Now that I am finished school, I'M the teacher, I plan on devoting more time to GENTLEMEN. Keep the reviews coming, and if you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

As the ground thawed outside the Peachtree mansion, so did the tension in the home. Scarlett got dressed each morning, and joined Rhett and the children for breakfast. Her smile was a little brighter and Rhett's words were a lot kinder. Ella happily accepted the change without question, but Wade noticed the shift in tension, and quietly observed his mother and stepfather formulating ideas in his mind. As he saw Rhett reach across and squeeze Scarlett's hand, and she returned a smile, Wade wondered,'Who are these people?'

Rhett noted the change in Scarlett, and was quite pleased to see her face turned up in a smile, with her glittering green eyes following his every move, and he knew he was the reason for her happiness. Scarlett was pleased with the effort Rhett made, and now she was relaxed, not on edge wondering when the next shoe would fall, and she would find his bags packed and watch his back walk out the door.

Mammy helped all she could to allow the couple time together without distractions from the house, staff or children, and even prepared their favorite foods for dinner, knowing Rhett would be choosing the wine. Mammy silently hoped this reunion would lead to another Butler child or two, but as of yet Scarlett retired to her room alone each night, but Mammy kept her prayers for the both of them, knowing Captain Butler would adore another child, and hoping Scarlett could have another chance at motherhood with a man she truly loved.

Wade noticing Mammy's smiles and excitement at the shift in the house, took his questions to her. It was a warmer than usual February day, that portented the hope of an early spring. Mammy sat on the back porch and shucked green peas singing a hymnal that Wade hadn't heard since toddlerhood, and he came to sit at her feet.

"Watcha doing back here?"

"I'm bored."

Mammy laughed, "Bored? You have more books and toys than any child, why you bored?"

"Mother took Ella to the dress makers, and Uncle Rhett isn't here."

"Well, you can help me if you want, Master Wade."

Wade picked up the shells in his long fingers and clumsily sucked them in the bowl, after dropping more peas than he caught, he stopped and pulled his knees to his chest resting his back up against the pole.

Mammy's smile was broad and sincere, and he saw her lips moving in prayer, so Wade asked, "Why are you happy, Mammy?"

Mammy looked up, and smiled broader, "It's such a beautiful day, and what you want me to be, sad?"

Wade smiled back, "No, I was just wondering. Are you praying?"

Mammy looked into the boy's soft brown eyes, that was framed with soft brown hair, but his nose and his jaw was set, like the O'Hara's, and Mammy knew, he was up to something.

"Yes, I was. I prays all the time for you and your family."

"Why?"

"Lord, everybody needs prayers. Why don't you just ask me, what you want to know?"

Wade's eyes flew open and his mouth dropped, his reaction was Scarlett's, when she was caught, and then his eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips, "Why is mother and Uncle Rhett so happy?"

"You don't like it when they happy?"

"It's not that, it's just, they were so mad, now all of a sudden, they are happy again."

"I specks that is their business. DId you ask your Uncle Rhett?"

Wade was silent, "No, but I guess he isn't leaving if they are holding hands, and so happy."

"I speck he won't," Mammy smirked, at Wade's innocence.

"And Mother is being nicer, to everybody."

"It's about time she was, she needs to be nicer, maybe it cuz she feel love, now that Mister Rhett ain't going."

Wade thought this over and nodded, "Yes, maybe that's why she was so mean."

"Yo' Ma ain't mean, Miz Scarlett just sad, and she ain't one to cry, some people just get mad. Yo' Ma is full of pride, and being mad in her mind is better than being weak, and cry."

Wade sat quietly, he had never heard Mammy defend his mother so feverantly before, and the words made sense to him. Wade stood and brushed off his pants, "I think I'll go see what Beau is doing this afternoon."

Mammy nodded, "If you stays fo' dinner, you thank them."

Wade yelled out over his shoulder, as he was halfway across the yard.

The horse and buggy pulled up to the front door, as Prok opened the door, Ella bounced in the house with a small bag of candy, followed by Scarlett.

"Ella, you can have two candies, after dinner." Scarlett called behind her red haired daughter as she scampered up the stairs, pass Prissy.

Rhett was home, the smell of a fresh cigar burning wafted through the air, and Scarlett noticed the black head sitting on a chair on the back veranda, and she removed her gloves and hat, placing them on a table near the staircase. SHe walked over to the open french doors, and he spoke without looking at her, "Your home, how was the dress makers?"

