That night, Scarlett and Ashley ate supper with her Pa and brothers. As always, her brothers made fools of themselves so they were a great distraction from the mounting awkwardness that Scarlett felt at Ashley's presence. It upset her that this was so, but between the continually empty inbox on her phone and the furtive glances that Ashley continued to cast her way, she felt that she was going to explode.

Scarlett didn't understand how this could be. He was her Ashley. One botched kiss shouldn't change that. Everyone had uncomfortable moments. She also reminded herself that it could have very well been the invisible presence of Melanie Hamilton floating among them that had caused the strangeness. Perhaps it was solely the fact that it hadn't played out the way she had always dreamed…Whatever the case may be, she couldn't help the feelings of unwelcome distaste she felt now. Try as she might to talk herself out of it, she just wanted Ashley to leave so that she could be alone. And think. So that the overwhelming feelings of the day could be digested. So she could sleep and tomorrow could fix her troubles. It always did…

But even after dinner, Ashley lingered. And as she paid closer attention to Ashley's demeanor, she got the alarming impression that he wanted to communicate. Oh Ashley, please not tonight…please! She tried to steady her breathing. She had never had one, but she imagined that she was on the verge of a panic attack.

Her brothers had made their way into the "game room" and she could hear the sound of imitation gun shots and imaginary dialogue in the background of their brouhaha. Scarlett, Pa and Ashley had retired to the parlor off the kitchen. They all talked a while, making conversation about everything and nothing. Scarlett's father doing most of the talking… And then, without warning, Ashley suddenly announced that he was leaving. "I reckon I should be heading home. I know you all are probably tired."

"No hurry, Ashley!" Her Pa exclaimed before standing to escort him out. Scarlett didn't move.

"I should be going anyway…I have a busy day tomorrow."

"Indeed you do. The day before any man's wedding is always a busy day!" Pa slapped him on the back as Ashley glanced towards Scarlett.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow." She gave him a small smile before waving at him as they both headed towards the foyer. Scarlett got up from the couch and immediately headed toward the back porch.

She needed some air.

The night was clear and crisp and she breathed deeply in a way that you can't in New York. How badly she missed the country. The South, with its hospitality and warm fall days and its rolling, green hills. Atlanta was the same as any other city. But once you left the city limits, you were back in Georgia, where everyone knew your name and to know a person was to be their closest friend.

Scarlett leaned against the railing of the porch and stared into the heavens. She could actually see the stars here.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she jumped before jerking it out and checking it quickly. Her shoulders fell. Email notification. No, Groupon, she didn't want to buy a wine tasting at 80% off. Scarlett huffed and suddenly had the bizarre desire to cry. Why haven't I heard from him? She took a deep breath and tried to put him out of her mind for the 50,000th time that day.

But she couldn't.

At the beginning of the day, she had attempted to feel uncaring about Rhett's disappearance and then his lack of communication after a glorious night together. She tried not to feel jilted. But the more she tried not to think about it, the more she did, to the point that it was constantly in the back of her mind.

Her feelings had evolved throughout the day: starting with disappointment. Then dejection. But just before dinner, when her phone had went off with a notification for a software update, she had immediately felt anger. How dare he use me like that! As if she were just a thing…just a toy to be played with and then discarded.

I thought I meant more to him than that.

It shamed her to admit it, but she was grossly disappointed that she wasn't more to him than any other woman he had bedded. And she knew she really had no right to be. She had known who Rhett was. Knew his reputation. But…

They had been friends! It was probably an old-fashioned notion to feel used after a one-night stand—how she wished that she could view it that way!—but seeing as she didn't go around sleeping with every man she met, perhaps she wasn't so modern after all.

Even as she explained it away and knew that she shouldn't have expected anything else, he had still disrespected her. It still…hurt…

Oh! It was boggling her mind and her head spun with unanswered questions. Questions that ran together and overlapped one another.

Why had he come to Atlanta? Just to have sex with her? Why not seduce her into a closet somewhere at the office? Why had he been so nice to her so many times? Why had he acted like he cared something about her?

Why would he have told her he loved her?

