Author's Note Thank you for all of my loyal readers. You know that I love you and all of your reviews. Welcome to my new readers. Thanks to my amazing fact checker, and a special thanks to Desiree. Here is the scene you requested. Sorry if this chapter isn't as deep or introspective as the previous ones. This chapter needed to happen. And I think it has fun parts, and it conveys much to carry us along.

Chapter 36

Rhett grinned at Scarlett as he crawled beneath the covers, something felt lighter, more peaceful. He felt as if the world were right no matter how she might be irritated at him. But she pulled the covers up to her neck in what would to others seem like a chaste movement. But Rhett knew Scarlett better than that. His eyes glittered as he leaned over to kiss her, but she pulled away from him. "I told you that I didn't want kisses from you." Her eyes sparkled -- partly amused and only a little annoyed still with his comments from earlier.

He chuckled as he stared at her. "Well if you would prefer, I could always go see if Belle needs company tonight…"

That resulted in a piercing glare, her indignation evident in her stiff posture. "You can stay here, but you aren't getting anything from me tonight." She settled down under the covers and turned her back to Rhett who simply chuckled as he lit a cigar. Scarlett was pretending to sleep, but the truth was revealed by her breathing. She wanted Rhett frustrated, but it took so much to ruffle his feathers.

She tugged on the covers, stealing them from Rhett. He made no sound nor did he retaliate. He simply put out the light and enjoyed the peace. And so Scarlett fell soundly asleep in her warm cocoon of blankets. Rhett listened as her breathing grew deep and even. She snored slightly in her sleep. And it was then that he chose to attack, for as much as he loved Scarlett, he loved her passion as much if not more so. Her passion was what made her who she was. So with a smirk on his face, he jerked hard on the covers, stealing them back from her. She stirred in her sleep, feeling the cold rush of air that reached her with the withdrawal of the blankets. She turned over tugging at them unconsciously. But Rhett simply tugged back harder, sending her spiraling her onto the floor. She awakened with a start as she fell to the floor with a thump.

"Rhett!" She squealed huskily.

His laughter rumbled through the air to reach her ears where she lay on the floor beside the bed. But soon he was beside her, gathering her into his arms.

"Rhett Butler, you are such a skunk!" She told him as the darkness shrouded them. His hands were warm against the coolness of the room.

"You aren't hurt are you?" His voice was thick with concern.

"No, but no thanks to you. Did you happen to remember that I am injured?" Scarlett did not sound amused by the situation.

"No, my pet, I hadn't thought about your injury, and honestly, I had no intention of you landing on the floor. But sometimes that is the best way for things to happen." She couldn't see his grin, but she could hear it in his voice. But he gently picked her up and lay her back onto the bed. The loss of his warmth seemed to chill her thoroughly.

"I'm cold, Rhett. Can't you at least hold me to make up for being such a…" but his laughter silenced her.

"I'm actually being invited to stay. I was sure that I was about to be banished to my room or at very least the floor." Scarlett felt as the bed moved from him getting back into the bed.

"Well, if you would rather…" but he silenced her with a kiss. She responded immediately to his hands that held her and the kisses that touched her heart "Oh, Rhett." She sighed. He paused and looked into her eyes with the little moonlight seeping in from the window. "I love you." There was no question in her voice. She was finally completely certain of the fact.

Rhett pulled her close, relishing the feel of her in his arms and reveling in the perfection of the moment. They finally got it right.

The plans seemed to go almost too smoothly for the wedding. It was to happen at sunset in the middle of June in the orchard at Tara. The actual date of the wedding itself was on the 13th, but there would be parties in their honor for a week prior and a week after. All four Tarleton sisters were thrilled to be a part of the celebration. Suellen had objected to hosting everyone at Tara, but Scarlett had insisted and Suellen had been forced to agree.

Ella was to be the flower girl. She was thrilled at the chance to dress up and look pretty. Betsy's little boy would carry the ring on a pillow. Wade and Beau both were to act as ushers, Beau and Ashley were set to return the week before the wedding. And Scarlett spared no expense on the dress. It was a creation in white satin with ribbons and ruching. It was slim in the front, yet overly full in the back. It was the height of elegance, and Carreen truly looked stunning in it.

Everyone was already talking about it. They were proclaiming it would be the grandest event in the county since the barbeque at Twelve Oaks. Carreen was so excited that she bubbled over with happiness. And Scarlett had sent a team of workers to work for several months at Tara to make the plantation shine.

There would be ball to follow the wedding in the bride and groom's honor. And then their would be parties following to honor the couple for their first day and second day. Scarlett was sparing no expense. Many people from Atlanta were to be attending the festivities. It was going to be magical, almost like falling back in time before the war and the devastation that followed. Of course there would be those that no money could replace -- the boys that had never returned. And that would remain in the backs of their minds. But it would be a time to celebrate their survival.

Even all of the neighboring homes were opening the doors to the guests that would stream through the county to celebrate. The South was again victorious for one of the "glorious dead" to be back among them and pulling the nearly spiritually dead Carreen back with him. There was true joy in the hearts of the County folk. Despite the hardships of the war, the heart of the Southerners had never really died. And now that life flamed brightly, the heart of a Southerner would remain for a hundred years to come. The South would always be the South.

Scarlett was thrilled to be the center of discussions. No longer were they talking about her past indiscretions, but now they spoke with reverence about all she had done for the county and for her family. Everyone was excited, even Suellen. Scarlett had grudgingly purchased Suellen a few dresses for the events. She didn't begrudge the gifts because of the cost. She disliked buying something for someone who was so completely nasty.

But Suellen was thrilled to have new dresses that were pretty and reminded her of the time before the war. With all of the activity at Tara, Suellen was allowed to live more like she once had. Mammy muttered once after observing her, "Miss Sue's done stahted giving huh self airs."

But nothing about Suellen could stop Scarlett. And so the time for the wedding rapidly approached. And Scarlett was anticipating the event, possibly as much as Carreen was. For none of Scarlett's wedding had been the wedding she had imagined as a child. Everytime Scarlett had married it had been rushed and simple. She had not loved and of the grooms as she vowed to love them. None of her wedding dresses had been the dress of her dreams. And so she poured her heart and soul into Carreen's wedding. Scarlett wanted everything to be perfect for it.

"Scarlett," Rhett said with a chuckle. "If I didn't know better, I'd think this is what it would have been like if you had planned your wedding with Ashley."

He was rewarded with sharp glare. He laughed at her frown. "I said if I didn't know better, but of course now you finally realize that you belong with me." They had fallen into a repartee that sometimes bordered on quarreling to an outsider, but somehow it made them more alive and in love and not less. It was the way that they demonstrated their love. It was the way that they were. And they could see that having what you love now and in your arms, is much better than waiting for tomorrow.