Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eight

Rhett met up with his mother while he was in Charleston. Elizabeth hugged him and said, "You are doing well for yourself in Atlanta."

"What do you mean?"

"Someone wrote Pauline that, although it was a little early before it was proper for a gentleman to start calling on her, the famed blockade runner, Rhett Butler, was courting her niece, Scarlett."

"Oh no. I hope nobody takes it upon themselves to write her mother. If her mother hears she will make Scarlett return to Tara."

Elizabeth stared at her son. She had never known him to be that open about his emotions since he was ten years old. She said, "If someone wrote Pauline, someone has already written Mrs…"

"O'Hara."

"Mrs. O'Hara. This girl is Irish."

"Half. I guess her mother is a Robillard if Mrs. Billings is her aunt."

"Yes. Does she know you have Irish blood?"

"I have never said anything to her about it since Grandfather came from the other side than Mr. O'Hara. I met the man when he warned me off from courting his daughter. That would be like telling Scarlett my grandfather was a Yankee."

"That is true. Mrs. O'Hara probably has her hands full running the plantation. I know I do. If it wasn't for Daphne's help, I wouldn't be able to manage it. The reason it is good news was the woman didn't say anything about that unreceived Rhett Butler."

Rhett broke into a smile. He said, "It certainly hasn't been easy. You don't know how many times I have had to bite my tongue not to say something mocking or sarcastic."

"I have an idea. I have known you all your life," Rhett kept smiling. This was good news indeed. Elizabeth continued, "I have something for you," She held out her hand and Rhett reached out with his hand palm up. She continued, "It was my mother's engagement ring. It is extremely special to me as are you."

Rhett looked at the ring it was a ruby in a solitaire cut. The metal was gold. There was a tiny diamond on either side of the ruby. Rhett said, "Mother, you must sell this."

"First, I could never sell that ring. Second, I could never get what it was worth in South Carolina right now. Take it."

"I will give you some money for it."

"Just give me the money you were already going to give me."

"I don't know how she feels about me."

"Tell her you love her and see what she says."

"No, I could never do that. I would die of embarrassment if she didn't say she loved me too."

"She will never know unless you tell her."

"She should know by the things I do for her."

"She may think you love her but until you tell her she will truly never know. What if she is just as scared as you that you don't love her back. Don't blow this chance."

"She will just have to figure it out."

"Think about telling her instead of making her figure it out."

"I have got to go. I love you, Mother."

"I love you too, Rhett."

"Goodbye."

Usually, Rhett did not leave first when he was meeting with his mother, but he didn't want to talk about telling Scarlett he loved her anymore, so he left his mother. Rhett knew his mother was right but that wouldn't make it any easier to say the words.

As Elizabeth watched her son walk away, she knew she had made him uncomfortable with her talk of telling Scarlett about his love. She wondered, 'How can a man be so brave in everything else but so scared in matters of the heart. Probably because of Langston's rejection of him.'

Elizabeth sadly remembered when five-year-old Rhett had told his father he loved him and Langston had replied, 'Men don't speak of love.' Despite the fact that both she and Mammy had told Rhett of their love for him that night, she knew Langston's words had scarred the boy. Then that whole mess with Emily Prater. No, Rhett had already told two people he loved them and had been rejected by them. Elizabeth thought it was amazing he could still verbally tell her of his love for her. She smiled sadly and thought, 'I guess he knows he will not be rejected by me when he tells me he loves me.'

Rhett was soon back on his ship running the blockade. It was getting harder and harder to get through the blockade both leaving the Confederacy and entering it. Yet he couldn't quit because the profits were insane. He had no trouble selling his goods.

By October Rhett was dying to see Scarlett again but his greed was getting in the way of his being able to go to Atlanta. He was still taking cotton out in every ship. He had a warehouse full of cotton in Lancashire, England. When he sold it, he would make at least a half a million dollars. With what he had made running the blockade when the war was over, he would be a millionaire. As tempted as he was, he never did anything questionable. At least, not anything anyone would find out about. He pretended to be a loyal son of the South.

Finally, in November he made himself go to Atlanta. With Irish luck he was on the perfect train to Atlanta. He met a man, who had a wonderful opportunity for Rhett. The man, Richard Farnsworth, was working for the Confederate government trying to get food to the troops. Mr. Farnsworth needed someone to reside in Atlanta and take care of the logistics of getting the food to the troops. Mr. Farnsworth could arrange to have all the food shipped to Atlanta then Rhett could arrange shipping from there. Atlanta was just about the only major shipping hub that was still under the control of the Confederates. There would not be much pay, but Rhett would be vital to the war effort. He would be working for the Confederate government but if he ever saw a paycheck, it would be shocking. Rhett accepted. It was just what he needed to make the people continue receiving him after the war. What's more he would be in Atlanta where he could watch over Scarlett and Miss Melly.

