Chapter 10: What to Do?

The following morning Scarlett's alarm woke her from a troubled sleep. She hadn't slept well that night. She had a terrifying nightmare through out the night. She had given birth to her baby. However, she woke up from her nap with the baby already gone and Rhett was no where to be found. She began to call for a nurse but nobody came. She got out of bed and went to the hall. There were nurses all around. She began to ask where her baby was but, no one acknowledged her existence. Not one nurse looked up at a panicked Scarlett. By now she was screaming no...More like demanding, wanting to know if anyone could tell her where her baby was. She began running up and down the hall with panic running through her. After a while she stood there in the hall knowing her baby was gone along with the baby's daddy.

Scarlett shook the dream from her mind. Oh how it seemed so real. It was as if she was really there. In her own dream running and screaming wanting to know where her baby was. She splashed some cold water on her face and looked in the mirror. Nothing had changed…yet she was only four days along. She got dressed and went down stairs. To her surprise she found no one downstairs. She walked into the kitchen to see a note.

Dear Scarlett;

We went out for a little while. We didn't want to wake you. Will be back soon, good luck with Rhett and always know Scarlett that we love you.

Love

Mom and Dad

Scarlett sighed; great they went out and didn't even bother to wake me. Gee on a normal day her mom pokes her head in her door telling her it's time to get up for work. Scarlett thought to herself as she blew air out of her cheeks. She didn't worry about it. She grabbed an apple and off she went to see Rhett.

While walking down the street and enjoying the fresh air and lovely summer day Scarlett began to notice many of the women looking at her and talked as if she had done something. Unless-no they all knew about her! Looking around more and more women and young girls began to whisper to one another while mothers told their daughters to stay away from her. Because, she had done a bad thing and a good girl didn't so such things until she was married. Not knowing what to do Scarlett ran into the law firm and sat in a chair until she could grasp what had happened. Everyone knew about her and what she had done. What would Scarlett expect? For everyone to say "Oh, it's alright Scarlett, you didn't do anything wrong." Of course not, no, they were all saying to one another "Look at her, can you believe she did such a thing? In our town, of all place! After getting her a drink of water and calming herself down she went to the fourth floor to talk to Rhett.

"Hi, I'm here to see Rhett Butler," Scarlett told the secretary as she turned around. Scarlett stood there as she waited for the lady to speak and to tell her to go on in. She couldn't believe that Rhett had his own office. Yes he owned the firm but he was mostly in Hawaii or in Charleston.

"Why if it ant Miss Scarlett, If you will have a seat I will tell him you're here. "Rhett?" she called into the intercom.

"Yes, Helen?" Rhett asked as he sat at his desk going over some papers. He wasn't expecting anyone at this time. After all it was rather early to. He wondered who it could be.

"Scarlett O'Hara is here to see you sir." Helen answered looking up at Scarlett with a smile who in turn smiled back.

Rhett was surprised to hear her name but also glad at the same time. A smile came to his lips. "Send her in please, Helen." His voice rang through the intercom.

"You may go in now." Helen said with a smile. She felt terribly sorry for Scarlett. She had just found out that Scarlett was going to have a baby. How sorry she felt for her. She was so young and her life was really just beginning.

Scarlett got to her feet and walked to the door. Putting her hand on the silver doorknob, she turned it. The door opened and to Scarlett's amazement the office was just perfect. The finest leather chairs sat in front of a real oak desk, with a panting on the back wall behind the desk. A small black couch sat just to the right against the wall, with the window just above it. A small coffee table sat in front of the leather couch. The carpet was of course the best of the best. Cream colored it felt extra soft. A bookshelf sat to the left of his desk and against the wall with many law books and who knows what with Rhett. A few animal heads hung around the room. Deer, elk, turkeys and many animal eyes staring back at Scarlett. Looking around the room it really was the best office she had ever seen. The best of everything sat in the office.

"Aw, Scarlett, please come in." Rhett said as he stood up taking a small bow as she came in.

Walking up to his desk rather slowly she couldn't speak everything was stuck in her throat. Finally after Rhett told her to have a seat she found her voice. "Thank you for seeing me Rhett, on such a short notice."

"Your welcome my dear. Now If I may ask what this visit is about?" Rhett asked taking a seat himself. He couldn't possibly guess what Scarlett was going to say.

This was it the time had come to tell him. If Scarlett thought she was scared coming in she was frightened now. Looking at his handsome face she knew she had to tell him. He had a right to know. After all it was his child as well. "Rhett, what I'm about to tell you please don't get mad." Scarlett spoke. Taking a deep breath she spoke again.

"Depending on what you have to tell me." Rhett spoke looking at Scarlett. What would make him mad? Yes there were a lot of things. However, could this be one of them?

"I'm pregnant." The words spilled out of her mouth rather she wanted them to or no. "It is YOUR baby." Now that was over now all she had to wait on was his reaction? Would it be good? Or, would it be bad? Oh, the wait was killing her.

