A Prologue

This first fanfiction picks up right where Road to Avonlea left off...

Felix could not believe that Felicity and Gus were actually married. He had seen it with his own two eyes; heard them speak their deathless vows with his own two ears – but it all seemed so unreal. After all that they had gone through they were finally man and wife. Felix had a still harder time believing that Gus, a man whom he had admired since childhood, was alive and well when they had all thought him dead for so long. But he was and they were and now the house seemed eerily empty. The guests had all left and Felicity and Gus had long since departed on the train and now the King family (along with the Pettibones the foundling home children and a few others who had stayed behind to help the family get over their loneliness of that first night) was sitting around the fire, it’s burning embers casting a rosy glow on all who sat near it, as they talked joyously over the events of the day.
"Wasn’t Felicity beautiful?" mused Cecily.
"So beautiful! Her dress made her look like a perfect queen!" exclaimed Izzy.
"She was very pretty," agreed Olivia, "Although, she mightn’t have been if her dress had been 3000 sizes to large for the poor dear!"
Those who had been there shared in the joke and proceeded to fill on those who had not. Cecily turned to Izzy and whispered, "Izz, are you and Felix…you know…back together?"
"I don’t know Cess…I don’t know. It’s just I…he…we…I…the way he looked at me during the wedding – oh, Cecily, I get shivers just thinking about it now. You know how I feel about him Cess. But I can’t just forgive everything he did, you know? I do…but I don’t all at the same time. And I can not believe that he signed up for the Navy without talking to me about it first. He just makes me so mad!"
Izzy caught Felix’s eye just then and she watched him, hurt and angry and disappointed after hearing her words, storm out of the room. His exit went unnoticed by everyone but Izzy and Cecily.
"He loves you Izz. I know that you see it too…tell me you see how much he loves you." "I see it Cecily…but I also see the look on Donny Lester’s face… And it’s Felix’s fault that he thought I was easy. He didn’t tell them we…that we…but he didn’t tell them we didn’t either. He injured my pride and my reputation…along with my feelings. Our intimate moments should not have been broadcast around Avonlea, Cecily, but that’s what happened. Felix needs to show me that he respects me…sometimes love just isn’t enough."
"But Izzy…"
"Does anyone know where Felix has run off to?" asked Janet, unknowingly interrupting the girls’ conversation.
"Um, I think he went to go and get a breath of fresh air," Cecily offered. "Izzy, I think I need to take a walk. Come with me won’t you?"
"Sure Cecily. Father, I’ll just meet you and Murielle back at home alright?"
"Of course, Izzy. Be sure not to stay out too late girls."
"We won’t," they said in unison as they opened the door.
"Good bye everybody. Thank you for a lovely evening, Mr. and Mrs. King."
"You’re welcome Izzy. See you soon."

The night air cooled Felix’s flushed cheeks and he ran his hands through that handsome dark hair of his. A deep and saddened sigh escaped his chest and he sat down on the cliff, looking out into the ocean and wondering where his life was going. In one month he would be out at sea, learning and experiencing the life of a navy man. He had told himself that he would not leave without making sure Izzy knew how he felt. He wanted to be able to kiss her goodbye; to slip a ring on her slender white finger in promise of their future together; to watch a shining tear slide down her beautiful face and feel an identical drop fall down his as the train pulled away from the station; to write her everyday just to tell her he loved her and that as soon as he got back he would marry her and they would live happily ever after. He had used to think that Izzy had wanted the same things, but now he was not quite as sure. And what was worse, he was not sure that he’d be home any time soon either. Rumors of war conscription had been stirring and if the government decided to force all able bodied young men to go that would be it…he’d be off with the Navy fighting for justice.
Felix listened to the waves crashing on the red shores and the aching pain in his heart overwhelmed him. With no one near for miles, Felix let go of his masculine pride and wept, hard and bitter, until his eyes were dry. He remembered a line from a long ago Sunday School lesson about love and speaking to God. He fell to his knees and prayed as if he were actually talking, face to face with the Creator, pleading with Him to bring he and Izzy to an understanding, asking Him to allow them to love each other.
"Please," he whispered after the valor and rage had left him. "Amen."
Again, he sighed deeply and stood up feeling as if he had cleansed his soul. He could now think objectively over Izzy’s words that evening. Why shouldn’t she still have qualms where he was concerned? After all, hadn’t he been the one to goof it all up in the first place? Of course he had. She would come around sooner or later. He was just going to have to learn to have patience, and acquire enough to wait for her. She was worth it.

