I'm sorry guys, this was supposed to come out earlier but I'd been so busy with school projects that I could barely write a few lines.

And btw, your reviews are lovely, I love them all, they always made me smile, and don't worry Guess I will finish all my stories but I sometimes have this writer's block and this help me to get rid of it.

I hope you like it guys! And thank you for reading.

Chapter 2

Love in the afternoon

I roamed the Earth
In search of this
I knew I'd know you
Know you by your kiss

...

Scarlett swung open the door anxious to see Bonnie and Rhett and her eyes felt on her daughter lying in bed, her pretty face badly bruised.

"Oh, Bonnie darling," she crossed the room quickly, kneeling next to the bed ignoring the sharp pain in her middle, feeling tears of relief building in her eyes as she saw her little chest rise and fall. She was alive, she wasn't fine but she will be and everything else as well. Scarlett lifted a trembling hand and caressed softly Bonnie's cheek with her finger. She was so soft, she marveled, and then reached out to move a few hairs out of her face, smoothing her unmanageable curls. She knew she wasn't the type of mother who loved spent time with kids or cuddle with them, but she will try, she vow there. She will do her best to be a loving mother, a good one, and never give a reason to anyone to say the contrary.

Scarlett rose softly and kissed Bonnie's forehead as careful as the girl could broke down if she moved to quickly. She looked up and her eyes met a dark red-rimmed pair. Rhett was sitting on a chair on the other side of the bed, watching her. She had no idea how she hadn't seen him but in that moment a wave of relief hit her. Despite she knew it had been just a dream she couldn't help but feel happiness to see him there alive next to her. He was looking at her with pain, sadness and guilt, all written in his face. He looked tortured and desperate and he heart ached to take his pain away. She remembered the crushing feeling in her dream when she had thought he was dead, how she had felt as her life was over, and now, thinking about it she realized it wasn't wrong that thought. Rhett had been there for her longer than anyone else. True Melly had been there too and Ashley if you could call him useful and comforting, but they had never done what Rhett had done for her and now she could see plain as day it was out of love. He took her out of Atlanta risking his life because he loved her, he even warned Ashley and Frank when they got involved with the Ku Klux and managed to save Ashley despite his feelings for her, he spoiled her to not end when they got married, never ask her anything in exchange but her love.

As she saw him sitting there, with his eyes red probably form crying, next to their injured daughter, looking lost and in pain she felt love running through her veins and filling her chest wanting to come out.

He frowned as she took the look on her face and shock crossed his face. She knew why. She was looking at him with her love for him sparkling in her eyes; she was looking at him as she had never looked Ashley before.

Before he could say anything, she rose and crossed the room, taking him quickly in her embrace. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, his face burying in her neck. He froze at first, his body stiffen probably wondering what she was doing and why. Scarlett lifted her hand and buried her fingers in his hair starting to pet him as taking into his familiar scent of fine brandy and cigars. Her heart leaped at the long missed smell of her husband. How she had missed that scent in those long lonely nights, longing to be there when she would wake up.

"Rhett," she whispered holding onto him for dear life. "It's fine, she's going to be fine, we're going to be fine."

She felt his breath in her neck burning her and running across her skin and then she felt his hand creeping to her back and pulling her closer.

"It's my fault," he mumbled tortured, his voice broken, "she's like this because of me."

"No," Scarlett told him immediately, wanting to fix him. She couldn't stand to look at her strong husband like this; it was breaking her as well.

"Yes," he replied stubborn. "First I hurt you and then her—"

Scarlett pulled back and her heart ached when she saw tears pricking out of his eyes, his face haggard.

"No, darling it's not your fault," she told him softly, one hand cupping his cheek and her thumb caressing the skin below. "It's nobody's fault. She would have jumped anyway, she's stubborn, and if you had seen the bar so high you wouldn't have let her."

Rhett looked up at her with longing and disconcert as she wasn't really there, as she were a ghost. Then he nodded slowly and his large hand covered the one she had resting over his cheek; her kindness and endearment acting like a tonic to his aching soul.

Rhett just couldn't stop looking at her, that look in her eyes was all he had always wanted. The love shining in her eyes was crystal clear and made his heart wanting to pop out of his chest, made him wanting to lift Scarlett in his arms and kissed her breath away. He wanted to carry her to her bed and make love to her or at least hold her and tell her he loved her as well… but he didn't do anything. After all he didn't know how much this would last, maybe it was just a reaction because of Bonnie's fall, maybe tomorrow she will be cold and distant again holding to Ashley Wilkes ghost, but as long as she was looking at him like that and talking to him like that, he would hold on her for dear life. Maybe he could make her realize what was shining in her eyes, maybe he could make her love him, maybe finally there was a chance for them to be happy, and maybe they could be the family he had always wanted them to be.

