Ninigi: Phew. I was worried when I didn't see your name for ages.
AN (stuff brought up in reviews that might be interesting to others rather than a PM to the individual: Rhett and the old biddies: So Rhett is not just talking to Mrs. Merriwether. He encounters a large chunk of the Old Guard and the offspring of the Old Guard, who are often in training to be just like them. So they likely are effecting how he interacts with Scarlett on a regular basis and often not in a good way.
Scarlett/Ashley/Rhett: She has definitely brought it up and said what it was. Did they have a sit down conversation and talk through the matter entirely, absolutely not. This is Rhett and Scarlett.
Thanks for reading guys, the reviews were yet again fantastic. I still have a few to reply back to, but it is a super wet Monday where I am...So I am basically in a coma.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Part Eight
Christmas 1871
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
He spotted Scarlett shifting as they ate breakfast with the children. It wasn't a lot, but she couldn't seem to get comfortable in her seat. Most of her plate went untouched as well. Often her shifting was accompanied by a hand to her stomach.
As they sat watching the children open gifts, he noticed it more, noticed it happening more frequently.
"Would you like to go upstairs?" he asked softly.
"No," she shook her head, "they're having a lovely time."
"And you I suspect are having a baby."
"Oh not for some time Rhett and its Christmas."
He wondered who this woman was and what she had done with Scarlett. Then again Scarlett's main issue with having Bonnie had been how she'd had to stop having her fun.
Again, though that came back to Scarlett finding spending time with the children fun.
o-o-o
Rhett found it odd how much he enjoyed the morning, watching Scarlett on the settee engaging with the children despite being in labor. They were a family that morning. It wasn't the illusion of a family. They were simply a family.
He watched as Scarlett mostly followed the conversation and was kind to Ella, who had simply become infatuated with her mother ever since the discovery of the baby. She doted on Bonnie as always. She did her best to engage Wade, who was more interested in his gifts and his dog than his family.
Rhett had given his wife rubies for Christmas. He had his wife dripping in the color of the gowns she had worn that night.
It would be his child, he was sure of it.
The timing wouldn't allow for anything else.
She had been faithful with her body, he had been sure of it. Sure, of how she had reacted that night, like she shouldn't quite feel guilty. She wouldn't keep brining it up if she hadn't actually been faithful afterwards as well, would she?
He had watched her admire the rubies and lay a hand on her stomach with a secretive smile.
She was thinking about that night, the night their baby had been conceived.
If there was a god in heaven that would be the truth. The baby would be his. His wife would have been faithful.
As the morning went on, he found himself less focused on the children. He could see the pains were coming more often. He'd also noted Mammy had stopped walking through the room, but was sitting and watching Scarlett with Prissy standing next to her.
After another long pain passed over Scarlett, he gave a nod to them as he stood. Mammy turning to Prissy giving her instructions.
"Children, your mother has one more gift for us today, but she'll have to leave us for awhile."
"Mother, are you having the baby?" Wade stood, his eyes wide.
"It appears I am. You all must have been having so much fun, he wanted to come out and join," she smiled.
"You're having the baby?" Ella's entire body thrummed with excitement.
"Don't go," Bonnie whined and flung herself towards her mother.
"Daddy'll be here to play with you," Scarlett tried to console her daughter with a hand on her dark hair.
As Bonnie started to climb up the settee and her mother Rhett plucked her away. "Your mother has important business to take care of for the next several hours. You will stay with Wade and Ella." He crossed the room to Wade. "Wade, I expect you to watch your sisters."
"Yes sir," he said taking Bonnie's hand as she was placed next to him.
Rhett waited for another pain to pass through Scarlett before lifting her into his arms to carry her up the stairs to her room. Trying not to smile as he recalled doing it nine months prior.
o-o-o
He paced outside of her room. Said quick words to Melly as she rushed down the hallway once she arrived, but aside from that he paced. He paced with Bonnie for several minutes after she had escaped the parlor. Wade had paced with them before they were both taken away by Sally.
He could accept any baby as long as it and Scarlett were fine.
He hated himself. Hated the vows and promises he made to God as he paced outside of his wife's room.
He had finally started to put some actual distance between them and then this. Then he stayed by his wife's side, her moderately polite and absent husband. Living in a house as strangers.
He kept doing everything for her and she didn't see it. She didn't want it. She didn't appreciate it outside of the luxuries it kept her in. He would never be able to stop. He would be weak until he died.
She had him still, had him wrapped around her pinky finger.
He was willing to accept the child of another man conceived during their marriage as long as she would be fine.
A baby cried far sooner than he was expecting, he let out a breath and his shoulders dropped with relief.
o-o-o
She demanded her baby immediately after its birth. She wouldn't risk anyone aside from the doctor laying a hand on her baby before she could. This baby would be hers. It would love her. Its loyalties wouldn't be divided.
"Oh thank you," Scarlett whispered as she took in the baby Dr. Meade had just handed up to her. His dark hair and eyes.
"Best cover the baby Scarlett," Melly said laying a blanket over the child resting on her sister's chest.
"Isn't he perfect Melly?" Scarlett looked up with bright eyes, full of wonder and love.
"He certainly is."
"I suspect Rhett will be pleased with him."
"He'll be like looking in a mirror," Melly smiled.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"I imagine I don't ever need to get you another Christmas gift," Scarlett said looking out at her husband who entered the room.
"I imagine you don't," he agreed. The sight of her, safe and healthy in bed. Safe, healthy and happy. Oh yes, he would do anything for this child for finally giving her some of the happiness, Rhett had struggled to for years.
"Would you like to hold your son?" Scarlett offered sweetly.
His son, the child he hadn't found the nerve to look at. He looked down at the baby in her arms. Dark hair.
"He fell asleep waiting to be introduced," Scarlett voice was again soft and sweet.
The baby's eyes opened in a sleepy manner as she passed him over to Rhett's arms. Dark eyes.
His son.
She'd had his son.
He wanted to drop to his knees and cry with relief.
"I imagine I'll never need another Christmas or birthday gift," he informed his wife without taking his eyes off his son. His son.
"You like him then?" She asked coyly.
"He's perfect," he took in every feature on the small face.
"I believe it's rather vain to call a child, who could be your twin, perfect."
"You would know," Rhett smiled looking over at his wife. His wife. The woman he loved more than breathing. The woman who had borne two children for him.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this break from their normal drama and angst.