Rhett watched as Scarlett slowly open her eyes. It is late. Wade has gone to school, and Ella is with her governess. His mother wanted to take Scarlett's breakfast on her own, but he forbids her. She looks so beautiful sleeping, without the burden on her shoulder and sadness that looks so clear in her eyes. Part of them was his fault, he knew.

"Rhett?" She murmured sleepily before she finally gained her consciousness after a few seconds. She sits on her bed, holding her blanket high so he couldn't look at her see-through nightgown, "What are you doing here?"

"Bringing you your breakfast." She tried to look at anything but his face. His last conduct still hurts her badly. No matter how much she tried to convince herself she will do better, it still hurts her that Rhett doesn't seem to try on making any attempt between them.

"What time is it?"

"Ten. Why?"

"I need to get up. Ella's governor must have been waiting and I have promised Colum I'll take him to the station today." She threw her blanket and tried to stand but his hand is faster and push her back to the bed.

"Calm down, Scarlett. Ella's governor is already in her room and I have took your cousin to the station. He left you a note. Why don't you eat your breakfast?" He eyed the breakfast plate on her nightstand, "I could take you out today, but you need to eat your breakfast first."

"And why do you think I want to go out with you?" She spat.

"Because my sister is staying home, and I know you prefer my company than hers." He grinned, "And I could take you shopping."

"Even a week with Rosemary will feel better than an hour with you." She took the plate and put it on her lap. Rhett smirked seeing her. It has been so long since he presented Scarlett with her breakfast in bed.

The last time was their honeymoon. Scarlett was a completely different person back then. She smiled, laughed, and danced. She drank champagne every night and shop her overdone dress every day. She teased and played like a schoolgirl. He couldn't help but blame himself when he saw the fragile figure in front of him. It's true that fate has done their fair sure to break her spirit, but he knows his own indifference struck her badly.

And he was supposed to be the one who protected her.

"I talked to your cousin this morning." Knowing she wouldn't invite him to bed, he sat by her side, "I suppose we have a lot of talking to do."

"We don't. The last time you said you wanted to talk, you threatened me!" Her eyes lit with accusation.

"I'm sorry for it." He sighed. "Listen, I know what I did is unfair, and I'm sorry. But we could try again, Scarlett."

With Scarlett, he has used his love, money, power, and none of them works. In the end, he wore himself out. Much like him, the woman before him is unearthly stubborn, and if she decides to leave, not a thing in the world will stop her. Colum made that point quite clear earlier.

"She must have wanted to stay, despite what she said. Our Katie Scarlett isn't afraid of anything and she won't do anything against her wish. You must have known that by now."

Scarlett once said she loved him. He wonders if that's still true because that is the only reasonable explanation why she's here. Despite the tough face she put on, Scarlett is still a child at heart and if she longed for him, she would stay.

"What did Colum say?"

"He said, if I didn't do you right this time, he will kill me himself and take you away to Ireland." He grins.

"Serves you right. I should have shot you. That way, I shouldn't be worried you will be taking away everything I have, and I would get your money, too." Her eyes glint playfully, but her tone is still dry.

"And how do you think you will convince the law?"

"Oh, I will act like a grieving widow and sail away to Ireland because I couldn't bear not having you here. They won't touch me in Ireland. I will be the richest widow in Europe."

"Oh you little vixen!" He couldn't help but feel relieved to hear her tease. Rhett gathered his arm around her small figure and breath the smell of her hair. "I'm sorry. I was really stupid," he whispers.

"You are!" She pouted. "Don't you dare threaten me again!"

"Yes, dear."

"Or divorce me! I hate you for it!"

"I'm sorry for that too."

"Or belittling me!"

"Yes."

"You will stay here every night and hold me!"

"That will be my pleasure."

"You won't go to Belle! Where is she anyway?"

"Back in Atlanta"

"You will play the dotting husband in front of everyone!"

"I sure would."

"You will kiss me every morning when I wake up and night before bed."

"That, I will."

