Another wedding, another wedding night. Another night filled with acts that left her uncomfortable and degraded. She still hated the thought of marital relations as much as she had after her first encounter with Charles the night after their wedding night. The only exception, the only thing that made the thought of this anymore pleasant, was that at least Rhett was handsome. His kisses did send tingling shimmers through her body. There was a faint glimmer of hope that this would be a little more pleasant than her previous wedding nights. But the act itself was not pleasant to her, and the possible outcomes of such moments were even more obvious to her now that she had not one child, but two. She well knew the outcome of sharing a bed with a husband.

The day itself had been happy enough. Rhett had paid for a dress that was made for her from fine silk that he had brought back from Paris. It was very comely and in the height of fashion. And Scarlett knew that she had looked lovely in it. Rhett had certainly looked at her as if she was. And Scarlett took great pride in the fact that she was no longer without the money to buy nice things again.

They had stood before the justice of the peace with Melanie and Ashley in attendance, while Aunt PittyPat and Prissy and Dilcey had sat behind them keeping an eye on Wade, Beau, and little Ella. In many ways it had been much like her wedding to Frank.

But now that was all behind her, the meal that Rhett had treated everyone to at the National Hotel had settled in her stomach. The moist cake that they had shared was gone down to the last crumbs. Ashley and Melanie had offered to keep the children while the newly-weds enjoyed their honeymoon, and so there was nothing left but to consummate the marriage. But that was what she was most afraid of. She wondered if she would feel the same if it was Ashley that she was waiting for, but she couldn't image thinking of the marriage bed as anything other than unpleasant.

She stood beside the bed, clad only in a thin nightgown. She was stuck unmoving, uncertain where she should go. Rhett would certainly assume his rights tonight, and the thought of it filled her with dread. But she would not show him fear. He only laughed at her fear.

When the door opened and he appeared, he caught her still stuck in quandary as to where she should go. His arms were laden with bottles of champagne and glasses and a basket of tempting pastries. "Considering how little you ate at dinner, I thought I should be prepared so you wouldn't resort to eating me." He chuckled.S

He approached her slowly, and she trembled. "Are you cold?" He asked.

She shook her head nervously, her brilliant green eyes darting around like a cat that was trying to escape. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. She knew she couldn't escape from him. And she also knew that it would not be merely a once a week occurrence. She closed her eyes, trying to hide her terror from him. It would not do for him to have more power to wield over her. But she could not will her body to stop trembling.

She found a glass filled with champagne thrust into her hand. "Drink this." He instructed.

She nervously tilted the glass and began sipping at the contents. The bubbles tickled at her nose, and the drink itself tingled as it went down. It gave her something else to focus on – something tangible instead of the fears that had been taunting her. She took a deep breath before tipping the glass and swallowing the rest of its contents.

Rhett laughed as he took her glass and refilled it for her. "You do enjoy consuming expensive things, my pet."

She merely took the glass from him, and quickly bolted it as well. With any luck soon she would be tipsy enough that it would dull her recollections of these moments.

After another glass of the champagne, Rhett's hands encircled her waist. She did not resist, simply allowing him to control the night. He looked into her eyes, and she prayed that he could not read the fear that she knew had to be gleaming from their depths. "It's all right, Scarlett. I promise this won't be like your other wedding nights." In his voice she heard tenderness mixed with the sarcasm and mocking that was usually included in their conversations.

His lips fell to hers, and he first kissed her lightly and slowly. And she felt faint whispers of those emotions that he had stirred in her when he had proposed and on the road to Rough and Ready. But the alcohol was beginning to grab hold of her as his kisses deepened. His hands did not fumble as they rapidly unbuttoned the front of her nightgown. He wouldn't allow her to hide her body from him, but he motioned for her to lie down on the bed. He disrobed himself before joining her, and then he lay beside her – lowering himself with just as much grace as everything else that he did. His hands roamed her naked body, and he continued his kisses the made her mind dull to all else. This wasn't unpleasant like her time with Frank, whom she had been repulsed by. She knew that Rhett wouldn't hurt her in the way that Charles had. But it still was not something that she wanted to do.

She could feel his hands running through her hair which she had left loose as he had instructed, as he kissed along her neck. Occasionally her body responded with shooting sparks of emotion and pleasure, but she was so afraid that it might hurt again that the only thing keeping her from tightening into a stiff mass was the alcohol that he had so liberally plyed her with. But his touch was gentle as he held her. He continued kissing her and drawing her in until her body even seemed to invite him to join with her.

When finally he climbed on top of her, she lay there quietly receiving the passion that he was pouring out, although there still seemed to be a part of himself that he was hiding from her. But the alcohol had numbed her mind too fully to allow her to truly think about anything. She didn't see how this was fun, although Rhett did seem to be enjoying himself, but at least it was pleasant. She wouldn't fear future encounters other than the possibilities that came forth from them.

She did not turn from Rhett's kisses, she welcomed the warmth of his arms and his presence. She felt safe when he was near and that satiated her. Perhaps things wouldn't be as bad as her other marriages Brief thoughts of Ashely flitted through her mind. Would he be as gentle as Rhett had been? Would marital intimacy be pleasant as well? She had never really allowed herself to ponder those issues about Ashley because the marriage bed had, prior to this night, meant nothing but pain, but Rhett's tenderness had opened another avenue of thought.

She turned away from Rhett, but she did not remove herself from his embrace. She enjoyed the warmth of his arms around her. She felt as his hands wove through her hair, gently stroking it, allowing it to flow over him as he held her. She sighed quietly, hoping that this really would make her happier than her life before, even if she hadn't gotten Ashley. She tried to drive away thoughts of wishing that it was Ashley holding her, but she could not. But at least that this was pleasant enough that she could think of what was happening to some degree. She had not needed to flee from her mind as previous encounters had required. Perhaps marriage to Rhett would remain as pleasant as this, even he didn't always say the most pleasant things to her.