A/N: I'm happy to see so many of you have enjoyed Rhett's perspective so thoroughly! I must admit it's fun for me to get inside his logical, albeit sometimes irrational mind.

Now for the chapter whose title I feel needs little explanation...

Chapter 26: Clash of the Titans

Atlanta was teeming with raw energy as Rhett Butler stepped off the train into the mid-day sunlight. Flagging down a chauffeur proved to be difficult with the on-slot of fellow passengers trying to get a last minute ride to their destinations, but he was eventually able to settle into a wood carriage that appeared to be as old as its owner. The wizened old man had obviously seen better days, but he still had a friendly face and a kind demeanor that Rhett took to.

"Where can I take you, sir?" the old man asked as they pulled out of the station.

"Peachtree Street," Rhett replied distractedly as he started to notice the stares of the people on the street as he passed. Some were glaring, others looked surprised, and some looked totally confused. The array of emotions that were facing him was baffling, but he just continued to tip his hat politely with a cool disinterest that was irking more people than it was placating. Everyone in town must know about Scarlett and Ashley being together, Rhett thought with irritation. No wonder so many are confused by my being here.

"Peachtree, eh? May I ask what your business is there?" he asked. To most people in polite society, this question would be considered rude and out of place, but Rhett didn't mind. Having started plenty of conversations with comments much ruder than his, he barely considered the question impolite at all.

"Paying a visit to someone," he replied being deliberately evasive wondering if the old man could fill him in on the latest whisperings thinking he was just passing through and the passing of information to him would cause no harm.

"Ah, I see. Do you visit often?" the old man inquired.

"As often as my schedule permits. Why do you ask?" Rhett asked deciding to take the lead of the conversation.

"It just seems as if everyone knows ya is all," he remarked curiously.

"Yes, I've made quite the reputation for myself here," he said through laughter.

"Your reputation can't be too bad. I ain't heard ill words spoken of a visitor such as yourself," the old man chuckled in return.

"Then I haven't been living up to my expectations!" Rhett exclaimed. They both got a good laugh before he continued.

"So tell me, Mr..." Rhett lagged for him to finish.

"Paul," he injected.

"Mr. Paul, who does have a reputation that precedes them here?" he asked knowing this was his chance to catch up on the town gossip before he arrived to the depraved couple.

"This town seems to speak of nothin' but reputations. I cannot begin to tell you how many reputations I have heard smeared in my carriage and none more than that Butler family. I think I know more about that damn family than my own," he proclaimed.

"I'm sure you do," Rhett chortled. "Do you mind my asking what slander you've heard of them?"

"Anything awful you can think of has been attached to that family. From what I gather, they had the most terrible fights and never seemed to get along. Such a shame. I would think that to hate someone that much, you would have to love them with the same amount of passion," the replied with such sadness you would assume that he felt the family's pain personally.

The wizened old man's last statement caused Rhett pause. He did love Scarlett with such intensity that it hurt to think about it, but never had he thought to put the shoe on the other foot. The love and hate he had towards her were like two sides of the same coin. Perhaps Scarlett was only now seeing the love side of the coin after only knowing the hate for years. Rhett might have been more forgiving of her if it wasn't for her current position.

"Wiser words have never been spoken, Mr. Paul. So am I to assume they are still going at it like cats and dogs?" he asked pressing forward.

"Oh, no. You see, he left her several months ago right after their child and a close friend of hers died. I hear he comes back periodically but no one really knows for what. No one had heard from her or seen her for months until last week when she... well..." he trailed off with a faint smile on his face as he turned onto Peachtree Street.

"Until what?" Rhett asked with mounting curiosity. She had apparently done something to stir up controversy before heading to Charleston and he wondered if it had to do with Ashley.

"Well, she... umm... well she was on a train when Mrs. Merriwether and Mrs. Meade saw her and just as she was about to leave she... well... she stuck her tongue out at them," he said quickly knowing it was improper to speak of such disgraces but he failed in his attempt to hide how humorous he thought the gesture was.

