Chapter Text
“ There’s no leaving Edinburgh, no shifting it around: it stays with you, always .”
- Alan Bold
As Anne sat watching the English countryside fly by, the train let out a whistle, and a wave of relief washed over her. Though the tumultuous ball had ended on a high note, Anne was glad to leave London behind. She was still feeling a mix of different emotions in regards to recent events and she hoped the five hour trip ahead would help her disentangle them. So much had happened in the span of a summer, and she truly felt that the Anne who began this journey was fundamentally different from the one who would be landing back home a week from now.
She had fretted for months over her friends finding her out, but she had to admit she was glad all the cards were on the table now. As much as she wished it had happened on her own terms, the weight of a months-long lie had been lifted from her shoulders nonetheless, and she was elated to be able to enjoy Edinburgh without that shadow following her. Her friends knew the whole truth now and, even if things were a little awkward after the ball, her anxious mind had proven to be—to no one’s surprise—a little over dramatic. No one hated her, and they all seemed to understand why she did it. The sight of Cole’s hurt gaze still haunted Anne when she closed her eyes, but hopefully they would have a chance to talk in the following days.
A very different—and much more welcome—weight on her shoulder pulled Anne from her thoughts as she felt a dozed off Gilbert lean completely on her left side. She giggled at the sight of her beautiful boyfriend ( her boyfriend! ) fast asleep, and her heart gave a start when he unconsciously wrapped his arms around her middle and cuddled into her as far as an uncomfortable train seat would allow him. Anne brought her own arms around his back and pulled him close, leaning her head on his soft bed of dark curls and letting the familiar scent engulf her and silence her overactive mind. Gilbert always had that effect on her, and if she was glad of one thing brought upon by this trip, it was him. His presence, his unwavering support, his enthusiasm. His love.
Anne felt her smile grow without her permission as she reflected on the better part of the last couple of weeks, and she could not help but wish to bottle that joy and bring it home as a souvenir for her to open at a moment of need. She was extremely happy to have finally sorted out her feelings for Gilbert and to find out they were still reciprocated, but she felt an ever growing anxiety around the fact he would not be coming back to Avonlea with her at the end of the week. He still had to finish his studies at the Sorbonne, and Anne would rather chop off her hair again than stand between Gilbert and the dreams he had harboured since their school days.
Luckily for her, the boy in her arms shifted and pressed his face against her neck, leaving a featherlight kiss and a content hum. Anne felt herself blush, but marvelled at the way Gilbert seemed so tuned to her feelings even when he was half asleep. She softly kissed the crown of his head and leaned back into it. The movement of the carriage and Gilbert’s steady breathing helped relax her to the point she felt her own eyes falling shut. The last thing she saw before sleeping through the remainder of the journey was Diana giving them a knowing smirk and pointing her phone at them from the seat on the other side of the aisle. Anne didn’t have it in her to protest.
Approximately five hours later, the Avonlea kids emerged from Edinburgh Waverley station and were immediately greeted with the faint sound of a bagpipe playing nearby.
“Wow,” Josie deadpanned. “You would think they’d give you some adjusting time before throwing the full Scottish experience at you.”
“It feels like stepping into a movie!” Ruby sighed dreamily, causing everyone to snicker affectionately. However, once they set foot in the Old Town, they were inclined to agree. It was immediately easy to feel like a part of Edinburgh, even as a group of Canadian tourists.
Seeing as this was the last stop of the journey, they had decided while planning the trip to splurge a little in their accommodation. They managed to find a lovely and reasonably priced hotel at the bottom of the Royal Mile, and thanks to Anne’s resourcefulness and strange ability to find online coupons, they all had individual rooms. As much as they had enjoyed the different sleeping arrangements over the past months, by now they were all craving some privacy and intimacy, and they high fived their past selves for budgeting so wisely.
Anne sighed with relief as she collapsed on top of her extremely soft bed. She absolutely adored rooming with Diana all summer, but she was sure this quiet week would be mutually appreciated. However , the quiet was quickly interrupted by a knock on her door, and Anne got up gingerly to answer fully expecting her bosom friend to be on the other side. Her face lit up as soon as she saw Gilbert instead. Worryingly though , his expression was apologetic, and Anne’s heart started beating rapidly as she anticipated yet another piece of bad news.
