So here is chapter 5. Thank you for all the reviews… keep them coming!

Disclaimer – I do not own anything.

Scarlett, Wade and his nurse, Prissy were settling well into life in Atlanta. Melanie and Aunt Pitty were over the moon to have them stay and Scarlett found the hustle and bustle of Atlanta far more exciting than life in the country. The first few days, Scarlett was plagued with fear that Melanie would discover her secret and every time Melanie held Wade or played with him her heart would be in her mouth. One particular moment scared Scarlett more than she cared to admit. Melanie was rocking Wade when she turned to Scarlett and said "He does look just like you Scarlett, except the eyes of course, but they aren't Charlie's either…" she looked questioningly at Scarlett who forced a smile onto her face to hide the terror she felt.

"No, he has my mother's eyes, Careen's too. Suellen has Pa's eyes, sort of. I'm not sure whose eyes I've got." She babbled nervously.

"Yes, I remember your mother having beautiful dark eyes from your wedding." Melanie replied and Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief. Later in bed, she realised just how close a call it was. However, after that scare, things became easier and some of the fear Scarlett felt waned until gradually she felt more at ease with leaving Melanie to look after Wade without her constant presence.

Scarlett had been in Atlanta a few months when she and Melly were asked to run the McClure girls booth at the bazaar. Scarlett was secretly thrilled and didn't even mind so much that she would be stuck behind the booth all evening, so bored she was with sitting in the house all day.

"Oh don't they look so dashing Melly?" Scarlett asked, her gaze flitting over the young men, who despite some missing limbs who were wearing their uniforms proudly. After being stuck in a house where everybody was in mourning, the colours and pomp of the occasion made Scarlett feel as though she was the belle of the county again, rather than the widow she was.

"They'd look a sight more dashing in grey and yellow and in Virginia" came the strangely harsh reply.

"Why Melly!" Scarlett said, shocked at her normally sweet and kind sister-in-law.

"It's true Scarlett, not the sick ones or the young or old men, but there are some who are perfectly capable of fighting and are simply too cowardly to go" and with that, Melly turned her attention away from Scarlett to serve a customer.

Scarlett sighed and continued to watch the crowd, when Doctor Mead took to the stage to address everyone. Scarlett was only half paying attention but then something he said made her take notice.

"Our friend from Charleston, Captain Rhett Butler!" the crowd cheered and Scarlett looked round wildly, the blood draining out of her face. Then she saw him. His dark head was bowed but when he looked up his eyes immediately fell on her. She turned away quickly and hurried to the back of the booth, but she knew he had seen her.

He couldn't be here! She thought. Her mind was in turmoil and she glanced over her shoulder and saw him making his way through the crowd in her direction.

"Captain Butler?" Melanie asked. Scarlett held her breath. Oh why couldn't she just ignore him?

"I'm Mrs Wilkes, I believe we met at my husband's home, Twelve Oaks last year?"

"Mrs Wilkes, it's a pleasure to see you again. I hope the war hasn't hit you too hard" he replied.

Scarlett's mind immediately went back to the last time she heard his voice, whispering in her ear as he moved on top of her- no, she couldn't think about that. Not now, especially not here in public. Her face burned in shame and she tried to concentrate on the conversation he was having with Melly.

"There are others far worse off than us, Captain Butler. Of course, the loss of my brother Charlie was very upsetting…" her voice trailed off slightly.

"Mrs Wilkes, may I say that to die for one's country is to live forever." He sounded far kinder than Scarlett had ever heard him and his words obviously comforted Melly.

"That's very kind of you to say so Captain Butler. It has helped awfully having Scarlett to stay. Scarlett did you meet Captain Butler at the barbeque?"

Scarlett turned around. "I… I think so." She said shortly, inwardly cursing herself for stuttering.

"Yes, it was in the library, you'd just broken something, Miss O'Hara?" he replied, his dark eyes boring into hers.

"Yes Captain Butler, I remember you." Scarlett snapped. Melanie, who did not appear to notice the tension, smiled.

"She's Mrs Hamilton now, my sister-in-law. Scarlett has been staying with us in Atlanta."

