Disclaimer: The characters here and the world they inhabit are the creation and property of Margaret Mitchell, her heirs, and their assigns.
When Scarlett came out of the hospital the next afternoon, Rhett was standing at the bottom of the steps, leaning against a streetlight. He removed his hat as soon as he saw her and bowed. She felt so many things: self-conscious, and glad, and that strange feeling deep inside her he had called passion. She smiled without thinking about it and walked over to him.
"My very dear Mrs. Butler," he murmured, "you are positively radiant."
Now Scarlett consciously simpered, flashing her eyes in a way she knew was charming. "Captain Butler, you do run on."
He lifted her hand to his lips and held it there. "I've missed you."
Maybe it was his mustache or maybe just his voice, but a thrilling current traveled from his lips through her fingers and all the way up her arm. "I missed you too," she said.
"Was there any trouble last night?" He had brought her back to the Hamilton house about four hours after they'd left.
"No, I was able to slip in and get to bed without anyone the wiser."
"Did you tell Mrs. Wilkes, yet?"
"No, I didn't get a chance. I had to be at the hospital before she was up for the day."
He nodded. "Are you going to tell her soon?"
"Of course," she answered. "I'm not sure I want to tell any of those other old cats, though."
He tilted his head and looked at her intently. "We can't spend our whole nights together until we do."
Scarlett wasn't sure she was ready for an announcement like that. "But it's so special and ours," she said. "They'll just start tearing at us."
He grinned in that almost nasty way he had. He knew that even now she had her reservations about their marriage. "I'm sure there would be compensations, speaking of which," he tilted his head closer, "do you have a few hours, now?"
Scarlett looked caught out. She lowered her chin and bit her lip. "I'm not sure it's the best time, Rhett.
His eyes narrowed. "Don't try to get out of this, Scarlett."
Her eyes went wide. "Oh, no! It's just that," he could see she was trying to think of something to say. "It's a really bad time for me," is all she ended up with. She folded her arms around her middle.
He realized what she meant and smiled. "Ah. Since you'll be indisposed for a couple of days, why don't we do something else I'd like to do while we can."
She nodded her assent, and he offered her his elbow. Scarlett slipped her hand up into it, and he captured it with his other hand, feeling for her wedding ring. She was his, and anyone who looked would know it.
He took her to an artist's studio. "I want us to have miniatures of each other, just in case we're parted, my sweet."
The artist had a female assistant who dressed Scarlett's hair. Scarlett was shocked when it was explained that her shoulders were to be exposed for the portrait. The waist of her dress was unfastened and pushed out of the way, and then the top of her shimmy. The assistant draped Scarlett with a soft fabric, just below her shoulders to preserve her modesty, and then the artist and Rhett returned to the room.
"You are most lovely, my pet," said Rhett. She could see in his eyes that he really thought so.
He sat facing her as the artist approached his easel. "Where would you like to honeymoon?"
"Honeymoon?" she asked.
"We won't be able to go for some time, perhaps until the war ends, but I'd like to go someplace, just the two of us."
"You've been more places than I have. Where would you recommend?"
He spent the next hour describing several places to her, from New Orleans to Havana to Buenos Aires, as well as Paris, Rome and London. "You'd be beautiful in all of them," he said.
She blushed and looked down. "Rhett."
"I think we're about done, Captain Butler," said the artist after a couple of hours. "I can finish it later for you to pick up in a few days. The other one you requested is almost done."
"Thank you Mr. Marcel," said Rhett. "We will come back for both together later this week."
The artist and his assistant withdrew, and Rhett helped Scarlett with her clothing. "Do you really think we'll be separated?" she asked.
"I fear it's all but inevitable," he answered. He kissed her shoulder before it was covered. "I'll see you safely out of Atlanta, but beyond that I'm not sure what we'll be doing."
She lifted frightened eyes to him. "I appreciate that, but Rhett-" she bit her lip.
"Yes, Scarlett?" He was looking at her as if what she was about to say was the most important thing in the world.
"I don't want to be away from you. I think I'll miss you."
Something flashed across his face, disappointment? It was gone before she was sure she saw it. He looked down to fasten the buttons of her dress. "I'll miss you, too, Scarlett. We haven't had near as much time together as I hoped for." Pulling her close, he kissed her and then deepened the kiss.
Scarlett was back home in time for supper with Melanie. "Scarlett, wherever did you get that ring?"
At least it would be easy to bring up the subject. Scarlett blushed. "Rhett-Captain Butler-and I were married last night."
Melly's face looked like sunrise, "Oh, Scarlett! What wonderful news!"
Scarlett was surprised. Melly seemed happier than she was. "Do you really think so?"
"I do, he loves you so much, and of course I've seen how you care for him."
"But I never-" Scarlett swallowed the rest. She could never tell Melanie what she really felt.
Melanie blushed and looked at her plate. She murmured, "Have you had a chance to-be together?"
It was Scarlett's turn to blush. "I went to his hotel for a few hours last night, after we left the church."
"You should be with him as much as you can before we leave Atlanta. What if you're separated?"
"He said something like that today. I don't want to think of it."
Melanie took Scarlett's hands in her own. "This is such good news, Scarlett! We should have a celebration!"
"Oh, Melly, you know we can't do that, at least not now. You know how everyone feels about Rhett, and you're-well..."
Melanie put her hands on her stomach and blushed. "Oh, of course."
"It would probably be the best thing to not mention it unless we're asked about it," continued Scarlett. "I don't want anyone to upset you."
