A/N: Wow, I'm sorry this took so long, but I have been really busy. I hope
you all like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gone with the Wind.
Rhett stayed by Scarlett's side for the next two days. He felt so guilty that he couldn't bring himself to leave. He blamed himself for everything that had happened and he was going to make it up to Scarlett. Rhett kept thinking about what had happened right after he found Scarlett. He kept hearing Scarlett tell him that she loved him over and over. Part of him couldn't believe that it had happened, believed that he had made it all up. Rhett had wanted to win Scarlett's heart from the day he met her. He knew that it would be a difficult task. Rhett Butler loved a challenge and making a feisty young Scarlett fall in love with him would have definitely been one of the biggest challenges he had ever faced. She had not been a disappointment. In fact, Rhett had begun to believe that he would never win her heart. He just hoped that neither of them would let their pride get in the way, yet again. Both he and Scarlett were extremely strong willed and hated nothing more than being seen as weak.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Rhett said. Bonnie slowly walked through the door.
"I want to see mommy, daddy. Mammy said that I shouldn't bother her, but I'm scared." Bonnie knew that her father would allow her to do anything and Mammy was downstairs working, so she didn't have to worry about being caught. Bonnie was much like Scarlett. She was very spoiled and could wrap her father around her finger. She would also go against her mother's and Mammy's words every chance she got.
"We need to let mommy rest, Bonnie darling. Do you want to just sit with me for a little while?"
"If mommy is just sleeping why are you always in here and not playing with me? Don't you get bored, daddy?"
"Not at all. I have a lot that I need to think about, so I am always busy in my own thoughts. Besides, mommy needs someone to stay with her to make sure that she gets better. Once she is better, I'll make it up to you." Rhett hadn't realized how he was neglecting Bonnie.
"Can't Mammy stay with mommy?" Bonnie asked innocently.
"I suppose she could, but I want to be here when mommy wakes up."
Bonnie thought for a second. It seemed important to be there for her mother, so she said, "I want to be here when mommy wakes up too. Can I stay daddy?"
Rhett was about to tell Bonnie no, but he realized that she would soon get bored and leave, so he decided to indulge the little girl. Besides, he just couldn't bring himself to ever tell her no. "Yes, Bonnie, you can stay."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rhett had been right. Bonnie got bored after only fifteen minutes of sitting still. Shortly after she left Rhett laid his head on the side of Scarlett's bed and quickly fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scarlett was in terrible pain. She didn't remember what had happened in the past twenty-four hours. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep after Rhett left. 'Rhett,' Scarlett thought. Then she said it aloud. "Rhett." Scarlett couldn't open her eyes. She was too tired. But she wanted Rhett with her. She needed him there. "Rhett." She whispered again.
Rhett heard her calling out to him softly. He woke up and said, "I'm here darling, Everything is fine. You're going to be fine," he said. Rhett prayed that he was telling Scarlett the truth.
At the sound of Rhett's voice, Scarlett tried to open her eyes. It was so difficult, but she needed to see his face. Rhett's scared eyes met Scarlett's weak ones. Scarlett tried to speak again, but she was too weak. "It's okay, Scarlett. Don't try to talk. Just rest now. You'll be stronger soon, and you will have plenty of time to say whatever you want to then."
Scarlett tried to nod in response, but even that was too difficult. With all the strength she had left, Scarlett slowly moved her hand a few inches so that she could touch Rhett's hand. She needed contact with him. She knew that if he would hold her, his strength would fuel her.
Rhett had been looking at Scarlett's face so when he felt her hand slide into his, he was startled. He sighed at Scarlett's action. He could not figure out what must have been going through her head. Rhett decided not to think about it. He was not sure how long this would last, so he was going to savor the time that Scarlett wanted him. Once she got strong again, she may decide she no longer needed him. 'No, I won't let that happen.' He thought, 'I will make sure that she never shuts me out again.' Rhett looked back at Scarlett's face again and saw that she had fallen back asleep. Rhett sighed; he had forgotten to get Bonnie.
It took Scarlett over two weeks to be well enough to leave her room. In that time, Rhett tended to her constantly. The only time he left her side was when Mammy bathed her. Melly had convinced him to leave Scarlett one night so he could rest, but Scarlett had a nightmare and woke up calling for Rhett. She was very disturbed, so after that Rhett decided not to leave Scarlett's side unless she asked him to.
The day before Scarlett was allowed to leave her room, she begged Rhett to take her outside. "Please Rhett," she said, "what difference will a few hours make?"
"They could make all the difference in the world darling. Dr. Meade said you couldn't go outside until tomorrow and by God, I am going to do what the man says. But if you want, I will take you outside first thing in the morning, okay?"