"She WHAT!?" Rhett cried through his hearty laughter. The image of her doing it floated into his mind and he could not contain how hilarious he thought it was; it was quintessential Scarlett.

"You heard right," the old man managed through laughter. "And if I dare to say so, no one deserved it more than those nosy old bats."

"You may dare to say so as long as I am permitted to agree with you," he replied still laughing. Mr. Paul was a welcomed relief from the horrifying reason Rhett was there and he was sad he was about to leave him. He enjoyed his company tremendously and would have likely tried to befriend him had he lived in Atlanta.

"This is my stop, Mr. Paul," Rhett said as they pulled up in front of the Peachtree mansion filled with bad memories and still to be discovered harsh realities.

"I always wondered who lived here. Do you mind my asking?" he inquired as Rhett got off of the carriage and made his way around to Mr. Paul's side.

"Certainly not. The infamous Butlers live here," he remarked looking up to the old man to see his reaction.

"You're here visiting the Butlers?" he practically coughed out in shock. His expression clearly showed he feared that he had said far too much to this stranger visiting the Butlers.

"Sort of. Thank you for entertaining me for the last few minutes Mr. Paul. It was a pleasure meeting you," he said knowing that it was one of the few times he actually meant it. Rhett extended his hand to Mr. Paul with a bill in his hand far larger than what was actually owed.

"Of course. And thank you Mr..." Mr. Paul left hanging in the air for him to finish as he took his hand and the bill whose value he failed to see.

"Rhett Butler," he replied with a warm smile. Mr. Paul's jaw dropped and he looked as if he saw a ghost when he said his name. His reaction was amusing to Rhett and he gave him one last reassuring smile to try to convince him that he had said nothing wrong before turning around and making his way up to the path to the monstrosity Scarlett and Ashley were likely calling home.

Walking the path up to his house, he noticed that the bushes were not as finely trimmed as usual and the grass was too long. Scarlett had always been particular about having everything immaculately tended to, so the sight of the lawn and pathway looking less than perfect was perplexing. Reaching the front door, Rhett took the key out of his jacket pocket and inserted it into the door. Taking one final deep breath, he turned the key but noticed it wouldn't move.

That son of a bitch changed the locks! Rhett fumed. Not to be out done by such a simple obstacle, he set down his day bag and removed his pistol from its place on his side. Turning around to make sure no one was about to witness him breaking into his own house, he shot the lock on the door and watched as its brass pieces fell to the ground. Taking no heed for who could be in the entrance hall, he kicked the door in and marched into the house he had left only a few weeks ago.

All of his little thought-out plans of banishing Ashley and Scarlett from the place fell apart as the brass lock on the door had, when he entered. The house was deathly quiet and random pieces of furniture were missing. Rhett blinked several times in confusion thinking that his eyesight had somehow betrayed him until it settled in that something was terribly wrong.

"Scarlett," he called loudly into the house. He was greeted by no response from Scarlett, nor from a maid or house servant who was looking to see what help was needed. Rhett then went about searching the house for any trace of Scarlett and all he found was more missing furniture and a large portion of her wardrobe missing.

In an attempt to resolve how this sight could make sense, he remembered how little furniture the Wilkes' had and what pieces they did possess were far below Scarlett's standards. Scarlett, in living with Ashley, had likely forced him to replace his furniture with her own. It had probably served as a compromise since Ashley was likely the source of why they did not live in the mansion. Ashley was smart enough to realize that residing here would be a slap in the face to Rhett and testing his resolve with being indifferent towards all matters of Scarlett was likely the last thing he wanted to do.

This meant only one thing; rather than living here, they were living at Ashley's. Rhett knew that he should not go there. That now was the time to turn back to Charleston without having caused much of a stir, but a sick sadistic desire to see Scarlett with her honorable Mr. Wilkes pushed him out of the house and in the direction of the Wilkes residence. On the way there, his steps faltered only once when he realized that he did not know what his reaction to seeing them together would be, but he continued anyway.