His rather handsome face began to change a little. From that pleasant look of happiness to mad and as ticked off as he could get. At least this was how he appeared to Scarlett, who was rather nervous, herself. However, He sat there motionless and not saying a word. He looked as if he was going to jump down Scarlett's throat at any moment or just burst right into a frenzy of words and who knew what else. A few more minuets past without a word being said from Rhett, Scarlett began to get rather scared. However, after what seemed forever Rhett spoke.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked as he moved from behind his desk. "This is great news." he hugged Scarlett as happiness shown in his eyes.

Scarlett was stunned. "You mean you're not mad?" Scarlett asked with surprise. She thought for sure he would be so mad that he would never speak to her again.

"How could I be mad?" he asked as he looked down at his love. This truly was great news to hear.

"Well I just thought that-you might be." Scarlett spoke. This was much easier then what she expected it to be. Finally a sigh of relief she could finally relax…for now.

"You were wrong my pet." Rhett said as he hugged her again. This was one of the happiest moments of his life. "Do you have any names picked out? Anything?' he asked wanting to know what she had done.

Scarlett didn't answer. There was one thing she hadn't told Rhett and that was about the adoption. Sadness fell over Scarlett. This part was going to be the hardest part to tell and to handle herself. "There will be no naming the baby Rhett or do anything." She spoke with sadness. She could feel tears burning in her eyes.

"What do you mean? You get to name your own child. You do know that Scarlett?" he questioned his love. "What do you mean or doing anything?" Non of this was making any since. Either Scarlett was lost in all of this or she was just confused? Rhett wasn't for sure but he would soon find out.

Scarlett turned from Rhett as he was getting ready to give him the awful news. "I-I -I'm not allowed to keep the baby." She answered as tears filled her eyes. Her hand flew to her mouth as she tried to hold in the cries of sadness and hopelessness. This was truly the hardest thing she had ever done.

Rhett was stunned. What did she mean didn't get to keep the baby? Turning her around he saw the tears forming in her green eyes. "What do you mean, Scarlett?" he asked with worry. This was not funny. What happened to the baby? Did something bad happen? "Dame it Scarlett, answer me."

"Mom and dad told me that I had to give it up for adoption." Scarlett cried. By now Scarlett was in a mess of tears. This was too much to take. "They said I have a life ahead of me and that a baby shouldn't be holding me down."

Rhett took Scarlett into his strong arms. Rocking her back and forth like a baby. "Shh Scarlett, everything's going to be alright. We won't let that happen." Rhett said in a calm voice as he did his best to calm Scarlett down. Why would her parent's say such a thing? Indeed he hadn't met them yet but, from this they sounded like they didn't care a bite of their future grandchild.

"What are we going to do?" Scarlett sobbed as her tears landed on Rhett's nice dark blue suit. "I can't just give up the baby. I-I just can't!"

"You won't have to dear, we will think of something." Rhett answered his love as he searched his mind for a solution and an answer for the time being. This was not going to be easy. Kissing her forehead he knew something could be figured out, but what?

Looking up tears still clung to Scarlett's eyes. It seemed as if her tears were morning dew that was clinging to the fresh mowed grass of the summer. "We better come up with a solution within the next few months. If not my parents will see to it that the baby is no longer mine."

"We will my pet, we will." Rhett knew they could come up with a plan, a plan that could work for all of them.

Lowering her head back down again Scarlett began to cry all over again. Her cries of sorrow took away the silence in the room. This had happened to so many other girls in the city. Not once did Scarlett think it could happen to her. Next time she would think twice before thinking that or doing whatever she was going to do.

Sitting at a near by Starbucks Scarlett and Rhett talked over the matter with a cup of coffee. They were going to find a way to keep this baby. "The baby could stay at my mothers for a little while. While you went to college and while I worked." Rhett said as the steam from his coffee came off the top.

"No, my parents wouldn't go for that. They want me to have a normal life. No child and…no one to hold me down." Scarlett looked into her double mocha topped with a little whip cream. "I could get an-

Rhett knew what was about to come out of Scarlett's mouth and stopped it before it could escape her lips. "No, Scarlett, you are not getting abortion."

Scarlett knew that wasn't what she wanted to do. No, she wanted to keep the baby. "I don't want to give up this baby." Scarlett breathed as she took back her thought of getting- an abortion. "What if I moved in with you while I'm going to college? I could come home at night and take care of the baby. It would be like a normal little family."

"That's a possibility." Rhett agreed looking at Scarlett. He could still see the sadness in her lovely green eyes. But instead of seeing those bright mocking green eyes, he saw, a duel green and almost a depressed look in them. Could it be possible that Scarlett was becoming depressed? "What if your parent's let you keep the baby if…

"Yes, go on." Scarlett said with hope in her voice. Any plan was worth a shot.

"If you went to community college and have your mother watch it during the day. When you came home you take over and then we could get an apartment not far from your parents and not far from the office?"