“First of all, everything is fine,” Gilbert said with raised hands, immediately reading her mind. Anne let out a relieved sigh. “However, I think you may have, uh, accounted for sharing your room? When booking the hotel?”
Anne looked at him puzzled. “What? That’s impossible, I distinctly remember Diana coming up with the idea of splurging on individuals.”
Gilbert’s cheeks turned pink. “I- uh. Forgive me for bringing him up, Anne, but, um. I was actually referring to Roy?” He gulped. “Look, it’s not important, Charlie offered to share again, his room has two beds. I just wanted to let you know there isn’t actually an individual room for everyone, just in case you realised later while doing numbers and panicked or something.”
Anne simply stared at him, mouth agape. Really, universe? She thought. You couldn’t let us finish this trip without one last crisis? And then, to Gilbert’s bewilderment, she simply burst out laughing.
“…Anne?”
“I’m sorry!” She tried to speak between giggles. Gilbert watched her with an amused expression as she calmed down, a smile still on her face. “I think my brain has just had enough of these disasters that just keep happening to us. We must have been cursed with bad luck. I officially cannot take it seriously anymore”
“Honestly, that’s very understandable,” he chuckled. “You know, just because something doesn’t go to plan doesn’t mean it’s a disaster though. We should know. It has happened to us plenty on this trip.”
Anne looked at him with an unreadable expression, seemingly trying to decide on something. A second later she made up her mind. She quickly reached for Gilbert’s shirt and pulled him into her room, swiftly closing the door behind him. He didn’t even have time to protest before her lips were on his, delightfully soft and insistent and hungry. His arms quickly wrapped around her back and held her close to his chest. Anne found herself trying to touch every surface available to her at once before quickly deciding to bury her fingers amongst Gilbert’s curls. She gave a tentative tug, something that had elicited quite the response from him back in their Irish cabin. She was excited to find that Gilbert seemed equally appreciative now, his soft moan rippling through her whole body and prompting Anne to break the kiss gasping for air. Gilbert took a second before opening his eyes and looking at her with wonder.
“Not that I’m complaining, Anne,” he panted. “But I certainly was not expecting that response to the news.”
Anne bit her lip. Even now, with the knowledge that she loved him and he loved her and they had nothing to hide from each other anymore, she felt shy. Gilbert’s eyes were fixated on her mouth though, and the desire she so clearly saw in them now made her brave.
It was then that she realised that Gilbert was right. This wasn’t a crisis. Or a disaster. In fact, it was the very opposite for it opened a new, more exciting, door. And she intended to take full advantage.
“Don’t sleep at Charlie’s,” she said, almost a whisper. “You can share with me, if you want.”
Gilbert’s grin could have split his face in half. “I wouldn’t want to deprive you of some well deserved privacy and comfort, Anne-girl.”
“What’s one more week of torture at this point,” she teased.
“Wow,” he quipped with mock offence. “You’re not even going to pretend to do it out of love? And here I was fully ready to lovingly ignore how much you snore!”
Anne’s mouth fell open in playful anger. She started to move away from her position tangled with Gilbert against her door. “Gilbert Blythe! Is this the payment I receive for my kindness? You can go and see how much sleep you get in Charlie’s room for all I c-“
As she was turning around, Gilbert’s hand grabbed hers and pulled her back into him, silencing her protests in a new yet very effective way. Anne smiled into the kiss, not fully believing this was her life now, but just as things seemed to start heating up again another knock on the door made the couple jump apart.
“Anne!” Diana’s voice called from the other side. “Our free tour starts in ten minutes, hurry up!”
Anne’s eyebrows flew to her hairline. Gilbert wore a matching expression. Before she could even think of what to respond, Diana spoke again.
“Gilbert, stop distracting our trip leader, I expect you both to be ready and presentable at the lobby in two minutes.”
And with that, Diana disappeared, the faint sound of footsteps following her. Anne and Gilbert stared at each other in shock for a second before bursting into laughter once again.
“How did she know I was here?!” He cried, clearly surprised.
“She knows everything,” Anne replied sagely. “I don’t question it, she just does.”
