My homage to Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind. None of this is mine…just playing with characters. Hope you enjoy.

Gone with the Wind-ex

by

Dee Dee
(Ddn2cc@yahoo.com)

The usual verbal battle raged on between CC Babcock and Niles this bright summer day as the butler was standing on a stepladder cleaning the windows in what serves as headquarters for Sheffield Productions in the Sheffield home.

"Hey Windex Man you missed a spot," said CC with her usual caustic tone.

As Niles was about to respond his foot slipped and he tumbled to the floor landing on his head.

CC shrieked for Maxwell and both Maxwell Sheffield and Fran Fine came running into the room as CC frantically dialed 911. While all were concerned about Niles, he was having his own version of reality and what was transpiring.

As Niles awakens, he finds himself on a sofa in a place he doesn’t recognize wearing clothes from a bygone era he can’t exactly place and a headache that would make a New Year’s Eve hangover seem mild.

Then he hears familiar words.

"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Chasity Clare O’Hara as she thought about that New York Yankee Fran Hamilton visiting her Maxwell Wilkes at the Six Oaks plantation. "Everyone says Maxwell is going to marry this damn Yankee but I know he loves me," she stated to no one in particular, unaware that Niles was in the room. She didn’t care what anyone else thought she knew she could be happy with Maxwell. Even her father had tried to talk some sense into her, but she would have none of it. She loved Maxwell and no one was going to stand in her way.

Chastity Clare O’Hara was at Six Oaks and she would have a word with Maxwell before the day was over. She didn’t care that everyone thought she was throwing herself at Maxwell.

Just as Chastity Clare is having all of these thoughts she sees him, her beloved Maxwell at the door to the room where she’s been passing the time. "Maxwell!"

"My dear Chastity Clare."

"I’ve been looking everywhere for you Maxwell. We must talk."

"Chastity Clare I have something I must tell you but first you must speak with Miss Fran Hamilton from New York. There is something you must be told."

"Chastity Clare. I'm so glad to meet you. I’ve been told so much about you," said the refined Fran. "I hope we will become friend. Friends are so hard to find and we should be the best of friends with so much in common"

Maxwell, only having eyes for Fran stepped into the conversation saying, "We will all be the best of friends."

" Chastity Clare I so admired your love of life. Would that I were more like you full of zest and fire," stated Fran with all sincerity in her eyes.

Realizing she was loosing the battle for Maxwell’s heart, Chastity Clare decided to toss out a few of her own thoughts, "Maxwell is always so good with words but he never means anything."

"There is one thing I mean," said Maxwell, "And that is I love Fran with all my heart." While war with the north may be unavoidable, I hope you won’t let a war rage on between us. We are meant to be together you, Fran and I, Maxwell. We must make our own perfect union even if the south is not a part of the Union."

At this point Fran decides she should make an exit to allow Chastity and Maxwell to talk. The perceptive Fran has seen that Chastity Clare may harbor feelings for Maxwell.

Before Maxwell utters a word Chastity Clare declares her love even as Maxwell turns away from her and tells her it is foolish to make such a statement.

Chastity pleads with Maxwell, Declare your love for me.", But all he will say is, "My plans are to marry Fran." He explains, "She understands me."

"You don’t love her, you love me. I know you do" cried Chastity Clare.

"Yes I love you. I love your passion for life, but I must marry Fran. Passion burns out so quickly and it’s not enough for a good marriage. You must understand that Chastity Clare. We are too different."

"You have misled me. I hate you. Do you hear me. I hate you. And you will be miserable with Fran. She’s not for you."

Able to stand no more, Maxwell leaves the room. Chastity Clare begins to sob.

At this point a confused Niles feels he must make himself known and rises from the sofa.

"Are we at war," asked Niles vaguely recalling these lines from some long forgotten movie.

"You sir should not be here. Who are you? You heard everything? You should have left when you heard us," said Chastity Clare.

Niles had to think fast cause he really didn’t understand what was taking place as he looked into the face of the person he knew in another time as CC Babcock."

Niles started to explain that he was Maxwell Sheffield’s butler, but stopped and stated, "Niles Butler at your service."

"Still you should have said something you are no gentleman," said Chastity Clare between sobs.

"You are no lady," responded Niles. "But then ladies are boring aren’t they?"

"Now you insult me Niles Butler. I may have call Mr. Wilkes into defend my honor."

