Chapter Eight

SCARLETT

I doubt that Pa knew that I would be here absolutely alone or maybe I was able to convince him otherwise or maybe since this world is the same as one I've lived in, I am able to bend it to my own design. No. That's not the truth. If I was to bend it there would be no war going on and everything would stay clean and idyllic and happy. Still, this isn't just a shift back in time this is a second chance to make things better.

I look around the house. It's not decorated that well and the furniture appears to have been things from the previous homeowner. Maybe I can dress it up nicely but I need to think of the big things as well such as when Rhett and I have children or when the nasty Union soldiers are trying to rob us of everything. Is it even worth fixing up this house knowing that they will want to rob us blind.

"So," Rhett says as he takes some measured steps over to me. "How does this house feel? Grand enough for you?" he asks and I detect some slyness in those words. I nod but continue looking out of the window. "Tell me what you'd like to fill this house with and be honest with me," he says as he moves forward and pushes some loose strands of hair away. "I know that you love expensive things."

I hesitate and shake my head, "Not anymore. I don't need those things. Well, I think an armoire would be nice, and a table with mirrors a little white one with a white chair and a grandfather clock and maybe some nice vases with flowers and some end tables and some -" I stop myself despite seeing Rhett's playful grin. I bow my head and smile guilty. "I'm asking for too much here, I know I am. I promised that I would cha-"

"Yes, change is needed," Rhett agrees and I swallow, I was about to fall into old habits. Its nice that I've stopped myself and reflected upon myself. "Change can also rob us of our less boring faults, all within moderation. That's why I chose this house and not one larger although you can also retreat into a separate bedroom."

"Do I-" I say before looking down and trying to hide the tears in my eyes. "Do I have to do so? Can't I sleep in your arms?" I ask and see his shock but he smiles and nods.

"You may do that, my future Mrs. Butler," he says and I walk into his embrace.

I'm so sorry to him for all of those years when I pushed him away despite him being the best thing to happen to me. I appreciate how he is letting me design this house but I'll have to be respectful and open minded and I want to create a home that would be welcoming to Melly and Ashley and anyone else who might want to come and visit. I don't want to have a home that looks down on people or has that air of aristocracy. I want people to say to me, Oh Scarlett has such a dear home or Scarlett's home is beautiful, but not one that reflects my selfish and spoiled side.

"I have also sought about acquiring you a shop so that you can sell your clothing designs. I know how much you appreciate the fine fashions and I think you can have the other ladies of Atlanta appreciate them too," Rhett chuckles and I turn to him unsure about what he has said.

"I didn't think you liked the business woman version of myself," I tell him and he puts a hand to my cheek and lifts my chin to kiss me.

"Well then you've again misjudged me," he says and I look to him terrified but he smiles to me and takes a few paces from me. "You are correct that I don't want to see you so stern and occupied with things that are not suited to you such as lumber mills and general stores but to have a nice dress or flower shop would be perfect for you. You would be able to mix your feminine self with your independent self. You can also hire young women like yourself and Miss Melanie to work there for good money rather than draining money by using prison labor."

I look away. "Do you want me like Belle Watling?" I ask and he hums.

"No. I want you like this," he says as he gestures to me. "I want you to have a clean soul and cleaner ethics. By that, don't take it that I want a pure religious girl, I just don't want you to compromise in either your living situation or in who you truly are. It is my intention to preserve the true untarnished Scarlett. Everyone finds themselves rusted with age but I am hoping to reawaken your girlhood fancy."

"And what if I'm not successful, Rhett? What if I do create a store and it doesn't do well and needs to be boarded up and sold?" I ask before hearing him laugh and I blush and bow my head.

"My dear, I don't believe that will ever happen. I believe that you have the grit and determination to make anything which you'd like happen. When you've failed before, you've always picked yourself back up again, haven't you?"

I nod and take a deep breath. I'm lucky that Rhett has such faith in me. Maybe this time I can return to being the silly little girl some of the time that I never really had the chance of being. I can also take inspiration from Melly without becoming her. Melly is always thinking of others and I just need to think of others as much as I think about myself. That will be my compromise.

RHETT

I don't know what will happen and I hate to admit it even to myself but I am scared for it. Scarlett claims that she wants to be in bed with me but when has that ever happened. I knew it so many times before, so many years, that she only pretended that I was someone else and she was not content to be with me. Now she is saying that she wants me as I am and I hate to admit that I'm a little nervous about it.

Will she still want me if I go up there and hold her or will she think it's someone else, believe it's someone else? I thought living life another time would be easier but it's on this subject where the rejection still scares me and part of me wishes it to be over. I take a deep breath in before going up to the bedroom and I find that Scarlett is still sitting on the side of the bed.

I stare at her and she smiles, blushes, and looks down. She is very beautiful but rejection this time would ruin everything. "Are you sure?" I ask her, my eyes not leaving her for a moment and she nods with a smile.

"One thing I've wanted since I was a girl was to be held by someone who loved me and who I loved and I do, I do love you, Rhett, very much so," she tells me and I go over to her, still wearing my pajamas and robe and slip in beside her. She turns to me and lies down by my side in her nightgown. This seems to be more intimate than sex. Just looking at one another in silence.

Scarlett takes a jagged breath and it starts to tear me about inside. Has she finally decided that she doesn't want this closeness between us. Should I storm out? Instead she presses her forehead into my chest and starts crying. I wrap my arm around her and she comes closer to me, I can feel her tears upon my chest.

"What is it, Scarlett?" I ask her gently. I don't want to hear that she wishes I was somebody else. I will leave this very moment if she says that. I'm not going to hit her or say cold words to her if she does this time, I will just stand up and walk out like a gentleman.

"I'm sorry," she whispers to me. "I'm sorry I took you for granted, Rhett," she sobs again and I allow myself to run my fingers through her hair. "I'm so sorry. I was just reflecting on how happy I am right now and…and I'm so sorry."

She looks up at me in fear but I can see her love for me in her eyes and more than that I can see how much she is begging for me to love her and to forgive her. I smile as I cup her cheek and she cries more as she keeps my hand to her cheek by holding it.

"Until we are properly accepted by society, this cannot happen every night," I tell her and she closes her eyes and sobs but keeps nodding in between those sobs. "However," I tell her as I kiss her forehead. "We should make the most out of the moments in which we can."

She smiles and turns her head towards the bedsheet so that I don't see her crying. I kiss her again and she turns so that I can hold her from behind and feel her body with my touch.

"Rhett," she says slowly and I hum in response. "It wouldn't make me seem like such a silly woman were I to have your children, would it?" she asks me as she rolls over and looks at me in such a sweet way. "And if I were to work whilst having children?"

"As long as you were doing it to fulfill your spirit and soul such as that of one saying their prayers and I know that you don't say your prayers truly unless there is something you want," I tell her and she looks down and nods. "I don't either though, life should be conquered and prayers are there for those too humble or too scared to do so. Have as many children as you like. I will take care of all of you."

"Even the boys?" she asks me and I nod, hoping to comfort her.

"Even the boys."

End of Chapter Eight

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Klenk Eniko, MissTricey