Rhett agreed. He said, "I need to find someone to captain the ship I am captaining right now and take care of some other things, but I think I can be in Atlanta full time by the first of January."

Rhett arrived in Atlanta and was excited to tell Scarlett his news. As he was walking to the National, he saw Scarlett. She was walking with a man. Jealousy filled Rhett but before he jumped to any conclusions, he would find out who the man was. Rhett called to Scarlett. The big smile she gave him lifted his confidence. He walked over and joined the couple.

Scarlett said, "I see you have your trunk. You must have just gotten here."

"Yes, I did."

"Rhett this is Milton Bradley. He was one of my beaus before I married Charlie."

"I would be happy to be again."

Scarlett giggled. Rhett frowned. Milton smiled at Scarlett. Scarlett recovered herself. She was used to entertaining several men at once. Well, they had been boys, but she was sure the principals were the same. When she turned to look at Rhett, she had never seen such a cold, hard face. She smiled at him and said, "Welcome back to Atlanta. I have missed you. Why did you stay gone so long?"

"I was bringing in needed goods for the Confederacy. I thought that was more important than visiting with you."

"Of course, it is, Rhett. Everyone needs those goods. Even Milton would agree with that. Milton this is the famed blockade runner Rhett Butler. He is probably the man responsible for the bullets in your gun or the bandage we used to dress your wound last week."

"It is an honor to meet you, Sir," Rhett had been feeling better in regard to Scarlett until the man had called him 'Sir' like Rhett was his father. Milton turned to Scarlett and said, "How did you meet Mr. Butler?"

"He was at the Wilkes barbecue the day the war started. We then met again at the Hospital Bazaar a year later. Rhett was then kind enough to let me invest in his ships. That had been a life saver with all the money we were able to obtain because of Rhett," Scarlett smiled at Rhett and said, "I have to walk Milton back to the hospital. He is going to be released tomorrow. He is going back to General Crawford on tomorrow night's train."

"Alright."

"Come to supper tonight. Six."

Rhett smiled and said, "Alright."

The rest of the afternoon Rhett got madder and madder about Scarlett flirting with Milton Bradley. He was not going to be one of many. She needed to show him marked preference.

That night at supper Rhett was not his charming self. He was a little bit mocking and sarcastic. Scarlett tried to ignore his poisonous darts, but they were hurtful, and they all seemed to be aimed at her. Although he did shoot a few of them at Aunt PittyPat. At the end of the evening, Rhett stood up and said, "I will be going back to Charleston on the train Saturday."

Scarlett said, "But you just got here."

Scarlett looked so sad. Rhett looked at her and smiled. Rhett stopped punishing her being the incredible woman that she was. He thought, 'She is always going to have a bevy of men following her around. I am going to have to accept that. I will be able to, as long as I am the one she wants to walk beside her.'

Rhett said with a smile, "Walk me to the door."

Scarlett said, "You aren't going to stay and visit."

"Not tonight. Come on. Walk me to the door."

"Alright."

Once Rhett and Scarlett got to the door, he said, "I have taken a position with the Confederate government."

"Really? Where?"

"Here in Atlanta," Scarlett's big smile made Rhett incredibly happy. I am going to make one more run through the blockade. I am going to take care of some personal business then return with a boat load of goods. I have five ships, but I am going to hire another man to take over captaining the one that I captained. I will continue to make a profit on the ships but not as much as I did when I was captaining a ship. I will be back in January."

"What are you going to do for the Confederate government?"

"Make sure the food gets to the troops. Come on, Scarlett, come for a short walk with me."

"Of course. Let me get my shawl."

Rhett and Scarlett walked to the door and there was the yellow shawl he had given her. It looked worn. That made him happy. She said, "I wear it every day now that the weather has gotten colder.

The couple walked to where Rhett had his horse tied up, he said, "Wait here."

Rhett got a brown paper package out of the saddle bag and handed it to her while he was saying, "I got this for you. I know it isn't one of the acceptable colors at this stage in your mourning, but it was too pretty to resist. I got material for you to make all the under garments also. Lots of lace too."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Rhett leaned forward and Scarlett said, "No, not here where the Meades can see us. Walk me back to the house."

Rhett walked Scarlett back to the house and as soon as they were in the house, she turned and raised her face to him. He didn't resist but kissed her thoroughly. She returned the passion of the kiss. Finally, he raised his head and said, "Can I come to call tomorrow night?"

"Yes. Do you want to come to supper?"

"No, I will not eat your food. You cannot afford to feed me. I will take you and Miss Melly out to supper before I leave."

"Alright."

"Let me really go before I compromise you."

"I thought you wanted to compromise me."

"I do very muchly but I am going to do this right. Goodnight, Honey."

"Goodnight, Rhett."

As Scarlett locked up, she wondered if there was any significance to Rhett calling her – Honey or Baby. She just didn't know because he said them so casually. Almost like they had no significance at all. Of course, she said terms of endearment to him with carelessness, like they weren't significant in anyway.