Chapter 8: A Morning Gone Wrong

Getting off the bed Scarlett went and got ready. Walking over to her massive walk in closet she picked out a pair of Liz in Company jeans with a white button up long sleeve shirt with blue embroidering around the collar, which came from Cold Water Creek. Fixing her hair and applying some Liz Taylor perfume Scarlett headed downstairs for breakfast.

Shutting the door behind her Scarlett could smell the hot cakes, biscuits, grits and so many other things fill the house. Feeling and hearing her stomach flip she didn't realize how hungry she had been. Heading down the stairs the children could be heard chatting happily. Heading into the room Mammy stopped her.

"Child is everything alright? Yaw looks mighty pail."

"Yes, I'm fine Mammy still have a headache."

"Dear old Mammy will get you some aspirin to take for it and in a little while yaw feel much better." With that she was off to get the aspirin for Scarlett's splitting headache.

Walking into the kitchen Scarlett found her family sitting at the small breakfast table. "Morning mother," Ella said with a toothless smile.

"Morning, where's Rhett?" Scarlett asked as she grabbed an apple from the display that sat in the middle of the table. She really wasn't feeling too well. With the headache and now all of a sudden her stomach hurt. She didn't want to put too much on it for if she did she feared the worst.

"He's up in Bonnie's room. Mammy said she didn't look to well." Wade said as he played his DS.

"I see, children will you excuse me I will be back in a few minutes." Taking a bit of the apple she turned to leave. Turning back around quickly she faced her son. "No games at the table you know better."

Wade quickly stuffed the game in his pocket and began eating once again.

"You knew she was going to catch you." Ella said taking a bit of her hotcakes.

"Shut up," Wade said glaring at his half sister.

Taking a hand full of grits she threw it at Wade. "That's what you get for calling me stupid." Sticking her tongue out she then smiled her little devilish smile.

"Less talking and more eating," Scarlett said as she headed out the door. She would deal with them when she got back right now she had settle this with Rhett.

"Ms. Scarlett here is the aspirin," Mammy said hold two of the meds.

"Thank you Mammy, I'll be right down." Scarlett called out as she looked over her shoulder. Mammy nodded and went and put them by her plate.

Continuing her way up the staircase Scarlett tried to swallow the lump that was in her throat. She was going to get to the bottom of this if it was the last thing she did. Hearing voices coming from Bonnie's room Scarlett had finally arrived at her youngest daughter's door. Knocking a little Scarlett opened the door.

As the door was pushed back Scarlett saw her ill child sitting up in bed talking to her daddy. "Mother," Bonnie's happy voice rang out. It seemed that she was feeling much better then what she had been.

"Morning darling," Scarlett said as she tried to smile at her daughter, but it was just a half smile. She couldn't do it. Seeing her daughter sick and in bed just put a pain in her heart. A pain she had never felt before. Turning her eyes they fell upon Rhett. He was sitting by his daughter's bed side acting as if nothing had ever happened. "How can Rhett act as if nothing has happened and be so blind?" Scarlett yelled inside her head. "Rhett, I need to speak with you out in the hall for a moment." Now was her chance she was going to find out where he really went. Was it Belle's? Was not having her last night not enough? One way or another she was going to find out.

Getting up Rhett told Bonnie he would be right back. "What is on your mind my pet? From the look of it something serious."

"You know good and well what is on my mind." Scarlett began as she huffed and crossed her arms.

"No I don't think I do. Please do tell Mrs. Butler." Rhett began "You have my uninvited attention."

"I woke up this morning and you were gone."

"A man has a right to wake up and come and go as he pleases."

"Where were you?" Scarlett demanded as her green eye's looked into Rhett's with a tent of anger. "At that Belle's?" She could feel the smoke coming from her ears. "Was I not good enough for you last night? That you just had to leave to get some more?" This made Scarlett sick to her stomach. To think that she might very well might be, being used.

Rhett's expression changed within seconds. The face she knew far too well was coming out and Scarlett was ready. If he could dish it out that she wasn't a good mother well then by God she could do the same. "You always have a good tendency to think badly about other people before you even give them a chance to explain themselves." Rhett hissed as he tried to keep it down. "If you must no Scarlett I didn't go to Belle's last night I didn't even leave the house. Bonnie was screaming in her sleep, but why do you care? You've never cared about OUR child Scarlett. Because, you know why, because, she's MY child. You've never cared about me. You married me for money and money alone. There was never any compassion in our marriage there never has been and there never will be." Rhett had hit the core that had been hidden for a while but he had finally found it. "I stayed up with her until she fell back asleep."

It felt as if Rhett had just twisted the knife within Scarlett. How could he say such a thing? She did to love Bonnie. Opening her mouth Scarlett was about to speak when Bonnie's voice came breaking up their fight.

Opening the door they found Bonnie playing with a Barbie and ken doll as she waited for her parents. Scarlett just wanted to cry at the site of her. She was so pale, so thin, so sick. "Yes, darling what is it?" Scarlett asked.