"I'm sure that's a great comfort for you both" he said graciously.

Just then, Renee Picard appeared, holding a basket filled with jewellery and other items of value.

"Your jewellery for the cause ladies?" Renee Picard said, holding the basket.

Scarlett was for the first time thankful that she was in mourning as it meant that she wasn't wearing any jewellery. She would have just hated to give up her diamond earbobs or her grandmother's gold chain.

"We're not wearing any, we're in mourning" Melanie said and Renee turned to go when Scarlett caught a glimpse of her wedding ring in the light.

"Wait, I do have something for you" she called and pulled the ring off her finger and tossed it onto the pile.

"Oh please, take mine too" Melanie said and looked lovingly at her ring before placing it carefully into the basket. "It may help my husband more off my finger" she said with a gentle smile.

Scarlett watched as Rhett casually chucked in his gold cigar case, before turning back to Melanie.

"Oh Scarlett, that was such a brave thing to do. I wouldn't have had the courage to do it if you hadn't!" Melanie cried and squeezed Scarlett affectionately round her waist.

"That was indeed very courageous Mrs Wilkes." Rhett said smoothly, offering her a genuine smile.

Scarlett bristled. What about her bravery? As if reading her mind, Rhett turned to her. "You too Mrs Hamilton. I know just how much that meant to you" his dark eyes were mocking.

"Melanie, may I have a quick word about an idea of a rather scandalous nature to raise more money for the cause?" Doctor Meade said, appearing by the booth.

"Of course Doctor Meade." Melanie replied, and then left with the doctor, leaving Scarlett all alone with Rhett Butler.

"Black doesn't suit you my dear." Rhett said. Scarlett scowled at him. She knew black didn't suit her and god knows she hated wearing it, but she didn't need Rhett Butler of all people pointing that out to her.

"I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself Captain Butler" she said.

"Who, may I ask are you mourning?" he questioned, ignoring her remark.

"Charlie, my husband, but you already knew that." She said, glaring at him.

"Yes, but common courtesy dictates that one not presume such things"

"Common courtesy? Fiddle dee dee. Presume all you want, but at least go and do it elsewhere." she snapped. It was all his fault she was mourning. She hadn't loved Charlie and had only married him because of Rhett Butler and now she wanted nothing more than for him to go and leave her in as much peace as her guilty mind could manage to find.

"My dear, I don't quite know what I've done to make you glare at me so. Was it for my remark about your wedding ring? You can't expect me to believe that you loved a shy, meek boy like Charles Hamilton, after all, you were quite horrified by Ashley Wilkes' proposal and I imagine Mr Hamilton held the same meagre amount of charm and personality, being cousins."

Completely forgetting what she had just said about presuming things, she narrowed her eyes. How dare he assume that he knew who she liked or what she liked?

"Captain Butler I have no desire to answer such an ill-bred question" she snapped and placed her palms on the top of the counter.

"Why ever not, if I've done something wrong, and it usually appears that I have." He said, leaning forward on the counter "then I'd like to know exactly what it was." He was far too close to where Scarlett stood and she was anxious that someone might see and then she'd be in for a lecture on the propriety of widows.

"So, I'll ask you again, why do you glare at me so, my dear Mrs Hamilton? I'd hate to think that I'd offended your delicate sensibilities with my ill-bred and caddish remarks."

"Because it's all your fault!" she burst out angrily before she could stop herself "Besides, if you had any sense you'd know I never wanted to see you again." She hurried on in an attempt to cover up what she'd just revealed.

"Is that so?" He murmured, a small frown appearing on his face. He didn't say anything else, but made no move to leave. Her heart was beating so loudly that Scarlett was sure Rhett could hear it. After a second, the awkward silence and the fact that she'd inadvertently revealed more than she should was too much for Scarlett. As keen as she was for him to go, she got the impression that Rhett Butler was one man that wouldn't be put off by what she had just said and would stay as long as he pleased, simply because he could.

"You know, I'm surprised you turned out to be such an honourable character." She ventured, recalling parts of Doctor Meade's speech. If he wasn't going to leave, then she at least wanted to turn the conversation away from the dangerous waters they had previously been on.