"Oh, Rhett, can we watch the sun rise? I always used to watch it set with pa, but I've never seen it rise."
Scarlett's eyes were shining. She looked so healthy and young. Two weeks in bed had seemingly returned her to the woman she had been. Rhett wanted make Scarlett happy, so he said, "Of course darling, if you are awake, we can go watch the sun rise.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning, Scarlett rose very early and put her dressing robe on. No one would be up yet, so she went to wake Rhett who had continued sleeping in his own room a few nights ago.
Scarlett lightly knocked on the door, then walked into the room. Rhett was lying in bed, still sleeping. Scarlett stood and watched him for a moment contemplating whether or not to wake him up. 'He looks so peaceful,' she thought, 'I almost don't want to wake him up.' Then Scarlett noticed something else. Bonnie's bed was no longer in Rhett's room.
Rhett started to stir. He opened his eyes and could feel someone watching him. Rhett looked up to see Scarlett standing in front of him. Rhett smiled, "Good morning darling, I guess this means you want to see the sun rise."
"Where's Bonnie," Scarlett asked.
"I decided it was time for her to move back into the room with Ella. I had been sleeping in your room, and I didn't want her to be all alone."
Scarlett simply said, "Oh." She was surprised to realize she had been hoping that it had meant that she and Rhett would start sleeping in the same room again. Scarlett recovered quickly and said, "Well, Rhett, shall we go outside? The sun won't wait forever."
"Of course, Scarlett." He put on his robe. "I'm ready. We can go, now." With that, the two of them went downstairs and walked onto the patio to watch the sun rise.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rhett looked at Scarlett out of the corner of his eye. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The wind was blowing her hair softly against her face, It made him want to touch her skin, to hold her in his arms. 'No,' he though, 'I can't let my love for her overtake me. If I lose my control, I'll lose everything.'
Scarlett could feel Rhett's eyes on her. She turned towards him, but his eyes darted back in front of him. Scarlett sighed and began to walk into the yard. Rhett decided to speak then, "I think you should sit down Scarlett. You might not be as strong as you think you are." Rhett was surprised to see that Scarlett actually listened to him. She came back and sat down in a chair for two people. He was even more surprised when she held her hand out to him. Rhett took her hand and sat down beside her. The two sat beside each other, silent, until the sun was all the way out. Scarlett laid her head on Rhett's shoulder and soon fell asleep.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gone with the Wind.
Rhett stayed by Scarlett's side for the next two days. He felt so guilty that he couldn't bring himself to leave. He blamed himself for everything that had happened and he was going to make it up to Scarlett. Rhett kept thinking about what had happened right after he found Scarlett. He kept hearing Scarlett tell him that she loved him over and over. Part of him couldn't believe that it had happened, believed that he had made it all up. Rhett had wanted to win Scarlett's heart from the day he met her. He knew that it would be a difficult task. Rhett Butler loved a challenge and making a feisty young Scarlett fall in love with him would have definitely been one of the biggest challenges he had ever faced. She had not been a disappointment. In fact, Rhett had begun to believe that he would never win her heart. He just hoped that neither of them would let their pride get in the way, yet again. Both he and Scarlett were extremely strong willed and hated nothing more than being seen as weak.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Rhett said. Bonnie slowly walked through the door.
"I want to see mommy, daddy. Mammy said that I shouldn't bother her, but I'm scared." Bonnie knew that her father would allow her to do anything and Mammy was downstairs working, so she didn't have to worry about being caught. Bonnie was much like Scarlett. She was very spoiled and could wrap her father around her finger. She would also go against her mother's and Mammy's words every chance she got.
"We need to let mommy rest, Bonnie darling. Do you want to just sit with me for a little while?"
"If mommy is just sleeping why are you always in here and not playing with me? Don't you get bored, daddy?"
"Not at all. I have a lot that I need to think about, so I am always busy in my own thoughts. Besides, mommy needs someone to stay with her to make sure that she gets better. Once she is better, I'll make it up to you." Rhett hadn't realized how he was neglecting Bonnie.
"Can't Mammy stay with mommy?" Bonnie asked innocently.
"I suppose she could, but I want to be here when mommy wakes up."
Bonnie thought for a second. It seemed important to be there for her mother, so she said, "I want to be here when mommy wakes up too. Can I stay daddy?"
Rhett was about to tell Bonnie no, but he realized that she would soon get bored and leave, so he decided to indulge the little girl. Besides, he just couldn't bring himself to ever tell her no. "Yes, Bonnie, you can stay."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rhett had been right. Bonnie got bored after only fifteen minutes of sitting still. Shortly after she left Rhett laid his head on the side of Scarlett's bed and quickly fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scarlett was in terrible pain. She didn't remember what had happened in the past twenty-four hours. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep after Rhett left. 'Rhett,' Scarlett thought. Then she said it aloud. "Rhett." Scarlett couldn't open her eyes. She was too tired. But she wanted Rhett with her. She needed him there. "Rhett." She whispered again.
