The frown which creased Anne Shirley Cuthbert's brows had rested there, contorting her features for the best part of two hours.

The redheaded girl - almost Sixteen now - was gazing down at a book, her bright-grey eyes almost glazed over in boredom... She'd been reading and taking notes all morning, all week, for weeks on end. The sun beat down on her through the window of the Blythe kitchen where she sat at the table, making it hard to concentrate. Anne longed to be outside, instead of studying for her entrance exam to the teacher's school Queens Academy.

A hot Spring had come in full force, spreading a wildfire of lush greenery through the fields, forests and hedgerows. The drowzy heat had startled Avonlea from its daze left by the events of Joseph Bines. Anne of course, was not so easily shaken out of the state she'd assumed. She was left with some scars, both physical and emotional... A short, dark red scar ran along the side of her waist by her ribs from the knife wound she'd taken. Anne had also suffered many sleepless nights during the weeks following Joseph's death and an often-triggered paranoia stayed long after she managed to slip back into a semi-normal sleep pattern.

Despite all of this and the stress of approaching exams, things weren't all bad, in fact Anne was quite happy and content. She had settled back into school quite well and was enjoying time with her best friends and their new teacher. She'd learnt so much and blossomed under Ms Stacey's tuition. Anne had dropped her job at the library, as she had no real need of the money at that time due to the compensation money she'd relieved. Also she had many other distractions in her life which took up her free time...

Such as the young man named Gilbert Blythe.

Gilbert watched Anne from across the table. They had studied together often over the spring, at Green Gables or in his home at Blythe farm, piles of books and notes covering their kitchen tables for whole afternoons at a time. He treasured the time he spent with her, even if it was only studying.

Since the fire at Barry Manor months ago they'd not exactly grown distant... they were seeing each other at school each day, enjoying their usual competition and they'd naturally fallen into the routine of regularly meeting for study sessions. These were often followed by Gilbert walking Anne home or the pair going for strolls afterwards. Nearly everyone in Avonlea had noticed their behaviours and Gilbert had heard a lot of talk about them courting, yet they didn't seem to be in a courtship of any sort. Though the special way Anne tended to look at Gilbert confirmed that she still cared a great deal for him.

Gilbert often thought about the terrible things which they'd been through together but he also remembered all the beautiful moments that he'd never forget... The words Anne had spoken on the night of the Barry Manor fire still stuck in his brain, bringing so much joy to his heart:

"I love you so much, more than I've ever loved anyone."

Gilbert sighed and put down his pencil. Stretching his arms out and behind his head, he looked around the room. The Blythe farm kitchen was full of sunlight, birds sung loud through the open window and there was a quiet buzz of bees hovering amongst the flower pots outside. Gilbert heard his friend and housemate, Sebastian, banging posts into the fences outside in the field. Sebastian, or Bash, had picked up the farming skills quite quickly, when Gilbert had the time he'd been teaching him. Bash wanted his own farm and was eager to learn the trade. He enjoyed gardening too and had delighted at the colourful flowers which he'd planted as bulbs in little mismatched pots along the porch finally blooming.

Desperately tired of her boring book, Anne glanced up at Gilbert and thought how handsome he looked. His hair had grown a lot, falling in dark curls around his lightly-tanned face. Light brown freckles scattered over his nose and there was a thoughtful glint in his eyes as he stared out the window. His light shirt hung off his lean body as he stretched. He was looking so mature now, Anne had even begun to notice hints at scruff appearing along his firm jaw. Gilbert was almost eighteen after all - nearly a man. Anne still felt that flurry of butterflies in her chest whenever she was near him.

Gilbert looked over at the redhead who was absently gazing at his face.

"Are you staring at me?" Gilbert said.

"Don't talk to me, you'll distract me." Anne replied briskly.

Gilbert grinned at her and leant forward over the table on his elbows, holding her gaze. He touched Anne's hair and gently fiddled with a long curl of red hair.

"Wow, how long I've dreamed of having the power to obtain Anne Shirley's attention."

Anne instantly flung her pencil at him which he caught easily much to her mild frustration. "Oh, get out of here, Blythe."

