So, havent gotten to Christmas yet, I'm getting there, but this chapter is stocked full of interactions and humor: We got Dr. Meade, AShley, India and of course Mammy and Rhett. I think it adds some more possible drama, and opens up some story lines! YAY, let me know whatcha think!

Thanks for all the reviews! and for my Followers, I hope I'm keeping you interested!

It was early morning, and the sun had started to creep through the sheer panels of the bedroom. Scarlett rolled on her back and stretched out, unaware of her nakedness at first, when a chuckle from the chair caused her to sit straight up and clutch the covers.

A cloud of smoke evaporated from around his head, as Rhett grinned, "Good Morning to you too!"

"Rhett- your- uh-"

"Still here, yes. I think it was the first good night's sleep I had in months."

Scarlett blushed and smiled, "Yes, I must say I slept well, too."

The air was heavy with anticipation, and the what ifs hung in their mind, but it was too early in the morning for such discussions. Rhett had replayed the look in her eyes over and over in his mind, never had he seen a woman look at him with such surrender and conviction, when she said she loved him. It made him want to take her all over again, every time he remembered. Scarlett's mind went back to the night, and she marvelled over the total lost of control of the moment and time she was with Rhett, it was exciting and unnerving, and she wanted it again.

Rhett broke the tension by asking, "I take it your tray comes up later?"

"Mammy or Prissy brings it about 9:30."

"That's three hours!"

"Yes, it is," Scarlett answered sitting up in the bed with the covers barely covering her cleavage, and an impish grin on her lips.

Rhett felt unnerved, taken by her charms, and hungry for her body. He stubbed out his cigar and locked the door, in an instant he was on top of Scarlett in the bed, her leg draped over his back, and her hands on his face, taking her mouth in his, tasting his tobacco on her tongue. They were eager to have each other, yet they were afraid to lose the moment. Her hands were warm on his body and his hands caressed her body as though it was the most precious silk. Rhett hovered over his wife, and asked in a whisper, "Open your eyes."

Scarlett looked at him with a feverish glow, and her eyes were filled with hope, as well as excitement. Rhett's dark eyes were intense and bore into hers searching for the surrender of last night, and then she said it, "I love you," and the softness of surrender crinkled her eyes, and it was all that Rhett needed, "I need you," he whispered, as he left no distance between their bodies.

Mammy had awoken, and saw that Scarlett's reticule and gloves were on the table in the Library, and hurried to her room to make sure she had gotten to bed. As Mammy approached the door, she heard Scarlett's moan and cries, and hovered her hand over the knob to rescue her lamb from a nightmare. It was Rhett's husky voice whispering Scarlett's name, that caused her to put her hand back in her pocket and hurry downstairs.

Prissy was arranging the flowers on the breakfast tray, when Mammy ordered, "Don't be going and bother Miz Scarlett this morning."

"Mammy, don't Miz Scarlett need her breakfast?"

"Do what I say, gal. If she need it, she'll call for it!"

It was almost noon, that the bell rang from Scarlett's room. And Mammy volunteered to bring the tray herself. Scarlett sat at the vanity in her robe, brushing her hair, when Mammy brought it.

"Place it on my table, Mammy," she called over her shoulder.

"Yes ma'am, by the two chairs?"

"Yes," Scarlett looked at the smug smile on Mammy's face, "Have you seen Rhett?"

"No," Mammy smiled and opened the door to leave.

"Oh, Mammy, Can you draw a bath for me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Mammy closed the door giggling.

Scarlett sat at her coffee table and poured two cups of coffee and started eating the grits and bacon that was steamy hot. Rhett came back in the room, still in his dressing gown and pajamas, and sat in the adjacent chair. The food smelled good, and he was starving.

"Mammy gave us enough for an army!" Rhett chuckled as he took the plate.

"Did you-er- see Mammy in the hallway?"

"No, why?"

"She was very mysterious when she brought the tray," Scarlett said between bites.

"Maybe she heard us in the throws of love?" Rhett stated and then bursted into laughter.

"No, Rhett, No,No!" Scarlett put her plate down, as her face turned red and her eyes grew large.

"We weren't very er, discreet, Scarlett."

"Hush up!" Scarlett felt her heart thudding in her chest, "Now the whole house will know!"

"We are married, you know, we can do this."

Scarlett pushed the thought to the back of her mind, and picked up her plate again and finished her breakfast. There was a knock on the door and Mammy brought in the towels to start the bath.

