Early 1863

All was well in the O'Hara household. Well, as much as it could be, in the midst of War. The family were feeling the pinch of the War and it was Ellen's role to see that the family ploughed on.

Suellen was wrapped up in with thoughts and dreams of becoming Mrs Frank Kennedy. Scarlett was making sure that Kit did not feel isolated with the arrival of the twins. He was becoming quite clingy and as much as it annoyed her, she could not be harsh with the boy.

He was part of her.

Young Careen was flailing in misery over Brent. She knew that she had no right to mourn him as she was not his wife. But in her heart, she knew that she would never be able to settle with another man and so spent most of her time praying that his soul was in heaven and consoling Mrs Tarleton.

The senior O'Haras were kept busy running the plantation and making preparations for the war effort and did not notice their youngest daughter's sorrows. By February, Scarlett had left her bed and was becoming more mobile around the house. It was during this time that she would ask Careen to sit with her. Careen willingly accepted as she had always been in awe of her eldest sister and now that they had both lost someone they loved, they could be closer. Scarlett knew something was different in Careen but was too wrapped up with the children.

She found that her sister's presence created a sense of calm. Almost like Melly...

No, I can't think about it now. I'll think about it tomorrow.

However, they were content for now and could have continued to be...

Monsieur Mort had already wreaked havoc on the young brides, mothers and their husbands and fathers.

Yet that wasn't enough.

He set his cap on a young widow, who had recently given birth to twins. The first, a beautiful little girl, whom at first sight would appear to have taken after her father. She had the dark brown hair, slight face and rounded chin and her eyes were the typical blue. However, time had changed and given her those same muddy brown eyes, mixed in with small specks of hazel. They were quite stunning. The second, a boy, who came as a complete shock, was built in a similar fashion but his eyes had developed an equal percentage of hazel and brown. His chin wasn't so rounded. It had more of a point to it.

The Monsieur had studied the young widow and her kin and found that he had no interest in the older son, Kit, something or other. The mother was obviously stunning but fate had intervened and revealed a glimmer of the plans already set in place. The twins' lives, however, were still an unchartered territory. Monsieur gazed down at the mother and placed a light kiss on her forehead. Feeling what she took to be a fly, Scarlett swatted her hand and struck him on the nose. Mort was furious and in that second, made his decision. He would take little Ella Solange, for his own as the woman clearly favoured her out of the three!

Yes, that would do well. Now he could watch her suffer. He swooped to Ella's side and found that her little eyes were opening.

Ella looked up and seeing the man towering above her and tried to scream. Only a millisecond's worth of high-pitched shrieks echoed before darkness swamped her leaving only her cold, dead body.

Scarlett shot upwards.

That feeling that someone had been in her room was all-consuming. Who was it? Mammy? No she was back in the servants' quarters and Mother was with Pa. She left her bed and moved towards the cots and ruffled Leon's hair. She skimmed over Ella's sleeping form when her fingertips felt the coolness. She placed her hand on the head and shrunk back. Checking again that she hadn't been mistaken, she stole Ella out of her crib and ran out the room.

Ellen had been dozing softly next to Gerald's snoring form when there was a pounding on the door. It continued until both she and Gerald rose. She murmured that she would see to it and opened the door.

Rubbing her eyes, "Scarlett, what is it?"

"Mother she's not breathing. I can't hear her breathing."

Ellen grabbed the bundle and checked for signs of life. Finding none, she looked up to her daughter and shook her head. Ellen was unprepared for the onslaught of emotion from her. She held her mother tight, sobbing and pleading for her to try something.

But Monsieur Mort had done his job to perfection. Ella Solange was dead.

Ellen ushered Scarlett back to her room and had Mammy take the crib away. Scarlett held tight to Ella whilst Leon was moved back with his brother. Both older women came to sit with her. Mammy gently urged Ella away and then wrapped her lamb in her large arms. After the initial cries, she was silent and they thought she was sleeping.

The next morning, they arranged for a coffin to be made and buried Ella Solange in the family burial ground. Gerald arranged for a headstone that would give the name, date of birth and her age. He asked Scarlett if she wanted anything else but could get no reply. He requested it say,

'Beloved daughter and grand-daughter'.

After the funeral, Scarlett greeted those neighbours who had come, listened to the words and then forgot. Eventually she was allowed back to her room and only came out once to bring her remaining children in with her. She accepted the trays the sent up but would only let Careen in. The youngest O'Hara prayed whilst Scarlett let the words flow over her. This kept up for nearly a week and then only because Kit wanted to go outside. She wrapped both up warmly early one morning and together they stepped outside. The leaves had fallen and there was a harsh chill in the air.

Mammy watched from the kitchen and saw to it that there was a hot plate ready for both, with coffee for Scarlett and warm milk for Kit. Ellen and Gerald were glad to see their daughter out but there their pleasure ended. Scarlett drifted about the house, eating little, talking less and then only to Careen. Gerald couldn't fathom his daughter and decided that it was enough. His attempts to wake her from sobriety met with defiance and the only thing his wife could suggest was that she return to Atlanta.

At least there they could give her tasks to help with the War. She could return to nursing. And Melanie and Honey were there, they would help her. It was with these thoughts that Ellen once again penned a letter to Miss Pitty.