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NOTICES!:

-I'm definitely not from Anne's time, so if there are any historical inaccuracies, please just overlook them.

-I edited the GIF and introductions collages of the characters that you will see here and in every chapter I write. I do not permit their use at all.

-All of this is fictional; none of the occurrences related to the Time Machine within my story are real. 

I NTRODUCTION OF CHARACTERS

Meredith Black

-25 years old

-Asian Chinese

Cedric Burberry

-27 years old

-Asian Vietnamese

Sophia Hart

-25 years old

-White American

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"Good morning, Ms. Black," a trio of girls greeted as Meredith walked past. She gave them a slight nod in acknowledgment. "Don't you think she's a bit mean?" one of the girls whispered. "I know, right? She acts like she's above everyone else." Meredith continued to walk silently, their remarks echoing in her ears.

A sigh escaped her lips as she finally reached the lab center. "Well, hello there, dear," Mr. Stan, the head of the project, greeted her warmly. Meredith responded with a small "hi," picking up one of the clipboards on the table, ready to ensure everything was in order. "Starting your day as usual, I see," Mr. Stan remarked, to which she simply nodded.

Mr. Stan was an old fella, about 68 years old. He had been working on this invention for almost three decades now, and surprisingly, the man still had the energy to continue this project.

"Good morning, everyone!" a high-pitched voice echoed from the glass doors she had originally come from. "Well, good morning, Ms. Hart!" Mr. Stan greeted, flicking his glasses as a way to say hello. "Oh, good morning to you too, Mr. Stan! Anything new?" Sophia asked as she took a clipboard herself.

"Some very good news, actually!" Mr. Stan exclaimed. "The Time Machine is finished!"

Meredith froze in place, shocked by the sudden reveal, and stared at Mr. Stan, stunned. He didn't call it "the invention" or "our project" this time; he used the name they had given it when they first started. "Are you sure?" Meredith asked, grabbing the clipboard again to double-check everything. "Of course, Meri!" Stan said, using the nickname he had given her when she was just a little girl.

"Oh, this is marvelous news!" Sophia clapped excitedly as the room buzzed with shock and excitement. "Will we be testing it out?" Silence fell over the room as the realization set in. Someone had to be the test subject to see if it actually worked. Someone had to take the risk. "Oh, dear, of course we are! It's a time machine, after all!" Mr. Stan said happily. "We'll be discussing who will take the journey and planning everything out. From my calculations, the test plan will take place next month!"

A month passed after the announcement. Mr. Stan and the other heads deliberated carefully, which stretched their discussions into two months. Despite Mr. Stan's initial plan to start the test a month after the discussion, the extensive planning delayed it.

"So, Ms. Black, Mr. Burberry, and... Ms. Hart it is, then," Mr. Miller said, hesitating. Mr. Stan nodded. "Ms. Hart has shown incredible potential and has been instrumental throughout the project. Mr. Burberry has been with the company for ten years, monitoring The Time Machine's progress since he was seventeen! He's reliable and experienced in test plans. And now, Ms. Black is one of the most qualified people for this test. Not only has she been crucial to the project's success, but she's also our most reliable person for this plan. She's serious and self-aware. Despite her inexperience, she's perfect for this," Mr. Stan finished, slightly huffing.

Mr. Clark nodded in response. "But they're only in their early twenties, and Mr. Burberry just turned twenty-five. This could be extremely dangerous and-"

"We don't have many choices," Mr. Miller interrupted, then looked at Mr. Stan and the other heads. "Let's plan the supplies they need to bring, then." Mr. Stan smiled in satisfaction and slowly turned to inform the three of the significant opportunity they were given.

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"What?" Cedric asked as Mr. Stan brought them the news about the test plan. "You want us for the test plan?" A few hours ago, Mr. Stan had invited the three of them for dinner, and when Meredith got the invite, she was quick to decline the offer as usual. But Mr. Stan interrupted her before she could, saying, "Ah ah ah, this time you won't be able to decline my invite." Confused, Meredith let out a quiet sigh and simply shook her head, not believing Stan's words.

But a few hours later, she found herself dining in a restaurant with her two colleagues and Stan. "Yes, of course, you three were the only qualified ones for the test!" he excitedly told them, earning eager smiles from Cedric and Sophia. "Oh my! This is world-changing!" Sophia said, smiling from ear to ear.

Yes, Meredith definitely felt pleased when she found out that she was one of the qualified people to go along with this plan. But yet again, she was worried. This had several risks, too many to even count. She picked up the little wine glass as everyone at the table drank the night away after hearing the rather "good news."

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The day finally came when they could initiate the plan. It took five months to finish all the preparations. "Finally! We've waited so long for this moment!" Mr. Stan cheerfully said as he rechecked everything for the hundredth time that hour.

"Buckle up, we can't mess this up," Meredith said to the other two, who hadn't stopped smiling since that morning. "Oh, come on, Mer! Cheer up! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At least feel happy!" Sophia lightly complained. Meredith sighed at her words while adjusting some switches on the machine. "As big as this opportunity is, it's dangerous. We can die in the process of trying to test this machine out. There's nothing to be cheerful about. You might blink your last blink any minute, or you might open your eyes to a completely new time. There's no in-between, so don't get your hopes up just yet." Sophia simply rolled her eyes at this while Cedric stared, a slight grin appearing on his face.

"This is the longest I've heard you talk. I never thought there was going to be a day where you talk more than two words," Cedric said with amusement. "I'm quite regretting talking more than two words now... Also, if I may ask, who are you?" Cedric's amused smile immediately dropped as he heard Meredith's question in complete disbelief. "You don't know me? Remember me, even? Not even heard of me?"

Meredith simply stared in confusion, trying to remember if she'd seen this tall man before. Have I seen him before? Is my memory bad? Meredith was pulled from her thoughts as she heard Cedric chuckle slightly. "We were in the same class from middle school to high school!" Meredith looked at Cedric blankly as she tried to recall any shared moments with him. "I don't think I've ever talked to you or seen you around school," Meredith admitted as Cedric let out another chuckle. "I can't believe, despite all of those years in the same class, you didn't even know me. Like, yeah, we never talked, but I at least thought you knew of my existence. But what did I expect? You were always quiet and scary, even in middle school. You haven't changed much."

Cedric's little walk down memory lane was interrupted by Mr. Stan, "We're starting. Get ready." Meredith stared at the man who practically raised her. His tone changed; he knew the risks this test plan might have.

Meredith sighed and shook her head then began double-checking every nook and cranny of the machine, making sure absolutely nothing was out of place. She glanced at Sophia on her right and Cedric on her left and released a heavy breath before making sure she was buckled in properly. As she heard Stan speaking, realization dawned upon her once more, and her blood suddenly ran cold.

"We'll be going off in..." There's a chance I might die.

"3..." Why did I agree to this, for heaven's sake?

"2..." She slowly closed her eyes, sweat building up on her forehead.

"1!" Meredith then heard the sound of a button being clicked. She held on for dear life as she felt energy passing through her entire body.

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The next thing Meredith knew, she was barely able to hang onto her seat despite having three seat belts holding her down. At this point, her entire body was frozen. It felt as though her entire life was flashing in front of her. I swear to God, I was never built for these kinds of plans, Meredith thought to herself. Then, they came to a sudden halt. Sophia's small shriek of shock was heard from a short distance, and the ground steadied. After three minutes, everything finally registered in her brain.

"We're here..."

Meredith blankly said, and after those terrifying twenty minutes, she finally opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was the slight crack on the glass, which was supposed to protect them from the strong energy that could have sent them flying. The second thing she noticed was where they had landed: a wide field of flowers with an old tree right in the middle. It wasn't the exact location they had planned to land. In fact, it was nowhere near it. Lastly, the machine seemed to be out of power, which left them with no way to contact the others.

Meredith unbuckled herself and began to list all of the complications of their arrival:

- The glass is weak (right corner of the machine is cracked).

- The machine failed to take them to the arranged landing location.

- The machine lacks enough power, although it did manage to land them safely.

"We'll need to get this thing working before sunset," Cedric said as he opened the electrical box under the control desk. "It seems as though we ran out of power. Luckily we got here safely or we would have crashed, and the machine would have broke down." He took out a few supplies from beneath the metal panel they used to hide necessary equipment.

After nearly three hours of trying to get the machine to start working, it finally lit up. "Oh my God, finally!" Sophia sighed in relief as she wiped sweat from her forehead.

They sat on the floor of the machine in comfortable silence after getting it to start working again. "So... what now?" Cedric was the first to speak up.

"Change your clothes, we'll need to blend in," Meredith instructed. The two nodded and did as they were told, taking out the duffel bags from a compartment under their seats.

A few months ago, they had been given a few pairs of clothing to wear to blend in with their environment. Stan had made sure that the clothes were accurate to the year they were to travel to. He designed three casual attires, three night attires, two for gatherings, and two formal attires in case it was necessary.

"Cedric," Meredith called out after she came out of the small changing room, which was basically just a rod with a curtain. "Open the seal to the machine." He nodded in response. Luckily, they had landed somewhere with no obvious houses or villages nearby, which made it easier for them to send the machine back. The sun was already setting by the time they finished, so they had to hurry.

"The door's open; we have to go before anyone comes," Meredith said quickly. She put the list she had made somewhere safe in the machine before grabbing her stuff and leaving as well. "Sophia, send it back." As Cedric shut the door and sealed it tightly, Sophia opened a panel on the side of the machine and redirected it back to 2022 and the lab.

The machine started making a loud noise and shaking. After a minute or so, it vanished into thin air, taking everything left within it.

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It had been about 20 minutes of walking, and their legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "Where are we heading?" Sophia asked in frustration, breathing heavily.

"I don't know, but we're trying to find the nearest house to where we landed. Let's just pray we don't end up in a place where we'll get murdered or something," Cedric responded. Sophia nodded in agreement, still catching her breath.

They sighed with relief when, a few minutes later, they spotted a small farm nearby. 'So this is it? God, we're gonna sound like we're begging for shelter in a few minutes,' Cedric chuckled lightly.

'We basically are,' Meredith replied as they approached the farm.

As they reached the front gate, a boy a few centimeters taller than Meredith walked over to them, noticing their presence. 'Excuse me? What brings you here?' the boy asked, his thick accent showing through. He eyed them, seeming confused by their appearance but intrigued. 'Good evening, may we ask who lives here?'

