The sun danced through the slits of the heavy velvet curtains of her suite. Scarlett rolled over and pulled the blanket higher, finding her shoulder freezing. Through the slits of her sleepy eyes, she squinted looking around the room, her tray sat next to her bed with fresh toast and jelly, and strong steaming coffee. Burying herself under the heavy blanket, she felt the flimsy material of her chemise and her drawers, then last night came back to her.

'But, how did I get in my bed?' she gasped sitting up.

The dimly lit room swirled as her head started to throb, then she remembered Arnaud's and the double cognacs, her stomach felt full and tight. Scarlett slowly laid back down, and sighed trying to settle her stomach. Rhett was nowhere to be found, and the suite was otherwise quiet, not a sound from the children or Mammy. Scarlett glanced at the clock, it was nearly eleven, an hour past Scarlett's usual time to rise.

The door quietly opened and a dark shadow stood in the doorway holding his hand on the door, " Scarlett, are you awake, yet?"

"Yes, I have a bit of a headache."

The low chuckle came closer, "I imagine you do, can I get you anything?"

Scarlett looked at the breakfast tray, "Maybe some water, for now."

Rhett nodded and was gone, Scarlett's face went hot, 'Why was he here? Where was Mammy? SHe felt like she was going to be sick.'

Scarlett shakingly stood and grasped the night stand before sprinting across the room to the toilet, and closed the door. The bathroom swirled, and her stomach lurched, and sweat broke out across her forehead, and she knelt down, and vomited as quietly as she could, then it came out in wrenches. Hot tears ran down her face, as the burning contents of her stomach burned her nose and throat.

The door shook, and Rhett called, "Scarlett, are you okay?"

WHen it was over, her voice was weak and hoarse, "Go away, I'm fine."

As she pulled the handle, and wiped her face with her clammy hand, she opened the door, unaware of the stench, Rhett stood there, holding the water with his face pinched together.

Scarlett's face was red and splotched, and she casted her eyes down, "Where's Mammy?"

"I sent her out with the children, so you could sleep. I didn't know you were going to be sick." his voice sounded far away and small. Scarlett took the glass of water and sipped it, it burned her raw throat going down. She found herself sitting in the first chair she found, and it was hard on her back. Rhett lifted her chin, "Do you need a doctor?"

Scarlett shook her head, "I feel better, now."

"I'll see if I can get some ice for your head," Rhett said over his shoulder as he left.

Scarlett laid back in the chair and closed her eyes, flashes of last night came back, the food made her stomach lurch, and the drinking, she shook her head.

Rhett returned with a towel and a bowl of ice, he led her to the bed, and handed her the parcel of ice and she put it over her forehead and eyes, and she laid there silent. Rhett tried to pull up the blankets and her foot nearly hit his face, "No, I'm hot!" she spat out irritated," Rhett, you are like an old mother hen, leave me alone."

Rhett smiled, he had seen hangovers before, but never dreamed he would see Scarlett, and his voice got mocking, as he said, "My pet, You have learned a valuable lesson, don't mix liquor and wine, stick with one poison."

Scarlett didn't answer him, but he saw her mouth frown under the ice bag on her face. Rhett sat in the chair, and asked, "Do you need to run your errands this morning? Is there anything I can do?"

Scarlett slowly removed the ice bag, and her eyes shot around, her errand?

Then, the slow realization came to her, "Oh, no Rhett, it is nothing. I can do it tomorrow."

"You said it was a surprise? Do I assume it was for me or the children?"

Scarlett replaced the ice over her face as it crimsoned, "I-I can do it later."

"Very well, Oh, I saw your friend Celestine is it?"

Scarlett's head traced his words, "My friend?"

"The one you met in the bathroom, Celestine Morceau, her family are the famous Peychauds."

"Yes, she mentioned -"

"They own a pharmacy, not far from the hotel."

"Oh?" Scarlett tried to sound surprised.

"Yes, I've been there before, can I get you anything for your stomach, maybe some bitters?"

"No, I don't want anything. The water is fine, and I'm starting to feel better."

"Is the surprise coming from the pharmacy, Scarlett?"

"Rhett, I need to rest, please, leave me be-"

"I suppose I should, but answer my question, first."

