Thank you so very much for the comments. Comments make me want to write more! To the commenter who think that Scarlett and Rhett should not be together: They wouldn't be Scarlett and Rhett without drama - and what marriage lasting 15 + years is without ups and downs? ;)

WARNING – CONTAINS MATURE THEMES and TRIGGERS - (nothing graphic but may still be triggers for some – If these themes bother you , please skip the italicized part )

Scarlett felt better after her cry fest in Dilcey's office. And though the massive yolk of sadness and regret still lay heavily across her neck, the weight of it was temporarily lifted.

She should be used to this by now. Wasn't this the story of her life? Wasn't her life punctuated by periods of tragedy followed by brief moments of peace and tranquility? She briefly lamented over the drama that seemed to plague her since birth, and instead chose to bask in the temporary peace she felt in this moment.

They walked out of the counseling center hand in hand, Rhett's large, brown fingers intertwined with her slender, white ones. She felt him give her hand a small squeeze and raised her eyes to his face.

Lord, how she loved this man…..This infuriating , capricious , frustrating, hard- headed, and wonderful man.

Like most little girls, Scarlett fantasized about the day when her golden knight, clad in shining armor would rescue her- the damsel in distress- from her towering prison on the wrong side of the tracks in Georgia; whisking her away to a romantic existence where they would live happily ever after. Never once imagining that it wouldn't be the white knight who would steal her heart, it would instead be the debonair pirate captain that made her weak in the knees, rescuing her from her prison of shame and loneliness.

Once, when at a party, a fortune teller had told her that the love of her life would be a dark-haired man. Her reaction was typical Scarlett. She berated the woman, calling her a charlatan and fraud; screaming at her that she didn't even like dark – haired men.

As much as Scarlett hated to admit defeat, she had to accept that woman was right after all. A dark-haired man did capture her heart. He loved her with more intensity than she could ever imagine. More than she ever thought possible. And while it definitely couldn't be said that they lived exactly happily ever after, she couldn't imagine her life without her dark – haired pirate captain .

Her pirate captain, her caddish buccaneer.

The bright Georgia sun, raised high in midday, exposed to her, that her pirate captain, once virile and smooth, was indeed no longer physically the bold renegade that he once was. Without a doubt, he was still handsome - some would even say too handsome; but the tell-tale signs of living were increasing more and more as the years went by. His hair, once jet black with flecks of grey at the temples, was now more grey than black and the lines around his mouth and eyes were true indicators of the many smiles and frowns that had marred his face throughout his sixty years, making him appear more distinguished: and possibly even more irresistible to his wife. She didn't care how wrinkly he became or if he went completely bald or became overweight- what she feared the most about his increasing age was his complaints of chest pains, his high cholesterol numbers and raising blood pressure.

The thought of losing him, of him dying, was a thought that she refused to think about. She wasn't putting it off until tomorrow- as she often did when faced with an uncomfortable situation. She wanted to erase it from her mind completely.

He noticed his advanced age all too well himself. He didn't need his wife to constantly bring the subject up, all he had to do was look in the mirror. He could see that his stomach and arms were not as tight as they used to be - his washboard abdominal muscles were now long gone. But more than his physical changes that appeared on his body, the thing that bothered his the most was the increasing difficulty he had in keeping up with his children. There was no way he could be as the other fathers were; the ones who coached little league teams and served as cub scout leaders: he just wasn't physically able. He didn't have the energy to run bases with Gerry at his T ball practice or the stamina to learn about the latest studies on autism for Cat. And he certainly didn't have the strength to handle Bonnie. This realization caused him more worry than he liked to admit. He suspiciously eyed the other parents he would meet at his son's pre-school or at a God-forsaken kid birthday party that Scarlett would drag him to: always wondering what they thought of him—Look at that dirty old man with his trophy wife and anchor babies - he was certain that these were their thoughts.

And his wife- he was so much older than her. He had lost count of the times unknowing strangers had assumed she was his daughter and not his wife. Waiters and restaurant staff being the worst offenders.

"Here you are miss "they would say as they handed Scarlett her menu "And there you are, dad" , the smiling waiter would say as he handed a menu to Rhett.

Ashamedly he admitted that the age difference between he and Scarlett could even be felt and seen in their most intimate of moments. He cringed at the number of times his wife had tried to mislead him into thinking she was still satisfied by his performance in the bedroom, but he knew better. The worst thing about getting older was the increasing difficulty in which he had in maintaining an erection. "Rhett, it's fine. Please don't stress about this. I'm still quite satiated by our sex life." She would say as he coward in shame in the fact that he was not able to be intimate with his wife as often or as long as he once could. She was a terrible liar, and if she couldn't fool him into thinking she hadn't spent an extra thousand or two on a new pair of shoes- or some other ridiculous feminine purchase, she surely couldn't successfully make him think she had an orgasm when he knew she didn't or that she wasn't bothered by the changes in the bedroom. This was the exact reason why his medicine bottle, filled with little blue pills, was fixated in their bathroom medicine cabinet…. Hidden of course behind his wife's numerous bottles of anxiety pills.

