Well here it is, shiny like a new penny.

"When are you going to tell her Marcos?" Rosalina quietly asked Marcos as they sat watching the dwindling fire in the sitting room.

"You don't think I've tried to tell her that I have to go? That I don't know if and when I will return?" Marcos replied exhaustedly. He added quietly, "This is her favorite place in the entire world, she's truly happy here, I don't want to cast a shadow over our visit."

"So let her stay here, I'll stay with her," Rosalina said as she glanced out the window to see a few snowflakes falling.

"Truly? You would do that for me?" Marcos asked as he stared at his cousin, carefully watching her nonverbal cues.

"Marcos, I would do anything for you, and more than that for Scarlett," Rosalina answered as she stared back at him, honesty shining through her dark eyes. "But I don't know if we can stay here. I do not think Suellen likes me very much."

"That's just the way she is, or maybe she's as suspicious of you as Will is of me," Marcos sighed, he was desperately trying to blend in with these people. Every effort seemed to alienate him even further, it was the most frustrating experience. "What if I convince her to return to Boston?"

"Boston? I'm no sure that's the best idea. Who knows what the people will tell her," Rosalina said quickly.

Marcos understood the unspoken warning, remember the scorned bride and her family.

"Is there anywhere else she'd consider staying? Perhaps close to Tara?" Rosa asked

"Well there's the city of Atlanta," Marcos offered enthusiastically, before adding dejectedly, "but she's sworn she'd never return under any circumstance. You should recall the Chronicles of Rhett Butler occurred in that city."

"Marcos! What a thing to say…" Rosa scolded her cousin, before becoming thoughtful. "What about Savannah? Ella attends school there, perhaps Scarlett would be willing to move there."

"Savannah? That's still quite far," Marcos commented as he imagined the journey.

"Did you hear that?" Rosa asked as she nervously looked around to see if anyone had overheard them. Although the only person who would understand them was Scarlett, Rosa was nervous, it was very late at night but she had needed to know what Marcos was planning.

"I heard nothing, don't be so paranoid. I'll talk to Scarlett. I will tell her everything tomorrow, and she can make the decision of where she'd like to spend her time," Marcos said as he stood at the window, watching the snow. "She's been arguing with Sue more now that Wade and Ella have left for school once more. I'm sure she won't mind leaving again. She needs the city life more than she knows."

Rosa nodded in agreement. She left the room quietly. Leaving Marcos to his thoughts.

"Scarlett, we must speak today, no more of you "well think of it tomorrow" business," Marcos said as e took her aside while they left the dining room after a very pleasant supper.

"As you wish, we'll speak," Scarlett mocked sarcastically. Marcos knew she had been avoiding the conversation, but could not understand why. He had waited as long as he could and knew that it was no longer and option to put if off.

"We'll leave the others to their afternoon routines," Marcos curtly instructed. Scarlett's evasive behavior had taken it's toll on his usually patient personality. He watched as her eyes clouded with discomfort. He sighed and began in a less angry tone, "Scarlett it's important, please let's just go upstairs. Tell them you're not feeling well, and I'll come to you in a few minutes. Please?"

"I already agreed. Why are you pushing this?" Scarlett asked, irritation clearly in her tone.

"I push because what I have to say cannot be put off any longer. And I don't want to say it here," he paused as he looked around, knowing that someone would appear, as they always did. Hearing footsteps, he finished, "See you soon my love."

He strode away, hoping to find Rosa and ask her to play along with any scheme Scarlett decided to pull. He was thankful for his cousin's presence, and all her help.

"Ah, Rosa" he greeted as he found her alone in the library. He then began rapidly in their tongue, "Scarlett has finally agreed to hear my news."

Rosa's eyes appeared relieved. Just as she opened her mouth to question him, Marcos cut her off.

"She doesn't know what, and I cannot envision any reason she would be pleased by the news, unless of course, she would like be to reunited with Rhett Butler," he chuckled awkwardly at his attempt at a joke.

Rosaline merely gave him a questioning look, before saying, "You should go to her now."

"You're right," he gave her a quick hug before leaving the room.

Walking through the oddly deserted ground floor, Marcos wondered where everyone had gone. Slowly ascending the stairs, listening for clues, he heard voices coming from the room he and Scarlett shared.

He sighed tiredly, before taking a deep breath and entering the room.

"Ah! Here you all are, I'd wondered where everyone had gone," Marcos exclaimed in false happiness.

"Marcos! I told them I felt a little ill, and I wanted to lie down for a bit, and they've been making a fuss," Scarlett complained as she gestured to her sister and Mammy.