Rhett took her chin and looked into the depth of her emerald eyes of hers to see the love gleaming in it. Suddenly he was lost. She will be the death of him, and he will die a happy man. He brushed his lips against hers and claim it as his.

"Now you look really pretty." Rhett put on a bonnet on the top of her head and smirks. Scarlett is pretty, but the bonnet she wears reminded him so much of the one he fetched from Paris a long time ago during his blockading days. "We're taking this one."

Scarlett held his arm, smiling. Much like those times in New Orleans, the difference is there is no more Ashley Wilkes in her mind and he feels like the luckiest man on earth. To be the man she loved.

"You do know how to get into a girl's heart." She batted her eyelashes seductively, making him throw his head back with laughter. Her flirtation, while never work on him, amused him to no end.

"My, Mrs. Butler, haven't I told you I have a way with women." He grinned like a happy boy.

"Rhett!" Scarlett looking around to find two young ladies, Rosemary and Anne, waving at them.

She pouted. Today is supposed to be a happy day for her without the interference of both stupid ninnies like them. While Rosemary somehow reminds her of Rhett, Scarlett was never really fond of her sister in law. Seeing her reaction, Rhett let out a chuckle. It is not a secret that Scarlett hates his sister, not that Rhett blame any of them. The two were too different to be on agreeable terms.

"Good afternoon, ladies. Might I say I'm surprised to see you here, Rosemary?"

Rosemary grins, "I intend on staying home today but Anne called, and I thought it won't do anyone any harm if I go out today, would it?" She looks at Scarlett with the corner of her eyes, "Scarlett! I missed you at breakfast today. you were still asleep then."

"It looks like I need the rest." She caressed her still flat belly with a smile, knowing both ladies would understand what she implicitly tells.

While Anne's eyes looked as if it was ready to get out of its place, Rosemary seemed calmer. She supposed Rhett must have told her about it. If not Rhett, then perhaps Ms. Eleanor. She put her eyes back on her brother.

"I met Ross earlier. I invited him for dinner tonight." Rosemary stated.

"Now, why would you invite him to dinner?" Rhett growled.

Scarlett herself is not very pleased with the idea. Her last encounter with the younger Butler brother didn't end up well. Instead, it ended up quite badly to her self esteem she needs to ask Ms. Eleanor to help her.

"Please, Ms. Eleanor. Help me dress like a lady." Was her exact word.

"He seems sober today, Rhett. And I missed him so. I also invited Anne with us. You wouldn't mind, would you, Scarlett?"

Scarlett wanted to scream and pout at her husband. The last thing she wanted is both Ross and Anne in her house tonight or any night. Sighing, she couldn't help but compromised Rosemary's very existence because she has to live under the same roof with her.

Scarlett is in the losing game. No matter what she does, she will always lose. It wouldn't satisfy her, to just smile like a ninny in front of the woman who has eyed her husband wildly like some piece of meat. On the other hand, if she throws a tantrum, not only Rhett but all the Charlestonians would take it as a sign of her bad behavior.

How I wish to wring her little neck!

Things won't be so bad if only Rhett is still the same blockade runner who sits in Aunt Pitty's parlor to woe her. The man beside her is not that man. He has earned his respectability and left Scarlett to fend for herself. This man now cared about his reputation, even if only for the little baby in her belly.

She does care about the baby, but it's hard to bite her tongue every time she wanted to snap when she doesn't get her way! She sighed, she is Ellen Robillard's daughter, and she knows how to act respectable if she wanted.

For heaven's sake, she is Scarlett O'Hara. She always gets what she wants, and what she wants is Rhett Butler. If being respectable among the Charlestonian society is what is needed to get her husband back, that's what she will do.

Oh mother you will be very happy to see me now.

"It would be lovely to have such a charming lady for dinner." She smiled.

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"I must warn you before you met my brother. He is rarely sober." Rhett tried to find the exact words to describe his brother. Unlike him, his brother is a real gentleman and the apple of his father's eyes.