“Well, I don’t want to test her powers,” Gilbert joked. “Let’s go explore Edinburgh!”
And so they did. Iona, their tour guide, was a young theatre student very enthusiastic about her home. Anne felt an instant connection to her, and the long tour was even more enjoyable than they expected thanks to the wild stories Iona could tell about every corner they walked past. She started them off by walking up the Royal Mile, letting them gape in wonder at the sight of the castle at the end of the street, and gave them a brief explanation of the other grandiose buildings they could see, like St. Giles Cathedral. Jane, Tillie and Ruby loved Mercat Cross, with its beautiful unicorn on top. The Pauls and Charlie asked for pub recommendations for later that night whilst Moody almost got lost after stopping to see every single bagpiper along the Royal Mile and the William Wallace impersonator. Anne was so used to everyone’s antics by now she couldn’t help but observe her friends with amused fondness.
She also couldn’t help but notice Cole had been exceptionally quiet all morning, and her heart ached knowing that it was definitely her fault. He was friendly enough, but he only spoke to her if strictly necessary. Once again, she felt herself being a new Anne. The Anne who embarked on this trip was terrified of being truly vulnerable and trusting her friends with the parts of her she wasn’t most proud of. At the core of it, she knew that was the reason behind the tumultuous situation she found herself in. She had learned the hard way how that could backfire, and she was a new Anne now. This Anne was not afraid of being honest with her loved ones, and she would not let her pride get in the way of her happiness and her relationships anymore. This new found confidence was what brought her to Cole’s side as Iona guided them down Victoria Street.
“Hey, apparently all the museums are free in Scotland,” Anne started. Cole eyed her warily, but she could see the spark of interest in his face. “Do you want to have a quick lunch after this and visit the National Gallery?”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t be missed?” Cole replied, somewhat cooly.
Anne felt a shameful remorse wrap around her heart. “They can deal with it. I think we’re overdue for a talk,” she said softly. Cole huffed, but didn’t disagree. “Plus, no one can match you for passionate lectures on impressionist art.”
Cole’s lip twitched, and Anne knew he was fighting a smirk. “Well, guess it’s a date then.”
The rest of the tour took them to most of the main landmarks Anne had excitedly googled while researching the trip. The whole group obsessed over Greyfriars Kirkyard, especially after learning it was the starting point for a ghostly tour Iona also worked at night. Anne silently vowed not to go near that kind of event. Her imagination was already overactive enough without being convinced she was walking amongst spirits, but she could see Charlie and Tillie particularly enjoying the show.
Once again, the group slowed down when Iona took them to see Bobby’s statue, a lovely skye terrier guarding the Kirkyard, his snout golden from the love of millions of tourists. Ruby and Moody took a million photos, and even Anne was charmed by the little guy. Gilbert pushed her towards it and took a photo of her enthusiastically booping the dog after Iona told them it was supposed to bring good luck. By the time lunchtime arrived, the tour was near its end. It had taken them all through the Old Town at a surprising speed, and everyone left with the sense of being somewhat familiarised with the city’s history. They were excited to explore some places in more detail like the Castle or Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park, and they excitedly thanked Iona for her splendid job.
True to her word, Anne made quick work of her vegetarian wrap and quickly let Diana and Gilbert know of her plans with Cole. Diana squeezed her hand, a silent message of reassurance, and Gilbert kissed her on the cheek.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he said firmly. Anne felt his faith in her fill her up like a balloon, and with that and an absolute resolve to do right by her dear friend, she went away.
*
The National Gallery of Scotland was divided between two buildings, and after a quick google search Anne and Cole decided on an itinerary. Anne could feel some tension between them, but she trusted their friendship. She was going to fix this. For an hour they strolled around the gallery, Cole explaining the history and techniques behind most artworks, and Anne hanging on to his every word. She had always been moved by words, but Cole had taught her the poetry behind a painting or a sculpture, and with the years he had instilled in her a newfound love of art. Once they reached the last room of the gallery, Cole sat down on one of the comfortable benches, and Anne followed suit. They sat in silence for a minute, quietly studying the portrait in front of them. Cole sighed after a moment, and spoke.
