Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Note: I have tried to add more details to my story. Please tell me what you think

Chapter Two

Rhett had picked out a beautiful green dress that had a square neckline, sleeveless and a long train. She wore her opera gloves, her emerald necklace and her emerald ear bobs. Scarlett agreed it was perfect. It didn't have a low neckline but it had a fitted bodice. The material had a shimmer to it. As she waited for Rhett in the parlor, she was able to observe him without him noticing. She thought 'He really is a handsome man and he is dressed so fashionably.' As Rhett walked into the parlor, he was wearing a black suit but his waistcoat was green which matched her dress. He asked, "What are you thinking, my pet?" Scarlett was startled by the question but gave him part of her thoughts and said, "How fashionably dressed you are. Oh, thank you for wearing green it makes us match." Rhett gave her that smug smile and said, "It is also a visual proof that I am aligning myself with you. Shall we go?" And they walked out the door.

As they rode in the carriage Rhett wondered if Scarlett realized that she kept scooting closer and closer to him as they got near the Wilkes's house. Just before they got out Rhett told Scarlett, "Don't act guilty! You didn't do anything wrong." Scarlett gave him a strained little smile and nodded her head.

When they walked in the room it fell silent and everyone turned to look at them. As she was standing there Scarlett noticed the decorations, the other party guest, the food, the cake, and Melanie Wilkes walking rapidly towards her. Scarlett wanted to shrink back but Rhett kept his hand on the small of her back pushing her forward. Of course, sweet Melanie would never believe anything bad about her husband or her sister in law. She greeted Scarlett and asked her to help receive the guests because India had suddenly gotten ill. Scarlett kept her smile on her face and walked away behind the most honorable woman in the world. As soon as they were finished receiving guest Scarlett found Rhett and asked him "How long did we have to stay?" She thought 'I am ready to be back in Rhett's arms' and flushed. Rhett looked down at her and smiled a very sexy smile and wondered what she was thinking since her cheeks were the most becoming shade of pink. He hoped she was anticipating his return to her bed. He said, "We will have to stay until Ashley cuts the cake." Scarlett looked at Ashley and said to Rhett, "Can he look anymore guilty?" Rhett said, "It would be hard for anyone to look more guilty." Scarlett said, "He should have shut India down. Your sister could have actually caught you in bed with someone else and you would have shut her down." This made Rhett laugh uproariously. When he got a hold of himself Rhett said, "I don't know if that is a complement or not." Scarlett just smiled. As the night wore on Scarlett relaxed more and more. Rhett was being fun, amusing and attentive. She wondered how long had it been since he had been this relaxed with her. Since Bonnie's birth? No before that. Not since they had moved into the house. That was making her sad she would think about it tomorrow.

Scarlett did not leave Rhett's side except when Melly wanted her to help her with something. Scarlett comprehended that she didn't have any friends among these people. As she was standing there musing while Rhett was talking to one of the other men about politics, she understood that whether she liked it or not these were her people not the Scallawags and the Republicans. As Rhett had said that afternoon so long ago the Democrats would be back in power and all her friends would disappear. It was time to repair her reputation. With Ashley out of her heart and mind she didn't realize that her attitude toward Rhett's advice had a positive change. About thirty minutes later after the cake had been served Rhett and Scarlett made their excuses and left the party. Scarlett leaned into hug Melly and told her thank you and she loved her. Melly looked stunned but quickly recovered. Melly told her to come over tomorrow and they would talk. Scarlett smiled.

As they were riding back to their home Rhett started kissing Scarlett and she responded. Scarlett thought 'I have missed this so much.'

They arrived home and Rhett asked Scarlett if she wanted a night cap and she said, "No. And neither do you." Rhett just smiled and followed her up the stairs. She didn't need to look back she knew Rhett was right behind her. He was smiling.

When they got to her room Rhett helped Scarlett undress. He helped her put her nightgown on. He thought it was a waste of time but it made her more comfortable. Rhett took off his clothes and laid down with Scarlett.

