As people arrived at Barry estate, Diana was both excited and worried.

She was excited because she was having a party with all of her friends and it was her birthday - Diana was growing up and she was proud of who she was becoming. Anne was staying over for the night too, which was a rare treat. Anne seemed to be doing well lately and was recovering, much to everyone's relief. Diana was glad all the drama was over.

What a joy life could be... and a trial.

Josie Pye and Billie Andrews were coming to Diana's birthday party too and it was the first social event they'd all attended together since the incidents involving Anne's imprisonment had happened. Diana was sure Josie had a lot to say about all of it, and she knew Billie did. Diana hadn't particularly wanted to invite them but her mother had reminded her that it was impolite to only invite certain classmates.

There were picnic blankets set out in the beautiful Barry Manor gardens, little canopy shelters had been erected to shade guests from the sun and a delicious lunch and tea had been prepared with no expenses spared. Many spring flowers were in full bloom now and the scene was bright, colourful and undeniably pretty. The parlour room was set out for gift-giving and the party tea before they would go to the Entrance Hall for a dance.

It had all been planned to the finest detail but Mrs Barry had not anticipated the dramas of youth and the events which would unravel throughout the night, including the culmination of Thomson's wicked plan...

...

Anne arrived to the party just after lunch.

Everybody saw her come into the garden and looked up from where they sat on the picnic blankets eating their dainty lunches from china plates. There was a flurry of whispers throughout the garden and everyone stared as though Anne had two heads. Anne blushed. Scanning the crowds of classmates, she suddenly wondered where Gilbert was? He didn't appear to be at the party yet...

Diana pulled her best-friend indoors to the parlour out of the crowd of watching eyes.

"Oh I'm so glad you're here - how are you, my dear Anne?" Diana asked kindly, her beautiful lacy-blue dress contrasting wonderfully with her dark eyes.

"I'm doing quite well, I think. It's hard to tell lately, Diana - but I'm glad to be here. I'm so sorry for my lateness, honestly I am. I have this for you--" Anne pulled a parcel from her bag. "You can open it now, I don't want all the fuss of gift-giving later with everyone else."

Diana beamed. "Oh Anne - you didn't have to get me anything!"

"That's ridiculous! It's your birthday, Diana. You're my best-friend!" Anne dismissed her.

"Well, thank you awfully. You look simply stupendous might I add." Diana winked, knowing Anne would appreciate the large word. "Green does suit you just fine."

Anne laughed. "Stop, I know there's no man here who would look twice at me while you're in the room... You look a dream today, perhaps even more so than usual due to the rosy glow of maturity which a birthday party gives."

"That is silly, Anne. You've bloomed into such a rose, anyone would be a fool to miss it. Who did your hair?" Diana asked admiringly. "You appear so grown up."

"Marilla. Isn't it lovely? I don't mind the red so much when it's plaited as beautifully as this, and I shall hardly mind it at all when I see the look on Josie Pye's face when she sees me with my hair in such a style - I know she intended to be the first girl in school to wear her hair up to show off how grown up she was."

"She can never truly be grown up when she insists on behaving like an immature child all the time." Diana said, giggling.

The two girls laughed. Anything which gave mean Josie a taste of reality was alright in their books. It was good to be laughing about something so menial as winding up a bully, it seemed almost like the old days... They smiled at each other.

Diana was delighted when she opened her present. It was a cross stitch which Anne had been working on during her bedrest period - a pale blue background with two white roses, their stalks intwined, their petals parting to reveal golden-coloured words in an elegant italic - it said,

"friends are flowers in the garden of life"

It was taken from one of their favourite poems, drawn out of a small book of poems Anne had found in the library last year. They'd spoken often about the romanticism of it. Diana gushed when she saw it.

"Oh Anne! This is wonderful. I will treasure it always."

They hugged and joined the others outside. After eating a rather late lunch on a picnic blanket with Diana and doing her best to ignore the curious gaze of her classmates, Anne was approached by Ruby Gillis, Tilly Boulter and Jane Andrews. They all sat down on the blanket amongst the garden flower beds and tearfully embraced Anne before speaking,

"We missed you Anne." Jane smiled.

"I'm so glad you're home." Tilly agreed.

"I think you're awful brave, Anne. Honestly I could never imagine going through the dreadful hell you've been through!" Ruby babbled emotionally. "You look lovely tonight, not starved or ill at all like my mother said you might. It'll put your mind at rest to know you can barely tell you've been to prison!"

Ruby, naive as ever had no idea what she was saying. Anne felt a clench in her heart at the reminder of her time in Wolfsden and the friends she made there too. Anne realised all of the things the townsfolk must be thinking about her and the ideas they'd get about what happened at prison and what Anne had endured. Starved? Ill? Is that what people thought? Anne knew Ruby was trying to be nice but her words struck home the fear that everybody was talking about her behind her back.

"Thank you, Ruby," Anne muttered. "You're too kind, girls. I'm glad to be home too."

Anne didn't feel like explaining what she had really went through - the claustrophia when crawling through cold, dark tunnels, the desperate fear of being caught and being returned to prison again, the burn in her lungs as she ran through the woods that night and the insurmountable hopelessness when she decided to stay behind and buy her friends time to escape.

