DisclaimerI don't own or claim to own any GWTW or SCARLETT characters. I don't own any part of the sonf "Scarlett Tide" either.
Scarlett yawned and stretched in her bed. It almost hurt to open her eyes even though the room was barely lit. The large drapes where pulled closed so Scarlett couldn't judge what time it was by the sun's position. She thought for a moment and couldn't remember how long she had been asleep or any of the past events that had occurred. She was in an utter state of confusion. She threw the covers off and put her feet on the floor and quickly got up. Scarlett was overcome with dizziness, barely keeping her stance by grabbing hold of the bedpost.
Then Rhett open the door trying his best to be quite, thinking Scarlett was still asleep. Seeing her barely standing he rushed to her side. Slipping one arm around Scarlett's waist and the other gently taking her hand. He helped her to the bed and eased her under the covers. She looked at him as if she had no clue how he just walked into the room with so much ease. Rhett slowly lowered himself on the edge of Scarlett's bed. He held her gaze, although she seemed a little bewildered.
He finally got the courage to talk. "Scarlett, are you alright?" What a stupid thing to ask, he thought. Of course she wasn't ok. She looked as if she felt awful. He opened his mouth as if he was going to begin talking again but closed it. He didn't know where to begin.
"How long have I been asleep, Rhett?" She asked still confused.
"About 4 days." Rhett answered.
"Four Days! How could anyone sleep that long?" Scarlett asked, more to herself than Rhett.
"It seems you had quite an ordeal." Rhett replied, softly.
"Ordeal?" Scarlett asked. She hadn't a clue what he was talking about. Then like a quick breeze it all came back to her. Ella sickness, Mammy's death, leaving Cat in Atlanta, and then…then Rhett's sudden, unexpected arrival.
She sat there stunned. All this rushed upon her in an instant. It was almost too much. And Rhett…Rhett was here. She had longed for the longest time to just simply be in the same room with Rhett, and now he was here. Here, in her room at Tara. She looked up at the man that she had longed for everyday since their second child was born. A child that Rhett didn't know existed. Finally, Rhett broke the silence.
"Scarlett?" he asked, gently touching her shoulder.
She broke her gaze, which seemed to be of intense thought, and looked up at him.
"You really must eat." Rhett said in a worried tone.
"I…"Scarlett began.
"Don't think of contradicting me" Rhett smiled, but said firmly.
"If you hadn't eaten something in the next couple of days…then." Rhett stopped, and then reached out his hand.
Scarlett took it and pulled herself out of bed and stood, bracing herself by holding on to Rhett's hand tightly. She tried to let go and stand alone but her legs buckled and she almost lost her balance. Rhett grasped her quickly and tried to pick her up. Scarlett squirmed and pulled away while he tried to lift her.
"What?" Rhett asked.
"Well…you just can't…uh…I mean…well you just can't…" Scarlett stumbled trying to find the right words. As much as she wanted to be in Rhett's arms it just didn't feel right. They weren't married anymore, no matter how much she wanted that to change, and she was still a southern lady. And southern ladies didn't just get picked up by men. No matter the circumstances
"Now Scarlett, you're as weak as a new born colt. You just can't get up and walk just like that." Rhett said, holding both Scarlett's arms.
Scarlett's eyes sparkled green and she gave a challenging look to Rhett as if she wasn't going to give in that easily, but then she hung her head and nodded. Rhett looked mildly disappointed; he wanted to see the old fiery Scarlett come out. It might give him a sign, of some kind.
Rhett began to pick her up again, but Scarlett stopped him once again.
"Rhett, please, let me see Ella first. She's…. she's alright isn't she?" Scarlett asked with great concern.
"Yes Scarlett she's fine. Well she hasn't got any worse since I got here." Rhett replied. "But Scarlett I think you outta eat something first."
"Oh, Rhett I can't eat until I see her." Please Rhett." She begged.
"Now, I think it will be best if you…" Rhett began, but was cut off by Scarlett.
"Rhett, If you make me go eat now I won't eat a single bite." Scarlett said cunningly.
"Yes, you will. If I say you will you will. What would Mammy say?" Rhett said, forgetting what he said till it was too late.
Scarlett looked down and was silent.
"Alright," Rhett said, cupping her chin. "You can see Ella first but only for a minute. Then you have to go to the kitchen and eat."