"Doctor Meade already checked on Bonnie," Rhett told her. He didn't want to break that silence but he knew she would like to know what had happened to her daughter. Scarlett nodded, waiting for him to speak.

Rhett sighed and let of her hand, running his other through his hair. He remembered what the doctor had said, that Bonnie had been really lucky. 'A fall from this height at her age would have been deadly; luckily I think she slipped before the horse could throw her'. Scarlett didn't need to hear that, those words already haunted him, Rhett thought.

"She broke her left leg and arm, and has several bruises. Doctor Meade gave her laudanum for the pain and she won't be up for a couple of hours."

Scarlett nodded, swallowing upon hearing her daughter's list of injuries.

"But she will be fine," she said trying to convince Rhett more than her.

"I hope so," Rhett responded sighing. Scarlett swallowed again and she froze pierced by a sharp pain; her hand flied to her ribs. She had rose so quickly from the bed and being anxious to not find Rhett and Bonnie that had neglected her own wounds and now she felt the crushing pain below her chest growing.

Rhett noticed her face sudden paleness and her pain expression and stood up immediately, taken her in his arms carefully and sitting her in the chair he had left. It was not the comfort she needed but it was better than standing up. She shouldn't have got from the bed, he thought worried.

"Is it hurt badly? Do you want me to call Doctor Meade?" Rhett asked her anxiously, kneeling before her and taking her hand in his. Scarlett closed her eyes and shook her head.

"I'm fine," she lied, opening her eyes and looking at Bonnie. "I just shouldn't have gotten up from the bed so quickly, but I needed to know she was fine." 'I needed to know you both were fine', she added in her mind.

Rhett nodded, understanding her fear and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. He didn't know when this soft and kind behavior of hers was going to end but he intended to take full advantage of it.

"I will ask Pork to bring up your armchair so you can be comfortable," he kissed her hand again before leaving the room. Scarlett stared at the door after he left, feeling a burning sensation in her hand where he had kissed her. It felt so good, so different. She had ever wanted to admit it, but she knew it had been always like that. When Ashley kissed her hand she felt tingles and a little excitement, but when Rhett touched her, even slightly, her skin felt alive, on fire, and she could feel him in her whole body, most of the times melting.

Scarlett sighed, biting her lip, she had wanted to wait to tell him how she felt but she didn't see the point now. Bonnie was fine and why to wait for something else to happen? Besides she was Scarlett, she didn't know how to wait for the things she wanted, and she didn't know the meaning of the word patience.

As she waited for Rhett, Scarlett looked around the nursery and thought of how unfamiliar seemed for her as she didn't spend so much time there. She swallowed feeling ashamed but she will change that, she thought; she would make Bonnie felt loved not only by her father but by her too.

Scarlett tossed a little in the chair, feeling the pain growing but she wouldn't let her body ruin that moment. She found a position that didn't make her body ached that much and waited for Rhett.

A few minutes later the door was opened and Rhett and Pork entered carrying the chair. They left it down next to Scarlett and then the valet left the room. Rhett lifted Scarlett in his arms as soft as she were made out of the most fragile crystal and settled her down on the big puffy chair.

"Is the pain growing?" he asked Scarlett worried and she shook her head. It wasn't entirely true but she didn't care thought. However he still fussed around her trying to make her comfortable. She stopped him taking his hand when he was checking her pillow for a third time.

"Rhett—"

"What is it, my dear?"

She smiled, encouraged by his kindness and the endearment, anything was better than 'my pet'.

"Do you still want us to go on a honeymoon…, after Bonnie is better?"

He was taken by surprise and frowned looking at her. Maybe after all she didn't want to give their marriage a chance, Rhett thought grimly but her sparking eyes didn't let him believe that. She wasn't reluctant, but hopeful.

"Of course, if you want to come, that is."

"I want to; it's what I want more than anything; for us to start again."

Rhett heart leaped at her confession and he kneeled next to her, tightening the grip on her hand. A voice in his head warning against this hope, maybe she was plotting something, but he kicked the voice to the back of his head.

"Do you really mean it?"

Scarlett smiled brightly at him, letting her love to show all over her face and cupped his face with her hand.

"Before came here I had this awful dream that made me realize something," she told him softly and his heart pounded painfully in his chest. Could this really be? Was she about to say what he was thinking? Could God grant him this miracle at last?

"Something bad?" Rhett asked practically holding his breath and Scarlett realized he already knew or was suspecting it but was hoping for the worst. He was waiting for her to crush his hopes as she'd been doing for the past years.

This miraculous glimpse inside her husband's impenetrable mind surprised her. Maybe it wasn't that hard to read Rhett's face, only if she cared enough, and she did now.

