"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO?" Anne asked Mr. Church angrily. "It's a tragic romance, and we all need some imagination in our lives!"

"Apologies, Miss Shirley, but this sort of thing doesn't sell," Mr. Church said over his wire-rimmed spectacles. "The country just got through yet another war. The people want answers and information, not some...frivolous romance written by a girl especially!"

"So this is what it's all about? Because I'm a girl, you won't publish my book?" she exclaimed, slamming her hands on the table. "Girls can do anything boys can do, if not better. Look at Jane Austen, the Brontes, Mary Shelley! They were successful!"

The wrinkly man puffed out a blast of smoke from his pipe. "I'm sorry, you'll have to try your luck at another publisher's, which there won't be within fifty miles. The nearest is in Toronto, and I doubt they'll take you if I don't."

"You haven't even looked it over!"

"I don't need to. After reading the summary, I can already tell it's going to be some knockoff version of Romeo and Juliet. There's nothing that anyone wants to read in here, and these types of things don't sell in the time we're in. Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now! We're in the midst of a war, almost everyone in Avonlea already wasted their money on that blasted gold scam, and nothing is going to change the fact that no one will purchase your story."

Anne grabbed the stack of papers and left. "Just so you know, I will sell this someday. It may take longer than expected, but I promise you, sir, I will."

Mr. Church laughed and snorted loudly. "Keep dreaming, kid," he yelled after her as she left the room. "Oh, keep dreaming."

That night, Anne went home to Green Gables, frustrated and ill-tempered. A part of her wanted to give up, but the other told her to prove the man wrong. Ultimately, the latter won. She grabbed her candle, a piece of fresh paper, her favorite fountain pen, (which Gilbert returned) and began to write.

—————————

-the Blythe-Lacroix farm-

"ANNE SHIRLEY CUTHBERT, will you marry me? I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you," Gilbert rehearsed in front of the bathroom mirror. "How about, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, my one and only, my equal, my Anne with an E, the true love of my life, will you marry me?"

"God, why is this so hard? If you love the girl, just go ahead and say it!" he scolded himself. "This isn't hard, it should be easy! As Diana said, you've loved her since she came to Avonlea and smashed that slate over your head!"

"Oh, so I see you go propose," Bash appeared in the door with a huge, cheesy grin on his face, holding Delly.

Gilbert removed a small box from his pocket. "I've had this ring for over a month now. I just can't seem to find the time. I know, she's busy with her writings and trying to find a publishing company that'll accept, but it's going to take time and precision. I want this to be a moment she'll remember forever."

"Ah, and I expect there will be nothing less from you, Blythe," Bash answered, putting a hand on Gilbert's shoulder. "You're going to blow us all away with whatever you got planned."

"I sure hope so," Gilbert sighed. "I just don't want to let her down."

"Look at me," Bash told his friend. "Nothing you ever do could change her opinion of you. I remember my mother once told me, we are all fools in love. She loves you, you love her. If you're willing to commit, then propose. Everyone can tell, Blythe. You're her one and only landmark, and she's yours. You don't want to lose her again, do you?"

"No, I don't."

Bash laughed and Delly babbled at Gilbert's expression in the mirror. "I've been waiting for you to pull your head out of your arse and find your common sense! Trust me, everyone has!"

Delly babbled something in baby-talk and nodded.

"Right," Gilbert answered skeptically. "Well, I'll do it. I'll pop the question to Anne very soon. Verrrrry soon."

——————————————————

It took about a year later for Gilbert to find the guts to get down on one knee. Almost all of their old schoolmates were either engaged or married. The only couple left was him and Anne (which the folk of Avonlea had deemed 'Shirbert').

He never noticed the very subtle hints Anne dropped that she wanted them to be more than just courting. Then again, Gilbert was never the most attentive to those details. Anyone who knew him always described him as "oblivious and confused to whatever was happening."

Even he himself was surprised at how long it took. Gilbert thought it'd be in about a few months or so, not a whole year. It was just that every time he tried to approach her, she was always busy trying to find somewhere in Canada to publish her book or some other issue.

