Hello, Dear readers!

Thank you for the wonderful reviews you've left and for your attention to my story.

So, the new chapter is here...

Enjoy reading!:)

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Chapter 17.

Scarlett didn't sleep well that night. First she couldn't sleep, feeling his big hands on her waist. She knew it took Rhett more time to fall asleep, but she didn't dare put her hand on his, even though she wanted to.

She fell asleep with mixed and frustrated feelings. Yes, he loved her, he wanted her, he wanted their family, it was a fascinating feeling that took her breath away.

But he'd been loving her for a long time, almost ten years, but he'd only told her yesterday... "God, how am I supposed to trust him?" she thought to herself, "How am I supposed to behave with him? What if he keeps lying to me?"

She fell asleep with these thoughts, then woke up with them in the middle of the night, still feeling his strong embrace, and met the morning just as thoughtful, but lying on his chest, while he was still holding her tightly, as if afraid to let her go in her sleep.

Scarlett opened her eyes and looked around the room, noticed her warm dressing gown, that Rhett had so unexpectedly brought to her in the bathroom yesterday. She could practically feel his burning gaze on her naked back at that moment.

At these thoughts she finally woke up and realized that she was lying on his chest and he was hugging her tightly. Embarrassed, she tried to gently shift her position but heard his voice, "Scarlett, please..."

"Rhett?" she whispered questioningly.

"Don't move away from me... It's happened too many times..." he replied quietly.

She was still lying on his chest, hearing the rapid rhythm of his heart, and said honestly, "I don't want to be away from you. Right now I want to be closer to you... I really do... But I can't yet, Rhett. I don't know what to believe and what not to believe. I don't know how to talk to you anymore. I'm confused, you know," she said seriously, and suddenly she lifted her head and looked him in the eye.

At last she saw him without a mask on his face for the first time in years. That expression in his eyes that he'd never openly given her before. He'd given it to the children, Bonnie and Ella, when they ran to hug him, he'd given it to Wade when they played chess and the boy made the right move. It was a look of love, of tenderness, of kindness. He'd never looked at her like that before this morning.

She caught her breath at that look, and he took advantage of the pause to reach up and kiss her lightly on the lips.

"Okay, Scarlett," he said and lay back on the pillow, "I understand what you're saying, but let's deal with it together, okay? I'm here with you, with the children. You all mean the world to me, you know? And things can still be fixed, don't you agree?"

Scarlett listened to him carefully then nodded and lay back on the pillow next to him, looking up at the white ceiling.

He put his hand on her waist again and moved closer to her, she could feel his breath as he lay beside her. No matter how angry she was with him, no matter how disappointed she was, her body always responded to his touch, his closeness. It had been like that since their first meeting, no one had ever looked at her the way he did. No one had ever made her feel so helpless and vulnerable.

Rhett continued to lie next to her on his side, stroking her belly, moving down to her hips or up to her breasts. He lay there with his eyes closed, not wanting to let her go. For the first time in years, he didn't have to play a role, he could just love her.

Scarlett felt her breathing start to hitch from his closeness and insistent touch, but she wasn't ready for more, and the children were probably awake by now.

"Rhett..." she said quietly.

"Mmm..."

"The children... They're probably awake..."

"Prissy's with them, helping them," he replied quietly, continuing to stroke her.

"Rhett," she began again, "I promised them I'd make breakfast together."

He was silent, but continued to touch her gently and Scarlett had to open up all the way.

"Rhett," she said frankly, lifting herself up and sitting down against the headboard of the bed and he opened his eyes, "I understand you and your..." here she blushed and he found her fascinating, "your wants and... Needs..." she said even more quietly.

He smiled at her and she continued a little more confidently, "I want to... I mean... Oh..." she said covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.

Rhett smiled even wider, only to sit down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Scarlett, Honey, I understand everything, I'm not going to hurry you, us... I want you to want me."

"Rhett," she whispered, "it's indecent..."

He chuckled and said, "Scarlett, it's just the two of us here. In our bedroom, and we set our own boundaries."

She suddenly looked at him seriously and asked quietly, remembering the not too distant past, "Just the two of us, Rhett, promise?"

He looked at her seriously and with a nod, replied seriously, "Yes. And you, Scarlett?"

She nodded and said quietly, "Yes."

Rhett reached up to kiss her lips as the door opened, and Bonnie flew into the room and ran to their bed from Scarlett's side. They recoiled from each other and Bonnie in her blue dress had already climbed into her mother's arms.

