Dear readers, good evening!:)

First of all I want to thank everyone for the kind words, reviews and your messages. They mean a world to me!

The new chapter is here, a little bit of Rhett and Scarlett talking and in the next chapter we are going to Charleston with Captain Butler, we have a lot to do there!

Thanks for reading:)

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Enjoy reading!:)

Chapter 23.

They walked at a leisurely pace toward the white house. Scarlett chose the long way round so that they could be alone together and Rhett held her hand tightly. She glanced at him from time to time as he looked round.

Nature was still asleep, but soon the cold would pass, fresh green grass would appear, and trees would blossom. The anticipation of spring and change filled Rhett's heart with joy.

Scarlett was wearing his woollen jacket over her dress, and Rhett was still in just his shirt and waistcoat.

"You must be cold, Rhett," she asked him.

He grinned and replied, "You think I was cold by the river just now, honey?" Then, leaning down to her ear he whispered, "It was hot, Scarlett, very hot..." She remembered their kisses, blushed and he smiled and added, "I suppose you got warm too."

"Well, yes, Rhett, your jacket is very warm, really, thank you," she said seriously, but her eyes were laughing.

Rhett stopped her, pulled her to him and holding her tightly around the waist kissed her again. "It's just the jacket, Scarlett, isn't it?" he whispered, pulling away from her lips.

She blushed again and he smiled and said fondly, "How did such a Clayton County coquette end up being such a gentle girl?"

Scarlett looked at him and said, "Don't be so confident, Rhett Butler! It's just that you keep catching me off guard and knocking me off my feet with your ...hmm... perseverance. Other gentlemen didn't act like that!"

"It's just that no one has ever loved you the way I love you, Scarlett," he said seriously. "I thought I knew you well, that we were very much alike, but you never stop to surprise me, Sweetheart. For instance, with your tenderness towards... To those you love..." he finished the sentence, realizing that she still hadn't told she loved him.

Rhett became a little thoughtful, took her hand again, and they walked quietly further down the path amoung the trees.

"By the way, Rhett," Scarlett continued, not noticing his thoughtfulness, "your mother told me the same thing about you. That you're very gentle to your loved ones. So we really are alike," she finished her thought.

Rhett grinned, remembering his mother arranging a 'chance meeting' for them in Charleston, and thought about how excited she would be at the news of their wedding. But, Scarlett had to be told...

He stopped and looked into her eyes with a serious look.

"Scarlett, Honey," he began, knowing she'd be a little upset by the end of his sentence.

"Yes, Rhett?" she replied with a smile.

"I came here with some stuff, I hope you'll take me into your home?" he muttered, smiling.

"And you still ask, Rhett?" she replied, laughing.

He smiled, but continued gravely, "But, tomorrow morning I have to leave," here he caught her surprised and sad look, and quickly continued, "only for a week, Darling. I need to go to Charleston, to settle things with my lawyer, to visit my mother, to tell her about us. She'll be very happy, Scarlett," he said, seeing her look become understanding and she nodded.

"Besides, the lawyer hinted to me in his letter that my father is very ill. Apparently my mother will want me to see him," he finished thoughtfully.

"You will go, won't you, Rhett?" she asked him hopefully.

"Should I, Scarlett? My father doesn't consider me his son, has cut me out of his life, taken my home and family from me..." he replied hotly, but Scarlett interrupted him with a question, "And you, Rhett?"

"What?"

"He doesn't consider you his son, but you consider him your father? You called him 'father,' not Mr Butler," she went on thoughtfully.

Rhett could not find anything to answer. A huge resentment sat in his soul. His father had not taken his side, had not supported him when he needed him so much.

"Rhett," Scarlett said suddenly, "let's go home, it's lunch time and we'll talk a little later, okay?"

He nodded and looked at her, noticing that she was paler than usual again and seemed to be clinging tighter to his hand.

