Taking a short break from NanoWriMo, to update, this scene has been in my mind for a few days, I have just now worked it out. Enjoy, and review!

Rhett had tickled her cheek as he kissed Scarlett good morning, and she rolled over fitting into his arms, he was dressed and kissed her forehead, and looking into her deep green inquisitive eyes, he answered, "It's early, almost six."

"Six in the morning!"

"Yes, my darling, an ungodly hour for you, I know."

"Why are you dressed? We don't leave for three more days."

Her face pouted as she ran her hands across his starched shirt over his broad shoulders. His hand dwarfed her face as he brushed the hair from her face, and smiled into her confused and sleepy look, she was about to fall back to sleep, and he whispered, "Get dressed, we are going on an adventure. The next two days, we are going to stay in our own establishment, away from the children."

"Rhett? Where? Mammy can't be alone-"

"I secured another maid to help with the children, and we are going to spend two days at Rose d'Ivoire plantation, but it is quite a drive from the city, so you better get dressed."

"Does Mammy know?" Scarlett sat up in bed and pulled her fingers through her loose wild hair.

"Yes, Mammy knows, now get up, before I pull you out of the bed. The carriage is going to be here in an hour."

Scarlett padded to the bathroom and splashed the chilled water in her face, as the impulsive invitation from Rhett registered in her head, two days, alone. A week ago that sounded delicious, but now anxiety set in, Scarlett opened the door to see Rhett putting out her navy traveling outfit.

"Hurry up, I'll help you get dressed, and Mammy packed your stuff last night."

"Rhett?" Scarlett walked out and sat at her vanity, "Rhett? Listen."

Rhett's large body stopped rushing gracefully, and sat on the edge of her bed, next to her clothes, "I can help you get dressed."

"No, it's not that, it may not be a good time, Rhett."

Rhett looked confused, "Why? Why do you say that?"

Scarlett's face turned bright red, and played with her fingers in her lap, "Ladies' day in, you know. It may not be the right time."

Rhett chuckled, "Scarlett, I'm not ignorant to Ladies' days. Is it your time?"

Scarlett's eyes were looking around in horror, "No, you shouldn't ask such-"

"Shhh, it's just as much my business as yours, but it's soon?"

"Yes, and we won't be-"

Rhett laughed, "What did you think I had planned, nakedness all day?"

"Shh, Rhett, we shouldn't talk about these things."

"Scarlett, go get ready, and I'll help you get dressed. Mammy is getting us breakfast, and can do your hair when she returns. I just want two days of peacefulness in a beautiful house with my wife, even if it is her "time"."

Scarlett slowly walked to the screen to get her clothing, feeling naked despite her wrapper, Rhett had a way of peeling off any shred of decency, and then the thought occurred, "What if it didn't come? And she was pregnant, it could happen. Lord knows, Rhett and she had been together almost every night."

As Rhett pulled her stays, he asked, "Is this too tight?"

Scarlett shook her head, "Leave it a bit loose."

Rhett chuckled, "You been eating a lot of desserts?"

Scarlett smiled smoothing her stomach, "Perhaps."

The traveling suit was a bit snug at the hips and waist, and Scarlett thought for a minute, "Maybe I have been eating too much, maybe, I'm pregnant", then a devious thought brought a smile to her face, "Maybe, Rhett and I have been doing too much?" Rhett noticed her smile, and asked, "A gold piece for your thoughts?"

Scarlett's smile faded, "NOthing."

"It's something, you have a gleam in your eye. Tell me."

The last sentence was an order, and Scarlett felt tears prick her eyes, "Just let me be. It is personal, can't I have any "personal" thoughts?"

"I'm your husband, does it involve me?"

Scarlett could not lie under his gaze, and then she leaned in whispering, "My hips are a little bit wider, and the dress is tighter, so, I was wondering-"

"If you're pregnant, Scarlett, it wouldn't be a surprise." Rhett said dryly, looking at her as her face turned purple, and tears poured down her cheeks, and Rhett was at her side, lifting her chin, "Tell me what is troubling you?"

"I know that, I could be, but I was wondering something else." Scarlett wiped her nose with her hand, and took a breath before she went on, "All the nights, that we have been, together, could that be why my hips are, wider?"

