Note: Wow... you guys and gals are amazing. 8 reviews for one chapter! You all are really spoiling me, not that I'm complaining. Those reviews mean a lot to me and really encourage me to continue. Well I hope you all enjoy and reviews are welcomed.

Part 7

Scarlett woke up groggily as sun light streamed in through the window on her face. Last night came back to her in a flash and looking to her side she didn't expect to see Rhett beside her, but he was. She smiled and sat back with a sigh. So it hadn't been a dream...

Rhett lay on his side facing her, his face resting on his arm and the sheet covering his waist and below. She blushed as her eyes roamed over him. She knew she wouldn't have the nerve to do so if he were awake. But what a fine specimen of a man he was! She had thought him handsome before but she realized he was the best looking man she had ever seen. Even in the early days of their marriage Rhett awoke long before her and she would awaken alone so she didn't observe him that often.

His brow wasn't creased and he looked almost peaceful. She wondered when he would wake up and a feeling of uncertainty overtook her. What if he regretted it or worse ran to Belle's? Well she wouldn't let him.

Last night had been... oh she couldn't pick words to describe it! It hadn't been with the same rough passion of the night of Ashley's party or the careful restraint of the early days of their marriage. No, it had been slow yet urgent at the end as if they both had been only fighting to grab the pleasure for themselves.. To forget... There hadn't been restraint on their parts except for in the beginning when Rhett had stared at her, raising his head, his eyes boring into hers.

"Do you want me to stop?" he had asked. She could have, but she shook her head, blushing as he had continued his exploration up and down her entire body. His kisses had left her body burning and she had forgotten everything that she had once refused his touches and had barely tolerated them. She had wanted them desperately had acted like a complete wanton. But somehow she didn't care.

Suddenly she felt eyes on her and looking up from her thoughts she saw Rhett staring at her with a strange expression on his face. He must think he's dreaming, she thought. She gave him a quick smile but blushed once she realized she was still naked. She pulled the sheet tightly up to her throat and her face flamed.

"So I'm not dreaming," he said.

She shook her head. "No." Suddenly she felt very shy but forced herself to not look away from his gaze.

"God, I'm starving," he announced. His stomach rumbled and he gave her a helpless look that made her smile. "I feel like I haven't eaten in a week."

Scarlett realized he probably hadn't. Why the first time she had ate had been yesterday morning when Rhett had brought her the eggs. She suddenly felt very hungry also. She looked over the bed, scanning the floor.

"Oh, where's my robe?" she said, worriedly.

"Running off so soon?" he asked, a slight amusement in his voice.

"I'm going to send for some breakfast for us," she told him airily. Still scanning the floor she only saw Rhett's discarded clothing and her robe was no where to be seen. She blushed at the thought of having to run to the closet with nothing on!

"Is this it?" he asked leaning over the side of the bed and pulling her green robe up from the ground. It was badly wrinkled. "I must have thrown it over here last night or maybe that was you."

She blushed. Did he have to keep bringing up last night? Didn't he have any decency? But his eyes were twinkling and she couldn't glare at him and ruin their fragile truce. She would just ignore his remarks. besides his teasing was better then his coldness or barbs. She snatched it from him quickly and slipped it on, trying to hide her body from his gaze. Her eyes met his and he smiled in that egimatic way.

Scarlett left her room and sighed with relief once she closed her door and leaned against it, her heart pounding. She felt shaky and strange. It must have been from lack of sleep and food for she knew she must look awful. Even Rhett still looked a little gaunt but there was a smile on his lips and she felt a sense of happiness that she hadn't felt in a while. Rhett and her had a semi-closeness now as they had possessed years ago. And she had been part of the reason he was smiling again.

No sooner had Scarlett made her way down the hall, looking for Mammy she saw the old woman walking around. "Mammy," she said with a smile.

"Mah lamb ya sure are lookin better. I was so worried after Miss Bonnie's... well I's jus' glad to see ya with a smile on your face."

The mention of Bonnie's name momentarily put a pang in her heart. How easy it was to imagine her daughter was off at Melly's or playing in the yard. She shoved those thoughts from her mind. She would think about everything tomorrow.

"I am better Mammy," she agreed. "I feel like I'm finally waking up after this nightmare and maybe... just maybe there is hope."

"Of course there is honey," Mammy agreed, a small smile on her face. "Jus' ya see. You and Mistah Rhett will be happy."

Scarlett didn't say anything as Mammy spoke about something else. Her and Rhett happy? She didn't know if they could ever be completely happy. Of course there were times that they were but more often he was cruel and sarcastic and she couldn't stand being around him. Yet, last night was different. It's almost as if she craved being around him. Suddenly, she felt like she had a pounding headache. Rubbing her temples, she sighed.

"Whut's wrong with my lamb?" Mammy demanded briskly.

"Nothing Mammy," Scarlett said. "I'm going back to my room. Please have the cook send two plates of breakfast to my room. Rhett and I will be eating together."

Mammy beamed and walked off with a satisfied smile. "Praise be to Lord," Scarlett heard Mammy mutter in thanks. Scarlett sighed, annoyed that Mammy thought her and Rhett were somehow in love or giving their marriage another chance. Truthfully shet didn't know if they were giving their marriage another chance. For Rhett was leaving in less then a week.

Ashley's face flashed before her mind and she froze. How could she have forgotten Ashley? She didn't regret last night, yet she felt a sense of loss. She was further away from Ashley then ever. And the strange thing was she only thought of that without a fear but detachment. Well, she would visit Ashley tomorrow.

With that thought she opened the door and saw Rhett still in bed. He was sitting up, resting against the backboard, his shirt still off and enjoying a cigar. She looked away from his chest and sat at her vanity, brushing her hair. She could see his reflection in the mirror.

"Scarlett," he finally said, "we need to talk."

"Oh, not now Rhett," she sighed. She had enough on her mind. "Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"Everything is tomorrow with you," he said with a sigh. "No, Scarlett we need to speak about last night. Was this a one time thing or do I dare hope that I will have a true marriage with my wife finally?"

She didn't know if he was mocking her or not. She had lost count of her brush stroke and set down her brush irritably. She didn't know why she was very irritated all of a sudden but she was. Where was breakfast anyways, it should have been here by now?

"You know that I don't love you, Rhett," she simply said.

If she would have been looking at him she would have seen him flinch visibly But she was looking at her clasped hands as if they were the most fascinating thing. Oh, she couldn't face him. She was tired of talking and talking. The endlessness of talking. She just wanted to be left alone, and the memory of the pleasure of last night dimmed in her mind.

"That didn't stop you last night. Did you ever stop and think why you loved Bonnie so much?" he tightly asked.

She didn't want to talk about Bonnie! Clenching her hands together, her eyes met his in the mirror. He was watching her, his eyes burning with some emotion she couldn't name. "Well I guess because she was such a beautiful child," she murmured.

He swiftly rose to his feet and Scarlett caught a flash of him completely naked as he grabbed his pants and placed them on in jerky movements. He stared over at her, seeing he had her complete attention.

"What a child you are, Scarlett. You know you didn't love Bonnie just because she was beautiful anymore then you love Ashley because he is honorable. If I didn't know any better after last night I'd say you didn't love, Ashley either."

Her mind was spinning. Oh, she didn't want to fight.

"Oh, Rhett I don't want to fight," she said. "Won't you just sit down so we can have a nice breakfast?"

"No. I've suddenly lost my appetite." He walked for the door in measured strides. But when she expected a slam, he quietly shut it behind him.

TBC