A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post, but things have been crazy... Anyway, I do hope you'll like this chapter. Have a nice reading!Chapter Four – The Next Morning
The rays of light could be seen through the curtains of a dark room, but barely illuminating it. Another beautiful sunny summer day in Atlanta, and Scarlett's mind was already lazily thinking about what she was supposed to do today.
Beau will be arriving soon… Poor Ella will want me to play with her because the boys won't want her playing with them. And there's the afternoon tea at Aunt Pittypat's house… Why did I agree on that again? And where's Prissy to wake me? I feel like I've been sleeping for more hours than I should. Surely the children and Rhett are already awake, but it's too comfortable in here for me to get out of bed…
Rhett. Last night. Scarlett opened her eyes quickly, suddenly aware of the body that was hugging her from behind. Rhett.
A series of images replayed in her mind, and a lazy smile appeared in her face as closed her eyes again. He kissed her. Oh, he kissed her again for what it had felt like forever. How could she have survived so long without his kisses? A small giggle escaped from her lips as she remembered that those were exactly the same thoughts she had the last time they had slept together. But last night was so different from that night – perhaps her emotions were what changed everything. But he accepted her as she claimed she loved him over and over during their lovemaking, never ceasing to please her and always ready to kiss away the tears that insisted on falling from her eyes.
She covered Rhett's hand – that rested around her waist – with hers, and sighed contently. So he had come back to her. Apparently. Or at least she hoped this was the case. Well, at least this time he didn't leave her to wake up alone. He was still there, breathing softly into her neck.
She opened her eyes again when she felt Rhett's body stiffen against hers. He was awake. And probably doing the same that she did; remembering everything and how they got into this situation. She gave him a moment to adjust to everything and then said:
"Good morning, Rhett."
She didn't have to turn around and look at him to know that he was rubbing his eyes and looking around.
"What time is it?" He asked, sounding distant.
"I don't know, but it's late. I'm surprised Prissy haven't come to wake us." Scarlett said, now turning around and looking at Rhett. He seemed fine; it was obvious he had a good sleep that night, probably the best in many, many months. She smiled hesitantly at him. "Not that I'm complaining, of course."
Rhett opened his mouth to speak, while his face held a neutral expression. Scarlett didn't know what to expect. But just as he would start speaking, someone knocked on the door.
"Mommy, are you awake?" Ella's little voice entered the room, but the door remained closed. Rhett then chose to get off of bed, and Scarlett continued lying down, not daring to look at him.
"Yes, darling, Mommy just woke up." Scarlett said, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh. Would you like me to ask Prissy to come bring your breakfast? Then we can have breakfast together in your room, like we did at Tara!" Ella said, unaware that Scarlett wasn't alone in her room.
Scarlett looked at Rhett, unsure of what to do. How was it that they were married and couldn't be seen sleeping in the same room? Oh, yes, she had wanted separate bedrooms once. Rhett shrugged, and then mouthed "Go ahead" to her, and Scarlett spoke again.
"That would be lovely, Ella."
"Alright, Mommy, I'll come back soon!" And they heard the quick footsteps heading away from the bedroom.
"Don't worry, Scarlett, I'll have breakfast with Wade downstairs." Rhett said, grabbing his clothes and turning to the door. "We have a lot of thinking to do, and I have some business meetings to attend. We'll see each other later."
Without giving Scarlett the time to think about something to say, he was out of her room. We have a lot of thinking to do? Only if he does, I have nothing to think about! Did I say anything wrong? His tone had been so emotionless, so dry, so… wrong. The tears she thought that had been dried the night before threatened to fall again, but she wouldn't let them. No, she thought, he would have to get out of her room anyway, and quickly before Ella came back. He just did what he was supposed to do.
No, she wouldn't cry. There was no reason at all to cry. She just woke up next to the man she loved after a wonderful night with him. He had been there. He hadn't left. Everything was just fine.
"Mommy, may I come in?" Ella's voice interrupted Scarlett's thoughts.
"Yes, Ella, do come in." Scarlett said, trying to sound as usual. Ella opened the door at the same moment, and ran to her mother's bed. "Ella, honey, you know you shouldn't run like that. You do know what Mammy would say to you if she saw you running like that, don't you?"
"Sorry, Mommy." Ella said, climbing into the bed. "Are you feeling alright, Mother? You seem sad."
"Yes, darling, I feel fine. And where's your brother and Uncle Rhett?" Scarlett asked.
"Prissy said that since you weren't awake yet we could all sleep a little more, so Wade was just waking up when I saw him. And Uncle Rhett was heading to his room." Ella said, happily.
