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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
The rest of the week went by rather quickly, and the news of our engagement spread as fast as you can say “They're finally engaged?!”. Of course, no one was surprised by our announcement. They were probably expecting it years ago. Diana and Fred Wright were the first ones to congratulate us outside of our families. Everyone else seemed thrilled except Josie Pye and Charlie Sloane. Charlie felt indifferent about it and shrugged it off while Josie acted like...well...typical Josie. The phoniness beneath her smile and tone of voice was evident because it looked like it took so much effort to just say “Congratulations.” I guess Pyes never change.
To my dismay, spring break was over. Anne and I reluctantly left for Redmond to finish the semester. We took turns driving along the way, and we talked about a wide variety of things but mainly focused on the wedding.
“Anne, “ I began, “I love you with all my heart, but it'll be awhile - a long while - until I'll graduate from med school. And I want to give you the big wedding of your dreams -”
“I don't want a huge wedding, Gil,” she interrupted. “I just want you...and Marilla and Rachel and Diana and Fred and their kids. I don't need an extravagant gala to show the world how much I love you; I think they already know that.” She winked at me.
I chucked but then grew serious. “Even after I graduate from med school, there won't be any diamond sunbursts or marble halls.”
“I don't want all that. You're all I need, and if I have to wait thirty years, then I'll gladly do so.”
“I'm pretty sure I'll be out by then, Carrots.”
She laughed and took an opportunity to tease me. “Are you sure?”
“Uhh...yeah.”
“Really sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Absolutely positively sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Absolutely positively, really, really sure?”
“Yes!”
“Absolutely -”
I didn't let her finish. I leaned over to give her a quick kiss and went back to driving. Anne sat back in her seat and sighed. “Yeah, you're sure all right.” We both laughed as we arrived back on campus.
As I walked back to my dorm, I ran into an unexpected visitor.
“Hello, Gilbert,” said the smoky voice coming from behind me.
I turned around, and it was none other than Christine.
“What do you want?” I demanded. “What are you doing here?”
“Just hanging out,” she replied coolly, getting closer to me. “I just wanted to say hey to an old friend, that's all.”
I backed off. “Didn't you drop out already after they expelled your fiancé?”
“Well, yeah, but I officially got my stuff out of my dorm room today. This is the last time that I'll be here, and you'll never see me again.”
Thank God. “Oh,” I muttered.
“Won't you miss me?” she asked sweetly, putting her arms around my shoulders.
I rolled my eyes and got her off of me. “Why the heck are you asking me such a question after everything you and Roy have done to me and even Anne for that matter?”
Christine got upset. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, you know what it means all right.”
“Uh...no, I don't.”
I can't believe that I even considered going out with this girl and at one time even thinking that she could be a candidate to get over Anne. “You really don't get it, do you?”
“Ugh!”
“Listen, Christine. Do you really want me to tell you the truth?” She nodded her head. As much as I hated to be mean to the girl, I had to do it. “The truth is that ever since we went to Homecoming together, we have both changed. You decided to use me and go for Roy, and that's fine. But what I don't like is how you treated Anne. Even from the very beginning, you were rude to her. You could have at least acted like a kind and decent human being, but you chose not to. And then, Roy went after me, and I was in the hospital. And let's not forget how Roy had Anne fired from her job before all that. Now, you're expecting me to miss you when you're following your convict fiancé around after all the crap you put me through? Ha! Do you think I'm stupid?!” Her eyes grew wide. “I've moved on after you. I have a life, you know.” I showed her the ring on my left hand. “You see this? This is my engagement ring. That's right; I'm engaged...to someone else. I have someone who loves me and cares for me the way you never did and never will. She's more of a woman than you'll ever be, so do me a favor, Christine. Go back to Roy where you belong, and never bother me or Anne again!”
She saw the look in my eyes and ran away. I never saw her again.
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1/1/2007, 10:03 pm
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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
The rest of my time at Redmond flew before my eyes. Literally. Before I even knew it, Anne and I were both graduating with honors and were co-valedictorians of our class. I couldn't have been more proud of Anne; I had an incredibly smart and beautiful woman as my fiancée. How lucky can one guy be? She was offered a few teaching positions in the area but declined, saying that she wanted to go home. I couldn't blame her. I missed home too, but I had a med degree to earn. Anne understood this and willingly waited for me back in Avonlea. We managed to get through many – and I mean many - phone calls, instant messages, e-mails, holidays, and vacations together. In the meantime Anne was making a name out of herself through her writing and was named one of Canada's hottest young authors by a major magazine. It was an honor to be proud of, but Anne acted as if it were nothing. That's the way she is, and I wouldn't have her any other way.
After many years of hard work and dedication, I received my med degree. I gladly shook the Dean's hand and grabbed my diploma. Anne sat in the front row along with my parents and cheered me on. It meant a lot to me that they were there. The elegant piece of paper that I held in my hand signified that I could now legally start practicing medicine and could earn a living for myself. It also meant that Anne and I could finally start planning our wedding. Since we were engaged for eternity almost, I'm pretty sure people thought that we were married years ago.
