A week later, Rhett awoke when he felt someone watching him. He
opened his eyes to see Scarlett smiling coyly at him. "Good morning," he
said, "is there something I can help you with?"
"There is only a week until the ball. I need to be fitted for a new dress. Please darling? I am feeling so much better."
"Yes, I can see that. I don't know why you are even asking me. You will go anyway, won't you?"
Scarlett sat down on a chair near the entry into the expansive room and gave Rhett a sweet smile. "I guess you are right, but I knew you would say yes. So I decided it would be a good idea to ask first."
Rhett laughed heartily. "Wonderful idea, dear. I'll get ready and then go get Mrs. Walters."
"Oh Rhett, why can't I go down to her shop? I know you think I am too week, but I'm not. I want out of this house. I have begun to notice how dark and dreary it is. It is making me feel so sad. It isn't that far."
Rhett gave in quickly. He decided that it would actually be better for Scarlett to go to Mrs. Walter's shop. "Yes darling, you are right. I will take you to Mrs. Walter's shop. Just let me get ready."
Scarlett got up as quickly as she could. "I'll wait downstairs." And with that, Scarlett scurried out of the room, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Everyone was surprised to see Scarlett out so soon. People still avoided Scarlett. They had all heard from Dr. Meade that she had changed but were skeptical to believe that it was actually true. Melanie set an example for them all by rushing to Scarlett's side and giving her a hug. "Oh darling, I'm so glad to see you! You look so much better. I knew you would not give up."
Rhett spoke up and said, "Scarlett, I will let you speak to Melanie alone for a moment. I will be at the dress shop waiting for you."
"Thank you Rhett," she said, "It's wonderful to see you too Melanie. Thank you so much for helping to take care of me. Rhett told me you stayed with me while I was recovering."
Melanie grabbed Scarlett's hand and said, "Of course I did darling. I would do anything to ensure that you got better. I will always be here for you."
"And I, you. I am so glad that we ran into each other this morning. I must get fitted for my new dress though. I am getting a late start." Scarlett and Melanie parted ways with Scarlett heading to the dress shop to meet Rhett and Melanie going to the house on Peach Tree Street.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Scarlett entered the dress shop the find Rhett enthusiastically conversing with Mrs. Walters. Rhett spotted Scarlett almost immediately after she walked into the shop. "How is Melanie?"
"She is good. I forgot to ask if she would be attending the ball." Scarlett said sadly, but then quickly changed her attitude again. "Mrs. Walters, do you know?"
"Oh yes, Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes will be at the Remembrance Ball. Now, shall we begin fitting?"
"Of course. Rhett, I don't think that you will enjoy this process. Maybe you would like to do something else while I am here," Scarlett suggested.
"I wouldn't dream of it. I will just sit in this chair over here, and wait for my beautiful wife to finish being fitted for her new dress."
"If you insist."
"I do."
Mrs. Walter's immediately began the process of fitting Scarlett. She had to take her into another room for part of the process because of Captain Butler's presence. "You have lost a lot of weight, Scarlett. I hadn't expected it to be quite so drastic," Mrs. Walters commented.
"I think another week will improve my health even more. Maybe you should add a half an inch to the dress just in case."
"That's a wonderful idea Mrs. Butler. I do hope you continue to improve. We were all so worried about you. Now, what fabric would you like me to make you dress out of?"
Scarlett looked to Rhett. "Why don't you pick it out darling? You always find the most perfect things for me." And he did. Rhett found a beautiful deep green velvet fabric and a red fur to compliment it.
Scarlett left the dress shop extremely happy about the dress choices. She put her arm in Rhett's and said, "Darling, can we walk to Aunt Pitty's? It has been so long since I have seen everyone."
"Are you sure it's not just Ashley you want to see?" Rhett asked jealously.
"Rhett Butler! How long will it take me to convince you that Ashley is in my past? I was young and I didn't know what real love was."
"And what makes you think you do now?" Rhett asked loudly.
"I just know, Captain Butler, that I don't love Ashley. That's all." She lied. Scarlett was too afraid of getting hurt. She still didn't know if his telling her he loved her was a dream or a reality.
"I'm sorry. Let's not fight now, my pet. I believe you. We can go to Miss Pittypat's house now." Rhett felt bad that he had let his jealousy control him again and wanted to make it up to her. "After that, will you be up for dinner at The Cathedral Hotel's restaurant?"
