It took me some time. Too much work lately! Well, here we are, R&R. Some steamy stuff on the next one.

She was used to waking early, however she wasn't used to companionship in her bed. It's been years since she laid a full night with her husband. She woke up some time before dawn and raised herself to the board of the bed, watching him sleep. She tried to memorize his facial lines in case he left again 'I won't think about it now' she told herself and then it dawned her, he came back to her to stay. She thought of the meaning of it to her life now. She had grown used to living on her own, not having to answer to anyone – 'Dear God, I hope he doesn't expect me to become the doting wife. I'll be a complete failure in that role' she thought. She moved and stiffened at the thought.

"A penny for your thoughts"

"Oh, they are worth much more than that."

"A ring for your thoughts then?"

She laughed "A golden one with shining diamonds"

"I'd think your engagement ring had enough of those."

She stretched her hand forward looking at the huge ring "Perhaps. I haven't done it yet, but I thought of turning it to a pendant with a long chain. I love it, but it's too big for a ring. Would you mind?"

He was surprised at her observation – "No, not at all. Give it to me in the morning and I'll take care of it".

She let a long breath go.

"You haven't told me what you were thinking of."

"I thought I ducked it" she smiled apologetically "well, it's nothing big. I was asking myself what you expect of me now that you... I never was a real wife to you or to anyone, and I was wondering…"

"If I expect you to be a doting wife? Or if you'll be able to be as free as you had been so far?" his brows rose with a question mark and he smiled amused, he lift himself to the board as well and she noticed how much bigger he was compared with herself – "years ago, I confessed I liked your wits in business, I suppose this round we'll just do it as a team, and try to enjoy freedom together, and not apart?"

She bit herself, she was much more nervous than she let him see 'Damn' she thought as she felt blood in her mouth. "You make it sound so easy."

After some silence she touched his arm "Rhett, I've been free only this past year or so. I was so lonely that this was what life could give me and I took it. I'm afraid I'll fail."

"You afraid?"

She closed her eyes and remembered the same words coming from his lips years ago "Most of my adult life I've been scared to death. I'm not scared of hard work, even grief" she choked and caught hold of her voice "I want to know what you expect, and when I fall, because I am bound to fall several times, please bear with me."

She wasn't looking at him –

"As you'll have to bear with my failings, my love" he answered pulling her to his arms. Her nails clutched his arms painfully as she embraced him, he freed her fingers gently looking at her softly as she blinked "Sleep, Scarlett, it's not dawn yet."

"No, I'll get up now. I have an early meeting with Mrs. Merriweather, at eight, and I have to prepare some papers before. You sleep, I'll get you breakfast at seven."

And she got up, leaving him to see her dress in the dark room with her back to him.

"Turn" he said "I want to watch you dress"

She froze for a second, and then she turned to face him – "I thought you liked it from the back" she smiled saucily, to disguise her embarrassment.

He signaled her to approach and as she did, he took her hand and kissed it lightly "You'll tell me when or if I'm pushing you too far? I want you to enjoy this."

She kissed him on the bridge of his nose forgetting that she was half naked. She dressed in front of him allowing his hands to fondle her as she went on with the strings of her bodice. When she was done he looked at her critically "I never liked you in mourning weeds"

"Until last night, I was in mourning, Rhett." She went to her dressing room. When she returned a light green scarf was in her hands – "Here, I'll wear this today, so you don't run off to Paris just as to fetch me a hat. However, if you do, don't you dare leave me behind this time."

As she walked out of the room she could hear his laughter behind her.

"The papers are fine. In fact too fine, Scarlett" Rhett heard Mrs. Merriweather's hesitant voice coming from his study. He realized it was her study now. He approached and heard Scarlett respond –

"I want you as a business partner, not as a tenant, and I'm investing in it. The only term I insist is that it starts as of today, and that you deal with the store employees. Decide who stays and who is dismissed. I will pay the dismissed ones who worked more than a year compensation and everything that's due to them."

"Oh, I thought" she trailed as Scarlett interrupted her with little patience -

"I understand you've been closed two months now, so it would cause you little hardship."

