Disclaimer: I don't own Gone with the Wind

AN: So this just came to me one day. I was hit with inspiration and all of this just came pouring out.

Scarlett waits as the elevator climbs to her office on the eighteenth floor, having just returned from Walker and Walker Associates downtown. The doors open, and her assistant, Josie Mills, is waiting for her. It's never a good thing to find Josie at the elevator. Scarlett tries to remember the breathing exercises her therapist recommended when she was feeling "displeased."

Josie clears her throat and says, "Mrs. Kennedy, there's someone in your office."

Scarlett takes one more calming breath, and vacates the elevator. They walk through the open office area, shared by her staff, toward her office, stopping near Josie's desk. Finally trusting herself to speak, Scarlett says, "Josie."

"Yes, Mrs. Kennedy?"

"Which part of I'm not receiving anyone this week didn't you understand?" Scarlett says. She's aware her voice is icy, but it's better than yelling at the girl.

She waits for Josie to respond, but Josie is frozen in fear. There's a reason she keeps a list of replacement assistants, no one seems capable of holding the job for longer than six months. Josie, however, had been an exception. She had been Scarlett's assistant for a year, and hadn't been a disappointment, until today.

Just as Scarlett is about to ask for further explanation, a very masculine voice interrupts. It's a voice that elicits many responses in Scarlett, and makes her forget why she should be angry at Josie momentarily. "

"Don't blame the girl Scarlett. You, of all people, know that I am a very persuasive person."

"I should have known," Scarlett says under her breath. She doesn't turn to face him just yet, she reminds herself to stay strong in front of her employee. She looks at Josie with narrowed eyes, to let her know how big of a mistake she had made. She says, "You can go Josie."

Josie picks up her things off her desk and quickly makes her way across the open office space. The after hours stillness allows the rapid elevator button pushing to echo back to Scarlett and her visitor.

Scarlett turns to face him once the elevator dings and the doors shut. She looks up at him, immediately becoming irritated at his smug countenance, and asks, "How much did you pay her?"

"I won't tell you exactly how much, but it might offer you some comfort to know that I had to offer an obscene amount before she showed any sign of cracking," Rhett says. He follows her into her office and adds, "She is clearly a woman after your own heart."

Scarlett doesn't bother to look at him, he is always quick with the thinly veiled insults. Her therapist says she shouldn't let him get to her. She puts her purse and coat away and asks, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she bargained until the odds were in her favor," Rhett says. "She took the money, and sweetened the deal for herself."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, she made me sign a contract that said if she got fired, I would recommend her for any other post she applied for," Rhett says as he sits back in one of the two high backed chairs that sit in front of her desk.

Taking a seat in her chair, on the opposite side of the desk, she says, "Well that's surprising that she managed to show that much gumption. But why do you always try to lump me in with other women?"

"To be perfectly honest I have no idea, maybe because of the way it makes your eyes light up with righteous indignation."

Scarlett studies his face, trying to decide if she should take it as an insult or a compliment. And as always it's completely unclear. She pushes the thought away and decides it's time to change the subject. She says, "Well, how long are you here for?"

She wants to pat herself on the back when he looks amused.

"You've changed since my last visit," Rhett says. He sits up straighter and gives her a charming smile and says, "I suppose you want an answer, I can't say for sure, but long enough to spend a few nights with you."

Scarlett pinches herself to keep from looking too happy. She finally has the upper hand in the situation. She savors the moment for a second, before giving him her best southern belle smile. She says, "Oh my dear Mr. Butler, haven't you heard? I'm a married woman."

She displays the platinum wedding band, and gaudy diamond engagement ring, for him.

To his credit, he doesn't seem all that surprised. He says, "Not again!"

"Yes, again," Scarlett says as she looks at the ring. It was impressive, or at least that's what most people said. She found it distracted people, and she sometimes left the diamond at home when she was travelling, for safety reasons.

"Who is the unlucky fellow this time?" Rhett asks.

Scarlett looks at Rhett, he suddenly seems too large for the chair he is occupying. He seems much more serious, all of his teasing spirit has left him. She doesn't like it, and doesn't feel comfortable giving him whole story right away. She decides to play coy, and says, "Frank Kennedy."