Inspiration siezed the mischievous boy, caused by his desire to be out in the sun enjoying the beautiful day and Anne's delightful company.

"Hey... What say you - shall we make a break for it?" He teased quietly.

A tiny smile twisted Anne's pink-bow lips and she rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about, Gil?"

"Let's go... I'm bored to death over Geometry and I know you despise it too." Gilbert reached and took Anne's pale hand, squeezing her fingers. "Come on, let's get some fresh air. We've studied enough for one day."

"No, Gilbert - I have so much to do." Anne resisted feebly, shaking her head.

"Oh forget it - don't even try to tell me that you're in any mindset to get work done. You're going mad cooped up all day, I know you are."

Gilbert gave Anne a look, wide brown doe-eyes and an irresistible, pleading smile. Anne hesitated, biting her bottom lip. She wanted to say yes, yet her obligations held her back. But she couldn't help smiling as she looked at the persuasive boy across the pile of paperwork and books. The cheerful birds were calling to her out the window, the flowers and sun... she was desperate to be out in it.

"We can finish our work tomorrow, I promise." Gilbert wrapped his pinky finger around Anne's in an innocent oath. Anne laughed under her breath.

Then after one last pause, she said, "Alright - very well."

"Come on, Anne-girl."

Gilbert stood up and tugged at Anne's hand, happy to have finally convinced her to join him. She stood too and followed him out of the kitchen, the pair pulling on their shoes in the hallway. The door was flung open and the sun hit their face like a well-earned gift... Warm, rejuvenating and joyful. Anne blinked into the light, holding up her pale fingers to save her eyes the strain. Gilbert glanced at her before grinning again, stepping down off the porch and running along the path, headed for the fields.

Anne looked after him, a smile taking over her face.

Anne ran after him, her long, loose red plait blowing back in the breeze. They scaled the old fence without hesitation, waving to a smiling Sebastian on the other end of the field. Gilbert made his way eagerly through the long, golden grasses, snatching up wild flowers and trailing a beaming Anne Shirley. They ran down the hill and through the dapples of the Blythe's expansive orchard, the warm breeze shaking white apple-blossoms down like a shower of Summer-snow... Anne laughed for joy, reaching up in the rain of petals and spinning around in joy. Gilbert laughed too, not slowing as he glanced back to see her so happy. It made him happy too.

The dark-haired boy went down through the green forest, ducking beneath branches and weaving between curving trees. The bubble of the brook was music to Anne's ears as she followed Gilbert further into the woods. They trailed alongside the brook for a while, slowing down as the hill evened out and the brook met with the fork of streams. The brook widened, eventually leading down to a glade...

Anne saw it up ahead, shining sunlight trickling through the lush green canopy down to a clear water-hole. It was beautiful, surrounded by thick greenery, trees trailing foliage into the crystal water with grassy banks sprouting wild forest-flowers and all of it dappled in golden sunbeams.

It took Anne's breath away.

"Oh Gilbert--" Anne breathed, stopping in her tracks to admire the picturesque locale.

Gilbert stopped too, hands on his hips and a triumphant grin on his face. His long hair was falling into his eyes and his cheeks shone from the heat, he looked so sweet with the bunch of flowers in his grasp. He held them out to Anne as he caught his breath back from running. Anne blushed and walked to him, taking the flowers and smiling.

"This place is so beautiful - I never knew it was here!" She said.

"It's part of Blythe farm - I used to play down here as a boy. We called it 'the pond' but I'd say it deserves a rather prettier name than that." Gilbert told her, gently taking her hand again and leading her down to the water hole.

"I think it should be called... The Emerald River-Glade of Sunbeams." Anne said poetically, lost in wonderment.

Gilbert laughed. "Yes, that's much better."

"Are you teasing me?"

"Not at all, Miss, I swear." Gilbert said with twinkling eyes. "I love your names for things. You know, I certainly hoped you'd think of one for my dear old pond."

