Chapter 13, I thought should be a little spooky, so here it is. Sorry Ive been busy with work and life, but I'm going to try for a chapter every two weeks now! I think and plan between chapters, and may a night Rhett and I have wrestled with what happened next, and we both agree being caged in a carriage with Scarlett would make some interesting conversation?

They rode in silence in the carriage, Rhett smiled to himself, as Scarlett primly smoothed her hair and straightened her blouse. Her face was red pocked from the frequently occurring blush, and she kept sneaking quick glances at him.

'Damn him', Scarlett smoldered, he knew her weakness, and he used it.

Rhett looked over, and stared directly in her eyes, "You look beautiful, darling."

Scarlett said nothing, and Rhett prepared for the blasting, but it didn't come.

Rhett sat back on the cushioned seats, he was late for his meeting, and she was leaving later than she wanted. This was so different, so much different than the last time he coerced a declaration of agreement to marriage out of her. Rhett had brought her to her knees with kisses, and Scarlett had agreed to a hasty, "Yes", and then he left, but now, she sat across from him, and Rhett waited for her to come to her senses with wrath, but she didn't.

Finally, her voice cracked, "Well, no thanks to you."

Rhett lowered his head, "My apologies, but I was swept off my feet-"

"Rhett, please. It's quite old." the blush crept across her face again.

"It's true, I was taken aback by your- er- declaration."

Scarlett took a deep breath, debating how to react, isn't this what she wanted, she needed to be kind. So, she smiled, "Well, your kisses work on me like a tonic-"

"Scarlett, I'm not naive, and that is quite old, you're southern belle simper."

The smiled wiped off her face, she reached out her hand, and he took it, pulling her next to him on the carriage. They looked into each other's eyes, and they each saw something different.

Scarlett's green eyes were softer, and were filled with need, something her strong jaw and straight shoulders wouldn't allow anybody else to see, unless they really looked in her eyes.

Rhett's dark eyes, looked tired with various lines and gray tinged brows, but his eyes glinted not with mockery, but hope that this could be another chance for them.

Rhett smiled, "I don't think I would dare to kiss you again", and he pecked her on her cheek, over the blush. Scarlett didn't let go of his hand, and she stumbled with sounds, that were words and phrases, she couldn't form.

"Mrs. Butler, tell me, your brash declaration, was it true? Or was it the kisses?"

Scarlett stopped mumbling, and said, "Yes, it's true. It's as true now as the day you left, not giving a damn."

Rhett's eyes hardened, "Don't- it's a day I'd rather forget."

Scarlett looked at this man, who barely an hour ago, had removed her clothing, but refused to have her, and she asked, "And, how do you feel?"

"Scarlett, I didn't because-" Rhett looked at her eyes, that were needy and willful, and said, "I love you, too."

Scarlett's body stiffened as though a bolt of lightening pinned her to her seat, and her mouth opened revealing the perfect symmetry of her lips, and her breath went out, "You do?"

Rhett nodded, "It seems I do."

Her face crinkled into a genuine smile showing her tiny teeth, and reached her eyes making them glow, "I can't- I, well, do you mean it?"

Rhett looked at the girl who looked as though she opened the best Christmas gift in the world, and his face fell, as he realized, this beautiful and charming woman, who he had lusted after and loved, never felt love in her life. She thought she had Ashley's love, but he lusted, and she never loved any man she slept with, and there was little doubt that they truly loved her. Rhett felt pity creeping into his soul, and he shook it off. How could anyone pity Scarlett O'Hara? Rhett sought humor to break the epiphany, "You know, many only find this kind of declarations from lovers, not husbands."

Scarlett's face fell, and then her lips pursed together, all the innocence gone, "Well, you could get something else from lovers, that you won't give me."

Rhett laughed out loud, "Fie, Mrs. Butler."

Scarlett shot him, her familiar irritated look, "It's true."

As the carriage pulled up in front of the store, she stood up to get out and felt Rhett's hand on her waist, knowing her clumsiness, and his mustache tickled her ear, as he whispered, "In due time."

Scarlett stood on the steps and looked over her shoulder, her face was deep red to the hairline, as she smoothed her skirt and entered the store.

The bell above her head tinkled and all eyes turned to her. Hugh came from around the counter and shook her hand, "Good Morning, Mrs. Butler."

Scarlett threw him an answer as she scanned the store, which seemed tidy and filled with early morning shoppers, as she saw the door of her office was open.

"Hugh, is there someone in the office."

Hugh shook his head, "Mr. Wilkes came here looking for you, I told him you'd be coming in today."

"Very well, I'll deal with him and the books, and then I'll take a look around the store."

As Scarlett looked through the dimly lit office, the scrawny man sat in the chair, turned his head at the whiff of lemon verbana, and his face glowed, "Scarlett."

