A/N: L. M. Montgomery was an absolute genius. All of these characters belong to her.

Chapter 1 - 'Going Round The Bend'

Gilbert Blythe was probably the only person to whom the news of Anne's resignation brought unmixed pleasure.

- Anne of Avonlea, Chapter XXVI, 'Round the Bend'

Gilbert Blythe was working at the far end of the back paddock on the Blythe farm, hoeing the weeds out of the potato crop.

It was late afternoon, and the heat from the June sun was scorching. Beneath his work overalls, his thick cotton shirt was stuck to his back with sweat. The sleeves of Gilbert's shirt were rolled up to above his elbows, revealing well-muscled forearms that were tanned golden brown. Gilbert paused in his work, and straightened, leaning on the handle of the hoe. He reached up to take his hat off and wiped his face with the sleeve covering the curve of his right bicep.

As he placed his hat back on his head, Gilbert heard a familiar girl's voice calling to him excitedly from the road. He turned and saw a slim figure in a light coloured dress racing headlong down the hill towards him. Even from this distance, he could see the girl's red hair shining in the afternoon sun and he recognised her at once.

"Gilbert!" Anne was waving her straw hat in the air to get his attention as she ran.

Sighing softly, Gilbert took a moment to smile at her, reflecting that despite being the respectable Avonlea schoolmarm for two years now, Anne Shirley was still a young girl at heart. As she drew closer, Gilbert's heart started beating a little faster in his chest, just as it always did whenever he saw her.

Gilbert wondered, not for the first time, just what it was about Anne that made her so irresistible to him. If you took the features of her face individually, it didn't seem as though Anne would be very pretty at all. Her little pale face, with its pointed chin, too-wide pink mouth, and vivacious grey eyes couldn't account for her appeal. Not even those seven charming freckles atop Anne's well-formed nose, or her magnificent hair with its distinctive colour explained her allure.

Gilbert was aware that Anne's beauty was of a kind far greater than the sum of those individual characteristics. When all of those features were put together and combined with the enchanting play of feeling that swept over them like a rosy, illuminating flame, she was fascinating to watch. But Gilbert knew it was even more than that. Anne's appeal to Gilbert was in the aura of possibility surrounding her; the intriguing charm of dreams and laughter constantly dancing in her eyes that set her apart from all the other girls he'd ever known.

He placed the hoe down on the ground and jogged over to Anne, still smiling broadly and eventually meeting her at the fence adjacent to the road.

"Anne Shirley," he grinned, climbing nimbly over to her side of the fence. "You have to slow down. You'll kill yourself running like that in this heat."

Anne stopped and grasped the top railing of the fence with one hand, her hat still clasped in the other as she gulped air into her lungs. Her cheeks were flushed, although he couldn't tell if it was from running or from excitement.

"Gilbert," she wheezed. "You'll…never…guess what…has happened. You won't…believe it. The most…wonderful news!"

Anne took a few more gulping breaths. He looked more carefully at her face and saw that her grey eyes were sparkling like stars and she was grinning at him with such a joyful expression that he wanted to kiss her rosy cheek. She was adorable.

"Look here, Anne," Gilbert said, grasping her elbow and turning with her. "Why don't you come up to the house and I'll get you something to drink?"

"No!" She grasped the muscles of his tanned forearm tightly in her fingers to stop him, as she caught her breath. "Listen to me, Gilbert. I'm – I'm going to Redmond!"

"What?" he was shocked. "How? When?"

This was not what Gilbert had expected Anne to say at all. She had given up the Avery Scholarship to stay in Avonlea and help Marilla with Green Gables after Matthew died two years ago. Even though he and Anne had both kept up their studies consistently ever since, Gilbert knew that Anne didn't hold any particular hope of going to Redmond College anytime soon.

Anne was the reason he'd hesitated, however briefly, about enrolling at Redmond this year. They had grown so close in the past two years that it was still a little difficult for Gilbert to believe it. His friendship with Anne was so precious to him that Gilbert constantly watched over his every word and thought to keep himself worthy of her.