But he still worried. What if she found someone else? Someone younger who could fulfill her most primal desires? She was still young – barely even forty. She shouldn't have to be tied to an elderly man, well past his prime. She was so damn beautiful too. Everyone noticed it. Rhett saw how men – old and young alike - would gawk as his wife would walk past. Even his own brother, when filled with the liquid courage whiskey would provide- would make passes at her from time to time. Why should she waste her life with a decaying old man? How many times had he been told what a lucky man he was or that he'd better keep an eye on his wife, for another man may come in a scoop her away right from under his nose.

But then he would look at her. Look at her as she smiled at him with an expression of complete love. She had stood by his side throughout the toughest times of his life. She was always there; always supporting him. And for him, it had always been her. Even at their worst- when he lied to himself and her – lying and saying he no longer loved her- it was still her. Since their first conversation almost nineteen years ago, this raven-haired beauty was all his heart ever needed and wanted. He often felt he was undeserving of her love, he was responsible for so much of the tragedy she had suffered. Late at night he would watch her as she slept; her face peaceful and serene. He'd gently stroke her hair, fingering through the tendrils of curls as he thanked the good Lord for her.

He had once told her that she was a poison in his blood, destroying him from the inside slowly and completely. He was trying to hurt her by these words, never realizing how truthful they were.

She was in his blood.

Not as a poison, but as the lifeblood that kept him alive.

"You really didn't need to walk me to my car Rhett, I am perfectly capable of doing so on my own , you know."

Opening the car door for her, he made a grand gesture for her get in. As she slid onto the leather seats- that now felt like hot coals after being exposed so long to the hot Georgia sun, he leaned in to kiss her.

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't walk my gorgeous wife to her awaiting chariot?"

Raising her eyebrow at him in the tantalizing way that drove him crazy, she lent in close to him , her mouth almost touching his. "You sir, are no gentleman "she said, seductively thickening her Georgian accent. He took his right hand and brushed the back of his fingertips across the side of her neck and collarbone. "And you miss, are no lady" he softly retorted before kissing his wife once again.

She let her hand that was cupping the side of his face linger until he pulled away. "Be careful going home. We're in for some bad weather tonight. I just got an alert on my phone."

"Aye, Captain "she playfully teased as she pushed the ignition button to start to her car. "I'll see you at home…. And if you get there before me, do NOT give Gerry any soda, or you'll be the one giving him a bath at 3 am because he's wet the bed."

"I have no idea what you've talking about "he smiled "I love you; please keep your eyes on the road and not your cell phone. I'm serious Scarlett, pay attention to the road."

"I love you too" she said before reaching to close her door. She rested her head against the headrest, savoring the cool air for a moment as she watched Rhett walk back to his car.

Glancing at her phone before pulling out of the parking space, she noticed how little battery life she had left and fumbled with the white charging cord coming out of her center console to plug it in to charge. Her phone battery drained so quickly. Perhaps the abundant amounts of apps she downloaded was the culprit. There was the daily devotional that keep her sane and out of jail, the learning games and movies for Gerry, soothing sounds and pictures for Cat, and multiple methods for tracking Bonnie and Ella. Her phone rang - loudly disturbing her internal pondering.

"I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother "…. was playing instead of her usual basic ringtone.

"Bonnie…" she lamented.

Bonnie was forever adjusting the setting on her phone. The last time she gained access to the phone, she had changed it so that every time Scarlett tried to send a text, all the words changed to "shit" -

Hey, can you meet me at the office for 11?

Shit

Shit?

Shit shit

Scarlett?

Shit!

What's wrong?

Shit shit shit shit shit

Shit shit shit shit shit.

Are you having a stroke?

SHIT!

Then there was the time she made Siri address her as " smelly ass -"

Scarlett remembered how embarrassed she had been when after requesting Siri to locate a phone number for her, she replied, in her autotuned robot voice, with: " Here's what I found , smelly ass "loudly enough for bystanders to hear.

Scarlett wished her daughter would show this much drive and effort in school, rather than in making her mother look like a fool.

She groaned as she saw Frank's name appear. He had been trying to reach her for two days. She had successfully avoided his repeated attempts at contact before, each time he given up after a while; but for him to call her repeatedly over the course of days, must mean that he really needed to talk to her. "What on earth could he possibly want? "she wondered as she debated if she should subject herself to Frank's inane prattle. She reluctantly pressed the answer icon on her phone.

"What Frank? What is so important that you need to talk to me so badly about?"

Frank's scratchy wheezing could be heard over the phone. Even the sound of his voice irritated her. "I need to see you. Can you come by the store for a few minutes?...It's about Ella."

Panic filled her chest. "Is she alright?! Did something happen to her ?!" she asked in rapid succession, not allowing him to even answer her. "I'm on my way!"

