So, I've been on the fence about either finishing this story or leaving it as a one shot for a long time now, and a recent review finally persuaded me to fix/finish this story, so thanks Beth! I was optimistically hoping to post again on Halloween, but obviously, that was not to be. I hope you still enjoy even though it has been more than a week since the spooky holiday ;-)

This chapter is co-written with the very talented Scarlett Jaimie. Without her, I doubt if this chapter would have ever seen the light of day. Merci beaucoup mon amie!

But even when Rhett told himself to pull away, to curb his emotions for the woman who had always escaped his grasp, he could not bring himself to do it. Her mouth tasted so sweet, it would be a crime to leave it unexplored. Her body was of a womanly softness that made him feel cheated if his hands did not caress it a bit longer. And the woman that possessed all these qualities made it almost impossible for him to think with a level head due to her actions. She plied herself in his arms without reservations, her mouth exploring his with wild abandon, her hands caressing the straining muscles on his back with eager curiosity. What was a man to do when the object of his desire was offering herself so willingly?

Her hands, that had been carefully tracing the muscles on his back, transferred their explorations towards his shoulder blades and then higher. When her fingertips massaged that sensitive area at the nape of his neck he finally gave up all reservations; something wild started roaring within him, something so savage that it took some of the coolness that he usually prided himself on. Up until now, his touch had been feather light; one of his hands rested gently on her knee, while the other arm encircled her slender form with only tenderness. But suddenly that arm started trembling; trembling from repressed desire and he held her tighter, something that made him immediately aware of the softness that lay hidden under the fabric of the silk shirt. Expecting her to withdraw he was surprised to notice that she leaned into him comfortably, sighing contently in between her ongoing onslaught of sweet kisses.

Could this really be happening, he wondered. Was this the same woman that had slapped him with burning force at Rough and Ready? That had played a cold calculated trick on him when she visited him in jail? She was warm and loving, open to anything he had planned for them tonight.

With her so close his senses filled with the sweet smell of her that mixed with a more earthy scent that the rain had left in her hair. He caressed the moist strands and enjoyed their smoothness under his rough fingers. By now it was Scarlett that was pulling his body nearer, although he could not possibly come closer in the position they were in. This lead to characteristic impatience on her part when she started wriggling in his lap and he wondered if this was his cue to transfer to the more comfortable areas his hotel room provided. She must have felt his distraction for she made an annoyed sound before she pulled his head down towards her. By now, she had gotten bolder and he forgot about his initial plan to answer the challenge she was so obviously putting in front of him. If her kisses filled with raw passion than his answers were daring, causing her to get out of control. Her little hands found their way into his shirt and as soon as she started caressing his naked flesh, he decided that he needed to possess her. Possess her completely.

She was so entranced in the mad dance their tongues were doing. So entranced in her explorations of his body that she did not notice how he shifted her into a straddling position. However, he had not counted on the fact that this would reveal just how much of an effect she really had on him. When she felt the proof of his own arousal, she interrupted their kisses and, while still panting, she looked at him. From the way she blinked, he could tell she was somewhat confused but he did not give her much time to analyze her feelings because now that he had her right in front of her, he finally had access to two of the most tantalizing attributes that she possessed. Her little erect buds could clearly be identified through the fabric of the silk shirt and he took advantage of that knowledge by placing his warm mouth over one. She groaned slightly and this encouraged him to draw her nearer and pay equal tribute to the neglected breast with one of his hands.

While still having part of her in his mouth he smiled when he felt her pushing him against her with all her might. His warm hands found his way underneath the shirt and she shivered slightly from his touch. His fondling made some of the buttons come undone and when he saw how she was partially revealed to him, he paused to drink in her beauty, causing her to flutter her eyelids open and stare at him in return. And once more she called out to him before she closed those mesmerizing eyes and curved her body in such a way that it left no room for doubt. She wanted him, she wanted all of him. And Rhett realized that he was only a man. If there was hell to pay in the morning he would deal with that then. This was the here and now and the woman whose love had seemed elusive was offering herself to him. Was offering him a night of unbridled passion and he would be a fool to not take her up on her invitation.

