This is for the lovely individuals who have poked/encouraged/messaged me to update :)

"Do you truly expect me to believe that you have no memory of Tara or of our family? Truly, Scarlett?" Suellen said with a bitter laugh after being taken by surprise by her sister on her doorstep one afternoon. She now found herself in the parlor listening to the most ridiculously concocted story about memory loss and other foolishness that she was nowhere near stupid enough to believe. "Why don't you tell us the real reason you're here? You came back for Tara. You want to take it away from me just like you've taken everything else away."

"It's no lie Suellen, and I suggest very strongly that you curb your tongue before I take the liberty of doing it for you," Rhett interjected with a note of warning and a possessive hand resting upon Scarlett's shoulder.

Laughing once again, though a laugh that held no real mirth, Suellen looked over at her husband. "Do you hear them, Will?"

"I don't think they're lying, Suellen," he answered simply.

"Of course they are! You always were such a manipulative little thing, Scarlett. Always getting everything you always wanted. Well…everything except for Ashley? Isn't that right?"

"Oh, how dare you!" shouted Scarlett in indignation, shaking off Rhett's hand and fighting the urge not to lunge straight for her throat.

"Will, I am giving you one warning as a mere courtesy to try and restrain your wife because in a moment I won't feel so generous," Rhett added with an eerie calmness that made Suellen instinctively take one step back away from Scarlett.

"I'm not scared of you. Of either of you. You didn't truly think we would believe a word of this. Why don't you come over here Wade and tell Auntie Suellen all about how your mother lost her memory."

The young boy was hiding in the crook of the doorway when he heard the adults shouting and decided to come over to investigate the scene. Pinked cheeked and timid, he walked over to his aunt with a look of pure confusion washing over his features.

"What's wrong with mother?"

"Nothing is wrong with me darling. I—" his mother started before being unceremoniously interrupted.

"Why didn't you know Wade? Your mother has no memory of her life. Not of you or of Ella or Bonnie, or even the rest of her family," Sullen scoffed with triumph, thinking she had just proven just how big a farce this charade truly was. There was no doubt in her mind that her sister would go to great lengths to obtain something she strongly desired. Now finding out what she truly intended to gain from this visit was a different matter altogether.

"Is that true Mother?" Wade asked then looked up at her with two big hopeful brown eyes waiting for her to alleviate the anxiety and make it right again.

"I…" she faltered, unable to form a coherent phrase.

"It is true isn't it," the boy surmised by the look of dread on his parents faces. Without thinking, he rushed out of the room and ran outside before he embarrassed himself by shedding the tears that brimmed his eyes in front of his family members.

"Oh I could kill you, you hateful thing!" Scarlett vehemently cried, looking she could strangle her sister at any moment. It was a true miracle that she managed to hold back this long.

"You mean like how you killed Frank Kennedy?" Suellen jeered.

"No more like how you killed our father!" Scarlett snapped, as did all former restraint.

Both women leapt forward in attack, ready to claw, scratch, bite and kick. The two husbands were quick to react and had their wives secured around the waist, though not before Scarlett had hastily grabbed a good chunk of hair and viciously tugged, causing her sister to wince and cry out.

"Scarlett, let go of your sister's hair," her husband urged like a parent speaking to an uncooperative child.

"Not until she apologizes for being a mean and nasty hateful thing!"

"I will never apologize to you!" Suellen retorted loudly, earning herself another painful pull of her hair. "Ow!"

"I hate you!" Scarlett cried with another pull. "I will hate you until I die!"

"And here I thought those charming insults were reserved just for me," Rhett chuckled softly. "Pity to find out I'm one of many."

Struggling to escape his grasp, Scarlett twisted and turned every which way but was still careful enough never to let go of her sister's hair in the process. "This isn't any time for your jokes, Rhett Butler. Let me go!"

"Indeed. I certainly don't see any humor in this situation. While the idea of you tearing out your sister's hair is nothing but delightful to imagine, I don't believe I will let you go just yet. How about a fair trade? You let your sister go and I will release my hold."

"Fine," she muttered reluctantly, giving one last spiteful yank before releasing Suellen's now tangled and mussed locks. As promised, Rhett let go though not without being perfectly prepared to intervene if Scarlett made any sudden movements. Will, on the other hand, did nothing to loosen the grip on his wife.