For the first time since owning her fancy Bentley, she utilized the full power of her six-cylinder engine as she flew through the streets of downtown Atlanta; ignoring stop signs and traffic lights along the way. Her haphazard parking job upon her arrival at the store took up two spots and blocked the poor driver of the Corolla parked next to her from pulling out of their parking spot due. She didn't care – right now, her mama bear instincts took over and God help the person who stood in her way. She pushed through the wooden doors of Kennedy's emporium with such force that they banged loudly against the metal framing of the display case that stood aside them.

She felt a pang of sadness as she took in the sight of the store. She made it a point to avoid walking in the store if she could help it. She had given so much of herself in the creation and establishment of Kennedy's. It was her blood, sweat, and tears that made it the success it was today. Even though she was the main shareholder in the store, she never interfered. She only retained ownership for Ella, never trusting that India wouldn't try something underhandedly to weasel her child out of what was rightfully hers.

She began to take inventory of what had become of what was once her jewel in commerce. The seasonal items should be the first thing the customers should see and the summer items needed to be front and center, not hidden in the back of store. Candy and small toys should be placed near the registers to tempt unruly children to beg and throw tantrums in the quest of acquiring them, not the expensive earrings and silver jewelry that were currently strewn across the check -out station -And the fudge: Kennedy's famous fudge – the smell of it should permeate the air, accosting the nostrils of each person who walked through the door-she couldn't even see it, much less smell it.

"Was that really necessary, Scarlett?" India hissed as she walked up to her.

Scarlett brushed past her without saying a word. She was in no mood to get into a verbal sparring battle with India. India seethed in anger as she watched her husband's ex-wife saunter through the store and into Frank's office as if she were the queen of Sheba. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't hold a candle to Scarlett -physically or mentally. This fact was only validated as India watched the heads of women and men alike turn in admiration of her mortal enemy.

"What's wrong" she demanded of her ex-husband, shoving the door open before sitting in the chair across from him. How she hated his office. Like everything with Frank, it unnerved her completely. He nodded toward his open office door, indicating that what they were about to discuss required complete privacy. Swiftly, she rose to close it and returned to her chair with an exasperated huff.

"Ella has been sneaking off on her breaks to be with a boy" he breathed out at her in one extended breath.

Scarlett furrowed her brows in confusion. What was the point of this?

"Is she pregnant ?!"

"No."

"Is she thinking of running off with him?"

"Not that I know of."

"What's the issue then?"

"She has a boyfriend, Scarlett ...and I'm afraid it's serious "

He had never experienced a time when Scarlett was speechless; and he assumed that her silence was due to her inability to comprehend what he had just told her.

"Are you telling me, that you had me drive all the way over here because Ella has a boyfriend?" she asked in total bewilderment.

"Yes! Don't you see the problem, Scarlett !?"

"Honestly, Frank, I don't. She'll be eighteen in a few weeks and it's normal for her to have a boyfriend at this age. When I was her age I was the mother of an infant. Actually, I'm surprised she waited this long. Rhett's been chasing Bonnie away from the boys for years now and she's only fifteen."

Her ran his hand through his hair, once a bright red and now completely grey. He wanted to yell at her that God forbid his daughter follow in the footsteps of her mother. "Scarlett, you more than anyone, should realize the danger that comes when a girl gets in too deep with a boy."

"Because I was one of those dirty little high school sluts that turned up pregnant at 16?"

"Yes…. I mean, no… I mean … You know what these young boys are capable of! Honestly, I'd think you'd show a little more concern …. You are her mother after all."

How dare he! Who was he to criticize her understanding of their daughter?! Hadn't she been the primary care-giver for her all her life? Wasn't it she who stood vigil at her bedside when she was sick? Wasn't it she that tarried through her limitations at school; endlessly fighting against a school system that wanted to label her "slow" or "mentally disabled "? Who was it that taught Ella her colors, numbers, shapes and how to read? Who could recall the names of Ella's friends, hobbies, teachers, and medical records? Who was the confidant privy to Ella's hopes and dreams – her biggest fears – of what she wanted out of life? It surely wasn't Frank!

She leaned forward to increase the severity of what she was about to say. She tried to remain calm, remembering that her list of available alibis were running short.

"You mean that I should warn her, based on my personal experience, that some desperate man may put something in her drink, causing her to lose consciousness and then have sex with her against her will ? "

"Scarlett…. please " , Frank pleaded.

"And then I should educate her on how horrible it would be if she wound up pregnant and be forced into marrying the scum that raped her?"

He covered his face in mortification and shame. This was the first time she had ever said that word out loud to him. That word …. rape. He hated himself for what he did; praying continually for redemption from the sin of committing that horrible act against the older sister of his fiancé ; for the sin and crime of forcefully taking her as she lay unconscious.

v

He was less than pleased when he was stationed at a navy base on the coast of Georgia. It was a true let down after spending three years in Hawaii, but when you're given orders, you just accept them. His spirits were somewhat lifted when he and some of his fellow soldiers from the base went out for a good time in downtown Atlanta.

