Look! What is it? Another chapter? Oh my gosh! Yes, another chapter. Hope you guys like it. I think, after this, I will be updating more frequently. Is this a good chapter length? Please let me know. I would like to thank Cherry Blair for helping me out with this chapter. Feel free to review once you're done! Please, I beg you, I'm desperate, haha. More reviews make me want to update faster. But I will update, regardless of how many reviews I receive. Okay, here we go with chapter 5! Enjoy! :)

Chapter 5:
~Final Goodbye~

Scarlett and Melanie were burdened with Ashley's funeral preparations. Scarlett wanted to leave the job to Melanie, but it was impossible to come up with a reasonable excuse. Naturally, Scarlett wanted to finish the work as soon as possible. After all, it did not sit well with her to arrange a funeral for a man she had killed.

She planned the whole thing possessed in a trance. It turned out that her body was able to function perfectly well without her mind controlling it. On the outside, Scarlett was giving commands, planning times, and answering questions. But inside, she was being consumed by the guilt over the fact that she killed Ashley. Her precious Ashley was dead and it was all because of her. Scarlett didn't pull the trigger, but he was dead because of her mistake. He died because she was carless. She was responsible for all of this.

It wasn't the loss of Ashley that was prodding at Scarlett, not really. It was the guilt of killing a man. One who had grown up with her and had nothing but the best intentions towards her. This time was very different than the time she killed that Yankee soldier. The Yankee could have, and probably would have, hurt her, raped her, or worse. Killing him was an act of self defense. But there was no reason to kill Ashley, no reason whatsoever. The worst thing he had done to her was marry Melanie, but he still loved Scarlett, didn't he?

Scarlett had been doubting Ashley's love a lot since he had passed. Usually, she pushed it to the back of her mind, vowing to think about it tomorrow. But it kept invading her thoughts. She blamed Rhett for making her think like this, but deep down, she knew that she had the same thoughts; she was just unwilling to admit them.

She did miss Ashley, to an extent. But Scarlett felt like she missed him because he was a reminder of the days before the war, he was one of the last remains of that life. The feeling of missing someone because you loved them never came to Scarlett's heart, but that feeling was so obviously present in Melanie. She had a faraway look in her eyes, yet carried on as if nothing was wrong. But when the visitors left, Melly let out all of her grief to Scarlett.

"Oh, Scarlett, darling, it hurts so much! I try to be strong for Beau, but I could never be nearly as strong as… as strong as you are. How could I be when Ashley isn't with us?"

On these occasions, Scarlett always spit out something small and comforting. Phrases of: "You'll be alright, it just takes time," or "Ashley wouldn't want to see you like this, would he?" were often used as Melanie sobbed miserably into her small hands.

Soothing Melanie just made her feel even guiltier about what she did to Ashley. Everything and everyone reminded her of how she killed him. The guilt followed her everywhere.

Honey Wilkes, Ashley's youngest sister, had come from Macon to Atlanta the day before the funeral. Honey was still unmarried and likely to stay that way. Scarlett had stolen both of the Wilkes sisters' beaux. She took Stuart from India and Charles from Honey. Honey didn't know much about Ashley's passing, besides the fact that he was gone. All she had received was a telegram from India that said,

"Ashley dead stop
funeral on Tuesday stop
Long story will tell when you come stop
India stop."

Before Honey knew the story of how Ashley died, she could somewhat tolerate Scarlett. But once India told Honey, she wouldn't even look at her. When she was forced to, it was always a cold, menacing, glare.

"India probably told her I pushed him off of a bridge," thought Scarlett. But she didn't care what anyone thought of her. Not Honey, not the old cats, no one. But Frank kept on pestering her about it.

"Sugar, I've heard what people are saying about you and it isn't very nice. I think it would be best if you let them know it's all a misunderstanding…"

"Frank, I know what they're saying about me. Everyone makes it quite obvious, actually. But I don't care about what they say, about what anyone says. And even if I do try to explain, people will always think what they want to, and they'll still think poorly of me. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"Yes, I do," Frank responded, and backed off. Scarlett was trying to be nicer to Frank, but her nightmares were coming back and they were more vivid than ever. In fact, Scarlett was considerably short with everyone these days.

Alas, came the day of Ashley's funeral. Scarlett had thought this day would never come. At least, if it did, she should have been Ashley's widow, not Melanie.

