Thanks for the reviews! I have had a death in my family after Thanksgiving, so I haven't written in a while, however this weekend, this chapter has been begging me to write it, even though Chapter 15 is already in my mind. So enjoy!

Hint: Rhett and Scarlett did, so I moved up the rating to M, let me know if you think it should be T, tried to be tasteful.

CHapter 14: W/Help

The town hall glowed a soft warm golden light from the windows as though it was a beacon in the clear, cold Atlanta night. Women arrived in capes and furs, and discarded their winter cocoons once inside the ball. The greenery was strung from one side to the other, and caught with red velvet ribbons, and creamy white poinsettias.

Rhett helped Scarlett with her fur lined cape, as she straightened and preened her gown. As the cold air hit her shoulders, she felt his warm hand on her waist, and his mustache tickled her ear, "You look beautiful as ever."

Two couples passed them by, and did a second glance. Either shocked by who they were, or by Rhett's closeness. Scarlett stepped away, and smiled, "Now, Mr. Butler, watch yourself. I believe you are trying too hard."

Rhett ignored her barb, and took her arm, "I'm being honest, and when have I ever wanted to be appropriate. I believe it was this very room where we first-"

"Don't, Rhett," Scarlett said in a stern voice, as though commanding a horse.

Rhett stopped, and pulled her around to face him, "Scarlett, I know you enjoy this ball, and aside from all the "troubles", it has been enjoyable this last two weeks with you. So, let's try to be normal, and just enjoy the ball."

Scarlett's mouth dropped, "Are you saying, you forgive me?"

"Rhett started walking again, "I didn't say THAT! Just let's enjoy the music, food and err, friends. And to be honest, it's not about forgiving you, but I don't want to ruin the night."

Scarlett turned her attention to the welcoming table, headed by Mrs. Merriweather and Mrs. Meade.

Rhett bowed, "Good evening ladies, and such chill in the air for the Christmas Ball."

"Captain Butler," bellowed Mrs. Merriweather, "and Scarlett welcome to the ball, and thank you for your generous donation of the greenery."

Rhett nodded, "It wouldn't be CHristmas without the beautiful colors of red and green!"

"You are so right," piped Mrs. Meade, "My, but that is a lovely dress, Scarlett."

Scarlett smiled, but said very little, except, "Thank you, Mrs. Meade."

Rhett made his exit, and escorted Scarlett on to the dance floor, just as the waltz was starting. Eyes were on the couple, watching and whispering. Scarlett felt the pressure from at least a hundred eyes on them, and refused to give any of them acknowledgements. Rhett huffed a stifled laugh throughout the waltz, until she asked, "What's so funny?"

"People, they are so curious about us. It really is sad, how much thought they put on our lives."

"Well, you are not exactly keeping the gossip down, but I'm sure adding to it."

"Now, dear, don't look so sour, smile or they will talk more."

"Is this better?" Scarlett produced her sweetest dimpled grin.

"Perfect," Rhett grinned back, and pecked her cheek, just as the waltz stopped.

Rhett escorted Scarlett to their table, where they met the Langs, as they announced dinner would be served. Across the room, Ashley sat at a table with India and Pitty dressed in exact shades of gray and black. India glanced over her shoulder at the Butler Lang table and stiffened her back. Ashely rose and made his way over to the corner table where the Butlers sat.

"Good evening, Scarlett, Rhett." Ashley's voice was low, but clear.

The four occupants at the table looked up and only Scarlett smiled, "Ashley, it's good to see you."

"It's been a while, Scarlett. Are you feeling better? I saw Mammy last week, and she said you were getting a rest."

Rhett put his hand over his wife's and answered, "Yes, I am making sure Scarlett is getting all the rest she needs. We have been through so much this year."

"Yes, i understand, Rhett," Ashley nodded as he glanced over at the other couple.

"Forgive me, Ashley, this is Mr. and Mrs. Lang," Scarlett made the introductions, as the couple shook hands with Ashley.

"Well, I best get back to our table, or dinner will be ice cold."