Anne chewed on her lip thoughtfully. She wondered if anybody would ever understand any of it.

...

It was much later that afternoon when Gilbert had arrived.

The reason he was late was an unexpected visit he'd had from a police officer from the force that had arrived in Avonlea to begin the relivation of Detective Ellwyn's duties. The force had apparently gone over the Barry wagon case thoroughly and read about Gilbert and Anne. It was after reading the information gathered from townsfolk about Gilbert that Officer Jenkins was sent to the Blythe household.

Officer Jenkins was not unkind, he simply lacked the tack for bearing bad news... Upon discovering that Gilbert had lived alone since his father passed away and since he'd returned from travelling they decided to remind him of their law: Anyone under the age of nineteen had to live under the protection of a guardian, aged twenty-five or over. They were to be responsible for Gilbert until he turned nineteen. If he refused or was unable to find a guardian in two weeks Gilbert would be sent away to a care house in George Town miles away until he reached the age of nineteen.

Gilbert was very shocked and upset by this. Nobody had ever worried about him living alone before, he got by on the food he purchased through trading or with the money his family had left until he finished school and began work again. He was stubborn and wanted to fend for himself. He didn't even like using his family's money. The bag of gold he'd taken from the chest had weighed heavily on his heart ever since and he was balancing many conflicts about it. He wanted to be independent.

It was frightening to be faced with a care house if he couldn't find a guardian. Who could possibly be his guardian? All the adults he knew had a home already, were in no desire to be responsible for him or move in and none of them Gilbert particularly wanted to live with.

The very worried Gilbert finally got to Barry Manor after the gift-giving as everyone was making their way into the hall for dancing to begin. He looked smart, with a pale-blue shirt and a pressed brown jacket, with his shoes shined and for a rare change, his messy, curly hair combed. Anne saw him enter from across the room and she took a deep breath. It didn't matter how close they'd become, it never took away the butterflies which lived in her chest, unwittingly caught and caged by Gilbert.

Diana greeted Gilbert and they spoke for a short while, laughing and chatting like old friends. Anne was glad they got along so well, as two of her dearest people. Anne thought about how strangely distant they'd become - Gilbert had avoided her since telling her about Joseph's death. She had a horrible idea that he was angry with her about something.

Anne felt an embarrassed flush in her face as she thought all of these things. She lifted her chin up and looked away, painting an aloof expression on her face. She wouldn't be so easily affected by a boy, even if it was Gilbert. If he had a problem with her he'd tell her eventually... she hoped.

The Entrance Hall was decorated beautifully by garlands of flowers and gold streamers glimmering along the walls. There was a band which began to play a lively song, queuing all of the young people to pair up and move into place to dance. Gilbert saw Anne walk into the floor, her hand gently picking at the fabric of her skirts nervously as she wondered who would offer their partnership for the dance. Nobody could tell she was nervous, nobody save those few who knew her very well.

Anne looked simply gorgeous, her hair tied up in elaborate plaits with stray curls framing her face and the light-green dress she wore was ever so elegant and becoming. She looked so grown up, even more than she had been recently. Gilbert found it hard to breathe for a moment as he gazed at the girl he loved so completely.

Yet Gilbert wasn't the only boy who's attention Anne had captured... Before Gilbert could do anything, he suddenly noticed a boy approach Anne - tall and smartly-dressed with gleaming shoes and wavy, chestnut-coloured hair. Gilbert instantly recognised him as the boy who'd given Anne a flower - Edward Haswick.

Gilbert frowned as the older boy smiled at Anne and offered her his hand. Anne seemed surprised and occupied a moment of hesitation. She scanned the room with her big grey eyes, finally finding Gilbert's dark hazel ones. Gilbert straightened up, embarrassed to be caught staring at her and he looked away, pretending not to be watching. Anne blinked, before taking Edward's hand and accepting the dance.

They danced together for many songs, clearly having a great time. Anne was a spirited dancer, thoroughly enjoying the music and flashing her wonderful smile at everyone save Gilbert. He watched her slightly bitterly, wishing it was him up there dancing with her. He wished he'd just spoken to her and gotten everything out before now so they could have enjoyed the evening together. But would she even have enjoyed the night if he'd confessed his worry of her being at the grave?

There was a short interval where Anne went to get a drink and Edward chatted cheerfully with his friends for a while. Gilbert's stare burned into Anne but she was ignoring him stubbornly. She knew he had been watching her and yet he hadn't even come to her and offered his hand for the dance, leaving her standing there like an idiot. Edward had come to her aid and they'd had fun, but deep down Anne had wanted to dance with Gilbert and she was frustrated that his refusal to talk had taken that chance away.

After a few minutes, Anne couldn't help herself and she looked up at Gilbert. He stared at her intensely for a moment, making Anne blush before looking away and walking across the hall to talk to a group of old school friends. Anne was annoyed. She knew he had nothing in particular to say to any of them, he was only using them to avoid her for even longer.

Josie Pye had noticed Anne watching Gilbert and she smirked. She didn't like the attention Anne had been receiving since getting back from Wolfsden Prison. Anne wasn't even back at school yet, and she was still being talked about every day... People thought she was a hero, a martyr. Anne had even shown up at the party with her hair in a style much too old for her, in Josie's opinion. The truth was, it became Anne very nicely and highlighted her good cheekbones. This infuriated the jealous Josie.