Scarlett gasped, "Really Rhett? Can we? Yes, of course I will be up for it. Thank you. Oh, it will be so much fun to go out to dinner." Scarlett talked of how much fun they would have that evening the whole way to the Aunt Pitty's house taking breaks to say hello to the people she knew.
When they arrived at Aunt Pitty's, Rhett knocked lightly on the door. India opened the door and was shocked to find Rhett and Scarlett on the other side. Her face gave away the disgust she was feeling at their appearance.
"It is so wonderful to see you again India," Scarlett fibbed.
"Aunt Scarlett!" Beau yelled when he heard her voice. "Mommy told me it would be a long time before I saw you again. Are you better? You aren't going to die are you?"
"No Beau, I am not going to die. I don't give up quite so easily."
"Good, I missed you too much already. Will you come see my painting? I just started it."
"I would be honored."
India was fuming. Scarlett hadn't been in the house for two minutes and she was already the center of attention. 'How does she always do that?' India wondered.
"Jealousy does not suit you Miss Wilkes." Rhett spoke from behind her, scaring her slightly. "You should really work on that." He stepped past her with a smirk on his face, following his wife down the hall. India stood in the doorway shocked and madder than ever.
In the living room, everyone was focused on Scarlett. "How are you feeling? You poor thing. I was so scared that I would never see you again. I don't know what I would have done if anything worse had happened to you." Pitty rambled on, not realizing how rude she was being.
"Scarlett darling, you said that you will be attending the Remembrance Ball, didn't you?" Scarlett nodded. "We will all have such a wonderful time. Oh Scarlett, it's so good to have you back."
"Yes, it is," Ashley added from the corner of the room. "We're all very relieved."
"Thank you all. I feel like I have missed so much though. I don't know any of the new gossip."
Rhett chuckled from where he was standing. "Well gentlemen, I think that is our cue to find something else to do while the women talk." With that, Rhett, Ashley, and Beau left the women to their gossiping. India excused herself with the excuse that she was tired and needed a nap. Melanie was slightly disappointed but let her go anyway, because she could tell that India's jealousy was beginning to show. The women talked for a half an hour before Rhett returned to retrieve Scarlett.
"Scarlett, I think we should go home so that you will have time to rest before we go out to dinner. I don't want you to be too worn out by then end of the day."
"I am very tired. That sounds like a good idea." To Melanie and Pitty she said, "It was wonderful to talk to you. I will visit again soon, and you are more than welcome to come visit me at anytime." They both agreed to visit her soon.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
After a short rest and a change of clothes, the Butlers went to dinner at The Cathedral Hotel. Rhett held his hand out elegantly to help Scarlett out of their carriage. The stepped through the grand doors to the hotel and walked down the expansive hallway that led to the restaurant.
"Ahh, Captain Butler. It's wonderful to have you at The Cathedral this evening. Your table is right this way." The maitre d let them to a secluded table at the back of the restaurant and left them with menus.
"My goodness, Rhett, there are so many things that I want to order. This is such a wonderful menu."
"We can order one of everything if you would like."
"Oh, no, I only want one meal, but I wouldn't mind coming back until I've tried everything."
"We can do that. Anything for you, Mrs. Butler."
"Why thank you Captain Butler. Now what should I order first?"
"I think filet mignon would be wonderful for you to have this evening. I am having a little trouble deciding for myself. What shall I order?"
"Hmm.. How about the lobster? It sounds delicious."
"My dear, I think we are ready for our waiter. What do you think?"
"I believe you are right, sir." So Rhett called the waiter to their table and place the order. He added champagne to it. Scarlett gave him a questioning look.
"We have yet to celebrate your recovery. I thought this would be a good time."
The couple talked all through dinner and had a wonderful time joking with each other. When they arrived back at home that evening, Scarlett was very tired and retired to bed. Rhett helped Scarlett upstairs, and then Mammy helped her change into her nightclothes. They still slept in separate rooms. Scarlett was still worried about getting hurt, as was Rhett.
A/N: Hey everyone, I want to thank ya'll for reading my story. I am almost finished it. I think there will only be one more chapter, unless I don't get it where I want to, or if someone really wants me to continue it. My computer has been broken, so I don't get a lot of chances to write lately. I am heading home for Christmas break tomorrow and I will be working the whole time. I'm not sure if I will have a chance to update before the second week of January. I hope that my laptop gets fixed quickly because I want to update before then, but if I can't then I apologize. Thank you to everyone again. I love getting your reviews. It's nice to know that ya'll like what I'm doing. =')
"There is only a week until the ball. I need to be fitted for a new dress. Please darling? I am feeling so much better."