"So have you married him for his money or his power?" he asks as he lights a cigar.

"He has neither, " Scarlett answers honestly. While her husband may come from a powerful family, and they may have money, her fussy husband never had the gumption to get involved in the family business. His father had supported him through the years, and the marriage was a part of new conditions for future support.

"Oh? Don't tell me you're in love with him," Rhett says. He adds, "That's below you, Scarlett."

"Of course not, you know I don't believe in love anymore," Scarlett says. It's true, he knows all her secrets.

"Right, the honorable Ashley has ruined the entire experience for you," Rhett says as he puffs on his cigar. He waves his hand and says, "Well go on, how did you trick poor Frank into marrying you?"

"Poor Frank? I think you mean poor me!" Scarlett says.

He grins and she knows she's going to have to give him the whole story now. She gets up from the desk and picks up her gym bag. She can't quite tell him this story while looking him in the eye. She knows what she's done, but admitting it to Rhett makes it real. She needs a distraction, and getting ready for her appointment with her trainer will provide just that.

She sighs and says, "His father is paying me. Apparently the Kennedys need an heir, Frank has been a bachelor for too long, if you catch my drift. He has a sister but she is in her fifties now and has no children either. Pardon me, but, I must get dressed, I have an appointment with my trainer."

Rhett nods and puffs on his cigar. Scarlett enters her personal bathroom, she doesn't shut the door completely, so she will be able to hear him should he wish to continue the conversation.

"So he, the father, came after you?" Rhett asks, taking long draughts between to emphasize points of the sentence. He pauses once more and then adds, "For your uterus?"

Scarlett is annoyed by his slow cadence and says ,"Apparently."

Rhett nods again, and considers what she has told him. He asks, "Is Frank's father William Franklin Kennedy the third?"

"Yes," Scarlett says as she ties her hair into a ponytail and gives herself a once over in the mirror.

"So your Frank is actually William Franklin Kennedy the fourth," Rhett says.

"I knew you'd figure it out," Scarlett says as she rejoins him in her office. She sits on the floor and runs through her stretch routine.

"Ah, so there is both money and status involved," Rhett says. He seems calmer now.

Scarlett looks up at him through her eyelashes and says, "Technically Frank has neither of those things, until he has a child as stipulated by the contract we signed with his father the day before we got married. Or else everything goes to their distant relations who apparently can't stop producing."

"You always did get by on technicalities," Rhett says. "Well how much is Trip Kennedy giving you? Judging by that ring I feel as though my investments in your company are no longer needed."

Scarlett takes a moment to compose herself, not wanting to fly off the handle. If Rhett withdrew his funding, she wouldn't be able to move forward with her plans to acquire another company next quarter. She says, "He hasn't paid me anything, and he won't pay anything until, as I mentioned before, I produce a child with Frank. He does however provide an allowance for Frank."

"Oh the horror," Rhett says, his dark eyes glowing devilishly now. It seemed that he suddenly found the whole thing amusing, and was in good enough spirits to tease her. A considerable leap from his serious countenance earlier.

"You can leave if you're just going to tease me," Scarlett says, annoyed that she had given up her upper hand so easily. And that he had put everything together so quickly.

Rhett's eyes darken as he says, "I'm not then one doing the teasing."

Scarlett stands and suddenly feels like she's not wearing enough clothes. She feels his eyes on her and she knows how much more he would tease her if she put on a sweater. She decides to ignore his lingering gaze and continue her stretches, unfortunately the next stretch involves her bending over. She hesitates, but continues, and says, "You don't have to stay here, I know you have many other acquaintances in town. I'm sure one of them wouldn't mind entertaining you. And you never give me any warning when you show up, so you can't possibly fault me for having a life."

Rhett ignores her purposeful emphasis on entertain, and focuses on the later half of her statement. He says, "I like to surprise you, my dear."

Scarlett looks at him briefly before beginning her next stretch and says, "Well I'm sorry to be such a tease, but Trip made me sign a contract, so nothing is going to happen between us anytime soon."

"Well how is he going to know what we do behind closed doors?" Rhett asks.

"It's the principle of the thing," Scarlett says.

