Hello dear readers!
The idea for this new what-if story hit me several weeks ago while reading a comment HelenSES made on another story. "What if Scarlett had a brother?" I believe though that the mere existence of a brother would change Scarlett's character drastically so I decided to change the brother into a cousin, Ellen's nephew, son of the notorious Philippe.
So central character in this FanFic, apart from Scarlett, Rhett ,Ashley and Melanie, is Scarlett's cousin Luis Pierre Robillard who is also Scarlett's dearest friend and confident.
As always I acknowledge that I don't own GWTW characters and that they belong to M.M. Estate. I do own Pierre though (and I am very happy for the fact LOL!)
Many thanks to HelenSES for her help and to Chris OHB for her constant support! This story is dedicated to you!
I had a really good time writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it as well!
I am waiting impatiently for your reviews!
So here we go...
Introduction
The day our story begins, Luis Pierre Robillard is 20 years old. He has the same large, emerald eyes, the same fair skin, the same thick black hair as his beloved sixteen years old cousin Scarlett, a common legacy from their French great grandmother Solange Robillard, Ellen and Philippe's grandmother, whose portrait dominated Tara's parlour where the two children used to spend their summers together.
His O' Hara relatives were the only family Pierre really had. His mother, a poor girl from Savannah, who Filipe married out of spite for his father who disgraced him when his love affair with his fifteen year old cousin Ellen became common knowledge to Savannah's Old Guard, died in childbirth and Philippe followed her a few months later, killed in a bar fight. This didn't come as a surprise to the family as he was constantly drunk as he considered himself guilty for the destruction of both the two women who loved him wholeheartedly. The baby was raised by Eulalie and Pauline, Ellen's unmarried older sisters, as their father Pierre Robillard, head of the Robillard family couldn't stand the thought of letting a Robillard baby grow up alone in an institution, although he completely understood and justified his brother's reaction towards his son who had broken the family laws. This scandal had already cost him too much, as it had as a result of his beloved daughter getting married to an Irish Catholic peasant and of his favourite nephew, the only male descendant of the Robillard family dying. Pierre wasn't sure which fate was worse but he was completely satisfied with his own reaction. He had managed to keep the scandal secret outside of the family and he had made sure that after his death this baby, whose raising he would personally oversee, would continue the family tradition.
Unfortunately for him things didn't evolved like that at all. Pierre jr had inherited his father's strong will and he was unstoppable when he wanted something. In addition his aunties who loved the boy very much, spoiled him uncontrollably, or at least that was Pierre senior's opinion. When the boy was expelled from Georgia's University where he was studying law according to his uncle's wishes, due to bad behaviour, the old man disgraced him as well and decided that there was no hope for the younger generation and there was no doubt left in him that the South in general was marching towards its complete moral destruction.
When Pierre found himself alone, with no money or support he decided to do the only thing his heart wanted since he was a little boy. To travel aboard. He managed to embark, with the help of a friend of his father, who hadn't forgotten him, to a ship heading to Australia, and now, four years later he was considered one of the most promising young captains with a bright future ahead of him.
Of course he hadn't forgotten his beloved aunties, not the ones who raised him nor his aunt Ellen. Despite Uncle Pierre's protestations the three women loved each other dearly and they used to spend all his childhood summers together at Tara, Uncle Gerald's plantation. He really loved all his O Hara cousins, especially the older one, Scarlett who, despite the fact that she was a girl and 4 years younger than him, was serious competition in all the games he enjoyed playing. She was able to run, ride, climb trees and swim better than most of his friends in Savannah. When they grew older and entered adolescence he quickly understood that she was very mature for her age. They could spend hours and hours talking about everything and nothing, laughing with their whole hearts. He asked her advice on girl matters, she advised him about her thousand beaus that circled around her at every party and gathering. During his long voyages they didn't lose contact. He wrote to her dutifully and she eagerly answered back. He had disagreed with her only once, in his last year's visit.
At his first day at Tara after they had a family dinner, Scarlett insisted they should take a walk, beside the river, where they used to play as children, and she insisted to go alone. There she confessed her undying love for Ashley Wilkes.