They ended up at a local bar, one of those trendy places where you had to pay a cover to get in. The kind Frank never frequented. Frank was at least ten years older than the crowd in here, and decided upon entry that he would hate it here. The music was unbearably loud and the room was filled with smoke and the pungent odor of sick and alcohol. As he didn't want to appear boring or elderly to his shipmates , he decided that his only choice was to spend the time here sitting by the bar , drinking the cheap house beer they had on tap.

" This is the last time I go out with twenty-somethings " he thought to himself.

Out of the corner of eye he spotted a girl. She was young, very young – barely legal even and was dancing with a group of girls around the same age, spinning and gyrating in a manner that made It evident that she was drunk. From what he could see in the limited visibility available , he could tell that she was pretty , in a youthful, jovial way. Her hair was long and straight, falling mid length to her back. She was tall and lean with long legs and a small waist. He sat there just gazing at her body as she moved and swayed to the music, convinced that his voyeurism was veiled in the darkness …..and then , she rose her head and met his eyes with her own. Frank could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks and sweat beads form on his forehead as the eye contact continued.

She began walking up to him , stumbling a little as she came closer. He was sure that she was coming to berate him for being a creepy old guy getting off on girls young enough to be his daughter and desperately tried to conjure up an excuse for his perverted behavior.

"I thought I should introduce myself , since you've been undressing me with your eyes for a while now" she said leaning on the bar for support.

She held out her small hand to him, " I'm Suellen"

He remained silent. Never once , in all of his life, had a woman so pretty as this come up to him –purposefully - with the intention of introducing herself.

" ….And you are ?... "she probed , unthwarted by his recent muteness.

"Sorry. Frank …my name's Frank."

She was standing so close to him that he could smell the fragrance of her shampoo lingering in her strawberry blonde hair." Oh, how delicious she smells "he thought. For the last couple of months all that filled his nostrils was the musky odor of men confined in the small spaces of a Navy vessel. The clean, fresh scent of this slip of a girl was a welcome change.

He then observed how pretty she truly was. She was slender with an oval shaped face and deep set brown eyes that made her appear to be even younger than the twenty-one years she claimed to be. Her small mouth, which to some may have appeared to be too small for her face, he saw as perfect…. and completely kissable.

That meeting led to a dinner date the next weekend. That date led to many more… and after numerous dates and six months later…. a marriage proposal.

Three days after she had said yes, he met the illustrious older sister.

Suellen hadn't ever spoken much about her family; only that her mother had died when she was little and that she was the middle child of three girls. He had met her little sister a time or two, had brief encounters with her father and mammy, but he had never caught a glimpse of the eldest.

One evening as he walked up the steps to Suellen's family home, he heard the unfamiliar sound of a little boy's voice. He guessed that they were entertaining a family friend or relative as he was certain that there were no little children living in her home. He stuck his head through the unlocked front door and called out.

"Hello? Sue? Anybody home? It's me. "

No one answered his call and he tentatively crossed the threshold of his fiance's home. He heard muffled voices coming from the back of the house and moved toward the familiar sound of Suellen's voice. He then felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He had been hit with something … something hard and with force. He grabbed his shoulder as he looked for his unknown attacker.

"You dead. I's killed you" his would-be assassin proudly boasted. The little boy appeared to be three or four and had little resemblance to Suellen. He was a cute, freckled little guy - with a mess of chestnut colored hair and big brown eyes. He wondered who he belonged to. Before he could ask the little boy his name, Suellen rushed into the room, pulling the child away from him by the arm and yanking the rubber-band gun from his hand.

"Wade! You little shit! Don't shoot this at people!" she yelled.

His big brown eyes welled up with tears as he tried to pull his arm free. " You's hurting me aunt Sue. My arm is hurtin' " His cried grew louder as he sobbed out of pain and fear, twisting and turning his arm that was tightly held in his aunt's grasp.

His cries must have alerted someone upstairs, as a door was heard opening and closing followed by the pounding of another set of footsteps, sounding heavy and forceful as they absconded the broken and beaten white stairway in the front entry of the large home.

"Take your hands off my son, right now Suellen "

The unmistakable southern drawl of a woman was heard, dripping heavily with sweetness yet smooth and stealthily serious.

Suellen threw the little arm loose, freeing the small boy to run for the safety of his mother.

"Mama…." He sobbed as he lifted his arms for his mother to pick him up; immediately wrapping his small arms around her neck and crying into her shoulder. "It's okay baby. It's okay, I'm right here… stop crying" she said in an attempt to soothe and placate her son. "Aunt Sue was just playing. She was just pretending to be the bad guy and grabbed your arm."

He raised his eyes to meet his mother's "Really, mama?"

"Yes, really … but it's time to wash up before dinner, so I'll have to get her for you ….. and I promise you ….. I'll get her good " , she said with a murderous glare and stealthy voice aimed at her sister.

