To answer a question from Rae, since I had no way to respond through her account. Wade and Ella are in the book but not the movie. Wade was Charles' son and Ella was Frank's. Scarlett seemed ambivalent towards Wade and didn't seem to care much for Ella; she was too much like Frank apparently. Rhett always treated them with kindness even though they never seemed to be more than step children. Bonnie was obviously his favorite.

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Scarlett woke in the early morning hours to the feel of Rhett's hand on her breast and his hot breath on her neck as he feathered kisses across her shoulder. Curled behind her, his arms were still holding her near and as she squirmed with delight, she pressed against him, feeling his manhood in full measure. "Mmmm," she moaned in response to him. Now that he knew she was awake, his kisses became more ardent, his groping hand more insistent, and he pressed against her more firmly. She felt him rub against her, growing more firm as she reacted with more writing and then let out a small gasp.

Their early morning love-making was fiery and possessive as each claimed the other passionately. When they were spent and lying entangled, Scarlett thought about the feelings he invoked in her. As her mind wandered over his body, pausing to appreciate his many qualities, she realized she would never have enough of this man; as hungry as she was for food so long ago when she returned to Tara, she would always be hungry for him. She grinned secretively as she accepted her fate happily.

"What are you thinking, my pet? He asked smugly. "You have that Cheshire cat look on your face…"

"Mmmm." She yawned and stretched and then looked coyly at his face. "I was thinking how hungry I am…" He chuckled, "Always about food isn't it, my love?" She frowned playfully at him and swatted at his arm. "No…hungry for …well, I don't know if I want to tell you now," she teased.

He propped himself on an elbow and stared down at her. She looked as if all the years since they had first married had fallen away, so young and naïve. His chest tightened as he thought of all the wasted time they'd spent hiding their feelings and regretted his part in all of it. Perhaps if he'd told her from the beginning…but it would have been dangerous then or at least, that is what he'd believed. Perhaps in the beginning it had been, he mused. But maybe…maybe after Bonnie was born, maybe if he'd told her then. But no, that was when she had told him no more babies…when she'd been pining after Wilkes. But surely if he had stayed after the night of the birthday party… Rhett was still ashamed of his behavior on that night, although he also still couldn't remember a lot of it. He knew he'd forced her though, knew he'd been brutal…violent. It was one of the few times in his life that he truly regretted and was embarrassed by. And he'd been so hurt and angry that the next morning he told her he was leaving for a long trip. What if he'd stayed? She'd seemed happy to see him that morning, disappointed that he was leaving. But as he looked at her now, none of that mattered. She loved him, of that, he was certain. And he could finally tell her how much he loved her. Things were finally as they should be.

Scarlett watched him as he stared at her. She saw the changes in his expression as he was thinking. Putting her hand on his cheek, she asked, "what are you thinking about, Rhett?"

His eyes met hers, showing surprised at the interrupted musings. "You…us…the road we took to get here…"

She looked away, sadness filling her. "If I hadn't been so stupid," she muttered softly. Rhett folded her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he possibly could. "It's all in the past, my love…we're here now and that is all that matters…" She sighed and relaxed into him, relishing the warmth that she felt.

Suddenly, she pushed him away, flung the covers off, and bolted to the chamber pot where she emptied the contents of her stomach. Rhett moved to hold her as she retched, wincing with her every heave. Finally, she stopped and drooped into his arms. He helped her back to the bed and soothed her, stroking her hair calmly. "I guess that answers that question," he mumbled.

She looked up at him, certainty etched in her features. "I knew I was pregnant. Oh Rhett, isn't it wonderful? We're going to have a baby." He looked at her, buoyed by her excitement but at the same time, something gripped his heart and squeezed. After Bonnie and the miscarriage, fear was all he seemed to feel. She fell asleep in his arms, his hands gently stroking her. Carefully Rhett slipped from the bed, gently easing her completely back onto the mattress. He dressed quickly and quietly and then, glancing back at her sleeping form, slipped out of the door, closing it softly behind him.

Downstairs, the children were playing a game in the parlor. Rhett glanced in and decided to head for the kitchen. Mammy and Dilcy were busy with the dishes, everyone having eaten already except, of course, Scarlett and Rhett. Mammy heard him in the doorway and turned. "Why Mista Rhett…yous awake. You must be powerful hungry. Let me git cha sumthin' to eat."

Rhett appraoced her, smiling. "Good morning Mammy." He turned and nodded a greeting to Dilcy. "Good morning," he smiled. Then turning back to Mammy. "Just some bread will do, Mammy. No sense making more dishes. Just wrap some bread in a towel and I'll be fine," he assured her.

Mammy frowned, looking horrified. "Now, Mista Rhett. You can't git no better if'n you just eats bread. I saved some bacon and biscits for you. They wrapped over on da stove. You sit down and let me fetch 'em fo ya." Rhett did as he was told and sat. Years of having Mammy around had taught him not to tangle with her, especially when she was in a mood to take care of somebody. And apparently he was her latest somebody. She brought a plate with the promised bacon and biscuits and set a jar of molasses next to it. "You done lost some weight in dat fire. But ole Mammy, she goin' ta see dat you fatten up some…"

Rhett's laughter was deep and sincere. "Why thank you, Mammy. My clothes are hanging a bit loose. You'll save me ordering more…," he said as he continued to chuckle.

