave that toast everyone felt as if time could have frozen right at that moment and not a person would be upset about it. At that moment it truly felt as if God was in heaven and all was right with the world. Now, however, reality had set in. At least for Izzy. Felix was leaving her, and he obviously didn't care about what she thought or how she felt. She found out the same way the rest of the town did. She was hurt beyond words.

Felix looked over at her, she looked as if she wanted to cry. He knew that he had to say what he wanted to say to her. Mainly for three reasons: he hated to see her so upset, he would be leaving in just a week, and he couldn't bear the thought of her being with someone else. He knew that it was selfish to think that way but he couldn't help it. He finally mustered up the courage, "Iz, what's bothering you," he wanted to say more but that was all that he could manage at the moment.

Izzy was even more hurt, he didn't even know why she was upset. She turned towards him with tears streaming down her face, "I just . . . I don't understand why you are doing this."

It hurt Felix more than Izzy could ever know to see her cry. He slowly walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. She tried to fight it at first, but eventually broke down crying. She just cried, her head against his chest.

Felix kissed her soft hair, "Shhhhh," he said soothingly. "Please . . . please don't cry. I'm sorry that I hurt you. I never meant to hurt you by showing up in uniform. I … I … I wasn't thinking. I don't know what I was thinking. Once again I have hurt the person I love most in this world because I didn't think (Love May Be Blind, But The Neighbors Ain't)."

All of a sudden Izzy looked up into Felix's eyes, "What . . . what did you say?"

Felix blushed and gave her his famous lopsided smile. He thought back to the time when Gus told Felicity that he loved her (Felicity's Perfect Beau), she was so surprised. Felix couldn't understand why. Gus made it obvious to Felicity that he was head over heels for her and in many ways she was the same, but for whatever reason she was surprised to hear him say "I love you". Now, it was different. It wasn't just Felicity being clueless. He messed up. How could he be surprised that Izzy was shocked to hear him say that she was the person that he loved most in the world. He didn't even consider her feelings when showing up to the wedding.

Felix looked back into Izzy's eyes, "I should have told you before I showed up to that wedding, I should have told my entire family. I decided to sign up because I wanted to see the world, serve my country, and . . . and for you. I wanted to be something for you. Izzy, I can't think of a single person in this world who would deserve you, certainly not me. Especially after everything I've put you through, but because I have a shot at you I want to be something for you. I don't just want to be the guy who works at the hotel. I mean, look at your father. He is quite the man, I can't imagine your father, Clive Pettibone, letting his daughter be with someone who is less of a man than he is. I don't think he should. Izzy, I wish I could give you the whole world, but I can't. The best I can do is be a man that you can be proud of and offer you my love. Because, I love you. So much, more than you could ever know."

He stood there waiting for a response. Meanwhile, Izzy's eyes filled with tears. She pressed her head against Felix's chest. She waited until he began to stroke her hair again and said, "Felix, I love you too. You don't have to do anything to be worthy of me. I wouldn't ever pick anyone over you, even if they could give me the entire world. That means nothing to me because you are my entire world. I don't know what I would do without you. Just . . . stay with me."

Felix could hardly believe what he had just heard. After everything he put Izzy through she still loved him. She was still able to forgive him. After everything he had done she still wanted to stay in his arms.

"Iz," he said, "I don't know how I got so lucky. I sure am lucky that you don't give up on me."

Izzy looked up, "Luck, has nothing to do with it" (A Fox Tale).

Felix looked lovingly into Izzy's eyes. He leaned down and laid a soft kiss on her lips. A shiver was sent down Izzy's spine. When he pulled away he directed Izzy to one of the sand dunes on the beach. There they lay in each other's arms while watching the waves rise and fall.

Izzy sighed, "Felix, before, you asked me to stay with you. Now, I'm asking you. Don't go Felix. Stay here with me. Please," (Woman of Importance).

"Izzy," he hesitated. Then, he realized that he couldn't go, not now. There was a little bit of war talk. If there was a draft he would have to go, but he knew, now, that as long as he had the opportunity to stay he would, "Yes, I'll stay."

So, for the rest of the day they laid in each other's arms. Without a care in the world, not yet aware of the horrible tragedies that were about to occur.