"You listen to me very closely, Suellen. I remember enough to know that you would not have a roof over your head if it weren't for me, thank you very much. I own a third of this house, just like you do, and I will stay as long as I like. And not only will you accommodate us with hospitality but you will also refrain from poisoning my children with your stupid remarks, or mark my words I will find a way to make your life miserable!"

"I believe already accomplished that years ago, sister dear," Suellen bit back then ripped herself out of her husband's arms and marched out of the parlor and upstairs where a door was resoundingly slammed.

"Find Wade, Rhett," Scarlett ordered before rushing out of the house in just as much of huff.

~R&S~

Hearing a rustling sound of oncoming steps, Scarlett turned around expecting to find Rhett only to be surprised by Will who had found her aimlessly walking the parameters of the cotton field.

"Hello, Scarlett."

"Hello."

"I was hoping I could join you for a few moments?"

"If you'd like," she mumbled though truly wished he would just go away. He was no doubt here to advocate for her sister and she would hear nothing of it.

"I know you may not remember me but we were friends at one time. We are friends."

"I do remember. Some of it anyhow."

"We've also always spoken frankly to one another."

With a cold stare, Scarlett finally looked the man in the eyes. "What is it that you have to say, Will?"

"I know you and your sister have not always gotten on well, but she's had a real hard time."

"Oh yes her life has certainly been a myriad of disappointments," Scarlett replied with dripping sarcasm. If there is anyone whose life had been dealt a cruel hand, it was her own. There was no arguing that she made had played a small part in her sister's eventual unhappiness in stealing her fiancé away, but when faced with the alternative, the guilt born of that misdeed was not all that staggering.

"What you said today was real hurtful and—"

"What I said? Didn't you hear what she said to me Will Benteen! Now Wade is upset and run off to God only knows where."

"I'm not excusing her behavior," said Will calmly, not unaccustomed to the fiery tempers of the O'Hara sisters.

"Seems to me you are. Seems to me you're taking her side because you're her husband."

"I'm not taking sides. I was just hopin' you could be the one to make amends."

"Fat chance at that," she said, cross-armed and fuming. "I'd rather die than apologize."

"Then you stayin' here is goin' to be real miserable for the lot of us, Scarlett."

"I'm sure I don't know what you think I can do about it. You saw that she hates me. She doesn't believe the real reason I'm here."

"She doesn't hate you. She's just upset is all, and I just want you to smooth things over with her," Will tried to reason though without much success as he saw Scarlett shaking her head.

"No."

"Please Scarlett."

"I. Said. No," she answered hotly, emphasizing each word like it was its very own sentence.

"I don't know who's more stubborn, you or Sue."

With a genuine laugh, she looked over at the man with pinkish hair and light blue eyes, and for the first time, truly saw him. Will actually appeared to care for her sister, fool that he was, and if anything he seemed to want to help in his own way. In that moment, she knew Suellen had married a much better man than she deserved. "Family trait is it?"

"Something like that. You know she didn't mean to involve Wade like she did. She's terribly sorry about it."

"Prostrate with grief I'm certain."

"I'm thinkin' this isn't what you were hoping your first visit would be like."

"It isn't."

"Then couldn't there be some way I could convince you to—"

"Oh fine!" she huffed in exasperation. The man was relentless. "I can't promise anything but I'll try."

"Thank you. That's all I'm asking. I'm real sorry about what's happened to you. Not rememberin' your family. That's a terrible thing."

"Don't feel sorry for me, I'm fine."

"Well…I hope you find what you're looking for, Scarlett. I really do."

Smiling brightly at the kind words, she replied, "Thank you, Will. I hope so too," then watched as he walked back towards their home. With a sigh, Scarlett took one last look around and followed in Will's direction.

~R&S~

Somehow Scarlett had managed to find herself sitting beneath the shade of old and gnarled cedar tree staring straight at the two graves her parents occupied. She had not planned on visiting their graves, not the first day visiting Tara anyhow, but after speaking with Will out in the fields, she had walked back home only to come across a path leading from the house, through the garden and into the place where she now sat. It did not take long for the tears to fall. One would think that having only bits and pieces of scattered memories would make it easier for a person to see where her parents rested, but it only seemed to make it that much worse.

