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"Mister Edwards!" Rachel Lynde was the first person that talked, no screamed, at them once they arrived back in Avonlea.

The Edwards' and Gideon didn't even open the carriage door when the gossipy woman tried to grab their attention.

"Give me a bloody second, woman," Hamilton said through gritted teeth as he tried to pass Victoria to get to the window.

"What?! I mean, how can I help you, Ms Lynde?" Hamilton said when he popped his head out of the window, his long legs almost flailing around the carriage.

"Oh, I expected your father to have arrived back," Lynde said with a look of disdain. "Guess your pretty face will have to do. There's gold here in Avonlea!" She exclaimed.

Victoria and Edward simultaneously dropped their books on the floor.

"Since when? Who told you that?" Hamilton asked. He wasn't sure if he should believe the insidious woman. "Anne Shirley," Rachel replied.

Victoria shot up and pushed her brother out of the way causing him to fall back on the seat. "Are you sure? Don't get me wrong, I love Anne but she has a very vivid imagination."

"The geologist that's lodging at Green Gables told her. There is going to be a meeting at Town Hall at 7 tonight. Nate is going to talk, thank God you arrived back in time." Rachel explained.

"Wait, does that mean we're rich?" Edward asked with a grin. Hamilton scoffed at that. "Don't be ridiculous, Eddie. We're already rich." He then turned to Rachel. "We'll be there." He hesitated before speaking up again. "Is anyone invited? Can I bring a... mate of mine with me?"

"A lady, perhaps?" Rachel added, already going to conclusions and thinking who to tell first.

"Actually, I'm prretty sure that I am a male." Gideon finally added as he opened the door as soon as Victoria took a step back. "Gideon Gallagher, a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Gideon said as he grabbed Rachel's hand and kissed the back of it.

Rachel's smile grew wider and she tried to discreetly fix her hair. "Flatterer," Hamilton said with an annoyed groan. Victoria nudged him to shut up.

"It's meant to be for the town but I'm sure they can make one exception." Rachel said with giddiness. "I'll see you tonight," Gideon said as Rachel made her way back to her house.

"Well, she's nice." Gideon exclaimed as he helped Edward out of the carriage. "Careful, the next time she sees you she'll start pinching your cheeks. Hamilton can assure you that it happens." Victoria explained as she took the house key from inside Hamilton's pocket.

"Did she?" Gideon said with amusement and smiled when Hamilton turned red. "I don't want to relive that traumatic experience," Hamilton murmured as he grabbed two of Gideon's heavy suitcases.

"I'll help you. They're mine after all." Gideon reached out and grabbed one of the suitcases from Hamilton's hand, purposely letting his fingers linger.

"Not here." Hamilton hissed, making sure that no one was watching. Gideon sighed. "Calm down, Hammy, you're going to pop a vein with worry." He said, pulling the suitcase to himself.

"It is a nice house you have. Very.. big." Gideon said as soon as they crossed the threshold. "Thanks, I guess. Can you take these up to the empty room next to mine? Thank you." Hamilton said as he handed Gideon's suitcase to the help to which Gideon followed suit.

Hamilton noticed something on the cabinet right next to the door. "Victoria! You've received a love letter from Gilbert!"

Victoria's eyes widened when she heard the words. She had not received a letter from him for a while and he surely hadn't received her latest one that she sent out not long ago. She turned back quickly and snatched the letter out of Hamilton's hand. As she trotted up the stairs she heard Hamilton call back to her.

"Aren't you going to deny it?" Hamilton asked as he saw her clutching the letter with both hands. "Would you believe me?" Victoria replied with a cheeky smile. "I'll be in my room if you need me," Victoria warned and then continued her journey.

Victoria sat down by her desk. She pushed the books, papers, and clutter out of the way to make space. She took in a deep breath and she felt her heart pound faster. That always happened whenever she receives a letter from Gilbert. She doesn't know the exact reason why maybe it's because she wanted reassurance that nothing bad happened or maybe because she always had hope that he would announce his return.

Instead of thinking, she decided to put herself out of misery and just open the letter. Peeling off the wax, she opened the letter and was instantly met with his neat calligraphy.