Pleased with his mother's explanation, he bounced up the stairs to wash his hands and face before dinner, leaving the three adults in the room alone. His mother held up her finger as to indicate she demanded a momentary silence and glanced upstairs to be sure her son was out of earshot before walking calmly up to where Frank and Suellen stood.

"If you ever lay a hand on him again, I will break your fucking arm! What are thinking, grabbing him like that!? He's barely four years old, Suellen! "

"Well, he doesn't listen at all Scarlett. He runs around this house like a lunatic! "Suellen seethed at her sister.

"And that's when you come get me. I will punish him. Not you!" She came up to her sister practically nose to nose. " I warn you, you better never , and I mean never, grab him like that again. Because if you do I promise, you WILL regret it. Do I make myself clear, Suellen?"

The two women stared daggers at each other, their hatred for each filling the air. "Yes, Scarlett...whatever you say …."

Scarlett lifted her head and walked past her sister, purposefully slamming into her shoulder as she did so.

"I suppose he acts that way because he doesn't have a father!" Sue loudly proclaimed for all to hear. Scarlett stopped in her tracks. She stood motionless for a moment, contemplating the various ways in which to murder her sister and wallowing in the truth of her statement about Wade's lack of a father. Her child did not have a father. He didn't even understand the meaning of the word. As hard as she tried, there were some areas in his life she was unable to fill.

Throughout the entire exchange, Frank remained silent. He didn't know how to respond to a situation like this. His Suellen, the one he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with wasn't mean or hateful, and she certainly didn't treat children like this. Frank loved children and would often daydream of the day he and Sue would be blessed with their own little bundle of joy. The shrill woman standing beside him made him contemplate his decisions.

And her sister…. He was transfixed on her. She was nothing like Sue physically at all. He wondered if they had different fathers- or mothers even, as he was unable to identify any familial resemblance in them. Suellen could be described as the fresh-faced girl next door – with her strawberry blonde hair and big brown eyes …but.… the sister - with her black curls and bewitching green eyes … she was the seductive temptress you fantasized was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of Suellen's voice as she berated her older sister.

"I fucking hate Scarlett"

"So, her name's Scarlett…. Fitting "he thought.

"She thinks she's so great. She' nothing more than a whore with a little bastard son. She doesn't scare me at all."

"Scarlett…" he repeated in his head.

For the next couple of months, Frank saw Scarlett sporadically, never more than for a few minutes at a time. But each time he was in her presence, he took in as much of her as he could. He had never, in all his life, seen someone so beautiful. Thankfully she was unaware of his prolonged glances and never paid him much attention, only smiling briefly at him or answering his questions with as few words as possible.

It was in these rare moments when he could watch her without her noticing, he saw beyond the tough exterior she presented. He saw her devotion to her father and Mammy, her care she gave to her youngest sister, the sweet tenderness she had with her little son. He saw the way she beamed with pride as he brought her the small rabbits and doves he had collect while hunting with the farmhand, Will. On the nights Frank spent with Sue, he could clearly hear her walking the halls as she checked on her little boy throughout the night, sometimes singly softly to him when he would awake from a bad dream. He could hear her as she gently walked her father back to his bed or the sound of her quiet laughter as she talked to Mammy. Her hidden softness made Frank want her even more.

But he loved Sue. He knew he did. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her; what he felt for Scarlett was nothing more than pure lust.

But it was a lust that penetrated his every waking moment. He fantasized about her and what it would be like to run his hands through her raven locks, to gaze into those green eyes as he moved on top of her, to feel her soft, white skin- to kiss her - to taste her. The image of her writhing in ecstasy beneath him even crept into his mind during the intimate moments he spent with Suellen, causing him to panic at the fear that he might call out Scarlett's name as he reached his peak.

Scarlett was a demon that possessed his very soul. A tumor he needed to remove from his life. He deduced that the only way to eradicate the green-eyed vixen from his mind was to act out his fantasies one time and then put it all behind him, moving on with his life.

While in basic training for the military, he had a deathly fear of heights. His fear was so intense that he prepared to leave the military under dishonorable discharge if need be. The therapist assigned to his barracks (newly appointed thanks to the recent spotlight on PTSD) explained to him that the only way to overcome his fear, was to face it head-on – and it had worked. He was sure that this approach would apply here perfectly as well.

The problem was how to bed an unwilling Scarlett and keep it a secret from the rest of the world – especially Suellen.

In October of that year, Sue's family had thrown the couple an engagement bar-b-que, inviting almost everyone in the county. Most of the people he had never even met before. His only invited guests were his sister and his commanding officer in the Navy. But the fact that Sue was so happy to be the center of attention, made him not mind that he felt as if he was a stranger at his own party.

After a mind-numbing amount of small talk with the abundant amount of family friends and relatives of the O' Hara's, he retreated to a small alcove a few feet from the bar.

