Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for the reviews and the feedback.

Chapter Ten

The next day Rhett got up and wrote a note to Scarlett. The note said, - 'We have only one more day in New York City. Let's make the most of it.'- And they did. They bought souvenirs for everyone. She bought Melanie a lovely gray wool cape. She asked Rhett to choose gifts for the children and Mammy. This time though the gift to Mammy was from both of them. She bought items for Pork, Dilcey and Prissy. The only person they had not bought a gift for was Ashley.

Scarlett said, "Let's go to the book store and you can pick out one of those dusty old tomes that nobody but the two of you have ever read for him."

Rhett smiled and wrote – 'I'm sure someone else besides just the two of us has read those books.'

Scarlett laughed.

Then he wrote – 'I know just the book.'

They bought him the book The History of Antiquity. Scarlett liked it a lot. They had a fun day. They walked around Central Park. They rode the ferries. They went to where the Brooklyn Bridge was being built. The ate at two different restaurants. They went back to the hotel and they made love. After Scarlett had gone to sleep Rhett reflected that he never at any time during their stay in New York detected that Scarlett was wishing he was Ashley. In fact, she was making fun of Ashley more and more. That made him happy.

The next morning in a private car Rhett and Scarlett were heading back to Atlanta. About half way home Rhett wrote – 'I am disappointed, of course. I thought that they would have an answer. I thought they would have at the very least a why. I will just keep living my life and hoping for the best.'

Scarlett looked at him and said, "You will get your voice back."

Rhett smiled sadly at her. He then handed her a package wrapped in brown paper. Her face had such a childlike quality to it that he marveled at how much Bonnie looked like her. She opened the package and found the books. Scarlett smiled and threw her arms around him and said, "Thank you." There were three dime novels and the expression on her face was one of pure happiness. He wanted that expression to stay there forever. When she had asked him to pick out a book for Mr. Wilkes, he knew she no longer thought herself in love with him. Maybe just maybe they could be happily married. He was happier than he had ever been.

In September Melly invited Rhett and Scarlett to a supper party. Although Scarlett had never told him she no longer loved Mr. Wilkes Rhett knew she didn't. She spoke about him as she would anyone else. She no longer had him on that pedestal. She spoke fondly of him but it was obvious to Rhett that Scarlett now considered Mr. Wilkes just a friend. Rhett was actually excited about having supper with the Wilkes. He wanted to see his wife interact with Mr. Wilkes and confirm his theory that she no longer loved him.

The supper was good although a little sparse in Rhett's opinion. As they were having coffee in the parlor Scarlett had sat down in the middle of the sofa and patted the seat beside her while looking at Rhett. Rhett smiled and did sit next to his wife. They were actually having a lively discussion. Rhett had felt comfortable enough to pause the conversation, write a note and hand it to Scarlett. At one point, Ashley made a comment about him and Rafe Calvert putting a frog down Scarlett's back when she was nine. Scarlett was laughing as was Rhett and Melly.

Scarlett said, "At first I didn't know what it was then I started screaming which made the frog squirm more. Everyone was staring at me as I was screaming. Finally, Pa came over and reached down the back of my dress. That was almost worse. Pa's arm was making the material choke me and Pa couldn't get a hold of the frog. I was still squirming all over the place. Finally, Pa capture the frog. I was mortified. I went and sat in the carriage."

Ashley said, "I think you planned on sitting in that hot carriage for the rest of the day. I made Rafe come with me to apologize. I didn't think you were going to forgive us at first until Rafe offered to buy you some candy as an apology."

Rhett wrote – 'So your forgiveness could be bought even when you were nine.'

Scarlett said, "Yes." Then she read Rhett's note to the others. Everyone laughed.

Scarlett said to Rhett but not quietly, "You have always known my affections could be bought or you would not have brought me my green hat." She and the others laughed. Rhett laughed also.

Scarlett started telling another story. She said, "Ashley do you remember when we went skinny dipping in the pond by the far field," Ashley nodded his head and was beginning to look uncomfortable.

Ashley said, "Let's not tell that story."

Scarlett said, "It's funny. Ashley, Stuart, Brent and I had been playing in the far field. It was right before Ashley went on his Grand Tour and the twins were going to go to the University for the first time. We were so hot. Brent suggested we take a dip in the pool. I said, 'We don't have bathing costumes.' Stuart said, 'We can swim naked.' Before I knew it, they had all taken off their clothes and were in the pond. They convinced me that it would be alright if I swam in my shimmy. I discovered that my shimmy became see through when it got wet. I quickly got out of the water and put my dress back on. Then the boys stayed in the water forever. I finally left them there."

Ashley's cheeks turned a little bit red and Rhett knew why they hadn't come out of the water. Rhett burst out laughing and Ashley smiled and started laughing too. When they sobered Ashley said to Rhett, "We were hoisted on our own petard," which made the men laugh even more.