"Scarlett," he whispered but she did not seem to hear him but bent her body backwards instead, thus inviting him to explore her further. He kissed every inch of her naked skin, and realizing that next to the opened shirt she had nothing on, he decided not to stall any longer. While distracting her with a few more kisses he made sure that nothing would hinder their union. He could instantly feel how warm and wet she was down there. More proof that she desired him as much as he desired her. When he entered her she made a primal sound that came from deep within. He felt the impact too because he forgot to breathe for a second before he started moving her up and over him at a steady pace. She felt so good, so warm and inviting and some part of him longed to be selfish and take what he had wanted for so long with a few fierce strokes. But he hoped this coupling would not be their last one and suspecting Scarlett's limited experience in that area made him hold back somewhat.

That was; until Scarlett got over her initial hesitation, and by the time she rode him with equal zealousness, he abandoned the last remnants of self-control. She felt heavenly and what was more, she seemed to enjoy all the things he was doing to her too, so much so that she started calling out his name, hoarsely, desperately. But he knew what she was asking for and, while he did just the right things to push her over the edge, he gloried in the simple knowledge that he was the first to ever give her such pleasure. When her cries died down he was quick let go himself and this time it was his turn to cry out her name. She fell against him, spent but clearly satisfied and he kissed the temple that only a few hours before had felt the barrel of his gun pressed against it.

Was this the result of the trying day she had? What exactly had gone through her mind the moment he placed that gun against her head? Had she trusted fate, had she trusted him? Had that only been an hour ago? He had lost track of time. Right now nothing else existed but him, her and the passion they had just shared. He felt her body growing limp against his and so he carried her over to the bed. Even before he placed the covers over her, she was fast asleep.

~R&S~

As promised, Rhett kept true to his word and drove her home to Tara that next morning, though the long winding ride was rather quiet and tense given what had transpired between them the night before. Although Scarlett was clearly mortified by her immoral actions in a moment of weakness—actions that she had first instigated God forgive her!—there was a part of her that she couldn't deny was clearly drawn to him, something that wanted more though she could not pinpoint what exactly that more was. Being wrapped in his embrace, the feelings he had evoked and the uncustomary ardor mixed with bouts of tenderness of his actions all left Scarlett vaguely puzzled. Not only had her body betrayed her by responding to his every touch and caress with just as much fervor as he possessed but she had also surprisingly enjoyed every moment of it. She wasn't supposed to feel this way, not with Rhett, and especially not if she loved Ashley. It was an utmost betrayal to that love! But what amazed her more than even her indecent conduct was the fact that she did not feel as though she had been disloyal to Ashley, not even in the aftermath. The thought that the love for her childhood sweetheart could have suddenly dwindled was a notion that was simply too much to bear, so she pushed it to the back of her mind like she did all unpleasant thoughts, hoping she would feel differently tomorrow or at the very least when Rhett wasn't sitting so close in proximity.

As they drew closer to Tara, Rhett finally spoke up, breaking an awkward silence, and asked, "Well Scarlett, what do you plan on telling your family of this unforeseen arrival? I'm sure they'll be full of questions once you arrive home unexpectedly with me in the place of Mammy."

"I…I don't know. Oh, what am I going to do," she cried, burying her face in her hands and thinking she made such a mess of everything. If her pride wasn't so strong, she may have lapsed into frantic tears of hysteria, realizing suddenly that she must have been possessed to behave so foolishly, not only in her mad desire for money but also in her reckless behavior with Rhett.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it, my dear. I'm sure we could come up with a reasonable explanation."

"We?" she asked, startled and confused, lifting her head from her hands to stare at him quizzically.

"Yes, we. I told you I would help you didn't I?"

"Well…yes, but I thought that you would—"

"What did you think? Did you think I would drop you off then be on my merry way?"

"No, I thought you'd leave me at Rough and Ready in the middle of a war with a small child, a baby, a sick woman and that simple minded Prissy. Oh wait, you did that already," Scarlett replied tartly.

Rhett smothered a laugh at her apt observation. "That was a different circumstance."

"If you were unwilling to help me then what should make me think you would help me now?"

