#ruby gillis

Anne Shirley (2025)

gilbert blythe x reader

18+ minors DNI, secret hookups, soul crushing pining from both sides, angst, humiliation, secret pregnancy, slut shaming i guess ?? i’m so bad at warnings lol. this is also really long sorry not sorry :))

gilbert blythe, one of the most eligible bachelors with brains and handsome looks no less. though he only sees one true match for himself and how they’ve grown together. growing up together brings tension and unresolved feelings. y/n and gilbert have primal urges and no one to stop them from acting on such feelings.

a/n I just have to say that i need for gilbert blythe in my life. he is the poet in my heart who is too smart and good with words. im drowning over the fact theres nothing for him.

the wind wisps through her h/c hair as she held on tighter to the reins of her black beauty named Knox, galloping towards the Blythe household. she hadn’t been in months to visit Mr. Blythes grave, not since her last letter came in from gilbert.

His handsome yet serious face flashed in her mind as she thought about her last farewell with Gilbert. How intimate it had truly been, how tightly they held each other the night before he departed from her, fearing he may never come back. she shook her head of such thoughts as she saw the house come into view.

It still looked empty, unoccupied as it had been for the last nine months. letting out a heavy sigh, she tied Knox to the hitching post outside of the house. she checked the mail for a letter from gilbert but ultimately found nothing. her frown was etched into her features as it would be until she got a response back from him.

she walked around to the back and towards the patch of now overgrowth where gilbert’s father lay to rest. remembering she had packed up scissors to make it more comfortable and clearer for visitation, even though she were the only person to come by as far as she knew. as she began clearing out the overgrowth and pulling weeds, making it presentable enough a voice startled her out of her thoughts “ay, what is you doin’ to Mr. Blythe's property, m’lady” the accent was not familiar to her as she stiffened, not expecting anyone to be there.

she turned slowly to see a dark but smooth skinned man with facial hair wearing a button up and brown hat, his suspenders draped off of his shoulder but the other over tightened against his shoulder.

“oh! hi, my name is y/n l/n. I'm very good friends with the family, say you’re not from avonlea are you? I was just fixing up Mr. Blythe's area, he would hate it to be messy” hair being pushed back and hand shielding her eyes from the sun.

“names Sebastian but you can call me bash. i see now. you’re the y/n. Gilbert could never stop talking about you, you know? you look exactly as i pictured you, considering he gave me every little detail and even drew you a few times. like a love sick puppy that one” he laughed a deep laugh but all she could think of was him. where was he? is he okay?

“oh-uh you know Gilbert? have you spoken to him since his departure from avonlea?” she stepped closer

the man seemed quite confused by her question, as if she grew a separate head. "Bash; you seem to be having some trouble with your suspenders." to ease the tension some she added, as she reached to pull up his slouching suspender and tightened it to his right shoulder and loosening the other, so it wasn't as tight. "So, gilbert?" you whispered

“uh- we arrived here together” he rubbed the back of his neck and looked towards the house; her also head clocked towards the house. Hoping he'd be there.

the door flung open and with her mouth agape and tears brimming

he looked older, more refined. he was also taller, everything felt as it had slowed down.

his only thoughts were of her, every scent, every kiss, every secret, every spark left behind after her fingertips trailed his body.

his feet had their own thoughts as they sprung off of the step and towards her.

she was also running, tears swelling and throat burning. she made contact with his chest and threw her arms around his neck.

he was quick to wrap his arms around her, scared she'll disappear. like he was dreaming as he did many times upon the ship.

"Please tell me this is real, you're really here and I'm not losing my mind or daydreaming." she sniffled into his neck.

he rubbed her hair taking in every feeling of her warmth wrapped around him, "I'm here, y/n. I'm here. This is real." she pulled back and grabbed his face, tears soaked her cheeks "When did you get back, Gilbert? Oh, how I have missed you. I have missed you so dearly. I daydreamed of you; I dreamt of this day." she sniffed, grabbing his face, scared he'd float away if she let him go.

Bash patted Gilbert on the shoulder "I'll go put on some tea, it was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. l/n"

"i came back last evening-"

"there's no gold" she cut him off suddenly remembering what she had told him in his last letter.

"I know. Marilla was here upon my arrival and informed me" she sighed looking at Bash.

