Note: Wow I have finally reached chapter 50 and am excited how this story is going. I hope you all are still enjoying it and thanks for the reviews and support.

Part 50: We Won't live Happily

Blinking awake, Rhett was surprised to find a head on his chest, none other then that of his sleeping wife. Somehow during the night she had shifted over to him and now was using him as a pillow. Murmuring, she buried her face deeper onto his bare chest, her skin brushing against his, causing awareness to course through him, even if the gesture was innocent.

Usually he was out of bed, long before she woke up. He would be in the parlor, drinking his third cup of black coffee. But Scarlett's head on his chest and the warmth he felt in the bed didn't drag him awake. There was no pressing need to wake up and Scarlett pressed against him made him watch her unnoticed as she slept. She looked so peaceful and young despite the hardships life had thrown at them. This was there first morning together with an uneasy truce.

"Hungry," she mumbled in her sleep and he smiled. Even in her sleep she thought of food. It saddened him that she had went without food during the war, but amused him greatly that even in her dreams, her appetite for food was insatiable. Shaking his head, he tried to pry her body delicately from his, but her eyes fluttered open and she blinked, looking at him.

"Rhett?" she croaked.

"In the flesh."

She stared at him as if he was a dream and he hid a smile as he got up and placed on his robe. Feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her, laying amidst the blankets, in complete disarray for she did move around a lot in her sleep, hogging the blankets and such. Shaking his head once again, he couldn't believe that after all this time of fighting to keep her at a distance; they were back where they had started when they were first married.

"Rhett, where are you going?" she quickly asked.

"To get you breakfast, Mrs. Butler. We wouldn't want you to starve, now would we?"

A smile came to her lips. "No, oh and Rhett bring me eggs and ham please. Two plates."

His brow rose. "That much food?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not only for me. I was hoping you would join me."

Rhett exited the room, pleased. He headed toward the kitchen to ask the cook to prepare something fitting Scarlett's appetite. Later, he would go in and visit the children, the bank and then perhaps see Belle, although he knew Scarlett would have a fit.

Promptly he returned with the meal and came into the room. Scarlett sat amidst the rumpled coverlets, her legs crossed, looking rather content. Her eyes widened as she took in the food and as soon as he set it down for her and joined her on the bed; she dug into it with earnest.

"Slow down," he chided with a chuckle. "The food's not going anywhere, Scarlett."

She didn't listen to him of course and proceeded to swallow the entire contents on her plate. He had to smile when she even eyed his piece of ham and he set it on her plate with his fork. A smile came over her lips as she took tentative bites on his ham.

"Rhett, what are we going to do today?" she asked, an excited look coming to her face, like a child as she pointed her fork at him. "I know, let's go for a walk by my store and all the women will be pea green with envy for all the hateful things they said to me. Of course, I shall be as sweet as pie for it would not do well for the old cats to think badly of me again. I have quite the reputation in Atlanta now."

"In your condition Scarlett, it would not be wise for you to go gallivanting around," he said, gauging her reaction.

Her mouth opened in outrage, as he knew it would, nothing she did surprised him. "Now you are going to try to tell me because I am pregnant I cannot go outside? I'll have you know, Rhett, when I was pregnant with Ella-"

He threw up his hands to stop her attack. "I'm simply saying, Scarlett, that your standing has elevated in the eyes of the genteel society. They have come to see your charm in a different light and you wouldn't want to do anything that would offend them would you?"

"I suppose," she allowed, with a pout. "But you better make up for this Rhett and keep me company. I suppose I can always fix the nursery, it is far too dark." Her eyes lit up. "I can order new tapestries, furniture and toys for the baby. I do hope it is a boy with your looks."

His eyes softened, but he laughed. "Heaven forbid."

"Yes," Scarlett interrupted, an ecstatic smile on her face as she thought about her future son. "He shall have dark hair, your eyes and be the most handsome baby in all of Atlanta. We do make beautiful babies Rhett and he will go to all the children's parties like-like Bonnie. Everyone will love them and everyone will love me. No one will snub me or belittle me again, Rhett."

Rhett heard the determination in her voice and some part of him knew she would succeed if she could ever control her temper and restrain that feisty spirit of hers. It was startling he realized he did not want her to change. And should she change, he wondered what that would entail. For the first time, he had no idea what Scarlett's next move would be and that vaguely disturbed him. He sighed; raking a hand through his hair as he realized what he was about to tell her would ruin her mood. He told her he planned on going to Belle's.

A fit she did have. Scarlett stared at him as if he had grown horns, and perhaps he had. It had been a nice and cordial breakfast and then suddenly:

"Like hell you are! How dare you try to insult me? When I thought-I thought we were trying to begin anew and you say you want to go to that-that creatures! How would you like it if I pranced over to Ashley's?"

"So, some things don't change. Still trying to use Ashley against me?"

"Well, aren't you trying to use Belle?" she demanded, shooting the name out in disgust and a grimace. "I won't stand for it."

"As I recall, you have no choice in the matter."

"No choice? God's nightgown! As I have no choice to live with a man who claims to not love me? How dare you rub my nose in your dalliance with that creature when you know-when you know how I feel. You have no heart, you cad!"

"Perhaps I don't," he calmly replied. "In case you have forgotten I told you my heart was buried with Bonnie and no matter how much cajoling and batting your eye lashes you do, that fact cannot be changed. Even this baby won't make me love you, so don't get it in your pretty little heads of yours we'll live happily ever after."

Tears pricked her eyes but she held them in, her eyes narrowed, hurt and wounded. But her chin was set and her shoulders rose as if in a battle. She would not cry in front of him, rage, yes.