The two youths looked at each other for a moment, standing there happily in the sunny woods. A sudden impulse came over Gilbert - a desire to share with Anne the frequented activity he'd done with his siblings as a child... Swimming in the water-hole in the hot weather, running down the banks and jumping into it, splashing around for hours to cool off. It was a special memory for Gilbert, tinged with grief. He wanted to make it a happy one again.

"Do you wanna do something crazy?" Gilbert said softly, flashing his infectious smile.

Anne laughed in surprise, giving him a look. "That depends. If I say yes will this result in wild and regretful experiences? You'd better not get me into trouble, Blythe."

"Never!" Gilbert raised his eyebrows in mock-offence.

He stepped back and pulled off his shoes and socks, his bare feet enjoying the cool grass and earth of the forest riverbanks. The sun was warm so Gilbert undid his braces and shed his shirt, unbuttoning it with his scarred fingers.

Anne's eyes widened. What was he doing?

Gilbert dropped his shirt and pulled off his trousers leaving himself in only his pants which came down to his knees. Gilbert felt a flicker of shyness concerning getting naked in front of Anne but he did his best to brush it off.

Anne loved him and love was unconditional.

Anne was lost for words at Gilbert's bold spontaneity. Any curiosity about his plan was gone faced with the sight of Gilbert stood before her, his toned body showing golden tan under the dappled sun, his brown doe-eyes shy behind long, brown curls. His hesitant smile was sweet, with only a hint of doubt. Anne blushed deeply and could barely meet his gaze.

"Let's swim." Gilbert said, beckoning to her. "The water is clean and fresh and it's fun. It's a hot day, it'll cool us down."

Anne paused, her big grey-eyes just as shy as Gilbert's were. "What if people see us?"

She wasn't exactly afraid of Gilbert seeing her in her underdress, he had before when he'd stitched her back together. There was a reservation she held, drawn from years of bullying at the orphanage, being called skinny and homeley... Anne wished it didn't still bother her but it had always stayed in her mind. She'd put on some weight since living with the Cuthberts but dropped it again after the traumatic ordeal in the Winter.

Anne glanced around the woods.

"Nobody will come by, it's private land. Nobody will see." Gilbert reassured her gently.

He saw the hesitancy on Anne's face and thought suddenly that he might have pressured her. Guilt and embarrassment rose up in his throat as he imagined Anne thinking he wanted to her to swim just to take of her clothes. He never even thought of that, he only wanted to swim with her for fun and now he had this terrible image of Anne losing her temper and never speaking to him again.

"Hey, you don't have to swim. I'm sorry - Anne, forget I ever sai--"

But Anne was already unbuttoning her dress. She dropped it to the ground, pulling off her shoes and stockings, leaving her in her white underdress. Anne looked up at Gilbert through her lashes, a smile creeping on her lips. It hit Gilbert like a whoosh of wind, seeing Anne like that - allowing herself to be vulnerable and carefree. It was a big step for Anne after being so afraid for so long, placing so much trust in him. She looked so beautiful with her long red hair escaping from its plait. It was undeniable that she was a woman now, she had that inexplicable look of maturity.

"Are you gonna stand there gawping or are you gonna jump? Or are you scared, Blythe?" Anne tormented him, a glint of competition in her eyes.

Gilbert grinned boyishly, mischief reappearing on his face. "Scared? Never has anyone dared accuse me of such a thing-- Me, the infamous water-hole jumper. Didn't you know?"

Gilbert ran to Anne, who giggled giddily as he scooped her up easily around the middle and carried her to the edge of the water. Anne was shrieking, laughing as Gilbert dramatically swung her over the water.

"Don't drop me! Don't you dare!" Anne shrilled.

"And you said I was scared!" Gilbert teased, smiling at her laughter.

"Let me go! I swear -- Put me down, let me--"

Anne reached up and tugged on his bare arm to let her go but Gilbert hadn't expected this, he became over-balanced and they both suddenly fell into the water-hole with a gigantic splash.

They dropped under the surface, the instant shock hitting Anne with a flashback of that day when she almost drowned. But a second later, before the memory even managed to grasp her in its claws a pair of warm arms wrapped around her waist and Gilbert dragged her up, breaking through the water to blink into the sun. Unaware of her flashback, purely enjoying the humour in the accident Gilbert laughed and it was infectious, giving Anne the giggles again.

