CHAPTER V

The Dinner

in which families gather together around a table

"Was that Gilbert Blythe?" Marilla asked with an evident tone of curiosity filling her voice. Anne had just walked into the house after a fairly surprisingly gratifying walk with his now friend, Gilbert Blythe.

The pair had been sitting outside Green Gables for hours, with Anne sitting on top of the fence and the boy sitting on the grass, leaning his back against the same fence Anne was sitting in as they watched the sunset. They did not talk about anything in particular, since they seemed to enjoy the comfortable silence between them whilst the gentle breeze of an early, golden autumn blew their hair softly. Eventually, Gilbert had taken a book out of his school bag, and had asked Anne if she wanted to read out loud for him, as she had done other times. The girl had obviously agreed, knowing that there was nothing she loved more than pulling out a performance. She read for him passionately, and the boy stared at her, nodding attentively at every word that left the girl's lips.

"Yes, but let me tell you, Marilla that the fact that he walked me home has nothing to do with romance!" Anne snapped out of her memories of her recent memory with Gilbert and looked at a very intrigued Marilla. "Nothing whatsoever!" she finally stated.

"I see" the woman nodded. "Well, child. I was just about to make dinner. Why don't you go look for Matthew? He must be be in the barn." Anne was already making her way out of the house when she remembered. "Oh, Marilla, Gilbert told me that we are invited for dinner this Friday." the girl said trying to hide the tone of excitement in her voice. "Bash and Mary are finally settled in the Blythe's residence"

The rest of the week had gone by quite slowly. Anne did not really look forward to the weekends very frequently, but this time she did have something to look forward to. The dinner at Gilbert's house. She loved attending such social events. That way, she'd had the opportunity of wearing a decorous dress and act like an mature young woman like the ones in the novels she liked to read.

Friday finally arrived and Anne was buzzing with excitement. That morning at school, she had secretly told Diana about the dinner, making sure that Ruby Gillis was nowhere to be seen. "Oh Anne, you do seem very excited about this date with Gilbert" her friend suggested, which Anne had found scandalous. "Date?! What?!" she gasped. "It's definetely not a date" she frowned in discontent, crossing her arms against her chest. "Then why are you asking for my opinion about which dress to wear?" Diana teased her. God, she's so obvious, Diana thought to herself as she looked at Anne with the usual playful smirk she always wore when Anne talked about Gilbert Blythe.

"I just want to cause a good impression to Bash and Mary" she tried to convince her friend. "I have no interest in looking pretty for Gilbert" she said. "It's not like he pays any attention to me anyway". And with that, Anne concluded the conversation about the boy. For now, Diana thought.

That evening, the Cuthberts arrived to their meeting at the Blythe's residence earlier than they were supossed to – probably because a certain redhead felt too enthusiastic about the event. They enjoyed a delightful conversation with their hosts until dinner was ready. Bash had taken over the kitchen again – he would not let Mary do any of the house chores – and had prepared one of his many tropical stew recipes and a mango dessert which Marilla complimented during the passing of the dinner.

"I wanted to offer my help again with the farm" said Matthew serenely after chewing his meal, directing his gaze towards Gilbert. "Jerry and I would be more than glad of offering a helping hand"

"Well, thank you, Mr. Cuthbert." the boy replied politely with s nod. He took Matthew's words very seriously, knowing that Anne's adoptive father was a very reserved person. "Your offer really means much to me."

"Please, um, call me Matthew." Gilbert was unable to hide a wide grin. He felt as if he had a family again. And Anne was part of it. Despite being unaware of his feelings for her, she certainly was a part of his family, somehow. And he liked the prospect of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert being a part of his life.

Right after all of them had eaten their dessert, Mary decided to break the news to their guests. "Well, dear Cuthberts, Bash and I have really exceptional news" the woman anounced as she took his husband's hand in hers, who was sitting right next to her. Gilbert couldn't help but look straight at Anne so that he could not miss her reaction. "We are expecting a baby". Anne covered her smiling lips with both of her hands. She was so enthusiastic at the prospect of Bash and Mary's baby that her reaction provoked a genuine beaming smile in Gilbert's face.

As the others stayed in the living room talking about the upcoming harvest, Anne followed Mary to the kitchen, helping "cleaning up the table", which was obviously an excuse since she just wanted to talk about Mary's pregnancy. "Oh! Dearest Mary! I can't wait meet this little person growing inside of you! I'm sure she or he will be for certain a kindred spirit!" Anne said enthusiastically, already imagining the life growing right in front of her. "Well, Anne, I'm sure you'll be a great mother some day, when you decide to have a family of your own" Mary said as she gently took Anne's hand in hers, right before putting it against her belly.

"B-but I'd make a terrible wife!" Anne shouted abruptly, removing her hand from Mary. "And a terrible mother as well, I'm sure!"

Flashbacks came to her mind as she remembered the time when she said the exact same words in front of a recently orphaned Gilbert.

"I strongly disagree" Gilbert said, walking into the kitchen holding a few dishes from the previous dinner.

