A/N Well, here you go after a much deserved poke the second part of Converging Lives is finally ready. I am sorry for the long wait, but I have had to much work to do recently and the inspiration hasn't been around. I am not sure I am completely satisfied with the outcome - but in the end I will let you judge. Thanks for reading and please leave a review to tell me what you think of my little story. - M

Without further ado...

It took a long moment for the words to sink in. She blinked in confusion. Was this it? Was this his confession? His profession of undying love? Was she ready? Ready to hear his words? Ready to speak them herself?

Scarlett didn't know what answer give him. Her eyes flickered, she needed a moment for herself without his searching eyes trying to extract what she still felt.

What did he expect her to say? What could he expect? And unending proclamation of love? Her throwing herself in his arms? What did she want to say? Oh it was all so confusing.

She didn't quite believe that the storm had been quelled so easily and that the sun was now shining from a clear blue sky, a sky that was quite possibly even bluer and brighter than ever before.

For a split second her mind thought it a trick, but then she caught his eyes, those black eyes that could be as impenetrable and closed to her as the most heavily guarded fortress imaginable, were for once open and inviting, encouraging her to search the truth that was hidden at the bottom of their pits, and suddenly she was absolutely certain that there was no game play involved

This she felt this was a life altering moment, and therefore had to thread carefully. One of those moments of truth – that perhaps really only exist in novels – Scarlet of course never had spent much time reading so she didn't label it as such, but she still recognised the rarity of the moment. Nothing in her life up to that moment had prepared her for or demanded of her pure honesty, and that was what was needed now. It scared her.

Her heart was beating faster than that of a fox, the second before it has been chased down by the hounds. Her mind was reeling, trying to catch up with the sudden turn of events.

She sucked in, was this really finally the moment she had been praying for and dreaming of for the last many years? What if it didn't live up to her expectations and she would have to live with the disappointment of reality for the rest of her life? She was doing perfectly fine on her own, wasn't she, supported by the gilded images of the "could have been". Did she really need to chance her sanity once again?

She was no fool, and giving in to this love would be utterly foolish. The voice of reason and self preservation was screaming loudly along with the voice of resentment from the way he had previously treated her overshadowing the voice of hope that desperately tried to get heard through the turmoil of her mind.

She wanted to believe that this could be her chance, her chance of the happiness that she had longed for, but how could she?

This sudden doubt in the hour that was supposed to be filled with utter happiness took her by surprise, where did it come from? Why this sudden doubt?

She knew she loved Rhett, and would forever, so why this sneaking reluctance? It was unsettling.

The path forward that just minutes before had seemed so simple and straight forward, now seemed scary and twisted, filled with dark looming shadows that could hide both happiness and sorrow.

She raised herself from the seat and turned to the window, feeling the need to put some physical distance between them, her hands a twisted knot.

Why couldn't he go first? He should be the one telling her he loved her first, not the other way around. After all it was him who had left her and married someone else. For a moment Scarlett forgot her own role in the play and just remembered all the anguish and hurt that had filled so much of their life together.

She felt her throat tighten with panic; now that the moment had come she wasn't sure she could go through with it. No! she didn't want to wake up and find that the harsh realities of life could not measure up. She wanted to run! It was not like she didn't have love in her life. She already had the uncomplicated love of her daughter, and a devoted if not loving life companion waiting for her almost at the Alter, she didn't need this complex complicated love that had thwarted her once before.

She who had always been courageous suddenly felt suffocated by fear and indecisiveness.

Her eyes flickered, and the unidentifiable emotions rolled over her face as quick as an incoming tide.

"Look at me"

"Look at me Scarlett" Rhett's strong insisting voice broke through the emerging walls of panic and Scarlett slowly turned around and lifted her gaze to meet his eyes yet again.

She felt his eyes searching her gaze and their eyes locked. His eyes intense and staring; her eyes a clouded storm.

Rhett was amazed at the wild emotions he saw on display there. How could this arise from just the simple question he had uttered?

He had his belief that she still loved him confirmed, but in that moment he felt icing fear grip at his heart. Was he fighting a losing battle? Was it too late? What if she was set on going on with her plans to marry that earl she had drummed up? What if despite loving him she had finally decided that her future would hold no place for him? She was indeed stubborn enough to do so, he knew he had been, only to sorely regret it later.

"Look at me"

He grabbed her slim shoulders and shook her gently, a distinct pleading note in his voice. He needed to get through to her, but was not sure how to do it.

"Look at me Scarlett"

He shook her more violently but still with no effect.

He let his eyes flow over the different effects in the room as to divine the answer solution to his problem from the solid brick walls, the heavy brocade drapes framing the window and beautiful furniture inhabiting most of the available space, but no apparent solution sprang forward. He hated to feel out of control with a situation, and especially a situation as important as this. He simply had to get through to her. It would be more than he could take to lose her yet again.

