And here is the final installment of Courting Gilbert, finally! I really didn't want it to end, but at the same time, I told the story I set out to tell so it end it must. You've all been so wonderful and encouraging! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for taking your precious time and investing it in this story. It means everything to me. I have many of you I would like to personally thank and certainly will via PM so as not to make this A/N too very long. I have had such fun writing along side of some of you as well. Your talent has been quite inspiring. I may do some vignettes that fill a few gaps from this story here and there (Ronald's proposal, Diana's wedding, etc) but I don't have a timeline to post them. To those who have asked me about a sequel... I never say never, but certainly not anything that would be done right away. I am going to concentrate on my own characters and writing for a bit. But I'll be back...simply because I love this forum and the people on it! Thank you all so very much!

So, without further ado, enjoy! I hope I gave you a satisfying conclusion!

With deepest gratitude,

~Lizzy

Dawn broke at Green Gables just as it did every morning, low morning light peaked into the window of Anne's white room, somehow illuminating the very corner of the room where her wedding dress hung in all it's joyful radiance. At least that was the description Anne had given it when she first saw it two weeks ago, causing Marilla to roll her eyes in response. Mrs. Lynde declared a dress might be called radiant, but joyful was a bridge too far for a garment, even if it was a wedding dress. Anne had kissed them both on the cheek and then rushed off to try it on. It fit her perfectly, her slender body curving in every proper place. Diana had come to see her and was convinced that Anne would be the most beautiful bride she would likely ever see.

And now, it was her long awaiting wedding day! Anne relaxed for a few moments in her childhood bed, the very place she had laid her head on that first uncertain night she spent here. She could not help but feel that it was all bit unreal. How had a young little nothing of a girl come to this place and made such a life for herself? Anne often found herself wondering just what her life might have been like had she never set foot in this very room, indeed never come to Avonlea at all. It was a chilling thought, for to never know Marilla and Matthew was a bleak picture. But what if they had gotten the boy they had wanted? What may have become of Anne Shirley had she not come to Green Gables? The familiar shiver that always accompanied that particular musing went down her spine. It was not an uncommon wondering for her. But something about this morning made Anne rather sure, for perhaps the first time since she had first pondered that alternate universe, that even had that serendipitous mistake never occurred, Anne would have somehow found her way to Avonlea. She would have found her way to Marilla and Matthew. She would have found her way to Gilbert.

Somehow.

Some way.

It was almost destiny, was it not?

Thinking on all that had happened in the past four years, Anne thought back to that that day at the Stone House once again. She shivered again as she remembered seeing and wanting to ignore those first tender feelings that she has recognized for Gilbert. What a fool she would have been to do so. She then imagined yet another world in which she had managed to pull the veil back over her eyes that day.

What might have come of her blindness to her love for Gilbert?

What foolishness might have awaited her then?

Luckily, she would never know. For today she was to marry Gilbert!

Anne gingerly sat up in bed and smiled contentedly. A long sigh escaped her lips as she wondered just what it was her soon to be husband was doing at that moment. But she would not wonder for long, for no sooner had she posed the question then she heard a knock at her door. Diana and Phil burst through the door, both with the widest of grins on their faces. It was time for Anne to get ready.

Breakfast at the Blythe table was uncommonly quiet. Not that it was generally a voluble affair, but this morning it was more restrained that usual. Gilbert pushed food all over his plate but ate little of it, Caroline stared at her son as though she was attempting to remember his every feature, and John Blythe looked between the two of them and shook his head with a grin.

It as Caroline who broke the peaceful silence, "Gilbert, be sure you eat all your breakfast. It's going to be along day and you will need your strength," She spoke sweetly, but with all the authority of a mother who still stood as the guardian of her son, at least for a few more hours anyhow. That role would now fall to Anne. Caroline could not pretend there wasn't a part of her that was sad to see her son leave their home for good. But there was no doubt in her mind that Anne was a woman worthy of taking care of her beloved boy. Then she chuckled, for Gilbert was no longer a boy. Looking at him across the breakfast table, there was no mistaking that he was the man she had always hoped he would be.

