Thanks soooooo much for the reviews of the last chapter. I really appreciate them. It does help knowing you like to read what I write. I feel like such a hack at times and then sometimes I feel like, hey, I can write pretty good, lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the next installment.

The Journey Home

Chapter Forty

Beginnings…

The lull of soft conversation, light and happy surrounded Rhett as he stood in the large parlor watching Scarlett with keen interest. She moved from one person to the other, smiling, chatting and more relaxed than he could ever remember seeing her.

Darcy's party seemed to be going well, while Darcy herself seemed to be enjoying herself as much as Scarlett had hoped. Her blond hair had been arranged quite strikingly and the peach colored gown she wore made her skin nearly appear to glow, but as much as Darcy's beauty stood out among the women in the room, it was Scarlett who captured his attention.

Her gown of deep green satin was cut to her figure perfectly while still accommodating to her expanding waistline. She was more beautiful than he wanted to admit and while he was admitting to things he didn't want to, it was her pregnancy that made it so. Not even while carrying Bonnie had she seemed so content and happy.

However, it was to his vexation that he wasn't the only one who noticed the way Scarlett looked. Eli Barrett was as enamored of his wife as much as he himself seemed to be. He watched as the young man's eyes never left Scarlett's form and it galled him to witness it. For God's sake, he was only human and even though he had placed barriers between he and Scarlett, that didn't mean that he was comfortable sitting back watching another man want her. He had endured enough of that with Ashley Wilkes to leave a sour, bitter taste in his mouth for the rest of his life.

If Scarlett noticed any of this it wasn't apparent to him. She was oblivious to the way Eli looked at her, or she appeared to be at any rate. She seemed to count on him only as a friend but that thought rankled him as well. Had he not placed himself in that same position for years? Being her friend, her confidante? Yes, he had waited for her like a fool only to have her feelings for that twitter-brained Ashley Wilkes lie between them like a wall he could never penetrate nor find a way over.

At that moment, she glanced over to him and smiled, her dimpled cheeks twinkling in merriment. She excused herself and came to where he stood. Rhett reigned in his dark thoughts, not willing to let her see how much she was affecting him. She had no idea what she did to him, but then again knowing Scarlett, one could never tell just how much she was aware of it or how much of it was her ignorance of any thing but her own comfort and pleasure.

"Isn't it a lovely party, Rhett?" she asked as she approached him.

"You've outdone yourself as usual," he replied tipping his drink to her.

"Do you think Darcy is having a good time?" she looked over at the guest of honor with a slight burrow of a frown.

"She seems to be… don't worry Scarlett, it's all going according to plan."

"It's been such a while since I gave a party. I wasn't sure who would actually come what with some of the Old Guard still treating me like I belong in leper colony," she retorted tartly. It still stung that while some had begun to warm to her again, many of them still refused her company.

"That, my dear, is one wall you may find a hard time getting over. I helped you once and I daresay I shall do so again."

"I don't expect you to help me. I don't need those old cows anyway. The ones who have decency about them are here right now and that's what matters."

"You think so?" Rhett drawled toward her. He scanned the room and while there were some of the old families present, many were not. "You may not ever find yourself in their good graces again, Scarlett. Redemption is not easily attained when you've trampled on it so thoroughly."

"I'm not going to let you spoil this night," she glared at him in her self-righteousness.

"Me? Why, my darling, I have no intention of spoiling anything. However, one of your plans seem to be slightly eschewed."

"What?" she frowned at his use of words.

"The illustrious Mr. Wilkes," he replied and cut his eyes over Ashley, who was standing alone and looking as if he wanted to be anywhere but there. If Rhett had his way, that's exactly the way it would be.

"Yes, I see what you mean," she nodded. "I'll just have to see what I can do about that." She was off toward the kitchen before Rhett could even respond or find out what she meant. Irritation flared in him, but he held it in check. He didn't like Scarlett meddling in affairs she had no business meddling.

"Captain Butler," Ashley's voice caught him off guard. "May I have a word with you in private?"

Rhett turned to Ashley, barely containing the rancor in his assessment of him. Didn't the man realize he could barely stand to be in his presence? "Wilkes, I'm not sure that is a prudent request at this time."

"I will only hold you a moment," Ashley pressed and waited for Rhett to accept his invitation. Rhett stood in his place, neither moving nor responding. Ashley implored him again. "Captain Butler, I assure you I only want a moment of your time."

Against his better judgment, Rhett let himself be swayed by the imperative tone in Ashley's voice. He gave a short nod in response. "Very well, we'll go into the library for privacy."

Laying his drink aside, Rhett led Ashley to a door that then led to a private hallway to another door. Pushing it open, he stepped into the quiet confines of the library with Ashley behind him. He chose this room because if Scarlett came looking for them the library would be the last place she would look. Scarlett didn't like the library and so she rarely came in for any reason.

Rhett lifted a cigarillo from his pocket, offering Ashley one in the process.

"No, I don't want to smoke," Ashley declined the offer. "Captain Butler… Rhett," he paused and looked directly at him. It was the first time Ashley had ever called him by his name and it did take Rhett by surprise. "What I have to say will be brief."

"Go ahead, speak your peace," Rhett eyed him warily as he lit the cigarillo and leaned back on the large, walnut desk all in one movement. Ashley seemed ill at ease and unsure of himself. But, finally he began to speak.

"I wanted to tell you that I apologize for my behavior of the last few months. I'm afraid I over stepped my boundaries where you and Scarlett are concerned. I let myself believe in something that I did not have to right to. I suppose the only excuse I can offer for my actions was I was afraid of being alone and Scarlett… well, Scarlett seemed to be the closest thing to home that I had left. I held on to her in hopes that she would be there for me as she had always been, but I had underestimated the hold you still have on her."

Rhett crossed his legs in front of him and released a haze of smoke into the air. "How very noble of you," he replied dryly, "but then, you always have been the noble sort haven't you?"

Ashley's face tightened at Rhett's response but he quickly released it and gave a slight nod. "I'm sure I deserve that. After all, I have made a spectacle of myself where you're concerned. I don't expect forgiveness and I don't expect that we'll ever truly be friends, but this I do know… you love Scarlett, you always have. Melanie knew it and now I do."

A dark smile formed on Rhett's lips. "Am I to believe that you've now ceased your desire of my wife when I've seen otherwise from you?"

"Regrettably, I have taken my actions too far and I can't say I blame you for being so cynical. But the truth is, I do care for Scarlett, I always have. But, I cannot force something that wasn't there to begin with. Whatever Scarlett thought she felt for me is over, I realize that now. It's you whom she truly loves… I only wish for her happiness."

"And what has brought on this epiphany?" Rhett pressed further, not wanting to let Ashley off the hook so easily. Ashley, however, wasn't taking the bait. He sighed and smiled softly.

"If you must know, it was when Scarlett announced her condition that brought me to this conclusion. I've never seen her so happy or content, not since before the war at least. It was the way she looked at you when she said the words. It was clear that it was you who had placed that look on her face, not I or anyone else."

For once, Rhett had no retort or pithy comeback. Ashley was sincere, or at least he seemed to be. He looked away from the man standing in front of him to the fireplace not willing him to see that he was remotely moved by what he had said.

"I want you to know I shall no longer be a burden to you or to Scarlett. It's time I stood on my own two feet and became the man I should have become long ago."

Rhett nodded, perhaps in agreement, perhaps because he understood that too well himself.

"I shall see myself back to the party now and I do hope that things will work for you and Scarlett. She deserves to be happy."

Rhett watched him as he gave a short bow and retreated from the room. Left alone, he drew on the cigarillo again and let out a laugh.

"I'll be damned."