Suddenly he lifted his hand at swung it to her cheek, leaving a distinct red mark, resorting to a light version of the actions he had felt inclined to take at her earlier revelation. This time however it didn't give him the satisfaction that he would surely have derived from it while he was still caught up in his wild anger.

He caught his breath. He hadn't really thought it through, but he hadn't known what else to do, what was it about this woman that always drove him to the brink of insanity, making him lose control and act without thinking.

If it didn't make her storm out immediately he hoped that she would be able to see the humour in him having resorted to a gesture that up to then had been her trademark. Now, he was glad that she had insisted in having the door locked. That would make any flight she might feel inclined to try a bit more difficult.

At least he thought with some comfort it seemed to have done the trick, her breathing slowed and she sort of slumped, looking utterly lost in her whole countenance. Heavy tears gathered at her eyes and one slowly started to make its way down the beautiful white of her cheek.

To counterbalance his roughness of a moment before he slowly lifted his hand and placed one of his large hands softly at her cheek, ever so gently sliding his thumb down the wet salty track her tear had just drawn.

As she didn't shrink away he with carefully controlled movements tilted her head upwards until their eyes locked yet again. This time however he wasn't met by sparkling green but by a duller green as if a blanket had been pulled over her emotions.

His eyes searched her face for some sign, some invitation, some indication as to what she felt, but he didn't find it. For a brief moment he thought that perhaps the best thing he could do was to turn around and walk out of the room to never come back. He had lived without her for many years, he could do it again, but a nagging voice kept reminding her, exactly how much fun the last years had been, and also, no matter if Scarlett and he could never settle things between them, there was also the question of his daughter. Even if he hadn't loved the mother or didn't hold her love in return, he would definitely wish to establish some kind of bond with this daughter of his. His heart still remembered the first time he had held Bonnie and the joy it had brought him.

No he had to stay and chance it. After all, she had searched him out, and had just a few minutes ago made him so sure that she still loved him. For once he had to stay to the very end, whatever the outcome… and running away had surely not been helpful to him in the past. He would be miserable without her, so what difference would a little more make in case she rejected him

Rhett breathed in deeply, well in for a penny in for a pound – or whatever they called their damn money in this god forsaken country.

"You want me to tell you why I came to this little Island of yours?" His voice was just the right blend of mockery and sincerity. She gave the faintest hint of a nod, she might not even have moved her head and perhaps it had just been a trick of light, or his imagination showing him what he wanted to see, but that was all the encouragement that he needed.

"Come lets sit again" he directed her at the settee they had recently vacated.

"This might be a longer tale than you expect and I don't want you to get tired"

He had hoped she would show some sign of amusement at his attempted humour but her face was still annoyingly blank, nevertheless she complied and sat down stiffly next to where he had placed himself.

"Once upon a time, in a remote country inhabited by fair ladies and gentle mannered young men the king of the parish called to ball as war was threatening their security, he wanted to give the fair people of the land – young as well as old – a chance for gaiety and flirtery before the looming war would destroy it"

Scarlett threw him a suspicious look, what was he playing at? This small gesture however encouraged Rhett, at least she was listening.

"To this festivity a stranger was given an invitation which he reluctantly accepted – an action he should later come to both regret and cherish – for on this day he met his destiny"

"Amongst all the beautiful attendees one sparkled more than all the other put together, a young girl with spirit and vivacity making all the other seem pale and insipid in comparison"

"This girl immediately caught the stranger's eyes, and from that moment on the life of this stranger was changed forever"

"He, who had previously cast aside everything that society expected of him, and had rejoiced in the liberty that came with being an outcast, now felt himself drawn towards acceptance in order to be able to again be close to this girl…"

And thus he went on and wove a tale of yearning, loving and losing spanning all their years of acquaintance up until their final separation after that night in Charleston. It was not always a happy story but it was a tale of a great love that defied being destroyed despite his best efforts.

Scarlett of course recognised the tale, but what struck her the most was the difference between this retelling and the first time he had told it that fateful dark and painful night when he had left her in Atlanta. Back then the tale had been tainted by bitterness and anger – a twisted tale of hurt and anguish. Tonight it was a tale of something beautiful that had withstood both separation and time in addition to all the other obstacles thrown in its way. His words felt like a healing balm on her wounded soul, and she felt the resistance and doubt of before melt away. How could she have doubted her feelings? How could she have even contemplated turning her back on him when he was finally here as she had prayed and begged for, for so long? She loved him; it was as simple and complicated as that. And now given the chance she would embrace it wholeheartedly even if it meant more heartbreak in the future. She simply did not have a choice.

Rhett paused and looked at Scarlett. He felt like reaching out and embracing her so hard that she would be in no doubt of the trueness of his words, squeezing all hesitance and doubt out of every fibre of her body, but he sensed that the time was not quite there yet.

