Chapter 2

Giggling Scarlett opened her eyes. Rhett who hadn't been asleep just shook his head at his wife's behavior. "Care to share what's so funny Mrs. Butler?" Scarlett who up to that point was using Rhett's chest as her pillow pulled away and found her real pillow to lay on. Seeing the sheet at the edge of the bed Scarlett debated reaching for it or not. After what had just happened this morning and last night did it really matter if Rhett saw her like this?

Rhett who wasn't sure Scarlett had heard his question noticed how her eyes fell to the sheet. In the next second he pulled it up so that it was now on top of both of them. The last thing he wanted was for Scarlett to feel uncomfortable.

"So can you now tell me what you found so funny?" Rhett asked looking into Scarlett child like face.

"Oh that. It's just that when I woke this morning I felt exhausted. The funny things is I'm not now." Scarlett explained blushing a nice shade of red.

Rhett couldn't help but feel joy at her words. Knowing Scarlett any minute now his joy would turn into sorrow the second she remember his words of the night before. Pulling the sheet around her Scarlett looked past Rhett to the clock on the wall. Rhett watched as his southern belle turned white. "No" Scarlett moaned as she shook her head. Rhett knew this was to good to last.

"How can it be almost one. This can't be?" Scarlett asked as she forgot all about the sheet and left the bed in search of her wrapper.

Rhett who wasn't expecting that reaction found himself laughing. So she wasn't mad about what they had done only how long they had done it. "Stop laughing Rhett Butler, I would just like to see you laughing in" Scarlett stopped her wrapper search to look at the clock once more.
"About ten minutes when the Wilkes get here expecting us to go to lunch with them." At hearing this Rhett's good mood darken. Scarlett had made a lunch date with Ashley after what happened at the Mill? Did she want to be the talk of the town?

"Rhett, do you see my wrapper?" Scarlett asked trying not to let the blush reach her face that she felt by asking that simple question. Rhett stood up looking around the floor of his side of the bed. Just laying there was Scarlett's red wrapper. "Here my pet" Rhett said handing it to Scarlett. He then grabbed his own robe and slipped it on. Scarlett took the wrapper she didn't noticed Rhett's face her mind was to busy with trying to come up with a believe excuse for being late.

After pulling her wrapper on Scarlett went to the door. Turning to look at Rhett only than she noticed he was just standing there in the middle of the room. "Rhett what are you waiting for? Get dressed one of us had to meet our lunch guests." Scarlett stated then opened his bedroom door.

"Guests?" Rhett asked.

"Yes guests. You didn't give me a chance last night to tell you. Melanie and Ashley or coming here so we can all go out to lunch." Scarlett said as she looked up and down the hall hoping to spot Prissy so she won't have to go in search of the stupid girl.

Before Rhett could ask Scarlett whose idea lunch had been, Scarlett had taken a mad dash for her room. Shaking his head Rhett turned his attention to getting ready for the Wilkes.

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Melanie smiled as she saw Captain Butler walking down the stairs towards Ashley and her. Rhett had a look of happiness about him, Melanie couldn't place.

Mr. Wilkes on the other hand was looking anywhere but at Rhett. After what had happened yesterday he was surprised Rhett hadn't called him out. When Scarlett and Melanie had come up with there little lunch date Ashley felt like shaking both women asking if they had a mind? Rhett Butler wasn't the kind of man who would take to being made a fool easily. Rhett notices Ashley the man felt uncomfortable it was clear to see.
Turning to Melanie, Rhett tried to think up an excuse for Scarlett's lateness.

"Scarlett isn't ready yet. She" Rhett stopped what could he say. This from the always cool headed man. The problem was he really wanted Mr. Wilkes to know want Scarlett had being doing with him. If only Melanie hadn't been here. "Was up most of the night. She didn't get much sleep. Scarlett should be ready in a few minutes." Rhett said as he showed them into the setting room. Rhett smiled and made small talk. Half an hour later the small group of friends faces lit up at the sight of Bonnie. She was in a dress that matched her name. "Daddy" the small girl yelled as she throws herself into her Father's arms.

"Princess what have you been doing?" Rhett asked as he lifted his Daughter onto his lap.

"Nothing. Hi Aunt Melly and Uncle Ashley" Bonnie said remembering her manners even if her Father had not. Rhett just laughed at his tiny daughter. She was a tiny Scarlett one who wanted his love and attention.

"Daddy, have you seen Mommy today?" Bonnie asked as her little hands found Rhett's pocket watch. Ashley looked at Rhett with a look of angry. Had the cad done something to Scarlett? Was she up stairs trying to cover up what he had done?

"Yes Bonnie I have. She's up in her room getting dressed. You're Aunt Melanie and Uncle Ashley or going to lunch with us." Rhett said trying not to let Ashley stare get to him.

"But Mommy wasn't in her room this morning. And your door was locked so I couldn't ask you Daddy if you know where she was." Bonnie said as she tried to open Rhett's pocket watch.

Rhett didn't have to look at Melanie to know her face was red. Rhett found the look on Ashley face to be priceless. Bonnie who didn't understand what she had just said had meant looked at the grown ups like they were crazy. "Why don't you go up and see if your Mother is ready?" Rhett asked hoping to get Bonnie away before she said anything else that Scarlett would kill him for later.

"Okay Daddy" Bonnie said as she jumped off Rhett's lap and ran out of the room. Rhett stood up and followed her "Bonnie, remember what Mammy said about running in the house?" Bonnie just nodded her head and turned and ran even faster up the stairs.

Shaking his head Rhett renter the setting room. "Bonnie can be just as stubborn as her mother at times." he half whisper. Melanie having heard this laughed. Ashley who wasn't paying attention to Rhett or Melanie couldn't help but feel sick inside. Scarlett had stayed in Rhett's room with him at least that's what it sounded like from what Bonnie had said. Knowing Scarlett had to put up with Rhett's hands being all over her left him cold inside. "Yes but that is part of Scarlett charm. She never gives up on anything. While if it won't for her Beau and I wouldn't be here." Melanie said smiling. "But of course we wouldn't be here either if wasn't for you as well Captain Butler." "I only did what any gentleman would have done." Rhett said smiling knowing that wasn't true. No gentleman would have stole that horse in order to escape Atlanta.

Ashley who was still lost in thoughts of Scarlett just set there smiling. Melanie looked at him waiting for his comments on the subject at hand. Finally seeing he wasn't going to give one she said. "That's not true Captain Butler and you know it." Rhett who always enjoyed Melanie's company found it was getting hard to pay attention to the Lady when her husband was daydreaming about his Wife.

Scarlett took a deep breath then entered the setting room. Bonnie had just finished telling her about what she had asked her father and how weird everyone had acted at her question. Embarrassment was something Scarlett hated to feel. Why should she Rhett was her husband there was nothing wrong with how she spent her morning. Especially since it had felt so wonderful. The first person she saw when she entered was Melanie followed by Rhett who Scarlett thought looked handsome. Then there was Ashley who seemed upset about something.

"Well we should go. I'm sorry about being late." Scarlett simply stated she didn't feel the need to explain they all knew what had happened thanks to Bonnie. Scarlett smiled she couldn't find a bit of anger towards the child.

"Yes I'm rather hungry." Ashley said then helped Melanie up. Ashley watched the way Rhett walked over to Scarlett and offer her his arm. What stopped his heart was the look of pure joy on Scarlett face as she took it.

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