"Mummy!"

"Bonnie, baby," Scarlett barely said, adjusting her nightgown and hugging her daughter.

Ella, wearing a pink dress, came into the room next and stood hesitantly in the doorway. The fact that her mummy and daddy had shared a room, as soon as Dad and Bonnie arrived, really surprised and for some reason pleased her. Children noticed everything.

Rhett, noticing the girl's indecision, only said, smiling, "Ella, baby, come here to us."

Ella came and climbed up on the bed at Rhett's side and kissed him affectionately on the cheek, saying, "Good morning, Daddy," and he kissed her back.

Rhett thought, "God, what an affectionate little girl, what different temperaments my children have."

"Good morning Mummy," Ella said and turned sternly to her little sister, "Bonnie, Mummy doesn't like us coming into the bedroom without knocking or permission, it's not polite."

"Daddy allowed me, Ella!" replied Bonnie belligerently, and Ella frowned.

"Daddy," Bonnie suddenly asked, "why do you and Mummy share a room now?"

Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment in frustration and memories. "No... Nothing has changed in the past... He lied to me for years and I hurt him... It can't be undone, it will always hang over us..." she thought, looking sadly in front of her.

"Bonnie, baby," she heard Rhett's determined voice, "it's just the way Mummy and I like it, I want to be with her and she with me," he said, reaching out and stroking her curls.

Bonnie smiled, Ella started to explain something to her, and Rhett stared at his wife, who looked sad and pensive.

"Scarlett," he asked as they sent the girls to join Wade in the kitchen, "are you all right?"

She answered only, a one-word "yes" and asked him to send Prissy over as he was about to get dressed.

"What's Prissy for? I can help you with your dress," he said with a slight smile.

"To lace up the corset, Rhett. I want to go into town, to visit Gladys. I think she's helping out in the shop today. I need to see her," she explained to him and he nodded, but asked, "Can the children and I come with you to Savannah?"

She only nodded, smiling weakly, and he added slyly, "I can handle the corset, Honey."

After dressing and making the breakfast, they sat at the table, drinking their coffee. Rhett could see that something was bothering her, but he decided not to press her, to wait until evening, and if she was as brooding as she was, they would talk again. "Yes," he thought to himself, "we've made such a mess of our relationship over the years and it's not going to be solved with one conversation and a word 'sorry'."

He felt the touch of her palm on his hand and looked up from his cup.

"Rhett," she said, "the children are ready to go."

He nodded and he and Wade went to check on the carriage while Scarlett was fixing the girls' hair and putting on her hat and gloves.

Arriving in town, Rhett decided to take the children to the sweet shop while Scarlett was visiting her cousin.

"Please, Rhett," she said, "just not too many sweets or they won't have lunch."

Rhett smiled, kissed her on the cheek and taking Bonnie and Ella by the hands and calling Wade, they went into the shop. Scarlett looked at them, sighed and headed down the street to O'Hara's shop.

As she entered the cozy, slightly dark room, she noticed her cousin talking with a customer in a grey jacket with a smile.

Gladys, noticing her, exclaimed, "Scarlett, Darling, what a surprise!" and stepped out from behind the counter.

The man, who was standing near the counter and looked vaguely familiar from behind, turned round and Scarlett exclaimed, "James, you're here? What a surprise!"

James looked a little embarrassed and Scarlett thought he was blushing a little, but he quickly pulled himself together, walked over to her with Gladys, shook her hand and said, "Hello Scarlett, yes, I was in the neighbourhood and went into the shop to buy some ribbons for Lizzy, she asked for them."

"And where are they? What colours did you choose?" asked Scarlett suddenly with interest and James, blushing slightly again, replied, "I didn't have time to choose, Scarlett, you were just coming in. By the way," he added, lowering his voice as Gladys stepped back to the customer, "How are you?"

Scarlett lowered her eyes and began twirling the gold ring on her hand.

"Scarlett," James said affectionately, "don't make me take off this ring too, I'm afraid Rhett won't understand. Where is he?"

"He's with the children here nearby, buying them sweets."

"Oh, I know that shop, Lizzy and I have been there, I'll go to them if you don't mind, I won't disturb you and Gladys."

He went out quickly, putting on his grey hat, and Scarlett was left waiting for her cousin, who was serving a customer.

In several minutes, Gladys walked over to her and noticed how nervous she was. The way she twisted the ring on her finger, the way she kept fixing her hair, which was already perfect. She saw how sad her eyes were. For some reason she reminded her of that Scarlett girl from their childhood, who had upset her father and now didn't know how to make things right.

