I don't own anything. DUH!
Chapter 2
The next morning Scarlett woke up early and got ready for the funeral. When she went downstairs she saw Rhett sitting in the library. He saw her and went over to her.
Extending his arm he asked, "Shall we?" Scarlett took his offered arm.
They walked out to the carriage in silence. The silence continued all through the ride. They didn't look at each other, each just kept to their selves. At the cemetery they stood by Ashley and India. Scarlett made sure that she didn't stand by Ashley. India stood by Ashley, Rhett by India, and then Scarlett. Scarlett hadn't let herself cry during the whole ceremony, but now nearing the end she was starting to lose her fight. One single tear slid down her cheek. Then the part came when the dirt was thrown on the coffin. As soon as the first clod hit, Scarlett's battle was lost.
"Oh god." She cried as she turned around holding her ears and put her face on Rhett's shoulder.
There was nothing Rhett could do but put his arms around Scarlett and comfort her, "Shh…shh it's alright"
They stood there through the rest of the service with Scarlett crying on his shoulder. Just before the service was completely over Ashley lost it.
He fell to his knee at the grave, "Melly, oh god, Melly. No… No."
Scarlett spun around to see Ashley and then turned back to Rhett, "Rhett, he's going to jump in there with her. Do something please."
"Why should I do something?" Rhett didn't know why she didn't just do it.
"Because no one else will and it wouldn't look right if I did. Please Rhett." Scarlett was pleading with her eyes.
"Ok…Ok." Rhett left Scarlett and walked over to Ashley.
He wasn't really sure what to do, "Ashley, come on now." He knelt down beside him, putting his arm around Ashley. What Rhett really wanted to do was push Ashley in, but he pulled him back and up to a standing position.
"What am I going to do with out her?" Ashley looked at Rhett like he had all the answer. Rhett didn't know what to say to him.
"India come here," when she got closer Rhett said, "Get him out of here."
Ashley started back toward the grave, "No I won't leave her. I won't."
"Ashley you have to, she's gone. You have to let her go. Think of Beau. Go home Ashley." Rhett pulled him away from the grave and toward his carriage. Once he thought Ashley would go, he turned him over to India. People were now going to their carriages. Rhett looked around for Scarlett and saw her kneeling at another grave. He realized it was Bonnie's grave. Before he went to Scarlett he stopped by their carriage and got a bouquet of flowers he had placed in there earlier.
As he approached Scarlett he heard her talking. He decided to stand back and listen.
"Oh Bonnie, I miss you so much. I wish you were here. I guess you can keep Melanie company now." It was somewhat of a comfort to know that Melanie was with Bonnie now.
Rhett walked up without saying a word to Scarlett. He set the flowers down and said, "Daddy loves you baby." He kissed his fingers and placed then on her name.
"Rhett, I'm so sorry." Scarlett remembered all the things she said to Rhett when Bonnie died. She realized how much she hurt him.
Rhett wasn't completely sure what she meant, "For what Scarlett?"
"For everything. I know I've hurt you so much. When Bonnie died, all I thought about was myself and how much I was hurting. I'm just so sorry." Scarlett barely got out the last part before she started crying again.
Rhett couldn't believe his ears, Scarlett was apologizing. That was something she never did, to anyone. 'What an act she's putting on. If I didn't know better I would actually believe she cared. But maybe just maybe she does.' Rhett knelt down beside Scarlett and took her into his arms. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Even Rhett had let some of his own tears flow, finally comforting each other. When Rhett realized it was getting dark he stood up without saying a word, bringing Scarlett with him and they walked to the carriage. She clung to him the whole way home and on into the house.
Mammy met them at the door surprised to see them so close to each other. "I's was startin' at worry bout ya'll. Dinner's ready, if in you ins wont it."
"Thank you Mammy. I think we will eat something." Rhett knew Scarlett hadn't eaten since breakfast and neither had he.
Rhett led Scarlett into the dinning room. Scarlett sat down in her usual spot as Rhett got them both a drink. He knew they both needed one badly. Once Rhett was seated their dinner was brought out.
