Hello all! I just couldn't stay away for too long from these two! This story has been brewing in my brain, screaming to be written. So here is it…. This is the journey of what might have happened had Gilbert decided against proposing that night at Patty's Place. What happens to their friendship and Gilbert's hopes when Anne meets the handsome Royal Gardner?

I always have inspiration for my stories and this time is no different. As this is my third Anne/Gilbert story, I have gotten to know many of you through your reviews and through your own stories and I have enjoyed all of it. You're all so great, and I wanted to share this with you. I have to confess I have particular inspiration from some of the very recent stories I have read here (Katherine-with-a-k, Catiegirl, and hecalledmecarrots come to mind)... These stories have intrigued me so much that I was inspired to write this one based off of some of the ideas that hit me while I was enjoying their work

I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think...

When Gilbert Blythe had the good fortune to come upon his Anne, sitting alone in the Patty's Place orchard, he could hardly believe his good luck. Perhaps tonight will be the night, he thought.

They talked lightly for several minutes, Gilbert letting her know he would not be in Avonlea over the summer. He could tell that thought unsettled her. Thinking it would bring her comfort; he inched closer to her on the boulder. As soon as he did, Gilbert could see her posture stiffen slightly and her face form a slight frown.

It was a simple reaction, one that anyone who knew Anne would take to mean she was uncomfortable.

"You've studied very constantly this winter." Anne spoke absently. "Isn't this a delightful evening? Do you know, I found a cluster of white violets under that old twisted tree over there today? I felt as if I had discovered a gold mine."

"You are always discovering gold mines," Gilbert said – also absently. What inane conversation is this? His mind was otherwise occupied. Her conversation troubled him, maybe not her words, but the tone of her voice. Something was not right, he could tell. Then all of a sudden her felt rather unsure of himself. Am I about to make a big mistake? He quickly reassessed his thoughts of the past few weeks. His heart sunk as he realized just what had been thwarting his efforts to be alone with her… Anne. She was the one finding the excuses to leave his company; she was the one who made sure their evening walks always included a third or fourth. How had I not seen it? As if to punctuate his thoughts, now she was constantly looking at the door to the house, as though wishing for someone to walk through it and rescue her.

"Let us go see if we can find some more," suggested Anne eagerly. Eagerly enough for Gilbert to realize that Anne and most likely discerned his intentions as was doing her best to avoid it. "I'll call Phil and she can help us." Anne looked at Gilbert with pleading eyes, almost begging him not to continue on as he had in the past few weeks. He had been so sure, but her body language, her eyes, her words were telling him otherwise.

He wanted to tell her to never mind Phil and the flowers. He wanted to tell her he loved her and wanted to marry her. But he listened to the voice in the dark recesses of his mind that told him if he spoke in that moment, their friendship would be ruined. She would say no – so he did the only thing he could.

"Sounds fine, Anne. I would be happy to pick flowers with you and Phil." The sigh of relief that escaped Anne's lips broke his heart.

Anne was quite relieved. Perhaps I have been imaging his intentions, she thought. She ran in to get Phil, leaving Gilbert with a few moments to himself. What had just happened? Had he really only imagined that there was more between them then friendship? Had he truly been this foolish? That he loved Anne was not to be doubted. He had thought she felt the same way

Gilbert Blythe was not a vain man; at least he endeavored not to be. What vanity he had as a boy was quickly beaten out of him with one thwack of a slate, followed by five years in exile at the hands of Anne Shirley. If he were being honest, Gilbert would not have had to look too far or try too hard to find a girl who would be happy to have him court her or hang on his arm at dances. Finding girls interested in him was never a problem. He had spent two years avoiding the fast set at White Sands, not always an easy enterprise. But Gilbert was interested in none of them. He had only ever had eyes for Anne. She had intrigued in from the very beginning. Perhaps she first intrigued him because she never flattered his vanity like so many of the other girls in Avonlea. That fact alone made her different and that made Gilbert determined to make her notice him. And boy had he succeeded, beyond his wildest imagination, only not in the way he wanted. If he thought hard enough about it he could still feel the crack of the slate as it broke across his head, his astonishment had mitigated the pain. Nine years had now come and gone. His intrigue had given way to love. His heart had been irrevocably hers for those nine years. In the beginning it meant little, for they were young and she had refused to speak to him for the first five of those years. But the moment she offered her hand in friendship at the Blythe gate, Gilbert fell even harder for the orphan girl from Bolingbroke who finally gave purpose to his life. Gilbert had given up the Avonlea School because he thought it was the decent thing to do. He thought perhaps he could finally make amends for their first encounter. But the moment her hand reached for his, he knew he did it because he loved her. He would have done anything to make her happy… even if it meant sacrificing his own dreams.

His reverie was broken by the sounds of Anne, accompanied by Phil and Stella stepping into the orchard. Gilbert laughed bitterly at the sight. What Anne? Was Phil not enough company for you to be comfortable with me? He stood as the ladies made their way to him.

"Good evening ladies," Gilbert said with more cheer than he felt. What he really wanted to do was leave. But he knew if he did that it would look strange. He would only have to endure a bit more before he could leave with his self-respect intact. "I hear we are flower picking."

"Yes, Gilbert," said Stella, "Anne just can't get enough of these white violets. Apparently we are urgently needed to pick more with both of you." Stella said it in all innocence, a jest at Anne's determination that Phil and Stella join them. If she knew she was twisting Gilbert's heart with her words, she would have stopped talking immediately. "Honestly Anne, we have two full arrangements worth inside."