"Mom, I'm eating. I've had two plates already. Anymore and I won't fit in my suit," Gilbert complained good-naturedly.

"Fiddlesticks!" she replied. "Don't think I haven't noticed how thin you got over your last term. Your clothes have been hanging on you. I don't know what they did to you at Redmond but it's a wonder you didn't get sick. I've only had a month to get you fixed up."

"And you've done a wonderful job, Ma. I haven't eaten this well in months. But it's a wedding, not a football game." Gilbert smiled at his mother. "How much food can I be expected to eat on a day like today?"

At this John Blythe saw fit to intervene, "Caroline, leave the boy be. I am sure he's nervous enough without you adding to it." John looked at his wife lovingly.

"I am not adding to anything. But I won't have it be said that I sent my son to his bride on a empty stomach."

Gilbert chuckled. "Ma, I appreciate it, I truly do. But I couldn't eat another bite. Besides, you should get to Green Gables. Anne wanted you there to help her."

"Oh, I know. But she knows I had to take care of you first."

Gilbert got up from his seat, stood behind his mother and gave a kiss on the cheek. "And no one does a better job than you. But Anne needs you too."

At this Caroline softened. "Oh alright. If you're sure you don't need anything else."

"I am fine, I promise. Fred will be here soon and Dad is here. I promise they'll deliver me to Green Gables will unscathed… and with a full stomach."

Caroline smiled. He was right of course. She had promised Anne she would be there to assist her with anything she needed. Not that she believed Anne truly needed her help, but she had been thrilled to be included in the preparations nonetheless. Her job here was done. Gilbert was a man ready to marry the woman he loved. And Caroline needed to be there for her future daughter.

She slowly rose from the table and after several minutes of gathering, baskets, clothes and whatever else she needed, Gilbert escorted her to the waiting buggy. As he helped her in, he kissed her cheek again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Gilbert." He smiled at her and turned to leave, only making a half revolution, before turning back with an expectant look on his face. The confident man she had seen only moments ago seemed to have vanished before her eyes. "Ma," he began, and then abruptly stopped.

"What is it, Gil?"

He hesitated a moment longer before asking her what he had longed to since he and Anne had become engaged. "Do you think I'll be a good enough husband?"

At his sincere doubt, Caroline's heart melted. She stepped down from the carriage and pulled her son into a warm embrace as she kissed his cheek. "Gilbert, you are every ounce your father's son. I have no doubt in my heart about you being a loving and wonderful husband. If I did, you best be sure I would have already told you as much. Don't ever doubt the kind of man you are. I see the way Anne looks at you. She has no doubts about you and neither do I."

Gilbert hugged her tightly again. "Thanks, Ma." They stood in the embrace for a moment before Gilbert helped her up again and she rode off in the direction of Green Gables.

John Blythe watched from the porch and smiled as his son turned towards him. Gilbert smiled and shrugged his shoulders at John as he walked towards him. He stopped and they both watch the buggy drive away and pass a new one that carried the newly harried Frank Wright. But before Fred made it to the gate, John put his arm around his son and spoke with conviction. "You'll be a good husband, Gilbert. Don't ever doubt that."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're a good man, son. And good men always make the best husbands." There was no time for more as Fred walked up and greeted Gilbert with a hearty slap on the back. Fred's clothes were a bit disheveled and he had dark circles under his eyes, the strain of being a new father was definitely showing. But Fred carried himself as though he had never heard of babies. For the first words out of his mouth had nothing to with how exhausted he was, or how much he missed those nights of uninterrupted sleep. He simply looked at Gilbert with a wide and knowing grin and said, "Alright, Blythe, let's go get you married."

"Oh, Anne! You look beautiful," gushed Diana as Anne twirled a little in her gown.

"Gilbert won't know what to do when he sees you, Queen Anne," Phil agreed.

