Author's Note: No, I haven't disappeared, I've only moved some of my fics to the newly created book section. I hope you enjoy this update! Thanks for all of the reviews!
A gentle mist hung over the muddy river that was meandering through the red hills of Clayton County. She opened her eyes when she felt something small and warm pressed against her side. It was Bonnie! Her bright blue eyes sparkled mischievously as she grinned up at her mother impishly. "Mother!" she squealed. "I love you!"
"I love you too, precious!" Scarlett smiled sweetly.
"Where's my brother?" Bonnie asked.
Scarlett smiled again. "He's over there, chasing Wade and Ella. He is unstoppable."
Bonnie's nose wrinkled, "He gets into my toys, Mother!"
Scarlett laughed softly, "I'm certain that Wade and Ella could have once said the same thing about you. In fact, I believe I recall Wade complaining about that more than once. And you always were taking Ella's dolls and then doing terrible things to them."
Bonnie frowned. "I did not!"
"Bonnie!" Rhett's voice gently chastised. "You shouldn't speak to your mother that way."
He dropped to his knees beside his wife and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "Bonnie, come here." He commanded.
Bonnie stood and moved towards him, her eyes downcast. "Yes, Daddy?"
"You should never speak to Mother or I that way." He told her solemnly, although Scarlett noticed his shoulders shaking with repressed laughter.
"All right, Daddy. I'll be nice." She said quietly before turning towards her mother. "I'm sorry, Mother. I was not very nice. I'll be a good girl. I will." She said with determination blazing in her pert face.
"Why don't you go play with you sister." Rhett instructed. And then after she had slipped away, he leaned over and whispered to Scarlett, " I wanted some time alone with the mother of my children." He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.
"I'm so glad you agreed for us to come to Tara before the baby comes. The children are having such a wonderful time." She sighed happily.
"How is my new baby doing?" He asked as he placed his hand against the small tight mound of her stomach.
"We are fine, but Rhett, I would like to have some time alone with you later." She said with a hungry light in her eyes.
Rhett laughed deeply, "It seems that your hunger cannot be satiated, my pet. You are going to wear me out."
"Are you admitting that you are getting old, Captain Butler?" She giggled lightly.
"I'm not old! I'm like a fine wine..." He began.
"Yes, yes I've heard it before, but it only gets better for so long and then it sours."
But he wasn't paying attention to her though, instead he had captured his toddling son by the waist and fling him squealing with laughter into the air. His laughter was such a sweet sound as Rhett's hands began tickling the boys stomach. He tightened into a ball with a grin plastered on his face. How sweet a moment that they were sharing....
She was awakened suddenly by an impatient Rhett who quickly told her that Dr. Meade was on his way. "I want him to examine you."
She shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs of the vivid dream that had just been playing out in her mind. Oh how sweet life might have been. Obviously her dreams were taking her places that her conscious mind did not allow.
"Are you all right? Is something the matter?" Rhett asked as he stared intently at her face.
"It was a dream, just a dream. It's nothing Rhett." She spoke softly. "Why don't you go ahead and bring Dr. Meade in."
Rhett nodded and moved towards the door. He opened it and allowed the doctor to enter.
"Good evening, Scarlett. Rhett tells me that you are in the family way?"
"Yes, I am." She replied simply. How odd and stilted this conversation felt, how uncomfortable.
"And you are concerned about this being a difficult situation as a result the the injuries from your miscarriage, correct?" He said.
"Yes." She responded.
"Well there is a doctor in Charleston that has more information on the matter. He comes highly recommended. He is young, and studied France during the war. Perhaps you have heard of him... it seems that he had some tie in working with French royalty, but I could be wrong...."
"Absolutely not!" Rhett's voice left no doubt of whether the suggestion had any chance of being accepted. "I will not allow a man like that to touch my wife. There is too much bad blood between us." He finished.
"You know him then?" Dr Meade questioned, too shocked at Rhett's out burst for a moment to even begin to scold him for the impropriety of being in the room as his wife was examined.
"Our families have been at each other's throats for years. I would never let him near my wife." Rhett again asserted.
"Well, then please leave the room while I examine your wife."
Rhett frowned as he left, but he left despite his misgivings.
Scarlett looked apprehensively at the older man. "I know that after Bonnie died, that you told me to give Rhett another baby, but I didn't plan on this..... How serious were my injuries from the miscarriage? Can this baby make it?" She did not ask the next question on her mind; she knew that both she and Dr. Meade were both thinking about Melanie.
"You are strong, Scarlett. Stronger than most people would ever imagine that a woman could be, but I'm not going to lie to you. This might not be an easy time. You must be very careful and never over exert yourself. If you want to bring this life into the world, and not more greatly endanger your own life then you will have to be very cautious."
She nodded solemnly, taking his warning and admonitions to heart. She closed her eyes while Dr Meade performed the exam.
He went to the door and motioned for Rhett to join them. "Scarlett has always been strong, and as long as she doesn't over exert herself, I believe that she has a good chance of carrying this child to term. But that being said, all care needs to be taken to avoid any stress or worry. She is going to have to stay in this bed. There will not be any running about town or anything else of the like. The children may spend time with her, but only in calm pursuits. She should not be involved in anything active or taxing."
"She will be completely taken care of, whether she approves or not." He said with a grin.
"I not going to fight anyone on this. This matters too much." She spoke softly.
Dr. Meade offered a few more suggestions before slipping out the door, leaving Scarlett entirely in her husbands care. One of the maids knocked on the door, and Rhett rose and brought in a tray laden with biscuits and rolls and small cookies. "I thought you should have something to eat, something that would be easy on your stomach."
"Thank you, Rhett. I'm sorry I was so upset earlier." She offered contritely.
"I would have been more surprised if you hadn't been. One of those things about you that has never changed is your stubbornness. I can't expect you to become a complacent little ninny that says nothing other then yes or no over night,can I?" He asked with a wry grin.
"I believe that you are repeating my own words." She said with a giggle.
"Here, go ahead and eat. You need all of your strength now. I can't let you waste away now, can I? Nor can I imagine that you would ever allow yourself to suffer such a fate."
"Rhett, I know we had our differences, but would you mind terribly if I asked you to lie down beside me? I would rather not be alone. I spent too many nights by myself in this bed, and I am not too keen on repeating history."
"Honestly, I don't know that I am ready to go back to my old room yet. There are still too many memories here; there are too many ghosts within these walls."
Scarlett and Rhett ate the food in companionable silence before Scarlett smiled at him, "Would you mind holding me while I go to sleep. I'm just so sleepy all of the time. I can barely keep my eyes open."
"Of course. You don't even need to ask," he offered as he slid off his shoes and climbed into the bed beside her, "Shhh, don't say anything. Just let me hold you. I want to enjoy this peace." He allowed his thumb to slowly rub circles on the back of her palm, and she felt her eyelids grow heavier by the moment until she surrendered to the call of the Nightingale's song.
"Be safe, Scarlett, my darling," he murmured against her dark hair. "Be safe."