Another thought invaded her mind and it made her shutter.

Surely Rhett had known that this debacle concerning her "suspicions" when he came here could never come of anything. So why do this insane thing? He had looked up things about Melanie, probably knowing all along it was a lost cause. Thinking that she was crazy. Laughing at her for it…Jesus, what was she doing?! The confusion in her mind her over the events of the day and her even more baffling reactions to them forced her to look for some clarity...

Melanie didn't have a stain to her name, and she knew it. Even if she could find scandal surrounding her somehow, there was no way that she could even begin to prove that Melanie was evil. Or that she had ensnared her Ashley. She knew that. Had known it. Scarlett just hadn't wanted to give up so easily on the love that she had waited so long for. Had put her personal life on hold for. She still didn't want to give that up yet.

The only evil Melanie had committed was the one she had committed against Scarlett: existing.

Rhett was too smart not to know that. He had come all the way out here to help her with something that was impossible. How foolish I must look to him. Why would he do it?She cringed when she considered how he had probably laughed at her. When she considered how…childish it all made her appear.

Oh, the thought of him laughing at her hurt. Because she envisioned that his indifference towards her would transform that normally light, amused laugh into one of contempt, even pity. God, if he pitied her!

And all of it for what? Her mind flashed to this afternoon; Ashley's lackluster lips on hers. The uncomfortable strangeness afterwards. She definitely didn't want a lifetime of that. Scarlett felt immediate guilt at the hateful thought, and even knew that it was unfair. Knew that it was a greatly exaggerated version of what she was really feeling… At the moment, she didn't care.

A sob escaped her lips, but she refused to give into the tears, remembering that her father and her brothers were just a few feet away. The only thing that could make this worse was if they found out she was crying.

After a few minutes, she had composed herself. She was preparing to go in and give her goodbyes before heading back to her terribly lonely hotel room.

She heard the door open behind her and she stiffened. Please be Pa…

It was him and she breathed easier. The last thing she needed right now was one of her brothers bothering her. Her father leaned his back against the railing, crossing his arms and staring at her directly. She glanced over at him.

"Now, what is this with you and Ashley?"

She jolted. "I don't know what you are talking about."

He eyed her. "I am thinking you do. I know you, Katie Scarlett. You wouldn't be my daughter if I didn't. I understand you better than you know. Now, you will be telling me this instant."

"There is nothing. Let's go into the house, Pa." She turned to go in when his hand found her shoulder.

"We will be doing nothing of the kind."

Unexpectedly, she desperately wanted to tell him. To unload on her Pa's broad shoulders. She sighed. Besides, she knew her father just as he knew her. He wasn't going to let up until she talked. "Fine, Pa. If you must know…Ashley was talking to me this afternoon about some…reservations. And well…one thing led to another and…" She gulped. "I kissed him."

Pa's eyes went wide. "Why, Katie Scarlett O'Hara! It's a spectacle you've been making of yourself, going after a man that doesn't love you? And you being engaged? And Ashley being engaged as well! In fact, to be married day after next!" Pa was clearly disappointed in her and she despised seeing that look on his face, even if his disappointment in her was displaced and based on things that weren't true. The reminder that she had even further degraded herself this past week by lying to her father—about a fake engagement!—was her undoing. What a mess she had made!

With a choked sob, the dam broke. She began to sob. As she did, she was terribly embarrassed but she couldn't have stopped the tears if she tried. And she hated that she couldn't because she knew how her Pa reacted to her tears.

He shuffled his feet. "You mustn't cry, now. Daughter…" He reached for her and pulling her down to his chest, he patted her head. "You needn't worry, Daughter. I am sure that you didn't shame yourself. Why, Ashley Wilkes would be lucky to get a kiss from a girl like you. He isn't married yet. And as for your fiancé, well he doesn't need to know. And even if you did tell him, with him being smitten the way he is, I am sure that he would be forgiving for just a little slip…" He shushed her.

She had to tell him the truth. At least part of it. Her conscience couldn't take it if she didn't. "Oh, Pa…me and Rhett…I don't think—I don't think we are going to get married, after all." Her sobs continued to rack her body.