Anne looked at herself in the mirror and had to admit she looked well. Her hair was pinned back at the nape of her neck with a few whips curled at the sides. Her insistence on the style of her hair had made Phil and Diana laugh when they understood it was how Gilbert liked it best. They teased Anne over it until she threatened their immediate removal from her room. "Oh, Anne don't be cross with us! Phil pleaded. "We can't help that we love seeing you so happy. And maybe just the slightest bit ridiculous over a man!"

"Don't talk to me about ridiculous! I seem to remember someone in this room almost fainting before her wedding!" replied Anne, smiling

"You didn't!" Diana gasped at Phil.

"Oh she surely almost did! I was afraid I was going to end up dragging her down the stairs and, consequently, down the aisle too."

At this Phil intervened to defend herself to Diana. "It was not my fault! Mother insisted on keeping the window closed so the breeze wouldn't ruin my hair. It got so hot in there I couldn't stand it. It's possible I started to swoon. Anne had to catch me."

"Oh dear," Diana replied.

"That's not the half of it. Tell her what happened, Anne. I can't say it without laughing.

Anne obliged and relayed the rest of the story. "Well, Phil was so hot that we decided to take off her dress for a bit until it was time for the ceremony. She asked me to loosen her corset too, which I did. Phil took the corset off and felt much better, no longer in danger of fainting. I gave her some cold water and all was well. But I guess we didn't realize how late it had gotten because in the next minute the maid knocked and told us the ceremony was about to begin. Well imagine how we hurried and in the rush to get Phil out the door, we may have forgotten to put her corset back on."

Diana gasped, "You didn't!" was all she could say yet again.

"We most certainly did!" Phil replied, laughing. "In a most elegant wedding filled with the most illustrious souls in all of Bolingbroke, yours truly got married sans corset!"

Diana's shock gave way to laughter and all three ladies laughed merrily. "Did your mother ever find out?" asked Diana between giggles.

"Oh, I don't think so. Had she, I would have never hear the end of it. I would have been the shame of the Gordon's no doubt!"

"I can't imagine," said Anne.

"Well I was heaps more comfortable, I assure you." Phil said and then with a satisfied smiled added, "And once Jonas got over his shock later that evening, I assure you he was quite pleased about it!"

"Phil!," cried Diana, swatting her arm as a warm blush spread over Anne's cheeks.

"Oh, Diana! Anne told me you two talked already. She knows what she ought to. Besides, Anne becomes a wife today and I dare say she's as excited about what's to come as I was."

Diana opened her mouth to protest, but Anne intervened. "She's right, Diana. I am excited about what's to come. I want to finally belong to Gil in every way. And talking about it with you two helps me be less nervous."

Diana reached over and took Anne's hand in hers. "Anne, there's nothing to be nervous about, I told you. Gilbert loves you and you love him. The rest will all take care of itself. Being the wife of a good man is the sweetest blessing in the world."

"Not to mention very enjoyable," added Phil. Anne and Diana looked over at Phil and, as if on cue, all three of them started another fit of laughter.

They were interrupted when a knock came at the door and Marilla entered the room with Caroline behind her. Marilla saw Anne as she turned around to greet her and she stopped short. Marilla Cuthbert had never put too much stock in looks. But looking at Anne, she could honestly say she never saw a more beautiful bride in all her days.

"You look very lovely, Anne," Marilla finally said. "Very lovely indeed. I dare say Gilbert won't know what he is about when he sees you. I hope Fred is there to catch him."

At this bit of levity, Anne chuckled and embraced Marilla. "We will have to be sure we have Mrs. Lynde's smelling salts available then."

"You look beautiful, Anne. Truly beautiful," gushed Caroline, rushing to give Anne a hug.

"Thank you," replied Anne. Caroline beamed that Anne had worn the comb in her hair that she had given her when she arrived. She would be forever grateful that the woman standing before her would be the one to take care of her son from now on.

"Well, everyone is here and it's almost time," said Marilla.

"Gilbert is here?" Anne heard herself ask, expectantly.