Knocking on the door, he tried to tame the warring emotions flowing through him. He had left Scarlett, he knew she would likely come here, and yet he was still irate in attaining the knowledge. They were still married after all and the controversy of Scarlett and Ashley living together outside of wedlock would be catastrophic once it made its way into the rumor mill. It was completely unheard of and people would likely be clawing over each other to get a sight of the disgraceful couple. It was then that the door swung open with Ashley standing at the threshold.

"Rhett?" Ashley asked in confusion at seeing him standing on the porch without so much as a notice of his arrival in Atlanta.

Seeing Ashley standing in the doorway with his stupid, confused face, hearing his wistful voice, and the sight of him surrounded by luggage proved to be too much for Rhett to handle. Before he knew what happened, he had punched Ashley in the face so hard his head flew violently sideways and he landed flat on his back crying in pain.

"What the..." Ashley started angrily. His voice sounded somewhat nasally and muffled since he was covering his face in an attempt to stifle the blood pouring profusely out of his nose.

"Where I she!?" Rhett growled down at him without an ounce of remorse for what he had done.

"Where's who?" Ashley shot back as he started to stand.

"What is going on here!?" India yelled from the landing at the top of the stairs looking down on the scene.

"GO AWAY INDIA!" both yelled in unison. She glared down at the both of them and went back to her room, slamming the door shut.

"Scarlett. Where is she?" Rhett spat at Ashley as he drew level with him. He knew Scarlett's belongings had to be in the luggage before him. There was no other reason for luggage to be there.

"How would I know!? Last I knew she was in Charleston with you and the children," he flung at him. Even through Rhett's rage he found Ashley's anger fascinating; never had he seen him so angry nor did he think he was even capable of it.

"Don't lie to me Ashley. You know full well she left Charleston about a week ago and eagerly came back home to Atlanta and I'm assuming to you. Where is she?" he questioned with anger reverberating in every word.

"Why on earth would you assume she came here? Last time I saw her was at Uncle Henry's office to sign over a part of the lumber mill!" he vehemently replied, still attempting to stop the blood flow.

"What do you mean you signed over a part of the lumber mill to her? Why would you do that?" he asked with confusion that was now competing with his anger.

"That's none of your concern. Now kindly take your leave Mr. Butler," Ashley barked at him.

"Oh I will, but first tell me why all this luggage is here," he inquired menacingly.

"Because I'm heading to Charleston. I got a rather threatening letter from Scarlett that if I didn't visit soon she would attempt to gain custody of my son," he said with thick contempt.

"Serves you right. Your negligence of him has led to him wanting my company more than yours. I think I will take my leave of you now Mr. Wilkes. Good day," he replied snidely as he turned his back on Ashley and headed towards the door.

"Damn it Rhett! Are you going to say nothing of breaking my nose!?" Ashley shouted at him. Rhett's progress towards the door stopped at this comment. Fury built inside him as he turned slowly to again face the man who had caused him an insurmountable amount of pain for the better part of a decade.

"You assisted Scarlett in breaking my heart. All things considered, I would say you got the better end of the bargain," he replied smoothly with malevolence that noticeably chilled the room. Taking in the shocked and guilty expression on Ashley's face one last time, Rhett left the room and closed the front door behind him.

Walking out of the Wilkes' house, Rhett started to process all of the information he now had. Before Scarlett had left Atlanta for Charleston, she had somehow acquired a part of the lumber mill from Ashley. Why did she want a part of the lumber mill now? She had Rhett's money to take care of her. And better yet, why did she not tell him of the deal? And surely she would have taken pleasure in chastising Ashley in person for his negligence of Beau, but instead she sent a letter. Why would she do that?

His faint but apparent happiness at her not being with Ashley was overshadowed by one question: Where was Scarlett?

In the hopes of having this and many other questions answered, he made his way toward Uncle Henry Hamilton's office without knowing what answers awaited him.