You can thank CoffeeAndWaifu's for this, a NEW CHAPTER! - let me know what you think. Thank you for your reviews!

I'll just say that I haven't abandoned this story. I just got busy, lost my inspiration and got caught up obsessing over other Fandoms, but the next two chapters are partly written, so I will do my best to finish them soon!

Chapter Ten: Distant

The stack of books mocked Ella. They hadn't moved from where Scarlett placed them when she brought them up to Ella during Rhett Butlers visit three days ago. It wasn't that Ella didn't want to touch them. In fact, she longed to read the Jane Austen novels that she had heard of, but never been able to read. However, she was at war with herself. Would that be considered as an acceptance of his apology? Is that what the gift was, an apology? Why else would he give her a gift? Although, he did give Scarlett a gift too. Maybe he thought he couldn't give one sister a gift and not the other.

Ella found her train of thought frustrating and she felt a headache coming on.

At least he had the good sense to give me books and not a bonnet. When would Scarlett be able to wear such a luxurious bonnet in the middle of a war? Well, knowing Scarlett any chance she gets, thought Ella.

Ella rubbed her temples. She hated getting headaches. She decided to go for a walk, hoping that the fresh air would head it off. Glancing down at the pile of books, Ella sighed. Was she being ridiculous? She took one of the books, made her way downstairs and crept quietly out of the door. She didn't want to tell her sister she was going out, for she would surely want to join her, and Ella just wanted to be by herself.

Ella made her way to a small park and sat on a bench. Luckily it wasn't a particularly sunny day, as the bench wasn't in the shade and she didn't have a bonnet or parasol with her. Who cares about getting freckles anyway, such things should hardly matter in the middle of a war, Ella reasoned.

Looking down at her book, Ella saw that she had picked up Sense and Sensibility. She opened it to the first page and began to read, getting lost in the story.

Ella had no idea how much time had passed when a large figure cast a shadow over her, startling her out of her reading. Ella froze, even without looking up she knew exactly who was standing before her. His presence radiated a masculine power that she would recognise anywhere.

Inwardly Ella prepared herself. She was a strong, intelligent woman who didn't need a man, especially not one like Rhett Butler. She could act as indifferent to him as he did towards her at the bazaar. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ella looked up with a smile.

"Captain Butler, what a pleasure to see you again."

Rhett grinned down at Ella. Noting that she was, once again, outside without any protection against the sun and that she was reading his gift. He could see her composure was an act, as her eyes were unsure, and her hands clenched her book tight.

"Miss Ella are you enjoying your book?"

Ella's smiled tightened falsely.

"Very much, thank you for your gift, although you really shouldn't have. I think Scarlett is yet to take off that beautiful bonnet you gave her."

"Is that so? Well I'll be sure to bring her back a matching shawl on my next visit to Atlanta."

Ella stared up at Rhett. She took that as meaning her second guess was correct. Rhett was really bringing Scarlett a gift and didn't want to leave Ella out.

"Well, I know she'll greatly appreciate that, Captain Butler. Scarlett loves nothing more than pretty things, except perhaps balls and dancing, or anything that will make her the center of every man's attention."

Ella hadn't meant to go on like that. She had planned to act civil and indifferent towards Rhett, but after their mornings together in Charleston she felt so comfortable in his presence. No one else could get her to talk so much.

"I must say, I'd figured that out about your sister already."

Rhett had felt the Ella he spent those mornings in Charleston with, come back for a moment, before she retreated inside herself again. He was both relieved and upset that she had distanced herself from him. Despite his mixed feelings, he couldn't help but take her hand in his. The feeling on her dainty soft hands in his made his heart race in a way that he only felt on the open sea.

"I'm leaving tomorrow for the blockade again, so this is goodbye, for now at least."

Ella breath caught in her throat when Rhett took her hand in his large calloused one and her eyes widened feeling his warm lips as he placed a kiss on the back of her hand. She also felt the loss when he let her hand go and began to walk away.

Ella quickly rose from her seat on the bench.

"Rhett!"

Rhett paused at her call and turned slightly to lookback at her.

"Be careful."

Ella knew what Rhett was doing was dangerous and she couldn't help but hope that he would be safe.

"No need to worry about me, Darling."

On the outside Rhett grinned at Ella's concern, but inside his heart swelled with hope. She still cared about him. He stuffed those feelings deep down inside and continued to walk away from Ella. He didn't even notice the term of endearment that had slipped out.