Much like Ashley Wilkes, the war has changed the world he lived in, and he couldn't survive in the hardness of the aftermath. Unlike Ashley, who has family and Scarlett, his brother has nothing to go on, so he drowned himself in liquor.

"You don't have to tell me, I have met him. He said I look like a whore." Scarlett chooses the jewelry from her vanity. She needs something grand for tonight.

His jaw hardened, he doesn't have to see her face, but he doesn't need her face to catch the bitterness in her tone, "What did he say?"

"He said I resemble more of a whore than a Butler and it's not surprising you marry me." She refused to see his face. It still hurts her so badly. She despised the word whore. Her husband has enough acquaintance with a particular one to lasts her whole life.

"Is that why you wanted to wear that dull dress?"

"It's not dull! Ms. Eleanor chose it for me herself!" She defended.

"My mother does dress rather dully." He smirked, "But you, my dear, deserve a better dress than that one. The dress would look unflattering compared to your face. I'll put this back and choose one for you myself."

Scarlett waited for him to return. Her attempt at choosing jewelry must wait until Rhett chose a dress for her. She looked at herself in the mirror. It's been long since the last time she wears rogue. Ross's words still mark badly on her mind.

It's known she doesn't need one to emphasize her beauty, but she rarely goes without one before. She is no longer the young belle she was once. While her face still looks pretty much the same, she couldn't help but feel old.

But that has nothing to do with her face. It was her heart that feels really tired of everything. She rarely laugh anymore. It has been years since she actually feels happy. She did push away her happiness with her own hand.

"My pet, the clothes you have in your closet are quite limited, but I manage to find one pretty little thing for you." He grinned at her, and she couldn't help but smile, "Stand up, let me help you put this on."

She no longer wore her corset, so help is no longer needed, but she can't help but long for Rhett's touch. His breath felt warm on her neck as he buttoned her dress up. His hand is touching her back with a light touch that left her wanting.

"Scarlett," He breathed behind her ear.

"Yes?" It sounds more like a moan than a particular word.

"You don't look like a whore. You are my wife." With that, he claimed her lips on his and took the sweetness she offered. Scarlett left breathless. Her limb felt so soft she will fall anytime if not for his hand on her waist.

"I'd better stop before you faint. We still have dinner after all." He gave her a wink.

Scarlett looked into herself in the mirror. She does look beautiful and somehow respectable. Green does make her look even more beautiful, and Rhett knows it very well. She would have no idea if it was the dress or her suddenly heightened self-esteem that makes her look even more beautiful.

"You're lack something." He whispers in her ears, "I gave you a set when you're pregnant with Bonnie. It's just fitting to give you another one with this little one."

He opened the set in front of her, giving her enough time to look closely into the new set. She gasped, a set of silver and emerald. Rhett took out a choker and chained it on her neck. They have pearls on every end of the stone that makes it looks even more beautiful. She looks at herself in the mirror and smile.

"You should have known by now. Your eyes look even more beautiful than this. But Emerald does bring out the color of your eyes."

"Thank you." She whispers.

"Come, we still have dinner with a drunk I called brother."

Rhett leads her down the stairs puts on a wide smile on her face, the kind only careless people could have. One that Melanie always has. Melanie was always so happy because she never thought badly of people, and for tonight she only wanted to be happy.

There must be something left of the love Rhett had felt for her. No one could act so nice to someone he doesn't love. She will have him back, his love and devotion, and by the time he said those three little words, she will be the happiest woman alive. She can't wait for the time to come.

"Mrs. Butler, it's a pleasure to see you again. I never thought I would." Ross mocked her with a happy tone, it doesn't hear like one.

Surely, he must have heard of her latest conduct and assumed Rhett had left her. Well, he had, before he knows about the baby. She had no idea whether to be relieved or not of the fact, but she put on a smile while tighten her grab on Rhett's arms.

"Fie, Mr. Butler, it surely is a pleasure to see you sober. I never thought I would." Eleanor Butler is not exactly pleased with what she just said, but she knew her last encounter with the man didn't end up really friendly.