As people began to arrive, Melanie was greeted with understanding words and kind eyes. But Scarlett, who was standing right next to her, received only cold 'hello's' and harsh, unforgiving stares. "Well it is my fault everybody is here today," she thought, still heavily laced with guilt. There had been nothing and nobody to take her mind off of Ashley. There was no one to talk to about anything. The only person she could talk to truthfully was Rhett, but he was off in England or wherever he said he was going. Besides, he would most likely taunt her to death about Ashley anyways.

Everybody was talking about Scarlett; she was not oblivious to that fact. She simply didn't care. But, when people thought she was out of earshot, sometimes Scarlett heard gossip about someone other than herself. "I think its Rhett Butler's fault. He did more harm than good. That scalawag probably killed Ashley to get to Scarlett, and he tried to get rid of Frank too," Scarlett heard Mrs. Elsing whisper.

"Rhett wouldn't kill Ashley," she thought. "Why would he? There's no reason to." But a small part of her believed the gossip. She knew Rhett had killed men before, like the brother of the girl he took on a buggy ride, or the darkie who was uppity to a lady, which got him arrested. Why couldn't he do something like that again?

Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't realize that the funeral was about to begin. "Scarlett, come now, its starting," said Frank. They made their way towards the front of the crowd, along with Ashley's other family and close friends. She passed by Mrs. Burr, Ashley's aunt, who seemingly heard and believed the same story India told Honey, for Mrs. Burr hated Scarlett considerably.

As the priest began to speak, Scarlett felt Melanie hold her hand in a deathly grip.

Scarlett didn't hear anything that anyone was saying. It was all a blur; everything was a blur. Nothing was comprehensible at that moment… other than the inconceivable truth that she killed him. She put her beloved Ashley into his grave. Surely, she would go to hell for this. "God is going to send me to hell because I killed a man. A man whom I loved, who was so honorable, was everything a gentleman should be." This was just like the night Rhett told her of Ashley's death. She was feeling those same emotions, wanting the same things. She wanted to scream. She wanted Ashley to wake up. She wanted… anything! Anything but this! His funeral was just torture that reminded her of what she had done. But, then again, what didn't remind her of it?

Melanie was crying now, softly sobbing into her handkerchief. She wasn't the only one. Aunt Pitty, Mrs. Burr, Honey Wilkes, and many more were all in tears. Although Scarlett did feel some sadness, she mainly felt guilt and regret. She felt guilty about killing him, so guilty she thought that she might never get over it. But she had to. She wouldn't fall under. And she regretted so many things. She regretted going alone through Shantytown, and making Ashley move to Atlanta. "He wanted to be his own man!" She thought. "He was never happy here… he felt as if he were living off of charity.

Through the muffled ringing that was going through her ears, Scarlett heard a voice go, "Is there anyone who would like to say a word?"

Melanie stepped up, taking Scarlett's hand. Melanie whispered, "Will you please come up with me? I don't think I can do it alone." Scarlett, reluctantly, went with her.

"Ashley was… he was so many things. "Melanie started. "He was the best husband a lady could ever have, and a wonderful father for Beau. He loved us so much. He loved all of you so much. He was a brave soldier in our beloved Confederate army. He believed in the Cause, and risked his life for it. Ashley…" Melanie started to tear up once again. "Ashley was-" She let out a huge sob. "I'm sorry… This is so hard, its-"

Scarlett started to listen to her own advice of 'what would Ashley think?' She made a promise to him to always look after Melanie. She had to keep it. With that, she stepped up beside Melanie.

"He had so much honor; he lived by his honor. He never did anything that he thought was dishonorable. And, he was such a perfect gentleman. So many times, he thought of others before himself," said Scarlett. "He… like Melly said, he loved you all so much. You were like family to him. Umm.. .Ashley-" Why couldn't she think of anything to say? He was her knight in shining armor, her love since childhood; she had practically lived on the fact that he loved her. So why couldn't she think of anything to say about him?

"He loved all of the fine things in life," Melanie took over. "He loved books, music, poetry, art, history; he was so much like his father. You could always rely on him. I know we will all miss him greatly, and I know my life will never be the same without him in it. But he lived a good life, everything he did, he took pride in. And today, we should be proud of him. Thank you."

