Hey guys, I cannot say how sorry I am. I know it's been too long since my last update and I'm not trying to justify myself, but I was in exams, so was not really inspired in the few free times I had.

Recently, a person I really loved passed, so I couldn't continue even when I finished exams, but I found inspiration again. I needed something really sweet after all that happened, but I promise not all the chapters going to be all fluff, I know Rhett and Scarlett's relationship needs to resolve some problems and there's going to be drama of course.

For now, I hope you enjoyed this, I'm really sorry again and of course, I LOVE all your reviews, they just make me so happy. I'll update my other story soon as well and thank you for your support and for waiting.


Chapter 3

Emerald

...

Rhett climbed the stairs as an eager boy, almost running, to reach his wife, but he didn't do it or he would have thrown the breakfast tray to the floor and Mammy would have whipped him. But he just couldn't help it. He was excited, so to speak. He was excited to be with his wife and see that tiny sparkle in her eyes appear again. That sparkle that only belonged to him. He would make it grow, he thought. So big that Ashley Wilkes will be kicked out of her heart forever. And he wondered if Scarlett already loved him—for he wasn't sure since she hadn't said anything. Rhett only assumed that when he saw the love for him burning in her eyes. And he had laid awake that night, thinking contented that he was now the only owner of that stubborn heart. But what if she still loved Ashley...?

However, that thought was left inconclusive because he saw Scarlett and that sight made him forget about Ashley Wilkes, or anything besides her and their child. His wife was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard, caressing her slightly round belly and whispering sweet things to their child that Rhett couldn't hear but her eyes were speaking for her. The love shone again in those green eyes and she looked excited and happy, so happy that she hadn't even noticed his presence at the door. Rhett could tell then and there that her feelings for their baby were genuine, he hadn't any doubt now. Maybe she couldn't love him in the same way yet, but for now that was enough.

He wanted to stay there forever, watching the woman he loved finally loving some part of him, but he was eager to participate too. He knocked softly the door and Scarlett looked up, surprised. A nice shade of red crept to her cheeks and he thought she hadn't looked more beautiful.

"Breakfast it's here," he announced amused, crossing the room and placing the tray down on the bedside table. He turned to look at Scarlett and the sweet and bright smile she gave to him took his breath away.

"What? Are you trying to get me as fat as Mammy, Rhett?" she asked him playfully, crossing her arms and cocking her eyebrow while watching the overflowing tray. Well, now Rhett was beyond surprised. First she loved their baby, then she was sweet and attentive to him, and now she also made jokes? Had the world gone mad? Or he finally had lost his mind? Well, he thought, if he had really gone mad, he didn't mind since this reality was sweeter than his.

"Of course, my dear. To tell the truth, I have a thing for big women," he continued her joke, sitting down on the mattress next to her and Scarlett stretched her smile, holding back her laugh. She turned more her face to him, her eyes sparkling childishly.

"Oh, really? I knew you were being too nice with Mammy," she said, narrowing her eyes but chuckling lightly.

He couldn't help but laugh uproariously and slid closer to her. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it softly. Her trembling at his touch and her blush made wonders to his ego and his mood, and he laughed harder out of joy.

"Well, I'm afraid you have discovered my true feelings for Mammy, my dear," they laughed again and Scarlett rolled her eyes, snatching her hand out of his grip.

"Enough Rhett, I´m already jealous of other women as it is," she responded without thinking and he felt as thousand butterflies had burst in his stomach. She was laughing eyeing the tray without noticing her slip.

"And why would you be jealous, my dear?" He asked her now seriously, his hands almost trembling. Scarlett realized her mistake and turned to him blushing deeper. Should she tell him now? No, she couldn't do it now. His last rejection was still clear in her mind. She had first to fix their relationship, be sure he loved her even if he didn't speak out his feeling... but be sure.

They stared at each other trying to figure out each other thoughts but then a loud long groan rang across the room. Scarlett flushed in a deeper shade of red and Rhett started to laugh again.