Josie could sense the tension between Gilbert and Anne and she was in the mood for trouble.

"So, Anne... Is it true that Gilbert Blythe is your beau?" Josie asked conspirationally, tossing her golden hair back and leaning over to speak with Anne.

Anne flushed an even darker shade of red and guiltily glanced at Ruby, standing not far away, who's ears pricked up. Ruby remembered her conversation at the town hall with Gilbert about being good friends and how he'd confessed he was very fond of Anne. Ruby wondered what Anne would say about the sought-after boy who's heart she clearly posessed.

"Oh-- Well, Josie... that's not--" Anne stammered, at a loss for words for a change. She had not expected this ambush.

"So it's true?" Josie jumped in, grinning like a hungry wolf. "Are you courting?"

"No -- you don't understand," Anne began, getting irritated.

"Aren't you a little young for that?" Tilly frowned. She had been sitting at the punch table, admiring everybody's dresses when she'd heard the conversation begin. "Courting, I mean?"

"My sister says we are too young, she knows all about these sorts of things you know." Ruby shared with a little superiority.

"Do you even like him?" Josie frowned too, that judgemental look which made Anne feel small dwelling in her eyes.

Anne felt very hot and flustered all of a sudden. Why did they even need to know? They didn't...

What was growing between her and Gilbert - it was private and precious and it came from a very vulnerable and emotional place within Anne, a place which she didn't share with many people. It was all special, all of the moments with Gilbert, the looks and affectionate touches and selfless, brave things they had done for each other throughout the entire ordeal of late... Anne didn't want the girls to know about any of it, she didn't want to share it with anyone - at least not at the time being.

Perhaps one day they'd be privy to some of the details of it but Anne knew she'd never be able to explain it to them so they'd understand the way it felt or the way everything happened so she didn't even want to attempt at breaching the subject with them.

Especially not when Gilbert had annoyed her so much and all but slighted her in public. Just thinking about that dreadful, beautiful, infuriating boy made Anne's blood boil. Just like the old days.

"I'm certainly not courting Gilbert Blythe... We aren't beaus." Anne said firmly.

"Well, even if you aren't courting... do you like him? In that way?" Tilly asked, genuinely interested.

"Yes, do tell us! I mean we wouldn't blame you -- he's a real gentleman Anne... you'd do well with him." Ruby nodded admirably.

"Maybe that's true, Ruby but it's of no interest to me." Anne shrugged, appearing to hold no discernable investment in the conversation.

"Oh, she's lying of course --" Josie laughed coldly. "He's loopy for her, same as she is for him. Never have I seen two people more gone for another, bless them."

It was in such a very patronising tone that Josie said this, as though she was an expert, nay a keeper of vast knowledge on the matter of Gilbert and Anne that it filled the redhead with such rage as nobody had known before. It was a bold insult to Anne to be so presumed and imagined into being a lovesick teenager with nothing in her head but boys and cottonwool. For their love to be simplified to being 'loopy' like they didn't know what they were doing and weren't in the right minds, 'bless them'.

Anne fought down the urge to swipe Josie around the face for her arrogance and she almost wanted to deny all of Josie's words out of pure spite and for the sake of disagreeing... Josie Pye was so interminably smug and condescending that it was almost funny to Anne. It was because despite this attitude which Josie held she actually knew precious little about Gilbert Blythe, who he really was in his heart, of Anne herself and even besides that about the inexplicable feeling which had grown in their hearts for each other.

"Oh how romantic... Is he really and truly yours?" Tilly leant forward, eyes wide.

The three girls watched Anne, with eager expressions on their faces all of which were painted there by a different motive or type of interest... None of which inclined Anne to spill her secrets in the slightest. Anne drew herself up, rolled her big eyes as though she were painfully bored before throwing them all such a condescending look that it rivalled even Josie's.

"Gilbert Blythe may do as he please... He's certainly not mine, nor I am his." Anne said coldly. "I'm not in the habit of supporting or taking part in any relations where one person is belonging to or owning of the other."

The girls looked slightly deflated. Tilly and Ruby looked confused.

"Oh, well Gilbert sure does like you, Anne." Ruby nodded slightly, her cheeks as pink as her lacy dress. "He told me he does. He's a big fan of you."

Then why had he run from her, avoided her ever since that day he'd climbed up to her room and not even come over to say hello since arriving at this party? It was an embarrassing thing to be ignored at a public event, especially when under such scrutiny... Anne was furious with him and deep down she was always afraid that he didn't truly like her like he'd said - she feared that now all of the madness in their lives had died down the feelings he'd harboured for her would fade away and he'd remember she was just the scrappy orphan-girl from Nova Scotia.

"Well, I'm not a Gilbert Blythe fan." Anne snapped defensively.

Josie raised her eyebrows doubtfully. She knew Anne was lying - there was something in her grey eyes when she said it which gave her away... Some sentimentality and emotion which Josie would never understand. Tilly and Ruby didn't notice it however. Josie was annoyed that Anne wasn't rising for the bait so she decided to throw more wood onto the fire which was Anne Shirley's infamous temper...

Bad idea.