Melanie and Scarlett stepped back, and there was a soft applause, then silence again.

"Does anyone else have anything to say?"

No one moved. "They probably think their speech will sound disrespectful compared to Melly's," Scarlett thought.

She recalled something that Grandma Fontaine once told her, when Will told them to go inside during Gerald's funeral. "He didn't want Scarlett to hear the clods dropping in the coffin. And he's right. Just remember, Scarlett, as long as you don't hear that sound, folks aren't actually dead to you. But once you hear it, well, it's the most dreadfully final sound in the world."

But out here, on the grounds of Oakland Cemetery, there was nowhere to run. There was no way to avoid that sound. But she didn't want Ashley to be gone to her. She didn't ever want him to leave. He was the only man that she had ever loved, other than Gerald. But she had to let go. Scarlett hated looking back. If she didn't let go, she would look back.

Then, she heard it. The clods dropping on the coffin. That was it. The sound of loss, of silence, of pain, of sorrow, of passing. The sound of death.

Ashley was gone. Forever.

Why was this happening? Something was wrong with the world, dreadfully wrong. She thought she would go crazy. The loss of Ashley's love was one of the few things that Scarlett of scared of-one of the few things that she was afraid she couldn't stand. How was she standing it? She was barely staying on her feet. Scarlett's guilt and sorrow fell so deep that she felt a tear roll down her check. Then two, and then three. They wouldn't stop. But she wouldn't break. At least Scarlett was silently crying, while Melanie, India, and many others were audibly bawling. Aunt Pitty had fainted, and Uncle Peter was having trouble with the smelling salts.

"Dearest, its okay. Don't cry," said Frank, attempting to provide comfort to Scarlett.

"Great balls of fire, I'm not crying," she snapped.

"Right. I'm sorry."

Scarlett sighed. Frank had recovered from his wound successfully, but he was more timid than ever. That was just another thing to get over.

As people started to depart, Scarlett once again received cold stares and unforgiving whispers. "It's all that Scarlett Kennedy's fault," she heard an old matron say. "Anyone who has an ounce of sense knows that no woman should go buggy riding alone, especially through places like Shantytown."

"I have more sense than any of you old cats will ever have!" thought Scarlett.

"Do you think that Butler man killed him?" someone else muttered to the matron.

"I don't know. Why would he save everyone else, but kill Mr. Wilkes, who was such an honorable gentleman?"

"I don't suppose I have a clue. But many people think that. That scalawag has killed before, so he could do it again. I wouldn't be surprised if Captain Butler was hung."

Scarlett glared at the two women. "Why don't they just announce it to the world, Scarlett O'Hara killed Ashley Wilkes? At least they wouldn't have to whisper about me and pretend they don't know anything. And what's all this business with Rhett? Why, he wouldn't kill Ashley, would he?" Even though she thought him a nasty varmint, she didn't think he would kill Ashley. "He doesn't have a reason. Rhett's not in love with me, that I know. Even if he was, why kill Ashley? If he did do it, and I found out, he would know that I would never speak to him again."

She was so buried in her thoughts, she barely felt Melanie leaning on her shoulder, stifling sobs. "Scarlett, I can't believe he's gone."

"I know Melly, I know. No need to cry. Ashley wouldn't want you to cry."

Melanie lifted her head. "I know he wouldn't. But I can't help it! He's gone, gone forever.

"Yes, he is. At least you can acknowledge it. But, what's done is done. We can't redo or change the past, so there's no point in dwelling on it. You have to move on," Scarlett said, talking more to herself than to Melanie.

"Scarlett, you're such a good sister! Said Melly, with admiration, but there were still tears in her eyes. "You always know what to say."

"I-" Scarlett started, but she cut her off.

"And thank you for helping me out today. If it weren't for you, I don't think I could have continued, much less said a single word." Melanie hugged her, and then excused herself to bid a farewell to the other mourners.

Scarlett stared at the tombstone that stood before her.

Here lies George Ashley Wilkes

Beloved husband, father, brother, and friend

April 15, 1839-March 21, 1867

Rest in Peace

That was it. Ashley Wilkes was out of Scarlett's life, out of everyone's life.

He was gone.

To all of you who are wondering, Rhett will make an appearance in either the next chapter or the one after. How will he act, now that Ashley is gone forever? We have yet to find out... I have yet to find out, haha.

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