Dear Readers:)

From one story to another:)

It so happened that "To let him go" was not the first story I was going to post, but I started with it.

And in general I had the idea in my head for a long time - that summer I'd seen a video from the film "Waterloo Bridge", a scene of Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor. They were talking about love, and he asked her if she was happy, and she was so young and reminded me so much of Scarlett. Also I was reading the story at that time where Rhett was hurting and mocking her as usual, (I was so angry with him) and I had an idea, what if it wasn't just Rhett who noticed our Scarlett at the Bazaar?:)

I took Roy's character, (didn't even want to change his name) and I think he would fit in perfectly with our story. I was inspired by the pair of them. But, I still love Rhett, not without it:))))

Some key points: Roy's age is about the same as Rhett's, a little younger, around 30. So this is a grown man with serious intentions:)

And Scarlett! We'll "turn on" her thinking and logic ,so she'd survived Ashley's childhood infatuation.Yes, she's still the same young, feisty widow, but without the childhood dreams of Ashley. It will also help her build a good relationship with Melly, they have nothing to share:)

So there you go:)

We'll see where this all takes us, I'm very curious myself:)

I have again drafts of dialogues, a rough plot and again a great desire to finish the story:)

Enjoy reading:)

P.S. And in general, it always seemed to me that if Scarlett had a man around her, who would show love to her and help her believe in herself, and not just laugh at her (like a schoolboy), she would appreciate herself more and open up to a better side. I don't know, it just seems that way to me. Anyway, we'll see where the story takes us:)

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Chapter 1.

The sun was rising over sleepy Atlanta, illuminating the streets, lawns, and penetrating the homes of the citizens with its first rays. People were waking up and ready to face another hot day. Only yesterday everyone was having fun at picnics and at the Bazaar, but today it was necessary to continue working for victory again. Hospital, food supply, growing and picking cotton, growing crops - everyone worked to the best of their ability. Everyone wanted to support their husbands, sons, brothers and friends who were fighting in the fields of Virginia now.

The little bedroom in Peachtree Street was also awake. Scarlett had just come back from Wade's nursery, fed him, helped Prissy quietly change him, spent a little time with her son, and, leaving the maid to tuck him in, went back to her room. It didn't feel like sleeping.

It was the day after BazaŠ°r and Scarlett was sitting in her room and thinking about previous events.

She sighed heavily.That mistake on that event would be expensive for her. Surely, news would reach her mother and Ellen didn't stay things like that.

And then there was that Butler! That obnoxious man turned up before her like jack in the box! And the way he talked to her, his innuendos. It was almost indecent, but she wanted to dance so badly...She realized that she was the one who had accepted his challenge, and he was looking at her with a smirk that made her want to claw his eyes out! Somehow he thought he knew her very well.

He put them in this awkward situation. To dance in the ball, in mourning, was so scandalous even for Atlanta's society.

Scarlett sighed once more, stood up from her bed and came to the window. Yes, certainly her parents would take her home to Tara.

She didn't want to go back to Tara now and be alone there. She didn't want to be in a place that reminded her of youthful infatuation. She was over with Ashley Wilkes.

Frankly, after his marriage and leaving to join the army, she remembered about him less often.Then her own hurried wedding and motherhood were so stressed for her soul, so she didn't have enough energy to suffer for Ashley.

And also she was a widow and that meant sitting on the plantation all the time. "Poor Charlie" this phrase persecuted her every day. "But , Dear, you should find solace in your sweety son. Wade is so nice and so reminds his father."

After such talks Scarlett was so angry and upset. Yes,she loved her little son, he was so cute and so calm baby. But her own life was not finished yet. She was only 17, so young and beautiful, and her heart was opened for romantic senses.

Living with Melanie and Aunt Pitty in Atlanta, Scarlett said goodbye to fantasies about Ashley, because reading his letters to Melanie (of course, secretly), she instinctively understood his deep feeling and attachment to his wife. There was no place for her in his letters or in his future life,there was only Melly. Scarlett was not strong in introspection and did not like to understand human relationships, but even to her the following became clear.