"Yes, Anne, he's here," Caroline said gently. "He asked me to give this to you before the ceremony." Caroline placed a note in Anne's now trembling hand. "Thank you," Anne said again before clutching the note and then her future mother in law tight to her chest. Anne pulled away slowly and crossed the room to her open window. She looked out the window at the gathering crowd.

"I-I think I might need a minute alone though, if that's alright with you all" Anne said.

"Of course, dear," Phil replied first. All the ladies gave Anne warm hugs as the exited the room. Marilla was the last to leave when Anne called her back. "Marilla! Would you mind staying just a minute."

"Of course not, Anne." Marilla walked back into the room and closed the door. Anne took Marilla's hand in hers and they sat on the bed. Anne found herself a bit at a loss for words as she looked into a mother's eyes. "What is it?"

"Oh, Marilla! How can I ever- I mean - How can I ever thank you enough!"

Marilla was caught off guard at the outburst. "Thank me! Whatever for?""

"For bringing me here to Green Gables. For letting me stay."

"Anne," Marilla began to admonish, but Anne stopped her.

"No, please Marilla let me finish. I've always wondered just what might have happened to me had I not come here. I can't bear to imagine my life without you in it. You and Matthew opened your hearts to me. I can't ever repay that, not in a hundred lifetimes. But what I can do is make sure you know how truly grateful I am. And how incredibly blessed I have always felt to be a Cuthbert, even if not officially. I'll always be your daughter, Marilla. And you, my dear, dear woman, will always be my mother. The only one I've ever known and the one I thank God everyday for. Thank you!"

Anne wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face, but she never took her eyes off of Marilla.

Marilla was a bit overcome herself and taking a minute to compose herself, took something out of her pocket. "Anne, it's been the joy of my life to know you as a daughter. I told you once before that you saved my life by coming here. But I think you also saved my heart. Saved me from me dying a bitter lonely woman. I think God knew we needed each other don't you think?"

Anne smiled, "Yes, I think He did!"

Marilla offered the trinket in her hand to Anne, who took it. "I meant to give this to you downstairs before the ceremony started but I guess now might be best."

Anne unwrapped the cloth from around it to reveal a well-worn, silver pocket watch. She would have known it anywhere. It was Matthew's.

"I had wanted to save it, perhaps as a present for your first son. But the more I thought about it the more I thought you might like to have a little piece of Matthew to walk with you down the aisle. You can consider it your something old."

Anne turned the watch over in her hands, opening and closing it several times. When she looked up at Marilla, Anne saw that she was just as emotional as she was. "Marilla, are you sure?"

Marilla nodded, "He would want you to have it, Anne. He would want any son of yours to have it."

Anne hugged Marilla warmly. "Oh thank you, Marilla. Oh, I will cherish this, always!"

"I know you will."

"Matthew would have liked to walk me down the aisle, don't you think?" Anne asked as she began wrapping the watch chain around her bouquet of roses.

Marilla nodded, "I think nothing would have meant more to him," was the simple, honest reply. "But, come now. We have to get downstairs," Marilla said, wiping her eyes and standing up.

But Anne had one more question to ask, "Marilla, please tell me the truth now, are you really alright with Professor Sanderson walking me down the aisle? Because if you're not, if you think Matthew would be displeased, I won't do it." Anne's voice was shaking and Marilla's heart broke for the girl. She sat back down on the bed and took Anne's hand in hers, the hand that still held Matthew's watch.

Marilla considered her words carefully, wanting to be sure what she spoke was from her heart. It was the only way Anne would hear or understand her. Marilla had thought this issue was already settled to the satisfaction of both of them. But if Anne needed to be reassured, she would gladly do it. "Anne, listen to me. Matthew loved you with a fierceness that I can only imagine your very own father felt for you the first time he held you in his arms." Marilla stopped at Anne's sharp intake of breath, but continued on when she saw Anne's eager eyes compelling her to finish. "You've been unlucky enough to lose two fathers in this lifetime, Anne. No one should have to bear that burden. If you've found a man to fill that void in your heart, no one, not Matthew and not even your own father would begrudge that. Thomas Sanderson isn't replacing Matthew Cuthbert in your heart any more than Matthew replaced Walter Shirley. You deserve to have a man you love and respect walk you down that aisle. Not to give you away, but to stand by your side until it's Gilbert's turn to stand by it forever." Marilla paused again, seeing the tears in Anne's eyes. Marilla cupped Anne's face in her hands and let out her own shaky breath. "Matthew, and I am sure your dear father, are looking down on you today with all the pride in the world at the woman you've become, Anne. And that means more than a few steps down an aisle ever can."

