Hi everyone! This is my latest idea attempting to come to fruition. I was struck with inspiration for this after reading A Blythe View by Formerly known as J (and if you haven't been reading it you need to because it's fantastic!) and I kept coming back to Miss Lavendar and Mr. Irving's wedding as starting point for another AU story. The thing is… I don't know if my readers are burnt out with my stories that seem to always take me the route of Anne of the Island, which is where this one would also go. Essentially, what might have happened had Anne sort of realized her feelings for Gilbert before they got to Redmond? So take a look at this chapter and help me decide if this remains a one-shot where you can imagine what might happen next or if you'd like me to see this one through to its conclusion. I imagine this as a lighter, happier, flirtatious story with very little angst, but still still bump or two for Anne and Gilbert to overcome.

Let me know what you think!

~Lizzy

'What are you thinking of, Anne?" asked Gilbert, coming down the walk. He had left his horse and buggy out at the road.

"Of Miss Lavendar and Mr. Irving," answered Anne dreamily. "Isn't it beautiful to think how everything has turned out. . .how they have come together again after all the years of separation and misunderstanding?"

"Yes, it's beautiful," said Gilbert, looking steadily down into Anne's uplifted face, "but wouldn't it have been more beautiful still, Anne, if there had been no separation or misunderstanding. . . if they had come hand in hand all the way through life, with no memories behind them but those which belonged to each other?"

For a moment Anne's heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert's gaze and a rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness had been lifted, giving to her view a revelation of unsuspected feelings and realities. Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps. . . perhaps. . .love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.'

Anne had the courage to look back into Gilbert's eyes and what she saw there startled her. She wasn't quite sure what she was seeing in them, but it was something that gave her a feeling that things might never be the same between them. In that moment, she was more unsettled than she ever thought she ought to be in the company of Gilbert Blythe.

And the way he looked at her, it was almost as if he was looking through her, deep into her very soul…. She could barely breath. In fact, so desperate for breath was she that the sharp intake she took startled her as she saw a tiny smile tug at the corner of Gilbert's mouth. Whatever Anne was at that moment, unaffected would not be the word for it. She wished for the veil to drop again, to un-see, or rather maybe un-feel that which she had felt in the last few moments. But there she sat, her eyes open to some possibility, some feeling, some road to which she was now drawn. If they had come hand in hand all the way through life…

Anne struggled to look away, and finally she managed to, but the blush that stained her cheek remained.

Gilbert, for his part, attempted to calm himself as his heart leapt forward at Anne's unexpected reaction. He had always known he felt more for her then she ever had for him. For years he fought against his heart where Anne was concerned, only allowing himself to admit his true feelings for her when she finally took his hand in forgiveness and friendship at the Blythe gate two years ago. He was dead gone on Anne Shirley. And as he had truly gotten to know her over the past two years did he realize that those feelings were not just the first blush of love from a young boy, but the true desire of a man so frightened of how he felt that he failed to see that almost imperceptible line between love and friendship. On those days he allowed himself to believe she felt the same, he was always brought back to reality by a firm and resolute rebuke. And only now, looking at her eyes finally falter under his intense gaze did he begin to think that maybe, just maybe Anne might feel the same.

'Gilbert wisely said nothing more; but in his silence he read the history of the next four years in the light of Anne's remembered blush. Four years of earnest, happy work. . . and then the guerdon of a useful knowledge gained and a sweet heart won.' Was it too much to hope?

He continued to looked at her and when the silence became a burden, he reached out for her hands, offering to help her off the ground. "Come, Anne, we can't stay here all night. We've got to get home. It will be dark soon."

Anne made no reply, but reached up and put her hand in his. His warm hand closed around hers and she could not tell if it was real or if she imagined his thumb caressing the back of her hand. Whatever it was sent a small shiver down her spine.

"Are you cold, Anne? I can fetch a jacket for you," Gilbert replied innocently.

"No," she abruptly replied, more forcefully than she had meant to. "I am quite warm enough. I'm just tired I guess. It's been such a lovely day." Her excuse sounded ridiculous to her own ears, but Gilbert did not seem to notice. He released her hand and she felt relieved. Whatever confusion had taken over her mind was surely not helped by him touching her. In fact, in that moment she was certain she never wanted him to touch her again! But wouldn't that be a terrible waste of his strong hands, she thought, instantly censuring herself at the improper thought that raced in her brain one moment and then out the next, unbidden. She felt hot all of a sudden.

What is wrong with me today? There's been too much romance today, that's all this is. It's playing tricks with my mind!

They began walking up the lane in mostly silent companionship. One too confused to speak, the other rather too content to need to. 'But the Anne who walked up the dark lane was not quite the same Anne who had driven gaily down it the evening before. The page of girlhood had been turned, as by an unseen finger, and the page of womanhood was before her with all its charm and mystery, its pain and gladness.'

