Long Distance Love Letters

The Spark Ignites

Anne and Gilbert approached their quaint little Avonlea home, bags in hand, as the sun began to make its way towards the horizon.

"Home sweet home," Gilbert murmured.

Anne smiled and put a soft hand on her stomach. "Did you hear that, sweetheart? Welcome home."

Gilbert smiled adoringly at his wife and moved to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, an action that still managed to make her cheeks heat up.

"Come on," he said softly.

Joining their hands, the two walked up to the front door.

"Am I supposed to carry you over the threshold again?" he asked, making Anne giggle. They opened the door and walked in.

"SUPRISE!!"

The couple nearly jumped out of their skin as a company of their family and friends came out of hiding. Among them were Marilla, Jerry, Diana, Rachel, Bash, Muriel, Delphine, and baby Matthew.

"Oh, my word!" Anne exclaimed, letting out a surprised laugh.

The group crowded around Anne and Gilbert, exchanging hugs and words of welcome home. Though they were still in shock, the Blythes were so happy to see their family.

Gilbert looked around to see their whole house decorated. Not extravagantly, as most of their guests inclined towards practicality (especially Marilla), but fancy enough for a family reunion.

"You all did this for us?" he asked in disbelief.

"We're all just so happy that the both of you are finally home for good," Diana replied enthusiastically.

Anne smiled. "So are we."

•••

As the evening had been so kind to point out, it didn't matter how old and mature Anne and Diana got, for whenever they were together, they would giggle like their past schoolgirl selves as they caught up on each other's lives.

"So Gilbert really threatened to kill him?" the raven-haired beauty asked, gossiping quietly with her bosom friend.

Anne nodded, feeling like they should be in a secluded room in the schoolhouse and not the kitchen of the house she shared with her husband. "And I presume that  he would have if it had not been for my emergency with how irate he was."

"Oh," Diana breathed. She smirked. "That must have been quite sensuous."

Anne shushed her before chuckling. "I was a bit too preoccupied with my intense pain and fear for my child to notice." She waited a moment before adding, "But looking back on it...yes. Quite."

The two girls burst into another giggling fit. Anne saw Gilbert glance over at them before smiling and resuming his conversation with Bash and Rachel.

"I'm just thankful it's all over," Anne admitted, sobering. "Everything with Dr. Bledsoe was an utter disaster. I feel wretched for putting Gil and my child through it."

Diana put her hand on the redhead's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, Anne."

"No, I know." She sighed. "I'm just so terrified of hurting my baby. And if I do, it will be my fault. I'm the mom. I'm supposed to protect him...or her. Diana, if anything happened to my son or daughter, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Diana nodded somberly. "I know." Her gaze slowly wandered. Curiously, Anne followed her eyes to see that they were on Jerry.

Smirking, Anne returned her focus to her bosom friend. "Why, may I ask, are you staring at your former beau?"

A blush appeared on Diana's face as she averted her eyes. She exhaled and took a step closer to Anne.

"We're tentatively seeing each other again," she said softly.

"What??" Anne exclaimed, completely shocked.

"Shh!" Diana insisted. "Please don't tell anyone. I cannot risk my parents finding out. They still don't approve of Jerry."

"What do you mean? You're 21. They still wish to control your life?"

Diana sighed and shrugged. "My father has been improving since Queen's, but my mother would still be hysterical. For four years, she made it quite clear how much she wanted me to marry a man named Fred Wright who had inherited his father's fortune. I'll tell her eventually. Just not now."

Anne smiled. "Well, as long as you are happy. Will you just promise me something?"

"Of course."

Anne reached forward and squeezed Diana's hand. "Please don't hurt him again. His heart hurt something terrible."

Diana donned a guilty expression. "I promise. I still hate myself for the way I broke his heart. I've matured quite well since then."

Anne smiled and pulled her into a hug. "So you have, my darling Diana."

•••

Dinner was a lively affair. The Blythes' guests scrambled to tell the married couple stories concerning their own families, and in turn, Anne and Gilbert would recount pleasant stories from Summerside. There was not one mention of Dr. Bledsoe, even though every guest knew of the situation.

The restless chatter was silenced when Muriel stood up and clinked her spoon against her glass. Matthew began fussing a little and she smoothed his hair, shockingly making him immediately calm down.

"Though we are all genuinely happy to see Anne and Gilbert again," she began. "I believe we all know why we're here." Everyone exchanged glances. "The board ruled against allowing females to attend school simply for budgetary purposes. We need to fight back."

Anne's blood began to boil.

Muriel turned her gaze to her former student. "We're very sorry we didn't tell you earlier. We cannot do this without you, Anne."

Without hesitation, Anne stood up. "Of course I will help. I have a plan." She looked around and hesitantly. "Only I...I can't do it alone."

Gilbert stood up and took Anne's hand. "We are behind you, Anne. We'll follow you anywhere."

She smiled at her husband before looking around to see everyone nodding, agreeing with him.

"Alright," she declared. "Here's what I've been thinking."

———
AN: i am proud to say that i have officially gotten my mom, my brother, and my mom's best friend into awae. ladies and gentlemen, the volume inside of this bus is astronomical