"How could I believe I loved you? Even Ashley Wilkes never disregarded my feelings. He was tender, sweet, even if he was a coward and weak, at least he respected me. But you, Rhett, you do not respect me. I'm just some pet you can kick, am I not? And I hate you for it."

"I see." He shortly laughed. "Well, it's a good thing this marriage is not based on love, is it not? It is only for the child and whatever respect I have left for you as you so aptly put."

In a move that surprised him, as quick as a cat, Scarlett grabbed the empty plate of eggs and shucked it towards his head. Rhett ducked and it hit the wall with a loud crash. With a cry of humiliation and hurt, Scarlett grabbed anything she could get her hands on and began throwing it at him, her chest heaving, eyes flashing.

"Scarlett!"

The insane look in Scarlett's blazing eyes frightened him. It was as if she could not hear his pleas as she continued her pursuit of him. He called her name again, all mockery and coldness gone from his voice. Striding forward while dodging her attack, he reached for her and she roughly slapped his arms away, backing up like a caged animal.

"Don't touch me! If you dare- I swear I will-"

Despite his protests, he pulled her hard against his chest. She fought him feebly before she settled in his arms. He was further shocked when her shoulders heaved and he realized she was crying, not gentle tears, but ones that shook her body.

"Shh," he soothed, rubbing her back and inhaling the scent of her hair. "Think about the baby, Scarlett. I am sorry for saying all those things, my pet, I'm just so used to them, and old habits die hard."

Her breathing returned too normal and she raised a tear-streaked face up to his. "Oh, Rhett, must we always hurt each other and be cruel. Can you not at least pretend you have some feelings left for me?"

"I do, Scarlett." His head lowered to place gentle kisses across her face. Her lips met his and she clung to him. For once he returned her kisses on his own accord, without the thought of saying afterward it was a mistake. The kiss grew heated and she was the first to pull away, her eyes dazed as she stared up at him, lips swollen, a tentative smile came to her lips.

"You won't go to Belle's, now will you, Rhett?"

"No, Scarlett, I won't go to Belle's."

Scarlett's grip on him tightened, as if she would never let him go. The staggering thing Rhett realized is that he didn't want Scarlett to let him go.

XXX

February passed and along with that so did winter. Spring hung in the air and the Butler's lived in a relatively peaceful situation. Rhett would occasionally visit Scarlett at night, read her some poems and then they would fall asleep next to each other. This was their usual routine and though Scarlett wanted more, she did not fuss. Even she was learning that sometimes it was better to remain silent. This was with the grudging thought she mustn't contestant lest Rhett decide not join her at all and heaven forbid stay at that Watling creature's establishment.

It was mid-April now, sometimes, as Scarlett could not leave the house, she sometimes snuck out when the children were at school and Rhett at the bank, she would think on how thirteen years had passed since the war. How long ago it seemed, usually she was not one to look back. Not a dreamer like Ashley, but more so now. She let her mind linger on the good old days and missed them. Perhaps she could persuade Rhett to take her to Tara again. She missed Mammy terribly, but Mammy refused to return to Atlanta saying she would die at home. None of Scarlett's pleading letters had done any good.

Mammy did agree however to come to Atlanta the end of August to be present to watch another one of Scarlett's children be born. Mammy trusted no one else to watch over her and make sure the baby was healthy. That would be months away and Scarlett was now showing, her stomach was certainly round and she felt ugly, like an old house. Since she was now months along and today was not a peachy day, she was riled and had snapped at the maid earlier. Something she had prided herself not doing in a long time, now she felt guilty.

It was her birthday today and Scarlett was now twenty-nine years old. It felt like any other day and certainly hadn't gone well. She cringed at the thought and was glad no one seemed to remember that it was her birthday. She had only one year left, and then she would be considered a middle-aged woman. It was awful and she could barely keep from crying. She was fat and now old, surely soon her hair would turn gray and her body would fall apart. What little chance she left of wining Rhett's love would fail and she would be all alone, the former belle of the county an old woman, once beautiful, but more beautiful women would come along. Scarlett did not want to be bitter and look at the younger women with envy, how humiliating it would be!

Feeling tired, although it was only the afternoon, Scarlett fell into her bed and let sleep over take her. Better to sleep through her birthday then think of her advanced age. She did not expect to sleep long, but ended up sleeping through suppertime and was finally awakened by Rhett when night had fallen. He hadn't wanted to disturb her, but looked genuinely worried at her flushed face and her exhausted state.

She woke up groggily to him leaning over her. "Scarlett? Wake up, my pet, you have been sleeping for hours."

"W-what time is it?"

Rhett looked at his watch. "Eight o'clock. Imagine that, sleeping through the joyous day of your birth!"

Scarlett groaned, burying her face in the pillow, her voice muffled, "It is not joyous. I had hoped you had forgotten it."

"If I had, I wouldn't be a good husband, now would I?" he asked and she felt the bed sink under his weight. He was sitting down near her. "Come, now Scarlett, it can't be as bad as all that. You are still young and about to become a mother. You seem happy enough about the baby."

She turned to look at him. "Oh, I am happy Rhett! But I am becoming as fat as Mrs. Merriweather and old! Oh, why do we have to age and become ugly for everyone to gawk at us? Soon I shall have gray hairs and have one foot in the grave."

He shook his head, amused. "Now remove that glum expression from your face and meet me out on the verandah in a few minutes. I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Butler."

Her eyes brightened and Scarlett couldn't deny she was curious. But as to not show him she was much happier he was with her, she frowned.

"Well, what is it?"

He laughed as he strode towards the door. "You shall see."

TBC

Next Chapter: Scarlett's birthday surprise and a little loving from Rhett. 