"The Long Road"

AUTHOR: Melly (otherwise know as, RHETTLOVER!)

RATING: PG.I think! This chapter contains the "kissing scene"! So, BEWARE!

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I don't own GWTW, (unfortunately!) (

TIMELINE: After Scarlett has arrived at Tara during the War.

SYNOPSIS: You don't need one anymore! hehehe!

DISTRIBUTION: scarlettonline.com, fanfiction.net, network54.com.etc.

NOTE: This one is a little longer. Hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER: 3..Bandages

After searching through what was left of the food Scarlett had gathered at

Twelve Oaks, she prepared a breakfast that was suitable enough to feed everyone.

Everything ends up being peas and hominy or turnips for breakfast, which Scarlett

loathed, but she realized she would get used to it. Scarlett also needed to get used to Rhett

being here. She hoped he would stay a while to help with things around Tara. Everything

seemed so hard to do, feeding everyone, gathering cotton, making clothes, cleaning the

house, staying alive.Scarlett just hope there would be someone to help.

Today was also Scarlett's first day of playing servant to Rhett, and it was

something she was not looking forward to. She knew that Rhett would take advantage of

this situation in some twisted way, but how, she did not know. After Scarlett finally had

every one fed, she heard the bell for the second time that day. Dragging herself up the

stairs, she turned down the hall and entered Rhett's room. Controlling her temper she

asked sweetly, "What is it you need Rhett?"

"Hold on." Rhett was staring at his pocket watch with great interest. He

turned towards Scarlett and replied, "You've beaten your PR!" Rhett's face was full of

amusement where as Scarlett was perplexed.

"PR?" Scarlett questioned with no idea at what Rhett was trying to get at.

Scarlett feared his answer for she figured it probably was something she didn't want to

know.

"Your personal record. I think this time it took you only 10, 11 seconds."

Rhett drawled with a flashy smile.

"Oh please, Rhett. You honestly keep track of things like that!" Scarlett

gasped. Rhett could be strange at times, but he kept her on her toes. She never knew what

to expect of Rhett sometimes with his games and such. However, Scarlett

liked people like that, people that led interesting lives instead of those that sat in the

corner and let life takes it course, like Melly and Ashley.

Rhett simply laughed at Scarlett's answer. Rhett's laugh could always

cheer Scarlett up. The way his eyes flashed and his chest rumbled just amused Scarlett to

distraction. Flashing her dimples at him and batting her eyelashes, she said coquettishly,

"Rhett, you have changed the subject. You still didn't tell me what you wanted."

This made Rhett laugh even more and Scarlett became annoyed. Placing

her hands on her hips she retorted, "Rhett, if you won't tell me, I'll just leave and never

come in here again!" She glared at him and stuck her tongue out in stubborn pride.

Rhett's laughter soon subsided and Rhett replied still lightly laughing, "Oh

my pet, you can never be teased with out lashing out at someone." Massaging his scalp

he whispered, "I think I forgot what I wanted." That was it for Scarlett.

"RHETT BUTLER! You are impossible! You'll just have to wait until I

bring your lunch up, because I am tired of being patient with you!" With this, Scarlett

turned on her heels and stomped straight down the hall where she ran down the stairs. Yet

again, she could hear Rhett's laughter behind her.

* * *

After finishing a few chores, Scarlett summoned up her courage and

Scarlett brought up Rhett's lunch. Nonetheless, it was, (yet again), peas and hominy.

Hoping they would not bicker again, Scarlett lightly knocked on the door. "Rhett, I have

brought your lunch," Scarlett said slowly, waiting for a reply. When none came, she

knocked again. "Rhett?" Waiting a minute more, she pulled open the door to find a

sleeping Rhett.

'And I thought I would after to undergo another argument!' thought

Scarlett to herself. Setting the meager meal on the bed stand, she stared intently at Rhett.

How a man with such physical strength could sleep so soundly and look so peaceful,

Scarlett did not know.

************************************************************************ (MEANWHILE.)

Rhett was using every once of self control that he had in himself to stop

from bursting out with laughter. Since that morning, Rhett had been plotting to get

Scarlett, somehow. When all the details of his plan were figured out, Scarlett knocked.

Rhett knew what to do. When she entered, Rhett could tell that Scarlett was looking at

him. Everything was working as planned. Rhett just hoped that he would not ruin his

sleeping façade.