His laughter brought Suellen from some other part of the house. "Mmm, she'll give you twice your share and then where will the rest of us be? Starving, no doubt," she stated sourly.

"Good morning, Suellen," Rhett said. "I promise not to eat you out of the house. And if we need more supplies, I'm sure the store in town will be happy to provide them."

"Humpf," grunted Mammy. "I'd say so…and at a heapin' big price too. I expecs dem ta charge da balck folk too much but dey even chargin' the white folk like dat…"

Rhett looked at Mammy, concerned. "They're gouging?"

"If'n ya mean dey expecs twice the wurth, den, yea, dey's gougin'."

"We don't buy from them except sugar, flour, and coffee," Suellen explained. "Everything else we eat is grown here." There was pride in her stance.

"I'm impressed," Rhett said as he looked from Mammy to Suellen. "You and Will and the others are doing a remarkable job with this place."

Somewhat mollified, Suellen nodded and then stepped out the back door, headed for another of her morning tasks, Rhett assumed. "Humpf," grunted Mammy.

"Something wrong, Mammy?" Rhett asked.

"Mista Will gits all the credit…or he should. Miz Suellen don't do much a nothin' round hea. Jus' makes trouble, dats all. Fusses at da chillin and den fusses at Mista Will. And she gives Big Sam no peace at all… She don' mess wit me or Dilcey too much and ole Pork, he just hides when he sees her comin'."

Rhett finished his meal quietly, deep in thought. Afterwards, he made his way into the fields, looking for Will. He found him in one of the new ones, down on his hands and knees, looking intently at the ground.

As Rhett's shadow passed over Will, he looked up and smiled. "New seeds is just beginning to bud. We'll be having a field full o' crop in a few weeks."

Rhett smiled. "What did you plant here?"

"Well, I know this soil ain't too good fer it, but I thought to try some wheat. The price o' flour's gittin' mighty high and I thought maybe we could grow enough to not have ta buy any. Probably won't produce more'en what we need, but that'll be good enough."

Rhett nodded. "Who's running the store now?"

"Some Yankee scalawag by tha name of Conrad. He's a hard one, he is. Got no mercy for any of the folks round here. Looks like a ferret if ya ask me…beedy eyes. Don't trust him a bit," he concluded as he chewed the ever present straw in his mouth.

"Suellen and Mammy were telling me about him. Say he charges twice the price."

"Wish we was that lucky. No…I'd say even more than that. Most folks can't afford it. Missus Tarelton was by the other day and tol' me they havin' ta do without sugar and coffee. She said most folks round here is."

Rhett looked around the field. "So what are you working on today?"

"Big Sam and me, we're putting seed in the other field. I got some cotton planned fer that one."

Rhett nodded. "Could you use another hand? I'm a bit out of practice but I think I can remember how to do it."

"You planted cotton before?" Will surprised look amused Rhett. "Yes," he answered. "Years ago. My father had a plantation and I worked there sometimes, just to get away from him."

"I didn' know," Will said as he spat. When he glanced back up, Rhett thought he detected a new respect in the man's eyes. "Well, extra hands is always needed." Soon Rhett was working along side Will and Big Sam, his shirt sleeves rolled up and sweat pouring off his face.

Scarlett woke to an empty bed. Her stomach seemed more settled, slipping into a casual dress, she headed downstairs. Mammy greeted her in the kitchen with a smile. "I's wondering if I should go wake you up," she told Scarlett. "I'm fine, Mammy. I was just really tired from the trip."

"Well, you ju' relax. How about some biscuits?"

"One maybe," Scarlett replied. "Where's Rhett?" She looked around as if he would be in the room.

"Oh, Mista Rhett, he done gone out to find Mista Will."

"How long ago?" Scarlett was concerned.

"Been 'bout two…maybe three hours ago."

Scarlett began to worry in earnest. "He's been out there that long? Oh, Mammy. I must go get him…"

"He be fine. He's a growd man, he knows when ta quit."

"But you don't understand, Mammy. He's still not well. He…well, he seems strong enough, but that fire, it did so much damage…" She started for the door when Mammy's hand stopped her. "Leave 'em be, Miz Scarlett. He a man dat been hurt bad and da only way he gonna git himself back is by doin' a man's work. Dat's the way with men folk, de need ta work…"

Scarlett wanted to argue, wanted to get him from the filed, to make him come in and rest. But as she looked at Mammy's face, she knew it would be the wrong thing to do. Rhett needed to heal in ways that weren't physical and maybe working with Will would help. Maybe he would find himself again. So she turned her attention to things inside the house, trying to set her worry aside.

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Hope you enjoyed. More to come soon, I promise....sometime this weekend, I hope.