Long Distance Love Letters

Every Last Second

Considering the time was approaching for Anne and Gilbert to return to college, the Cuthberts and the Blythes/LaCroix families decided to have one last dinner together before Gilbert's departure the next day. The six of them had been spending a lot more time together ever since Anne and Gilbert had gotten engaged and they couldn't wait to become one family.

However, Anne couldn't bring herself to be happy, not even on this glorious night. Despite the beautiful emerald engagement ring sitting on her finger, she was worried about her fiancé.

Gilbert had been seeming under the weather over the last few days. He had kept insisting he was fine, but Anne knew him better than that. She was growing very concerned.

Anne looked over at him as she scooped mashed potatoes on her plate. Gilbert had been doing his best to eat, but his plate was still mostly full.

Gilbert caught her worried look and gave her a reassuring smile before reaching over and giving her hand a squeeze. Anne was alarmed to find his hand boiling hot.

They spent the rest of the dinner in silence.

•••

Anne and Gilbert stood in the kitchen, wordlessly washing the dishes. Anne handed him a dry plate.

She watched as he put it in the cupboard before turning his gaze to the floor and subtly putting a hand on his stomach. Anne immediately knew he was having another wave of nausea.

"Gil?" she said quietly. Weakly.

He turned his attention to her.

"Will you please go see a doctor?" she asked, pleading with him.

His gaze softened. "Anne, I told you I'm fine."

"But what if you're not?" Anne retorted, her voice raising slightly. "You're constantly nauseous and you're boiling hot. There's no way you don't have a fever."

"Honey, it's probably just some bad bug I need to get over," he insisted, walking over to her.

"You're a doctor," she reminded. "You honesty believe it's just a bug."

"Yes," he emphasized. He took her hands in his. "Sweetheart, I promise you I've been through worse. This is nothing. Besides, I'm leaving really early tomorrow; I wouldn't have time to see a doctor."

Anne looked up into his green eyes and felt her wall of insistence and anger crumble away.

She sighed in defeat. "You sure you're not afraid? Of anything?"

He gave her a sweet smile and raised her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles like he did the day of their first kiss, only this time, he kissed her engagement ring.

He looked back at her with nothing but confidence and love in his eyes.

"I'm 100% sure."

•••

Anne woke with a jolt. She wasn't sure how long she had been able to sleep or what time it was, but it was pitch black out.

She let her head fall back onto her pillow, putting her hand over her eyes and rubbing them slightly.

Part of her did not want to go back to Queens. She missed Green Gables every second she was at college. However, she was excited to room with Diana again.

She slightly pushed herself into a sitting position, making something on the floor next to the bed catch her eye.

Gilbert and Bash had been made beds on the couches in the living room considering the snow was too bad to walk home tonight.

But here in Anne's room was Gilbert, sleeping on the floor next to her bed with a single pillow and blanket.

As her initial surprise began to fade, her heart started to break. She knew what this meant.

He really was scared.

Gilbert, being the incredibly strong person he was, would never want anyone to know he was afraid, not even his own fiancée. This particular fear must have been simply too great to overcome on his own.

Anne slowly got out of bed, being careful to not wake him up, grabbed her pillow, and laid down next to him, resting her head on his chest.

Though he remained asleep, he must have recognized her presence because his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

It was in this way that Anne finally fell asleep until morning, more comfortable than ever despite the vexatious floor.