Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for the reviews and the feedback.

Two weeks later Scarlett and Rhett were on the train to New York. They were going to New York by themselves. It was like a second honeymoon. On the train she was trying to read the book Emma that Melanie had given her but there were too many characters for her to keep straight and she gave up. Rhett smiled and actually praised Scarlett for trying to read the novel. Again, he saw how much his praise meant to her. At the next train station Rhett got off and bought Scarlett 'one of those dreadful dime novels.' As he knew she would she loved it because it was filled with adventure and didn't require any deep thought on the part of the reader.

When she said, "I loved this book. Thank you, Rhett."

He wrote a note that said, - I knew you would like it. –

Scarlett smiled at him. He refrained from writing – It is low-brow enough to make you happy. – Why hurt her feelings with a cruel remark. His not being able to speak had shown him how many times he would say something unkind to her. He would say it for no other reason than to hurt her feelings and he really didn't know why. Like when they were in New Orleans and he had introduced her to some of his associates and their wives. She had a good time that evening and she was happy. When she said she liked his friends he had said something about he knew she would like them because she was attracted to the glitter and not the gold. All the happiness had left her face. He didn't think he could have hurt her more if he had literally slapped her. That night they had been happy before he had ruined it. If he had been trying to ruin his relationship with Scarlett, he couldn't have done a better job.

They just sat close together on the divan each reading their book. Neither person pointed out that they didn't need to sit so close to each other if they weren't having a conversation. After all she didn't need to sit close enough to read what he had written if he wasn't writing anything.

In the afternoon she stared out the window looking at the scenery. She was thinking of Ashley. She knew she was no longer in love with him. That damn little voice had told her so a while ago and she knew it was right. It had said, 'You don't love Ashley Wilkes. He is just a habit. He is a dream from your youth.' When she heard the voice say it, she knew it was right. She had even finally agreed with what Ashley had said all those years ago in the library, they were just too different. She would want to hunt, shoot, ride and drink whiskey and he would want to read poetry and go to the opera. She had even realized that Melly was worth ten of Ashley and she felt ashamed for all the ugly things she had thought about her through the years. Melly who was doing everything she could to get Scarlett received again into Atlanta's polite society. Since she had started going to the sewing bees again, she had noticed a definite thawing by the dowagers toward her even Mrs. Merriwether.

The question she was pondering was what did she feel for Rhett. She was waiting for the little voice to tell her the answer. She knew she was fond of him but was it more. What did he feel for her? After these last six months she could believe he loved her. When she had finally thought about the little voice telling her that Rhett loved her, she had been gleeful for she would have the power in the relationship. The little voice told her, 'Don't use his feelings against him. It will be worse than when he found out you were trying to trick him at the Fire House.' That had made her shudder with just the thought of how brutal Rhett could be when he was angry. She had decided right then that if he loved her, she would never try to use his feelings against him. As she was sitting there Rhett handed her a note that said, - We are passing through Virginia. On the way back would you like to go to Gettysburg? -

Scarlett shook her head no and said, "Never in a thousand years. I want to forget the war ever happened."

He wrote – 'That's hard to do with destruction all around us.'-

"And with everyone continuing to talk about it all the time."

Rhett smiled and sat down next to her on the window seat. She leaned into him and felt safe. She thought, 'He makes me feel safe. He will take care of me financially. I never want to live without him. That's sounds like love to me but I will never tell him for if he doesn't love me, he will use my love against me.'

The next evening, they arrived at the train depot and went to stay at the Mayfair Hotel. Rhett got them the honeymoon suite. She had wanted him to carry her over the threshold. He had laughed and complied.

Two nights later they went to the opera at the Grand Opera House. Rhett bought her a gorgeous midnight blue velvet dress to wear to the opera. It was on the empire style with a low neckline and puff sleeves. He bought her a shawl made of cashmere to wear with it. He bought a parure with sapphires and diamonds in it. She wore every piece of jewelry in the set. She told him, "It isn't every day one gets to wear a tiara."

Rhett had written – 'You can wear it around the house.'-

"True."

The opera was alright as far as Scarlett was concerned. It wasn't something she would want to go to every night but it was entertaining enough. Scarlett could tell that Rhett had a wonderful time. Rhett had worn a tuxedo and Scarlett thought there wasn't a handsomer man in the entire city. She thought they made a good-looking couple and she told him so. He agreed.

They went to the American Museum of Natural History. They went to the menagerie of animals at Central Park. They went to Lord and Taylor's and Macy's to shop where Scarlett just enjoyed looking at all the ready to wear garments. They ate at some of the finest restaurants in New York. They had Italian, French and even German food. Scarlett let Rhett choose for her and she was pleased with all of his choices. After supper one night as they were waiting for their after-dinner drinks Scarlett saw that Rhett was looking at her that way, like he was hoping for something. Scarlett did something that made her so scared. She reached out her hand and grasped his. He held her hand and looked at the fingers intwined then he looked at her with his mask on. She looked at their hands and said, "I hope the learning hospital has some answers for why you can't speak tomorrow."

