OblongCreamPuff- Thanks. Since it's written from mostly Scarlett's point of view, it makes some sense we wouldn't since she doesn't really pay much attention to her own kids let alone how the kids interact. If it was written from say Rhett's then we'd know more about the children's relationship with each other since he spends the most time with him next to Melanie.

Delia Lavender- Yeah they are though I might have the ages wrong. Wade's around 9 or 10. Maybe a bit older? I know he was born around the year the war started while Bonnie was born years after the war with Ella being a year or two older than her. It'd be a lot weirder if they were older, but acceptable (in their time) if they were cousins and were older. Before anybody says anything, Melanie and Ashley are cousins and Wade's dad nearly married his own cousin. I don't know if they're 2nd or 3rd cousins but cousins regardless. I don't remember.

I'm glad you read it. I've had some people think they were older. Adults/teenagers normally don't carry around blankets or play princess. It's pretty clear they're children. I don't know what kind of adults they've been around or stories where there are some childish adults. I makes me wonder if they were looking at the summary and didn't bother reading the story. I hate when people do that, jump to conclusions, and then have the gall to complain before reading the story.

That's pretty much what's going on here. It's nothing serious of course. Little kids get their crushes and get over them once they get older. That or they switch them over to someone else a week/month later.

Thanks. I try my best.

It was yet another rainy day for the Butler household with Wade hiding in the attic. Whenever it rained, he couldn't just run outside to escape from his little sister. His mother and mammy would surely throw a fit if he went out into the rain. Even if they didn't care, he didn't want to risk getting a cold and having to take icky medicine. The only thing keeping the boy company was a toy train he was painting and miniature soldiers as well. His only light was coming from an oil lantern not that he minded. As long as he was alone, he'd be fine. The only thing he didn't like about being in the attic was that if the lamp's light went out, he'd be stuck in the dark and would be forced to make his way towards the exit and possibly hurt himself. Hopefully no wind would make its way inside and blow out the fire. He could have easily hidden somewhere else to be alone, but this was the only place Bonnie dared not to venture. The little girl was terrified of the dark. Wade had told her plenty of times there was nothing to fear, though the younger child would always say otherwise.

How fortunate he had finally summoned up the courage to go up the ladder to the attic. Now Ella was a different story. Ella didn't mind the dark at all. She could be a scaredy cat at times but she was rather brave as well. However he hadn't heard her say anything about the attic so he figured she didn't even know about it or care about it. Even if she did want to go into the attic, she was sick. He'd probably be making it his personal hiding spot more often.

Meanwhile Bonnie was searching high and low for her brother. He wasn't in his bedroom, the kitchen, outside, or mother's work room. He couldn't be at cousin Beau's house as it was raining too hard to run over. She tried asking mammy but she was too busy tending to her sister. Maybe Prissy knew where he went. She tried tracking down her but she was gone as well. Now that she thought about it, she had heard that the woman saying something to Mammy about going down the road to a neighbor's house. Prissy loved to talk so it was possible she was still down there. Who else could she ask? Maybe mother was home as well. She burst into her parents' bedroom without a second thought. Normally her mother would get scold her for doing so but the little girl didn't care today. There was also the fact that their mother wasn't in her room to scold her. She was probably down at the store or the Lumber Mill.

"Wade, are you in here?" She called out as she looked underneath their parents' large bed.

She went into the closet and began taking out her mom's clothes. Surely he could be hiding behind all of her clothes. After completely cleaning out the closet, she frowned at not seeing her target and left the room. Where else could the kid be? She ran out of the room and headed downstairs. She looked everywhere! Where was he? She then got an idea. The basement was either large but not very roomy either. However there were plenty of hiding places down there. She often hid down there to avoid baths, eating her vegetables when her father wasn't around to save her, and whenever she was in trouble. It was dark down there, but luckily there was light down there. The basement was hardly ever used so she could hide down there without being found for hours on end. Wade had to be down there!

She attempted to go down there only to be stopped by Mammy. She tried explaining that she was looking for her brother, but she wouldn't hear any of it. "You just took a bath Miss Bonnie! No need to go gettin' all dirty again!"

"But Wade..."

"...is in the kitchen bein' a good boy," finished Mammy. "Now stay outta that dusty ol' basement and go play."

"I wanna go in the kitchen with Wade!" Bonnie slipped away from her and ran off. The old woman yelled after her not to run in the house but was ignored. Mammy just shook her head and went down the hall.

When she came into the kitchen, the boy had a plate full of sandwiches and was about to leave when she creeped up to him and grabbed his shirt. He nearly spilled them all over the floor but was able to balance them quickly before straightening himself.

"Dang it, Bonnie!" scolded Wade. "Don't do that! You nearly scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry, Wade," She said as he started to walk off again. She took off after him. "Where were you anyways? I've been looking all over for you!"

