So much could change in six months…

Scarlett pondered this over her morning coffee as she skimmed the newspaper. The same newspaper that employed her. It had become a second home in the past few years. However, starting next week, it was never going to be the same.

Strong arms snaked around her and she gratefully leaned into them. Rhett murmured something into her neck before pressing a gentle kiss to her shoulder.

Scarlett hummed, leaning her head back. "What was that?"

Rhett turned her around on the stool to face him. "You packed?"

Her heart dropped. "Yes."

He glanced at the clock on the wall, "We need to leave in an hour if we don't want to rush through security." His grip on her tightened. "Hmm, what can we do to pass the time?"

Desire pooled in her stomach, even as her heart clenched. She captured his lips fiercely with her own, and he eagerly responded. But just as quickly, she pulled away and walked towards the bedroom. She couldn't kiss him right now. Or be touched by him. Knowing that it wasn't something she could reach for when she wanted it just days from now…

Her throat stiffened and her nose burned. I will not cry. I will not cry. "Scarlett…" Rhett called after her. She could tell, by the tone in his voice, that he knew she was on the verge of tears…again. She shuddered. Oh, how that grated on her! She hated the idea of anyone seeing her cry, especially Rhett.

Especially when they both knew it was because she was lamenting his move to Atlanta.

They had gained a lot in the past six months together. It had been the most beautiful, exciting time of Scarlett's life. That was not to say that they always co-habited well. No. They fought nearly as much as they got along. However, she felt it only added to the charm of being with him. She had come to trust him explicitly. With her secrets. With her life. With her body and mind.

With her heart.

But there would always be a wall of intimacy that she could never overcome. It would always be hard for her to allow him to see just how much she needed him. It wasn't his fault. It had nothing to do with him. It was just in her nature.

Luckily, the last six months had proven a lot to him too and he trusted her as she trusted him. At this point, he understood that he wasn't just a trifle for her. And the knowledge of being wanted had transformed him.

Oh, he wasn't so very different that his infuriating attitude towards everything had changed. No, he was still the same smug, sarcastic, sexy man she had always known him to be. But she understood that this was only the tiniest part of who Rhett really was. He was capable of the most desperate passions, the tenderest advances, the most compassionate phrases. He could exhibit unrestrained virility one moment, while in the next, temper his powerful presence with a gentility his frame didn't seem capable of. He was much deeper than Scarlett—and most people that knew him—had given him credit for. It gave him a vulnerability in her eyes, of which she doubted he was aware, that made her protective of him.

He was very giving in their relationship. Physically, yes. Oh, yes. But also emotionally. And so often the two converged for the two of them. She needed his affection. His touch. And she only had it for the next 48 hours.

She sunk down on the bed and placed her head in her hands when she realized that she wasn't going to be able to keep the tears at bay. She released a sob and gave into the torrent.

She knew he heard it too because she heard him immediately advance into the room and in moments, she was buried in his chest.

"Scarlett, my baby, why are you doing this to yourself? To me?" He asked, gentle laughter in his voice. He softly caressed her scalp. "You don't have to stay in New York. You can live with me while you find something in Atlanta. How is it any different then what we are doing now?" Rhett was referring to their current living situation, of course. His house had sold only months after putting it on the market. He had thought about moving into an apartment or living out of a hotel for his remaining time in New York, but Scarlett had suggested he move in with her. We usually end up staying the night together, so what is the difference? Rhett had no objections…

Rhett continued. "I don't understand why you are insisting—"

"I am not going to move back to Atlanta solely because you made the decision to move there." She sniffed. "My life doesn't revolve around you, you know? I have a life here. A career. I am not one of those women whose life is dictated by a man's choices."

Rhett sighed. "I understand that. I even admire that about you. I don't expect you to drop everything and move to Atlanta. And that isn't selflessness talking, because we both know I don't have that in me." She could hear the smile in his voice as he continued. "I would just as soon carry you out of this apartment over my shoulder, beating my chest and grunting. I would even do it in a loin cloth, if I thought it would convince you." He smirked, his eyes full of mischief. She had made the mistake of telling him about her "loin cloth fantasy" one night during one of their post coital conversations…

"I just…" She wanted to ask him, again, why he was doing this? Why was he moving to Atlanta? But she wouldn't. It was unfair to feel that way. How could she expect him to change his plans and ambitions for her when she wasn't willing to do the same?

Well, that wasn't necessarily true, and she knew it. She knew it was more about her pride than anything. She didn't want to follow him around the world, like a stray dog. She wasn't going to move to Atlanta and live off her boyfriend while she tried to find a job. Thank you, no. She had a little more dignity than that. She also didn't want to look for a job in Atlanta solely for a man, even if it was Rhett. She knew that she could find work in Atlanta, eventually. She could continue her career there. It just felt weird and wrong to make a decision like that based off of where your boyfriend, however serious he may be, was moving. I mean, people have long-distance relationships all the time…

Right?

Scarlett choked back tears again. "I just—I don't know." She pulled away from him, her head lowered in her hands.

"Scarlett, look at me." She looked up. "Your decisions are your decisions. I want you to make them yourself, for yourself, and thrive. But," He took her hand in his. "I want you to understand something." He paused, his brow furrowed. She could tell he was wrestling with what he wanted to say and what he should say. She had become familiar with many of his expressions.