He chuckled slightly. "I'm afraid I can't take advantage of your little girl ideals. I'm a blockader merely for profit, nothing more."

"But… but what about the cause. Don't you believe in the cause?" Scarlett asked, genuinely curious and pleased that someone else couldn't care less how many cushion covers they sold that night, even if that person was Rhett.

"I believe in Rhett Butler. He's the only cause I care about. Besides, may I make a wild guess and say that you don't believe in the cause any more than I do."

Scarlett tried to feel insulted. "How can you say that? Well, I'll have you know that I do. A lot." She added, to emphasise her point. She wasn't sure why she was lying, only that thinking the same thing as Rhett and letting him know it, didn't seem like a good idea.

"You do?" he grinned. "I don't believe that for a second."

"Well…" Scarlett said. Should she admit that she didn't? After all, he just admitted that he didn't believe in it. Besides, he seemed to be worryingly able to read her like a book and would surely know if she carried on lying. She hesitated for a second.

"I pretend to believe in it, but to be honest, the only thing this war has been good for is ruining all the parties and I can't have a decent conversation with anyone without them bringing the glorious cause into it and I just get so bored with it all" she finished, relieved to finally get that off her chest.

Rhett laughed. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint."

Before she had a chance to ask what he meant, the crowd fell silent as Doctor Meade took to the stage and announced that to raise money for the cause there would be an auction.

"If a gentleman would like to lead the reel with the lady of his choice then he must bid for her!" Doctor Meade declared.

Scarlett felt excitement bubble in her chest. Oh what fun! She thought before realising that as a widow, she wouldn't get the chance to dance. Oh if only she wasn't then she just knew she would have led that reel. She pouted in annoyance. It simply wasn't fair!

"20 dollars for Miss Maybelle Merriwether!" cried Renee Picard

"25 dollars for Miss Fanny Elsing!" someone else shouted.

"Gentlemen, is that all? Surely our lovely ladies are worth more than that? And let's not forget that the cause needs every dollar we have to give!" Doctor Meade cried.

"One hundred and fifty dollars in gold" the crowd gasped in unison as Rhett Butler strode to the front of the hall. Scarlett frowned slightly? Who on earth would he want to dance with?

"For which lady, sir?" Doctor Meade asked, with wide eyes. For a millisecond before Rhett answered, Scarlett felt something akin to jealousy at whoever it was that Rhett wanted to dance with. She didn't even have time to tell herself that it was purely because they would get to lead the reel and not because they would be dancing with Rhett, when he replied.

"Mrs Charles Hamilton." Scarlett felt her breath hitch in her throat. That was her. People turned to look at where she was stood and she couldn't even bring herself to blush, so shocked she was.

"Mrs Hamilton is in mourning sir. I'm sure one of the other ladies would be delighted to-"

"I said, Mrs Charles Hamilton" Rhett interrupted.

Doctor Meade had turned red with embarrassment and anger that a widow should be called upon to dance.

"She won't do it!" he said loudly.

"Oh yes I will!" Scarlett cried before she could stop herself, forgetting that only a moment ago she had been wishing he would go away and leave her alone.

She heard the collective gasp and subsequent muttering from the crowd as she swept out of her booth and towards Rhett, her heart pounding with excitement. So what if she was dancing with the devil himself? She would get to dance and have fun rather than being stuck behind a booth all night! Taking her place opposite Rhett she smiled brilliantly at him and waited for the dance to start. After the reel was over, Scarlett found herself in Rhett's arms for the waltz.

"Captain Butler, you do dance divinely!" Scarlett said, as he twirled her around the floor. She looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes and dimpled prettily. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun.

"Stop that" he commanded. Scarlett's smile faltered.

"Stop what?"

"That southern Belle simper. I want more from you than flirting." Scarlett's eyes flashed angrily. Oh he was going to humiliate her now, in front of all these people as well! He had so far refrained from mentioning her less than ladylike conduct at the barbeque but at his words, Scarlett realised that he saw her as nothing more than one of those bad women she had heard about.

"If you think that" she started angrily, but he interrupted her.

