A/N: Remember me? Hi guys... no, I'm not gone(with the wind. lol.) . SOOOOOO SORRY for the delay. I meant to update earlier, but then I realized that the chapter wasn't even finished. Wow for me. Hahah. Okay so hopefully there won't be any more updates that take this long. I feel soooo bad for not updating since like, what was it, January? Gosh. That's a long time. I'm sorry! Please forgive me! At the least, please review! For anyone who writes stories on here, you know how much reviews mean to the authors. Like when I get a review, it makes my day. So... R&R! Also, I realized my website link didn't show up on the last chapter for some reason. It's .com If it doesn't show up that time, the website is on my profile. If you like GWTW (which I'm guessing you all do) I think you will like my website! Anyways, enjoy this chapter! Hope you like it. :) I made this one longer than the others, so hopefully that will make up for the wait.

Chapter 4:
~Different Perspectives~

The next morning, Scarlett awoke to the soft tapping of knocks on her door. "Miz Scarlett, is you up?" Asked Mammy.

"Yes Mammy, I'm up; come in," answered Scarlett, drowsily. Mammy burst into the room, her eyes swollen from crying, her face wet with tears.

"Miz Scarlett, I dun no wut we is gun' do wit Miss Melly. She been here since da crack uf dawn, jus sobbin bout Mist' Ashley like there ain't no tomorruh. Her heart's dun broke untuh million pieces."

Ashley. Of course, Melanie did not have the strength to get over Ashley's death as Scarlett had. Although Scarlet had her heart pledged to Ashley and she knew that life would never be the same without him, she at least accepted the fact that he was gone. Melanie did not have that quality.

"She bin askin fer ya evuh since she git here. Miz Scarlett, you has got to do sumtin."

Did Scarlett really have to go comfort Melanie? Ashley was the last thing she wanted to talk about, and conversing with his widow would not lift her spirits. "But," she thought, "I did promise Ashley that I would look after her. I haven't broken that promise yet and I'm not going to do it now."

"Alright Mammy," she said aloud. "Tell her I'll be right down."

After she was done dressing, Scarlett glanced at herself in the mirror. She was in black from head to toe. Mourning again- Scarlett had never understood this tradition. The first time she had went into mourning, she was young, too young to be a widow in her opinion, and didn't feel anything except pity for herself. Then there was Ellen and Gerald and everyone else in between, and now Ashley? Even if she wore black for the rest of her life, that could not nearly show the amount of agony that was going through her heart. (Well, the agony that should have been in her heart)

"I won't fret over Ashley now. I can't!" Scarlett thought. "I'm going to go down and talk to Melly, and I have to help her get through this. If I don't, she'll never get over him."

As Scarlett was stepping through the parlor, she saw Wade talking to Melanie, who from the look on her face, was trying very hard not to crumble from the sadness of losing Ashley.

"When Uncle Ashley fought Sherman, was he brave?"

"Why, yes darling. He was very brave," Melanie replied, with pride in her eyes.

"Good morning Melly, Wade."

"Momma-"

"Wade, go and play with Beau," Scarlett commanded.

"But Beau doesn't wanna play. He's too sad!"

"Oh, the poor thing," Scarlett said, trying to act sympathetic around Melanie. "Have you had breakfast? Go tell Mammy to make you something to eat."

"Mammy's busy with Ella."

"Well, run upstairs or do something. I need to talk to Aunt Melly alone."

"Yes, Momma," Wade answered, and he left the room.

Once Scarlett and Melanie were alone, neither of them knew what to say. But Melanie's heartbreak soon took over. "Oh, Scarlett!" She said in between muffled sobs. Melanie was slouched in the chair, her face buried in her hands.

"What's wrong, Melly?"

"Oh, everything. Ashley is gone and now I… my heart and my life feel so empty without him."

What a ninny. Melanie didn't know what she was saying. Scarlett loved Ashley with all of her heart, yet she wasn't moping about. But, Scarlett had to help Melanie. She didn't know whether it was her promise to Ashley or her inability to endure senseless people, but she knew had to help Melanie get over her husband. "Its okay, Melly," Scarlett began, "You just have to be strong. Isn't that what Ashley would want you to do?" Melanie nodded. "Right. You have to do what's best to yourself and Beau and… and everyone else." There. That speech, to Scarlett, seemed motivational enough. If that didn't cheer Melly up, what would? Scarlett wasn't exactly good at playing the character with the loving heart.

