Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Five

Two weeks later Scarlett was ready to let Mammy go. The second girl she hired had worked out. Her name was Mercy.

Scarlett told Mammy, "I will put you on the nine o'clock train tomorrow morning. I sent Will a telegram this afternoon that he needs to pick you up in Jonesboro tomorrow morning." She smiled and said, "I will miss you. This is not going to be easy two weeks or two months from now. No point in dragging this out."

"No, there isn't."

The next morning, Scarlett was with Mammy at the train station. Scarlett said, "I am glad that I had you for so long, but you are right. Suellen needs you more than me. Although, if you want to come back, I will gladly take you back."

"Of course, Child. Now give me a hug. This is not goodbye forever you will see me when you come to Tara to visit."

"One more reason for me to come down. Do you need help with your trunk?"

"No, I've got it."

After Mammy got on the train, Scarlett stood on the platform and waited for the train to leave. She would not leave one minute before the train left. She had a tiny kernel of hope that Mammy would change her mind and get off the train.

As the train pulled out with Mammy on it the kernel of hope was extinguished.

As Rhett got off the train from Charleston, he saw Scarlett standing on the platform. He noticed that she was saying goodbye to Mammy. She had a softness to her that he had never seen on her before. Not even at that barbecue they had met at. He stood there and stared at her. She was so beautiful. He had missed her so much. He had to know if she still thought herself in love with Wilkes. If she did, he would just walk away this time. If she didn't, he would figure out some way to make her his wife.

Normally Scarlett had no gentleness to her, but she was feeling sorrow over the loss of Mammy, therefore there was an air of fragility about her. She was thinking about all her losses she had suffered in her young life.

Rhett was returning to Atlanta from Charleston. He had gone to New York to check on his investments in the North. He had decided to visit Miranda. He had not seen her since they had buried Grant. Grant had died from yellow fever the summer before. He had not even bothered to go to Charleston for Christmas.

Rhett had no reason to keep up appearances now, but for his mother's sake he would make an effort to appear as a happily married man although he didn't think anyone believe he and Miranda were happily married. Miranda had been apathetic in his company therefore he had not stayed exceptionally long.

Rhett had spent the last few years making money off the good people of Georgia with his Republican and Scallawag friends. Making money and forcing himself not to go see Scarlett.

Rhett was lonely. He would be celebrating his forty-first birthday in November again. He had some friends, but mostly all he had were friendly acquaintances. People he didn't trust any more than they trusted him, which was only right. If he got a chance to take advantage of someone for financial gain, he would.

Rhett's boredom with life made him miss Scarlett so much more. Life with Scarlett had never been boring. Of course, he had been missing her since he had returned in time. Maybe he missed her even more because there was no going back to her now.

Rhett stared at Scarlett. She was still striking despite the fact she was past her first bloom. He decided to make her acquaintanceship. Yes, maybe he could go back to her in a roundabout way.

Scarlett turned to go to her carriage when she did, she noticed a man staring at her. He was looking at her like he knew what she looked like without her shimmy on, she smiled at him. It had been so long since anyone had looked at her in an appreciative way. It was nice.

When Scarlett smiled at Rhett, he said, "I know in the South it is not proper to introduce oneself to another person, but I don't know anyone who knows you and I don't want to miss this opportunity to make your acquaintance. My name is Rhett Butler."

Scarlett could hear the man's Charleston drawl, thus a Southerner therefore, he was safe to speak to. She said, "Scarlett Kennedy. Why does your name sound familiar?"

"I was a blockade runner during the war."

"Now I remember. There were rumors that you inflated your prices."

"There were those kind of rumors about all the blockade runners."

Rhett had inflated his prices, but so had all the other blockade runners, even George Trenholm.

Scarlett said, "True."

"Also, I am a Butler from Charleston."

"My mother was a Robillard from Savannah."

"Would you like to continue this conversation over a cup of coffee?"

"Yes. Where?"

"I will be staying at the National Hotel. How about in their restaurant?"

"Sure."

"Let me get my trunk."

"Alright. I will give you a ride to your hotel. My carriage is out front."

"Thank you."

When the couple got to the carriage, Scarlett said to the driver, "Uncle Peter, this is Rhett Butler. We will be taking him to the National Hotel."

Uncle Peter eyed Rhett suspiciously, but all he said was, "Yes, Miss Scarlett."

Rhett guessed Peter wasn't going to like him in this lifetime either.

After Rhett and Scarlett were settled in her carriage and on their way to the hotel, she said, "Where did you come from?"

Rhett resisted the urge to say his mother's womb because it certainly wouldn't be proper to speak that way. He instead said, "New York."

"Is that your home?"

"No, my home is in Charleston. My family lives there."

"I would have guessed that, or you wouldn't be a Butler from Charleston."