Melly and Scarlett were just staring at the men. It was a sight they never thought they would see. Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler laughing together apparently at a private joke.

When the men sobered Ashley said to Melly, "I will explain it to you later."

Rhett indicated that he would explain it to her later also. When Scarlett found out that the reason the boys had not left the water was because they had erections she blushed to her roots. To make it worse Rhett kept ever so often bursting out laughing. As they got in the bed Rhett pulled Scarlett to him and she turned her back to him. Rhett just laughed some more. Rhett didn't care she was still pressed up against him even if it was her back.

One Thursday while at Fanny's home, Maybelle Picard had told Scarlett that she received visitors on Monday afternoon. Scarlett started visiting Maybelle on Mondays. Partly because she was still working at getting received and being a great lady but mainly because she now had fun with the ladies of polite society that were her age. She was accepted by the younger ladies and she wondered why. Her little voice said, 'You are accepted because you honestly want to be their friend and because they are not worried about you stealing their husband. It is obvious that you and Rhett are happy together.'

Out of boredom Rhett started attending the Democratic Party meetings. He still thought most of the gentleman were fools but there were a few that could provide him with intelligent conversation. Since their visit to New York Rhett had accepted that he would never speak again therefore writing notes didn't bother him as much as it had when it had first happened. The other reason was most of these men were war veterans with a deformity therefore he didn't feel like a pitiable fellow. Rhett had always been grateful that Scarlett had never looked at him with pity.

Rhett and Scarlett still had arguments. They just conducted them differently now. She would say something and he would write down his opposing opinion then she would say something and wait while he wrote down his response. She never just kept on talking. It was like she was trying to be fair in the argument although she often tore up his written missives and walked out of the room. He did try to stay on topic and not make mocking comments but sometimes he couldn't help himself. Those were the ones that usually got torn up. Some arguments were quickly resolved while with some they bickered for days.

Scarlett had a small birthday party for Ella in October and she invited every child that was Ella's age whether she thought the child would attend or not. Scarlett was surprised by the number of children that came to Ella's birthday party. They were the children of all the ladies she had become friends with at Fanny's and Maybelle's. For three-year-old Ella it was a dream come true. Scarlett had been careful not to overdo the entertainment. They just had games in the back yard, cake and punch. Rhett had walked around holding Bonnie. Several men did involve him in conversations although Rhett could not speak it was apparent, he was engaged in the conversation.

At the end of October Scarlett and Rhett were invited to a supper party given by Edward and Ethel Baker. They had a good time although Scarlett could tell Rhett was a little uncomfortable during supper. They moved to the parlor for coffee and after dinner drinks. Ethel then announced that they were going to play Authors except with a twist. She would read off an author's books and the first person to guess the author got a point. One needed five points to win. If one guessed wrong, they were out of the game.

Scarlett asked Rhett, 'Do you want to play or do you want to just watch? We could easily win if we play.'

Rhett smiled and nodded his head. They would play. They might be out after the first round but they would play. Rhett knew both he and Scarlett were very competitive. It made him happy that she thought they could win because she knew nothing about books. That meant she thought he was smart enough to defeat the other teams by himself. It made him proud.

They did win. Mrs. Baker had been kind enough to give him time to write his answers down. Rhett was happy that they had even beat the Wilkes. Yes, he was beginning to like Mr. Wilkes but he still liked beating him also. Rhett would always like winning. Rhett had looked at Scarlett as they were going home in the carriage and she was so smug. She told him several times how smart he was and that they were the smartest couple at the party. As she sat there proudly, she had said, "We are even smarter than Ashley and Melly." That statement made Rhett very happy.

That night after they were in bed Scarlett initiated relations something she had never done before. She didn't just rub his chest and abdomen she laid on him and kissed him thoroughly. He liked it a lot. Later that night after Scarlett was asleep, Rhett decided that life had become very good since he had lost his voice.

She and Rhett celebrated his forty-first birthday with a small supper party. The guest list included Melly and Ashley Wilkes, Aunt PittyPat, Uncle Henry, Maybelle and Rene Picard, Edward and Ethel Baker, and Fanny Welburn and her suitor Jim Hickes. Eddie and Ethel had invited them to their party so they knew they would accept. At the supper party Ashley had Rhett pigeon holed and was telling him all about the book they had brought him back from New York. Rhett gave Scarlett a 'save me' look. She laughed and ignored his pleas for about five minutes then she rescued him. The Wilkes demanded a rematch on the game authors and Ethel said she would arrange it. Fanny shared with Scarlett that Jim had asked her to marry him. Scarlett had to agree that Jim was not very attractive.

The Butlers were accepted into polite society by a lot of people. Mrs. Merriwether and the Meads were still cool to them and never extended an invitation to them for any of the events they were hosting. Scarlett and Rhett discussed the issue often and both wondered if it was enough. They didn't know.