Rhett let out a roar of a laughter, and hugged her, kissing the top of her head. Scarlett felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks, wetting Rhett's shirt, and she hit his chest, "Stop laughing!"

Rhett wiped her tears with his handkerchief, and smiled, "I'm not laughing at you, it's just that when I pry into your "personal" thoughts, it's mainly to save you from them. No, Scarlett, our relations do not make your hips wider, but eating meringues, eclairs, beignets, rice and bread every meal and in between, tends to spread not only your hips, but your ass, too."

Rhett felt the slap, and then he heard it. Scarlett flew across the room, and laid on the bed sobbing. She was hysterical, and probably would have her "time" in a day or two the way she was acting. Rhett laid down on the bed next to her, and gathered her in his arms, his lips brushed her hair, and he pet her back, "There, there, now Scarlett, stop it. I wasn't being mean."

"You were!" her face pouted.

It was this scene that Mammy walked in on, with the tray from downstairs, and she bursted, "I told you, she is cranky in the morning, even as a chile."

Scarlett looked up with a hot, red tear streaked face, and her hair fell in curls. Mammy smiled as the expression was Bonnie, to the core, after a bad dream. Mammy put down the tray, and took Scarlett by the arm, "C'mon chile, let me do your hair. Those tears ain't worth messing up your face fo'."

Rhett relinquished his wife, as he strode over to prepare the coffee. He watched as Mammy doted and pampered Scarlett, as though she was five years old, and her tears dried up, and she busied herself with bossing Mammy. Rhett sipped his coffee, and felt better, knowing as long as Mammy was around, and they had another child, with Mammy's devotion, he or she would always be loved, even if he didn't have the strength, and Scarlett stayed spoiled and selfish. Wade and Ella were coming along, but they had had Melanie who had nurtured and petted them, and himself. He feared he wouldn't be enough for another child, another child, like Bonnie.

"Mister Rhett, now don't Miz Scarlett, look pretty?"

Rhett woke from his reverie and smiled, "Always, Mammy, always."

Mammy urged Scarlett on the divan next to the tray to eat her breakfast, she sipped her coffee, and bit into her croissant, filled with butter and jelly. Rhett ate the last of his meal, and stood up placing his hat on his head, not wanting to upset Scarlett anymore, "Dear, I will wait outside for the carriage, I'll send the porter up to get your bags when it arrives, finish your meal."

Scarlett fooled with the fruit, and nodded, humbled by her outburst and conversation a few minutes ago.

The air was humid, and the sun warm, on Scarlett's face on the ride out to the "Ivory Rose" plantation, which was along the River, west of the city. Rhett had discussed and given Scarlett the history of the plantation, which was quite romantic.

"The only and first owner were the Delmontarey's, Juan Franco built it, as his family home in the late 1700's. He brought his new bride, Daniela after the plantation was built. It was a sugar cane plantation, and has been successful for over a hundred years."

"Even during the war?" Scarlett asked, looking out at the fields, as the low green promised hope of crops.

"Yes, you see New Orleans was captured early, and the Yankees settled here as a port on the River, so the planters kept their mouths shut, and all was well."

Scarlett spit out dryly, "They submitted, like dogs."

Rhett pet her hand, "They survived, anyway, Daniela had the fairest skin and the darkest hair, and was one of the most prettiest women in society. But, she died after the birth of her second child."

Scarlett shifted in her seat, and cocked her umbrella to look at Rhett's face, "And?"

"Well, Juan Franco thought nothing else was more beautiful than his wife, except a rose and she kept a beautiful rose garden. So he ornamented the plantation with white marble rose planters and changed the name to Rose d'Ivoire."

"The Ivory Rose, what was it before?"

"Delmonterey"

Scarlett nodded, "And nobody lives there now?"

"Well, his great grandson, Franco, he keeps it. I had business with Franco during the war, running rum to Cuba, and I saw him on the street and when he heard we were here, he invited us to use his place for a few days, but we must go to dinner with him and his wife, when we return to the city."

Scarlett smiled, "That was nice of him."

Rhett's eyes stared off across the fields, "Yes, it was. Franco is a fair and good man to do business with."

