Monday had come and gone without a visit from Rhett. Scarlett was very disappointed. She had taken care to dress very nicely and she was attempting a new hairstyle. She liked how he always took notice of things like that. She was dismayed when she realized one of her hairpins was missing. She figured it must have been Wade that lost it when they were outside playing in the yard. Scarlett was disappointed; luxuries like hairpins were hard to come by these days. Scarlett worried a little about how overwhelming the feeling of missing Rhett was. It had only been one day that she hadn't seen him. She was not in love with him, she told herself. It was just that she didn't seem to think about the war, Melanie or the fact that Ashley was missing when he was around. He seemed to be able to take all of her cares away, even when they were arguing. She was going to see him tomorrow, she reassured herself.

Rhett's Monday had taken him out of town. He had urgent business he had to deal with and he was relieved. He still couldn't believe what had happened the night before. He couldn't believe that he had been careless enough to spill his seed inside her. He had to propose to her now, and they would have to get married quickly lest one of the old busy bodies in town started counting the months after she had a baby. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, but he was terrified. He didn't want to ruin her reputation. He was cursing himself that he had let this mistress nonsense go so far. He wasn't even sure that Scarlett would marry him. She would probably want to wait to see if she were pregnant first, but by then it would be too late to hide the truth.

He slipped into a jewelry store and he was thankful he was not in Atlanta. He didn't want anyone seeing him purchase an engagement ring. Nothing in the store looked like the kind of ring that Scarlett would want. He wanted to buy her something big, flashy and ostentatious; he knew that was the kind of ring that would make Scarlett's eyes sparkle. He finally settled with on a ring with a modest sized diamond. He wasn't happy with the ring, but it was the best he could do under such short notice.

Rhett was happy that he had been traveling all day. He wanted to go see her badly, but he was weary from traveling. By going to sleep he was able to fight the urge to go see her again. He was going to see her tomorrow anyway, he reassured himself.

When Tuesday dawned, Scarlett awoke giddy and happy. She found herself humming and singing silly songs to herself. In a few short hours she was going to get to escape for a while into Rhett's waiting arms. Scarlett wondered how hard Rhett would laugh at her if he could see how silly she was being over the thought of seeing him. Scarlett rang for Prissy to come and help her get dressed.

Prissy entered the room; her eyes were wide with fear. "Miss Scarlett, Miss Melly been callin' you for the longest."

Scarlett groaned in frustration; of all the Tara servants, why had her mother sent Prissy with her?

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Lordy, Miss Scarlett, I knows you don't like to be 'turbed in the mornin."

Scarlett shook her head in disgust; sometimes Prissy was less than useless. Scarlett made her way to Melanie's room. When she entered the room she saw Melanie writhing in the pain in obvious pain.

"Scarlett! Scarlett!" Melanie moaned from the bed.

Scarlett wanted to send for the doctor but Melanie wouldn't hear of it. Melanie knew the soldiers needed the doctors more, especially when she didn't know how long it would take for her to have the baby. Scarlett sent Prissy out to find anyone that could help them know when Melly's time was near.

While Prissy was gone Scarlett tried to entertain Melly, but her thoughts were firmly with Rhett. She wished she had a way to send word to him that she wouldn't make it this afternoon. Scarlett smiled to herself; she would just have to find some way to make it up to him.

When Prissy returned with the news that none of the ladies were available, Scarlett sent her out again in search of a doctor. A doctor just had to come. Scarlett felt little comfort about Prissy having midwife experience. Melanie was so impossibly small she was going to need medical help.

Rhett sat in his hotel room, growing more and more despondent. It was already past one o'clock and Scarlett still had not shown up. He was starting to feel foolish; he had gone and purchased flowers and champagne for his impending proposal. Both of those items had cost him a small fortune, but he had wanted to make a good impression on Scarlett.