Ella watched Rhett walk away and all she could think was, "Darling"?

.

Rhett was right. Ella had no reason to worry for he came back a few months later, and then again and again. In fact, Captain Butler made visits to the Hamilton house whenever he was in Atlanta.

As he had told Ella, on his next visit he bought a matching shawl for Scarlett, and every visit after he brought her beautiful gifts. Scarlett was thrilled and always looked forward to his visits and more than that, she had begun to enjoy his friendship. He was a welcome respite from the company of Atlanta's ladies.

Ella on the other hand tried to avoid him as often as possible, but sometimes it was unavoidable without appearing rude. When she was in his presence she tried not to look at him. She was afraid that all the hurt she had felt because of him would come back if she did. Or worse, that it would only take one of his charming smiles for her to forget why she was keeping her distance from him in the first place.

Rhett wasn't sure what he was doing. Every time he came back from the blockade he would make his way to Atlanta to visit the O'Hara sisters. On each visit he would bring Scarlett an expensive accessory which would make her squeal with giddiness and Ella a unique item from somewhere around Europe. Ella would politely accept his gifts, though Rhett suspected that she only did so because Scarlett was so quick to accept hers. Nevertheless, he could see the sparkle in her eye whenever she examined a new gift, obviously guessing the whereabouts of its origin and imagining herself there.

He couldn't understand exactly what he expected to get from these visits. While Scarlett was always pleased to see him and had become someone he actually enjoyed the company of, Ella managed to keep up a distant and courteous exterior around him and that was only when she couldn't make up an excuse why she couldn't be present during his visits. Rhett wasn't making any progress in earning Ella's affection, although he hadn't made his mind up whether he wanted to. Nevertheless, he continued his visits.

Scarlett wasn't sure what was going on in her sister's head, but she was happy to be receiving all these beautiful gifts from Rhett. In her mind, Ella had insisted she wasn't interested in having a beaux, or getting married, that combined with her behaviour towards Rhett made Scarlett conclude that Ella was interested in Rhett. So Scarlett made the most of his visits, she treated him as she used to treat all her beaux, but also differently because Rhett Butler was different. Rhett was also her friend.

Ella appreciated Rhett's consistency. Every few months when he was in town he would visit and he always brought gifts. She couldn't help but recognise the thought that went into her gifts. He knew how much she wanted to see the world, so he bought a small piece of various places back with him, just for her. However, that was the extent of his efforts. No matter how thoughtful the gifts, she had told him she wasn't a woman who could be bought, but her sister was. Scarlett talked of little else than her latest treasure from Captain Butler. They're made for each other, Ella decided.

.

It was a year after the bazaar and the whole of Atlanta was impatiently waiting for the casualty lists from the latest battle to be released. Melly was gripping Ella's hands with all her might; she was terrified at the thought of seeing her husbands name on the list.

"Ashley's fine Melly, I just know it."

At her words, Ella looked over to Scarlett who was sitting opposite her in the carriage. She had hoped Scarlett had left her childish love for Ashley behind when he married Melly, but Ella feared it wasn't so. Unfortunately, there was nothing Ella could do to change stubborn Scarlett's mind.

A sudden rush of noise alerted them to the release of the lists. Ella tried to block out the sound of the anguished cries as people mourned their loved ones. At last they got hold of a list; Ashley was not on it. The ladies cried out in relief, but their happiness was short lived. The Meade's had lost their oldest son. Melly rose from her seat and descended from the carriage.

"Poor Mrs Meade. I must go to her."

As the O'Hara sisters were left alone, Scarlett moved to take Melly's place next to Ella and began to read to list which Ella was still holding.

"Oh!"

"Scarlett?"

"The Tarleton brothers."

Ella studied the list and her eyes welled up with tears. Nearly every family she knew had lost someone. She was so distracted she didn't notice a rider approach the carriage until they spoke.

"Scarlett. Miss Ella."

"Rhett! Isn't it just awful!"

"Indeed Scarlett. It's a waste and I hate waste. I hope you haven't lost too many friends Miss Ella."

Ella looked up at Rhett and for the first time in many months they locked eyes. Rhett noticed her eyes were welled up with tears which were threatening to fall.

"Foolish! It's just so senseless that they all died for this ridiculous cause!"

Rhett wanted to gather her in his arms, but reluctantly settled for using a comforting tone of voice.