"You forget that I did steal a horse, at the risk of my own life I might add, all because you had the ludicrous idea of returning home to Tara. Are you really so reluctant to believe that I would want to help you now? "

"You certainly didn't want to help me at the jail."

"Did you ever think I may have been more receptive to helping you if you hadn't come to me, fluttering your lashes and sputtering your lies of false love like I was some country boy you could ensnare in your trap?"

"I don't want to discuss it."

"Scarlett, look at me."

Reluctantly, she met Rhett's gaze and he continued, "I will tell you this now, even though you hardly deserve it. It was not only pure meanness that kept me from helping you that day. If I could have, I would have helped you, even without that charming collateral you offered."

"Really?"

"Yes, and now I've promised you that I would be of service and I don't go back on my word."

This unanticipated sweetness left her baffled yet still filled with a warm sense of gratitude for the second time in two days. How nice Rhett could be at times when he wanted to be! If only she could figure out what his motives were. Was it possible that he really did care about her more than he was willing to admit or was he only hoping to one day lead up to his previous proposition that she become his mistress? Whatever his reasons were, she was still thankful for his support. Facing her family and answering their many questions was not going to be an easy task.

"Thank you, Rhett," said Scarlett as a genuine smile lit her face, a smile which he returned.

"I assume no one at Tara has had time to hear of your short lived engagement."

"No, no one."

"Have you thought about how you will explain how you came into enough money to pay the taxes?"

"No, I haven't thought about anything. I thought, well I thought they'd just be pleased that I had it."

"They'll know you didn't pick it off a bush."

"If you're so smart Rhett Butler why don't you tell me what I should say!"

"I'll take care of it Scarlett, that is, if you promise me something in return."

"What do you want?"

"I would like a detailed description of old Frank's face when you left him at the altar. I—"

"You're horrible!"

Chuckling softly, Rhett replied, "I don't deny it. Well, do we have a deal?"

"I don't know," she wavered, suspicious of his plan. "What are you going to say?"

"I haven't decided yet, but I assure you it will be believable."

"Fine, we have a bargain," Scarlett agreed then suddenly felt like she had just made a deal with the devil.

~R&S~

Scarlett could feel the twisted knots in the pit of her stomach while the wheels rolled over the damp red-earthed driveway up to Tara. At the sound of their arrival, anxious household members ran out to greet them, slightly surprised by Scarlett's unanticipated appearance but even more stunned when it came to the dark featured reprobate who accompanied her.

"Oh Scarlett, Captain Butler! This is unexpected. Has something happened? Where's Mammy?" inquired Melanie.

"She's…well she's," Scarlett faltered, looking up at Rhett who was supposed to provide the answers.

"She's still in Atlanta," Rhett supplied carelessly. "She thought Scarlett and I deserved some time alone."

Ashley and Melly stared at them, wide-eyed with confusion as well as a hint of fear on the blond gentleman's part.

"Time alone?"

Scarlett, who was just as puzzled by Rhett's explanation, peered up at him, and then he wrapped an iron arm around her shoulders.

"Yes, we were married yesterday. Isn't that right darling?" he caressed with emphasis as he looked down into Scarlett's stormy green eyes with a dazzling grin. It took all of her strength not to shake off his arm, but she smiled back forcefully. It would be the last time she trusted that scheming blackguard!

"Yes," she mumbled.

"And Scarlett was in such a rush to head back to Tara in order to inform everyone of our newly wedded bliss."

Ashen faced Ashley looked horrified by the news, almost as though he had just witnessed his worst fears being realized. It did not escape him that he was the one who had driven her straight into the arms of Captain Butler with his own helplessness, and it shamed him.

Everyone offered their brief congratulations, though Scarlett noted that Carreen and Melanie were the only ones who seemed the least bit sincere in their well wishes. It was true that she had made her deep running hatred for that awful skunk Rhett Butler no secret during the war while at Tara, but what right did they have to judge her decisions now? She would have done worse—no she had done worse, much worse, to get the tax money and they should be grateful that they weren't living on the street.

Shyly, Carreen went up to Scarlett and said, "But Scarlett, Pa will be so disappointed that he never had a chance to see your wedding."

