Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Two

Author's Note: In reality Melly probably would not have survived with her fragile health but it is my story and I wanted her to survive.

That is how the next ten days went. Melly and Rhett getting better. Both of them still had bouts of diarrhea and Rhett vomited on her twice. Scarlett couldn't help but wonder if he had done it on purpose but he looked so bad afterwards that she couldn't accuse him of it. She knew Melly had vomited a couple of times. Mammy and Scarlett forced water and broth on them. Scarlett began to hope that they both were going to survive. After Melly's fever broke and her temperature remained normal Scarlett sent Ashley a note asking him to bring a nightgown for Melly to wear while she was recuperating. She let Ashley come in the house and see his wife. She asked Mammy to stay with him and not let him stay more than ten minutes. Rhett had heard Mr. Wilkes voiced and wondered why Scarlett was not out there with him. Could her feelings finally have changed? He could not let himself hope. He had been hurt enough by Scarlett and her careless ways. Scarlett was sitting beside Rhett's bed with her head laying on the mattress. She had her head facing away from him and he just wanted to touch her hair for a minute. He was just wondering 'Was it still so soft?' Scarlett felt Rhett's hand on her head but she didn't react. It was too soon. There was still too much pain between them.

Suellen had sent Scarlett a telegram informing her that none of the children or the servants had gotten sick. This relieved Scarlett and made her very happy. She telegraphed Suellen and said that it looked like Rhett and Melly were going to make a full recovery but it would probably be at least another month before they were fully recovered. They were well enough for Scarlett to send messages to her servants to return to work unless they were sick. She didn't want them here if they were sick. They didn't need to worry she would continue to pay them. She didn't like paying them for not doing anything but it was Rhett's money and she really didn't want sick servants in the house. She was afraid she would get sick or Rhett and Melly would have a relapse. She wasn't worried about them cheating her Mammy would make sure that didn't happen.

When Rhett was well enough to sit-up for a few minutes he said to Scarlett, "I told you to take the children to Tara. Why did you disobey me?"

Scarlett said, "I was not going to trust your care to anyone else. I knew I would do it right."

Rhett said, "It is nice to know you don't want me to die but if I had you could have become a rich widow. This seems like it was your dream come true both Miss Melly and I dying."

Scarlett said, "Maybe once but not anymore. Maybe I have grown up and have grasped y'all's value. I don't know. Time will tell." Scarlett wasn't hiding the love she felt for Rhett. She needed to know if there was any hope for them. She had wasted enough of their time on foolish fantasies.

Rhett could see the love in Scarlett's eyes and he wanted to hope but he had been hurt so many times so he was being very cautious. He knew his love was not completely dead but he was going to keep it under control. She would spend time with him in the morning then make him sleep in the afternoon. She would take all her meals with him and every once in a while, he would be woken up by her in the middle of the night having a nightmare. His body was still so weak that all he could do was pat her back and say soothing words to her. She was always gone when he woke up in the morning. He knew she would go to the store in the afternoon and she was giving Hugh Elsing more and more responsibility. He knew Mr. Wilkes was coming by every evening to visit with Miss Melly but she stayed in his room with him. She didn't even leave the room to greet him which would have been proper. One evening he teased that she wasn't acting like a lady. A lady would greet her guest.

Scarlett smiled at him and said, "He's not my guest. He is just here to see his wife." Rhett's teasing gave her hope. Scarlett's statement gave him hope.

Then Scarlett said, "I discovered my love for him was no more."

Rhett just stared at her. She said, "Did you want another book to read?"

Rhett said, "Yes. I want the book Odyssey."

Scarlett said, "Haven't you read that before?"

Rhett said, "Yes."

Scarlett said, "What is it about?"

Rhett told her what it was about and they had an adult conversation maybe the first one they had ever had. Nobody was trying to get the better of the other. As she was getting ready to leave to go to bed Rhett said, "I know you are sleeping here. Why don't you spend the entire night? I can't do anything that would get you pregnant."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I'll be right back."

They continued sleeping together for the rest of his recovery. Rhett wanted Bonnie to return but he was also afraid it would spoil his delicate relationship with Scarlett. A month after Melly got sick she went back to her home. She was still spending most of her day in bed but she no longer needed twenty-four-hour care. With Melly's departure Scarlett sent for the children she couldn't put it off forever and she wanted to move hers and Rhett's relationship forward. Scarlett was so happy to see her children. She had missed them so much which not only surprised her but everyone else. They all had to go see Rhett who was sitting up in his bed. He had gotten dress in a light brown shirt and chocolate colored pants. Everyone was talking. It was a very lively conversation which normally would irate Scarlett but she was just sitting back enjoying how spirited her children were. Scarlett could see Rhett was enjoying himself but she could also see that he was beginning to droop. Just as she was about to tell the children their visit was over Bonnie announced that she wasn't going to sleep in the same room with Daddy anymore. She didn't need a light anymore and she wanted to sleep with Ella. That way she could be a big girl too. Scarlett saw the pain in Rhett's eyes before he quickly covered it up. Rhett then said, "If that makes you happy Sweetheart."

That night as Scarlett was getting into bed with Rhett she said, "So I hear you need a new roommate." She was trying to keep it light but she really wanted to share a room with him again.

Rhett looked at her and said, "Yes I do. Would you like to move in with me?"

Scarlett said, "Or you could move in with me." And she tried really hard to not look hopeful but Rhett could always read her like a book.

Rhett said, "I won't leave again."

Scarlett said, "I would never want you to."

Rhett had to know. He had to have it all. He said, "What about children?"

Scarlett said, "I wouldn't mind one or two more."

Rhett said, "I will move back in tomorrow but let's stay here tonight."

Scarlett said, "Yes."

They laid together just holding each other. Rhett didn't think he had the strength to do more besides he wanted to bring his best for the first night back together.

They slowly built their relationship. They began to trust one another probably for the first time. They redecorated the inside of the house together. Rhett and Scarlett each thought at separate times if we make it through this redecorating and still like each other we will have a solid relationship. There was a lot of arguing. There were a few mocking remarks. There were a few names called in anger. There were some silent days. There were a few days of someone wearing a blank mask. In the end they were both satisfied with the results. When Rhett suggested they work on the outside Scarlett said, "Do whatever you want. I can't go through that again." Rhett had trees planted and some of the porches removed. He had the ugly lawn ornaments removed. When he was finished Scarlett told him, "It is better." Rhett took that as a wholehearted endorsement of the exterior of their home. By the time it was June of 1873 the couple had a solid relationship.

Rhett allowed Scarlett and Mammy to discipline Bonnie but he never said 'no.' Rhett bought the pony and he taught Bonnie to jump. When Bonnie wanted to raise the bar Rhett said, "No." And he stuck to that 'no.' It was a long week for Rhett when Bonnie screamed, cried, pouted, refused to have anything to do with him, and any other thing she could think of to get Daddy to change his mind. At the end of the week she gave up and he was the favorite once again. He gave her a new riding habit and she accepted it. It was a very hard week for Rhett. He knew he would not have been able to do it without Scarlett's support and love. He knew she loved him (she had told him so) and he hoped she knew he loved her he just wasn't ready to tell her. He was still scared of telling her and he didn't know why. That July she happily told him she was pregnant and he was so happy.