My dearest, Victoria,

I hope you're doing well. It's been interesting on my end, I've been to too many places that I never even thought they existed.

Just a few days ago I stopped somewhere with the most beautiful trees and forests. The greenery was breathtaking and I could not help but notice how the leaves of a great oak tree matched your eyes almost perfectly. Almost. It may have been quite some time but I still remember their exact colour.

I know you keep wondering when I will come back and truthfully, I'm not entirely sure. The world is just so big and wonderful that I would love to not return home. But that would never happen. There is something in Avonlea that pulls back to it, I think you have a good guess to what I'm referring to.

Please don't get my hesitancy to return personal, I do miss you, trust me. And I know that you would rather if I were close than far, you don't need to write it down, I can read between the lines. I think of you often, please remember that.

Undeniably yours,

Gilbert

Victoria dropped the letter on the desk with a sigh. She was happy that she heard from him and to find out that he missed her, but she was still disappointed by the answer.

She thought about writing another letter, but then realized how wasteful of time it would be. After all, the last letter has not even reached him. During her process of thought, she heard a knock on the door.

Edward was at the door, one shoe in hand. "We're leaving for the meeting in an hour and a half. Hamilton said to dress nicely." Victoria nodded. "Of course, do you need any help getting ready?" Victoria offered. She folded the letter on half and placed inside a small box that was already protruding with letters.

"Not right now, but I'll yell if I do." Edward joked. Victoria smiled gently at him. "Bad news from Gilbert?" Edward asked as he sat on the foot on the bed. "No bad news actually, things are spectacular," Victoria said as she nodded towards the closed box.

"But he is not coming back, at least for now." Edward guessed. "I think you need to stop being so pathetic."

Victoria's eyes snapped up. "Don't talk to me like that, you wanker." Victoria said and then turned away with a puff of anger. "What? It is true. You always frown when you find out that he is not coming back. You have a life and friends as well." Edward reasoned Victoria groaned.

"I am not dependent on him. What is wrong with missing someone? Mother and father are also away and I miss all of them. It is just if at least one of them returns, I'll have one less person to miss and worry about. What is wrong with that?" Victoria walked towards the wardrobe to pick a dress.

She picked a green dress and laid it on the bed next to Edward. "I guess you do have a point. I miss mama and papa too, but at least we have Hamilton back with us for a while." Edward admitted. "Also, can you pick another colour? You always choose a green dress."

Victoria pointed towards the open wardrobe which three-quarters of which contained green clothing. "It matches my eyes." Victoria lamely defended. "I believe that a person's attractiveness is not limited to one feature," Edward stated.

Just then they heard a high pitched scream. Victoria and Edward rushed to the door and as they were about to run into the corridor, Hamilton stepped out of his room with a container in hand.

Gideon, who was settling in his new room, popped his head out in worry.

"We are out of petroleum jelly! We are out of petroleum jelly! Look at my hair!!" Hamilton shouted as he pointed towards his wey hair which he must have washed that was drooping all over his forehead.

"I thought you were being murdered," Gideon stated as he sighed with relief. Hamilton turned to him, "This is so much worse! I cannot go out in public, we need to go to the store and buy more."

"I am pretty sure that the store is closed by this hour," Victoria said as she looked at the clock. This was not something new, Hamilton went through multiple tantrums about his hair.

"I look awful, I am not leaving this house," Hamilton said as he dropped the empty container on the carpeted floor and crossed his arms.

"Don't be such a prat, you still look very handsome. Just put on a hat." Gideon suggested and both Victoria and Edward gave nods of agreement. "Now that you are done with your daily dose of drama, can I go change?" Victoria asked, she did not wait for an answer and returned to her room.

"Get over it before you start writing poetry about your woes and misery," Edward said and he too returned to his room.

"Why doesn't anyone take me seriously? My hair is a consequential part of my life." Hamilton murmured to himself as he desperate pulled at his hair.

"Because your reasoning is ludicrous," Gideon started as he leaned against the doorway. "You look great regardless, it's gonna take more than just floppy hair to get rid of your attractiveness. Finish getting ready, ti idiot hardd."

Gideon closed the door behind him, leaving Hamilton alone at last. Forgetting about his hair situation, Hamilton smiled to himself before he too returned to his room.

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