When three o'clock came and went Rhett decided to go to Belle's to get good and thoroughly drunk. This time he wasn't going to let thoughts of Scarlett stop him. Let her have his bastard. It was her reputation not his. Rhett regretted letting the army take his horse and carriage. Now, he was going to have to make it to Belle's on foot. Angrily Rhett made his way through town. He hated being made a fool.

Prissy returned again and told Scarlett that all of the doctors were at the train yard tending to wounded and dying soldiers. Scarlett asked her if she had gone down there to bring one of the doctors back. Prissy told her that she didn't want to go down to the train yard because people were dying. Scarlett gave up on the thought that Prissy could be any help and made her way to the train yard herself.

Doctor Meade briskly informed Scarlett that he couldn't leave hundreds of dying men to help one woman have a baby. He told her she was going to have to bring the baby herself. Scarlett left the train yard defeated. Melly and her child's fate now lay in Prissy's hands; a shiver ran down Scarlett's spine. Scarlett desperately wished she had someone to lean on right now. She wanted her mother's wisdom or Rhett's strong confidence. She vaguely wondered why she wanted Rhett's presence and not Ashley's, but she comforted herself with the thought that it was only because Rhett was in town.

All around her Atlanta was falling apart. Families were evacuating and people were looting from stores. Yankees were getting closer and closer to town and she was still stuck here because of an idiotic promise she had made to Ashley. Scarlett wanted to be home at Tara with her mother.

Slowly, Scarlett let herself back into Aunt Pitty's house. Prissy was waiting for her.

"Prissy, you are going to have to deliver the baby and I'll help."

"Fo' Gawd, Miss Scarlett, We's got ter have a doctah, Ah doan know nuthin bout bringin babies."

"What do you mean?! You said you knew everything about bringing babies."

"Ah doan know huccome Ah tell sech a lie."

Scarlett had never hit one of her servants before, but today she struck Prissy with all the strength that she possessed. She made Prissy gather all of the supplies that she could think of that would help her bring the baby into the world.

Several terrifying hours later, Scarlett and Prissy delivered Melanie's son. Scarlett thought it was a miracle that neither of them had died by Scarlett and Prissy's ignorance. Soldiers that were passing by the house informed Scarlett that the army was pulling out of Atlanta before the Yankees came. Scarlett knew that she had to get everybody out of town too.

"Prissy, go find Captain Butler. Look for him at the National Hotel or at Belle's."

Scarlett could tell that Prissy was debating whether or not to refuse Scarlett's demand. Something about the look on Scarlett's face must have reminded her of the slap she received earlier that day because she left without much protest.

Rhett sat at the bar at Belle's with a bottle of whiskey and a glass in front of him. He hadn't taken one drink of it. Usually, Rhett was one of the most sought after patrons of Belle's establishment, but tonight everyone was giving him a wide berth. His anger was coming off of him in waves and no one wanted to be at the receiving end of that anger.

Belle shook her head when she looked over at her good friend. She couldn't understand why Rhett would let someone like Scarlett Hamilton twist him up in knots. She knew that Rhett was in love with Scarlett, but she couldn't figure out why he couldn't tell that Scarlett was never going to cause him anything but heartache. Belle's knowledge of Scarlett was fairly limited but she had heard enough from Rhett and gossip around town to know that she was nothing but a selfish, cold hearted woman. Belle was unaware of the recent turn that Rhett and Scarlett's relationship had taken. Rhett couldn't bring himself to tell one of his oldest friends what had transpired between him and Scarlett. Rhett knew that Belle would tell him that he was setting himself up for failure.

"Butler!" the guy that ensured the peace at Belle's hollered. "There's some darkie out here screamin' fer ya."

Rhett made his way outside and was surprised to see Prissy waiting for him.

"Prissy, what is it? Has something happened to Scarlett? I mean Mrs. Hamilton."

"Nah, Cap'n Butler, we brung Miss Melly's baby terday and now Miss Scarlett wants to leave 'lanta. She wants ya ter brung yer horse and carriage fo' us."