Anne splashed him and he returned the favour, dousing them both in small waves and showers of the refreshingly-cool water. The sunny woodland glade was filled with the delighted shrieks and laughter of two young people who were madly in love. Birds sung and flittered between the branches mapping out the wooded canopy, paying no mind to the crazy pair below.

The waterhole wasn't deep, perhaps six-feet in the centre but the grassy bank dropped down at the edges to only three-foot or so, allowing somebody to sit half-submerged in the water if they so desired. The water was almost completely clear as it ran fresh along the current, washing away any chance of a stagnant surface. Anne delighted in the sunbeams shining down through the trees, glittering across the pool and dancing through the air. It was like a dream.

Anne felt so happy.

Gilbert watched her, a smile unmoving on his lips. Contentment had evaded him for a very long time, always at the tips of his fingers just out of reach - as a child the constant dark cloud of his mother passing had haunted his family, then his siblings passing too and his father becoming ill and finally the troubles of the winter just gone and all of the fear brought by Anne's endangerment. But that was all in the past now... Gilbert was living with his good friend, studying hard for college and enjoying precious, stolen afternoons with the girl he loved more than anything else... He felt so lucky.

Finally he was content.

Anne had been treading water, her cloudy eyes reflecting the glimmering sun as she gazed up at the light-green, leafy trees and listened to the music of the woods in late Spring. She felt Gilbert watching her and her gaze dropped, catching his dark-eyed, heart-aching stare. His long curls were wet, mussed up against forehead, his face all freckled and tanned and happy. He was so precious to Anne, her heart sang just looking at him.

"What are you looking at?" Anne blushed.

"Just the most beautiful girl in the whole world." Gilbert said quietly, swimming slowly over to her.

Anne scoffed but there was that bashful look in her eyes. "You're such a pest, Gilbert Blythe."

"I'm not joking." Gilbert got closer. His wet eyelashes spidered around his hazel-eyes as he squinted slightly. "You may not see it, but I do."

"I could never be, not even if all the girls in the world lost their beauty." Anne said, her voice losing its confidence as he got even nearer.

"Anne, I've travelled - I've seen so many places and so many girls - I'd never want any of them... not while there's Anne Shirley Cuthbert." Gilbert was inches away. "I'm not comparing you to them, I'm saying to me, you are the most beautiful."

Anne's heart burst with that warm feeling which had grown familiar. She knew she'd never get used to it, or sick of it.

"You're the sweetest boy that I've ever known..." Anne said slowly, almost a whisper. "The sweetest boy in the whole world."

Anne could hear his breathing, see the flecks in his shining eyes. She reached from the water and trailed her wet fingers across his cheek, feeling the smooth touch of his skin. Anne pushed his dripping hair out of his eyes, her heart beating harder. Anne leant in, noses touching as they breathed slowly. Anne cupped Gilbert's face, her lips brushing his. That familiar tingle spread through them, the excitement and besotted beat of her hearts fuelling the tremor in their breath. Gilbert returned the kiss, gently holding her wrists, then his hands slid down her bare arms to her shoulders, then to the small of her back. The kiss was sweet and slow and gentle, the pressure achingly light. The tension fizzed in the air like static electricity. Cold, gentle lips, the warm and drowsy heat, a burning feeling in their chests.

They hadn't kissed in a long time and it still felt like the first time.

...

After they'd finished their swim, Anne and Gilbert climbed out of the waterhole, their wet clothes dragged down and their hair tangled and messy.

They felt giddy and tingly as they clambered up the grassy verge to their discarded clothes. Anne glanced at Gilbert out of the corner of her eye. She wondered what he thought about other people knowing their feelings for each other. She didn't want people to know just yet, she was afraid of bringing more unnecessary strife and drama to the calm state that life had thankfully taken up. She wondered if he'd told anyone how he felt.

Anne didn't want Marilla or Matthew to know that they'd kissed or seen each other half-naked or any of the intimate details of their feelings for each other - Anne knew Marilla would disapprove as it was not proper for a young woman to be swimming with a young man or kissing or any of that... Rachel Lynde always said kissing before you're at least courting was shameful, even sinful...