Rhett laughs. Scarlett stops what she's doing and turns around to glare at him. He composes himself but she knows he's still amused by her antics. She returns to the routine and he says, "Speaking of closed doors. I've heard the rumors about Frank, how exactly is he going to impregnate you if he can't even get it up for a lady, let alone a little temptress like you?"

Scarlett rolls her eyes. "Must you be so crass?"

"You know I could have said a lot worse," he says.

"I suppose that's true," Scarlett admits. "You do have the filthiest mouth. It must be those years you spent in the Navy."

"Flattering me won't work today Scarlett, back to the question," Rhett says. He smiles at her disappointed countenance and says, "Yes, I knew you were trying to change the subject. You seem to forget who taught you many of your tricks."

"Fine," Scarlett says. "Trip found a fertility specialist. I went for my first visit Monday. I have another appointment Thursday."

"And Frank is there holding your hand through this whole process?" Rhett asks.

"No, apparently the Kennedys have had Frank's stuff on ice since he was 25, as they might have foreseen this situation. Monday, I was assured that genetically everything is fine. And Trip never allows me forget that they want this baby as soon as possible."

"So there's another child you won't have to raise yourself," Rhett says as he stands. He looks down at her, extends his hand to help her up off the floor, and asks, "Would you mind if I joined you at the gym?"

"I see my son, every week," Scarlett says as puts her hands in his. "As for coming to the gym with me, you aren't even dressed, and I seriously doubt that you're carrying any suitable clothes with you."

"Scarlett, when will you learn that I can have anything I want, whenever I want," Rhett says. He stares at her, lets the meaning of his words sink in.

"Fine, come with me if you want, or don't, because apparently you'll do as you wish. Nevermind my wishes," Scarlett says, gathering her things.

He smirks and then changes the subject back to her son. He asks, "Wade is four years old now, isn't he?"

"Yes. He'll be five next month." Scarlett says, she picks up her things, and Rhett takes them from her.

"Are you going to spend the holidays with him?" Rhett asks as he follows her out of the room.

"The city is no place for a growing boy and the country is no place for me," Scarlett says. They make it to the elevator and wait as it climbs back up the eighteen floors."Besides Melanie and Aunt Pittypat take excellent care of him, and send me photos whenever I ask."

"How are the Wilkes?" Rhett asks as he holds his arm over the elevator doors to let her enter first. "Misses Wilkes still managing to get along despite that useless husband of hers?"

The elevator doors shut and Scarlett rolls her eyes. "Yes, they're fine. Everything is fine out in the country."

Rhett is quiet as they go down. Once the elevator stops at the parking garage level, Rhett asks, "Has Wade met his new stepfather yet?"

"Of course, as I said I see my son every week. We've spent a few weekends together," Scarlett says as she walks across the parking garage. She clicks the keys and her Mercedes' lights flash as the doors unlock. She opens the trunk and he puts her stuff in without needing direction.

"I don't see why you haven't brought him to live with you now that you're married. Can't Frank stand the boy?" he asks as they are buckling their seatbelts.

"Frank and Wade get along fine. You know as well as anyone that Wade is quite attached to Melly and I think they've dealt with enough loss lately. He is less than thirty miles from here, and he will come live with me when he starts school."

"Don't you mean us? You don't seem to take your husband's opinion into matters," Rhett says. "It's a very interesting marriage to say the least."

"You seem to be able to circle everything back to my marriage, does it bother you?" Scarlett says after starting the car. She loves the purr of the engine and would gladly conduct all business in her car if it was acceptable.

"No, I'm just curious about how much you've thought this through," Rhett says.

Scarlett accelerates through the street, weaving through traffic. She says, "I've thought it through."

"Beyond how much it improves your portfolio?" Rhett asks.

"Of course," Scarlett says.

"Scarlett you're twenty four and worth more than twenty four average twenty four year olds put together, why do you need to have another child, let alone for money?" Rhett asks.

"You said you wouldn't mettle in my personal business, and this is my personal business," Scarlett says as she flies through an intersection.

"Fine," Rhett says. "Just slow down before you kill us both, you know you shouldn't drive when you're angry. That's how accidents happen."