After their quiet dinner Rhett said, "You must be tired. It's been a long day. Why don't you go on to bed?"
"Well, I am tired, but I don't want to be alone. Will you… come up with me? Just until I fall asleep." Scarlett wasn't sure how Rhett would react, but she didn't want to leave the security she felt with him today.
"Alright. Go ahead and get changed and I'll be up in a minute." Rhett knew today had taken its toll on Scarlett and that she really needed someone to lean on now.
Scarlett found Mammy in the hall and asked her to come into the room to help her change. As she made her way up the long stairway she realized how tired she really was. It took all the strength she had left to climb the huge staircase. Once in her room she quickly changed into a nightgown and crawled into bed.
"Mammy, will you please tell Rhett I'm ready for him to come up?" Scarlett didn't want to spend one minute alone.
Mammy was surprised by Scarlett's request, "Course I will Miz Scarlett."
Once she was downstairs Mammy went in search for Rhett. She found him still in the dinning room concentrating on his drink glass. "Mista Rhett, Miz Scarlett say she's ready."
"Thank you Mammy" Rhett stood ready to go up stairs.
"Mista Rhett, be kine to her, she don been through lots." Mammy didn't want to see Rhett hurt Scarlett again.
Rhett was shocked at Mammy frankness, "I will Mammy, I will."
Rhett went up stairs, but stopped at the door. He wasn't sure if he should knock or go right in. He decided, 'it's my house, I shouldn't have to knock.' He walked in to find Scarlett already in bed. Her eyes were closed, so he couldn't tell if she was asleep yet.
"Oh…I didn't hear you come in." Scarlett wasn't sure if Rhett was being nice out of pity or true kindness, but now she didn't really care.
Rhett pulled a chair up to the side of the bed. "Rhett, I…" Scarlett wanted to tell him again how sorry she was and that she loved him.
"Hush Scarlett. Go to sleep. We can talk all you want in the morning."
With that Scarlett snuggled down into the bed, "Rhett will you tell me one of your stories?"
"Sure." Rhett proceeded to tell Scarlett a story about his blockading days. Once he finished the story he realized Scarlett was asleep. He thought about going to his room, but then decided not to. Sleeping was when Scarlett was the most beautiful. He didn't want to pass up a chance to watch her. He had to keep telling himself over and over that he didn't love her anymore. After about an hour of watching her Rhett drifted of to sleep.
"No, no…come back, please come back." Scarlett yelled as she tossed and turned in her bed.
Her pleas had woken Rhett up. He quickly moved to the bed taking Scarlett in his arms. "Scarlett wake up. It's alright, wake up."
"Oh Rhett, it was so awful." Scarlett was sobbing into Rhett's chest.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Rhett remembered how she shared her dream with him on there honeymoon. He hoped she would open up to him again.
"It was like the old dream, but different. I was running through the mist looking for something. Then I saw Melanie and… and Bonnie. They had their backs to me and were walking away. I tried so hard to reach them but I couldn't…I couldn't." Scarlett continued sobbing into Rhett chest.
Rhett was fighting with his own emotions at the mention of Bonnie, but he knew he needed to comfort Scarlett now, "Hush now Scarlett. Your dream just proves that Bonnie and Melanie are together now. They always loved spending time together." Rhett kissed Scarlett's head wanting to take away her pain.
Scarlett turned her face up to Rhett's, "I know your right Rhett, but it still hurts so much."
"I know, my pet, I know." All Rhett could think as he looked into Scarlett's eyes was how beautiful she looked. Even with her eyes red and puffy she was irresistible.
Before he realized what he was doing his lips were on Scarlett's. He was kissing her with a passion that had been building up for years. To Rhett's surprise Scarlett was kissing him back with just as much force. Rhett's mind was telling him to stop, though his heart was saying don't ever stop. Rhett deepened the kiss more and more. Scarlett's replied with so much pent up passion. She had wanted to be with Rhett for years and now it was finally happening. As they both finally gave into their own personal urges, they lost all track of thought. They continued to make love the rest of the night.