"Excuse me, Good Morning, Mister Rhett,"Mammy nodded, "The bath is ready, Miz Scarlett."

"I'll be right there, Mammy."

Mammy closed the door with a gleeful look in her eye.

Rhett drank the last of his coffee, "Yes, I believe she knows."

"I said to hush up!"Scarlett was near embarrassed tears, "I'll have a talk with her, later."

Rhett chuckled, "Don't be too mad with her. She's looking out for you is all."

"Really, I hope to God she don't go blabbering to the servants, and they will be gossipping with the others at the market!"

"Oh, Mammy's not a gossip."

Scarlett just made a "humph" sound, this would be entirely good gossip for the Atalanta crows to descend and discuss, especially if Rhett left after New Years. Scarlett met Mammy in the water closet.

"You had a good time, last night."

"Mammy, please,"

"What's wrong?"

"The ball was pitiful and depressing, but last night, Mister Rhett, and I had a very nice evening together, that is all you know."

Mammy's smiled broadened, "Come and get in the warm tub, it's chilly out here."

Scarlett sank down in the tub, wet her body and her hair, it felt safe and comforting, like Rhett's arms.

"ANd, Mammy, don't go and tell the servants about last night, whatever you know."

"Miz Scarlett," Mammy sat on the bench by the tub, "You knows I don't gossip with those people."

"I'm just saying, the whole town don't need to know about this."

"Well, they won't be hearing from me. All I saw was that Mister Rhett and you ate breakfast together, like you should. You are married to the man, and his wife, high time you start acting like you is married."

"Mammy-"

"Don't act shocked, you done had children, so I know you knows what a wife should do!"

Scarlett turned bright red, and started soaping her towel, "That is all, Mammy!"

"I'll come back to wash your hair."

"Yes, leave me be now," Scarlett demanded without looking in her face.

It was past two o'clock when Scarlett was dressed for the day, and Pork informed her that Mister Rhett had went downtown for the afternoon, and said he would return for supper. Scarlett asked Pork to get the carriage ready, she wanted to go out and visit Pilar for the afternoon. Scarlett had energy and needed an outlet to keep her busy, so her mind wouldn't race with thought about Rhett, and a visit with Pilar was always a relaxing day.

Amos pulled into the driveway of the clapboard house, and Scarlett could make out Carson sitting on the front porch. It was not usual that he would be home in the middle of the day, even on a Saturday. Scarlett reached the top of the steps, and could see his eyes were red rimmed.

"Mr. Lang?" asked Scarlett,"Whatever is the matter? Is it Pilar?"

Carson turned his head away from Scarlett, and wiped his eyes. It was Dr. Meade standing in the doorway, that got Scarlett's attention.

"Hello, Scarlett, I need to speak with Mr. Lang, excuse me."

Scarlett walked to the other side of the porch, to give the two men privacy, but all she could heard was muffled hushed voices. A chill went up Scarlett's back inspite of the sunny day, the air still held the icy chill of winter, and it was a hand on her arm that made her turn to hear Dr. Meade, "Scarlett, Mrs. Lang won't be up to visitors today, I'm afraid, she is a delicate condition."

"Oh," was all Scarlett could say, as Mr. Lang walked like a ghost back into the house.

"Let me walk you to your carriage, and ask you how you have been?"

Dr, Meade looked into Scarlett's face that was pinched and worried for her friend, but was still flushed with color, and her eyes danced with hope.

"I've been better. Having Rhett home and close has really helped me." Scarlett smiled.

Dr. Meade nodded his head with a smile, "I can see in your face, you are so much more relaxed. Now, mind you keep being a sweet wife to that husband of yours, he was so worried about you."

"Well, I had alot to deal with after, after all that has happened, but I feel safe having Rhett around more often, but Dr, Meade, is Pilar very ill?"

"No, not physically. She is still grieving for her daughter, and last night she had a very bad night sleeping. I gave her something to rest, and her husband is going to try and get her to eat something tonight. I think she'll be better in a few days, if she listens to her husband and me."

Scarlett tucked the lap blanket around her and nodded, "Is there anything I can do for her?"

"Scarlett, you have been her friend, and that means a lot to her, but let her husband work this out, now."

Scarlett nodded and the carriage moved on down town. Scarlett had worn her newest charcoal dress with silver fox fur trim, and a dark burgundy feather from her fur hat, she wanted had expected to have tea at the hotel, and wanted to be seen by all of Atlanta who had whispered about her last night. Amos pulled the carriage up near the store, and Scarlett slipped out advising him to pick her up at the town square in two hours.