His room. I want him back to my room. I want it to become our room. No, Scarlett wouldn't think about it now. She would think about it tomorrow.
Never in her life Scarlett had been so happy to be at her Aunt Pittypat's house. She even managed to have a nice, normal conversation with her and Mrs. Merriwether, and she was happy to not be at home. With Beau there, Ella and Wade were more likely to have some fun – and it was better to be with other people than alone, since she was sure that she would end up thinking about Rhett's behavior that morning.
But on her way back home, she ended up thinking about him anyway. They needed to talk, that was obvious. But it wasn't easy. No, it was very difficult, in fact. Especially after last night. He was naturally avoiding her – she didn't see him after he left her bedroom, but she decided to let him be. What could she do? He needed to think, at least that's what he told her. But why? He seemed so sure of everything last night!
Stop it, Scarlett, or you'll end up killing yourself by thinking too much. Just give him some time. You can do that. But it was so hard! She loved him so, couldn't he see that? And Melly… Melly had said he loved her, too! Oh, how she missed Melly!
No, I won't think about Rhett or Melly, Scarlett thought as she entered her house. I'll think about… Tara. Yes, she should write Suellen a letter, saying that she planned to stay. And then, after that… I think I'll go to the cemetery tomorrow. It's time. No, no cemetery thoughts! She would go there tomorrow, she would deal with it tomorrow.
Scarlett was already making her way upstairs when someone knocked at the front door. She looked around briefly. God knew where Prissy was to answer the door. So, Scarlett went to do it herself.
"Ashley!" Scarlett said, smiling, as she saw the man whom she once thought she loved in front of her. He smiled at her, and Scarlett was happy to see that Ashley wasn't as bad as she thought he would be. He was basically the same, maybe a bit older than she remembered him to be, but otherwise she and Rhett were worse than him. Not that that was a good thing anyway. "It's nice to see you. You came for Beau, I presume."
"Yes, I hope he had a good time with Wade and Ella." Ashley said, as Prissy came running to the door.
"I's sorry, Miz Scarlett… You told me to keep watchin' the children, and I's doin' that since you left…" Prissy mumbled, appearing to be nervous.
"Don't worry, Prissy. But do tell Beau that his father is here. We'll be waiting in the parlor." Scarlett said, not surprised by Prissy's behavior. She and Ashley moved to the parlor, not speaking anything else.
"So, how have you been, Scarlett?" Ashley asked her, good-naturedly.
"I'm fine. Tara always managed to make me feel better." She lied. "But I feel like I should be asking you the same question, Ashley."
"I'm doing fine, although… Well, it's not easy to manage the mills all by myself." He said, and Scarlett smiled sympathetically. Ashley was never good with administration or numbers, but he did try. "I never really thanked you for your help in Melanie's funeral… I don't think I would be able to do a quarter of it without you."
"Don't worry, Ashley. It was the minimum I could do. I considered Melly a sister and she was my best friend. I wouldn't have done it differently." She said, knowing that her voice was stronger than her emotions. "I do hope you are moving on, Ashley. I know I'm trying to, but it's never easy."
"You're right, Scarlett. The first months were very difficult, but it's getting better." Ashley said, quietly. Scarlett made sure there was a safe distance between them.
Scarlett didn't really want to prolong her conversation with Ashley, and was a bit relieved when Beau busted from the doors, Wade right after him and Rhett following them, carrying Ella.
"Mother, Uncle Rhett played the bad pirate for us!" Wade said, excitedly.
"Oh, did he? And did you have fun?" Scarlett asked, smiling from Wade to Ella, not daring to look at Rhett. Ella then asked to be put on the floor and went to her mother.
"Mommy, I'm sick with all these boy's games. Would you like to have a tea party with me?" She asked, sounding extremely bored. Scarlett wasn't in the mood for any game or tea party, but it would be better than listening to Ashley or forced to make small talk with Rhett.
"Why, I would love to have a tea party with you, darling!" She said, turning then to Rhett and Ashley. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, someone needs some girl's activities and I can't turn down an invitation for a tea party. It was great to see you again, Ashley."
Without any further talk, Scarlett left with a happy Ella following her.
"Come on, Wade, you know it's already past your bedtime." Scarlett said as her son complained about his bedtime hour, already in bed. "And I know you had a busy day, although I never did learn that from you. Do you want to tell me about it? Perhaps sleep will get you by the time you finished telling me."
Wade didn't seem very happy about the idea, but he gave in to it.
"There isn't that much to talk about, Mother. We were acting like soldiers during the war until Ella came and said she wanted to play with us. Can't she play with someone else?"
