Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-One

When it was Bonnie's birthday Rhett had a party for her at the park. He told everyone that mother and child were doing well but Scarlett was not well enough to be a hostess at a party. Rhett had toned the party down from years past. He rented a pony for the children to ride. He had some games and some fireworks. They served punch, sandwiches and cupcakes. Everyone kept asking about Scarlett and the baby. Rhett told them that Scarlett was still on bedrest and it was too soon for Nick to be outside. Elizabeth Butler and her daughter were at the celebration helping to distract the Dowagers from their quest to see Nick.

After Nick's birth Scarlett and Elizabeth were able to have a talk about Rhett and his fear of showing love. Elizabeth said, "My husband was a cruel, ruthless man. If someone showed a weakness, he would always take advantage of that weakness. I think Rhett learned to never show a weakness and what could be more of a weakness than admitting one's love for another. I also know that my eldest son is more like his father than he would ever admit but I do know that Rhett wants and needs to be loved. He has denied it to himself starting when he was kicked out of the family. I am glad that you love him. He needs your love so very much.

Scarlett smiled and said, "He rarely tells anyone he loves them, not even the children. He will tell them they are his best girl or his best friend but rarely I love you."

Elizabeth asked, "How often does he tell you?"

Scarlett turned red and said, "Only when I say it first."

Elizabeth said, "At least he says it. My husband never told me."

Scarlett said, "Let's talk about something else before he walks in and hears us."

Elizabeth laughed and said, "He moves so quietly."

They talked about children and decorating. Scarlett was slowly redecorating the entire house. One room at a time.

One month after Nick was born his resemblance to Rhett began to show. His skin was getting darker and so were his eyes. Nick's eyes were no longer blue like Bonnie's but were now a shade of bluish brown. Rhett could not be happier. Now the Peahens would shut up. The matrons started showing up as soon as he was a month old. Scarlett was entertaining them by herself. She had decided that if they ask her about something, she didn't know the answer to she would just say she didn't know. She wouldn't elaborate. All the ladies came by to see Nick and every one of them commented on his swarthy skin and his darkening eyes. Scarlett would smile and say, "Just like Rhett's." It annoyed her for Nick's sake that they were questioning his paternity but Rhett would squash those rumors quickly. Fortunately, there was no doubt in Rhett's mind who Nick's father was. By the time Nick was six-months old there was no doubt who his father was. Nick had Rhett's skin tone, his eyes, his smile and his jaw line.

At six weeks post-delivery Dr. Dunn said Scarlett was well enough to resume her marital relations. Scarlett knew the fact of her kicking Rhett out of her bedroom but she didn't know the circumstances of how it unfolded. Scarlett unaware of the emotional turmoil in Rhett because of what happened with Bonnie came home to a very angry Rhett. Everything she said he snapped at her. Finally, she asked him if she could speak to him privately.

She had never seen Rhett behaving this emotional. She was missing something. There was something that Rhett wasn't telling her. Then she remembered she had kicked him out so she could dream of Ashley. She took a deep breath. She said, "Can we talk about forms of pregnancy prevention? We are not going to have separate bedrooms. That is not even part of the discussion. You will be sleeping next to me until one of us dies so you better get used to it. I have heard that if you breast feed your child you can't get pregnant. What do you know about that?"

Rhett said down and finally relaxed. He said, "You are one of the most fertile women in the state of Georgia so I would like something I can be a little bit surer of. Prophylactics have a 99% success rate if one uses them every time. Do you want to have another child?"

Scarlett came over and sat in his lap. She said, "I don't know. We will use this method and if I get pregnant, we will have another child. I know I don't want to be pregnant for at least another two or three years."

Rhett said, "The other thing we need to consider is my age. I am not a young man. When Nick turns eighteen, I will be over sixty if I live that long." Scarlett shushed him and crossed herself. "Maybe one more in three years. That would make me sixty-five when she was eighteen."

Scarlett said, "Sounds like a great plan. Now do you have any of those prophylactics?"

Rhett said, "Yes. I do. Would you like to go out to supper tonight to celebrate?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes but I would like to celebrate right now."

The person who hated Scarlett Butler was sitting in their little house brooding. The person thought, 'Everything always works out for Scarlett. That little bastard she had actually looks like Captain Butler. She may have had relations with Mr. Wilkes but it doesn't matter to the Dowagers. They are all thinking India Wilkes is just a bitter old maid and made the whole event up just because the brat looks like his father. I saw the way she used to look at Mr. Wilkes. I still believe India.'

In late April after Nick had turned three months old Rhett took her and the children to Tara. Scarlett was uncomfortable with going alone. Will had sent a message that she needed to come to Tara to update the books. It was the first time Rhett or Bonnie had ever been there.

After they had arrived at Tara and were settling in her childhood room there was a commotion in the nursery. Ella and Susie were crying. Susie was showing everyone her arm where someone had bit her. Susie was saying, "Bonnie bit me for no reason." Bonnie was standing there with a defiant expression on her face.

Suellen said, "How are you going to punish that little brat for biting my daughter?"

Ella had hidden her face in Scarlett's skirts. Scarlett started stroking Ella's head. Scarlett said, "Sue none of my children are brats. If my daughter did bite your daughter then she certainly deserved it. Before we jump to conclusions let's find out what happened. Wade what happened?"

Wade said, "As soon as Ella and Prissy walked in the room Susie called Ella ugly then Bonnie got mad and bit Susie."

Scarlett said, "I will not be leaving my children in this room with your …. children. Let's put all their luggage in my room for right now."

Wade said, "We could stay in the guest bedroom."

Scarlett said, "Good idea. Lead the way."