"Scarlett," Gladys called softly to her and she looked away from the ribbons.

"Gladys," she began to speak quickly, "let me buy some ribbons for the girls, especially for Lizzy!"

"I'll gift them, Scarlett," her cousin replied calmly and looked at her intently.

Scarlett looked away.

Gladys called out to her again, "Scarlett..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay?" came the question and Scarlett looked up into her cousin's eyes and only replied, "Sure."

"Tell the truth!" said Gladys seriously.

Scarlett looked at her and said curtly, "No, not really..."

"Why?"

"Hasn't James told you anything, Gladys?" asked Scarlett.

"Honey, we haven't talked about you," said Gladys affectionately and added, "Besides, James isn't the type to discuss other people's private lives, you understand. What's the matter, Scarlett? Who hurt my cousin?"

Scarlett grinned and said, "To tell you the truth, you and James were right... About Rhett," she explained, seeing Gladys' surprised look.

"Your husband is very nice, Scarlett, but don't think he charmed me. I've been watching him and his behaviour all our meetings, and I've noticed how reverent he is towards you and the children. If I'd noticed otherwise, you know I'd have told him everything. But, what did he do?"

Scarlett sighed and recounted the details of yesterday, the letter and her escape from home. The conversation with James. Embarrassed, she also recounted her foolish act that had led her and Rhett to separate bedrooms.

Gladys listened intently, she led her cousin to the window of the shop and looked outside, still listening. She was glad they were not interrupted and finally, she asked, "What's bothering you now, Scarlett? Have you forgiven him? Endless lies are not easy to forgive..."

"I have forgiven him," Scarlett replied, staring thoughtfully out the window, "but how can I trust him now, Gladys?"

"If you've forgiven, Honey, then you turn the page and you move on with him, hand by hand, if he's ready... Is he ready, Scarlett?"

"I don't know, Gladys. I guess so, since he wants me and our family. Then he's forgiven everything too..."

"Then," Gladys said confidently, "don't look back, Honey, it's not in your nature, you always go forward. Persistent, stubborn. Why is it different now?"

"Because it's real right now. And I'm afraid he's going hurt me. I was hurt yesterday, just from my fantasies about him, that woman and their supposed child. I can't take that kind of pain for real..."

"And he's scared too, Honey, he told you, he's scared, but he confessed his feelings to you. Funny isn't it, such a grown up and big dashing blockade runner and he's afraid of you, a little girl?" giggled Gladys.

Scarlett grinned too, her cousin could always cheer her up.

"Rhett, so what's this all about?" asked James as they were walking after the sweet shop with the children in the public garden nearby.

"We talked to her, James. I was honest," Rhett said with a touch of pride, and James grinned.

"You say that, Rhett, like this is the first frank conversation you've had in years with her."

Rhett looked at him, took off his white hat, and ran a hand through his hair, "Actually, it is, James. The first one."

James looked at him questioningly and Rhett only shrugged.

James thought for a moment, then said, "You know what struck me the first time I met her, Rhett? Not her beauty, but her look. Desperate, wounded, but warlike. She's used to a life of fighting, and I gather that in fighting and quarrelling with you... It's a wonder you haven't killed each other in ten years."

Rhett suddenly became serious and said, "It was losing the baby that stopped us."

James became serious too, then asked, "What do you want now Rhett? From her?"

"So she'll trust me..." said Rhett and looked away at the children who had found something under the tree.

"Give her time, Rhett. Trust isn't earned in a day. Be there for her, tell her the truth, the rest will come with time. She loves you," James said calmly.

"How do you know that?" Rhett asked incredulously, but James just grinned and shrugged.

That evening after dinner, Rhett tucked the children in, while Scarlett was reading her letters from Atlanta in the living room. Finally, he went down to her, kissed her absent-mindedly on the cheek, took his letters and sat down on the couch.

She looked at him in his white shirt and grey waistcoat and felt goosebumps on her back.

She was thoughtful again, seemed to be considering something after her conversation with Gladys. When she had told her cousin about what Rhett wanted, she realized that she had not told him what she wanted herself... She hadn't told him how she felt, not even a hint. It was wrong, not fair.

Scarlett got up from the couch and walked towards the exit with the words, "I'm going to go change, Rhett..."

He only nodded, not taking his eyes off the letter from the bank.