"It looks like someone is really hungry," he responded, looking at her amused but with tenderness, and Scarlett smiled despite her embarrassment.

"It's the baby who's that hungry, not me," she responded, lifting her chin and looking away with faked dignity. Rhett laughed harder and kissed her forehead.

"Of course, dear. I wouldn't dare to think otherwise," he promised solemnly, placing a hand over his chest.

He turned and grabbed the tray, placing it between them. He decided he would let go the matter for now, but his heart grew warmer. Why Scarlett would be jealous of other women if she wasn't in love with him? He didn´t even had suspected she had gotten jealous before. He decided to be optimistic as long as Scarlett were as sweet and charming with him as she was being now. He hoped it wouldn't be just a phase of the pregnancy.

They ate in relative silence, turning to each other smiling and chuckling between bites, especially in one particular moment when Rhettso lost in mesmerizing every inch of his wife's facedidn't notice the piece of bacon slipping from his fork and was startled when the hot and greasy piece of meat fell on his chest. He yelped as Scarlett burst out laugh and Rhett couldn't help but laugh with her as well, forgetting his embarrassment.

This was heaven, both of them thought. Even better than New Orleans, and they would never let the other go.

Rhett helped her in a comfortable but nice dress and then he took her out.


Scarlett and Rhett had been always a topic for Atlanta's gossip and since they got married there was nothing else to talk about. Atlanta's Old Guard despised Rhett Butler and Scarlett was just falling into the same good graces, so they found a sick pleasure dissing their unhappy married life—because they knew they weren't a happy couple. They knew they fought constantly and there were some rumors about Rhett's mistresses... So when they saw the Butlers together and happy, having lunch as happy and sweet newlyweds, they were beyond shocked.

The restaurant at the Grand Hotel was relatively crowded, but the curious stares or the malicious comments couldn't reach them; they were in their own bubble. They just talked about simple things: laughing about some people of the Old Guard, thinking about baby names and telling each other anecdotes about their childhood. Rhett's stories, however, had Scarlett mesmerized and made her laugh constantly.

"...and I had to stay two months in Paris so they would stop looking for me," Rhett concluded chuckling, taking a sip of whiskey.

"And you haven't seen those men ever again?" Scarlett asked him surprised.

"Yes, but by then I had enough money and influences to take them off me," Rhett shrugged as the waiter took away his empty desert plates. "However, I hadn't enough money during my stay in Paris so I had to eat tuna and Brussels sprouts all the time. It's why I cannot even see them now," Rhett explained her, making a funny grimace and Scarlett laughed.

"Well, I don't like vegetables too much"

"Don't tell me, my dear," Rhett said sarcastically and she stick her tongue out to him before continue.

"But I do hate celery. As a kid I used to love it, but one day I ate too much and now"

Rhett laughed harder.

"Why are you laughing now?" Scarlett asked frowning lightly. It wasn't that funny really. She was even expecting a sarcastic remark.

"Because, my dear, is the first time we actually communicate without ripping each other's head at the end," Rhett responded easily still chuckling, his eyes sparkling adorably.

"Why, that's not true," Scarlett frowned. "We have talked like this before."

"Like when?" Rhett asked her, cocking his eyebrows and leaning to her over the table.

"Like...," but she couldn't recall a single conversation and she felt ashamed. Did she really always lose her temper like that? Did Rhett was used to that: not finished conversations and bitter remarks?

"I didn't even know when it was your birthday until we got married and didn't know you hated pepper until you refused to eat that dish on New Orleans, I didn't even know... I don't know your favorite color."

"It's green," she responded shrugging.

"Yes, but I didn't know it," Rhett responded easily, but for the first time in forever Scarlett realized he was lying. He was upset because they weren't close enough to know those little details about each other and she felt guilty. She had never taken her time to know her husband, even when they were just friends and he was always there to help her.