"Are you hiding … or contemplating running away? "

There she stood in front of him smiling. "Good Lord, she's gorgeous "he thought as he savored the image of his future sister in law in her simple green dress.

"I just don't know most of the people here"

"Well, over there are the twins, Stu and Brent – they're rowdy, but super sweet. Over there are the Fontaines. The old lady we call the "Old Miss ", and the younger woman seated next to her is "young miss "she said as she began explaining who the guests foreign to him were, adding funny tidbits along the way or impersonations of the person she was describing.

"Hello Scarlett." A blonde haired young man said as he approached them. "You look beautiful, as always… And you must be Frank "he said as he thrust his hand forward for him to shake never taking his eyes off Scarlett.

Scarlett introduced the men to one another, keeping care to avoid eye contact with the man she identified as Ashley Wlikes. She quickly excused herself and left them in conversation with one another as she sought out his wife, Melanie.

When he saw Scarlett again, hours later, she was obviously upset. For the rest of the night she clung to his side, almost as if for protection or busied herself cleaning up after the guests at the party.

When the last guest had left and a drunken Suellen was led off to bed, he joined Scarlett in restoring some semblance of normalcy to the back property of their ramshackle plantation.

" Thank you , Frank " she sadly smiled at him as began clearing the discarded plates of left over food.

" Is everything okay Scarlett ? You seem upset about something ." he questioned as placed several folded chairs against the wall to the back patio.

She took in a deep breath " I just want to forget this night even happened "

Frank took that as an omen. She wanted to forget …. And he had the magic pill that could make it a reality for her. He was surprised how easy is was to obtain the small pill from the seedy under-life in Atlanta- It was easy …too easy really. Mostly he was surprised at the affluence and respectability of the distributor and how nonchalantly he gave him the item, giving him a disgusting smirk as he did so.

He briefly contemplated his course of action, questioning if she truly wouldn't remember anything and estimated his chances of getting away with his merciless planned act of violence.

She was just so tempting. Even now, acting so solemn and withdrawn, he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Yes, this was the only solution. After tonight, he would forget her, forget how she stirred in him the feelings of desire and passion he never knew he possessed.

As she began removing the white linen tablecloths off the tables, he took the initiative, briefly pouring the pill's white granules into her temporarily abandoned glass of wine.

Soon Scarlett began to have trouble standing, her speech was slurring into incoherent syllables, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. She felt her eyes flutter in a struggle to keep open; her thick black lashes beginning to weigh heavily upon her delicate eyelids. Her arms and legs seemed to be weighed down by some invisible anchor tethered to her limbs, causing her limbs to sink into an unseen deluge, gaping its invisible mouth as she was being entirely consumed.

Frank. She noticed Frank. Gathering all of her fleeting strength, she attempted to reach out for him.

" Frank…he..lp….me " she struggled to say before collapsing into his arms.

As he caught her, he looked into her face: helpless and peaceful in this forced unconsciousness. He knew she was unhappy- deeply plagued by some unmentioned trauma. In sleep, her face relaxed. The lines of worry that often crossed her brow had vanished and the tension in her jaw disappeared – momentarily freeing her from the burdens she carried. He felt horrible about what he had just done and what he had thought of doing. He changed his mind and lifted her small frame in his arms, determined to place her safely in her bed, abandoning all devious thoughts he had harbored against her. But when her lips parted softly letting out a whispering sigh, he felt the overpowering sensation in his groin that overcame him whenever she was in his presence. If he any hope, any hope at all, of living a happy life with Suellen – or any woman for that matter- he had to expunge her from his being. One time. That's all it would take. One time. "She would never notice, never even know what happened. This is for her benefit as well as mine.", he repeated to himself.

He carried her limp body to the overgrown orchard, out of view in its secluded location. He slung, in the crook of his arm, an old blanket he had tucked away in the dark crevasses of the back porch. He laid it down, attempting to smooth out the frayed edges as he gently placed her down. As he brushed back the black curls that had fallen across her pale skin, he traced the outline of her lips with his finger. Feeling the need to kiss her, he attempting to force open her slightly parted lips with his tongue. He opened her blouse to marvel at what had been denied to him and to every other male who had laid eyes upon her. He caressed her neck, chest, and torso.

It was then that he took her. Took her unconscious and unwilling body, filling her emptiness with his acrid and putrid ejaculate moments after he had begun. He rested his forehead against hers, savoring the last moments inside her, smelling the fragrance of her hair, the sweetness of her breath. He quickly readjusted her undergarments and re-buttoned her blouse in an attempt to make it appear that she had simply fallen asleep in the soft underbrush of the orchard. Gently removing the blanket from underneath her, he kissed her red lips one last time before disappearing into the night.

She awoke the next day to the bright sun streaks penetrating through the branches of the trees in the orchard. She was immersed in a bed of soft, sweet smelling grass and ripe peaches. The birds within the branches softly chirped their good morning to her as she adjusted her eyes to her surroundings. She realized she was outside lying in the morning dew covered blades of grass. As she lifted her head, she felt the piercing sharp pains that always accompanied an intense headache. She sat up, pondering how she had arrived at her present state of dishevel.