"I'm hungry," Bonnie looked up from her dolls. Rhett smiled at her and went over and picked her up. Scarlett ran over to him.

"Do you think this is a good idea? Dr. Meade said not to move her to much."

"She will be fine I had a wheelchair brought in last night while you were complaining about your headache."

Scarlett figured that would be alright. If she was in a wheelchair then Bonnie could be a part of the family again. Caring her into the hall Scarlett shut the bedroom door. Heading down stairs Rhett and Scarlett heard nothing but silence. Looking at one another they headed quickly into the kitchen.

With a gasp Scarlett's eye's got wide when she saw what her and Rhett had come in between. Grits, hotcakes, jelly, jam, everything was all over the kitchen. All over the walls, floor, table. "WADE, ELLA! WHAT IS GOING ON?" Scarlett screamed at the sight of the kitchen.

"She did it,"

"He did it,"

Walking into the kitchen Mammy to saw what had happened. "Wade, Ella do yaw mind tellin Mammy and your folks what happened?"

Wade and Ella both looked at each other.

"Well you see I thought I saw something in my food and so I-"

"That's not right. What happened was there was this big Alien ship and we tried to get rid of it by throwing the food because the Alien's were hungry and-"

"No Patches came into the kitchen and made a mess of things."

"Enough!" Rhett yelled. "Nice try you two, but your mother and I both know what happened."

"But-how?" Ella asked as she her eyes filled with confusion.

"When you're a parent there are just things you just know." Rhett began as he knew Scarlett was speechless. Who would have thought the once Belle of the county's own children would be making a mess of a kitchen one of these days?

"Ella, Wade, go to your room's your father and I will disuse your punishment later." Scarlett said pointing up towards the staircase. Heading pass them Rhett and Scarlett could hear them mumbling under their breath. 'Don't turn anything on."

Sitting Bonnie down in the wheelchair Rhett began to laugh. "I don't see what is so funny about this." Scarlett huffed as she kicked the empty jam jar out of the way so she could sit down.

"My pet I would have never thought that you the Belle of the county's own children would do that. That was a sight to see I must say."

"I'm glad you find this funny because I don't." Scarlett said as she placed a plate in front of Bonnie. She didn't want Mammy to worry about it. Not after the mess her two older children had made.

"Mother, it's cold," Bonnie said looking up from her plate. Taking it back Scarlett placed it in the microwave.

"Relax Scarlett they were just having fun."

"Fun? Fun is playing out in the yard making mud pies and getting messy that way. Fun is playing with the hose something that isn't hard to clean up. Fun is playing nicely and quietly. Not making a wreck of the kitchen in our absents," she once again placed the plate of now hot food in front of her daughter.

Picking up her fork Bonnie took a bite. She found that it wasn't to her liking. Picking and pushing things around she tried to make it appear that she had eaten something. "Mother, I don't want this anymore."

Scarlett just wanted to scream. First Wade and Ella and now this! When was she going to get paid for being a mother and a house wife? Yes there was the mill but since she sold it to Ashley things seemed a bit slow. But then again Ashley, Melanie and Beau needed it. "What Bonnie? What do you want?" Scarlett asked with a huff.

Bonnie's eyes began to fill with warm tears. "I want to get better Mommy. I want to be able to play with Wade and Ella again. I want to be able to eat normal food."

Scarlett's heart jumped a little. This was the first time Bonnie had ever called her Mommy. Poor Bonnie Scarlett knew she didn't feel very good and wouldn't for a while. Scarlett got down next to her child and put her arms around her. "I know darling I know." Kissing her forehead she rocked her like she once had when she was a baby. "What do you want to eat? There's chicken noodle soup, crackers, cereal."

"Chicken Noodle soup," Bonnie said as she dried her tears. Getting to her feet Scarlett went to the pantry and got out a can of soup. Putting it in a pan she placed in on the stove.

"Bonnie, Daddy, was telling me that you had a nightmare last night." Scarlett said looking over her shoulder as she fixed the soup.

Bonnie nodded her head. "A big bear was chasing me and I couldn't get away." Bonnie said as she looked at the table top.

"Will get you a nightlight for your room, how does that sound?" Rhett asked as he flipped through the morning paper.

"Yeah," Bonnie said with a smile. A smile that hadn't been seen in a while.

Putting the warm soup in front of Bonnie he began eating it. "Can we decorate the tree?" Bonnie asked as she putting her spoon down.

"After you get done eating," Rhett said looking through the sport section.

"Okay," Bonnie said as she began eating faster.

"Slow down there. Your daddy and I still have to go talk to Wade and Ella and then we will decorate the tree." Scarlett said as she sipped her coffee. "Mammy," Scarlett called.

"Yes ma'am?" Mammy asked coming into the small breakfast nook.