“I’m sorry, Anne,” he murmured.
Anne turned towards him so fast her neck hurt. “What?!” She cried. A security guard shushed her, and she apologised with burning cheeks. In a lower tone, she asked, “Whatever could you possibly be sorry for? I am sorry, Cole. I feel like the worst friend in the entire universe, I should have confided in you.”
“You should never feel obligated to tell me anything, Anne,” Cole smiled sadly. “I don’t expect to know everything. I had my suspicions from the start cause honestly, you’re a terrible liar,” he chuckled despite everything. “I guess I felt left out when I found out with everyone else, but it’s not that big of a deal. I’m sorry for being distant and snippy.”
“Telling you about my life and my problems is not an obligation Cole, I promise,” Anne’s heart broke at the thought of Cole believing she didn’t cherish him as much as she did. She looked away for a second to collect her thoughts. “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, specifically. I was just… a mess, to put it lightly. Diana knew because she knew about Roy from the beginning, but even her knowing gave me anxiety. I was terrified of everyone finding out, and for what?”
She turned back to him with glistening eyes, trying to convey how much she regretted the whole fiasco. “I should have trusted you. I trust you. I was just so unsure of everything, so confused about my feelings for Roy and then for Gilbert, I needed time and space to deal with it all and I simply didn’t have either of those. It’s not an excuse, but so many things went wrong along the way that I could not even entertain the thought of letting anybody else in on the whole… situation. But I should’ve let you in, because I love you, and because I value your opinion and your judgement. I’m sorry I lost sight of that.”
Cole smiled, his eyes glistening as well. “Thank you for saying that,” he whispered. “Obviously I forgive you, Anne. I’m sorry if I teased you or said anything that made it harder for you to come to me.” Anne returned his smile and leaned her head on Cole’s shoulder. “If anything,” he added. “I would have loved the chance to kick Roy’s ass before he escalated everything in London. He may be pretty but not enough to escape these guns.” He mockingly flexed his arm, making Anne snort.
“Now that’s a sight I would have paid to see,” she chuckled, and Cole joined in her laughter. He reached for her hand and squeezed it, and Anne sighed contently. They would be okay.
“So,” Cole smirked. His expression turned cheeky so quickly Anne groaned in anticipation. “You and Gilbert, huh? Who would have ever called that?” He quipped sarcastically. “Oh wait!”
“Shut up!” She whined, hiding her face behind her hands. “You don’t get brownie points for being annoying when we were in school. Nothing would have happened back then anyway.”
“So he wasn’t absolutely heads over heels for you back then?” Cole asked with raised eyebrows. Anne felt herself blush and couldn’t bring herself to respond, not even to deny what she recently learned was absolutely true. Cole smiled, pleased with himself. “I thought so.”
“I hate you,” Anne groaned in mock exasperation.
“No, you don’t,” Cole bumped his shoulder against hers. She smiled.
“No, I don’t.”
*
Anne and Cole rejoined the group right in time for dinner, which was spent laughing and joking around in an old and charming pub Iona had recommended. The food was delicious, even the haggis, which Charlie had complained about trying until everyone was so fed up they almost forced it down his throat in retaliation. This quickly backfired when Charlie realised it was actually delicious, and then the rest of the group had to fight him for a chance to eat from the common plate. Anne was pressed up against Gilbert, smiling fondly at her friend’s antics, when a sigh escaped her lips.
“You alright, Anne-girl?” Gilbert squeezed her shoulder.
“Yeah…” she replied, a bit lost in thought. He didn’t press, and after a beat she went on. “So much went wrong on this trip, and it definitely was not what I had planned or dreamed about…”
“I’m hoping there’s a but in there.”
“ But ,” she chuckled. “I can’t help but feel so incredibly sad it’s ending so soon.”
“I know what you mean,” Gilbert smiled. His expression turned playful. “It’s not the trip you wanted, but it’s the journey you needed.”
“My god, you’re such a nerd,” Anne rolled her eyes, but laughed anyway.
“Hey, you’re the one dating a nerd, don’t get cocky,” Gilbert joked, but she could see the joy in his eyes at the mere mention of them being together.
“Well, I guess you can’t help who you fall in love with.”
