Hello, dear readers! Thanks again for all your generous comments and love for this piece I started writing as a diversion for myself to forget what was happening in the real world.

I haven't included a quote from LMM to begin this chapter, since this one basically continues straight on from Chapter Three. But you know she's always in my heart when I write this...

"Are they Susan's chicken pies?" Anne said, sitting up suddenly and eyeing the tray on the table beside Gilbert.

The covers fell to her waist and her long red hair was a tangled mess of curls around her face.

"Looks like it," Gilbert grinned, his eyes fastened on her exposed breasts as he turned on his side. He propped his head on one hand and his other hand curled around her waist. "Would you like one?"

His hand slid higher and his fingertips began circling the rosy peak of one delectable breast. Gilbert was just bending his head forward to taste it when Anne suddenly leaned across him, as she reached for the tray. She rested one hand on his shoulder as her other arm reached out for the pies, forcing him to roll onto his back again.

"Yes, I would!" she declared as she lunged forward.

Anne's body flopped across his torso, and she was giggling as she retrieved one of the pies from the plate beside him and held it aloft in triumph. Her soft breasts were pressed into Gilbert's chest and she turned her face to grin at him. Cheeks flushed, her long legs were tangled up in the sheets and she looked so adorable as she nibbled on the pie that he had to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her even closer.

"Mmmm, they're delicious," Anne's hum of pleasure set Gilbert's pulse racing.

"Are they?" he asked as his hands caressed her soft skin.

"Would you like a bite?" she asked him, holding her pie out to him.

Gilbert nodded and took a playful bite at the pie and her fingers. Anne was lying on top of him now, her silky hair had tumbled over one shoulder and was tickling his arm. She shrieked as she pulled her hand away from his mouth abruptly and the rest of the little pie toppled onto Gilbert's chest.

"Gilbert, you'll get crumbs in the bed." Anne laughingly picked up the pie and began brushing at the pieces of short crust caught in his chest hair.

"Ssssh," Gilbert said. "Susan and Leslie will think -"

Anne leaned down to kiss his smiling mouth.

"I know exactly what Susan and Leslie will think," she murmured against his lips. "And they'd be right."

Anne's long legs were entwined with his and she smiled into his eyes as her toes caressed the top of his foot. Their bodies were pressed together and she hitched her hips into him slightly before she scrambled up to sit on the bed beside him.

"Wait," Gilbert complained with a frown, reaching to try and pull her back down to him, but Anne leaned across him again, deliberately pressing her breasts against him as she reached for the napkin.

"I don't want crumbs in the bed," she chided as she brushed the remnants into the napkin and then folded it up to place on the tray before she selected another pie from the dish and held it out for him. He took the proffered item and shoved almost the whole thing into his mouth with a grin.

"Gilbert!" she laughed as he crunched through the pastry and began chewing.

A delicious shiver ran through Gilbert's body as her fingertips came back to caress his chest. Anne was thoughtfully chewing on a mouthful of her own pie as she watched her fingers tracing aimless patterns over his skin.

Popping the rest of the pie in his mouth, Gilbert propped himself up on his elbows and contemplated the tray himself. His skin was tingling where Anne's slender fingers trailed over his ribs. Gilbert swallowed and flopped back onto the pillow with a sigh of satisfaction, enjoying the sensation.

"Susan even made you plum puffs," he observed with his hand gliding up and down the side of her torso.

"I think perhaps she made those for you," she said, tweaking his nipple. "She knows how much you love them."

"Well," he grinned. "They might not be quite as good as Marilla's, but…"

His voice trailed off as Anne's hands slid lower on his body.

"Anne, what are you doing?" he asked, raising one eyebrow as he watched her hand wandering over the taut muscles on his belly.

"Oh, I think you know what I'm doing, Doctor Blythe," she grinned wickedly, as she leaned forward to place a lingering kiss on his lips.

The dark pink tips of her breasts were grazing his chest and Gilbert could feel a familiar throb beginning deep in his belly. Anne raised herself to kneel on the bed beside him before she slid one leg across him to straddle his thighs.

Almost of their own volition, Gilbert's hands immediately grasped her hips before sliding down her thighs and back again as she settled herself more comfortably, wriggling her hips. The movement combined with the wicked gleam in Anne's eyes sent another pulsing throb straight to his groin.

