Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

One of my guest reviews stated that syphilis was curable in the 19th century. I don't believe that to be true. According to Google the first effective treatment for the disease was in 1910 with the drug Salvarsan. The treatment for syphilis in the 19th century was a mercury ointment. There is no documentation that mercury treatments cured anything. Of course, mercury itself is extremely toxic. This might be a case of the cure is great until it kills the patient.

Chapter Three

Rhett turned to his older self and said with a little bit of excitement because he was hoping with the knowledge his older self had given him, he could change their lives. He said, "Why are you here?"

"To get you to not run away. To give you and her six years of happiness. To give you time to arrange things so she is taken care of the rest of her life. To save Bonnie's life. To give you time to get right with our maker. You running away to Belle's this night is the second biggest mistake we made in our marriage, and we made quite a few. Take her to see a doctor and get rid of the baby. It isn't going to live anyway. If you get rid of the baby, you can avoid her ever knowing you gave her syphilis. There isn't any point in her knowing. There is no cure. Maybe she will be asymptomatic. You will die in six more years so that is all the time you have. You better enjoy it. In fact, I just died. I don't know why God let me warn you. Maybe because her life is so awful. Show her our love. She will never know she loves us until the night of Miss Melly's death and then we can rejoice. Fools that we were we acted like Scarlett would know we loved her by what we did for her, but we both know she would not have known even if we wrote it in letters ten feet high and put it right in front of her. Just treat her like the precious gift she is. And don't teach your daughter to jump her horse. That is how she dies. Trying to jump a bar that was too high that you let her try even against your better judgement. And for God's sakes tell the child no once and a while. She is a brat. Good luck. We will meet again on the other side."

"Wait! What was my biggest mistake?"

"Your biggest mistake was you stopped being her best friend. Suitors and beaus are of no value to her. She can get them a dime a dozen. Like I said friends she doesn't have any of those. In fact, you are the only friend she has ever had or ever will have. Rhett, you are almost twenty years older than her, yet you act like she should know everything you know. In truth, she is still such a child. I don't mean it the ugly way we always said it to her. It is just a statement of fact. Take care of her. Bye now."

"Wait! One more question. You said, 'She will never know she loves us until the night of Miss Melly's death.' Does she love me now?"

"Yes, she loves you now. She just doesn't know it because you aren't there to explain it to her. Why do you think she accepted your insulting proposal?"

"For my money."

"No, she didn't need your money. She was well off financially when Frank died. If she had really loved Mr. Wilkes, she would not have tied herself to another man. She would have stayed available to marry Wilkes when Miss Melly died. The other way you know is she always forgives you all of your sins. When you confirm her belief that you have been unfaithful to her with Belle, she will even forgive you of that sin."

The future Rhett Butler faded away.

Rhett laid down beside Scarlett. He wrapped her up in his arms and promised to protect her. He had to think about all this. He was still slightly drunk, and he went to sleep instead.

When Rhett woke up again, he was still in the master bedroom. He thought about his dream from the night before for that was the only explanation. An alcohol induced dream. He didn't have syphilis, did he? He hadn't given it to Scarlett, had he? He hadn't killed his own son, had he? Instead, he thought about what his dream self had said, 'That he was Scarlett's only friend. The only friend she had ever had. And that she loved him, she just didn't know it.

With total certainty, Rhett knew both those things were true. His dream had let him know those great truths. His dream had let him know that to Scarlett suitors were of no value and if Ashley had agreed to run away with her, he would have been of no value either. No, what Scarlett valued more than anything and didn't know she valued was Rhett's friendship. He didn't know if she loved him, but he did know that she had married him because he was her best friend. At least, once he had been. He would be again. In that moment, Rhett didn't care if she ever loved him. He had to prepare her to live her life without him. He had to prepare her to raise their daughter alone. He had to make sure she was financially wise.

Rhett knew he had to prepare Bonnie to be a strong, independent young woman. Not the pampered, spoiled daughter of an overindulgent, rich father.

Rhett knew he had syphilis. He tried to push away a memory. The sore that had shown up on his penis six months ago. It had quickly disappeared, so he had thought no more about it. He had ignored the rash that was all over his body even the palms of his hands and the souls of his feet. He had refused to acknowledge the truth. He would go talk to a doctor about these symptoms. A doctor in Europe where the medical care was so much better.

Scarlett stirred beside Rhett. He kissed her. Not with passion but with promise. A promise to once again be her best friend. To be a best friend worthy of her.

With Rhett's kiss Scarlett's eyes flew open. Rhett whispered, 'I had a lovely time last night. Thank you. Did you?"