It was early afternoon, when Rhett helped Scarlett down from the carriage, and up the start white steps of the grand home. The column were crude and brick, and the steps were steep and tall, raised so that you could see the river over the large, green hill. The roof sloped down covering the brick facade and hung over the long tall windows, The house looked a little like Tara on stilts. Scarlett was winded at the top of the steps, and she looked out on the River, "My we are mighty high up, we are higher than that hill, Rhett!"

Rhett stood next to her and looked at the dark, muddy lazy River, rolling by the levee. "That is a levee, in French it means "to rise"."

"Oh, yes, I do remember that word, they used to say that a lot by my Grandpere's house."

"Well, the ground is rising, it's built, because it is holding the River back."

"The River back?"

"Yes, on the ground, the River is above our heads, so this levee, keeps it from flooding, and they can build the house and fields out back."

Scarlett was shocked, "You mean all this would be under the water?"

Rhett nodded as he guided her into the house on his arm, "Why don't they just build somewhere else?"

"The earth, the soil is fertile and wet, just the type of soil to grow crops, a lot of them."

Scarlett understood this and nodded, as her breath was taken away at the beautiful parlor which was quite small, but elegant. The walls were a soft creamy, pink of a fresh rose, and the floor was high polished and dark wood. The room was filled with french furniture, much more dainty than Scarlett's, but in vibrant colors of burgundy, thin stripes against ivory silk, with needlepoint pillows designed in roses. The chandelier was small, but the crystals danced and sang in the cool spring air.

Rhett took Scarlett around the house, showing her the dining room in hues of gold, green and blue with a table to seat twelve in the graceful lines of Georgian claw feet, and cabriole legs. Off the east side was a suite for the Master, with a sitting room, grand bed, and a vanity/ dressing room in a color scheme that complimented the pinks of the parlor, and the greens of the dining room. And the west side, there was two smaller bedrooms painted in creamy, beiges with small beds covered in crocheted doilies of white over royal blue down coverlets.

"Do you think it's pretty?" Rhett asked as they sat on the veranda sipping lemonade that the caretaker, Jessamine had prepared and a light lunch of fruit, fish, and rice.

"It reminds me of Tara, but smaller." Scarlett smiled, feeling a cool breeze from the river ruffle her hair.

"This is how the Creole's live, not ostentatious mansions, white columns, and grand ballrooms."

Scarlett smirked, "Like, Twelve Oaks?"

"Yes, all that glitter, is American. Creoles are about family, and living in grace and comfort."

Scarlett smiled, remembering Rhett parting words months before about "grace and beauty". There were moments of quiet between them, enjoying the quiet and tranquility, and Rhett asked, "How are you feeling, Scarlett?"

Scarlett's eyes diverted around, "I feel well."

"Good." Rhett smiled, "Why don't you change into a comfortable dress, and we can take a walk."

Scarlett looked down at her tweed traveling suit, and rose to go inside, "Rhett, are you changing, too?"

"I took off my hat and jacket, I'll be fine."

Scarlett rummaged through her bag, there were two loose calico dresses in the softest cotton. She took out the pale green and pulled it over her head, her shoulder and arms felt cooler and the sweat seemed to dry in the breeze. Scarlett met Rhett on the porch as he stubbed out his cigar, Rhett snickered, "Scarlett, you fit in this life, so easily."

"Well, my mother-"

"I know she was a Robillard."

"Not only that, her family refugeed from Santo Domingo in Savannah."

Rhett dramatically caught his chest in his hand, "My goodness, a Creole under my nose the whole time."

Scarlett called out as she followed Rhett down the stairs, "I always thought I had the attitude of the Irish, but now I wonder."

Rhett grabbed her arm and twirled her in his arms, kissing her cheek and neck, Irish, Creole, they are no different. You are hard headed and stubborn, but you have the strong need for excesses, and you love your family."

Scarlett looked into his eyes, "I love you."

Rhett, smiled, "Now, I do believe that, and if you keep talking like that, we will never get to our walk."

Scarlett giggled, "I don't care."

Rhett took her hand pulling her along, "I do, I want to show you something before dark."

Rhett put them on a path leading north behind the house to the grove of trees with hanging moss, and chirping birds, as they entered the labyrinth of greenery, the temperature cooled, and the peaceful sound of pristine forest which was glowing with a white, weather gazebo. Scarlett looked at the gazebo, "I thought you hated gazebos?"

"I hate the black ones that look like coffins, like the one in Atlanta."