Gilbert raised his head from the pillow slightly to admire his wife's body. Anne's creamy skin was glowing in the lamp light. He couldn't resist extending a finger to trace the delicate stretch marks adorning the soft curve of her belly.

"So beautiful," he murmured.

Anne selected a plum puff from the plate and held the pastry out to her husband.

"What about the crumbs?" he asked with a grin.

"I'll take care of them," she smiled.

He obligingly took a bite and then Anne carefully placed the rest of the tart back on the plate. Twisting her long hair back over her shoulder, she bent her head to lick the tiny flakes of pastry at the corner of Gilbert's mouth.

"Mmm, delicious," she said as she placed tiny kisses along his jaw.

Gilbert's arms wrapped around her slender body and he groaned as her soft lips trailed lower over his throat and down to his collarbone.

"Anne," his throaty growl sent shivers tumbling down Anne's spine.

She moaned softly when his hands moved to cup her breasts and she writhed in pleasure when his fingers brushed the tips ever so lightly.

"Oh, Gilbert," she breathed as her mouth sought his again. "I love you."

Her mouth opened and when his tongue touched hers she shuddered. Anne could feel him growing hard against her thigh and she slid herself slowly along his swelling length making him groan again.

"I want to feel you inside me again," she whispered as her lips nibbled at his earlobe. "Please, dearest."

Anne's eyes widened and she squealed as without warning, Gilbert grasped her hips and rolled over with her until his body was hovering just inches above hers.

"Gilbert."

The way she said his name still sent a thrill of delight throughout Gilbert's body. Her lips were curved in a soft smile and her sparkling eyes were gazing into his. The grey was ringed with just a hint of the green that he loved so well.

Sighing, he cradled her gorgeous face in his hands as he smiled down at her.

"That smile," he murmured, thumbs gently tracing the line of her luscious lips. "It's exactly the smile I used to dream of when I was a young lad."

"I don't think I ever smiled at you then," Anne's eyes twinkled as her slender fingers reached up to caress the stubble on his jaw.

"No, but I still saw it."

He bent his head to bestow a slow, lingering kiss on her lips. Anne's low hum of delight sent a jolt of pure desire down his spine. Her silken arms slid around his broad shoulders and her thighs parted as his hips settled between her legs. The tip of his arousal was barely touching her but he could feel her, hot and wet and ready for him. He was not nearly close enough to where he so desperately wanted to be.

But Gilbert still held himself back. He knew this night wasn't about him. It was about giving his wife as much pleasure as he was capable of providing. Tonight of all nights, he wanted Anne to know how much he loved her, and how important her loving their new home was to him. He wanted to show Anne that he knew their love would fill this huge house in the years to come. Even now, he was imagining their children running and playing together in the garden, the echoes of their laughter floating up to the house as they raced each other through the apple-laden orchard and down to the pretty valley beyond.

When Anne threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged his head towards her for another scorching kiss, he thought perhaps she was understanding his intent. His wife was very perceptive, he thought to himself with a smile. It was one of the many things he loved about her.

"I love you," she whispered against his lips, tilting her hips ever so slightly until Gilbert's hard length was now positioned right where she wanted him. All he had to do was push into her. Anne's thighs tightened around him, waiting for him to do just that. So, perhaps tonight wasn't only about Anne's pleasure, Gilbert revised his earlier thought. He grinned as he drew his face away from her slightly.

"You were always the most gorgeous creature I'd ever seen, you know," he said conversationally. His hips were still not moving. "I always hoped you'd smile at me, long before you agreed to be friends."

"Friends?" Anne rolled her hips a little, teasing him.

"Mmm," Gilbert nodded, his eyes fastened on her lips. "I often used to think of ways to make you smile. Even back then."

He watched as she caught her bottom lip between her little white teeth. Her eyes were gleaming with mischievous intent.

"And just what did you think of doing that would make me smile?"

"Well, at first, it was quite innocent, you understand." Gilbert's large hands slowly slid down Anne's torso, the pads of his fingertips tingling as they caressed her soft skin until they settled on the sides of her hips.

"Really?" Anne was staring into his eyes as she ran her hand over the planes of Gilbert's hard chest. Her fingers slid through the hair on his chest until her palm settled over his heart which was thudding so fast Gilbert thought it might escape his ribcage.

