Disclaimer: I do not own Gone With The Wind. Also, completely unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.

AN: For Nadya-girl, because she missed Marcos :) And apologies if there are more mistakes than usual, I wrote this quickly in a fit of inspiration.

Marcos paced the room with determination. Surely there must be a way to leave. Being imprisoned had been unexpected. Salvatore had once been a reasonable man, but when pressed with the option of capturing his best friend or losing his family, turning over his best friend had been the lesser of two evils.

While it was true that his grandfather believed that a man for his own misdeeds, no one had suspected it was Marcos' misdeeds that were being paid for. While his mother's new husband had overstepped his position a few times, it was Marcos who had made the grave mistake of not marrying the good Sicilian girl.

And furthered the error by bring Scarlett to the family estate and taking her to town. The patriarch of the offended family felt that Marcos was acting in bad taste and had set the plan in motion to have his revenge. It was all a very tangled and nasty business though, for it was Marcos' grandfather who currently held most of the power. Marcos was also the favored grandchild who could do no wrong in his grandfather's eyes. And before he had married Scarlett, there had been considerable talk about Marcos becoming the consigliere. But during his visit to Sicily he had spoke with his grandfather and they agreed to put off any immediate decision on the subject, and that Marcos could wait a few years. The rest of the family understood that despite his years away from Sicily, Marcos was Grandfather Marco's choice to lead the family at some point in the future. And the wedding his uncle had arranged was supposed to have been some sort of peace agreement between the families. When his uncle explained to the other family that Marcos had called off the wedding, but offered his own son, Gianni, things had escalated.

Marcos hit the wall in frustration. Why his uncle Giovanni had kept all this from him was displeasing. Years they had been aware that something might happen, something might befall him and keep him from his family. He wondered if Rosa knew. Rosa who had lived with her father after her husband's death. Rosa who had been so quick to send him to Sicily.

It had not felt right, the circumstances that drew him to back to Sicily. But when his Uncle Giovanni had written that Grandfather Marco wanted him as soon as possible, he had thrown caution to the wind, fearful that maybe his grandfather had taken ill. It was not that he did not care for his siblings and his mother's second husband, it had simply been that the entire situation felt suspicious and clouded. But when Grandfather called, he obeyed.

Arriving in Sicily, he had been met by his uncle Gio. And immediately taken to meet Salvatore. While he asked to see Grandfather first, Gio assured him that the business with his stepfather had to be taken care of quickly. And so Gio handed him over to Salvatore, and Salvatore took him back to his own grandfather. And after he expressed his distaste for Marcos' behavior, he sent him to the cell he now occupied. He had no idea how long he had been held, or what they planned to do with him. The man who brought him meals said nothing and never looked at him for too long. Marcos worried about Scarlett, and Rosa, and the children.

Life had seemed so brilliant before he left. A new home that they could settle into, new business ventures, Scarlett's children both accepting him into their lives, and of course Scarlett's desire to perhaps have another child. But now, trapped in a cell he worried.

There was so much at home, and he had left it all for Scarlett to carry alone. He was no better than her other husbands after he had promised to be different. And he knew she would find a way, she always found a way to continue. But he did not want her to have to start over again, he wanted to go home and be the husband he promised to be.

He realized that the seasons were changing, the winds had changed and that meant he had been held for a very long time. And he had not sent anything to Scarlett. And he knew that must be making her worry. He hoped that Rosa would be able to quell her fears for a while at least.

Days of pacing and nights of restless sleep, he thought his options over and found no reasonable solution to his situation. Either he died in his cell, or the family kills him in some meaningful way, unless his Uncle Gio tells his grandfather what happened. But given that Gio does nothing without personal gain, he knew the odds of his Grandfather being able to work it out were slim.

The sound of the lock in the door being opened startled him from his thoughts. He sat down on the floor as he had been instructed to do and waited for the man to slide the tray in and for the door to shut and lock before he would move.

However, today, someone entered the room and Marcos tried to hold back his surprise. He continued to sit as the other person shut the door.

"I'm sorry."

Marcos scoffed and looked away pointedly.

"What would you have me do, they threatened to take my family."

Marcos held his position.

"My own grandfather Marcos, I do not understand their games. I only did what I was told. I would never have mistreated you on my own accord. You know I am a simple man, and all I've ever wanted was to fish. And when they killed Rosa's husband…."

Marcos softened at this. Rosa's husband had been Salvatore's cousin. And it was true that Salvatore's grandfather's men had killed him. It was then that everyone realized Salvatore's grandfather was going to make a move to become the most powerful family, and would not stoop below giving up his own. Marcos turned to face Salvatore. "I understand the position they put you in. Just tell me this, was Ettore returned to my mother?"

"Yes," Salvatore replied. "He was never in any danger. He stayed with my family and helped me on the boat."

"That is good. I was afraid he was being held in a cell as well," Marcos said as he stood and began to pace again.

"My grandfather does not say what he wants to do with you. He holds you but has no idea what to do. Your grandfather has no idea that you are here. I have tried to find some way to tell him, but your uncle is very talented at hiding the news from you. My grandfather is waiting for yours to initiate talks. He is beginning to think that you're not as valuable as your uncle said you were. And he is growing restless."

Marcos looked at his friend and then at the door, "Who knows you are here?"

"No one, I thought of sneaking you out, but there are guards at every door these days. Fear that your grandfather may send people for you."

"Well go now, the guard will be coming soon. I thank you for the information you have given me. I do not know how long it has been since I have spoken to a person."

Salvatore touched the doorknob before turning around, "Should I continue my efforts in alerting your grandfather to your capture?"

Marcos sighed. "He will give up so much for my safe return. And I may be the cause of a new war between our families, and for that I am so deeply sorry. But I see no other way."

Salvatore nodded. "I do not believe it is solely your fault, but being who you are I know you believe that is true. I will try to see you again soon."

"Goodbye my friend," Marcos said before Salvatore slipped back out into the world outside.

AN: Double post because I missed last week. I tried to reply to reviews but decided to be finicky. So I will just say thank you to BlaqueCat13, JillieJo, Nadya-girl, Vee22, and emita1994 for reviewing last chapter. You know that reviews inspire me to continue and let me know how much this story means to you.