It was on the tip of her tongue to reply tartly that Pa barely knew what year he was in, but she refrained and answered, "That's why we're going to have a small ceremony here." If Rhett wanted to be married to her so badly then he was going to do it officially, marrying man or not!

"And what about the taxes?" Suellen asked.

"I have the money," she answered sharply, only too aware that this situation was her all of her sister's fault. If she hadn't been so stingy and selfish then Scarlett could have depended on her to ask Frank for the money, but she knew that the moment Suellen was a married woman, they would never see a penny of Frank's earnings for Tara.

"Rhett, can I speak you a moment?" Scarlett said, flouncing off in the direction of the house and up to her room to escape the multitudes of questions and curious stares.

"You think you're pretty clever don't you?" she asked once they were alone in her bedroom, behind closed doors.

"What? Don't tell me you aren't impressed with my solution? I would have thought that this was exactly what you wanted. Didn't you come to the jail looking for just this? I thought you'd be pleased."

"I thought you weren't a marrying man? You've reminded me often enough."

"Scarlett, that look alone on Ashley Wilkes' face is enough to repay me for a lifetime of matrimonial incarceration."

"Oh! Always jokes with you! Can you ever be serious for once?"

"I promised I would be of service, did I not? Well, I'm keeping true to my word. How did you think you would pay next year's taxes, or the year after that?"

"Well that's why I wanted you to marry me in the first place!"

"Precisely. You're getting exactly what you wanted, so I fail to see why were are arguing. We should be celebrating our newly established marital bliss," Rhett remarked, taking a purposeful seat on her bed while he spoke, his dark eyes dancing with amusement.

Blushing to her roots, Scarlett tried to shake the vivid image from the night before from her memory.

"We aren't married yet."

"That isn't what the rest of your family believes."

"If you think you are sleeping in my room tonight Rhett Butler, you can think again. I–"

"And where do you believe I should sleep? Don't you think your family might be the least suspicious if I, your husband as far as they know it, am sleeping on the divan downstairs? It hardly seems appropriate."

"You're enjoying yourself aren't you?"

"Not in the least."

"Liar. You know what I don't understand is why you would agree to marry me at all?"

"Those reasons are my own."

"Oh, you're impossible!"

"Cheer up, my dear. Being married to me won't be so bad. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it might even be fun."

"Marriage fun? Fiddle-dee-dee, fun for man you mean."

Rhett unleashed roar of laughter, and Scarlett glared at him in response, failing to see what he could possibly have found so amusing. "Hush your laughing you know it's true."

"Scarlett, you have very little knowledge of men or of marriage for that matter."

"Oh, and I suppose you know all about it! You've never even been married."

"And you have?"

"Who do you think Charles Hamilton was!" she cried out.

"I wouldn't call that a marriage."

"Oh, and what would you call it?"

"An error in judgment, on both your parts I'm afraid," Rhett remarked with a grin. "Now, shall we let the bugles sing truce? It is after all our honeymoon and we shouldn't be quarreling."

She rolled her eyes at the absurdity of his response. The man simply could not be serious. "You do realize we have to get married before Mammy catches wind of all this and shows up here. She'll know we weren't married yesterday."

"An apt observation, my dear, though if you were so eager to make this marriage official, you only needed to say the word and—"

"Hush up, you conceited thing, you know that's not what I meant."

"I was only teasing, and I suggest you learn to get used to it. You won't be so easily rid of me once we're married."

"Why are you doing this for me? I don't understand."

"And you don't need to understand. All you need to know is that I'm here, and as long as I am, you should know that you're no longer alone. I'll make sure a minister arrives tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Rhett," Scarlett said softly for the second time that day. "For everything."

"Everything?"

"Well, yes. You know what I mean."

He rose from the bed, placing two gentle hands at the side of her face and then brushed a fleeting kiss across her forehead, knowing he had made the right decision. "You're welcome."