Scarlett managed a small child like smile and then allowed Rhett to lift her into his arms. It felt odd. She wasn't sure if she was happy or she was scared. She had missed him for so long and wanted to be in his arms, but no it felt as if he was carrying a friend, much like he carried Melly that night Sherman invaded Atlanta. She was stiff in his arms and the two were both silent as they walked down to Ella's closed door.
Rhett gently put Scarlett on the ground helped her into the room. Ella's condition hadn't seemed to improve much. Scarlett sat on the edge of Ella's bed and touched her sickly pale hand with her own white hand. She seemed to be deep in thought and she sat there for a moment, just looking at the little helpless girl.
Then Rhett carried her down to the dinning room for breakfast. It was more of a late lunch seeing how it was already 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Scarlett and Rhett both sat down at the large table in the dinning room and waited for Dilcey to bring lunch. Scarlett's eyes got wide and she sat up straight as she saw the food being served. Scarlett had enough strength to sit up in her chair alone and she ate quicker than she ever had before. She hadn't been this hungry since the war. And the more she thought of being hungry the hungrier she got. She ate fast and hardly stopped to take a breath.
After two more plates Scarlett felt horrible. She was so full she didn't think she could even move. Even though she didn't have her corset on she still felt like her dress, which went unnoticed that that it was her nightgown, was extremely constricting. A sudden drowsiness over came her and she felt like she might go to sleep right at the dinning room table. She felt very strange. A moment ago she was starving and now she was so full and she didn't think she could even make it up stairs to her room without falling down asleep.
Rhett had watched Scarlett carefully through the whole meal. He saw as some of her color came back and life was returned to her eyes. He smiled as she looked like a small child who had stayed up way past there bedtime. Her head nodded forward and she would pull it back right before she would lay it on the table.
"My dear, I believe its past your bed time." He jeered.
All she could do was groggily shake hr head.
He walked over to her side of the bed and almost picked her up directly from her chair. She didn't seem to mind this time, although, that was probably because she was so tired. She was practically asleep in his arms as he laid her down on the bed and tucked the covers around her. He watched her for a moment as she inhaled and exhaled softly. He watched her as he had Bonnie some nights, and his heart seemed to constrict. Rhett felt the urge to kiss the top of Scarlett's head and when he knelt down and brushed the stray hairs away from her head, with his left hand, something caught his eye.
His wedding ring. The wedding band that was a plain gold, the wedding band that he had exchanged with Anne. "Anne, Anne was his wife." He thought to himself. And here he was with Scarlett. His ex-wife and he was tucking her in no less. He should go write to Anne. He had been gone nearly 5 days and he had sent no word to her. He had left so abruptly before; he hadn't given her any clue where he was going. He drew any from Scarlett and then Dilcey walked in.
"Scue' me Mist' Rhett, but Mist' Wade isa waitin' fa ya to come walk wif him taday." Dilcey said.
"Thank you Dilcey." Rhett said, with his back turned to her.
With that Dilcey left and Rhett stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do.
Scarlett still needed him, and Ella, the whole reason he was there, still needed him. Even though, he wasn't much help. Then there was Anne, Anne who was his wife, but now his feelings felt different. He wasn't sure of them though, and that was the part that really scared him.
He had always been sure of his thoughts and feelings, and sometimes other peoples as well. Although when it came to Scarlett rules and regularities never applied. Then he turned and headed out to meet Wade.
Wade seemed to notice Rhett being preoccupied during their walk today. He debated whether or not to speak of it, but he sonly decided against it. It most likely had to do with his mother and he preferred to stay out of those matters, concerning his mother and his uncle Rhett.
Scarlett had woken up an hour later famished. She sent for Dilcey to bring up something and to open the drapes so she could see outside. She assumed it was almost five o'clock and she also seemed to be captured by her own thoughts as well. Thoughts of Rhett. She wanted to know and ask him so many things but she was unsure of how to begin. Like how he heard about Ella and how long he was planning to stay, and most importantly, was he still married to that horrible Anne creature. How could he have any respect for her. Why she had gotten word that the only reason why he married her was because he compromised her. She believed Rhett wanted her as much as he did because he couldn't ever really have her until they were married. She seemed proud of that and that Anne was just like any hussy in one of the saloons. She had known Rhett 14 years and today it seemed as if they were awkward strangers. He had no sarcastic remarks and she had no plots and stinging words for him. She just hoped they could find something to talk about. Something….she thought
Rhett said goodbye to Wade and walked distractedly into the house. He realized that he probably hadn't paid much attention to anything Wade had said but he had so many other things on his mind. Rhett started up the stairs, to check on Ella and Scarlett, when Dilcey came past him with an empty food tray.