Scarlett watched as Ashley made his way back over to the table of eight. Her trance was broken by PIlar's question, "Are we the only ones at this table?"

Scarlett looked back at Pilar, "I believe so."

As Rhett and Carson left to get glasses of wine, Pilar lowered her voice, "Is that golden haired man, him?"

Scarlett looked at her with wet eyes, "Yes, and for the life of me, I feel nothing for him, now, only pity. Seeing him reminds me of Melly, and how horrible I was."

"Scarlett, now don't do this tonight to yourself. " Pilar said quickly as Rhett took his seat next to his wife.

"Is everybody doing well?" Rhett asked looking from Pilar to Scarlett.

"I'm fine, Rhett," Scarlett answered quickly, "Did you get the white wine?"

"Yes, unless you need something stronger?"

Scarlett didn't answer him, but took a gulp of wine.

Soon all the board members and the dignitaries took their places on the stage for the speeches and words of gratitude. Scarlett's mind wandered from RHett to Melly to Bonnie, and finally, her mind would not settle its wandering, and she excused herself. Pilar followed after her onto the front veranda of the town hall.

Scarlett stood behind the large pillar and bent her head to cry. She was sobbing when Pilar caught up to her. Pilar hugged Scarlett letting her cry on her shoulder.

"There, there, you need to just remember the happiest memories, not the terrible ones. You were good to Melly and her family."

Scarlett sat up, and wiped her eyes with her hands, "It's just, I wish, I could have made it up to her. You don't know how many times-"

"Shhh! you mustn't do this. Rhett is here tonight with you, don't you want to be with him?"

"Yes, but… I don't know when he'll leave again, and it's all because I was so stupid and blind."

"But you have a lifetime to make it up to him, he loves you."

"Dessert is served, I know you don't want to miss it."

The two women turned around to see Rhett standing behind them. Pilar followed Scarlett back into the hall, and as Rhett took his seat next to her, "Are you feeling ill?"

"No," Scarlett answered as she cut a piece of the warm pecan pie.

Rhett was interrupted by the music that started back again, and this time it was Christmas carols, and a group of robed children came on the stage to sing. Fair haired boys and girls of Atlanta's finest families sang with sweet youthful voices. Rhett put his glass down and listened, Scarlett ignored it as background music and continued to eat. Pilar placed her fork down and watched the children, humming along with the songs. Scarlett looked over at Pilar and saw the tears streaming down her face, and for a moment she thought, "We must be the saddest group of people here."

Soon Carson put his hand over Pilar's and whispered something in her ear, and a moment later they excused themselves. Scarlett looked up at Rhett, he was watching the group of children as though he was looking for someone, and Scarlett placed her fork down and realized, it was Bonnie. She could have been in the children's choir this year, and been up on the stage with her mass of dark locks among these flaxen haired children singing her little heart out, Rhett would have seen to it she was.

Scarlett placed her hand on his arm, and whispered, "Do you want to go?"

Rhett looked back, speechless, "No."

"Rhett, I want to go."

As the carriage made it's way up the hill to their home, Scarlett and Rhett sat quietly. Soon they found themselves in the library of the Peachtree house, with the fire blazing in the fireplace. Scarlett sat, bundled in her cape, and Rhett sat across from her in the other chair, still in his coat. He looked at her, and she sat motionless.

"Scarlett, what's wrong?"

She looked up as if she was pulled from a dream, "I miss Melly and Bonnie."

Rhett looked like his face had been slapped at hearing her name, "I do, too."

"We shouldn't have gone tonight." Scarlett blurted out just as tears began to pour out her eyes, and she grabbed the book on the table and hurled it at the wall. Rhett watched her, so much like when he met her, full of anger over that which was beyond her control.

Rhett's heart was full of grief, and he bit his lip as angry tears burned his eyes.

"Damnit!" Scarlett yelled as she ran over to the book and started kicking and pounding on it as she was on her hands and knees sobbing. Rhett was at her side, helping her to her feet and walking her to the sofa.

