Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Some mature content towards the end.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As Rhett and Scarlett walked to the rental house, Rhett said, "Do you want to return to the United States? We can live anywhere you want."

"No, I like living here now that I have gotten used to the food." With Rhett's questioning look Scarlett said, "I will explain later. The people are friendly and down to earth. A lot of people can trace their ancestry back to the original seven hundred."

"Seven hundred what?"

"You don't know?"

Rhett smiled and said, "No, I don't know. Seven hundred what?"

"Let me enjoy this for just a minute. I know something you don't know." Rhett smiled again. Finally, Scarlett said, "Prisoners. The original seven hundred prisoners. You know Australia was once a penal colony for England. Most of the prisoners were imprisoned for petty crimes."

"I did know that Australia was once a penal colony for England, but I didn't know that there were originally only seven hundred."

"There were a lot more transported than that. It went on for eighty years. They just stopped doing it in sixty-eight."

"How do you know so much about this?"

"We bought a couple of books in San Francisco about Australia and three more on Sydney. Then I bought a couple more on Sydney in Honolulu. I had two months on the ship, so I had plenty of time to read. Both Wade and I found the penal colony interesting, so we talked about it a lot. Once they were free, they just stayed."

"So, you want to just stay also?"

"Yes, I do, but we can move back to Cambridge if you want then Wade could go to Harvard. Although I think he wants to be a police detective instead of a lawyer."

"I am fine with giving living in Sydney a try."

"If you are miserable, we can move somewhere else."

"I think the hardest adjustment will be the seasons being the opposite than in the Northern hemisphere. It being hot in December is something I will get used to I suppose."

"If you could live in the mansion with that décor, you can get used to anything."

"Indeed, my love."

When Rhett saw how small the townhouse was, he said, "We are going to have to buy something larger."

"Gladly. I only rented this so I could run away if you found me. After Kenny told me that you kept our wedding picture on your nightside table, also I had a small bubble of hope that you might still love me. So, I bought the store and waited for you to find me."

"You could have told me where you were."

"It was only a small bubble of hope."

"Now how big is that bubble of hope."

"Pretty big. Let me show you the house. I wanted you to be here when we bought our new home.

"I'm going to have a say in the décor too."

"Of course, Dear. You can get a listing of houses for sale tomorrow from our attorney, Thomas Jefferson."

"Thomas Jefferson?"

"That isn't a special name here. You and the boys can go out and buy a sailboat also. After all, we are living on a giant island."

"Yes, we are."

"You should be in heaven."

"If I am sleeping in your bed, I will be in heaven even if I was in landlocked Atlanta."

Scarlett smiled at Rhett. She said, "Thank you for doing that. The child I was certainly didn't appreciate it. I appreciate it now."

"I didn't appreciate you sacrificing your reputation for me."

"We were such fools."

"I was as much a child as you were. Let's change the subject. Where is Wade?"

"Calling on a girl, Arabella Field."

"He is too young to be calling on a girl. He won't be eighteen until next month."

"Imagine my child being a rule breaker." Scarlett smiled. Rhett laughed. She said, "According to Wade and Arabella they are just friends, but he doesn't look at her like she is his friend. She doesn't look at Wade that way either."

"It is hard to believe it has been so many years since that barbecue."

"The barbecue we met at."

"That was the good part of the barbecue. When I let myself think of the past, I remember how happy everyone was that we were going to war. Silly people."

"I was happy because I was about to make a fortune."

"And you did. Are there any businesses you can invest in?"

"I am sure there are. Nowadays they find me not the other way around."

"Let me show you around the house."

The tour of the townhouse ended in the largest bedroom. Scarlett smiled and said, "This is our bedroom."

"Did you decorate this room with me in mind?"

"Yes, I knew you would eventually find me."

"I certainly was never going to stop looking."

"I'm sorry about not telling you about Gerry."

"No, I'm sorry about not accepting your love the night Miss Melly died."

"Being the cynic that you are – you just didn't believe me because it was too good to be true."

"That is true, but at the time I wanted to wallow in my self-pity because my life was so horrible. After I ran away with Kenny, I began to have hope in the future. Of course, because I had stolen Kenny away, I didn't think I could ever come back. I'm sorry I stole your child away from you. That was pretty unforgivable."

"I won't apologize for stealing Kenny. I was so afraid you would take both boys and run away. I didn't have the money to look for you."

Rhett smiled so Scarlett would know he was making a joke. He said, "So instead you stole them away from me. Smart move."

Scarlett smiled back and said, "I would think what would Rhett do then I did it." Scarlett turned serious and said, "I didn't think you would ever forgive me for stealing your son away from you or for keeping Gerry a secret."

"I was in a lot of pain until Lt. Columbo told me you had stolen my son, then I was the happiest I've been since Bonnie's birth."

"Explain."

"Very simply. If you instantly loved Kenny enough to incur my wrath to get possession of him. Full well knowing you would be on the run for the rest of your life or my life. That was a lot of love for my son. Maybe you really did love me."

Scarlett kissed Rhett and said, "I do love you."

