Wade had spent almost a week at Pitty's house with Beau. Uncle Ashley would come by for breakfast in the morning and eat with the boys, and leave for work. Wade sat quietly observing his uncle as he made pleasantries with the ladies, and doted over Beau, but Wade was not a fool. Uncle Ashley looked tired, and his face was drawn. He always smelled like he was wearing extra scent, what was he covering up?

After four days, Prissy had come on a gray blustery day knocking on the back door at breakfast. Dilcey had came in the dining room and asked Pitty, "Miss Pitty, Mrs. Butler sent my Prissy for Wade."

Aunt Pitty pouted, "Oh, No, tell Scarlett we have plans for today, the boys are going to help me with my new picture viewer! He'll come home tonight."

Ashley put his coffee cup down, "AUntie, I think Beau needs to come home, too. I'll bring them both home after work this afternoon."

Pitty pouted, but India nodded, it was time. The boys were well behaved, but Pitty needed some rest, so she relented, "Alright, Tell Scarlett Wade will be home tonight."

Wade liked being with Beau and Pitty, but he had hoped his mother sent for him because Uncle Rhett was back.

Prissy hurried home in the chilly wind to find Scarlett calling her to the parlor where she sat with Ella on the sofa finishing her coffee. Ella was dressed in her coat, hat and muff with her tights and heavy boots on her feet.

"Prissy, Is Wade with you?"

"No, ma'am. Miss Pitty say, they got plans for the day, but he be home in the afternoon."

Scarlett sighed, four days alone with Ella was about all she could take. Ella was fidgety and couldn't keep her mind on the same subject, even when playing. Scarlett had tried to read a book to her, and Ella prattled on about nonsense, and she had given up.

"Prissy, I need you to take Miss Ella out today. You can take her to town."

"Miss Scarlett, its dreadful cold out there, can't we wait til the sun come back out?"

"Ella has been in this house with me for four days! Very well, either she goes out or I go out?"

Ella tapped her mother's arm, "I want to go to the park." she whispered.

"It might be too cold for the park today, Ella. How about Prissy and you go buy some candy and maybe some material and we can make curtains for your dollhouse?"

Ella started to whine, "I'm tired of that old house, I miss Wade, I want to go play at the park with him and Beau!"

"Ella Lorena! Stop it now! Wade will be home later."

Prissy was trying to get out the door when Mammy appeared, and looking at Scarlett's face, she asked, "Master Wade ain't back yet?"

"No." answered Scarlett.

"Well, Miss Ella, take off that coat and hat, and come with me in the kitchen. We can make some cookies for Master Wade, when he come back."

Scarlett helped Ella off with her clothes and smiled at Mammy, "Thank you, Mammy."

"Don't you worry Miss Scarlett, I keep Miss Ella busy with me. Why don't you go out and get some air today?"

"I will Mammy, I surely will."

Scarlett had bundled up, and had Pork bring the carriage around front, she was going to the cemetery. She wanted to visit Bonnie and Melanie and the walk around would do her good. It was mid afternoon when Scarlett had arrived at the cemetery, and she stayed until the sun was just about to set in the winter sky.

Aunt Pitty kissed Wade's cheek and sent him home with a bag full of candy to share with his sister. Ashley waited at the door for Wade to join him. Beau was finishing a drawing, and was going to have supper with his father and AUnts, after Wade was safely home.

The pair had gotten to the foot of the hill on Peachtree Street, when Wade spoke up.

"Uncle Ashley, can we stop?"

Ashley stopped and looked at the boy next to him, and Wade's soft brown eyes had a flicker of a flame, he had seen before, his mind was thinking.

"Yes, Wade. What is it?"

"WHat is wrong with you?"

"Wade? Is that anyway to talk-"

"I'm asking you, as a gentleman who is concerned with you."

Ashley could almost hear Scarlett in his voice, "You are concerned?"

"Yes, I see your eyes look tired and you are not well."

"Wade, I have been through a lot of pain this year, with- your Aunt passing."

"I know, but you were not sick like this then, when you were trying to see Mother."

"Wade, that is adult business-"

"No, it's my business, I'm the man in the house- Why did you write my mother a letter?"

"Wade, do you want me to talk to your Mother about you? She would not be happy-"

"My Uncle Rhett is working, he's coming back, he wrote me. WHy do you need to see my mother?"

Ashley could see Wade's resolve breaking down, and he put his hand on his shoulder, "Son, I hope he does. And as a gentleman that keeps his word, I'm sure he will."

"What business do you have with me Mother, then?"

"Wade-"

"I want to know, as a gentleman, you should have the courtesy to answer my question."

