Michael

Michael had asked around and knew that the Butler's house was on Battery. As he walked in that direction he thought about Scarlett. During their time together in Ireland, she has shared with him her history with Rhett Butler. Michael remembered during the early parts of their friendship and the first time she had talked about the most elusive of her three husbands.

"There's so many mistakes I've made, Michael. You wouldn't understand." Scarlett spoke in almost a whisper.

"You know you can talk to me about anything. I'll never judge you. If anything, I find that the more I learn about you, the more amazing I think you are."

"Oh Michael, how you do run on. Well—I met my last husband when I was sixteen at a barbecue at Twelve Oaks. Rhett was much older than me and even then he was a hateful man, always trying to push my buttons. I was sure it must have pleasured him plenty to torture me and see me squirm. Even till this day, I never quite knew what the man was thinking on that first day...or to be honest, any other day of our life together. After my first two marriages and during the war, Rhett would always come around and call on me. I never knew really what he wanted. He'd be kind and say the nicest things and then turnaround and mock me about something I said or did. I never felt like I could keep my guards down around him. You'd never believe it, but he-" Scarlett turned her face away in embarrassment. "He told me more than once that he wanted me to be his mistress. I believed him too. He had an awful reputation with women. Most of the time he was just a mystery, showing up at the most surprising times and then leaving just when I needed him. I never knew what he really wanted from me, which was more than unfair, seeing as it always seemed he could always read me like a book.

As you know, I've told you that at the time I thought myself to be in love with Ashley. But I was such a fool—such a blind full." Scarlett let out a sigh that was soft and yet heavy. Michael could tell how much she'd regretted her childish obsession with Ashley Wilkes and what it had ended up costing her. It took her a few seconds to gather her thoughts and continue. "I realized much too late that I could never be happy with Ashley—he was always such a weak person. Always taking the cowards way out and always leaning on me instead of helping me. Rhett was different, he was so strong and sturdy and so similar to me. I think we could've been happy together, if only—" A small tear rolled down Scarlett's cheek. "Maybe if I had just realized it sooner and been a better mother to Bonnie—maybe we really could've been a happy family."

"What if you go back? Maybe you can still make it work with him." Michael realized that he had started to care deeply for her and more than anything he wanted to see her happy, even if it meant she would be with someone else. The thought made his heart ache.

Just then Scarlett wiped away her tears and straightened her back. "I suppose it's silly to think of this now, I've lost both of them and I won't ever get them back. I need to move on with my life. I won't go back there."

Michael knew from that conversation that Rhett Butler was the first man that Scarlett had ever really loved. He hoped though, that she would learn to give her heart again. Before he knew it, Michael found himself knocking on the Butler's front door. He introduced himself and requested to see Mr. Rhett Butler.

Upon hearing the announcement of his guest, Rhett nearly choked on his lunch. He got up and methodically made his way to the parlor where he greeted Mr. Michael Whitney.

"Mr. Whitney, to what do I owe this unexpected visit? Are you here to finish what we started earlier? If so, we shall need to step outside. This is after all my mother's home as well and I will not have you being disrespectful."

Michael stuck out his arm to stop Rhett from continuing. "Captain Butler, I'm not here to fight with you or even cause any problems. I was just hoping that we could have a civilized discussion, gentleman to gentleman."

Rhett threw his head back in laughter. "I'm sorry Mr. Whitney, I'm afraid you have wasted a trip over here. I would think that perhaps Scarlett would have warned you. I am no gentleman." He looked at his rival with a smirk on his face.

Michael continued without hesitation. "Be that as it may, I'd still like to try for the civilized conversation if you don't mind."

Rhett gestured to 2 armchairs facing each other by the fireplace and the two man sat down.

"What is it that you would like to talk about?"

"Scarlett, of course. Would there be anyone or anything else that either one of us would be interested in talking about. The only person we have in common."

"Go on..." Rhett had lit a cigar as he motioned for Michael to continue talking.

"I know of your history with Scarlett. And I have no qualms about telling you that you never deserved her. But to get to my point, I know you think you still love her."

"Hmmm? You know this, now do you? Because Scarlett has told you?"

Michael hesitated for a second and then said, "Actually I know you still love her. Yes, she's told me that you've confessed your love to her since she's been back but she doesn't really believe you. I wouldn't either, except I've seen the way you look at her. Scarlett admits that she could never read you though I think it's plain as day to anyone else that you're still crazy about her. I'd doubt anyone in this town other than Scarlett would question it."

Rhett took out his cigar and blew out a large cloud of smoke. He was annoyed that this man—this stranger would sit there and call him out like that. "And what is it to you if I do or if I don't still love her?"

"It's a great big deal to me. Scarlett means a lot to me too. I love her and I believe she loves me too. You had your chance with her, Captain Butler, and you threw it away." Michael could see the anger brewing in Rhett's almost black eyes. He definitely hit a nerve. He didn't care.

"You have some nerve coming into my home and talking to me like this. I don't care what she's told you, you don't know Scarlett the way I do. And you sure do not know anything about what I feel for my wife."

"Ex-wife."