"You're so clever!" said Melanie. "Of course we can wait."
Rhett came to visit while Mrs. Meade was there that night. He made a great show of kissing the hand of both Mrs. Meade and Scarlett and chatted with them about the difficulties caused by the siege. They made a certain amount of small talk until Mrs. Meade started making pointed comments about obligations to the Confederacy.
"I'm just grateful that I had two fine boys to give to the cause," she said with an audible lump in her throat. "No one can say I haven't done my duty."
Scarlett looked in worry between her and Rhett. He usually made a nasty remark right about this time, but it would be simply cruel, with Darcy dead and Phil just having gone back from his leave.
Rhett surprised her. "I know that many are grateful for your sacrifices, Mrs. Meade."
"I know some people choose not to fight," she answered pointedly.
Rhett, who was leaning against the rail as he often did, to shake the ashes from his cigar into one of Aunt Pitty's azaleas, shifted his feet. "I'll be honest with you, Mrs. Meade. The only reason I'm still in town is to keep an eye on Mrs..." he looked at Scarlett, "Hamilton and Mrs. Wilkes. I intend to make sure they get out of town safely and then I'll do my duty, you may be sure."
"Why would you join at this late date?" Mrs. Meade asked with narrowed eyes.
"I'd know that the people who'd been so kind to me when I was blockade running were taken care of, and I could continue the service to my people that I started before anyone fired on Fort Sumpter. I'm sure I can still be helpful."
Scarlett realized what he meant and felt herself go completely cold. This was why he wanted her picture. Rhett watched her go white as she stood up. "But R-Captain Butler! You could be injured, or worse!"
Rhett's smile was hidden by his cigar. He waited a moment before taking it out of his mouth. "Would you mind that, Mrs. Hamilton?"
Very aware of Mrs. Meade's watchful gaze she lamely said, "It's not for me to say, of course, but I'd be quite sad if anything happened to you."
Since she was standing, she decided to say goodnight, somewhat miserably, and Rhett made a show of escorting Mrs. Meade down the stairs and through the gate as Scarlett got the door closed. She couldn't figure out how she felt. Rhett intended to abandon her after all. Why did she ever marry him? Reason pointed out that he clearly said he meant to see her safely home first.
She got up the stairs to check on Wade, who was sleeping soundly, and Melanie, who was awake. "You should go with him, dear," she said.
"He's already left," answered Scarlett.
"He'll be down there at least another hour yet. I haven't been sleeping well; I've seen him out there most nights."
"You'll be all alone."
"If we need you, I'll send Prissy."
"He said he'll leave us and join the army after we leave Atlanta."
"That's his duty. He's only been staying here because of you."
Scarlett looked up, confusion in her eyes. "How can you know that?"
"It's in how he looks at you dear. It's the same way Ashley looks at me."
Suddenly Scarlett didn't want to talk to Melanie anymore. "Are you sure it's all right?"
"Wade and I will be fine," she answered.
True to Melanie's word, Rhett was standing in the shadow of some trees when she came down. "Have you been doing that every night?"
"Quite a few nights, my pet."
"Do I mean so much to you?"
"I paid a hundred and fifty dollars for you just for the first dance, Scarlett. Do you know how much I've spent since then?" he said it with a teasing voice even as he took her hand and pulled it securely within his elbow.
"I'm just an investment, then, as you said before. You'll see me safe at Tara and then off to your next adventure."
He chuckled. "On the contrary, my pet. You are my next great adventure."
"Then why do you plan to leave me?"
He sighed. "I can't possibly explain it. Are you joining me this evening?"
"Melly said I should come. I can't do, well, that tonight, but Melly said I should be with you as much as possible."
"Bless Melanie Wilkes," he whispered. He stopped and pulled Scarlett into his arms to kiss her, which he did for a long moment. Then they continued on their way again.
"Is that why you wanted the picture?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "I'd like some of your hair, too."
"You're very sentimental."
"I am at that, Scarlett. Will you stay with me tonight?"
"Melanie said she'd send Prissy if there's a problem."
"I've never held a woman in my arms all night."
Scarlett thought of her first wedding night, which Charlie spent in the chair, and the nights that followed, during which Charlie hugged one edge of her bed while Scarlett hugged the other. "I'm not sure it will be very good," she said.
"Are you comparing me to Charles Hamilton, again?"
Scarlett blushed. She should stop doing that. He always caught her out.
Rhett woke Scarlett before dawn, his mustache brushing over her face as he kissed her awake. "Good morning, my sweet," he said.
Scarlett realized that her head was on his shoulder and that she was holding his torso while her legs were intertwined with his. She had slept soundly. "I'm sorry, Captain Butler, I don't know what possessed me," she said as she pulled away toward some form of modesty.
He chuckled. "The same thing possessed us both."
She sat up and reached for her dress. He sat next to her and leaned over to tip her head to face him. "It's an odd thing to say during a siege, but I think that might be the best night's sleep I ever had."
She blushed. "I slept well, too.
A/N: This chapter contains some things that were headcanon for me, and I felt like it would be better if it was revealed in Grace & Charm first. It probably doesn't matter, just a weird artistic affectation, but "the heart has reasons that reason knows not" and all. Anyhow, here we are. Thanks so much you readers and reviewers, including rhett's love, Truckee Gal, gumper, Romabeachgirl1981, gabyhyatt, Snowandbows, Guest, gingerized5, and abbygale94.