"Well girls, there you have it... Anne, perhaps you're finally a real Cuthbert now - you can live your whole life alone, devoid of romance or love and fit right in." Josie smirked, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Of course it won't be long before your old Cuthberts do die and you can get started."

"Josie Pye, you take that back right now!" Anne cried, temper flaring, heart thumping, fist waving.

The infuriating blonde girl merely turned and walked away, her nose held high in the air.

Anne threw herself onto Josie without thinking, shaking the girl roughly and yelling. "You're a wicked girl! Josie Pye take it back!"

Josie was crying out dramatically, flailing her arms and trying to pull away but Anne was stronger than her. Anne's anger blinded her as she shoved the girl.

"Oh, Anne stop! Anne, you mustn't!" Tilly and Ruby were shouting.

Suddenly there was another shout, "Anne! Hey, stop."

Gilbert was there, his hand on Anne's shoulder pulling her back. She shrugged him off, tears in her eyes. She was very protective of the Cuthberts and them dying and leaving her alone was her worst fear, besides living all her life unloved. Josie had struck a sensitive chord. Gilbert was stronger than Anne though and he grabbed Anne's hands and tugged her away, removing her from the reach of the whining Pye girl.

"Anne, you have to stop." He was saying, holding her arms tight.

Anne gasped through her sobs, breathless with anger. She looked up at Gilbert for a split second and she felt embarrassed for him to see her like this and angry with him for not being honest with her and speaking to her. It was all too much. Anne furiously pushed Gilbert away, turned and ran across the room.

Anne was swept through the hall with dozens of youths dancing,
dizzying spins sending her mind reeling even more. A small group of people had seen Anne's outburst and they were whispering and pointing as she ran. The room was hot and at every turn Anne was face to face by happy, joyful teens, shiny, lacy clothes and elegant, energetic dances. Anne was overwhelmed and overcrowded. Everybody here was enjoying themselves, they all belonged... Anne felt out of place and she wanted desperately to be alone.

Anne ran from the room and up the winding mahogany stairs and along several corridors until she reached a dark room with the door left ajar. She peered inside to be welcomed by a breeze. It was an old reading room, walls lined with shelves which housed hoards of books... There were large glass double-doors opening to a balcony wrapped in ivy. In the night sky hung the moon, bright and round skimming the treetops of the forest surrounding the mansion. Anne took deep breaths of the night air. It was peaceful and calm. The party felt far away.

I wish I could be the moon, Anne thought. Hanging silver in the sky, beautiful and content, needless of company or the turmoil of human emotions. It must be nice to be safe and alone up in the sea of stars in the inky-black sky. Anne could see the constellations in the clear night, hear the owls hooting far off and the faint thump of the band music below. Her heartbeat was slowing as she calmed down. She tried not to think about Josie or Ruby or even Gilbert and how tense and awkward they'd become.

Thinking about Gilbert was very confusing at that time.

...

Downstairs, Gilbert was about to engage in his own Josie Pye argument.

Gilbert had wanted to follow Anne from the room but instead he turned on Josie angrily. "What did you say to her?" He snapped.

"Nothing, she just attacked me! She's a savage, wild animal!" Josie shrilled, getting to her feet unsteadily. Her blonde curls were tangled and her dress sleeve slightly torn at the seam.

Gilbert clenched his jaw in annoyance. "Stay away from her, and don't talk to her like that again. She doesn't deserve any of the trouble you put her through."

Gilbert's words were scolding and venomous, although his anger was misdirected and it stemmed from frustration at himself. Who he was really addressing was himself... Anne didn't deserve any of the trouble he put her through, that's what he was really thinking.

Josie blushed. "Gilbert, I really didn't say anything--"

Suddenly Ruby spoke up, "I think what you said was awfully wicked. You should apologise to poor Anne."

They all turned to look at the small girl. She had never been so bold to stand up to the intimidating bully Josie. Ruby was known for being well-mannered, meek and eager to please. She was high on appearance and never wanted to say anything which might turf her from a friendship or a social group. She was anxious and hated conflict so for her to say this to Josie required a great deal of bravery.

All Ruby needed was the look that Gilbert gave her, of awe, respect and gratitude. Ruby never forgot that look, that glow in his eyes. She thought afterwards that this was what Anne must get every day, how Gilbert always looked at her.

Josie herself was stunned. "I-- I-- you don't-- it's--" She couldn't even formulate a sentence.

"You should apologise and then make up your mind to be kinder to Anne." Tilly added, nodding.

"Yes, apologising is a start but trying to be a good person is even better." Ruby said in a rush. "You should give Anne a chance."

Gilbert nodded. "Go then, find her and apologise."

Josie was bright red at that point. She had never been more embarrassed. Very slowly, she made her way out of the room. The others didn't know this but Josie was too afraid to face Anne and she fled the party and ran all the way to the bottom of the garden to hide. Guilt for her words had set up residence in her heart though and it squeezed and clenched her chest painfully. Josie knew she had crossed a line this time.

"Well done for standing up for Anne, Ruby." Gilbert said after Josie had gone, smiling at the blonde girl. "It was brave."

Ruby positively shone.

...

It was shortly after the incident with Josie that Billie Andrews followed Anne up the the balcony room to speak with her.