"I don't want to argue, I'm si-i-ick."

"Answer!" Rhett's voice commanded her.

"Yes, dammit!" her head echoed pain as she swore.

"Scarlett, I don't want you doing anything foolish to impress me."

"Foolish, like what?"

"Herbs, teas to drink-"

"It wasn't for me, it was for you."

Rhett met her eyes, seeing her sit up in dim lighted room, her eyes glowed green in the afternoon sun coming through the windows, "YOu mean sheaths?"

His voice seemed louder and direct, and his mouth caught in a half smile, her ears burned at the casual way he used the word, as though he knew about them for years, and her ears just learned about them last night.

Her mouth made an "O", and then she whispered, "Yes."

"Scarlett? Gentlemen use those with whores, but not their wives."

Her face turned redder, and she felt sick again, "But- Celestine-"

"Celestine is trying to get business for her brother, and don't forget New Orleans is a bit more forward than other cities."

Scarlett thought about this, and snapped, laying back down, "Well, I'm not like the people in Atlanta, I'm beginning to understand that is my problem, and I don't mind them, if they help."

"Help?" laughed Rhett, "You mean, give you what you want?"

"Help," stated Scarlett, "Help you and me, be together, without any problems that you see."

"You mean children, start talking directly, Scarlett of New Orleans."

"Well, you don't want children, it's not me."

Rhett sat and stared at her body laid out on the bed, and her voice was shallow talking through the ice bag on her head, his beautiful wife, sick from a gluttonous and drunken night, she wanted everything, and anything, which was not good for her.

"I just don't want to be hurt, or hurt anyone else. It's barely been a year, since you-"

"I know, and I say that I am fine." Scarlett sniffled, "I miss her, so much."

Rhett's sigh filled the room, "I do, too, but-"

"But, are you saying, you can't use the 'things'."

""Sheaths!" Rhett said loudly, watching her unconsciously pressing her thighs together, it made him want to laugh at her hypocrisy of primness, "Scarlett, talking about these matters, does nothing to make them exciting, only quite methodical.

Her low snore was her answer to his statement, and he quietly left the room, Scarlett needed to sleep off her drunken night.

It was late afternoon, that Mammy hobbled in with the two red faced exhausted children. Wade's curls were wet with sweat, and Ella's freckles were flushed from the thick humid afternoon heat.

Rhett put his finger to his lips, and welcomed sweaty Ella with a hug, "Where have you been?"

"Everywhere," Huffed Mammy.

Rhett chuckled softly, "You look like you need a nap Mammy, let me take over with the children."

"Where is Miz Scarlett?"

"SLeeping, I'd say she ate too much last night-"

"I knows it, she never knows when to stop, I'll go see-"

"No need, I just got her to eat some toast and some tea, she is quite tired."

Mammy's eyes rolled, "Well, these children saw every famous statue in the city, and then we got some beignets, and now-"

"Mammy, go take a rest. I'll entertain them for a hour or so."

Mammy started again, and Rhett commanded, "Go rest, its an order."

Mammy lowered her head and nodded, and trotted off to her room, as Rhett watched her smiling.

Wade was washing in his basin, as Rhett checked on him, "Wade, did you see the museum?"

As he wiped off his face and neck he nodded, "Yes, sir, Napoleon was spectacular."

Rhett smiled, "I'm sure you enjoyed it."

"Yes, I did, my great grandfather fought with Napoleon."

"I believe he did."

"It is so hard to believe how famous he must have been to be next to Napoleon!"

Wade's face lit up, and the realization of greatness and power glowed in his usual somber brown eyes. He kicked off his shoes, and took his tablet scribbling notes from his journey.

Ella was sprawled out on the carpet, with her arms tucked under her head, she had drifted of to sleep with her tea set beside her. Rhett left her, the trio were tuckered out, and he went to check on Scarlett. SHe was sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair.

"Scarlett?"

"I'm feeling better, since I ate something. I may go out for a stroll."

"Mammy just came home with the children, and she is exhautsed."

"Oh,well-"

"I could come with you."

Scarlett looked him in the eye, this waltz was taking too long to end, "Rhett, I'm going to the pharmacy, so we can be together tonight."

Rhett stood at the door, and froze, "Is that so, says who?"