************************************************************************

Unfortunately, today was "bandage changing" day. However, Scarlett had

already done it once, she highly disliked it. Rhett's wound was somewhat deep, but very

gruesome. It was not that she was afraid she would faint from the sight of blood, but it

brought back a flood of memories. The hot days of working at the Hospital. The lice,

dysentery, amputation, gangrenes..death. It disturbed her so that it was entering her

dreams and Scarlett did not need reminders of it.

Scarlett gazed at Rhett's peaceful face. She did not want to wake him up.

Scarlett had never truly seen a REALLY mad Rhett, and she didn't think she ever would.

Hoping he would remain in his "sleeping" state, she pulled back the quilt and began

working at the linen around his chest.

************************************************************************

Rhett could barely stifle a gasp when he felt Scarlett's fingers working at

the linen around his chest. He had completely forgotten that today was Scarlett's

"bandage changing" day. How could he have forgotten? Scarlett had completely made it

clear to everyone last night as she complained how much she disliked it.

Rhett could feel Scarlett's fingers between the folds of cloth. She was very

nimble and if he truly were sleeping, he probably wouldn't have realized what she had

been doing. Finally he was free of the confines of linen and he could hear Scarlett

moving across the room to discard them. He barley opened his eyes and could see

Scarlett moving about. It was now or never thought Rhett when he plotted his

very next moves.

************************************************************************

Scarlett quickly searched for a damp washcloth when she found one across

the room. She wanted to get this over with as quickly as she could. When she neared the

bed, Rhett's expression had changed. At first his eyes were softly closed, and his face

expressionless, but now.Scarlett could not quite pinpoint it but it looked as though he

were smiling. Leaning over the bed, she lowered her arm over his chest to clean

the wound when his hand came from nowhere, cupped her head, and pulled her head to

his.

Scarlett didn't realize what was going on until Rhett's lips found hers. Her

first impulse was to struggles like crazy, but her thoughts drifted to what seemed long

ago on that dark road to Tara. The way her body went cold then hot, how he left her

feeling nothing at all, except for her swirling mind. That was what Scarlett need right

now. To forget everything. Melanie, Pa, her sisters, Tara.Ashley. Not sure what she

wanted, Scarlett reluctantly quit struggling against Rhett's powerful grip on her.

************************************************************************

Rhett pulled himself to his feet to relieve Scarlett from the uncomfortable

position she was in, although he didn't mind the view that he had before, (wink-wink,

Scarlett bending over.). At first, he expected a slap from Scarlett, like the one he had

received at Rough and Ready. However, to his amazement, Scarlett gave in to him.

Rhett deepened the kiss as he slightly bent her back across his arm. Rhett felt Scarlett's

arms creeping around his neck where the rested there. As of now, Scarlett was doing

nothing but let Rhett do all of the "action", (as crude as it sounds!).

************************************************************************

Scarlett started to feel that shaky feeling again as Rhett deepened the kiss.

Scarlett allowed him to do so as she ran her fingers through his hair. Why shouldn't

Scarlett have her own personal pleasure? She surely deserved it she thought with

everything she had been doing lately. When Rhett's hand moved to Scarlett's waist, she

felt weak in the knees. She had never felt this way, with anyone. Not the Tarleton twins,

or any of her beaus. Not even with Ashley.Ashley! His beautiful sandy- haired face with

the dreamy blue eyes entered Scarlett's swirling mind. WHAT was she doing? This kiss,

this pleasure, all belonged to Ashley, the one she loved. Realizing what she was doing,

she pulled out of Rhett's grip and ran out of the room leaving an utterly surprised, yet

amazed Rhett behind.

When Scarlett reached the refuge of her room, she collapsed onto her bed

and broke into tears. Her flesh was burning all over and she was struggling for air. She

cried for what seemed like hours but what was really minutes and turned onto her

stomach. Scarlett brought her two fingers to her lips and could feel the blood pulsating

through them still. Sighing, she tried to remember what had just transpired.

What had she done? She certainly didn't love Rhett, but why did kissing

him at the moment feel so good, so right. She loved Ashley, the same Ashley that arrived

at Tara at the age 14 and swept Scarlett off her feet. Trying to picture him in her head,

Scarlett closed her eyes, but his image would not come. Covering her head in her pillow

again, the tears fell anew. Slowly crying herself to sleep, she reminded herself over and

over again that she loved Ashley. OR DID SHE??????!!!!???!!!??? (dramatic music!)