He hadn't spoken to her since the events of the barn which had scarred themselves permanently on Anne's brain and impacted Billie's life greatly. Anne was daydreaming when he came in, thinking of a story about a moon princess to distract herself. When she heard him walking across the room she thought it was Gilbert. She had expected him to follow her like he always did, managing to always annoy her in the midst of her anger. Anne had calmed since she'd come up but Josie's words still stung her.

"Leave me alone, Gil..." Anne said quietly, not looking back.

"Anne, it's me." Came Billie's voice.

Anne whirled around, heart beating fast. "Don't come any closer." She warned him, holding up her hands. Billie had done nothing to make up for or regain her trust since his awful actions so Anne was afraid of him and angry at him.

"I only wanted to speak with you-- I needed to say something. Please, I won't hurt you." Billie said in a surpisingly gentle voice.

Anne's eyes were heavy with mistrust, her cheeks blotchy from crying. Despite this she looked very pretty in the moonlight with her lovely light-green dress. Billie had always thought she was nice-looking in some way, in an intriguing and endearing sort of way - and a very interesting personality too but he didn't know how to talk to her so he bullied her instead. It was easier and he had learnt it from his strict, mean father. Billie wondered why Anne had been crying... He could think of many reasons.

"Speak then. Quickly." Anne said coldly, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry, Anne." Billie said sincerely. "I really am."

Anne thought for a moment that she'd heard it wrong. Billie Andrews had actually apologised? Surely not. She blinked, confused.

"What I did to you was unforgiveable... I know that I was terrible to you, you don't have to forgive me. I just-- I wanted you to know that I regret what I did and I'm sorry for all of the trouble you've been through." Billie flushed in his cheeks.

He was nervous, Anne realised.

"Thank you..." Anne spoke slowly.

"I hope one day you could forgive me. I am going to try harder in the future to be nice." Billie said awkwardly. Anne could tell he meant it but felt uncomfortable saying it.

"Perhaps one day, if you could show me you are deserving of my forgiveness," Anne said warily. "I could manage to accept your apology."

Billie didn't speak for a few moments.

"They almost didn't let me come today, my parents..." Billie said quietly. "My family are very ashamed of my actions. They told me that the terrible shame I brought upon them in the eyes of the good people of Avonlea and God is punishment enough, but Father took away my air rifle for good measure."

"Good." Anne said shamelessly..

Billie said nothing. He fiddled with is hands, clearly anxious and out of his comfort zone. "I'm sorry." He said again.

Then Billie turned and left the room, leaving Anne to ponder on his apology. She could never have seen it coming in a million years. There truly was some good in this world yet and it was appearing in the most surprising, unlikely places. Anne sighed and gazed out over the balcony, her thoughts gathered and her faith in humanity restored.

It was in that moment of silent thoughtfulness that Anne became aware of the smoke rising from the ground and the faint crackling coming from out of the walls. There was a scent too, heavy and thick of burning. Anne's worst fears were confirmed when she peered out of the balcony and saw flames licking up the wall adjacent to her window, burning in the room below her...

Barry Manor was on fire.

...

When Gilbert and the rest of the party realised that the manor was on fire panic rose up in the crowds.

It was Diana and Gilbert who kept their heads, having faced down danger and fear many times recently. Diana began to guide people out to the yard, with help from her friends while Gilbert located the source of the fire. It was lit within a central room, burning in the vents of the house, spreading quickly and giving off a lot of heat. It was frightening and overwhelming but many of the boys had experience putting out fires. The procedures were well-practiced in Avonlea as many homes caught alight due to their build.

Billy Andrews lead a group of older boys up to the stables, borrowing horses and riding to neighbouring houses for buckets and help for dousing while a senior boy rode to the town for the pump cart and firefighters. There soon formed a procession line of buckets, well-pumpers and those brave enough to splash water onto the flames which were spreading. Mr and Mrs Barry were highly-distressed and not of much use, Mrs Barry cradling Minnie May in her arms while Mr Barry ordered around those tackling the fire with stressful shouts and flapping of his arms.

Gilbert had rushed upstairs in search of anyone trapped and unaware of the blaze. The ground and first floors were the only ones allowed access during the party and had been emptied very quickly early in the fire so he found nothing but empty rooms which stunk of fire and smoke coming from the walls. Coughing in the thick air, Gilbert suddenly remembered what Anne had done a long time ago - he proceeded with haste to close all the windows and doors, covering his mouth and nose with his jacket.

Rushing downstairs, the only thought remaining in his mind at the time was - was Anne safe?

Meanwhile, Anne was on the 'out of limits' floor above, somewhere Gilbert had never expected her to be - trapped in a smoky room, the main door blown shut by a gust of wind and fire licking up the balcony from below. The door lock had clicked into place and Anne was stuck. She had tried to break open the door which had proved pointless and the smoke was becoming hard to work in. Anne looked out over the balcony. She was several floors up so it was dangerously high to drop from. There was no way down - no trellis or tree to climb on.

Anne was afraid.

...

Outside at the edge of the manor gardens, Josie Pye had heard the screams and shouts from the manor and seen the boys ride past. The blonde girl had rushed back up to the house from her walk to see the Barry Manor picnic gardens flooded with shaken party-goers and dark smoke billowing from the side of the house. It was on fire, she realised with a jolt of fear.

