Part Five

Ashley wearily sighed as he closed the door to Aunt Pitty's home. He had just returned from escorting Scarlett to the train station. She was headed back to Clayton County for what she assumed would be the last time. However, if he had his way, it would not be her last visit home. He wasn't sorry that he had lied to her about the real reason she was returning, but it certainly did not make it any easier on him. It had been all too easy for him to feel right about it. Once upon some time, Scarlett had always been able to tell when if he was only slightly fibbing. And now, with this blatant, undetected lie, he felt guilty. It was for her own good, he knew, but it made him long even more so for days gone by.

He didn't love Scarlett O'Hara. He knew this and he was also aware of Scarlett's knowledge on this subject. Still, they never talked about such a thing. Lived in the same house, ate at the same table, were essentially mother and father to the same children, and were virtual strangers. He didn't know this lifeless woman and she didn't even try to know him, not like she used to.

Ashley, Aunt Pitty, and Mammy all feared for her health. Scarlett ate like a bird and slept only when her body forced her to. Didn't cry, but looking at her stony stares and lifeless eyes almost made all three of them wish she would weep. They prayed to hear her laugh, pleaded to see her smile, but nothing they did ever worked. Aunt Pitty likened her mood back to the days just after dear Charlie had died, but Melanie had been there then. Melanie had comforted her like no other could. There was no Melanie now. And each time Aunt Pitty remembered this; she would weep, offering up no help at all.

It had been this way for one full year. Whenever Ashley spoke to her, it was as if she couldn't really see him or hear his voice. There was a silence in her eyes and the way she did things now. Sometimes she would enter a room and he wouldn't be able to tell she had entered. Sometimes she would speak and he wouldn't be able to hear her, her words so soft amidst the noise. He was aware that she was fading ever so slowly into nothing, but no matter how long he pondered the subject, there was never any clear solution. He just didn't know what to do. But six months ago, the solution had been clear, no matter how he struggled against it. He had plotted with Mammy whenever Scarlett managed to be asleep; hushed whispers and closed doors. He knew that if this didn't work, then Scarlett would be lost forever.

Scarlett had refused to return home for almost three months, but with gentle coaxing and finally with what was half an order from Mammy, Ashley and Mammy had convinced her to make such a trip. It had been the only thing she had refused for more than a week ever since returning. Mammy and Ashley almost hoped this order would bring her fight back, but she eventually gave in.

He would not know the outcome for some time, and this did not make it any easier on him. Perhaps getting the real Scarlett back would bring back some of the old days. Perhaps it might ease the pain of losing Melanie. Perhaps it would do nothing for him at all except bring him the knowledge that Scarlett was happy. After all she had done for Melanie and Beau, it was the least he could do. He just hoped it worked.

Scarlett woke with a start as her train came to an abrupt halt. Blinking rapidly, she forgot just for a moment who she was and what she was doing on a train. But, as it always did upon waking, her memory came rushing back. She didn't want to know. Would rather have been anyone else on that train headed to Jonesboro. In fact, Scarlett would rather have been anywhere else but on that train headed for what once had been home. But there was no going back now, not when she had come this far without crying aloud and running all the way back to Atlanta. Or not back at all. If it hadn't been for Beau and Wade, she might run for Texas or some other wildly unknown place she had never been and never come back. But she knew that wouldn't be of help either. For she knew no place could cure whatever had taken hold of her and ailed her. It was such an odd feeling, not wanting to be any place at all.

As it was, there had been no excitement whatsoever in the past year and she felt all the more dead than ever before. The world was a giant blur, with only a handful of moments piercing through the giant fog that seemed to surround her. Nothing mattered to her, except for a few small things here and there, all of which had to do with Beau and Wade. Her eyes almost sparkled when she was with the two boys, for she could almost forget everything else. It was only a matter of time before everything came rushing back however, and it took a little more out of her each time this realization swept through her.

There was one funny thing about living in a fog though. You might not feel or speak or even realize exactly what took place around you, but there are still things that need to be done. Oh, you might not care about such things, but people expect you to, no matter how you feel. You might also find yourself being persuaded, being persuaded by people who have your best interests in mind of course, but being persuaded all the same. Persuasion was the only reason she was on that train, wishing herself anywhere else on the earth. The fog remained and she did not care one way or the other, but she knew she did not want to be here.

The land that had been Tara once upon a time was up for resale and as Scarlett was the only living relative coherent and alive enough to sign upon dotted line after dotted line, she was needed back in the old county. She would stay at the Tarleton's newly rebuilt house for one night, no chaperone needed for such a short visit, and then take Gerald with her in the morning back to Aunt Pitty's. There was nothing more for Gerald to do out in the county and his rightful place was with his last remaining daughter, no matter how little room they had left in the small house. Scarlett had only seen him a handful of times since returning from the North, but wasn't sorry about this, for Gerald could hardly remember who she was any longer and she was too numb to feel sorry about anything anymore.

