Author's Note: I have to say that I am extremely sorry that this chapter has taken so long to come out. So much has been going on lately and I have been extremely busy, so I haven't been able to sit down and write for quite a while. Thank you all for being so patient, and I hope to have the next chapter out sooner!

Chapter 8

The day of the ball had finally come. Rhett woke up to Scarlett's eyes staring at him with eyes of an anxious child at Christmas awaiting the opening of presents.

"Oh you're awake! Finally!" she exclaimed as she saw Rhett open his eyes. She stopped a moment to collect herself, for the beauty of his black eyes attentively looking at her almost took her breathe away. She had awoken so early with excitement of the ball that she didn't have the heart to wake him up at such an early hour.

"Do I sense a hint of eagerness, Scarlett? I simply just can't put my finger on why you would be so excited on a day like this," Rhett teased with a smirk.

"Rhett, don't be silly! You know this ball has been the only thing I've been able to think about the past couple of days," She smiled as she embraced Rhett and put her chin on his chest.

"Well my dear, seeing how concerned you are about how late I slept today, I trust you know what time it is?" Rhett questioned while gently rubbing Scarlett's back.

"It's almost noon! Oh Rhett, I've been awake for ages!"

Rhett chuckled and moved Scarlett so he could get out of the bed.

"Well, I suppose I should go down and order room service, seeing as we will probably be preoccupied getting you ready for this ball I suppose," Rhett laughed as he threw on some clothes.

"I'll be right back, my love," he said with a wink, and his hand on the door knob.

"Don't be too long, Rhett!"

He walked over to Scarlett, kissed her on the mouth, and whispered in her ear, "Why would I want to be away from you for long?" Scarlett blushed slightly and smiled. As Rhett went out the door she sat down on the bed. The gown hanging in the closet suddenly caught her eye.

They had picked it up two days ago, and Scarlett couldn't hold in her excitement when they got it. Rhett had insisted on carrying it home so it wouldn't get ruined, and by the time they got back to their room, Scarlett was extremely anxious to try it on for Rhett. She had made him sit on the bed and close his eyes while she went into the other room to put it on. It had been a challenge to get the gown on without any help, but somehow she managed. Rhett was eager to see the dress, and he was growing somewhat impatient at the amount of time it had taken Scarlett to get ready. He was just about to ask if she needed any help when all of the sudden, he heard a squeal of excitement and Scarlett yelled, "Rhett, I'm ready!" She came out, and the sight of Scarlett literally took Rhett's breath away. The dress was an emerald green with golden lining at the bodice. The gown was exactly the right shape to show off Scarlett's fascinating curves. It was a low-cut dress, and the bodice was adorned with golden gems all over it. "Scarlett, my love, all I can say is you look truly beautiful…and I have to be the luckiest ex-blockade runner out there," he said with a wink and brought her in his arms. He kissed her lips tenderly and whispered, "I've missed you so much…"

"Scarlett?"

Scarlett jumped as she heard her name being called. She didn't even notice how long she had been daydreaming. Rhett had already come back and it seemed like seconds since he left the room.

"Looks like someone's been in deep thought," Rhett laughed as he kissed the top of her head. "Come on, let's eat and get you ready for this ball,"

They walked into the huge ball room, with hundreds of people everywhere they looked.

"Rhett! It's beautiful! It's better than I ever could have expected," She said with a genuine smile. He kissed her forehead softly.

"Anything for you," he whispered.

When he came back to me, I knew that we would have to work at things to make things work. I knew we would have to both give extreme amounts of cooperation in order for this to work…but I could have never imagined how wonderful he was going to be to me. Who knew, that a man that was known as a scoundrel all throughout the south, would turn out to be the man of my dreams…

"Something on your mind, Mrs. Butler?" Rhett inquired, watching his wife who seemed to be in deep thought.

"Oh no…I'm just thinking about how lucky I am," She smiled.

"And why, may I ask, had that crossed your mind?"

"Rhett, that crosses my mind ever time I look at you. God's nightgown Rhett! You mean so much to me…so much…you don't even realize—"

Rhett interrupted her with a passionate kiss on the lips. Scarlett became so enraptured in his kisses that she forgot they were right in the middle of the ball room. She didn't want to pull away, but she knew she had to.

"Rhett, I think we better save this for later," she said as she pulled away.

Rhett threw his head back in laughter at his wife's comment.

"I suppose you're right, my love,"

Heads turned as Scarlett and Rhett walked over to the dance floor. The big room was adorned with gold and green satin, accenting Scarlett's beautiful ball gown.

"Hmm…it seems to me we have a few admirers, my love," Rhett winked. "Care to dance?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Oh of course!" Scarlett beamed, showing her alluring dimples.

They danced for hours, never taking their eyes off of each other. They were not the only ones looking at each other, however. Every time a new dance started, more eyes fell upon Rhett and Scarlett. They both knew how much attention they were receiving, and they both loved every minute of it.

"Rhett, do you realize all of the people staring? I suppose we haven't lost our dancing skills over the year, hm?" Scarlett laughed.

"No darling, I don't think it's our dancing skills their watching. I think it may be the beautiful ex-belle wearing the dress fit for a queen, accenting her beauty, that could be turning a few heads,"

Scarlett blushed at Rhett's amazing compliment.

"Not to mention," he added, "The very handsome ex-blockade runner with whom she is dancing with," he smirked.

"Oh Rhett!" She laughed, kissing him coquettishly on the cheek.

After the dancing crowd started to diminish, fatigue finally started to set in for the both of them, yet neither one of them wanted to admit it. Finally, Scarlett felt she would faint if she didn't stop soon.

"Rhett…I think it's time to stop…I'm so very tired," she requested.

"Well you have given me quite a surprise, Mrs. Butler. I was sure that you would be dancing until they had to kick us out," He said with a slight chuckle.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, darling," She playfully replyed.

Rhett suddenly whispered, "How could I be disappointed, knowing you'll need energy left over when we get back to the hotel room,"

"Rhett Butler! What a thing to say!" Scarlett said, trying to sound angered, but failing miserably. Truthfully, she couldn't wait to get back into the carriage so they could get to the hotel room quicker.

Rhett took her hand and they walked out of the building, towards the carriage that Rhett had rented for their stay in New Orleans. He helped her into the carriage, and Scarlett put her head on his shoulder while glimpsing at the stars.

"Oh Rhett, have you ever seen anything so beautiful before?"

He looked into her eyes, not even noticing the sky.

"No my darling, I don't believe I have..."