But Gilbert was almost twenty one now and if he didn't start his BA soon, he feared he might never fulfill his dream to become a doctor. And then, maybe, just maybe, after that, he could progress on to achieve other secret hopes that he held deep in his heart…

"That's a lot of questions," Anne laughed, still a little breathless.

"Well, you never said anything when I told you I'd finally decided to go this September," he said, unable to stop the delighted smile spreading across his face. "Are you really going?"

Anne nodded, still clutching at his forearm. Gilbert could feel her slim fingers digging into his skin.

"When did you decide this?" Gilbert asked.

"I didn't decide anything," Anne exclaimed. "It was all Marilla, and oh, Gilbert, I'm so happy! We can go to Redmond together now! Isn't it wonderful?"

Gilbert nodded.

Wonderful indeed. Gilbert couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so elated.

Then he corrected himself. In fact, he could remember. It was the day he'd met Anne at the Blythe gate and she'd extended her hand to him in friendship, a little more than two years ago. Her cheeks had bloomed scarlet that day, too.

"That is wonderful, Anne," he smiled. "But tell me, what happened? Are Miss Cuthbert's eyes so much better then? What about the twins?"

"Please, can we sit down?" Anne asked. "I'll tell you all about it."

Gilbert took her elbow again and led her to sit in the shade of one of the apple trees on the edge of the orchard.

"Oh, Gilbert, it's so exciting, isn't it?" asked Anne. "I can hardly believe it myself. I- I don't know where to start…You see, Marilla's just told me, and you were the first person I had to tell and... Oh! I can hardly think."

His heart thrummed at her words. He was the first person she wanted to tell.

"Maybe you should start at the beginning," he smiled.

"Well, Marilla has asked Mrs Lynde to live at Green Gables and-"

"Rachel Lynde is going to live at Green Gables?" Gilbert was shocked again. "When did this happen?"

"Marilla only told me today," said Anne. "But she's been speaking to Mrs Lynde about it this week, I think."

"Do you think they will like that arrangement?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes, they've talked it all out," Anne nodded before rushing on. "And that means Mrs Lynde can help Marilla with the twins and Marilla will be able to stay at Green Gables without me and Mrs Lynde will move in at the end of the summer and - and, Gilbert, I gave the board my resignation today!"

Anne's eyes were shining and her hands were clasped in front of her chin, as she started to laugh.

"Gilbert, I'm going to Redmond!" she squealed. "We're going to Redmond! Together! It's what I've dreamed about these past three years. I feel as though I might burst with excitement."

"Anne, I'm so glad!" Gilbert exclaimed, smiling broadly now. "It wasn't going to be as much fun without you there."

Anne flung both her hands in the air, as she laughed delightedly.

For one delicious moment, Gilbert thought she might actually embrace him, but instead Anne clapped her hands in front of her, still laughing as she toppled backwards and fell against the trunk of the apple tree exultantly. He had to stop himself from grabbing her hand to pull her back up before sweeping her into his arms.

So, instead, Gilbert did the only thing he could do. He started laughing with her.

Gilbert felt as giddy as Anne looked. Four years! His heart vibrated with elation.

They would have four years of studying at college together. Alone. Well, practically alone. And, even better, he could see her every day, not just on weekends and holidays. He would have Anne all to himself, away from the gossiping matrons of Avonlea, away from the prying eyes of Mrs Rachel Lynde or Mrs Harmon Andrews, away from Miss Cuthbert and Avonlea School. How many times had he dreamed of studying at college with her? And…did she just say she'd dreamed about him?

"Oh, Gilbert, it hardly seems real!" Anne exclaimed. "Aren't you happy?"

"It really is a dream come true," he agreed.

Gilbert felt sure that if they went to Redmond together, he and Anne must grow closer. Away from the scrutiny of the Avonlea gossips, away from the restrictions of work and home, they would be free to spend so much more time together.

"Oh, I've longed for this moment," Anne sighed. "To finally take an Arts course and graduate as a BA! But somehow it just never seemed like it was going to be possible."

"I had always hoped that we would go to college together," he said. "You know how much better we study when we're together."