After all, Charles didn't hesitate to marry her even though he had a verbal agreement with Honey Wilkes. So he wanted her so badly. And Ashley didn't. It was as simple and logical to her as two by two, and she'd always been good at maths.

And there was Melanie.

It was the first time she had a sensible girlfriend (apart from the empty-headed Kathleen), who didn't envy her. It was interesting.

She was so kind to her and Wade, she loved them like her the one family. Yes, sometimes she was so boring,so right and so naive, but she always opens different nice features in Scarlett's character and Scarlett was flattered by that.She was like her sister (not so nasty like Suellen) and she helped her with Wade, too. She had never judged Scarlett for her words and behaviour. Frankly speaking Scarlett began to trust her.

That's why, Ashley was in past, her dreams were buried after their meeting in library, in Twelve Oaks.

But not only these thoughts were in her mind this morning. Closing her eyes, she saw another pair of brown eyes. The look of the grown handsome man, that Scarlett caught, leaving the ball room, after her scandalous dances. She was often noticed by men, more often her age, but this man was older, about this Butler's age. His look was the look of delight and admiration. Man's eyes were full of kindness.She didn't feel undressed by the look, as she had with Rhett. She thought, for a moment, that he was coming towards her, but Aunt Pitty began to moan again about fainting, and Melly squeezed her hand gently but firmly. They had to speed up, and she only had time to see the man being called by an elderly gentleman.

After a quick glance in the mirror, adjusting her black mourning dress, pinching her cheeks a little for blush so the shadows under her eyes wouldn't be so conspicuous, Scarlett left the bedroom and went downstairs to the dining room; it was time for breakfast, and the smell of coffee (it was so difficult to buy coffee those days) could be heard upstairs. She will have breakfast and then will go for a walk in the garden with her son. She realized that even if Melanie accompanied her, she should not go to the park yet. So Scarlett would have to content herself with Aunt Pittie's garden.

"I wonder what his name is," was the last Scarlett's thought before taking her seat at the table.

"Dear, how did you sleep last night?" asked Melanie, giving Scarlett a cup of coffee.

"Oh, Melly, It was awful. I'm so nervous, Pa will be so angry and my mother will be so upset. These were only dances and for our Cause..."

"Oh, poor Dear, please stop. I perfectly understand your desire to help our soldiers, and in memory of our Charlie..."

"Please stop" Scarlett wanted to shout it but it was only her thoughts.

"Why is Melanie so noble every time? I wanted to danse, danse, danse... And that awful Butler was a perfect partner and..."

"Scarlett, Scarlett" called Aunt Pitty and interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes, Aunt Pitty?" Scarlett answered, distracted from her thoughts.

"Scarlett, darling, do you think your parents will know what happened last night?"

Even now, Aunt Pitty didn't want to say the words "dancing, Butler and scandal" together.

Scarlett grinned bitterly.

"Of course, Auntie. If they haven't found out already, gossip spreads fast. Pa will be furious and Mother will be upset. And of course they'll take me back home".

"Oh, no, darling", Melanie exclaimed! "That's out of the question! You belong here with us! Your home is here! And little Wade. We'll explain everything to them, won't we, Auntie?"

Aunt Pitty turned pale and breathed heavily. The thought of falling under the wrath of Gerald O'Hara was unbearable to her.

"Oh, girls, I'm so sick...Where are my smelling salts? I think I'm gonna have a migraine and be in bed for the next few days. Girls, you've made me so sad. I'm going to lie down".

Wailing, the old lady headed for her bedroom, leaving Scarlett and Melanie alone at the table.

They couldn't remember which one of them giggled first, but soon they were both laughing softly.

"Melanie, stop laughing, looking at you I can't stop". Scarlett giggled and wiped away her tears.

"Oh, Honey". Melanie tried to stop laughing too.

Finally, they calmed down and Scarlett continued.