"I know. I know Ella, but they died for what they believed in."

"Well they believed in the wrong thing."

This was the most interaction the two had had with each other since their time in Charleston. Ella wanted Rhett to comfort her. She wanted to spend the rest of her life in his arms, but how could she trust him not to run away again.

"I will leave you ladies to your grief. Scarlett. Miss Ella."

The O'Hara twins watched Rhett ride away.

Scarlett watched her sister's interaction with Rhett with mixed emotions; jealous that she wasn't the focus of a man's attention, but also hopeful, as she had never seen her sister act in such a way with a man before. It made her happy to see her sister show interest in a man and Scarlett told herself that she was glad it was Rhett, as although she enjoyed his presents, she wasn't seriously interested in him. After all, Scarlett had Ashley.

Meanwhile, Ella was confused. The emotional news had made her forget herself around Rhett and she didn't know what to make of their interaction just now. Ella figured that there was no need to analyse it now and she was far too drained to do so anyway.

When Melly joined them back in the carriage and they made their way home, subdued after the day's events.

.

The house was stifling and Ella couldn't bear it. The months since the first casualty list was published had left everyone with a more realistic view of what this war would do to their lives and cost their loved ones.

Ella picked up a book and a blanket and made her way out of the house and down the road to the small park. Although autumn was upon them, it was still warm and she found a hidden spot where she spread her blanket before laying down on it. Luckily the park wasn't visited often, at least, of the few times she had been there, the only person she had come across was Rhett Butler.

As far as she knew, at this moment he was on his boat across the ocean somewhere. She could picture it clearly in her mind. Rhett's boat swaying in the ruff sea, water splashing across the deck and Rhett's strong frame working alongside his crew as his deep voice shouted out orders. The wind and rain would have caused his hair to loosen and fall into his eyes so that he would have to push it back by running one of his big hands through his hair.

Ella shook her head. Her imagination was running away with her, as it had been doing a lot recently. Obviously she had been reading too many romance novels. Ella looked at the book she had brought with her and put it to one side. Deciding not to read, she instead turned onto her back, closed her eyes and enjoyed feeling the warmth of the sun upon her face.

"I can practically see the freckles forming."

Ella was proud of herself for not jumping up at the sudden sound of a deep voice. Instead, she remained lying down with her eyes closed, but she couldn't stop her body from tensing or slow down her racing heart.

"I'm not worried."

Rhett has been somehow drawn to the clearing behind some trees, but he wasn't expecting to see Ella lying on her back in the grass. He took his time taking her in. It was unexpected to catch a woman he considered a proper lady in such a position and he wanted to make the most of it. Rhett believed he was seeing the side of Ella which wanted to travel and experience the world, the part of her that longed for freedom, from this life and its rules.

He had missed her. He missed the Ella he spent his mornings getting to know in Charleston, but the few times he had seen her since the bazaar in Atlanta she wasn't herself. Rhett hadn't seen the Ella who wanted to sail across the ocean, but the lady her mother had raised her to be, with cold courtesy instead of a friendly smile. Ella had put up a wall around herself, at least when it comes to Rhett, and he wanted nothing more than to tear it down.

When he stood on his boat as he sailed across the sea, he would think of her and her curiosity and delight when he taught her what everything was on his ship. Ella was unique. Rhett couldn't think of another lady he had ever met who would show the same kind of interest.

At night he would remember their first encounter and the feel of Ella's body lying on top of his on the sofa. He would remember how beautiful she looked in her purple dress at the Charleston ball. No woman had ever caused him to do a double take, until Ella.

She continued to surprise him, and he found himself unable to stay away from her.

"And rightly so. They only add to your beauty."

Ella wasn't sure how to react to that. She opened an eye and peered up at Rhett. Her memory didn't do him justice. He looked like a giant towering over her from her position on the ground. A very handsome giant.

"Always the charmer, Captain Butler."

She had expected Rhett to have his trade mark grin plastered across his face, as she assumed he was teasing her. Instead he looked unnaturally serious and continued to stare at her as he knelt next to her.

"I never lie, Miss Ella."

Ella sat up, putting her closer to his height and raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

"Never?"

Ella's breath caught as Rhett leaned in closer, he was almost inappropriately close, but she still wished he was closer. Ella was sure she stopped breathing as he stared into her eyes.

"Never to you."

As Ella stared back into Rhett's eyes, she couldn't help but believe him.