Anne was full of original sin, she always said.

It had stuck in Anne's mind, causing her to often wonder what Mrs Lynde had meant. Was it wrong to want to kiss somebody if she loved them? How was that a sin? It couldn't be, surely. Either way, Anne decided not to tell Marilla for a long time yet. That is, if there was to be more kissing happening... Anne hoped so, she liked Gilbert a lot and kissing was the best feeling in the whole world she'd decided. She wasn't confident she'd be able to resist when the notion of kissing came to her. Gilbert had that affect on her.

"What are you thinking about?" Gilbert asked as he sat down in a sunny patch of grass beneath a silver-birch tree. He had put his shirt on but left it unbuttoned as the sun dried him off.

Anne met his gaze and shrugged. "The future..."

"The future? You mean, going to Queens Academy?"

"Yes... well that, and... you and I." Anne flushed slightly.

Gilbert's smile was so small it was barely noticeable. His eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "What about us?"

"What people will say... what they will think..."

"Oh, I don't care about any of that." Gilbert said simply, his small smile vanishing.

Anne wasn't surprised by his answer, just in awe on some level. She struggled to understand his ability to care so little about something like that. She found it hard.

"Do you really not care at all?" Anne sat down on her knees in front of Gilbert, looking at him with a curious frown.

"Why should I? Their thoughts and opinions will never change how I feel about you. There's no use in bothering with any of that." It was the boy's turn to shrug.

"I suppose..."

"You suppose? Do you mean you care what they say?"

"A little." Anne felt embarrassed suddenly.

Gilbert raised his eyebrows and looked away. Anne had an awful idea that he was judging her for this, that he thought she wasn't strong or brave enough to let others opinions slide. Anne bit her lip. She wanted to tell him that she didn't care about anyone's opinion but her own but it wasn't true and she cared a lot.

"I should go." Anne said, standing up.

Gilbert looked surprised. "Why?"

"I... I need to study." Anne mumbled.

"Are you mad at me?" Gilbert frowned, confused.

"No, of course not." Anne scooped up her dress and socks, clutching her shoes and walking briskly up through the forest.

"Anne!" Gilbert stood up, exasperated at the girl's unpredictable mood swings.

Anne kept walking, wincing slightly at the sensation of her bare feet on the tree roots. Gilbert caught up with her easily and tugged on her arm.

"Don't pull me!" Anne huffed. She spun around and glared at him.

"Don't run away from me then." Gilbert said stubbornly, arms crossed.

"I'm not running away from you, like you're so frightening. You're not intimidating - don't pride yourself." Anne rolled her eyes.

"What's going on? Why are you angry?" Gilbert demanded.

"I'm not angry!" Anne snapped.

"Yes you are."

"Well, I am now!" Anne stormed away.

Gilbert ran after her and grabbed her arm again, swinging her around. "Don't do this! Tell me what's wrong!" He said crossly. "You can't just run off, you're not even properly dressed."

"Well apparently I shouldn't care what people think, should I?" Anne said coldly.

"You know that's not what I meant." Gilbert groaned. "Tell me why you're mad."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me! Is it other's opinions? Is that so important to you? What is it? Why do you care what they think?" Gilbert asked insistently. "Are you embarrassed to be with me?"

"You think I'm embarrassed of you?" Anne scoffed, almost laughing. "Gilbert, what is there to be embarrassed about? I'm sure you don't need reminding that very girl is in love with you."

"So why do you care?"

"I'm not embarrassed of you, I'm embarrassed of me - I'm just a scrappy orphan from Nova Scotia, Gilbert, people expect you to marry a beautiful, well-off girl like Diana, Josie or Ruby."

"I don't care what people expect, I don't want to marry any of those girls." Gilbert said firmly.

"People will talk about me - Can't you see how I will feel? I am always wondering what people think of me and whether they're judging me. I'm not as carefree as you!"

"You think I'm carefree?" Gilbert blanched.