Worries about her health began to plague his soul again. He put his arm round her waist carefully and decided that after lunch they would have a serious talk with her.

"Everything is okay, Scarlett?" he asked worriedly.

"Yes," she replied and smiled weakly. She was dizzy again, with 'flickers' before her eyes and breathing was difficult, especially because of the corset she continued to wear despite Mammy's protests.

She realized that now when money and food were less of an issue, she needed to start eating better and more, but she had no appetite. She barely ate half her portion and she felt she was full.

Scarlett tried to keep up and walk faster than Rhett, but it was as if he slowed down on purpose. It was as if he knew it would be easier for her.

When they arrived at the house and walked into the parlour, where Melanie, Ashley and boys were, Scarlett walked quickly to the couch, sat down next to her son, and hugged him quietly. She knew that the dizziness would pass soon, but she just had to wait a little longer.

Rhett talked with the Wilkes, but cast anxious glances at Scarlett and met Melanie's eyes. She seemed to understand, too.

At the table, Rhett made polite conversation, mostly with Ashley and Will, but his eyes kept stopping every now and then on her and her plate.

He could see that she'd barely eaten half of her lunch and was focused on trying to talk Wade into finishing his portion. Rhett caught Mammy's concerned look and nodded. She looked at him in disbelief, but decided to give him a chance.

After the meal boys had to be put down for their naps, and even though Wade was already four, Scarlett tried to put him down and rest herself at that time.

When everyone was breaking up and Mammy told Rhett that his things were in the far bedroom on the second floor, Scarlett smiled at him, looked at Wade and said, "Come on Darling, I'll tuck you in."

"Scarlett," Rhett said softly, "Let me help you. Wade, you don't mind if I help your mother and sit with you for a while, do you?"

Wade was happy and trustingly climbed into Rhett's arms and they headed for Scarlett's bedroom.

Laying the boy on the bed, Rhett sat down next to him and began stroking his hair and telling him something quietly. Scarlett watched them, sitting in a chair by the window and thought, "And how Rhett has it so easy with children? He hasn't seen Wade in almost two years, but here he is with him, putting him to bed like he does it every day..."

Scarlett was in her own thoughts, and then she dozed off, too, sitting by the window, listening to Rhett's quiet story.

She woke when someone affectionately covering her with a blanket.

"Rhett," she whispered, blinking her sleepy eyes open.

He only leaned over to her, quickly touched his lips to hers, and then whispered, "Rest, Scarlett, we'll talk later. Sleep, love," and quickly left her room.

She looked at her sleeping son, then obediently covered her eyes and dozed off.

That night, after dinner, at which Rhett felt like family again, but also keenly aware of Mrs and Mr O'Hara's absence, they found themselves alone on the porch, sitting close together in the wooden chairs. They really wanted to be alone, but there were always people in the parlour, or worse, Mammy, circling around them.

It was chilly and Rhett, once again, threw his warm jacket over Scarlett. In truth, he enjoyed taking care of her, keeping her warm, or helping with his son. He wanted to become a part of their lives, their family, sooner.

"How nice of Melly to help with Wade today," Scarlett began the conversation, wrapping herself warmer in his jacket.

"Yes, Scarlett," Rhett muttered thoughtfully and realized that it was time to have a serious talk with her about her health.

"Scarlett, there's something else we need to talk about and it's serious," Rhett said and she only nodded and waited for his words.

"Honey," he began, "this is about you and your health."

Scarlett tensed but remained silent.

"Scarlett, I've seen that you hardly eat. Eating very, very little, less than a child. That you're dizzy. I remember you fainted in jail," he paused, and Scarlett closed her eyes, almost crying.

"Scarlett," he continued to reason without looking at her, all wrapped up in his emotions and worries, "I know about everything that's happened, I know how hard it's been for you, but it's over and you need to think about yourself..."

