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

I am getting an email with y'all's reviews (I think) but for some reason they are not showing up on the feed.

Rhett leaving Scarlett at Rough and Ready was a devastating moment in Scarlett's life. Up until that time she had been a rich, planter's daughter who the worst thing that had happened to her was the man she wanted to married chose to marry someone else. Yes, she was a spoilt, self-centered, selfish brat but she had no reason to be anything else. From the time Rhett left her to the time Frank died, Scarlett did so many things to survive that damaged her soul. And nobody but Melanie was grateful that she did them, not even Ashley. In this story Rhett is going to have her back.

Chapter Two

As Mammy walked away, Rhett said to Scarlett, "Let's go talk to your father then we will go to bed," When Scarlett's head shot up, he whispered, "I will collect on our bargain tomorrow night or the night after that. I just need to get you to bed."

"What about the Confederate Army?"

"Do you really think that I could have relations with you then joined the army?"

Scarlett had blushed and mumbled, "I guess not."

Scarlett took Rhett's hand and led him to her father's study. Gerald had looked at Rhett as they had walked into the room, Scarlett had said, "Pa, do you remember Rhett. We got married in Atlanta the day before yesterday."

"I did not approve this match."

"It is too late now."

At the time Rhett had thought, 'Indeed, it is too late now. It seems that I have truly taken a wife.'

Then Gerald said words that made the bottom fall out of Scarlett's already destroyed world. He said, "Mrs. O'Hara is not going to be happy about you not getting permission."

"Pa, Mother….."

"What's done is done, Mr. O'Hara."

"True."

Gerald toasted them with a glass of moonshine. Rhett had poured himself and Scarlett a glass. When he handed the glass to her, he had said, "You need it after the day you have had."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Rhett and Scarlett had retired to her bedroom, and she had not even balked when he followed her into her room. In fact, he thought she had been happy he was there. He had joined her in her bed. Her tiny little bed. It was larger than a single but not by much. Yet they fit. They were still sleeping in that tiny bed. Sometimes Wade joined them in the bed also. As long as she didn't get with child, Rhett guessed the three of them would continue to sleep in that tiny bed.

Rhett and Scarlett had not spoken after they had left Gerald's study. Rhett just wanted to get Scarlett into the bed before she collapsed. He had helped her get undressed down to her shimmy. She had said, "I don't have a nightgown."

Scarlett had turned and gotten into her bed. Rhett had taken off his clothes and got in beside her. He had taken her into his arms and said, "Let's just sleep for now. Things will look better in the morning."

"Alright."

Rhett would never know if Scarlett would have fulfilled her part of the bargain or not. He suspected that she would not have. He suspected that the only reason she had was because of his declaration of them being married and probably her belief that she was going to need his help in the coming months. The question he had often asked himself was, 'Why had he stayed?' He could have gotten her and Wade out of the Confederacy and to Europe but instead he had endured almost eighteen months of hell for her. Although things had started getting better in the South once the war was over.

Although Rhett had tried to be a good boy that night, when he found Scarlett pressed up against him that had been too much for his thin thread of control. He had started kissing her. She had responded. He had managed to muster back up some control for he hadn't been sure she was completely awake. She had to be awake, and she had to say yes. So, he said, "Scarlett, are you awake?

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Then spread your legs."

Scarlett had willingly done so. When Rhett knew she was fully awake, he said, "Wrap your legs around my waist."

"How?"

"Just lift your legs up and I will do the rest."

Once she had lifted up her legs, she had figured out what she needed to do.

Rhett had whispered, "Push back against me."

When Scarlett started pushing against Rhett, he felt her go over the edge. He heard her call out his name with wonder. He had brought her to satisfaction two more times. He had been wanting a fourth time for her, but he had lost control. He had called out her name and let himself go over the edge.

The next morning after Rhett had woken up, he had laid in Scarlett's bed with her pressed close to him. He had thought, 'This is heaven. To hell with all that honor and bullshit. What the hell had I been thinking? I could get killed fighting for the Confederacy. Instead, here I am in a warm bed with a very willing Scarlett. If I died now, I would die happy.'

Rhett and Scarlett's night together had not been everything he had dreamed of, yet it was pretty wonderful, nonetheless.

Rhett had woken Scarlett up. Once she was awake, he had said, "Regrets?"

"No. No regrets."

Rhett had made love to her again. Scarlett had welcomed him, and he was able to bring her to satisfaction again which pleased him. He wanted her to enjoy their intimate time as much as he did.

As Rhett and Scarlett were getting dressed, she said, "I didn't know we could do it in the morning."

Rhett had laughed and then said, "We can do it anytime we want to do it," He turned serious and said, "Scarlett, my offer still stands. I can take you away from all this. We could be in New Orleans and then on a ship to Europe in no time."

"Thank you, Rhett, but no. I'm afraid I am the only person who can save Tara."

"Alright. Come on. Let's see what kind of nightmare awaits us."

That morning over a breakfast of yams Scarlett knew without a doubt her father wasn't going to be any help in the coming days or ever again. Rhett knew the minute she had known that she was on her own. She had quickly turned to look at Rhett. The stricken look on her face was enough to let him know that she knew her Pa was truly gone.

