AN: Sorry for the delay.

CHAPTER THREE

On arriving in Boston, Scarlett staunchly refused to set one foot off the boat. "I will not go

nearthose Yankees," she had huffed with a childish stamp of her foot in response to Rhett's

pleading. Finally, he convinced her to take a look at the busy port city, and with many

misgivings, Scarletttook her first footsteps into Yankee territory.

The docks were crowded, and many large men pushed and shoved, loading boats in the

crowded, salty smelling air. When Scarlett reached the streets of town, she made a small gasp of

surprise. There were so many people! And so many young women walking around without

escorts, but rather in groups of giggling friends. The Yankees may have been crude and

unpleasant, Scarlett soon realized, but they dressed so well. She looked hungrily into the many

windows of the stores that lined the streets, where maniqiuens wearing the latest fashions stared

coolly out from behind the glass.

On seeing her expression, Rhett laughed throatily, and took Scarlett's arm. "Come my dear,

youlook like a starving orphan staring into a bakery," he said, and when Scarlett began to

protesthotly, he dragged her into the nearest shop.


Scarlett emerged from the shop, laughing like a young girl. Tucked beneath Rhett's arm were

parcels containing lush velvets and dainty laces. It had been so long since she had dressed

prettily, and in frocks made of the rich fabrics she loved so well, and Rhett had promised her the

most beautiful dresses that could be made. The streets were still crowded with Yankee men and

women, but now they looked less vulgar to Scarlett's eyes. They were all so well dressed, and

she stored away ideas for her new gowns in her head as she watched the Bostonian women

strolling in the afternoon sun. Maybe Boston isn't all to bad she thought to herself as she

boarded the ship once more.


Cat tugged on Scarlett's dress, her almond shaped eyes staring pleadingly into Scarlett's

piercing green ones. "Mama, please let me go with Rhett on top of the boat!" the little girl

exclaimed. When Scarlett look questioningly towards Rhett, he explained that he wanted to take

Cat to the prow of the boat, where she could see the water in front of her and feel the ocean

breeze on her face. After giving a moments thought, Scarlett agreed, on the condition that she

would be allowed to go as well. It had been so long since she had watched the waves disappear

under the boat while the wind whipped at her hair.

Sweating lightly from the climb up to the prow of the boat, Scarlett was rewarded by the

cool breeze that lifted the tendrils of hair from her face and dried the beads of perspiration that

had formed at the back of her neck. She watched with a smile as Cat scampered around the

deck, flapping her arms like a bird. As she turned to face the water, she gasped at the beauty of

the sun sinking slowly down towards the horizon on her right. Rhett inhaled quickly, not at the

beauty of the sunset, but at the sight of Scarlett's face, which glowed with the soft light of the

setting sun. The light caught the loose pieces of hair around her face, lighting up like a halo, and

as Cat ran over to Scarlett in a rare moment of tenderness, the look on their faces as Scarlett

picked up her small daughter reminded Rhett of the Madonna with child.


That night, as Rhett held Scarlett in his arms, he whispered her name as she stirred sleepily.

She blinked several times, then turned her large green eyes to his dark ones, and a small smile

slipped across her face.

"Scarlett, my darling, I want Cat to know that I am her father."

Scarlett was instantly alert. "You want WHAT," she hissed.

"Calm down my dear, I'm not trying to steal our daughter from her, I simply wish her to

know that I am her father, and as we are getting remarried soon, I believe she should know,"

Rhett said calmly.

Scarlett's temper blazed, for reasons she could not know, but she answered quietly, "Rhett,

she would not understand, let her just think that you are her stepfather."

"Damn it all Scarlett, I will not have my own flesh and blood treat me as a stranger!" he

stormed before leaving her lying on the bed, slamming the door as he left.