"Yes, I can see that. I don't know why you are even asking me. You will go anyway, won't you?"
Scarlett sat down on a chair near the entry into the expansive room and gave Rhett a sweet smile. "I guess you are right, but I knew you would say yes. So I decided it would be a good idea to ask first."
Rhett laughed heartily. "Wonderful idea, dear. I'll get ready and then go get Mrs. Walters."
"Oh Rhett, why can't I go down to her shop? I know you think I am too week, but I'm not. I want out of this house. I have begun to notice how dark and dreary it is. It is making me feel so sad. It isn't that far."
Rhett gave in quickly. He decided that it would actually be better for Scarlett to go to Mrs. Walter's shop. "Yes darling, you are right. I will take you to Mrs. Walter's shop. Just let me get ready."
Scarlett got up as quickly as she could. "I'll wait downstairs." And with that, Scarlett scurried out of the room, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Everyone was surprised to see Scarlett out so soon. People still avoided Scarlett. They had all heard from Dr. Meade that she had changed but were skeptical to believe that it was actually true. Melanie set an example for them all by rushing to Scarlett's side and giving her a hug. "Oh darling, I'm so glad to see you! You look so much better. I knew you would not give up."
Rhett spoke up and said, "Scarlett, I will let you speak to Melanie alone for a moment. I will be at the dress shop waiting for you."
"Thank you Rhett," she said, "It's wonderful to see you too Melanie. Thank you so much for helping to take care of me. Rhett told me you stayed with me while I was recovering."
Melanie grabbed Scarlett's hand and said, "Of course I did darling. I would do anything to ensure that you got better. I will always be here for you."
"And I, you. I am so glad that we ran into each other this morning. I must get fitted for my new dress though. I am getting a late start." Scarlett and Melanie parted ways with Scarlett heading to the dress shop to meet Rhett and Melanie going to the house on Peach Tree Street.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Scarlett entered the dress shop the find Rhett enthusiastically conversing with Mrs. Walters. Rhett spotted Scarlett almost immediately after she walked into the shop. "How is Melanie?"
"She is good. I forgot to ask if she would be attending the ball." Scarlett said sadly, but then quickly changed her attitude again. "Mrs. Walters, do you know?"
"Oh yes, Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes will be at the Remembrance Ball. Now, shall we begin fitting?"
"Of course. Rhett, I don't think that you will enjoy this process. Maybe you would like to do something else while I am here," Scarlett suggested.
"I wouldn't dream of it. I will just sit in this chair over here, and wait for my beautiful wife to finish being fitted for her new dress."
"If you insist."
"I do."
Mrs. Walter's immediately began the process of fitting Scarlett. She had to take her into another room for part of the process because of Captain Butler's presence. "You have lost a lot of weight, Scarlett. I hadn't expected it to be quite so drastic," Mrs. Walters commented.
"I think another week will improve my health even more. Maybe you should add a half an inch to the dress just in case."
"That's a wonderful idea Mrs. Butler. I do hope you continue to improve. We were all so worried about you. Now, what fabric would you like me to make you dress out of?"
Scarlett looked to Rhett. "Why don't you pick it out darling? You always find the most perfect things for me." And he did. Rhett found a beautiful deep green velvet fabric and a red fur to compliment it.
Scarlett left the dress shop extremely happy about the dress choices. She put her arm in Rhett's and said, "Darling, can we walk to Aunt Pitty's? It has been so long since I have seen everyone."
"Are you sure it's not just Ashley you want to see?" Rhett asked jealously.
"Rhett Butler! How long will it take me to convince you that Ashley is in my past? I was young and I didn't know what real love was."
"And what makes you think you do now?" Rhett asked loudly.
"I just know, Captain Butler, that I don't love Ashley. That's all." She lied. Scarlett was too afraid of getting hurt. She still didn't know if his telling her he loved her was a dream or a reality.
"I'm sorry. Let's not fight now, my pet. I believe you. We can go to Miss Pittypat's house now." Rhett felt bad that he had let his jealousy control him again and wanted to make it up to her. "After that, will you be up for dinner at The Cathedral Hotel's restaurant?"
