She says she's going to slow down but evidently my circumstances at the moment are not marring my ability to think up new scenarios for these two. This is a little different. I don't know how clear this is so I'll quickly explain this takes place five years after Anne of the Island what should be two years into their marriage.

But something went a little wrong. Gilbert didn't get sick he was tired at convocation but he visited home for two weeks then went back out and worked at the paper for the rest of the summer. Phil never sent her letter to Gil, urging him to 'try again'. He believed Anne had accepted Roy. Anne assumed her life without him. Hopefully the rest will be explained in the story for you... sooner or later...

Gilbert was tired. It was the end of his mandatory shift in the walk in clinic, he didn't mind them, not at all, in fact secretly he ENJOYED this more then surgery. In surgery he got the crème de le crème, the elite the chosen few who were deemed important enough by the hospital board to need surgery. Here he got to meet the REAL people of Kingsport and really serve his community, secretly he wished it was more like this, but being on the fast track to success had its price, this was one of them. He only got to see the general public once a week for his mandatory shift. He took a sigh as he heard the door knock, last patient of the night, then he would go home and sleep for at least 24 hours, it wasn't even late about 6pm but it felt like two in the morning he'd been going for hours. That's all he ever wanted to do with his time off... sleep.

"Come in." He called without looking up from the last patients file as he finished the notes, his back to the door he only heard the door clink open as his next patient arrived. "just sit on the bed I'll be right with you." He said politely.

He didn't hear the patient move which he thought was odd, then he heard a soft sweet voice, one he hasn't heard properly in seven years. He froze for a moment at it knowing it was her but was afraid his heart would leap out his chest if he turned too quickly but a one syllable three lettered version of his name was all that was needed for him to know who it was behind him.

"Gil." She said softly.

He turned and looked at her. His heart racing as the familiar red hair blazed like the sun the grey green eyes like ice and fire all at once. She looked stunning! Really really beautiful! 'watch your thoughts Blythe' he reminded himself. 'She's a married women'

"Anne?" he questioned in disbelief. "What in heck are you doing here?" he asked her 'surely the Gardner's of Kingsport have their own doctor to attend to Anne's every need.'

"Oh, I think I've sprained my arm," she replied.

"Arm?" he repeated dumbly. His mind caught up with him. "Right of course your arm!" He sprang out of his seat as he did he knocked over his coffee cup "oh dang!" He whispered whipping out the closest disposal towel he could. "I'm sure this is speaking volumes of what kind of doctor I am, I swear I'm competent." He said cleaning up the mess trying his best as well to clean the now coffee stain off his white shirt and doctors coat. Less then a minute in the same room as Anne had sent him to be a quivering mess!

Anne laughed sweetly. "It's alright, you're probably tired, I always knew you'd make a fantastic doctor Gil." She held her file in her hand, "The nurse said to give this to you. "She said handing him the file.

He looked up and to her again. His mouth was ajar for a moment 'she knew I would make a fantastic doctor did she?' he thought then he smiled. "Well if you still trust me hop up." He said pointing her at the bed. She smiled at him then went over to the bed sitting on it gently. He pulled over his chair placing himself in front of her not looking at her medical history he put the file to one side, he could look at that later. "Right let's look at that arm." He asked her. Holding out his own hands cupped ready. She gave him her arm where he gently started his examination. "How did it happen?" he asked her.

"Well I was carrying a box down some stairs and I tripped over my dress the box flew out of my hands and I tumbled forward but my arm went out trying to stop me, I'm afraid I fell on it full force." She told him. She felt her eyes flutter shut, Gilbert's touch was so light and gentle it was almost as if he was massaging her arm not examining it. She felt her heart rate increase slightly. 'What is he doing to me?' She thought.

"Oh I've got it." He said looking at her concerned. "I'm going to gradually increase how hard I'm pressing I want you to tell me when it starts to hurt." He told her.

Anne nodded, within seconds she involuntary whispered "ow!"

"That's more than a sprain Anne that's broken." He told her.

"Oh no! Really?" she asked quietly. "Well that will teach me for carrying too much at once."

"It alright I can have it casted up for you in a jiffy." He told her. "Come on up with me to surgery upstairs I have the supplies needed up there I'll do it for you."

"Oh alright." She said confused, she assumed he would be casting her off to another doctor, "Sorry did you say surgery?" she asked him.

"Yes I'm one of the surgeons here at the hospital." He said picking up the file.

Anne looked at him impressed." Well Gilbert Blythe I knew how well you would do! I'm so proud! So why are you down here?"

"Hospital policy we all have to do walk in clinic once a week." He said opening the door for her letting her through first. She stood in the hallway at first waiting for him to lead the way he gently led her down the corridor opening her file for the first time.

