■ Helpless ■ Gilbert Blythe ■

Deep in elbow grease

■■■

Later that day, the three girls headed towards the burnt Gillis house with a basket of scones held between Anne and Ruby's hands.

Many of Avonlea's men, of all ages, were working hard in the reconstruction of the house.

"Afternoon Minister. I'm learning to bake. Care for a scone?" Anne asked the Minister with a smile on her face. The Minister quickly took an offered scone. "Well, don't mind if I do." He replied with a chuckle.

They walked away from the man and quickly saw Hamilton walking around with a wooden plank in his arms. "Afternoon Hamilton."

Hamilton didn't look at his sister and instead gave her a groan and kept walking.

"I don't want to hear it, Vicky. I'm sweaty, sleep deprived and down right tortured. Nothing can make me feel better except being able to go home and take a kip. This is my nightmare, you hear- wait! Are those scones?"

Hamilton stopped in his tracks and smiled sweetly at his sister. "Oh sweet sister of mine whom I love more than the bloody world itself, can you please-"

"No."

"What?!"

"Serves you right for being a total wanker." Victoria shot back as she crossed her arms. Hamilton looked as if he was literally in the verge of tears. He sat the plank down, having it leaning securely against the table.

"Come on Vicky, that's just wonky." Hamilton replied with a full pout. Victoria smiled at him. "Listen, brother-" Hamilton hummed in response. "I was just messing around with you, of course you can have one."

Hamilton smiled and reached out for the basket after sending both Ruby and Anne a charming smile.

"Afternoon, Ruby, Anne. I'm sorry that you had to see me like this but I'm currently knackered." He apologized. Both of the other girls didn't seem to mind at all and instead just smiled back.

Hamilton turned back again to look at Victoria.

"Things are going horrible for me. It only took an hour for me to mess things up. I accidentally hit a man's finger with the hammer. Caused a five minute delay in things and he basically told me to get stuffed. But apart from that, everything has been smashing!"

Hamilton stopped to raise an eyebrow at her. "Did you sense the sarcasm in my voice?" Victoria nodded. "It would have been impossible not to."

"I better get going. I have work to do, unfortunately. See you tonight, plonker." Hamilton took another scone in his mouth and with a final wave at the three girls, he picked up the plank again.

"Stay safe, wanker!" Hamilton turned around slightly and winked at his sister.

"Your brother is hilarious." Anne stated as she looked dreamily at his retreating figure.

Victoria shook her head. "Can we stop talking about how great Hamilton is? Its getting weird. And didn't Ruby say how much she wanted to see Gilbert?"

"Yes, let's go." Ruby stated with an ever growing smile on her face at the mere mention of his name.

Anne and Ruby leaded the way to where Gilbert was as he worked on the roof. Unfortunately, Billy Andrews, the living plague, was there as well.