Don't owe the characters of Scarlett O'Hara, Rhett Butler and the characters in Gone With the Wind but I do owe this story-well part of it.
Thanks for reviews and corrections
(A/N. Posting this story might take longer time then expected because I've decided to delete the chapters already written and start all over again)
The next few days were spent in endless waiting for news of Ashley, Scarlett hated how quiet and empty the house was these days, it gave her too much time alone with her thoughts. She didn't have the nursing to occupy her time; no one expected her to go when Ashley's fate was unknown. Scarlett missed the attention from the wounded soldiers and their open admiration of her beauty.
More then ever she carved men's attention to fill the void of pain and fear in her, if only men would love her she couldn't be that bad a person.
"I must be an evil person when my love endangers other people. Why was I so stupid to love a married man? Ashley must have known but he didn't stop me. I hate him-Oh No! Mother of God, forgive me".
Melanie was wearing herself out she couldn't find rest, every day she went to the telegram office and met the trains delivering letters. The first reports were;
"Missing- Believed killed" then they changed to; "Missing -believed captured."
Now they dared hoping Ashley was alive. One day it was too much for Melanie and Rhett Butler brought her home, she had fainted from fatigue at the train station. He softly asked if she was with child, the shy Melanie would have died from shame, if she hadn't felt so faintly. Rhett Butler promised to use his connections to locate Ashley but only if Melanie took care of herself from now on.
He kept his word and, when a month had passed, he had the news that Ashley was kept captured in Rock Island, the worse prisoner camp the Yankees had, being there was almost equal being death. And Ashley was presumed death.
Scarlett almost fainted from the news and she turned sickly white;
"Will this ever stop? Until now I had the hope that I hadn't killed Ashley, but now that hope is gone and I'm forever stuck with Melanie and her baby. Who can ever help me?"
Rhett kept his attention on Melanie but secretly he was watching Scarlett more closely, he saw how the news of Ashley's death shook her and misunderstood it to be caused by her girlish love. But at that moment Scarlett wasn't thinking of Ashley with any love just as the burden he had become to her. A cross to bear. Scarlett had never been one to consider the feelings of others and she didn't start now, she paled from her bad conscience and fear of what her punishment would be besides Melanie and her unborn baby.
"At least I have his baby" Melanie repeated over and over until Scarlett felt like screaming and had to leave the room. "Can't Melanie be a lady about her having a baby and not talk about it all the time, it's hard to ignore Ashley's baby with her mentioning it every other second."
Rhett stayed with Melanie a little longer before he joined Scarlett in the parlour.
"It will be a difficult time for Mrs. Wilkes, she will need extra care in her condition. I will gladly help in any way I can Mrs. Hamilton. Just let me know what you need. I will drop by as often as I can."
"What about me? No one cares about me,"
"You will manage just fine, you're a survivor Mrs. Hamilton. Besides I thought it was Mrs. Wilkes who lost a husband but maybe I was wrong?"
"Go to hell Rhett Butler- I don't need you!"
"I know that you don't and I will most gladly leave you" with a hard expression in his face he bowed in a rude gesture and left.
Life continued. Melanie was heartbroken and stayed in bed most of the time. Dr. Meade was worried that the pregnancy would be too much for her to handle. Scarlett was scared to death; she couldn't loose Melanie too, not after she promised Ashley to take care of her, soon her fear turned into anger.
"How dare Melanie do this to me? How can she be so selfish?"
One day Scarlett couldn't control her anger anymore and slammed Melanie's door open. "Melanie Wilkes you will stop feeling sorry for your self now, think about your baby, you can't just give up! I will not let you do this to me. Ashley won't come back because you make yourself sick. You will get out of that bed every day now, at least for a few hours"
First Melanie looked hurt and started to cry but before long her face calmed.
"Thank you Scarlett, I had forgotten that you love me and that I really want this baby. I will take excellent care of my baby from now on; it's the one piece, I have left of my dear, dear Ashley. I do love you Scarlett."
Scarlett clinched her teeth tightly together "Melanie is silly and stupid as a goose to love me. I don't want her love. I wish she was some one else's burden."
A new light had come to Melanie's eyes and the very same day she left her bed to take supper with Scarlett, aunt Pittypat and their two guests; Rhett Butler and Scarlett's latest beau Captain Ashburn.
Rhett took special care of Melanie all night and listened to her tales of Ashley without any discomfort but honest interest,
"How can Rhett stands her foolish talking, I know how he dislikes Ashley but he always had a soft spot for Melanie. I wonder why?" Scarlett was in a sullen mood, Rhett didn't notice her and Captain Ashburn was annoying with his talk of war and his hope for marriage.
"I will kill him if he proposes!"
Indeed Captain Ashburn wanted to propose to Scarlett, he was frustrated that his courting of her didn't lead anywhere "Would you like some fresh air Mrs. Hamilton" he asked.
"No thanks, I'm not looking for a cold" Scarlett replied in a harsh tone.
Captain Ashburn was taken aback; this was a Scarlett he didn't know, normally she was so delicate. Perhaps more then just a little energized but sweet.
Two pair of eyes turned to Scarlett, Melanie's was ashamed and Rhett's amused, his soft chuckle was heard as he politely asked Scarlett to walk him out. She reluctantly obeyed.
"Thanks for a nice evening in your gentle and caring company Mrs. Hamilton," he mocked, Scarlett gave him a cold stare
"No one forced you to be here Captain Butler, you are free to find more pleasant company."