That beautiful April morning, Gilbert woke up early and went over to Green Gables, walking with a purpose. He was doing something he should've done a while ago: ask for Matthew and Marilla's permission to wed their daughter.

He took a deep breath and knocked on their door, three times. Marilla was pleasantly surprised when she opened it. "Why, if it isn't Gilbert Blythe! Come in, come in!"

He tipped his cap at the woman. "Thank you, ma'am," he answered. "There's...something I'd like to speak with you and Matthew about."

Marilla raised her eyebrows, but she wasn't surprised as she knew exactly what this was. "Alright, it's about time."

"Excuse me, what?"

Matthew appeared behind his sister, his face covered with soot most likely from cleaning the fireplace. "What I mean is, everyone in Avonlea has been waiting for you to propose to Anne! Just go ask Rachel or Josephine, Diana, Ruby, Charlie...go ask someone, and they'll all give you the same answer."

Gilbert thought back to all of his conversations with the folks in the past couple of years. That did make some sense when they kept telling him he should settle down and start a family with a certain redhead. "I'm asking you for permission if I can wed your daughter," he said, closing his eyes and bracing himself for the worst.

Matthew and Marilla both burst into a hearty round of laughter. "Of course! We've been waiting for you to ask that ever since you both started courting!"

Gilbert's smile was infectious. "Thank you, thank you!" he cried, throwing himself at them in a large hug. Matthew returned it, and although Marilla was surprised, she also did.

"So, when's the proposal? A follow-up question, can we help?" Matthew asked.

"I have an idea," Gilbert grinned. "This is going to require a lot of planning, precision, and hard work."

Marilla shrugged. "Count us in!"

————————————————————

Anne was confused as to why no one ever spoke to her anymore. They would all disappear for most of the day and come back at night, which meant she couldn't talk to anyone. Even her bosom friends, Diana, Ruby, and Cole (who was temporarily back in town) were too busy to notice her. In the morning, she'd see them rushing from their homes into the woods, often carrying large bouquets, banners, and various decorations into the woods, with a procession of her other schoolmates and townsfolk trailing behind. More questions were added to her list: why hadn't she seen Gilbert in two weeks? Why were Matthew and Marilla being so secretive?

They must have a good reason, Anne thought. To distract herself, she tended to the farm animals, finished all the chores, sewed some more clothes, she mended everyone's shirts, worked on her novel, and she kept herself busy. Although her protestations that needlepoint provided no scope for the imagination, she contradicted herself and did it anyway. Instead of phrases or words, she stitched on flowers and birds. In her mind, it was a bright and vibrant forest. She was walking, or rather, skipping and humming down the lane, stopping frequently to converse with the animals. It was just like back in her girlhood, and this helped keep her from being lonely. Once again, it was just her and her imagination.

——————————————————————————

"No, no, a little to the right," Gilbert instructed.

"Here?" Cole strained, leaning over.

"Now a little to the left."

Cole was struggling to hold his balance on the ladder by now. "How's this?"

"Perfect," Gilbert smiled.

"Hey, Blythe, where should I put the flowers?" Bash asked, rushing into the schoolhouse with another bouquet of daisies and wildflowers. "Or is that enough?"

"No, I think they go over there," he pointed to the far right of the room. "I just want this to be perfect and a moment she'll remember, and cherish, for the rest of her life."

——————————————————————————

That night, Anne heard a soft tapping on one of the windows as she was just about to go to sleep. "Who's there?"

She lit a candle and went to the back door, where she saw a note in Gilbert's familiar, curly handwriting. Head into the woods. I know it's an odd request, especially at this hour, but just trust me on this one.

Anne grabbed her bonnet from the hook and eagerly started in the direction of the woods. Maybe someone could finally explain why they'd been ignoring her for the past sixteen days.

Walking in the dark at this hour unaccompanied was considered taboo for women, but Anne didn't care right now. Well, maybe she did a little since the shadows looked like they were about to grab her. It's just your imagination, it's just your imagination. However, it felt like the forest was closing in around her. The branches were about to grab her, and-

"I thought you might be here."

She whipped her head around and laughed in relief when she saw that it was Gilbert. "I haven't seen you in forever, where have you been?" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug. "I've missed you!"