"Oh gilbert, I have so many questions. I missed you so much, how was it? did you see any extravagant landmarks? what did you do on the ship? Is that where you met Ba-" he cut her off by grabbing her face, she was suddenly aware how close he was.

"We have all the time in the world to answer your question, love. I missed you so much, my heart has craved to be beside you again. My insides have done nothing but burn at the thought of you." she felt his warm breath fan across her face, suddenly warm. She could feel her ears burning pink

"as have mine, i can't believe you're really here." he rubbed his thumb across her cheek before slowly leaning in, eyes never leaving hers.

she closed the gap faster than he expected, pulling his face closer to hers as if that were possible. She hadn't felt his soft lips since the night before his disembarkation.

~nine months ago~

Standing in the empty kitchen with nothing but the candle in her hand, her eyes were stinging from the cold. She had ridden her horse over when Gilbert hadn't shown up to her home for dinner like he had the last few nights.

"Gilbert, I can't believe you're leaving. Any idea of how long you'll be gone?"

"I'm not sure, my heart. i just know i need to do this” his head was held in his hands. she knelt down infront of him, hands meeting his thighs as she set her head on his knees, “would it be selfish to beg you to stay with me?” her question came as a whisper, praying he would tell her no, that he would stay in avonlea with her.“no but i have to do this, i swear i will come back. i don’t know when but i will be back here for you” he grabbed her hands and pulled them to his heart, “you feel my heart? it beats only for you, it will never be for anyone else to beat for”

the look on her face and the tears in her eyes could’ve made him stay, his heart sped up as he looked at her sad features. they had never been away from each other, not even since birth. he pulled her up into his lap and held her close to him, hear head laying on his shoulder.

gilbert could see the rest of his days just like this, in the wake kitchen holding his y/n forever. one day, he swore to himself he would. that one day, it would be them living out their days together. they were to be married and raise a family together. to tend to his fathers farm while his children ran amuck the fields.

“my heart, please look at me” he whispered into her soft hair, “please”

“i can’t, gilbert. i cant” she whimpered, gilbert could feel his heart breaking at the sound itself, he had only heard it once before and it was when she became orphaned but was found to be able to live on her own considering how close she lived to the blythe family. now what would she do when he was gone?

“please, love. i need to see your beautiful and wondrous face” she slowly brought her head up to face him, she was trying to stop the tears from coming but her face was already stained with tears. he frowned at her and wiped away the marks down her face. “i promise, i will be back for you. only you, my heart” she gave a small but broken smile.

“what am i to do without you, gilbert blythe”

“go to school, spend time with anne and diana, just promise you will wait for me?”

“of course i promise that! you are the only person for me, my dear gilbert”

“good then.” he smiled, he couldn’t help but look over her features, embedding every single dot, crevasse, bump and mark. every line and the shape of her eyes, the way her eyebrows were shaped. he would entrap it all into his mind so he could doodle her while he was away. when his eyes fell onto her lips, he took note of the pink hue to them from the cold outside, the round shape of them. when all he could feel was a primal urge to lean in to meet their lips.

he fought with himself to not do it, to ask first like a gentleman but when his eyes met hers, they held the same need inside of her e/c orbs.

finally, with a more possessive grip of the back of her neck, he pulled her in. when their lips met this time, it was different than any small peck they’ve shared on the cheek or hand. this felt different. much different.

she kissed him back with as much passion as she could muster. she turned in his lap to face her body to him, needing more. feeling more. she pulled away quickly, once it dawned on her what they were doing. “g-gilbert” she whispered setting her forehead against his, “i’m-i’m sorry y/n. i don’t know what came over me, im so sorry”

she hated hearing it, like he regretted it. she didn’t, why should she? just because they shared a not so appropriate kiss? well forget that, she declared. keep out of mind of what mrs. lynde would say or think. she wanted to do it again, she needed to do it again. something in her mood shifted and her stomach turned. something felt much different than before to her. something she had never felt before.

“no, no. please don’t be sorry, i actually enjoyed it very much.” she brushed her nose against his, he let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding in.