~R&S~

Rhett and Scarlett were married the next day by a local minister in a brief ceremony, thankfully before Mammy showed up later that afternoon. Although Mammy gave the newlyweds knowing glances now and again, glances Scarlett painstakingly tried to avoid noticing, she never called either of them out on their trick, and life at Tara went on much as it had prior to Scarlett's trip to Atlanta. However, married life did bring about one noticeable change at Tara, and that was the lift in Scarlett's spirits upon discovering how much of a help Rhett could be. Matters that she could never trust with anyone else, she could trust with him to get accomplished in a timely matter with very few mistakes. When she used to feel that there was no one to turn to in a time of crisis, now she had Rhett, someone she could rely on, someone who would never fail her, and it eased the considerable load she carried. In fact, if Scarlett were being entirely honest with herself, she would have to admit that Rhett was an equivalent of four Ashleys, especially when it came to physical labor, not that she would ever say this aloud.

Not only was Rhett's presence of great assistance, but his vast wealth also contributed quite a bit to household. Where once they worried about where their next meal might come from, with Rhett's money that was no longer an issue of concern. The payment of the taxes on Tara dissipated Scarlett's primary fears as well as those of the other family members, which also brought about a sense of calm and relief to the household. This, however, was not the case when it came to Jonas Wilkerson, who having heard the news was beyond furious that his plans had been thwarted. Even though the loathsome old overseer never came back to Tara himself, he found other various ways to stir up trouble in the county, and it was this very trouble that caused Ashley and Rhett to come across Tony Fontaine passing through Tara on his way to Jonesboro in a dangerous rage after Jonas Wilkerson. When they had stopped him, Tony had swiftly explained what had happened to Sally, and then the unlikely pair decided to join him without first telling the women at Tara of their plans, a decision they would later come to regret.

~R&S~

It was only when Scarlett and Melanie heard the loud racket of the wagon's wheels speeding down the driveway to Tara that they realized Rhett and Ashley were even gone, and then they both hurried out onto the veranda, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong. When they saw Tony Fontaine lifting Ashley out of the carriage, they noticed the large red splotch staining the shirtfront near his abdomen and realized that he had been wounded.

"Ashley!" Melanie and Scarlett cried in unison as they rushed over to him, fear gripping their hearts.

"What's happened?" Melly asked with panic in her voice as she trailed behind Tony while he carried her husband up the steps to the house.

"He's been shot, and I reckon you should fetch a doctor right quick."

Will, whom having heard the commotion, rushed over and was quickly delegated to fetching the help of Dr. Fontaine.

Scarlett watched wordless, stunned and unable to puzzle the pieces the together as Tony carried Ashley into the house to place him on a bed. What in the world was going on and where was Rhett?

"But where's Rhett?" she shouted then caught sight of a dark figure at the bottom of carriage and ran over to it, the sound of her heartbeat drumming in her ears as the blood rushed to her head. What would she do if he was dead? No, she wouldn't think of that now. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be.

Oh dear god he's been shot, Scarlett thought when she reached the carriage, looking down and noticing the red oozing wetness just below his right shoulder, forgetting Ashley entirely. The rain, which had been drizzling lightly all day, started to pour with a vengeance, and her immediate impulse was to pull him out of carriage, but then she realized she couldn't very well carry him on her own. Had adrenaline not been running rapid through her veins, she might have fainted from the shock of seeing Rhett so uncharacteristically vulnerable, his face unnaturally pale compared to his usual swarthiness. This wasn't like seeing the many wounded men she had treated as a nurse during the war, this was Rhett, the man who was always so self-assured in his abilities, the man who had cheated death on a number of occasions, the man who she had grown to depend and lean on for strength, and now he lay helpless and unconscious. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be shot, he was supposed to be invincible! What would she do if she lost him? Life would not be the same without Rhett in it, it would be…unbearable.

"It's only through the shoulder. I think he'll be fine. Help me lift him out," Tony said from behind, startling her out of her reverie.

"You think he'll be fine! What happened? Where were you?"

"Jonas Wilkerson happened the—" he started then stopped himself short of cursing a string of vulgarities. "We were hoping to take him by surprise, but I guess he's the one who surprised us. We weren't expecting him to have a gun handy."