I went back to Avonlea with Anne and my parents to start the whole stressful yet hopefully worthwhile process of planning the wedding. After dropping Anne off at Green Gables, Mom suggested that we invite Anne and Marilla over to dinner to discuss things. I became nervous. For as long as I could remember, Dad and Marilla never really sat down and talked with each other, and judging from their history, I wasn't sure if Marilla would agree to it. Dad looked a little uneasy about the matter, but Mom gave him the “don't-you-dare-question-me-or-else” look since she didn't want to argue with him in front of me.
“John, whether you like it or not, Marilla is Anne's adoptive mother,” she said when we got back home, making sure I was out of the room before she started anything. “She has every right to help plan this wedding.” He still wasn't sure of the idea. “I know what happened with you two, but you can't let that get in the way of Gil's happiness. He's your son. He loves Anne, Anne loves him, and I have never seen him this happy. If you can't do this for yourself, then think about Gil.”
He was silent for a moment. “You're right, Donna. This is about Anne and Gil, not me, so let's invite Anne and Marilla over tomorrow night.”
“Gil!” called Mom.
I went out to the living room. “Yes?”
“Call Anne and invite her and Marilla over to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Alright.”
I did was I was told, and Anne accepted the invitation. So as awkward as it was going to be, Dad and Marilla were going to truly face each other for the first time in years. I didn't know if I was supposed to be scared, excited, or what.
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1/1/2007, 10:03 pm
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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
Mom spent the next day cleaning up around the house and preparing the meal for the dinner party. Dad did yard work, and I went back and forth in helping them both. I acted cool around both of them, but in reality I was really nervous. What if either Dad or Marilla still held on to their grudges from so long ago? What if they cause a scene? How will Anne react? How will Mom react? How will I react? I couldn't sit and think about the endless “what if” questions because there was work to be done, and the whole purpose of the dinner was to get together and plan the wedding.
When the time came near, Mom put the roast in the oven, and we sat in the living room and waited.
“John, remember what we talked about yesterday,” Mom said to Dad quietly. He just nodded.
The doorbell rang, and I went to answer it. I kissed Anne of the cheek and beckoned for her and Marilla to come on in. I led them to the living room where Mom and Dad were waiting.
“Here we go,” whispered Anne in my ear as I put my arm around her waist. She was as nervous as I was.
Marilla looked tense but managed to keep her composure as she greeted my parents. “Hello, Donna,” she said. “Hello, John.”
“Hello, Marilla,” greeted Mom, extending her hand. Marilla shook it.
“Hello, Marilla,” Dad managed to say. He gave her a little nod, and she gave one back.
Anne sensed the tension in the air and tried to lighten things up. “Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Blythe!” she said with a cheery tone in her voice.
“Pretty soon you'll be calling me Mom,” Mom said with the same cheery tone as she gave her a hug. “But now you can call me Donna.”
“Okay...Donna.” She shrugged. “It'll get some getting used to though.”
“That's okay, dear,” Dad said, loosening up a bit.
There was an awkward silence for a moment. No one knew what to say or how to act, so Mom suggested that we all have a seat at the dining room table and start discussing wedding plans while the roast finished up its last few minutes in the oven. Dad sat at one end of the table with Mom sitting next to him, and Marilla sat straight across from him. I sat next to Anne and across from Mom, praying that nothing bad would happen.
“Gilbert, congratulations on graduating med school,” said Marilla, trying to divert her attention away from Dad.
“Thank you, Miss Cuthbert,” I said.
“Please. Call me Marilla. We're all family here,” she reassured me.
“Okay.” I thought I saw Dad tense up a little when Marilla said “family.” I guess it was his turn to start thinking about all those “what if” questions. Never in a million years would he think or even dream that I would someday marry the daughter of his former flame, and now it was one step closer to becoming reality.
“So...where do we get started?” asked Mom.
“I have no idea,” said Anne. “I know I had seven years to think about it, and I still don't know what I want. I'm so unlike other girls who have had their weddings planned out since they were five-years-old.”
“It's okay, Anne-girl,” I told her. “We can make decisions together.”
“Alright.” She smiled. “Can we start with minor details first? They're easy.”
“Sure. What do you want?”
“A bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. I know I'm a fool for not going for white roses, but I've always been fond of lilies-of-the valley.”
“It's your wedding, Anne,” said Marilla. “Don't let us get in the way of what you want.”
Dad sat back in his chair and silently agreed with Marilla's comment.
Anne went on. “Well...I know I want Diana to be my matron of honor.”
“I thought you said you wanted to begin with minor details,” I teased her. “The matron of honor is a pretty big deal.”
“I know, but that's one of the details that was already given. I mean, it's not like I'm asking Josie Pye to be a bridesmaid.”
“Whoa!” I exclaimed. Dad and Marilla laughed at the same time. They stopped and kind of looked at each other before looking in different directions.
“I'll check on the roast,” announced Mom. She excused herself and went into the kitchen.
“Anne, is there anything else you want?” I asked.
“I want my bridesmaid dresses to be off-white and angelic like,” she said . “And...if it's okay, I'd like to have a short yet meaningful ceremony outside right before the sun sets. Then for the reception, we could have candlelit tables underneath a canopy beneath the stars. I think it would be really beautiful.”
I closed my eyes for a brief moment and got the picture in my head. “It's perfect, Carrots.”
“Anne, you were always a romantic,” commented Marilla with a slight grin.