Cecily took a long breath in, mentally deciding that Izzy had a right to know the truth. She opened her mouth quickly and spat out the words in one single breath.
"Izzy, Felix leaves in a month for training with the Navy and if conscription actually happens, he may not be home for a very long time…if at all and I thought that you needed to know. Now does this change your course of action where Felix is concerned? "
Izzy’s feet had stopped their motion and the color had gone out of her face. She looked as if she might faint.
"He’s what?" she manage to say.
"In a month."
‘I knew he was going Cess but I didn’t think it would be so soon!"
"Does this change anything for you?"
"It changes everything! He can’t go…at least not without…" Izzy couldn’t breath. "I have to find him Cecily!"
"Okay, well, I guess we should start by the lighthouse. You know how Felix likes it there when he needs to be alone." Cecily led the way, smiling. She hated to see her best friend so obviously upset, but she couldn’t help feeling excited. She would like nothing more than to see Felix and Izzy get together again. The quicker they got to the lighthouse the better!

"It was a beautiful wedding and a lovely evening Janet, thank you for allowing us to be a part of it," Murielle said to Janet King as she and Clive left the King Farmhouse.
"It was a pleasure Murielle and I know Gus and Felicity appreciated your presence and support. We’ll see you soon!"
The Kings bid the Pettibones a final farewell and turned back to their own.
"Well," said Hetty, "I suppose we should get along shouldn’t we Sarah?"
"I suppose so Aunt Hetty."
"We really should be going too Janet," Olivia told her. "It’s getting late."
"Yes, it is getting rather late, isn’t it? I wonder what on earth has happened to our children," commented Alec.
"Well, if we see them on our way back to Rose Cottage, we’ll tell them to head for home," Hetty said. "It’s entirely too late to be out of doors."
"Oh Aunt Hetty!" Sarah laughed, "They’re young! Don’t fret, they’ll be home soon enough."Hetty huffed and everyone knew that that was the end of that conversation.
"Well goodnight everyone!"
"Goodnight" was the general reply before doors were passed through and shut.

"Well Murielle," Clive said to her as they walked hand in hand to their home.
"Well…"
"I guess we should tell Izzy what’s going on."
"She’s going to hate us Clive. You know she is."
"Hate is such a strong word. Yes, she’ll be unhappy for awhile…but she’ll get over it. We used to move around all the time. She’s used to it.’
"I don’t know," Murielle told him, "Izzy has roots here in Avonlea you know. She’s not going to want to leave. Maybe we should allow her to…"
"Murielle, no. I’ve already thought of that myself. But the thought of leaving my 17 year old daughter alone in the house while we are living in Halifax…it just isn’t right. Izzy will be fine. She’s a big girl."
"Exactly, that why…"
"Murielle!"
"She’s your daughter Clive, but if I were you I’d think long and hard. She’s not going to go gently."