“do it again.” she demanded, he was taken back, “what?” he pulled away from her to look at her eyes, they were darker than before, something hungry in them that he was sure his mimicked, “please. again” and something in him snapped. he lunged forward almost taking them both to the ground. his lips met hers in such fierce and fever, he couldn’t stop this monster inside of him that he didn’t know resided. picking her up with ease, he cradled her but lips never leaving hers.

he never wanted this to end.

as he made his way to his bedroom, all he could think of was her. how greatly it felt to have her this way, a way he’s never had before. he set her on the bed, she whimpered as he pulled away.

before he could even get a word or thought out, her hands grabbed him and pulled. pulled with such force, he fell on top of her. their lips met once again, he could feel himself growing in his pants. this had only happened a few times and the ache was too much for him. he found himself grinding into her, her gasp was enough for him to take their kiss farther. their tongues danced so carefully together, y/n didn’t know what to make of it. she had only seen this in a few settings.

“gilbert…” she whispered softly, pulling away from the kiss. their foreheads meeting as they took their first breaths of air.

“do you want to stop?” he asked her, still huffing new air into his lungs that smelled like her, like lavender and cedar wood.

“i.. i don’t want to stop” she shook her head “do you?” his mouth fell open and his eyes widened “no” his lips met hers again.

he stood up and brought her with him, he began to unbutton his shirt but she stopped him “let me” she said softly as she began to unbutton his shirt. he pulled off her shawl and jacket slowly, more intimate than anything they could imagine.

he lifted her dress off and then undid her corset, sliding it off of her body. her hands slid his shirt off, her cold hands meeting his chest and back as she did so. her hands met the button of his pants, sliding them down his legs and he stepped out of them.

he looked at her again “still okay?” his whispered rang through the air as she nodded softly, he slid off her undergarments leaving her in her brazier and underwear, him also in his underwear. they looking at each other with nothing but love. not lustful craze, not just passion but real love.

y/n slid her hands behind her back and began to undo her brazier and slid down her underwear, he did the same.

“you’re resplendent, y/n” his voice came out as he looked over her body and face. she felt her cheeks warm at his compliment. he reached out and pulled her flush against him, letting instincts take over.

as they laid in the bed he kissed her gently, wishing they could stay in this moment forever. his eyes met hers once more for confirmation and it was met with a small nod.

he did what he was taught in books and articles. he lined himself to her entrances and slowly pushed in.

she let out a gasp at the intrusion, never having felt anything like it before “g-gilbert…” she whimpered “i know, love. it’s okay. i’ve got you” he reassured her. he finally broke through the resistance and moaned as he bottomed out inside of her, the warmth enveloped him in a way he couldn’t even explain. he stayed still for a moment collecting himself and letting her adjust.

“i-im okay now, gil” she said softly and hiss his neck and cheek. he nodded and began to move, his thrust inside of her were like heaven. he could have sworn this truly was heaven. her gasps and moans only fueled him.

as he kept going, it became more messy, more powerful and less gentle. she grasped at his back leaving scratches in her nails wake. “g-gilbert! oh god..” he smirked down at her “feel good? cause god this has to be heaven on earth” he leaned down and kissed her lips.

after a couple of more thrust he felt himself becoming sloppier, he felt the coil about to snap but he didn’t pull out. without warning he groans and stiffens as he cums, thrusting through his orgasm slowly and slumps against her chest

she rubbed circles on his back and head.

they laid in the bed that night, tangled in each others arms and slept like they never had before.

the next morning she helped him pack the last of his things, the soreness between her legs and in her hips a constant reminder of what happened between them the night before. they quietly made their way to the town on knox and they hugged tightly

“promise me you’ll come back?” she sniffled against his neck, “i promise you, my heart. i will be back for you” he muttered into her hair. they pulled back and leaned their foreheads against each-others. he stole a kiss, one that was pained and heartbreaking. “i will see you soon then, gilbert blythe. don’t forget about me” she pulled back and sniffled, wiping a tear that had fallen to her cheek. he smiled sadly at her “i could never forget you, y/n l/n. don’t forget me” he saluted to her and she did it back, an ongoing joke they had since childhood. “never” she whispered as he turned away and stepped on to the ferry ramp. she stayed and watched as the boat drifted into the sea, he waved her goodbye and blew a kiss. she caught it and held her hand to her chest.