Mom returned with the roast and side dishes, and dinner began. We all continued discussing the wedding with input from my parents and Marilla. My choice of having Fred Wright being my best man went over well with everyone, and Anne and I agreed that Fred, Jr. and Anne Cordelia were going to be our ringbearer and flower girl. After dinner was ready, I got up to help Mom put the dishes in the sink, but she scolded me, telling me to sit down with my fiancée and let her do the work. I obliged. Anne and I went into the living room to sit down on the couch, leaving Dad and Marilla alone at the table and hoping that they would get into a friendly conversation.
“I never thought I would live to see the day, John,” said Marilla. “Your Gilbert and my Anne are finally getting married. It seems as if it were yesterday that they were children.”
“I know,” said Dad. “Look at them over there, so in love.”
Marilla nodded. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was sorry for what happened many years ago, but she didn't have to courage to say her true feelings out loud, especially with Mom there. “I can't help but feel happy for them.”
“I know what you mean.”
“John, I'm terribly sorry for all the foolishness that has gone on in the past. Can we put away our differences for the sake of Anne and Gilbert and try to be friends again?”
He looked into her eyes. “Yes.” He extended her hand to her, and she shook it.
Anne and I looked at each other and went “Aww.”
“So I'm guessing the 'feud' is over?” whispered Anne.
“Yeah,” I whispered back. “To be honest I think it ended when I proposed to you.”
Mom came back into the dining room with a pie and vanilla ice cream and looked at me and Anne. “Kids, do you want some dessert?”
“Do you even have to ask?” I teased her. She laughed at me.
The rest of the evening was pleasant, and I was sorry that it had to end. When it was time for Anne and Marilla to go, I stole a quick kiss from Anne when I thought no one was looking, but the chorus of “Aww's” I heard afterwards meant that I was wrong. I blushed a little afterwards, and Marilla and my parents just laughed it off. The Cuthbert/Blythe “feud” was finally over, and Anne and I couldn't have been any happier about it.
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1/1/2007, 10:04 pm
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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
Pretty soon the rest of the wedding details were put in place. Fred, Diana, and their kids immediately agreed to be in our wedding; they were thrilled actually, especially Diana. She had been waiting for this for years. I asked a couple guys I met in med school to be my groomsmen because it would have been a little awkward for me to ask Moody Spurgeon and Charlie Sloane. (Moody was dating Josie at the time, and I knew it would take an apocalypse or some other life-threatening event in order for them to be friendly towards one another. Charlie, on the other hand, had already asked Anne to marry him before I did the first time, but she rejected him. I did not want any harsh feelings ruining my big day.) Anne chose Phil Gordon (or Blake rather) and another friend from Redmond as her bridesmaids since she didn't want to show favortism over any other of her childhood friends. The wedding would take place on the first Saturday of September before sunset in the orchard at Green Gables with the reception taking place in a white canopy beneath the stars. Luckily for us, my aunt was a talented baker who took joy in cooking new creations and gladly accepted the challenge of designing our cake, and she knew a fantastic catering service that could take care of the food. It seemed as if almost every decision we made required little to no effort on our part.
The wardrobe was another story. For me and the rest of the guys, it took us no time in finding a tux, but for Anne and the girls, it took awhile. Getting a wedding dress is no easy matter, and I was glad that I didn't have to go through the hassle that Anne had to go through. From what I heard from Marilla and Diana, Anne made several trips in order to find the perfect dress. Some were either too big or too small, too fancy or too plain, or “it looked like it came out of a horror movie!” (Anne's words – not mine). Any dress would have been fine with me. She was beautiful enough for me already, but the thought of her dressed all in white was beyond my imagination.
After a few months, it finally hit me: I was getting married. Despite being engaged to Anne for seven glorious (yet painfully long) years and planning the wedding with her, I never fully grasped the concept it until the day before the wedding at the rehearsal. I arrived at Green Gables with my parents, and Anne greeted us, eager to show us the arch where we would be married and the reception canopy. She took my hand and lead us there.
“Isn't it beautiful, Gil?” she asked.
I was amazed at what I saw. The orchard had been transformed into a scene just came straight out of a fairy tale, adorned with bouquets of white lilies on the arch where I would stand and the outer edge of the fashionable white chairs. The reception canopy stood to my right. The soft white canvas looked as if it were yet another cloud in the sky. An off-white table cloth covered the circular tables with a bouquet of lilies sitting on each one. Small, white candles surrounding the flowers were also present. In the center of the tables laid a dance floor and an area reserved for the string quartet that I had hired from my old friends at Redmond.
“It's wonderful, Anne,” I said. “It's perfect.”
She smiled and nodded. “Oh, I can't wait to get married! Why does it have to be tomorrow?”
“If you want, we can get married right now,” I teased her.
“Actually..that doesn't sound like a bad idea.”
I raised an eyebrow at her, and she just laughed.
It was time for the rehearsal to begin. I took my place next to Reverend Jo, who would be performing our ceremony. I patiently waited for Anne as the wedding party made its way up the aisle. When it was her turn, she slowly walked up the aisle, and I put her arm through the crook of my arm. Together we walked up towards Reverend Jo, and he began instructing all of us. Everything went smoothly except there was one little moment where Anne Cordelia was jumping up down, doing her little “I gotta go pee” dance, and we had to pause in order for Diana to lead her to use the restroom. Other than that, it all went well.