"Scarlett, get a hold of yourself!" Rhett slapped her face, and she looked at him in shock and slapped him back. Rhett grabbed her by the shoulders, as she broke down in his arms. Her body was next to his, and shook with sobs, as he held her like a child next to his chest. His face contorted and he joined her in crying. It seemed they stood there for hours, holding each other, and then he felt Scarlett take a deep breath and sighed.

Rhett wiped his wet eyes with a handkerchief before he wiped Scarlett's eyes. Her face was puckered and pouted like a child's. He lifted her chin and said, "Let's get you to bed."

Scarlett's voice was hoarse, as she croaked out, "Yes."

Rhett walked her upstairs and helped Scarlett with her cape and unbuttoned her navy blue evening gown. Scarlett allowed him to unlace her, exposing her chemise. It was then she turned in his arms, and held his strong warm hands in hers which were like ice.

"Rhett, don't leave me," said Scarlett as she took the corset and tossed it on the vanity bench.

Her green eyes were red rimmed like two saucers looking into his with a need and fever, he had never seen before this night. Rhett was exhausted emotionally and physically, and he was tired of fighting it anymore, the look in her eyes was total surrender, he had waited for this moment since that day at Twelve Oaks. Her lips were cherry red and pouting into a perfect heart, as he took her mouth to his and kissed her with familiar lips that had missed each other clung to the passion of the kiss. Rhett kissed her slowly, not wanting it to end, and Scarlett kissed him back, pulling her body closer to his body, so that the fluttering of her heart met his pounding heart.

Rhett's hands found her body under her silk chemise, even though he couldn't tell where the chemise ended and her skin started, her curves fit into his hands, as he lowered her onto the bed. His lips left hers and found her body, as he caressed every inch with kisses, and her lips parted moaning his name, "Rhett, oh, Rhett." as her hands searched his shoulders and dug her nails into them. Her body shifted under his to meet his hands, the only word he could say was, "Scarlett.", at that moment nothing else existed.

Scarlett's breath was quick and halting, and her body trembled as her clothing was discarded, and her cool hands warmed next to his chest, and his warm hands pulled her closer so there was no distance between them, and as he pushed their bodies closer, Rhett looked into her eyes that held a fevered green glow, and she said, "Rhett, I love you." It was a statement filled with passion and honesty, he had never felt, and their uniting was a complete surrender on both parts, Scarlett freely gave herself to Rhett, as he took her slowly, careful not to miss a moment.

Rhett beard rubbed against her face as she pulled him closer to her, as Rhett brought Scarlett to a fevered passion, she never knew, Scarlett cried out of joy, satisfaction and the unknown. It made Rhett push further in his determination to have her completely reaching her body, as though he encompassed her soul and being. He collapsed on her heaving chest, and moaned her name into her skin with rough, hot lips. Scarlett brushed his sweaty, hair off his forehead, and her soft lips brushed it with a kiss.

As Rhett rolled off of her, the cold air of the night assaulted her naked body, and Scarlett curled up into the blankets and turned away looking into the softly lit room. She could hear Rhett's breathing slowly return to normal, as the tremors lessened in his body, and his arm was soon draped over her body and his mouth was next to her ear, "Are you cold?"

Scarlett could only nod, embarrassed by her display of passion. His hard, strong body pressed against her back, and his mustache tickled her cheek as he gave her a kiss, and she allowed her body to relax into his feeling safe and warm. Scarlett felt his chest on her back, and soon it was a low hum of a snore, as he drifted to sleep next to her, and his warmth enveloped her body and soul.

Scarlett wondered how she could lose herself so completely with Rhett, it was like giving her soul to Rhett. Was it so different because she loved him? When she was in his arms, and feeling his body next to hers, she could have died in that moment, and it wouldn't have mattered, was that what love was? But what haunted her most was that she told him she loved him, but he hadn't said it back, as though she needed the reassurance, she felt his lips on her hair, as Rhett murmured in his sleep, "Scarlett."