"Good, but before you have young Mr. Wilkes call me out on a field of honor, let me say your passion for life intrigues me and Maxwell Sheff…I mean Maxwell Wilkes is not the man for you," said Niles with a smile and twinkle in his blue eyes.

Niles is beginning to enjoy this new game with the fair CC or Chastity Clare as she calls herself in this incarnation.

Just then the conversation is interrupted as it is announced that war is underway between the North and the South.

Suddenly Niles realizes just where he is and what century. It’s 1860 and he’s on a plantation in the south, and by the way he’s dressed he must be some kind of businessman.

"There’s so much more important things in this world than war. Are you planning to enlist Mr….Mr.…"

"Butler, Niles Butler," said the former butler who has mysteriously traded his very British accent for an American southern one. "And no I won’t be enlisting…there are other ways to be of service. Blockade-runner seems to appeal to me as well as war profiteer. "

At this point one of Chastity Clare’s many suitors bursts through the door and proclaims his undying love and asks the southern belle to marry him.

Looking at Niles Butler who seems very amused by the event Chastity Clare responds, "Yes dear Colin I will marry you."

Colin picks up Chastity Clare and whirls her about. "You’ve made me so happy Miss O’Hara. To think that you will marry me."

At this point the smile on Nile’s face is frozen. He had not thought about CC marrying Colin and now here before his eyes the scene is about to play out.

Niles steps in and says "Excuse me Miss O’Hara, but have you not just promised your hand to me in marriage?" Niles decides this is his dream and he can do as he pleases and no one will be the wiser. "You are just trifling with this young boy’s heart. I must speak to your father right away." With that Colin is dismissed from the scene, crushed that his love, Chastity Clare, belongs to another.

"Mr. Butler! How dare you send my suitor away? You know perfectly well there is no understanding between you and I."

"Isn’t there CC," asked Niles as he pulled the fiery blonde to him and kissed her with a passion that a young lady of the south would have never experienced before marriage.

"The sooner I speak to your father the better," said Niles who was enjoying the spirit of the dream but thinking…if I could only wake up…but then again I like this dream. I’m in charge. I’m someone here.

Niles has managed to successfully run interference and rid Colin from the scene. Next he knows he must deal with Mr. Wilkes and make sure that he marries Miss Hamilton.

As the days pass the wedding approaches between Fran and Maxwell.

After the beautiful ceremony attended by Chastity Clare and Niles, the lovely Fran approaches her.

"I thought of you during our wedding service and so hope yours will be as beautiful. I feel as if we are sisters for Mr. Butler and my husband have grown as close as two brothers."

At the mention of the words my husband, Chastity Clare tears up thinking of the love that is not to be…but should have been…her beloved Maxwell. Fran believes Chastity Clare’s tears are ones of happiness over her marriage to Maxwell and Chastity’s own rumored pending marriage to Niles Butler.

Niles enters as more have gathered at the Wilkes home to celebrate recent Confederacy victories. Niles himself is known as an infamous blockade-runner, and the folks flock to him seeking to know what items he has returned with. All gather around him but Chastity Clare. Niles quickly glances around the room and finds her sulking in a corner.

As Niles approaches Chastity Clare blurts out, "I wish you'd go away."

She knew that he was the only one besides Maxwell who knew her true feelings.

"There is no reason for you to lash out at me. Your secret is safe. I’ve declared my love for you," said Niles as he was enjoying the fantasy more and more, especially the segment where he was truly in the thick of fighting and running the blockade as a ship’s captain, the sea air blowing through his hair as cannons fired overhead. He thought to himself, "I just wonder when I’ll wake up?"

Chastity responded, "You should leave. There’s no reason for you to be here. I don’t love you. You know the one I really love."

By this point the two had walked into the library and were alone. Chastity’s spirit reminded him so much of CC Babcock’s and at this point Niles decided…It’s my dream…and reached for Chastity Clare pulling her roughly to him and thoroughly kissing her. Judging by her response Niles knew that the passion was at least returned.

When he turned her loose, she slapped him. He in turn returned the slap. "You sir are no gentleman," Cried Chastity.

"You have said that to me before, but I won’t take away your childish ideas. Just don’t think me noble or heroic. I am here for one reason only and that’s Niles Butler. There is money to be made and I intend to make it. The war is meaningless at this point. The South has held out well, but will eventually lose to a better-equipped northern army.

