I decided to develop the Ashley/ ghost storyline after they return from NOLA, so here they are the Butlers, off to NOLA ( my beloved home) for a family vacation!

Laissez, Les bons temps, roulez!

Scarlett sat back up against the velvet cushion on the train, Wade sat next to her quietly lost in a novel, and Rhett talked with Ella in hushed voices as they watched the porters lug valises through the station through the window. Ella's high pitched voice was difficult to tune out, and Scarlett relaxed and accomplished for the first time in weeks.

Before she left, Scarlett had set up Father Michael to pay a visit to the Wilkes' house, against Rhett's protests that they were indeed not Catholic, Scarlett assured him, Father Michael had said it was fine, he was inquiring about Melanie's family, she had put forth much time in the hospital during the war. Scarlett had set up piano lessons for Beau, after talking with Father Michael's housekeeper, she had a daughter who was looking for new students. Also, Pitty Pat and India had been sent a box full of delicacies and toilet items from the store.

Rhett had chuckled, "I think, it's guilt."

"No, it's setting them up, so they don't bother me!" she had snapped which sent Rhett into a roar of laughter, all over again.

Now, on the train on an unusually warm spring day, Scarlett was content, and she looked forward to time with her husband, even though, his actions were that of a monk, well a drunk monk, he had never attempted to breach the the threshold of her bedroom, yet.

Ella busied herself with her doll's dress, and Rhett's big foot tapped Scarlett's toe, and her eyes popped open, he asked, "Tired, dear?"

"Relaxing, Rhett, for the first time in a long time, I have very little to do."

Rhett chuckled, "It's your own fault, you find too many things to concern yourself."

Wade looked up from his book, watching the conversation, Scarlett didn't answer, but sighed, "Yes, it's my fault, I suppose that I can take care of myself and everybody else."

"Uncle Rhett, will we see pirates in New Orleans?"

"Wade, they are pretty well hidden. If they came out too often, people would try to get their hands on their gold."

Scarlett snorted with a half smile, just as the train started to pull away.

It was dark when the Butler family reached their riverboat to take them into the deep south, it was as though the warm day in Atlanta, turned into quite a stiffling humid evening at the boat. Wade fooled with his collar that was tight and itchy, and Ella's face was red and curls were damp. Scarlett could feel the perspiration seeping down her body under her clothing. Mammy puffed next to her on the dock, "It sure is hot, Miz Scarlett."

"I know, Mammy." Scarlett snapped between her teeth, as Ella started whining for ice cream from a vendor she spied. Rhett took her hand, and returned with five vanilla cones, that were dripping as he handed them off.

Once in their staterooms, Mammy helped Ella into her thinnest cotton slip, and pulled the child's damp sweaty hair on top of her head in a bun. The little girl yawned as she flopped onto of her blanket in her bed. Wade had stripped down to his coolest pajamas, and was stretched out on the divan trying to catch the cool breeze through the porthole. Mammy watched as the children drifted off to sleep before she had closed down the lights.

In the adjoining staterooms, Scarlett had pulled off most of her traveling suit, and sat at her vanity, in her corset and pantaloons, brushing her hair, preparing to pull it up to catch the cool breeze on her neck. Instead the door opened, and Rhett stood in the doorway in a silken blue dressing gown, the smell of his spiced soap and humidity stung Scarlett's nose, as she turned to look at him.

He closed the door and walked in, "Mammy is exhausted and hot, I'm so sorry the humidity came so early this spring."

Scarlett placed her hairbrush down, and stood up, "You have no control over the weather, Rhett, even if you think you are God."

Rhett laughed as he unlaced her corset, "Blasphemous, woman. I don't think I'm God, although, if I was, I would have been kinder, to us."

His voice was flat and dulled, and Scarlett stiffened at the last two words. Her Corset fell away, as she stepped out covered by her chemise, and returning to pin up her hair. Her face was flushed, and Rhett could smell the mix of sweat and perfume on her corset.

"Open my window, Rhett, I can barely breathe in here, I don't know how I'll sleep."

Rhett opened the window, and called over his shoulder, "You could remove all of your clothing, it helps."

Scarlett blushed and said nothing. She was such a prude, after married to this man, who had taken her on their wedding night, after disrobing her naked, she still had reservations about Rhett seeing her naked.

Rhett stood by the door, "Of course, please do it after I leave", and he turned hand on the door.

"Rhett?" it was almost a whisper.

"Yes?"

"Is that, is that how you sleep, here?"

Rhett pulled up the dressing robe to his thigh, "Actually, that is my state, right now."

Scarlett's flushed face went crimson, and she pursed her lips, unsure what to say, but an "Oh?" gasped out her mouth.

Rhett smiled, "Decorum is lost, when the heat of hell is upon on us, dear."

Scarlett gratefully sighed as a breeze wafted through the room, and brushed up against her neck, as the crimson slowly disappeared from her face, neck and bosom.

"Is that all you need, Scarlett, shall I leave."

Scarlett bit her lip, "You, you don't have to leave, I'm not going to sleep, if you want to stay and talk."

Rhett chuckled, "That sounds like quite an invitation, shall I get us some drinks?"

"Yes, yes, Rhett, that would be delightful, something cool."

