Chapter Text
Anne shot up in bed, gasping. She had been dreaming of falling off a cliff. Again.
She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again since it was early in the morning, so she pushed back the covers and pulled on her woolen stockings. She tiptoed quietly past Marilla's room and then past Matthew's, and crept down the stairs. She grabbed her light coat, laced up her boots, and slipped quietly into the dark morning.
As she walked down the road, thoughts fluttered through her mind like dragonflies and she caught one as it was flowing past. It was a thought about Gilbert and his stories from when he and Bash were in Jamaica.
As Anne strolled down Lover's Lane, she had an inspiration: what better way to banish a fear than to face it? She began to run towards the sea, her fiery locks whipping her bright cheeks. As she came up towards the cliff, she spotted a figure in the brightening light. She knew at once it was Gilbert. Gilbert Blythe. There was no mistaking the tall and confident stance, the curls above his neck. Anne hesitated for a mere moment and then continued on to the cliff's edge. Gilbert was standing with his back towards her, looking out onto the frothing ocean.
Anne stopped a few feet behind Gilbert and softly said his name. He started and turned around, looking flustered.
"Anne!" he exclaimed, his cheeks rosy from the brisk wind.
"Hello Gilbert," Anne said softly. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I couldn't sleep, and this is my favorite thinking spot, so I came here," he admitted, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Why are you here?"
"I had a dreadful dream about falling off a cliff. Can you imagine?!" she said, her hair fluttering around her face. "So I thought I had better face my dream fear and come to the cliff."
Gilbert chuckled. "Only you would do such a thing, Anne. Only you," he said with a smile, walking towards the edge of the cliff.
"What do you mean?" Anne asked, following him.
Gilbert turned to look at her and she caught his eye as he blushed and turned away. "I mean, you are one of the most creative and amazing people I have ever met. You're special, Anne. And..." He stopped talking and looked out over the crashing waves.
".....And what?" Anne prompted, taking a step closer so she was almost touching his shoulder with hers.
"And I love you for it," he blurted out, not looking at her.
Anne smiled and slid her small hand into his warm one. He looked at her and squeezed her hand tightly. They stood there, silently, in the wind with the sea spray swirling around them for a few minutes, hand in hand. Then suddenly, Gilbert turned to her and said, "Do you trust me?"
Anne looked into his sparkling emerald eyes. "Yes. Gilbert, I trust you."
"Then close your eyes," he said, smiling.
Anne closed her eyes and then felt Gilbert's lips on hers. They stood there, his arms around her, their lips remaining softly pressed together, as it started to rain. Finally, they broke apart and Anne laughed, twirling away from Gilbert.
"How absolutely magical, don't you think?!" she cried, her face freckled with diamond drops.