By this time the two had walked back to the dance that had started in the great hall. The music had just stopped when a rather elderly gentleman Niles didn’t know spoke up and said that for the next dance the gentlemen would have to bid for their partner as part of the war effort.

As the bidding began, Niles saw the discomfort Chastity Clare was feeling. At this point he steps up and bids "$200 in gold for Miss O’Hara."

After a murmur spreads through the crowd Chastity Clare steps forwards to accept what she knows is a challenge issued by the dashing Niles.

With flames darting from her eyes, Niles knows this dance will be memorable, not only for holding her to him, but perhaps for other events later in the night.

The music begins and he whirls her around the dance floor her beautiful blue gown flowing with the rhythm of the music.

"Don’t get ideas Captain Butler. Tonight I’d dance with General Grant himself if only for the chance to dance and forget this damnable war for a brief while. It’s all the men have on their mind," complained Chastity.

As Niles moved closer to his dancing partner he whispered in her ear. "The war is not on my mind at the moment." With that he danced her onto the terrace and pulled her to the side out of sight of the other guests. It was a warm southern night made hotter by the desire pulsing through Niles. For a split second he started to tell himself to get control. Then remembered "It’s only a dream."

He murmured those words as he started to kiss Chastity Clare O’Hara. His lips trailed the side of her neck, and back up to her cheek and finally found her mouth. There was little protest from the southern belle. Niles continued to kiss her and the passion grew as his hands started to roam.

At this point Chastity stops him by pulling away. "Mr. Butler! I know you are under a false impression that we are to be married, but let me assure you my heart belongs to only one man."

Niles at this point was so caught up in the moment that he pulled her back to him and kissed her again. This time she was left breathless.

"Miss O’Hara you will be mine. You are mine, but for the moment I will leave you with your thoughts." Niles then walked back to rejoin the festivities of the evening.

It will be weeks again before the two see each other. Niles enjoys his visions of the sea, running the union blockades with cannon fire all around, a mast falling just inches from him, ripped apart by a cannonball. He sees Paris of the 1860s and also eyes a few items that he knows will be perfect for Chastity Clare. "I no longer think of her as CC. To me she is Chastity Clare," he thought.

The hat he selected to bring back to his love was of an ocean blue to match her eyes. Somewhere in his mind he thought this should be green, but wasn’t sure why that thought crossed his mind.

The journey back to Charleston was just as much adventure as the voyage across had been. Then it was on to Atlanta and then Tara.

The first thing Niles does upon disembarking from the ship is to travel to Miss O’Hara’s home and present her with the beautiful hat.

Seeing her appreciation of the gift, Niles commented, "It’s part of my duty to keep up the war effort and that means keeping up the morale of the folks at home too. I promise you a new dress on my next crossing."

Chastity Clare was like a child with a new toy. It had been forever since she had something new to wear, but now wished she had a new dress to match it. Then she recalled Niles’ promise and tried to casually enquire, "Just when might that be? Your return to Paris I mean."

"That’s information the boys in blue would love to have. Sorry darling but I can’t share that," said Niles who had drawn out a rather large cigar and lit it as they walked around the grounds of Chastity Clare’s home. Niles could see the lack of care the house was getting because of the shortage of goods caused by the war. He thought, "When this is over I’ll make sure this house looks as it should for my Chastity Clare."

At this moment Chastity Clare stops and turns to Niles. "Don’t think for one moment I’ll marry you just because you bring me lavish gifts."

"I’m not so sure I’m a marrying man anymore," said Niles who reflected on his time at sea and thought of the adventure. Yet he also knew that marrying Chastity Clare would be an adventure in itself.

"You know what you need right now?" Niles asked.

What," said Chastity Clare.

"You need to be kissed. You should be kissed and you should be kissed by someone who definitely knows how to kiss," said Niles.

Remembering their kiss from the night of the party before Niles left for Paris, Chastity Clare moved closer. "Are you the one to do that," she challenged.

"I might be," said Niles who then started to walk away.

Chastity Clare yelled after him, "You conceited water logged mockery of a man."

Niles stopped and turned and took a few steps toward her. "This war won’t last forever and then you will have some decisions to make."

"What makes you say this war is near its end?"