Scarlett smiled and showed him her dimples. She was enjoying herself. It had been so exceptionally long since anyone had truly flirted with her. Not since she and Melly had fled Atlanta during the war.

Rhett said, "Do you live in Atlanta?"

"Yes, over on third street."

Rhett thought, 'She is still living at Hamilton House.' He said, "Did your husband die in the war?"

"How do you know I had a husband?"

"Just a guess. Everyone's husband died in the war."

Scarlett smiled. She said, "True. Almost all the young men died in the war or came back maimed." She felt the sorrow of all her losses from the war. Not just the county boys, but her parents and her former life also. She shook off those sad feelings and said, "My first husband did. My second husband died in an accident."

Rhett had watched as Scarlett's sorrow of her losses showed on her face, then watched as she put her mask back on. He said, "I'm not going to say I am sorry to hear that."

Scarlett laughed. She said, "What brings you to Atlanta?"

"I am working with Governor Bullock to restore normal life to Georgia."

"What? That is amazing. I wish they would hurry. I would like to get back to normal."

"This is our new normal. We destroyed our old life which is a shame because there was something beautiful about our old life."

"One of my friends says our old life had a beauty like a Grecian urn. Although I don't know how beautiful an urn could be. He is always talking poppycock like that. He has his head in the clouds most of the time."

"Friend? As in gentleman caller?"

Scarlett laughed and said, "Hardly. He is my sister-in-law's husband. He works for me as the manager of one of my sawmills."

"It was nice of you to give him a job."

"Yes, not only is he Melly's husband, but he is a lifelong friend. Although, if I had known how bad of an employee he was going to be, I would not have hired him."

"He must have some redeeming qualities like being good and noble."

With scorn Scarlett said, "He is good and noble, but that doesn't sell lumber or put food on the table. I have to go out to his mill twice a week just to get him to go out and sell."

Rhett was happy. He thought she was over her infatuation over Ashley Wilkes. He said, "Go on."

By this time, the couple was at the National Hotel and Scarlett said, "You get to tell your story first."

Rhett smiled and said, "Gladly. Let me help you down."

As the couple walked into the National Hotel, Rhett left his trunk in the lobby. He said, "I will get checked in after we have a cup of coffee."

After the couple was seated, the waiter came over and asked, "Would you like to see a menu?"

Rhett said, "No, just bring us each a coffee."

"Do you want cream?"

"I do not, but the lady will take both cream and sugar."

"I will be right back with your coffees, sir."

Once the waiter was gone, Scarlett said, "How did you know I drank my coffee with cream and sugar?"

"Just a lucky guess."

As Scarlett was eying Rhett suspiciously, he was thinking, 'I am going to have to be a lot more careful in the future.'

Scarlett decided to drop the subject. She said, "Tell me about yourself."

"I was born on a plantation outside of Charleston. My family grew rice before the war. I had a fine education. I first went to West Point then to the University of South Carolina."

"Why did you leave West Point?"

"I was court-martialed."

"What does that mean?"

"I was expelled."

"What did you do to get expelled?"

"I brought alcohol and tobacco into the barracks. I attempted to sell it to my fellow cadets."

"Did you know that was against the rules?"

"Not exactly. I knew it was against the rules to have alcohol and tobacco in the barracks at all. The only reason I offered to sell it to my fellow cadets was so it would get all over the compound that I had it in my possession."

"Why did you do that?"

"To get court martialed." Rhett smiled his cocky grin and continued, "It was not my idea for me to attend West Point. Having a career in the army was the last thing I wanted to do with my life. No, the last thing I wanted to do was grow rice in the country. I hate living in the country."

"I like living in the country, but I can't run my businesses unless I am in Atlanta. The mice will play when the cats away."

"True. You own businesses? As in more than one?

"I own two sawmills and a store. The store is called Kennedy's"

"After your last name I assume."

"The store was started by my late husband. He named it after himself."

"How did he die?"

"No, you have to finish telling me your life history first."

"Alright, but I think it is amazing that a lady would own three businesses."

"It hasn't been easy. My life has been a lot harder because I refused to behave like a proper Southern lady."

Because Rhett was trying to endear himself to Scarlett, he said, "You look like a lady to me."

Scarlett laughed. She said, "Yes, I am a lady, but not all my actions have been ladylike."

"Like what?"

"No, as I said you have to tell me your life history first."

"To tell you my entire life history would take much longer than a cup of coffee. Have supper with me tonight."

"Alright." Scarlett stood up and continued, "Pick me up at six. I live at 527 Third Street. Now I must go, or my daughter will start to worry about me."

Rhett stood up and threw a quarter on the table. More than enough for the two coffees. He said, "You have a daughter?"

"And a son too. I will tell you all about them when I tell you about my life history."

By that time the couple was at Scarlett's carriage, Rhett helped her into the carriage and said, "Until this evening."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it."