Scarlett stood and smoothed out her wrinkled clothing, fighting the urge to yawn widely and vigorously rub her eyes. Instead, she slowly walked down the train aisle and exited. Ignoring all the sounds of life and excitement that surrounded her, starting with the bellowing of the train's whistle and the cloud of steam that seemed to puff continuously into the air, she focused her attention on finding the person who was supposed to give her a ride to the Tarleton's. Squinting into the hot sun, she surveyed the station. There wasn't a large amount of people boarding and exiting the train, but for some reason she felt so very lost.

Suddenly, as if appearing from nowhere, was a man. She noticed his very expensive looking suit first and his face last. But even before he had come within hearing's distance to her, she stomped her foot and turned to walk in the other direction, not caring for the luggage she left behind. She had half the mind to get back on the train and leave him standing there, but this wasn't an option, for her train was already pulling out of the station, leaving the two of them and a few other wandering travelers behind.

"Scarlett," And there was his voice. God, didn't he know what that did to her? A mixture of fury and sadness welled up inside of her and before she could help it, she was whirling around, eyes clouded with her emotions. He came closer, but she backed away, feeling only content with distance in this very moment. She was almost panting, her stays seeming to pinch her ribs with each breath. However, despite her feelings threatening to burst, she couldn't help but pause and take a moment to study him.

He looked completely changed from their last meeting. There was vitality in his face now; a face that was not clouded with alcohol this time around, but with a renewed youth. He was thinner, the fine suit was tailored to fit his body perfectly and so it did. His hair was cleanly cut and out of his eyes, his moustache clipped against the slight curve of his lips, for he was smiling. His eyes, at one time seeming so dark and bottomless were lighter and she swore she could see some hope within them. Scarlett realized that as she was studying him, he was doing the same to her. She felt almost embarrassed at her disheveled appearance. She knew her dress was straggly looking and her hair was a mess. The most embarrassing features of all, however, were her dead eyes and thin face. Once so vivacious and full of life, her eyes now seemed to lack their greenness, almost looking brown at first glance. And her face, so thin and tired looking, lacked the color it had once held by mere nature. This was the first time she was aware of her looks in years and she resented him for making her away of it. Leave it to Rhett to make her feel not quite up to par.

She couldn't help but stare at him, for it had been so very long since their last meeting. It almost made her anger disappear, just for the joy of seeing him once again and looking so handsome. But the fact that Mammy and Ashley had tricked her into this meeting made her shiver with her held back anger. The only thing that kept her from unleashing her fury was the presence of the very few strangers mingling about. She didn't want her business being spread about the entire county, and so she held her tongue, no matter how hard it seemed, eyes flashing instead.

He held up a gloved hand, almost like he was waving a white flag of surrender in the air and then held it out to her, wordlessly begging for her to take it into her own ungloved one. "I just want to talk to you."

With eyes still tightened with anger and with quivering crimson lips, she studied him for a moment more. Looking into his eyes, she decided she saw something she liked and outstretched her hand and placed it into his warm one. He motioned for an unknown man to take her bags while he himself helped her into his carriage. It was the first carriage she had seen before the war, with the finest horses known to man. This alone made her forget her fear of traveling this road once more, a road so similar and so very near to the one upon which she had nearly died, the road that Rhett had abandoned her on. It was the safest she had felt in years, surrounded by what surely cost a ton of money. She held back the urge to caress the seats; so very hungry she was for nice things.

The carriage leapt forward as the driver cracked the whip and suddenly they were in motion, the outside world steadily moving passed her window. She turned to Rhett, anger still plucking the corner of her lips, making her childishly pout. "You're not going to abandon me on this road too, are you?" It was a cutting remark, she knew; a sort of sarcastic blow that was entirely mean and had no hint of humor in it.

He was quick with a response. "No. Not this time around, anyway. But keep it up, Mrs. Hamilton, and I'm sure many things can be arranged."

Fury ignited in her belly once more, her eyes wide with the nerve of his response. "Why, you low down, no good – I… I'd rather you left me here! Any place is better than in a carriage with a cad like you!"

He laughed genuinely. "I've missed your temper." And smirked once more as her eyebrows drew together sharply. "Now now, Scarlett, there's no need to be angry with me. I am only kidding you. I wouldn't dream of leaving you on this road – "

She interrupted him without thinking the words over, blurting out cutting words once more. "No, you only save such treatment for when I'm with a dying woman and three other helpless souls, don't you?"

