Oh My GOD! I am so sorry for the atrocious amount of time it has taken me to update!

In my defence my computer broke down, even though it's only like 2 months old -.-

So I have not been able to write it! Thankfully it was fixed and I immediately began to finish this chapter!

To those who commented on Wade and his comments about Scarlett I want to say that I think Wade is aware of Scarlett's flaws I think anyone would be. Also I am aware of my terrible grammar and over use of comma's. Sorry. It's sort of ironic since I want to be an English teacher and all.

Enjoy!

The title is from 'Change' By Taylor Swfit


Because These Things Will Change


Rhett seemed to be unable to talk, he was still disbelieving that not only was Scarlett awake but that she was beginning to look better, despite the fact that a few hours ago she seemed close to death.

"Rhett it what happened was not your fault."

"Scarlett-"

"No Rhett' She demanded weakly, the intended sharpness of the statement failing her. "I lunged at you Rhett, I should have known how dangerous that could be." Rhett stared at her disbelieving that she could be blaming herself for this.

"Scarlett, what I said was horrible. I wished you to-"

"Stop" Scarlett soothed, placing her hand on top of his. Rhett looked down and began to feel smaller.

"I didn't mean it." Rhett said quietly,

"Oh darling, I know. I know you could never mean a thing like that, you simply love children too much." She paused and stroked Rhett's hand absentmindedly "I didn't mean what I said either." Rhett looked at her confused, "about not wanting the baby to be yours." Rhett stiffened

"What?"

"I did want it Rhett, I wanted it to be yours and I wanted the baby." The room fell silent. Rhett stared at Scarlett,

"You wanted the baby?" Rhett choked "You wanted the baby, and I took it from you?"

"No Rhett, please, please don't do this to yourself."

Rhett sat there staring into his hands muttering to himself for a few minutes, Scarlett lying helplessly next to him.

"Rhett." She said meekly, almost frightened "Rhett?" Rhett shook his head, as though he had just become aware that Scarlett was talking to him. He looked up and his face had resumed his indecipherable mask,

"Yes pet?"

"Could you, please help me sit up?"

"Scarlett I don't think that's the best id-"

"Oh, please Rhett! I hate lying down, I feel like I'm an invalid!" She huffed. Sighing Rhett propped up her pillows and holding her carefully helped her sit up. No matter how hard Scarlett tried to hide it Rhett couldn't miss the hiss of pain that erupted through her tightly clenched teeth. Rhett smiled down at her,

"Get some rest Pet."

"Oh, but Rhett."

"No buts." Rhett pressed a tentative kiss on Scarlett's forehead, "sleep." As Scarlett fell into a deep sleep Rhett also found himself drifting into an uneasy state of unconsciousness.

"He's beautiful Scarlett." Rhett smiled cooing at the baby she was cradling in his arms. Scarlet smiled, joy and fatigue etched on her face.

"Just like his father." She kissed Rhett's hand; then slowly Rhett leaned down and pressed a kiss on the child's forehead. When he had opened his eyes the baby had vanished and Scarlett was no longer moving,

"No, no I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, please come back!"

Rhett woke up screaming. He was panting heavily, and his clothes were drenched with sweat. Looking around he noticed that he was intact lying on the bed next to Scarlett whose face was now etched with worry.

"Oh, Rhett thank God you're awake. You were thrashing and fell off the chair so I had Pork move you on the bed, you haven't been still for hours." He sat up,

"Did I hurt you?"

"No, no. You don't mind that I moved you here?"

"into your bed, my pet I've been trying to get back here for years." He grinned mischievously, and Scarlett giggled blushing, then his words filtered and she looked down in shame. The meaning of his words registered in his mind and regretted them instantly.

"Scarlett I-"

"No Rhett you're right."

"Pardon?" Rhett choked

"Barring you from my room was the worst and stupidest decision I have ever made. And I am so sorry." Scarlett took a deep breath, "Ashley would never have done the same for me. I was naive; I have been about a lot of things." She turned to him, the agony of her chest restricting what was meant to be a frantic movement. Gripping his hand Scarlett took a deep breath "Rhett; I'm so sorry, for a lot of things. I'm sorry for how I've always treated you, and the children and every other person I have every been horrible too."