Anne looked at Gilbert and saw a look on his face she could not recognize. Whatever it was, he looked like he was in pain. Her heart broke a little. But she could say nothing, for she knew not what to say. Luckily Phil, who noticed the awkwardness of the situation, was there to lighten the mood, "Well, I for one can never get enough white violets. We can pick some for my room."

"Whatever you say Phil. It beats the Latin homework I was doing so count me in," said Stella.

Gilbert smiled at Phil while doing everything in his power not to look at Anne. Why was this so awkward? Nothing happened? Come on, Blythe! Pull it together before you do or say something stupid!"

"Well it's been my experience that a lady can never have too many flowers," Gilbert finally managed to say with a smile. "And it would be a shame if Anne had to leave her goldmines with treasures undiscovered."

Phil and Stella looked at Gilbert quizzically, assured he was speaking in that language he and Anne often did that only they understood. Gilbert finally found the courage to look at Anne, who rewarded him with an appreciative smile. Anne thought in that moment that one of her greatest treasures was standing before her smiling. Her stomach fluttered slightly at his intense gaze. Her relief was great as she shuddered to think what might have happened to their friendship. He must have understood it too. They both stood staring at each other for several moments. Gilbert could only think about what a terrible fool he had been until thoughts of just how beautiful Anne was overrode everything. Finally he sighed and looked away, accompanying the ladies to the tree.

They made small talk for another half an hour before Gilbert gladly took his leave. As he said his goodbyes, Anne had a moment of panic. While much of the awkwardness had dissipated, she was still unsure where they stood now.

He turned to leave as the other ladies went inside. He heard Anne call his name gently.

"Gil, are we still on to study tomorrow evening?"

Gilbert turned around and smiled at her, "Of course, Carrots. I'll be here at six o'clock sharp. Don't forget to read the study sheet."

"I won't, thanks Gil!" Anne responded with a relief at his appellation of endearment. Gilbert only nodded as he walked away from Patty's Place.

Anne knew not what to make of the evening. She had been sure he had been about to declare himself. It would have been dreadful indeed. But perhaps she had been wrong. It was all so confusing to her. The prospect of breaking his heart was a terrible thought. But the prospect of losing his friendship was even worse. She was glad she had to do neither. Oh why can't he just be sensible? I don't care for him like that! She sighed as she walked inside. She could tell Phil had picked up on the tension but Anne said nothing to her about it. It was all speculation anyways. Whatever he may have wanted to say, he didn't. Anne didn't let herself think that just because he said nothing didn't mean he felt nothing. Because to think that would alter everything. Nor did she analyze the queer flutter in her stomach when Gilbert's intense gaze bored into her soul.

Anne declined Phil's invitation to a slice of her own lemon pie and went to bed. She knew Phil would want to talk, but there was nothing to say. She went up to her room where her sleep did not come easy. Shockingly, it wasn't thoughts of Gilbert's feelings for her that kept her awake but rather the unsettling prospect of a summer in Avonlea without him.

Gilbert walked home a bit unbelieving of what had just happened. Had I been about to propose marriage to Anne? He had thought about it hundreds of times before, knowing it was something he would do in the future. But tonight, when he saw her sitting in the moonlight, his heart ached for her. But he had been foolish. While he was more than ready to declare his love, she was simply wishing him gone.

How could I have thought she returned my feelings? Am I really such a blind fool that I saw something that wasn't there? Evidently he had. He was worried that it would be hard to see her now. But perhaps he could act as though it never happened… Although, he would know! Gilbert wished he knew the reason for her reluctance to hear him out. But at the same time he didn't, for it could only mean she did not love him as he did her. The thought tore at his soul as he realized just how much of who he had become was wrapped up in his dreams for a future with Anne. He hardly knew himself now. What was he working for if not for a future with the woman he loved? Did he now have to construct a future that didn't include her? Perhaps he had been foolish to build his future around their friendship, but how could he not when he knew in the deepest parts of his heart that Anne was the only woman for him? He could not imagine loving another. Simply put, Anne Shirley was the tether that bound Gilbert to happiness.

At that thought, he laughed bitterly to himself as he almost wished he had proposed. Had she rejected him he would have had an excuse to put some distance between them. But he quickly realized that was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't sure he could survive without her in his life. His heart was being pulled in too many directions. But one thing he knew for certain, he needed Anne Shirley. Life without her was not an option – it would be endless torture. But he had to admit that a summer apart – just a bit of distance between them – would be good for him. Perhaps he could work to put his feelings for her behind him.

By the time he made it home to the boarding house, Gilbert had resolved to pretend this day never happened. He would bury his feelings for now and continue has if nothing had changed. And nothing really had changed. Gilbert still loved her and they were still friends. It would have to be enough for now. Her friendship was too important to him; he had fought for her regard for so long. He refused to give it up, no matter what happened or didn't happen between them. They had two more years at Redmond and so much could happen. Gilbert would not give up on her until he heard her tell him that she could never love him. But how he would proceed from this moment would be different indeed. He would have to guard his heart more carefully. It was a futile thought for one so completely lost to her. He sighed as he fell on to his bed. As confused as he was about everything, one final thought marked his brain before he fell into a restless sleep, Thank goodness I kept my stupid mouth shut!