'Oh, Mr. and Ms. Cuthbert and their daughter Anne Shirley Cuthbert,' the boy answered almost immediately, with little hesitation. 'This might sound weird, but can we speak to them? We have some... issues.' The boy appeared confused and hesitant, but eventually nodded and headed towards the house.

'I don't think we'll have an easy time finding a place to stay, especially since people here aren't very open-minded. We'll most likely be seen as weird since we're Asian,' Meredith whispered to Cedric, who nodded in agreement. 'Mhm, I think it's best if we let Sophia do all the talking then,' Cedric suggested, looking down at Meredith to see if she agreed. She nodded in agreement.

They ware halted by the sight of an elderly lady approaching them, whom they assumed was Ms. Cuthbert, walking out of the house, followed by an elderly man who bore a striking resemblance to her, presumably Mr. Cuthbert.

"Good evening,"Ms. Cuthbert greeted, her face displaying confusion. This time, Sophia took the lead.

"Good day, I'm Sophia Hart," she nervously introduced herself.
"I'm Marilla Cuthbert, and this is my brother Matthew. What may we help you with?" Ms. Cuthbert asked.

"Well, uh... this might sound odd, but if you don't mind, could we stay under your roof for a few days? We're currently in a tight situation and would be willing to help out," Sophia explained, her body language betraying her lack of confidence. Another sigh escaped Meredith's lips as she realized their chances of finding shelter rested on this conversation. It was their last resort at this point.

"Pardon?" Ms. Cuthbert said in complete surprise. "I'm sorry but we can't allow that! We don't know you; I don't think that would be safe for us," She was taken aback by the strange request. Once again, Meredith sighed, realizing how much more difficult this was going to be.

"Now, now Marilla, they might need the shelter," Mr. Cuthbert interrupted. "Dear God, Matthew! We don't know these people!" Ms. Cuthbert argued back in a slightly loud whisper.

"If you may, we can arrange an agreement, Ms. and Mr. Cuthbert," Meredith slowly stepped into the conversation. Marilla looked her up and down, unfamiliar with Meredith's appearance-small eyes, shorter than the average woman in their area, with deep black hair.

"We desperately need a place to stay for at least a few days. We recently arrived here in, uh..." Meredith lightly stuttered, unsure of their location.

"Avonlea, we're in Avonlea," Sophia quickly added.

Back in the lab, Sophia was in charge of familiarizing and memorizing the locations they were to visit. Despite her impeccable memorization skills, it still took her nearly three months just to learn all the names. Thankfully, all her hard work paid off.

"Here in Avonlea, we need a place to stay because we haven't adjusted to the environment yet. You see, we're from different countries, and our currency isn't accepted here. The bank wasn't open when we arrived, so right now, you're our only option. We've already tried asking other people in this neighborhood, but no one seems willing to accept us," Meredith calmly came up with a lie that hopefully was believable enough. Despite her plea, the Cuthberts still seemed hesitant to accept the offer.

"If you allow us, we can help out with any farm work with no payment involved. In fact, we can pay you at the end of our stay," Meredith further negotiated, almost pleading for them to let them stay.

Cedric cleared his throat, seeking permission to speak. "At the end of our stay, we'll pay you $200. We can sign an agreement if necessary," Cedric confidently offered to the Cuthberts.

"Where are we going to get that kind of money?" Meredith frantically whispered to him.

"I have my ways," Cedric simply replied, giving her a small, confident grin that left her completely baffled.

The Cuthberts looked almost shocked by the offer. In the 1800s, $200 could already buy a lot compared to 2022. Ms. Cuthbert stared at her brother, hesitating even more. To them, this money could sustain them for months and could improve Anne's education, their adopted daughter.

Ms. Cuthbert released a heavy sigh. "Let's discuss the agreements inside then." Meredith grinned in amusement as the others sighed in relief. "Lead the way, Ms. Cuthbert."

As they walked past the farm, Meredith observed the place-it was cozy, homely, and a lot quieter than the cities in 2022. Upon arriving at the front door, Meredith and Cedric began to take off their shoes, but Mr. Cuthbert spoke up, "No need." Once inside, Meredith looked around the house while Ms. Cuthbert invited them to take a seat.

Mr. Cuthbert offered them each a cup of warm tea. After five minutes of awkward silence, they heard a young girl's voice coming down the stairs. "Marilla! Can I please put bows in my hair for school tomorro-" The red-haired girl stopped in her tracks upon seeing unfamiliar faces. "Oh! You didn't tell me we had visitors!" She smiled widely and waved at the three.

"Oh, I'm Anne Shirley-Cuthbert! Please remember to spell Anne with an E! I've read about colored people before, you know—those with chocolate brown skin, or skin as pale as paper, and those whose skin glows under the sunlight! I've never actually met one in real life! It's truly an honor to meet you!" Anne stretched out her hand, signaling for a handshake, which Meredith gladly accepted and shook twice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Anne," Meredith said with a small smile, not expecting to encounter such a bundle of joy in a time filled with grey.

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The streets during the day in Avonlea were different from New York. The tall buildings people would usually see in New York were nowhere to be seen, but despite its obvious differences, it still managed to give off the same feeling New York did: chaos. You'd see people rushing to do their duties, there were children playing on the sidewalk, and adults scolding them for doing so. But the noise of the horses' feet colliding with the ground always seemed to bother Meredith the most; she couldn't think straight because of all the noise it was making, exactly how the cars honk loudly, showing off the short temper the drivers had, the yells of street vendor owners encouraging pedestrians to buy their items, the loud booming sound of different kinds of pop music, and of course, the intoxicated groups of laughter coming from the people who exited the bars in New York. Although the times are so different, it oddly feels identical. Times never really do change.

During the preparation for the test plan, Stan ensured they brought expensive items that could fetch a high price when sold. They targeted dealers capable of offering more than local traders from small shops could provide. It didn't take long before they began to attract attention, particularly Meredith and Cedric. As expected, though they hoped it wouldn't cause issues later on.

After trading their items, they acquired enough money to purchase an estate spacious enough for all three of them. "Wouldn't it be better to find a place to live first?" Cedric suggested. Meredith shook her head. "Not yet a good idea. We're scheduled to return to the future in about six months. We'll need to secure a source of income for bills and food. Let's put off buying an estate for now.

They walked back to Green Gables before dusk, arriving around the time Anne would return from school. Anne was an intriguing child, bursting with more energy than the rest of her family. She had a passion for writing and expressed herself through poetry, sometimes speaking so quickly that Sophia found her difficult to follow. Anne's energy felt like a candle, lighting up any room she entered.

"How was the trip to the market? Have the three of you settled in?" Marilla asked as she prepared the table for dinner. Cedric smiled in response. "The market was lovely. I quite enjoyed it," he said, pulling out an envelope filled with cash. "Here you go, Ms. Cuthbert, as we agreed." Cedric handed the envelope to Marilla with a broad smile.

"Oh my dear, isn't this payment a bit early? We agreed it would be due on your agreed-upon day here. Are you sure you'll have enough money for everything?" Marilla asked, her concern evident as she offered to wait for the agreed-upon date for payment.

"Please take it, and don't worry about our financial situation right now. We're perfectly fine," Cedric reassured Marilla, pushing the envelope further into her hands.

Suddenly, the door burst open and a tangle of frizzy ginger hair appeared. "Marilla! Oh, I have wonderful news!" Anne exclaimed, nearly tripping over herself in her rush to reach Marilla. "Gilbert's back! He's back!"

Gilbert? "Well, that's wonderful news. Why don't you invite him for dinner sometime?" Marilla suggested as Anne hurriedly took her seat at the dining table.

"Who's Gilbert?" Sophia asked, a playful smile on her face as everyone began to eating.

"He's a classmate of mine! After his father's death, he decided to leave Avonlea and explore the world! Isn't that cool? He recently returned and now he wants to become a doctor!" Anne gushed, clearly in awe of his travels.

"We didn't exactly start on the right foot, though. I once slapped him with my slate, almost splitting it in half..." Anne admitted, slightly embarrassed by her past actions. "But he kind of deserved it! He called me 'carrots' because of my red hair!" Anne quickly defends herself, "I detest my fiery red hair enough, you know? It's not at all like Diana's lovely, long brown hair or Josie Pye's wavy blonde locks... I believe it is a bit unfair that I am burdened with flames on my head..."

Meredith chuckled lightly at Anne's self-deprecating remarks. "Statistically, red hair is among the rarest hair colors in the world. Instead of seeing it as a burden, consider it a blessing to possess something so uncommon. It's what makes you unique."

Anne's face brightened with joy upon hearing this. "You really think so? That's a wonderful way to think about it! I suppose I am special!" Anne beamed broadly as the others finished their meal.

"Anne, be careful! You wouldn't want to trip on those stairs again, would you?" Marilla shouted as Anne ran up the stairs, preparing to go to sleep. "Yes, Marilla, don't worry!" Sophia had already gone ahead and fallen asleep before the rest of them. Her body wasn't as strong compared to the others; she was always the first to sleep during all-nighters at the laboratory, and after spending the entire day walking, Meredith let her go upstairs first. Meanwhile, Meredith took some fresh air outside the house and ventured into the barn. She liked Green Gables; it was quiet. Here, one could hear her own breathing. In New York every crevice was full of chaos. When the sun set, that's when NYC became the most active. Meredith sighed as silence enveloped her.

"I knew you would be here," someone said from behind her. Meredith turned around to see Cedric smiling in his sleepwear. He sat a few inches away. The barn had a large opening on the second floor, allowing moonlight to filter in, offering a beautiful view of the moon.

"So, how are you holding up?" Cedric asked, once again breaking the silence. "Fine, the streets remind me of New York, but Green Gables itself is nice. It's quiet and peaceful," Meredith replied. Cedric nodded.

"Anne seemed delighted after what you said earlier at the dining table," Meredith chuckled softly. "I wouldn't consider the standards in the late 1800s that nice," Cedric agreed, and they fell into a comfortable silence for about 20 minutes.

"What did you do after high school? It was almost like you disappeared. I swear, no one was able to contact you," Cedric inquired as the wind blew through the barn openings, chilling Meredith's face.