''We're on our own, from the looks of it it's going to be a long - long migraine attack."

"Aunt Pitty is very kind, you know. But she's like a child, and children don't like thunderstorms. Don't worry, darling, I'll be with you, and we'll persuade Mr O'Hara to listen to us."

"Thank you, Melly"

"Now, let's finish our breakfast, darling. Little Wade's waiting for you, and I've got a letter for India I should have finished yesterday. What are you going to do, Scarlett?"

"I thought we'd take Wade for a walk in the garden, it's so sunny and it's not so hot yet."

"Oh, that's marvellous, I'll join you later."

"Alright, Melly."

Scarlett sat on a blanket in the garden and Wade was crawling around looking at the blades of grass. Scarlett looked at her son with a smile, drifting back into her thoughts as she was suddenly called out.

"I beg your pardon, Mrs Hamilton?"

Scarlett looked up, froze for a second, and a slight smile lit up her face. It was him.

A grown man dismounted from his horse and hurried over to her. He was tall, dark-haired, with a small moustache and a pleasant smile. Something about him reminded her of Rhett Butler, but she quickly dismissed the comparison, stood up, and adjusted her black dress.

"Mrs. Hamilton?" The man spoke her name again, held out his hand to Scarlett, and without hesitation she held hers out in return.

"Yes, I'm sorry, we haven't met, have we?"

"My name's Roy. Roy Thompson. I apologize for disrupting your lovely walk so abruptly." Then his eyes affectionately followed a little boy who had found a flower in the grass and was trying to pick it.

"Your son, Mrs Hamilton?" he asked, smiling?

"Yes, this is Wade Hampton. Yes. And I'm Scarlett, Scarlett Hamilton."

"Scarlett", he said her name and smiled again. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Have we met you before? Are you from Atlanta?"

"I'm afraid not, Scarlett," he said her name again in an affectionate tone. "I'm in the military, a staff officer. Document work, shipping those documents, Atlanta's a very convenient city for travelling by train. I'm from Savannah, my family's there. What about you, Scarlett?"

"Mr Thompson," she began.

"You can call me Roy."

"Why should I call you "Roy"?

"All my friends do", he replied, smiling.

"Are we friends already?" Scarlett asked with a giggle.

"Yes, is this too quick?"

"Maybe a little", Scarlett answered, and fluttered her eyelashes like a southern belle.

They giggled again, but then Wade turned his attention to himself and Scarlett had to take him in her arms.

"So, Mr...Well, Roy, I live in Atlanta with my son and my family. Actually, it's my husband's sister and his aunt. My husband died."

"My condolences, Scarlett."

"Thank you."

There was an awkward silence and Roy continued.

"You're probably wondering, Scarlett, what I'm doing here."

"A little", Scarlett smiled.

"I saw you at the Bazaar yesterday and I admired your courage and bravery. No matter why you agreed to dance, you did it.You danced beautifully and I confess, I regret that I came when the auction had already been over. I think I would have outbid your partner."

"Do you think so?" Scarlett replied doubtfully.

"I'm sure," Roy replied briefly.

"But it was quite scandalous," Scarlett muttered.

"Oh, mercy, my dear! It's only a dance, and you're so young!"

"I'm afraid not everyone thinks so, Mr Thompson," said Scarlett sternly. "You came here in the hope of what? Do you think me frivolous?"

Roy looked at her gravely.

"Scarlett, my dear, I am a gentleman and I would never have a bad thought towards a lady like you".

Somewhere in Scarlett's mind the phrase "You, Miss, are no lady" came to her, but she only shook her head and lowered Wade to the grass. Roy continued.

"I noticed you yesterday and wanted to introduce myself. You are so different from the rest, Scarlett, outshining others with your beauty. There's a light in you and it's not flattery.We were supposed to meet."

Scarlett stood still and listened to his words. But just as she was about to reply, she was called out.

"Miss Scarlett," shouted Uncle Peter, "Miss Melly wants to see you. Come quickly, I'll stay with Mr Wade".