"What do you mean? What does he have anything to do with—"

"I'm sure you're husband will explain all the glory details once he regains consciousness. Suffice it to say Wilkerson won't be a problem any longer."

"But…I want to know now! Tell me!"

"Help me bring him up to his room and I'll try to explain, but I don't have much time, Scarlett. They're probably after me now as we speak."

They carried Rhett to the bed in Scarlett's room and propped his large body against the pillows, then she scurried about the house to fetch towels and a pair of scissors to cut away the fabric of his shirt from the gunshot wound. Hands shaking, she pressed a towel onto the wound, soaking up the deep crimson sticky dampness that would not stop leaking no matter how much force she exerted or how much she willed it with her mind.

"Don't you dare die on me, Rhett Butler", she mumbled, exchanging the stained towel for a fresh one once the blood seeped through and drenched the material entirely.

While Scarlett attended to Rhett, Tony hastily explained how the three of them had gone to Jonesboro to deal with Wilkerson after all the trouble he had caused for the folks at Tara, along with an unfortunate circumstance involving Sally that had pushed him over the edge. They had found Wilkerson in the barroom, but it wasn't until he started firing that they realized the despicable man had a gun.

"He got Ashley first by surprise, then Rhett, but your husband has a wicked shot. He still let me finish Wilkerson off, though. Let me tell you, I-" Tony started then stopped before he went into too much detail. "Well, anyway Scarlett, Rhett seemed fine until we were riding home, and then he went out cold."

Scarlett wanted to shout at the top of her lungs that men were such fools, but before she had the chance, Dr. Fontaine entered the room. Tony looked the doctor straight in the eyes, searching for an answer, and his reply was a short shake of a head before the doctor hurried to Rhett's side to examine the wound.

"I need to go Scarlett. I've stayed long enough as it is. Give me a kiss, I may never see you again."

"Where are you going?"

"Texas, if I can make it there in time before the Yankees catch up with me."

"But surely you don't—"

"I have no choice. They'll hang me if they get the chance," he replied carelessly then placed a swift peck onto her cheek and dashed out of the room and into the pouring rain, mounting his horse before galloping away in a mad race to escape the noose.

Scarlett focused her attentions back to Rhett where the doctor was carefully bandaging the wound, wondering how everything could have changed so suddenly and thinking that if she never saw another gun in her life, it would still be too soon.

"Is he…will he be all right?" she asked tentatively, afraid of the answer.

"As long as the wound remains uninfected. The bullet did not strike any bones as far as I can tell, so the damage isn't extensive, but he's lost a lot of blood. If he starts a fever come get me immediately, but for today there is nothing much else I can do. I'll come back to check on him tomorrow in any case."

"Thank you," Scarlett mumbled, turning her face away to hide the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes, betraying her terror and weakness. She had seen enough men who had suffered through amputations at the hand of bullet wounds, and all the more who had died of infection or loss of blood long before a doctor ever reached them.

Catching sight of a small wooden chair in her room, Scarlett dragged it over to the side of the bed and sunk into it with a heavy sigh, only wishing she could crawl into bed next to Rhett, to have his strong arms wrap around her tiny frame and soothe away her fears, to hear him say that everything would be fine. She was not the type of woman who was used to being afraid or even admitting to those fears, but she was indeed afraid now. Deeply afraid that she might lose the only man she could trust and support her through all her struggles, the only man who seemed to understand the heavy load she carried and wished to relieve her of some of it. It was not very long ago that she had discovered that the only person she could trust and count on was herself, but somehow during their brief marriage, Rhett had managed to prove her wrong, and the thought that she might lose the one person she truly needed was a thought too agonizing even to contemplate.

The pungent metallic smell of blood was heavy in the air, but Scarlett never rose from her seat by Rhett's side, not that she could open a window in any case for the rain was coming down hard, smacking the sill by the rough force of the blustering wind. His hand was limp resting by his leg, and she reached for it, half expecting it to be as cold as her own but finding calming warmth instead. The tears she fought so determinedly to ward off brimmed her emerald eyes and then escaped in two long trails down over the soft curves of her cheeks. A free hand came up to her face and swatted away the traces of weakness. It was foolish to cry for a man who was not dead—no—a man who would not die, not if she had any say in the matter.