"That's a good thing," Meredith chuckled again. "I went back to China for 2 years. I was ready to continue college there but had a change of heart and returned to New York. I secretly studied under Stan and his university, and then 3 years later, I took a leap and actually started working for him. Well, technically, I was already working the day I started learning from him. I helped with his other projects and the Time Machine, but I only officially started working at the company 3 years ago," Meredith explained. Cedric stared, feeling like he had uncovered more than expected from someone he thought he knew superficially.

"You're a hidden mastermind then, working wonders from behind the curtains," Cedric laughed. "But seriously, I would have never known. It shocked me when I saw you on your first day. I genuinely thought you had died or joined a cult at some point," he admitted. Meredith rolled her eyes in disbelief and crossed her arms. "I was actually quite hesitant to work under Stan, considering I was heavily convinced he was a cult leader," she added.

Cedric burst into laughter at the sudden image of Stan. He had been with the company for 10 years, starting as the youngest employee when he joined at 17.

"I started working for the company since I was 17," Cedric recollected. "Mr. Stan visited our high school a week after our graduation. I was still on campus finalizing all the paperwork I needed signed to get my report card, and during that time, he was planning to donate equipment to the laboratory. I just happened to be there when he was touring the place, and everything started from there."

Cedric laughed as he recalled the moment that changed everything for him. He always liked to mention things from the past; it helped him remember.

"It was hard when I got employed. I had just entered college around the same time I got accepted. Balancing work and college was draining, but hey, I got past it, so that's the great part about it." Cedric stared up at the star-filled sky, reminiscing about the times he thought he couldn't overcome.

Meredith looked down at her fingers, a small chuckle leaving her lips. "I think... during times when you reminisce about the past is when you realize not to make permanent decisions for temporary obstacles in life."

Cedric hummed in agreement. Meredith was never the social type, whether in middle school, high school, or at work. He had always assumed that was all she ever was. Tonight, he uncovered a part of her he would have never thought existed.

He gazed into the distance, inhaling the wind and exhaling shortly after. "It's late; we should go to bed," Meredith nodded in agreement. They both climbed down the ladder leading to the second floor of the barn and walked back to the house, heading straight to the room they shared with Sophia. The night ended better than Cedric had expected.

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Meredith awoke around 6:30 in the morning. Unlike the others, she always had difficulty sleeping and managed to wake up before them. As she made her way downstairs, she savored the rich aroma of Marilla's cooking. Having a farm had its benefits, providing quick access to fresh produce like eggs and milk.

"Good morning, Marilla," Meredith greeted with a small smile. Marilla widely grinned as she took a loaf of fresh bread from the coal-fired kitchen oven.

"Morning, Meredith. Seems you're always up before the rest. Wouldn't be surprised if you're waking earlier than me soon." Marilla placed the newly baked loaf of bread and her homemade jam on the counter. "You can start breakfast before the others. I'm guessing today's going to be busy for you."

Meredith's goal for the day differed from their usual routine at Green Gables over the past few days. She aimed to start making money as soon as possible, considering that staying with the Cuthberts for six months would be excessive. Ever since they first arrived at Green Gables, she had thoughts about real estate. Selling cheap estates during this time could garner a lot of attention and result in more sales. Though, she was aware that she'd have to learn more about the living conditions here before she could begin.

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After a busy day for Meredith and not so much for Sophia and Cedric, it was two hours before dinner time. Tonight, they expected guests: Anne's schoolmate and someone else he would be bringing along, presumably for dinner.

"Anne, did you prep the table?" Marilla asked loudly, too busy cooking in the kitchen to even glance at the dining table.

Anne, who was upstairs hurriedly getting ready, responded equally as loud, "Yep, all done!" Her hurried footsteps could be heard from downstairs.

"Do you need help with that?" Sophia asked Marilla, seeing her busy getting everything ready before the guests arrived.

"Actually, yes, I do," Marilla laughed lightly, making way for Sophia.

Two hours later, Marilla and Sophia had finished making dinner, and the guests were expected soon. "Thank you for the help, dear," Marilla said as she placed down the last dish. A knock on the door was heard, and Anne's voice boomed from upstairs, "They're here!" she cheered excitedly, coming down with her hair in two clean braids, each ending with a small bow.

"I'll get it," Meredith said as she headed to the door to welcome their guests. She was greeted by a fair young man with curly dark chocolate hair and hazel eyes. He was accompanied by someone with deep brown skin in formal attire. Meredith smiled widely at the sight of them.

"Good evening!" she greeted, stretching her hand out for a handshake.

"Hello, I'm Gilbert Blythe," Gilbert said, shaking her hand and returning her smile.

"Hey there, name's Sebastian. I'm accompanying dis fella here," added the other guest.

"Please do come in!" Meredith welcomed the two and led them to the dinner table.

"It's nice to see you again, Gilbert," Matthew said, giving him a tight hug. He looked past Gilbert and greeted Sebastian with a small nod as well.

"I hope you don't mind, but I brought Bash with me. He helps me with the house and everything, you know," Gilbert said, shrugging as he introduced his friend.

"That's no problem at all. The more, the merrier," Matthew replied.

Dinner was filled with endless chatter. Meredith took her last bite before putting her fork down, thinking to herself, I'm afraid nothing beats Marilla's food. Marilla's cooking truly had no competition.

"Thank you for accepting me into your home, Miss. I was a little worried; you don't see people with my skin color 'round these parts, nah?" Sebastian said as he sipped from his cup. "In fact, I was real happy when I see Ms. Black greet us at the door earlier. It definitely ease up all them nerves."

At the end of the table, Cedric was smiling to himself. It was nice seeing people of their own in a place where they often felt like the odd ones out. The others continued to finish their dinner as Anne and Gilbert excused themselves.

"Wow, I never knew your house could be filled with so many people. I got a little used to it being just the three of you," Gilbert joked as they sat down on one of the chairs. "How have you been, Anne? Are we still on about the truce we made?"

Anne laughed at the mention of their truce. "Yes, yes we are, but as for me, everything has been splendid. We've been doing much better ever since Meredith, Cedric, and Sophia came along. Financially, they've been an immense help, and they are just the sweetest souls. It used to get rather lonely here. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Matthew and Marilla, but sometimes having people who have endured similar experiences as you is what makes life truly bearable."

Gilbert nodded in understanding. He knew how it felt. When he was on that ship with Bash, it really helped open his perspective on other people. When they arrived in Trinidad, they encountered a pregnant woman on the brink of labor. That was the day Gilbert felt the urge to become a doctor.

"Enough about me, tell me everything you saw on your adventures! Every place you visited, every little detail! I want to hear it all!" Anne exclaimed excitedly, turning to face Gilbert. He laughed at her enthusiasm and began to tell her everything she wanted to know, spending his first few days back in Avonlea with people he actually felt at home with.

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Anne couldn't understand why others looked at her so oddly, and she wished it never bothered her. She always felt like the odd one out in her classroom. Diana, her best friend, had been wealthy and talented since birth. Cole had a gift for drawing and could replicate a person on paper. Ruby was known for her beauty. Prissy was intelligent and blessed with beautiful hair. Gilbert was as smart as her and independent; anyone would admire him. So, where does that put me? she thought to herself as she walked to school.

It had been about two months since Meredith and the others had asked to stay with them, and as time passed, the weather started getting chillier, numbing Anne's palms with the coldness. As she arrived at school, she immediately saw Diana and went up to hug her.

"Good morning, Anne! How was the book you were reading? You didn't cry, did you?"

"Oh, Diana, it was simply beautiful! Although I'm convinced that someday I shall have a tragical romance too. 'The Lady of Shalott' was utterly enchanting!"

Diana shook her head in disapproval and reached out for Anne's hands. "Anne, don't be silly. You won't have a tragical romance. I'm certain you'll find 'the one'!"

Anne smiled and simply nodded at her. They took their seats in their usual spots as more of their classmates came in.

"Gilbert!" The two heard Ruby's voice from behind. "Good morning," Ruby said, almost stuttering. Gilbert returned the greeting and sat in his usual seat. Ruby had liked Gilbert for three years and had recently mustered the courage to speak three syllables around him.

"Settle down, children, and cease all that racket!" Mr. Philips burst through the door with his leather bag and his awful mustache. Anne shortly zoned out as Mr. Philips continued to teach.

'

'

'

"Anne!" Gilbert yelled out as he quickly ran to Anne's side. "You're not walking with Diana today?" he asked, noticing Diana's absence.

"Unfortunately, not today. She had to rush as soon as school was dismissed." Diana's family was well-off; they could travel whenever they wished. Someday, Anne truly hoped she could do the same.

"I never got to ask you this when I went for dinner the other night, but what about you? What do you aspire to be? All I did was talk about my passion to be a doctor and never got to ask you what you're passionate about. So tell me, Anne Shirley Cuthbert, what passion is making your heart throb with excitement." Gilbert laughed as they continued to walk the soil grounds.

"Probably a journalist, but if I were to be honest, Gilbert... I don't know yet. I am almost certain that nothing special will come out of me in the future. I am already sure of the tragical romance I shall experience." Gilbert lifted an eyebrow with wonder in his eyes.

"How so? I don't think that'll be the case for you," Gilbert asked, a grin plastered on his face.

"I mean, I'm not necessarily the most attractive woman. I may not look horrible, but I could never compare to the women in Avonlea, let alone around the world. In a world full of millions of people, I may have an odd personality or an unusual way of seeing the world, but in the eyes of others, it's my appearance that stands out as peculiar. You seldom see anyone with hair as fiery and freckles as plentiful as mine." Anne huffed in frustration, wondering how the Lord could bless someone with extreme beauty and that someone not being her.

"That's ridiculous, Anne. Trust me, there's nothing wrong with how you look." Gilbert scoffed at her. For someone capable of finding anything beautiful, it's a pity that the only thing she seems to consider the opposite of beauty is herself.

Anne and Gilbert continued to walk, chattering away and laughing from time to time at each other's remarks and jokes. Meanwhile, Ruby was right behind them, her fingernails digging into her palms and a sense of betrayal washing over her as she was met with a cheery Gilbert—something she hadn't once gotten the chance to see face to face in her three years of liking him, let alone been given the opportunity to be looked at or smiled at in that way by him. She couldn't understand why he could never act that way towards her but did so easily around Anne. Despite her countless efforts to catch his attention, her gifts for him on every occasion, or her attempts to have a conversation with him that wasn't just "Good Morning" or "Goodbye," what did Anne Shirley Cuthbert, the orphan, have that she didn't? She couldn't believe it, and yet she stood there, stunned, as she saw them walk farther away, and worse, he was walking her home. To what? Make sure she was safe? Why did someone like Anne get everything she had prayed and worked so hard to even have a second to experience in a matter of seconds? Ruby's blood boiled as she walked away in the direction of her house, with a completely different perception of Anne.