"There he is Cess," cried Izzy. "I’ll just catch my breath."
"I guess I’ll leave you two alone," Cecily said.
"Do you mind? I think it would be better if it were just Felix and I."
"Of course I don’t mind Izzy! Good luck," she said as she gave her friend a warm hug.
"Thanks."
When Cecily left her on her own, she caught her barings and began to walk to towards him. When she was a mere two feet from him she was frozen, unable to move or to speak but frozen as fear took over her. All she could do was stare at the back of his dark head, stuck. Luckily for her, Felix turned around first, or she might have stood there until the life faded out of her.
"Izzy? What are you doing way out here at this time of night?" he said, trying to get rid of any remnance of his earlier private display of emotions.
"I guess one could ask you the same thing Felix. Perhaps we’re out here for the same reasons."
"Maybe."
They were both whispering though neither knew exactly why. Perhaps the moment was too delicate and breakable for voices.
"Felix I…"
"Izzy I…"
The laughed stiffly.
"Let me go first Felix, before I lose my nerve." She took a deep breath. "You hurt me. You hurt me so badly that at one point, I was convinced it was beyond repair. You…"
"Izzy why won’t you believe that I’m sorry I…"
"Felix please don’t interrupt. I was angry. I felt like my privacy had been ripped away from me…it’s humiliating to know that your whole town thinks you just gave yourself away. I couldn’t hold my head up high anymore.
"Yesterday I was walking passed the old school house and thinking that this will be the first year we’re not attending class there together. And I was thinking about the times we all shared there. I was thinking about my first day…you were so funny. I remember it so clearly Felix. Anyway, I was thinking about how much you’ve been a part of my life since then, and suddenly I realized what things would be like if you weren’t in my life – if you had never been in my life, or if you were to leave it. Felix do you remember when I wanted to go to Boston with my Aunt?" Izzy began to cry while Felix nodded his head mutely. "You told me you thought I was perfect, that I was like a sea breeze, thankfully without the fish, that I didn’t belong in the city. You asked me to stay…with you. At that moment I realized I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t allow you to slip out of my life, let alone throw you out of it." Izzy touched his arm and looked into his eyes. "And then tonight Cecily and I were out walking and she told me that you’ll be leaving in a month for training, and that if the conscription begins you’ll be expected to go overseas. I was stunned. I knew you were leaving, but it hadn’t really hit me until then. And now, I am standing before you, begging you not to leave. Stay here with me Felix. I can’t live without you. I love you."
Felix reached over and wiped a tear from Izzy face.
"You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that…!"
"Alright Felix King, your turn. Tell me what I want to hear. Please?"
Felix folded Izzy into his arms and kissed her neck.
"If I can get out of it Izz, I will…I promise I will. But resigning from the Navy will only keep me home so long…if the rumors are true, I’ll have to go."
"But then in won’t be by your own free will! At least now I’ll know that you want to stay."
"I never wanted to leave you Izzy, only the memories of you hating me."
"I never hated you Felix."
"But you love me Izzy! You just said so! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?"
"You could help me understand," she said coyly.
"I love you Izzy…with all of my heart." He bent down to kiss her then and their lips met in the most pure and beautiful of all kisses.
"Don’t stop Felix," she whispered as he pulled away. "I want this moment to last forever." She pressed herself against his chest and listened to the muffled beating of his heart.
They stood that way for a long time, silently and reverently, until at last Felix realized the time.
"Izzy," he said quietly. "I think we’d better head home, sweetheart. It’s getting really late and…"
"What did you just call me?"
"Umm…Izzy?"
"No, after that."
Felix dropped his eyes. "Er, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, that was it."
"Do you mind?"
"No. Say it again."
"Sweetheart," he repeated as he nuzzled her hair.
"I guess we should be getting back…darling."
They untangled themselves only enough so that they could comfortably face forward – Felix still had his arms wrapped around her and her head was still leaning on his chest. When they arrived at Avonlea crossroads, the sky was pitch black, save the speckles of light the stars emitted.
"Well, I guess this is where you go your way and I go mine," Felix said.
"I guess so."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They shared another tender kiss.
"I love you."
"I love you."
"Okay. So, I’ll see you tomorrow?
"Yeah."
"I love you Izzy."
"I love you too Felix. Good night."
"Good night sweetheart."
Izzy peeled back her fingers unwillingly and began to walk in the direction of the Pettibone household. She forced her feet into action. Felix watched her walk home, making sure that she got home safely, unwilling to let her disappear from his vision. When Izzy reached the back door, she turned and blew a kiss in his direction, and then stepped indoors.
"Father? Murielle? I’m home!"
"We’re in the parlor Izzy.’
Izzy walked into the parlor and greeted them.
"Hello. How has the rest of your evening been?"
"Fine, and you?"
"Wonderful. Cess and I took the most incredible, liberating walk. I feel like I could fly."Murielle and Clive exchanged looks.
"What is it?" Izzy asked.
"I think you’d better sit down dear," Murielle advised.Izzy was very curious.
"What is it?" she asked again.
"Before I tell you Izz, I want you to promise me that you’ll listen until I’ve finished and that you will not be too angry."Izzy took a deep breath.
"Are you about to give me something to be angry about?"
"Izzy, please just listen to him dear," bade Murielle.
"Go ahead father."
"Well, you see…I…Murielle…we…er…its…" Clive stumbled.
"Father spit – it – out."
"We’re leaving Avonlea."
There was silence. Izzy’s eyes never faltered from gazing at her fathers face.
"Oh really?" she said with obviously false excitement and sweetness in her voice. "When do you two leave? Not too soon I hope."
Murielle laughed out loud.
"Izzy," said Clive," I don’t think that you understand. You have to come."
"Ah, but you see Father, I don’t. I’m seventeen years old now, you can’t tell me what to do."
"Isolde Jessi…’
"Father, don’t scold me as though I were a child. I am not leaving Avonlea," she told him forcefully. And with that, she turned and left the parlor.
"Well, that went well," commented Murielle.
"Yes, didn’t it?" he answered sarcastically.

A few weeks later, things were still tense in the Pettibone establishment. Izzy went around as if her parents were the only one’s leaving and Clive couldn’t seem to get himself to talk to her about it. As for Izzy herself, she was plenty serious about not going to Halifax, not now, not when she and Felix were finally on the right track. Especially since he had given up the Navy for her. Oh no, not this girl, she was staying firmly planted in her Avonlea.

