Long time, no update...Sorry...

It literally took me two months to write this bloody thing. So reviews would be very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own GWTW.

Chapter Four

The servants were gathered in the Servants' Hall, happily discussing the gifts that Scarlett and the children had purchased for them.

"Now ain't tis the prettiest thing you's ever laid eyes on, Prissy?" Dilcey was happily showing off the new lace handkerchief from Scarlett.

But Prissy was too busy dropping into gasps of "Oh" and "my" in rapid succession as she ran her fingers over her own gifts.

"Miz Scarlett and them children shouldn' be buyin' us such nice things, don' you think...? Oh, but mah goodness, lookie 'ere at this silk!" Dilcey happily hugged a perfectly pressed tea gown against her chest.

"You's all missin' the point. We oughtta be mighty thankful for Miz Scarlett!" Pork bellowed over the ecstatic voices. Most of the servants paid him no mind. But even those who were paying attention didn't take his words very seriously.

"I's know tis only Christmas, but lookie 'ere! I's just sayin' that without Miz Scarlett, we won't have no job, now would we?" He grimaced as he caught a whiff of Prissy's new eau de cologne.

"Isn' anyone 'ere listenin' to a word I's been sayin'?! We oughtta be mighty thankful towards Miz Scarlett 'cuz she wants us with her outta loyalty. Now ain't that somethin' wonderful for a lady to do?" Pork finished the little soliloquy by bringing his fist down upon a nearby wooden table.

"But don' you reckon we also oughtta be enjoyin' these 'ere gifts?" Gina, the scullery maid, was smiling at a lovely beige, taffeta petticoat.

"Why, o'course, but-"

"Ah, you's just eat a piece o' tart and shut yo' mouth." Dilcey shoved a piece of pastry into his mouth.

With a slight cough, the man shrugged with resignation and said no more.

~o~

"Oh, Uncle Rhett! Thank you so very much! Look, mother! Look at what Uncle Rhett got me!" Ella was waving her new porcelain doll around.

"It's very lovely, darling." Scarlett smiled at her daughter.

When she was out of earshot, she whispered to Rhett, "You really shouldn't spoil her so much."

"I see nothing wrong with spoiling her a bit, Scarlett." He smirked at her, but his gaze was far away, remembering a fatality that had occurred a year ago...

"I miss her too, Rhett." She laid a hand on his arm. "Surely, you must know that."

"I do, darling." He smiled sadly at her. "But they are children, Scarlett. Let them have a bit of spoiling once in a while."

She nodded. Though her children did not fear her as much as they once had, she would never become as good of a parent as Rhett. Perhaps there was much to learn from her husband.

"Do you suppose that Wade still loathes me?"

"Fiddle-dee-dee, Rhett..."

"I'm serious, Scarlett."

"He doesn't loathe you, darling-"

"Didn't you? At some point or another?"

She sighed. "That's all in the past-"

"But the fact remains that you sometimes do. It's a hereditary trait in the family."

"Rhett-"

"Mother, oh thank you!" Ella was hugging a silk dress to her chest. "It's so lovely, isn't it, Uncle Rhett?"

He smirked at his wife.

"Yes, Ella, it will look most wonderfully on you."

Scarlett embraced her daughter before straightening up to meet Rhett's gaze once again.

"Rhett-"

He shook his head, indicating that the pair of them would discuss the issue no further at the present moment. Biting down her temper, Scarlett had almost missed the sight of Wade underneath the tree.

"Wade, darling? Do you need-"

He shook his head and brought out a few boxes. With a plop, he unwrapped his presents in despondent silence.

Scarlett curiously watched her son. Though he had grown a bit over the years, he seemed to have the same puppy-like innocence painted on his features. His eyes still shone with the lights of hope and wonder, as well as a child's natural curiosity of the world. Yet even so, he seemed so much older than his twelve years. His manners and personality were shaped in such a mature way at such a young age due to the excessive amount of books he read. He adored the heroics of underrated characters. In a way, they must have reminded him of himself, for just as he, they were quiet, background characters whom were found pitiful in certain circumstances.