'

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'

The next day at school, Anne was met with the girls frantically whispering and looking at her, laughing and probably mocking her. As she was walking towards them, she came face to face with Ruby, who had a distasteful look on her face.

"So, you come to me showing support for me and the person you knew I liked for a very long time, only to swoon him up?" Ruby scoffed, as the other girls behind her looked at her with the same disdainful expression. "I guess that's what orphans do—make their claim on a man to make sure someone will still provide and support them in the future. Scared to be thrown away again?" Josie Pye loudly laughed as the girls joined in. Anne was stunned, tears threatening to fall from her face.

"N-no, why would I ev—" Ruby rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, angered by Anne's excuse.

"God! Are you that pathetic? If you want to lie, at least make it believable! I thought I could trust you!" Ruby burst out the door, her friends walking behind her, quick to comfort her after her heart completely shattered.

Anne was left teary-eyed and sat down in her usual spot, plopping her head down onto her arms. A few minutes later, Diana walked into the classroom, rushing to Anne as soon as she saw her state.

"Anne? What happened? Why are you crying?" Diana asked, but Anne refused to show her face despite Diana's constant effort. "Anne? Tell me, please, what's wrong?"

After a few minutes of Diana trying to figure out what was wrong with Anne, Gilbert soon arrived as well, placing his bag down on his seat.

"Anne?" Gilbert asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. But as he did, Anne lifted her face off her hands, tears streaming down her face and her eyes bloodshot from all her crying.

"Please don't touch me," Anne said as she walked out to the back of the classroom, leaving Diana and Gilbert completely stunned.

"Did I do something?" Gilbert frowned.

Chapter Text

"Anne, what's gotten into you?" Diana's voice was filled with concern as she crouched down in front of Anne. Anne had both her legs tucked close to her chest, her head buried between her knees. Diana had hurried after Anne when she left the classroom, only to find her curled up behind the building.

"Ruby said I tried to attract Gilbert... You should've seen her face, Diana! She was devastated. I never befriended her to take Gilbert away, I swear! Believe me, Diana, please!" Anne's words came out hurriedly, punctuated by tears streaming from her winter-blue eyes.

Diana enveloped Anne in a tight hug before gently pushing her back to speak face-to-face. "Oh Anne, I believe you, even if Ruby doesn't. You know your intentions better than anyone. You wouldn't do that to Ruby."

Helping Anne stand, Diana continued, "Now, ignore them and at least give Gilbert an explanation. He was bewildered when you left like that."

Anne shook her head almost aggressively. "No! I can't. Ruby would be vexed if she saw me talking to him again."

Sighing, Diana led her frightened best friend back into the room before Mr. Philip arrived.

As they entered the classroom, several stares greeted them, especially from Ruby and the other girls. Gilbert followed their gaze and saw Anne and Diana entering through the front door. He shifted his focus to Anne's face, noting the redness around her eyes and her trembling body.

He started to rise to approach them, but Diana quickly shook her head and whispered, "I'll explain later," to him. Gilbert nodded in understanding and sat back down just as Mr. Philip arrived.

After class ended, Anne was the first to leave, her head bowed, staring at the ground. Before Diana could call out to her, she had already slipped out the door ahead of everyone else. Diana sighed, watching her best friend avoid her problems once again. She waited for the other girls to clear out of the classroom before approaching Gilbert.

"Did I do something?" Gilbert asked, his eyebrow raised in confusion.

Diana sighed deeply. "Ruby got upset with Anne because she thought Anne was trying to steal you away from her. I've known Ruby for so long, and it pains me to spill one of her biggest secrets, but she's had feelings for you for three years now and she's always been so possessive about who gets near you. By staying here and talking to you now, I'm already risking our friendship. I honestly don't know how she got the idea that Anne has eyes for you. I can't remember you two even chatting in class yesterday beyond your usual 'good mornings.'"

Gilbert frowned, his forehead furrowing as he thought back to the previous day. He remembered walking with Anne until she reached home safely, but he hadn't noticed anyone else nearby.

"Since you left early yesterday, I walked with Anne and ended up walking her to Green Gables too. Maybe Ruby was around, but I wasn't really paying attention, so I didn't notice." Gilbert sighed, pushing his hair back in frustration.

"I think it's best if you refrain from speaking to Anne around Ruby or the other girls. It could just make things worse for Anne's reputation in class," Diana suggested before heading home.

Anne hurried back home, tears staining her cheeks and a heavy weight on her heart. Meredith and Cedric, the only ones home at the time, noticed Anne's distraught state. It was the first time in their two-month stay at Green Gables that they had seen Anne so upset. It was unsettling to see Anne, usually vibrant and talkative, in such a state. Quietly, they went upstairs and knocked on Anne's door.

"Anne? What's wrong? Can we come in?" Cedric asked gently, but there was no answer. After a few minutes of concern and waiting, they turned the doorknob and entered. Anne was huddled in her blanket, sobbing quietly. Meredith sat beside her on the bed, gently stroking Anne's shaking body. Eventually, Anne lifted her tear-streaked face.

"I'm sorry, Anne," Meredith whispered softly, enveloping her in a tight hug as Anne's emotions overflowed once more. Anne finally opened up to them, pouring out her anguish and frustration. As she finished, Anne felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Cedric's reassuring touch on her trembling hands brought a sense of calm.

"Anne, you need to talk to Gilbert. Explain everything to him," Meredith advised gently. "You're an amazing, kindhearted, and loyal person. You'd never intentionally hurt anyone, especially not a friend. Don't let their opinions shake your self-view."

Anne sniffled and nodded, slowly gathering herself. "I'm going to see Gilbert Blythe. Let Marilla and Matthew know when they return, okay?" With nods of understanding, Meredith and Cedric watched Anne hurry down the stairs.

Anne dashed to the stable, her mind racing as she unlocked it and mounted one of the horses. "Jerry! I need to borrow the horse," she called out urgently. "Quoi? Where are you going? Anne!" Jerry's surprised voice followed her as she sped off towards Gilbert's house. The wind whipped through her ginger hair, her thoughts focused on one thing—finding Gilbert and setting things right.

Arriving at his house, Anne quickly approached the front door. She fidgeted nervously before knocking, still trying to catch her breath. Sebastian opened the door, looking slightly alarmed by Anne's disheveled appearance.

"Oh, how nice to see you, Anne! What brings you here today?" Sebastian asked, concern etched on his face as he took in Anne's exhausted state. Anne tried to speak but found herself breathless and overwhelmed. "I'm here to see Gilbert, is he home?" she managed to gasp out.

"My God, what happened to you? Blythe's in the barn, fixing the ladder we use for picking apples. You sure you don't want some water? You look real worn out," Sebastian offered, bewildered by Anne's urgent demeanor as she dashed off towards the barn, leaving him puzzled.

"Gilbert!" Anne called out as she arrived at the barn, breathless and trembling. Gilbert turned at the sound of his name, surprised to see Anne in such a state. "Anne? What are you doing here?" he asked, setting down the hammer he had been using. Anne quickly ran to him, tripping as she neared. Gilbert caught her, surprised by her sudden presence.

"I'm so sorry for what I said earlier! Ruby thought I was trying to take you away from her, a-and Josie Pye said some awful things, b-but that's not true, I swear! I didn't mean to upset an-" Anne rushed to explain, her words tumbling out in a mix of hurt and anxiety.

Gilbert chuckled softly, stepping closer to steady Anne. "It's okay, Anne. You were under a lot of stress, and I understand. You don't need to apologize."

"But what about Ruby?" Anne asked anxiously.

"Ruby's well... a nice girl, but I don't have feelings for her. I'll talk to her when I get the chance, okay? As for what happened between us earlier, it's nothing to me. You were clearly under a lot of stress, Anne, and I understand that. There's no need for you to apologize." Gilbert chuckled softly, still supporting Anne to prevent her from collapsing from exhaustion.

"But that would leave her utterly devastated! I can't bear the thought of her feeling that way!"

Gilbert shook his head. "Ruby's feelings are hers to sort out. But as for us, we're okay. Come inside for a breather, you look like you could use a rest," he suggested gently, guiding her towards the house.

Anne nodded gratefully, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she followed Gilbert inside. As they sat down at the dining table, Anne couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the day's events.

"You should've seen her earlier, Blythe, she was a real mess," Anne chuckled, feeling lighter after finally talking to Gilbert.

Gilbert smiled warmly at her. "You're full of surprises, Anne Shirley Cuthbert."

Anne grinned back, thankful for Gilbert's understanding and support. As they sat together, the weight on Anne's heart began to lift, replaced by a renewed sense of friendship and a glimmer of hope for better days ahead.

Chapter Text

The trio had stayed with the Cuthberts for nearly three months. Tomorrow would be the day they finally moved out. They needed a safe environment to discuss their plans for returning, and thankfully, the booming success of Meredith's real estate business provided that. Initially, it garnered attention for all the wrong reasons. It felt odd to many that a woman was in control of such a business. Some not-so-gentle men even suggested that she resign. However, with enough hard work, they were able to have a house constructed during their three-month stay. It was nearly the size of the Barry estate. In fact, Mr. Barry, Diana's father, became heavily involved in designing it.

Given their lack of knowledge about house design in this era, they feared their sense of style might arouse suspicion. So, when Mr. Barry offered to help with the house, they gladly accepted, explaining that their way of constructing houses outside of Canada was different and they wanted to fit in as much as possible. The house turned out beautiful. Although Meredith didn't say it, she felt a sense of sadness when she thought about leaving in a few months. She had promised herself not to get too attached, but in an era where only those deemed "normal" were accepted, finding people who embraced them felt incredibly lucky.

"It's so sad you have to go... I'm really going to miss not being the only one here. Having you all has made everything feel so much more magical," Anne said as she watched them pack the last of their luggage. Sophia looked up at Anne with a warm smile before standing to capture her in a tight hug.

