VThe Funeral was silent but for the pitter patter of rain that had drowns the clay dirt of Georgia for a week now. Scarlett held onto her umbrella hoping that it could make up for the lack of human comfort. But it didn't. What Scarlett wouldn't do for anyone to come to her, even that India Instead Scarlett stood alone, and away from everyone. The red dirt that sunk into what was Melanie's grave looked almost blood like the coffin was too big, Scarlett suddenly smiled, and that was her loophole! The grave was too big, she looked around desperately, and did anyone else know? Didn't they see Melly couldn't be dead she must be alive.

Just then Ashley's eyes met hers...he knew too, he saw the hope that she felt.Scarlet didn't want Ashley to be the only one, couldn't someone else see it. Was it only she and Ashley...?

It didn't matter. She didn't waste time asking herself why in the end it was still her and Ashley she just got close to him, falling onto the dirt with him kneeling beside her, his moans and cries breaking her heart, because his cries seemed to be hers, the ones that she wouldn't let out the ones she had but couldn't show, mustn't show. Scarlatti's arms wrapped around Ashley trying to shelter him, the rain came down harder. And there was a sickening sound as the rain made noises on the coffin, Scarlett covered Ashley's ears, she must protect him, Melly wanted him Protected.

Scarlett's heart cried, but who would protect her...who would cover her ears...no one. The damage was already done and as the coffin was lowered into the ground, Scarlett felt as if she was burring much more then Melly, so much more, there was her Bonnie, and her young lover and her innocence and her husband-her heart choked, but she mustn't think of Rhett, no, she couldn't she must mourn Melly today, she could mourn Rhett tomorrow, when she didn't miss Melly so bad. Ashley's eyes met Scarletts and for the first time there was some understanding, something she could see in those eyes that had always been so unreadable before but now they seemed so clear, Ashley was being forced into this world he was being pushed out of his dreams and into this scary place, the same way that Scarlett had.

"Scarlett, you must hate me...I killed my Melanie...YOUR Melly"

"You must not speak that way Ashley, you musn't. She wanted a baby, she loved caring for babies."

Ashley's eyes softened.

"She must have. She treated me like such a child, dotting on me and who will care for me now, while Melanie is gone?"

Ashley cried out. And for the first time so did Scarlet, her Cries echoing against the thunder and rain, for who would care for her now. What would she do without Melly?

Scarlett got up, she smoothed the sides of Ashley's hair as she would do for Wade, when she was feeling maternal, she brushed off his cheeks which were streaming tears, and she smiled, a soft sad smile that was touching her mouth but not her eyes

"Ashley, I swear there won't be a day you'll go uncared for, why even if I have to do it myself!"

She said adding her southern belle Charms a light smile tugged at Ashley's lips, simple adoration for Scarlett, the feeling that he used to be confused about seemed so clear now, what he and Scarlett had was not love, but something different, something just as good. Scarlett stood up and Ashley followed,

"You mustn't put dirt on the coffin Ashley-stay away from it altogether-for me"

Scarlett ran words from her past seemed to be echoing 'once you hear the dirt hit the coffin, they really are dead.'

As Scarlett Left Rhett's Shadow came towards the funeral procession, the fact that he was alone was not lost on the crowd, Rhett took a handful of the Red Georgia dirt to the coffin which had now came to the ground, and he dropped it on the coffin, listening to the soft thud, and now she really was gone, she was really there in the ground.

Rhett looked to Ashley, seeing the dirt in his hand, Rhett grabbed Ashley's Wrist,

"Don't, Don't. If you do, then she'll really be gone..."

"She was the only dream I ever had, that didn't die in the face of reality...but see her now? See what I've made her. No, I must, I must go on as Scarlett does, and I can't dream that she's still here when she isn't."

Ashley dropped the dirt onto Melanie's Coffin; the soft thud hit his ears deftly as he whispered.

"Goodbye my love"

Rhett stared at him strangely wondering how Ashley ever got the courage to come to this place in his mind...It wasn't lost on him, that Scarletts name had been uttered, how inappropriate he thought, she would say she loved him and then go to Mr. Wilkes at his Wife's Funeral, but that was Scarlett, and he couldn't love her anyone, He wouldn't allow it

"I won't be winnowed out, Rhett, what are your plans of Scarlet?"

Rhett looked down.

"I see no need for Scarlett and I to ever take the other into consideration ever again."

"Are you planning to leave her?"

"Mr. Wilkes, I do believe that would be none of your concern."

Ashley's heart ached, poor Scarlett, he wouldn't let Rhett just leave her.

"Consider this Captain Butler. If you do decide to...leave her, then it might be..." Ashley faltered wondering if he really meant to take Scarlett if Rhett Failed, wondering if he really could…if he could forget his jewel of a wide Melanie. But quickly he saw he would have to. -

"Then it might become my business."

Rhett Laughed deeply," Touché Mr.Wikes."

Rhett had come to see if Scarlett needed him, though there was clear relief that he could just leave this place and no look back, there was also panic, as his final tie to Scarlett was being severed all she needed was a divorce, but Rhett couldn't think of it, he just laughed, imagining the way Scarlett would bully and break Ashley. He had to believe that, he couldn't believe that, was Scarlett really gone to him?

Her words to him that night one week ago seemed so faint now, as if she hadn't even spoken them and he sought to forget, that was what he needed.

But still, the rain pattered and her voice rang.

"Rhett Darling, I love you"

There was hidden panic in Rhett's voice but Ashley didn't hear it, no, He saw Rhett's Face become sad and forlorn, but Ashley couldn't comfort the cad now Rhett must comfort himself, or find Scarlett, which he sorely hoped Rhett would do. Ashley's last thoughts were of finality, this was the real end of the south, it has a long time coming, finality, in the form of Captain Butlers expensive shoes clacking away from Atlanta and Scarlett taking with him all the former luxury of the south, and finally, in the form of dirt and it made soft clarifying thuds of the last bed of Melanie Wilkes.