"There’s a battle in a town in Pennsylvania, called Gettysburg. That may well be the turning point," said Niles as he recalled his American history. He also wondered where this southern accent he had came from, but decided to continue enjoying the dream and not be sidetracked by reality.

At this point Chastity Clare chose to ask about Maxwell. "Is Maxwell part of it? Is he in danger?"

"You just can’t get that man out of your head can you," said Niles with disgust as he walks away.

Chastity Clare would learn soon enough that Niles was right. Gettysburg had been a turning point and now the Confederacy was retreating.

Then Union General Sherman started his infamous march to the sea…. burning all that crossed his path and that included Atlanta where Chastity Clare was staying at the moment, waiting with Fran for word from Maxwell.

She had wondered out onto the street where everyone was in a panic as the flames of Atlanta leaped across the sky. She just stood there and stared.

Suddenly there was Niles with a horse-drawn rig. She threw herself into it and into his arms. "Oh Mr. Butler please take me away. I’ve had enough of death, men mutilated and lice. General Sherman must be near. We have to get out of here. I can’t take the screams and the men dying," wailed Chastity Clare.

"Then get out of here we will. Together," stated Niles as a fact. "There are so many places to visit in this world and now the South will be crumbling like a stale cake. I also understand that Mrs. Wilkes is going to have a baby and you really can’t chase after Maxwell then. It wouldn’t be ladylike."

With the mockery she heard from Niles, Chastity Clare just wanted to yell at him. Instead she cried, "I hate you Niles. I hate you. I will always hate you."

"No you won’t," said Niles sure that he loved Chastity Clare more than ever. But first he had to get her out of Atlanta.

As she returns home to pack for her journey with Niles, Chastity Clare learns that Fran is sick and the pregnancy isn’t going well. She recalls her promise to Maxwell to look after Fran in his absence.

She enters Fran’s room and tells her they are all returning to Tara. Fran, whose body is filled with pain, tells Chastity a sister couldn’t have treated her better.

Chastity Clare tells her the Yankees are coming and that they must leave, but Fran knows her time is near and that death may have her by morning. She wants Chastity Clare to raise her child if she dies. This shocks the otherwise unflappable Chastity Clare.

The child, a frail male, is born before morning and they send for Niles.

The trip to Tara is a tough one. Fran has survived, but is in severe pain. They have traveled in a wagon, not the most comfortable. Then suddenly they stop to let the horses rest.

"You are determined to make it to Tara," asked Niles?

"Yes."

"Then you will go the rest of the way alone."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"I’m going to joint the army."

"Be serious."

"I am. I need to serve with our brave lads."

"But they are retreating."

"I know our guys and they’ll make one last stand and I will be with them."

"This is no time to Joke Niles I need you."

"Selfish to the end. You have never given one thought to the noble cause."

"It’s all over what does it matter. The war is lost."

"I’ve always had a weakness for lost causes."

"You are leaving me here alone and helpless."

"Chastity Clare you have never been helpless. Not in this world and not in the one I come from."

With that comment he pulls Chastity Clare to him and kisses her again as he says goodbye.

Oh Niles, please don't go. Don’t leave me, please, I'll never forgive you," cries Chastity Clare.

" I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'll never understand or forgive myself. And if a bullet gets me, so help me, I'll laugh at myself for being an idiot. But there's one thing that I do know. And that is I love you, Chastity Clare. In spite of you and me and this whole silly world going to pieces around us, I love you. We're alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd. But able to look things in the eyes and call them by their right names. Look at me. I love you more than I've ever loved any woman. And I've waited longer for you than I've ever waited for any woman. Here's a soldier of the South that loves you, Scarlett. Wants to feel your arms around him, wants to carry the memory of your kisses into battle with him. Never mind about loving me. You're a woman who's sending a soldier to his death with a beautiful memory. Chastity Clare, kiss me, kiss me, just once."

Chastity Clare responds, "You sir are no gentleman."

"A minor point at such a moment." Niles hands her a gun, "Here, if anyone lays a hand on that nag, shoot him. But don't make a mistake and shoot the nag."

"Oh, go on. I want you to go. I hope a cannonball lands right on you, I hope you're blown into a million pieces, I..."

"Never mind the rest Chastity, I follow your general idea. And when I'm dead in the service of my country, I hope your conscience hurts you. Good-bye Chastity Clare. Niles places one more kiss on his beloved and then starts walking toward Atlanta.

