Scarlett and Mammy told the family that they would be going to Atlanta and that they would get a mortgage. Suellen took it as read that her sister would get one. After all she had always got what she wanted when they were younger. Melly also believed that Scarlett would sort everything out. However, the men were not so sure.

Will drove the ladies to the station.

As Scarlett was getting on the train, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

"I hope you know what you're doing Miss Scarlett."

"Make sure everyone pitches in with the chores Will."

She chose to ignore his stare and fixed a smile on her face. Luckily Mammy clambered up behind them.

"We'd best be going Miss Scarlett."

The closing door sealed Scarlett's fate, one way or another. The journey was non-eventful. Scarlett's mind was just as hectic as it had been the day they left Atlanta. There was no one to meet them, so Scarlett and Mammy trudged through the dirt and crowds. Mammy was outraged at the state of Atlanta. Yankees were parading around the town. Many Southerners were now at the mercy of those that had once served them. Scarlett ignored the number of Yankees hanging around and refused to be scared. She couldn't stop her head telling her that she needed to escape though. The walk to the Peachtree street house took forever and they were glad to see Uncle Peter's dignified face crack into one of surprise and then joy.

"Miss Scarlett, you'se come! Oh Miss Pitty will be so glad to see you."

"Uncle Peter, you sure are a sight for sore eyes. You remember Mammy?"

He certainly did remember the woman who had laughed out loud at his being sent to Tara to bring Miss Melly and Miss Scarlett back to Atlanta. However, past offenses were forgiven in the circumstances. Miss Pitty was delighted to have the young woman around. Of course, her niece in law and great nephew were wonderful but they lacked the other woman's strength and vitality.

Now she would feel much safer.

They waited until Scarlett had settled into the library before Miss Pitty asked, "But where are the children?"

"Oh, I left them at Tara. I wanted to get settled first before I brought them here."

Honey chipped in with an, "Oh but you must send for them soon Scarlett. Wade had missed the boys. Why, they're like brothers to each other!"

"Yes send for them. This is their home too."

Scarlett appeared to think it over. "I will, there are some things I need to sort out first. But that's enough about me. Tell me everything that I've missed. How are all our friends?"

Scarlett sat back as the subject was changed and the women fought over to tell her that the Elsings were now running a boarding house, the Merriweathers were selling pies to the Yankees and that Rhett Butler was in jail.

"What was that?"

"Captain Butler is in jail. Because of the money." At Scarlett's wide eyed stare, she whispered, "You know, the Confederate gold."

Scarlett's face was a picture of interest and satisfaction at Rhett's plight. "He has it?"

Pitty, encouraged by her audience, grew more enthusiastic. "Him and all the other blockaders. Those sneaky fellows were given our money to buy guns and such. Then the blockades closed. Not even Butler could get through. So they kept the money in foreign accounts and refuse to return it."

Scarlett's face was the picture of an outraged Confederate but in reality she bore no sentimentality. The Cause had been a waste of good men and now they were all paying for it. Well, she wouldn't lose Tara. She would go to the prison and ask for a loan. He'd give it to her. Hadn't he always brought her things during the War?

"Where are they keeping him?"

"In the old firehouse. Oh Scarlett, the Yankees aren't letting him wash and you know how much of a dandy he's always been. So one day, they said he could use the water they use and..."

"And he told them he preferred his own brand of scummy water! Can you imagine sort of thing?"

She smiled at the image that entered her mind. "That sounds exactly like him."

Mammy's eagle eyes picked up on her lamb's interest in this man. It was not her place to ask questions but once she had Miss Scarlett alone...The women soon retired, after asking Scarlett to join them visiting. She politely declined saying that she did not feel too well and that she wanted to be able to go to the wedding they had told her about. The others accepted her word and hoped that her recovery would be swift. Mammy was only slightly fooled but her lamb simply would not talk about it. She went to bed disappointed, whilst Scarlett dreamed of the restoration of Tara.

XxX

The morning was wet and horrible. Scarlett waited until Pitty, Honey and Wade had gone. At the last minute, they asked if Mammy would assist them. Scarlett went into Pitty's room and her eyes caught sight of an old cloak. It would have to do. She had no other time for any other beauty routine. The walk to the firehouse was full of layabout darkies and their trashy companions. One day, Scarlett would have the financial security to tell them exactly what she thought of them. Now was not the time for her sharp words.