From the corner of her eye, Scarlett saw Rhett coming down the path and she quickly wiped away the evidence of the tears from her cheeks.

Speaking first before her husband had a chance to mention the fact that her eyes were red-rimmed, she said, "You don't need to say it. I know this trip was a horrible idea."

"I wasn't going to say that," he replied easily, though taking note of the fact that her eyes were puffy from shed tears and that she was uncharacteristically sitting on the ground with nothing between the fabric of her newly purchased frock and the red earth.

"Why not? It's true."

"Scarlett—"

"Did you find Wade?" she questioned hastily, hoping to avoid yet another drawn out conversation that would only lead to more pity.

"I did."

"He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you. He's simply confused. You should try to speak to him."

"I don't know what to say," Scarlett confessed then stood up and wiped the dirt from her skirts, avoiding Rhett's stare in the process. "You're better at these things than I am." She was just about to walk right past him before he blocked her path and stopped her with a gentle hand.

"Scarlett," Rhett murmured, wiping away the tracks of stray tears across her cheeks with both thumbs.

Looking up, Scarlett met his eyes for the first time then frowned. "Stop looking at me like that."

"How am I looking at you?"

"Like you feel sorry for me. Don't."

"You're misconstruing empathy for pity I assure you. Would it be so horrible for me to want to be there for you?"

"I don't think I'm used to it."

"I've always been there. Whether you've wanted me there or not."

"That wasn't always true though was it?"

"You are well aware of where I was during the war."

"Yes, I am aware. But when I was here, I needed someone and you weren't there. Nobody was."

"Our circumstances were different then. I couldn't allow myself to come to Tara with you."

"I didn't love you."

"It's hard to believe you do now. I find that I must keep reminding myself of just that. There were other things as well that kept me away."

Studying his features, Scarlett saw the words to be sincere, which was surprising coming from the man who could not stop toying with her. She would need reminding herself that Rhett was not accustomed to having his feelings returned. Overly obsessed with her own personal discoveries, it was easy to overlook what her husband might have been going through.

"Did you know that Ashley kissed me when he came back to Tara after the war?" Scarlet finally asked after a few moments of silence, a tiny grin tugging at her lips at his immediate grimace at that aforementioned name.

"Quite the honorable little gentleman, Ashley. You know I could have gone my whole life not knowing that particular detail, especially in this moment."

"Don't be mean. It was when we needed to pay the taxes on Tara and I went to ask him to help me somehow. He was there and he couldn't help me. Then I thought of you."

"And my rather deep pockets I imagine."

"Perhaps. My point is that I always seem to think of you when I'm in need, and you manage to come through somehow. So I believe that I can overlook the fact that you abandoned me on the side of the road with two children, a sick woman and Prissy."

"What vivid details you recall, Mrs. Butler. Dare I even presume I'm forgiven for abandoning you? There appears to be some lingering resentment," Rhett jested with an undeniable smirk.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

Leaning in, Rhett whispered, "Mhmm, always the terrible liar," then placed a gentle kiss to her lips only to have Scarlett pull him back in by his lapels and return the sentiment. There was no feeling that compared to the one when kissed her, making her feel winded and shaky while the rest of the world seemed to fade into oblivion. If only she had recalled their first kiss instead of one she shared with Ashley. Now that certainly had to be a memory worth recalling.

"Pa would have liked you. He never wanted me with Ashley," Scarlett said faintly when they ended their kiss, which elicited a burst of laughter from the impossible man standing in front of her. "Why are you laughing now?"

"Your father and I met once before, my love. While a memorable encounter, I doubt I was high on his list of favorite suitors."

"Were you a suitor?"

"Certainly. Not that you truly noticed. I believe you were too enraptured with the brave soldiers."

"I doubt you made it obvious," she countered with a roll of her eyes. Really, it was hard to even imagine a time where Rhett was completely forthcoming without being coerced into it. It was always riddles and jokes and twisted up words, and it probably was all that much worse when he knew she loved another man.

"You never were one for subtlety," Rhett grinned.

"You're hateful."

"It's part of my charm."