"Touché! Perhaps I will escort myself to a more friendly company"
"Go to he-" Scarlett was interrupted when Captain Ashburn came closer. He was also excusing himself; no gentleman would remain alone with two women at this hour of day. Scarlett quickly said her goodbyes and returned to the house.
"What more pleasant company Rhett Butler find and where. What did he mean? Never mind! It's not that I care".
Inside she helped Melanie to bed "I know you have a hard time forgetting poor Charlie but don't be so hard on men Scarlett. Charlie would want you to find love again" she said in her soft, kind voice, it broke her heart to see Scarlett alone and she was so young.
"Hush Melanie. Goodnight"
"Poor child still so upset with loosing Charles" Melanie thought when Scarlett left her.
Scarlett was in no mood to hear about finding love again, love was forbidden for her.
The war came closer to Atlanta, in fact the battle was fought in Atlanta's backyard, Scarlett was scared and had enough of the war, there was no glory in war only shortage of every thing worth having, and it stopped all the fun of life. The wounded soldiers were in too bad shapes to be beaux anymore and the shortage of medicine made nursing unbearable, and she hated the smell of sickness and the amputations. "Why did we ever start this war? Men are like little boys, if they can have a war, they never once consider the consequences it will mean to women. I wish I was a man then I would end this foolish war and demand balls and parties instead."
Scarlett wanted to go home to Tara and planned to leave soon, but Melanie spoiled her plans.
"Please don't leave me, you're more dear then any sister to me. I need you when the baby come and you promised Ashley to take care of me" Melanie said the last part with a smile. She knew of the promise Scarlett had given Ashley. Scarlett grew cold, she remembered her promise as well, but she also remembered what her loving Ashley had caused and more clearly, than anything remembered her cross to bear; Melanie, and Ashley if he was alive.
"Why won't life let me forget what I have done and have mercy on me"
"Yes Melly I remember, you will be coming with me to Tara, Mother will love having you there." Scarlett was proud of herself; she would have it her way and would be keeping her promise as well.
But Dr. Meade would hear of no such thing as to move Melanie. "Mrs. Wilkes is in no condition to travel". Scarlett was forced to stay in Atlanta watching aunt Pitty leaving the city in fear, but she couldn't go anywhere.
One night when Scarlett sat on the front porch she heard footsteps approaching her, and she expectedly looked to see who came. She didn't like to be alone; too many thoughts nailed her and none of then pleasant. The visitor was Rhett Butler. She quietly watched him approach, as always she enjoyed his physique, he was in one piece and very well looking, and not like the soldiers she had met recently. As always she was overwhelmed with his masculinity and strength. She knew he turned the heads of many girls as well as young matrons.
"How I do run on, it's not like I'm in love with Rhett"
"Hallo my dear Mrs. Hamilton, I heard Miss Pittypat had left and thought you had gone with her. Why are you still here?" He didn't sound pleased.
"Melanie cannot travel in her condition Rhett but I long home so bad it hurts."
"Hush now Scarlett it will be all right" Rhett's voice was gentler then ever and without any mockery. "You will be safe here!"
"How can I be safe when the Yankees are coming and they will-" she couldn't go on. No lady spoke of such things the Yankees did to women.
"The Yankees are human as us, I bet they won't rape you even if they wanted to. They wouldn't dare."
Scarlett rose from her chair "I will not have you insult me Rhett!"
Rhett grabbed her hand and placed her back in the chair, "Calm down, I know it's what every nice lady thinks. And you are a nice lady aren't you Mrs. Hamilton?" the mocking was back in Rhett's voice.
Scarlett sighed
"It's rather ironic that you so unselfishly stay with Mrs. Wilkes, my impression was that you rather saw her death and considered her silly and stupid. After all she is married to you most beloved Ashley Wilkes"
Scarlett's eyes grow wide with fear. His talking of death made her sacred.
"Why did he have to mention Ashley?"
"Melanie is like a sister to me so of course I stay" Scarlett lied "No one must ever know what I have done, that I caused Ashley's death and I cannot be the cause of Melanie's"
Rhett saw the fear in Scarlett's eyes but thought it was Scarlett's love for Ashley that put it there.
"Scarlett could you ever love me?"
"No! Never! - You are a cad and the worse skunk I ever met. Do you love me?" Scarlett knew this game she had him right where she wanted him now, he would obey her every wish from now on.
"Love you. God no! But I'm rather fond of you and attracted to you. Are you fond of me my dear Mrs. Hamilton?"
"Fond of you? Why, yes. Are you asking me to marry you?" Scarlett looked at Rhett through narrowed eyes, now, he had her full attention.
Rhett busted into a heavy laughter "No I am not the marrying kind. But I have waited for you to grow up Scarlett and forget about the wood headed Ashley Wilkes. I have never been attracted to anyone this long and waited this long for her. I'm asking you to be my mistress"
Scarlett turned red from anger "You mistress! All I would get from that was a house full of brats"
"You are at least honest Mrs. Hamilton, you are the only female to consider the facts and speaks honestly about them," he laughed at her, making Scarlett's blood boil.
"Go to hell Rhett Butler! Don't ever show your nasty face here again. I hate you! Hate you!" she cried.
Scarlett wanted to slam the door in his face but it was too heavy for her, so she ran upstairs and left it to him to slam the door for her.
"How dare he? I will find a way to pay the mighty Rhett Butler back".
Chapter three will come…