"Dis is her third meel since yous been out with mist' Wade." Dilcey sighed, obviously tired and irritated of walking up and own the stairs.
"Is she better?" Rhett asked, looking up towards her door.
"Well Miz Scarlett, is still mighty weak an' she still look plum sickly pale, but she talking more an' she eatin' like a horse. She drifts en' an outa sleep though. An' as soon as she wakes back up she's a wanting more ta eat."
"Is she asleep now?" Rhett asked.
"Yes Sir. She been asleep fa a minute or so." Dilcey said.
"Thank you Dilcey. Why don't you go sit with Miss Ella. I'll watch over Scarlett." Rhett offered.
"Yes Sir." Dilcey said.
Rhett walked up the stairs and entered Scarlett's room. He noticed it that the sun was setting and it would soon be dark, so he lit the bed lamp and sat in a chair in the corner of the room. So many feelings ran through him at the moment. "It was like he almost missed her. Like he almost still…" no, no, Rhett shook his head. He wouldn't allow himself to think of it. "There was no way he still…loved her. Was there?" "She sick, and she needs help and that is the only reason you feel like this." Rhett mentally told himself. "Your married you cad, and your supposed to love your wife, Anne." Rhett told himself. But did he really love her? He wasn't really sure. He always knew that he would never love in the way he loved Scarlett, no matter what, but he did have a love for her. Although, it held no passion what so ever, it was more like the love that one was supposed to have for a friend, a southern belle from the old world. He married her because he compromised her and because he wanted to hurt Scarlett. That was no reason to get married though and now he saw that. Anne was a Charleston lady, like his own mother, and she always would be. He could predict there life from now to 50 years in the future, and he wasn't sure he liked that idea. He didn't think that he could sit in one place for the rest of his life and be completely settled down. It was different with Scarlett. Even though their life together had been shaky it had still had its moments. He didn't mind being settled with Scarlett, maybe that was because their life was never predictable or with a dull moment.
He watched her sleep as he mentally cursed himself. He hated himself for feeling like this. He had messed things up for everyone. If he loved Scarlett then he would ruin Anne's life. His as well, he couldn't just divorce her. She was a lady, from Charleston no less and she would be ruined if she was divorced. He ruined things for himself because if Scarlett didn't love him anymore than there was nothing he could do. He would be trapped.
He sighed and rubbed his hands threw his hair. There was no reason Scarlett would love him anymore, he had left her and married again, and since Bonnie was gone there was no reason for them to have to be together, no child to hold them together. Or so he thought.
He got up and walked down to the dinning room to have something to eat before he thought of another thing. He returned a couple hours later, after having dinner and a conference with the whiskey bottle. He was by no means drunk; he just needed something to calm his nerves. He entered Scarlett's room and began to write to Anne explaining to her of his where-abouts. He wasn't very far into the letter when he heard Scarlett tossing and turning in her bed.
"No…no…please…wait…I…oh please…" Scarlett cried. "Rhett! Rhett!" She yelled, still asleep. Rhett ran to her side and held her to his chest.
"Shh, Scarlett I'm here. Shh." Rhett said, softly. "Scarlett?" Tell me; was it your old nightmare?"
All she could do was shake her head yes. "It…it was awful Rhett. It..it.." She was unable to finish and she buried her head farther into Rhett's shirt.
"Calm down Scarlett. I'm here, it was just a dream." He said trying to calm her down.
"Oh Rhett, I was with Bonnie and she was riding and I…I," she tried to push back some of the tears and continue, "I saw her fall."
A sharp pain went through Rhett's heart at hearing this, causing him to hold Scarlett tighter.
