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Rhett sat at the table, waiting for Scarlett to come down for breakfast. He had asked for breakfast to be served after ten o'clock in the dining room. He swirled his orange juice as he thought, about Scarlett. SHe had appeared to bounce back from Bonnie's death so much faster then he did, but she was hurting more than him. It was clear she hadnt accepted it, she was still wishing for Bonnie in her dream. Perhaps, it was the child's ghost pleading to let her go. He had cried and drank to block out the world, but he had made sense of it in his mind, and he was dealing with a world without Bonnie, but Scarlett had just dove into one thing after another, burying her feelings, and then living out her wishes in her dreams.

His thoughts and worries were interrupted by the clapping of her backless slippers. Scarlett appeared in the doorway, in her velvet wrapper and slippers. Her hair had been brushed out and pulled back, and her face washed.

"Staying in your nightgown today?"

"No, I'm just slow getting up."

"Well, I thought we should have breakfast together, Mrs. Butler."

"You could have-"

"No, too many distractions in your room," Rhett chuckled.

Scarlett cut him eyes and a smirk, "Really, Rhett lower your voice."

"Not that it is not tempting, but I have a lot on my mind."

"Is that so? ABout what?" Scarlett's voice trembled, she feared this was his exit.

"Christmas, I know you don't-"

"No, I don't. I prefer to make our rounds on CHristmas Eve, and put the whole day behind us."

"But, you bought gifts?"

"Yes, I bought 4 gifts, is all I got. If I didn't you know India would tell everybody I forgot about Beau and Aunt Pitty."

"ANd me? and who is the fourth gift for?"

"Pilar, I need to go and see her today, she was quite ill after the ball."

Rhett sighed, thinking, she had forgot Ashley, "I had an idea. How about we get out of town, together?"

"Out of town? Where?"

"Anywhere you want. We could make our visits tomorrow, and leave after that."

"But the store-"

"CLose it after Christmas, you should be in the black by then?"

SCarlett's hand went to her throat as she tried to swallow her pancakes, "CLose the store?"

Rhett chuckled,"Yes, imagine that."

"No, I can't."

"Then, we'll let Henry check in on it. WE can come back after New Years, even pass through at Tara, but only for a day or two. You said you needed a rest, and I'm giving you one for Christmas, my gift to my lovely wife.'

Scarlett looked at him, and pursed her lips, "So, are we officially back together?"

Rhett looked at her, with blank eyes, "I never said that."

"Well, what about, er, the other night?" whispered Scarlett

"That, was , I don't know myself." Rhett stated as he picked up his fork with eggs, "What are your thoughts?"

Scarlett's mouth dropped, "I don't wish to discuss this, at breakfast."SHe wanted to scream, I told you 'I love you, damnit! What do you think my thoughts are?''.

Rhett kept eating, and allowed the silence to become deafening, and then he said, "As you wish."

It was well after one o'clock that they bother left the house. Scarlett's head was starting to hurt, as Rhett bid her farewell on his horse as Amos parted with the carriage. Rhett went downtown with a mission, he had to finish his shopping, see Henry Hamilton and buy tickets out of town. Scarlett simply told him, "Your choice, surprise me." He knew she hated surprises, always the one in control, she was simply sulking, and it had been about her declaration of love, that shot a pain of guilt in his heart.

Amos pulled up in front of the yellow clapboard house, in the warm sun, just as a chilled breeze ruffled Scarlett's fringed shawl. Scarlett held a small brown box in her hand, and a pan of buckwheat pancakes and syrup from Mammy wrapped up. As she knocked on the door, she heard the soft steps approach the door of Pilar's butler.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Butler."

"Good afternoon, I was inquiring about Mrs. Lang?"

"She's up and sitting on the back porch, come on in, she would love to see you."

Scarlett followed the thin man through the main hallway to the back of the house, passing up the kitchen, the smell of gumbo made her mouth water.

Pilar sat in a rocking chair wrapped in a fur lined blanket, as she saw the silhouette of Scarlett, her face brightened, "Hello, my friend!" Pilar stood up and clasped Scarlett's hands, and kissed her cheek.

"How are you, darling?" asked Scarlett taking her seat in the chair filled with sunshine.

"Better, I had a rough few days. I had a hard time getting out of bed, and then, the curse came, which was so depressing."

Scarlett nodded, "Oh, I'm sorry you have such troubles," Scarlett thought back to Melly, and her female problems, and said a quick prayer for her new friend.