~present~

as they pulled away from the kiss, his pupils were dilated. “even better than i dreamt of” he whispered to her, she chuckled and sniffled. “i didn’t think i’d ever see you again, gilbert”

“i told you id come back for you, my heart” he smiled warmly and began to pull her towards the house, inside bash had already set out our cups of tea. they all laughed, told stories and cracked jokes.

as the sun began to set, y/n stood up “i do have to go, the cuthberts will be expecting me soon” she smiled softly at gilbert and bash “it was such a pleasure to meet you, bash.” she waved him goodbye as she stepped out into the cool winter air.

“won’t you stay tonight?” gilbert sighed out, grabbing her waist and pulling her flush against him, “i must go to the cuthberts, they have something of mine needing to be returned” she smiled softly, half lying. she knew the real reason they were expecting her.

“won’t you and bash come by tomorrow? i will make you both a good home cooked meal”

“of course. so i will be seeing you tomorrow?” he smiled leaning his forehead against hers “and everyday after that” she added giggling, she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his warm lips.

“tomorrow” she agreed and stepped onto her carriage attached to knox, waving him goodbye and blowing him a kiss, in result he caught and held to his chest.

as he watched her trail away on her horse in carriage he took notice of the maturity in her.

he noticed how her figure had changed and even though she always glowed in his eyes, her eyes looked tired, stressed even. he wondered what she had endured while he was away.

———

she made her way into the cuthberts, jerry opening the gate for her and waving her goodbye as he left for his own home.

she stepped up the front steps with a wince and knocked, anne opened the door and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. “how was he?” she asked

“he was well, thankfully” they began walking to the coming room where matthew sat in his chair, holding a bottle to an infants mouth.

“how was my bug today?” y/n smiled softly at the sight of matthew staring down at her son. “oh he was a good boy, as usual” he smiled at her widely, “i do appreciate you two watching him so much while i go to school and do the things i need to. thank you”

“oh my dear girl, you’ve been like our own for a while now. plus he is a good boy, just like you’ve always been” marilla said petting my hair back

“i know but you’ve both been more.. welcoming and understanding of my situation than most”

the flashbacks of mrs. lynde whispering to the other women about her when her stomach began to show and she could no longer hide it. when josie pie and the other girls basically disowned her as their friend, all except anne, diana and ruby. how the people whispered behind her “so unmarried, so uncourted. who would do such a thing?” she had heard it all.

“did you tell him yet, dear” marilla asked softly, staring at y/n with those wise blues.

“no, he and bash will be coming for dinner tomorrow, i figured i’d let him know then”

they all hugged her and bid her goodbye, matthew giving her a hand into her carriage and out their gates.

———

the next morning, y/n woke up early. she was growing anxious and running around frantically.

taking care of her son, john who was named after gilbert’s late father. she was a nervous wreck, all while making a wonderful dinner and getting herself ready. she put on one of her nicer dinner dresses and got john ready as well.

she paced around the kitchen with john in her arms, who gently cooed and smiled in her arms. then the sound brought her away from her child’s forest green eyes in, the ones she fell in love with also adorned by her son.

she took a bit deep breath and opened the door, she was met with two smiling faces which she matched until gilbert’s eyes fell on the child in her arms who resembled him.

his face fell, frozen in place, unmoved. bash looked at the baby and then at gilbert. “aye, let’s get you inside, boy” bash’s voice came out, cutting into the air. “take him to the living room.” she nodded her head in the direction, which bash had to physically move him towards.

bash sat gilbert down on my couch, his eyes never leaving the baby in my arms. “y-y/n” gilbert’s voice came out in a cracked whisper

“he’s yours” y/n said back “his name is john, he’s your son”

her throat was on fire, tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. her heart hammered against her ribcage, aching, begging to be let free and climb into him. bash looked back and forth between the two young adults, feeling like he was overstepping “ah, miss l/n. where is your washroom?” he asked kindly “it’s down the hall to the left, you’ll see it” bash stood up, hand on gilbert’s shoulder, patting it as he walked away.

“why didn’t you… why didn’t you tell me?” gilbert’s voice rang through the air like a bullet, piercing her chest. he sounded angry, disappointed almost,

“gilbert… i..” he cut her off by standing up “no! i don’t.. why didn’t…” he began to pace around her living room. “y/n… you could’ve told me!”