"People like you though, you don't have to worry about what they're thinking because you already know - oh Gilbert he's so nice, what a clever boy, he's so charming and handsome and such a good student, I could go on!" Anne cried. "People are always thinking bad things about me and it makes me so... so anxious."

Gilbert felt winded, suddenly understanding.

"It's easy for you not to care. You've never had to. But I had to worry, I had to know what they thought about me because if people didn't like me then I'd never be adopted - I'd have to stay in the orphanage forever, getting bullied every day or even worse I'd get snatched up to work for a rotten family like the Hammonds where Mrs Hammond screamed at me all day and then Mr Hammond would -- Mr Hammond would take t-the belt -- h-he --"

Anne stopped, breathless as she vividly remembered Mr Hammond's rage and the wicked sting of his belt. She looked down, memories stormy in her eyes. Gilbert realised that she was shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind, her fingernails digging into her palms.

"Anne, stop. Hey, you don't have to say it." He said gently. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I didn't mean to upset you, I understand now."

Anne blinked, focusing on her breathing and her senses to draw herself out of flashbacks. The feel of the long grass inbetween her toes, the slight weight of her wet skirts, the bundle of clothes and shoes in her arms and the warm breeze on her face. Anne felt her heartbeat slowing slightly. She looked back up at Gilbert.

"I'm so sorry. About all of it." Gilbert said sincerely. "Come here."

He offered his arms and Anne slowly leant into him, as he hugged her. It was comforting after their argument and her flashbacks. He stroked her back slowly. Gilbert felt bad for upsetting her and reminding her of those dark days in her childhood. He felt sick even thinking about anyone screaming at her or hurting her, he dreaded to think what pain Mr Hammond had inflicted with his belt. It made Gilbert's blood boil and an instinctive burn of loyalty light up in his heart. He had grown very protective over Anne.

"Whatever they say or think, we'll face it together - alright?" He reassured her quietly. "They can think what they like, I'll put them right about you."

Gilbert cupped her face and looked into her eyes as he told her firmly,

"Anne you don't have to worry about any of those things anymore, you have a family who loves you and a best-friend who'd do anything for you and..." Gilbert hesitated, his eyes glimmering. "A-and a boy who's crazy about you."

Anne smiled and closed her eyes. She leant back into his hug, her cheek pressed against his skin. Gilbert's chest was still damp but it was warm and smelt like him, with a hint of something else - that earthy scent of the forest, sunshine and heat and wet grass. Anne cuddled Gilbert around the waist and they held each other for a while.

"Come, let's not waste a beautiful afternoon." Anne murmured after a time. "I'm tired of sadness and worry... I think it's time to experience some of the simple, good things in this world."

Gilbert touched Anne's cheek, looking down at her. "What do you have in mind, Anne-girl?"

"Drying off in the sun with a dashing young man." Anne laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. "Have you seen any around these parts?"

"I'd hope not - there's a very fair maiden somewhere nearby who's heart I'm ever so eager to possess and if there was indeed a dashing young man he may well steal her heart before I got the chance..." Gilbert played along, a jovial faux-formality in his expression.

"Well, good sir, I could be persuaded to make do with your company, if I feel it would be of benefit to myself." Anne tipped her head like a fine lady performing a curtsey.

"Well, now. Would you really?" Gilbert was fighting off a laugh.

Anne kept her straight face, just about. "Don't you know I'm a very important fair maiden, my company is highly-coveted and considered as precious as jewels... Many men would die for even a moment of my time."

Gilbert laughed then. "I'm sure they would. Might you be persuaded to lower yourself to my level so I might be so graced by your company?"

"You may be lucky enough." Anne shrugged slightly, a superior look painted onto her features. "Since I see no dashing young men around these parts I'll have to settle for you."

"How privileged I am. I'd be happy to oblige, Madam." Gilbert winked and tipped his imaginary hat.

The pair looked at each other for a moment before letting out their bottled laughter, howling at their own awful play acting. It seemed even funnier because it wasn't so different to how Anne used to talk to her friends in their games and how she'd tell stories to them. Gilbert greatly admired Anne's powerful imagination. She didn't really play games anymore although she always spoke to herself on woodland walks and she still pictured herself attending balls and dances in beautiful dresses.