There was a faint rumbling in the room and Scarlett looked up, startled to find Rhett's eyes fixed on hers as a small smirk played at the corners of his lips.

"Were those tears for me?" he asked dimly with a gleam dancing in those dark inscrutable depths.

"I wasn't crying," Scarlett denied, a flood of relief filling her heart at just the sound of his voice, as faint as it may have been.

"You weren't? Oh, it must be my mistake," he replied, eyeing the soft hand that still held his.

"How are you feeling?"

"Well, I won't deny I've felt better, but it isn't so awful. How are you feeling?"

"Me? I'm fine."

"You're lying, but we'll let that pass for the time being. How's Ashley?"

"I–I don't know. I haven't seen him since…"

"Don't tell me that your beloved was wounded and you failed to inquire about his condition?"

"I wasn't thinking about him because I was worried about you, damn you!" she shouted then jumped up from her seat, pulling her hand away.

"Scarlett, don't leave."

"Why?"

"Please?"

"Fine," she mumbled then sat back down and Rhett smiled, but it was most sincere and not the least bit mocking.

Feeling lightheaded, Rhett rested his eyes, and a renewed sense of worry swept through Scarlett, erasing the momentary relief.

"Rhett?"

"Hmm?"

"If you even dare to think about dying, I'll kill you myself and save you the trouble."

At her words, he laughed freely, and then his face contorted with pain at the tension that laughter put on his shoulder. "I have no intention of dying," he answered carelessly as though he had control over the matter.

"Oh don't you? I suppose that's why you ran off to confront Wilkerson?"

"Are you sincerely worried about my safety Mrs. Butler, or are you only worried you might be reduced to wearing black again?"

"Could you ever be serious? This isn't any time for jokes."

"I'm completely serious."

"Of course I was worried about you, you fool. Why else would I be here. You know I hate nursing."

"True enough. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"

"Yes, you should be resting."

"That's not quite what I meant. I'm fine."

"You are not fine, you've been shot."

"Your concern warms my heart."

There was a teasing tone to his words but there was also a lingering sincerity in his eyes that he hadn't troubled to mask, making Scarlett wonder if he truly thought that she cared so little for his safety. Timidly, she reached for his hand again, hoping that actions would speak louder than words, not that any particular words came to mind to begin with. How was she supposed to put into words what she did not even understand herself?

"You feel warm," Scarlett noted then blushed, thinking that the touch of his skin always felt warm against her own.

"That's because your hands are cold. You seem tired. I think you are the one who needs rest."

"Don't be silly. I'm not tired and I'm not leaving. You should try to rest, Rhett. Please."

Hearing the genuine concern in her voice, Rhett gave her hand a gentle squeeze before closing his eyes. "Can I assume you will be here when I wake up?"

"Yes. I promise."

~R&S~

Seeking solace from the eerie stillness that consumed the household at Tara, Scarlett stepped out onto the veranda that next morning, afraid of falling to pieces if she met anyone's gaze or heard his name spoken. The fog was heavy, surrounding her skirt like a murky cloud as she searched for the front step to sit down, and she hugged her arms to her chest in hopes of warding off the chilling humidity that clung to her bones. Despite the cold, there was something comforting in the distinct scent of the morning country air after the previous night's torrential downpour, something that eased her tired mind and assured her that once again she would prevail through the hardships life handed her. Funeral arrangements would have to be made, and the thought sent a shudder through her body. It wasn't fair that she would have to lose yet another loved one. Was losing her mother and the majority of her childhood friends not enough?

There was a soft creek, and Scarlett turned around to see the front door cracked open with Carreen peeking from the side. Did no one understand that she wanted to be alone?

"Scarlett, are you all right?"

With a sigh, she rose from her seat and moved to where her sister stood by the door. "Yes, I'm fine. I'll just be in my room if anyone needs me. I want to be alone."

Brushing passed her sister, Scarlett started up the stairs to her bedroom, knowing it would be the only place where she might find a moments peace. She would never understand why it was that everyone looked to her for answers, why she should be the one to carry all the burdens when the only thing she wanted was to lean against someone else and relieve herself of the heavy weights on her shoulders.