Rhett heard her calling out to him softly. He woke up and said, "I'm here darling, Everything is fine. You're going to be fine," he said. Rhett prayed that he was telling Scarlett the truth.
At the sound of Rhett's voice, Scarlett tried to open her eyes. It was so difficult, but she needed to see his face. Rhett's scared eyes met Scarlett's weak ones. Scarlett tried to speak again, but she was too weak. "It's okay, Scarlett. Don't try to talk. Just rest now. You'll be stronger soon, and you will have plenty of time to say whatever you want to then."
Scarlett tried to nod in response, but even that was too difficult. With all the strength she had left, Scarlett slowly moved her hand a few inches so that she could touch Rhett's hand. She needed contact with him. She knew that if he would hold her, his strength would fuel her.
Rhett had been looking at Scarlett's face so when he felt her hand slide into his, he was startled. He sighed at Scarlett's action. He could not figure out what must have been going through her head. Rhett decided not to think about it. He was not sure how long this would last, so he was going to savor the time that Scarlett wanted him. Once she got strong again, she may decide she no longer needed him. 'No, I won't let that happen.' He thought, 'I will make sure that she never shuts me out again.' Rhett looked back at Scarlett's face again and saw that she had fallen back asleep. Rhett sighed; he had forgotten to get Bonnie.
It took Scarlett over two weeks to be well enough to leave her room. In that time, Rhett tended to her constantly. The only time he left her side was when Mammy bathed her. Melly had convinced him to leave Scarlett one night so he could rest, but Scarlett had a nightmare and woke up calling for Rhett. She was very disturbed, so after that Rhett decided not to leave Scarlett's side unless she asked him to.
The day before Scarlett was allowed to leave her room, she begged Rhett to take her outside. "Please Rhett," she said, "what difference will a few hours make?"
"They could make all the difference in the world darling. Dr. Meade said you couldn't go outside until tomorrow and by God, I am going to do what the man says. But if you want, I will take you outside first thing in the morning, okay?"
"Oh, Rhett, can we watch the sun rise? I always used to watch it set with pa, but I've never seen it rise."
Scarlett's eyes were shining. She looked so healthy and young. Two weeks in bed had seemingly returned her to the woman she had been. Rhett wanted make Scarlett happy, so he said, "Of course darling, if you are awake, we can go watch the sun rise.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning, Scarlett rose very early and put her dressing robe on. No one would be up yet, so she went to wake Rhett who had continued sleeping in his own room a few nights ago.
Scarlett lightly knocked on the door, then walked into the room. Rhett was lying in bed, still sleeping. Scarlett stood and watched him for a moment contemplating whether or not to wake him up. 'He looks so peaceful,' she thought, 'I almost don't want to wake him up.' Then Scarlett noticed something else. Bonnie's bed was no longer in Rhett's room.
Rhett started to stir. He opened his eyes and could feel someone watching him. Rhett looked up to see Scarlett standing in front of him. Rhett smiled, "Good morning darling, I guess this means you want to see the sun rise."
"Where's Bonnie," Scarlett asked.
"I decided it was time for her to move back into the room with Ella. I had been sleeping in your room, and I didn't want her to be all alone."
Scarlett simply said, "Oh." She was surprised to realize she had been hoping that it had meant that she and Rhett would start sleeping in the same room again. Scarlett recovered quickly and said, "Well, Rhett, shall we go outside? The sun won't wait forever."
"Of course, Scarlett." He put on his robe. "I'm ready. We can go, now." With that, the two of them went downstairs and walked onto the patio to watch the sun rise.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rhett looked at Scarlett out of the corner of his eye. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The wind was blowing her hair softly against her face, It made him want to touch her skin, to hold her in his arms. 'No,' he though, 'I can't let my love for her overtake me. If I lose my control, I'll lose everything.'
Scarlett could feel Rhett's eyes on her. She turned towards him, but his eyes darted back in front of him. Scarlett sighed and began to walk into the yard. Rhett decided to speak then, "I think you should sit down Scarlett. You might not be as strong as you think you are." Rhett was surprised to see that Scarlett actually listened to him. She came back and sat down in a chair for two people. He was even more surprised when she held her hand out to him. Rhett took her hand and sat down beside her. The two sat beside each other, silent, until the sun was all the way out. Scarlett laid her head on Rhett's shoulder and soon fell asleep.