"Shut up," Scarlett says as she makes a quick right and pulls into the parking garage of her gym.

"I hope you're not this rude to all of your investors," Rhett says.

Scarlett parks and jumps out of the vehicle. She slams the door and strides toward the entrance.

"You can never outrun me," Rhett says. "Your strides are considerably shorter than mine."

"You're forty five, a borderline alcoholic and frequent smoker. I'm twenty four, as you're so fond of pointing out, I visit the gym every day and don't drink or smoke. Face it, I have more stamina that you," Scarlett says.

"I think we both know that isn't true," Rhett says with a devilish wink.

Scarlett restrains herself from slapping him, because she doesn't need that sort of press and there are plenty of cameras around. She glares at him and says, "I have to meet my trainer."

"I'll join you soon," Rhett says as he takes a bag from one of the employees and is directed to the men's locker room.

Scarlett finds Girard waiting for her. He immediately gathers her mood from her crossed eyebrows and overall sour countenance. He says, "So we're going to push it today, are we?"

"I think I'm about to set some personal bests," Scarlett says.

Girard pats the stair climber, and says, "Let's get you warmed up."

Scarlett hops on the machine and says, "My..."

She falters for the word, friend seems too general, and investment partner not close enough. She sighs and says, "Captain Rhett Butler will be joining us today, he surprised me and refuses to leave me alone for a second."

Girard nods, and Scarlett can see he is nervous. She sometimes forgets that just about everybody knows who Rhett is, his reputation precedes him. She supposes when you make Forbes list of wealthiest men in the world, and have your name plastered on just about every building in the town that created you, it's hard for anyone not to know who he is.

A staff member appears, and says, "Mr. Butler asked to be shown to Mrs. Kennedy."

"Thank you Ava," Rhett says. The girl scurries away, and looks very flattered.

"Good evening Captain. Butler," Girard says. Scarlett rolls her eyes. It annoys her to no end that anyone who hasn't met him before bows down and grovels to him. Even those who meet him several times. Scarlett sighs loudly, then turns up the intensity on her machine while Girard helps Rhett set his machine up. Scarlett had purposefully forgotten how fit Rhett is, even at forty five. She keeps her eyes on her machine, and avoid looking at Rhett. She does however, look at Girard. If she notices Rhett being charming and nice, that doesn't matter.

"Scarlett," Girard says, getting her attention after finishing with Rhett. "Where's the fire?"

"Under my ass," Scarlett answers under her breath.

"Careful Girard, she's quite feisty today," Rhett says.

Girard swallows whatever reply he was about to make as Scarlett glares at him. The rest of the training session, which Scarlett usually enjoys, continues much in the same manner. Scarlett pushing herself and Rhett making comments about her behavior and carrying a conversation with Girard. By the end, she decides to run because at least that is a highly singular activity.

Girard finds her after she's run five miles and tells her he has to leave. Rhett joins them, and Girard turns to Rhett and says, "It was a pleasure Captain. Butler, please feel free to drop in anytime."

"Thank you," Rhett says. Girard leaves them.

Scarlett looks around and notices that there is no one else around. She looks at Rhett and he is looking at her body.

He says, "You must like Frank, if you're pushing yourself this hard."

"I'm sorry, having to bite my tongue all day frustrates me," Scarlett says in a honey sweet voice. She gives him another smile and says, "And I usually come to the gym to let loose and be myself with Girard, but today one of the people who annoys me most in the world, joined me."

Rhett laughs, a big hearty laugh and then pats her on the head. "You never fail to amuse me, my dear."

Scarlett bites back her catty reply and instead asks, "Are you at least going to buy me dinner, for all the trouble you've caused me?"

"After that performance? Of course," Rhett says. He looks her over and says, "I suppose you'll want to get cleaned up before?"

"Do I look that awful?" Scarlett asks as she glances into the nearest mirror. Sweat has plastered her bangs to her forehead and her clothes are, as ashamed as she is to say it, drenched in sweat. She hadn't realized how hard she pushed herself until Girard went over her workout. "My God, we're going back to my place and I'll change."

Rhett laughs again, and says, "As you wish."