Through the hubbub of worried cries and noise Josie made out a faint scream for help. Josie didn't even think, in a moment of bravery and recklessness she didn't know she possessed she rushed around the side of the house to find its source... A front room was burning, glass windows smashed out onto the grass as it blazed, causing Josie to cry out in shock. The smoke was churning up in spirals as the fire slithered higher up the house. Above the source of the fire, three floors up a pale figure was screaming from a balcony. They were waving and desperately yelling.

"Help! I'm up here!" The figure was Anne, Josie realised.

Josie didn't know what to do at first. She was frozen in fear and helplessness - Anne was stuck on a balcony soon to be engulfed in fire. It was terrifying. Then she had a brilliant idea... Josie ran away down to the orchard and the frightened Anne watched her go hopelessly, sure that Josie Pye was deserting her to the flames. She had underestimated Josie, who surprised her by returning soon after dragging something long and barred. Anne's salvation was a very long, apple-picking ladder.

Josie propped it up on the ledge of the balcony and held it steady, feeling the heat of the fire on her hands and face. She looked up and called to Anne.

"Climb, quickly - the fire will catch on the ladder soon."

Anne looked down amongst the billowing smoke, the heat rising up around her. She had to place all of her trust into Josie, a girl who revelled in making her life a misery ever since Anne had arrived in Avonlea. But people could change, couldn't they? Josie had fetched the ladder after all, exceeding all of Anne's hopes and expectations. Anne had faith in that.

Anne carefully climbed over the balcony ledge, holding onto the stone tightly as she reached her foot down and placed it on the top rung of the ladder. Thank goodness for Diana's orchard, Anne thought. She heard the fire blazing in the room below and the crackling and spitting as she began to climb down. She was so high up, Anne's heart beat loudly. Her hands became slippery from the heat as she moved further down.

"Keep going! You're halfway to the bottom." Josie called up encouragingly.

Anne kept climbing down, her hands and legs shaking. She finally reached the bottom just as the flames swallowed the ladder and Anne fell backwards onto the grass with a cry of shock. Josie was knocked over and rolled across the grass in a mess of skirts and long, golden hair. The two girls sat up, Anne coughing and Josie pushing her hair out of her eyes. They looked first at the burning house, a deep sadness in their hearts. All of those wonderful books will be burnt, mourned Anne. Then they looked at each other.

"You saved my life." Anne said softly.

"I couldn't leave you." Josie said quietly. She seemed very shocked at herself, almost as shocked as Anne was.

"Thank you." Anne said sincerely.

"I'm sorry about what I said, before..." Josie mumbled with embarrassment.

Anne somehow knew that the girl felt true regret, despite her bad track record. She should give Josie a second chance, same as she should give Billie. The two girls stared at each other and some wordless type of understanding passed between them. A truce? Anne was certainly pleased with that.

...

Indoors, Diana was about to make an arrest.

She'd been clearing out the last few guests from the hall when she'd heard running footsteps down the corridor and spotted none other than Thomson careering around the corner and heading for the front doors. The man was coming from the direction of the blazing room, a box of matches in one hand and a discarded bucket of water by the door. Never had a man looked more guilty.

Diana instinctively leapt out of the hall and ran after him, shouting as he headed outside. She had realised instantly that it was Thomson who'd lit the fire... Nobody else had access to set up fire-lighters in the vents and knowledge to enter Barry Manor uninvited on party night, nobody else had such a personal motive.

"Stop! Stop, I say!" Diana cried.

All thoughts of ladylike manners and being polite were gone from Diana's head, replaced by a righteous anger of what Thomson had done to her home, to her friend's life and to her family. He was a traitor, a liar, a selfish man who's ambition was dangerous and reckless. Diana would not let him get away with this.

As Thomson burst through the front doors he ran smack into a group of men from the town carrying water buckets and worried expressions. Among them was also a police officer. Thomson fell hard on his back and groaned. Diana caught up and smiled with satisfaction. She gestured down to the fearful fool of a man.

"Officer - this man is named Thomson, and he lit the fire. Take him away."

The discarded bucket by the door that she'd seen had made no sense to Diana until Thomson's confession came out later that night... He'd planned to put out the fire to take the credit and become a hero but the fire had gotten out of hand. Instead, Thomson was sent to prison for arson. It was where he belonged, Diana thought thereafter. At least in prison he couldn't cause anymore trouble.

When the fire had been put out only two rooms had been condemned to the flames... The vents smelt of smoke for a long time after that but it was widely thought that it was lucky the fire had been put out when it was. If it had burned much longer it could have been a lot worse, perhaps unsurmountable. Everyone thought the calm heads assumed by several of the young people present at the party were worthy of a great deal of praise and respect and were the key to the quick action and solution. Mr and Mrs Barry were very shaken by the situation but Mrs Barry had not let go of her daughters since Diana had come out with the police officer and Thomson. She was very proud of Diana.

After the madness of the fire there was a headcount for all those who had attended the party and been called in to help. Everybody was present, save two girls. Josie Pye and Anne Cuthbert. Upon hearing this, Gilbert's heart dropped out of his chest in dread. Anne had run off after the fight to calm down alone - where had she gone? Had the flames taken her?

