A/N: Forgive me for not updating for a long time. I don't even know what's gotten into me when I wrote this story. It was probably out of whim. I just hope I won't run out of ideas. Making stories is difficult.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gone with the Wind.

'There!' she thought, 'I had him now. Think you can make fun of me for too long?' She was grinning in triumph, secretly congratulating herself for her counter.

He was still looking at her. Scarlett preened as she could tell he swallowed hard by the movement of his adam's apple. Then he raised his eyebrows, "Oh? And can you even dare?"

Her smile slowly faded, "I..." now that she thought about it, could she really dare? She looked down at the chemise she was holding and imagined herself wearing it, standing in front of her husband. "Well...Ah..."

"I thought I knew you, my dear. But what's this? All bark and no bite?"

This infuriated Scarlett even more. How can he be so adroit at provoking her like that? "You didn't let me finish my sentence!" she exclaimed defiantly. "I was about to say that I could dare! Why would I bring it up if I couldn't?" She gripped the repulsive chemise in her hand. Then an idea struck her. Maybe she could get away with this after all. "But of course, you wouldn't be interested so it doesn't matter." She turned around, stomping her feet as she walked away hurriedly reaching for the door before he could say another word. Unfortunately, he did.

"Ah, what makes you think I'm not interested Mrs. Butler? No man would deny to see you in that attire."

She turned to look at him, "Why I'm very flattered that you're interested. That is saying something for someone who doesn't give a damn! Now if you'll excuse me I must—"

"So when am I going to see it? You in that chemise I mean."

She blanched at his question. Damn! Now he turned the tables on her. 'He probably even knew I was bluffing!' She straightened her posture and raised her chin. She will not let him make her look like a coward. Not him of all people! If there's any coward in this house, the man sitting in front of her would be at the top of the list. Isn't his cowardice one of the reasons why she only realized too late that she loved him?

"You can choose any time you want, darling" she smiled coquettishly, batting her eyelashes. Before, she would berate him until one of them would storm off. Now, she decided that she was going to play along with him. She cannot promise herself that she could just brush off his provocations completely though, since unfortunately, she is petulant by nature.

Rhett wrinkled his eyebrows looking like he was trying to figure out her game. He smirked at her beguiling smile, "I'll come by tonight in your room then."

"Don't take too long or I'll probably be already asleep by the time you show up!"

"How very convenient."

Meanwhile, Wade was sitting in his study. By then, Beau had already gone home. He shook his head and scratched out the long sentence using his pencil.

"That won't work" he murmured. He was tapping his pencil on his desk. Thinking...thinking... Suddenly, an idea struck him! He wrote in his notebook vigorously, grinning at the prospect of his pursuance. He knew that what he was going to do could get him in trouble. But it's worth the risk.

"I'm not doing this for you, Rhett Butler. I'm doing this for my mother's happiness!"

He glanced sideways at the books his uncle Rhett gave him. It was just stuck on the bookshelves and he didn't bother to start reading them yet, though he couldn't resist the urge to look at the covers when he handed them to him.

Wade closes his eyes, 'He doesn't love me anymore. I don't think I can live without Rhett. I can't Mammy...'

"I never want Mother to be sad anymore." His mother was not his favorite person. She has frightened him since he was a child due to her strictness and bad temper. At least she's much better now than she was when they were starving at Tara. But the moment he heard her as he leaned below his mother's bedroom window while reading his book outside, he realized how much he loved her. It made him feel so hopeless when he overheard everything and before he realized it, the tears had already dripped down on the book he was reading. He kept listening to every word his mother was venting, every sob she was making that was breaking his heart.

"Rhett! How lovely to see you!" Belle was surprised when she looked up at the man who just entered her office. It was none other than Rhett Butler himself. It had been four months since the last time she saw him. He looked better now as she observed him. Not as much as defeated as the day he told her he was leaving Atlanta.

She had loved this man for too long. Was even on the point of fantasizing that someday he'd leave his wife to be with her. But Belle Watling came to her senses in the end. She knew that with or without Scarlett, Rhett wouldn't love her. It was bright as day that she was just a friend to him, and she didn't think Rhett would consider remarrying if he ever found himself divorced.

The truth didn't hurt her as much as she thought it would be. After all, her love for Rhett was only second to her love for money. As the months went by, she was able to get over her feelings and was able to find comfort in another man's arms. It's always easy to achieve that for someone who gives pleasure as a means to make money. Even if a whore was not attractive and had to cover it with makeup, even if her frock was too tawdry, as long as she had a slender body and can perform well; they would want her. Besides, life is too short for her to dwell with an unrequited love for years. She is no Scarlett O'Hara. Come to think of it, that can be said for Rhett Butler as well. The two estranged couples, are just too much alike! She shook her head at the thought.

"And it's good to see you, Belle. Business doing well as usual?"

"Consistent as ever. Take a seat. What brings you here back in Atlanta?"

"Taking care of some business. And of course, to keep up appearances. I also missed the children."

'If he's really done with his wife and his life in Atlanta, keeping up appearances wouldn't be necessary.' Belle felt hopeless for her friend.

Then suddenly, Rhett began to snort.

"Care to share the joke, Rhett?"

"It's Scarlett," Belle smirked when she heard the name. 'There he goes again.' He was grinning at her so whatever it was, must be entertaining. "I bought her a very vulgar see-through chemise." And he told her all about what had transpired.

Belle Watling threw her head back and bellowed with laughter. "Rhett! I know you said before that she's no lady. I for one agree on that even if you didn't tell me, but there's no way she's going to do it!"

"I don't know. I got a feeling she won't break her word about this. I called her a coward and she was indignant."

"What's the big deal? You've seen a lot of women wearing those and some were even much more vulgar than you bought her I'm sure."

"Yes but this is my Scarlett we're talking about," he was grinning at her, flashing his white even teeth. Rhett didn't seem to realize his slip.

"And what are you going to do when you see her in it?" she raised her eyebrows at him.

Rhett shrugs, "Nothing"

She rolled her eyes at him "Rhett, can you really trust yourself not to do anything? After all, this is 'your' Scarlett we're talking about." She enunciated the word loudly.

He scowled at her and Belle laughed at his reaction.