"I know," Anne agreed, nodding her head and still smiling. "I don't mind telling you now that when I won the Avery, I was more than a little disappointed when I found out you weren't going to Redmond then, too."

"I wanted to go with you then," Gilbert admitted. "I was so happy for you when you won the Avery, and even though I didn't mind working for college, I might have been just a little bit envious that you were going without me."

"Aren't bends in the road just delightful, Gilbert?" Anne exclaimed. "Just yesterday, I thought I knew the road in front of me, and I could see it stretching out straight ahead for miles. But now…"

Anne's voice trailed off as she subsided into a reverie. She looked much as she had that fateful day at Avonlea School when Gilbert had attempted to gain her attention, with spectacularly disastrous results. He was no less intrigued now by Anne's visage whenever she assumed that expression, but Gilbert was a little wiser about how to approach it.

"What are you thinking of, Anne?" he asked.

"I'm picturing us in our graduation gowns and mortar boards accepting our diplomas from the Dean at Redmond," Anne sighed dreamily, leaning her head back against the trunk of the tree. A soft smile was playing around her pink lips as she closed her eyes.

She was dreaming about him again. Gilbert was speechless with joy as he reached out to squeeze her hand.

Suddenly, Anne's eyes flew open, and she quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp as she scrambled to her feet.

"Anyway, I must be getting back to Green Gables," she said hastily, that enticing flush staining her cheeks again. "And I'm sorry I've kept you from your work, Gilbert. I just couldn't wait to tell you the good news."

"We'll need to revise our study schedule together over the summer," said Gilbert, rising to his feet also. "Now we're both going to Redmond in the fall, we'll have a lot to prepare for together."

"Yes," Anne agreed. "Let's discuss it on Saturday."

She had already started walking back up the hill and waved her hand in farewell to him.

Gilbert waved back and watched Anne's slim figure skipping away until she disappeared around the bend. His elation at Anne's news was still thrilling through his veins. He felt as if somebody had handed him the moon and he didn't know exactly what to do with it.

As he scaled the fence to return to his weeding, the broad smile splitting Gilbert's face showed his delight. He leapt down to the ground agilely and started to walk back over to where he'd dropped the hoe, but he could contain his jubilation no longer.

Gilbert Blythe leapt high in the air and let out a loud whoop of delight such as he hadn't since he was a student at Avonlea School. Then he threw back his head and started to laugh.

"Blythe," he said aloud, still chuckling. "You are the luckiest fellow alive."

The next week, Gilbert was coming out of the Avonlea Post Office when Marilla Cuthbert approached him.

"Good morning, Miss Cuthbert," he lifted his cap politely as he greeted her.

"Good morning, Gilbert," Marilla replied. "I suppose Anne's already told you that she's going to Redmond in September?"

"Oh, yes," he nodded. "We've already changed our study schedule from now until we go."

"You two will have to make sure not to neglect your other commitments over the summer."

"We're used to studying hard, Miss Cuthbert," Gilbert smiled and he looked so much like his father to Marilla that she found herself speaking to him almost as though he was John Blythe.

"Anne's been mooning around like she's in seventh heaven ever since I told her she might go."

"I think we're both looking forward to the challenge of Redmond," Gilbert agreed.

Marilla nodded, then she opened her mouth to speak before closing it firmly again, studying his face carefully. Gilbert waited while she seemed to hesitate, apparently pondering over something for a few moments before she spoke again.

"Gilbert, I wonder if you'd mind looking out for her a little while you're at Redmond?"

Gilbert started, his eyes widening with surprise. This was the last thing he'd expected Miss Cuthbert to say to him.

Would he mind? Gilbert couldn't believe his luck. Marilla Cuthbert was actually asking him to spend more time with Anne!

"Of course, Miss Cuthbert," Gilbert's charming grin was as wide as his father's ever was. "It would be my pleasure."

"I'd appreciate it if you would," Marilla said. "She's awfully young still, and I worry about her. Kingsport's so far away."