"Rhett," she interrupted him and he looked at her, seeing that she was looking at him hard, "I'm not going to let my son starve. He's too young to understand that! You didn't see him when he was ill. I was torn between him and my mother, and if he was gone too, I don't know what would keep me in this world. So don't tell me how to eat, Wade is more important!" she finished her speech angrily.

"Scarlett," he said quietly and touched her arm, "I'm just really worried about you, why the reaction?"

"I don't want to be a bad mother," she replied briefly.

"I never thought you were a bad mother."

"Yes, Rhett, but it's always been difficult for me," she began to explain, "motherhood isn't easy, I don't have the patience often. I look at Melly and see that I'm not like her. She does it all on her own,so simply, almost playfully and I do it with effort. But, even if I can't do everything for Wade perfectly, I won't let him starve. It's within my power, my mother would have done the same."

"Your father wouldn't let your mother starve, Scarlett," Rhett said confidently.

She thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe, Rhett. We all had my father. But Wade only has me," she finished.

He rose from his chair, crouched down in front of her, took her hands in his, and looked earnestly into her eyes.

"He has me now, Scarlett. You have me! I'm going to be not only your husband, but Wade's father. So, I want to tell you - there won't be any money problems now, you know I'll sort it out. And there won't be a problem with food. No one else in this house will go hungry, do you hear me, Scarlett?" he spoke with a quiet fury, "especially you and Wade. You know I'll do everything for that," he finished and looked at her.

She sighed and nodded to him. She was so tired of deciding everything on her own after her parents' deaths. Yes there was Ashley and Will, but her word was always last.

"Thank you, Rhett," she told him and stroked his cheek affectionately. He intercepted her hand and kissed it gently.

"You know," she continued, "I'm strong, but I get weaker around you. I don't know if that's a good thing..." she spoke and Rhett sat in front of her and looked at her intently, waiting for something.

"You've always given me strength, Rhett, and I've never loved anyone like you..." she said so simply, like it was something real and something that had always been with her. He caught his breath and only asked in a husky voice, "Is that true?"

Scarlett looked at him surprised and replied, "Yes..."

"Say it again..."

She smiled looking at him.

Here he was, the great Rhett Butler, the dashing blockade runner, sitting in front of her like an incredulous child.

"I love you, Rhett..." she barely had time to say, and he was already kissing her lips passionately and demandingly, his hands were already under the jacket, on her waist.

"Rhett," she barely managed to whisper, breathing heavily between kisses, "stop, someone will see..."

He pulled away from her lips and looked at her as no man had ever looked at her. It was love and something elusive, primal, something she wouldn't resist if they were alone.

"Scarlett," he said, trying to steady his breathing, "I'll be here in a week and we'll get married," and he added more quietly, almost to himself, "this is unbearable." And he stood up, took a couple of steps back to the railing on the veranda.

She just nodded and smiled at him, pushing away the thought of having to share a bed with him. That question really bothered her, but she decided to think about it later, she'd have a whole week to do that.

"Rhett," she called out to him.

"Yes?" he responded, adjusting his waistcoat and turning to her.

"You... You're going to Charleston, like you said. Have you thought about your father? If your mother asks, will you visit him?" asked Scarlett, trying to distract him and herself.

Rhett looked at her again with that serious look he had given her during the day.

"I don't know, Scarlett. I don't. Too much time has passed. There's no going back for him and me. Nor forward, either, if he's so badly ill," he reasoned.

"But you have a chance to talk now, Rhett. If I had that chance, to see my parents, even for a minute," she muttered bitterly.

"Scarlett," he said affectionately, walking over to her and sitting down in the chair next to her again, "Honey, we have a very different relationship with our parents. Your parents loved you, you had a lovely and cosy home, a family. Love reigned here, I felt it then. My father and I have a very complicated relationship, especially since I turned sixteen."

"But you were his son before you were sixteen."

"I was."

"So you and I have something in common, Rhett," she muttered, smiling.

