Chapter 10: Morning After

Throughout the many hours of the night the house slept peacefully. However, as the clock struck five Bonnie began to talk in her sleep. Waking a little Scarlett found that she had kicked the covers off of her small body. Covering her daughter back up Scarlett calmed the child the best that she could.

Humming the tune her mother used to sing to her and her sisters Bonnie soon found peace again and went back to sleep. Wrapping and arm around her daughter to keep her safe from any harm Scarlett soon drifted back to sleep.

The following morning Rhett woke to see a sight he thought he would never see. Bonnie slept soundly as she held onto Scarlett. Maybe Rhett was wrong about Scarlett. Maybe she could be a good mother. Maybe-what was he thinking? Maybe it was possible but could it happen? Rhett thought otherwise.

Getting up he made his way towards the shower, shutting the bathroom door quietly he un-dressed and got in. Scarlett wouldn't be up for a while now so he could take a nice long and needed shower. Hearing the shower Scarlett opened her bright green eyes. Uh her body was so stiff. Trying her best not to wake her daughter Scarlett crept out of bed. Turning to get her rob she noticed that the clock on Rhett's side of the bed read 9:30. It was that late? In all truth 9;30 wasn't late, but considering what they had gone through and how little sleep she had gotten over the past couple of days it was late.

Hearing a loud sound Scarlett turned towards her dark blue Coach purse. Running over to it she picked up her iPhone. Looking back a quick moment she saw Bonnie snuggle deeper into the covers as she sighed heavily. Opening the phone she saw a text from Melanie Hamilton. "How is Bonnie? I would call, but I'm walking into work." Scarlett read to herself as she pressed respond. "Doing alright for now, she managed to sleep through the night and seems to be doing much better." Pressing the send button she lowered the phone and shut her eyes. Would anything ever we the same again? Even if Bonnie survived this ordeal they could never be the same as they once were.

"Morning, my pet," Rhett said kissing Scarlett's cheek. Jumping a little Scarlett let out a gasp.

"Rhett, you scared me." Scarlett said putting a hand to her chest. How could Rhett do this? Act as if nothing had happened between them?

"I'm Sorry Scarlett," as he put a dark blue tie on. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?" as he looked at her from the mirror.

"Rhett, how can you act as if nothing has happened between us?" Scarlett as she was going to stand ferm on this matter.

"Scarlett I-"

"Don't, I want to speak this time." Scarlett was going to get what she had been wanting to say for quite some time. "How can you act as if the fight we had last night hasn't happened?" Scarlett heard her phone go off again. Looking at it quickly Scarlett told Melanie she would talk to her later. "I tried to tell you last night what was on my mind and heart, but you just assumed that it was something bad and put words into my mouth. That's all you ever do Rhett. You degrade me and treat me as if I'm piece of trash. I'm your wife Rhett, you should love and respect me."

"Scarlett I-"

"Save it," Scarlett said a little louder this time.

"Will you keep your voice down?" Rhett said pointing over towards the big king size bed.

"Gladly," Scarlett snapped as she headed towards the bathroom. Getting her things she shut the door. Letting the water run for a few moments Scarlett got in. Letting the water run over her body she could feel tears run down her face. Normally she wasn't one to cry, but even with her being so strong she couldn't keep them locked away forever.

Bonnie in the meantime laid there listening to her parents fight. They always thought no matter when it was. They even fought on Christmas. There was rarely a day that went by where they did not fight.

Hearing her father turn on his computer Bonnie still laid there wondering if she should get up or just lay there? Opening her eyes a little the clock read 10. It sure was late, but it was a Saturday you were supposed to sleep in then. Wade and Ella must have still been asleep as well. Shutting her eyes again Bonnie decided to sleep a little longer. Before long she was back asleep dreaming of nice and wonderful things. Things that seemed real, but barley seemed there. Like her life at home it didn't seem real or her parents love. Yes they loved her, but sometimes Bonnie felt as though she was in the way sometimes.

After fifteen minutes Scarlett came out of the bathroom fully dressed for the day. Wearing a blue colored shirt with a wide black slick belt around her small waist while a pair of dark jeans hugged her legs with a pair of black shoes, her hair was swept back on each side with a comb.

She didn't even notice Rhett sitting at the small computer desk. After putting her things away she went over to the bed. Sitting on the edge she spoke softly. "Bonnie dear it's time to get up." Opening her stunning blue eyes Bonnie smiled at her mother. "Morning, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, after I came in here." Bonnie's sleepy voice came. "Mother, I'm scared of dying."

"You're not going to die dear. You're going to get well very soon." Scarlett said as she knew she couldn't hold back the truth but she had to for her daughter's sake. "Now go get dressed and head down stairs I'm sure breakfast has been ready for quite some time."