"Ashley, Good morning, what can I do for you?"

Ashley eyes were wet with fresh tears, "I just needed to see you."

Scarlett stood at the door, and smiled, "Would you like some tea?"

Ashley noticed her unwillingness to be alone with him, and conceded, "That would be nice."

"Go down to the hotel, and get a table. I'll be there in about an hour."

Ashley stood and gathered his hat and his ledger,"Very well."

Scarlett watched him close the door, before she went in her office and locked the door. She took a deep breath of the musty air and Ashley's clean soapy smell, and began her inspection of the books.

It was close to two thirty when she walked into the tea room at the National hotel, and Ashley sat there looking as though he was dreaming with his eyes open.

"I'm sorry, I had to finish with Hugh and the store."

"No bother, Scarlett, I've just been sitting here."

Scarlett sat and busied with her tea the waiter had brought as soon as she sat down, and grabbed the biggest slice of coffee cake for her plate, she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

"Well, how are the mills?"

"Fine, in my opinion, but-"

"I'll see the books, and fix them before I leave."

"You're leaving?" his eyes were watery.

"Yes, Rhett and I are taking the children on a trip to New Orleans."

Ashley nodded, "Everything is good for you, then?"

Scarlett's eyes said it all, even though her smile answered, "We are doing fine."

"Scarlett, don't lie."

"Well, we have many things to resolve, but-"

"Resolve?" Ashley's eyes hardened.

"Ashley, dear, he is willing to stay-"

"He, Rhett, who does he think he is? You begging him-"

"Lower your voice, it's none of your business. Our marriage is on better terms than it was a year ago."

Ashley pursed his lips, and shook his head, "Nobody could tell you better, you are so stubborn, Scarlett."

Scarlett's eyes flared, "Yes, I was stubborn, especially when it came to you."

Ashley looked across the table at a hardened woman, even more hardened than after the war, her shell was diamond hard, now. He sighed, "I know better than to fight you."

Scarlett replaced her steaming tea, "You do? Then, let's not fight. Tell me how are you?"

Ashley's eyes had that far off look, "Well, in the matter of the company I keep, better."

Scarlett nodded, "I'm glad. Beau needs you."

"Yes, he does, but what about me? I need someone, too."

"You have India-"

"India is not you. I need you, Scarlett."

"Well, I'm right here, tell me your troubles."

Ashley looked around the throngs of people eating, and talking, "Yes, I have you here, so I may as well tell you, I'm lost, Scarlett."

Scarlett looked at Ashley, and thought of Gerald. Her father had been a shell of himself after her mother passed away. Ashley was not the same "lost" as they had described Gerald, but his eyes had the same far off look.

"Ashley, what can I do? I would do anything to help you, and Beau."

"I don't need money, we are comfortable enough, but I need someone to talk to, you are so strong, and I'm so weak. I've lost my world, I want to see her every night I come home. I feel her in the house and I can't stop dreaming about her."

The tears were now streaming down Ashley's eyes, and Scarlett reached over to take his hand, and he pulled away, "Don't Scarlett. I don't want pity."

"Ashley, You know Melanie is in heaven, where else would a loving, good person be?"

"I think she's here, that she never left."

Scarlett's spine froze, and her face felt drained, "Ashley, that's not right."

"I know it, I can smell her cologne, and her sweet face looks over me as I sleep."

Scarlett crossed herself, "Melanie was buried, and she is at rest with Bonnie."

Ashley smiled, "She could never leave us."

Scarlett wondered if he had went mad, and she sighed, "You need to talk with Father Michael."

"Father Michael doesn't know what I know. I loved Melanie, and it feels like she is a part of my soul, and she never went away."

Scarlett sighed, and said, "I believe that God called Melanie to heaven, she deserved it."

"But, what if she didn't go?"

Scarlett laughed, "Melanie? Say 'no' to God? She never disobeyed anybody, Ashley."

Ashley looked at her, "I knew you wouldn't believe me."

He stood and gathered his hat, "I'll leave the books with you, to check."

"Ashley, you don't need to go-"

"I do, It's late and I wanted to walk Beau home from school, so we could go by the library."

Scarlett nodded and stood bidding him farewell, and sat back to enjoy her cake and tea.

A shadow darkened her table, and as she looked up, Rhett stood standing and smiling, "May I join you, madam?"

Scarlett smiled,"Yes, have a seat."

Her voice was agitated and brusque.

"Dear, is there a problem?"

Scarlett shook her head, "Yes, I saw Ashley, and I think he lost his mind."

Rhett's face tightened and noticed her crinkled forehead,"WHy do you say that?"

Her face lit up and she blurted out, "We need to go see Father Michael, Rhett."