Her mother used to say that beginnings cost. They demand a will or a wish, a need or a want, an idea that propels everything into motion, an effort to stop waiting around and actually stand up for a change.

She was right, of course. Her mother was always right, with her humble wisdom and reassuring smiles, traits of personality she could never hope to achieve. Scarlett can see it now, as she steals glances at Rhett. How much can change in an instant, a minute, a day. How differently she can now envision the years yet to come...and all because of one conversation, one confession actually. An admission brought about by sudden moments of clarity and vast changes of heart.

When she was younger and more reckless, she would dream of Ashley Wilkes and imagine her long and happy marriage to him. Now, after rather careful consideration, she`d laugh in the face of such a possibility. It was never possible, not really. Not for her. And this is the way it should be. Would he understand even an inch of her thoughts, would he feel even a tremor of hers, would he dream even a single dream conceived by her mind...

Perhaps. But that would be all. His knowledge of her mind will forever be limited by so many restraints. Their different outlooks on life, their perpetual growing apart, the social boundaries raised by every reasonably-thinking member of the Old Guard. And by their own little hearts. She will forever demand more. Stability, reliance, care, pampering, affection, passion. Ashley could never provide them. Furthermore, she would have to dig deeper into her own being than she already had and become a source of stability for him. And she is sick and tired of hoping without being met halfway.

"There`s a crease in your brow. I`ve learnt the hard way, darling, that it means nothing good. In fact, I can think of very few facial expressions that frighten me more than your...focused one."

"Oh, Rhett! Don`t be silly. I was just thinking. Considering seems more like the right word, even though I`m awfully sure you`ll laugh at me for daring to proclaim something so outrageous."

"Well, your thinking process has greatly improved, I dare say. So I shouldn`t remark on it, unless it`s in order to congratulate you, my dearest wife. But I can`t help myself. I fear that we`re to happy, to calm for this to last. Our fights, pety arguments really, quickly end in reconcilliation. I`m afraid you`ve lost your bite, though I insist on reminding you how much I love this change of your temper."

"Do you want a fight, Rhett? Would it amuse you again, me throwing a vase at you? Calling you a cad? Telling you to visit some not so nice places far away from me? Because I wouldn`t like you to go away, not even if you deserve it sometimes. "

He`d kiss her now, for all he cares. He loves so much to hear her admit that she needs him, or something close to it. As close as she can get, because she doesn`t literally need anyone to get by. He`s always known this harsh truth and her strength endears her all the more in his eyes. But he`ll always sense the addictive increase of his pulse, the constricting feeling in his chest and the slight tremor of his entire being when hearing her proclaim that she wants him near her. It`s the most she can give and it`s more than enough. More than he bargained for when he first met her and fathomed the restless pools of self-preservation and ambition in those emerald green eyes.

But he cannot delay his answer any longer, or else she`d mistake it for hesitation. She`s frail when it comes to feeling, for it frightens her beyond measure and he knows that if it exists a way in which he can finally help Scarlett, this is it. Spelling it out loud, without hesitation or pretence, assuring her of how much he needs her and Bonnie in his life, of how much she conflicts, undoes and completes him.

So he does.

His smile is warm and dizzy, his words plain on his face, as they come pouring out of his mouth...all the words he`s been bottling up inside of him only for her, years and years of waiting, giving up and crawling back to condensing more phrases inside of him. "I love you Scarlett. Not because I`ve grown used to you, or because I have no other choice or because you ultimately picked me over someone else. I simply love you, the only woman in my life and I wouldn`t know, I wouldn`t imagine how not to feel this way about you. It consumes me, it consoles me, you bring me the deepest joy and even if you caused me the blackest despair, I would still love you. No, I am not going away. I`m staying here, in this monstruous house that we`ve built, with you and Bonnie. "

He used to think he`d most enjoy her mischievous smile directed at him, drawing him into her secrets. But right now, nothing could compare to her toothy, beautiful smile on her rosy and dimpled cheeks. Her mouth could be considered too large for such a delicate complexion, but he finds it enchanting as she approaches him, feline yet still smiling sweetly and pulls him in for a kiss.

He briefly entertains the thought that maybe a servant could come in to ask about some trivial detail and they should break apart eventually, but just as he curses in his head and reaches for her more tightly, she gently pulls away, blushing demurely as if he didn`t know better.

"Scarlett, now is not the time to convince me you`re a tease. I`ve known it all along, but please oblige me this time. " His words are a bit unfair, as he is well aware. She might not be a sixteen year old with her heart full of maidenly shyness, but she isn`t cheap or even vulgar. She just likes attention, although she isn`t particularly skilled at dealing with its more serious, entertaining outcomes. He likes to admire these conflicting sides of her, to discover paradoxes and puzzles the others wouldn`t even begin to guess in their hasty assumptions and half-baked judgements.

Her expression has turned serious again, the frown rearing its head once again. He think twice about bringing it to her attention again, curiours about what she has to say.

"But perhaps it is time for you to know something else about me."

"I`m all ears, believe me. Whatever it is when it comes to you, Scarlett."

"I love you too, Rhett. Thinking about it now, it seems rather foolish not to have loved you all along. Of course I love you. I hope that knowing this makes it worth all the sorrow I`ve caused you. "

And he thinks now that hearing her say it after all the fumbling around with the despair of a love believed unrequited can cure once and for all every wound he`s ever had, every doubt and lost cause he`s ever fought for and can give purpose to every day to dawn and end over them.

Thanks so much for reading my work. Hope you liked it, at least a little bit. I could never hope to equal or even come close to the original novel. Of couse, Scarlett, Rhett and all the other characters belong to the amazing Margaret Mitchell.

I`m glad I finally completed this story and I graciously thank you for your patience.

All the best wishes,

Ann.