"These three months with you have been simply the best. Please come visit, won't you? It will get so lonely here without you. And of course, I'll come visit you too!" Anne exclaimed, hurriedly wiping away tears. Meredith stared off into the distance after Anne's request, knowing it would be impossible in a few months. She composed herself and looked up at Anne.

"Don't worry, we'll come to visit," she said, giving her one last smile before packing the rest of her belongings.

After a few more minutes, the three went downstairs to put their bags by the door for the carriage in the morning. Cedric always hated goodbyes and found their departure from Green Gables more difficult than expected.

"Oh, it feels so odd. I've gotten so used to the three of you," Marilla exclaimed, rushing to hug them. She was never much of a hugger, but her heart was soft for those willing to see it.

"Jerry and I will sure miss having you around to help with the farm, especially someone as strong as you," Matthew said, leaning closely to Cedric. "Don't be a stranger now. Come by and lend a hand on the farm whenever you can," he whispered, making Cedric burst into laughter and nod in approval.

After dinner, everyone eventually went to their respective rooms. That night, the trio couldn't sleep well, not even Sophia.

"Change feels odd. The house isn't too far from here, right? Yet, it's sad we have to go," Sophia admitted, leaning her elbow on her pillow as it prompts her body up. Cedric was sitting up, writing in his notebook, humming in agreement.

"I'll miss this, honestly. Being in a place where people aren't so attached to the internet and the new tech makes you soak in everything going on," Cedric said. Meredith, on the other hand, was lying in the corner of the room, her hands softly placed on her stomach as she stared up at the ceiling, inhaling every scent and noise she could associate with Green Gables. Vulnerability wasn't her strong suit; it never had been. She had never fully opened up about anything, but tonight, she didn't feel ready to leave. Meredith shut her eyes, putting her thoughts aside and letting sleep take over.

Meredith was awoken by the crowing of the rooster and the sun beaming through the windows. A soft grunt escaped her lips as she looked beside her to see the others still sleeping. She slowly got up and began to get ready, brushing her teeth in the process. She heard yawning from behind her and turned to see Cedric getting up from his spot.

"Good morning," she greeted with a stoic expression. Cedric smiled as he stood up as well.

"Good morning. Big day ahead," he replied. Meredith nodded in agreement, waiting for Cedric before heading downstairs together.

"Good morning! I made some jam tarts for you to munch on when you arrive," Marilla greeted them, placing an entire tray of jam tarts on the table.

"Thank you, Marilla," Meredith said softly, smiling up at her.

Before their departure, they planned to give bouquets of flowers to those who had welcomed them warmly during their short stay at Green Gables. Although Meredith was sure they would meet again within their remaining three months in the 1800s, she wanted to give a departing gift nonetheless. They went to Gilbert's house first, knocking on the door. Before anyone could answer, Sebastian called out, carrying a basket of apples.

"Perfect timing. Blythe asked me to pick these for you when we hear yuh was moving out," Sebastian said, handing the basket to Sophia as Cedric handed the flowers to Sebastian. As they exchanged small talk, the door opened, revealing Gilbert.

"It's a small parting gift. Thank you for being kind spirits to us," Meredith said, gently thanking them and giving both Gilbert and Sebastian a tight hug before waving goodbye and heading to Mrs. Rachel's and the Barrys' homes to give the flowers.

As they finished handing out their parting gifts, they too were left with gifts of their own. Finally, the time came. When they returned to Green Gables, the carriage was already loaded with their bags.

"Voyager en toute sécurité, Mademoiselle Noir," Jerry said, slightly lifting his hat in a polite gesture. Meredith gave him a small smile.

"Merci pour toute votre aide, Jerry," she replied. Jerry's eyes widened in surprise.

"I didn't know you spoke French, Miss," Jerry said.

"I only know a little," Meredith chuckled.

The Cuthberts eventually came outside when they saw them. Marilla held the tray of jam tarts while Matthew brought a basket of eggs and a few other vegetables. They had decided to grow their own vegetables and fruits, but it would take some time for them to mature. Thankfully, Matthew provided them with enough to last a while with proper storage.

"I have a small gift for the three of you!" Anne said, handing each of them a letter with a different dried, pressed flower. Meredith's letter had a rhododendron on it. She stared at the flower's bright colors.

"It represents strength. I hope in your quiet battles, you stay as strong and graceful as you are, Meredith," Anne said, cupping Meredith's hands in hers and smiling with admiration before giving her a tight hug. The three of them then hopped into the carriage, with Cedric deciding to drive them to their new estate. Meredith chose to stay in the back of the carriage, wanting to write down everything they had encountered during their stay at Green Gables. Sophia, on the other hand, sat beside Cedric, placing her hands on her lap as she waved goodbye to the Cuthberts.

It was only a 45-minute ride to the house, but with all the flowers they had to hand out and everything they needed to arrange, it took much longer than expected. By the time they arrived, the sun would already be setting. Twenty minutes had passed, and Meredith had fallen asleep in the back of the carriage and Sophia and Cedric were seated in the front.

Sophia shifted in her seat, feeling uncomfortable on the hard wood underneath the thin cushion. As a form of distraction, she decides to take one of Marilla's tarts from the tray in the back of the carriage and offered one to Cedric. He gladly accepted the tart, smiling as a thank you. Sophia gently stares at Cedric, Sophia slight parts her lips, eager to find the courage to speak. 

Sophia releases a light breath, "Sometimes I really do miss being in the future. Living here is peaceful, and honestly, if I could trade being in 2022 and instead be here, I would choose to no matter the circumstances, but sometimes it gets hard," Sophia admitted, stroking her hair that was waving around in the wind. Cedric nodded in agreement, staring off into the distance. She wasn't wrong. Some things in this era were hard to accept or deal with—the education wasn't the best, and diversity wasn't at its best either—but it really did make you appreciate the time you had.

"You know, I was often underestimated. When I was in college, when news spread that I wanted to work at Mr. Stan's company after graduation, almost everyone said I should have just taken a fashion course because my looks were a 'waste.' Of course, I didn't let that get to me. I like where I am now," Sophia admitted. 

Even without looking, Cedric gave his usual chuckle. "I think you're doing pretty well. I don't see any problem with you wanting to pursue more. You are more than your looks, Sophia," he replied. Sophia stared in awe at Cedric's words, feeling a strange, warm sensation in her chest. She gave a small hum of agreement as she took another tart.

Cedric and Sophia had a long history of friendship. When Cedric was 24, Sophia was a new member at the company. She was younger than the other newly employed members and right around his age. Cedric was the one Sophia ran to for help during her first few months, aside from her other friends there. Unlike Meredith, Sophia and Cedric had more difficulty getting close to the older members of the company, and that commonality had formed a bond between them.

A small sigh was heard from behind as Meredith began to wake up. She groaned as she stretched her sore neck.

"Slept well?" Cedric asked. Meredith covered her face with her hands to wake herself up.

"No, not really. It felt more uncomfortable here than I expected," she replied.

Cedric laughed. "We tried Marilla's tarts. They taste good. Get some food in your stomach; you barely ate."

Meredith sighed, muttering a small "fine" before grabbing a tart and eating while writing more in her notebook. Sophia didn't have the best outlook on Meredith. Although they got along well enough, she could never fully understand her. On Meredith's first day at the company, people respected her almost instantly, even those who had been there longer than the three of them had lived. They had little interaction, and all Sophia really knew about her was that she was composed, very intelligent, and from a well-off family. Despite being with the company for only three years, rumors about Meredith spread like wildfire, which made Sophia hesitant to engage with her. Cedric, on the other hand, seemed to have a good relationship with her. Shaking the thought away, Sophia took a book from her bag and began reading from where she had left off, letting the cold wind brush her cheeks, comforting her from her own thoughts.

Chapter Text

October 3rd, 2022 

This week marked the final phase of preparation for the test plan. Today, they were discussing their strategy on how they'll be returning home after the test plan. As usual, Meredith was the first to arrive in the meeting room. She stood in front of the projector, checking if it was working properly. Stan was the next to arrive. He gave Meredith a bright grin, placed his coffee down, and sat in the chair in the middle of the table. He stared at Meredith as she finished preparing everything needed.

"What?" Meredith asked without looking back, sensing Stan's gaze.

"Nothing, you've grown so much. Your parents would be proud," Stan complimented, resting his chin in his palms.

Meredith turned around after wiping the whiteboard, a blank expression on her face. "Stan, you know that wouldn't be enough for them," she replied, placing down the whiteboard eraser and sitting on the right side of the long table.

"You've never talked to them after that day?" Stan inquired. Meredith gave a small shake of her head as she continued to look through the files. Stan released a loud sigh.

Meredith came from an extremely wealthy family in China. Stan had been in Meredith's life since the day her mother gave birth to her. Her mother, Daiyu Zhao, had a long bloodline of Chinese royalty. Stan couldn't lie; Daiyu was a beautiful woman, with hair as black as raven feathers and eyes as sharp as a feline's. Meredith's father, Miles Zhao, came from extreme generational wealth. His mother gave birth to him in the States, where he lived for the first sixteen years of his life. This led to Stan and Miles meeting in high school. Miles was three years younger than Stan at the time, having accelerated three years due to his intelligence. They met during an English class they had together, but when college approached, Miles' family asked him to return to China for his education. This request angered him, but Miles wasn't the type to disobey and booked a flight back to Shanghai the following week. Despite this, Stan and Miles kept in contact.

During Christmas in 1980, Stan visited Miles and told him about his plans for time travel. At the time, it seemed almost impossible, but now he was so close, it felt within grasp. When Stan turned twenty-three, he was finally able to start somewhere. Miles funded some of his inventions as a way to show encouragement and support. Fast forward a few years, and Miles was arranged to marry Daiyu for his family's benefit. In 1992, Daiyu gave birth to their first son, Duyi Zhao. Five years later, Daiyu gave birth to their daughter, Meredith Zhao. Four years after Meredith's birth, Daiyu gave birth to their youngest daughter, Mina Zhao. Duyi, their first son, was obligated to keep the family business running. He accepted this fate at a very young age, which made things easier for his parents. But for Meredith, many expectations were placed on her shoulders once the Zhao family realized she was gifted.

Meredith started talking at ten months old and could read and speak at one year and ten months. By the time she turned fifteen, she knew how to speak five languages. She was valedictorian during her sixth and twelfth-grade graduations, an honor student throughout school, and could play three different instruments. In the eyes of the public, she was gifted with looks, money, talent, and brains. When she was four years old, her parents decided to move her to New York for a better education and basically left her there for several years. When it was time to return, she spent a significant time there before deciding to change her path.

