Disclaimer: Obviously I'm not Margaret Mitchell, therefore I do not own 'Gone with the Wind' or any of its characters.
This is fan fiction, it's just for fun, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: I'm a constructive criticism fiend so feel free to point out where I went wrong and what I need to do to make it all better.
This is my first attempt at 'Gone with the Wind' fan fiction and the only stories I have ever completed are Desperate Housewives ones (not very promising, eh? ), so I hope this doesn't make your eyes bleed.
If it's bad I'll just leave it as a one shot.
This story takes off when Rhett comes back from London with Bonnie and the first line is borrowed from the novel (hence the italics).
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"Cheer up. Maybe you'll have a miscarriage."
It took Scarlett a moment to grasp the meaning of the words that had just been said to her and she could hardly believe it was possible to say such a cruel vile thing.
She quickly regained her composure so much so Rhett didn't even realise her bewilderment, and lifted her right hand to strike him hard across his smug face.
She wanted him to feel the same shock and pain she had just experienced when he had uttered the unutterable, words, she thought, a man should never say to a woman, and even less his wife.
Unfortunately for Scarlett, Rhett anticipated her intention and moved just enough to stay out of her reach and save himself from the collision between his cheek and her palm.
This caused her to start loosing her balance, immediately she knew she was going to fall down the long and imposing staircase.
Her gut told her she was going to die, that her time had come, that nobody, no matter how strong they were, would survive such a fall.
In her last moments, her thoughts went towards her unborn child, the only baby she had ever looked forward to bringing into the world.
She felt deep regret, she didn't want this baby to die, and she most certainly didn't want to die either. She had survived too much –war, hunger, and tragedy- to end this way, a small body in a heap of fabric lying ungracefully at the bottom of the stairs.
She wished she had reacted differently to Rhett's words, especially since she knew she had given him exactly what he had been looking for by trying to slap him.
Just as she felt she was ready to face her tragic ending, he reached out and caught her wrist and pulled her with great strength to bring her back out of harm's reach, on the landing.
He held on to her tightly as she landed next to him, their bodies grazing each other's, so close they could feel the other's rapid breathing on their faces.
For a moment, both pairs of eyes shared a silent exchange of worry, regret, fear of what could have been, and awkward tenderness.
But only for a moment, just as soon as it had happened the black eyes retrieved their usual mask, the shield that protected their owner from his wife, and the green eyes just as quickly turned back into the piercing glare –he had become accustomed to- filled with a mix of hatred and what appeared to be confusion over the last words that had been spoken.
It was then he chose to release her from his firm grip. She took two careful steps backwards, rubbing her now bruised wrist with her other hand.
After a few seconds of uneasy hesitation, she rushed in a near run to her bedroom, violently slamming the door behind her.
She breathed heavily as she leaned against the door, resting her forehead on the cool wood.
How could he say such a thing, she wondered.
Rhett, who was so fond of Bonnie, Wade, Ella and children in general, didn't want this child.
To her surprise, she was filled with deep and bitter sorrow, but not for long. She was going to spite Rhett, and the best way to do that, she thought, was to prove him wrong.
She was going to have this child, and love it with all her body and soul, she was going to show Rhett that she could be a good mother, the best Atlanta will ever see.
She would make him soon regret his evil words, he was going to be pea-green with envy when he would realise the bond she would share with this child to come.
She smiled, her plan was flawless.
Rhett remained at the top of the stairs for a little while after she left. Allowing himself, now that he was alone, to think back on the event that had just taken place.
He let out a sigh of relief at what had been the final outcome of the situation and not it's alternative.
He could hardly believe he had said what he had said to her.
"Cheer up. Maybe you'll have a miscarriage."
It made him shiver.
Scarlett or not, pleased or not about being with child, it had been cruel and uncalled for. She always managed to drive him to the edge, no matter what she did, he thought.
At least he had been able to prevent the worst from happening. As much as she drove him to insanity, he didn't know what he would do without her, especially knowing that he was partly, if not fully responsible for her death.
It was only then that the full impact of the news reached him.
She was going to have another baby, his baby. He was going to be a father again. Excitement filled every limb of his body. He could barely conceal the feelings of pure and utter joy and happiness he was experiencing.
He was so lightheaded with delight, he might faint, he joked to himself.
One thing he was sure of, he couldn't leave her now. He pulled a cigar out of his breast pocket and headed downstairs to order someone to go and retrieve his luggage from the train station.