He raised a hand. That white flag blowing in the air once more. "I've already apologized for such behavior and it isn't what we're here to talk about. Although I see a year hasn't helped you overcome such anger as I was hoping it might." She rolled her eyes but let him continue on. "I want to talk to you about something. Something far more important than what has happened in the past. Do you think we can be nice for just this short while? It's about our future."

"We've already discussed this, Rhett, and while I can certainly be nice, I'm not going to pretend there is a future for us. And not because I can't forgive you."

"I've stayed away from you for an entire year, watching you from afar. Half the time, you look just about dead. Why is it, my dear, that your eyes look entirely alive only when I'm around? Have you ever wondered? I have."

She puffed out a breath, looking very much like a bird with ruffled feathers. "How very conceited of you, Rhett Butler. It's simply untrue."

"You're fading away, Scarlett. You're thinner than you've ever been, and I know, for Mammy has spoken to me about this matter. You don't laugh, you don't smile, you don't cry! It's as if you're dead. You wouldn't notice if Melanie Hamilton herself walked through your front door." He paused for a moment and took her hand. "Darling, everyone is worried about you."

She relaxed for a moment at the touch of his hand on hers, her eyes going soft for a moment. Quickly though, her eyes became masked once more and she ripped her hand from his grasp. "Fiddle dee dee, Rhett! I had no idea I was the talk of the town!"

"Don't play coy with me. Give up the act, Scarlett. Scream and cry if you must, but don't do this to yourself."

"You want me to scream? You want me to cry? Why should I waste my tears on something that can't be fixed? Screaming won't bring Melanie back! Screaming and crying won't help me get you!"

His expression changed entirely when she said this. He leaned forward from his seat and studied her face intensely before saying, "and is that what you want? Darling, you can have me. You can have me and still keep your promise to Melanie."

"He's just a boy, Rhett." And she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold, a faraway look entering her eyes. "A boy who's lost his mother and who hardly has a father left. Oh, his aunts are just awful! I couldn't possibly leave him and go off with you. As if it's all so easy!"

"I can make it easy, Scarlett. I'll build you a house so close to Aunt Pitty's home so that you'll be able to put Beau to bed every single night if you'd like. I'd do that for you, you know." He forced her hand into his once more and looked into her eyes. "I want you to marry me, Scarlett. For I do love you and I would do anything to make you happy. I refuse to lose you again."

"I don't love you, Rhett," she said bluntly. "I want you, but I don't love you."

"I am aware of that. I'd like to try and change your mind if you'll let me."

She thought about it for a moment. Rhett Butler was rich, yes, but that wasn't the reason why she was considering accepting his proposal now. He would take care of her, she knew, and he had always treated Wade like a son. But oh, to think of him as hers and only hers was the thing that thrilled her the most, although she wasn't exactly sure why. To kiss him and forget about her hardships was so enticing. She didn't know much about love, but perhaps this was worth a try. No matter how he had abandoned them so long ago. He did seem truly sorry. And he did seem to understand the kind of responsibilities she had upon her back. Perhaps.

"Okay." There, she had said it and she couldn't take it back now.

"Just okay, my dear? Surely you can think of a better answer than that."

"Don't joke with me now, Rhett. You got the answer you were looking for, so leave me be. I do hope you have a ring."

He chuckled lightheartedly, his heart so clear in his usually dark eyes. "No, not yet. But I might have something better." He stopped a moment, leaned forward, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"You must be kidding me, Rhett. Just a kiss?"

He smiled against her lips and kissed her again. It was a deeper kiss than the last and it made her feel breathless in an instant, but she calmed the storm in her head and pulled away with another pout, this one a little less serious than the one she had entered the carriage with.

He ignored her pout, choosing to speak instead. "Scarlett, have you noticed that we stopped moving quite some time ago?" She looked around, just noticing now that the carriage was at a standstill. He couldn't contain his genuine smile and pointed to the window. "Look outside."

"Why, what –?" Suddenly the carriage door swung wide and she could easily see where they were. "Why, that… that looks like… Tara!" And so it was.

Without waiting for any kind of assistance, Scarlett launched from the carriage, skirts trailing behind her in the brick red dirt. But she did not care. Tara and it's whitewashed brick exterior was standing where it had once lain and nothing mattered to her any longer. She ran across the grass of the front lawn, immaculate and so much like it had been in the old days. The house was standing, tall and proud as it once had, looking only slightly different in structure. It wasn't so haphazard now, with sections looking thrown on, but looked perfectly planned out, each piece added on with a clear plan.