“gilbert please. i knew you needed to go on your own. i didnt… i didnt want you to resent me for coming back before you were ready” she said sadly

“what i resent is the fact that i wasn’t here for you! i resent you for not telling me that i have a son!” he grew angry and sad. sad because he didn’t know for the nine months he was gone that she spent the time alone, she gave birth without him there to hold her.

“gilbert im sorry.. i thought i was doing the right thing!”

“well it wasn’t” he snapped making her flinch, he had never even raised his voice to her before. “i have a son and you didn’t even tell me! not even once. i read every letter of yours over and over and over. i memorized your handwriting, i read 12 different letter, over and over and not once did you mention even being pregnant!”

she knew he needed to let this out, she knew he was angry with me so she let him speak. she let him go on, “why y/n/n?” she took a deep breath and sighed

“because i didn’t want you to come back until you were ready, you came back when you were ready. i didn’t.. i made the wrong choice, im sorry” she said sniffling

he stared at her in disbelief, then down at the infant in her arms. “i- i don’t…”

“it’s okay, do you want to hold him?” she asked standing up slowly, holding john out to gilbert, his hands shook as he lead them outward from his body, taking in the baby’s small weight. “he’s so small” gilbert whispered, looking at his face.

“he’s only a couple of weeks old, almost 4 weeks” she said watching him, how his eyes softened and filled with tears. “i wish you had told me” gilbert said softly.

“i know, im so sorry.” his eyes met hers. “i know you are, it’s okay” she smiled at the sight of them. “he looks like you”

he chuckled, “he does, doesn’t he?” making her nod. “gilbert?” his head shot up at her voice and looked at her with a questioning look. “are you okay?” he looked back down at the infant and nodded, “more than” the baby began to fall asleep in gilbert’s arms, making me gesture to see him in his crib.

we all sat at the table, bash finally returning from the bathroom.

“i can only imagine what you went through, y/n/n. you did this alone.” gilbert sighed. “i didn’t do it alone. the cuthberts and the barry’s were exceptional with help but that didn’t stop others from whispering and talking. nobody knows that you’re the father except the cuthberts..” she said softly.

he nodded softly, sadly. “they’ll know soon enough” he said nodding as she served food to the two men sitting at her dining table, she made her plate and sat down. as soon as she sat down, the baby began to cry from his crib.

she went to stand but gilbert stopped her, “i’ve got it, eat” he stood up quickly and rushed to the babies crib, who stopped crying almost immediately. she sighed heavily and bash smiled “boys already taking to be a father” he commented “i know, it’s.. odd”

gilbert came back without the baby in tow, “he fell back to sleep” which made her smile grow wider “thank you” he looked at her with a serious expression, “i’m here now, you don’t have to do this alone”

later that night, as bash grabbed his hat gilbert stopped him “i’m going to stay with y-“ but bash cut him off “you stay with your lady, i’ll make it back home, it’s not far” patting gilbert’s shoulder and waved goodbye to her.

gilbert began to do the dishes in the sink “oh, gilbert you don’t have to” y/n stood up and began to walk over, he stopped her “sit down and rest, my heart. i’ve got it” she looked at him, as if she couldn’t love him more than she always had, he proved her wrong.

———

over the next few weeks of going to school, talk flew through the town of gilbert’s arrival and his newfound title as a father spread like wildfire.

y/n sat on her front porch, rocking her son patting his back as he lay on her chest. gilbert walked out with a cup of tea, handing it to her and sitting in the other chair, sipping his own tea.

“this is it huh?” she said softly looking over at him “what?” he chuckled, “this is how it’ll be from now on? us, him, our life”

“this is it” he smiled at her softly

suddenly mrs. lynde, mrs. andrew’s and mrs. pye were riding up in their carriages, along with their daughters. y/n took a deep breath as they all stepped out and infront of her porch steps. “miss l/n’s we all owe you a huge apology”

“what?” y/n asked sitting up, gilbert standing and taking their son from her arms. “we hadn’t realized that gilbert was the father.. that he planned to marry you when you got back” y/n was taken back and turned towards gilbert who was on one knee, holding the ring that was once his mothers.

“oh my…” she covered her face and tears welled in her eyes “y/n l/n. will you do me the wondrous delight of marrying me?” she smiled “of course, gilbert” she pulled him up and kissed him. the mothers and daughters all smiled at the sight.