"Scarlett, you've always been so brave. Like when dear Charlie died, and when we got to Tara in shreds, and when the Yankees wanted more tax money, and on numerous other occasions. I wish I was more like you."

Scarlett wanted to roll her eyes. "Melly, you mustn't say those things," was all she managed to spit out.

"I feel that I must. You have been so dear to me; we're sisters! And you've done so much for Beau and I and… Ashley… and dozens of other people. I don't know where I would be without you."

"Thank you," Scarlett replied, although it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"How is poor Frank, Scarlett?"'

Frank. Scarlett had almost forgotten about him! The last time she saw him was the night before. She hadn't gone back to visit him after Melanie fainted. "Um… last night the doctor said…" What did the doctor say? While he was blabbering on, Scarlett's mind was set on none other than Ashley. "The doctor said that he… he lost a lot of blood. He'll be up and about in a week or so."

"Thank Goodness he isn't majorly injured," Melanie said.

"Yes," went Scarlett. Her conscience was finally dawning upon her. Frank was the one against her operating the mills from the start. Frank told her not to drive alone. Frank told her that area of town was dangerous. And what did she do? She ignored him. If only Scarlett had listened to him, then she wouldn't be the cause of this enormous mess. Two men dead; quite a few wounded. Scarlett did that. It was almost as if she pulled the trigger herself. Why hadn't she taken Frank's word into consideration in the first place? She knew why. It was because Scarlett loathed it when people told her what to do. Something that Rhett had said long ago was coming back to her. "You like men who you can bully," he said that the same night he asked her to be his mistress. But why was she thinking of Rhett now? Frank, and more importantly Ashley, was what she needed in her head right now. Why couldn't Frank die instead of Ashley? Scarlett stopped herself; that thought was sinful. But deep down, she knew that she wished it was true.

"Melanie, I think I should go check on Fr-"a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "I'll go see who in Heaven's name that is, calling on us so early in the morning," Scarlett said irritably. She had other things to do! There was Frank and the store and the mills and new workers needed and so much more!

She opened the door to the person whom she never wanted to lay eyes on again. At least, she did not want to see them for the time being. "Rhett, what are you doing here?"

"Good morning to you too, Mrs. Kennedy."

"Really, Rhett. I have things to do and-"

"Why do you presume I came to see you? There are other people in this establishment as well."

"Then what are you here for?"

"I'm here to give my condolences to Mrs. Wilkes, if you wish to know so badly. Her home was unoccupied, so I guessed that she would be here."

Rage filled all of Scarlett's body. Why wouldn't he ever tell the truth? "Oh, will you just stop trying to act like you're sorry he's dead? Everyone knows that you hate him and-"

"I thought we established that the only emotions I feel towards him are pity and a little contempt," Rhett said, again with that mask on his face, blocking any emotion whatsoever.

"You just… never mind," said Scarlett. Why was he so infuriating? He could be charming when he chose to be, but mostly, he was just rude.

"Scarlett, who- Why, Captain Butler, how nice to see you again," Melanie stated as she walked towards the door.

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Wilkes," Rhett tipped his hat to Melanie. Why was he always so nice to her?

"Do come in, Mr. Butler."

As they sat down, Scarlett could see Melanie mentally preparing herself to not burst into tears again. "Captain Butler, I would just like to thank you for what you did for all of the men last night. Scarlett and Mrs. Meade and everyone else in town is extremely grateful for your brave and courageous actions."

Rhett glanced at Scarlett with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Wilkes. I just wish I could have gotten there sooner."

"Don't we all?" Scarlett questioned.

"Yes, I guess we do," Rhett replied.

"But what you did is still heroic," Melanie said. Why was she so grateful if Rhett didn't even save Ashley?

"I greatly appreciate your feelings, Mrs. Wilkes," Rhett said with true sincerity. "I came to give my condolences for Mr. Wilkes. He was a very… honorable gentleman."