"End of a shift Doctor Blythe?" one of the nurses said to him.

"Yes, but I'm just taking..." He noticed the name filled in wasn't Mrs Anne Gardner but there on black and white "Miss Shirley?" he questioned looking down at the name again as if it was going to magically change to Gardner any second.

"Doctor Blythe?" the nurse said again looking at him.

He quickly snapped out of it addressing the nurse again, "Sorry yes, I'm taking Miss Shirley up to surgery, just a broken arm I can attend to it myself." He told her.

"If you're sure doctor." She said looking concerned. "You've not stopped in 72 hours." She reprimanded him.

"Anne's an old friend." He informed her. "I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it right." He said with a smile to the nurse. Anne couldn't help but notice the nurse now blushed at his smile. "Come on" he whispered to Anne "We'll use the elevator the stairs might irritate that arm." He subconsciously held her by the base of her back as they walked towards the elevators something which made butterflies flutter in Anne's stomach. They stepped in and the doors closed Gilbert pressing the key for the floor his office was on. He glanced towards her left hand. There was no ring there? He looked away quickly his brow furrowed trying to work out the puzzle. Anne filed herself still under her maiden name and had no ring to show for what now must be a lengthy engagement of five years! He doubted if Anne had consented to be his wife all those years ago he would have been able to wait five days before buying her a ring to slip onto her finger! Gardner had all the riches in the world surely he would have bought the trinket for his betrothed? And what was the great delay in getting married? Alright so if Anne had said yes when he asked theirs would have been at least as equally as long, but the cause would have been their educations his medical school her teaching for a few years. If he had been in the position after being engaged to Anne, Gilbert doubted he was last out half a dozen months without bringing himself to his knees and begging her to marry him right then? There wasn't any such obstacle in Gardner's way he had money and advantage in life where he could pay for a wedding at the snap of the fingers. So why did she bring herself here as 'Miss Anne Shirley' and not ' Mrs Anne Gardner' and again his thoughts returned, the Gardner's would have a family doctor who would make a home visit, what on earth was she doing coming to a walk in clinic?

"Penny for your thoughts." Anne said looking at him.

This snapped Gilbert out of his thoughts "hm?" he sounded then shook his head. "Sorry long day I just need another coffee." He told her.

" I never had you down as a coffee drinker Gilbert, in fact you used to take your tea without even sugar and a one second milk pour?" Anne questioned with a mock at the one second milk pour, he was always so specific about it.

Gilbert looked to her a little surprised. 'She remembers how I take my tea?' he wondered perplexed, surely she had more important things to remember then his choice in hot beverage. He managed to form together his sentence " it's a way of life in the hospital I'm afraid, 72 hours without any sleep coffee is essential to keeping awake." He said with a smile as the elevator doors slid open.

" you really haven't stopped in 72 hours? Gil I thought she was kidding!" she exclaimed as they started to walk again. Anne stopped suddenly in the corridor. "I can't ask you to do this for me with your free time you should be resting."

Gilbert chuckled slightly and involuntarily brought his hand to her waist, he felt her jump as he did, his own heart was racing in his chest as he whispered gently " you didn't ask I offered. Come now, let's get that arm fixed."

He entered an office and found one of the cleaners in there. "Sorry Doctor Blythe I want expecting you back tonight." The girl blushed, "I thought it safe to come and clean."

"It should have been truth be told." He did to her. "I wasn't planning I'm coming back up, please don't let me interrupt your work." He said kindly.

"No not at all Doctor Blythe, would you like me to make you a coffee?" she questioned him.

Gilbert gave a smile. "You angel, if you wouldn't mind?"

"As soon as I finish here." The cleaner said.

"Oh em, Emily this is a friend of mine Anne. By chance walked into the clinic downstairs on my shift, she has a broken arm, would you mind keeping her company while I go to the supply closest?" he asked her.

" of course Doctor Blythe." She replied.

"I'll be right back." Gilbert told Anne, leaving the room. Anne looked on the walls in the office. There it was, his certification for a doctor, framed in his office. 1st in his class, she smiled proudly, that was hardly a surprise, Gilbert Blythe the never failing scholar top of his class! 'This isn't just any office, this, this is HIS office.' There were several other certificates in frames, none of which meant an awful lot to Anne. But she could see the progress he made on the walls of his office. She moved to his desk to find a picture of his parents on his desk. No other pictures. 'So he's still single then?' she found THAT hard to believe! Gilbert should have married years ago! Surely there would be a soon to be Mrs Blythe?

"He's very clever that friend of yours you know?" Emily asked her.

"Yes I do know it." Anne said softly. "He always was." She said with a kind smile.