"You changed my life that night my pet" He let the words hang in the air for a moment as to emphasise their meaning before her continued.

"You changed my life and it has never been the same since - you know that don't you?" He concluded his sentence. As she didn't answer he sighed and continued never taking his gaze of her.

"No matter what I have said or believed over the years I love you, I love you and always will" The words were spoken so softly that it almost felt like a physical caress.

At those words Scarlett could no longer hold back her tears, up until he had spoken those last words she had, without even realising it, not really dared to believe in him and his love. Believe that it could in fact be true, that he stilled loved her, but the sincerity was evident and without taking a moment to consider she flung herself at him. Linking her arms tightly around his broad shoulders; burying her head in his white shirt front.

"I love you Scarlett, and I will kill that Fenton if he tries to take you away from me" These words were spoken offhandedly yet with force. She tightened his hold on him, not wanting to have this moment ruined by thoughts of what she had been so close to doing.

How good it felt to be this close to him again. She breathed in deeply taking in his smell, that smell that was so distinctly Rhett, his cologne mixed with faint notes of cigars, leather and whiskey. The latter though, perhaps a bit more distinct than she remembered. She smiled faintly against his chest, as she thought of the reason for this, how good it felt to know that he had been driven to distraction and drunkenness when he thought he had lost her again. It comforted her to know that he had also suffered from their separation.

She felt his strong arms envelope her and it filled her with a sense of safety and comfort that she hadn't felt for a long time. How she had missed being in his arms.

They sat like that for what could have been eternity, but in reality probably were nothing more than a few minutes, just enjoying being close together.

It was Rhett who finally broke their embrace. He slid his hands up her back resting them at her neck carefully tilting her head backwards until he could meet her eyes.

"Well, well Mrs Butler, what do you think your dear husband to be would say if he knew what his devoted fiancée was playing at this exact moment" he said with a twinkle.

"Oh Rhett, don't joke like that" Scarlett pouted and arched her brows, but her stern facial expression was belied by the light of happiness that had been ignited in her eyes.

"Can't you just keep quiet for just a moment" she added trying to sound serious but failing miserably.

"Well I can try, but it will cost you" Rhett responded mockingly, but the happiness he felt was evident in his voice. Before Scarlett had the time to ask what that price might be the answer became clear as Rhett leaned closer.

Their lips met, at first hesitantly almost awkwardly, exploring the familiar yet unknown territory of the others mouth. It had been so long, almost half a decade, what if the magic had been lost? But soon their lips remembered and their kiss deepened. Soft lips against soft lips; soft skin against a slightly rougher stubbled cheek. His hands entangled themselves into her dark locks that mysteriously enough without her noticed had been liberated from the tight hold of the hairpins. She felt the pleasure ripple through her as if hit by an electric current. How she ever could have dreamed and longed for another mans kiss than his, even when she had been in his arms she could not fathom. How could she have led herself to believe that she could have been satisfied with anything other than this was also beyond her. No one but Rhett would ever have this effect on her, even if she had tried to convince herself of the opposite. She snaked her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss even further. Losing herself completely to the sensation that was created within her, wanting to banish everything but the touch of his lips on her mouth from the world.

The kiss held everything she remembered and more. This was the first time they had both kissed each other were both shared the same feelings and the intensity of her feelings was overwhelming. She wanted to convey to him exactly what and how much she felt with this one long kiss, and sensed that he felt the same way.

Again it was Rhett who broke their embrace with a heavy sigh. His hair was ruffled and his cheek had gained a flustered look. For once his immaculate appearance had been a little crumpled. Scarlett smiled and thought that unless she was much mistaken she would look just as ruffled and flustered as he did.

"My, my Mrs Butler you sure haven't lost your touch" He sounded a little out of breath, and was clearly not unaffected by their kiss. He gave her a wicked smile as if to underline the implied meaning of his words.

Suddenly serious he looked into her eyes that were a little glazed from the resent going-on's.

"Haven't you got something to you need to tell me too?"

A look of confusion flickered briefly across her face, before realisation dawned on her, and a smile spread across her face.

She placed her soft hands on his cheeks mimicking his gesture from before and looked intently into his eyes for a long moment.

"It might have taken a bit longer for this thick headed wench to realise it, but this fair lady – wasn't that the term you used Rhett? – is yours" She said with a glint of humour. Knowing he needed to hear her say the words as much as she had needed to hear him say them she continued.

"You changed my life that day as well Rhett, even if I didn't know to what extend, and was to dumb to see it… and I love you, I love you so much it scares me and always will"

"By God I tried to forget you without succeeding, so of that you can be sure" She added her face a mixture of her newfound happiness and remembrance of the sadness and longing from all the years of being without.