At dinner afterwards, Dad stood up and made a heartfelt speech.
“I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. As you know, my son Gilbert is getting married to Anne, a beautiful and intelligent girl. I know I can speak for all of us when I say, 'It's about time!'” Everyone laughed. “Gil, you've done us real proud. I remember when you born I told your mother that there were great things destined for you, and I'm proud to say that I was right. You're the best son a father could ask for. I love you, son.” I started to get a bit teary eyed, and everyone around me went “Aww!” “Anne, you're an amazing girl, and I'm so glad that we're getting you as a daughter. Donna had always wanted a girl before Gil came, and now she gets her wish. Take good care of our son for us, and God bless you both.”
Anne and I both went to Dad and hugged him. He was a bit teary eyed himself, which made his speech even more special than it already was. When it was all over, I said one last goodbye to Anne and kissed her good night, knowing that the next time I would see her would be at the altar the next day.
“Good night, Anne. Sweet dreams, darling,” I said, reluctantly letting go of her hand.
“Good night, Gil.”
With one last kiss, I went home knowing that I would be a married man this time tomorrow.
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1/1/2007, 10:05 pm
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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
I woke up early the next morning because I couldn't sleep. I was too excited to stay asleep even though I could afford to sleep in. I couldn't believe that the day finally came. All of my efforts and patience throughout the years would be rewarded, for Anne would be officially mine – all mine. Fred and the guys came over in the afternoon to help me relax by playing a bit of football in the yard, and they gave me words of wisdom on how to have a successful marriage and were really supportive. It was nice having them there to hang out. When it was getting near the time to get ready, I had Fred deliver a bride gift for Anne for me since I didn't want Rachel Lynde or anyone else yelling at me for bringing bad luck to my marriage by seeing my bride in her dress before the ceremony. I bought her a pearl choker necklace to match her engagement ring; I hoped that she would like it. Diana came over by the house to deliver Anne's groom gift for me and to give me words of encouragement. When she returned to Green Gables, I opened my gift; it was a beautiful silver watch with a note that read, “Gil, I love you with all my heart. This is only a little something to show you how much I care. To us and our future, darling. Love, the future Mrs. Anne Blythe (and within a matter of minutes, too!)” I smiled, got in my tux, put the watch around my wrist, and waited for the rest of the guys to get ready.
It wasn't long before everyone arrived at Green Gables. I was greeted by Rachel in the orchard where the ceremony would take place along with other Avonlea folk. They were all excited for the wedding and wished me good luck. I looked down at my watch and counted the minutes until the ceremony would begin. Fred came up behind me and patted me on the back, telling me to relax. I nodded and tried to calm down. When it was time, Reverend Jo gave the signal to begin, and I took my place along with the guys. Marilla and my parents made their way to their seats in the front row and smiled at me. I took a deep breath as I waited for my bride.
It seemed as if everything fell into place right then and there. The string quartet played Pachebel's Canon in D while the wedding party walked down the aisle. Anne Cordelia casually tossed apple blossom petals along the aisle and went to stand next to Phil Blake. My heart started racing because I knew Anne was up next. Sweat began forming on my forehead, and my hands started shaking a bit. I got goosebumps from thinking too much. Was I worthy of Anne? Could I make her happy? Could I actually show her how much I loved her? All of my fears went away when I saw her standing at the opposite end of the aisle.
To me, she looked like an angel sent down from Heaven. She wore an off the shoulder ivory gown that truly accented her curves. I saw my pearl choker around her neck, and beneath the veil, I saw that girlish smile that I had fallen in love with years ago. She looked like as if she came out of a dream, and I never wanted to get up. I lost it then. I didn't care what people thought of me as a tear ran down my cheek. Anne was coming to me willingly and trustingly. I've longed for the day that I could call her my wife, and now it was becoming reality.
I took Anne's small hand and tucked it into the crook of my arm. Together, we walked up to Reverend Jo.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Anne and Gilbert in holy matrimony...”
Everything was blurred up until the rings and the “I Do's.” I was too busy staring into Anne's eyes that were shining with nothing but love in them.
“Gilbert, take this ring, place it on Anne's finger, and repeat after me,” said Reverend Jo. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed,” I said, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me.
“Anne, take this ring, place it on Gilbert's finger, and repeat after me,” said Reverend Jo. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed,” she said, a tear running down her cheek.
“Gilbert, do you take Anne to be your wedded wife, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”
I looked into Anne's eyes. “I do.”
“Anne, do you take Gilbert to be your wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” She rubbed her thumbs against my hands.
“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
I lifted the veil over Anne's head and kissed her not once but twice. I kissed her on the tip of her nose, and she smiled.
“I now present to you Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert Blythe.”
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1/1/2007, 10:06 pm
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ladybell101
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
Note: The song used here is "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith.
*******************
The crowd applauded as Anne and I walked back up the aisle. I could tell from the mascara running down many faces that there wasn't a dry eye during the ceremony. I never realized how powerful our simple ceremony could be. We took pictures with just about everyone for the next half hour or so while Marilla, Diana, and Rachel helped light all the candles and lanterns hanging in the reception area.
