Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Eight

Two weeks later Rhett woke up with Scarlett pressed up against him. Most of the time he woke up and she was in his arms but sometimes she had rolled over and out of his arms. If she had rolled out of his arms, throughout the night she ended up pressed up against him. He knew that his presence in her bed offered her physical security and she never had the nightmares when he was in bed with her anymore. He also knew that she was not emotionally secure. She was always afraid of what disaster awaited her around the corner. For a moment Rhett wondered if there was something, he could do to make her feel emotionally secure without telling her he loved her. He would ponder on this in the next coming days. Right now, he was going to go see his baby.

Scarlett awoke two hours later and snuggled into Rhett's side of the bed. It smelled like him and that brought her comfort. In another ten minutes Prissy came in the room with her breakfast tray. She got up to face the day. Rhett's friend had needed a teacher to teach Latin and French. Something every young man needs to know according to Rhett. As it turned out Rhett knew someone who wanted to buy her mills both of them. At first, she really wanted to say no because she had built those mills from nothing but the little voice told her now was the time to sell both mills. The little voice also told her that the building boom was over and now was when she could get the best price for her mills. She decided to sell the mills and rid herself of the headache of Ashley and Johnny. Today was that day. She would still have the store after all and she could always buy another business.

Scarlett and Ashley sold their mills to the Yankee, Tom Mobbs. He had given them a very good price for the mills. Rhett was a happy man. Now there wouldn't be any weekly contact between Scarlett and Ashley. As Rhett had observed Scarlett with Ashley in Mr. Hamilton's office, she had not gotten that hero worship in her eyes.

As Rhett, Scarlett and Ashley walked out of the lawyer's office Ashley said, "Thank you, Captain Butler, for your help in getting me this job."

Rhett nodded his head. Scarlett linked her arm in Rhett's arm and said, "Your welcome. He still can't speak. He is thinking of going to the teaching hospital in New York. And when I say he I mean we are going to New York. Do you know how many stores there are to shop at there?"

Ashley said, "No, how many?"

Rhett was pleased she was just talking to Ashley. She wasn't flirting with Ashley. She wasn't looking at Ashely with adoring eyes. And best of all she was standing very close to him almost too close. Rhett patted her hand and she smiled at him and said to Ashley, "Too many to count. Rhett is ready to leave. Good luck in your new job. Tell Melly I will be by tomorrow. Bye Ashley."

The couple walked away arm and arm. Ashley smiled as they walked away. He knew Scarlett didn't believe herself in love with him anymore and he knew it was for the best. Scarlett's adoration was something he would miss but he thought, 'All good things must come to an end.'

As they were walking away Scarlett said, "Thank you for coming with me to sign the papers."

Rhett smiled at Scarlett and she smiled back. Rhett wouldn't have missed the signing of the papers for the world. Now Scarlett could travel with him and their first destination was New York. He was actually looking forward to taking Scarlett to New York and letting her shop to her heart's content. He knew that whether he could talk or not she would drag him to store after store. She had always appreciated his opinion on her clothes. She may not follow his advice but she wanted to hear what he had to say.

These five months that he couldn't talk they had become very close. They both had changed. When he had to write his comments down, he had to decide if he really wanted to say something, before he wrote it down. They no longer flew out of his mouth like poisonous arrows. He found the nicer he was to her the nicer she was to him.

Scarlett had been so sweet to him since he had lost his voice. She was focusing on him and their relationship. She was interested in him and appreciated his interest in her. Since the party that he had gotten so mad at she had not gone off and flirted with all the men in the room. She flirted with other men sometimes but only when she had her arm linked in his. He now accepted he shouldn't have encouraged her to do whatever she wanted. It had just made her more selfish and self-centered which he realized really was a logical outcome of being encouraged to do what ever one wanted.

They went to the park with the children two or three times a week. He admitted to himself that him wanting Bonnie all to himself was selfish and stupid. A child naturally wants both of their parents. He could tell that by how quickly Wade and Ella had bonded to Scarlett. Scarlett would give Bonnie a type of love that he couldn't. He knew he would be too lax with Bonnie because he wanted to give her everything but giving someone everything without limits and guidance was wrong. Their mansion was a perfect example of that. If he had helped Scarlett with the mansion it wouldn't be too big, too gaudy, and too red.