The guard outside the firehouse soon gave way to her charms and threat of tears. He took her to a room where the Yankee was playing poker. The men were reluctant to allow their prisoner a visitor. Particularly a young woman who claimed to be a sister. She nearly gave up but the young soldier pointed out that she was hardly a threat. They would take her into the orderly room and there would be two guards on the other side of the door. The Captain reluctantly agreed and had the young soldier fetch the prisoner, whilst he escorted the visitor himself. She settled into the proffered chair and waited.

Rhett Butler entered the room with most of his usual grace. He was unshaved and his clothes were at least a week old. But she smiled up at him as though he were in the finest suit and they were at a grand ball. Rhett swooped down, put his arms around her waist and pulled her upwards. Scarlett held her breath as he lightly kissed first one cheek then the other.

"My darling little sister! Thank-you gentlemen."

The men stared awkwardly. They didn't quite believe this story but they were unwilling to doubt the word of a lady. "We'll be right outside."

They both waited until the door was closed, sealing them from the Yankees.

"I have to say, Scarlett, it's good to see you honey."

"I guess it's alright seeing you again."

He laughed at her response and pulled her slightly closer.

"How about a kiss for old time's sake?"

The thought of kissing Rhett was none too pleasurable but not exactly repulsive, still she pulled away.

She raised a brow. "On the forehead like a good brother?"

He drew back also.

"I'll wait and hope for better things. It's enough knowing you forgive me for that night."

Rhett watched as she crinkled her nose. "Who said anything about forgiving you?"

"Oh Scarlett, no woman braves the Yankees to see someone out of charity's sake. Besides, you aren't that charitable."

"Huh, well perhaps I wanted to see what the people who could capture the infamous Captain Butler looked like. I have to say Rhett, I'm not impressed." She tilted her head and smiled so her words weren't too harsh.

"Oh Scarlett, you have more charm than the law allows. I have to admit, I'm not impressed with myself either. Can you imagine Scarlett, getting blindsided by these men?"

She didn't point out that she had been, several times and her smile took on a down look. She sighed and refused to think on it, but not before Rhett's curiosity was peaked.

"Anyway, enough talking of these matters. How've you been? Did you get home alright? You must have done because you're here. I've been keeping up with you via Miss Pitty and all I could gather is that you refused to come and live with her."

Rhett was nervously babbling and he couldn't explain why. Where was the vivacious Scarlett whom he had kissed so passionately before she had called him a cad and gave him a very hard slap?

"Well, I could hardly leave the family to look after someone who already had people looking after her."

Rhett heard the bitterness and for a minute felt chastened. He gulped several times before answering.

"Something's changed though, because you're in Atlanta now."

Something snapped in her eyes and they became closed off. She straightened her back and met his line of vision head on. "You're right. I'm here because I need a favour Rhett."

His curiosity was peaked further but he could not help feeling disappointed that she wasn't here to see him. Of course she wasn't here for him.

Never him.

"I'm intrigued. What does Mrs Scarlett O'Hara Chevalier want now?"

In his disappointment, his words were more pronounced. On some level, his audience had picked up on it but chose to ignore.

"I need a loan Rhett. I'm about to lose my home and you're the only one who can help."

He rose from his seat and thrust his fists into his pockets.

"How much do you need?"

"$300. For taxes."

"Uh-huh. Well, what collateral are you offering."

Her eyes narrowed in a questioning manner. "Collateral?"

"Indeed. Surely you didn't expect me to just give away $300. You should know that I never give anything without expecting something in return and I always get paid."

She spoke dispassionately. "I remember. Well, there's my earbobs?"

"Not interested."

"A mortgage on Tara?"

"Not enough. Besides, what would I do with a farm? Anything else?"

This was it. This was her final chance.

"I have myself." Her words came out as a hoarse whisper. She cleared her throat, looked up at him and repeated "I have myself."

There was no reaction from Rhett. He merely stared, assessing her. She felt uncomfortable with his scrutiny, the events of yesterday still fresh in her mind. The thought of Rhett doing what Ashley had tried to do sickened her but she could not let Tara go. The thought of her home gave her a new lease of life.

"So if I give you the $300 you'll be my mistress."

"Yes. "

"You'll be my mistress for money but not for your own pleasure?"

"There's no pleasure in," she paused, reddening, "that sort of thing."

He laughed, half-heartedly. "My pet, you have much to learn about that sort of thing. If I'm with a woman she usually ends up begging for more."

She was taken back to September of 1863. Rhett's arms held her tightly as his kiss consumed her. She remembered a strange sensation of heat coursing through her veins. If they hadn't been interrupted she would have let him take her like a whore on the ground, before he ran off to fight in a battle that had already been lost...