"Oh, yes," his tone remained casual as he lowered his head to brush his lips along the skin of her creamy throat. "At first, it was just simple things." His lips hovered at the pulse on the side of her neck. "A posy here, a candy heart there." He pressed a kiss to the hollow in her throat. Anne shivered as his mouth travelled lower. "The biggest, most luscious strawberry apple I could find…"

"Yes, that strawberry apple was hard to resist," Anne admitted as she wiggled beneath him.

As Gilbert's tongue trailed a leisurely path across one breast, a bead of milky fluid appeared at the rosy peak and he gently licked it away. Anne gasped when his lips closed around her nipple. He pulled his mouth away slowly and she whimpered.

"When we were teaching, I used to dream up ways to make you laugh at our A.V.I.S. meetings." His mouth was now pressed to the delicious valley between her breasts. "Then at college…" His lips were barely touching her skin as they moved lower on her body. Gilbert sighed as he paused to press a soft kiss into her abdomen.

"Ah," Anne's breathy moan as she arched towards his lips made Gilbert even harder. His tongue flicked out to taste her skin and his hands slid upwards to cup her breasts. Her hands were gripping his shoulders as she writhed beneath him. "Please."

The pleading tone of her voice made his heart race faster and the blood rushing through his veins made his skin prickle with heat. This was exactly what he'd dreamed about doing to her in college. He'd wanted to please her in so many ways then. Gilbert grinned wolfishly. Now he'd pleasured her in so many ways he could barely have imagined at Redmond. He knew Anne's body almost better than his own. His fingertips trailed lightly along her belly and he watched her eyes flutter closed as her breath came in rasping pants. His grin grew wider. Definitely better than his own.

"The things I wanted to do to you in college, Anne," he whispered.

Anne's eyes flickered open and Gilbert saw they had turned his favourite shade of green.

"Tell me," she demanded. She loved hearing all the ways Gilbert wanted her.

"Hmmm," Gilbert leaned on his elbow as he pretended to think about it. "Well, in our Freshman year I used to love your smile and how your cheeks flushed the most gorgeous pink when I'd compliment your dress." He reached up to brush the back of his fingers against her cheek.

"Did you?"

"Mmm," he nodded. "Your eyelashes would flutter so prettily and you'd always look away, but…"

"Is that all?" Anne grabbed his hand and placed a kiss into his palm. Her tongue touched him for only a moment but his skin was tingling from the sensation.

He shook his head as he withdrew his hand and slid it between their bodies.

"Oh no, things escalated quite quickly after that."

He gripped her thigh and gently nudged her legs a little wider. Then his hand was between her legs as he slid one finger into her. Anne's head fell back on the pillow and she sighed, closing her eyes again. Gilbert slowly withdrew his hand and then pressed two fingers inside her. Anne moaned and writhed as her hands gripped his hips.

"Mmm, yes, dearest," she breathed.

"But I could barely have imagined having you like this," he murmured as his fingers continued their slow advance and retreat inside her. "Seeing you like this. Even though I wanted you in the most desperate way, I never dreamed how beautiful you would look." He began rubbing her slowly, just where he knew she loved it best. Anne whimpered again. "The sheen of desire on your skin, your voice. And your eyes…"

Gilbert's voice trailed off as he watched her trembling beneath him. He wanted to be inside her more desperately than he ever had. Drawing his fingers out slowly, he loved hearing her moan as he lined himself up with the wet heat between her legs. He slid his arms around her and gazed down at her beloved face as he drew her body even closer.

Her beautiful eyes were half-closed, perfectly framed by long coppery lashes and dark with desire. Her cheeks were flushed, damp curls sticking to her forehead and her hair fanning out on the pillow behind her. Mouth agape, her breath was coming in short pants now and her fingers were digging into his shoulders as he held her tightly against his body.

"Gilbert!" Anne gasped and her eyes fluttered when he pushed into her, but only an inch or two. Even that was almost more than Gilbert could bear. The sensation of being inside her again was exquisite.

"Mmm, yes." Gilbert watched her eyes as he slid a little further into her, savouring the pleasure. Anne gasped and moaned again.

"Please, dearest." She knew he loved hearing her beg. So he pushed in just a little more.

His lips brushed against hers softly, his kiss filled with his feelings for her.

"I love you," his voice was tender against her lips. "I want to cherish every moment in this house with you, Anne-girl."

Her fingers were digging into his taut buttocks now. Hard.

"Oh, Gilbert." It was the low tone that never failed to make his heart skip a beat and he instantly grew even harder. "I want you."

He groaned as slowly, oh, so very slowly, he pushed all the way inside her.