They spent a lot of time together. He stayed at home most nights because he wasn't enjoying playing cards or drinking like he used to. When he went to play cards, it wasn't nearly as much fun when he couldn't make mocking comments to everyone about people. It was hard not to smoke when he was in a saloon and he didn't want to go back to smoking. He was not drinking as much so a couple of drinks affected him a lot quicker than before he lost his voice. Most important the woman he wanted to have relations with was already in his bed. He never thought he would be the kind of man to be faithful but he was. He guessed he had a little bit of honor in him.

Once they got to the buggy, she wanted to go to the bank to deposit her check. She was so proud of what she had accomplished and he realized that he had never praised her for her accomplishment. He got a piece of paper from the teller and wrote on it – You did great! - There was so much happiness on her face and a few tears in her eyes. When she said, "Thank you, Rhett" he knew how much his praise meant to her and he wondered why he had always withheld it.

On the buggy ride home, she was so happy and she chatted with him. She would always pause every now and then for him to provide input which he did. He smiled or he frowned. He raised an eyebrow in a mocking way. Or he would look questioningly at her. Through their personal sign language, they were communicating fairly well. When they got to the mansion she said, "Let's take the children to the park and go out for dinner. We can eat at that café by the park." She looked at him waiting for his answer. He smiled and nodded his head. She hugged him. He thoroughly kissed her in their buggy in front of their house. Through his touch he was trying to tell her he loved her. When he had finished, she said, "You haven't kiss me like that since you asked me to marry you. You shouldn't save that kiss for just special occasions." He wanted to ask what the special occasion was. She looked at him and said, "Come on, Rhett. Why are you dillydallying?" With that statement he jumped down and lifted her out of the buggy. She laughed at him. The little voice said, 'This is good.' Scarlett agreed. This was good.

They did take the children to the park and have lunch at Sam's Café. The food was good and the conversation lively. Wade would talk to Rhett like Scarlett did. He would pause to let Rhett contribute to the conversation. When Ella talked to Rhett she didn't pause. It was a steady flow of questions and words. Rhett would just look at her and smile. While they were sitting at the table with Scarlett trying to get Bonnie to eat some smashed-up peas the voice said, 'He is looking at Ella with love also. He loves your children.' Scarlett thought, 'Yes he does.'

As they were walking back to the mansion Rhett gave her that look that always confused her. The voice said, 'He is looking for a sign that you care for him.'

She thought, 'He knows I care for him.'

'No, that you really care for him.'

'Like love?'

'Yes. Like love. Have you ever wondered why he has stayed around you all these years? He loves you.'

Her mind went blank. Rhett couldn't love her but so far, the voice had not been wrong. 'No, the voice was wrong this time', she thought

The voice sighed and said, 'You aren't anything but a stubborn mule.'

That hurt her feelings like when Mammy had called her and Rhett that before they got married. Scarlett did wonder how a voice in her head could hurt her feelings and she pondered on that the rest of the day. She was going to think about almost anything but what the voice had said about Rhett loving her.

Scarlett had started visiting Fanny on Thursday afternoons. She enjoyed Fanny. The conversations were funny and interesting. Other young women stopped by and Scarlett got to know them also. At first, they were stand offish but as Scarlett was consistently friendly and nice the other women began to relax around her.

One day a woman named Anna Beth said to Scarlett, "How is your husband doing since he can't speak?"

There were a lot of comments from the other ladies about how they wished their husband couldn't speak. Scarlett smiled and said, "He is doing great although he hates to have to write everything down. I have had fun at his expense by saying things like… If you don't want me to do it just say no. Or If you don't want me to buy it just say no."

The other ladies laughed. For the first time in her entire life Scarlett felt like she was part of a group of women. She felt like they liked her.

Another day someone ask Scarlett about her feud with India Wilkes. Scarlett said, "When I was fifteen, I did a foolish thing and she has never forgiven me for it. I stole her suitor."

A woman named Jenny said, "Was that the first man you stole because we know he wasn't the last?"

Everyone laughed. This was the moment of truth. If they didn't accept her now, they never would. Scarlett said, "Until the ring is on your finger anything can happen. But the single ladies are safe with their suitors now because I am happily married to Rhett."

Emma said, "It won't do India any good but nothing will. She looks like she sucks lemons for breakfast." All the women laughed even Melly. Emma looked at Scarlett and winked and Scarlett never felt happier.