Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eleven

After Rhett's return, he kept the subjects neutral except for occasionally asking if Scarlett had gotten her food delivery. She would assure him she had.

Scarlett had told him that neither she nor Prissy knew anything about cooking. Scarlett had sent Prissy down to the Meade's home to have their cook teach Prissy how to cook. The cook came to Hamilton House and showed the two teenagers how to make some simple meals. Every now and then depending on what was in their grocery delivery Scarlett had Prissy go visit the Meade's cook. Scarlett had laughingly said, "They are no gourmet meals, but they are at least edible."

Scarlett would often talk about how hard and horrible the work was at the hospital. She had said, "I don't know how Dr. Meade does it. He never takes a day off. We are running out of beds, so we have started lying some of the wounded on the ground."

"It is getting harder and harder to get food supplies and even harder to get them to the troops."

"Will it be over soon?"

"I hope after the fall of Atlanta, Davis will realize the war is over."

"But you don't really think he will, do you."

"No, Honey, I don't. Scarlett.."

"No, Rhett. Don't speak of me leaving Atlanta. I will make a bargain with you. As soon as Melly delivers her baby, I will let you take me to Tara."

"I will accept it because I am not going to get you to do otherwise no matter how stupid I think you are behaving."

"Rhett!"

Rhett stood up and smiled. He said, "I think this visit is over before I say something that will be mean and hurtful," As Rhett looked at Scarlett's troubled face, he added, "I will be back tomorrow."

"Alright, Rhett."

Rhett left Scarlett's home and walked to The Painted Lady. He would win some money at poker. He had always been lucky at cards. He guessed it was some more of his Irish luck. As Rhett walked in the saloon he smiled and waved at Belle.

Belle smiled and waved back. She still could not believe that Rhett Butler, the biggest whore monger in the South, was being faithful to Scarlett Hamilton even before they were married. Of course, Belle hadn't yet figured out why they hadn't married already. When Belle had asked Rhett why he hadn't married Mrs. Hamilton yet, he had coldly replied, "My relationship with Scarlett is none of your business.

Belle had been hurt at Rhett's tone and that he was shutting her out of part of his life. They had discussed everything under the sun over the years. They had never had any secrets. She had gotten over it. Belle would have been even more hurt if she had known that just Scarlett's name coming out of a whore's mouth was offensive to him. No, to Rhett Scarlett was pure and sacred and he certainly wasn't going to discuss her with the dregs of society.

As Belle watched Rhett walk across the saloon floor, she again wondered how he was financially profiting from his position with the Confederate government. She guessed she never would know. She knew it certainly couldn't be because he wasn't profiting from his job. It was another mystery that she guessed would go unsolved. She dismissed it and went back to managing the saloon.

Nothing changed in Rhett and Scarlett's relationship for the next two months. Rhett said one night, "You are working too hard at the hospital then you come home and take care of Miss Melly. You need to take some time for yourself."

"That is what your nightly visits are. Time for myself."

Rhett smiled and changed the subject. He knew that would have been a perfect time to tell her of his love, but he just couldn't get the words out.

Scarlett smiled back. She thought, 'How much clearer can I be that I love him? Maybe he doesn't love me. But if he doesn't love me, why does he spend so much time with me. Of course, Ashley spent a lot of time with me, and he didn't even like me. Maybe Ashley liked me, but he certainly didn't think I was good enough for him and his family. Maybe Rhett doesn't think I'm good enough to marry either. No, I can't think that. Rhett loves me. I just know he does.'

On the morning of August thirty first, Melanie was in labor. Scarlett knew that the baby was early. She went to talked to Dr. Meade. When she found him, he said, "Great, Scarlett, I need you in surgery."

"Alright but only for one soldier. Melly is in labor. What do I do?"

As Dr. Meade extracted a bullet from a soldier's leg, he explained to Scarlett the steps she needed to follow. He finished by saying, "This is going to be hard on Melly. She isn't built for having babies. You will need to time the interval between contractions. After the contractions start coming every two minutes, give her a couple of spoonfuls of laudanum. Once the baby is delivered, get a bed pan to catch the after birth."

"After birth?"

"You will know when you see it. Cut the cord and tie it in a knot."

"Tie it in a knot?"

Dr. Meade went on like Scarlett hadn't even spoken. He said, "Then you and Melly get out of town. Atlanta is going to fall any day now."

"Alright. I have to go."

"Yes, go."

Scarlett next went to Rhett's hotel. She knew he would be there because he conducted business from his hotel room. She sent a message upstairs to him. Once he was in the lobby she said, "Today is the day. You have to find a way to get us out of town."

"Alright. I will send Mr. Farnsworth a telegram telling him that Atlanta is falling, and I am leaving town. I will find a wagon and a horse. I will come to the Hamilton House."

"You can't come inside."

"I will sit on the porch and wait. It is probably cooler on the porch."

"Alright."