As Rhett was laying next to Scarlett in the bed, he said to her, "A woman can experience a great deal of pleasure from marital relations. I think you owe it to yourself to enjoy yourself as much as possible because maybe it will be a tradeoff for the labor pains."

Scarlett looked at Rhett doubtfully. Rhett said, "Let me take you there." And she finally let him.

Scarlett was lying in bed the next morning thinking 'if it had been that good before I would never have kicked him out of my bed.' What Scarlett didn't know was that always before she had been holding herself back because of wanting to be loyal to Ashley. She wondered where Rhett was but she wasn't worried because he was an early riser. She went ahead and got up because she needed to get to Uncle Henry's and to Melanie's.

Scarlett rang for Pansy and started getting ready for the day. In the middle of getting ready when the door opened, she thought it was Pansy but instead in walked her husband. She smiled at him. She asked him, "What do you have planned for today?"

Rhett looked at her and said, "Play with the children in the morning and then go to the bank this afternoon. This evening, my dear, I will need to go to The Painted Lady and find out the gossip.

As they were talking Pansy walked in and Rhett told her that he would help Mrs. Butler get dressed. Pansy left.

Scarlett was glad for the interruption. She needed a few moments to get control of her temper after the mention of The Painted Lady. Scarlett then said, "Do you want me to wait up for you?"

Rhett was amazed that she had not started screaming at him. He had seen her temper flash in her eyes. Rhett said, "Yes. I would like that very much," Then added gently, "I need to go to The Painted Lady to find out the gossip. Belle will tell me what people are saying."

She had sat down on her vanity stool and looked at him. She said, "Thank you for helping me and standing beside me."

Rhett then smiled wickedly and said, "You thanked me very sweetly last night." He had said this to get a rise out of her. He didn't want her to be depressed just grateful. Then Scarlett did something that surprised him. She stood up and gave him a peck on the cheek. She said, "Let me get my corset."

Rhett laced up her corset and helped her step into her dress.

Scarlett smiled and said, "What are you planning on doing about Bonnie?"

Rhett said, "I don't know. Do you think she will want to move back into the nursery?"

Scarlett said, "No. Let me know what you decide to do."

In a cold mocking tone Rhett said, "She is your child too."

Scarlett stopped fixing her hair and turned to look at Rhett and said in a sad voice, "In the last two years you have done everything in your power to make me a spectator in her life.

Rhett said, "It's not like you have ever tried to be part of her life."

Sadly, Scarlett said, "You are kind of right. I would like to be more but I wasn't going to fight with you about it. You have more of a connection to my children than I do. As you like to tell me I'm not a good mother."

Rhett looked at her and gently said, "You can become a good mother. Spend time with them and talk to them like real people. Talk to Wade about books and have tea parties with the girls. Go to the park with us. It is not going to happen overnight. They are as uncomfortable around you as you are with them. Some people are natural parents. Some are not. You are not." He saw the flash of anger in her eyes and said, "You know you aren't."

Scarlett hated to admit it but he was right. She had no maternal instinct. She said, "Okay. What else can I do?"

Rhett said, "Learn to be a good mother. When you bought the sawmill, you didn't know anything about it but you learned. You accepted the mistakes you made and learned from them. Do that with being a mother. Be a mother your way and trust your instincts. Now as her mother would you like to help me solve this problem we have with our daughter."

Scarlett said, "Yes. I would. We have to talk about making her obey and how to discipline her. I don't mean break her spirit. I don't think our child's spirit can be broken but loving discipline is not wrong. Let's take some time to think about it. We can talk to Mammy about it. We don't have to do anything today." She finished getting dressed.

When she finished and she was getting ready to leave she reached up and gave Rhett a tentative kiss which he turned into a much more passionate kiss. After she had caught her breath she said," I'm off to Uncle Henry's and then Melly's. I will see you at dinner." She gave him a peck on the cheek and walked out the door. She asked Pork to tell someone to get her buggy ready. While she was waiting, she ate a couple of muffins and drank a cup of coffee. As she was leaving, she heard the children squeal and knew Rhett was in the nursery and she smiled.