"He won't tell you but he's the best surgeon this hospital has and everyone knows it, ALL the people ASK for him to attend in surgeries because they know the job will be done right he's going to be Consultant surgeon next year, well so they say he is…" She paused. " …and the nicest too, all the other doctors go round like they have an air of authority over everyone else but not Doctor Blythe, treats everyone as equals even us cleaning staff."

"Why wouldn't he?" Anne asked confused.

Emily smiled. "You're made from the same stuff as him I can tell. As I said the other Doctors will turn their noses up at everyone, Doctor Blythe is different. He's kind to everyone who is in the same room as him I don't feel like a cleaner I feel like his equal."

"But you are his equal." Anne said as matter of fact.

He came back in and smiled at the pair.

"I'll get you that coffee Doctor Blythe." Emily said walking past.

"Thank you Emily." He called after her. He came over to his desk and opened a cabinet behind it, where Anne saw there were several clean shirts, ties and doctors coats. Gilbert smiled at Anne's face. "Occupational hazard, I learnt very quickly to have a change of clothing, worse things have been on these shirts then coffee." He said with a chuckle. "You don't mind if I change in front of you do you?" he asked her.

"No, not at all." Anne said moving to the other side of the room to give him what little privacy she could. He took off his doctors coat waist jacket and let down his suspenders. He unbuttoned and untucked his shirt with a couple of buttons undone he brought the shirt over his head. Anne blushed at the sight of his vest and his flat and strong stomach momentarily flashing. His strong muscular arms visible. Anne could see under the vest was a well formed torso. Despite her best efforts Anne simply couldn't look away! 'What was I thinking rejecting HIM?!' she thought in the moment then quickly repented of such a thought as the new shirt replaced the old one.

He buttoned up his shirt as he was he said "You don't mind do you if I don't bother with a tie, and waistcoat? It seems silly to put it on now."

"No, I don't mind at all. You've looked too much like a doctor since I walked in, it'd be nice just to see Gil under all those clothes." She paused at what she said blushing profusely. She looked to see if Gilbert had noticed, if he had he showed no outward acknowledgement of it as he pulled back up his suspenders. And putting a doctors jacket on.

"Are you ready Anne?" He asked her. She nodded he opened a second door in his office which lead to a room with a bed in it which looked more like somewhere to put a cast on. "Right, I can give you something to put you to sleep if you would like?"

"Will it hurt?" She asked him.

"When I reset the bone it will but otherwise it's just putting on the cast which doesn't hurt at all." He told her gently.

"And how long will it take?" she asked

"Less than an hour because the plaster dries really quickly." He told her.

"Oh don't bother putting me to sleep then, I have a high pain threshold anyway." She said to him.

"Alright, can you take off your shirt, I can give you a gown if you like? To cover your…" he paused for a moment thinking of what to call it. "underwear." He said quietly.

"Oh, I think I'll need some help with the buttons." She said realising the broken arm was her dominate hand again.

"Do you mind?" He asked her before reaching for the buttons.

She looked at him wide eyed. Gilbert wanted to take her clothes off? She could feel herself swoon! "No of course not.." She trailed remembering her place. "Doctor Blythe." She said with her best teasing smile.

He chuckled and started to unbutton her shirt "Don't you start calling me that, its like I have no first name round here. Gil, my name is Gil." He said as if trying to convince himself as well. He gently took her shirt off replacing it with the hospital gown avoiding looking the best he could. He tied it for her. "There all done. Lie back and try to relax." She told her gently.

"I saw the picture of your parents on your desk, that's awfully sweet Gil, do you get to see them much?" she asked him. Truth be told she couldn't remember anyone ever mentioning Gilbert back home on the Island.

He heard him pause and sigh heavily. "No. Not a lot." He said sadly. He cleared his throat. "Do you make it back to the Island much? I suppose being a socialite keeps you busy." He said absently.

"Pardon?" Anne asked him, did she hear him right, but there was a knock at the door.

"Sorry Doctor Blythe your coffee." Emily said opening the door.

Gilbert smiled and moved for the coffee. "Never apologise for bringing me coffee, thank you Emily." He said taking a sip.

"I'll leave you to it. Nice to meet you Anne." She smiled.

"Where was I?" He said after a satisfying sigh of contentment at the hot coffee. "Yes, I'm going to set your arm Anne are you ready?" He asked.

She nodded and tried to brace herself.

He smiled "Try not to think about it Anne, anticipation makes it worse. Tell you what, I'll do it in the next 30 seconds but I won't tell you when, we can still talk that way."

"Alright." She agreed.