"I love you, Rhett," she finally said smiling at him, "I love you and I'm so sorry—"

But she couldn't finish because Rhett had rose from the floor and had claimed her lips in a deep ardent kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly and he pulled her closer by her waist. He didn't mind the awkward position and she didn't mind the pain in her middle; all they care about was the other's warm, the other's body pressing firmly against their body, the feeling of their lips caressing, devouring, of their breaths mixing.

Scarlett felt was light as a feather as a great weight had been taken off her shoulders; her heart was pounding and butterflies were fluttering in her stomach, and she felt as carefree and alive as when she was sixteen at that barbeque.

Finally Rhett pulled back looking at her. She was breathless and blushed but her eyes were sparkling with unconcealed love and desire, and he felt a tug at his heart.

"Oh darling, you do love me, don't you?" he whispered, still unsure, a tender smile curling up his lips and Scarlett smiled back, caressing his cheek.

"I do, Rhett, with all my heart," she responded feeling really emotional, "and I'm so sorry for everything. I never meant to hurt you."

"You were honest when you said you didn't love me. I shouldn't have punished you for that," he replied knowing it was the truth. Yes, it hurt like hell knowing she was marrying him without loving him, but he had hoped she would eventually.

"I think part of me already loved you, but I was too blind to see it," Scarlett told him thinking of those times when she had been happy to see him but didn't know why. She looked at him ashamed and a little sad for all the harm she had done. She imagined herself loving Rhett for years but having nothing in return; it must have been awful.

"It's not important now," he assured taking her hands in his and kissing softly both before looking up at her with warm eyes. "We'll go away, the three of us and we'll start a new life."

His smile was so sweet and warm that she grinned back immediately.

"Sounds wonderful."

He kissed her hands again and then leaned further to peak her lips softly. She closed her eyes, sighing with pleasure and she heard him chuckling. She feared for an instant he was mocking of her, but his laugh was light and non-malicious. Scarlett opened her eyes and looked up at him, puzzled.

"What?"

"You don't have an idea how long I've waited to hear those words, it feels unreal, as I'm going to wake up and find you gone," he confessed her and indeed, his hands were gripping hers softly but tightly, as he feared she could disappeared if he didn't hold onto her. Scarlett smile faded and she felt as she'd been kicked in the stomach. It was her fault Rhett felt that way, so many years she hurting him.

Rhett smile disappeared as well when he saw her expression but she talked before he could ask her anything.

"I'm sorry, Rhett. I can't take the things I did but I can take the pain I've caused you, if you let me," she squeezed his hands, begging him with her eyes, begging him not to hurt her, not to push her away. She looked quite scared indeed—Rhett noticed with preoccupation—as scared as she were when they had escaped Atlanta that night. Was she scared he would leave her? Did she really care so much about him, to be scared of not having him?

Rhett kissed her white knuckles softly, wanting to ease her more than anything.

"How can I not?" he responded affectionately, rubbing her hands with his thumbs. Scarlett's bright smile was his reward and he couldn't ask for anything better.

"Where should we go?" she asked him as excited as a little girl.

"Anywhere you and Bonnie want to go," he responded with a big grin, chuckling at her excitement. He loved how she was always eager to receive gifts or go in trips to exciting places, he loved the way her eyes shone, and the way she smiled.

"To New Orleans?" Scarlett asked with a secret sweet smiled and Rhett wanted nothing more than swept her off her feet and take her to their room. He cursed her wounds but grinned at her.

"Of course, darling."

"And Paris?"

Rhett let go her hands and cupped her face, his eyes boring into hers.

"Anywhere you want, my love."

Rhett turned to look at Scarlett and, as he had suspected, he found her asleep. Her head was leaning to him, rested in the back of the armchair and her hand lied loose, intertwined with his. He knew he had fallen asleep because her hand had stopped gripping his.

He couldn't help but stare at her sleeping face. How long it had been since he had watched her sleeping? Since Bonnie was a baby, it seemed a life ago. When they got married and they were happy, not as happy as he would like them to be, but they were friends. He was allowed to be near of her and share not only her bed but her thoughts, her feelings, her dreams… and then she banished him from her bedroom and he considered their marriage over. He had Bonnie and tried to convince himself that was all what he needed but it wasn't true. Being without Scarlett was ripping him apart, now he wasn't even allowed to watch her sleep or hold her in night, so he tried to hurt her. He wondered if she had really being upset or angry or even sad knowing he was sleeping in Belle's. She wasn't stupid; she knew he had sleep with Belle from time to time, so he couldn't help but wonder if she had being hurt by that, not that he liked to hurt her, but was desperate to know she care, even if it was just because of her pride. And now, after all those years, after her accident and the loss of their child, she loved him. Those words sounded so odd to him and the more he repeated them the least he believed they were true, but they were. She had told him over and over, and he had seen it in her beautiful green eyes. Now she was entirely and completely his… or she wasn't? The truth was he had been so happy, insanely happy to learn she loved him he forgot the rest of the world. He just gave the attention and kindness and love he had been denying her those years, but now that he could think about what just had happened he couldn't understand her sudden change. She had said she had an awful dream that made her see that she loved him, but how? And most important, how did Ashley Wilkes fit in all that? Had she realized she didn't love him and just Rhett? Or now she loved him but was still obsessed with Ashley? Those questions were driving him mad, but he had wasted so much time he wasn't ready to lose more. First was Bonnie and Scarlett's recovery, and with time he would work out his issues with Scarlett, he knew they could do it, they could start afresh.