Scarlett scowled, "I guess this old thing is better."

Rhett stood in the middle, holding his hands out, "Two can fit, easily."

Scarlett went into Rhett's arms and they encircled her waist, pulling her close to him, and her face looked into his, "Rhett, have you ever been out here, before?"

"For business, not for pleasure, and during the war, when I went into the study, I saw the portrait, and it was like you followed me here."

"The Study?"

"Yes, there is a study in the garconiere."

"The what?"

"It's like a small house attached to the big house, it's a house for the oldest son."

"I thought it was the kitchen? Where is the kitchen?"

"Underneath the house, but the garconiere is what they call an "appartment" in Paris, it is aboutb two or three rooms, where the son can live close while he's unmarried, and have "privacy"."

"Oh!" Scarlett giggled, "They think of everything in New Orleans."

"I guess it's out of necessity," Rhett smiled, and pressed his lips next to hers, the smoky taste of tobacco was on his tongue as it entered her mouth. Scarlett felt his hands, under her thighs, lifting her and eagerly held onto his shoulders for support as he leaned her against the railing. Rhett voice caught as his hand searched under her skirts, and eased his hand up her thigh, Scarlett rested her head back to allow him to kiss her neck, and his mustache tickled her ear as he whispered, "We are alone here, you don't need all the petticoats."

Scarlett hiked her knees higher feeling Rhett push against her, and she squirmed, breathing heavy in his ears, "Rhett, stop, I'm about the fall."

Rhett growled as he scooped her up and laid her on the wooden floor, the smell of dirt, leaves, and mold crept into her nostrils, as Rhett wrestled with the petticoats, loosening them, allowing her legs to be free, and his hips slide between her thighs. Rhett's hum was quite contented as his hands explored under her skirts, and she stretched out enjoying the touch of her husband, the anxiety of the morning forgotten, and her body relaxed into Rhett.

The late afternoon sun was behind the clouds, when Scarlett opened her eyes, and Rhett's face was propped on his elbow next to hers, as his fingers made circles around her breasts. Her body felt numb and energized, and she giggled, "I hate naps!"

"You wore yourself out, besides we had a long day."

Scarlett closed her hand over his and brought it to her lips, and kissed his fingers. Rhett nuzzled her breasts with his cheek as he laid his head on her chest.

Scarlett sighed, and stretched her legs out and her toes dug into Rhett's, rubbing them like a cat.

"Don't move," murmured Rhett.

"I don't want to, let's stay here, forever."

Rhett laughed, "As soon as the sun is down, the mosquitos will come out, then you'll need to move."

Scarlett didn't say a word, as she closed her eyes taking in Rhett's smell, as his shirt hung off him halfway, and Rhett kissed her bosom, and she looked down at him, "You're getting up?"

"We can go for a ride in the fields tomorrow, if you are up for it?"

Scarlett grimaced, "You don't want me to be pregnant?"

Rhett's eyes diverted her and traced her fingers, holding them as though they are in prayer, and kissed her ring, "I told you, "I don't care if you have one child or twenty.' and now, since we have been-um- intimate, I guess it is pretty possible."

"So, what? You are hoping that I'm not?"

"No, I hope that whatever the future holds, it's better than the past."

Scarlett didn't know how to take his comments, and then she said, "It will be, Rhett."

"I hope", Rhett reached up and kissed her and stood, taking her hand and helping her up. As she buttoned her bodice, and Rhett fixed his shirt, Rhett noticed the sunset, and brought her to him, showing her the brilliant scarlet and gold streaks in the sky, and the soft pink glow of the fireball sun. Scarlett stood next to him silent, and Rhett whispered, "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Scarlett nodded, and leaned her head back on his shoulder. Rhett kissed her temple, and hummed a tune as he pulled her closer, "You know what I'm thinking?"

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Yes, because you will never ask," Rhett grunted as she elbowed his ribs, "Mrs. Butler, I'm thinking, how would you like to see this sunset every night, for the rest of our lives?"

Scarlett smiled as he whispered in his ear, prepared for some inappropriate comment or jibe, but instead she heard a proposal which burned her ears, and she turned as her eyes glowed green fire in the sunset, and her face paled, and she looked at his face drawn in a grimace, awaiting her answer, and all could she ask was, "Is this your grace and beauty, that you were searching for?"