Rhett sighed, she had needed him today. He had spent the day sulking and being angry and she had probably spent the day being terrified.

"Prissy, go back home and tell Miss Scarlett that the army took my horse and carriage, but I'll steal one for her if I have to."

Rhett watched Prissy run back toward Peachtree Street. Rhett scoured the streets to find anything that could work as transportation for six people. The only thing Rhett could find was a horse that looked like it was about to meet its maker and a cart that was about to fall apart all on its own.

Scarlett paced around the house waiting for Rhett to show up. She had missed him terribly today. She couldn't wait to be wrapped in his arms. Finally, Scarlett heard hoof beats coming down the street. While she was relieved to see Rhett, she was dismayed at the horse and cart that he had. How could all of them possibly fit in that cart?

Rhett and Scarlett argued when she told him her plans to go to Tara. He tried to get her to go anywhere else because the armies had been fighting in that area. But, Scarlett was determined to go so Rhett finally relented.

Atlanta was on fire as they drove through the town. The army was burning supplies to keep them out of the hands of the Yankees. As he watched the army retreat Rhett was filled with shame. He should be with them as they made one last stand. He wondered if she would ever forgive him if he were to leave her so he could go join the fight. He would never get her to understand that he was doing it for her just as much as he was doing it for himself. When he got to the turn to Rough and Ready he stopped the horse. Rhett jumped down out of the cart.

"Rhett, where are you going?"

"Jump down."

"No, Rhett, let's keep going." Rhett reached up and pulled Scarlett out of the cart.

"You still determined to do this?"

"Yes, Rhett, I'm sure we can make it."

"No, you can make it. I'm leaving you here. I'm going to go join the army."

"Oh, Rhett, I'm not in the mood for your jokes."

"I'm very serious, Scarlett. If I turn back now I can join that retreating troop."

Rhett was talking, but Scarlett was not paying attention. Had she bothered to listen to the words he was saying she would hear him finally declaring his love for her. The only thing that Scarlett could think about was the fact that he was abandoning her. Suddenly, Scarlett found herself wrapped in Rhett's arms. Without giving it a second thought Scarlett surrendered to Rhett's kiss. The kiss was slow and sensuous as if they had all the time in the world.

Rhett pulled away and whispered in her ear. "How about one last time Scarlett? We can go a little ways down the road, they won't see us. Send me off with beautiful memories." Scarlett let Rhett pull her down the road until the cart was out of sight. Rhett pushed her back against a tree, rid her of her drawers and wrapped her legs around his waist. She couldn't believe she was doing this with her son, Melly, a baby and Prissy just a few feet away, but she didn't know if she would ever see this man again.

Rhett didn't want it to be like this. When he made love to her he wanted to be able to see every inch of her, taste every part of her and touch her velvety skin. He liked to be able to take his time and savor every moment they could manage to steal. He knew they had no time tonight, this was just a way to tell each other goodbye. She needed to get off the main road and he had to be able to catch up with the retreating troops. Scarlett clung to him as if her life depended on it as he thrust into her. He could feel her trembling and hear her soft moans. He gave a few more thrusts and released himself inside her. After they finished Scarlett left her arms wrapped around Rhett's neck.

"Rhett…Rhett…" She continued to moan over and over again. She wanted to beg him to stay with her. She wanted to tell her that her feelings for him were something more than friendship. She wasn't ready to call it love; she didn't feel for him the same way she felt for Ashley.

Rhett took her hands and led her back to the cart. As they stood in front of the horse Rhett kissed the palm of her hand and put her hand over his heart. As he stared into Scarlett's teary green eyes, he wanted to ask her to marry him. He decided not to propose, he didn't know if he was going to make it back from this God forsaken war. He brushed a tear off of Scarlett's face, kissed her forehead and turned and walked away.

Scarlett buried her head in the horse's neck. She allowed herself to cry as she listened to Rhett's footsteps die away.