Title: Time
Rating: PG for now
Author: Kitten4
Timeline: This begins roughly a year after Rhett's departure from Scarlett at the end of "Gone With The Wind."
Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters of "Gone With The Wind" , just the story line…
Life lingers in the eyes for just a moment after death, and then fades away for all eternity.
Most of her life, her emotions were open books through her eyes, they sparkled with mischief and happiness and they flashed with anger and jealousy. Yes, at one time the woman across the room from him shared every thought and feeling through her eyes, if anyone took the time to read her, which he did. He memorized each look, each glance as to build an arsenal against her in preparation for each battle they had, and all the while she seem oblivious to how he knew what she was thinking, feeling and if she was going to lie or tell the truth. Yes, he could always read her, that was until now. The woman before him was nothing more than a shell of the lively creature that caught him in her web so long ago, she was broken and he seemed to be the greater cause for the damage to her.
She didn't know he was there, he had left her over a year ago, with the vague promise to come back and keep the gossip down, but with most things that came to her, he failed her. First he hid in Charleston, to lick his wounds and where he also found out that he could not obtain a divorce in the States, and then he went to Europe and lost himself in the charm of the old world. He honestly had forgotten about her, for the first time in his life he was able to push her finally to the back of his mind. At least that was until that fateful day in England. It was nothing more than a silly little incident at the park. It was the young woman's hair that first caught his eye for it was as dark as hers, and then he began to compare the two. The young lady before him was dressed subdued in a grey day dress, her dark locks pulled back in a twist. She was as tiny as Scarlett and just as graceful in her motion. How long he stared at the young woman playing with a small girl with dark hair, he couldn't tell you, but when she spoke, the spell was broken, because just for a moment he could pretend it was Scarlett and his Bonnie playing in the park as Mother and Daughter should. But no, her voice broke the spell as she scolded the child for some little thing, it was a heavy Irish accent that she spoke in that truly pulled him to her face. She was in fact very similar to Scarlett in the face as well. He then took note of another woman, this one of society, dressed in all her finery crossing the park to the girl and he realized the young Irish lass was the Nanny. He smiled at that thought, but from that moment on she haunted him, her eyes, her smell, her laugh would fill his night with fitful dreams. No he may have been able to avoid her for a while but no longer. And so, he felt he was left with no choice but to return to the cruel creature that apparently still held his heart and face the wrath she would unleash.
And so he arrived, with no notice, to Atlanta. He noted no one stared or cringed at him as he left the station and made the journey to their monstrosity of a home. Stepping up to it, he was at first surprised to see holiday decorations adorning the gates and door, holly and a wreath of pine. In the windows, a single candle burned, and he could note that the heavy drapery were pulled open for once. He entered without notice and stood in the entry way, taking in the changes. Firstly the heavy carpets were gone and a wood floor gleaned with fresh wax. The stairs now carpeted, he he noted with a neutral tone of brown not a gaudy burgundy, his eyes fell to the spot at the bottom of the stairs and noted no sign of the accident remained. He walked through the house, and was in quiet amazement at the changes she had made, for even though it was still an atrocity on the outside, the inside now appeared to be a comfortable and homey yet it was dignified and classic. Gone were the gilded mirrors and heavy tones, replaced with lighter pastels and neutral tones. The furniture had either been replaced or reupholstered. He began to wonder exactly how much this transformation had cost him, when he came upon Mammy in the dining room preparing for the evening meal.
"Mister Rhett" she said slightly startled by his appearance "Is you really here?" she asked, her old features still shocked.
"Yes Mammy I am" he paused just inside the door "Would you mind telling me where my beloved little wife is?'
It was with a great "hmph" she continued on placing the table, but he noted she was adding his at the head of the table "She and the chil'rn is at church like shes supposed to be" she finished the last of the settings before meeting his gaze again "ans not that baptis church of Miss Melly's, my lamb is at the Catholic church wheres she belongs" and without another word she simply left the room.
With his new found information, that is exactly where is found her and is standing watching her. He could tell she was going through the motions of a well-practiced routine from childhood, no light met her eyes. Next to her were young Wade and Ella. Wade as barely twelve and he was taller than his Mother, while Ella barley came to her chest. He noted the boy was growing and fast. His clothes appeared to be new and he was still running them high. Ella's hair had begun to darken and he could see, from here she would be a miniature Scarlett in a few years with auburn hair instead of midnight black. But his eyes were pulled back to her. While the children were dressed in Christmas finery and frocks of color, she wore a simple black dress of morning. Her hair was pulled back in a tight twist and she wore no adornment other than her wedding ring, not even makeup upon her pale face. And so for the remaining of the evening service he stood in the shadows and watched. She didn't seem to be struggling with the current act, but then perhaps this wasn't an act. Could her words of over a year ago be true, could she have learned to truly love?
tbc?