"Are you sure you're--"
"I'm fine," Gilbert protested, frowning as Anne tried to wave over a nurse. He placed a reassuring hand on hers to stop her. "Really, Anne. I'm not lying. I'm ready to go home. I want to spend Christmas with our family."
Her lips set into a tight-lipped frown, and her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, but she nodded anyways.
"Okay," she exhaled with uncertainty. "We'll check out, but you are sleeping on the way back! You have fourteen more days to dance away with me and our friends and family, but depend on this one to catch up on rest."
"Of course. I intend on being as sprightly as I can for the rest of the trip but not at the expense of putting you through more grief than the trouble I've already caused you," he agreed solemnly, looking down at her with charming hazel eyes.
She sighed hopelessly, rolling her eyes. "You're the one who caught a horrendous bout of typhoid, but you're worried about putting me through more grief?"
"You're the one that has to tolerate me forever now. You know that the worst sight in the world is seeing you weep, though you are just the embodiment of a tragical beauty when you cry," he teased, grinning crookedly at her.
She groaned in false weariness. "What ever am I to do with you, dear Gilbert?"
"Marry me, I suppose."
She giggled like a schoolgirl despite herself, ducked her head as her cheeks went aflame as they always did around him, and stood on the tips of her toes to plant a kiss on his lips.
"I don't have a problem with that, but I do have one with missing the train. Now, do you need me to carry you, your excellency Princess Gilbert, or shall we go?" she drawled, pulling him by the arm.
He chuckled at her moxie, letting her grab his sleeve and weave around the crowd towards their luggage sitting by Alex and Josie. She took a bag in each hand, one hers and one Gilbert's. He had almost attempted to carry his, but that had earned him a menacing glare and a gentle swat on the arm as he had reached for it, followed by a loving sentiment about how it was her turn to take care of him for once. That was his Anne, impassioned in even her softest love, not a care in the world for the odd laughs and lingering stares they got seeing a woman holding heavy bags and leading a man to the train.
After about ten minutes, the train was whizzing away from the station, the sky a blur of sunset reds and pinks and blues. Across from them, Josie and Alex were fast asleep. Josie's head slumped against her beau's shoulder, and his head rested on top of hers. Their hands were intertwined between them. Anne wished that having pictures taken could be easier and instantaneous, for it would have been the most romantical picture of them.
The setting sun reminded Gilbert of the woman sitting next to him, his most beloved Anne. The vivid red of the sun setting on the horizon was like her absolute flame of thick and wavy hair. The vibrant sun was only intensified by the brilliant blue that only a small portion of the sky was now, a mesmerizing color that reminded him of her eyes that he could look into for centuries if he was allowed, the eyes that could reflect so many emotions yet reveal nothing at all about what wheels were working inside her magnificent brain.
As if instinct, his eyes naturally turned away from the sky and onto her. Her face was balanced in her left hand, sighing contently as she peered out of the window. What had he done to deserve her, his most beautiful fairy queen, the love of his life, his future wife? It seemed so surreal.
She turned around to check if he was asleep yet and frowned disapprovingly as he grinned at her. "I told you to rest. What are you looking so intently at?"
"Oh, only the most beautiful woman in the universe."
She only blushed and rolled her eyes, muttering, "You're a fool, Gilbert Blythe."
"I love you too, Carrots."
_________________________
At Bright River, Marilla, Bash, Hazel, and the Pyes waited. Hazel had Delphine in her arms, the chocolate curled baby squealing in joy when she saw Anne and Gilbert approach with Alex and Josie following behind closely.
"It's a crime that I've been kept from seeing my niece for so long," Gilbert announced as soon as he approached them, taking Delphine from Hazel with an adoring smile. He kissed both of her chubby cheeks, blowing a raspberry against them when she tried to tug on his dark curls.
If it weren't for certain ridiculous notions of propriety, Anne would've leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, simply for being the criminally charming boy she had grown to love more than life itself. "And I guess I've missed you too," he tacked on at the end, sparing Bash a fleeting and playful grin.
"Well, Merry Christmas Eve to you too, Blythe. Next time you get sick, at least send a telegram so my mother knows not to set your place at dinner," Sebastian teased, embracing his brother from the side for a lingering moment, careful not to squish his daughter.
He turned to Anne with a genuine smile, embracing her too. "And thank you, Queen Anne, for bringing this irritating moke home all safe and sound."
Meanwhile, Josie had some of her own introductions to do.
"We'll discuss your impertinence later, dearest," her mother said sharply, sniffing with airs of a haughty queen, despite being nowhere close in stature nor standing. "But you have company to introduce us to." She referred to Alex who was standing behind Josie with a heartening grin.
"Yes," Josie sighed, trying not to roll her eyes. "Mother, Father, this is Alexander Whitmore. He is... my beau. I'm sure you've received his letters."
"We have. He seems like an upstanding member of the community," her father said coldly, glaring daggers at her. She could sense the extra meaning implied. ...so why would he like someone with a sullied reputation? Josie almost groaned, knowing it was almost certain they thought some improper arrangement was at hand.
Alex shook his hand firmly, trying not to express his annoyance at her parents treating his darling Josie in such a way.
"Pleased to meet you, sir. You can call me Alex. I'm staying at the Blythe-Lacroix household for the holidays. You see, my family hasn't completely situated in Ottawa, their new permanent residence."
"If you don't want to stay with...such people, I'm sure we could find room for you in our abode," Mr. Pye remarked, looking upon Sebastian and Hazel with a disdainful sneer.