Jumping out of bed Bonnie left the room and went to her own. Her mother was right she wasn't going to die. No she was going to grow up and do things that little girls did. Heading to the door herself Scarlett needed to see if her other two children were up and going. However before she could get to the door Rhett spoke.

"Again with your lying," Rhett shook his head. "When will you ever learn?"

"Rhett, I couldn't tell our child that she is dying." Scarlett said as she turned swiftly. "You would have done the same thing had it been you."

"I might have, but I also might have and very well could have come up with something better." Rhett spun his chair around after shutting up the computer. A good game of Mafia Wars before breakfast was always a good stress releaser.

Scarlett didn't want to argue and she very well knew that if she tried talking and trying to get Rhett to see things her way. He would just twist her words around so it made her look as if she were the bad guy. Walking out of the room she knocked gently on Ella's door. Opening it a little she found her oldest daughter still sleeping. Ella rolled over and faced her mother. "Morning," her smile came as she sat up in bed.

"Morning, darling," Scarlett said returning the smile. "Breakfast is ready. Please get ready and head downstairs." Nodding her head Ella got up and picked out an outfit. Next Scarlett went to Wade's room. Knocking once again she opened the door to also find her son still asleep. She didn't blame them. After all this had been a stressful ordeal for all of them. "Morning Wade,"

"Morning mother," Wade said yawning a little. "What time is it?"

"Almost 10:30." Scarlett answered looking at her gold watch. "Breakfast is ready. Please get ready and head downstairs." Doing the same as Ella had done Wade got ready.

Knowing Bonnie was up and getting ready Scarlett headed to her room just in case. Poking her head in she found Bonnie trying to tie her tennis shoe on. Walking over to her Scarlett knelt down next to the child. That was very cute. For Bonnie to only be four she sure was trying to grow up way to fast.

"Mother, can you get this for me?" Bonnie asked looking up into her mother's face.

Sitting on the edge of the bed Scarlett picked Bonnie up and sat her on her lap. Taking the shoe laces she tied the shoe. "How did you do that?" Bonnie asked turning and looking at Scarlett.

Scarlett laughed oh how Bonnie had so many questions. "You take one lace and make a loop
take the other lace and make another bunny ear. Fold one under the other and there you have it. Tied shoes,"

"That's a funny song Mother," Bonnie giggled.

"Is it," Scarlett said as she began tickling her daughter. Laughing so hard Bonnie about fell off of Scarlett's lap, hearing their sister's laughter Wade and Ella appeared at Bonnie's door with Rhett not too far behind them.

"Mother, will you put a bow in my hair for me?" Ella asked stepping forward.

"Your seven you should already know how to tie a bow." Wade said."When I was your age I was tying all kinds of things."

'Come here Ella." Scarlett said motioning Ella forward. "I remember a certain someone couldn't get their alphabet right for quite some time," looking at her son. Wade's face went red a little.

Hearing all the commotion Rhett stopped outside of Bonnie's room. Seeing Scarlett the way she was with the children seemed much different. Maybe what Rhett was thinking earlier was true. Maybe Scarlett was changing, but then again there were always two sides to every story. "That's alright Wade. I had trouble with my numbers growing up." Rhett chimed in moments later.

"Really?" Wade asked a little caught off guard. Not Uncle Rhett. He was good at everything he did.

"Really, I had a hard time learning my times tables." Rhett confessed. "Davison, adding and subtracting were easy, but when it came to times tables I simply just couldn't get them." Rhett knew he had Wade's attention. "Till this day I'm still not very good with them. That's why I use a calculator a lot." Rhett looked at Scarlett. "I'm sure your mother has something as well."

Why that varmint. Calling her out like that. Why-why what would she tell them? The children turned towards Scarlett. "What were you bad at as a child mother?" Ella asked as she began pulling on her front tooth. If she could get it to come out then the tooth fairy would come that night leaving her some money and maybe some gum.

"Well I-I when I was growing up I had trouble spelling words." Scarlett knew this was one of a few, but at the moment she could only think of this one and thank God for that. "Papa and mother would sit down with your aunts and I and help us with our words of the week every night, but for some reason I just couldn't get them right. While Suellen went through them like mad I sat there looking stupid." Scarlett was starting to get on a rant. Hearing Rhett clear his throat she knew she was going on far too long. "So you see children everyone has something they are not good at."

"Alright, now it time for breakfast." Rhett said as he knew it was probably getting cold. Heading down stairs Ella pulled on her tooth a little too hard.

"My tooth came out,"

"Make sure you put it under your pillow tonight." Rhett told her as they reached the bottom of the staircase.

"Okay," Ella smiled with a now toothless grin.

A/N: Hello everyone sorry it has taken me a while to update. I've been very busy with school and all. Well I hope this update and long chapter makes up for me lacking:)