Scarlett sank in the chair next to his, and sighed, "How I ordered my dresses, I don't know."

Rhett chuckled, "I guess I'll see the bill."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, and met his smiling face, "Ella is out of control, jumping everywhere, even Miss Lotty yelled at her, she wouldn't stand still while she was pinning her dress.."

"If she got stuck with a pin, I bet she would."

"It was all I could do not to slap her," Scarlett brushed hair from her face, "Then, she threw such a fit in the street, I had to get her candy at the store."

Rhett shook his head, "How old is Ella, now?"

"Seven, and I swear she acts like a two year old."

"Scarlett, she is old enough for you to reason with, without resorting to hitting her."

"You think so, then you try and talk with her, she is such a silly child."

Rhett smirked and reached over and held her hand, bringing to his lips and kissing it. His warm mouth on her hand, made her heart beat a little faster, and she smiled at him.

"You look tired, dear."

"I am tired, i just want to have dinner, and take a nap."

"You're not ill?"

"No, Rhett, but I could use a nap after the stressful morning with Ella."

"Was the store fine?"

"Yes, they asked where had I been, I hadn't been in the store in a week."

"Is that so?" Rhett had noticed, she hadn't rushed off in a week, but never mentioned it, not wanting to panic her.

"Yes, and it seemed that everything was in order, except of course they didn't set up the new items, but I did that before I came home."

"I may go into town, after dinner, since you are going to nap."

"Oh?"

"No objections, I hope?"

"No, it's just, are you going to be home for supper?"

Rhett smirked again and kissed her cheek as he stood, "Yes, I am, well before supper."

Scarlett allowed Rhett to lead her into the dining room with for dinner, as Ella came running in, then slowed down as she saw Scarlett staring at her. She ran over to her chair next to Rhett's and sat down quietly.

"Master Wade, he went to Miss Pitty's and I speck he's eatin' with Beau." Mammy announced as she brought in the trays of food, and Scarlett felt her stomach growl.

"I'll pass over there, and pick Wade up on my way home this afternoon." Rhett nodded at Scarlett.

"Wade's not here?" Ella wailed, "No, I want to play with Beau, too."

"Hush," Scarlett hissed between teeth, "Stop acting like a spoiled brat."

Ella bit her lip, and tears filled her round eyes.

Scarlet rubbed her temples feeling a headache emerging, just as Ella whimpered to hold back her crying. Rhett looked from mother to daughter, and saw they were both at their breaking points, and he intervened, "Ella, why do you want to play with Beau?"

Scarlett ignored the conversation, and busied herself with taking her food.

Ella's tears were diverted with the question, "Because Wade is there, and I'm here alone. I don't have anybody to play with today."

Rhett laughed, "You don't need anybody to play with, you have a room full of dolls, books, tea sets."

"But that's not fun. I want to play hoops with Wade and Beau."

Rhett took her little hand in his, and smiled, coddling her temper, like he did Scarlett, "Those boys, they are so rough and wild, and you are a little princess. You don't want to get your dress dirty-"

"I wear my old ones to play outside," Ella offered.

"Well, you stay in the house and play with your dolls, and when I get home with Wade, we'll go and play on the third floor. Does that sound good?"

Ella considered it, and she was disappointed, "But, I have to be here all day?"

"How about you take your paint set, and your old dress, and you can go make a beautiful painting on the veranda, and you can show us when you get home, and when we go on the third floor, you can pick the game."

Ella clapped her hands,"COwboys and Indians!"

Scarlett cut in, "Rhett, get your food, it's getting cold, you too, Ella."

Ella sat back and waited as Mammy poured her dinner in her plate, and smiled as she dug in.

Rhett stirred his noodles and placed his hand on Scarlett's knee, "You see, you can talk to her."

Scarlett swallowed her food quickly, "Yes, you gave her what she wanted."

"She didn't have a tantrum."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, and watched as Ella smirked at Rhett, with adoring eyes.

The pang hit her, Scarlett knew Rhett missed his Bonnie, and she did, too. If Rhett would stop his self-imposed celibacy, they could have a beautiful baby by the end of the year, but he had been loving and respectful, and not his usual ardent self, Scarlett felt like it would be years, before she would welcome another baby, if she still could.

Rhett finished his dinner first, and stood placing his napkin on his chair, and gave Scarlett a peck on the cheek, and whispered in her ear, "Ill be home before dark."

