Post by melindajo2000 on Oct 22, 2011 12:32:51 GMT -6
A Scarlett/Ashley friendship fic with a hint of Scarlett/Rhett
They both were in mourning; Ashley for the wife and unborn child that he had lost and Scarlett for the great love who had walked out on her, as well as for her daughter who had passed away. It was funny; sometimes you never knew what you had until it was too late. And it was too late for her and Rhett. Scarlett saw it now. Their ships had sailed. There were too many missed opportunities and too many pointed fingers. Since Rhett had left he knew the fault was hers. She was spoiled, selfish, and rotten to the core. And she hated herself for it.
She had hurt so many people. She ruined lives. Everything she touched turned to dust. True, she had a head for figures and money and business but what good did that do if she was the loneliest woman she knew? Her sisters were alone but they were content with their lots in life. She had screwed her sister Suellen over, but she had reconciled that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a husband, and she would be alone for the rest of her life. But not Scarlett. She knew that she was not meant to be alone. She wasn’t afraid to be alone; she wasn’t afraid of anything. But after losing Ashley and Rhett and Bonnie and Melly she didn’t know what her lot in life was anymore. Maybe her penance was to be alone; maybe that’s what she deserved.
Melly. Scarlett and Rhett deserved each other, they were both scoundrels at heart. And Ashley, well she wasn’t quite sure that she understood him. But Melly, she was too good for her. But she knew that Melly always loved her unconditionally, even though she didn’t know why. In her heart Scarlett knew that she didn’t deserve Melly’s friendship or kindness so she pushed her away with her friendship and rudeness, even though Melly couldn’t be pushed away. Did she know that Scarlett longed for Ashley? She must have. Melly wasn’t the fool Scarlett thought she was. But still she loved Scarlett anyways, faults and all. And now she was gone. But she had made a promise to her, on her deathbed. She would look after Ashley. And it had been a year since Melly died, and Scarlett hadn’t been by to check on him. She knew what she had to do.
She gathered her things and headed to Atlanta. It was painful for her; everywhere she went she saw Rhett, walking down the street with Bonnie, or building her her dream home. But she would make good on her promise to Melly; she owed her that much.
She walked into Ashley’s home and saw Beau playing; she was shocked at how tall he’d gotten and how much he favored his mother.
“Is your father here?”
“Father!” he called out. “Aunt Scarlett is here.” He ran to the other room.
A minute later, Ashley came out, looking much healthier than he had than the last time Scarlett had seen him. He looked genuinely happy to see her. There was a bond between them that time could not erase, a bond even deeper than the one between family.
He opened his arms and she ran to him. She’d forgotten how safe she felt in his arms. “Oh Ashley. Ashley. I have missed you so,” she said, surprising herself. She hadn’t really, not until this moment. He looked much older than she’d remembered. How did she look?
“Scarlett darling, it’s good to see you. You always know when to appear in my life. You have a keen sense that way. We’re kindred spirits, you and I. Even in my darkest hours, I have always known that I’m never alone. Not with you out there, somewhere. I’ve always felt a connection with you that I’ve never felt with anyone. Not even with…” his voice trailed off, unable to speak her name. But Scarlett understood what he meant; she felt the same way.
“Oh let’s don’t look back. It can only bring us down and I only want to think happy thoughts of you. When I think of you I’m happy and that’s what you mean to me. You’re so good, Ashley. Better than I could ever hope to be,” she admitted.
He smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short. You have so many admirable traits. Your strength is unlimited. You have the courage of a thousand men. You’ve seen the unspeakable and you’ve come out on top. You’re unafraid. You go for what you want… I respect you so.”
“I wish the best for you Ashley. I always have. You’ve always had my heart you know.”
They both looked at each other. That was such a powerful statement, filled with such history and emotion. They knew she spoke the truth. It was a different kind of love than she had with Rhett. It was an unrequited love, perhaps the worst kind of love of all. It was a kind of love that left you hungry, that burned in you, that left you sleepless and tired and crazy all at once. Ashley didn’t have to experience it to know it. He’d read about it far too many times in all of his books to understand. And he understood Scarlett, more than she realized. Sometimes he’d been blinded by love for Melly, sometimes by grief, but it was always there. There was a deep respect and admiration there that would bind them for life. He knew she didn’t always appreciate or understand that, but it was always there. That was one thing she could always count on. During the past year, the worst year of his life, he was of no use to anyone, not even Beau, but now that Scarlett was back perhaps she could see that he would repay her for all of her kindness, for whatever reason, she had shown to him throughout the years.
“And you mine. You are a special woman Scarlett. I’ve never known anyone like you, man or woman. I’m glad to have known you. You have changed my life. I owe so much to you. Why, Beau..”
He found himself starting to choke up, and Scarlett went over to kiss him. It was not a romantic kiss, and she knew right then that nothing could ever come of their relationship. It was more than brother and sister, but she had given her heart to another, and she had learned, thanks to Ashley, when she loved someone, she truly loved someone. But she did love Ashley. She would always be grateful for all that he had taught her. He had prepared her to live life, to love, to fight. She wouldn’t be who she was today if it weren’t for him. And it was in her arms at that moment she knew that she would get Rhett back. After all, she had dreamed of being in Ashley’s arms for most of her life, and here she was. She could get anything she really wanted, and she knew that she wanted Rhett. It didn’t matter when, and it didn’t matter how, but she would find Rhett. And when she did, he would be hers. It was just a matter of time.