Her eyes became slits as she sneered, "Great balls of fire Rhett..."

Rhett had watched the expressions play in her eyes. He had always known how it would be between them. They were cut from the same cloth but somehow she had chosen to smother herself with the curse of a reputation. During the War he had seen the fire within, fighting to break lose. It was one of the things he loved most about her. How she walked through life as though she were a queen walking amongst peasants. But something had happened in their time apart to smother the flames. He recognised the heat in her eyes. He recalled how she had pressed herself to his body and how he had thought that she was finally admitting the attraction between them. The Scarlett that stood before him wasn't a patch on the woman he had dreamed about for so long.

Her words pulled him away from his introspections. "No, don't say that. I'm just trying to figure you out."

"Well don't bother Rhett. Just tell me straight. You never had any problem with that before."

He was surprised by the bitterness in her tone and reached down to grab her hands. He gasped at the sight of those small, perfect hands wrecked by the tell-tale sign of hard work. There was a large healing cut down the middle of her palm.

The smoothness was now rough.

He cradled her hands in his and ran his thumb up and down.

"You have been busy. From the looks of things you've been mending fences as well as ploughing."

There would come a day when Scarlett would pay Rhett back for this humiliation. How could he stand there and talk about her hands when there were other more important things to be dealt with.

Like Tara.

There was no hint of mockery in his voice. In fact, he almost sounded gentle. "Scarlett, why are you doing this? Why don't you ask your Grandfather for help? Why don't you live in Atlanta with Miss Pitty?"

She pulled her hands away. "You don't understand. Tara is my home. I can't let a Yankee and his white trash wife live there. Please, just let me have the money."

It was then that Rhett noticed the slight discolouration at the side of her face. He swore under his breath and wanted to ask what had happened but the look on her face distracted him. It was full of hope. He hated it.

"Are you going to give me the money?"

He knew the very next words would shatter any if not all chance of a relationship. Solemnly, he shook his head. "No."

The hope vanished and her face took on a sickly greenish tint.

"I couldn't give you the money even if I wanted to. The Yankees would swoop down on it like a duck on a June bug. I do have some money but I won't tell you where. What do you say to that?"

Any hope and determination left Scarlett. She wanted to run, she wanted to be sick. She couldn't do either, not in front of Rhett. Never that! So she did what she did best. She lunged at him, wanted to claw that smirk of his face. He grabbed both wrists and turned her so that he was behind her. She screamed and he placed his hand over her mouth as the soldiers outside stirred. He lifted her against him.

"Darling, hush. Do you want them to come in here and see you like this?"

She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. His hand was bruising and the arm around her waist was crushing her. She struggled against him as he swung her to his chest. Her head was screaming the need to escape but his face was so foggy and she was so tired...

XxX

In the moments where Scarlett wasn't conscious, Rhett moved her over to the chair and held her upright. He was shocked by her deathly paleness and the savageness with which she had attacked him. The soldier had brought a glass of brandy and he tried to push it down her mouth, whilst he tapped her wrists. She woke, coughing and spluttering. Rhett Butler was in her line of vision.

"Thank-you sirs. I think we'll be alright now. I suppose the shock of hearing I'm to be executed was too much."

The men shuffled out. Rhett turned to Scarlett. Their eyes met. His concerned, hers weary. She shakily rose to her feet and he lowered her to the chair.

"Don't go yet."

"Let me up. I want to leave."

"You can't yet. You might faint outside."

"I don't care. I'd rather faint out there then be with you another minute."

A small smile grew on his face as colour returned to Scarlett. "There. You must be feeling better. You're back to hating me again."

She stood up in her chair and headed to the door.

"Before you go, I want to give you some advice."

She turned her head to stare at him. Her lip curled as she spat out, "I don't want anything from you."

He held up his hands. "Just listen, you might learn something. When you are trying to get something from a man, be a little more demure. You used to have bountiful charm. What happened to it?"

"Life intervened. Good-bye Rhett."

He saw her shoulders stiffen and she raised her head high.

"Cheer up. You can come to my hanging and it will settle your old scores with me. Including this one."

She faced him once more, her eyes as cold as Winter. "I'm not going to waste time attending a hanging. I've got too many people that need me to make sure they still have a home."

She did not see him thrust his hands inside his pockets. Nor did she see how he sank low in his chair with his head in his hands.

The door slammed behind her...