“Wow, Anne-girl, the L-word? In public?” Gilbert’s eyes were shining with mirth. “They might think you actually like me.”
“And wh-“ Anne’s flirty reply was rudely interrupted by a piece of bread impacting against her forehead. Only then she realised the whole table was staring at them with matching fed up expressions. Anne blushed furiously. “Hey!”
“I won’t hesitate to throw a cold drink next time, behave yourselves,” Josie reprimanded them, but there was laughter in her eyes. After everything that had transpired between them, Anne couldn’t bring herself to be mad at her, so she simply rolled her eyes.
“Fine. But it’s not my fault I need to make up for a whole summer in one week,” she quipped.
Josie raised her eyebrow, “…yes it is, Anne.”
“And it’s more like a decade to be honest,” Gilbert added, rather unhelpfully.
“HA!” Cole exclaimed, already gloating.
“Who’s side are you on, Gilbert?!” Anne protested.
And thus began a pandemonium of jokes at the couple’s expense, very intrusive questions, and probably too many embarrassing anecdote retellings from their school days. The whole group expressed a sincere happiness for Anne and Gilbert, or, as Tillie put it, “We’re so glad you finally pulled your shit together.” Ruby’s “I’m very happy you figured it out” was kinder, and Anne gave her an extra hug when they all parted ways in the hotel lobby. Finally, she and Gilbert collapsed on their singular bed with a sigh.
“I’m glad they know now, but sweet baby Jesus are our friends insufferable,” Anne groaned behind her hands.
Gilbert chuckled, “I can’t help but feel like we deserve the teasing.”
“You may be right, but I reserve my right to complain anyway,” she smiled at him.
And then they were kissing.
Later in the night, with Gilbert’s body curled around hers and his rhythmic breathing warming up her ear, she felt him reach for her hand.
“I can’t help but think there’s still something going on in that head of yours, Anne-girl,” Gilbert whispered in the dark. “Everything went okay with Cole, didn’t it?”
“Your ability to read my mind is bordering on creepy,” she joked lightheartedly. He waited. “It’s not about Cole, you’re right. It’s not about them, really.”
“Is it… about me?” The worried tone made Anne’s heart ache.
“No! Not like that,” she squeezed his hand reassuringly. “I just…” Anne took a deep breath. “I just keep picturing myself coming back home in a few days, and I simply cannot fathom home without you now. Not anymore.”
“Anne…”
“I know!” She turned around to face him, the light of the lampposts outside letting her see his face. “I know it’s silly. You need to finish your studies, and you have a life in Paris now, and I would never ask you to leave that behind. We haven’t even been together back at home for ages, but that was my fault, and I just can’t help but beat myself up for not listening to my heart sooner.”
Gilbert brought a hand up to Anne’s face and softly brushed away a traitorous tear. “Anne-girl, I need you to know I wouldn’t change a single thing. We’re here now, together, and that made it all worth it.”
Anne’s lip quivered. “I don’t think I deserve that kindness.”
“But you do!” Gilbert insisted. “You deserve every kindness. And you deserve to let yourself be happy that we got here. And we both deserve to enjoy the week ahead of us.”
Anne kissed him softly, “I love you, Gil.”
“I love you too,” he smiled. “And for the record, the thought of you going back to Avonlea without me breaks my heart. Don’t think for a moment that it’ll be any easier for me to part ways now.”
Anne pulled herself closer and burrowed her face in the space between his neck and his shoulder. “I know. We’ll be okay, Gil.”
“We’ll be okay.”
*
The following two days were filled to the brim with visiting every tourist attraction Edinburgh had to offer. They explored the Old Town until their feet were sore, got lost exploring the castle until they were told off by security guards, and explored Holyrood Park for a whole day, with Anne narrating everyone’s movements as if they were in their own Scottish play. One evening they all huddled together in Tillie’s room to watch Sunshine on Leith on her laptop, because Ruby and Jane randomly found about it and described it as “the Scottish Mamma Mia”.
