Mammy's face was puffed and her eyes were merely slits, "Nawlins' ain't no place for young children, Miz Scarlett!"

"Mammy, Rhett wants to go on a family trip-"

"Well, you his family, he can take you, and I'll stay here with the children."

Scarlett sighed, exasperated, "You go and tell him that, then."

Mammy looked around, "Where is he?"

Scarlett looked over her shoulder and answered in a whisper, "In his bedroom."

Mammy looked at her, "Ain't dis his-"

"Mammy! You can leave, now."

Mammy shook her head, "It ain't fittin'," she mumbled as she hustled out of the room.

Scarlett sat looking into the mirror, as the tears surfaced to the brim of her eyes, it wasn't "fittin" as Mammy had said. Rhett was her husband, and they had seemed to patch things up, he was attentive, he kissed her, and he was trying his hard to be , by her definition, "nice", but he had never broached or tried to make their situation a full marriage. It frustrated Scarlett, but she didn't want to cause any strife in the delicate balance of things, so she kept quiet.

The trip to New Orleans had been planned, and Rhett was going down to the station to telegram the hotel and purchase the tickets for the family trip in 2 weeks. Scarlett was excited to go back to the fun, the food and the shopping. She was also happy to get out of Atlanta, and as much as the children ennerved her, she wanted them to experience and see the beauty of New Orleans, which was so different from the staunchy, stuck up Atlanta they had grew up.

As Scarlett nestled in her bed and crawled under the covers, there was a knock on her door, and the heavy shadow coming from under the door portented it was Rhett.

"Yes?"

"It's Rhett, can I come in?"

"Come in,"

Rhett walked over solemnly with his robe tied around his slender waist, and sat on the edge of her bed, his face looked rather remorseful, "Scarlett-"

"Did you talk to Mammy?"

"Mammy? No, why?"

Scarlett fooled with her sleeves pulling them down, "Never mind, what did you say?"

Rhett eyed her spectatively, "Like I was saying, I'm thinking, maybe we should do somewhere else,"

"Somewhere else? Why?" Scarlett sat up, on the attack.

"Well, you and I have already been to New Orleans-"

"No, I want to go back, please."

"Dear, there are other beautiful places to see in the world."

Scarlett's face fell, and she pouted, "I love New Orleans!"

Rhett chuckled, and his mouth opened and closed, "If I wasn't being "nice" I have a funny retort for your protest."

Scarlett panicked, "Please, don't change our plans."

Rhett chuckled to himself, "Is it really that important to go?"

"Rhett, I want to eat the crawfish and gumbo, and those little pastries-"

Beignets?"

"Yes!" Scarlett's eyes gleamed and the green glowed in the low gaslights.

"Who am I to stand in the way of your appetite? Do I here nothing of the dancing and architecture?"

Scarlett shook her head negative, "I'm hungry, now."

Rhett chuckled and pet her hand, "What did you say about Mammy?"

"Nothing, she doesn't like for us to take the children, she says its dangerous."

Rhett cocked his eyebrow, "I see, and your thoughts?"

"Well, I want them to get out of this stuffy place, and see something with real beauty. I saw lots of children in New Orleans, besides, Mammy is just like Atlanta, so old fashioned."

"And you my dear are enlightened?"

Scarlett looked at him, feeling it was an insult, but not sure, "I like to think so."

Rhett gave a hearty laugh, "Mammy is wise, I'll talk with her. Maybe it's her aversion to drink and gambling."

Scarlett snorted and clasped Rhett's hand around her fingers, "She's just being hateful."

Rhett smirked, "Naw, not her. Mammy is wise, and I will hear her side, but you still want to go?"

"Nowhere, else."

Rhett rose and kissed Scarlett's forehead, wishing her a good night.

As he stepped out into the hallway, he was greeted by Mammy standing at the foot of the stairs, watching down the hallway. Rhett flashed white teeth and nodded.

"Coming down for a drink, Mr. Rhett?"

Rhett pointed to his bedroom, and walked away.

Mammy gave a loud hmmph, and his head flashed to see the disagreeable look on her face.

Rhett made long strides in the hallway and met Mammy at the newell post.

"Scarlett said you wanted to talk to me."

"It ain't fittin' Mr. Rhett, you and Miz Scarlett so happy, but you -" Mammy looked down, "I know it ain't my business."

"You are right, it isn't, but you love Scarlett, so tell me."

"You and her need to be together." Mammy did not meet his eyes.

"Did she tell you that?"

"No, Miz Scarlett ain't one to be ashamed of such things."

Rhett laughed, "I know, but we are happy, the way things are, now. We have to get to know each other again, neither she nor I are ready for that, I like to think, I'm courting her."

Mammy laughed, soft and low, "You been married for six years, and done had children-"

"And she barely knows me, really knows me."

"Miz Scarlett, she isn't that aware of people, she like herself."

"Mammy, you are wise, and that is true. Now what's this about the children not going on our trip."

Mammy fidgeted and smiled, "Well, I was thinking, you might like to be alone, but since you are courting, I guess it would be alright."