“really though, y/n. we all owe you an apology, your son… he’s beautiful and we are so sorry for the things we said” she just just nodded “it’s okay, i forgive all of you”

———

years later, gilbert sat on the front porch watching 5 of their children run on the fields of his farm. he couldn’t help but smile at the exceptional life he had made for himself. y/n walked out and handed him a cup of coffee and their youngest child on her hip, half asleep. she planted a kiss on his lips and smiled “i’m about to lay ryker down, i’ll be right back” she said and went inside. laying him down in his bed and came back outside to gilbert, he stood up and pulled her in for a kiss. “how about for old time sake, we go have a little fun” he nudged his nose into the side of her neck. “hm?” he asked kissing her neck softly “please, yes. mhm” she giggled as she pulled him inside to their room, the door slamming closed behind them.

the spent their days like this, babies, children, a family. a wonderful community, a degree and wonderful job.

Thinking of Ruby Gillis

screenshot redraw of the scene in the anne shirley anime that killed my heart

screencap under the cut

“When Valancy had lived for a week at Roaring Abel’s she felt as if years had separated her from her old life and all the people she had known in it. They were beginning to seem remote—dream-like—far-away—and as the days went on they seemed still more so, until they ceased to matter altogether.”

That does happen when you transition into a new life!

“She could be alone whenever she liked, go to bed when she liked, sneeze when she liked.”

Again, adulthood.

“Valancy had read to Cissy the gospel thereof according to John Foster”

I forgot this sentence from my first read of the book and first thought she was going to quote Bible. I am pleased that John Foster is her “gospel”.

“and then leave them with backward glances, taking with us only the beguiling memory of their grace and fragrance.”

Doesn’t Barney especially like Valancy’s “backward glances”?

“Valancy was in the midst of realities after a lifetime of unrealities.”

I love this contrast. Most things the Stirlings care about don’t actually matter at all.

“Not for nothing had Valancy been brought up in the Stirling habits of neatness and cleanliness.”

- But it is still good that Stirlings inadvertently taught Valancy the way she is going to earn her keep.

“Folks should always sing at their work,” he insisted. “Sounds cheerful-like.”

“Not always,” retorted Valancy. “Fancy a butcher singing at his work. Or an undertaker.”

I love Valancy’s wit.

“Say, I like a woman that ain’t afraid to speak up to me. Sis there was always too meek—too meek. That’s why she got adrift. I like you.”

I am not sure how I feel about this. I guess I like that sexual activity is coupled with meekness whereas the old maid is the sassy one? But I am not a huge fan of the contrast being made. Especially since I can imagine a reality where Valancy was the victim of a lying lover as well.

“All the same,” said Valancy determinedly, “there is no use in sending things to hell as you’re always doing. And I’m not going to have you tracking mud all over a floor I’ve just scrubbed. You must use the scraper whether you consign it to perdition or not.”

Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

“Cissy loved the cleanness and neatness. She had kept it so, too, until her strength failed.”

Women Are Clean, Men Are Dirty and Unkempt. Not a fan of this.

“But Cissy shook her head.

“No, I can’t get well. My lungs are almost gone. And I—don’t want to. I’m so tired, Valancy. Only dying can rest me.”

I love this book, but I don’t like this aspect of it. Being sexually exploited, ostracized and losing your small child of course can make someone suicidal, but it doesn’t have to. Montgomery writes it like Cissy is better off dead and I am not exactly surprised by her approach but I am still a bit disappointed. I think Cissy has to die for The Blue Castle’s plot to work, but I would prefer it if she were upset about it rather than being wholly resigned to it like a “good fallen woman”. I especially think this since Montgomery is so much harsher on Ruby Gillis who wants to live.

“You always seemed so different from the other girls—so kind and sweet—and as if you had something in yourself nobody knew about—some dear, pretty secret. Had you, Valancy?”

“I had my Blue Castle,” said Valancy, laughing a little.”

This is of course cheesy but I like that imagination and a secret belief that she deserved better made it so that Valancy could survive her drab life. Kind of reminds me of Sara Crewe from A Little Princess.

“She was pleased that Cissy had thought of her like this. She had never suspected that anybody liked or admired or wondered about her.”