"Ah, I have too, my love," he said, kissing her forehead. "I've been busy...but I finally have some time to spend with you."

The two walked along the path, their hands interlocked. Anne didn't notice that they were going toward the direction of the old schoolhouse. "I remember our first meeting in the woods, right here. Any dragons around here that need slaying?" he quoted.

"Ah, yes. You'll always be my Gilbert Blythe, my knight in shining armor," she smiled at the memory.

"You'd always ignore me even though I tried to get your attention, Carrots. I still recall you smacked my head with your slate, and that was the moment I fell in love with you. That slate somehow made me think of you differently, and you were there, stuck in my mind for the next few years to come. You were unlike the others, and you were unafraid to challenge me. Every time you called me out, you beat me in some competition, I fell even harder for you. That Christmas was the first time maybe you saw me as more than just an academic rival. When I worked on the ship in Trinidad, I was absolutely elated to see your letters. It was one of the only things that kept me going, besides Bash. I wouldn't have admitted it ten years ago, but I missed you."

"What are you saying?"

He opened the door of the schoolhouse for her. Anne gasped at the sight of the room, decorated with flowers, candles, and she gasped when she saw the chalkboard.

OUR ENGAGMENT (if you humbly accept)
Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, will you marry me?

"You should've added an E," they both said concurrently, tears streaming down Anne's cheeks.

"I've loved you since we were just children, and if there's anyone I want to spend the rest of my life...forever, with, it's you, Anne. I want to say this to let out feelings I've felt for a long time and unburden my heart, so here it is. You are the fond object of my affection and my desire. You alone, are the keeper of the key to my heart. It has been and will always be you. So," he paused, getting down on one knee, "Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, my Anne with an E, will you marry me?"

Anne was fully crying by now. "Yes, of course, oui, aye, yes a million times in every language!"

Never beyond her wildest imaginations would she think this would ever happen to her. She always thought no one would want to marry her, yet Gilbert Blythe did.

He grinned happily as he slid the ring onto Anne's finger. "It was my mother's, and I'm hoping you'll wear it. It's not worth much in monetary value, but it does have plenty of sentiment and history within it. If you don't like-"

Anne cut him off with a kiss. "It's perfect," she smiled.

Suddenly, they were interrupted when they saw everyone jump out from behind the furniture. "SURPRISE!"

"Wait, you were all in on this?" Anne laughed, shaking her head.

"How did you think Gilbert did all of this on his own?" Mrs. Lynde shrugged. "He wanted to make this a moment for you both to cherish forever."

"Well, now that we're here, it's time to celebrate! It's the engagement party, after all!" Bash raised a glass (that he had found in the supply closet earlier).

"Right after the proposal?" Miss Stacy turned to look at the man incredulously.

"Why not? We're all already here, so what better time to do it than now?" Moody answered from the backroom, carrying out a box of wine glasses. "A toast to this night!"

"A toast!" everyone repeated, raising their empty glasses.

"To the future Mr. and Mrs. Blythe...or Mrs. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert-Blythe?" Moody's brow furrowed. "Now that I think about it, that's going to be a whole handful when you're signing your papers."

"To the future Mr. and Mrs. Blythe!" the room answered as Diana and Cole went around, pouring the (correct) raspberry cordial into their glasses.

For the rest of the night, they were all dancing and merrily celebrating. Out of the corner of her eye, Anne thought she saw Miss Stacy offer her hand out to Bash for a dance. Maybe sparks were flying in more places than one.

——————————-

-A year later-

"Why, if it isn't my very favorite customers! Bienvenue!" Jeannie exclaimed, ushering the girls inside. "You're just in time for afternoon tea!"

For the past year, everyone worked tirelessly to prepare for the wedding. That included dress fittings at Jeannie's, cake tastings at the baker's, and a million other things. Anne never thought that it would be this stressful, but Marilla told her it was because she was always helping with a wedding, not having one of her own.

The girls (who were very much adults now, but still acted like children at times) gleefully rushed into the boutique. "Just a moment, I'll get the teakettle. Your bridesmaid dresses are ready, and so is Anne's wedding dress."