Three hours later, Beauregard Wilkes had been born. Scarlett had known what Dr. Meade had meant as she got to each stage. She was certainly glad that Dr. Meade had told her to give Melly some laudanum. Scarlett knew that Melly had been in horrible pain. Scarlett wanted to give Melly the laudanum sooner, but she followed Dr. Meade's instructions to the letter. She didn't want to cause Melly any damage. Scarlett was afraid just bringing the baby into the world was going to damage Melly quite a bit. Scarlett was also awfully glad that Charlie hadn't gotten her with child. She would not want to go through all that pain for a baby she didn't want. She paused there and wondered if she would want to have Rhett's baby. At this point it didn't matter.

After the baby was out Scarlett got the bedpan and caught the afterbirth. She couldn't find a pair of scissors. Suddenly she knew where there was something she could cut the cord with. She ran down the stairs and out to the porch. Rhett was sitting there smoking a cigar and reading the paper. Without any hesitation Scarlett said, "Give me your cigar scissors."

"What? Why?"

"Just give them to me."

Rhett handed them over. Scarlett ran back upstairs. She cut the cord and tied it in a knot. She cleaned the baby up and laid him down next to Melly. Scarlett got Melly to eat. Melly didn't eat much but she needed to eat something.

Scarlett went downstairs and out to the porch. She said to Rhett, "We are ready to go. Here are your scissors."

"What did you use them for?"

"To cut the cord."

Rhett laid the scissors on the table and wiped his hand on his pants. He turned to Scarlett and said, "Let me get a mattress for Miss Melly to lie on."

"Come along."

"You aren't worried about me compromising you anymore?"

Scarlett laughed and said, "Not right now. I'm just worried about getting out of Atlanta before the Yankees come to supper."

Rhett chuckled at Scarlett's joke. They walked up the stairs and Scarlett led Rhett to the spare bedroom. He grabbed the mattress and with her help got it into the back of the wagon.

Scarlett looked at the horse and wagon. She wondered how the wagon was still in one piece and how the horse was still standing. Scarlett said, "I hope you didn't pay a lot of money for that horse and wagon."

"I didn't pay anything for them. I stole them. If either was in better shape the Confederate army would have confiscated them therefore, we are lucky they are in such bad shape."

"Oh. Alright. I hope it holds together until we get to Tara."

"Me too."

By five o'clock, Rhett, Scarlett, Melly, Prissy, and Beau were in the wagon. They had taken all the food that was in the house with them. Rhett had his trunk in the back of the wagon. As they were leaving the city, Rhett saw the Confederate army leaving also. The army would probably camp ten to fifteen miles down the road.

Rhett said, "Is there a back way to get to Tara?"

"Yes, through Rough and Ready."

When the group got to Rough and Ready, Rhett stopped right before they turned onto the lane out of town. He said, "We need to rest the horse. Get down," Scarlett got down. Rhett nervously said, "I love you."

With a big smile on her face Scarlett said, "I love you, too."

"Will you marry me?"

"Of course, my love."

Rhett looked down at Scarlett's face. There was no triumph in her expression, just pure happiness. Rhett knew she was so happy he loved her. He was also certain there was just pure happiness on his face also. Happiness and relief. Maybe there was some relief in Scarlett's expression also. He decided that they had both been too scared to say the words.

Rhett said, "I will get you to Tara then I will have to leave you with your parents. I will walk back and join the Confederate army. That will guarantee that I will be received after the war is over."

"No! Isn't you having been a blockade runner and having worked for the Confederate government enough."

"Maybe. But my service in the Confederate army will guarantee it. With my reputation, I have to."

"You must think of something else. You cannot die on me now."

"I promise you. I will return to you. I have what I have wanted for the last three years, maybe all my life – your love. Give me your left hand," Rhett took the ruby ring out of his pocket and slipped it on her ring finger. It was slightly too big, so he slipped it on her middle finger. It fit. He said, "It was my grandmother Kennesaw's engagement ring."

"It is beautiful. How did you get it?"

"My mother gave it to me when I told her of my feelings for you."

"I'm so happy to have it, but why did she give it to you instead of selling it."

"She said she could never sell it," Rhett said with a smile, "then her practical side took over and she added besides, I can't get what it is worth in South Carolina right now. I paid her for the ring. Kiss me."

Scarlett did kiss Rhett and he kissed her back. He said, "Let's go before I lose control."

Rhett smiled at the triumphant smile on Scarlett's face. He was quite sure there was a triumphant smile on his face also.

Rhett had decided that he was going to tell Scarlett of his love for her when he got her to Tara. That was why the ring was in his pocket. His first plan had been that if she loved him, he would stay with her at Tara. If she didn't love him, he would go to New Orleans and then on to Europe. He would never return to the South again.

When Rhett saw the Confederate army, his plan had changed. He had decided that joining the army at this late date would ensure he stayed received in Atlanta. He had also decided that he had to know if it was going to be worth it. He had to know if Scarlett loved him. If she loved him, he would join the army.

Now he just had to manage not to get killed in the next several months. Hopefully not years.