He remembered the man. He could understand the reasons why his cousin fell in love with him. He was rich, handsome, well-educated and the last descendant of the oldest family of the county. Initially he felt really happy that his baby cousin had finally found love as he was sure that all these boys who surrounded her every day and their love confessions had managed to provoke in her nothing more than the pleasure of winning or just a feeling of genuine friendship in some rare cases like the Tarleton boys. He thought her parents would be very proud and so was he, but the more he thought about that potential marriage the more disappointed he felt. Ashley, despite his social status and money just didn't seem enough for her. He was his father's son, he was interested only in books and he had no idea of real life. He was lacking of courage, of the backbone which Pierre believed a man worthy of his Scarlett should have. He was afraid that once romantic love would fade away his cousin would feel utterly bored lonely and miserable. He was thinking he had to find his uncle Gerald, to ask him to call off the engagement. Or even better he should find Aunt Ellen first, she always had a soft spot on him, which always seemed to unnerve her husband while he was hearing Scarlett happily rambling on about her future marital bliss.
Then he remembered what it was always said about the Wilkes, that they always married their cousins, and an old gossip he had once heard by the Tarletons that Ashley was meant to marry his sweet cousin Melanie. How had the little coward managed to break the family tradition and act against his father's wish? Maybe he had misjudged him, maybe he had grown a backbone for Scarlett's sake. He smiled, his mood utterly changed for the best. Maybe his little girl had chosen correctly, so there would be no family drama, at least not for Scarlett. He seriously doubted that Suellen's infatuation for that old bachelor, Mr Kennedy would have a happy ending. So he opened his arms for a "brother and sister" style hug and asked.
"So my dear little cousin, I can see that I hold no place in your heart anymore. That Mr Wilkes of yours managed to vanish all of us, since you didn't bother to inform me about your engagement, let alone invite me to the ceremony," he said allegedly upset, and continued "But you are still my favourite girl, so I will swallow my pride and I will ask you when you are planning the nuptials, as only wild horses would keep me away from you that special day,"
Scarlett's good mood evaporated. "Oh Pierre," she sighed "We haven't planned anything yet. That's the problem and that's why I wanted to speak with you privately. I know he loves me but he makes no love gesture, he doesn't even give me a sign. What should I do? Should I speak to him first or would that make him feel more uncomfortable? What's your opinion? You are the first person I have ever talked to about this."
Oh my good Lord, Pierre thought. She is still such a child. It's just a girlish infatuation but I must becarefulnot to hurt her feelings.
He took her in his arms once more and said "My darling cousin, if he isn't interested in you he must be a blind man or a complete idiot. Anyway, it is known that Wilkes always marry their cousins and Ashley doesn't strike me as someone who would oppose to the family tradition. Don't waste your time with him and I am sure you will recognise true love when you find it,"
"No Pierre, don't say that again please. He loves me, he won't marry anyone else," she said and she had the same expression she used to have when they played as children in Tara's backyard when she always wanted to win. At everything.
"If his father opposes our decision we can elope. We can come to London to find you! Wouldn't that be wonderful?" She said with a day-dreaming look on her face "We would be the happiest people in the whole world!"
Pierre signed "My dear Scarlett, I doubt if he could ever make you happy. You have nothing in common. He spent 4 years studying literature in London and you hate novels. He is not the right man for you, I think,"
"No, he is!" was Scarlett's stubborn answer.
Pierre knew her very well. He knew there was no point in insisting. He could only hope that Mr Wilkes' marriage would soon put an end to this absurd infatuation. He tried to change the subject. "Let's go home. I want to give you your gifts. You must see this new green dress. I am sure it will make many heads spin around here!" They companionably laughed and took the road back home.
Pierre was thinking all of this as his ship was entering Charleston's port. He was planning to visit Tara for a few days, and he was eager to learn what his cousin was up to. He had received an invitation from the Wilkes's, to attend a barbeque party at the Twelve Oaks to celebrate Ashley's 25th birthday, and as it was common knowledge, to announce his engagement to Melanie Hamilton. There wasn't a single reference to Ashley in Scarlett's last letters and so he believed she had forgotten him. He smiled happily. He had really missed his family. In the same time his gaze fell upon his new friend, Rhett Butler. He had met him during their last voyage but he already felt as if he knew him his whole life. Despite the fact he was twelve years older than him, he was his new best friend. They had had a magnificent time in New Orleans last month and he felt he had to reciprocate. As far as he knew he hadn't any plans for the weekend. If it was so, he would take Rhett with him to the Barbeque. The Wilkes were known for their hospitality and he was sure that they would never forget this weekend.
If only he knew how right he was!
