Work Text:
“I must be honest with you, Gil, your proposal was by far the best.” Anne had a dreamy smile on her face.
There were two weeks left before Anne and Gilbert would be separated until Christmas. She would be off to Summerside school and Gilbert would be off to Kingsport. The two of them were trying to fit in as much time as they could before their separation. Marilla had been incredibly lenient with Anne and her chores, knowing that the newly engaged pair wanted some time together and Anne couldn’t have been more thankful.
They’d decided to spend this particular afternoon in a quiet, shaded part of the field that was part of the Blythe’s land. They knew that they wouldn’t be disturbed here. Gilbert had sat leaning against an old tree that had been there for as long as he could remember, with Anne’s head in his lap. He couldn’t help but run his fingers through her red locks. He’d paused after her statement though and chuckled.
“The best? How many other proposals have you had, Anne-girl?”
Gilbert had been aware of the proposal from Roy, but he’d thought that had been it.
Realising her faux pas, Anne sat up and faced Gilbert, taking one of his hands in hers. She hadn’t exactly told him about her other interesting encounters. “Oh, they were so silly, Gil. I don’t even think they were serious.”
Gilbert just laughed, pulling Anne closer to him and kissed her. “Anne-girl, I don’t care if you had a million proposals before me. I’m just glad that I’m the only one you said yes to.”
“I was hardheaded the first time you asked, Gil. I thought you’d given up on me, you have no idea how happy I was when you proposed again.”
“Not half as happy as you made me, Anne. I’ll never forget that day for as long as I live.” He pulled her in for another kiss, his thumb stroking her cheek. “But you’ve made me curious, what exactly were these other proposals like and who were they from?” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Anne’s cheeks nearly flamed as red as her hair, “Oh, Gil. That really isn’t important.” To say that she was embarrassed by her history of proposals was an understatement. They weren’t remotely what she had imagined proposals to be and now, being engaged to Gilbert Blythe. Her Gilbert. None of them mattered to her anymore.
“Oh, come on, Anne. You can’t give a man half a story!”
“You must promise not to laugh, Gil. They were all so embarrassing, even more so now when I look back at them.”
“I solemnly swear to you, Anne-girl, not a hint of a smile will pass my lips.” But Gilbert had a feeling that it was going to be difficult to keep that promise.
“Well, there was Charlie Sloane…”
Gilbert spluttered; he’d always known that Charlie’d had a soft spot for Anne, but he hadn’t realised that there had been a proposal.
“It was whilst we were at Redmond, and it was terribly dull and not at all romantic. He asked if I could ever be Mrs Charlie Sloane.” Anne shook her head at the memory. “He seemed to think it was a given that I would say yes to him and after that, well, you must have noticed he didn’t seem to be quite as eager to talk to me.”
Gilbert had realised that there’d be more of a frosty air between the two of them during their time at Redmond, but he hadn’t though too much about it. Inwardly, he was just happy that Charlie had backed off.
“And then there was Billy…” That was one proposal that Anne did have a giggle at when she thought about it.
“Andrews!?” Gilbert was slightly shocked. He hadn’t even known that Billy Andrews was interested in Anne. He had never shown interest in her before.
Anne tried to bite back a laugh when she saw the incredulous look on Gilbert’s face, it mirrored her own at the time. “Yes. I had Jane around one night when we were back from Redmond, and she told me that Billy had asked her to ask me if I would marry him.”
Try as he might, Gilbert couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. It was a hearty, deep chuckle coming from his chest and Anne hoped that she would be able to hear it for the rest of her life.
“I’m sorry, Anne, but are you telling me that Billy Andrews got his sister to propose to you?” He couldn’t stop laughing.
Anne covered her face with her hands and giggled with him. “It was the most peculiar proposal, Gil. And Jane wasn’t at all impressed with me when I said no.”
“I should think not, she obviously was very invested in this relationship.” Gilbert grinned at her. “Were those all of them, apart from Roy and myself?”
“Oh, there was one more.”
“My my, Anne Shirley, it’s a wonder I ever stood a chance with all of these suitors.”
Anne just rolled her eyes and playfully slapped his chest. “It was whilst I was doing some supply work over Summer. I’d only spoken to the man a handful of times when he comes up to me one afternoon and asks if I’d like to marry him. He told me he was going to have a house soon and that he thought I would make a good wife. It was rather peculiar.”
“It doesn’t take much to fall in love with you, Anne.”
“Oh, I don’t think any of those men were in love with me, Gil. Silly infatuations maybe or they just took pity on me. I think I would have made a horrible wife to all of them.”
“And what about me?”
“To you? I don’t think I’ll be a horrible wife, Gil but I’m afraid to say that I probably won’t be the perfect wife you’d expected.”
“Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, you’re my perfect wife because you’re you. There is no one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with. But you have to make me a promise.”
“Of course, Gil. What is it?”
“You have to promise to write to me if you have any more proposals at Summerside. A man needs a good laugh whilst he’s studying.”