Eventually Chastity, and Fran arrive at Tara. They learn of the passing of Chastity Clare’s mother. The plantation is in ruins. Her father is mad with grief. It is learned that Tara had been used as a Yankee headquarters and that was the only reason it was left standing. The soldiers had taken all the food and there was nothing left to eat.

There’s no one to do the work. So Chastity Clare goes out into the field digging what vegetables that are left from the ground and vows,

"As God as my witness they're not going to lick me. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill, as God as my witness, I'll never be hungry again," vows Chastity Clare.

Soon after their return to Tara, they learn that the South has surrendered and all are happy that Maxwell will soon be home.

Chastity Clare is making plans to make her plantation profitable again.

Then they see Maxwell making his way of the long entrance to the main house.

"It’s Maxwell. It’s Maxwell," cries Fran who runs to greet her husband.

Chastity Clare watches on wishing she were Fran.

Later Scarlet would learn that taxes are being levied on her beloved home and she must find a way to come up with the money. She turns to Maxwell as he is chopping wood.

"The Yankees want three hundred dollars more in taxes. What shall we do? Maxwell, what's to become of us?"

Maxwell responds, "What do you think becomes of people when

their civilization breaks up? Those who have brains and courage come through all right. Those who haven't are weeded out."

"For Heaven's sake Maxwell Wilkes. Don't stand there talking nonsense at me when it's us who are being weeded out," said Chastity Clare.

"You're right, Chastity Clare. Here I am talking tummy-rot about civilization, when your Tara's in danger. You come to me for help and I have no help to give you. Oh, Chastity, I'm a coward.

"You, Maxwell, a coward? What are you afraid of?

"Oh, mostly of life becoming too real for me, I suppose. Not that I mind splitting rails. But I do mind very much losing the beauty of that, that life I loved. If the war hadn't come, I'd have spent my life happily buried at Six Oaks. But the war did come. I saw my boyhood friends blown to bits. I saw men crumple up in agony when I shot them. And now I find myself in a world, which for me is worse than death. A world in which there is no place for me. Oh, I can never make you understand, because you don't know the meaning of fear. You never mind facing realities. And you never want to escape from them as I do."

"Escape? Oh, Maxwell you're wrong. I do want to escape, too. I'm so very tired of it all. I've struggled for food and for money and I've weeded and hoed and picked cotton until I can't stand it another minute. I tell you, Maxwell, the South is dead, it's dead. The Yankees and the carpetbaggers have got it and there's nothing left for us. Oh, Maxwell, let's run away. We can go to Mexico. They want officers in the Mexican army, we could be so happy there. Maxwell I'd work for you, I'd do anything for you. You know you don't love Fran, you told me you loved me that day at Six Oaks, and anyway, Fran can't ever have any more children. And I could give you...

"Can't we ever forget that day at Six Oaks?" Maxwell cried.

"Have you forgotten it? Can you honestly say you don't love me?" These were the questions Chastity Clare needed answers.

"No, I ...I don't love you," said Maxwell emphatically.

"It's a lie," Chastity responded.

"Even if it is a lie, do you think that I could go off and leave Fran and the baby? Break Fran's heart? From now on, I'm going to be more help to you, I promise," said Maxwell.

"There's only one way you can help me. Take me away. There's nothing to keep us here," cried Chastity Clare.

"Nothing...nothing except honor," said Maxwell.

"You do love me, you do love me...

"No don't, don't!" pleaded Maxwell.

" You love me!"

" We won't do this, I tell you, we won't do it. It won't happen between us, I'm going to take Fran and the baby and go.

" Just say that you love me."

"All right, I'll say it. I love your courage and your stubbornness. I love them so much that a moment ago I could have forgotten the best wife a man ever had. But Chastity Clare, I'm not going to forget her."

"Then there's nothing left for me. Nothing to fight for, Nothing to live for," said Chastity Clare.

"Yes, there is something. Something you love better than me, though you may not know it…. Tara."

"Yes, I...I still have Tara. You needn't go. I won't have you all starve simply because I threw myself at your head. It won't happen again," declared Chastity Clare who knows she must run the family plantation now and must find a way to come up with the taxes.

She makes up her mind to find Niles in Atlanta. "He will help me," she tells herself.

Find him she does, exactly where she expects to find him in jail. The Yankees have trumped up some charged, but suspects all they really want is his money… the same thing Chastity Clare wants.