Rhett pointed at himself and nodded his head. Scarlett took that as me too.

The next day they went to the teaching hospital in Brooklyn. They had to take the ferry. Rhett told her that they were building a bridge to connect the two boroughs but it would be several years before it was completed. Rhett then wrote – 'Wade would love to see this'. Scarlett smiled up at Rhett. She didn't know it but all her love was showing on her face. Scarlett would never make a good poker player and Rhett was glad. He smiled down at her and kissed her in public. Scarlett blushed but she didn't scold Rhett. They went to see an Otolaryngologist in the hospital. When they got to the receptionist, Scarlett looked at Rhett and he took a telegram out of his pocket and showed it to her.

She said, "We are here to see Gary Zerlin. My husband can't speak."

The receptionist said, "Name?"

"Scarlett Butler."

In a rude manner the receptionist said, "Not you. The patient."

Scarlett angrily said, "You certainly didn't make yourself clear. Rhett Butler."

The woman opened her mouth and looked at Scarlett and closed her mouth. She opened it again and said, "Just have a seat over there we will call you."

In about ten minutes, a woman dressed all in white called out Rhett's name. When Scarlett walked with him to the door the woman told her, "Just the patient."

Scarlett with all her southern belle attitude said, "No." And walked through the door. Rhett followed her smiling broadly. This was going to be a good day. These people would get Scarlett's dander up and he could just sit back and watch. Selfish bastard that he was he knew that Scarlett would be so angry when they got back to the hotel and he knew how she liked to work out her frustrations. So, Rhett was smiling as he followed her down the hall.

The nurse showed them to a room and told him to take off his coat, cravat, waistcoat and shirt. Scarlett got mad about that. She said, "Why do you have to take all your clothes off? They just need to look at your throat."

Like the most docile of men Rhett just indicated that he didn't know.

"You aren't taking off your pants or anything else."

Rhett wrote – 'What if something down there is causing my problem?'-

Without even blushing Scarlett said, "It isn't. Everything down there is in good working order."

She was pacing back and forth and he didn't think she really knew what she had said. He did like her being possessive of his body. After about fifteen minutes Dr. Zerlin walked in. He introduced himself and Scarlett introduced herself and Rhett. Dr. Zerlin asked a lot of questions and most of them Scarlett could answer but a few Rhett had to answer with his pad. While the doctor was listening to his lungs Scarlett said, "He has recently quit smoking after over thirty years of smoking." Rhett looked at her but she wasn't looking at him. She had said it so proudly like he had hung the moon. Rhett thought, 'Of all the things I have done that is what she is most proud of me for doing.' Finally, the doctor said, "Get dressed and I will meet you in my office."

Rhett got dressed quickly then the nurse escorted them to the doctor's office. As they were sitting there, Dr. Zerlin entered and sat at his desk. He looked at Rhett and said, "The good news is that there is nothing wrong. Your throat, your lungs, your nose and your ears look great. I cannot see your vocal cords, so I can't say if they are alright but I would assume so. You appear to be in good health for a man your age." That statement made Rhett frown and Scarlett smile. Rhett didn't like the reference to his age but Scarlett did like the acknowledgement of his good health. Scarlett thought, 'I told you Rhett wasn't going to die on me.' The little voice said, 'What I said was accurate. He has lived an unhealthy life.'

The doctor continued, "I hope that your voice comes back as quickly as it disappeared. Sorry I can't be more help."

Scarlett said, "Are you saying that he may never get his voice back?"

Dr. Zerlin nodded and said, "That is what I am saying. Since I don't know what caused him to lose his voice, I don't have any idea how to help him get it back."

Rhett and Scarlett left the doctor's office and the hospital. Neither person was happy and Scarlett was no longer angry. They both were sad. Scarlett to her credit didn't try to make this good news. She just sat next to Rhett in the cab and held his hand. Scarlett didn't talk all the way back to the hotel. When they got to the hotel as they were passing through the lobby Scarlett ordered a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of brandy to be sent to their room. She also arranged for their supper to be sent to their room at six.

When they got to the room, they sat in the living room and just stared out the window. It was a beautiful view. They had talked about it earlier in the week. When the bellboy knocked on the door he entered and set the alcohol on the dining table. He quickly left with a tip. Rhett poured Scarlett a small glass of brandy and a large glass of whiskey for himself. He handed hers to her and then drank down the entire glass full. Scarlett drank all of hers at once all so. They each had two more drinks of equal size.

After they finished eating supper, Rhett got up and took Scarlett's hand and they went to the bedroom. They didn't make love. That had been Rhett's intent but after they were in bed together, he decided he just wanted to kiss her and hold her. He told her silently over and over again that he loved her. She just held him and thought, 'I guess I do love him. I'm hurting as badly as he is.'