Rhett had stood there the entire time holding Nick and restraining himself from ringing Suellen's neck when she called his daughter a brat. He also wanted to ring Susie's neck for calling Ella ugly. He had remained calm and stoic through the whole event though.

Suellen said, "You can't take over the guest room. The children have to stay in the nursery."

Scarlett said, "Yes I can. This is my house too and your daughter has already proven that my daughters are not safe in her company." She took Ella's hand and swept out of the room with the dignity of a queen. Rhett just smirked at Suellen and walked out of the room while holding his daughter's hand.

Later that day Wade took the entire family on a tour of Tara. Scarlett did love the country and knew she always had. Scarlett quietly said to Rhett, "I understand now why I married her fiancé to save this land."

Rhett smiled and said, "I don't think you ever felt much guilt about stealing him from her."

Scarlett said, "Did we ever get along?"

Rhett said, "I don't think so. She was a pretty girl when she was younger but she didn't hold a candle to you. Also, you were your Pa's favorite so I'm sure she was very jealous of you."

Scarlett said, "I'm the oldest?" Rhett nodded. "Then she was born a year later?" Rhett nodded. "I guess she has had a whole lifetime of coming in second." And Scarlett laughed. Rhett looked at her and laughed also. This was one new aspect of his wife he really liked. She was always making little jokes.

When they got back to the house Suellen had a scowl on her face. She said, "I wish I could just wander around the country side but I have chores to do."

Scarlett smiled and said, "What time is dinner served?"

Suellen said, "Six if I can get it all put together by then."

Scarlett sweetly said, "I don't know why you wouldn't be able to get dinner on the table by that time. I brought Pork and Dulcey with us. Dulcey can help you get supper on the table. I'm going to go look at the books. Bonnie your father and I need to talk to you. Wade take Nick and Ella and go to my room." Wade had already told his mother where the office was therefore Rhett, Scarlett and Bonnie went there.

When the trio entered the office, Bonnie was unhappy. She had a scowl on her face. She was still not used to being talked to about her behavior. In the last six months Rhett had watched while Scarlett had gently disciplined Bonnie. At first, he had wanted to overrule her but he hadn't wanted to spoil their peace. Then he began to agree that Bonnie was more fun to be with when she behaved.

Scarlett said, "Bonnie I am proud of you for defending Ella. That was a brave thing to do especially considering how much bigger Susie is than you but you can't go around biting other children. Let's talk about what you should do in the future if something like this happens again."

Bonnie said, "Hit her."

Scarlett was glad Bonnie couldn't see Rhett's face. She was sitting in his lap and Rhett was smiling. Scarlett couldn't meet Rhett's eyes or she would start laughing. She said, "No. Let's think of something that doesn't involve giving pain to someone else. Like maybe next time you can run tell me or Daddy."

Bonnie's face was all screwed up like she was thinking about it. Her face brightened and she said, "Then Daddy hit."

Scarlett managed not to laugh and said, "Yes if Daddy thinks that is the best thing to do. Your job is to tell Daddy or me. Alright Precious?"

Bonnie smiled and said, "Alright." It was obvious that Bonnie liked the idea of her father hitting Susie.

Rhett said, "I will take her upstairs and check on the others."

Scarlett said, "What if I need your help?"

Rhett said, "With doing the books? You are an expert." He leaned forward and kissed her. Then got up and left the room.

Rhett was right she didn't need any help with the books of Tara. Will did a very good job of keeping everything organized. Scarlett thought, 'Will is a cracker and he can do a great job but Ashley who is extremely well educated always bungled the books. How do I know that? It must have been a great source of irritation to me.' She had six-months' worth done before Rhett came to get her for dinner.

Suellen wanted to sit the children all together and Rhett allowed it but he wasn't happy with it. Not surprisingly the children got along with all four adults watching them.

As Rhett and Scarlett got into bed Scarlett said, "I don't want to stay two weeks. Just a week will be enough. If we are going to come regularly then we can build our own little house."

Rhett said, "Alright."

He linked his hand with hers because they couldn't snuggle up. Nick was sleeping in between them. Wade had thought there was a bassinet at Tara but Suellen couldn't find it. Scarlett wondered if that was a lie.

The rest of the week they were at Tara was much the same as the first day. Scarlett went over all the books and got them reconciled. She and Will talked about what he had planted that spring, what they needed to clear, and what they hoped to harvest. Tara was making a little bit of a profit but Scarlett knew it would never be the plantation it was before the war. That is a memory she wished she had. As they were leaving and Scarlett looked over the vista, she knew she would miss the land. It would be a while before she came back because her sister was such a bitch.

They took the morning train to Atlanta. They were home before dinner time and Rhett took everyone to dinner at Sam's Diner. Mammy, Dulcey and Pork took the luggage back to the mansion. Rhett would bring them some food home.

After everyone was back at the mansion and the children were laid down for naps Scarlett asked Rhett, "Was I as ugly as Suellen?"

Rhett said, "To most people."

Scarlett said, "You and Melly too?"

Rhett said, "To me yes Miss Melly no."

Scarlett said, "I'm glad I wasn't mean to Melly but I'm sorry I was mean to you."

Rhett said, "I was mean to you too. Don't think about it. You aren't mean to me now. Let's go take a nap while all the children are asleep."

Scarlett smiled and took his hand but just as they got to their room, they heard Nick crying. Scarlett smiled apologetically and went to get their son. Rhett felt like throwing himself on the floor and having a temper tantrum like a two-year-old. With Nick sleeping between them there had not been any activity while they were at Tara. Finally, later that night they were able to have relations. At last he was at peace and his love was in his arms.