"They’re not going to hang you?"

" Would you be sorry?"

" Oh, Niles..."

" Well, don't worry. Thank Heaven's you're not in rags, I'm tired of seeing women in rags. Turn around. You look good enough to eat. Prosperous, too."

" Thank you, I've been doing very well. Everybody's doing well at Tara, only, I got so bored, I just thought I'd treat myself with to visit to town."

"You're a heartless creature but that's part of your charm. Though you've got more charm than the law allows."

" I was so miserable at the thought of you in trouble. Oh, I know I was mad at you the night you left me on the road to Tara, and I still haven't forgiven you."

"Oh, Chastity, don't say that."

"Well, I must admit I might not be alive now. Only for you. And when I think of myself with everything I could possibly hope for, and not a care in the world, and you where here in this horrid jail. And not even a human jail, Niles, a horse jail. But listen to me, trying to make jokes when…when I really want to cry. And in a minute I shall cry."

"Chastity, can it be possible that..."

" Can what be possible, Niles?

"That you've grown a woman's heart? A real woman's heart."

"I have Niles. I know I have."

Then Niles, suddenly suspicious of this new caring Chastity Clare, grabs her hands and feels the calluses.

She tries to cover by saying she has been riding without her gloves.

"These don't belong to a lady, you've been working with them like a field hand. Why did you lie to me, and what are you really

up to? In another minute, I\d almost believed you'd cared something."

"But I do care!"

" Suppose we get down to the truth. You want something

from me and you want it badly enough to put on quite a show on your

velvets. What is it, money?"

" I want three hundred dollars to pay the taxes on Tara. Oh Niles, I did lie to you when I said everything was all right. Things

are just as bad as they possibly could be. And you've got millions."

At this point the old Niles rears its head, "What collateral are you offering?"

"My ear bobs..."

"Not interested."

"Mortgage on Tara..."

"What would I do with a farm?"

"You wouldn't lose, I'd pay you back after next year's cotton."

"Not good enough. Have you nothing better?"

" You once said you loved me. If you still love me, Niles..."

" You haven't forgotten that I'm not a marrying man."

" No. I haven't forgotten," said the proud Chastity Clare who for once bowed her head with a hint of shame.

" You're not worth three hundred dollars. You'll never mean anything but misery to any man."

"Go on, insult me, I don't care what you say, only give me the money! I won't let Tara go, I can't let it go while there's a breath left in my body. Oh, Niles, won't you please give me the money?"

"I couldn't give you the money if I wanted to. My funds are in Liverpool, not in Atlanta. If I tried drawing a draft, the Yankees would be on me like a duck on a June bug. So you see my dear, you've abased yourself to no purpose. "

"Stop it! You want the Yankees to see us like this?" Take your hands off me you dunk! You knew what I am going to say before I started. You knew you wouldn't lend me the money and yet, and yet, you let me go on."

"I enjoyed hearing what you had to say. Cheer up, you can come to my hanging and I'll remember you in my will."

"I'll come to your hanging. The only thing I'm afraid of is they won't hang you in time to pay the taxes on Tara." With that Chastity Clare storms out of the jailhouse.

Captain Butler, with some help from a few friends is able to get the money to Chastity Clare, but with strict orders she is not to know the money is from him.

With Tara now safe from the clutches of the tax collectors and carpetbaggers, its mistress is able to turn her attention to the one she considers her soul mate. Her one true love, Maxwell….

It is also during this time she learns that Maxwell is moving to New York to become a banker, something he is far better suited for than farming, but Chastity Clare manages to talk him out of that aided by Fran.

Chastity has entered the business world but something is still missing from her life. She has diversified into the lumber business and all is going well.

Then one afternoon she is told there is a Captain Niles Butler to see her. She goes down to see him, but not before steadying her nerves with a couple of drinks.

"The cologne can’t hid that you’ve been in the brandy," said Niles "What’s wrong?"

"I’ve been nothing but bad for the people who come into my life," said Chastity Clare crying.

"Here, dry your eyes. If you had it to do all over again, you'd do it no differently. You're like the thief who isn't the least bit sorry he stole but he's terribly, terribly sorry he's going to jail."

"I'm glad ma is dead. I'm glad she's dead so she can't see me. I always wanted to be like her, calm and kind and...and suddenly I've turned out disappointing."