The end
They both were in mourning; Ashley for the wife and unborn child that he had lost and Scarlett for the great love who had walked out on her, as well as for her daughter who had passed away. It was funny; sometimes you never knew what you had until it was too late. And it was too late for her and Rhett. Scarlett saw it now. Their ships had sailed. There were too many missed opportunities and too many pointed fingers. Since Rhett had left he knew the fault was hers. She was spoiled, selfish, and rotten to the core. And she hated herself for it.
She had hurt so many people. She ruined lives. Everything she touched turned to dust. True, she had a head for figures and money and business but what good did that do if she was the loneliest woman she knew? Her sisters were alone but they were content with their lots in life. She had screwed her sister Suellen over, but she had reconciled that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a husband, and she would be alone for the rest of her life. But not Scarlett. She knew that she was not meant to be alone. She wasn’t afraid to be alone; she wasn’t afraid of anything. But after losing Ashley and Rhett and Bonnie and Melly she didn’t know what her lot in life was anymore. Maybe her penance was to be alone; maybe that’s what she deserved.
Melly. Scarlett and Rhett deserved each other, they were both scoundrels at heart. And Ashley, well she wasn’t quite sure that she understood him. But Melly, she was too good for her. But she knew that Melly always loved her unconditionally, even though she didn’t know why. In her heart Scarlett knew that she didn’t deserve Melly’s friendship or kindness so she pushed her away with her friendship and rudeness, even though Melly couldn’t be pushed away. Did she know that Scarlett longed for Ashley? She must have. Melly wasn’t the fool Scarlett thought she was. But still she loved Scarlett anyways, faults and all. And now she was gone. But she had made a promise to her, on her deathbed. She would look after Ashley. And it had been a year since Melly died, and Scarlett hadn’t been by to check on him. She knew what she had to do.
She gathered her things and headed to Atlanta. It was painful for her; everywhere she went she saw Rhett, walking down the street with Bonnie, or building her her dream home. But she would make good on her promise to Melly; she owed her that much.
She walked into Ashley’s home and saw Beau playing; she was shocked at how tall he’d gotten and how much he favored his mother.
“Is your father here?”
“Father!” he called out. “Aunt Scarlett is here.” He ran to the other room.
A minute later, Ashley came out, looking much healthier than he had than the last time Scarlett had seen him. He looked genuinely happy to see her. There was a bond between them that time could not erase, a bond even deeper than the one between family.
He opened his arms and she ran to him. She’d forgotten how safe she felt in his arms. “Oh Ashley. Ashley. I have missed you so,” she said, surprising herself. She hadn’t really, not until this moment. He looked much older than she’d remembered. How did she look?
“Scarlett darling, it’s good to see you. You always know when to appear in my life. You have a keen sense that way. We’re kindred spirits, you and I. Even in my darkest hours, I have always known that I’m never alone. Not with you out there, somewhere. I’ve always felt a connection with you that I’ve never felt with anyone. Not even with…” his voice trailed off, unable to speak her name. But Scarlett understood what he meant; she felt the same way.
“Oh let’s don’t look back. It can only bring us down and I only want to think happy thoughts of you. When I think of you I’m happy and that’s what you mean to me. You’re so good, Ashley. Better than I could ever hope to be,” she admitted.
He smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short. You have so many admirable traits. Your strength is unlimited. You have the courage of a thousand men. You’ve seen the unspeakable and you’ve come out on top. You’re unafraid. You go for what you want… I respect you so.”
“I wish the best for you Ashley. I always have. You’ve always had my heart you know.”
They both looked at each other. That was such a powerful statement, filled with such history and emotion. They knew she spoke the truth. It was a different kind of love than she had with Rhett. It was an unrequited love, perhaps the worst kind of love of all. It was a kind of love that left you hungry, that burned in you, that left you sleepless and tired and crazy all at once. Ashley didn’t have to experience it to know it. He’d read about it far too many times in all of his books to understand. And he understood Scarlett, more than she realized. Sometimes he’d been blinded by love for Melly, sometimes by grief, but it was always there. There was a deep respect and admiration there that would bind them for life. He knew she didn’t always appreciate or understand that, but it was always there. That was one thing she could always count on. During the past year, the worst year of his life, he was of no use to anyone, not even Beau, but now that Scarlett was back perhaps she could see that he would repay her for all of her kindness, for whatever reason, she had shown to him throughout the years.
“And you mine. You are a special woman Scarlett. I’ve never known anyone like you, man or woman. I’m glad to have known you. You have changed my life. I owe so much to you. Why, Beau..”
He found himself starting to choke up, and Scarlett went over to kiss him. It was not a romantic kiss, and she knew right then that nothing could ever come of their relationship. It was more than brother and sister, but she had given her heart to another, and she had learned, thanks to Ashley, when she loved someone, she truly loved someone. But she did love Ashley. She would always be grateful for all that he had taught her. He had prepared her to live life, to love, to fight. She wouldn’t be who she was today if it weren’t for him. And it was in her arms at that moment she knew that she would get Rhett back. After all, she had dreamed of being in Ashley’s arms for most of her life, and here she was. She could get anything she really wanted, and she knew that she wanted Rhett. It didn’t matter when, and it didn’t matter how, but she would find Rhett. And when she did, he would be hers. It was just a matter of time.
The end