"Wade, don't talk this nonsense. She's your sister, she likes to play with you. Even if your games are planned for boys only." Scarlett said, used to this kind of complain. Ever since Bonnie died, Ella had been with Wade – Bonnie was always playing with her, and while they were at Tara, there were enough cousins to keep her busy – in Atlanta, though, everything was different.
"I know. But it got better when Uncle Rhett came to play with us. Ella had fun too." The boy said, smiling sleepily. "How was your tea with Aunt, Mother?"
"It was… good. Good enough for me not to complain about it. How was Beau, Wade?" Scarlett asked. She had been worried about Beau – the boy had been so attached to Melly.
"He was alright. Said he misses Aunt Melly. Apparently, Uncle Ashley said he plans on getting married again in the future. Beau wasn't happy about it, but I told him it would be fine. I told him that Uncle Rhett's just like my father, even though he's not really my father."
"That's right. Your stepfather loves you and Ella very much, I couldn't have found a better one even if I searched the entire world. And I do hope that Beau will have a terrific stepmother, who loves him so." Scarlett said, as Wade yawned. "Now, time to sleep! Good night, darling."
"Good night, Mother."
How odd of Ashley, already talking about marrying again? Didn't he love Melanie? What would Melanie say?, Scarlett thought as she walked downstairs, smiling at her next thoughts. Oh, Melly wouldn't say anything. She would just be happy that Ashley was moving on without her. Melly was just too honorable for her own good.
"Judging by that little smile on your face," Said a very familiar voice, and Scarlett saw Rhett eyeing her at the bottom of the staircase. "you've heard the news regarding Mr. Wilkes intention to get married again."
"Yes, I was thinking about what Melly would say about it. But she would probably only smile and say that poor Ashley deserves to be happy again." Scarlett said, stopping three degrees in front of her husband, being able to look at him in the eyes freely. "I wish I could be like her. You know, not selfish."
"Why's that, Scarlett?" Rhett asked her, sounding truly intrigued.
"So I would want the man I love to be happy, even if it's not with me." She said.
"You shouldn't worry about that. Ashley's free. I'm surprised that you haven't become his mistress. Surely you know that there's no use on trying to get a good reputation."
"You wanted a slightly good reputation when we had Bonnie, but don't forget that I have two more children." She said, trying to keep calm as she saw a glimpse of guilty come into his eyes. "Of course, why would you care about them? They're not your children, after all."
"Don't say that. I love them as if they were my own." He said, sounding offended.
"Oh, really? Then why didn't you try to maintain a bond with them during all these months? Were you so focused on getting rid of me that you forgot about them?"
"I didn't. And hearing you say all these things, it sounds as if you would be a good stepmother to anyone. Are you a good mother at all?"
"I'm trying to. And keep your voice down, someone will hear us."
"Mammy isn't around to hear us with those dog's ears she has. But let's do as you wish, Scarlett. Would you like to go into my room or would you prefer a more neutral room, perhaps yours?" The mockery tone didn't go undisturbed by her as she went to the bottom of the stairs, passing by him. "Oh, yes, ignore me. I should say, I'm sorry we had to disturb your talk with Ashley. Heaven knows what would have happened if you had enough time for yourselves at the time."
Scarlett stopped abruptly in her tracks. Why did he keep pushing Ashley into their conversations?
"How dare you? How dare you insinuate such things?" Scarlett said, walking over to him, standing only a few centimeters away. "You stay away for months, after telling me you no longer love me, then out of nowhere send me a letter requesting a meeting with me- and I have no idea what to do about this! You simply ignore the fact that I'm trying to be a better person, you ignore what happened last night and keep saying nasty things about Ashley and myself, when we both know all of that is wrong! What do you want? Do you want a divorce? You won't have it. Do you want the children? You won't have them, not if I'm not along. Do you… Rhett, do you love me?"
He looked away from her, apparently uncomfortable.
"Look at me, Rhett. Look at me!" She plagued, and he finally looked at her. "Look at me and say you don't love me!"
They were standing mere inches from each other, and Scarlett felt herself being drowned by those beautiful dark eyes that involved her. Without any further notice, she was in his arms and his lips crashed upon hers, and she could do nothing to stop herself from responding him. It felt so good, so right to be in his arms, the feelings and sensations from last night not forgotten in her skin, as he started to plant feather kisses in her neck.
Then he suddenly stopped.
"I… I can't do this, Scarlett. I just… I can't." He mumbled, turning his back to her and walking over to the door, barely catching his cloak before closing it.
And there, in the bottom of the staircase, stood Scarlett, with her red lips swollen from kissing and her eyes full of tears.
A/N: So, you like it? ;) Thanks for reading!