Her parents wanted her to be a lawyer, but that wasn't where Meredith's passion lay. She was never known to be rebellious, but when she spoke about her decision, her family was furious, rambling about how her choices in life would tarnish their family's reputation. That was when Meredith packed her bags and booked a flight back to New York. During those difficult times, she had no one else to turn to except Stan. Thankfully, he took her under his wing, but by doing so, he risked his long-time friendship with her father. As much as he adored his old friend, he couldn't imagine throwing away someone's passion for the sake of family reputation.

Meredith changed her last name to Black, completely disassociating herself from her family background. Because her family was extremely private, few people knew what she looked like now. Any photos or articles related to her still contained her original last name, making it impossible for her to be identified, which Meredith used to her advantage. She had come a long way, and Stan was immensely proud of that. Meredith was always ahead of everyone else, demonstrating her dedication. If Stan could go back in time, he would continuously choose to help Meredith again and again. She was like a daughter to him. Stan smiled at the memories of Meredith's achievements, a sense of pride washing over him.

A few minutes passed, and more of the company heads arrived, soon followed by Cedric and Sophia. After a three-hour meeting, they reached an agreement: they would send the machine back a month prior to their departure to the future. They assigned a suitable location for the machine when it arrives in the 1800s. After warm goodbyes, Meredith took her folder and phone and walked out of the meeting room.

'

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'

Avonlea  1899 

The trio neared their new temporary home. The house was beautiful, with vines and flowers wrapping around its sides. Mr. Barry had done a magnificent job decorating and designing it. Cedric's face lit up with joy as he saw it. He had always been more fond of designs from the past, finding modern styles less to his liking. He was the first to climb down and untie the ropes securing their bags. Meredith stood up and stretched after sitting on the hard wood of the carriage. Cedric grabbed her hand to help her down, then took the first few bags and slung them over his shoulder. Sophia, holding the keys, unlocked the house to make way for Cedric.

The inside was just as beautiful as the outside, with soft flower-print wallpaper and white trimmings. The house's appearance was calming. Although they had spent a significant amount of money on the house itself, Mr. Barry had gone above and beyond. Meredith and Cedric went upstairs while Sophia checked the garden. There were five bedrooms: one for each of them and two guest rooms. Each of their rooms had their names on the doors for easy identification. They placed Sophia's bags in her room first. Her room featured a large Texas king-size bed with pink and white sheets and pillowcases her duvet pink fabric roses all around it and it elegantly draped on the bed. She had a large window opening onto a small balcony. The room was well-lit even when the lights were off, with large windows paired with equally tall curtains. A white vanity stood in the corner, and a big light pink rug was placed under the bed.

Thanks to their knowledge of electricity, they were able to power their house, making them one of the few in Avonlea to have access to it. After placing Sophia's bags in her room, they moved on to Meredith's. Her room boasted a large canopy bed with white and blue curtains accented with the gold on the headboard, just as Meredith had suggested. The ceiling was adorned with abstract designs and a large chandelier hung in the center, similar to Sophia's but with more lights. Like Sophia's room, Meredith's had bookshelves, but in her room, half of one wall was entirely covered in shelves with a sliding ladder. Meredith took a deep breath, smiling at the comfort her room brought. She thanked Cedric for carrying their bags before unpacking and putting her things in the drawers. She then sat down on her large bed, taking in the new environment. Although the place was beautifully built, she still wasn't used to their new home. She went out on her balcony to get some fresh air. Each of their balconies offered a perfect view of the garden, which was already filled with all kinds of flowers. Meredith stayed there for about 20 minutes, waiting for the sun to set before heading downstairs.

Sophia was getting dinner ready, and Cedric was in the small reading nook in the living room. "Dinner's ready," Sophia shouted from the kitchen. As Meredith walked down the stairs, she and Cedric locked eyes, and he gave her his usual warm smile before they both headed toward the kitchen. The three of them sat peacefully at the table, their plates filled with food.

"The rooms are beautiful. We should invite the others as a way to thank them," Cedric suggested as they ate.

"I know, right? I love how my room looks! Have you seen the closet?" Sophia said excitedly, having already explored her room.

"Yeah, I don't quite know what to do with all the space I have now. I didn't bring much. How about you, Mera?" Cedric asked.

Meredith took a moment to respond, recalling the design of her room. "I like it," she said simply, not wanting to elaborate.

"Mera?" Sophia asked, surprised by the new nickname.

"Well, I thought Meredith was a bit of a mouthful, so why not Mera, right? Exclusively made up by yours truly," Cedric said, gesturing to himself. Sophia laughed at this.

After dinner, Cedric insisted on washing the dishes, so the girls left to do their own things. Sophia went straight upstairs to continue unpacking, while Meredith grabbed a book Mr. Barry had added to the house. She slowly sat down in one of the comfy chairs in the living room. After a few minutes of reading, Cedric silently took a book himself and joined her, sitting a chair away.

Two hours passed, and Meredith was suddenly reminded of Anne's letter. Cedric's eyes followed her as she went upstairs, but he soon returned to his book. A minute later, she came back with the letter from Anne.

"Oh! I almost forgot about that!" Cedric exclaimed as he took out the letter from his pocket, and they both began reading it.

Dear Meredith,

I've been thinking fondly of you in your new abode. I trust you've nestled in snugly and are finding comfort there. Your presence has always been such a bright light, and I am truly grateful for the inspiration you've brought into my life.  You might not be aware of the significant impact you have had on me, but I hope this letter serves as a testament to your influence.

You are the living embodiment of the person I have always yearned to become. With each new discovery about your character, my admiration for you only deepens. There is a memory I cherish, though I never shared it with you. During your first month here, in the stillness of a 2 a.m. morning, I awoke with a thirst for water. As glanced out, I saw you sitting quietly on the porch. That moment kindled a myriad of thoughts within me. I found myself wondering about the trials you have faced, the joys that make you laugh, and the sorrows that bring tears to your eyes. What lies behind that stoic exterior you often wear?

As I learned more about you, I saw beyond the stoicism. I discovered a kind, beautiful soul and an amazing leader. Your kindness, like a gentle breeze, has touched my life in ways words can scarcely capture. Thank you for seeing beauty in me, even when I struggle to see it myself. The knowledge that someone, at least one person, views me as beautiful is a balm to my spirit.

Meredith, may you possess the courage to overcome every obstacle life may present. Your strength and grace inspire me, and I hold you in the highest regard.

With the warmest regards,

Anne Shirely-Cuthbert

Cedric smiled as he finished reading his letter. "Anne's the sweetest. She deserves nothing but the best, don't you think?" He asked, but received no answer. He called out to Meredith, then lifted his head, surprised to see tears pouring from her eyes.

In a panic, he rose from his place and quickly crouched down to inspect Meredith's face. "What's wrong, Meredith?" he asked, but Meredith shook her head, signaling that nothing was wrong. Cedric glanced down at her letter, immediately understanding. He looked up at her tear-streaked face, gave her a small smile, and handed her his handkerchief. He placed his large palm on her back, soothing her as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

Meredith took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. "I'm okay, thank you," she said as she closed the letter. Cedric nodded and waited for her to stand before escorting her to her room. "Goodnight, Meredith," Cedric said, wiping a tear from her lower eyelid before walking away to his room.

Meredith shut her door and lay flat on her bed, recalling his small gesture. Her cheeks flushed a light shade of maroon before her entire body grew too tired to process another thought.

- - - -

That's it for Chapter 10! We are approaching some of the most important parts of the book. Thank you for reading, and please comment on the parts you enjoyed!

Under this will be inspiration picture's I had when envisioning each of their rooms!

~"Nightmares aren't so scary without the protection of the dark"

~"Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn."

~"It's funny how people are so quick to point out differences when there are so many ways we're all alike." 

Chapter Text

(Notice: Please scroll down until you see the Author Note. You will see a small collage of Meredith's dress to be able to visualize it more. I recommend scrolling down to it when you get to the dress part but you can also scroll down and look at it before and after reading!)

"Marilla, Matthew, come in!" Sophia greeted them cheerfully as they entered, Anne trailing behind with a basket overflowing with flowers. "It's wonderful to see you three again!" Sophia hugged them warmly, comforted by their familiar scents. As they walked into the house, Anne was struck by the breathtaking interior.

"Your home is utterly breathtaking, Sophia!" Anne exclaimed, delight evident in her voice as she took in every detail.

"We've been looking forward to your visit!" A voice said from a short distance. The group turned as Cedric emerged from the kitchen, still wearing his apron, arms open for a hug with Matthew. "The house has been too quiet without Anne around; I started missing her sooner than I expected," Cedric admitted with a smile, giving Anne a final squeeze.

"I was just preparing lunch; you can take your things to one of the guest rooms upstairs. Each room can accommodate about four people."

"Mr. Barry did a beautiful job on the house; it's absolutely stunning!" Marilla complimented, her eyes drawn to the chandeliers and exquisitely carved ceilings. Upstairs, rustling noises preceded Meredith's graceful descent down the stairs. She wore a stunning white and purple dress adorned with floral patterns cascading down to its hem. The ensemble was complemented by a delicate fan featuring purple flowers and short white gloves that further enhanced her attire. Around her wrist gleamed a purple and gold bracelet and necklace, adding to her elegance. Her hair, elegantly curled, and light makeup accentuated rather than overshadowed the beauty of her ensemble.

Meredith's smile widened as she spotted Anne near the door. Hastening her steps, she enveloped Anne in a tight hug. "I've missed you, Anne!" she exclaimed.

Anne chuckled softly, returning the hug warmly. "You look as beautiful as ever, Meredith, and I truly mean it," she complimented sincerely, appreciating her friend's radiant appearance.

"Oh, I have missed you, my dear Meredith!" Marilla exclaimed enthusiastically as she gave Meredith a big hug. Cedric took off his apron and called everyone for lunch. Cedric was always the one preparing the food during small company parties. They chattered throughout the entire meal, laughing at each other's stories as they caught up with the events of their now separate lives.

"We'll start unpacking now," Matthew said, wiping his mouth and thanking Cedric for the lovely meal. During their stay, they had a wonderful time touring the house. Anne enjoyed exploring Meredith's book collection, and as a kind gesture, Meredith gave some of her books to Anne, leaving her ecstatic.