"Mammy, I rented the suite, it is like a small house. It has a sitting room and three bedrooms."

Mammy nodded, and she started down the stairs, shaking her head and chuckling.

Rhett moved on to his room, and saw the shadow of billowing night gown, and two feet standing under Scarlett's closed doorway, and smiling her hurried back to his room.

The next morning at breakfast, Rhett sat finishing his coffee alone, as the front door closed and Prissy walked out the door with the children towards school. Scarlett came down the stairs, just as the door was closing, and looked around, "The children left already?"

Rhett nodded, "Yes, Wade wanted to pass by the store, he needed some tablets."

"No doubt he and Ella will pick up some candy, too."

Rhett nodded as he poured Scarlett her coffee, and she sat down with her plate filled with ham, pancakes and eggs.

Scarlett started cutting her food, and eating quietly. Rhett studied her navy striped dress, and figured she was going to make her rounds at the store.

"Going to the store today?"

She swallowed, "It's the end of the month, and I need to see the books, and the reorders. Do you want to come?"

Rhett waved off his hand, "I have a meeting at the bank in the afternoon, but we can ride downtown."

Scarlett nodded, "Fine." between bites.

Rhett drained his cup, and sighed, "I spoke with Mammy last night."

"Did you?"

"Yes, she is agreeable to come to New Orleans with us. She understands it's your favorite city."

Scarlett watched him from underneath her lashes, and said nothing, but ate.

Rhett continued, "Tell, me Scarlett, why is it your favorite city?"

Scarlett finished her mouthful of eggs and spoke, "Well, the food-"

Rhett chuckled, "Besides the food, I could bring you to any city, and you would fall in love with the gluttonous fare."

"I did like the parties, the dancing, and the precious little boutiques."

"I see, do you remember the last time we were there?"

Scarlett looked him in the face now, her green eyes flared like firecrackers, and a blush crept across her nose, and face. Rhett's eyes were steel and dark, and he stared her down, cold and hard, trying to keep his control over her spell.

"Yes, I do." Scarlett finally said, letting her held breath out. SHe placed down her fork, and her breakfast lost it's flavor.

"I do, too. It was our honeymoon." Rhett face was the placid facade he had worn for years of their marriage.

Scarlett became irritated, it was too early in the morning for this conversation, and he was getting ready for a battle, in Scarlett's terms, which meant, he wasn't going to give her her way.

"Rhett, are you going to argue?"

"Why do you say that, dearest?" his face was mocking and sardonic smile flashed.

"Because, your voice is funny, and why do you want to bring up our honeymoon, it's in the past."

"I just don't want you to use this fact to your advantage, to seduce me."

Scarlett gave a laugh, "Seduce you? That's near damn impossible, besides, I told you can come back to our room, and you won't-"

"I told you, we can't do that, it's too reckless."

"Well, don't accuse me of trying to seduce you, you are my husband, and I told you to come back to our room, so I don't have any ideas of seducing you. It's up to you."

Rhett chuckled, to keep from yelling at her, Scarlett was sitting there, thinking she had offered her wifely duty, and now blamed him for the state of their marriage. And, it was his fault, because he didn't want this second chance at marriage to be based on what the first marriage was, lust and physical desires. He wanted to know, when he took his wife to bed, that her heart and soul belonged to him, and he to her, no third parties involved. And, maybe now the ghost of Ashley would not linger, but his narcissistic wife had alot of growing up to do still.

Scarlett fidgeted in her chair, "What's so funny."

"You never change, you haven't listened to anything that I have said."

"I have," Scarlett reached and took his hand, hers was clammy, even though her face was flushed, beet red.

"I don't want you to think, we are living a honeymoon in New Orleans."

"I-I hadn't thought of it at all that way, I mean I hoped, but-"

"You hoped? And give you a chance, your mind will cook up a plan, after I told you-."

"Rhett, you can keep your virtue, I am fine with that, but don't accuse me of planning, anything."

Rhett pursed his lips together, and her nonchalant attitude stirred his jealousy. He stood from his chair, knocking it back, and pulled her to her feet by her arms, and pressed his lips next to hers, searching, and spreading her lips apart as his tongue explored her mouth, her body sank next to his, and her corseted whale bones pressed against his body, as his hands pressed into her back, wishing to tear the cloth to feel the soft, smooth pale skin underneath.

Her hands held on to his shoulders, and his kissed was answered by her lips, and the flame that had been a slow burn was rekindled and grew between them, as Rhett felt his body connect to the deep love in his soul. He broke the kiss, her eyes fluttered open and the feverish green glowed at the swarthy face, speckled with red.

"Do you love me, Scarlett? Rhett voice was husky, and muffled in her ringing ears.

Scarlett nodded.

Rhett shook her roughly, "Say it, damnit!"

Scarlett's head snapped up and she looked into his dark eyes, "I love you, you cad!" she cried as her fists on his broad shoulders, slid down grabbing his lapel as his mouth covered hers again.