The sun finally set, meaning that it was time to party. The white canopy looked absolutely gorgeous with the candlelight and lanterns illuminating it, and the guests especially seemed to enjoy their surroundings and the atmosphere. Fred grabbed the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out tonight. I'm proud to present for the very first time, the newlyweds, Anne and Gilbert Blythe!” Anne and I walked towards the middle of the dance floor while the guests applauded and whistled. “And now...the first dance.”
I took Anne's left hand and kissed it before putting it on my shoulder. The song we chose couldn't have described our feelings for one another more perfectly; it was if it was written especially for us. I put my arm around her waist and swayed to the beat of the music with her, completely blocking everything around me and focusing on nothing but her.
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
When the song was over, Anne and I walked over to our table and patiently waited for dinner to begin. The string quartet played soft music as we ate, and the stars began to shine outside. It was so lovely and enjoyable that I didn't want things to end. When it time for us to cut the cake, Anne threatened to throw cake in my face, but I didn't let her. She did manage to shove some in my mouth though, and I shoved some in her mouth, too. While the caters were busy cutting up the cake, Anne and the rest of the girls went out to the dance floor for the bouquet toss.
“1...2...3!”
With a simple flick of the wrist, the bouquet was tossed out into the crowd and was caught by none other than Josie Pye.
“Oh my gosh, I caught it!” she cried. “I caught it!”
“Oh boy,” mumbled Mrs. Harmon Andrews.
I just laughed. It was my turn to go up there for the garter toss. I got a chair for Anne, and she had a seat in it. The guys lined up behind me and waited for me to get it. I took my time and flirted my way to get it as I slowly reached up underneath Anne's dress and playfully touched her leg.
“Gil!” she exclaimed to me. “You know there's a whole bunch of guys behind you waiting for you to get that garter, right? You can't take all night, babe.”
“Or can I?” I asked, giving her a wink.
I finally stopped fooling around and got the garter off of Anne's leg. I threw it up, and luckily for Josie, Moody caught it.
“I'm getting married!” exclaimed Josie. Mrs. Pye just shook her head.
The rest of the reception involved dancing, lots and lots of dancing. I'm pretty shy on the dance floor to be honest, but Anne convinced me to do it. We danced until midnight, and by then, we were pretty tired. We said goodbye to our guests, but there was one last surprise.
“Gil...Anne...we have something for you,” said Mom, bringing Dad, Marilla, and Uncle Dave up with her.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Well, we can't even begin to express how happy we are for you two, so as part of a combined effort, we have a special gift for you.”
“Gil,” said Uncle Dave, “I know you've been looking for a job while planning for this wedding, so I'm offering you a special spot at my practice.”
My jaw dropped. “Huh?”
“Honey, that's terrific!” Anne cried, throwing her arms around my neck.
“Uncle Dave, are you sure?” I asked, not believing my ears.
“I'm sure, my boy,” he replied. “You've worked hard for it and deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I shook his hand.
“And that's not all!” exclaimed Mom. “Well for the combined portion of this gift, Uncle Dave, Marilla, and your father and I have pooled in our money together and bought you two a little house in Four Winds.”
Anne and I were stunned. Was she being serious?
“Are you kidding?” asked Anne, her eyes widened in surprise.
“No, I'm not kidding, Anne-girl. I have the keys right here if you don't believe me.” She took the keys out of her purse and handed them to me. Marilla and Dad smiled.
“I...I don't know what to say,” I said. “T-thank you.”
Anne and I hugged all of them. We were truly grateful for what they had done for us.
“You don't have to move in right away,” said Dad. “There's always after the honeymoon.” He gave me a wink.
We said our goodbyes as Anne and I got in my car to drive to the hotel near the airport since we were leaving first thing in the morning for Hawaii, our honeymoon destination. I got behind the wheel, put my arm around my bride, and drove. Anne put her head on my shoulder as I drove, and she kissed my cheek. I couldn't wait to spend our first night together as husband and wife, and I looked forward to many, many more.
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1/1/2007, 10:08 pm
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ladybell101
Dance Card Stealer
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Registered: 12-2006
Posts: 100
Kindredness: 4 (+4/-0)
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
I awoke the next morning with my wife asleep in my arms. I still couldn't believe that all of this was really happening. Anne and I were a married couple now, and we were about to head off on our honeymoon. Looking back on the night before, it was filled with endless love and passion. I let my emotions go and did my best to show Anne how much I loved her; it was the same with her. I can't describe how wonderful it was to be with her at last, and all I could say is that married life is good, real good.
“Good morning, Gil,” Anne said softly as she was opening her eyes.
“Good morning, Anne. How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.” She was smiling.
“You ready to go relax on the beach in Hawaii?”
“Most definitely. I could use a little sun; I need a tan.”
“I love you just the way you are.” I kissed her on the cheek.
She blushed a little. “I love you, too.”
We then got out of bed and got ready to go to the airport. After checking our bags, making our way through airport security, and getting through customs, Anne and I boarded the plane. For some reason, the flight attendants knew that we were newlyweds and gave us two glasses of champagne as soon as we were seated. I guess that's one form of first class service even though we weren't seated in first class.