"Ha!" Scarlett scoffed then genuinely giggled at the look of feigned affront on his face. "You know Pa told me once that love comes after marriage for a woman."

"How insightful of him. You know there once was a devilishly handsome man who said something similar, not that you paid him much mind."

"You I suppose?"

"How did you possibly guess?" he teased, his two dark eyes dancing with evident amusement.

"Well you were both right then weren't you?"

"It appears that way doesn't it," Rhett remarked softly with a striking look of naked adoration mixed with wonderment, a look that left Scarlett momentarily breathless. "No one is more surprised than I am. What brought that memory on, or any of these memories for that matter?"

"I don't know," Scarlett shrugged and wondered how long she had been sitting at the gravesite. Somehow the memories had come on so effortlessly that it was nearly seamless in nature, almost like she had remembered the encounters all along. "It was a conversation Pa and I had once before the war started. He also said land was the only thing that mattered or lasted."

"A true Irishman to the end."

"I miss him. I don't remember it all but I still miss him. It must be one reason why I love it here so much. It's the only thing I have left of him or my mother. Of anything."

Laying a comforting hand on her should, Scarlett turned to him then walked into his arms. "He would have liked you."

"A true compliment coming from you."

"He wasn't himself when he passed on was he?"

"No, not from what you told me. He wasn't."

"It's horrid but that makes me feel better somehow. He must not have been happy." Water pricked behind her eyes at thoughts of her father, and she swiftly changed topics before an onslaught of tears took over. "Did you know Will asked me to make amends with Suellen?"

"Did he now?"

"Yes, and I don't know if I can do it Rhett. All I want to do scratch her eyes out!"

Chuckling, he replied, "Indeed. I believe you made that more than clear. Well, it's your decision not Will's."

"I already said I would. Heaven knows she is going to make this as difficult as possible."

"You agreed? I must speak to Will and ask him how he managed to coerce you into being so amenable?"

Scarlett stuck out her tongue then said, "Oh hush up. Let's go back inside and get this over with. I have both Wade and Suellen to manage."

"Scarlett," her husband called before she had a chance to leave.

"Yes?"

"Whenever there is something you remember, I want you to tell me."

"Oh don't be ridiculous, Rhett—"

"Promise me."

"What are you afraid of?"

"It's not out of fear. I'm here now and I want to be able to share the burden with you, even when you think I may not want to hear the particulars, such as other dalliances you may have had with a certain gentleman that I am not aware of."

Temper flaring, she bit back, "Oh don't you dare talk about dalliances with me Rhett when you—"

"Scarlett, promise me," he repeated, much to her growing annoyance.

"Oh fine, I promise. Are you satisfied?"

"For now," Rhett laughed as she walked away to find her son only to see her stop suddenly and face him again.

"Peg in a Low-backed car. The night you met Pa, you both came back to Aunt Pitty's and he was singing that song."

"It was one of many. You missed quite a performance. I dare say he had enough material to produce and star in his very own acapella musicale."

"I believe I heard more than enough, as did most of Atlanta who was woken straight out of their sleep."

"The night served its purpose. I remained invited to a Sunday dinner where I had the pleasure of your charming company."

"How you do run on."

"While I'm pleased that you're regaining some of your memories, do you think we should speak with Dr. Meade about this?"

"Why?" she nearly shouted in defense then lowered her voice. "This is exactly what I wanted. Why aren't you more excited?"

"I'd be more excited if I understood why this is suddenly occurring. Aren't you the least bit curious as to why it's happening now and so frequently?"

"No, why should I care about that?" said Scarlett dismissively. "All I am is relieved and pleased. I wish you would be too. This makes up for everything, even that insufferable Suellen. Why are you worried?"

"I'm not," Rhett lied in hopes of sidestepping an argument that was bound to occur if they discussed the matters further. Not only was it disconcerting to see Scarlett regain memories when no real explanation had been given as to why they had disappeared in the first place but it was also all the more worrisome not knowing what exactly recovering her memories would entail. There was no telling what would happen once she recalled more of her childhood, if it would ignite a flame of nostalgia and return old feelings one might have thought they had for a blond gentleman. There was also the unpleasant fact that some of the memories she had yet to recover were anything but gratifying in nature. While the reoccurring nightmare had yet to vanish completely, the frequency at which they plagued her had diminished. There was no doubt in his mind that the lack of wartime memories and the decline in nightmares were somehow correlated.

