Yay! Chapter Two! First off, sorry for taking a while to put this up, I've had a crazy couple of weeks at uni and I'm actually amazed this got up before July! Haha.
Okay so thanks all so much for the reviews! I was wowed when all my email for the day was reviews and not the usual boring newsletters or uni stuff! So thanks! This chapter has a lot more 'meat' to it and actually has interaction with other characters! Yayy!
The title is from 'What I've Done' By Linkin Park
Quick A/N Sorry if anyone got excited that a new chapter was up. I just wanted to add something in for continuity for the next chapter.
So Let Mercy Come And Wash Away What I've Done
"Cheer up. Maybe you'll have a miscarriage." The deathly pale face of Scarlett stared up at him suddenly. Her eyes opened and she began echoing his words,
...a miscarriage
...a miscarriage
...a miscarriage
"No!" Rhett shouted leaping up. Had it not been for the fact that he was painfully gripping arms of the chair he was sitting on, he probably would have landed straight on Scarlett's prone body. Rhett was panting heavily, and found himself checking that Scarlett was still breathing; her breaths were soft and shallow, but they communicated that she was still very much unconscious. After Rhett had somewhat settled his nerves, he felt the guilt well up inside him and could not stop the bitter tears that had risen to his eyes.
"So the great Rhett Butler can cry." A faint voice playfully teased from beside him. Snapping his head up Rhett found Scarlett's vibrant green eyes shining happily back at his red-ringed black orbs.
"Oh Scarlett." He breathed gripping her hand in his.
"I didn't think you'd be here," she whispered weakly,
"Of course I am my pet, you called for me didn't you?"
"Oh of course I did Rhett I..." She trailed off once more drifting back into unconsciousness. Rhett was watching her cautiously and fearfully, the guilt within eating him alive.
Rhett hadn't meant it of course. He never meant what he said, however, the thought of what he said, how carelessly he had said it and the tragedy that followed his words kept weighing on his mind. Had the marriage between him and Scarlett truly become so damaged that he had wished such harm to her. Rhett was unable to understand how he could hurt the woman he loved the mother of his children, 'Child.' He mentally corrected, 'You killed the other one.' Again the guilt washed over him.
"You're a god awful cad Rhett Butler." He murmured to himself. Reaching out, Rhett brushed a few stray hairs away from her forehead, which was burning hot, "Mammy!" Rhett bellowed worry consuming him,
"I'm here ma lamb!" The old maid lumbered toward the bed Melly following closely behind her.
"Captain Butler, you should go."
"I can't leave."
"The children are lonely Captain Butler, why don't you go check on them, and I'll tell you when Doctor Mead had come and checked on Scarlett." Melly smiled and Rhett found it hard to refuse her,
"As soon as he leaves I will be re-entering this room, no matter what." Melly nodded and looked worriedly at Rhett's retreating figure.
After Rhett had, somewhat, made himself presentable he walked down into the dining room, a disgusted sickness settling in his stomach during his descent of the grand staircase.
"Daddy!" Bonnie cried running up to him, Rhett swept her up in his arms kissing her forehead gratefully.
"Uncle Rhett!" A voice rang out; mad Rhett saw Ella hurtling toward him, Wade lagging behind him, grim faced.
"Hello children. Have you been-"
"How's Mother?" Wade asked accusation burning in his eyes. Rhett paled; the thought that Wade - or any of his children had seen or heard what had happened on that staircase mad his blood run as cold as ice.
"She's getting better." He lied weakly, he smiled, at Wade comfortingly, but Wade's eyes only returned loathing, distrust and the realization that his stepfather was not the hero he always though he had been.
"Why don't you girls go play." Rhett watched them go and turned himself to Wade. When both were sure, the girls were out of earshot Wade spoke again. It was not, however, his usual warm yet timid voice, it seemed harder, harsher and Rhett knew that was his fault.
"I'm not stupid Uncle Rhett, I love mother, but I am also aware that sometimes she can be harsh but-" He broke off, and Rhett could see he was fighting back tears, "she didn't deserve what you said to her. I don't know what it means, but I know that it's horrid from the way she reacted."
"Wade I-" Wade turned his back, reminding Rhett that he was still very much a child.,
"I'm going to my room." Wade ran off, leaving Rhett alone to down three glasses of Brandy before going back up to Scarlett's room.
Rhett had never seen Scarlett in so much pain, she was thrashing wildly, occasionally she would cry out. Rhett froze his body immobile, Melly however noticed his arrival,
"Captain Butler, We need you to get her attention, he didn't move, "Captain Butler, Scarlett, your wife, needs you," The sharpness of Melly's tone forced Rhett to move.
"Scarlett, honey." Rhett held her thrashing head in his shaking hands; she was burning underneath him. "It's me, oh Scarlett listens to me darling, listen to my voice, follow my voice. I'm right here darling; I'm right here." Slowly Scarlett stopped thrashing; Melly smiled and ushered Mammy and her out of the room, leaving Rhett cradling Scarlett's head in his hands. Slowly he sat back and stroked her hand in his. Rhett sat there for hours, unable to move or think the guilt of his actions weighing on his mind, he sighed heavily and clasped her hand tighter;
"I'm so sorry Scarlett, for everything. For that night, for running away with Bonnie, for what I said-" he fought back a sob, "I'm sorry for almost killing you. For...for killing our baby. Our child, oh God Scarlett I'm sorry for killing our baby." He sobbed again, leaning his head against Scarlett's still frame.
"Rhett Kinnicutt Butler, if I ever hear you utter that sentence again I will send you to Halifax myself." Rhett blinked as he looked into the, now flaming, emerald eyes of Scarlett O'Hara.
Okay so a little short again, they will get longer, I promise.
In my original draft Wade was harsher to Rhett, but I love Wade, I think he's such an interesting character and the point of his whole angry-at-and-mean-to-Rhett story is to show that there is some Scarlett in there not just Charles.
Hopefully the next chapter will be up i the next week or so, I actually finished this chapter in a lecture this morning.
Review's are always welcomed and adored. I love the thrill of getting the [New Review] in my inbox.