"What? What do you mean?" she muttered, completely oblivous to the boy's thoughts.

Mary looked at Gilbert with worried eyes, yet understanding the situation. "I'm going to show our guests the room we're preparing for the baby" she said. Then she walked out of the kitchen and took the Cuthberts and his husband upstairs.

After placing the pile of dishes in the nearest table, Gilbert sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter, closing his eyes and rubbing his fingers against his temple. He seemed exhausted or bothered at something that Anne couldn't quite figure out. Without saying a word, he grabbed her by the wrist and took her to the living room, sitting her on the sofa.

"Gilbert what's all this about? I-"

"I don't think you'd make a terrible wife" he simply said. "For such a brilliant person, it's such a stupid thing to say"

"Yes, I would" she frowned. Will he ever stop contradicting me? "Everybody will always see me as the ugly, homely orphan who does not know when to stop talking" she said this as if she was stating some facts, but anyone could tell she was partly affected about her own words. She directed her eyes to the hem of her dress, avoiding to look at the boy. She knew she was about to cry and she certainly did not want to look this vulnerable in front of Gilbert.

"Do you want to know what I see?" the girl didn't reply, but looked at him, her ocean blue eyes were now filled with hope. In the intimacy of the room and the comfort of the fireplace, he felt brave enough to let his next words out. "I think you are beyond smart. Honestly, Anne, you're have such a brilliant mind. And you have this... this imagination that will led you to do wonderful things in the future. I'm sure you'd make an amazing writer, and an amazing teacher as well. God, you could even be a doctor so that you can beat me at that too!" Anne suddenly laughed at that last comment. "There's so many great things ahead from you, Anne" Gilbert did not realise that he was rambling and letting out so many thoughts that he had kept for himself during all these years. "So many possibilities. You don't have to be a wife. But even if you wanted to, you'd be the best wife in this whole world" Anne looked at him in awe. No one had ever talked about her so highly, not even Marilla or Diana. "A good friend once told me that I could get everything I wanted to if I went where my passions lead me so... you'd be the best at anything if you go where your passions lead you"

This situation reminded Anne of the other day, when they hugged in this exact same room, a week ago. They had felt closer than ever. Physically and emotionally.

They did not hug this time.

However, Gilbert lifted his hand, which lingered near Anne's hair. "May I?" he asked in a subtle whisper, doubting if she had even heard him.

Anne nodded lightly, not tearing his gaze from his. The boy, who could not take his eyes away from her as well, tenderly took her braids in his hands and untied the ribbons, untangling the locks and letting the girl's hair cascade all over her back. He focused on this task as if it was the most important thing in the entire universe.

He was astonished by the girl's beauty. How can she not see how marvelous she is?

As if it was a deja-vu from the last time they were this intimate, Anne was speechless. This was the third time Gilbert Blythe had left the with girl with the big words with no words at all.

The first time was when they blew out the candles of the Christmas tree last December.

The second one was last Saturday in this exact same room.

So she remained silent for a few minutes, shotting a shy smile to the boy. Gilbert took this as an invitation to enjoy one of their serene silent moments, which had been fairly recent over the past few months. He moved and sat closer to the red-headed girl, closing the distance between them in the old sofa. Both teenagers stared at the crackling, blazing fire that emanated from the fireplace.

Gilbert's mind was racing with countless thoughts.

Anne. The future. My future. Anne. Anne's hair.

"Gilbert?" she said, after a prolongated silence.

He cleared his throat. "Yes?"

She was now looking at him, directly into his eyes. Gilbert Blythe gulped at the sight of the girl beside him. The burning fire reflected in her hair, which made the auburn locks look even more enchanting than usual. This was the first time that Gilbert Blythe saw Anne with her hair down − although it would not be the last one – and he wondered how she could not see how unique she was. He had never seen such a fiery and gleaming red hair. This is one of those rare things that you only find in books, he thought, as if she was a fierce warrior or a delicate princess straight out of those novels she loved to read.

"Thank you. For everything."

"What are friends for?"

The boy awkwardly stood up from the sofa, offering her his hand. She hesitated and he chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Yes, yes, I know you can get up all by yourself" she smiled, looking down at the floor. "Would you please take my hand and let me walk you to the door? Marilla and Matthew must be waiting for you. It's late." She decided to take his hand.

"The Cuthberts left about an hour ago, Gilbert" Mary said, when the pair got out of the living room. "We did not want to interrupt the moment" Bash stood in the hall with a mocking grin in his face.

Gilbert shot him a glare as he got his and Anne's coats. "I guess I'll walk you home, then". And for the first time in a very, very long time, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert did not complain.

——

A/N - First of all, thank you so so so much!!! We have +200 and for me that's a lot! So thanks for all the votes and comments :) You are the best!!!
Please tell me what you think about this chapter (I feel like this is the worst I've written so far) and also feel free to comment your theories about where Shirbert's relauonship is heading / what's going to happen next!!!