Our flight was smooth, and once we arrived in Hawaii, we were greeted with the sights and sounds of the beach. If was as if it was calling for us, enticing us with the crystal clear water and grainy sand, so we quickly checked into our hotel near by, got in our bathing suits, and headed for the beach. True enough, it was just as amazing as we thought it would be. The whole environment was peaceful and calm, and it was the perfect place to spend our first days as a married couple. To my dismay, the week flew by rather quickly. I didn't want to leave, but I knew we had to. After all, we had a house to move in to, and I had a job and patients waiting for me.
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1/1/2007, 10:09 pm
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ladybell101
Dance Card Stealer
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Registered: 12-2006
Posts: 100
Kindredness: 4 (+4/-0)
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
When the plane landed in Avonlea, Anne and I got to work on moving our belongings to our new house in Four Winds since we were both so eager to begin a new chapter in our lives. We hired a couple movers to help us along with the process. Our first stop was at my parents' house. Mom was a little emotional at the sight of Dad, Anne, and me moving my things from my old room into the trucks, saying “My baby's all grown up now” softly to herself, but she regained her composure before saying goodbye to us. Our next stop was at Green Gables, and Marilla had almost the same reaction as Mom. She too couldn't believe that the day would finally come for Anne to move out. Looking into her eyes, I could tell that she still thought of us as children.
“It was as if she came here only yesterday,” she whispered when I wasn't looking.
After everything was loaded, Marilla went outside to hug us both and to wish us well. She was holding back tears, and so was Anne.
“It'll be alright, Marilla,” Anne assured her. “Gil and I will be okay, and if you need me, you know where to find me. You'll always be welcome at our home.”
She silently nodded. The movers secured the trucks, and Anne and I got into our car. Marilla waved goodbye to us, and when she wasn't in sight in the rear view mirror, Anne sunk down in her seat. This was going to be hard on her; I could tell. While I knew she excited to be moving into our brand new home, the move also meant that she would have to leave her beloved Green Gables behind. It was the first place that felt like a true home to her, so of course, she was reluctant to let it go. I wanted nothing more than to make her happy, and I hoped and prayed that I could.
“Are you alright, Anne-girl?” I asked, concerned.
“I'll be fine,” she replied, wiping a tear with the back of her hand.
“We don't have to do this.”
She looked straight into my eyes. “What?”
“We don't have to do this. If you want, we can turn around right now, and -”
She cut me off. “No, Gil. This isn't about me; it's about us. We have to do this for us.” She took my free hand and held it. “I love you, Gil. I want us to have a home together and begin a new life. Sure, it'll get some getting used to being away from the home that I've known for so long, but...home for me is wherever you are.”
I grinned slightly. “I love you, Carrots.” I leaned over to give her a kiss.
“Watch it, honey, or you'll run off the road,” she teased.
“I'm willing to take that risk.” I winked at her.
“Gil, what am I gonna do with you?” she asked, shaking her head in a mock dramatic fashion.
“Oh...I don't know...kiss me again?”
After a playful slap on the arm, I got my kiss, and we finally made it to our new house. It was a cute little home that had just enough “scope for the imagination.” There was a little garden that looked out into the open along with a gorgeous view. It had four bedrooms and two bathrooms with a hearth fire in it (something that I had always wanted), and there for enough room for the two of us.
“Do you like it, Anne?” I asked.
“I love it,” she said, putting her arm around my waist. “It's perfect, absolutely perfect. I still can't believe Marilla and your parents pitched in their money to get us this place.”
“I know.”
The movers were getting a bit impatient, so we told them where we wanted our things placed. After everything was unloaded, we realized that we pretty much had two of everything, and this house wasn't big enough to hold everything we had.
“What are we gonna do?” asked Anne.
“Decide what works best with the space and donate the rest to charity?” I suggested.
“That sounds good, but what if we can't decide what stays and what goes?”
“Hmm...rock, paper, scissors?”
“Deal.”
It took Anne and me a little while to decide what to keep and what to give away. We did have to resort to rock, paper, scissors a few times, and luckily for me, I got to keep my TV, couch, and Batman action figure. (What? Who said you had to grow up when you got married?) Since it was getting late, we decided to give the rest of our belongings away the next day. Uncle Dave stopped by to give us our official welcome to the new house and to see how we were with unpacking everything; I'm assuming Mom or Dad called him after we left.
“I can't wait to start decorating,” said Anne to Uncle Dave. “I love this place so much already; it's a cozy little home just waiting to have something done to it. It's a blank canvas that I can begin with, and I like starting from scratch.”
“I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to do that, my dear,” he said. He turned to me. “Gil, do you know when you'll be able to start the job?”
“Anytime you need me, Uncle Dave,” I replied. “I'll be ready.”
“How about tomorrow?”
My jaw dropped. “Tomorrow? Are you serious?”
“Yes, I'm serious.”
I was shocked. As much as I wanted to start right away, I knew I couldn't leave Anne in our new house alone by herself with loads of boxes that needed to be sorted out. It wouldn't be fair to her. “Umm...on second thought, would it be alright if I waited a few days?” I asked. “I don't want to make Anne unpack everything by herself when I'm at work, and I know I won't be able to help her out much since my schedule will be unpredictable.” I hoped he would understand.
“That'll be fine,” he replied to my relief. “You both need time to settle in, and those extra days will give you more time to relax before you start those irregular hours.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Don't mention it, my boy. Now go help that pretty little wife of yours unpack, and get started on a family ASAP. Do you hear me?”