He pulled back his sleeve over his hand before wiping her face with it. "Now is that what this was all about, Puss? Did you have a quarrel before your afternoon with Ashley?"

She looked into her Pa's eyes, wanting to tell him the whole embarrassing thing. I can't tell him. She had suffered enough mortification today. She didn't need to add to it by seeing more disappointment in her Pa's eyes. She simply nodded her head.

"Why don't you know that the man is smitten with you? I am sure you have nothing to worry over. Have you tried to talk to him? Call him?" Her sobs had calmed at this point, but she still simply shook her head. "And why not? There is no need to hold it against him. Pride is a good thing, daughter, except in matters of the heart. You must go to him and patch it up." When she still wouldn't look at him, he decided to take a different approach. "Or is it a coward that I have for a daughter?"

It took Scarlett a moment to comprehend what her Pa had said, but after a moment, she eyes shot up to her father's, a-light and fiery.

Her Pa grinned. "There now…you approach your intended with that same gumption and this will all be worked out in no time. And as far as the discomfort between you and Ashley, well, that will pass too. You two will be back to your normal selves again in no time, hmm?"

She was only half listening now, still focused on what he had said about Rhett. Was she being a coward? Was she afraid to try to call him or see him? She knew the answer. Her resolve hardened. She knew immediately what she was going to do…

She looked up at her Pa, gave him a small smile before kissing his cheek. "Thanks, Pa." She hastened her departure then, yelling a farewell to her brothers while she headed towards the garage. Pa wouldn't mind if she borrowed a car tonight…

On the drive back to the hotel, her determination had only ripened. Regardless of Rhett's intentions towards her, he was being a coward. Well, not anymore. And she wasn't going to follow his direction, either. If he had used her and abused their friendship for a few hours of physical pleasure? Well then, he was damn well going to tell her so. To her face. If he was a cad, he was going to give her the chance to call him out on it.

When she boarded the elevator, she immediately pushed the '42'. Her stomach was rolling, but she didn't care. When she approached his door, she felt real fear. But she pulled out the key that she had snagged from the table that morning and without thinking opened the door. It was late in the evening now and the living room was dark, with the exception of the dying fire that the staff must have lit for a second night. The only light on in the suite was the one in the bedroom, the light streaming into the living room.

He was here.

She took a deep breath before approaching the bedroom door.

His back was turned away from her and he was bent over the bed. It appeared that he was…packing. He was still unaware of her presence, Thank God, because at the sight of him her breath caught. Watching the play of his muscles as he placed things into his suitcase, she was reminded of how they had felt under her hands when his body had been over hers—

"Hello." She said. She was glad to hear that she sounded hard, but not angry. And not breathless, like she felt.

At the sound of her voice, Rhett jerked and stiffened. It gave her some satisfaction to see his obvious shock at her presence. "Scarlett…"

Now she was surprised. Because Rhett sounded like she felt. It was a moment before he turned around, and contrary to what she believed she had heard in his voice, his face was bland and his eyes mocked her.

"Leaving so soon?" She accused, thrown off by the stiff way he was staring at her. She hadn't meant for this conversation to start off like this. She had hoped that she could be the "bigger" party. Approach him with little aggression and make him feel badly about himself. It looked like that wasn't going to happen.

He smirked before sinking down onto the bed. "Welcome! Glad you found that second key, my pet. As for this," he motioned to his suitcase, "I should think that you would be glad to be rid of me, after my behavior at our last meeting." He raised his hands. "My apologies, by the way. I had been drinking—as had you—and I was quite swept off my feet by your…charms. Need I enumerate them?" He laughed. "Then again, I am assuming you remember any of it. You really were very drunk, Scarlett."

She gawked out him. Because out of all the things she had expected from him, she hadn't expected cruelty. Not from Rhett, who was always laughing and making jokes, even if they were at her expense. This was a side of him that she had never seen and didn't want to know. "Unfortunately, I do remember. More than I care too! You and your disgusting—"

"Come now, darling! Not disgusting, surely!"

