Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Six

When they returned from New York Scarlett stopped wearing her huge diamond engagement ring and instead started wearing the new sapphire ring with her wedding band. When Rhett saw that Scarlett was now wearing the sapphire ring as her engagement ring, he took her hand and said, "I like this very much."

Scarlett picked up Rhett's left hand and removed his wedding ring. When he didn't say anything but just stared at her she took the sapphire ring off his right hand and put it on his ring finger of his left hand. She said, "I like this very much."

"I do too."

Rhett leaned forward and softly kissed Scarlett. It was the first kissed they had shared since that night. No words were spoken but they both knew their relationship had shifted once again. They both knew they were recommitting to each other. Recommitting to staying together.

Scarlett and Wade went to visit Aunt PittyPat. Scarlett looked at the woman and noticed how old she looked. Scarlett felt compassion for the older woman. Here in the end of her life almost everyone she loved was dead or had moved away.

Wade said, "How was your Christmas?"

"Good. I had Christmas dinner with Dolly" And she proceeded to tell them everything about the dinner. At the end of her oration Wade said, "I'm glad it was good for you."

"It would have been better if Melanie and Beau had been here."

Scarlett quickly said, "Of course, but we are all just moving forward as best we can."

Aunt PittyPat told them all the gossip in Atlanta, not ever realizing that neither party was interested. They soon left.

As they got in the carriage Wade said, "I feel so sorry for her. She has lost so many of her loved ones and now at the end of her life she is alone."

"I do too." Scarlett marveled that her almost twelve-year-old son was already so insightful. She decided he must have gotten that from Charlie. He certainly didn't get that insight from her.

For Wade's birthday they went down to Tara. Mainly to get away from Atlanta so Aunt Melly and Beau not being at Wade's birthday party would not seem so noticeable. It worked to a certain extent, but Mammy was barely able to walk to the porch to wish Wade a happy birthday. She gave everyone hugs then went back to her cabin. After her departure Rhett had taken Scarlett's hand. She had smiled at him and said, "Thank you." He had smiled sadly back and just nodded his head. Rhett had held her hand the rest of the afternoon. Scarlett was comforted by holding Rhett's hand the rest of the time they were at Tara.

Rhett was pleased that he could provide comfort to Scarlett and take comfort from her. It was something wonderful that had truly developed between the two of them.

On the way back to Atlanta Scarlett listened to Ella chatter on about everything and anything. Scarlett marveled at the sweet girl's wonderfully sunny disposition. Scarlett was so glad she had her.

Rhett and Wade talked about his birthday presents. Wade seemed to be doing better as the days went by. Scarlett knew it was because Rhett was still nurturing him. Scarlett was finally learning how to nurture but Rhett was still doing the lion's share and she was so grateful to him. Scarlett had always been a woman of action not a woman of kind and gentle words.

Wade was also doing better because his mother was finally paying attention to him. She had stopped screaming and snapping at them.

Rhett never said anymore about leaving. Scarlett never mentioned him leaving either. Over the last six months they had really talked. They had talked as two people who cared for one another. They had talked without mockery and sarcasm. They had talked without name calling. They had really listened to each other for the first time in their relationship. They had talked as old friends. They had talked as parents of a deceased child.

One morning late in January, Rhett had woken up in Scarlett's arms. He had felt desire. He had felt strong desire for the first time in years. He wanted to be with Scarlett intimately. He could make sure she didn't get pregnant. There had been some action in his nether regions but not enough to complete the act. Some kisses and caresses might give him what he needed but if it didn't, he would be so ashamed and embarrassed. He didn't want her to know he couldn't perform as a man should perform. He couldn't risk that. He decided to go to the doctor that very morning.

When Rhett had asked to see Dr. Harrison and the receptionist had asked him his name, he had no idea why he had told her John Smith. He could have at least thought of a better alias.

When Dr. Harrison's receptionist told him there was a 'John Smith' in his examining room. He had suspected why the man was there to see him. He knew there were actually a lot of men named John Smith but about half of his patients calling themselves John Smith were men with erectile dysfunction problems. He walked into the examining room. He saw the man that he knew was Rhett Butler and he knew what the problem was. He asked, "Why are you here today?"

Rhett could not get the words out. The words that would make his problem a reality. Instead, he said, "I get winded too quickly."

Dr. Harrison listened to Rhett's heart and lungs. He asked Rhett a lot of questions. He asked, "How much alcohol do you consume daily?"

"None now. I quit drinking alcohol in September."

"When did you start drinking alcohol?"

"I had my first drink when I was sixteen."

"How much did you normally consume?"

"Maybe two to three shots a day."

Dr. Harrison suspected it was probably closer to eight to ten per day. He asked, "When did you start smoking?"

"When I was sixteen."

"How much do you smoke?"

"Maybe two or three a day."

Dr. Harrison suspected it was probably closer to six to eight. He had learned long ago that his patients always lied about their smoking and alcohol consumption. He never challenged them because it would create an adversarial atmosphere. He asked Mr. Butler, "How much physical activity do you get?"

"Very little."

"What is your diet like?"

"It is very plain fare. My wife doesn't like fancy food. She has very pedestrian taste."

"So, you don't eat a lot of sauces or rich food."

Rhett shook his head and said, "No, it is meat and two vegetables. Maybe some rolls. And dessert. Always dessert. She loves her desserts."

