Pre Note: Honestly, I didn't take the time to figure out how long a trip from Ireland to America would take Scarlett- I guessed a month. So, the beginning is just a week or so after B's 1st Birthday, and then I envision Her arriving in Atlanta mid-late April, and then Rhett comes a few weeks later, in May- which is where this fic started. Now I think all the in between has been filled as much as it needs to be, though there will probably be one or two more flashbacks of backstory. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

March '75

Packing a house to move was much harder when you were the one doing all the packing. Scarlett hadn't realized how much work went into it when she'd left, because she'd still had the servants at the Peachtree Street house to help her. Now, she packed even more things, because there was B to consider too. A crisp knock on the door stopped her as she folded some of his little things, and she took a deep breath in. She knew who the knock belonged to immediately, and she dreaded the conversation to come.

Duncan peeked his head in shortly after he knocked, a not-uncommon practice in Ireland, she'd found. Your neighbor's home was basically yours as well. Though she wasn't sure if it was because everyone was just so warm and friendly, or if they were just so busy that answering a door was the least of their concerns. As soon as Duncan's eyes took in Scarlett, he frowned. "So, you're really doing it then? You're still leaving?"

"I have to Duncan. We've talked about this. I can't hide away here forever. I need to go home, and see my family."

"This is your home. Sarah and Ian… and me.. We're your family."

Scarlett walked over, and placed a hand on his cheek. "You are, yes. I love Sarah and Ian as well, but Sarah's the one that made me realize I can't stay here forever. I can't live as if everything in Atlanta never existed."

"You'd really go back to him? After everything? He doesn't deserve you, Scarlett. He left you, and the children. B doesn't even know-"

Scarlett cut him off. "I am going, yes. Though, not back to him. I need to make a completely free cut from Atlanta. I'm selling the house. The store and mill already sold- and then there's Tara- I still don't know what I'm going to do about Tara.

"You're not telling him then?"

Scarlett sighed. She knew she needed to speak to Rhett- she should have already spoken to Rhett, but she couldn't bring herself to. She needed just a little more time with her children. She needed people to see that she could be a good mother, and then maybe- maybe Rhett wouldn't take B from her when he found out. She knew he'd find out eventually, either she would tell him or he'd figure it out, he was a smart man for all of his other faults. Still, she wanted to keep the information to herself just a little longer.

"I need to go home." Scarlett paused. She'd spent night after night wondering what it would be like if Rhett was there- how she'd explain the baby, and how he'd react. The ending was different each time, but usually it ended in him taking the child and her never seeing him again. Still, every once in a while, Rhett would take her back and they'd all be a family again. "I need to see if we can make this work- as a family, one day, if not immediately."

"If you stay here, you already have a family…"

"I'm married-"

"Divorce him. If you stay here I'm saying you can have a family, and a husband who loves and adores you. I can give you and the children that, Scarlett."

The next several minutes were a blur in Scarlett's mind. She''d ended up crying, trying so hard to explain that no matter how long he waited for her, she didn't think she'd ever get Rhett completely out of her heart. Duncan had pleaded, and then when it was clear Scarlett was not going to be swayed, he became cool. His pride, she understood, was wounded, and his heart too.

"You'll never be happy Scarlett. After everything you told me- everything that happened in Atlanta, you're going to go back? You're afraid, Scarlett, afraid to be happy and to be truly loved by someone. Goodbye Scarlett- I hope you get whatever it is you think you want."

Duncan did not accompany her and Sarah to the ship the following day. In fact, she didn't hear from him until the apology letter she'd received months later. As she'd read the words, she knew he meant them, and she also knew any anger she had had left, and she now just missed someone who had been a good friend to her.

-XXXXXXXXX-

Rhett sat across from Alex at one of Belle's gaming tables. "Thanks for coming all the way to Atlanta." Rhett's mouth smirked around an expensive cigar that he held in between his lips.

Alex grinned. "Purely business, you understand. You were my highest paying client."

"I'm about to be again."

"Oh?" Alex supplied absentmindedly while a dealer dealt out cards to Rhett and himself.

"There's been some new...revelations about the child."

"Not really adopted, is it? I expected as much, but didn't have the names to dig into any potential fathers…"

"Well…" Rhett cleared his throat. "Scarlett's decided to name me."

"You?" Alex looked as shocked as Rhett had felt initially. "You've told me she'd been married before, and she had other children, so I'm assuming she knows the intricacies of how children come to be. What a fool- either that or she's gone hysterical-" Alex's eyes widened a fraction but he didn't stop to give Rhett time to talk. "You know, that might be your ticket- you can divorce her if she's not sound."