They had sprung up from their chairs, but Jeannie put out a hand to stop them. "Non, non," she scolded. "There's a reason why I want you to wait, which you'll see for yourself later."

The women chatted through tea and tarts, discussing the plans for the wedding, and although strawberry was her favorite flavor, Anne was getting impatient to see the dresses. "Can we see them now? Please?" she pleaded.

"Please?" the other girls said with their best puppy-dog eyes.

"Alright, alright," Jeannie relented, laughing. "They're back here if you want to see them."

They eagerly jumped out of their seats and headed to the dressing room, where their jaws dropped when they saw the dresses. "So, do you like them?"

"Oh, Miss Jeannie, it's wonderful, marvelous, magnificent, beautiful!" Anne exclaimed, reaching out to touch the material.

"However did you manage to make all this in one year?" Ruby asked in awe.

"Well, let's just say...I've been making these long before you announced the engagement," Jeannie winked at her. Everyone in Avonlea already knew that Gilbert and Anne were to be married someday, even though they were the only ones oblivious to that fact.

The bridesmaid and maid-of-honor dresses were a baby blue color with light pink and
white accents, and a bow to tie it up in the back. The bride's dress was exquisite: white with a long train and pale yellow accents from the bodice down.

"Oh, Miss Jeannie, it looks like something right out of a fairytale!" Tillie said. "On the plus side, we can also wear it casually, not just for formal events."

They didn't come home from Carmody for another hour because of the "brief" fashion show. Anne had to admit, this was something she'd been dreaming of and imagining ever since she was a little girl. Walking down the aisle, wearing a beautiful gown, her father giving her away, saying her vows, and then true love's kiss. She never thought her fantasies would come true, but they would. She was finally getting married to her equal, her partner, her lifemate.

That night, Anne couldn't sleep. She was too busy thinking and waiting anxiously for that day to come. "Anne Shirley-Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe, Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert-Blythe," she said to herself, smiling as she stared at the ceiling. "Or just Anne Blythe since that's going to be difficult to write down, as Moody said."

———————————————————————————

The morning of the wedding, Gilbert woke up early and went to the cemetery. He hadn't been there in a long time, and today felt especially important.

"Hi, Dad," Gilbert said, looking at the stones. "I'm about to get married."

He knew it was silly to wait for a response, so he continued talking. "I'm not afraid. This is the next chapter of m-I mean, Anne's and my life together. I love her."

He could imagine his father in front of him, smiling. "Best of luck, son. I wish you two every happiness in the world. And remember, I'll always be with you. I love you."

"Thank you," he answered. "I love you too."

——————————————————————————

Anne was half asleep when she heard a light tapping on her window. She turned around and saw Gilbert dangling from her beloved Snow Queen, and every trace of sleepiness was erased from her eyes. "What are you doing here? Why are you here? Really, at this time? And you're about to fall?"

"Well, I've fallen in love with you, Carrots," he winked.

"Still as flirtatious as when you were fifteen, huh?" Anne chuckled.

"I'm like my father; we can't stop."

Anne had heard from Marilla how much of a flirt John Blythe was back in his day. "Well, if you don't stop, you're going to drop twenty feet onto the ground and end up in the hospital on your wedding day."

"Fine, just help me inside," Gilbert grumbled.

Anne tugged his arm and he tumbled into her room. "You know you shouldn't see the bride before her wedding, right?"

"Well, I missed you," he answered, leaning down to kiss her.

"Let me guess, you didn't want to lose me again?" she moaned as his lips trailed down her neck.

They were interrupted when Marilla knocked on the door. "Anne, breakfast is ready! Come down and set the table! It's your wedding day, but that's no excuse not to help!"

Typical Marilla. "Is it fine if someone joins us?"

"Mmm, is it Gilbert Blythe?"

"What if it was?" Anne answered weakly.

"Just come down for breakfast, the lot of you!"

———————————————————————

Before she would walk down the aisle, Anne looked in the mirror in the room of her childhood home. "Well, one last hour before I'm Mrs. Anne Blythe. Let us cherish this chapter before it ends and a new one opens. Not that I'm not excited, I am,