"Oh, Marilla!" Anne gasped before she wrapped Marilla up in a tight embrace. Marilla responded by hugging her girl fiercely and with no little emotion. There they stayed for several moments, until Anne finally pushed back. "Marilla, thank you. Thank you for being the mother I never dreamed of, but the one I so desperately needed. The one I thank God every day I was lucky enough to have in my life. You've given me everything. And, I - I will always be your girl."

Anne hugged Marilla again and it was then that tears began to trickle down Marilla's face. She had long considered Anne her girl, her daughter. But to know that Anne considered her a mother was more than she could handle on a day like today. She supposed she always knew Anne felt that way. But it was never spoken. Marilla would never allow such foolishness, would she? But as Anne's words spoke of what was in her heart, Marilla knew the truth of it. She said a little prayer of thanks that she perhaps she had done Bertha Shirley proud.

After a few minutes, yet another knock at the door drove them apart. "Come, Anne, we can't keep Gilbert waiting forever now can we?"

Anne laughed, "I suppose not, although it wouldn't do good to seem too overly eager now would it?"

Marilla rolled her eyes. And opened the door to an expectant Diana. "Come, Anne. It's time."

Anne looked felt the note that she still held in her hand. The one from Gilbert she was meant to read before the ceremony. "Give me just a minute, Di."

"Anne! Everyone is waiting!"

"Diana, I hardly think they'll start without the bride!" Anne said calmly as she gently closed the door on Diana after Marilla walked out of it.

Anne deposited herself on her bed and unfolded the note in her hand,

My Dear Almost Wife,

In a few short moments I am sure I will be rather speechless seeing you walk down the aisle and I may lose all sense I have as I drink your beauty. So if I do forget myself and somehow Jo or Fred has to nudge me to attention, just know it's because your beauty, your radiance, your very existence has taken my breath away. If I do manage to make it through the ceremony unscathed, credit that to the 'excellence of my mind', as you once kindly put it. And I will say the same thing now that I said when I told you I won the Cooper. The excellence of my mind, the beating of my own heart, the very breath I draw, mean nothing without you. You gave me life. And as I am about to pledge that life to you, remember not that I love you, because how could you ever forget that? But please remember that I will spend all that excellence, all those heartbeats, and all those breaths on making you as happy as I possibly can for as long as we both shall live.

I shall see you soon, my love. And in case you've forgotten, after today you will be mine forever and, my dear Miss Shirley, you and I will both find out together just what you wondered about the day at the Stone House after the Irving's wedding. We will find out together, my dear beautiful bride, just what alters after marriage.

Your hopelessly in love almost husband,

Gil

Anne felt the blush stain her cheek as she read his words and marveled at the power he had over her with a mere scrap of paper. But she melted at his words nonetheless and suddenly nothing was more urgent than getting to him as quickly as possible.

To her groom.

Her husband.

Anne rose from the bed and walked to the door, glancing back only briefly to looked at herself one last time in the mirror. She giggled as she did so, thinking that the next time she did that, the woman looking back at her would be Mrs. Gilbert Blythe.