Ashley sighed, "Wade, I am very sad, and your mother was such a close friend, sister almost to your Aunt, I just want to talk with her so I can feel better."

Wade gaped at Ashley, for he had never known his mother to be a soothing person to anyone, he wondered what Uncle Ashley meant. Wade nodded, as he took in this information, and starting walking up the hill.

As the two walked up the steps, Wade turned to Ashley, and cleared his throat, "Uncle Ashley, I will tell you what my mother would say to you, 'You need to be a man, and stop sniffling.' I have heard it many times before and I'm a boy, so she would tell you the same thing, you being a man."

Pork opened the door to welcome Wade home, and AShley could see the house was darkened. The sun had started to set, and Scarlett had not been home yet to turn on any lights.

Ashley turned his back on the door and started his descent down the hill. He couldn't help, but shake his head to see how much of Scarlett's tenacity Wade had, there surely was something to say about nature versus nurture.

On a boat, docking in Savannah, Rhett Butler gathered his valise. The sky in Savannah was sunny, and the red and orange streaks of sunset lit up the evening sky. Rhett looked forward to laying in a crisp white hotel sheet with a brandy and get a good night's sleep. He was still on the fence about Scarlett, a few months ago he was ready to leave her forever, but a week into it, he missed her. He had wanted to stay away, but now he need to see her, hear her voice and be near her. Rhett was angry with himself, he was poisoned, after all she had treated him like a leper, now she decided she loved him, let's see how long this lasted.

Rhett worried about Ella and Wade, he hoped Scarlett wasn't being harsh with them, or totally ignoring them. WIthout Melly there, he wondered who would show the children affection and love, now. Scarlett had tried, but the children were guarded around her, and that bridge gap had gotten wider with the years.

Rhett smiled, thinking how surprised the children were by the gifts he sent to Pitty's, and he wondered what Scarlett thought of his small bobble he gave to her, wished to see her face she opened it. He chuckled to himself, hoping she had gotten his private joke, and anticipating the fiery reaction she would have elicited, especially how Pitty and Ashley would have taken it.

Back in Atlanta, he would get his wish because Scarlett had put the gift in her vanity drawer, and closed it. Waiting until tomorrow to open it, but trying to entertain Ella, finish up the books for the store, and dealing with her problems, she had forgotten about it.

Scarlett had arrived home, just as the final twilight darkness fell across the house, and she barked for Pork to put on the gaslights, as she hauled the ledger into the library and placed it on the table. Scarlett heard sniffling from the leather wingback chair, and could see her son's pale face in the dark. She turned on the pot bellied lamp on the table, and shot irritated eyes at this boy that was so much like Charles.

"Wade, what is the matter? Stop all that crying, my goodness, you are almost thirteen years old!"

The strong, in control boy who had argued with Ashley WIlkes, had crumbled alone in the dark, like his mother would. Wade wiped his eyes and went over to his Mother giving her a hug.

Scarlett placed her hands on Wade's shoulders and rested her head on top of his head, they stood there in silence, as Wade let out his tears and sobs on his Mother's chest.

Wade sniffled again, and then composed himself, "Mother? I miss them, all of them."

Scarlett nodded, the lump in her throat growing, "I do, too."

"I'm never going to see Aunt Melly or Bonnie again."

"I know, dear, but that is just what happened. Bonnie had an accident, and AUnt Melly got sick." Scarlett was spent on tears, she had shed too many already this afternoon, and her eyes and emotions were dry.

"But, Uncle Rhett, he could come see us, if he wanted, and he doesn't."

Scarlett took a sigh, her son's wisdom was ages old for his heart, "He is working."

"I know you say that, but why? Why does he have to work away from us?" Wade pulled away, and his voice was filled with venom, as he walked over and looked out the window.

"Wade, it's only a few more days until January, and then he will be back."

"For how long?"

Scarlett was at a lost for words, then she said, "I don't know, besides it's adult's business."

Wade's eyes narrowed and he turned, his voice was low, "You know."

"I don't know what your Uncle has planned, he didn't write me."

"You know you could make him stay, if you wanted him, too."

"Wade, don't you dare say such things to me-"

"I don't have to tell you because you know in your heart, I hate being back in this place!" Wade yelled as he ran from the Library and up the stairs to his room, Scarlett winced as the door slammed, and her hand itched with a need to slap her son's face.

Instead, she punched the ledger on the table and muttered, "Damn you, Rhett Butler!" The love that would surface in the cold, dark night in her lonely bed, was replaced with momentary irritation and a need to curse this man who had brought so much pain and frustration to her life since that day at Twelve Oaks when he laid dark, sardonic eyes on her.