"That is actually a better diet for you than all that rich food. Are your parents living?"

"My mother is but my father died several years ago."

"Do you know how old he was when he died?"

"He was in his late sixties."

"What did your father die from?"

"A heart attack."

"Are you able to achieve an erection regularly?"

Rhett was stunned by the question. He had decided not to talk to the doctor about his problem. He was sure it would fix itself. He looked away from the doctor and said, "No."

"For how long?"

"Since April 15."

"Of last year?"

"No, since seventy-one."

"Why have you not come to see me sooner?"

"My wife didn't want any more children and I really had no desire. It was no big deal."

Dr. Harrison wanted to laugh in Mr. Butler's face. He had heard that numerous times also. For a man not being able to obtain an erection is always a big deal. The doctor said, "What has changed?"

"She now wants another child."

Dr. Harrison nodded his head and looked at Rhett with a sad expression. He said, "You have coronary artery disease. There is something wrong with your heart. I suspect that it is not functioning at full capacity. Your impotence issue is a symptom of that condition. You will have to change your lifestyle completely. You will have to stop smoking and drinking alcohol, continue eating right and get more exercise just to live."

"If I don't do all those things?"

"You will be dead before the year is over."

"If I do?"

"It might earn you another five to ten years," Dr. Harrison paused and looked at Mr. Butler. He couldn't tell by the man's expression what he was going to do. He continued, "Let me write all this down for you. I also have some material for you and your wife to read."

"Will I ever be able to achieve an erection again?"

"If you do all these things, I am suggesting then, you may be able to achieve an erection again."

"If I am able to maintain one, will it kill me to have relations?"

"No but it might take you a long time to catch your breath."

Rhett nodded his head. He wasn't sure he was going to tell Scarlett any of this. He got the material and paid the doctor. When he had not been able to achieve an erection after his night with Scarlett, he had thought it was because he felt guilty. When he continued to not be able to, he had thought it was more guilt because of Scarlett's accident. Over the last two years, there had been rare occasions when he would achieve an erection usually after dreaming about Scarlett. He had not felt any desire except on those rare occasions.

He got on his horse and rode to the cemetery. He stopped at Melanie Wilkes grave. He wondered how much she had known. Probably everything. She had known her husband would not be physically unfaithful to her. Unlike him she had not needed all of her spouse. Rhett knew that was his undoing. He had needed all of Scarlett. That and the fact that Mr. Wilkes was a total failure as a man, yet Scarlett had acted like he was perfect. That would have grated on his nerves even if he hadn't loved her. Listening to Scarlett tarnish this fine woman because of jealousy had been galling and irritating also. This woman who had in the end been the only person in Atlanta that had loved or even liked Scarlett.

These last six months since Miss Melly's death had been nice. Scarlett had been kind and comforting while not making him feel like she was manipulating him. It had seemed she needed him as much as he needed her. He had needed someone to hold him together. She had seemed to need someone to hold her together also. Maybe that was part of their problem, up until now neither one of them had thought they had needed anyone else.

He walked on to Bonnie's grave. He said, "It seems I will be joining you sooner than I had expected. I am extremely sick, baby. I don't know if I want to try and fight it or just accept the inevitable. If there is nothing on the other side, then I will fight it. If I will be reunited with you then, I will accept the inevitable. Of course, to be reunited with you I would need to atone for all my sins. That would be a lot of atoning.

I don't even know if I want to tell your mother. I don't want her fussing over me. I don't want to be hurt by her not even trying to fuss over me," Rhett smiled a sad smile. He continued, "I guess I still love her. I guess I always will. I definitely don't want to permanently leave her. I guess I will fight it to spend more time with her."

That night over supper Rhett watch Scarlett enjoying her supper. It may be plain, ordinary, food but she certainly did enjoy it. He remembered the numerous times he had brow beat her into ordering some gourmet food, she really hadn't enjoyed it. She liked the way it was presented with a lot of fanfare, but she hadn't liked the actual food. He, of course, had ridiculed her and implied she was low class because of her taste in food. He now wondered why he had always done that to her. He really did love her just as she was. He would think about it later.

Rhett said, "I have decided to quit smoking."

Everyone replied, "What?"

Scarlett said, "I'm happy but why?"

"It seems that a good cigar and a glass of whisky go hand and hand. I am no longer drinking whisky, so I no longer really want to smoke either."

For the first time in their entire acquaintanceship, Scarlett knew Rhett was lying. She smiled and said, "That is wonderful news. When are you going to quit smoking?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Wonderful."

Scarlett hoped that with Rhett quitting smoking he would get some of his color back. She knew it was going to be a very rough time living with Rhett for a while now that he was no longer smoking.

The next month was a bad month. Rhett was always in a bad mood. Although he would snap at people he wasn't mocking or deliberately cruel. He had gotten up and walked out of the room more times than Scarlett could count but she was so hoping Rhett would stay with it. Scarlett had gotten up and walked out of the room more times than she could count also.

Each day that he went without smoking he felt better. Scarlett was willing to put up with Rhett's bad mood because every day he was getting healthier. He was no longer coughing and coughing when he woke up, his color was looking better, and he had more energy. He had made them start taking a walk every evening after the children were asleep.

Author's Notes: While researching heart disease I discovered that impotence in men is an indication of undiagnosed heart disease.