Scarlett thought for a moment. Yes that sounded like a good plan…so far. "I think that could work." Scarlett said with a smile. Rhett reached a crossed the table and took Scarlett's hand gently. Rubbing his thumb rather gently over her small china hand he looked her in the eyes. "I love you Scarlett, don't you ever forget that."

"I love you to." Scarlett agreed as they shared a kiss. In the past few days Scarlett had got caught up in this whole mess that she had forgot that the one person she loved was right in front of her. He was going to be with her the whole way through the nine months. Pulling back Scarlett relax and sat back in her chair.

For the first time in the past few hours Rhett saw that smile he remembered. It had been decided that plan was the best. Now the thing was getting Ellen and Gerald to go for it. However, Rhett's mother Eleanor would be very pleased to know that she had a grandchild.

"Absolutely not," Gerald's voice rang through the O'Hara home.

"But daddy, this could really work I mean-"Scarlett started thinking she could persuade her dad into thinking other wise. Meanwhile Ellen sat there listening to their plan. Could Ellen be liking the idea?

"No, Katie Scarlett, you have gotten your way in this family for a very long time and this time I'm afraid this time me and your mother are putting our foot down." Gerald told his daughter the final time.

"Scarlett, Rhett we realize what you are trying to tell us but, we just don't think you two are ready for this big responsibility." Ellen chimed in after hearing of somewhat Scarlett had to say.

"Then why do we have to put up our baby for adoption if you see what we are trying to say?" Scarlett asked as anger began to fill her body. She tried very heard not to because, the doctor said extra stress and anger could distress the baby.

"Because, Scarlett, you're to young to do this." Ellen told point blank what she thought.

"But-but don't you want to have a grandchild to spoil and for them to call you grandma and grandpa?" Scarlett asked as she tried the tears.

Rhett put his arms around Scarlett's arms as she began to cry. This really was too much for her to handle.

"Yes, we aren't saying we don't. But, we want grandchildren when your twenty some years old, not now." Gerald answered as he saw a tear cling to Scarlett's eyelash. Not the tears. Gerald could handle anything except tears. However, this time he managed to get himself past the tears.

"Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara I make a very good living and I could support this baby and Scarlett." Rhett finally spoke up as he looked at Scarlett's parents. This wasn't going well for them, not at all.

"Yes, you probably do but-there is much more to brining up a baby then you two fail to realize. " Ellen told Rhett as she sat next to her husband. "There's dippers, formula, going for walks, nap time and so many other things that neither of you have experienced I'm sure."

With tears still in her eyes Scarlett got up slowly and walked away as her hand fell on her forehead. Walking outside she sat in the white swing on the porch. Putting her head in her hands Scarlett began to realize that everything was falling apart all around her. Her social life was gone her normal life was gone and the future with this baby and Rhett was about to be gone as well. Following after her Rhett found Scarlett on the porch. He took a seat next to her. Wrapping his arms around her he told her everything was going to work out.

"No, no Rhett, it won't. You keep saying that but it won't." Scarlett sobbed as she rested her head on his shoulder.

While they sat outside Gerald and Ellen talked inside. This whole thing was turning into a roller coaster. "What are we going to do?" Ellen asked looking at her husband. She wanted Scarlett to be happy but, she was just so young to have a baby.

"I've been asking myself that same question ever since we found out." Gerald answered almost in a daze. "We aren't changing are mind on he baby being adopted."

"No, that is one thing we are sticking to." Ellen agreed as her chin rested on her hands. "We could let her have the baby, name it and then-"Ellen stopped there as she knew what was next. That would have to be the answer it just had to be.

A little while later they had made up their minds. "Miss Scarlett and Mr. Rhett Gerald and Ellen want to talk to yaw." Mammy told the two as they sat on the swing.

Making their way inside breathes were held and hopes held high. Sitting a crossed from them Scarlett and Rhett prepared for the news. "We have finally come to a dissection." Ellen spoke. Taking her husbands hand Gerald spoke next.

"We have decided that Scarlett, can have the baby. You two can name it and then-"

Those weren't the words they wanted to hear. "No! I want to keep the baby." Scarlett yelled as she stood up. This was what they had decided? This was so unfair.

Telling their daughter to sit down they had something else to say. "This is what will be best." Gerald told as he looked at Scarlett and Rhett.

Still not liking the news the two took it and thought on it. "We've already talked to the Atlanta adoption agency just to get information and they said you could visit the child whenever you would like." Ellen told them.

What? Her parent's had already called the agency? Oh, this was turning into a nightmare. Scarlett thought as she looked at her parents. This was what she had to take however. Even though she didn't like the idea she had to take it or there would be no baby at all.

Scarlett looked at Rhett who nodded his head telling her it was the best for their future child. Scarlett nodded her head at her parent's with a hint of tears in her eyes. This was the best for the baby. Even thought Scarlett and Rhett had no say in the matter.

A/N: There you go another chapter:) What do you think? Thanks to all who wished me a happy birthday:) Oh and I will try to get Taken! updated soon. I have half of the chapter written I just have to think of the rest. If anyone has any ideas let me know:) Thanks:)