Rhett threw his cigar on the ground and stood up. Michael followed suit. Both men stood, chest to chest. "I'll ask you again, Mr. Whitney, what is your reason for showing up at my home?"

"I want to know what your intentions are with Scarlett."

"I could ask you the same thing."

Michael looked Rhett straight in the eyes and said "My intentions towards Scarlett are noble and honorable. I've watched her come back, nearly from the brink of death. She's amazing and strong and she deserves to be with someone who isn't afraid to love her."

Rhett puffed, "So what are your true intentions?"

"I've asked Scarlett to marry me."

"You've asked her? I presume from your words that she hasn't accepted then?"

Michael shrugged, "Yes, it's true. I asked her and she has not answered." Michael saw the sides of Rhett's lips curve up in a mocking grin, to which he continued. "She wanted to give me an answer, but I told her I wanted her to take some time to think it over. She's confessed to me that all of her other marriages had started due to ulterior motives. She never chose love. This time, I wanted her to make the right choice for the right reason."

"And you think she loves you? Are you really so sure?"

"I do and I am."

"So what are you doing here? At my house? Would you like my blessing? If that's what you came for—" Rhett was about to finish when he was interrupted by Michael.

"No. You are no one to her now. Your blessings will do nothing for us."

Rhett laughed, "You'd never get it regardless."

"I want you to leave her alone. Your presence causes her anguish and stress. Have you not noticed?"

"I think it's time you left, Mr. Whitney. You've overstayed your welcome." Michael was not ready to leave, he didn't finish saying what he came there to say.

Michael stood his ground. "I'm not done. I love Scarlett and I will not allow you to interfere and cause her distress!"

Rhett threw his cigar down, took a step forward and grabbed Michael around the collar of his jacket. He tried being civil but now he was just plain angry. How dare this man come in here and speak to him about Scarlett, after all Scarlett belonged to him and not Michael. "You don't know the first thing about Scarlett, and you'll never know her the way I do. She belongs with me!" With that, Rhett threw a punch but Michael ducked and Rhett stumbled forward.

"I didn't come here to fight with you, but I also won't back down if you come at me again." Michael very much wished for Rhett to try again. If he couldn't settle this with words he wouldn't mind settling it with his fists.

Rhett was about to take another swing at Michael when he heard his mother gasp.

"Rhett! What in heavens—you stop that right now!" Eleanor's voice was ringing through the air.

"Please leave mother and let us continue our..ahhem...conversation. I was just having a word here with Mr. Whitney."

Michael turned apologetically to Mrs. Butler, "I must apologize, Mrs. Butler. Perhaps I shouldn't have come. I'll see myself out."

"It is I that must apologize to you, Mr. Whitney. I'm not sure what has gotten in to Rhett this afternoon."

Rhett was about to protest, but the look on his mother's face was enough to shut him up.

Michael left the Butler home not accomplishing much of what he had planned to. He looked at his pocket watch and realized he needed to hurry up to the hotel and grab his things. At this rate he would be late to pick up Scarlett and Prissy.

Rhett

"Rhett, what were you thinking? Were you really going to punch him?"

"I already tried and failed before you walked in. But I was most definitely going to land the second one." Rhett scowled. He couldn't believe he was being lectured by his mother.

"Have you gone mad? What on earth would cause you to do such a thing? I know I raised you better than that!"

"Mother, as always I'm afraid I've disappointed you. And anyhow, it's over now. I'm going for a walk." He turned to leave but Eleanor stood at the entrance, blocking his way out.

"You are not going to leave until you explain to me what was going on. Why was Michael Whitney here?"

"Fine. If you must know, he came here to tell me that he loves Scarlett and that he's asked her to marry him. He wants me out of her life. Are you happy now?" Rhett knew he was taking his frustrations out on the wrong person but he couldn't help it. He walked over the desk and poured himself a glass of brandy.

"Oh, Rhett. I'm sorry. But—did Scarlett accept his proposal?"

"No, I don't think she has...yet."

"Well then, all is not lost dear. You just need to tell Scarlett how you feel. If you love her and she loves you-"

"I'm not sure that she does love me anymore. How could she? Not after everything I've done."

Eleanor Butler wanted to comfort her oldest son but in reality she did not know how. She didn't really understand the complexities of his marriage to Scarlett nor was she able to get any more info from her friends, Pauline and Eulalie regarding this Michael character. She sighed to herself, 'maybe these two were not mean to be together after all.'

Rhett knew he was running out of time. Scarlett was leaving for Tara with Michael and there wasn't anything he could do to stop it. What if she accepts his proposal on this trip? What would he do then? How had he made such a mess of things? He drank the brandy in one big gulp and poured himself another glass.

His mother looked at her hopeless son who looked more like a lost soul now rather than the strong fearless blockade runner of the past. "Is there anything I can do to help you, Rhett? Perhaps I can try talking to Pauline and Eulalie again."

"No. This is my problem, mother. I created and I'll have to fix it myself or live with the consequences."

Eleanor walked out of the room and left Rhett to himself.

Rhett's first instinct was to run away. Perhaps he'd go to Paris or New Orleans to get away for a bit and clear his mind. Nothing was going to get solved now anyways.