"Me, it's about time, and now, now you have no excuses."

Rhett smirked, "What about the moral?"

"Morals? Since when did you have morals? Hush up, and help me get dressed."

Rhett strolled behind Scarlett as she hurried through the streets, the pharmacy was closing in less than an hour. He followed the green taffetta of the bustle as it bounced in front of him, and a pursed lipped face of his lovely wife as she turned her back ever so often to make sure he hadn't slipped away. They didn't say a word, and Rhett chuckled to himself at the scene they made leaving the hotel room, the children napping, and Mammy pleading with her overgrown charge to stay in bed after her sickness only a few hours before. Mammy's mouth dropped when Scarlett frustrated with Mammy, said, "It was no worst the sickness Pa used to have on New Year's day, for God's sake, I'm fine!"

Mammy rolled eyes at Rhett, and huffed, "Don't you let my lamb drink like that anymore."

"Let her? You know this woman's will is a ram, not a tender sheep."

Before he could riddle Scarlett more, she was hustling down the hotel stairs, calling behind her, "Hurry up, Rhett."

As Scarlett entered the pharmacy, the bell rang over her head, and a dark skinned man came from behind the counter, noticing the urgency of the pretty woman. Rhett sashayed in behind her, with his hands in his pockets, and a smirk on his face. The man gave him a second look, and nodded, "How can I help you, today?"

Scarlett bit her lip, and shot eyes at Rhett, "Yes, my wife, would like to inquire about some items."

Scarlett's face went crimson,"Y-Yes, I- I."

The man took her hand, dark one in the pale fingers, "I believe you may need the assistance of my wife, I'll get her, but we close in twenty minutes."

Scarlett sank back as the air emptied her lungs, and she turned and kicked Rhett's foot, "You bastard," she hissed.

Rhett busied himself with the line of bitters, "This is exactly what you needed this morning, darling." He picked up a bottle of dark liquid, "You can use it with the children when they are sick, or ate too much."

Rhett's remedy explanation was interrupted by a light skinned lady with a broad face and nose, and thick black hair rolled in braids on the side of her head, "Madame, I believe you need my assistance?"

"Scarlett smiled, "Yes, I need a few items."

The woman talked in hushed voices at the counter. The woman stacked the counter with powder, lotions and even smelling salts. Rhett went over to the counter, and smiled at Scarlett, placing his hand around her waist, "Darling, don't forget the sheaths!" His voice was clear and loud, and bag of peppermints came to a crash on the counter.

"I was getting to that, Rhett."

The woman glared at Rhett, he was smiling sardonically at her, "They are still legal, here?"

SHe nodded, and went about replacing the peppermints that had rolled down the counter.

The woman looked at Scarlett, "Do you need those?"

Scarlett nodded, her face was purple, and tears started to sting her eyes.

Rhett placed a stack of money on the counter, and smiled, "That should cover all these other things we don't need."

The woman was silently cursing Rhett's ill bred manners under her breath, in French, and packaged the items, placing the small bag with the sheaths on top, and slid the parcel across the counter to Rhett.

Scarlett had not said a word, since he blurted out that awful word, and seethed at the corner, waiting for a carriage as Rhett flagged it down.

In the carriage, Rhett asked to break the eerily deafening silence, "Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine," her voice was bland, and she stared out the window, the spring night was getting cooler, and the buildings glowed with the fiery orange sunset.

"Are we getting room service tonight? I believe the children are very-"

"I don't care what we eat."

Rhett felt pinned to the cushion with her stare, and her face was now pink splotched, but she kept her rant in check.

"Very well." Rhett nodded as the carriage stopped in front of the hotel.

As they climbed the stairs, Rhett was growing tired of this unusually ,quiet Scarlett, and he said, at the door, "Dammit, scream at me if you want to."

Scarlett turned the knob of the door and entered, placing her gloves on the side table. She looked at him as if she was going to conduct business, and said, "Order your food, and then come to my room after you put the children to bed."

Scarlett grabbed the packages from Rhett before Mammy could, and headed to her bedroom

Scarlett stopped at her door and called, "Mammy, I need a bath."

Mammy stared at Rhett, who shrugged. He turned his attention to the parlor where the children were scanning the menu arguing over the shrimp and the crawfish stew.