I do not own Gone With the Wind. Though...I'd like to have Rhett Butler carry me up the stairs in a drunken rage and have his way with me. That'd be really, really, really, nice.

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"You can do this, sweetheart, I know you can!" The words were emphasized, encouraging.

The woman shook her head stubbornly, "No, I cannot do this! And what's more, I will certainly not do this!"

Sighing heavily, the man ran his fingers through his golden head. He reached out his hand again, and spoke quietly.

"I know you can do this, darling. You can do anything that you put your pretty little head to." He paused and his eyes gleamed fairly mischievously. He patted his pocket for a moment, fishing about, and watched as her eyes followed his hand. "I have a present for you, if you promise to get on this horse with me…"

The woman's hand clapped excitedly, "Oh, do you really?" Her expression sobered, "But Beau, you know that I'm ever so frightened of horses, ever since I was little I was! terribly scared of them!"

He smiled warmly, hoping to soothe her. "Bonnie, all you have to do is sit here in front of me, and let me do all the work. Everything will be all right."

She found herself nodding at his words. Shaking her head once, she took the outstretched hand and clambered in front of him. He swatted a few glossy curls away from his face, and she turned around to face him, only for a moment. As her oceanic eyes met his own dull orbs, her hand tightened around his, seeking his comfort.

"Beau..." she trailed off, her face white with apprehension.

"Bonnie, darling," he spoke quietly, smoothing the hair back from her face, "I wouldn't let anything harm you."

"I know," shereturned meekly.

"It'll be all right, Bonnie darling, just hold on."

When he carefully wrapped one arm about her waist, dangerously gentlemanly-like, she clung to his arm fretfully. With only a single hand, he took the reins and spurred the horse into motion. Besides the sounds of the hooves on the dirt, trotting along, all Beau Wilkes could hear was the muttered prayers from the woman in front of him.

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When they dismounted, she fell into his arms, joyful and frightened at the same time. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck and her arms tightened about him. Beau held her trembling form close, his arms around her waist, savoring her in his embrace. God, I love her, he thought wistfully.

"You did it!" He laughed delightedly, pushing her away to look into her eyes, "Bonnie, you did it!"

Her face was very white, though color was returning, but her smile did not waver. "I did! I did it, Beau!" She looked at him intently, her eyes dancing, "Oh, darling!" Planting her hands on her hips, she glared, "Now where's my present?"

He looked at her carefully, smiling in a nervous sort of way. "You did something incredible for me, Bonnie…now it's my turn."

His hand went his pocket, but she scarcely noticed, as he had taken the moment to descend to one knee. Her hands flew to her mouth, and she gasped. He was proposing! Oh, he was going to ask to marry her! How romantic!

"Bonnie Butler," he started nervously, "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I have you nonetheless. You light up every day of my life with your smiles and laughter. Every morning I wake, and thank the Lord that I shall again see your face, hear your voice, know your heart…Bonnie," he trailed off, "will you marry me?"

She stared at the ring. A moderate pearl surrounded by tiny sapphires, that twinkled like raindrops of azure blinked at her. The ring that she had always wanted stared up at her from Beau's hand. Her eyes traveled to meet his and seconds passed as she simply gazed at him in wonder. Oh my God. Oh my God, he wants to MARRY me? What do I say? Do I say anything? What will Mother and Daddy think? Oh, what about Uncle Ashley? Will they approve - oh, nonsense! Who cares about them? I want to marry him, that's all that matters!

There was a pause, and his heart sank to the ground. But with a shriek, Bonnie had thrown herself at him. They toppled onto the ground together and her lips met his in the tenderest of embraces. She drew back from him and placed little kisses all over his face, before meeting his lips again.

"Yes," she shrieked between kisses, "of course, of course, I'll marry you!" His arms encircled her and she merely sighed contently.

It seemed he had his answer, then.

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La fin.