Scarlett shook her head. She had often found herself thinking more deeply about things ever since her bond with the children had strengthened. She always did feel a twinge of guilt for not treating them as well as she should have. They had always preferred another adult's company more so than their own mother. For this, she would never forget or forgive her horrible parenting.

Suddenly, she felt a small tug on her hand.

"Merry Christmas, mother." Wade held a parcel out to her.

With a gasp, Ella darted beneath the tree and emerged holding a parcel of her own.

"Merry Christmas, mother!" Ella scampered up to Scarlett with the box.

"Oh, children...you've no idea how blessed I am, darlings. Come here." She embraced them both and planted a lingering kiss on the top of their heads before setting aside her gifts.

"Won't you open them, mother?" Wade asked.

"Not at this moment, darling." Scarlett ruffled Wade's hair and kissed Ella's curls to show her appreciation.

"Ooh! Uncle Rhett! We have presents for you too!" Ella disappeared underneath the tree once more, this time reemerging with two small parcels. Wade, Scarlett noticed, didn't move an inch. Was one of the parcels from her son?

Rhett swiveled his head to throw a questioning glance at his wife.

"Was this all your doing, my dear?"

He looked almost...amused at the mere notion! The aggravating cad...

But she smiled nevertheless. She wouldn't let him get to her, not today.

"Why of course not, Rhett! How could you think so lowly of me during the holidays?" She smirked—but not altogether unkindly—at her husband.

Rhett smirked back, but there was an unidentifiable glint in his eyes. Perhaps it was…mirth?

"I'll open my gifts later, as well. Wouldn't want to, er, perform the action before the Lady of the House had the opportunity to." He cast a humorous glance in his wife's direction.

And, to everyone's surprise, she laughed.

It had been a long time since Scarlett had laughed, and had deemed it impossible for her to delight herself in such a youthful notion ever again. Yet during this particular holiday, she felt light as a feather and giddy as a schoolgirl.

So very downtrodden she was all the months when Rhett was gone! The glow in her cheeks had paled significantly after his hasty departure, and the mere notion of laughter seemed like a foreign concept.

How very odd—and riveting—it was that the same man whom had caused her pain was now making her laugh for the first time in months.

"Come now. We ought to rest before the feast tonight."

And with that, she smiled the most genuine smile she had smiled with the people she loved most.

~o~

Dinner would not be held for quite se time, so the family was forced to indulge themselves in activities. Since it was much too cold out for outdoor escapades, they were forced to remain indoors for their leisure.

To pass the time, the family played an extensive game of charades. The game was childish, yes, but also provided the household with echoes of laughter; a pure sound of joy as the world outside grew steadily darker.

When at last it was time for dinner, the family walked into the dining room together, clumped and packed together as tightly as peas in a pod.

The table before them seemed to have a certain aura about it, emanating a brightness that reflected off the walls. Two candles were lit, each at the respective ends of the table. The plates and utensils were polished to a shiny perfection, thus magnifying the grandeur of the room. Piles upon piles of food lined the center, and countless side items, sauces, gravies, treats, and beverages lined the sideboard.

As soon as the shock began to wear off, the family methodically sat down in their respective places at the table. After they were all settled, Scarlett led them in pre-dinner prayers. Immediately after the "Amen" left her lips, the family began scrounging away at the platters.

The Christmas dinner had been a feast fit for the highest ranking Kings and Queens. Various assortments of ham, beef, and one rather large turkey accounted for the main course. Much to Dilcey's dismay, the stuffing had had too much grease within it (the newest assistant cook was to blame for the mishap). Therefore, it was brought away from the table within moments of its departure. The adults had treated themselves to mugs of eggnog, which, in fact, Rhett despised with every fibre of his being, but had nonetheless gulped it down with the assistance of a tiny splash of whiskey. The children had been overjoyed when the kitchen staff had provided them with the sweetest apple cider from a neighbor. The desserts had been ravenously picked over by the family. Sweet potato pie, bûche de Noël, and the most-dreaded fruitcake had been served.