"it's not so bad, it's just, I was hoping, since Carson came back, that I'd be expecting, but I'm not."

Scarlett felt a quick hot flash, and tried to remember the date. Her mind wondered, and Pilar continued to talk.

"Scarlett, Scarlett? WHere are you?"

"I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind, you see Rhett is taking me out of town for the holidays."

"How lovely, where are you going?"

"I-I don't know, I'm letting him decide, it was his idea."

"Are things better?"

Scarlett smiled, "The same, I guess. We did have a long, talk the other night about Bonnie."

Pilar pet her hands, "Well, that's progress. Although, I am sorry you won't be here for Christmas. My sister and her husband are coming from New Orleans, and I would so love for you to meet them. They should be here Christmas day."

"I came by today, to check on you, and to bring you some of Mammy's hotcakes and syrup, she insisted."

"Mammy, she is such a dear old soul, you are lucky to have her."

Scarlett smiled and agreed, Mammy had been her rock, for as long as she remembered, "Yes, I would be lost without her."

Pilar unwrapped the pan, and broke a piece of hotcake off to taste, "You are so lucky."

"And," Scarlett smiled placing a box in Pilar's lap, "I couldn't let CHristmas go by without giving you a little something."

"Oh, Scarlett, you are so thoughful, I love presents!" Pilar dark eyes twinkled as she pulled the bow.

The box revealed a beautiful bright wine colored muffler, thick and cozy, but had the softest touch of silk. Pilar draped it over her hands, and marveled at the beauty and warmth.

"It is absolutely lovely!"

"Well, I noticed you had a thin one, and it does get colder here, then in New Orleans. When I saw this color, I thought it would compliment your coloring, and it does!"

Pilar glowed as she wrapped it around her shoulders, "It's so warm! When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow, we have to bring gifts to our family in town, and then we will get an early start the next day."

Pilar nodded, "Well, before you leave, be sure to get some fruitcake from Nerissa."

Scarlett smiled politely, she remembers AUnt Pauline's fruitcake, and tried not to wince. Pilar's eyes scanned Scarlett's face it looked puff and red, like she had been crying, but she didn't want to tell her anything, so she changed the subject.

"Carson went by and checked out the new library wing they are adding, it is a lovely project, in his opinion."

Scarlett nodded, "Yes, my sister in law, Melanie had started raising the money to get it started more than five years ago."

"Is that so? One of the workmen, who were putting in the windows told Carson, they collected enough money at the ball finish the windows, but there is more work to be done, before it can open."

"Yes, there are several groups working on fund raising," Scarlett said, knowing the amount of money Rhett had wrote to these "groups" who continued to discuss his wife's failings.

"Carson thinks it would be good for me to get involved, and of course, I thought you and I could work together."

Scarlett sighed, "Well, I'll join any group, but the sewing circle, it is worst than having a tooth pulled!"

Pilar giggled, "That Merriweather bull dog? I bet she runs it?"

Scarlett snickered, "You have a way to describe people with dogs, I wonder which one I am?"

"Well, your loyal, hard working and fun, so i would say, a beagle."

Scarlett smiled, Gerald had several little beagles and they enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, but still ran and played with the children in the fields, and then she frowned teasing her friend, "Oh, I would like to be something grander like a poodle."

"No, my dear, poodles are all beauty and fluff, with very little brains, or loyalty. You are definitely a beagle."

Scarlett thought about explaining this to Rhett, but cast it aside, not to give him any more fuel to tease her, he would probably call her a mixed breed mutt.

Scarlett clasped her hands in her lap, "So, which of these "groups" are we joining?"

"Our own," Pilar said, "We could form a group to have a Mardi Gras parade, and raise money, by having business men sponsor wagons for the parade. They pay to have their wagon, and get advertising, and then have a ball afterwards, and sell tickets."

Scarlett's heart lept, at the thrill of being independently in charge of something without the clutches of the old battle axes in Atlanta, she slowly smiled, "Yes, that sounds grand!"

"I thought you would like it, my dear friend."

"I do and Melanie would have liked it, too. What can I do to help?"

"We will be partners, you are second in command because you have connections to this city, and I will do all the back ground planning, I even made up a name."

"That makes sense, what's our name?"

"Well, they call the groups Krewes, and it is usually after greek gods, so I thought Clio, the goddess of history, like in books."

Scarlett's eyes twinkled, "That does sound clever, very clever."

"Are you with me?"

Scarlett smiled, "Of, course, we can start planning after the New Year."