Scarlett gasped, "Really Rhett? Can we? Yes, of course I will be up for it. Thank you. Oh, it will be so much fun to go out to dinner." Scarlett talked of how much fun they would have that evening the whole way to the Aunt Pitty's house taking breaks to say hello to the people she knew.
When they arrived at Aunt Pitty's, Rhett knocked lightly on the door. India opened the door and was shocked to find Rhett and Scarlett on the other side. Her face gave away the disgust she was feeling at their appearance.
"It is so wonderful to see you again India," Scarlett fibbed.
"Aunt Scarlett!" Beau yelled when he heard her voice. "Mommy told me it would be a long time before I saw you again. Are you better? You aren't going to die are you?"
"No Beau, I am not going to die. I don't give up quite so easily."
"Good, I missed you too much already. Will you come see my painting? I just started it."
"I would be honored."
India was fuming. Scarlett hadn't been in the house for two minutes and she was already the center of attention. 'How does she always do that?' India wondered.
"Jealousy does not suit you Miss Wilkes." Rhett spoke from behind her, scaring her slightly. "You should really work on that." He stepped past her with a smirk on his face, following his wife down the hall. India stood in the doorway shocked and madder than ever.
In the living room, everyone was focused on Scarlett. "How are you feeling? You poor thing. I was so scared that I would never see you again. I don't know what I would have done if anything worse had happened to you." Pitty rambled on, not realizing how rude she was being.
"Scarlett darling, you said that you will be attending the Remembrance Ball, didn't you?" Scarlett nodded. "We will all have such a wonderful time. Oh Scarlett, it's so good to have you back."
"Yes, it is," Ashley added from the corner of the room. "We're all very relieved."
"Thank you all. I feel like I have missed so much though. I don't know any of the new gossip."
Rhett chuckled from where he was standing. "Well gentlemen, I think that is our cue to find something else to do while the women talk." With that, Rhett, Ashley, and Beau left the women to their gossiping. India excused herself with the excuse that she was tired and needed a nap. Melanie was slightly disappointed but let her go anyway, because she could tell that India's jealousy was beginning to show. The women talked for a half an hour before Rhett returned to retrieve Scarlett.
"Scarlett, I think we should go home so that you will have time to rest before we go out to dinner. I don't want you to be too worn out by then end of the day."
"I am very tired. That sounds like a good idea." To Melanie and Pitty she said, "It was wonderful to talk to you. I will visit again soon, and you are more than welcome to come visit me at anytime." They both agreed to visit her soon.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
After a short rest and a change of clothes, the Butlers went to dinner at The Cathedral Hotel. Rhett held his hand out elegantly to help Scarlett out of their carriage. The stepped through the grand doors to the hotel and walked down the expansive hallway that led to the restaurant.
"Ahh, Captain Butler. It's wonderful to have you at The Cathedral this evening. Your table is right this way." The maitre d let them to a secluded table at the back of the restaurant and left them with menus.
"My goodness, Rhett, there are so many things that I want to order. This is such a wonderful menu."
"We can order one of everything if you would like."
"Oh, no, I only want one meal, but I wouldn't mind coming back until I've tried everything."
"We can do that. Anything for you, Mrs. Butler."
"Why thank you Captain Butler. Now what should I order first?"
"I think filet mignon would be wonderful for you to have this evening. I am having a little trouble deciding for myself. What shall I order?"
"Hmm.. How about the lobster? It sounds delicious."
"My dear, I think we are ready for our waiter. What do you think?"
"I believe you are right, sir." So Rhett called the waiter to their table and place the order. He added champagne to it. Scarlett gave him a questioning look.
"We have yet to celebrate your recovery. I thought this would be a good time."
The couple talked all through dinner and had a wonderful time joking with each other. When they arrived back at home that evening, Scarlett was very tired and retired to bed. Rhett helped Scarlett upstairs, and then Mammy helped her change into her nightclothes. They still slept in separate rooms. Scarlett was still worried about getting hurt, as was Rhett.
A/N: Hey everyone, I want to thank ya'll for reading my story. I am almost finished it. I think there will only be one more chapter, unless I don't get it where I want to, or if someone really wants me to continue it. My computer has been broken, so I don't get a lot of chances to write lately. I am heading home for Christmas break tomorrow and I will be working the whole time. I'm not sure if I will have a chance to update before the second week of January. I hope that my laptop gets fixed quickly because I want to update before then, but if I can't then I apologize. Thank you to everyone again. I love getting your reviews. It's nice to know that ya'll like what I'm doing. =')