"We should find, Wade," Rhett added. "He was in the nursery when I last spoke to him. I believe he should come before Suellen."

"Oh don't remind me. I'd rather not speak to her at all."

~R&S~

With a few tentative steps, Scarlett was at the nursery door where her son was now hiding out. Taking in a deep breath, she knocked on the door and called, "Wade, may I speak with you?"

"Yes mother."

Hesitantly entering the room, Scarlett found her son on the floor with a book in hand. At her arrival, he dropped the book and stood immediately, looking more uncomfortable than she felt herself. With a small awkward smile, Scarlett took a seat on one of the child-sized chairs and folded her hands in her lap, unsure of how to begin.

"I just want to explain what you heard today," his mother finally uttered uncertainly, waiting for the boy to rush out of the room at one wrong turn of phrase.

"Uncle Rhett explained it to me," Wade replied, shuffling his feet and keeping his gaze to the ground.

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"No."

"I know that can't be true," Scarlett tried again.

"You'll get angry if I ask you."

"I promise I won't be upset. Ask me."

"Did you only spend time with me Ella and Bonnie because you couldn't remember us? You never did before," her son asked honestly, looking his mother straight in the eyes and taking her by surprise at the blunt questioning.

"Oh I...No Wade that's not why."

"Why?"

Well if this was not the worst question to be asked. It wasn't like should could truthfully answer that she has no idea why she never spent time with her children. Why working seemed to take precedence in her life over most things. Why this role of mother just did not seem to fit with her personality or the fact that she felt terribly inadequate at it. Children were never overly fond of her it seemed, and it never made the prospect of her endearing herself to them more appealing.

Instead, Scarlett replied, "I had more time I suppose. I haven't been working at the mills as often as I had."

"You don't remember us at all?"

"I do remember a few things. Besides, if there is something I don't remember you could tell me couldn't you?"

"Yes."

"That's right. And Wade, I need you to promise me something. You're a little man aren't you? I can trust you?"

"Yes mother," Wade said with a hint of a grin and pride shining in his eyes.

"I need you to promise not to tell your sisters about this. They are too young to understand."

"Is that why you didn't tell me?" the child asked, trying to piece the puzzle together. "Because you thought I was too young to understand?"

"Yes, but I see now that I was wrong. Do you promise?"

"I promise."

"Thank you," she said with smile, standing to leave only to stop herself at the last moment. "You like to read, don't you Wade?"

"Yes."

"I hated it as child. Couldn't stand it. There always seemed like there were far better things for me to do."

"You remember that?"

"Yes. It's funny the way things come back to me. Well you must get this love of reading from someone else."

"Aunt Melly?" he questioned happily as he was extremely fond of his soft-hearted aunt.

"She does love her books," Scarlett said with a little laugh, thinking of her friend.

"What do I get from you do you think?"

"Well…I don't rightly know. How are you with figures?"

"I'm one of the best in my class!"

"Well that's something you get from me I would think. I can add a long list of figures without a pencil or paper."

"What else?"

"I don't know. But when we find things we should tell each other."

"I would like that," Wade agreed, thinking that this would be one thing that only he and his mother shared, something that would not be touched or spoiled by either of his younger sisters. Something special.

"I'm glad. Why don't you go find Uncle Rhett. He was just about to take Bonnie and Ella to play a bit outside."

"Yes Mother," Wade complied but hesitated at the door, wishing he could hug her but fearing rejection.

Seeing the look on his face, Scarlett closed the distance between and ran a hand through his hair. "Go on. I'll be outside soon. I need to speak to Aunt Suellen for a minute or two."

~R&S~

"Suellen, I need to speak to you," Scarlett demanded when she finally found her sister moping in the parlor.

"What is it you want now Scarlett?" said her sister as she looked up from some sewing. "Haven't you insulted me enough for one day?"

"You are going to make this mighty difficult for all of us aren't you? I came here to ask for a truce."

"A truce with you?" Suellen asked incredulously then laughed. "No."