"I have made most of the plans already, I'll just need you to help sign up the businesses."

As Scarlett was leaving that afternoon with a basket containing a plate of fruitcake, a small pot of gumbo, and a loaf of French bread, Pilar stopped her at the door."Wait, dear. I want to give you a small present for the holiday."

"Pilar, that isn't-"

"Here," Pilar pressed a small round brooch in her gloved hand, "I have many religious ones, you keep it and wear it in good health."

Scarlett kissed her cheek, then looked down at the small modest brooch, carved into mother of pearl was the Virgin Mary holding the world, "It's lovely."

"Like I said, keep it and wear it in good health and prayer."

"Merry Christmas,: smiled Scarlett, "I'll come call on you as soon as I return."

"Until then, my friend, Merry Christmas to you, too."

When Scarlett returned, Rhett's horse was tied to the hitching post on the side of the house, and one of the stable boys, was brushing him down. Scarlett came through the back of the house, and delivered her bounty to the kitchen.

Mammy saw her first, "You done ate dinner with that lady?"

"Yes, I had a little something over there, but I want you to serve the gumbo with supper for me and Mister Rhett."

"Yes, ma'am, Mista Rhett out in the backyard, in case you looking for him."

Scarlett left the kitchen calling a "thank you" over her shoulder to Mammy.

As Scarlett started up the stairs, she heard her name called from the back door. Looking up, Rhett came striding over to her smiling, like a cat with a canary in his mouth. Scarlett smiled back.

They stood at the bottom of the stairs and he bent down to kiss her cheek, "Good afternoon."

"Rhett, did you get everything taken care of?"

"Yes, are you interested in where we are going?"

"I'm sure you are going to tell me." Scarlett shot eyes at him.

"Well, we will start off with a train ride to North, to New York city."

"By the Yankees!" Scarlett's voice shrilled, "But Rhett, how is that remotely relaxing?"

"Well, we will stay near Canada, by the Niagara Falls, it is quite relaxing so close to nature, and then we will go into the city, New York city, where I am prepared to release most of my hard earn savings on you, and your penchant for glittering baubles."

"Still, we are going by the Yankees?"

"We are the United States of America, and if their Yankees or not, I'm sure you will spend my money, but first you are going to have a good relaxing week."

"Rhett-"

"I gave you a chance to choose, and I'm glad you conceded, you probably would have me going to that farm for a week, and then off to New Orleans, you are not an adventurer, I am."

Scarlett stared at him, he was lightheartedly teasing her, so she gave up the protest, "I'll have Prissy pack my things, I assume it will be cold?"

"Very, but I'm sure you will have quite a wonderful time," Rhett tilted his head to look into her eyes, her mind was spinning, and he wondered what scheme was building in her mind, "So, how is Pilar?"

"She's feeling better, she sent gumbo for dinner and some fruitcake," the last word Scarlett made a face as she said it.

"How kind of her, she really is a good friend to you, I hope you know that."

"Yes, I do. We are going to raise money for the library after the New Year."

"Is that so, with boxing matches?" Rhett giggled.

"No, we are going to host a Mardi Gras parade and ball for the businesses, and the money they pay will go to the library, and the parade will advertise their business."

"Hmm, seems harmless enough, Pilar may be a better influence then I thought."

Rhett lingered closer, and Scarlett turned her eyes up smiling, instinctively knowing what he was thinking, and she put her hand on his chest, "Rhett, I do need to run upstairs. I've been out all afternoon."

"Are you feeling well?" Rhett asked.

"I'm fine, I just need to freshen up a bit, and relax." Scarlett started up the stairs, hoping he would be trailing behind her, but he stood at the bottom of the stairs, and watched her go up, she had eluded to putting meaning on their activities, and he wasn't ready to tackle that issue, yet. And he knew he had to be careful, no use bringing another person into this situation which was complicated enough.

Scarlett reached her room, and undid her jacket. Sitting on her chaise, she removed her boots and laid on her back staring at the ceiling, it was Christmas in four days, and in two days after that she would know, even though not for sure, but definitely by New Years day, if she wasn't in dispose, she would be pregnant. It made her think, shopping would not be as enjoyable if she was indispose, and oh Rhett would suspect, he seemed to know everything about women, that just wasn't decent. Again, she wondered about the sleeping arrangements, as well as what did Rhett expect of the evenings in New York. Niagara Falls was a romantic honeymoon destination, perhaps this was a new beginning, or the beginning of the end.