A/N: it's been ages. Not many people read this story, but I'd be honored if you do and review it! It'd honestly make my day. I like this story, and so mostly I'm updating it for me, I wanna see it through as much as anyone who reads it. Regardless of whether you like it or don't like it, review!
Disclaimer: I don't own GWTW, its characters, its plot, yada yada yada.
Chapter 3 of Kissing the Rod That Chastised Me
After showing Rhett the now rather shabby guest bedroom, Scarlett decided to take her own advice and rest before dinner. Tara could get along without her for an hour.
Walking into her room, she heaved a weary sigh. Walking over to her bed, she flopped down and looked out the window. The paint on the frame had begun to chip.
The dusty road below was vacant and lonely. She remembered lighter times when she had rushed down that same beaten path to meet her father from whatever trip he had gone on. He always had something pretty for her, his favorite little girl. And now…well, she didn't like to think of her Pa.
Scarlett wished that she could travel down that road and just walk. She could walk forever if she thought it would make things return to the way they were.
But that was never going to happen.
As much as she wished it, she couldn't turn back the cruel hands of time. They kept spinning faster forwards, relentless of the devastation they left in their wake. Lying on her stomach on the worn quilt she had sewn at the tender age of ten, she rested, her head cradled on her forearms.
She was so tired. It was hard to sleep at night due to her frequent and varied night terrors. Consequently, she was often the first awake at Tara, surpassing even the sun. In the early morning hours she would sit at the kitchen table and think.
Mostly, she thought about money: when, how, where she was going to get it. But sometimes, when she least expected it and her guard was down, she thought about Rhett.
Which is what she was doing now, lying on her bed. It was weird to think about him in here, almost as if he were right there next to her…which is why she never let herself think about him in her bedroom. It was too dangerous—she hated her traitorous thoughts of Rhett's warm body pressed against hers, his lips against her ears like fire—stop! She had to stop thinking about him!
If she could just push all thoughts from her mind and if she just closed her eyes tightly shut maybe she would be free of them.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she found no relief. Lifting her head to free one arm, she used it to rub her aching head. Releasing her tension she exhaled deeply. Trying to focus on breathing, she almost forgot about her problems. It was enough. Feeling the full body fluidity that came right before sleep, she draped her arm over her head and slipped into the elusive state of slumber.
Knocking lightly on Scarlett's door, Rhett sucked in his breath.
Odd.
Why wasn't she answering? He stepped into the room as quietly as he could. Looking around the large room, which had probably at one time been very beautiful, the desolation and the aftermath of the war were visible through its current state. The room was the most sparsely furnished of all that he had seen since entering the house, and he wondered if perhaps Scarlett had moved some of her own unscathed furniture to other various parts of the house. The room was everything Scarlett O'Hara was not: plain, ragged, and utterly without appeal. Even sleeping, as she currently was, she was beautiful. He moved towards her sleeping figure to wake her, but found he hadn't the heart. Leaving her to sleep, he exited the room as quietly as he had entered.
He decided it would be best to return to his room until someone came to tell him dinner was ready. He lie down on the bed, and like Scarlett, soon fell asleep.
Unlike Scarlett, he woke up to the aroma of freshly cooked dinner. He retreated down the stairs of Tara and headed into the kitchen to find Melanie toiling over a large meal.
He raised his eyebrows at her before adding kindly, "Are you supposed to be out of bed?"
She gave him a conspiratorial smile, but kept cooking. When she spoke it was with the same characteristic softness that trailed her everywhere she went. She could be standing in the middle of a battlefield and retain the same quiet semblance.
"Scarlett's resting. I thought I'd help make dinner so she could sleep. She normally doesn't sleep well, the poor dear."
Rhett was, as usual, amazed by Melly's unique ability to put others always before herself.
"I see. Can I help you?" he offered, trying to do the gentlemanly thing.
"I can manage, though it's so kind of you to offer," she replied.
Rhett looked around the rather large kitchen before taking a seat at a worn-looking table.
"So you say Scarlett doesn't sleep well? He asked, trying not to show his genuine concern.
It didn't help.
Melly had a gift of reading and understanding even the most complex people, not excluding Rhett.
"Oh, don't worry about Scarlett, Captain Butler," she gently told him.
She truly was worried about her sister-in-law whom she was so fond of, even if she wouldn't ever dream of troubling Rhett with it. Melly was a light sleeper and she could hear Scarlett moving around her room. When she got up for the day it was hours before the dawn. She feared that Scarlett was working herself into an early grave. Rest would do her good, she thought with a mental nod of her head.
Two days later, however, Melly was beginning to wonder just how much sleep was healthy. Scarlett had slept straight through for a grand total of 48 hours and counting. Melanie bit her lower lip before knocking on the door in front of her. Her knock was timid, but served its purpose. Moments later Rhett Butler appeared bleary-eyed at his bedroom door.
"Is she still sleeping? He asked, voice heavy with sleep. After the first day Scarlett had slept Melanie had let all of her concerns spill to Rhett and the two had agreed that it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep an eye on her. The pair had kept a round the clock watch on the sleeping young woman, and both were clearly exhausted, especially Melly.
"Yes, the poor dear," was her weak reply.
Rhett gave her a scrutinizing look before telling her he would take his turn now. He was beginning to worry more about Melanie Wilkes than Scarlett. After seeing that Melanie was safely back in her bed sleeping, Rhett regained his post as Scarlett's watch-owl. Her breathing was steady, and she looked more at peace than he had ever seen her before. There was something magnetic about her that he couldn't pinpoint, but he felt its presence just the same.
Once again Scarlett was dreaming that she was with Rhett, and he was kissing her again as he had before he had so gallantly departed. Their mouths met and she sighed as his delicious lips devoured her own. What was it about this man? He filled everything in her dream, similar to the way his presence filled her when he was near.
And suddenly the kiss ended, and all she met was darkness.
A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. It shouldn't take me long at all to update because I have plans for this story and know where I plan on taking it next. However, don't hold me to that promise because it could be a week or so before it is updated. But I'll try to make it soon. Review if you would! (by the way, sorry this wasn't an extremely high-energy chapter. next chapter things'll liven up)