Chapter 1: wait to see
Okay, so this is my first fan fiction. I'm not fluent in English as I'm from Denmark, and therefore there'll probably be several spelling and grammar mistakes, but I hope you'll bear with me.
Ever since I finished reading GONE WITH THE WIND, I've – like many others, been wondering what would happen to Rhett and Scarlett.
This story takes place after Scarlett hears of Rhett's marriage to Anne Hampton in the novel "Scarlett" by Ripley. Except I've changed a few facts – Scarlett receives the telegram from Rosemary, and the telegram says that Rhett's only engaged to Anne, NOT married… If you haven't read the novel I know there's a summery of it on Wikipedia.
Anyhow enjoy! And please do tell me what you think – and of course I don't owe GWTW and it's characters. That's all MM's wonderful work.
The rocking of the boat lulled the younger passengers into a sound sleep while it kept the adult's heads spinning just a tad more than their, otherwise, great intake of whine and champagne could have caused. Scarlett's head was no exception; it spun in line with all the Irish fortune hunters, who were on their way to the golden land, America. But the boats rocking and the champagne wasn't the only clause for her spinning head; it danced as well to the rhythm of her despair, her heartache, her swirling thoughts and her suppression of the tragic memories of her life…
She was seated in the ballroom, dressed in one of her daring evening gowns, sipping her fifth glass of champagne and, for once in her life, unaware of the men's hungry eyes. Her mind was concentrated on one single thought: Rhett Butler. The biggest scoundrel she'd ever known, and yet the love of her life. A love she'd realised too late, and a love, she had begun to suspect, wasn't reciprocated. His last action was a proof of this; no man would divorce his wife and following become engaged to her friend, not if he truly loved her. Furthermore he'd left her on her deathbed. If that wasn't a proof of his lost love for her then what was? She sighed deeply before emptying her glass. Her green cat eyes swept the room; people were dancing, drinking and playing cards - exactly as she'd been doing herself on her way over. But this time she couldn't bring her feet to dance.
"Can I bring you anything else, dear?" Colum asked walking towards her. She shook her head.
"No, I'm fine, thanks" she said with the same frigid voice she'd been using for the last three days, "It's such lovely music tonight. Colum, you must learn me how to play the Irish hymns, I don't ever want to forget…" he seated himself by her side face towards the dancing crowd.
"Who's talking about forgetting? My dear Scarlett, no matter what happens in Charleston then your family, the O'haras, will always open their door for you. And I... I'll come visit wherever you are" he smiled and covered her hand with his own; he gave it a squeeze, "You will always be able to hear the Irish hymns" she smiled but didn't reply. Colum searched her pale face; he didn't know much about pregnant women, but he was fairly sure they weren't suppose to be this pale, and for that matter of fact be drinking as much as Scarlett did. This poor girl needed cheering up, he decided.
"Scarlett darling, why don't we dance?" she gave him a puzzled look, "Why my, you look as if I'd ask you to go to the moon with me. Nah, I simply want to have the pleasure of dancing with my lovely cousin, the most dashing woman in the room… nah I retract that, the most dashing woman in this very world " Scarlett chuckled half-hearted.
"Oh my, that was for sure something, but sweet-talk will get you nowhere, Father, I won't dance tonight…" the vague humour she'd held disappeared, "I can't think when I'm dancing... and I need to think, I really need to think" she said.
"Let's cut a deal, shall we? I help you think, and then we'll dance?" Colum flashed his crooked teeth in a warm smile, "What's the matter?"
"You know what's the matter… I just don't get it. I really thought he loved me, that he was just too proud or stubborn to admit it, but now… He's never been the marrying type; he's always said that he would never marry. So he must really love her, or then he simply finds it easier to have a whore in his bed than walking all the way to the brothel…" Scarlett froze aware of her improper speak. She blushed and crossed herself. "Sorry father" she mumbled.
"It's… uhm… no need to think about it, Scarlett. Such things unfortunately belong to the world… And such a woman as…" he blushed as well "why don't you just continue?"
"I just don't understand it. I thought he loved me, or at least he'd come to love me, but I guess that isn't so…"
"But when you tell him about the baby he'll…"
"…He'll love the baby, not me… It'll be like breeding horses. I'll swallow up to the size of an elephant, and he'll be nice to me, but once I've given birth to our child, he'll dump me all over again" she shook her head, "and then he'd take the child away from me" Colum looked shocked; he shook his head, and decided for himself, that Scarlett truly needed cheering up, nobody by their full senses could think such horrible thoughts.
"I don't think any man could be cruel enough to take a child away from it's loving mother" cruel enough? Well Rhett could be just cruel enough, Scarlett thought, he would most certainly be able to take their child away from her just like he'd done it with Bonnie. Oh Bonnie. If she were still here Rhett would never have left her, and if she hadn't died then perhaps Scarlett had been home in time to talk Melanie to her senses, and with Bonnie and Melanie alive then she wouldn't have been so blinded by grief that she didn't notice how old Mammy had become, and then perhaps she could have… No, she wouldn't look behind. Dwelling in the past would only course further pain. Instead she should look ahead – at her options. For one she could tell Rhett the truth; he would probably call the wedding with Anne off, and then she would have nine months to win back his love. But she would be walking around looking like an elephant with swollen ankles and wrists, and Rhett would fuss about her; not allowing her to do a single thing that could hurt the baby, both things would be a drag on her. Another option would be not to tell Rhett about the baby, but even just thinking the thought seemed utterly wrong. Beside how would she pursue her plan; rumours of her pregnancy would reach Charleston sooner or later, and then Rhett would know she was carrying his child. Furthermore her child would be born outside of wedlock, and would thereby be considered a bastard. Her child, Ellen's grandchild, considered a bastard, by the lord; her mother would turn in her grave. She would simply have to tell him; no grandchild of Ellen should be considered a bastard. Unless… unless she remarried. She could find a man and marry him before it was noticeable that she was with child, and then simply just tell him that it was his child. The man would of course have to look slightly like Rhett, but she should have plenty of options - after all flirting was a skill she mastered to the complete, and the huge amount of money she had in the bank should help as well. Then when she'd married, she would convince her husband to move in at Tara, and help her get Careens share back and kick Suellens fat ass. Tara would rise in its former glory by her hand, and she would sit behind Ellen's desk going over the books just like her mother had done it…
"A penny for your thoughts" Colum said.
"A glass of champagne and we have a deal" Scarlett said causing Colum to laugh.
"I see the business woman have arrived, I greet her welcome, and will go to receive a glass then…" he rose, and was back before 2 minutes had gone by.
"Here you go" she took the glass from his hand, and sipped the sweet liquor, "Now what were you thinking. You seemed so deep in thought I didn't want to interrupt"
"I was just thinking about options, Colum… And I do believe I have a plan now"
"I thought you already had a plan: go to your husband and tell him the truth"
"Ah, you see that was your plan, dear cousin… No, I'll go to Charleston, and if Rhett's truly going to marry that silly girl, then I'll leave him be. If that's not the case then I'll tell him the truth" she could see his worried eyes.
"But if he truly is marrying…"
"Anne Hampton" she said; her voice filled with disgust and dislike.
"… What are you going to do then?"
"If it comes down to that then I'll tell you… but now I've finished my champagne and shared my thoughts, so I do believe I own you a dance"
"I thought you wanted to think?"
"Fidle-dee-dee, I have a plan now, Colum. Now I can only wait to see, and while I wait I'd like to dance"