Hi everyone! Anne and Gilbert are one of my favorite couples of all time, so after revisiting the series, I have come up with this story. Hope you enjoy it. Feedback is always loved! The title of this story was inspired by a song of the same name by one of my favorite bands, The Fray.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these wonderful characters, they belong to its rightful owner, L.M. Montgomery.

"Mr. Blythe! Mr. Blythe!"

Gilbert turned his head in time to see little Minnie Mae running towards him at full speed, her long locks flying behind her like a pair of golden wings. It was a warm afternoon in Avonlea, the kind that made folks gather around the front porch with a cool glass of lemonade. Summer was in no rush to give in to autumn, it seemed, even in these last few days of August. The apples had grown fiery red on trees and the lilies and honeysuckle were in full bloom, caressing the air with their sweet scent.

"Mr. Blythe, you're back!" Minnie Mae was saying, slightly out of breath by now as she faced Gilbert, a bright smile on her round little face. The shining blue eyes were a carbon copy of Diana's, thought Gilbert, giving the child a smile of his own.

"Why, hello, Minnie Mae. Look at you! You must have grown at least another inch since the last time I saw you!"

The child giggled, pleased, and wrung her hands together in a restless fashion.

"Mama says I'll be the tallest girl in my class! I'm goin' to school for the first time this year, you know."

"Well, you must be excited," smiled Gilbert, watching her nod enthusiastically in turn. They grow so quickly, mused Gilbert, tipping back his cap from his brow. He had been away from Avonlea for the past ten months, although it felt more like ten years to him. The air itself confirmed that this was home, irreplaceable, no matter how many other places his studies had taken him. 'Home is where the heart is' had taken on a more literal meaning for the young man, especially since a certain redhead of Green Gables most definitely held his heart captive on that island…

"Mr. Blythe, would you play a game with me?" Minnie Mae asked, interrupting Gilbert's private thoughts. "I am soooo bored!"

"Do you mean to tell me that you have no one to play with, Minnie Mae?"

The child sighed. Then, rocking back and forth on her heels, she patiently explained, "all my friends are out pickin' apples at Mr. Madison's farm and Mama is busy makin' puddin' and bakin' pies and she sent me out here so I could stay out of her way. I wish Anne wasn't still so sick, then she could read to me like she usually does. I like it very much when she reads to me."

Gilbert's heart quickened at the child's innocent revelation. Anne? Sick? The sweet air he could not get enough of minutes earlier seemed to be chocking him now, pressing down on his chest to prevent the flow of oxygen.

"What did you say, Minnie Mae?" Gilbert's voice sounded strange to his own ears, small, filled with alarm. "How long has Anne been sick?"

Minnie Mae shrugged, her eyes saddening and the corners of her mouth turned downwards in a full pout.

"I heard Mrs. Lynde telling Mama that Anne is dyin'. Oh, Mr. Blythe, I don't want that to happen to Anne!"

Gilbert could not even remember if he had offered some words of comfort to the child, for he found himself running towards Green Gables, his mind clouded in a rare state of confusion. No, he told himself, swallowing a lump in his throat. No, Anne cannot be that ill. Minnie Mae was exaggerating, or perhaps Rachel Lynde was wrong in the first place… she's not exactly the most cautious bearer of news. Or maybe Minnie Mae was mistaken in what she heard…maybe Rachel said "Anne was crying" and Minnie Mae thought it was "dying". That's plausible… But then why was Anne crying?

So much for making himself feel better! Gilbert scolded himself, still running at full speed down the path to Green Gables. He was only succeeding in planting more fears and doubts in his head. How in the name of all that was sacred could this be happening, to Anne of all people? His Anne. Sweet, dear Anne, who meant the world to him was dying, never having heard him pronounce his love for her… Oh, cruel fate!

The worry on his face must have been evident, along with his string of questions, for when Marilla answered the door, it was as if she had been expecting him all along.

"Gilbert," she voiced, wrapped in a shawl and looking older than he remembered. Her eyes appeared empty caves on her face, the wrinkles more pronounced around her forehead and mouth, her hands at her sides in a useless fashion. Gilbert did not need any verbal confirmation that something was wrong at Green Gables.

"Marilla, how is Anne?" asked Gilbert, his voice stronger now that he had had time to digest the ill news, realizing that it was the first time he had called Marilla by her given name.

"It's in God's hands now," Marilla replied resigned, chin strong even though her voice was quivering. Gilbert's knees weakened at Marilla's tone of voice, and was glad that she gently took him by the arm and led him inside, so that he did not have to think about his movements.

"She caught a bad case of scarlet fever, Gilbert," Marilla was saying, bringing the shawl closer to her body. "She picked it up at the Ludovich house, a new immigrant family that moved on Cricket Lane. Anne heard about their situation, and she went to help out with the eight children. When Anne visited last, the baby had just died. Dr. Hemmel confirmed it was scarlet fever. Anne must have never had it as a child…I wish I had known, I would have forbidden her to go, Gilbert, truly I would have…"

Marilla's eyes were tearing up and Gilbert nodded his understanding, hoping to comfort her. "Of course, Marilla. Don't blame yourself, there's nothing you could have done."

"Dr. Hemmel is away at a conference in Halifax, and his replacement, Dr. Smith, has had his hands full with a string of women going into difficult labor. I haven't been able to get him out here to see Anne."

Marilla shook her head and fixed her eyes upon Gilbert, never blinking. "Please, Gilbert," she whispered solemnly. "If there's anything you can do to save my little girl…"

With a firm nod, Gilbert headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, not even allowing Marilla to finish the sentence she had been speaking. Anne needed him. He just hoped it was not too late.