Something about hearing Alex call Scarlett a fool and mad hit an unexpected nerve. He opened his mouth to correct the man, but was interrupted by another man's voice. "Captain Butler- imagine finding you here."

Despite having only spent the least amount of time possible with the man, Rhett recognized the voice before he looked up. Mr. Taylor, Scarlett's Duncan, was striding over toward the table with a smile on his face. Good hell. Ironic, really, that he'd met Alex here to have him investigate the man, among other things, and now he was here in front of him. Despite the very real possibility that Duncan's presence would sour his mood, and ruin his plans for the evening, he heard himself invite the man farther over. "Mr. Taylor, come, sit down and join us- unless you don't play cards?"

Perhaps Duncan was too income restricted to play Cards- or too worldly, like the cursed Ashley Wilkes. Rhett wasn't sure if he wished him to decline or accept. He might find more about his relationship with Scarlett if he accepted- but how much more did he truly want to know?

Duncan nodded, "I appreciate it. Thank you." He introduced himself to Alex as Rhett had not. Duncan's accent was mostly English, but there were a few words that he said that haid an Irish lilt- something Rhett had noticed about Scarlett as well.

Rhett looked at Alex pointedly before he said the next part. "Mr. Taylor, I hope you found our home to your taste, and dinner as well. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer to entertain you. Hopefully the children weren't too much after your trip here."

Duncan smiled. "Not at all. I enjoyed seeing them again. I've missed them since Scarlett-" He cleared his throat and looked around, "Excuse me, Mrs. Butler- left Ireland."

"Indeed. I missed them myself while they were away."

Duncan did not respond or react, even though both of the other men watched him. If he held an opinion it didn't show. Outwardly, he seemed un-phased by the commentary between them, or the underlying current in the shared words. "Your house is just as large as your wife explained it to me, and very...decorated."

Rhett almost smiled at that. It seemed that they shared the same opinion about his wife's tastes. Yet Rhett couldn't help but wonder if they'd shared anything else. "How long will you be in town?"

"Just another couple of days, I'm afraid, then I have to head west on business. However, I hope that I'll be back through before I head back to Ireland."

"So you haven't come to America to stay?"

"No, I think not. I find Ireland more to my taste."

Interesting, Rhett thought, though he didn't know what to make of it just then. The night continued forward in much the same manner, both of them asking innocent questions. Alex stayed mostly quiet, observing them. He'd always enjoyed that most about being out and about- observing how people interacted with each other. Both men talked calmly and casually to the other, but he could see that they were trying to figure each other out. He might have to stick around in Atlanta the next few days himself, just to see where this all went. Not to mention he still didn't know what Rhett wanted him to do, but he would place money on it being something to do with the intriguing Mr. Taylor.

When the night had turned into the earliest morning hours, their game came to an end. Duncan had won each of the hands they'd played, which only irritated Rhett. He was rarely bested in cards, but he thought he usually accepted the loss well enough. Something about Duncan winning left a bad taste in his mouth. A buxom girl, one of Belle's new employees, sashayed over to the table, eyeing Rhett. He smiled up at her as she approached.

"Will you be staying with us tonight Captain?"

Rhett hadn't stayed a night there since he'd found out about Baby B, although he usually stayed until early in the morning- simply to make sure that Scarlett was asleep by the time he got home. The least amount of time they had to spend with each other was definitely for the better.

"Well, who might you be?" Alex inquired at Rhett's side.

The girl smiled wide. "I'm Lottie, sir." she answered, but turned back to Rhett.

"Thank you Lottie, yes, I will. Will you arrange...entertainment...for my two friends here, as well?"

"Well thank you Rhett, I forget why I enjoy your company so much sometimes." Alex grinned, already scooting his chair back to head upstairs to the private rooms.

Duncan cleared his throat. "Thank you, no, Captain Butler. I've arranged a room at the hotel, I should be getting back there. Thank you for the games, they were well played.

Rhett looked slightly shocked- or maybe offended that his offer wasn't received. "You sure? I've never found fault with any of Belle's girls. I'm sure they'll make the late night worth your while." He spoke as Duncan walked toward the nearby door.

Duncan turned and offered a small smile. "No, I've never found I needed to pay for company should I want it, and tonight I do not." He bowed and left the building, leaving an open mouth Alex and a stern-faced Rhett behind him.

Post Note: Thanks for all the reviews, as always!1 I love seeing where you guys think this is going (and getting some ideas along the way). Speaking of which, one of you either commented or pm'd me about having them encounter each other at Belle's, and how perfect! So here ya go! Tried to make this longer as it might be a bit before the next one. My back is getting better though!