I laughed. “Sure do.”
Anne laughed as well. We said good night to Uncle Dave and did as much as we could to organize everything before going to bed. That first night in our new house was special, really special. It was our first night in a place of our own, and we truly felt like a married couple. I wanted to enjoy these next few days with Anne because it would be awhile until we could spend some true quality time together. Being a doctor not only meant helping patients and saving lives, but it meant long hours, little sleep, and randomly getting up at 3 AM sometimes. I was prepared to do what I needed to do, but I wasn't sure how Anne would react to it. She always seemed to worry about me, and since we were newlyweds, I didn't know if she would be supportive or would look down upon the whole situation. Maybe I'm the one who worries too much; who knows?
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1/1/2007, 10:10 pm
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ladybell101
Dance Card Stealer
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Registered: 12-2006
Posts: 100
Kindredness: 4 (+4/-0)
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
The next day Anne and I drove down to donate our leftover belongings to charity. They were grateful for what we did, and it felt good giving something back to the community even though we were new to the area. Later after much focus and concentration, we got everything – and I mean everything – out of the many boxes and into their respective places. Anne was surprised at the speed at which we got it all done. I honestly expected us to finish unpacking at the end of the three days, but I was glad I was wrong. I spent the rest of my time doing other things with Anne. I gave her the go ahead to paint the walls whatever color she desired because I knew she wasn't going to choose neon pink or cryptic black paint for our house. I knew her well enough by now to know that our tastes are very similar.
On the night before my first real day of being a real doctor, Anne and I were laying in bed when she put her arm around my waist, sensing that I was a bit jittery for my first day of work.
“Go get 'em tomorrow, Gil,” she said barely above a whisper.
“Thanks, honey,” I said. “I'll need it.”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“Not really, but I'm a little nervous.”
“That's normal, sweetie. Everyone gets nervous on their first day.”
“I know, but what if I mess up somehow? And you know mess ups in the medical world can probably cost millions of dollars or even lives!”
“You can't worry about the 'what if's.' If you do that, then you're more than likely to mess up. You have to be calm, cool, and confident but not ****y. Just relax, okay?”
“Okay.” I kissed her on the cheek. “I'm so glad I have a smart wife.”
She laughed. “What makes you think I'm so smart, Gil?”
“You married me.”
She snickered, turned off the light, and kissed me good night. I knew I had a long day ahead of me, and I needed as much sleep as I could get.
I woke up early the next morning, anxious to get to work. I tried my best not to disturb Anne while she was asleep, but she woke up anyway. She was just as excited as I was about my first day and wanted to make sure that I had enough energy to last through my long hours. After eating breakfast and getting ready, I gave Anne one last kiss before heading out the door.
When I arrived at the hospital, I met Uncle Dave who was sitting in the break room and waiting for me.
“Good to see ya, Gil,” he said, shaking my hand.
“You, too,” I said.
“Ready to get started?”
“Oh yes.”
He got up from his seat and led me to my first patient, Jane Gibson, but before that, he put her file in my hands. “It's a pretty bad case,” he explained. “She was involved in a multi-car pile up the other night, and it's a miracle that she's still alive. Look at her MRI results.”
I opened the folder and was astonished with what I saw. “Wow.” Her brain was far from the normal condition of a healthy one, and it appeared as if she escaped death by a matter of centimeters. As lucky as she was, the battle wasn't over yet.
“See what I mean?” asked Uncle Dave.
“Yeah,” I replied, still shocked at the test results.
“Her husband and son are in there with her in her room. They're taking it pretty hard, so be gentle.”
I nodded. I swallowed hard and remembered what Anne said to me the night before: Be cool, calm, and confident but not ****y. After taking a deep breath, I walked in the room.
“Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Gibson,” I managed to say, even though Jane was still asleep.
Mr. Gibson turned to face me. “Hello, Doctor,” he said.
“How is your wife?” I asked.
“Hanging in there.” He looked at his young son who was no older than five. “Ty's worried about his mother; he's afraid that something will happen to her.”
“Doc, is Mommy going to die?” Ty asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I didn't want to lie to this little boy. “I don't know,” I replied honestly, returning his gaze. “I don't want to make any judgments too soon. Her case is very special, Ty. Your mommy is very lucky to be here after a bad crash like that. She is strong, and she will fight to the end, no matter what happens.”
“You're darn right about that,” commented Mr. Gibson. “Jane's always been a fighter, ever since the day we met.”
“Doc, if Mommy dies, will she go to Heaven?” asked Ty curiously.
“She will,” I replied, meaning it from the bottom of my heart. “She will.”
Ty looked as if he was a little more at ease after that, and his father mouthed “Thank you” to me. I simply nodded. He shook my hand, and I told him that I would be back later to check on them. When I came back after visiting other patients, I noticed that Jane wasn't in her room. I went out into the waiting room to ask one of the nurses what happened when I spotted Ty and his father sitting in a corner by themselves silently sobbing. I went over to them.
“Doc,” said Mr. Gibson barely above a whisper. “Jane...s-she's....gone.”