"So have you made it back to the Island?" he asked her again. He seemed in his own world as he described her duties as socialite of Kingsport he didn't look directly at her face, if he had he would have seen the look of confusion on her face. "I don't suppose being the future Mrs Roy Gardner gives you much of a chance to get back to the island." He finished snapping the bone back to set.

"Ow!" She shouted "Gil that hurt!" she looked at him accusingly sitting up a little.

"I did say it would." He blushed. "Sorry, this bit is easier I promise." He said starting on the cast.

She lay back down pondering his words. No one had told Gilbert she rejected Roy Gardner five years ago. How could no one have told Gilbert? Her heart pounded in her chest. "I refused him." She said quietly.

She felt Gilbert pause for a moment before he said "what?" in tones of amazement before he continued his work.

"Well he proposed at convocation but I couldn't say yes." She told him.

"Oh?" Gilbert asked still with amazement in his voice.

"I didn't love him." Anne said softly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay I'm surprised no one told you back home." She said to him half asking.

"Well as I said I don't make it back to the Island all that often."

"No, I can't remember the last time someone said you were in Avonlea. When WAS the last time you went home?" she asked him.

"The Summer of Convocation." He said to her. "I went back for two weeks, I was so dreadfully tired my mother was convinced I was coming down with something but I was fine and the paper wanted me to go out and do some work, I knew the town would be alight with congratulations of your engagement so I came back."

"Gil, that's was FIVE years ago? You've not gone back for Christmas or the summer at all?" She said aghast.

"I had to work my way through medical school." He said honestly. "My ma and pa had already sacrificed too much for me. I couldn't leave them penniless. So the first summer I worked at the paper again, the second summer I worked on the railroad, then as soon as I finished medical school I was offered a position here but they wanted me to start immediately, so I set up here. Holidays are always the busiest times in hospitals I never took vacations." He told her honestly.

"But…" her mind reeled. She had always known Gilbert to be a hard worker but this was something else. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Too many memories I guess. I just needed to get on with things." Dare not saying the memories were of her. Every nook every corner every secret hiding place was his and Anne's and he was heartbroken she was married to Gardner.

"But why didn't anyone tell you I wasn't marrying Roy?" She asked confused.

She looked to Gilbert who turned a shade of pink. "Actually I had a strict 'no talking about Anne' clause with everyone."

Anne felt tears in her eyes, "But why?" she whispered.

"I wasn't over you when I heard Gardner was going to propose to you, truth be told I was heartbroken, so I avoided the subject of 'Anne' in the hope the pain would go away." He told her quietly. He paused before asking "So if you didn't marry Gardner, is there anyone else?" He asked her.

Anne smiled briefly. "No, I swore myself off men." She laughed. "Four marriage proposal each as horrible as the next for various reasons, I figured I was meant to be an old maid and teach." She paused for a moment. "I was Principle over in Summerside for three years, then was offered Principle ship here in Kingsport in an all-girls school. I couldn't refuse it really. It was quite the honour to be asked. So I've been here in Kingsport the last two years, I'm surprised we never bumped into each other."

"It wasn't very likely, my apartment isn't far from here it's not likely I would have ran into you."

Anne paused before she asked "I noticed there wasn't any other pictures on your desk. There's no soon to be Mrs Blythe then?" She asked him.

"No." he admitted quietly, then in a reverent whisper she heard him say "There was never anyone else."

Anne felt as though her whole body was on fire! Gil! Her Gil! Only ever wanted her! If she wasn't already lying down she could have sworn she was swooning. 'What is the matter with me?' she thought 'Gilbert has never had this effect on me before, what's going on?'

There was silence as he continued his work. Both their minds were reeling with the last half an hour revelations.

"There all done. The plaster should be dry within the next half hour."

"Can I sit up?" she asked him.

"Here let me help." He offered gently. He brought her up. "So this injury?" he asked,

"Was at school." She smiled looking into his hazel eyes. "I've missed you Gil." She whispered.

He saw the side of his mouth raise to a small close mouthed smile. "I've missed you Anne." He said putting his hand on top of her free hand.

Her stomach fluttered at his lovely gentle touch. He quickly moved his hand away as if it had been caught in a fire she looked to his face. She could tell from past experiences he was trying to hide a blush. For the first time it didn't make her uncomfortable. No not even a little, she thought it was adorable.

"How about I take you for something to eat?" He offered as a friend best he could. "I can take you to any fancy restaurant you like?"

Anne's face wrinkled in a way Gilbert recognised as distaste. He laughed lightly for her. "Roy took me to too many of those 'fancy restaurants' I never liked any of them, the food was too rich."

He smiled "But you aren't saying no to the invitation just the fancy restaurants, so somewhere a bit less formal maybe?" he asked. She smiled at his analysis and smiled nodding. His face lit with an idea. "I have the perfect place."