"Do you think I'm asking only for myself? I'll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine," Scarlett promised between clenched teeth as a burning rage began to boil yet again. There was no denying it. She simply did not like this sister and there would be nothing to change that, save for some miracle from the heavens that might alter her intolerably waspish sibling into someone else entirely.

"You're not even sorry are you?"

"Not for anything I said today. I meant every word. And I don't exactly see you jumping at the chance to apologize to me."

"I am sorry for what happened with Wade," she mumbled under her breath like it took every ounce of energy to even form the words .

"Truly?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. I'm sorry too."

"For what? I thought you meant every word." she scoffed.

"For Frank," Scarlett confessed, though not without a hint of broken pride. "I know you may not believe me but I don't remember everything I did or for what reason. However, I do apologize."

"You've never apologized before."

"I probably wasn't sorry before." Not that I am terribly sorry about it now, she thought but didn't say.

"And you are now?"

"Yes, partly."

Suellen gave her the oddest look, like she was staring at someone she hardly recognized at all. "Why?"

"I love my husband now. And if you and Frank loved each other then I am sorry for taking that away from you. I can't be sorry for saving Tara. I never will. It must be why I've never said so before."

"I don't know what to say," she mumbled, eyeing her sister suspiciously.

"Just say we won't try to kill each other while I'm here. That's all I ask."

"We may be able to manage that."

"And I'm sorry for pulling your hair," she added for good measure in hopes that this truce might stick for the duration of her stay at Tara.

"Well if that isn't the biggest lie I've heard all day."

"You're right I'm not the least bit sorry about that," Scarlett admitted frankly then laughed at an image of throwing a buttered biscuit at Suellen's head across the dinner table.

Not in on the joke, Suellen stared at her sister like she had lost her mind, which brought Scarlett back to the present and sobered her expression. "May I give you a piece of advice?"

Suellen shot her scowl then continued on with her sewing. "I don't want any of your advice."

"I'm going to give it anyhow. Your husband cares very much for you, and while I'm sure there's nothing you like better than hating me for marrying Frank, you should appreciate what you have in front of you."

"I don't need marriage advice from anyone and certainly not from the likes of you."

"Perhaps. I suppose I wish someone had given me similar advice, not that I would have taken it."

"You have everything Scarlett and I have nothing. You have everything you could possibly ever want, fine carriages and new frocks and parties every night while I'm stuck here at Tara living off your charity."

"Where do you think I got my money Suellen? It certainly didn't fall straight from the sky into my lap. I had to work for it."

"Mr. Kennedy gave you your start and then you married a rich scallywag."

"Oh! Frank did nothing but give away charity to every poor soul who walked into the store. I can promise you your life would not be much different had you married him," Scarlett seethed and just barely managed to refrain from adding that the years spent married to Frank Kennedy were some of her worst. Where the words and recollections had come from, she didn't know, but it seemed that there must have been at least some truth to the thoughts.

Glaring accusingly, Suellen retorted, "I thought you couldn't remember?"

"I thought," Scarlett began then paused to rub away an oncoming headache at her temples. "I don't know. What's done is done now and there is nothing we can do to change it. I've apologized about Frank, and I don't wish to discuss it again."

Scarlett walked out of the parlor before her sister could say something that would spark yet another battle then glanced out the window only to see Rhett and the children playing some ridiculous game or another. As she was in no mood to for any sort of company, she passed right by and decided to mount the stairs to her childhood bedroom. The memories of marriage to Frank had been anything but pleasant, and she wanted to drown them out. Damn this whole day, she thought then plopped herself on the bed while swinging her feet over the edge. It was not like she had expected for all her memories to be sugar coated and romantic, but it would have been nice had a few of them brought a smile to her face rather than an ambush of tears or a drumming headache. Nevertheless, it appeared that her memories were slowly returning, much to her delight, and tomorrow could not very well be much worse than this first day. Well, at least she hoped so.

I'm sorry for taking so long to update, yet again! RL getting in the way as usual. Thank you again for all of your lovely reviews and continued interest :) Hopefully I can be more prompt in updating next time! I will try my best. I truly hate that it takes me this long to produce a new chapter. A huge thank you to the wonderful Bella for editing/reading this for me! I would not have posted this chapter tonight without her help ;)