"Will you watch Bonnie for us? We have to go talk to the kids who made this mess." Scarlett said, "Oh and could you get some of the servants to clean this up?"

"Yes ma'am," Mammy said sitting next to Bonnie.

Getting up from the table Rhett followed Scarlett out of the room. "What do you think their punishment should be?" Scarlett asked as she wasn't sure what to think let alone do.

"I hate to tell you, because my pet they are your children."

"There ARE children Rhett like it or not."

"Like it? I love it. You know I've always thought of those two as one of my own."

Scarlett knew this to be true. "I think a week being grounded should fix it what do you think?"

"I second that monition Mrs. Butler." Rhett agreed as he knew this would be the best way. Maybe not for the children but for them, getting to the top of the staircase they turned the corner and came to Wade's room first.

"I'll get Ella," Scarlett said stepping to the door next door. Knocking she opened the door. Peaking her head inside she looked at her seven year old daughter who was sitting on her four white poster bed which was surrounded by everything and anything pink. "Come to your brother's room we want to talk to you both."

Getting off of her bed Ella followed her mother. Heading into Wade's soccer/ game room Ella sat next to him. "Here is what we have decided." Rhett began and then let Scarlett take it away.

"Oh thanks let me be the bad guy." Scarlett whispered to him. He just laughed at the remark. "No, TV, no video games, no going over to Savannah's and Tommy's house for a whole week."

Ella and Wade's mouths just fell open. "But mother, that's not fair." Ella said as she began to pout.

"Life isn't always far Ella." Scarlett said standing on the matter. "Do you think it was far that you trashed the breakfast nook the way you did? No, so as punishment you both are grounded for one week starting today."

"But, what about Bonnie, why do we get punished and not her?" Wade asked. For him to be twelve sometimes he acted like a six year old again.

"Don't go pulling Bonnie into this." Rhett began. "She didn't have anything to do with this. It was both your doing's not anyone else's but your own." He was going to stand on the matter with Scarlett on this one. They were not going to be two push over parents.

"But-"Wade and Ella began.

"Not if ands or butt's," Scarlett said "Enough is enough you both are grounded until next week is that clear?"

"Yes Mother,' they both said as one as their voices fell.

"Now come on down stairs we are going to decorate the tree." Scarlett said opening the door. Getting off the bed the two children rushed down stairs. "Great now we look like two bad guys."

"Not we darling you," Rhett said as made his way towards the door.

Scarlett shut it before he could get to it. "Me? I don't think so. If I'm the bad guy your coming down with me."

"My pet you could never take a joke could you?" Rhett laughed. "You've always been so serious. I don't think I've seen you as care free as I did that summer at the Wilkes BBQ."

"Me serious? Fiddle-Dee-Dee I can be fun to you know." Scarlett said as she rolled her eyes. "I've been carefree more times than one."

"My pet I'll believe that when I see it." Rhett laughed as he backed her up against the door. He began kissing her.

"Rhett, Rhett, we need to get downstairs. Before the kids start to wonder."

"Just a few minutes," Rhett said in between kisses. Before long Scarlett gave in and within five minutes the kids were yelling.

"Mom, Uncle Rhett, come on!" Wade yelled from the living room.

"See I told you," Scarlett said as she gave him one final kiss. Opening the door quickly Scarlett fixed everything and headed down the stairs. "Were coming,"

Getting into the living room they found all three children waiting to decorate the tree. Everything was sitting in big brown boxes just to the left of the tree. Opening the boxes ornaments were sat on a nearby table and the angle and tinkle and garland were sat next to them. After putting the silver garland on the ornaments were next in line.

Putting on one at a time Ella picked out her Sugar Plum Princess Ballerina ornament and placed in where all could see. Next Wade placed his favorite soccer one just above Ella's. Going through the many ornaments that were hers Bonnie finally picked out her favorite one, a little Raggedy Ann one that read first Christmas. Placing it right next to Ella's she smiled.

Next Rhett and Scarlett placed their first Christmas ornament on. Giving her a kiss Rhett and Scarlett heard "Gross!" Breaking it up Rhett and Scarlett watched as the ornaments disappeared from the table and onto the tree.

Finally only the little multi colored balls were left. Picking up a bright yellow one Bonnie went forward and placed it on the tree. But as she was backing up she knocked it off causing it to hit her hand and breaking.

Feeling the sharp little piece go into her hand Bonnie looked down to see blood running from the wounds and down her hand. Pressing her other hand with it she found that it wouldn't stop bleeding. "Mother, Daddy, make it stop!" Bonnie screamed.

Running into the other room Mammy got a washcloth. Coming back she placed the cold cloth on the little girl's hand. Pressing as hard as possible they tried to get the bleeding to stop. Within five minutes the cloth was soaked.

"Call Dr. Meade, I can't get it to stop."

A/N: Sorry it took me a few days to update. Been busy getting things around here ready for college...again lol. What do you think could be wrong with Bonnie now? Hmm, I know. Review