It's common knowledge for the Charlestonian how their beloved Ross Butler turned out to be after the war. While the family's black sheep get out of the war richer than ever, the white knight barely survived the damage. For some time, they compared the two of them. Ross is not making it easy on his reputation as a drunk. Rhett won all over again.

Rhett couldn't help but smirk, he has known Scarlett and her spirit will not make it easy on Ross. But her spirit seems to be gone lately. To see a fraction of her passion feels heavenly. He must have known that power play doesn't do right with Scarlett. Ashley has won for some years simply because he treated her nicely. Rhett could play that game too.

Rhett found himself beside a fidgeting Ella and a smiling Rosemary. Ross's existence doesn't seem easy on Ella because it has been long since the little girl fidgets during dinner. Either Ross or Rosemary, he has no idea.

"Stop fidgeting, Ella!" Wade hissed loud enough for her and Rhett to hear.

Ever since they arrived in Charleston, Ella used to sit beside Scarlett so she could grab on her thigh every time the little girl started moving. Rhett must have no idea about her new habit, but Wade seems furious with his little sister.

"You'll fall like in Tara if you don't stop, Ella!" Wade continued.

"Son, I think it won't be a problem as long she doesn't fall, would it?" Rhett pats on Ella's head. Ella gave Wade a triumphant smile, one that looks like her own mother's.

"What do you care if she falls." Wade mumble so low it only sounds faint in her ear, but she held his hand under the table and caresses it gently.

Eleanor Butler smiled throughout the whole encounter, "I saw the letter from your Aunt Julia earlier. How are they, Rosemary?"

"Aunt Julia and Uncle Robert are fine. They send you their love." Rosemary continued, "They were asking if you're up to travel."

"I don't think so, I'm growing tired in my old age." Eleanor Butler teased.

"You're not that old, mother," Rhett smirked.

"Oh, I am. I should stay at my home and bake for my grandchildren, don't you think so, Ms. Ella?"

"I love your cookie, grandma." Ella smiled widely.

Scarlett can't help but caressed her belly and smile. Eleanor would love her baby, just like she did Bonnie once. The baby will be born and loved as she was supposed to be. The baby won't share the same fate Bonnie had. It won't grow up in the middle of a war between both of her parents. Both she and Rhett would make sure of it.

Anne noticed Scarlett's smile and felt the hatred come through the surface of her heart. She should be the one who has the blessing and not some cheating wife in front of her. She is not even that beautiful. Rhett Butler could have a better wife than her. Someone like her, who would devote all her life and time for him.

"How come I never got a cookie ever since I'm here?" Rhett jested loud enough to make the whole table laugh.

"Mother makes one for her grandchildren. You're too old to be hers." Scarlett mocked.

The dinner was pleasant. To Scarlett's pleasure, Anne managed to keep her eyes on herself tonight. Perhaps the presence of her best friend and Rhett's brother has kept her from acting so wanton. Rhett managed to have a jest or two with his brother in his uncommon state of sober, and for the first time in a long time, Scarlett enjoyed herself.

Mrs. Butler seems so happy to have all of her family at the same table. It has been so long since Ross got lost in a drunk state. Rosemary must have sensed the pleasant mood, so she kept her usual snide remarks toward Scarlett to herself.

"Shall we retire to the parlor, then?" Eleanor offers.

"I'll join you later, mother. It's time for little Miss Ella going to bed." Rhett picked up the sleepy Ella in his arm. The little girl has covered her mouth a few times to hide her yawn.

"Will you read me, Uncle Rhett? You haven't read me for a long time!" Ella exclaims, "Mother reads me every night, but mother's voice is so good I feel sleepy. I like your story better, Uncle Rhett. You make funny faces!" Ella hides her face on the curve of his shoulder.

"I believe making you sleepy is the point of a bedtime story, Ella." Rhett chuckle, "Will you join us, Wade?"

"Yes, sir." Wade bent his head and give his mother a peck on her cheeks, "Goodnight, mother."