Scarlett nodded her head. She was still half asleep. Rhett kissed her again and took her to a magical world of sensuous delights and wonders. When Rhett reached his satisfaction, he called out her name. After it was over and they had caught their breaths, he said, "Scarlett, I am sorry for all the hateful things I said last night. I know you would never be unfaithful to me."

"No. I wouldn't. Rhett, let me explain."

"There is nothing to explain to me. I know whatever happened was innocent. I'm sorry I overreacted to what happened yesterday. Do you want to get away from the gossip and rumors?"

"Yes."

"I think it is time you met my mother. It is certainly long past time my mother met her granddaughter."

"Alright."

"Let's get up and pack. We can be on tonight's train."

"My businesses. I can't leave that quickly."

"Scarlett, you will have to sell your sawmills. You will never be able to go out there and be alone with Mr. Wilkes without everyone talking badly about you. Do you understand?"

Quietly Scarlett said, "Yes."

"Beside you don't need those businesses for financial support. I will always take care of you."

"I don't know. You might do something stupid with your money."

"How about this? You can start helping me manage my money then you will be able to make sure I don't do something stupid with my money."

"Really? You would let me help you with your money."

"Yes. Scarlett, I promise you that you will never starve again. I will do whatever it takes to put a roof over your head and food in your stomach up to and including murder."

"I don't know."

Rhett smiled as he thought that is my love, she is not appalled by the thought of me murdering someone so we can survive. He said, "I know in the last three years I have done some awful things to you, but those days are behind us. I may be morally bankrupt, but I will never be financially bankrupt. Trust me to support you. I really do love you."

"If you love me, how could you treat me so badly."

"I don't know."

"Have you been unfaithful to me?"

"Yes."

"With that creature?"

Rhett smiled a sad smile and said, "Yes, with that creature," When Rhett saw the anger on Scarlett's face. He continued, "Remember I just told you I was morally bankrupt, but I am going to work on that. I regret that more than you will ever know. When I figure out why I did something so stupid, I will explain it to you but for now, please, let's not talk about her. I will give you time to get over your anger at me." With a pleading look on his face, Rhett said, "Please, come with me to Charleston and let's start our new life. Let me atone for everything wrong I did."

"You are going to Charleston? New life? Atone?"

"I want to treat you like a queen, but we have too many negative influences in our lives here in Atlanta. I will give up Belle and never speak to her again, if you will give Mr. Wilkes up and never speak to him again except in social settings."

"No, I will never give up Ashley."

Gently Rhett said, "Baby, he is married to another woman. He will never forsake his honor and leave Miss Melly. Let's go have fun while you wait for Miss Melly and me to die."

"Rhett! Don't say that."

"Are you trying to tell me you have never wished Miss Melly dead? Or wished Mr. Wilkes was your husband instead of me?"

"Not since that night in New Orleans. I didn't want you yelling at me like that again."

Rhett smiled at Scarlett's statement. He continued, "You know he will never marry you if you are a divorcee, so you will have to wait for me to die." Rhett then smiled beguilingly. I'm going to Charleston with or without you. Do you want to escape the gossips and censure or stay and face them alone. I will drive you out to the sawmill today and you can explain everything to Mr. Wilkes so he knows that you would never stop loving him but because of the gossip the two of you will have to put some distance between you. You can tell him you are selling your half of the sawmills, also."

Scarlett had nothing to lose because Rhett was going to let her explain everything to Ashley. Rhett was right she had to put some distance between her and Ashley. Charleston sounded like the right amount of distance. Rhett had never invited her to go with him ever before. Yes, she was going to go. She wasn't going to face the matrons alone especially after Rhett left her. And Rhett was right, Ashley would never leave Melanie and he wouldn't marry her if she was divorced so she would have to wait for Melanie and Rhett to die. That thought made her so incredibly sad. She would go with Rhett and enjoy the next several years with him. She calmly said, "If you take me out to the sawmill and let me explain things to Ashley, I will agree to not speak to him again except socially until both you and Melanie are dead. I will go with you and I'm going to start having fun. The first fun I have had since New Orleans. The fun you promised me when you proposed."

"I did make you that promise so, I better start fulfilling it."

"Besides, Melly just might outlive us all."

Rhett laughed and said, "I am glad you are going with me. Life is more fun when you are around. We will go to Europe also. I think six months is enough time for us to be gone."

Scarlett smiled.

The couple got dressed and ate breakfast. As they were eating breakfast, the stable boy was getting Scarlett's buggy ready. It was to be ready every morning at nine. On the way out to the sawmills, the couple didn't talk about anything personal but there was a camaraderie about their relationship that had been missing since that night in New Orleans. Their relationship was once again that of best friends. Rhett knew now that Scarlett was the only friend he had ever had also.