Peter looked suspiciously at Roy, but remained silent.

Scarlett answered quickly,

"Well, I'd better be off, Mr Thompson, good day. Nice to meet you".

"See you, Scarlett. Nice to meet you too".

With those words Scarlett smiled slightly at him and quickly headed to her place.

"Melly, did you call for me?"Scarlett exclaimed, walking into the house.

She found Melanie in the parlour with some kind of letter in her hands and tears in her eyes.

"Melly..." asked Scarlett warily. "What's wrong? Are you crying?"

"Ah, Scarlett," Melanie smiled at her and continued, "they're tears of joy. Look at this." and she showed Scarlett her wedding ring on her finger. The ring she had given the day before at the Bazaar to charity.

"But how?"asked Scarlett, smiling. She knew how dear that ring was to Melanie, she gave hers without hesitation and forgot about it immediately.

"It is all Captain Butler! I told you he is a real gentleman, just a little rough. Here, read the note, Scarlett," and Melanie handed her the paper, written in sprawling handwriting.

Scarlett glimpsed something about the hearts, love and blood of soldiers.

"I'm happy for you, Melly," she said absent-mindedly, thinking.

"Strange, Scarlett, why hasn't he returned your ring?"

"Never mind that, Melly. The important thing is that he gave yours back. And you know how he teased me yesterday and laughed. I guess he didn't think much of me. But he was polite to you, and, I guess, he was impressed with you. Never mind, Melly, I've got to go back for Wade."

"Yes, Honey, of course," Melanie didn't bother to add that it was for dancing with Scarlett that Captain Butler had paid a fortune yesterday. She kept that to herself.

"Ah, Scarlett, Darling we should call him to dinner as a gratitude, right?" Melly looked at her questioningly.

"That varmint? Tell me when it is and I won't be home or I'll get a headache!" exclaimed Scarlett indignantly.

"Ah, Darling, you're so funny," laughed Melanie.

Just as Scarlett wanted to object that she was completely serious, the door opened and Dr. Meade and his wife walked in.

They both were excited, Mrs. Meade even flushed a little.

"Doctor, Mrs. Meade," exclaimed Melanie, "To what do we owe your visit? Sit down, I'll have tea served."

Scarlett gave them a brief nod, contemplating what this visit would bring her.

"Ladies, Melanie, Scarlett," began Doctor, "our visit will be short as we are expected at the hospital, we've been away long enough as it is." Here he looked at Mrs. Meade and she frowned.

"So, ladies," continued the Doctor, "I'll get straight to the point. We've come mainly to see you, Scarlett."

Scarlett looked at them questioningly.

"So, young lady, you found yourself in a savoury situation yesterday. I dare say you shocked a lot of ladies in this town. I believe your thoughts were honourable, miss. In any case, I'm indirectly to blame for the situation, because the auction was my idea. And it turned out to be quite profitable," concluded the Doctor, rubbing his hands together and smiling.

Noticing the puzzled looks of Melanie and Scarlett, he continued, "You've been a great help to our hospital and soldiers! And, I personally went to Mrs Merriwether and Mrs Elsing to tell them that I and," he looked at his wife meaningfully, and the old lady nodded, "and Mrs Meade, we are entirely on your side, Scarlett, and will not allow any gossip. Fear nothing, Dear, it's everyone's contribution to our Cause that counts now!"

Melanie clasped her hands to her chest and smiled a joyful smile, while Scarlett looked confused but wary.

"Am I really saved?" she thought.

Next there was a short lecture from the doctor about their Cause, about help and hospital and then Melanie persuaded them to have a quick tea.

As they sipped hot tea, the doctor remembered how, already after the Bazaar, Captain Butler had come to his house in the evening. How convincingly he had explained his motives, how high-mindedly he had spoken of everyone's contribution, and how he had made another endowment of 150 dollars in gold, "for the hospital, our brave soldiers, and for the victory, Doctor!"