The doorbell in the store rang, and there was a line of people waiting at the counter and Dan was working feverishly to take care of them all. Scarlett waved her hand and walked back to the store room. The boxes marked "CUBA" had not been opened or touched, and Scarlett let out an exasperated sighed, as she looked around for a crowbar to open them. Footsteps came from behind her and she turned to see Ashley Wilkes in the doorway of the storeroom.

"Scarlett, do you need help with that?"

"Oh, Ashley, that would be nice, can you?"

Ashley gingerly pried the wooden planks revealing the straw and bobbles glistening in the gaslamp.

"What kind of items are you getting from Cuba?" Ashley asked reaching into the box and fingering a bobble.

"Mr. Lang, the man at our table last night, he got a few things for me to try and sell in the store, you know more exotic things for gifts."

"These sure are exotic, is this shells?"

"I believe so, they look like shell necklaces, and these look like little jewelry boxes." Scarlett giggled as she demonstrated how to open the boxes.

Ashley sat on a box and sighed, "I want to talk to you."

"Yes, Ashley?"

"You look so much better, and I'm trying harder with the mills, Scarlett, really I'm doing my best."

Scarlett could not look him in the eye, "I was exhausted and I had been under a lot of sadness, but I promise never to fuss like that again."

"No, no need to apologize. I know I'm useless, Scarlett."

"Ashley, you're not useless!" Scarlett couldn't bare to see the lost look in his eye, "I-I will try and make a trip out to the mills tomorrow to check the books before the end of the year."

"Scarlett, no!" Ashley got up and stood in the doorway, ready to leave.

Scarlett grabbed his hand, "What can I do for you, AShley?"

"Nothing," Ashley said with a whisper, "I need to do it for myself."

Scarlett let his hand go, and watched as he walked around the store picking up a few items, probably gifts for Pitty, India and Beau.

Scarlett came out with an armful of shell boxes and placed them on the table next to the ladies' handkerchiefs and pins. Ashley came up and took one, "Melly would have loved one of these, we used to go to the beach when we were children," Ashley smiled with a tear in his eye.

Scarlett looked at the pearly white and pink box, and she found her eyes wet, "Yes, she would have."

"Maybe, I'll get one for India."

Scarlett didn't answer, but nodded. Ashley made his way up to the counter like a shadow, and blended in with the other customers. Scarlett followed him, and asked, "About Christmas?"

"You and Rhett are welcomed to Pitty's Christmas Eve dinner as always."

"Even with India?"

"Pitty, Beau and I would love to have you, and the majority rules."

Scarlett nodded, "I know Rhett has something he brought for Beau from CHarleston, so I know we will be there some time that night."

Ashley nodded and smiled, just as Dan finished packing his gifts. Scarlett unpacked the pearled hairpins, and the blue and white handkerchiefs from CUba. She priced them all to triple the money she put out on them, and created a beautiful sign that read, "Caribbean Treasures and Jewels"

Soon Scarlett was on her way to the town square to do her own CHristmas SHopping. SHe hadn't planned on getting Rhett a gift, but now that he was here, she needed to get him something. Just as Scarlett turned the corner towards the jewelers, she came face to face with India, who gave her a glaring stare.

"Good AFternoon, to you, too India," chirped Scarlett.

"Don't even talk to me, how dare you!"

Scarlett stopped and smirked at the bitterness of the thin, old maid, "I'm trying to offer you kind words, and you so rudely-"

"Kind words? Since when have you given anybody anything without finding a way to benefit yourself. Why my brother-"

"Your brother? India, really, thank goodness he's the only man in your life, and you can torture him."

"My brother is a fine upstanding citizen, and he loved Melanie, and you have done everything you can to taint him with your dirt."

"You forget, I'm a married woman. My husband wouldn't like you throwing around such slanderous words about me, which is more than I can say about you. You may think that I have tainted AShley with dirt, you say, but you are smothering him."

"Smothering him, I have been the only one taking care of Ashley and Beau since Melly- all you do is send money and clothes and throw around your wealth!"

"Well, good thing I have it, or the Wilkes family would be in the poorhouse!" Scarlett relished the last word and pulled open the door of the jewelers. The old man came from behind the counter and looked from Scarlett to India, and held up his hands, "Only one of you in here at a time, I don't want any fights."

Scarlett looked back at India, and then at the man square in his eyes, "Sir, I'm the only one with funds who can even attempt to darken your door."

India looked as though she was about to cry and huffed off across the street.