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Living Without You

by Becca

Author's note - This is a short little vignette, set far after the Anne books have ended. Anne and Gilbert have lived a long life and have been very happy, this is just what I imagined it would be like at the end.

A woman was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling. Her hair, now gray, though it had once been a vibrant red, lay strewn haphazardly over the pillow. She used a good portion of her meager strength to turn her head towards the door, as a way of greeting the visitor. She moved her mouth to speak.

"No, Anne-girl, don't try to talk, just try and drink this," an old man, who was once strong, robust, and quite handsome, but now appeared frail and tired, put a glass of water to her lips. She could not drink.

"Gil," her voice was almost inaudible, "I want you to 'phone the children, I want to see them once more." He nodded solemnly and left the room to honor his wife's request.

****

"Hello, Blythe residence."

"Hello, Faith."

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"Is Jem there, I need to speak with him."

****

"Hello."

"Hi, honey, it's Grandpa, can you get your mother?"

"Sure, Grandpa, is everything okay?"

"It will be Beth, please get your mother."

"Hello?"

"Nan, its Dad . . ."

****

"Hello, McMillians."

"Di, its Dad."

"Daddy," his favorite although he would not admit it, knew when her father was trying to hold emotion back and could figure out what was wrong."

"We'll be right up, Daddy."

****

"Hello, this is Rilla."

"Rilla, its Dad, can you and Kenneth be at Ingleside as soon as possible. It's your mother, I don't think that she will make it much longer."

****

The phone calls made, Gilbert allowed himself release, he collapsed into an old armchair and sobbed.

****

The good-byes had been said and there was not a dry eye in the Blythe household. Anne had always been a queen of words and the moments with each of her children is something that remained with them for the rest of their lives. The brothers and sisters and spouses were now sitting around the dinner table.

"Jem, I don't like how Dad looks. He is wearing himself thin."

"Nan, do you honestly expect Dad to survive without Mother?"

"Di! That is no way to talk."

"But you know it as well as all of us Shirley. He loves her too much."

"Let us not talk of such miserable things. Let us reminisce of the great memories this dear old house holds," The baby of the family, this time was listened too.

Meanwhile a touching goodbye occurred between husband and wife.

He sat on the edge of the bed holding her hand in his. Tears were streaming down his face.

"Don't be sad Gil, I'm going to a good place."

"I'm going to miss you, Anne-girl."

"We'll be together soon. But I'm going to get to see Walter, Gil, and Marilla and Matthew and Joy and Diana. Gil, they're waiting for me."

"But I'm still here."

"It's my time Gil, but before I go, you know this but I need to say it one more time. Gil, I love you with all my heart, never forget that. My only regret in life is that I didn't realize it sooner."

"Have no regrets Anne-girl, for what we had has been made all the sweeter by the long wait. I love you, my Queen, my Anne."

He bent down, pressing his lips lightly to hers. With all her strength, she brought herself up and kissed him with all the passion of old. A hand lingered on his face as he lowered her to the bed. She looked one last time into his eyes, then turned her head, closed her eyes and left this world.

****

Gilbert very slowly made his way down the stairs. Entered the parlor, told the children that their mother was gone, left them to comfort each other. He had this pain all over that would not go away. He told the children that he was going to lie down in his office. When Jem and Di went to check on him several hours later, he would not open his eyes. It appeared that he had lost his will to live. As the children dutifully prepared for the funerals of both their parents, Anne and Gilbert watched over them. We may take a minute and peak into heaven to view the couple. They are young again and watched their children from the cover of lovers lane. However this couple was slightly different from their earthly counter parts. In this paradise, Anne had forgiven Gilbert far before that day on the pond.

The End

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