Anne continued to struggle for composure for several more minutes before she succeeded in bringing back a bit of her cheerfulness and ordered behavior, well as ordered as Anne ever was in any case. Eventually, Gilbert and her talked gaily to one another, ending the wonderful day recalling happy moments of the wedding and what the couple might expect out of marriage.

"I am sure they will be marvelously happy," said Anne.

"I have no doubt of that," agreed Gilbert. "They certainly deserve it after everything they've been through."

"I wonder what alters after marriage?" asked Anne, immediately turning crimson as she realized the implications of what she had said.

Gilbert looked at her rather incredulously and laughed, "I dare say Mrs. Lynde would not like that kind of wondering from you Anne Shirley."

"Gilbert Blythe, you know I didn't mean that!" she said sternly. "I just meant that I wonder if marriage changes you. Is Mrs. Irving the same as she was as Miss Lavendar?"

Gilbert thought for a moment. "I suppose she must be. But marriage would have to change a little bit of who you are, wouldn't it? How can you begin a life with someone without altering a little? Seems wishful thinking."

"Oh but I hate to think of changing, Gil! It seems so scary."

"It doesn't have to follow that the change would be a bad one. I dare say I've read many stories of men who married better women than they deserved and changed for them."

"Yes, I suppose that's true. But do you think one could lose part of themselves in marriage. Like they wouldn't be there own person anymore?"

Gilbert was a bit surprised at the turn of the conversation. He was always under the impression Anne would one day wish to marry. He hoped she would! But she seemed rather uncertain.

"That's certainly possible. I am sure that's happened more than I would care to know. But I believe that would only happen in a marriage that was unequal in affection and respect. True love and respect can never diminish a soul. Only enhance it."

Anne smiled at his words. Had he always been this thoughtful and slightly romantic? "I believe that's the perfect response, Gil. And just how is it that you know these things?"

Gilbert laughed again, "My parents married for love. I know a little something about it. They've sort of always been my model for what I would like my own marriage to be some day."

"Oh another perfect reply! I believe this wedding made you rather insightful." Anne quipped, for some reason wanting desperately to change the subject to anything other than thoughts of Gilbert getting married.

"No, Anne," he said as he grabbed her hand and dragged her half running down the lane, "this wedding made me hungry. Come on... I'm starving!"

It was several hours later, as Anne laid awake in bed, exhausted yet strangely energized. It was a nervous energy that kept her mind reeling. As much as she tried, she could not stop her thoughts from settling on Gilbert. She knew not what it was about him today that had affected her so, nor truly what that effect was. But it unsettled her in more ways than one. Anne had never given any consideration whatsoever to seeing Gilbert as anything other than the friend he was. It was true that in the last two years they had been slightly inseparable, but their friendship had grown so deep so quickly that neither of them gave much thought to how much time they spent together. Anne only ever thought of the pleasure Gilbert's company gave her. They talked, they argued, they studied, they explored. They enjoyed each other. Anne began to realize she had revealed more of herself to Gilbert over the past two years than she would have ever imagined and certainly more than was probably strictly proper, although she couldn't make herself feel too badly about that. He was so easy to confide in. He offered such a unique perspective on life, and she began to realize that while Gilbert was by far the more sensible of the two, he had it in him for flights of fancy and romance. He too dreamed of bigger things. But he was just a chum, like any other. Except...that he wasn't like any other.

She thought back to the touch of his hand on hers and wondered why, after all this time, it should feel any different. Why should his touch make me shiver like that? There was no answer to this question, at least no satisfying one, so Anne tried to dismiss it. She tried to dismiss all off it, the touch, the gaze, the blush, everything. It was preposterous.

Or was it?

Anne did not know, nor could she possibly hope to in the turmoil that wrangled her mind. She tried to mentally pull the veil back down that had somehow lifted from her mind… and perhaps even her heart. She had told herself she was successful, quite certain she could simply put Gilbert Blythe, the boy she had once ignored for a full five years, out of her mind and find rest. She tried not to think of his gaze, she tried not to think of his tender caress of her hand and she had the other unsettling realization that when she did think of these moments she caught herself smiling in the dark. Mortified by her own reaction and rather angry at her mind's betrayal, Anne lit her lamp, grabbed a book and began reading. It was Milton that finally brought her mind the respite she sought and she read until her eyes were very heavy and sleep but a breath away. But her final waking breath seemed to betray her as the last thought she had before she found rest was the same thought she had had almost seven years ago when she had first seen Gilbert. Her opinion had apparently remained unchanged. Gilbert Blythe was indeed quite handsome.