Marcos wanted to laugh at Scarlett's frustration, and then felt guilty for putting her in this situation. He stood at the foot of the bed, "Well thank you for you trouble, but I'm sure all she needs is rest."

"Are you a doctor?" Suellen sarcastically questioned.

"No, but I speak from experience," Marcos answered calmly. "There were days when she felt ill during our travels, but after a nap was perfectly fine."

Suellen appeared off put, and Mammy gave Marcos a knowing look. It took all of Marcos' self control to maintain his serious countenance.

Scarlett took the awkward silence as an opportunity to speak, "I told you! A few extra hours of sleep and I'll be fine."

Marcos watched as Suellen appeared to choke back a nasty comment, which was a marvelous feat in itself, before speaking, "Well I suppose we'll be going now. Feel better Scarlett."

Mammy was visibly shocked, but quickly followed Suellen out nonetheless.

"Marcos! I can't believe I had to put up with that, just so you could get me alone, " Scarlett fumed as she glared angrily at Marcos.

Marcos smiled weakly and prepared himself for what he knew would come. "Scarlett I must leave, for Sicily."

Scarlett stopped her angry tirade, "What?"

"I must return to my mother's home, immediately. There's trouble brewing, and I'd like to ensure my mother's safety," Marcos explained as quickly as he could, watching the emotions flicker in Scarlett's eyes.

"Are you leaving tonight? Tomorrow? How long will you be gone? Will you be safe? What of Rosa? And the twins!" Scarlett's voice rose with each question.

Marcos sat beside her, embracing her. Holding her as though she was the most precious object in the world. After a few moments of closeness he separated from her and looked into her eyes, "Scarlett I cannot lie to you. It is not safe back there. You remember we did not venture into towns and kept to my grandfather's villa, away from everyone?"

Scarlett nodded.

"Well now it is not even safe there, my stepfather is being harassed. They want to make an example of him, they've gone so far as to take my brother," Marcos revealed in a low voice.

Scarlett's eyes grew wide, and asked the simple question, "Who?"

"Ettore…" Marcos answered quietly, he watched as Scarlett's features displayed the obvious shock she felt.

"Why he was only a boy when we were there," she whispered.

"He's the pride of his father, of course they'd take him," Marcos raged as he paced the floor.

"What about your grandfather?" Scarlett asked.

"He says he will have nothing to do with this. He thinks you must pay for your deeds, and this is what my stepfather deserves," Marcos growled. "So I will go, and bring Ettore, and the rest of my siblings here."

Scarlett's eyes grew wide with realization, remembering what happened to Rosalina's husband, she asked quietly, "You aren't going to die, are you?"

"Scarlett, I can't make you any promises," Marcos answered truthfully as he got up from the chair, unable to bear the looks she was giving him.

"Marcos! You can't go, you can't leave me, I… I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you," Scarlett whispered as the reality of the situation settled over her.

"You'll be fine, you're a very strong woman, and Rosa will be here with you," Marcos reasoned for her, as he stood at the window. Afraid if he saw what he was doing to her he would never leave, and that would be a far worse fate for the both of them.

"Rosa?" Scarlett murmured. "She can't stay here… Suellen complains as it is."

"Well, shall I take her with me?" Marcos asked, hoping Scarlett would scorn the idea.

Scarlett was quiet in thought. After a few moments she began slowly, "I don't want to be alone again. Will and Sue they're nice but Rosa understands. But I'd rather not return to Boston, perhaps we could find a house of our own, somewhere close."

Marcos was thankful for that small victory. He was happy he knew her well enough to know how her mind worked. He turned to face her, "Yes, if that will make you happy."

Scarlett looked at him strangely before stating, "The only thing that will make me happy is you coming back to me. Or better yet, not going at all."

Marcos sighed yet again, "Scarlett, believe me, if I didn't have to go… I wouldn't."

Scarlett nodded and her expressions revealed the deep thinking process occurring.

"How do you feel about Savannah?" she asked quite suddenly.

"Hmm… Why Savannah?" Marcos asked, curious as to why she chose that particular city and how she arrived at it so quickly.

"Well Ella is there, it's near the sea so there are plenty of fish, and maybe you can manage whatever business you need from the docks there, and both my parents lived in Savannah before coming to Tara," Scarlett rattled off the reasons.

Smiling at her obviously nervous explanation, Marcos warmly replied, "Well if it's that perfect, we will indeed move to Savannah."

As always, thanks for the reviews.