A/N I own my toothbrush and my guilt for not writing for years. *Reads the list ten times* Nope, no Gone With The Wind. I guess the MM estate still has that. I need some cocoa to get over the disappointment now.
"We have gathered here to witness the joining of these two people in holy matrimony. If anyone here has any reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold their peace."
"She can't!" shouted Rhett Butler. Everybody stared at him. "She just can't!," he shouted again, "she doesn't love him"
Up until now Scarlett had been convinced that even though Captain Butler was not received and already proven himself to be a low-down scoundrel, he would still never resort to anything like this. So what if she didn't exactly think that Charles was the one for her and she instead had been in love with Ashley for.. well, for pretty much as long as she could remember. It was no secret that many couples lived and raised their families without any deeper feelings than respect.
Scarlett laughed nervously, "Mr. Butler, are you out of your mind? Of course I love him, why else would I be marring him?"
"Oh, you don't love him. You and I both know that. You're only doing this to get back at Mr. Wilkes."
"How dare you?" bellowed Gerald O'Hara. "How dare you come here to say things like that? What's more, I can't seem to remember you being invited in the first place!" Without giving Rhett a chance to present his excuses, he told Captain to leave at once.
He didn't have to say that twice. Rhett jerked his head a little and exited the church. How could he have done this? He had met Scarlett only once. Why in the world would it matter to him, if she were happy or miserable? What had he done? Now, not only Charleston hated him, but also the whole South did. He had no choice but to go back to Atlanta, pack his bags and move north. Nobody would judge him there.
"Do you, Katie Scarlett O'Hara, promise to take Charles Jonathan Hamilton to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?"
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I said no." Then, turning to Charles she said, "I'm sorry I made you go through this. I.. I just..," Scarlett stammered, "I'm sorry."
With those words spoken, she ran out of the church. Why shouldn't she marry him? Charles was nice and cared about her. Why shouldn't she marry him? Why did that obnoxious Mr. Butler's words mean anything? Ashley was gone; he was going to marry his perfect little Melanie.
Oh, why, why, why? She felt frustrated for not being able to do anything. Suddenly she felt tears on her face. She was never the one to show weakness. She was always strong. She never fainted. In fact, she had laughed at girls who felt dizzy all the time and had to always carry their smelling salts with them. But this was the one time she felt she just had to cry. Cry until nothing was left in her. Just cry.
As she sat there, tears pouring down her face, she felt a shadow falling on her. When she raised her head, she saw the one person she'd love to see dead, the man, who had humiliated her in front of the whole south, the one and only Rhett Butler.
"How dare you? No matter, forget that! What gave you the impression that I hadn't wanted to marry Charles? Even if you were right, why in the world would it be any of your business?" Scarlett was absolutely enraged.
Rhett grinned. "I'll answer your questions as they came."
Scarlett stared at him with surprise.
"Oh yes," he said, "I will answer them. First of all, I don't have the slightest idea; secondly, I think you remember the barbecue at the Twelve Oaks, don't you? And lastly, I couldn't let myself see that temper and fierceness fade away. Here, take this," he added offering Scarlett his handkerchief.
"Puss?" Gerald had come to search for her. "Dearest, are you here?"
"Yes, pa."
"Precious, your mother and I have decided that you'll be leaving tomorrow for Savannah. You'll be staying with your aunts."
"What?" exclaimed Scarlett, "No. You can't do this! Tara is my home; you can't just send me away! You can't! I don't know anybody there! Besides, tomorrow is Ashley's wedding!"
"It's for the best." It wasn't until now that he noticed Rhett. "What are you still doing here? I thought I told you to go away!"
"I was, but then I heard Miss O'Hara crying. There was no way I could've just left her here."
"OUT!"
"We are already out."
"Don't you be a wise guy, mister! Get out of here and don't you ever come near my girls again! Do you hear me? NEVER!"
"Alright then. If you'd excuse me sir, miss." He bowed in a way that left Scarlett wondering if he wasn't mocking them.
And then was the time to leave. Scarlett had to take the train to Atlanta, then spend the night there and in the morning get on the train that took her to Savannah. She still couldn't believe that this was really happening. As if it wasn't enough that the whole Clayton County was gossiping, her own sister came to her and accused Scarlett of destroying her reputation.
"Scarlett, how could you!"
"Excuse me?"
"Scarlett, how could you!" cried Suellen again. "Didn't it cross your mind, just for a little second, that you might not be the only one on this planet, who wants and needs to get married? Frank told me after your wedding that he no longer wishes to court me. You've ruined our family! Just because you for some unknown reason want to be an old maid, doesn't mean that everybody wishes to do the same!"
"What!" Scarlett couldn't believe her ears, "Do you really think that I wanted this to happen? You heard pa, had anyone invited mister Butler? No! He came there for his own reasons, I've never asked anyone to ruin my life! Or do you think that you could've continued with the wedding after such words had been spoken? As for mister Kennedy, don't worry, I'm sure you'll live happily ever after once he realizes you're the only girl who'd want an old coot like him since quite frankly I've seen pigs looking better than you!"
At this remark Suellen was more than ready to attack her sister if it hadn't been for her mother who had just entered the room.
"What in the world is going on here? Have I or Mammy ever taught you to scream like beasts? You better make sure I never hear you two talking to each other like that again!"
Suellen felt suddenly very ashamed for her behavior. After all, she was better than Scarlett. "I'm sorry, Mother," she mumbled. "I won't do that again."
"Now go and see what your sister is doing. I need to talk to Scarlett." Suellen immediately left the room.
Ellen handed Scarlett an envelope. "This a letter to your aunts, explaining everything. I expect you to show there your immaculate manners. Mammy is coming with you."
Before she knew it, she was at the train station in Jonesborough. There were people everywhere. Some of them were running, some of them were laughing, some of them were just sitting in their carriages. A big part of her still couldn't believe this was happening but for the first time in her life she knew she couldn't get out of it, either. Usually her pa gave in but this time he'd been relentless.
The train ride was excruciating. Scarlett felt her heart being ripped into half. She loved Tara, it was her home. She loved those morning sounds, she loved the smell of ham, being fried in the kitchen, she loved every single tree around their house. She lowered her head. Yes. It was time to face the consequences. Suddenly Scarlett had an idea. She would go to her aunts and stun them with her impeccable manners and then they would send her home, telling her parents that she was a perfect lady and that she shouldn't be sent away. If all of this could be done within a week, them she would be back in time to send off Ashley to the war. Scarlett smiled victoriously. There was nothing she couldn't get if she put her mind to it.
Finally, the train reached Atlanta. As soon as they got off the train, she ordered Mammy to find a carriage for them to drive in to get to the hotel. Scarlett had a look around. It was a long time since she had been in Atlanta. It had changed a lot. There were many new shops, hotels, houses, people in the streets were bustling and every once in a while stopping to exchange some words. Scarlett was convinced in a heartbeat that this town was more suitable for her than boring, safe, traditional Savannah. Her eyes wondered around and 'til she noticed a familiar figure. It couldn't be. It just couldn't. And yet it was. She felt herself stop breathing when the man lifted his head.
It was Rhett Butler.