In all the commotion of the morning, Thomas Sanderson stood rather uselessly on the front porch of Green Gables, waiting to be told what to do and when to do it from people who certainly knew better than he about brides. His wife, having made herself useful arranging flowers on the carriage that was to take the newlyweds to Bright River to catch the boat train to Kingsport, had abandoned him unceremoniously and with little regret as it turned out. She found a friend in Caroline Blythe almost the moment they were introduced four days ago. So when Caroline mentioned her role in readying the carriage, Sarah was only too eager to help. That was all well and good, but it still left a rather lost Thomas pacing back and forth, needlessly wearing the floorboards of Marilla Cuthbert's verandah. How he had come to be there, in this position, he could hardly fathom. He would not have missed Anne and Gilbert's wedding for anything, but he never expected he would be asked to be a part of it, let alone such an important part!

When Anne has asked him, on the evening of their very arrival, to walk her down the aisle, Thomas was speechless. While he had long thought of Anne as a daughter of sorts, he never dreamed he had been as important to her as she was to him. He knew that she was grateful to him, that she respected him, and that she admired him. But never did he conceive that she thought enough him, loved him in truth, to ask this of him.

"Anne," he had asked, "are you certain this is what you want? Perhaps there is another-"

But Anne cut him off, "Another man who would give up hours of his time to help me for no other reason than his own goodness? Another man who would come with me to Boston when he had no business there to be there for me at one of the most important moments of my life? Another man who sat in the crowd at convocation and beamed with pride as I walked across the stage? There is no such other man, Professor. I've come to love you and Sarah, very much, I would be honored if you would walk with me and share this day with me. With us."

He could not possibly refuse, nor did he want to. But he confessed to his wife later that evening that he wasn't sure it was right. He wasn't her father. Not even close. It was only when Sarah had made him realize that evening that a family could take many forms that he began to feel at ease and eminently honored at the request. It was more than he could have ever hoped for in this life, to guide a woman as impressive as Anne down the aisle at her wedding. What he had done to deserve it, he knew not. But he thanked God for bringing Anne into his life to fill a void he had always known was there, but could not name. He was a happier man for it. He was a better husband. He was complete.

So when Anne stepped out on the verandah with her entourage behind her, it was only fitting that he should look at her with pride and love. Emotion swelled in his chest and he willed it away with all the patient practice of a man of his good sense. But looking at Anne's eyes, he knew he was not fooling her for a second. She reached out her hand to him and he took it in his.

"You look beautiful, Anne."

Anne smiled. "Thank you, Professor Sanderson."

"I thought we agreed. It's Thomas now, please," he said gently.

"Yes, we did agree. Sorry, it might take some getting used to… Thomas."

He smiled in reply. "Shall we?"

Anne took his arm and held it tightly

With every step towards the orchard, she was that much closer to her Gilbert.

Gilbert stood at the front of a makeshift cathedral, looked out into the faces of the waiting crowd and smiled nervously. They were all there for them, to celebrate with them and it warmed his heart considerably that so many had come, some from no short distance, to be with them on their day. Gilbert briefly caught the eye of Ronald Stuart, who sat patiently next to his wife with such a look of contentment about him, that Gilbert wondered at it briefly. Ronald's arm was around Stella and his other hand held hers, caressing her fingers as they talked in whispered tones to one another. Gilbert looked only long enough for Ronald to give him a smile and a brief wave, for Ronald did not seem to want to relinquish his wife's hand for anything more substantial. Gilbert chuckled inwardly at his friend but looked at him with no little admiration. Ronald Stuart had married quite well indeed and it showed.

Gilbert would not find out until after the ceremony just why Ronald's eyes had seemed to sparkle a bit in the early afternoon sun that day. Had he looked at Stella closer, he might have seen the soft, yet radiant glow in her cheeks or perhaps noticed the way she kept touching her stomach reverently.

But Gilbert noticed none of that, at least not at this moment.

At this moment, all he could think about was that he hardly believed this day was here.

That this moment was here!

Could the last four years have been a wonderful dream?

He was flanked by Fred to his left and Jonas, who was to officiate the ceremony, to his right. Fred whispered something into his ear that he barely heard, while Jonas simply smiled widely as his nervous friend. Having himself been a only recently married, Jonas understood all too well just what Gilbert was feeling and thinking in these few moments before his beloved stood before him.