Gilbert ran to the house, intending on searching the fiery rooms ruin for Anne's body but a man caught his arm. It was a police officer.

"You can't go in there, son."

"It have to find her--" Gilbert insisted.

"You have to wait until the firefighters clear it. It's not safe."

"But she could be in there!" Gilbert cried.

"If she is, we'll find her." The officer said firmly in a way that Gilbert knew he'd never be allowed to go in.

There was several moments of quiet shock and fear amongst the townsfolk before the firefighters began planning another search of the house to find them. The Pyes and Cuthberts were not there yet as they'd not heard of the fire and there was a hasty messenger acquired to let them known. Just before they were going to enter the house there came a shout from the crowd, somebody who had spotted something. Coming around the side of the house, hunched and supporting each other were two girls. A blonde girl and a red-haired girl.

Josie and Anne were alive.

...

Most of the town were at Barry Manor all night sorting things out.

Many families took their children home but the messenger had left late so Anne was still waiting for the Cuthberts to arrive to pick her up. The stranded young people resulted in sitting around in the garden with blankets, snacking on the leftover party food from the picnic or wandering the gardens.

When Gilbert had seen Anne safe and alive his heart missed sorting beat. He was so relieved. He had wanted to run to her but a crowd of her school friends had enveloped her in a hug including Diana. The time for hugs passed and Anne was then doted on by her friends, receiving food and a blanket and many eager questions. Gilbert resolved to sit a little way off until they left her alone so he could talk to her in private.

Later that night, in the early hours of the morning he went for a walk around the gardens to clear his mind. Anne saw him go and decided to finally confront him. Her ordeal in the fire had given her the spur of urgency needed to remember that life was too short to worry about simple things like pride.

Anne found him walking down the garden path through the picnic blankets and flowerbeds, venturing into the orchard. On the other side of the orchard was the gates out of Barry Manor. Anne thought he was going home. Anne began to run after him, calling.

"Gilbert! Wait,

"Gilbert Blythe! Wait a moment!"

Anne finally caught up with Gilbert, clutching her side and wincing as she panted and coughed, smoke residue still in her lungs. Gilbert glanced back at her and upon seeing her gasping for breath with her face screwed up in pain his grievances were thrown to the wind.

"Anne stop! Anne, why did you run?"

"I... need to... speak to you..." Anne's chest heaved as she talked.

"Hey, sit down a moment girl. You're going to kill yourself, for pity sake." Gilbert huffed, taking Anne's arm and leading her to a stone bench surrounded by a white-rose bush.

Anne gave in and sat, taking a moment or two to recover her breath yet her heart took longer to calm.

"What is it that's so important that you run after me?" Gilbert asked after a while. "You didn't seem so bothered earlier to talk."

"I didn't? Look at yourself - you've ignored me practically the entire night, no -- ever since that day in my room."

Gilbert rolled his eyes. Anne was so argumentative. "I didn't ignore you - I stopped you murdering Josie Pye, didn't I? I'm surprised you even notice my attention when you've got Haswick on your arm."

"Haswick? He's a good man, he's done nothing wrong to either of us so put that silly notion that you have the right or any reason to be jealous out of your head, Blythe." Anne snapped, flushing. "Why don't you tell me the real issue?"

"The real issue? You don't tell me the truth anymore... I thought you trusted me but apparently I was mistaken." Gilbert suddenly blurted out, unable to meet her eyes.

"What? Gilbert what are you talking about? I am always honest with you--"

"Well why did I find a red hair from your head on the grave of Joseph Bines?" Gilbert snapped. "Were you there?"

"You found what? Oh Gilbert, that's preposterous! I don't even know where his grave is! You haven't told me anything."

"There's nobody else with red hair in Avonlea, Anne! Why didn't you just tell me anyhow? I thought you trusted me?" Gilbert couldn't disguise the hurt in his eyes.

"I do! I thought you trusted me? So what, you think I did that to Joseph? That I buried him? You really think I'm capable of that?" Anne's voice wavered as she got frustrated.

"I don't know because you haven't told me!" Gilbert cried, standing up.

"Well I'm telling you now! It wasn't me!" Anne yelled, getting angry.

"Are we really going to fight again?" Gilbert groaned, sick of arguing with her.

"You tell me, Blythe." Anne crossed her arms.

They stared at each other for a few painful moments, fuming and glaring. Anne felt sick. She always hated it when she fought with Gilbert but he made her more angry than anyone else. He pushed all the wrong buttons sometimes and riled her up easier than anyone else. Anne hated how simple it was for him to ignite such overwhelming emotions in her. Why couldn't it just be easy? Why was everything hard?

Gilbert clenched his jaw and sighed impatiently. They were both too stubborn to give in.

"You know you make it so hard to love you," Gilbert hissed under his breath, his hazel eyes flashing. His voice dropped and Anne realised he was upset. "You fight me every time."

Anne felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. It was even worse that she'd upset Gilbert... She could handle his anger and arguing but it was when she'd made him sad that it hurt.

"Well I didn't ask you to love me... I can't control what you feel, if it's so hard then just stop. It's more trouble than its worth, clearly." Anne said, trying to sound harsh but her voice cracked halfway. "Go then - just leave like everyone else."

Gilbert almost laughed then but he was too upset. He groaned loudly in annoyance.