After that, Gilbert thought his summer couldn't possibly get any better, until one afternoon in early August. Anne and Gilbert were translating lines of Virgil together in the kitchen at Green Gables, with the sun streaming in through the window and the warm breeze occasionally ruffling the pages of their books as they worked. Anne's hair was aflame in the sunlight when she suddenly looked up from where she was poring over her book and asked Gilbert a question that made his heart sing with joy.

"Would you like to come to Miss Lavendar's wedding with me?" she enquired in her clear, sweet voice. "It's the last weekend in August."

Anne's huge grey eyes were looking into his so appealingly that he was lost in their limpid depths for a few moments before he could reply.

"Of course I'll come with you, Anne," Gilbert struggled to keep his voice steady.

Gilbert knew that Anne thought Miss Lavendar's wedding to Stephen Irving was one of the most romantic things ever, and she often sighed, "It's just like something straight out of a story book."

He'd been to Echo Lodge a few times with Anne, so he knew Miss Lavendar slightly. But Gilbert speculated to himself whether perhaps it was a signal of something else that Anne was inviting him to attend such a romantic occasion with her.

The wedding at Echo Lodge was indeed romantic, and Gilbert had the pleasure of watching the delight illuminating Anne's features all day. After the thrill of standing beside Anne at the ceremony and then throwing his share of rice at the newlyweds with her, Gilbert had to run an errand for his mother at West Grafton. Anne was staying with Charlotta the Fourth to help clean up, so he promised to return for Anne later that evening.

When Gilbert strode down the old stone path he found Anne sitting under the silver poplar in Mrs Irving's garden with that fascinating look on her face once more.

"What are you thinking of, Anne?" he asked, just as he always did when he saw that expression.

As often happened when Gilbert spoke to Anne, he couldn't seem to stop words from bubbling to the surface and he blurted out every thought he was having to her.

But this time it was different.

This time, when he spoke it was as if a veil had suddenly been lifted and there was a brief moment when their eyes met before Anne's faltered under his gaze. As he watched a rosy flush staining her cheeks, Gilbert's heart leapt joyfully within his breast.

With that one momentary glance, Gilbert was undone.

He felt his heart pounding, and he knew he would do anything, anything to have her look at him like that again. For that split second before Anne lowered her lashes and looked away, Gilbert had seen something in those clear, grey depths that had made his skin suddenly feel hot, and started the blood roaring loudly in his ears.

He was shocked by the intensity of feeling that brief glance elicited from deep within his soul. And for the first time, Gilbert was certain that Anne felt it, too. The electricity between them that he often wondered was merely his wishful thinking or real. That one look from Anne gave him hope, and now they had four years of college together. Four years in which so much could happen. It was the possibility of those four years that captured his imagination and made his heart beat wildly.

Gilbert was unable to say anything else to her as they turned to walk down the lane of the little stone cottage towards the horse and buggy, and Anne was uncommonly quiet, too. He glanced at her sideways. Anne seemed deep in thought, chewing on her bottom lip pensively as she strolled next to him.

When they reached the buggy, Gilbert turned and held out his hand to help her in.

Anne stood there for a moment, staring at his outstretched hand before she slowly raised her shining grey eyes to meet his.

Gilbert smiled at her, and he watched, fascinated, as her soft, pink lips slowly turned up in a wavering smile. But it was the look deep in her clear, grey eyes that made Gilbert's heart start to race in his chest and stole the breath from his lungs.

Blushing, Anne placed her slim, white hand in his grasp, and Gilbert curled his long, brown fingers around hers, before he assisted her up as she climbed lithely into the buggy.

For the first time since Anne had held out her hand to him that day two years ago at the Blythe gate, Gilbert found himself tongue-tied in her presence and the ride back to Avonlea was remarkably quiet.

That eight mile buggy ride from Echo Lodge to Avonlea was the first time Gilbert Blythe dreamed of sharing a home with Anne, and he could see it all in perfect detail. He envisaged arranging pictures, laying out the gardens, and performing sundry other homely tasks with Anne. There was a warm and welcoming hearthfire, the footsteps of many friends coming and going, a cat and a dog, and Anne.

Always Anne.