Gilbert tried to stand still, he tried not to move, but every second that passed by made him unreasonably irritated.

Or was it excitement?

Or perhaps nerves?

He couldn't say, except to say none of it was rational. He thought briefly to Milton, but even his genius was denied space in Gilbert's brain as he waited. Perhaps Shakespeare or Tennyson would do. But it was all useless, he could only think of Anne. And the sheer torture of waiting for her to come to him.

He felt a steadying hand come to his shoulder. Fred leaned forward only slightly. "Gil," he said quietly and with a certain determination "it's Anne." That was all Fred said as he gave a slight smile.

Gilbert was instantly taken back…It was the same thing Gilbert had said to Fred, who was in a similar state at his own wedding only a year ago. Fred had been fidgeting and much more red the usual. When Gilbert could hardly stand to see him so any longer, he simply stood in front of Fred to shield him from the crowd and told him simply, "Fred, it's Diana."

As that thought sank into Fred's brain, he had calmed considerably. It was Diana, his beloved Diana, coming to him. He should not be nervous, he should be pleased and proud. And excited and happy.

Gilbert, quickly remembering that day, now gave a nod of acknowledgement to Fred and mouthed a quick thank you.

It's Anne.

My Anne, he thought

My beloved Anne.

She's coming to me- his thought was interrupted by the sound of music playing. People began to stand one by one and in another second he saw a peak of red come around the corner of the crowd. She was coming.

If Gilbert thought seeing Anne walk to him in *the sweet surrender of a bride* would take his breath away, he was woefully unprepared. Not only did he almost cease breathing when he saw her, but his knees almost gave way as he gazed upon her beautiful smiling face. As she advanced down the aisle towards him, their eyes never leaving one another, Gilbert stood rather awestruck. It was only credit to Fred's subtle clearing of his throat coupled with Jonas's wry chuckle that Gilbert finally remembered he would need to actually use his brain to put one foot in front of the other in order to move forward to greet his bride.

But greet her he did, taking her hand in his, still not breaking eye contact. There they stood, before God and loved ones ready to pledge their lives. Jonas began the ceremony with a robust 'dearly beloved,' and Gilbert felt everything melt away. Leaving only the deepest contentment in his heart at that moment. He knew Anne felt it too. He could see it in her loving look and feel it in the touch of her hand. It was the absolute certainty that *they belonged to each other; and, no matter what life might hold for them, it could never alter that. Their happiness was in each other's keeping and both were unafraid.*

Some hours later, after a wonderful wedding reception, Anne and Gilbert said a protracted, sad, happy, all-consuming goodbye and alighted their bedecked carriage for Bright River to catch the last ferry to Kingsport. They made only one stop along their way out of Avonlea. A much overdue one. Anne stepped down from the carriage carrying her bouquet of roses and with all the reverence in her heart and no little gratitude; she laid the flowers at the grave of Ruby Gillis with a sigh. Gilbert stood beside her as she did so, both of them thinking on what Ruby's life and death had meant for them. Gilbert squeezed Anne's hand in support and they stood there for a few moments in silent gratitude for the life lesson of poor Ruby Gillis.

It was Anne who broke the perfect silence when she turned to Gilbert and kissed his lips very briefly. "Come husband. Let's go home."

Gilbert smiled like an idiot at her appellation, but responded warmly, "As you wish, my darling wife."

And take her home he did. Hours later, just as the sun was setting over the water in Kingsport, Gilbert carried his bride across the threshold of their home.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Blythe," Gilbert said kissing Anne's soft lips before putting her down on firm ground.

"Anne Blythe. You know, I believe I am going to like being called that," she replied as he twirled her around gaily.

"I do hope so, my dear." Gilbert bent down to kiss her again, when a knock came at the door. They both startled, wondering who in the world that could be. Anne almost laughed at the expression on Gilbert's face when he clearly thought it was some boundary-challenged well-wisher who came to offer congratulations on their wedding night. Reluctantly releasing his wife, Gilbert turned and opened the door to find a lone deliveryman before him. "Delivery for Mr. and Mrs. Blythe."

