"The Long Road"

AUTHOR: Melly (otherwise know as, RHETTLOVER!)

RATING: PG

EMAIL: GWTWindyChick3@juno.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own GWTW, (unfortunately!) :(

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

SYNOPSIS: You already know the story

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

NOTE: This story is almost done, so be patient.

CHAPTER: 6.Another Sunset

The rest of the day continued in the same silence, as if they were left

with no words to say. Scarlett could sense that Rhett felt uncomfortable with her now, but

she didn't care. She had needed comforting. Someone to hold her and tell her that

everything would be O.K. Not only did she need it, but also she wanted it. It seemed like there

was no one to talk to about Mother. Mammy and everyone else just thought that Scarlett

didn't want to talk about Mother and terrible death, but that was just the thing. Scarlett

had desperately wanted to talk about it, but Rhett was the only one who gave her the

chance, just at the wrong time.

As the sun began its slow descent into the sky, Scarlett finally spotted

near the horizon, and decided it was time to finish up. Wiping her forehead on her sleeve,

she smoothed her dress and walked over towards the well, and could already see Rhett

there, waiting for her. He pulled up a bucket of water, splashed some on his face, then

moved out of the way for Scarlett as he wiped his face on his shirt. Scarlett, being as hot

as she was in a dress, simply took the bucket and poured it on herself. Throwing the

bucket down into the well, she walked off, shaking her hands of water. Rhett simply

watched and thought to himself, 'What a woman!'

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As they neared the house, Scarlett paused for a moment. "Oh, Rhett!

Look," she exclaimed, her voice full of elation. Rhett turned his head to toward the

direction of her finger and saw the sun, a blazing ball of fire at the end of it's journey,

heading towards the other edge of the Earth. Rhett, who was at one point watching the

the sunset, now watched Scarlett's face. She was such a child at heart. The simplest

things could fill her with joy, yet she had gone through and survived terrible things. The

sun was reflecting in her eyes; the center of her green orbs was filled with a golden

sparkle. Her face also reflected the sun, shining with a brightness that he'd never seen

before. Scarlett's ebony black hair flowed own her shoulders and lightly rustled with the

slightest breeze. She stood on Tara's clay earth, arms at her side, with her face lifted

high. Rhett had never seen a woman looking more beautiful than Scarlett O'Hara did

right now, so he waited, patiently, as the sun soon became a simple ray of light over the

horizon. Lowering her eyelashes, Scarlett glanced at Rhett from the corners of her eyes.

"Sorry, Rhett. It's just that.well-Pa and me used to come out here and watch the sun

every evening. It was so beautiful, I couldn't resist," Scarlett said demurely, feeling a tinge

of embarrassment toward her childish actions. "You looked so beautiful Scarlett, I didn't

want to leave without you," Rhett smirked as Scarlett began blushing at this compliment.

Rhett's face softened as he replied, "Don't worry, my pet. Let's just head back for dinner

before I eat you along the way. Laughing loudly, Scarlett took Rhett's open arm and

walked with him towards Tara.

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After a very meager supper, Rhett joined Scarlett outside to enjoy the cool

freshness of the night air. Sitting on a chair next to Scarlett, he lit a cigar and kicked up

his legs. Scarlett was breathing deeply, filling her lungs up with the fresh air. As much as

she loved Tara, it was not the nicest place to be in all of the time.

When the smell of Rhett's cigar reached her nose, she breathed in deeply.

How much that smell reminded her of Pa, the way he used to be. Every night, she'd wait

for him when he came back from poker games. She would watch him in fascination as

he'd jump the fence.Rhett was watching Scarlett and could tell she thinking hard about

something. "What are you thinking about?" Rhett questioned. Scarlett looked at him, glad

he interrupted her thoughts of the past. "Oh, nothing Rhett. Just about the past and the

way things were before the war." Scarlett turned her head. She hated looking back, and

hoped Rhett would sense this and change the subject.

Luckily, he did. "The stars are bright tonight," Rhett replied casually as he

took another puff on his cigar. Scarlett couldn't stop the giggles that came bubbling out

of her mouth. "What?" Rhett asked innocently. Scarlett couldn't help but say, "Oh, Rhett.

You choose the poorest topics when it comes to changing the subject!" Rhett joined

Scarlett and began laughing too, which always makes Scarlett laugh even more.

"Rhett." Scarlett tried between bursts of giggles. "Rhett-you could at least talk about

something else like how hot it is inside or.or how poor dinner was or-" Rhett cut

Scarlett off by leaning towards her and whispering "or how beautiful you look right

now," Scarlett gasped and replied coquettishly, "Why, Rhett Butler. I am surprised. I

never thought I'd see the day you'd be teasing a poor, dressed in rags country girl like

me." Rhett laughed again and said, "Don't flatter yourself, Scarlett. I'm not one of your

country beaus."

Their laughter soon died down and Scarlett to hum quietly to herself. It

was a song she had been trying to remember the words to all day but only kept

remembering the tune. After singing it several times Rhett said, "Ahhh.now I

remember."

"What?" Scarlett asked quizzically. "That song you were humming.

"When This Cruel War Is Over," Rhett replied. "I do believe we danced to this song at

the Bazaar." Rhett was now staring at Scarlett intently. It all came back to her. That song,

which we borrowed from the Yankees. "Yes, I now remember. I had been humming it all

day and I could not remember the words. Thank, you," Scarlett said looking at her hands.

"Sing it for me," Rhett said, his gaze penetrating her eyes and entering the depths of her

soul. "Of course," she said, barely above a whisper.

"Dearest one, do you remember

When we last did meet?

When you told me how you loved me,

Kneeling at my feet?

Oh, how proud you stood before me

Scarlett forgot the rest and looked toward Rhett for help. Then, Rhett began.

In your suit of gray,

When you vowed from me and country

Ne'er to go astray.

Scarlett remembered the rest and joined in with Rhett.

Weeping sad and lonely,

Sigh and tears how vain!

Their voices continued the song. Their voices, flowed past the horizon, not

as two, but as one, though neither knew it.