The only thing which had changed since she was a child imagining herself as Princess Cordelia was that the fantasy Prince Wisteria in her story now had a face.

As the afternoon progressed they spent the hours lying on their backs in the long grass, watching the clouds drift by on the summer-blue sky. The hum of bees and the comfortable heat swam like a haze over the day as they chatted and played with each other's hair. They spoke about the future, jovially discussing all of the many good parts which the very prospect of thrilled them to the core... The future was foggy, unclear with many possibilities awaiting unseen - all of it held that hint of exciting danger that was the fear of the unknown.

"That kind of fear isn't entirely bad though," Anne pondered, with those familiar daydream-tones lying heavy in her voice. "The thrill of not knowing the future is nice when you feel that incredible, inexplicable things could happen... I believe there is a mix of good and bad things waiting in everyone's futures. I love to look out at the horizon and think of all of the places in the world which I haven't seen, all the people who I haven't met, all the happiness I haven't felt yet... the world is so large, bursting so full of experiences and excitement and it's all waiting there... I can feel it, tingling... at the very tips of my fingers..."

Anne reached her hand up, dancing her slender fingers through the air as though they were walking on the fluffy-white clouds themselves.

"Think of all the possibilities..."

...

Across town, a young woman with long, dark-red hair was searching for something.

She was excited, for the first time in months... She had been angry for a long time, filled with indignation and unbridled rage; a desire to understand her past and the people in it; a desire to bring justice to the people responsible for completely changing the course of her life; an anger at the path and destination which her desire for revenge had taken her - all the way across the seas and lands to a small town in Canada - Avonlea.

She'd been looking for the truth ever since she first arrived in town, searching everywhere. Eventually she decided to do some digging so she broke into the town hall and stole the past few month's archived town newspapers. Days and days she spent scouring over newspaper articles and papers, finding out all of the details of the Barry Wagon case.

The redhead was sitting at a table, looking through a very recent edition of The Avonlea Chronicle when she saw what she was looking for. The paper held all local news and posts, along with a usually-dull front page story, yet over the past few months it had been running a drama-filled saga focused on the locally-infamous Barry Wagon Robberies and the consequent incidents which had followed.

Across the front cover of the article the woman read ran the headline,

Notorious Thief Stopped by Local Hero.

Beneath the aggressive tagline was an inky illustration of a handsome young man with upturned collar. He bore a solemn face in the picture, almost as though he knew that his fate was dealing him even more trouble to come. The article read,

'The notorious thief who was responsible for the serial robberies and thefts plaguing our town over the past few months has finally been stopped. At a recent emergency Town Hall Council and Community meeting new evidence came to light about the identity of the thief and also discovered on this occasion was his recent death. The thief was named Joseph Bines - a boy believed to have moved to Avonlea with his father Redmond Bines to start a new life. His real past is almost entirely unknown but sources say that he smuggled himself here from America on a steam ship. The dangerous Joseph Bines was apprehended by a local hero, (pictured - James Riley, above) who saw the man on the main road by the Ayche Woods which border Avonlea. There was a struggle, before the thief was killed in self-defence by James Riley. The body of Redmond Bines was discovered, although the whereabouts of Joseph Bines' body remains unknown. Following his admittance of killing Joseph Bines, Mr Riley has yet to release a statement or further details and is currently taking some time to himself to recover to wounds sustained while bravely taking down the terror of our town. We would like to thank him and bestow our utmost gratitude for his courage and bravery. In times of darkness like those we need people who can show they will stand up for what is right and protect the safety and sanctity of our beloved town. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our own personal hero, James Riley.

- If you have any further information regarding this case, or the whereabouts of Joseph Bines' body please contact Officer Steeler at the Enforcement Office in central Avonlea.'

Upon finishing reading the article, the redheaded woman brought down a gleaming-silver knife, slicing into the newspaper's surface, savagely pinning the sheets to the table. She was fuming as she glowered at the paper, or, more specifically the picture on it... Her sharp blade had pierced straight through the pictured James Riley's forehead.

"You." She hissed under her breath.