" You know what, Chasity Clare? I think you're on the verge of a crying jag. So I'll change the subject and say what I came to say."

"Say it, then get out! What is it?"

"That I can't go on any longer without you. I made up my mind you were the only woman for me, Chastity since the first day I saw you at Six Oaks. Now that you've got your lumber mill and money, you won't come to me as you did at the jail. So I see I shall have to marry you. It cannot have escaped your notice that for some time past, the friendship I have felt for you has ripened into a deeper feeling. A feeling more beautiful, more pure, more sacred... dare I name it? Can it be love?"

"Get up off your knees, I don't like your common jokes," said Chastity Clare.

"This is an honorable proposal of marriage, made in what I consider a most opportune moment."

"You're coarse and you're conceited. And I think this conversation's gone far enough. Besides, I shall never marry."

"Oh yes, you will. And you'll marry me!"

"You...you? I don't love you. And I don't want to be married."

"Did you ever think of marrying just for fun?"

"Marriage, fun? Fiddle-dee-dee. Fun for men you mean. Hush, do you want them to hear you outside?"

"Why not try a husband with a way with women?"

"You're a fool, Niles Butler. When you know I shall always love another man."

"Stop it. You hear me Chastity, stop it. No more of that talk," as Niles grabs her by the arms and shakes her.

"Niles don't, I shall faint."

"And I want you to faint. This is what you were meant for," as Niles embraces her with a passionate kiss.

"None of the fools you've ever known have kissed you like this, have

they?" He pulls her to him again, "Say you're going to marry me. Say yes. Say yes."

"Yes," cries Chastity Clare……..

As Niles and Chastity Clare kiss, Niles hears the sound of something familiar, net not so familiar, it is CC. She’s calling to him……..

"Niles wake up. Come back to me. You can’t leave me."

Niles blinks open his eyes and pain shoots through his head but there is his CC his Chastity Clare.

"Chastity Clare you are still with me."

At this CC Babcock rises from the side of the hospital bed where she had been leaning. "What name did you just call me?"

Nile, not understanding why he is in bed and not at his wedding to Chastity Clare, responds, "your name."

"But how did you knooo….I am CC…what is the Chastity Clare nonsense."

Suddenly Niles knows that time has changed. There will be no more open seas for him to sail. He’s back in his own reality and instead of being with the fiery Chastity Clare he is with an equally fiery CC.

Suddenly Niles frowns.

"What is it Niles. What is wrong," asked CC.

"Everything and nothing is wrong," Niles responded.

"Well now that you are awake we can work on getting you back home. You’ve been in a coma for three days."

"Three days? That’s all? It seems a lifetime," said Niles as his voice trails off.

Following several more days of tests, and physical therapy Niles is ready to go home where the doctor has instructed he should have two more weeks of rest, with no stressful duties.

Niles finds it strange but comforting that CC seems to be around more than usual, if only he could tell her about his other life. Their other life.

One morning about a week after Niles has left the hospital he is sitting in the Sheffield kitchen. Nanny Fine comes in to join him at the table.

"So tell me Niles what was the coma like. Did you know when we were there talking to you at your bedside? Could you hear my voice? You have seem so sad since coming home…. come on spill…. tell me what it was like."

"Well if any voice could be heard through a coma it would be yours wouldn’t it," said Niles with a chuckle. It was the first laugh Nanny Fine had been able to get from her friend since his misadventure of falling from the stepladder.

"Miss Fine how can I explain it to you. I was in another world. It was another time. You all were there but yet you were different. You were a northern lady of wealth who had gone south to marry her cousin Maxwell Wilkes….you can guess who that was and CC was there of course."

"CC Babcock made it into your other world…tell me more," squealed Fran. "I mean if you could choose who was part of your world seems like she’s the last one to be in it. Describe her to me."

"Well she was much as she is now, except with a southern accent. In fact with the exception of you, we all had southern accents."

"Oy. Even in another world I can’t escape this voice," mused Fran. "Okay keep talking."

"Well CC was this woman named Chastity Clare O’Hara….and …."

"Wait! Did you say her name was Chastity Clare…I need to write this down."

"Well yes. I guess my mind was creating a name for the initials CC. Anyway she owned this large plantation called Tara…."