She felt ashamed again, remembering how their marriage in her dream had broken so much, and in part, it was for those tiny details.

"You're right," she responded quietly.

Rhett stared at her frowning with a weird expression but it was ephemeral because a big grin replaced it quickly.

"Did Scarlett O'Hara actually recognize she's wrong?" Rhett said with faked astonishment. "I cannot believe it!"

"Well, believe it," Scarlett snapped at him but smiled lightly.

"Wow, my dear. I congratulate you. That's a first one," he laughed and Scarlett smacked his arm.

"Of course, it's not!"

"Sorry but, when it was the first one?" he cocked his head, raising his eyebrows.

"Last night," she responded looking down at the table and Rhett dropped his smile. Last night was still fresh in his memory. Indeed she apologized for saying she didn't want their child and for hurting him. Scarlett, who had never apologized, had cried for his forgiveness, afraid he wouldn't give it to her. He didn't know what changed her last night but he found himself thanking God for the miracle.

"Yes it was," he recognized reaching again for her hand and stroking it. Scarlett smiled softly.

"Did Rhett Butler actually recognize he was wrong? That surely it's a first one, it must be Judgment Day," she teased him and his boomed laugh rang across the restaurant again.

"You hurt me greatly, my dear," Rhett made a funny grimace and Scarlett shook her head, widening her smile but turned serious.

"Not anymore, Rhett. I promise," she told him squeezing his hand and his laugh stopped. He looked up at her, his heart pounding in his chest. "And is Scarlett Butler, thank you very much," she added cocking her eyebrow and it was in that moment when Rhett thought he was completely and irreversibly in love with her.

He leaned over the table, without a care in the world and holding her cheek he kissed her softly. The Old Guard started to whisper furious and scandalously but they weren't even aware of their presence.

Rhett pulled away staring into her bright eyes and the saw made his heart soar.

"Let's get out of here," he told her, his voice suddenly very groggy.

He leaded her out and once in their carriage Scarlett turned to him.

"You didn't tell me yours."

"What?" Rhett turned to him confused.

"Your favorite color, Rhett. You didn't tell me yours."

Rhett stared at her, speechless for a couple of the seconds. Scarlett wasn't sure but her heart grew warmer thinking he just had looked at her with his eyes full of love. Maybe she was doing things right for the first time.

"It's green as well," he responded his voice very deep, "emerald-green to be precisely."

Scarlett just looked at him and slowly smiled.


That night after dinner, both Rhett and Scarlett were at the library. Rhett reading and drinking scotch, and Scarlett looking at Godey's Lady's Book for new dresses. She lifted her gaze from the book and looked at her husband. She wanted to ask him something but had to do it carefully because the topic included Ashley in an indirect way. She looked down again and was waiting for the appropriated moment but she didn't seem to find any.

At the fifth time she stared at him, Rhett did catch her look and smiled at her.

"Yes?"

"Rhett, I was thinkinghum...," Scarlett hesitated but she had to talk about it someday so she took a breath. "Rhett I decided not to go to the store or the mills as long as I'm pregnant," Rhett was taken by surprise but he saw how his face darkened lightly so she acted quickly. "So, I was wondering if you know about someone who could replace me. I thought about you but I know you have work at the bank so..."

Scarlett looked at him nervously but he didn't say anything. She actually had left him speechless. Finally, he cleared his throat and sat his glass down onto a table.

"I can find someone, my dear," he responded easily and smiled at her warmly. "Maybe I would stay here to keep you company and spoil you with every whim your greedy heart desires," he said with a grin teasing her but he already decided he would stay with her.

Scarlett didn't take it as an offense and laughed too, already looking for their time together.

"Well... they're plenty," Scarlett joked with a cheeky smile and Rhett laughed out loud. He rose from his chair, walked to his wife and raising her chin with his hand he kissed softly her forehead.

"I know, my dear."


Thank you for reading! I do promise more plot for the next chapter. Please let me know what do you think.