Felix knocked impatiently on the door and Izzy quickly came to answer.
"Hi, Felix! I was just thinking about you. I w…’
"Izz, I need you to listen to me very carefully," he instructed as he took her hands and looked worriedly into her brown eyes. "Conscription has just been enforced. All of us have to leave on Saturday for a little bit of training in Toronto and then they’ll ship us overseas." His clear eyes misted over.
"Oh Felix!" Izzy embraced him quickly. "Everything will be Okay Felix," she told him as he shook in her arms. "You have to believe that. I promise that everything will be Okay."
"You don’t know that, Iz. How can anyone know? Men have already died over there…what if…what if I…" Felix couldn’t finish his sentence.
"You won’t," she told him softly, trying to make him believe her. "You’ll be fine. And you will come home, safe and sound to me.."
Felix pulled out of her hug slightly.
"I will come home to you Izzy. If one thing is going to keep me alive over there it’s going to be you. I don’t think my folks know yet. I guess I’d better run over there and let them know." He turned to walk home.
"Felix?’
"Yeah?"
"Please try not to worry. Everything will be fine."
Felix walked slowly back to her.
"You too, my love, try not to worry?" he said as he stroked her face.
"Yeah."
"Alright, I guess I’ll, um, see you later then.’
"Sure."
"Bye."

"Oh no!" cried Janet.
"Felix, are you sure?" asked Olivia
"I was there when the general store got the call to put up notice. We all have to go on Saturday."The King family sat silence in the sitting room. Felix had called all of them to the King farmhouse for a meeting; Aunt Hetty and Sara; Aunt Olivia Uncle Jasper, Monty and Alicia; Janet, Alec, Cecily and Daniel; Gus and Felicity.
"Oh Felix…" sighed Sara.
"This is terrible!" cried Cecily.
"Head high, shoulders back, purpose firm and never slack, dear boy. This is your duty to the Empire as a Canadian and a King. Do us all proud. We’ll miss you," said Hetty, ever practical.
"Will you be fighting in’gins Felix? Like the ones in my book?" Daniel asked looking up at his older brother with earnest eyes, too young to understand the implications of war and the frailty of life. Felix called Daniel to his knee and helped him up on it.
"No Daniel, I won’t be fighting any Indians. But it will sort of be like being a cowboy…only a little bit different I guess!"
"Neat! I want to go too! Can I Felix, can I?’
"No you may not go, Daniel and I want you to go and get ready for bed. Enough foolishness now, run along," Janet instructed him. "Felix, please don’t fill his head with any of your nonsense."
"Sorry mother."
Again that terrible silence filled the room. No one knew what to say or what to think. They were all just left with nothing.
"Well," said Hetty, who was almost always the first to break those awkward silences. "I guess that’s that then. Thank you for letting us know Felix. We’d best be on our way Sara."
Sara stood up and embraced Felix.
"I’m going to worry about you little cousin. See you soon."Hetty also gave Felix a warm hug, but said nothing.
As the rest of the family left the farmhouse, Felix slipped out the back door. He needed to clear his head and to think things through a little.

Back at the Pettibone house, Izzy too was thinking things through. Perhaps she should go on to Halifax with father and Murielle. Maybe a new place with new people would help her to get through the loneliness of missing Felix.
"Murielle?" Izzy called.
"Yes Izzy?" she said coming into the bedroom.
"Might you lend me your ears for a few moments?"
"Of course dear, what is it that’s troubling you?"
"Well, I’m thinking about reconsidering the move to Halifax."

"Oh Izzy! Are you going to come with us? We would love it if you would! Morgan was going to join us, but what with this conscription, he’ll be leaving the same day we arrive."
"Morgan!" cried Izzy. "Not Morgan too! I hadn’t even thought of that! Oh Murielle! I’ve been so selfish!"
"You weren’t selfish Izzy…blind maybe, but not selfish. Love will do that to a person."
"What? Murielle I have no idea what you are talking about!"
"Oh come now Izz. Everyone knows that you and Felix King have made up! Is that why you want to come now, because Felix will be gone too?"
"I don’t know…I guess…maybe."
"Well, you are welcome to join us Izzy. We are going to keep the house here in Avonlea…we really don’t know how long we intend to stay, so all you need to do is pack the things you can’t live without – you’re clothes and a few things to remind you of home. We leave on Saturday. Perhaps we’ll be on the same train to Halifax as Felix!"
"Wouldn’t that be lovely?" Izzy mused thinking about how wonderful that little extra time together would be.