'

'

'

Two months later

Their stay in Avonlea would come to an end in a month. Today was the planned date for the time machine to arrive. They intended to return it close to their new house's address so they could leave quickly without arousing suspicion. Cedric was the first to open the lock on the machine's door, slowly prying it open. He and Sophia entered the machine while Meredith inspected the exterior for any damages to list down.

"There are other seats," Meredith heard from inside, catching her attention. She quickly walked towards the entrance of the machine.

"What?" she asked as she entered. Inside, she was met with several changes. The machine now had six seats and a new control table. The glass was reinforced, with no sign of the previous crack, and despite the machine's long journey from 2022 to 1899, it had withstood the strong energy far better than before. Meredith slowly walked around the machine and opened the compartment under her seat, discovering a letter with her name on it. She unfolded the letter and began reading its contents.

Dear Meredith,

As you receive this letter, I hope you are in good spirits. I wanted to share some significant developments here at the company. After careful consideration and extensive discussions with the senior management team, we have decided to undertake a highly ambitious and risky operation. We are going to rebuild the interior of the time machine to accommodate up to six individuals.

Our plan is to bring a few individuals from the 1890s back to our present time. I understand this decision might be something you disagree with, given the inherent risks and ethical implications. However, we believe this course of action will yield valuable information and insights that could greatly benefit our research and understanding of the past and the information we failed to grasp.

Additionally, I am pleased to inform you that we have developed a method to prevent anyone from seeing the machine during daylight. We have tested it several times and found it to work effectively.

I am relieved to know that you and the team are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a successful mission and a safe return, not only for the three of you but also for our esteemed guests from the 1890s.

Take care, and may fortune favor your journey.

With warm regards,

Stan Thompson

"No way..." Meredith breathed out as she read through the contents of Stan's letter, feeling absolutely terrified by what she just read. Sophia and Cedric exchanged worried looks at Meredith's reaction, but before they could ask, she quickly handed the letter to Cedric and ran back to the house, leaving them behind. She shut the front door and slowly walked to the living room, where she sat down on one of the chairs and leaned forward, grasping her forehead. Her breathing became heavy as she recalled the contents of the letter. 

An hour passed before Cedric and Sophia arrived and found a still distressed Meredith on the couch. Cedric hesitated slightly but then stepped in front of Meredith. "Uh, we thought it was best to bring along Anne and maybe the Cuthberts when we return home...we wanted to get your approval first, though," Cedric said, leaving Meredith speechless. She slowly lifted her head to look at Cedric in disbelief.

"Are you seriously going to follow what Stan is suggesting? Not to mention out of ALL the people you could've chosen you decided to choose Anne! A child!," she replied.

Cedric nervously breathed before speaking again. "Yes, but we could really use Anne. She observes a lot of her surroundings and could provide valuable information to the researchers. And if not the Cuthberts, maybe we can bring Gilbert along. He has explored many places, hasn't he? He coul—"

Meredith stood up, staring Cedric in the face, her body fuming with anger. "Are you joking? You want us to involve children in our plan?" she demanded, balling her fists in frustration. "Look, in 2022 they're already gone by then. It won't change anything, Mera," Cedric tried to reassure her, but was met with a disgusted expression.

"That's absolutely preposterous! It could change everything! What happens if there are complications when we try to return to the future? We could be risking their lives! They could die, Cedric! And what if they do? Gilbert wouldn't be able to go back and become a doctor, and Anne won't achieve what she wants. What if one of the people we bring back is a crucial source of knowledge our society developed over the years? What happens if they die due to the complications of the machine? Do we just accidentally change everything? And how are we to make them agree? They have families here. We can't just take them away!" Meredith's voice rose, absolutely flabbergasted that Cedric had made such a suggestion without her involvement.

She tried to leave the room, but Cedric grabbed her by the shoulder. "Meredith, calm down, please. We can talk about this properly," he tried to comfort her, but Meredith pulled his hands away.

"I thought you could understand me. I am not risking the lives of any of those children. They are bright and have such open minds for their age. I cannot risk their lives, Cedric...I-I can't," Meredith choked up at her last words before going upstairs and slamming the door to her room.

Sophia's hands covered her mouth at the sudden dispute between the two. She stared at Cedric as he covered his face with his large palms, breathing heavily. Sophia hesitantly walked towards him and put her hand on his shoulder, but he gently pushed her hand away. "I'll go talk to her later...I'll just be in my room," he said with a small smile before slowly heading up stairs, his steps halt as he stares at Meredith's door his hands itching to knock on it, but he breathes out a heavy breath and walks away with the shake of his head, as he opens the door to his own room and tiredly plops himself down on his bed. The softness of the mattress feeling like it's swallowing him and the guilt he feels. Another deep sigh leaves his mouth as he brushes through his once neat hair, now messy from everything that happened.

- - - -

Here is a collage of what Meredith's dress looked like at the beginning of this chapter so you can better visualize it!

~"I guess love doesn't conquer all."

Chapter Text

Cedric woke up to the loud chirps of the birds eating from the bird feeder outside on his balcony. He took the small clock from his bedside table and checked the time; it was 4 AM. The sun had yet to rise fully. Cedric grunted as he stretched, sighing deeply. His mind quickly wandered back to the argument with Meredith the previous night. He raked his hands over his face, remembering Meredith's teary expression before she ran off. I have to fix this, he thought. Forcing himself out of bed, he got ready for the day. As he was about to head to his closet, he caught his reflection in the full-length mirror. He looked like a mess. He brushed his hair to tame the frizziness, but as he did so, he heard someone walking down the stairs. Instantly, he knew it was Meredith. She always woke up before anyone else since their first week at Green Gables. Cedric had noticed her constant shifting during the night, with some nights spent sleepless.

He quickly put on his glasses, grabbed a cardigan from his drawer, and slowly opened his door, trying not to make a noise. He quietly walked towards the staircase and stepped down to get a glimpse of the downstairs. He saw Meredith walking out the front door, bundled up in her warm clothes. As she shut the front door, Cedric quickly headed downstairs, waited a minute, and then slowly opened the front door. He could still see her in the distance, walking towards the forest near their house. He followed her quietly into the forest. Meredith felt a strange tingle creep up her shoulder but ignored it. She continued walking until she heard the rustle of dried leaves. She halted and spoke, "Who's there? Come out, I know someone's there."

Cedric sighed from afar and approached Meredith. As she heard the rustle of the leaves below and the walking sounds of the person behind her, she quickly clenched her fist, preparing herself for whatever could happen and when the unknown person grabbed onto her shoulder she turned around to strike when the person was right behind her. Cedric released a loud grunt as he felt the impact of the punch, holding his cheek. Meredith's eyes widened, a loud gasp coming out of her mouth. "I didn't know it was you!" she said, taking a close look at his face for any bruises. Cedric grunted and shook his head at her worried expression. "No, it's fine. I kind of just followed you here," he admitted, garnering a small "What?" from Meredith. Cedric stood up properly after checking his cheek and looked down at Meredith. "Look, I'm sorry. I know we shouldn't have made such a decision last night, but we genuinely thought it would be the most beneficial choice."

Meredith lowered her head. "I can't agree to that, Cedric. They're children, for Christ's sake," she choked up, raising her hands in front of her eyes in frustration.

"I understand, but who are we to bring then?" Cedric asked, putting a hand on Meredith's shoulder. Meredith stared blankly at the slightly muddy trail, feeling a sense of hopelessness after years. 

"I don't know. In all the years I've led and knew what to do, for the first time, I have absolutely no idea," Meredith stayed silent for a while, not long after, she finally broke down in a sob. Cedric removed his hand from her shoulder and wrapped her in a tight hug, smoothing out her hair as she continued to sob into his chest. His shirt and cardigan were stained with her tears, but he couldn't care less. "We'll make a final decision about it before our sixth month here, okay?" Cedric comforted, pulling strands of her hair behind her ear. She clung to his cardigan to hide her face and gave a simple nod. Cedric chuckled softly and lifted her face to look at him. "What's with you and hiding your face?" he asked, wiping her tears with the sleeve of his cardigan. Meredith didn't reply, looking sideways to slightly hide her eyes. Cedric shook his head in disbelief and put her head back down on his chest, stroking her hair to comfort her again.

"You know, if you're ever going through something, you should tell someone, whether it be me or anyone. Just because you're used to handling things yourself doesn't mean it's wrong to open your heart to help. Okay?" Cedric asked, but Meredith shook her head in disagreement. He chuckled at her response. After ten minutes of standing there and talking from time to time, Meredith lifted her head and released her grip on Cedric, wiping the last of her tears. He continued to support her by holding onto her lower back. "You okay now?" Cedric asked, and she nodded. He smoothed her hair with his fingers as he walked her to the lake near the house. 

By 5:30 in the morning, Cedric sat down on the grass near the edge of the lake, staring up at Meredith and inviting her to take a seat. She nodded and sat beside him, gazing off into the distance as birds began flying over the lake. "I never should've agreed to come here..." Meredith blurted out, playing with a rock she picked up from the ground. Cedric stared at her, his eyebrows scrunched up in concern.

"I knew this was going to be risky, but I never knew I could be so soft to let something like this affect me..." Meredith sighed. "I should've stayed in China. I'd have finished college a few years ago... I could be working on cases right now instead of being here and involving people in things they shouldn't be in..." She tucked her legs into her chest and propped her chin on her knees, hugging her own body.

Cedric hesitated at first but then took a strand of her hair and held it gently. "Meredith, you can't keep running away from what's scaring you. One day, you'll come face to face with your problems and have nowhere to escape. Brace yourself if you must, but embrace your difficulties. I might not know everything about you yet, but I do know you've overcome countless trials and errors in your life. You are too strong to back down now and hope for things to magically change. You are such an admirable person; stop belittling yourself for feeling human."

Meredith breathed in Cedric's words and turned her head to stare into his comforting chestnut eyes giving him a small smile. She stared off into the distance, throwing the rock she was holding into the water.  She took one last deep breath before standing up. She reached out for Cedric's hand, helping him to his feet. "Anne and Gilbert, right? Who else shall we bring along?" Meredith asked, a small smile forming on her lips as Cedric's face lit up with a wide smile.