Gilbert buried his face in the fragrant curve of her neck, and stayed there for a long moment, breathing in the sweet perfume of her skin.

"Yes," Anne's voice was half-moan, half-whimper. "Oh, darling, you feel so good."

He placed a gentle kiss on her clavicle and lifted his head so that he could see her eyes again. Their limpid depths were filled with such love that the breath caught in Gilbert's throat, and he could only stare at her beautiful face. It reminded him of the very first time he had entered her, on their wedding night. He felt just as awe-stuck now as on that occasion.

Anne reached up to tenderly run her fingers through a lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead, smiling into his eyes as she smoothed it back.

"I love it when you look at me like that," she murmured, hitching her hips against him slightly. "Now I want to watch your eyes when you're moving inside me."

As he began moving, Gilbert thought his heart might explode. For a moment he thought he might actually weep at the intensity of feeling coursing through him. His eyes never leaving hers, he withdrew and then pushed in slowly, overwhelmed with the searing pleasure of being inside her again.

"Mmm, yes, that's it." She nodded. "More, please."

"Anne," he panted against her soft cheek as he buried himself inside her again. "I love you so much…"

Her ragged breath was loud in his ear as her arms slid around his waist. Then her hips began rocking in time with his, and he groaned.

Suddenly, Gilbert remembered how he'd felt during their engagement when Anne had written to him that she was scandalously in love with him. He thought his heart would explode with joy when he read those words from her. But that was a time long ago, when he was lusting for her so badly it hurt. Long before they'd loved each other like this. The feelings he had for her now were indescribable by comparison. It felt almost blasphemous to love her this much. Gilbert felt his very soul was intertwined with hers.

"Now I want to feel your love, body and soul," she whispered. Could she hear his thoughts?

Gilbert's heart was pounding so fast he had to gulp in huge breaths of air to keep up with it.

"You know I'll do anything you ask, sweetheart," he rasped, staring deep into her eyes as he began moving his hips faster.

When he increased the tempo and began thrusting harder, Anne's eyes closed and her breath grew ever more ragged. He loved to hear the sounds Anne made when he was loving her hard and her tiny intakes of breath urged him to move more forcefully, driving her higher. Gilbert's arms were holding her body tightly to him and her long legs were wound around his hips as she murmured his name.

"Yes, just like that," she panted, her hands gripping the muscles on his back. "Body and soul."

The low tone of Anne's voice sent a tingling pulse throughout Gilbert's body and when he finally felt her buck and clench around him with a soft cry, it was all he could do to hold himself still and watch her shuddering in joy. Then he groaned, closing his eyes as her love consumed him and he drove himself in deep.

Gilbert bent his forehead to touch hers, damp with perspiration as they both gasped to catch their breath. Anne caught his face between her hands and pulled him down for a long kiss. He let out a huffing laugh as he drew his face away from her slightly.

"Well, I hope that satisfied your body and soul," he chuckled. "It certainly satisfied mine."

Anne's mouth was curved into the blissful smile he loved so dearly.

"And my heart," she said, her silken arms sliding around his broad shoulders. "Don't forget my heart."

Gilbert smiled into her sparkling eyes.

"As if I ever would," he replied, sliding his hand over her skin until it was resting on her wildly thudding heart.

. . .

A few minutes later, they were lying next to each other and talking drowsily of inconsequential things. Anne was lying on her side, one leg thrown over Gilbert's thigh and her head resting on his broad shoulder. Gilbert was lying on his back, his arm curved around her and fingers lightly stroking her arm. Anne's fingers were tracing idle patterns on his torso.

Suddenly, she lifted her head and turning her face to gaze down at him, she grinned. Her eyes were shining in the soft lamplight as she reached out to caress his face.

Gilbert smiled lazily.

"What are you thinking of, Anne-girl?"

"I think I'm going to love this house, Gilbert," she sighed contentedly.

Thanks so much for reading, I can't tell you what it means to me that you're *still* with me after all this time. I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Anne and Gilbert's first night at Ingleside.

I've decided to keep this story open for now, since I have an idea for perhaps another chapter. So please review, fave or follow this story if you are keen for some more A & G Homecoming loving. Because I think it's important to focus on love at this time in the world, don't you?

Please stay safe and well. And hopeful. If Anne has taught me anything, it's that there's always hope, even in the darkest of times. That's why I love her anyway. How about you?

~ Love to you all from FKAJ xxx