xix.

"Shh everyone here they come!" Ruby shooshed as she and the other girls knelt down behind the Barry's couch.

"This is so exciting!" Tilly squealed as Josie rolled her eyes.

"Anne hurry! She's just this way!" Diana's voice carried through the halls as the girls burst through the doorway.

"Surprise!" All the girls yelled as Anne and Diana stopped in the living room.

"Oh my!" Anne yelped as her eyes scanned the room, a smile creeped across her face as she blushed.

"Happy birthday Anne! How's it feel to be sixteen?" Eleanor asked as she walked over and grabbed Anne's hands, leading her over to the table of yummy goodies the Barry's had got delivered from France.

"I feel the same, but more mature." Anne beamed as she and the other girls sat down on the floor to eat the desserts.

The girls dug into the desserts and teased Anne about how old she was, Eleanor smiled as she watched her friends happy face. She had been slightly nervous for Anne's birthday since her's was coming up shortly, she couldn't stand the fact that she was going to be 17 in the next few days.

"This is lovely girls, thank you so much." Anne let out a soft sigh as she sat down her teacup.

"We would do anything for you Anne, we love you so much." Diana giggled as Anne attacked her into a hug.

(Time skip: 2 hours)

"Are you sure you have to go?" Diana asked as she hugged Eleanor.

Anne gently removed Eleanor's coat off of the coat wrack before helping her into it.

"I really must be, Mary might be needing help with Delphine. I don't think she's had much time to herself since Dell's been born." Eleanor sighed as she allowed the coat to hang loosely off her arms, pulling her hands into her leather gloves.

"Well if you must go, be careful. It's almost time for the coyotes to be out." Anne warned as she gave Eleanor a kiss to the cheek.

Eleanor turned and blew a kiss and a wave to the rest of the girls before excusing her leave and walking towards the path home.

Her feet crunched in the snow before turning to water, the snow had started to melt and she couldn't be more excited. Spring was coming soon, and she couldn't wait to pick more flowers and walk through the beautiful green grass fields behind her home.

Home.

"I wonder how Alvin and Harvey are doing." she thought aloud.

It had been about time for Alvin to leave for college, Harvey was much to young to start primary school still. She hadn't seen the two in so long and she missed them dearly, she had been meaning to visit but she couldn't bare the thought of seeing her mother and father.

Though her father had probably already gone back to New York, her mother would probably have a few not nice words to say to her.

Before Eleanor knew it, she had arrived back home.

The house lights were still dimly lit with candles as she stopped the snow off her boots and clamored through the doors into the warm house.

"Don't let the warm air out!" Bash yelled from the kitchen.

Eleanor smiled as she rolled her eyes before shutting the door and slipping the towel underneath it like Bash always does. He says it "helps keep the cold out and the warm in" but Eleanor highly doubts the thin towel does anything.

"I'm home!" she yelled from the forye as she hung her coat up, soft drops of water on the brown fabric as snow dripped on her from the trees.

"Eleanor! Thank goodness your here, I was starting to think Delly would cry all of the tears she had in her entire body." Mary let out a sigh as she rocked a crying Delphine.

"Hello angel, why are you crying?" Eleanor asked as Mary gently handed the baby to her.

"She wanted her Auntie Elle I suppose." Mary chuckled as she wiped her hands off on her apron.

"Is that so?" Eleanor smiled as she gently rubbed her cold fingers down Delphine's nose, making her giggle.

Mary smiled as she watched the two interactions, she quickly walked off once she heard the kettle pot in the kitchen boiling.

"I was just making some of your favorite tea before you arrived, Gilbert has grown a liking for it since I make it for you so much." Mary stated as Eleanor followed her into the kitchen.

"Has he now?" Eleanor smirked.

"Oh yes, it's almost all he drinks now." Bash chuckled.

"Where is Gilbert anyways?" Eleanor asked as she didn't see his head of waves anywhere.

"He's just gotten out of the bath, he should be in yours room." Mary pointed to the shut door.

Eleanor nodded before gently rocking Delphine over to the door and giving it a gentle knock. She didn't get an answer so she allowed herself to open the door, her cheeks blushed red as a topless Gilbert was drying his hair with a towel.

"Oh hello there." he smirked as she tossed the towel towards her.

Eleanor giggled as she swatted the towel away with her free hand, she quickly made a show to cover Delphine's eyes as the baby made a soft coo'ing sound.

"Gilbert! Not infront of the baby." Eleanor joked as Gilbert laughed.

"My apologies Delly." Gilbert chuckled as he pulled on an old sleeping shirt.

Eleanor smiled as she removed her hand from Delphine's eyes and allowed the baby to play with her fingers. Gilbert walked over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting down on the bed to slip on a pair of socks.

"How was Diana's house? Did Anne like her party?" Gilbert asked.

"I think so, she was sure happy to see us all together." Eleanor smiled as she sat down onto the bed beside him.

"Thats good, did she like the dress you gave her?"

"Yes! She almost cried when I gave it to her, I didn't have the heart to tell her it was an old dress of mine that was much to small now." Eleanor giggled.

"I'm sure she would've reacted the same way either way." Gilbert shrugged.

"I suppose." Eleanor nodded as she rested her head on Gilbert's shoulder, Delphine had almost instantly fell asleep as Eleanor gently jumped her.

"Whats wrong my love?" Gilbert asked as he used his fingers to make Eleanor face him.

"I don't know...I guess...I miss my family. And I'm worried about my birthday and going off to college." she sighed.

"I bet they miss you as well, maybe we could go see them soon just to say hello." Gilbert wondered aloud.

"Really? You would want to go see them with me?" Eleanor asked.

"Well of course darling, I wasn't going to let you go alone." Gilbert chuckled.