"I love you, too."

"We are alone. Convince me to have relations with you."

Rhett started kissing Scarlett while unbuttoning her dress. She was kissing him back while pushing his coat off his shoulders. Soon they were both naked and lying on the bed. He started suckling on her breast while she was rubbing her hands all over his back and shoulders. Soon his hand was caressing her female parts. He felt her start to tighten up and he inserted a couple of fingers inside her. She felt the wonderful feeling twice. He moved back to kissing her and positioned himself at her entrance.

Rhett whispered, "Can I enter you?"

"No, I need more persuading."

As Rhett thrusted into Scarlett, she tightened her legs around him and arched her hips. She said, "I said no."

"I decided that you didn't know what you wanted in that moment. I will withdraw myself if the answer really was no."

Scarlett tightened her legs around him again. She said, "No, you are already there now. You might as well continue."

Rhett began to move inside Scarlett. Soon she was going over the waterfall. When she called out, "I love you." He lost all control. He enjoyed the feelings then whispered, "I love you, too."

Rhett thought, 'It was so much better when it was the real thing. I want a cigar, but I would have to get out of the bed to get one. I'm not moving an inch away from her body. This is where I have wanted to be for the last eighteen years.'

When Scarlett had caught her breath, she said, "You can be very persuasive when you try to be."

"Indeed, I can."

"I wish you had just seduced me that day in our bedroom."

"I do too, but I was an idiot then like I told you."

Scarlett giggled. She then said, "What was that amazing feeling?"'

"It was your satisfaction."

"Women can feel that too?"

"Yes, in fact women can have multiple orgasms while men only get one each time."

"Wow!"

The couple was quiet for a few minutes. They were both enjoying being naked together and being happily wrapped up in each other's arms. At last Scarlett said, "We have a rough year in front of us becoming a couple."

"Yes, ma'am. But it will be worth it."

"We have had a rough eighteen years. After what we have been through this next year will be a breeze."

"We will finally be working toward the same goal, my love."

"Yes, we will."

As Scarlett and Rhett were laying on the bed talking about their future, they heard a small voice calling out, "Daddy."

The voice was echoed by another voice that said, "Daddy. Are you in Mama's bedroom?"

As Rhett and Scarlett heard the doorknob turning, she said, "Rhett, you have to stop them from coming in here."

Rhett yelled out, "Just a minute. I will come out in the hall."

"We will just come in your room."

"No. No."

Kenny and Gerry entered the couples' bedroom. Scarlett had already been grabbing the bedspread. She wrapped herself up in it. She said, "You are going to have to teach them that no means no. I might have to teach you that also."

Rhett grinned at Scarlett as he got out of the bed. It was the first time he had ever grinned at her like that. It was carefree. He looked ten years younger.

While Rhett was looking for his underwear, Kenny said, "Why were you naked, Daddy?"

Gerry said, "Are you naked too, Mama?"

Scarlett said, "Daddy and I were going to take a bath and we couldn't decide who was going to get to go first."

"You should do what Kenny and I do. Take a bath together."

Rhett found his underwear and put them on. He said, "Good idea. I wish we had thought of that."

Rhett grabbed a blanket that was at the foot of the bed. He placed it on top of Scarlett and said to her, "First order of business – locks."

"My door has a lock; you just have to use it. It works from the inside."

Rhett smiled and said, "That's what I hear."

The couple kissed one more time, then Rhett gave his attention to solving a problem. How to get the boys out of the room without them seeing Scarlett's naked body.

Scarlett said, "Go to your hotel and get your trunks.

Rhett said, "Good idea. Boys, let's go to my hotel and get my trunks while your mother takes a bath."

Kenny said, "Where is the bath water?"

"I will tell the kitchen to heat some up on our way out of the house."

"Never mind. I have changed my mind about taking a bath. I will take one later tonight."

With Rhett's smile he acknowledged what Scarlett was saying. He said, "Good idea, my love. I think I will wait to take a bath until this evening also." He turned to his sons and said, "Let's go Kenny, Gerry."

"Alright, Daddy."

Scarlett said, "What do you say, Kenny?"

"Yes, sir."

Rhett smiled and looked at the other little boy. Gerry said, "Yes, sir."

Rhett laughed. It was a youthful laugh without any mockery or scorn. It was just a happy laugh.

Rhett started putting his clothes back on. When he was dressed, he kissed Scarlett and said, "Until tonight, my love."

Scarlett kissed Rhett back and said, "Hurry back. I miss you already."

After Rhett and the boys had left the bedroom, Scarlett heard Kenny say, "Will you stop and buy me and Gerry a candy stick each?"

"It is Gerry and me. You put yourself last. I will be happy to buy both of you a candy stick."

"And Ella some marshmallows. She really likes them."

Scarlett didn't hear Rhett's response. She knew she would have to talk to Rhett about not buying the boys a lot of candy. She smiled. Why bother? She knew he would anyway. There would only be so much she could curtail Rhett. She needed to pick her battles and how much candy Rhett gave the boys was not a battle she could ever win.