As cheesy as it was, they had the best time watching the film, and soon the whole group was obsessed with the Proclaimers’ discography. Eventually they all threatened Moody and the Pauls with the silent treatment for singing “I Will Walk (500 Miles)” on loop for over two hours. The New Town may not have had the fantasy of walking into history, but it certainly charmed the group just the same, and they even squeezed in a quick visit to Leith just to pay homage to their new favourite movie. Anne had arranged for a day trip to the Highlands, simply because there was no way she would miss seeing them with her own eyes. She was so glad she insisted on booking it, as their lovely tour guide took them to the most breathtaking spots. At one point, watching the vast mountains, she felt herself tear up with joy. Later that afternoon, she teared up with laughter when Jane and Josie got into a heated argument over whether Jane had seen the Loch Ness Monster or not.
They got lucky with the rain, as everyone told them the Scottish weather usually didn’t care that it was summertime, and they made the most of it by arranging a quick picnic in Calton Hill during the golden hour on their second to last day. Anne contemplated the sunset behind the magnificent view of Edinburgh with a full heart, feeling incredibly grateful to be alive and experiencing this. She leaned her head on Diana’s shoulder, and reached out to grab Gilbert’s hand. Cole had gingerly set his head on her lap earlier, and she could see the rest of the group in similar positions around her. Nobody said anything, but it felt like they collectively took a moment to appreciate the whole experience. Even if they still had a couple days ahead, they would need to pack and prepare for their homecoming, so this was a very nice closure.
“Hey Anne,” Gilbert whispered in her ear. “Are you up for one last surprise date?”
“Gilbert, I love you, but I do not have the energy nor the funds for another day trip.”
“I promise it’s a free experience, Anne-girl,” he chuckled. “You just have to trust me.”
She would always trust him. The morning after, she made sure to pack as much as possible just in case their date ran late, as she didn’t like packing in a rush. Then she pestered Gilbert the whole walk to their destination, but he wouldn’t tell her what they were doing. Eventually, she found herself waiting with another group of tourists, and let out a chuckle when she saw Iona gingerly approaching them with her tour guide gear.
“Another tour?” Anne laughed. “I hope you’re trained for amputating feet, Doctor Blythe.”
Gilbert rolled his eyes. “My professional opinion is that you’ll survive, Miss Shirley-Cuthbert. Plus, this is not a normal tour,” he told her with a spark in his eyes.
“Hello everyone, it’s nice to see familiar faces amongst the crowd!” Iona greeted them. Anne happily waved at her. “Welcome to the Edinburgh Book Lover’s Tour!”
Anne’s eyes opened so wide Gilbert was afraid they’d pop out of their socket. He laughed as Anne barely managed to conceal a squeal.
“How did you know?!” She asked, clearly delighted with her surprise.
“Iona told me about this when I asked her about all the tours she did, and I realised there was no way you didn’t know about it already but you probably didn’t want the others to feel obligated to do it, correct?”
Anne looked at him with a shocked expression, and then pulled him in for a quick but very powerful kiss. “Bordering on creepy, I tell you,” she joked without any heat in her words.
The tour was fascinating and everything she had dreamed of. Not only did she learn so much about writers she knew and admired, she also quickly expanded her reading list with every new name and title mentioned. By now both Gilbert and Anne felt like they knew Edinburgh quite well, but learning new tidbits of history about places they had walked past hundreds of times during the last week filled them with wonder. The tour ended too soon for Anne’s taste, but it did so at the doors of the Writers’ Museum, and Gilbert happily followed behind her as she immediately marched in (not before thanking Iona profusely for her amazing service). After a very fun and enthusiastic visit, they went back outside and perused the beautiful quotes engraved on the floor, with Anne taking snaps of all her favourites. Gilbert gazed at the girl in front of him with a fond expression, and with a deep breath decided it was time to reveal the rest of his surprise.
“Hey, Anne, do you want to sit for a while?” He asked. Anne quirked an eyebrow at his nervous tone.
“Sure,” she simply said, and followed him to a bench. After a moment in silence, she decided to speak. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh yes! Yes!” Gilbert reached for her hand. “Everything’s perfect, there’s just something I need to tell you.”
“Well, that’s not nerve wracking at all,” Anne joked, but squeezed Gilbert’s hand to let him know she trusted him. He looked into her eyes, and after a moment he started to smile. Anne’s stomach was tied in knots, but she could feel sparks bursting inside too. Somehow, she knew this would be good.