Scarlett walked towards the door, but, frozen in the doorway, as if some impulse had swept her up, she turned and called out to him, "Rhett..."

"I will tell him it... Right now" was her last thought.

He looked up from the letter, he was trying to read, and stared at her questioningly.

Scarlett gathered her courage and said clearly, "Forgive me..."

He looked at her in surprise, and she continued, "Yesterday, when you told me of your... About your feelings, I was shocked, scared enough not to tell..." she looked around in that living room and continued, looking him in the eye.

"I didn't tell you how I felt, yesterday... But, I feel, Rhett... The same feelings... Very strongly... I'm..."

He stood up in a moment, tossed the paper sheets aside, and walked quickly over to her.

"Scarlett," he whispered softly and taking her face in his palms, he leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her neck and running his hands over her waist, hips, back and pulling her closer to him.

Moments turned into minutes, but she didn't notice anything else but his touch.

Their kisses in the living room grew hotter and hotter, and Rhett, somewhere on the edge of consciousness, was glad the children were tired from the trip and sleeping.

He had already unbuttoned the bodice of her dress, the touch of his hot palms on her skin, burning her.

"Rhett," she tried to call out to him, breathing heavily, "Not here..."

He knew it, yes... "Come on, Scarlett," he said curtly and hoarsely, breaking the kiss and looking at her with a look she knew she'd follow him anywhere.

He held her tightly by the hand as he walked up to their bedroom.

"Just a few more steps... Faster... The last step... The door..." his thoughts worked feverishly and the pounding of his heart echoed in his ears.

He let her into the room and without letting go of her palm, he closed the door, the lock clicked and everything trembled inside her.

They had been close almost six months ago and her excitement was immense. Now, knowing each other's feelings, it should be different.

She barely had time to whisper his name before he spun her around to the door and pressed her back against it.

Her breast heaving with excitement, she looked into his eyes and he could see she was worried.

"Trust me..." he said softly, looking into her eyes, and she nodded, smiling weakly.

And then she said quietly, "I believe you. Always..."

He closed his eyes for a moment from the intensity of the feelings that came over him. Then, he leaned towards her and whispered, "I love you, you're the one," and gently touched her lips with his.

Scarlett closed her eyes, dissolving into the sensation. His hot lips, which were gentle at times and then so passionate and insistent, his strong hands, with which he was now kneading the tight corset and deftly unlacing it, his scent...

Rhett pressed her against the door, kissing her lips, her neck, leaving hot trails and moving to her breasts, at the same time he was busy with her corset.

"Scarlett," he whispered hoarsely, kissing her neck again, "I want you... My love... Mine... Only mine..." He whispered those words and had already discarded her corset.

"Rhett," she whispered, "let me..."

He stopped and she suddenly began undoing the buttons of his white shirt with trembling hands. Once unbuttoned, she slid it off his shoulders, tossed it to the floor and touched her palms to his muscular chest, noticing how quickly it was heaving.

He ran his hands through her hair, removing a couple of combs as he suddenly felt her timidly kiss his chest, the place where the heart was beating frantically.

Unable to hold back any longer, he deftly picked her up in his arms and carried her to their bed.

They were naked on the bed, only a couple of candles lighted up the room, and they didn't close their eyes. Rhett caressed, kissed and heard his wife's rapid breathing and moans not some random 'one-night' girl. The very thought of it aroused him so much that he could barely hold on.

Making another move, he looked into her eyes again and whispered hoarsely, "Tell me that, Scarlett, tell me..."

She, almost having peaked, could barely control her thoughts anymore, but drowning in his black, wild eyes, she only sighed, "Yours, Rhett... I'm yours... I love you..."

He groaned hoarsely, then kissed her lips greedily. A couple more moments, some hard and fast movements, a quiet shriek and a husky moan and they were both caught up in a vivid whirlwind of emotions and feelings of release. All that was left was their bodies wet with sweat, the smells, the touch of his palms on her skin becoming caressing, the hitched breaths, the frantic rhythm of their hearts.

He lay down beside her and hugged her gently, feeling his hands still trembling slightly.

"Scarlett," he whispered softly, burrowing into her hair.

"Shh, Rhett," she whispered gently and placed her hot palms over his. He felt them shiver too and realized that words would be unnecessary. He carefully pulled the blanket over them, which was somewhere on his side, and pulled her even tighter against him. He dissolved in the rhythm of her breathing, in the scent of her hair, stroking her lightly, he didn't realize how soundly he fell asleep, feeling a sense of boundless happiness for the first time in his life.