Long Distance Love Letters

Nothing Left Unsaid

"How many kids do you want?" Gilbert randomly asked, suddenly feeling like it was very important information to know.

He and Anne, like always considering he couldn't get out of bed, were in his room. He had been deep in thought while she read.

Anne looked up at him from her book, clearly surprised. "Huh?"

"How many kids do you want?" he repeated, managing a smirk.

Clearly caught off guard, she chuckled. "Why are you asking?"

"Why won't you answer?" he retorted. To be fair, he himself wasn't sure why he wanted to know. He just felt like he needed to.

Anne allowed a laugh before actually seeming to consider it. "I don't know," she admitted. "I've never thought about the specific number. Have you?"

Smiling, Gilbert nodded. At Anne's questioning look, he answered. "Seven."

Anne's eyes widened. "Seven??"

"Yeah," he confirmed, feeling almost wistful. "Lucky seven."

She took a moment before responding. "You want seven kids?" She said it as more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah," he repeated, trying to sound nonchalant. "We could do it." He ignored the pain that flared in his chest that he was all too familiar with by now.

Anne gave him a pointed stare. "You do realize that I will be the one carrying every single one of those kids, right?"

He shrugged. "I believe in you, sweetheart."

She succeeded in acting annoyed for a moment before bursting out laughing.

The joyful moment was cut short as Dr. Ward and Dr. Bannon walked in.

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Ward asked.

Gilbert sighed. "About the same."

The doctor gave him an unconvinced glance. He knew how bad Gilbert was getting. Thankfully, he didn't say anything. He turned to Anne.

"Anne, may we talk with you out in the waiting room?" he asked.

Anne donned a slightly worried look before nodding.

The three walked out and Gilbert sighed as his heart started racing, already knowing what they were going to say to her.

•••

Anne sat in her designated waiting room chair with clammy hands, watching as the two men before her tried to find words.

Finally, Dr. Ward sat next to her.

"Gilbert's fever is reaching its peak," he explained. "This time period is where the decision is made."

"Decision?" Anne asked, already terrified.

"The decision of whether or not his body is strong enough," he said gently. "He's been fighting for a while now and if it was enough, his fever will be broken by morning and he'll no longer be contagious. He would still have to recover for a while but he would be fine. But, if it wasn't enough..."

"Then...he'll be dead by morning?" Anne finished, the words tasting like poison in her mouth.

He took a moment before nodding.

Anne took shuddering breaths, unable to comprehend this. "So by morning he'll either be better...or dead."

"Yes," Dr. Ward whispered, clearly upset, as well. "He's going to need a lot of rest tonight and that will give him the best chance he can get."

Anne didn't even hear the second part of what he said. Feeling like cupped hands had been placed over her ears, she rose to her feet and slowly walked back into Gilbert's room.

Gilbert struggled to turn his head to her and sighed.

"They told you, didn't they?" he asked, slight fear creeping into his voice.

"You knew?" Anne whispered, sitting back next to him.

He nodded slightly. "I've studied cases of scarlet fever in the past. I'm aware of the pattern." He sighed, making him cough for a moment. "I've been keeping track of my own progress. It's been slower than others. I've been well longer than most others have been." His eyes took on a hopeful and vulnerable gleam. "Maybe that means I have a chance."

Anne's heart broke as she realized how scared he was. She couldn't help herself as she began to cry.

He took a deep breath and turned his gaze away from her for a moment. Then, when his eyes met hers again, they were full of determination.

"But in case I don't make it-" he began.

"Gil, don't," Anne sobbed, not wanting to hear it. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"No, Anne, I need to say this," he insisted firmly. "Please. I have to."

Anne remembered that this wasn't about her. Guilty, she nodded. "Okay."

Gilbert took a moment. "If I don't make it, I need you to make sure that Bash and Delphine know how much I love them. Never let them forget, okay? And make sure to let Bash know that I have enough money saved up for him to hire a helper on the farm."

Though she hated Gilbert talking like this, she forced away her selfish feelings and nodded. "I will. I promise. You can count on me."

He gave her a loving smile. "Anne," he whispered. He slowly lifted a hand to caress her cheek. "My Anne with an e. I love you more than words will ever be able to describe."

Through her tears, she allowed a smile. "And I love you even more than that."

He lowered his hand to hold hers. "No matter what happens, everything will be okay. I promise."

As Anne stared at him, her impulse suddenly took over and she lurched forward, kissing him with all the passion she could muster. She didn't care about the danger. She didn't care about anything except for him.

She pulled away as Dr. Bannon walked in. She watched him with sad eyes.

"It's time for Gilbert to get some sleep," he told her. He's going to need all the rest he can get."

Taking a deep breath, Anne nodded. She turned back to Gilbert.

"I love you so much," she whispered.

Gilbert put on a brave smile. "I love you."

Finally, Anne forced herself to tear her gaze away from him and walked out.

She sat down in the waiting room and proceeded to sob, terrified that that might have been the last time she would ever see him.

———
AN: y'all thought i was gonna let you be happy on christmas eve? pfffffffffft 😂

merry christmas eve tho