"Just say it, Rhett." She said, exasperated.

His eyes darkened. He rose from the bed, slamming his balled fists into his jean pockets as if straining from his own impotence. "Your decisions affect more than just yourself. They affect me too. Do you think I like that you have decided to stay here? Do you think I enjoy pretending that I am ok with it? Damn it, Scarlett! Damn you, and your foolish pride!" He turned from her, running a hand through his purposefully messy hair, before facing her again. He was intent and brimming with frustration. "You know I love you. I don't want you to stay here. I want you to move to Atlanta with me. Why are you being so damned pig-headed?"

She gawked. "And to think, it was only a few moments ago that you admired me for my decision making. And don't you dare talk to me about my decisions affecting both of us! You are the one who decided to move to Atlanta! Pot! Meet Kettle!" She screamed that last part, her indignation getting the best of her. "I was forced to make this decision. You forced me to make this decision." She paused, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself.

Rhett had calmed by now, as he often did in the face of her boiling rage. When he spoke his voice was dripping with cruel sarcasm. "Please do continue."

She wanted to claw him. But her rage was quickly giving way to grief and she turned from him just as the tears began to fall again. She heard him take a deep breath before coming up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Baby, it will be fine. I will figure it all out. Come here," He turned her around and pulled her close. He took a shaky breath. "This is…" He trailed off, but not before Scarlett caught the depth of emotion in his voice.

She looked up at him, catching his gaze with her own. "What?" she said, softly.

His eyes penetrated her in that way that left her feeling bare and exposed. "The hardest thing I will ever do is allow you to get on that plane on Sunday."

It might be the hardest thing she would ever do trying to board it…

They didn't speak of any of it again. Neither of them wished to waste the little time they had before being separated.

They arrived in Atlanta midday Saturday and spent the day moving Rhett into his new apartment. Rhett was leasing a fully furnished, high-rise apartment so there wasn't very much to move in and much of it had already been shipped to Atlanta before they had arrived. They visited her Pa, with whom Rhett already had a golf engagement for the weekend after next. Scarlett met with Melanie and they got coffee. They had been calling and texting each other since the wedding and had become quick friends. Scarlett often told Rhett that Melanie was her soulmate. Rhett was kind enough not to mention that Melanie was the same woman that she had attempted to sabotage only months before...

On Sunday evening, Rhett drove her to the airport and held her for a long time before seeing her off. "I'll see you in a month." He whispered into her hair. They had decided that she would fly in once a month. She had no objections to being the only one to travel because it gave her an opportunity to visit Pa. And anyway, she missed Atlanta. It was home.

Especially now that Rhett was there.

The first month went by better than she had expected. Rhett and Scarlett face-timed and skyped often, which was much better than only talking on the phone or texting. Going to work was different, of course. How could it not be? But Rhett's replacement was capable, though not nearly as talented as he was. Richard continuously pointed this out to Scarlett and Scarlett, with her nose up, heartily agreed. No one was as good as Rhett at anything.

By the time she boarded her Friday evening flight to Atlanta for her monthly visit with Rhett, she was desperate to see him. She was going to hold him and kiss him and do naughty things to him… Her fingers twitched at the thought. Her first sight of him was like a punch to the gut.

She ran for him.

She grabbed him and, heedless of all of the travelers surrounding them, she pulled him down and kissed him with all of the passion and longing she had felt in his absence. When it became too much, he pulled away from her, his eyes dark with anticipation. "Scarlett, my baby, if you continue to kiss me like that then I am going to be forced to take you right here among the masses." His voice, so close to her ear, was husky with expectation. She almost believed him as she pressed herself against him further and felt him…awaken.

He had quickly hailed a cab. And, wow, had that ride to his apartment been torture! They spent that night delighting each other, and delighting in each other's presence.

Once again, they visited her Pa on Saturday, after her coffee date with Melanie (which they had decided would be a regular date on her weekends in Atlanta). She learned that her Pa and Rhett were getting along splendidly, even after Rhett had informed Pa that they had broken off their 'engagement' and decided to merely date a bit longer before making such a commitment. Rhett and Pa had met more than once that month, to play golf or poker. They both seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company. Pa had taken to Rhett. Much like his daughter…

The second month went by much the same. Skyping every evening. Texting throughout the day. And when she visited for her second weekend? Mind-blowing sex… Separation makes the bed grow fonder.

The third month, however, was more difficult. And not just because of the obvious. Rhett wasn't as available. Whereas in the first months, they had been able to skype or chat every night, many nights he was held up at the office. He had spent a week in California and the time difference had made communication for them non-existent. Her only silver lining was her weekend visit. However, because of a spontaneous business trip, they had been forced to cancel.

That was when she had begun actively looking for a job in Atlanta.

She was beyond caring whether she was "one of those women" at this point. She missed Rhett. Dreadfully. She didn't doubt that he still loved her. She could hear the ache in his voice every time he said goodbye. And she loved him. But circumstances, she feared, were going to drive them apart. And she could never let that happen.

She couldn't live without him anymore.

But, despite her initial reasoning, it wasn't a job that brought her to Atlanta permanently. It was a tiny white stick.

With two pink lines.