And despite the family's ravenous hunger, there were massive amounts of food left over even after the family had retreated to the living room once again.

"Quite a feast, wasn't it?" Rhett remarked as he settled into an armchair.

"I shall never eat again, I'm afraid." Scarlet managed a tiny chuckle before mumbling about the inevitable weight she would gain.

"Mother? Can you tell us a story?" Wade asked the question very politely, but there was a burning depth in his eyes as he spoke.

"I'm not much of a storyteller. You know that, darlings." She smiled rather lazily as her eyelids began to droop.

"Oh, but Mother, please?! We'll be extra good!" Ella was persistent, having taken a liking to her brother's ideas.

Scarlett sighed.

"Perhaps Uncle Rhett could tell you about one of his adventures across the seas instead. He has many to recount."

"But we always hear stories about Uncle Rhett! Never any about you, Mother!" Ella reiterated this fact by crossing her arms and pouting like a petulant child.

"I'm sure they've tired of them, my dear." Rhett smirked, but he too seemed intent on his wife's response.

She heaved a great sigh.

"But I've no stories to tell."

"Why, of course you do, darling! Plenty to go around." he winked at her.

"None of which are very exciting, Rhett." She shot daggers at him. He merely smirked.

"Oh, but Mother! You've never told us how you and Uncle Rhett met!" Ella commented.

Scarlett bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. Would the story be appropriate for the children? A seemingly harmless, innocent barbecue that had occurred just before the War had started? Not to mention the shattering of plaster in the library...

"Very well. Though it gives me little pleasure to recall it." she laughed.

Then, with little struggle, she managed to retell the story in a most accurate manner. Every detail was precise, as if the event had happened twelve minutes prior rather than twelve years ago. She decided to leave out the library scene with Ashley, and instead revised it so that it was told that she had simply wandered into the room after discovering the inability to take an afternoon nap; therefore meeting Rhett whom had had no dilemma of her issue.

"Did Mother look very pretty, Uncle Rhett?" Ella asked.

Rhett chuckled.

"Your mother always looks very pretty, Ella. You ought to know that by now."

Blushing, Scarlett looked down at her hands. They were twisting a very fine handkerchief. In the corner, the initials R.K.B. was inscribed. The edges had been slightly frayed due to all of the tears she had shed over the course of the last few months.

Suddenly, Wade gave a tiny gasp and ran over to the bay window.

"Mother, mother! Look outside! It's snowing!" He was practically jumping up and down on the balls of his feet.

Gasping, Ella went to join her brother.

"Oh, Mother! Look how pretty it looks!"

Laughing, Scarlett and Rhett joined the children.

"God's nightgown! It's practically covering the whole yard!" She frowned as the prospect of hard work entered her mind. Hopefully, the snow wouldn't be compact and heavy.

"Nothing you can't handle, my dear." Rhett smirked at his wife as he surveyed the picturesque winter scenery before him. "I've never known you to be a quitter."

The words had a reverberating finality. She knew she oughtn't be offended by the comment, but yet...she was. It was not that the comment itself was vulgar, but rather the negative connotation behind it.

Suddenly, with a strange twisting of her heart, Scarlett knew. Despite the wonderful day—and wonderful days to come—Rhett would be leaving after New Year's. He would remove himself from their lives as if he had never reclaimed any position in it.

Determining she would not think of it until later, she took a deep breath and continued laughing joyously with her family as the snow drifted downwards.

Will try to be updating more often. The writing spark in me has recently...disappeared. All the excessive reading I'm doing wasn't helping for awhile. Whoops. Well, we'll see how this goes.

By the way, it's been over a year since I uploaded YDKWYHUIG (my first GWTW FF). When I can, I'll write the next chapter and write an excessively long A/N that drones on and on about how much I appreciate my reviewers for sticking with me. ;) xo

-Harriette