As Rhett closed the door, Scarlett scurried behind the oriental screen, and pulled off her pantalons, exposing her legs, she stood in the full length mirror, in her silk chemise, with the rise of her breasts showing pink hues through the ivory fabric, and the lace from the edge of her drawers yellowed against her pasty, plump thigh. She padded back, and sat on the divan across from her window, beaconing another breeze.

When the door opened, Rhett stood carrying a tray with a bottle of water, two glasses and a bottle of brandy. He smiled when he saw Scarlett's iridescent against the dark green divan, and placed the tray down on the table before her, and took his place next to her on the divan.

He smirked, "I'm glad to see you attempted to get comfortable."

"It's better with the window opened."

"We need a good spring rain, then the weather will get cool again. Believe it or not, its much hotter in the summer."

Scarlett took the glass of water, and gulped it, her mouth was dry. Rhett slowly sipped his brandy, and smirked, "Slow down, or you'll burp."

Scarlett poured another, "I don't care." she stuck her tongue out at him.

"I guess, you should be able to burp in front of me."

AFter her second glass, Scarlett used the condensation on the glass and rubbed it against her forehead, and sat back against the divan, relaxed and cooled.

"So, Rhett, we should be in New Orleans, tomorrow night?"

"Probably the following night, we have stops to make, and cargo to pick up."

"Oh, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

"Well, the children would love to see the River, and the old houses along the way, and tomorrow night, you and I have dinner with the Captain."

"Oh?"

"I'm sure you brought a beautiful dress,"

"Yes, I just hope its not too hot."

"No, I think we will get rain during the night, and then it should cool off."

Scarlett reached for the brandy, and poured, taking a swallow leaving a trace of the amber liquid in the glass. Rhett poured them both another, smirking at her, watching her green eyes flare as the brandy invaded her throat and chest.

She laid her head against the back of the divan and stretched her bare legs and feet out, and her arms above her head, "I think, I'm finally comfortable."

Rhett watched the rise and fall of her breast under the chemise, and he was roused, and had a sudden need to touch her, feel her body against his, and he crossed his legs and rearranged his robe. Scarlett looked over, and said drowsily, "How are you feeling, Rhett?"

"Fine, the breeze is picking up," his face was bland and still, with no trace of sarcasm or smile, he was serious.

The sweat gathered on his forehead next to his hairline, and he felt the perspiration building under his robe, he wanted to bolt out the room, but he didn't want to disturb the revery and he wanted to be near Scarlett, so he swallowed the brandy straight, and grimaced as it caught in his chest.

Scarlett finished her brandy as well, and smiled at him as he sat quietly next to her, she giggled, "Cat got your tongue, Rhett?" his name rolled off her lips, lips he wanted to feel on his, and her green eyes turned up, just like a damn cat's enticing him, beaconing him to her, damn he hated that she had this power over him, and as she reached to pour her a third brandy, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her to him, kissing her as he towered over her, laying her underneath him flat on the divan. She gasped in surprise, but did not fight him, instead her arms encircled his shoulders pulling the robe down his body as he loosened the belt. His tanned, naked body covered hers, as he searched under her chemise for her breasts he had noticed, and felt the warmed skin next to his sweaty palms, as she arched her back pressing her breasts into his hands, he kissed her damp sweaty neck, and she let out a moan, the firmness next to her belly, portended a union, one that she had wanted for months now, suddening fear gripped her, and gooseflesh covered her arms and legs, as the silken clothing exposed her naked body next to his, Rhett scooped her next to his, and grunted, "I can't."

Scarlett's body stiffened and she looked at his sweaty face, his eyes bright with feverish fascination, "What? Why?"

"Here, on this divan, it's too small."

He lifted her as she gasped with a screech, laughing, and thanking god, he hadn't come to his senses, yet, as he plopped her on the bed, and she welcomed him into her open arms, cradling his hips by her knees. His face was that of a man, meeting his demon, and reveling in it, and he hovered over her, kissing her lips to bruises, and Scarlett's fingers pulled through his hair, without the breeze from the window, the humidity crept hot fingers between their bodies making their skin slippery and hot as Rhett cheek cradled on her shoulder, mixing his sweat with hers, and suddenly he was gone, resting his head on her chest, as she gasped for air through the smothering humidity, and a low rumble of thunder bellowed over head, Rhett sighed.

"Rhett?" Scarlett asked running her hand through his wet hair.

"Scarlett, I can't go any further."

He felt her breath catch in her chest, and her hands fell away, trying to pull herself away from him, "ANd why the hell not?"

This was not the prudish Scarlett, this woman had awaken primal urges and now the tigress was not satisfied, and her careful facade of a lady was broken, "Are you ill?"

"No," Rhett gathered himself and stood up, "This could lead to many consequences-"

"But, you said you loved me!"

"I do, goddamn me, but I do."

"And I love you, so why can't-"

"We can't bring another child into this."

"So? We are just going to deprive ourselves?" her voice was louder, now.

"We did before to prevent children."

"You bastard!" she threw a pillow at him, kneeling on the bed, despite her nakedness.

Rhett wrapped his robe around me, "I love you, darling, good night."

Rhett snuffed out the gaslights, leaving Scarlett naked and wanton in the bed, as the door closed, hot tears ran down her face, and she rested her head on the cool pillow, as the patter of a summer rain, lulled her to sleep through her tears.