Eleanor smiled as she gave Gilbert a soft kiss on the lips, he blushed but smiled as he gently smoothed her hair down.

"And about school, I'm sure you'll be fine. You'll be going with all of your friends and you'll have me." Gilbert smiled.

"That is true." Eleanor grinned.

"Have you thought of what you want to go into college for?" Gilbert asked as he gently grabbed Delphine and rocked her.

"I've been thinking of nursing, I think it's a respectable thing for me to go into. But I haven't decided yet so don't get too excited." Eleanor giggled as Gilbert beamed.

"We could go into work together! Oh wouldn't it be amazing to work side by side?" Gilbert grinned.

Eleanor nodded but her smile was fake, she knew that would make Gilbert happy but she knew it wasn't what she wanted to go into. She dreamed of becoming a florist, owning her own small flower shop or tea shop. She had dreamt of it as a little kid and the love for the things had only grew.

"We'll talk more after tea, Mary said it was ready." Eleanor stated as she stood up and brushed herself off.

Gilbert nodded before walking out the door, Eleanor followed as she fidgeted with the lining off her dress. She couldn't understand how to tell Gilbert she didn't truly want to go to college and do what she loves, she couldn't imagine how he would feel.

"Ready for tea?" Mary asked as she sat down the last teacup.

Eleanor smiled and nodded before taking a seat at the table, Mary grabbed Delphine back from Gilbert as he and Bash sat down.

As Eleanor stared around the table, she couldn't imagine leaving. These were her people, her family, and she was going to do everything she could to stay by their side.

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"Anne?" Eleanor asked as she and Gilbert walked arm in arm together.

The redhead spun around and gave the two a bright smile, she had just walked back from a group of people at the train station.

"What are you two doing here?" Anne asked.

"I'm here to escort you to Charlottetown, I thought Marilla told you?" Gilbert asked.

"Oh! Right of course, all the excitement got to me." Anne giggled as she waved him off.

"You be careful Anne! Please keep her in your sights until you get to Josephine's, Gilbert!" Marilla yelled.

"I will Miss Cuthbert!" Gilbert nodded and tipped his hat.

"I'll go find our seats." Anne grinned before racing into the train.

Gilbert turned back to Eleanor as she gave him a sad look, her eyes resembling those of a sad puppy as she fixed the collar of his shirt.

"Don't give me that look Eleanor, I go every Saturday." Gilbert chuckled as he grabbed her hands and held them tightly.

"I know...but I miss you dearly when you go. I have to listen to Bash talk about how much he hates "that darned fence" in our backyard." Eleanor's brow furrowed.

"I'll be back before you know it my love, don't fret too much." Gilbert smiled before pulling her in for a soft kiss.

"Please be safe and don't let Anne out of your sights, you know how excited she gets on these trips. And make sure she eats something on the train-" Eleanor started ranting but the loud train whistle alerted her it was time for Gilbert to leave.

"I know darling I know, I'll see you tonight. Don't forget about my promise, we'll go see them tonight." Gilbert placed a kiss to her forehead before gently pulling his hands from hers.

"I love you!" she yelled as he boarded the train.

"I love you most." he smiled back.

Eleanor watched the train leave the station and go through the trees before she turned to walk off, but not before bumping into someone tall and heavy.

"Oomph!" she yelled before falling back onto her behind.

"Oh! I'm sorry." the man from the frozen lake stated as he grabbed her hand and helped her up.

"Oh no it's my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going. My apologies." Eleanor smiled before brushing her dress off.

"I remember you! You ordered that bow, right?" the little girl asked

"Yes! I hope I haven't put you through much trouble making it, do I need to give you more money?" Eleanor asked as she dug into her coin purse.

"No need, it's done." the man nodded before whistling.

A beautiful woman with long black hair walked over, she was wearing a gorgeous dress made of brown fabric and leather with red and blue symbols on it.

"You must be his wife, you're very beautiful." Eleanor smiled as she shook the ladies hand.

"Thank you, here." the lady smiled and handed Eleanor a large parcel wrapped in the skin of an elk.

Eleanor gently pulled the skin away and gasped as she noticed the beautifully carved bow sitting on the skin. A small quiver was holding arrows made with a beautiful white silky feather on the end, each arrow had the same carving of the bow.

"Oh this is beautiful, here...I must give you this." Eleanor smiled as she pulled out a nickel for the the man and gently placed it in his hands.

"I cannot accept, this is too much." the man sighed.

"Please accept it, think of it as a "thank you" Eleanor smiled.

The little girl beamed as her father nodded and dropped it into his pocket before shaking Eleanor's hand.

"I'm Eleanor by the way, what's your name?" she asked the small girl.

"Ka'kwet!"the girl beamed.

"That's a beautiful name, I love your hair piece. Did you make it yourself?" Eleanor asked as she admired the pretty beading in the girls hair.

"Yes, I make a lot of them. Would you like one?" Ka'kwet asked as she dug into her pocket.

She pulled out a long strand of dark green beads on a thin piece of leather, a few small feathers and bigger encored beads were dangling together.

"Oh no I can't take this, it's so beautiful." Eleanor sighed dreamily as she admired the dark greens.

"I insist, you've helped my family a lot with your "thank you" money." Ka'kwet grinned.

"Thank you so much Ka'kwet, I would love to visit your village if you'll have me. I would love to learn more about your culture, it's so lovely."

"We would love to have you, very kind girl." the mother nodded.

"Wonderful! I'll visit in the coming days, I'll mail you a notice before I visit." Eleanor smiled before waving goodbye to the family.

They sent her off with a large smile and a wave.

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Sorry for not updating sooner, I've been very busy lately. I hope you all can understand!

words:2293