She had large gaps in her memory of the previous night's events; only remembering that she had felt very drunk, drunker than she had ever been in her entire life. She berated herself, as she believed that she had passed out in her drunken state and spent the night outside as a result. When she moved to get up, she noticed it : The sticky residue that coated her inner thighs, the soreness in her pelvic region, the discharge that filled her underwear… she placed her hand over her mouth in mortification of the evidence of her act of intimacy with someone-outside -where anyone could have seen -even her son- and the fact that she had no idea who it was.

For the next six weeks, Frank strutted around like a peacock. His plan was a success, he had slept with Scarlett and he had purged her from his mind. His life would go on as planned. He would marry his Suellen, live a life of normalcy and contentment, never giving Scarlett any thought other than that of a loving brother. Of course, he still found her desperately beautiful, he reasoned he always would; but he longer felt the pressing need to have her, to conquer her body. The reality of sleeping with her was vastly different than the elaborate imagery he had thought that it would be (never of course, never taking into account that the experience would have been much different had she been conscious). She acted no differently towards him. She didn't remember anything. She was still her indifferent self, never giving a thought to him unless it was to flash her dimpled smile his way when she wanted something from him. He began calling her his sister, even making her laugh from time to time with his absurd antidotes. He continued to enjoy his role as loving uncle to little Wade and that of protective big brother to Careen. His intimate moments with Suellen came alive as well. He was fully present and able to enjoy the physical love given to him by the woman he loved. He had found his place at last: with four women, a wailing toddler, and drunken Irishman. All was well, and Frank, for the first time in his life- felt at peace with the world.

Then the bottom fell out ….

He found her sitting on the back porch of the house, dangling her feet off the edge as she wiped the large tears that fell from her eyes. Her bent head and slumped shoulders made her slight body seems as though it were collapsing inwardly- as if she were trying to make herself as invisible as possible in an attempt to remove herself from the world.

" Scarlett, what's wrong ? " he said as he sat beside her, ignoring the light fresh smell of her perfume.

She said nothing , only shaking her head as if to say " no, please leave me alone " He could see she was upset. Her green eyes were bright and swollen from crying.

" Whatever it is , you can tell me "

She bent her head in shame as she blurted out the words ," I'm pregnant " .

Frank felt his heart begin beat rapidly as she recounted how she came to this recent discovery. Why hadn't he thought of using protection? He had incorrectly assumed that Scarlett was on the pill. Weren't all women?

She was six weeks pregnant, causing her to pin-point the date of conception as the night of the engagement party. She couldn't hold back her tears as she confessed to him that she had slept with someone that night , but in her overly drunken state couldn't recall who that person even was.

She pleaded and begged for him not to tell anyone, to never reveal what she had just told him.

"But eventually people will find out. What will you say when the baby is born? Who will you say is the father?" Frank asked as he peered across the fields of Tara, unable to look the woman he raped, and who was now carrying his child , in the face.

"I'm not going to tell them anything because I'm not having this baby. I have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow afternoon."

"What kind of appointment?"

" What kind of appointment do you think, Frank. I just told you – I'm not having this baby."

Frank felt his heart drop. His baby… his forever wanted baby …. She was removing it from her body. His child was in her , growing already, its little heart beating , getting bigger every day and she was going to rid herself of it.

"Scarlett, please don't do that. I beg you. "

"Frank, didn't you hear what I just said?! I have no idea who the father of this child even is… not one clue! How could I have a second baby without a father? I struggle so much as it is with one child on my own …. imagine if I had two! I can't Frank…even if I wanted to, I just can't have this baby".

He pressed closer to her, his breathing heavier as he gripped tightly onto her hands." Please Scarlett, please have this baby. I'll help you. I'll pay for everything. You or this baby won't want for a thing, I swear. I'll be by your side the entire time."

She furrowed her brows in wonder of the reason behind his extreme level of concern. She knew Frank was a nice guy, but this sanctimonious reaction was even beyond him.

" Why are you so interested in this baby ? Why would you want to pay for everything? This has nothing to do with you."

"Because " he stammered ," because I care about you …. You're my friend…and….."

" No, that doesn't make any sense " she interrupted "Tell me the truth Frank. Why does this baby mean so much to you ? Why do you care if I have the baby? Why would you be so generous to pay for everything and help me care for it ? You know that Suellen would never agree to that , yet you still offer it ? Why ? "

He couldn't raise his face to look at her. He fixed his gaze on the red dirt beneath his feet as his breathing became audibly louder.

In an instant, she understood. The bile rose in her throat, filling her mouth with warm sick as she processed the truth and horror of the information.

"It was you, wasn't it ? You're the father, aren't you?" she whispered through ragged breaths.

He remined silent , unable to form a coherent thought or sentence.