"And what is that?"

"Childhood memories, Rhett. There were days when you were happy with your father, weren't there?"

He didn't answer immediately, deep in thought, staring ahead into the twilight, while Scarlett watched him with interest and tenderness, scrutinising his profile, his face. His hair was a little mussed and she wanted to brush a strand of it away from his forehead, then gently run her palm over his cheek, kiss the corner of his lips as she had done before and...

"Yes, Scarlett," he interrupted her thoughts, looked at her and she blushed, "we have some good memories with him."

"Then think about them before you decide, Rhett," she said quietly, and then reached up and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, then ran her hand over his cheek. He closed his eyes again with pleasure, with the realization that everything he'd dreamed of was coming true.

"I think we should go to bed, Rhett," Scarlett said as she stood up, but he caught her hand deftly, stood up too and held her against the railing.

"Just one more kiss, Darling," he whispered softly, kissing her forehead, her cheeks, and coming up to her lips, "just one more kiss, Love," he whispered hotly in her ear, pulling her curls back and barely touching her neck with his lips. "The thought of you so close to me, in the next room, drives me crazy," he continued to say in a hot whisper, running his hands down her back, going below her waist...

She closed her eyes and barely breathed from his touch and words, and he continued to kiss her neck, her chin, the corner of her lips. Her scent was driving him crazy, it seemed she was perfect just for him and soon...

"Miss Scarlett!" came an indignant voice from right behind him. Rhett opened his eyes immediately and Scarlett recoiled fearfully from him.

They didn't hear Mammy quietly open the door and step out onto the porch with a shawl in her hands.

Scarlett stood red-faced, not daring to look up, while Rhett adjusted his waistcoat and wondered if he would repeat Brent Tarleton's fate in running away from Mammy in the yard.

"Mr Butler,' she continued indignantly, 'this is a decent house, not a bordello, God forgive me!"

"Mammy, we're getting married in a week," he began to explain hastily, but she interrupted him.

"That's when we'll have another talk, sir! Miss Scarlett, go to your room at once! Mr Butler, be thankful it's winter, or you'd be sleeping in the stables!" continued Mammy indignantly.

Scarlett quickly slipped through the ajar door, almost giggling, while Rhett smiled embarrassedly and bowed slightly to the old maid, heading into the house. "Like a boy," he muttered to himself, grinning.

In the morning, after breakfast, Scarlett and Wade went out to see Rhett off.

They walked beside him and when they came to the horse, he looked at them again, and his heart sank. Leaving them, even for a week, was unbearable.

Rhett crouched down in front of Wade first and quietly told him, "I'll be back soon, son, in a week. It's only seven days." The boy nodded and smiled.

"What can I bring you, son?"

Wade looked at Scarlett as if asking permission with a look. His mother could be strict. But Scarlett was looking somewhere in front of her and didn't seem to hear their conversation.

"Uncle Rhett, I want lots of candy," the boy said, smiling.

Rhett grinned, "Darling, I'm afraid your mummy won't approve, but, I'll think of something," he said affectionately, patting the little boy's hair.

Then he stood up and looked at Scarlett, who continued to stare off into the fields. She was sad, despite the fun incident on the porch yesterday.

"Come on, Scarlett," Rhett said to her affectionately, "smile, Honey, you're not seeing me off to war now. I'll be here in a week."

Scarlett smiled weakly at him but remained silent.

Rhett leaned closer to her while Wade was distracted stroking the horse.

"Sweetheart," he whispered to her, "I love you very much and I won't stay long."

"Come back soon, Rhett. We'll be waiting for you very much," she whispered to him in answer before he kissed her affectionately.

Patting Wade's hair once more, he told him, "Take care of your mother, son," then gave Scarlett a quick kiss on the lips, barely touching, saying, "I love you." Rhett got on his horse and waving his hat at them, he rode to the station, knowing that his little family would be waiting for his return.