Chapter One

"I don't believe it." Rhett Butler leaned forward, hastily smashing the tip of his cigar into the ashtray beside him.

The air was thick with smoke and the smell of whiskey. The table in front of him was positioned at the center of the room, on a platform. Only games with high stakes were allowed. Oftentimes, the men who came in to gamble, but did not have as easily disposable income, would circle around and watch as those who did threw money away like kitchen scraps. He glanced down at his hand, it would win, of course. He seldom lost. Though after hearing the news he's just received, he wondered if he should still be betting. He'd always enjoyed games with odds, but he wasn't sure there was a number high enough to make him bet on this news.

"I once told Scarlett that a cat was a better mother than her. At the time, I said the words with more anger than I meant, but there was truth in my thoughts. Scarlett didn't have time for any of her children."

Alex looked across the table at his friend. The mention of children still brought a pained look to the man's face. He'd met Captain Butler during the war, and owed him a great deal. They'd lost touch at the end of it, and Alex had been surprised when his friend had walked into the gentleman's club he owned one day Over the next year, they'd shared many stories with each other, some more painful than the other. Yes, Alex knew all about Rhett's estranged wife, and the child he'd loved more than life itself. It was hard to doubt the stories he shared, when he spoke with such pain and bitterness. Still, there were times Alex thought he'd like to meet the infamous Scarlett O'Hara, and see if everything was just as Rhett had described.

"You know, Rhett, if you were anyone else doubting my men, I'd be offended." The side of his lips quirked up in a half smile. He tossed down his own hand of cards on the table in front of them. "Dammit, man, I fold. You always win."

Rhett chuckled and laid his hand out on the table. "Aces over Kings. Full house." The smile at his win was only brief, and soon a dark cloudy look moved across the subtle lines in his face. "What more do you know?" Rhett wished he were strong enough not to care, to hear news like that and just shrug it off. What was Scarlett to him anymore? A painful reminder of something that he wanted, and was denied. He hadn't seen her in almost two years, and her last letter had been over a year ago.

Captain Butler,

I feel it only right to inform you that the children and I will be leaving Atlanta later in the week.

We plan to do some extensive traveling.

The house has been made ready for vacancy.

The keys will be with Uncle Henry, should you require them.

I've already paid the staff their wages.

Bonnie's room, at your request, has been left untouched.

I've taken a doll of hers, and the rest I leave to you.

I hope that this time has healed you in a way that I could not.

Be well, Rhett.

-Scarlett

Damn her and that letter. She hadn't written in months before that, and the previous letter had been full of hurt and pain. He hated to admit it, but her pain comforted him. Why should he be the only one suffering. Then, the letter had come, and with calmness,and a polite dismissal, she was gone. By the time the post had reached him, having first been sent to his mother's home in Charleston, and then forwarded to him, Scarlett and the children were well on their way on their trip, and far from the huge empty house in Atlanta.

For sixteen months, Rhett had no word of Scarlett. No one seemed to know anything about where she and the children had gone. He'd looked into it subtly at first, telling himself he should know where Wade and Ella were at least. No, they hadn't been his true children, but he'd been more of a father to them than either of their own fathers had been able to be. When after four months he still had no information, he tried a bit harder. He'd contacted Henry, stating he had some papers to send to Scarlett. Henry had gasped, no doubt imagining that Rhett meant to divorce her and shame her and the family. Still, he'd given nothing away, simply advising Rhett to forward the papers to him, and he would give them to Scarlett.

At the eighth month mark, Rhett had swallowed his pride, and had written to Suellen. He'd received a short reply back. Suellen informed him that she had no idea where Scarlett was, and that she was too busy with Tara to be writing him letters about his wife. Shouldn't he know, after all? Yes. Dammit. He should know. It irritated him in a way he didn't fully understand that Scarlett could just leave and he would have no idea where she went. Finally, he'd convinced himself he didn't care, and that he didn't need to know. What did it matter to him where she was? As long as she was away from him, he wouldn't have to see her, and that was what he truly feared. Even after the time apart, and the cruel words exchanged between them, Rhett worried that if Scarlett smiled his way again, he might beg to be taken back, and that was something he would definitely not let happen.

"Just what I've told you, I'm afraid. Though if you want I could probably find out more. It depends on how deep you want them to dig. In my experience, some things that are buried, should be left buried."

Rhett nodded. How much did he want to know? Did he care? What would he find out that would change anything? Did he want anything changed? He growled, causing his friend to look at him strangely. How did Scarlett manage to drive him insane as she did? "Tell me it all, once more. Please."

Alex sighed, taking pity on his friend. "She returned only days before her lawyer contacted you." Uncle Henry had informed him that Scarlett was planning to sell the house, and would need his signature. The letter was brief, and gave no information other than to suggest that he and Scarlett meet so go over the papers and plans for the profits from the home. It had been the first indication that she had returned. Rhett had asked Alex to send a man to Atlanta, and see if she had, in-fact returned. When he returned with more news than her whereabouts, Rhett could have fallen over from shock.

"My man, Gabe, saw her out front with the children. I'd given him just the information he would need to make sure he identified her, and the children. When he wired me, he confirmed that it appeared Scarlett, Wade, and Ella had indeed returned. He also mentioned a small child, who he said looked to be about one."

Alex continued on, noting that Rhett had anxiously begun to play with a poker chip in his hand. His eyes were focused on the chip, but he nodded as Alex spoke, indicating that he was listening. " I told Gabe that there was no third child, and that I was sure that it was a neighbor's child or a playmate to the children. Gabe said he didn't think so. He said the child clung to Scarlett like a child clings to their mother. I didn't want to speak to you until I knew more, so I had him ask around and see what he could find."

Rhett cleared his throat. "Go on."

"Gabe spoke to several of the new staff at your home, in particular a maid who seemed rather fond of…" Alex chuckled, but when Rhett sent him a look he continued on. "The maid said that her Mistress, your Scarlett, had taken in the child when they were abroad, and had brought him back with her to live. Gabe said he got the impression the child was adored by everyone, including your wife, and that she calls him her son."

Post Note: This is going to be a teeny bit of a timeline stretch. Think more movie rather than book as far as a few key events. For example, Scarlett falls down the stairs, miscarries, and then Rhett approaches her on the balcony where it seems like she is still recovering (or that's how I always interpreted it when I watched it). Bonnie dies, and Melanie collapses before Bonnie is buried. So, I've written that these all happened a bit closer than I think actually happened according to the book. Anyway, hope you can forgive that. Please review. Feedback is really my only encouragement to keep writing, I've found.