He smiled wider, brushing off a tendril that had fallen in her face for then take her in his arms softly and carrying her to her room… was their room now? He sighed a little frustrated, but she wouldn't bother her now with the conversation they will have, she needed to rest.

Luckily in her hurry Scarlett had left open her room's door and he entered easily. Being again in that room carrying Scarlett brought bitter memories; memories that haunted him about that night on Ashley's birthday. He had carried her to her room and forced himself onto her, as he were some brute who preferred to satisfy his needs than cared if he hurt her. He was deeply ashamed and furious with himself, he should have better gone somewhere else, to Belle's, to other place where could be far from her and couldn't hurt her. After that he left and when he returned and found her pregnant he insulted her and hurt her again for then killing their child. He knew he was the one to blame for her miscarriage, for her wounds. He had her blood and their child's on his hands and today almost had Bonnie's….

Scarlett's hand touch startled him and he looked down. He had been so deep in thought he hadn't realized she had woken up. Actually he was just standing in the middle of her room.

She caressed his cheek softly, frowning worried; when she woke up and saw the haunted hurt face of her husband couldn't take it. Scarlett realized then that he was carrying a pain bigger than she had ever imagined.

Rhett forced a smile to ease her and walked to her bed, placing her down. He then dragged the covers over her body tucking her in but Scarlett stopped him.

"What's wrong, Rhett?"

The man shook his head, suddenly looking old and tired.

"It's nothing, Scarlett," he responded but her eyes bending his will one more time, made him tell her about at least one of his many burdens. "It's this room," he admitted, "it brought me bad memories."

Scarlett looked down ashamed knowing what he was meaning, after all she kicked him out of their room, not hers, their.

She squeezed his hand tightly and looked up at him, his ashamed painful expression mirroring hers.

"I'm so sorry about that Rhett; I should've never asked you to leave this room."

Rhett sighed; he had wanted to hear these words in the past so many times, he had wanted to throw back her apology and mocked of her but that didn't seem right or fair anymore, and he didn't want to do it. Being honest he wasn't the one to blame in that, he had done anything to her she had wanted to kick him out, but after he had been really mean. He had been hurt yes but that wasn't excuse, and even less if he wanted to win her love.

"It's all right, Scarlett—"

"No, it's not," he looked at her surprised but she was looking down at her hands. "It was stupid, and as soon as I did it, I regretted it. I just wanted to go after you and apologized but I knew you wouldn't have done it."

"No, I wouldn't," he replied seriously but not angry, "I would wanted to hurt you as you hurt me."

"I deserved it," she continued, "but so you to know… there wasn't a moment in night when I wouldn't miss you. I missed your stories and the way you held me… I missed felt safe because you were there."

Rhett was touched beyond words; he placed a hand under her chin and made her lift her gaze. He saw the regret and the sadness in her eyes, but also saw honesty.

"I missed you too, terribly."

"Rhett… would you return? Can you forgive me and come back to our room?"

"I'd love to, Mrs. Butler," he mumbled pressing his forehead against hers and she surrounded his neck with her arms, drinking up in his essence.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes, Scarlett half-way falling asleep. Rhett smiled, realizing how tired she really was and untangled himself softly from her.

Scarlett opened her eyes immediately and held onto him.

"No…"

"Darling, you're tired. You need to sleep to be fine when Bonnie wakes up," Scarlett pouted but let him go. He was right; she needed to have all her energy to see her daughter.

"Fine, but you can stay with me until I fall asleep… please?"

Rhett stared at her and slowly smiled.

"All right, I'll just call Mammy so she can stay with Bonnie for a while," he pecked her lips and kissed her forehead and left the room, glancing at her one last time.

Okay, okay, maybe not the fluffiest stuff, but I think it's fine, sweet without reaching corny... I hope.

I once felt from a horse and broke my leg, but of course I was sixteen not five, so I'm not sure the injuries I invented for Bonnie are accurate but if not let's imagine they are.

Again, thank you for reading and let me know what you think.