"Oh, that would be us," Gilbert replied.

"Yes, sir, please sign here," the man said, clearly not caring that it was a day worthy of such celebration.

Gilbert did as he was bid and in the next moment the man brought in two large baskets and placed them unceremoniously on the nearest table. Once they were placed and the deliveryman dispatched, Anne looked before her. The first basket was a the most beautiful bouquet of flowers she had ever seen. The second contained a cornucopia of a food and drink; champagne, wine, fruits, chocolates, jams, and every other manner of food that would take an army to eat through. "What in the world?" Anne gasped. "Who could this be from?"

"There's a card, let's see," Gilbert replied.

Anne found the card and opened in hastily.

"Dear Anne and Gilbert,

On the occasion of your wedding, please enjoy these baskets as a token of my congratulations. I am sorry I could not make the wedding, but I look forward to seeing you both in Boston in less than two weeks. Everyone here at Curtis is anxiously awaiting your arrival so we can properly celebrate your nuptials as only Boston can.

Cheers to you both!

Regards and best wishes,

Davis Callaghan"

Anne smiled. "That was very thoughtful of him."

Caught somewhere between relief at being alone once again and gratitude for the thoughtful gesture, Gilbert replied, "Yes, it was. How in the world did he know when we would be back in Kingsport?"

Anne laughed. "If I know Davis, that poor delivery man has been waiting outside all day, I am sure. And compensated handsomely for his efforts no doubt."

Gilbert shrugged, "I suppose there are worse ways to make a living. And I confess, I am a bit hungry."

"Oh are you, husband? I rather thought you might only have eyes for your wife this evening," Anne teased.

But Gilbert didn't miss a single beat. "And just who said I was hungry for food?" His eyes raked over her body passionately and Anne could not stop the blush that stained her cheeks.

There would be no restraint now. They were bound to one another and free act on those desires that had burned inside both of them for so long.

They both knew it and the tension of it charged the air between them until Gilbert closed the distance between them and bestowed a glorious, passionate kiss on her waiting lips. Anne melted into him, free to let him see just how much she enjoyed being loved by him.

Other words were said, passionate words, teasing words, loving words in those moments as they danced and flirted their way to that fulfillment. The champagne was opened, a toast made, and by the end of that blessed evening, no barriers remained between them. They were husband and wife in every sense of the word.

Hours later, as Anne laid in her husband's arms in blissful happiness, she thought back once again to that day the veil had lifted and she realized Gilbert had always been so much more than a friend. He had been more ever since their first infamous meeting. Anne was grateful for her shattered dreams of a lifetime past, dreams of knights and castles that now held no appeal for her as she felt the gentle caress of Gilbert's hands slide down the side of her body. No, her *romance did not come into her life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; it had unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.* And it was, without a doubt, the fulfillment of her greatest dream. She snuggled into Gilbert closer and relaxed in his strong arms. It was not long before she fell into a peaceful, dream-filled sleep.

Gilbert felt Anne's breathing beside him and he knew she had fallen asleep. He looked at her with an admiring gaze, her red hair splayed across the pillow, her body still lovingly wrapped in his. He quickly counted the seven beautiful freckles on her nose and smiled. His dreams had once again paled to the reality of Anne as his wife. He could not help but think back to that day now so long ago when he first set eyes on her. It was the day that had forever changed the course of his life. It was the day she started him on the journey to be the man who deserved her love. Even now, that little eleven-year old spitfire held sway over Gilbert Blythe and he prayed with all his will that he would be the husband she deserved. But somehow, he already knew he would be, for it was not possible for him to offer her any less than the best he had. Leaning down, he kissed Anne's hair and lovingly whispered a version of those words he has spoken long ago after another wedding, *"We shall walk hand in hand through life, my sweet wife, with no memories behind us but those which belong to each other."* And with one final kiss of her sleeping lips, he met Anne in her dreams as he drifted off into the same peaceful slumber.

The End

**variation of text from Anne of the Island