The carriage ride had been a good idea, Rhett decided. They had made their way north, out of the city proper and ventured into the countryside. The warm air on his face felt good as did the occasional beams of sunlight that worked into the carriage. The doctor had warned Scarlett that he should not have too much exposure to the sun, at least at first. The skin was still tender and not fully healed. "No use putting a sunburn on top of all the other damage," the doctor had told her. So she was careful that he kept his hat over his face when the sun glimpsed in.

They rode quietly, Rhett lost in his thoughts and Scarlett lost in Rhett. He's still magnificent, she mused as she studied his body. Such power in his limbs and chest. Her mind wandered to the night of Ashley's birthday party, the night he had carried her up the stairs and forced his will on her. The night, that in truth, she had first begun to realize her feelings for him. He had been powerful that night and yet gentle too. Always before he'd been careful with her, careful to respect the boundaries of treating her like a lady. But that night, she'd been his whore and she had reveled in it. The things he'd done to her…no lady would ever admit that her husband would do such things, much less that she'd enjoyed them. But Scarlett had. Everything had been so intense and explosive. And as drunk as he was, he'd made love to her for most of the night, repeating the rapture time and again. She'd never known such bliss and craved a repeat event. Never in her life had she felt more like a woman. And the ultimate triumph had been the results of that night; they'd made a baby. It was the first baby that she'd truly wanted. And she so wanted it to be a boy, to be like Rhett. Scarlett blinked back tears as she remembered that loss and thought of the downward spiral that ended when he'd walked out the door the day of Mellie's death.

Rhett had snapped out of his own reverie and was watching Scarlett as she remembered. He saw the myriad of emotions that played across her face as her mind wandered over the past. "What are you thinking about, my pet," he asked gently.

She turned her eyes towards his face, tears sitting just inside her eyelids. Rhett was immediately struck by the grief and sadness he saw. "I was thinking about…the baby, the one I lost," she told him. He felt a stab of guilt as he remembered how she lost that little one, the one that would have been his son. He'd never forgiven himself for that day on the stairs and doubted that he ever would.

"When Dr. Meade told me that I was…expecting, I was so happy. I never really wanted babies before but this one was different. He was from that night, the first time I think I began to realize how much I loved you. And it seemed you loved me too. I was heartbroken when you left and took Bonnie but I tried to use the time to understand my own feelings. I wanted you to come back so much and when you did, I was so happy that you were back….nervous but happy. Oh, I wanted to tell you then Rhett, what I fool I'd been. And then," she let out a quiet sob, "then everything went so wrong…"

Guilt was choking him, making it difficult to breathe. "I'm sorry, Scarlett," was all he could manage to say.

"Oh, it was as much my fault as it was yours, Rhett. My silly pride wouldn't let me back down, wouldn't let me say what I wanted to say. And there was so much I wanted to tell you, so much I had to say…"

They fell into an uncomfortable silence as the carriage rolled down the country road. After a few minutes, Scarlett began to feel nauseous and tapped on the box, signaling the driver to stop. She hurdled out of the carriage, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. A nearby tree provided shelter as the tears she'd fought back finally erupted. Rhett sat in the carriage, momentarily paralyzed. He didn't want to exit the carriage and expose himself to whoever might pass by. On the other hand, Scarlett was obviously in need of someone to comfort her. He just wasn't sure if he was the one who could do it; after all, he had been the source of her grief. He glanced up and down the road and then gathered his courage to step out into the world.

Tentatively he made his way over to her and stood behind her. "Scarlett?"

Her shoulders shook as another sob escaped. He heard her moan softly and winced. He knew he was the cause of her pain. What he didn't know was how to help her now.

Scarlett turned to him, her head down, and her hands at her face. "Oh Rhett, everything went so wrong…"

"I know Scarlett…and I'm sorry," he said as he stepped closer to her. "When I married you, I had every intention of making you happy, but I only seemed to make things worse."

Finally, she looked up at him. "Oh no, Rhett, not all the time. There were times when…when things were …good and I was happy." He studied her face, seeing such sincerity, so much emotion. His heart ached.

Then suddenly she moved towards him, her hand moving up to touch his face, the right side of his face. He grimaced as he waited for her to realize what she was doing, touching his deformity. But she didn't flinch, her palm resting on his cheek with her fingers gently touching his ear. Her eyes met his, searching. "Rhett please, love me…"

"What?" he asked, unsure of what she meant.

"Love me…here…right now. Make me yours again. I love you so much and I want to be yours."

"Scarlett?" he said, shocked by her boldness.

"I need you Rhett, as I've never needed anyone before. And I want you…and…you owe me a baby. I want your baby Rhett. Please…"

All Rhett could do was stare at her. What does she want from me? She said she wanted me to make her mine again…but that can't be. She can't want me, not like that…what would she feel when I touched her with my…monstrous hand? His confusion seemed to Scarlett like rejection and she backed away, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I see," she said, "you really don't love me, like you told me that day in Atlanta. I…I've worn out your love. I…" she began and then straightening up, she mentally pulled herself together. "I won't make such an uncomfortable request again, Mr. Butler. And as soon as suitable quarters are found for you, I'll return to Atlanta." Without another glance at him, she turned and walked back towards the carriage.

Rhett stood, dumbfounded as he watched her walk away. And suddenly, he knew he didn't want her to leave like that. He needed her to stay, to sort their feelings out. He wanted it more than he'd ever wanted anything. The question is do you have the guts to follow through? He searched inwardly for an answer but fear and confusion clouded his thoughts. As he made his way to the carriage, he had an answer. If you don't at least try, you'll regret it the rest of your life…

The ride back was quiet. Scarlett was too consumed by grief at having lost her battle, her last battle, to win Rhett. And Rhett was lost in thought, trying to decide how to approach Scarlett, how to tell her that he wanted her to stay, how he needed her to stay.

GWTWGWTWGWTWGWTW

So Rhett's finally beginning to come around but they are still just missing the mark. Hmm....what are we going to do about these two? As always, your comments are much appreciated.