Another Year In Avonlea

Anne and Gilbert

     Anne took a breath, and knocked on the door. Gilbert opened it and smiled. "Anne! Come in!"

     "Hi Gilbert," Anne said walking in. There was no eye contact, creating a very awkward atmosphere as they stood there.

     "Where's Ruth?"

     "Right! She's in here."

     Gilbert walked into Bash and Mary's room. They were on the bed laughing. "Blythe! Is Anne here?" Bash looked at the boy standing in the doorway.

     Anne walked in behind Gilbert. "Good morning Mary and Bash!"

     "Good morning Anne! Are you here to take one of my angels away from me?"

     "Only for a little bit," she laughed. "I have something I need to do later, but I just had to stop by."

     "Well go ahead! She should be waking up at this time anyway," Mary smiled.

     Anne went to the little crib on the other side of the bed, and took Ruth out. "Why hello there my little kindred spirit!" Anne smiled at the couple as she walked out of the room to give them some privacy.

     "You and I? We are going to be the best friends. I'll teach you how to do anything you want. We can build flower crowns, and climb the biggest, oldest, kindest tree, and read, and write. I'll answer all the questions you have. I'm sure you'll have ever so many."

     Gilbert smiled at Anne from a little further away before walking up to Anne. "You are just the most perfect thing to ever graze the planet," Anne continued. "No, the galaxy! You can watch the stars every night as the days become shorter and longer in a cycle. I'll teach you how to look at all the vivid beautiful things in the world and create a story that takes you to a magical kingdom."

     "Can I see her this morning?" Gilbert asked.

     "Oh, sure Gilbert." Anne repositioned herself so Gilbert could see her too. Gilbert stood slightly behind Anne, making both their bodies tense. Both thought the other didn't realize however, and ignored it, staying in the position.

     "I can't believe something only two months old could be so perfect," Anne said. "Could you have imagined?"

     "No, I couldn't have."

     Ruth started to fuss as they looked at her. Anne tried to shush her, and Gilbert put his finger in Ruth's hand. She grabbed it the best she could. "Hi little Ruthie. We're alright? Aren't we? Yeah! Yeah we're alright!" Gilbert smiled. "Can I hold her? She's more used to me."

     Anne nodded her head and turned to Gilbert. She placed her arms on top of Gilbert's, making it very awkward to actually pass Ruth over. She didn't want to hurt her in any way. Bash had made it so easy to pass a baby. She slipped her arms out from under Ruth, and quickly backed away from Gilbert, now holding her.

     She could feel her face heat up, and decided to do what Gilbert had done earlier. She walked around to behind Gilbert and put her finger in Ruth's hand, cooing at the baby.

     Bash walked out to see the two looking at the baby, still fussing. "With the way you crowd that baby, you two might as well be the parents," he laughed.

     Anne and Gilbert looked at each other wide eyed. It was the first eye contact they had had since the day began, and their faces were much closer than they had ever been before. They both looked away almost instantly, and yet again, another lifetime in a second, had passed.

     "Uh, what do you need Bash?"

     "Mary and I forgot. We have to feed our little angel. We're still getting used to this whole 'parenting thing'."