"What had brought this on?"

"As I was falling I saw everyone I had ever wronged, every cruel thing I had ever said or thought. My life flashed before my eyes. I saw everything I had ever done, and it disgusted me. I've been such a terrible person."

"Scarlett, I haven't exactly been a saint."

"But you were so much better before me. Before we got married, before…Ashley" Rhett fell silent.

"What do you mea-"

"Excuse me." Rhett turned his head; Melly stood at the door, "the children were wondering if they could see Scarlett." Rhett turned unsure to Scarlett; she smiled at him.

"Of course you can. I look forward to seeing them." Melly exited, "Rhett-"

"My dear, we must do something about how you look."

"Pardon?"

"Although my dear you look stunning as usual to me, your appearance may unsettle the children slightly." Scarlett arched her eyebrows. Rhett ignored her protests and managed to convince Scarlett to let him brush her hair, allowing the soft black curls tumble around her shoulders. And finally, after much insistence from Scarlett, applied small amounts of rouge to bring some colour back into her cheeks.

Melly comes back soon after the children in a somber line behind her. Bonnie and Ella smiled brightly running forward to the edge of the bed.

"Careful." Rhett said,

"It's all right Rhett." The two girls climbed on the bed and nestled themselves in Scarlett's arms. "Tell me everything that's been happening." For 20 minutes Rhett stood amazed as Scarlett listened fully immunised in the girls. She played, as best she could, laughed and transformed into a mother, right before Rhett's disbelieving eyes. Scarlett sent the girls away with a kiss on their cheeks, the girls ran out beaming but, Scarlett's face changed when she noticed that Wade still had not moved,

"Wade Hampton Hamilton, are you going to give your mother a kiss or stand at the door?" Wade shuffled forward towards the bed. When he reached Scarlett something seemed to snap inside Wade, it was as though the feelings of terror panic and anxiety over Scarlet''s accident that he had tried to push down began to swell to the surface. His composure crumbled, and tears began to flow silently down his cheeks.

Rhett saw Scarlett's face changed she had never seen such emotion from her children before, let alone Wade. She opened her arms, and Wade climbed in burying his face into Scarlett's breast. Rhett locked eyes with Scarlett for a moment, smiling she gestured him out of the room.

"Wade, darling look at me." Wade reluctantly pulled his head away from his little crevice he had created. His cheeks were tear stained and his eyes were raw, "why are you crying?" Scarlett said kindly, wiping away a few stray tears.

"I was so scared Mother" he whispered "that you were going to die, that you were never going to wake up, that you-" Scarlett gently placed a hand on is cheek to silence him,

"I'm all right Wade, nothing will happen to me."

"Mother, what Uncle Rhett said-"

"Hush Wade. It was an accident; you're Uncle Rhett didn't do anything."

"But Mother-"

"Wade." She snapped sternly "it was no one's fault." She brushed the hair away from his eyes, "now run along and go play."

"Yes mother." He sat up, kissed Scarlett's cheek softly and hurried out the door,

"Wade," he turned to look at her "can you, please tell Uncle Rhett to come up here." He nodded and disappeared into the hallway.

Wade found Rhett sitting in his study a cigar and glass of brandy cradled in his hands. Rhett didn't notice that he had entered, Wade coughed uncomfortably,

"Uncle Rhett?" Rhett didn't say anything; he simply moved his head in the direction of Wade, as if signalling for him to continue. "Mother wants to see you." Rhett suddenly became more alert,

"Is she all right." He questioned discarding the items in his hand. Wade bit his tongue, attempting to stop the harsh worse which threatened to spill. "Wade, is she all right?" Rhett was standing in front of him eyes scrutinising his face.

"She is fine, she just want's to see you." Wade saw the relief in Rhett's face,

"Thanks-you Wade." Rhett moved past him,

"Uncle Rhett." Wade breathed out, his courage almost failing him

"Yes Wade."

"Why did you leave?"

"I had to get away."

"From what?"

"Everything."

"If you hadn't of left, I don't think any of this would have happened." Wade turned on his step-father, his face cold and stony "I don't think I can forgive you for that." Rhett turned around to avoid the harshness of his gaze.

"I don't think I can ever forgive myself."


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