"Thank you, Captain Butler." Scarlett could tell that Melanie was going to tear up any minute now. "I miss him a great deal already."

"That is understandable. I am sure many, many people," he smiled sardonically at Scarlett, "will miss him so."

"How can Melanie not see that he is a rascal?" Scarlett thought. "Everything he says has two sides to it. And am I the only one whom he mocks so? He drives me insane sometimes… most of the time… all of the time." In that moment, Scarlett had forgotten about all of those times where he had been caring and kind.

Mammy swung the room door open, interrupting the silence. "Miz Melly, Miz Pittypat iz askin fer ya."

"Alright, I'm coming. Please excuse me, Captain Butler."

Melanie exited the room, leaving Scarlett and Rhett alone.

"So, Scarlett, how are you coping with the death of the esteemed Ashley Wilkes?

"I'm doing just fine, thank you very much."

"Indeed?"

"Yes! What did you expect; for me to sob and have a broken heart for the rest of my life?"

"No, I didn't," he said without any hints of sarcasm or mockery.

"Well, what did you expect?'

"Scarlett, you say you loved Ashley. Did you?"

"Of course I did!"

"Then after his death, which you directly had a part in, why are you 'fine'?"

"Rhett-"

"No. Listen to me," he demanded. "When your lover dies, aren't you supposed to be miserable? There should be a gaping hole in your life. But knowing you as well as I do, I'm sure as hell that there's no 'hole' or any of that nonsense. Here you are, acting as if nothing is wrong. Scarlett, you aren't pretending. So what, Ashley is gone. You'll go on with life like you always have. Ashley dying won't stop you from leasing convicts or making money. You've never let anything stop you. Mr. Wilkes is no exception. Admit it. Ashley did not have as big as a part in your life as you thought he did."

Scarlett was shocked. Rhett had always said that she had an easy face to read, but he couldn't have possibly known everything he had just said. That was all she had been thinking about since Rhett had given her the news that Ashley died. Did he think that she didn't love him? But if Scarlett was to be honest with herself, she wasn't too sure about that either. "Rhett, I… I've always gotten over things. I just have to. You were right when you said I will get over Ashley. But that doesn't mean that I didn't love him.

Rhett sighed in exhaustion. Why couldn't she see what he had known for years? He had tried telling her, but her pride had gotten in the way. Rhett was determined – he would make her realize who Ashley really was and how Scarlett felt towards Ashley and vice versa. "Scarlett, please think about it. You say you loved Ashley. Shouldn't something in your life be missing? Shouldn't you miss talking to him and seeing his face?"

Scarlett did not reply.

"I'll take that as a no. That is exactly what I thought. You didn't love Ashley, Scarlett. It was just a childish infatuation that you believed to be love."

It was on the tip of Scarlett's tongue to reply tartly, and she was going to but they were interrupted by Wade. "Momma, I, oh hello Uncle Rhett!" said Wade, smiling. He was very fond of Rhett.

"Hello, Wade," Rhett replied. "You seem to have grown since the last time I saw you."

Wade giggled, "Thanks, Uncle Rhett."

"You are welcome, Wade. Scarlett, it seems that I must be on my way."

"Then go."

"Don't worry, I am. Also, don't be surprised if you don't see me for a while. I am going on an extended trip to England. But while I'm gone, I suggest that you think about what I just said. Ashley… just think about it." Rhett then escorted himself out.

"What was he trying to get at by saying I did not love Ashley? Why was he so serious? How did he know what I was thinking?"

An infinite number of questions flew their way through Scarlett's head. But above all, she wanted to be able to read Rhett like he did to her. She wanted to know was happening behind those dark, mysterious eyes. What did he know? How did he know her so well? And most importantly, what was with his interest of her and Ashley's relationship? Did he not want her to love him, and did he not want Ashley to love her? Ashley loved her; of that Scarlett had no doubt. Scarlett had to love him, otherwise why would her heart race at the side of his face? Why had she gotten jealous enough to marry another man just to hurt him? Scarlett had so many questions, and almost no answers.

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