Rhett left Atlanta the next morning and was gone for several months. Not much happened in those months. Beau grew, men died, and Atlanta grew grim. Many of Scarlett's lifelong friends were killed in battle. Her life had changed already, and they were saying the war was far from decided.

She had her work at the hospital and even if she despised it, it was something to occupy her time. She spent entirely too much time thinking about Rhett, worrying that he would never come back. Melanie had been his reason for calling, and if she wasn't taking his call any longer, he may have no reason to come back to Atlanta. There were rumors that Rhett owned a brothel, she wasn't sure that she really believed it. Although she was well aware of Rhett's roguish behavior, she refused to believe he was quite that scandalous.

Melanie's enthusiasm for her son spread quickly to Scarlett. While Beau was still only a few months old, he was a delightful child. She remembered fondly clapping with Melly as he crawled for the first time. Scarlett could say quite honestly that Beau was her only joy. She couldn't believe that a slobbering child delighted her.

When she came home from the hospital at night, she was drenched in the smell of death. The first thing she did when she got home was have a bath. She even made Prissy run the bathwater for her just about the same time every day so she wouldn't have to smell one minute more than was absolutely necessary. Scarlett had seen things worse than she had ever thought she'd see, than she thought was possible.

Six months after Rhett had disappeared from Atlanta, Scarlett received a mysterious letter asking her to join him for dinner at his hotel. She had just gotten out of the bath when Prissy handed her the invitation. She told Prissy to ready her best dress and inform Melanie and Aunt Pitty that she wouldn't be joining them for supper. As she dressed, she took extra care. It felt like a long time since she had properly gotten ready to go anywhere.

Scarlett was careful not to be seen leaving the house. She wasn't interested in a long lecture about propriety from her Aunt Pitty. Her heart raced as she walked the few blocks to the hotel that Rhett was staying at. It was obvious to her that the reason that Rhett hadn't picked her up in his carriage was that he wanted to keep their meeting as secret as she did and she was quite relieved.

She took a deep breath as she walked into the hotel. She nodded at the gentleman holding the door for her and she thanked him graciously. She prayed that she didn't look too nervous as she knew that Rhett would certainly feed on any insecurity he caught. She quickly surveyed the room for two purposes; to see where Rhett was sitting and to see if anyone she didn't want to reveal herself to was there. The dining room was nearly empty and Scarlett seemed sure that that was because the war had made times tough for most. Rhett was in the back corner of the restaurant, which was either very smart or very foolish, depending on how you looked at it. While they were quite hidden from view in the corner, you'd have to walk through the entire dining room to get there.

As she reached his table, he stood and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down and watched as he sat down. She looked at him for an answer as to why they were there. He picked up his water glass, took a sip, and began talking. "I'm sure you wonder why I've brought you here, Mrs. Hamilton."

"Well Rhett, I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't surprised to see your invitation. I thought perhaps Melly and I had seen the last of you."

"Surely you've heard enough about me to know that I don't give up, Mrs. Hamilton. I've invited you here to ask you what I could do to let you allow me to see Melanie."

"Apparently we're still stuck on formalities, Capt. Butler, so you'll have to excuse me for calling you Rhett. Rhett, you know my sister Mrs. Wilkes is a married woman. You calling upon her makes for old women gossip, and I won't have my sisters reputation tarnished because you don't know how to take no for an answer."

"Mrs. Hamilton, I've taken care to visit your sister, as you call her, when no one is the wiser. When your flighty aunt is not around."

"And what do you think that would do to her reputation if somebody did find out you were sneaking over to visit her when you were sure no one else would be there."

"I apologize, I suppose I didn't think of that. You're right, of course." Scarlett paused, and looked at him. This was going entirely too easy. He must have something up his sleeve, she thought. Promising herself she'd be more careful, she smiled at him.

"Of course I'm right, Capt. Butler. I'm only looking out for her best interests." He took her hands in his and smiled deviously. Scarlett shivered at the smile. There was no denying it now; Rhett was definitely up to something.

"Would it be possible for me to call upon you, my dearest Mrs. Hamilton?" Scarlett scowled at him. She was in a bit of a bind with that question. If she would allow him to call upon her, she would know that he was only coming to see Melanie. However, if she denied him, she may not see him at all. He could leave Atlanta never to return.

"Perhaps you could explain to me how that would benefit me, Capt. Butler. As you well remember, I'm the one that doesn't want you to see Melanie."

"Oh but Mrs. Hamilton, your affection for me hasn't escaped my attention." Her blood boiled and she had to remind herself not to cause a scene. She wasn't supposed to be meeting this scoundrel for dinner and she didn't want all of Atlanta to know that she did.

"Why you conceited pig. If I weren't a lady, the things I would say to you. Do you think I have no pride, that I would rather see you for any reason at all, rather than not see you at all? Thank you for the dinner, Capt. Butler, but you can go to Halifax for all I care about your little proposition." She stormed out of the dining room and out of the hotel. She swiftly walked back to the house, entering through the servant's entrance and sneaking up to her room. Melanie startled her by sitting in the rocking chair by the window of Scarlett's room.

"Scarlett, darling, I was worried. Wherever have you been?" asked Melanie, as she rocked Beau. Scarlett frowned. She wasn't quite sure how to handle this."

"Melly, you go put Beau down, and come back here and I'll tell you where I've been. Aunt Pitty doesn't know I was gone, does she?"

"No, of course not, I didn't want to worry her." She left the room, and returned quickly. She sat back on the rocking chair and waited for Scarlett to tell her story.

"Well, I was invited to dinner with your friend Capt. Butler." Melanie looked horrified but waited for Scarlett to continue. "It seems that he wants to start calling on me to make it look proper to call upon you."

"Oh Scarlett, what did you tell him?" Scarlett looked at Melly. She knew that Melly would be shocked at what was about to come out of her mouth and she stifled a laugh.

"Well, I told him to go to Halifax, of course. Go to bed Melly. You have to be exhausted. You just let me handle Capt. Butler." Melly stood to leave and Scarlett at down at her vanity. "Could you ring Prissy before you leave?" Melly nodded. She rang the bell, paused to say something and decided against it. She closed the door softly behind her.

AN Thanks to all of my wonderful reviewers! I know that this is a short chapter, but I didn't have time for more of an update and I though that this was a pretty decent place to stop.