"You are leaving Hugh Elsing to me."

"Well, this is the least you can repay me for all the malicious talk you've directed for years regarding my attitude towards him." Scarlett's voice was matter-of-factly with no mirth or accusation. She was at her most business attitude. "I don't want to be held responsible for any dismissal as you will be the sole manager of this project."

"Ladies" Rhett entered the room to see a shocked Dolly Merriweather observe him "Darling" he approached Scarlett and kissed her cheek. Scarlett smiled at him holding his hand a little more than necessary.

"Captain Butler. How nice it is to see you. You do look much better."

Scarlett waited a second – "So, Mrs. Merriweather, do we have a deal?"

Rhett and Mrs. Merriweather looked at her, Scarlett was indeed at her business mode; she did not bother pretending this was anything else then a business meeting.

"Yes." The elder matron took a pen and signed the papers. As she rose she looked Scarlett in the eye as she said "Thank you for this chance."

"I look forward to the opening of our Garden Café, Mrs. Merriweather. My financial manager will be in touch with you and he'll be our director in all the necessary monetary matters." She shook her hand with a straight look and half a smile, still detached and courteous.

"Call me Dolly" she answered and left the room after nodding towards Rhett.

Scarlett moved from behind the desk and toward her husband. "I've used your study more often lately, but I haven't moved anything. All your things are where you put them. My papers are on this shelf", she signaled.

"Prissy is unpacking my cloths in your, well, our room. Tell me about this Garden Café of yours"

"We don't have time for that just now. We have several meetings downtown and I want all the managers to meet you. After today, you'll decide at what paste to do things."

He was baffled by her words, but he came along with her.

In the next eight hours they hardly stopped to drink or eat a sandwich she had packed them. The financial and operational teams were coming and going out of the small office that was his in the bank. He noticed the respect his wife received from the several people they had interacted with, but she was detached, almost frozen in her manner and he noticed that they were not unaccustomed with her manner.

She had introduced him as her husband and the president of the enterprise. He was not surprised that they kept looking at her for reassurance as he began to take the lead. Nevertheless, she kept her eyes at him, the entire day, signaling to the crowd that he indeed was their chief director and manager.

Early afternoon she rose and declared that he still had a few meetings, but she was no longer needed and she excused herself so fast leaving him on his own to proceed.

He realized that she was handing it to him, on a platter of gold, her finest enterprise, something monumental, more than his fleet of ships or several businesses. But as she foresaw, the business itself was thrilling and he got caught up in it, remolding parts of the operational schemes, learning the details of the contracts.

In the evening, barely arriving for dinner he tucked Ella to bed. The girl caressed his cheek –

"I was mad at you for leaving without saying good-bye, Uncle Rhett."

"Oh?" he asked gently as he covered her and kissed the top of her head.

"Yes, But Ma kept reminding me that I love you. She said that in time I will learn to live with things that are beyond my powers."

"Have you?"

"No. But you came for ma in Chicago and now you're back, so I don't have to. I love you."

His heart clenched with pain. She had a plain face. The only similarity with her mother was a shade of green in her eyes and her small nose.

"I love you too, darling." He stayed by her a while until her breath was calm and steady.

He was walking down the wide corridor when he heard Wade's voice –

"Will he stay, Ma?"

"I hope so, but I don't know, Darling."

"Ma, would you rather…"

"Some things are beyond our power, Wade. This is definitely beyond yours. Rhett loves you. I've told you repeatedly he hasn't left because of you, nor will he this time if he does."

He couldn't hear Wade's voice that became quiet but he heard her answer –

"Some things are not your affair, young man, and as you know very well, I can handle my own affairs pretty well."

"I don't want you hurting again."

"Me neither" – her voice was soft and sad "But I'm willing to risk it. It's worth it, darling. He's worth it. If you fear hurt, how will you gain your hearts' desire?"

"Now you are quoting from the book your read Ella the other week."

"True. It doesn't make the words less accurate."