She suddenly wanted to cry again. Why had she come here? Why had she thought that she could reason with this man that had no emotion in him? She needed to leave. "I don't even know why I came here!" She shouted, turning into the living room and heading towards the front door.

A rough hand landed on her arm and she jerked around and faced Rhett. She was in the dark again, the light from the bedroom shining behind him, casting shadows on his face. He was bent over her, peering into her face, a strange light in his eyes. If she hadn't been so angry, the look might have almost frightened her, it was so intense. But in her present state, she was too eager to get away from him to focus on anything but forcing him to release her.

"Why did you come here, Scarlett?" She didn't look at him but began to struggle vigorously against him. He wrapped his arms around her arms, pulling her to his chest. Whenever he had immobilized her, he asked again. "Scarlett…Scarlett! This is important. Why did you come here tonight?"

Now that she couldn't move, she was forced to calm. Scarlett was so close to him now. His scent was all around her. She could tell that he had just showered. The humidity still coming off his skin. She must have come only minutes after he had dressed. She wanted so badly to bury her face in his chest. To run her hands up his sides, his arms and then curl her fingers into his undoubtedly still damp hair. Pull him down to her mouth. Pull him into her arms, out of the present and back into last night.

She considered what he had just asked and tried to look up at him. Tried to see his face. But she was too close to him. His chin rested on her head. His fingers rubbed circles on her back. She was confused by this because it was in such contrast to how he had just treated her. This was tender…lover-like. Nothing like the cruel, biting words that they had just exchanged.

He had asked her why she had come…said it was important. "Why...why do you say it's important, Rhett?"

There was a moment of silence before a soft rumble echoed in his chest. "If you could throw out a life preserver to a drowning man, wouldn't that be important?" She didn't understand, and didn't care when his arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer. She nuzzled into his chest, breathing in his scent. Abruptly, he pulled her from him, placing both of his hands on either side of her face. His eyes traced her face, taking in everything. His brow was furrowed in concentration and he spoke quietly. "You haven't answered me. Why did you come here tonight?"

She couldn't breathe. "Why did you leave?" She whispered.

He smiled again. "So many questions." He pulled away. "I thought we had already talked about drowning men tonight, Scarlett."

She missed his warmth. Why had he pulled away? Why did he keep talking about drowning? Was that a reference to drinking? "It's ok that you had been drinking, Rhett. I imagine I was drunker than you." She didn't know what he was wanting her to say.

He laughed loudly at that. "You were definitely more…inebriated then I was, my darling. And it was for this reason that I couldn't seem to control my passions any longer…"

"Why did you leave?" Her voice was firmer now. She needed the answer. She wasn't going to allow him to talk to her like that again.

He grinned. After a moment, he spoke. His voice less harsh, the light laughter returned. "'Missing me one place search another. I stop somewhere waiting for you.'" He approached her again. "Whitman, I believe. A minor point, in such a moment but…" He paused, the strange light lingered in his eyes. "I have been waiting for you, Scarlett. Longer than I've waited for any woman." His hand reached for her face. "And it's a strange thing to finally have what you have waited for, only to see that you want more." He stroked her cheek gently. "That's always been the problem, Scarlett. I never get enough of you. When I get one thing, I need another. And another. Last night was no different…"

"Rhett—"

But he wouldn't let her speak. He abruptly brought her to his chest again. She fell limply against him, relishing the feel of him so close. "Why did I leave, Scarlett? Why does any man leave? Why does any man stay? There are so many damn questions in the world, honey. And so many with no answer."

"But—"

"I know, my baby. I know. You want an answer. I can't give it to you. I don't have one. How could I answer? How can I explain the effect a drug has on an addict? Because as much as I've tried to fight against it, that's what you are to me. A drug. A sweet, all-consuming haze that saturates every crevice, every inch of me. I thought that if I had you once, that it would subside. But I was so wrong, Scarlett." His voice was unexpectedly more urgent, his arms around her hard. "I got one taste of you and I will never stop now. Not while this roar in my head continues to drive me insane and drowns out everything reasonable. And we've always known that I am not the hero in this story, Scarlett. He is getting married in the next 48 hours. I'm the villain. I don't follow the damn rules. Especially when it comes to you. I don't want to."