Alex raised his eyebrow, knowing what they were referring to, but desperately wanting to be wrong. It occurred to him for the thousandth time since meeting her how much strength Josie had to not only be a civil person, but grow into a progressive person when her parents didn't even feign a semblance of tolerance or respect. How could anyone hate such good and hospitable people, regardless of their color or origin? "I'm not sure I comprehend."
"Well, they're colored folk," he half spat, giving the family a dirty look. Josie half wished she was part of that familial circle, the Cuthberts and the Blythe-Lacroixs. The two families had grown ever closer over the years, and the connection between any two of the members of that group was undeniably affectionate. Even Anne and Mrs. Lacroix had a closer bond than she had with her mother these days, and it truly pained her. And perhaps if she was Anne's sister, she could be spending her holidays traipsing around the woods with her and Alex in the evenings rather than sipping tea that she didn't even care for at high noon.
"I don't see the problem. The Lacroixs are wonderful people," Alex said more forcefully, stepping away. Josie exhaled tiredly and massaged her temples.
"Alexander, I think Gilbert and Anne are leaving. I'll... talk to you later," she sighed, wishing she could go with him, but also knowing that it was crucial for her to face her problems.
"Okay, Jo. You can ask for me anytime, darling." He grasped both of her hands in his very gently and brought them up to his lips, brushing her knuckles with the most delicate of kisses before setting them down again.
Her mother gasped at the impropriety of the touching, almost confirmation that Josie was being untoward in her eyes, especially after Josie had already 'sullied her reputation', but Josie didn't care. Everything around her seemed to fade to black when her Alexander was around. His very presence was strengthening to the point where all her problems felt like mere inconveniences.
Josie blushed a bright pink and fluttered her fingers as he left. What she wouldn't have given to spend the holidays with him!
__
On the way back to Green Gables, Anne had (not so subtly) chosen to go back on the carriage with Gilbert on it, claiming she wanted to play with Delphine. It was half true; she did adore her goddaughter.
Gilbert watched with love as Anne bounced the eleven month old on her lap, cooing softly at the child. Her blue eyes overflowed with care as Delphine reached out to grab one of her long red locks of hair. Anne kissed the baby on her nose and tickled her gently, beaming as Delphine's infectious laughter touched her heart.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Anne discretely leaned over to Gilbert and whispered, "I want one of these some day."
Gilbert chuckled heartily, shaking his head from side to side. "Temptress," he laughed softly, brushing her hand tenderly. "Lucky for you, I want an entire army of these some day. All I have to do is get my darling wife to agree."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Mr. Blythe. There's still the matter of telling the others and waiting for me to graduate. And I fully expect a ring because I know you have it. Once I put it on, I'm sure I'll never want to take it off. Also, though I would never dream of using you, it might be nice to stick it to that Royal Gardner."
He laughed and suppressed the urge to kiss her again. "I'm counting on it," he said earnestly, taking Delphine from her as an excuse to touch her hand lightly. She smiled at the gesture and looked back on herself from last summer as completely foolish.
___________________
The next day, Anne woke up, sure that the past days had been but a surreal dream. She was still processing the fact that Gilbert Blythe loved her, and now he wanted to marry her! She felt like she was floating on a cloud. On top of that, it was Christmas, and she had bought what she hoped was a heavenly present for him.
After she got dressed, she floated over to her window and peering her head out to graze Snow Queen's branches. She caught a withering leaf in her cupped hand just as it detached from the tree and started floating towards the ground.
Just as it had landed in her palm, an urgent knock sounded from her bedroom door. Setting it down on her vanity, she opened the door, and Diana all but attacked her.
"Oh Anne, he was sick? Typhoid? You poor dears!" She embraced her bosom friend tightly, and Anne froze in shock. After a moment, she reciprocated with a small chortle.
"It turns out that he had sent a letter, but it got lost in the mail," Anne explained, taking Diana's hand and leading her over to sit on her bed.
"I knew it," Diana declared with a confident grin. "Gilbert Blythe would never do anything that would hurt you on purpose. That man is dead gone over you."
Anne giggled sweetly. She absolutely couldn't wait to tell Diana.
"Diana, I'm going to tell you something in the strictest confidence. Do you swear not to utter it to a soul?" she asked, her tone going hushed and intense all of a sudden.
Diana frowned and nodded frantically, moving closer to Anne so she could whisper. "Do tell, Anne!"
Anne fiddled with her skirt nervously before starting, "When Gilbert was in horrendous condition, we didn't know whether he was going to pull through the ordeal. I think both of us had an epiphany. Our life together is finite, and when we both want something so desperately that will only improve our life, why should we wait? Why should we deny ourselves of that joy? With that in mind," Anne sucked in a breath before saying slowly, "Gilbert...asked me to marry him. As you may have guessed, I... I said yes. Not now, but after Queens or possibly Redmond if I get the scholarship."
Diana let the news sink in for a moment. Anne's eyes were widened anxiously as she waited for her response.
"Anne... that's wonderful!" Diana cried joyously, hugging her once more.
"Oh Diana, I can't wait until you find your someone too! There are many men who are vying for your love. Surely one of them might capture your heart, and we could be married people together. Our kids could grow up together and be bosom friends."
"It's not about my heart, it's about my parents' heart," Diana grumbled with a roll of her eyes. "But I'm not about to spoil your happy day with my troublesome losses in love. Shall we go downstairs and head to the Gillis' to find Ruby?"
"Oh, this is turning out to be the most splendorous day."