"Just go!" Anne shouted, gesturing for him to leave. Tears were filling her eyes and her lip wobbled.

"You don't have to be defensive - as if loving you is an insult." Gilbert said angrily. He took a step towards her.

Anne pushed her hands against his chest, shouting through her tears. "Go, Gilbert. Just go away!"

Gilbert caught her hands before they pushed him again. Anne snatched her hands out of his grasp.

"I'm not going to leave, Anne. Not now, not ever - not everybody who loves you is going to go away or break your heart - not everybody is a threat to your heart.  Don't you think I feel that fear too?  After losing so many - that dreadful feeling of inevitable abandonment.  It's always there and you have to fight it.  Instead you just fight me!"

Anne let out a sob, as his words cut deep. That feeling he spoke of weighed heavy on her heart and crept the doubts in her mind every day. He was right. Everything he said was true and the truth hurt.

"I won't ever leave you. I can't. It's not that simple. Don't you see? It doesn't work like that. I can't stop loving you."

Gilbert had tears in his eyes too, Anne noticed. He took another step forward, his face painted with a wordless plea.

"You don't have to make it hard. Just let me in."

Anne bit her lip, a lump in her throat. The silence hung in the garden, like a clock ticking slower than time past gone. The guilt and love and pain in her heart swirled unbearably before she finally couldn't keep it down any longer. They rose up into her mouth and she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Gilbert." She said eventually, her voice thick with tears.

"Tell me, please - just say honestly that you know what it means when I say that  I love you, Anne, and I will never stop loving you..." Gilbert said quietly.

Anne blinked and the tears escaped, dragging down her pale cheeks slowly in the moonlight. The breeze blew the loose curls of red hair around her face. Gilbert looked so achingly sweet in the dark, his eyes even bigger and lovelier. Anne nodded slowly.

"I know. I promise, I know. I love you, Gilbert. I love you so much, more than I've ever loved anyone. Sometimes I don't know what to do with all the love, it aches. I'm not used to this. I'm so sorry, for everything."

Slowly Anne took a step towards Gilbert and he held open his arms. Anne fell into his embrace, Gilbert holding her head against his chest, wrapping her up in a tight hug. Anne closed her eyes and snaked her arms around his waist, feeling safe and at home with him. She let out the last sob and breathed slowly against his shirt, letting the feelings relieve. Gilbert cradled her, so glad that she'd told him the truth after all and that they'd gotten it all out despite the argument.

It was always like that for Anne and Gilbert - it was never simple and easy like in romance novels... it was messy and hard and painful but that was what made the good moments and their love so precious and tender. The feelings they held for each other were so strong and they only grew as each day went by. This kind of love was gold dust and it had filtered into their hearts slowly like a snowdrift, barely noticeable at first and then impossible to overlook.

"You know, I thought you died in the fire. For a dreadful moment." Gilbert whispered into her hair. "My Anne-girl."

"I'm here, Gil." Anne replied, hushed. "I'm here."

...

Avonlea was forever changed after the Barry wagon robbery and the incidents of Joseph Bines.

Some things went back to their normal pattern, only changed and grown into something better naturally as things do over time. Anne went back to school, which wasn't so bad with her friends beside her and her bullies vanquished. The teacher, Mr Kaine was fired after the discovery of his corporal punishments. The police had decided to investigate many things in Avonlea, the school one of them.

Anne and Gilbert returned to their rivalry but it was more of a sport and lacked the burn of despite which it once held on Anne's behalf. They studied together often, as school was finishing soon and they'd be taking their Queens Academy entrance exams at the end of the year. Queens Academy was a fine teaching school and Anne had decided to become a teacher, spurred on by their wonderful, encouraging and modern new teacher named Miss Stacy.

A new boy had joined Avonlea from a local town, named Cole Mackenzie. He was sweet, shy and creative and Anne and Diana became good friends with him after no time.

The compensation money paid off the Cuthbert's debt and Matthew began to ease off the work on the farm, placing more trust in Jerry to do the heavy work as the boy was growing older and stronger. Marilla had proudly resisted the compensation at first but after seeing that Matthew could stop overworking himself she relented. Her deep love for her younger brother overshadowed her pride by far. Marilla had learnt how precious and how fragile family and life could be.

Gilbert had been worrying a lot about who could be his guardian and finally resolved to ask his old friend Sebastian to move in with him. Bash had been struggling to find accommodation and was eager to work the Blythe farm and learn the farming trade so he could set up his own farm in a few years. The force were happy with this and so began the rooming of Gilbert and Bash.

It seemed for a long while that everything was perfectly good in Anne's life. The spring was golden, full of heatwaves and blossoming flowers, sweet ice cream, reading books by the brook and precious evening walks with Gilbert. It was clear that Anne Shirley Cuthbert was becoming a woman, and many young men took note that she was quite a glimmering star in the sky of Avonlea...

Anne's head was often full of romance and fantasy, yet she somehow neglected to notice these boy's advances often enough and opted instead for happy days with Diana and her friends and hours spent writing in her woodland shack... Anne was far beyond the seas of courtship, especially when she'd already found the captain of her heart.

Far away on the other side of Avonlea there was another redhead who's heart was filled with something very different... Revenge.