Rhett reached out his hand and Scarlett took it. He had uttered words that he could not believe he was saying, "I'm not going anywhere."

That was the first time Rhett had seen the worshipping look on Scarlett's face when she was looking at him. He liked it a lot. He guessed that worshipping look she had been giving him these eighteen months was why he had stayed, to see that look again. Despite the fact, he had seen it many times, he still wanted to see it many more times.

Rhett had said to Mammy, "Do we have any food?"

"We have mostly vegetables."

"Do we have any animals?"

Mammy shook her head no.

Scarlett said, "You were so smart to bring the cow and calf you captured back to Tara."

Rhett smiled at her use of the word 'captured.' Like the cow and calf had been wild beasts that he wrestled to the ground and defeated with his bare hands, but she was again giving him that worshiping look, so he was not going to make any mocking statements.

Rhett and Scarlett wouldn't have found the cow and calf if he hadn't been giving the horse a moment to rest. He heard some rustling in the bushes and thought it was a soldier. He had pulled his gun and then saw that it was a cow. He had got down from the wagon. As he did Scarlett had said, "Be careful."

"It is just a cow."

"I know. That is why I told you to be careful."

Rhett hadn't answered Scarlett. He got the cow and pulled her by her ear to the wagon. The calf had followed her mother. He said, "Let me have the lace off your petticoat."

"I don't have any lace on my petticoat."

"Let me have your petticoat."

"Prissy, give Rhett your petticoat."

"Miss Scarlett, I haven't had a petticoat for over a year now."

"Scarlett, give me your petticoat."

"I can't be seen in public without a petticoat on."

Rhett had smiled up at her and said, "Scarlett, we are in a war zone not at a garden party. We have found a cow and a calf. We don't know how bad things are at Tara. We are not going to leave them behind. Now give me your petticoat."

Scarlett pulled her skirt up and said, "Just rip off what you need."

"Thank you, my dear."

Rhett had fashioned two loops out of her petticoat, and they had been able to bring the cow and calf back to Tara.

Rhett heard Scarlett calling him. He said, "What, my dear?"

"Twelve Oaks is the closest plantation, but nobody is there. Let's walk over after breakfast and see if there is any food over there."

"Alright."

Rhett and Scarlett had walked over to Twelve Oaks after breakfast. As they walked up to the ruins that once were the main house, Scarlett said, "Ashley is going to be sick with despair when he sees this. That is if Ashley is still alive."

Sourly Rhett thought, "Of course, the man is still alive. I couldn't be that lucky for the man to die."

When Scarlett looked at Rhett he smiled and said, "Of course, he is still alive," Scarlett looked pleased by his statement until Rhett said, "He has to return to the women that love him."

Scarlett scowled at him. She said, "Let's look to see if there is any food we can forage."

"Of course, my dear."

After they had walked around for a while, Rhett said, "Where are the rest of the Wilkes?"

"Mr. Wilkes was killed in the siege of Atlanta and Ashley's sisters went to Macon. I don't know where the slaves have gone."

"They have all run off."

"I guess."

"You are lucky that Mammy, Pork, and … what is the other woman's name?"

"Dilcey."

"Dilcey stayed."

"Mammy was my mother's mammy. She has been part of the Robillard family all her life. She is very loyal to us."

"I hope your family deserves that loyalty."

"I know my mother does," Scarlett turned to Rhett and said, "Oh Rhett. She's dead. How can my mother be dead?"

"I don't know, Baby."

For once Rhett comforted Scarlett. He didn't mock her or make fun of her. He put his arms around her and let her cry. When he thought she was cried out, he said, "There is nothing here. Isn't that just like Wilkes to be so ill prepared for a disaster."

"Rhett! He has been gone for four years."

"So?"

"Let's go back to Tara. There's nothing here."

"That's what I said."

Rhett watched Scarlett stalk off and smiled. He quickly caught up with her. By the time they were back at Tara, Rhett had coaxed Scarlett back into a good mood. She had even laughed at a few of his jokes. She was usually easy to get to laugh as long as the joke wasn't at her or Wilkes expense.

Over dinner, Scarlett said, "We have to find out who else is still in the county. I will walk to the Fontaine's plantation this afternoon."

"We will walk there tomorrow. You are not used to that much exercise and I don't want you to get sore."

Scarlett blushed when she understood what Rhett really meant. She muttered, "Of course."

The couple had spent the afternoon, searching through the slave cabins and gardens looking for anything of value. As they walked through the barn, Scarlett managed to keep Rhett between her and the cow. Finally, he said, "Are you scared of the cow?"

Scarlett hissed out, "Yes."

Rhett burst out laughing. He said, "It is just a cow."

"I know what it is. It also weighs at least four times as much as I do."

"Come along. You can stand over here. I will protect us from the cow."

"Thank you."

As Rhett and Scarlett had walked upstairs later that night, she said, "I am going to get a nightgown out of my mother's room. Go on in my bedroom."

"Alright."

When Rhett and Scarlett had gotten into bed, he knew she was no longer mad at him by the way she had clung to him. He knew she was happy that he was there. After they had been intimate, all she had said was, "Help me smooth my nightgown down."

"No, I want to feel your naked flesh against my naked flesh."

Scarlett must have like that too for she didn't argue with him.