This time however, he takes the keys. He was far more familiar with the details of the car. He was the one who had purchased it for her, saying it was the perfect car for her. Deceivingly beautiful with more power than anyone would guess beneath. It was his gift to her when she became a millionaire.

The drive is quiet, until she decides to ask him a question. "Where have you been Rhett? I've missed having you around."

"Dubai and Seoul and Singapore," he answers. "You know that I have business all over the world."

"But you were gone over a year this time," Scarlett says. She had been angry when he didn't tell her he was leaving the last time. And after a month she had decided to take up a new hobby, which is how she came to the gym. She had also since competed in a few triathlons, which suited her extremely competitive personality perfectly.

"Come now Scarlett, don't pout, it's unbecoming and shows your youth," he says as he skillfully maneuvers through the streets.

Scarlett stares out the window, feeling quite childish. She has nothing to say to that.

"My brother made quite a mess of a good number of contracts, while I was here idling the days with you," Rhett says. "You do understand that my being away was necessary, or the whole company would have fallen to pieces under my brother's watch."

"Oh," Scarlett says. She understands family mismanaging things. She had given her sisters money, because that's what her parents would have wanted. But Carreen had used it as a dowry when she decided to become a nun, without consulting anyone. And Suellen had taken her share and spent the weekend in Vegas and had come back with a husband. Scarlett had to send them money every month to keep the family home running.

"I didn't hear that you were married while I was away though," Rhett says.

"It was a quiet thing, all that is proper and all," Scarlett says.

"Of course," Rhett says. They pull into yet another parking garage, and Rhett asks, "Will we find your husband at home?"

Scarlett laughs. "Frank is never home, another reason Wade stays with his aunt. I think Frank is in London this week. Maybe Paris. I can never keep track."

"And yet you remain the faithful little wife," Rhett says as he parks the car once more.

It always seemed that she and Rhett were often getting in and out of cars. It had been that way for as long as she had known him. He was always rushing her off to see something new, taking her out to dinner, and a number of other activities. She sometimes felt like she was little more than a plaything to him.

"I don't have time for men, they're all fools. Always being led astray by their trouser snakes," Scarlett said as she got out and slammed the door for emphasis.

Rhett laughs again, he repeats her choice of phrasing. "My dear, you are one of a kind. Who would ever think to think of you as prude, in this day and age."

"Forgive me for not opening my legs for any passing piece of meat," Scarlett says with a huff.

"But you'll let some doctor put the highest bidder's little swimmers up there," Rhett says.

Scarlett shoots him a glare, but it never has the same effect on him as it does others. Mostly he laughs at her, today he seems less amused though. It seems that he is very uncomfortable with the agreement she has made. His displeased look disappears as quickly as it appeared, and he returns to his earlier state of isn't sure what to say to him, so the elevator ride is quiet, except for the occasional chuckle from Rhett.

They exit the elevator and enter the floor Scarlett had made her own.

It was in the so called modern style. Everything was metallic and glass paneled. The floors were wooden, bamboo and sustainable. Scarlett often invited people into her home and she needed to present a respectable persona. It was far from cozy, which is another one of the reasons she kept Wade away. No child should have to grow up in such a cold environment.

"I see you've made a few updates," Rhett says as he walks into the room. "I like the new wall color"

Scarlett looks around, there are a few new paintings and a new larger, flatter, television. And the walls were greyish blue and not white white anymore. She had also updated the fireplace. All of these were minor details that few people had noticed.

"Thank you," Scarlett says. "No matter how many times I redo this place, it never feels complete."

Rhett nods in understanding. After looking over everything once more, he asks, "Do you mind if I use your guest bathroom to clean up?"

"Not at all," Scarlett says. "You know where everything is, despite my constant remodeling, I haven't touched the guest room."

She doesn't mention that it was her mother who put together the guest room. And she doesn't want to change anything about it, ever. It was the last project they worked on together, and had been specifically put together for her parents' use. Nor does she mention the fact that she had redone everything because her previous setup had been largely influenced by his tastes.

"Thank you," Rhett says as he takes his bag.

Scarlett says, "I know you'll be ready before me, so feel free to make yourself at home while you wait."