"My dear, as much as I would like a repeat of that little soirée we had last year, that was not what I was going to say." Scarlett stared at him in anger and confusion. What on earth was a soirée?

"I didn't think well… that" she said, feeling a blush creep onto her face. He merely laughed and Scarlett felt her anger rise again. He had humiliated her and now he was laughing at her. Why on earth had she agreed to dance with him? He truly was the devil.

"You did my dear, don't deny it. However, what I want from you, Scarlett, is an answer." Her forehead puckered in confusion, completely surprised at his request.

"An answer to what? You haven't asked me anything." She said.

"Before. You said that it was all my fault. What was my fault?" he asked, his black eyes probing into hers and she shifted her gaze to his shoulder, trying desperately to gather her thoughts. She giggled nervously.

"How you do run on Captain Butler. I never meant anything by it" she said quickly, hoping he would accept her denial and forget about it. She had no such luck.

"Oh but I think you did. Tell me Scarlett." She felt his grasp on her tighten and his hand slide marginally down her back.

"Rhett don't hold me so close. People are watching." She mumbled, trying to pull away, to no avail as he just pulled her even tighter to his body.

"I don't think so. Not until you tell me what you meant, and don't lie." He was too close for her to think clearly and once again, he had gotten her into a proverbial corner than she couldn't back out of.

"It's your fault I married Charlie." She said opting to reveal the least information she could.

"It is? Did I hold a gun to your head and demand you marry him? Did I carry you down the aisle myself?" she could tell without looking that he was grinning. Oh how could he be so flippant about everything?

"Oh you know what I mean! After we… well… you know…" she trailed off. Should she tell him about Wade? Would he care? But would he tell anyone? He might, she thought, he was just enough of a varmint to do that. Anyway, it wasn't like he was going to find out from anyone else that she had had a baby. After all, he didn't exactly run in the same social circles as her. Her mind made up, she looked up and faked a smile at her partner.

"Oh let's not talk about the past Rhett. I'm having far too much fun for that." Scarlett said, hoping he would take the hint and drop the subject.

"Seeing as I have just spent a veritable fortune to dance with you, and I didn't spend 150 dollars to have you scowl at me all night, I'll change the subject, but this conversation is not over by any means, just… postponed" he said, the corner of his mouth turning down. Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, having stopped listening after he said that he would change the subject.

"You know, I have often thought it's barbaric the way we treat our widows, they might as well be buried with their husbands." Rhett said as he twirled her around the floor.

"Oh Rhett it's awful. I have to wear black and I can't go to any parties." She pouted and he laughed loudly.

"Oh hush up, you're making me terribly conspicuous Rhett" Scarlett said, glancing at where the other matrons were sat, looking disapprovingly at the widow of poor Charlie Hamilton.

"Fie, my dear. You wanted to be conspicuous, or did you want to be stuck behind that booth all evening?"

"Well, I did so badly want to dance"

"I know, it was written all over that pretty face of yours" he said, grinning down at her.

"Pretty?" Scarlett asked, her ears perking up at the compliment.

"Yes, you have a very readable face."

The song finished and Scarlett sighed.

"Dare I hope you enjoy dancing with me?" Rhett asked. His hand was still resting lightly against her back.

"Oh Rhett, I can't remember the last time I danced and now I have to go back to the booth and I probably won't dance again until I'm 80" Scarlett said gloomily. Rhett laughed.

"That's not true, because I'm going to bid for you in the next dance and the next and the next!"

"Really Rhett I couldn't. Can't you see the way those old peahens are staring at us? Why, what must they think of me?" she said, anxiously.

"Do you want to dance Scarlett?" he asked.

"Oh you know I do, but"

"But nothing. Let them think what they want. Besides" he whispered in her ear, "I want to dance with you."

She pulled back, slightly flustered, and looked him in the eye. "Well, I suppose I would be making lots of money for the cause" she said, fluttering her eyelashes. He laughed loudly and people turned to look at them, but in that moment Scarlett didn't care. She was determined to have fun.

"That's right my dear, go on pretending." He chuckled, his black eyes dancing with joy and amusement.

Once again, pretty please review and let me know what you think. I would be immensely grateful!

Miss Ivy