God, he was so close to her, his mouth was almost touching hers now. She could feel his breath on her cheeks and his nose grazed hers. Why wasn't he kissing her? His breathing was getting more and more erratic and she realized distantly that he wasn't the only one. He was shaking again. Like he had last night…when he had been fighting so hard for control. Damn his control.

All at once, the scales shifted.

She grabbed him and kissed him, hard. His lips immediately submitted to hers and she felt a surge of power. A feeling of complete command. And she knew in that moment that tonight he was going to be beneath her, groaning her name as she moved above him. He was at her mercy, like she had hoped that morning. But it wasn't for revenge or for any other reason besides the fact that she willed it. She wouldn't make him beg because she didn't need him to. He would surrender to her.

She had been his last night…now he was hers.

Scarlett pushed him backwards, into the bedroom and he made no move to stop her. She knew he wouldn't. When they reached the bed, she pushed him directly beneath her, her demanding lips never leaving his pliant ones. She found the buttons on his shirt and ripped it opened, needing to feel his skin on hers, daring him to defy her. He didn't.

She slid her hands down to his waist, unbuttoning his pants. Breaking away from his lips, she ordered, "Unbutton my pants."

He groaned and complied without hesitation as her lips claimed his again. His fingers deftly grazed her skin, pulling the button out of the loop and quickly sliding the zipper down. His hand was so close to her core, it lit her up. She jumped up from the bed, kicking off her flats and pushing her pants down and off her legs. Craning his head, he watch her. His desire was barely contained. But he didn't move. He knew better.

She didn't even bother with her shirt.

Grabbing his pants, she pulled them down just far enough to free him from their confines, he eagerly adjusted himself to assist her. He was literally throbbing for her. She climbed back on top of him, hovering for a moment, before plowing down onto him.

A deep groan left his throat and his hands frantically gripped her hips as she began to move above him. She rolled over him precisely, confidently. Pulling him with her core, she didn't make a sound, even though her entire body was crying out to his. Even as Rhett's groans turned into guttural, animalistic growls that threatened her control. She grabbed one of his hands, bringing it to her core, and he obeyed her wordless demand.

With his hand on her, she came apart almost immediately and she could feel her body drawing at his, inviting his release. But she wasn't ready for that. She immediately stilled and Rhett hoarsely begged, "Scarlett, baby…"

She moved once, and she could tell by his reaction that he was on the brink. So close. After another moment, she swelled above him again, urging him to break beneath her. Seconds later, his body rolled into hers, "Fuck…" he moaned.

It was the most unrestrained she had ever seen him.

It was the sexiest thing that she had ever seen.

Only after she had collapsed on top of him, did she realize just how…vigorous she had been. Her body was screaming and with effort, she rolled over until she was laying on her back, next to Rhett.

Only after her breathing had slowed did she remember that she was half naked. And Rhett's large body was next to her.

And they had just had incredible sex again. Sober.

"That was…" He began and then paused. "…cathartic."

She scrunched her face. What? That wasn't exactly how she would describe it. Suddenly self-conscious, she started to roll away from him. But he grabbed her. And just as quickly as the scales had tipped several minutes before, they righted themselves. He hovered over her and she couldn't look anywhere but into his face. His eyes shone brightly.

"That was the single most erotic event of my life." He was laughing, but his eyes were kind…earnest.

Her stomach rippled pleasantly and she relaxed a bit. She couldn't help the shy pride she felt that Rhett—Rhett Butler—would say that.

As they looked at each other, she quickly realized that there were still so many questions that were still unanswered. She frowned. Rhett must have noticed the change in her and guessed the reason for it because he immediately pulled her off the bed before pulling her shirt over her head. "No more talking tonight…let's just sleep." After moving the suitcase from the bed, he pulled back the covers. Picking her up, he tucked her in before shutting off the light, shedding his shirt and pants and climbing into bed next to her.

Without hesitation, he pulled her body flush to his, wrapping his body around hers. She thought to make a rude comment about him still being there in the morning but she was too at peace to act on it. And before she could ponder it further, she was asleep.