Tears of happiness were flooding Scarlett's cheeks when she reached the porch, breathless and utterly overjoyed. The wood creaked beneath her slippers as she flung the front door open, peering inside, her eyes going about wildly. And they could find no fault with this home. It was as if Tara had never been burnt down. As if Ellen might climb down those stairs in an instant and Scarlett could hug her knees close and lay her head down, crying out all her sorrows. Scarlett knew this would not, could not happen, so she settled with exploring the house instead. And she was not disappointed with what she found.

When she was done, her heart content and singing, she found Rhett on the side porch, sitting on a porch swing. He was leaning back and surveying the untouched land, smoking a cigar. She sat down next to him, still breathless and shaking. Her eyes, so green and full with tears, searched his with her unspoken questions. She wasn't so sure she'd be able to speak; so filled to the brim she was with emotion. Her hair mussed, her cheeks flushed. To anyone else, she might look like a mess. To Rhett, she had never looked so beautiful.

There was something spectacular about restoring happiness in the person you loved. To see their eyes wide and alive instead of dead. To see that full smile and know he had put it there? Why, he knew there was nothing better. Almost no greater feeling than this.

"You can't understand what it does to my heart to see you looking so happy, Scarlett." He said this while he wiped away her tears and she smiled at him, adding her dimple for good measure, like one might add a cherry on top of a sundae.

"But how did this happen? Tara was burnt down all those ye—"

"Shh," he interrupted her. "When your father couldn't pay the taxes almost a year ago, your old overseer was sniffing around, planning on claiming the land and rebuilding. Although your father isn't the most lucid any longer, I assure you, there was nothing that upset him more. Dear old Mammy got wind of all of this and came to me. Seems like we weren't the only two listening to that conversation almost more than a year ago out on Aunt Pitty's porch.

"When she came to me, she was in quite the tizzy. Saying how I owed you this and owed Melanie this. Said it was all up to me to fix her 'lamb', as I had been the one to break her. And that she wouldn't stand by and watch it happen again, although I'm not exactly sure what she meant by that.

"So I bought this land. Built this house with the aid of your father. I'll tell you, I've never seen him happier than the day I came to him asking for his help. And by the expression on your face, it looks like we did a good job." He smiled, puffed out some smoke and wrapped an arm around her.

"Why, I never thought that I would ever see this house again on this land. I thought it was lost forever. I just don't know how I'll ever thank you, Rhett."

"You don't have to thank me, darling. I just ask for your complete forgiveness and of course, for you to marry me. But even if you had said no, this would all still be yours."

"What do you mean?"

"Tara doesn't belong to me. Well… it belongs to me in the sense that I've rebuilt it, but I don't have the passion for it like you or your father. There's something in you Irish that gets you all a flutter over land. I'll never understand it, but if you smile at me like that every day, I certainly couldn't care less.

"It's yours, Scarlett. When we are married, you can spend as much money as you'd like rebuilding the place, but like I said, if you had said no, it'd still be the same." She tilted her head and maneuvered it just so it laid across his shoulder, her eyes crackling with held back emotion.

"All mine, huh?" she said dreamily against his neck. "Why, Rhett Butler, I do think I could fall in love with you."

"Hmm," he said lazily, content with her so very close to him after so long. "I could get used to such a thing, you know."

"Yes, but of course I'll need a ring. A great big one so that every one will be mighty jealous at the husband I've caught!"

"You've caught me, have you? I don't know if I like that part."

"You'll learn to, I'm sure."

"Perhaps," he said and swung the swing idly before tilting his head closer to her lips, cigar discarded. "There's one thing I'm sure I enjoy already though, one I won't have to learn to like." And he moved so that their lips met. Sat on the porch of Tara, with the birds chirping off in the surrounding trees, and kissed her. Kissed her sweetly. Kissed her softly. Kissed her hard. Kissed her until his moustache tickled her and she laughed against his lips. Whispered his love for her until she whispered it back

Kissed. Laughed. Lived. Loved.

…. until the very last of both their days.

Note: So this is it, the final part. Pretty impressive for a story that was only supposed to be a chapter long. It was hard to say goodbye and I feel like the ending isn't perfect, but that's the way it'll have to be. I was so set on making this an unhappy piece, and in the first draft, Scarlett was dead as a doornail, Beau along with her. But, she wouldn't let me take her down without a fight. I teetered on killing Ashley and Beau for a while, but couldn't do it. And then I decided to leave it with Scarlett marrying Ashley for the sake of Beau, but couldn't bring myself to do that either. Just goes to show how much the characters actually have to do with your plot, and I certainly was no match for Scarlett's will.

Thank you for every single review. You don't understand how much all of them have helped me write this story, especially since it was supposed to be so short in the very beginning. So I appreciate them and have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts. It was my first Gone with the Wind fic, so to say I was nervous is a bit of an understatement. I hope you enjoyed the way things turned out!