As the first light of dawn began to shimmer on the horizon, Cedric and Meredith walked back from the lake in silence, their earlier conflict now a fragile truce. The quiet morning air felt heavy with the weight of their decision, each step towards the house at 6 AM echoing the lasting impact of their agreement on the lives they were about to change forever.

Chapter Text

"Sebastian! It's nice to see you all again. I'm sorry for the sudden invite." Sophia's soft voice echoes through the halls of the house. Although she looks over at Meredith, her expression is plastered with nervousness. "Oh, don't mention it, dear. In fact, Blythe here was persistent in coming," Sebastian points over at Gilbert, who nudges him to be quiet. Sophia chuckles in response to this and invites them in. "So it's just us for today?" Gilbert asks. "No, Anne will be here in a few minutes. Well, hopefully," Sophia chuckles.

Sebastian and Gilbert settled down on one of the sofas as they sipped on tea, but as the four chatted away in their own conversations, Meredith sat frozen, zoned away from the present as she scoured through every outcome today might bring...

"Are you out of your minds?! Who else knows about your messed-up plans?"

Meredith imagines Sebastian's usual grinning face engulfed in disgust and terror—an image she has prayed to never see. Maybe I'm overthinking it, she thought to herself, but rather than enjoying her nearly cold tea in her palms, she shivers from the sheer thought of her longed-for plan being shattered in an instant. Or maybe it has something to do with her younger self having the need to predict what has not yet passed, to give herself a sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, the day will come when she no longer is within the imprisonment of her last name. The day when blood isn't thicker than water. She longed for that day, yet even as she flew away from her nest, its chains clung onto her, tearing at her very flesh.

"Meredith?" She heard someone call, with a light shake of her head she spreads a small smile on her usually blank expression, "Yes?" Gilbert slightly chuckles, "I was asking you if you had any hobbies of your own, but it seems you're a little pre-occupied with your own thoughts." Gilbert says as he raises an eyebrow, Meredith gives another shake of her head, "My apologies, I guess I'm just lacking sleep that's all, but to answer your question. I don't have many, but I do have a liking for making dresses. I alter a lot of mine actually." She smiles as they carry on their conversation their voices eventually fading away as she occupies herself with her own thoughts and worries.

'

'

'

A knock came from the stained glass oak doors of the house, and without a second thought, Cedric rose from where he was sitting and opened the door to see a flock of messy red hair covered in leaves, panting heavily as she leaned back down the front steps towards her bike to balance it.

"Good day, Cedric! I'm sorry I took so long; I was a bit preoccupied with something back in town," Anne said, leaning forward to catch her breath.

"It's alright. Come on in, Anne; you seem exhausted," Cedric replied, a hint of amusement on his face.

Anne invited herself into the house and was awestruck by the interior, as if it were her first time visiting. "My, Cedric! I might always be surprised by this house's beauty." Her eyes glimmered as she stared at the painted ceilings.

As Anne settled into the soft cushions, Cedric placed his cup of tea down and took a seat himself. From a not-so-distant corner, Meredith noticed his fidgeting and the constant tugging of his blouse. She had never taken much interest in talking to Cedric—well, not before this whole operation came along—but she was a keen observer. Long ago, she had already noticed Cedric's hidden anxiousness, perfectly concealed within the facade he had created. The way he tugged at his ears or clothing when he grew too nervous, how he paced through a room when he was panicking, or how he had a habit of clapping when he tasted food he liked. How could one  possess such knowledge of another yet remain so distant?

Meredith POV

A heavy sigh left Cedric's lips, his posture awkward and nervous. "We've been meaning to tell you something..." Cedric began, and I found myself staring at him once more. An overpowering feeling of doubt and negativity clouded my already crowded mind. The room fell into a painful silence, the air thick with suspense, so much so that you could almost cut it with a knife. Cedric took his eyes off the ground and stared right at me, taking another deep breath just as he was about to speak.

"We've been hiding something from all of you..." Cedric continued. "I know our arrival in Avonlea was unexpected, almost unwelcome to some... and it's no doubt that speculations have arisen over our arrival. To be true to the three of you... we didn't come from different parts of the world..." He spoke, his leg bouncing as his heart pounded in his chest. "But rather from a different... Well, century." He finally admitted, leaving our three previously thrilled guests stunned. Sebastian whispered a soft, "What?" under his breath. Cedric straightened his posture, taking one last deep breath before continuing. "I am Cedric Burberry, an employee of the largest science and technology company in the United States. Ernest Stan, the CEO of the company I work for, has dedicated almost his entire life to creating a time machine. I was lucky enough to be part of the test team. Our entire purpose here is to gather information about this decade and bring back that knowledge to the year 2022 to further enhance what we have obtained in the past." He paused. "We gathered you here because, in less than two months, we're going back to 2022, and we were instructed to bring some of the people here along." Cedric finally admitted.

Gilbert's eyebrows furrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest, distrust evident on his face. "Does this mean you only ever came to Avonlea to take us to the future? Are the three of you hiding behind an illusion we mustn't know about?" Gilbert asked.

"Of course not! We never knew it would come to a point where we would have to take a few of you back home. This test plan was for knowledge gathering only... until the machine was transported back to us a month ago. We received a letter stating there had been a change in plans," Sophia quickly defended.

Gilbert and Sebastian stared, hesitating over whether to trust their words, but my eyes glanced over toward Anne. The presence of this new revelation made her usual demeanor shift. Then her eyes were on me, staring longer than I had wanted. "Meredith... when you said you found my hair beautiful... or when you said you found me beautiful... was it all a lie?" My heart felt as though it had almost stopped. I stared at her, the sparkle in her eyes gone, replaced by a pleading look that begged me to deny her fears.

"Anne..."

Chapter Text

-Meredith Black

-Cedric Burberry

-Sofia Hart

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Myself

Meredith's POV

"Anne..."

I breathed out, the burning flames of the fireplace nearly useless as my hands lost their warmth. I stuttered, staring at Anne. I had never seen her like this before. Sophia and Cedric's hurried attempts to deny Anne's accusations echoed in the background, their desperate reassurances falling on deaf ears. But I stood there, frozen, unable to process a single word. She was wrong. I meant everything I said to her. I loved her fiery hair and everything else about her. But not a single word escaped my mouth. I just stared at my shoes, paralyzed, unable to give her the answer she was waiting for.

Before I could make sense of anything, Anne leapt from her seat and dashed out the door, grabbing her mittens and pedaling away, leaving her scarf behind. Moments later, Gilbert came running after her, scarf in hand. I didn't move, my eyes locked on the ground as if my stare could burn holes in it. The soft shuffle of the cushion and the slow, measured breaths of Sebastian filled the room. I lifted my gaze to meet his, and the same look of disappointment I had long prayed never to see was now etched on his face. He shook his head slowly, excused himself, grabbed his coat, and left. They all left.

"I..." I tried to speak, but the words refused to come. Once more, I stood, the weight of my failure pressing down on me. I walked quickly to my room, the silence deafening as I closed the door behind me. The moment my back hit the door, I collapsed to the floor, burying my face in my hands. I tangled my fingers in my hair, pulling it, as my breathing became shallow and panicked. I felt myself unraveling. I should have told them sooner. I should have reassured Anne when she asked. All these thoughts spun around me, suffocating me. Everything I feared, everything I hoped would never happen, had come true.

Fifteen minutes of spiraling passed, fifteen minutes that felt like a lifetime, before I heard a soft knock at the door. Slowly, I rose, my legs unsteady as I crossed to open it. When I saw who stood outside, my heart softened for the first time all night.

Cedric.

He stood there, holding a folded blanket in one hand, his hair disheveled as if he'd run his fingers through it after the chaos. He offered me a sad, understanding smile. Without saying a word, he opened his arms wide, inviting me in. I didn't hesitate. I stepped forward and leaned into him, my body trembling. His heartbeat was steady against my own, a familiar rhythm I hadn't realized I was craving. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I found comfort.

Cedric gently guided me inside my room, never letting go, and closed the door behind us with his foot. He continued to hold me as I remained silent, my body shaking. A quiet sigh escaped my lips, and I finally spoke, my voice fragile.

"I don't know what happened to me..." I whispered, gripping his shirt the same way I had in the forest. "I couldn't speak. I should have just spoken up."

I shook my head, disgusted with myself. Cedric's arms tightened around me, and he hushed me softly, offering quiet words of reassurance. The warmth of his breath directly on top of my head unknowingly gave comfort.

"Their reactions were beyond your control, Meredith. Your intentions were pure, with no trace of malice or cruelty," Cedric spoke, as he continued to brush small strands of my hair. "Let time do its thing. We have enough time to worry about all of this."

"You're so afraid of drowning in your own fears... maybe allowing yourself to sink in them is your only way to understand and overcome them."

'

'

'

My eyes flutter open to the sight of the beautifully painted ceiling. It glistened even more as rays of sunlight collided with it. I shifted within my position, soon realizing that I was on my bed, sheets over me. My mind drifted back to what happened a few hours ago, I presumed. A heavy feeling was left in my chest as I recalled the unsuccessful confrontation. The confusion on Sebastian's face, the furrow of Gilbert's eyebrows, and most of all, the tears pricking up in Anne's eyes. Their faces haunted me. They trusted us. They trusted me.

I scanned my surroundings as I slowly lifted myself up to sit on my bed. An amused look was plastered on my face as I saw the small piece of ripped paper on my bedside table.

"Get a lot of rest. Sophia and I will try to send a letter to Anne and the others."

I carried myself off the soft mattress and walked over to the window. Sun rays beamed ever so slightly through the large curtains draped over the unnecessarily large windows.

This feels odd. Having to handle all these emotions and having to take accountability for matters like this feels new. It has always been work. There was nothing getting in the way of it. I have spent the past few years submerged in the never-ending pile of work. And every time I felt that pile decrease, I always found a way to add more onto it. I was free.

Yet my head felt like it was being held down in the water as I was drowning. But if you were to look closely, it wasn't the weight of my father's high expectations of me that was holding me down. It was not my mother's need to make me as beautiful as she once was. It wasn't the weight of my grandparents' comparisons between me and my brother. It wasn't the weight of the words and stares of the media boring into me the very second I was born.

It was the weight of my own hands.

I was drowning myself.

But for the first time in years, I felt like I was floating. The world felt quiet in Green Gables. Everyone, whether outside of Avonlea or in it, was fighting their own wars, and for once, it felt narcotic to not be a part of that.