She was wiping her forehead when she stepped out of the room, and she saw him standing like a statue, frozen. She turned back and walked towards him, with a daring look he did not expect she took his hand in hers and closed her eyes. He drew her closer and held her.

"Let's go down for a drink, Scarlett"

She was exhausted and yet, she agreed.

"Thank you"

She nodded at him, not asking to what he referred.

"Tell me about this Garden Café enterprise of yours."

"Six months ago the store wasn't doing so well and it became a time consuming nuisance, and I realized that I don't have to actually direct the store. Besides it can be turned to something else, as bakery with special pies, tea, coffee and a place to sit. I saw something like this in Boston."

"Where is the garden?"

She averted her eyes –

"I've turned the lumber yard besides it to a garden with swings a water fountain and flowers "Bonnie's playground". I was looking for a manager for the store when Dolly had to evacuate her bakery. She is the last of them." She emphasized the Christian name of the matron in a way that made him smile, -

"The last of what?"

"The last and only one who still did not greet us in the street. In between these many escapes I did something similar to what you did for Bonnie back then."

He was laughing "What a show it must have been."

"Precisely" she answered with a wide grin "But I will not give you the satisfaction of the sorrows I had to endure, darling. It's priceless."

"And Dolly?"

She laughed

"An innocent name for a vicious witch, don't you agree? She'll always hate me, the fool, just like India, but now she owes me, and she'll keep her silly mouth shut. That's more than enough for me. She'll do wonders with the shop, and she'll have to manage Hugh Elsing who's as incompetent as Ashley. I don't see her dismissing him for the life of her. That's as good penance as any."

He did not ask for what as her mouth was a thin line at the moment and her eyes were not focused. She still had her old vindictiveness.

"Do you have friends, Scarlett?" he asked in a low voice

"Uncle Henry. I meet him once a week of a cup of tea and brandy ."

"You drink with a man?!" He was at awe.

"You mean, with a man other than you?"

He noticed the small quip –

"Yes, in my tea, and he drinks straight. It's fun. One afternoon when I poured him a glass he noticed my stare and said something about the silliness in having to pretend to be faint for a drink. He was referring to his sister of course. So I took the chance and poured into my tea some brandy. And so we went on with it. You are the one who told me not to drink alone."

"So, you've become close to him?"

Was it jealousy? She wasn't sure so she ignored the question -

"I have had one female friend all my life and she's dead. It's not as if I was honest with her."

"I'm sorry" he said.

"Don't be. It's a bed I've made for myself, I doubt if I could do it any differently."

He pulled her near him. She looked at him smiling as she snuggled near him –

"I haven't noticed you've had any real friends; ever. I was the only person who enjoyed, no, who was happy to see you during the war; even when you didn't have any chocolates or bonnets to bribe me with; even when I was with Frank."

Her face darkened. She was thinking of Belle Watling. She was his friend.

"I'm wrong, aren't I?" she asked.

"No." He was stroking her back and looking down at her "Never mistake bought companionship, even if pleasant with the kind of friendship we are talking of. Yes, we were nice to each other, Belle and I, but that's rather easy when you have nothing, and no one else want's you. Come, I have an early start tomorrow. Some of the contracts need some alterations."

As she did not ask why he stopped her – "I meant what I said, we'll work as a team. Don't pull back."

"I don't want to be in the front this time, Rhett."

He laughed "Sure you do. You'll love it, and it will be fun."

She raised a brow skeptically "I don't mean to be rude but your estimation of fun was nearly fatal."

"You're joking at yourself again?"

"More often than you'd know, but it was on both of us."

He took her upstairs by her hand and they both undressed quietly in their chamber. She was certain that this night he'd fall asleep as soon as he laid his head on the pillow, a reflection to her own fatigue. But as they entered the bed the hit radiating from his body informed her otherwise.

She opened big eyes and hesitantly she asked "How will you want me, em-" she stuttered.

He smiled at her kissing her features slowly until she had no air left in her, feeling as if she had turned into a rag doll or clay in his hands. As he paused never leaving her hold "In our bed, as my wife and lover."