"Okay. Her last name is O’Hara and she owns a place called Tara…..just when was the last time you watched Gone With The Wind or read the book," asked Fran who had quickly picked up on the theme of Niles’ dream world.

"Well in fact I watched the movie a few weeks ago. That’s it," screamed Niles…I must have been recalling the movie and plugged each of us into a role."

"And just who were you?"

"Me? Well, uh, well, uh, well I was Niles Butler, blockade runner and a captain in the navy of the Confederacy."

"Oh so you get to make like Clark Gable with Vivian Leigh and meanwhile I’m poor long suffering Melanie who is married to Ashley. This is so not right. Melanie was so sweet and kind and nice to everyone. No. Wait. This isn’t bad. Tell me more. Well Ashley was named Maxwell in my world."

"Well things were going well…well not for the South it lost the war, but between CC and myself. I mean Chastity Clare. She had just agreed to marry me when I awoke. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that world. It wasn’t so much a simpler time, but it was a time where I had a place. I had standing. I was somebody."

"Niles you are somebody here. We all love you."

Then it hits Fran, "Oy you just said you love CC!"

"No I didn’t."

"Yes you did mister!"

"No you misunderstand. I meant Chastity Clare."

"Niles I think you are the one who misunderstands the signals from this dream scene. It is about someone you love or want to love," explained Fran.

"Yes but there’s no Chastity Clare for me in this world."

At this point CC walks through the door and glances at Nanny Fine and Niles. They both look sheepishly away from her.

"Okay you two what gives. What are you two talking about?" CC had been listening at the door but wasn’t about to let Niles know this and had heard most of his tale, which made her heart flutter….but she wasn’t going to let Niles know.

"Niles was just telling about his dream world. You wanna hear?"

"No! No! No!" Niles screamed. He didn’t want to share any of this with CC. He would never live it down.

"You know Niles the whole time you were in the hospital CC never left your bedside," Fran informed him.

At this news Niles sat up. "Really?" He glanced at CC. She quickly looked down.

"CC is this true?"

"I um, I um, I um…well somebody needed to make sure you….oh yes it’s true. Thank you Nanny Fine," CC glared at Fran….at which point Fran decided her work here was done and excused herself from the conversation with one last comment, "Don’t forget to tell her the part where she agrees to marry you."

"WHAT," said CC in shock.

"Well, well, well…well it wasn’t really you."

CC’s look softened, as did her voice. "Niles tell me something. Why did you call me Chastity Clare when you first woke up in the hospital?"

"That was your name in my other reality."

"Other reality? What are you talking about?"

"Oh let me just make this convoluted story short and say in my other reality you were a true southern belle who had always been able to wrap men around her little finger until you met your match. Me."

"You mean I was some kind of Scarlett O’Hara to your Rhett Butler?"

"Something like that," said Niles who glanced downward at the floor fearing to go forward with the conversation.

Giving that trademark throaty laugh she uses whenever she has one on Niles, CC begged him, "please continue. I want to here more of this."

"Well in that world you needed me. We were equals of a sort and we were in love although the war kept getting in our way."

"The war. You mean the Civil War. Right?"

"Yes…."

"So what did Nanny Fine mean about the part of my agreeing to marry you?"

"Well that’s what happened just as I woke up. We, I mean Chastity Clare and I were about to kiss and then I woke up and saw your face in mine…quiet a shock. Let me say."

"Didn’t you say Chastity Clare looked like me?"

"Yeeeeeeees" said Niles slowly dragging out each letter of the word not wanting to be wounded by the vixen sitting beside him. Some how during the conversation her chair had moved closer and then closer to his. They were just inches a part.

"Niles don’t you want to know what that kiss would be like?"

Niles stared at the woman whose face was now just inches away from his. "It’ might be interstin………." At that moment CC moved in and kissed Niles.

Niles wrapped his arms around CC and pulled her to him. Then the kiss was over and they pulled apart.

"It was all I imagined and more CC," said Niles in a husky emotional voice with his piercing blue eyes penetrating CC’s equally blue eyes.

"Let’s just say this one was for the sacrifices of a southern soldier gone off to war."

With that CC stood and left the room leaving Niles to think about all that had gone on. It would be years before he learned that CC really did stand for Chastity Clare. Had he known that then, he might have chased after her. Instead Niles decided to just enjoy the moment and his memories.

The future was just starting to unfold before them. There would be a time in the future rather than the past right for Niles and CC.

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