There was a short pause before she eased the door open and tiptoed into the bedroom, but Rhett was already awake and staring intensely in her direction.

"What's happened?"

"Ashley… he's…gone," she mumbled, fixing her eyes down to the floor in order to avoid his gaze.

"I'm sorry Scarlett," Rhett said with genuine sympathy. Even if he himself was never particularly fond of the gentleman, he still empathized with the pain she must be feeling at losing yet another childhood friend. "How's Mrs. Wilkes?"

"She's…I don't know Rhett. She's doing better than I thought she would be."

"When did it happen?"

"Last night. No one came to tell me because it all happened so quickly and I—"

"You were with me." There was a bitterness coloring his tone, and Scarlett looked up, vaguely puzzled. Seeing the lost look in her eyes, Rhett's voice softened as he smothered the hint of jealousy which consumed him, a jealousy he hoped would gradually disappear now that the man who haunted his future happiness was no longer with them.

"Come here my dear," he beckoned, motioning to the side of the bed, but she hesitated, frozen in place.

"But I can't. I'll hurt you."

"You won't hurt me, I'm hardly fragile. Come here."

Tentatively, Scarlett climbed onto the bed by Rhett's left side, keeping her distance in fear of jostling the tender shoulder. With a light chuckle, he wrapped his good arm around her waist and edged her closer to his body until her head was resting against his chest. Despite her initial worries, Scarlett could not help but be reassured by the feel of warm body pressed against her side or the sound of the steady beating heart just beneath her ear that told her he was alive. Thank God for Rhett. Without him, she would be going through this whole mess alone, with no one to confide in or lean on.

"Scarlett, what would you say to leaving Tara for a short trip? I think we could both use the change in scenery."

"What kind of trip?"

"Well, we never had a proper honeymoon. I think it might be time that we had one. What do you think?"

"That sounds lovely," she agreed, more than willing to escape the reminders of death for a short spell. "Only, should we go so soon after…"

"I think we should leave as soon as I'm able to travel."

"Wait," she started, forcing herself to look up at him, "do you mean to tell me that you're worried that the Yankees might be after you as well as Tony?"

"I'm not certain, but I would prefer not to wait and see. My short-lived venture in jail is far from one of my fondest memories, and I'm not as trusting in my abilities to escape the noose once again."

"Why did you go after Wilkerson? Do you have a death wish Rhett Butler?"

"Would it matter much to you if I did? I seem to recall at one point you wished me hanged."

"Well…that was before, and I didn't really mean it you know."

"You could have fooled me. I believe your exact words were, I wish they would have hung you. That leaves very little to interpretation."

"Well, you deserved it at the time!" Scarlett huffed, recalling that fateful day and momentarily forgetting her sorrow at the news of Ashley's death. "And may I remind you that you held a gun to my head that very same day! You're far from innocent."

"I tried to dissuade you to play that game, though now that I think about it, I have to say I may actually be thankful for your stubborn nature. I believe that gamble was well worth the rewards, don't you?"

Meeting his dark eyes that were dancing with mischief, Scarlett knew he was not referring to their tangible winnings, and a giggle accidentally escaped her lips.

"Was that a laugh Mrs. Butler? Do I take it that you might truly enjoy my company and no longer feel as hopeful for my demise?"

"No, I couldn't lose you now, Rhett. I need you."

A grin played at his lips for he knew how hard it was for Scarlett to admit that she needed someone, let alone him.

"You needn't worry," Rhett whispered into her raven locks before brushing a kiss at the top of her head. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, love. I promise."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rhett's heart stopped and he tried to conjure up a way to explain his slip of the tongue, if Scarlett even noticed it at all. But as he waited anxiously for the fallout, she only snuggled closer to him, smiling to herself before closing her eyes to sneak in a few needed hours of sleep and wondering if perhaps she had actually fallen in love with her own husband. With Rhett by her side, there was nothing she couldn't face, and she could not help but agree with his previous words. The rewards reaped from a lethal and reckless game of chance far exceeded their gamble.

The End