As he passed Ella he flipped her ribbon on the end of her braid. Scarlett looked over at Ella as she nursed the last of her milk, and said, "You are excused, run along. Mother needs a rest."

Ella scooted off her chair and headed up the stairs with Mammy. Scarlett sat at the table, and finished her coffee, as Mammy came in to clear the dishes. Mammy looked over at Scarlett and saw her face was worried and pale.

"Are you sick?"

Scarlett didn't answer as she was studying her coffee, "No, Mammy, I need a rest. Ella was terrible at the dressmakers, and I have a headache."

Mammy looked at her, "Oh, you should have taken Prissy with you."

"No, Prissy couldn't have helped, Ella had to be measured and pinned, and she was awful. I'm going to lay down."

"I'll be up to help you undress."

"No, need. I'm just going to lay on the chaise, and take off my jacket."

Mammy nodded, "Yes ma'am. Do you need a doctor?"

"No, I don't, I need a few hours away from Ella."

Scarlett made it up the stairs, and opened the windows inviting the cool air in her heavy room, and stretched out on the chaise lounger welcoming the sleep that overtook her. The house was so quiet, that Scarlett's cat nap, turned into hours, and she was awoken by the smell of chocolates under her nose, wrapped in a beautiful white and lavender box. As she slowly sat up, Rhett's heavy weight nudged against her legs as he sat next to her.

"Good Morning."

"What time is it?"

"Nearly six, I came in here twice to find you snoring."

"Goodness, I must have slept three hours."

"I guess the early morning breakfasts have caught up with you."

Scarlett smirked, "You do eat, quite early."

"Scarlett, don't kill yourself. Sleep later, if you want, I'll be here."

Wanting to change the subject, "Are these the pralines?"

"Yes, I got you some candy when I was in town."

Scarlett had popped one in her mouth as he explained, and offered him one, which he declined, Scarlett could not imagine how he had such will power, as she ate a second and a third.

"Watch out there are only six in the box, and it was the last box."

Scarlett slapped his hand away, as he tried to take away her box, "Fiddle dee dee." she smiled playfully.

Rhett's hand caressed her cheek and pulled her into a kiss with his strong lips and tongue exploring her mouth. Scarlett complied and raised up on her knees allowing the box to tumble to the floor and the bon bons rolled under the chaise. With her hands resting on his shoulders, she urged closer to him, and it was he who broke the kiss, licking his lips.

"Those are delicious, perhaps I will have one."

Scarlett reddened as she felt the chocolate dribble of the kiss on her chin and she licked it away, sitting back down, and feeling around for her chocolates. Rhett swiftly placed the empty box on her lap, and tossed up the three bon bons from the floor into her lap. Scarlett busied herself with placing them back in the box, and gleamed a playful smile at him, "Was that sweet enough for you?"

Rhett chuckled, "You are always sweet."

Scarlett humphed, "Yes, and quite patient."

Rhett knew what she meant, but ignored it, "Do you want to know why I went to town, on a Saturday?"

Scarlett laid back on the chaise and moved her legs to invite him to take his seat, which he did, and took her feet in his lap rubbing them.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Yes, I am. We are going on a trip."

Scarlett sat up and looked at his bland face, his poker face, "You and me?"

"Well, it's not me and Mammy."

Scarlett bursted out in laughter and smirked, "And what about Wade and Ella?"

"You want them to go?"

Scarlett considered it, "Well, with all that has happened, I can't ask India-"

"I know, so I think it would be good for them to come, provided Mammy joined us."

Scarlett clapped her hands, "Yes, oh, Rhett where are we going?"

"I thought we would go back to New Orleans, it is beautiful this time of year."

Scarlett's mouth watered, just thinking about the food, the wine and the fine hotel, and shopping. Her eyes gleamed the brightest emerald in the gas light, and she nodded, "I would love to go, when do we leave."

"Well, I got the train times and dates, so we can look at it tonight."

Scarlett draped her arms around his neck this time, and kissed him on his lips, it was a light feathery kiss, and her scent barely hit his nostrils before she was gone. He placed his arms at her waist, and smirked, "Is that a thank you kiss?"

Scarlett nodded, and then scowled, "Yes, that is all you get."

"Tease!" he shouted and pulled her close devouring her mouth in his, tasting chocolate, and smelling the familiar scent of his wife.