Scarlett continued, "Then I was alone with Melly in the fog and she said to be kind to captain Butler he loves you so. Then she was gone and I was alone by myself again and I was running, running so hard I could barley breathe. Till I found you. I was so scared and when I went to run to you, you told me it was too late and…and…and when I told you I loved you, you said that I was too late. Then you left. You left me in the fog all alone. I was cold, and tired, and so hungry and I didn't know what to do. I…I" She stopped to catch her breath and then suddenly threw her arms around Rhett.
She had variations of that dream over the last two years but there was no one to comfort her; and now Rhett was right here and she was going to take advantage of it.
Rhett pulled Scarlett to where he could see her face. The small flame of the lamp played on Scarlett's skin and revealed the hot tears that were still freely flowing from her eyes. Rhett wipe them away while cupping her face in both his hands. They sat in silence like that for a few moments and then Rhett leaned in like he was about to kiss her. Scarlett closed her eyes but Rhett stopped himself.
"Maybe you outta get your rest Scarlett." Rhett said, rather quite.
Scarlett stared at him for a moment with a little disappointment written on her face, and then nodded in agreement. Rhett helped her under the covers but oddly he couldn't make himself leave the room.
Like almost reading his thoughts; Scarlett asked, "Rhett will you please stay, just for a little while."
Rhett looked at her worried appearance and he nodded. She scooted over and he laid on the top of the covers letting Scarlett lay her head on his shoulder. She laid there for and in moments fell asleep. One would think Rhett would feel most uncomfortable, lying with some other than his own wife, but on the contrary it felt like the most natural thing. Rhett felt like he had a piece of something he had been missing. Rhett inhaled Scarlett's scent of magnolia and jasmine and sighed lightly. He wished he could stay like this, and that made him hate himself. Soon he drifted into sleep as well.
I was going to stop here, but it sounds too much like the previous chapter to me. So I'm continuing…..
The next morning Scarlett woke to find that Rhett was already up. She was able to walk and dress without ascendance. She put on a simple day dress without a corset and had Dilcey wash her hair and style it. Scarlett was famished so she walked down to the dinning room for a large bowl of grits and a plate of bacon and biscuits. Dilcey informed her that Rhett had already eaten and was out with Wade this morning. Scarlett finished and decided she would go sit with Ella.
Still no improvement she found, but she was doing no worse than she had before. Rhett arrived back in the house around 1:00 that afternoon. He found Scarlett still sitting with Ella. "
"Dilcey said you have been in here ever since this morning." Rhett said, standing in the doorway.
Scarlett turned to face him and he noticed she had been crying.
"Scarlett?" He questioned scared she was hurt. He walked into the room and stopped a few feet from her.
''Rhett was I an awful mother" She asked returning her gaze to Ella.
"Scarlett," Rhett breathed
"I know I probably was, in fact I believe you told me so, but I'm really sorry. I want her to know I love her and that I can change. That I can be a good mother. I can. I am."
"She knows you love her Scarlett." Rhett said, thoughtfully and honestly.
"No Rhett, she doesn't. I never really told her. Not really." She said looking up at him. Then returning her eyes to the small girl she continued, "What if I'm too late?" She whispered.
"Now Scarlett no more of that talk. She will get better. I know it. If has any of your blood in her I don't think she'll give up that easily." Rhett said smiled causing Scarlett to lightly smile also.
"Now come on Scarlett, let's have a late lunch." Rhett offered out stretching his hand.
Scarlett took it and followed Rhett out of the room.
"Thank you Rhett." Scarlett smiled, but said seriously.
"For what?" Rhett asked
"For making me feel better." she answered
"Well your welcome my dear. You can repay me by joining me for lunch." He jeered.
"Sounds like a fair payment." She smiled. "Oh but how about we eat on the front porch." "I don't think I can stand being in that room any longer."
"I don't know, we don't want you to get sick again." Rhett said apprehensively.
"Oh Rhett please. You told me yourself, I get my strength from Tara." She answered.
Rhett smiled and gave in. She smiled like a child that had gotten exactly what she wanted, reminding Rhett of the Scarlett that had captured his heart long ago and the little girl he lost and missed more than anything.
Ok, sorry it tool so long to update. I'm on spring break so I should have time to write and post more. This is a pretty long chapter, longest I've written in fact, so please review. I know most of you are thinking I'm writing very slowly. But in one two chapters ya'll shall have what ya'll want…Rhett and Cat's meeting. I will post soon I promise. Please please tell me what you think! It very important to me.