“Remember our first night here?” Anne raised her eyes suggestively, and Gilbert rolled his eyes. “I meant our conversation, late at night. When you told me you couldn’t fathom going back to Avonlea without me?”
Anne’s eyes started to water against her will. “I was trying very hard not to think about that, Gil.”
“I know, but…” he bit his lip and reached for her face, delicately tracing his finger over the dusting of freckles on her cheek. “What if you didn’t have to think about it?”
“I don’t think that’s how it works, I can’t just tell myself not to miss you.”
“But what if you didn’t have to miss me?” Gilbert insisted.
Anne’s protest died on her lips the moment she caught on what he was implying. “Gilbert… you’re not serious.”
“Well I already booked the flight so I think I’m pretty serious.”
“You’re joking.”
“I assure you I’m not!” Gilbert laughed. “I believe Avonlea is beautiful this time of year, I think you’d agree.” Anne was gaping in absolute shock one second, but the next she was in his arms, peppering kisses on every surface available and trembling with excitement. Gilbert pulled her as close as humanly possible and hid his face in her hair after she wrapped herself around him. They clung to each other, basking in their joy. Suddenly, Anne pulled back so fast Gilbert had to catch her before she fell on her butt.
“Wait,” she said with a worried expression. “I am bursting with happiness right now, Gil, but I need you to know I can’t let you do that for me. You can’t leave the Sorbonne now, you’ve worked too hard.”
Gilbert smiled fondly at her and buried his fingers at the nape of her head. “I figured you’d say that, my considerate, kind, beautiful Anne with an E,” he pecked her on the lips. “First of all, I’m not saying I’m leaving the Sorbonne forever. But I’ve been there on my own all year, and I was already struggling before we ran into each other this summer. The workload is insane, my French has only marginally improved, and to be perfectly frank, I’m so tired of being lonely.”
“Oh Gil…” Anne brought her hands up to cradle his face.
“I miss my family. I’m tired of missing Dellie’s life, and I’m tired of only being teased by Bash on FaceTime, and I really, really could use some more recipes from Mary.”
“And one of her hugs, perhaps?” Anne smiled knowingly.
“Oh yes, a hug most definitely,” Gilbert smiled back, but his expression turned serious. “Anne, as much as the Sorbonne is a great opportunity, I’m afraid I went there for the wrong reasons. I was heartbroken and I just… escaped. I’ve been emailing my supervisor, and she finally agreed to an internship in Charlottetown for a year that will count towards my degree. Next summer I can decide whether to come back or transfer to Redmond. Being a doctor is my dream, but I can be a doctor closer to home. Closer to you .”
“Gil, I-“
“And I know you may think this is a mistake, but I promise I had been talking about doing this for months before I saw you in Paris. I’ve been longing for home, and I wanted to help Bash with the orchard this fall, and maybe this was the push from the universe I needed…”
“Gilbert-”
“But honestly I wish you wouldn’t be mad if I did this solely for you, because I do have other important reasons, but the truth is I would absolutely do it with only you in mind and never regret it. I want to be with you. I want to make up for the time we lost being dumb and proud. I’m tired of missing you, Anne. If I had a say in the matter you would never leave my side again, and we-“
Anne put Gilbert’s methods to use and swiftly stopped his rambling with a searing kiss. Gilbert was surprised for a second, but quickly pulled her close and enthusiastically kissed her back. After a while, they parted for air. Anne couldn’t stop grinning.
“You… you’re not going to fight me on this?” Gilbert asked sceptically.
“It seems like your decision is made,” she said softly. “I’m done sabotaging my own happiness, so you won’t hear me complain about a whole year of you. I do wish you’d told me sooner that you were unhappy in Paris, but you can tell me now, and I will listen. And we can think about the future and plan for it together, if you want.”
Gilbert smiled with unshed tears in his eyes. “Nothing would make me happier, Anne-girl.”
Anne returned his smile. The sun had started to set, and the Edinburgh street lamps lit up around them like their own particular night sky.
“Well then,” she leaned her forehead on his. “I do believe I’m ready to go home.”