Okay after much thought and a bit of prodding I am now trying my hand at a multi-chapter story about our favorite couple. Thank you so much Dreamy for helping me I am forever in your debt. Right now my chapters will be short until I get my bearings and feel for what I am doing so please bear with me.

Disclaimer: Margaret Mitchell does not give me any money for this story because she is DEAD and even if she weren't I wouldn't want any. This is only done for fun.

Luck of the Irish

Rhett came home the first week of February. No telegram was sent, just one day he unexpectedly came walking through the front door. He took everyone by surprise, especially Scarlett. She had been in the back parlor going over magazines to see what she was going to order for Wade's twelfth birthday. She wanted to get him a pocket watch to show that he was now the man of the house. She wasn't sure if Rhett was ever going to come back, because she hadn't heard from him in months, so when she walked out of the parlor she was startled to see him holding Ella in his arms. Scarlett just stood there taking all of him in. He looked much better than he did when he had left so she sadly thought being away from me has been good for him.

When she first saw him she was exiting the rear parlor and he was just setting Ella back on to her feet. Ella was happily chattering a mile a minute, while in Rhett's arms telling him about everything that he had missed, Christmas, New Years, her birthday. She asked him if he had brought her any presents—that's when Scarlett stepped in.

"Ella! You know better than to ask Uncle Rhett for presents." Scarlett said with a slight laugh in her voice. The smile that Rhett had been giving Ella quickly disappeared when he heard Scarlett's voice but his eyebrows quickly arched up at the softness of the reprimand.

"My, my Scarlett, please don't try to put on a show of being a loving mother for my sake. We all know that is not a role suited for you." Sarcasm dripped heavily from Rhett's lips.

With a hurtful look on her face, Scarlett snapped, "Well with you being God knows where, my role has doubled as both mother and father for my children. My children need me now more than ever and I need them!" Oh God, why is he doing this to me? She thought with anguish.

All the while that Rhett had been absent, Scarlett was miserable.

She had been walking in a daze wandering from room to room wondering what had become of her life. Yes she had money, a grand home and two fine children, but what was missing was love, not the love a child has for its mother or the love a mother has for her child but the love of her husband, a man that she hadn't realized loved her for years, had loved her but never let her know. Why? She wondered. I know why. Ashley, that's why. Why did I let him cloud my judgment? She had berated herself for this foolish dream that she had as a love-struck adolescent. What a fool I was. Had she not been so stubborn and blind Rhett would be there to comfort her, to guide her, to protect her, but most of all to love her. Now here he is in the flesh and he is being so cold, so unfeeling.

Turning towards Ella, Scarlett softly said, "Ella honey, please go and find Wade and tell him that Uncle Rhett is here. I'm sure he would like to see him."

"Yes Momma" an obedient Ella replied.

After Ella had left the room Rhett rudely commented, "You need the children? I find that highly unlikely. You need no one but yourself. Oh yes, and of course Mr. Wilkes."

"I need you Rhett" Scarlett said in a low child-like voice.

"Well, that's your misfortune." he stated as he brushed passed her to start climbing the stairs.

Watching him climb the stairs and walk toward his room, her eyes began to tear and blur her eyesight. Turning around she quickly ran to where she had previously been, while tears were streaming down her face and a large sob fought to pour from her lips. Finally reaching the parlor, she locked the doors behind her and walked quickly to the sofa that adorned the room and sank into its softness. Her chest tightened into the most painful grip, as if a noose was wrapped around her heart, and she folded over on her lap and finally let the anguish that she had been holding in, overtake her. She began crying from deep within her soul, years of pent-up pain had finally erupted, of all of her losses-- her parents, her children, her only friend-- this pain hurt the most, the pain of a truly broken heart, a pain of her own making, a pain that could have been avoided if she had just opened her eyes.

As Rhett trudged up the stairs he felt older than his forty-five years. Yes he was much better then the day that he had left, but he was still not the man that he used to be. Even though he had cut down on his drinking, he was still unable to sleep. He missed having his little girl beside him when he fell to sleep. He was a bit nervous at seeing Scarlett for the first time since her confession of love, that her appearance unnerved him a bit. She was still beautiful, but there was something missing. The fire that was in her eyes had seemed to die out, she was no longer the fiery force of nature that she once had been. She was thinner and her face held a sadness that he had never seen before. He wished he cared, but at this time in his life, caring for anybody seemed quite farfetched. He barely cared for himself, how could he care for anyone else, let alone Scarlett. His heart had been ripped out, and he cursed a god that he never believed in. Hating Him for taking away his beautiful young daughter, and making his life a living Hell. When he reached his bedroom door he hesitated, he was afraid that all of the old memories would overwhelm him. He wondered if the bed that Bonnie slept in was still there, he hoped it wouldn't. Taking in a deep breath, he opened the door, and letting the air out slowly , he was relieved to see that it had been removed. The room was empty but obviously tended to, for the curtains were drawn and there were fresh flowers on the center of the table that decorated the room. There was not a speck of dust anywhere to be seen. Everything still running smoothly I see, doesn't anything bother this woman? He thought bitterly as his eyes took in the immaculate room. Rhett never thought that coming back to Atlanta to keep up appearances would be easy but somehow he hadn't bargained for it to be quite so difficult with not only having to face Scarlett again for the first time since his departure but also the memories that came with being back in this mausoleum which housed so many painful memories. Well, he would keep his bargain with her and keep the gossip down, but he would also make his trip as painless as possible by keeping her at arm's length.

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