"Aren't you ?! " she screamed at him , demanding an answer.

"Yes ."

" How did this even happen?! How did I get so drunk that I slept with my sister's fiancé on the night of her engagement party ?! Does Suellen know!? TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED, FRANK!"

She was standing now, her small frame towering over Frank as he seemed to crumple up in fear and disgust.

" I …. I made you that drunk"

"HOW ?!"

" I put something ….. into your drink …and …."

She was shaking at the understanding of it all. Frank, the man she thought to be her friend, the one she confided in and sought for help had drugged and raped her. She was now carrying the evidence of his evil act; pregnant with some sort of amoeba. Not a child, for children were conceived consensually; this …thing….. was forced upon her in an ugly, treacherous way. It was sub-human, feeding off her body in the treacherous way foreign bodies did when inside human beings.

It was at that moment that nausea overtook her and she lurched the contents of her stomach into the neglected rose bush planted at the base of the porch. Frank tried to help her, attempting to wipe away the remnants of sick that has spilled onto her shirt, holding her so that she wouldn't lose her balance.

Wearily she rose to face him, blaring into his face with eyes that shone like orbs of green fire in her pale face. Shaking off his hands she seethed at him," If you put your hands on me again, I will rip your fucking throat out ."

The next day, Frank's thoughts were singularly on the fact that his baby would never be born, that today, Scarlett would rid herself of his child. He was unable to focus on anything, never once even thinking of the legal repercussions of his actions on the devastation this would cause on his relationship with Suellen. He fumbled with the blueprints of his planned store, desperately attempting to occupy his thoughts with anything other than his mess of a life. It was a valiant, but futile attempt. Running his hands through his hair, he glanced up and saw Scarlett standing before him.

" Scarlett. What … When did you… How ….. "

"Are you okay ?" was finally all he was able to verbalize.

She stoically sat before him , presenting herself to him in a manner he had seen her use when speaking with Suellen. " I have a business proposition for you. And I believe it's in your best interest to accept it ."

Frank sat silently , unsure and afraid to say anything.

" I didn't have the abortion. I'm still pregnant ."

Frank couldn't contain his elation as he rushed over to her , kneeling by her lap , promising that he would do whatever it took to provide for their baby.

" I know you will " she replied without emotion.

" I refuse to have another child with the stigmata of bastard attached to it. I will not expose this baby to the stupidity of others or to the shameful looks and whispers that will no doubt come as the true story of how this baby was conceived comes out. This child will have a father and will be born legitimatly to loving parents "

Frank was puzzled. What did she mean by loving parents and legitimate?

"You're getting married? Do you mean you're going to try and pass the baby off as belonging to another man…..or will he know he's not the father?"

Scarlett closed her eyes, realizing the nightmare of what she was about to subject herself to.

" You're an idiot Frank , you know that ? We , you and I , are getting married – today ."

"What ?" Frank was sure he misunderstood her.

"We are getting married - so I need you to gather up your birth certificate and social security card immediately. I am not having this baby without being married to its father. And since you are the father, as horrible as that may be - it means I have to marry you. You will be the one to tell my dear sister that you and I fell desperately in love, and could no longer ignore of intense feelings we had for one another and convinced me to elope. We will stay married, appearing to everyone as a loving couple all throughout my pregnancy and for a few months after the baby is born, where then, you and I will divorce on the grounds of mental instability - yours , not mine. Upon which you will dispense to me half of your assets , carry the baby on your insurance until adulthood, agree to me as the full custodial parent, as well as agreeing to pay a large sum of child support monthly until our child turns eighteen. You will never utter a word of what happened that night of the party to anyone, especially our child, as long as you live. "

" What if I refuse ? " he quietly stated , purposing avoiding her eyes.

" Then I'll tell everyone how you drugged and raped me. It doesn't matter if I can't legally bring you to justice- although I'm confident I could - the court of public opinion will crucify you. I'll gladly submit to a DNA test the moment the baby is born. I'll place a copy of the results in every damn mailbox in Atlanta. Look at you! Do you honestly think people would believe that I would willingly let some disgusting piece of filth like you touch me ?! They'll all know the truth. All of your family , your friends, your business associates – everyone. Everything will be gone, everything you worked for – destroyed. You think my sister will still want you if she knew what you were capable of? You think anyone would? You'll even be dishonorably discharged from the military , stripped of your rank and sent off in shame. And your baby – your darling child – will grow up hating you for what you did to its mother as you will watch from a distance as he or she grows , never allowing you to be a part of their life.

You did this Frank, now you're going fix it…. Do we have a deal?"

v

When she arrived home later that evening, Scarlett immediately went to her daughter's bedroom. She gently knocked on the door with the back of her knuckles.

" Ella. It's mom, may I come in ? "

Scarlett heard the tumble of footsteps as her daughter came to open the door. She was greeted as always with Ella's bright smile and pink cheeks.

" You and I , young lady, need to have a talk."