"Well, I’m ready," Felix announced Saturday morning. "I’m packed and ready to go. We’d better hurry father or we’ll miss the train and I have to be on this one with Izzy!"
"Alright, alright son, don’t worry. What about Elbert?"
"Elbert’s catching a later train…he wanted to have the extra time here in Avonlea, but we’ll be meeting up in Toronto. I think he’s pretty scared. So am I!"
"Everything will be fine. Did you say goodbye to your mother?"
"Yes, she’s still upstairs though. I’m worried about her father, she seems so distraught."
"Her eldest son is going to war. She has every right to be distraught. What about Cess and Daniel?"
"Said goodbye to Daniel and Cecily is going to come with us after all…she wants to bid Izzy farewell too."
"Alright, then I guess we’d better be on our way. Your Aunts wanted you to know that they love you and will be praying for you as will Sara and Jasper and the children. Shall we?"
"I guess so. Cecily hitched up the horse. Let’s go."
Felix walked across the front lawn and looked back on the little house. "Good bye house."
"Felix you’ll be back in that house sooner than you think, I hope."
"I hope so too father. I don’t even really care how soon it is…as long as I’m back in it at all."
"You’ll be fine Felix. You’ll be just fine."
"That’s what I keep telling myself."
Cecily drove the buggy up to the house. "Hop in big brother or you’ll miss your train and I’ll miss saying goodbye to my best friend."
"Okay Cess, I’m ready."
Everyone was doing their best to keep up a happy façade, but inside, they were each struggling with their own sense of pain through this ordeal.

"All aboard! Last call for Halifax! Last call!" cried out the stationmaster.
"That’s us," said Murielle. "Goodbye Cecily, Alec."
"Goodbye, have a safe journey," Alec said in return. ‘Goodbye Izzy. Enjoy Halifax."
"I’ll try Mr. King."
"Well Izzy," started Cecily. "I’m going to miss you!"
"I’m going to miss you too Cess! I promise to write as often as I can!"
"So do I!"
They shared a warm embrace.
"Good luck Felix. Be sure to come home to us. Mother told me to tell you to make sure that you were your warm underclothes when it gets cooler and that she packed you a few baked things in you bag. I’ll miss you."
"I’ll miss you too Cecily. You take good care of mother and father and the farm Okay? I want to see that it is all in one piece when I come home. Love you."
"You too."
"Well, my boy, here we are," said Alec, misty-eyed.
"I’ll be fine father. I swear I’ll come home."
"You just mind that you do Felix King. I love you, son."
"I love you too father. I’d better go."
Felix hugged his father tightly and then took Izzy’s hand as they walked onto the train. Together they stood and waved to their family and friends and looked out on their dear Avonlea. They would both be back, they vowed.

At the Halifax station, Morgan was there to meet them.
"Morgan!" the Pettibones all cried.
"Everyone!" Morgan cried back and they ran into a family hug.
"Hello Felix King," Morgan said as he held out his hand,
"Morgan, it’s good to see you," Felix replied as he shook it.
"I’m sorry this has to be so brief," Morgan told his family, "but Felix and I have to get on this train in a few moments. Felix, I’m happy to have a travelling buddy!"
"So am I," Felix laughed.
"All aboard! Toronto bound! Last call!" cried the stationmaster.
"Good bye Morgan," Murielle kissed his cheek.
"See you soon Morgan," a tearful Izzy told him. "Come home safe."
"I will Izz."
"Well, son, good luck. God be with you," Clive said as he patted his son’s shoulders.
Morgan looked at his father and then flung himself into his arms.
"Good bye father. Take care of yourself."
"Good bye Felix!" Murielle said for herself and for Clive who was stunned by his sons sudden display of feeling and by how good it had felt to hug him.
"Good bye Mrs. Pettibone, Mr. Pettibone." Clive managed a nod.
"We’ll leave you two alone for a minute," Murielle told them as she led Clive to the platform.
"This is it Izz. We really have to say goodbye. I can’t believe I have to leave you so soon."
"I know," Izzy said as a tear escaped her eye. Felix allowed the pad of his thumb to wipe it away.
"Please don’t cry," he whispered. "Please, I couldn’t bear it if you cried."
"Oh Felix, I’m going to miss you so much. I can’t believe that you have to go!" Izzy’s hands traced Felix’s face and shoulders and chest.
"Let me hold you Izzy. Just for a moment before I get on the train." He folded her into his arms and rocked back and forth memorizing the warmth he felt while she was near him. Izzy took a deep breath in and tried to internalize the way Felix smelled. She wanted to remember every last detail about him. Felix drew away and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss, mixed with the salty tears of four heartbroken eyes, was to be their last for a very long time. No one was to know what would become of them and as Felix boarded the train, he understood that from that point forward, all their lives were held in God’s mysterious hands.