"That's none of your business!" As if he was going to tell her what his hiding place was. Bonnie puffed up her cheeks at him only for him to ignore her.

"It is too, Wade Hamilton!" She shouted after him as she tried keeping up with his long, quick strides. "What if mother or father or Mammy or Prissy were looking for you? I would have to know then!"

"Well was anybody looking for me besides you?"

"No."

"Well then it isn't your business then!" He rolled his eyes.

"Yes it is!" She said stubbornly. "You weren't off with some girl were you?"

"W-what?" Where would she get that from?

"You heard me!" She scrunched up her nose. "You were with some stupid girl instead of playing with me, weren't you? Mother didn't say you could have anybody over! Especially not a stupid girl!"

"Why would I have any girls over here?"

"Because you're too handsome for your own good!" Bonnie felt her cheeks grow warm. She hadn't meant to blurt that out to Wade of all people. It was true though. Wade was a rather handsome boy and any fool that dared to say otherwise would have to deal with her.

Wade, on the other hand, was rather flattered at Bonnie's words. He had been called cute much too often for his liking. Auntie Melly would call him handsome sometimes, but he always said this because she was his aunt and wished to not make her nephew upset. However he knew she too thought he was cute. He longed to be called something more manly like handsome or dashing. You know, words he'd often overhear young women call his Uncle Rhett. Not something you would call a baby or a little girl.

"Well handsome or not, it's raining. I couldn't have any over if I wanted to. The only girls here are you, Ella, and Mammy. Now go play with your dolls."

"Gimme one of your sandwiches," She ignored him. "I'm hungry."

"You can't have one of these! They're..." Bonnie took one and began eating it. He sighed. He may as well sit in the dining room and eat with her. He was going to go up to the attic and eat them, but he couldn't have his sister following him. After finishing the sandwiches, it was time for his sister's nap. As usual Bonnie put up a fight and wanted to stay up with Wade.

Just then Scarlett came back in a bad mood and didn't want to put up with her youngest child's whining. It could go either way today. Whenever Scarlett was having a bad day and Rhett wasn't home, Bonnie rarely got her way. Wade had never been more pleased to have his mother mad and not stand for youngest daughter's whining. She told her that if she didn't stop making all that noise, she'd spank her.

"But I don't want to go to sleep!" she cried. "I'm wide awake!"

"If you don't go to bed, no more desserts!"

"I don't care!" She stomped her foot. Scarlett rolled her eyes. "I wanna stay up with Wade!"

Suddenly Wade got an idea. The faster he got her to sleep, the faster he could be by himself again. "I'll get her to sleep, mother."

It was only then when the child stopped what she was doing. "If you want to. Whatever'll make her stop crying."

Wade took her to the nursery and gave her something to sleep in. She got changed in another room before jumping back into bed. Wade picked up a storybook off the floor only for his sister to tell her that she didn't want a story. She wanted him to get in bed with her.

"I'm not the one going to sleep. Besides it's too small."

"Then let's go into your room," Without even waiting for an answer, she ran off into her brother's bedroom.

Wade mentally cursed as he followed after her. He shouldn't be complaining. As long as she went to sleep, it'd be better than her being up and pestering him. He got into bed with her with her trying to cuddle with him. Frowning, she pinched Wade.

"Ow! What was that for?" He glared at her.

"Hold me like daddy does mommy!"

"W-what?"

"When mommy has a bad dream, daddy holds mommy!" Their mother has bad dreams? His mother was one of the toughest people he knew. It was hard to believe his mother of all people had nightmares like his siblings had. He wondered what she dreamed about. Was it monsters like what Bonnie and occasionally Ella saw or was she dreaming about the yankees? He was nearly inclined to ask.

"I'm not holding you," said Wade. "It'd be weird. We're not married."

"We could be!"

"Excuse me?" He wasn't sure he heard her right.

"We...we could...get married," she blushed as she squeezed her brother's shirt. "I think I'd make a good wife for you."

"We can't get married!" frowned Wade. He hoped she was just kidding or it was the sleepiness that was starting to show in her voice. She wasn't thinking when she said that. Surely she couldn't be. "We're family!"

"But aren't Auntie Melly and Ashley cousins?" Wade was quiet for a moment. "Well?"

"They're cousins! That doesn't count! We're brother and sister!"

"Half!" she corrected.

"We're still closely related!" He protested. "And we're too young anyways!"

"I can wait! I can get married at 16 like mommy!"

"She wasn't related to my dad!" Wade was starting to get more comfortable by the second. "If you keep this nonsense up, I'm leaving!"

"N-no! Please don't!" she said a bit too loudly.

"Good," As Wade went to turn off the light, he missed the hurt expressed on his sister's face. The girl was near to tears that her brother didn't want her as his wife someday. She wasn't going to let him see her cry though. Not him or anybody else.

Thanks for reading. If you want, please leave a review. It helps out a lot. Sorry for getting back to this so late. Hopefully I'll be able to do more soon.