She heads up the stairs, and he follows her. There's a strange sense of deja vu in this moment. Two years ago he had done exactly the same thing. Safely behind her locked bathroom door, Scarlett's knees quake. She hadn't realized how much she missed Rhett lately. With the contract to sign and the appointments to prod her from every angle, she had been too busy to remember to feel sad. She had buried her feelings a long time ago. For him to appear so suddenly and invite himself into every aspect of her life already was intense, to say the least.

She gets into the shower, welcoming the still cold water, trying to get a grip on the situation. The cold is nice after her hard work out and all of the highs and lows she'd experienced in the short time spent with Rhett. The water warms up quickly, and she moves the lever to set it as hot as she could bear after a minute and starts to wash.

The shower feels quick, and drying her hair hadn't taken too long, but Rhett is still lounging on the sofa, watching a political channel Scarlett didn't even know she had.

He says, "This climate isn't great for nation building. Which is why most of my business is overseas these days."

"I don't want to talk politics," Scarlett says.

Rhett shuts the TV off and says, "Right, you want to be spoiled and doted on tonight."

Scarlett laughs, because it's true. She doesn't mind admitting it to him. She does tend to feel like a prize winning horse who was bought for breeding potential far before her racing years were over. Especially after signing a contract to undergo additional testing today. But she won't think of that tonight.

Tonight she gets to go out with one of the world's richest, and most handsome, men. So what if she's skating on thin ice, she is allowed to go out with friends. And Rhett is technically her friend, some one argue her best friend. Technicalities.

He stands and says, "Alright, let's go. And before you ask, I am taking you to a new restaurant tonight."

The restaurant is new.

So new, in fact, that they're the only people there, because Rhett knows the owner and is somehow involved in financing the restaurant. They are treated to a special preview, before the grand opening. Rhett allows Scarlett order whatever she wants, and the owner suggests they get everything so they can try the menu. So they do. The kitchen cooks plate after plate and Scarlett takes about two bites of everything and let's the owner know which plates are satisfying and which could use work. Rhett by and large lets her have her fun, and enjoys his steak. He does taste the things she offers and the owner is happy to have them both.

He takes her to the new museum exhibit, which is also open late just for them. Clothing from the Victorian period, a style she had mentioned admiring many years ago, when she first met Rhett. It is flattering and startling how much he remembers, and how he shows he remembers. She is getting exactly what she had been craving, the doting behavior of someone who has known her for more than a few months and knows actual facts about her.

Rhett watches her all night as she takes delight in every activity and as the staff pay special attention to what she requests along the way. She asks for music while they view all of the exhibit and the museum curator is only too happy to put on several popular pieces from the time period.

Scarlett is in heaven, she can forget that in two days she's going to have her husband's sperm inseminate her egg, while he's across the globe. She can forget that she has three big meetings on the day after related to the potential acquisition of the small company who is starting to make waves. Those meetings were the reason she had asked Josie to not let anyone into her office. She can also forget about Josie.

It's the first time in a long, long while that she's felt her age.

The song changes and she turns to Rhett and says, "Dance with me."

He takes her in his arms and leads her in a waltz. As the song ends, he says, "As much as you seem to enjoy this period, it would be wasted on you. You would be too smart and too enterprising for a woman of that age."

Scarlett light slaps his chest and says, "Why do you have to say things like that?"

"Because it's the truth and I don't want you to waste any time romanticising a time period that would have ruined you," Rhett says as he leads her through the the steps for the next dance.

She sometimes forgets that Rhett knows a considerable amount about history. He often told her the answers to life's great problems had already been solved by men far greater than him and all he had to do is remember how they did it. Which she found to be very true. She doesn't want to think of anything outside of the moment right now though. She sighs and says, "Can we just dance nicely for a little while? I just want to pretend for a little while."

"Alright my dear, as you wish."

They dance four more songs before Scarlett's yawns become impossible to ignore. He takes her home and she asks him to stay, in the guestroom of course. He declines but promises to check on her tomorrow.

She sleeps deeply and dreamlessly.

AN: What do you think? Should I continue? I don't think I'd write more than ten chapters, I'd like it to be a relative short story.