I froze. Gone? I couldn't believe it. I knew from Day One of med school that I would someday lose a patient, but I never expected it to happen so soon. Jane Gibson left behind a loving husband and child who were now beginning to mourn.
“I'm s-sorry,” I said, knowing that it wasn't going to do much to relieve the pain. “I wish I could have done more to help her.” I felt so bad inside.
“It was her time, Doc,” Mr. Gibson said. “She's in a better place now, and I know she's looking over me and Ty.”
“You're a strong man.”
He shook my hand again. “Thank you for all you've done for us.”
“You don't need to thank me.” I barely did anything, and this man was thanking me.
“No. I need to. You were honest when others would have lied through their teeth and put us at ease; I can never thank you enough for that.”
“You're welcome.”
I went back to the break room where I met Uncle Dave in the morning and found him in there. I didn't even have to say a word, and he knew what I was thinking.
“It's always hard losing a patient,” said Uncle Dave. “It's never easy, Gil.”
“I never expected it to be so soon,” I said. “I never imagined that for my first day at work.”
“I know; I know.”
He patted me on the back, but just then, I received an emergency phone call.
“Dr. Gilbert Blythe, we need you here immediately. Mrs. Chelsea Taylor is going into labor early, and her doctor is on vacation,” said the nurse frantically.
“I'm coming!” I said, sprinting out of the break room.
“Take it easy!” shouted Uncle Dave.
I made it just in time. I was able to get into my surgery clothes and wash up before delivering Mrs. Taylor's baby. I walked into the room and shook hands with the Taylors.
“I'm Dr. Gilbert Blythe. I'm in for Dr. Phillips who is on vacation right now,” I introduced myself.
“I'm so glad you're here,” said Mrs. Taylor before letting out a painful scream.
“I need to examine you quickly to see if you're ready to push or not.”
“Okay.”
I determined that she was ready to push, so I instructed her to do so. Her husband held her hand.
“C'mon, honey. Push!” he encouraged her.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” she screamed.
“I see the head,” I said. “Keep going. You're doing great.”
She kept on pushing. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
Slowly but surely, the rest of the baby came out, and a new baby girl was born.
“It's a girl!” I exclaimed. The Taylors were so happy.
After I cut the cord, I handed the baby to a nurse to clean her up before gently giving her to her mother.
“Happy birthday, honey,” said her mother. “I'm your mommy, and I'll love you forever.” She kissed her on the forehead before handing her to her father.
“Hey, pumpkin,” he said. “You're the prettiest girl on the planet. I love you, baby.”
I couldn't help but smile. This was a bittersweet moment for me. After losing one of my patients earlier in the day, I witnessed the birth of a beautiful and healthy baby girl.
“What are you going to name her?” I finally asked.
“Jane Alison Taylor.”
I smiled. It was a little ironic yet sweet at the same time. I said goodbye to the happy parents and Uncle Dave and went back home. I was tired. Anne was waiting for me and wanted to know how my day went. I told her my entire tale from start to finish, and at the end of it, she gave me a hug.
“Well, honey,” she began, “you survived your first day, and it'll be smooth sailing from now on.”
“I'm not too sure about that,” I said, “but at least I know what to expect now.”
She didn't say anything more and suggested that we both go to bed to rest for the next day. Sleep never sounded better.
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1/1/2007, 10:11 pm
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ladybell101
Dance Card Stealer
Global user
Registered: 12-2006
Posts: 100
Kindredness: 4 (+4/-0)
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Re: Nothing Else Matters
A few months passed. Sure enough like Anne had said, it was smooth sailing at work. I did have those days when I had to get up in the middle of the night, but it all worked out in the end. Anne was supportive as always. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was proud of me, and that meant a lot.
One night when I came home early from work, I found her waiting for me. She was smiling and was glowing. I could tell that there was something she wanted to tell me, but I had no idea what.
“Hey, Carrots,” I said, greeting her with a kiss.
“Hey, Gil,” she said, putting her arms around my neck.
“You're glowing like I've never seen before. Is there something you wanna tell me?”
She nodded her head. She took my hand and led me down next to her on the couch. “Gil...I wasn't feeling well lately, and it's been a month since I've had...well...you know what. I had my suspicions, so I got tested and...I'm pregnant.”
My eyed widened. “Pregnant?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
I smiled the same smile when Anne had finally accepted my proposal. I put my arms around her as I kissed her cheek. “I love you, my Anne-girl. I can't believe that we're finally gonna be parents!”
“I knew you'd be happy,” she said, lightly touching my cheek.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Great...well, at least before the morning sickness kicks in.”
“Did you call Marilla yet?”
“No, only because I wanted to tell you first.”
That same goofy expression was still on my face. “Call her, Carrots. I know she'll be excited.”
I handed her the phone, and she called Marilla. She was overjoyed when Anne told her the news and congratulated both of us. Her reaction was nothing compared to my parents'. Anne put them on speaker phone, and I was sure my ear drums busted because of their screams after Anne told them the news. They were thrilled.
“I'm getting a grandchild! I'm getting a grandchild!” sang Mom in the background.
“Calm down, Donna,” Dad told her. “You're gonna scare the kids!”
“Oh, John. I know you're just as excited about this as I am!”
“Well...you're right about that.”
I couldn't help but laugh. This was a cause for celebration.
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1/1/2007, 10:12 pm
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