Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-One

Author's Notes: Thank you for the reviews. Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for following my story.

When they got back from New Orleans Rhett seemed to have shaken off what was bothering him. Scarlett was relieved. Now she didn't need to talk to him.

They had been back in Atlanta for a couple of days when Scarlett said, "I think my clothes are tighter."

Rhett replied, "With all you ate I'm sure they are."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett and he laughed. He knew she wasn't mad or hurt so he teased her a little bit more about being a glutton. She pretended to be mad but he knew she really wasn't. Thanks to his gift he knew when his teasing stopped being funny and became hurtful. He always knew when to stop now.

Rhett knew Scarlett was rather smug and happy that Rhett had left Bonnie at home for ten days. He knew she loved him. Not just from her thoughts but from her actions. He told her he loved her all the time and she always responded in her mind that she loved him too. He wanted her to tell him because it would mean she truly trusted him. Once or twice as they were lying in the bed Scarlett would snuggle up to him and say, "I….." He would pull her close and say, "Me too."

Scarlett didn't know why she couldn't get the words out. She had no problem saying them to the scum of the earth Ashley Wilkes but she just couldn't say them to Rhett. Fortunately, he never got mad about it or appeared hurt when she didn't say it.

Rhett didn't understand why she couldn't say it either but since he could hear her thoughts he knew every time she wanted to say it. He wasn't worried about it. He wanted her to say it but if she never did say it, he could live with it. He knew she loved him.

Rhett did love Bonnie more than he had ever loved anyone else in his life but in a totally different way than he loved Scarlett. His love for Bonnie was a father's love for his child. His love for Scarlett was that of a man for a woman. He knew he would never stop loving Bonnie and he thought he would never stop loving Scarlett. He did know he didn't want to live without either one of them. One day while he was pondering his father's actions, he decided that there must have been something broken or missing in his father's heart. No man who had any capacity to love his offspring would have done the things Langston Butler did to his children. Everyone of his children had suffered under his hand. He wondered if Langston Butler had ever loved anyone but himself for Rhett knew his mother had suffered twice as much as her children.

After they got back from New Orleans Rhett convinced Scarlett to have a birthday party for Wade. She would then know if she was received by polite society or not. They gave the party and the dowagers and all the other invitees attended. It was a grand success. The only fly in the ointment to Rhett was that Ashley Wilkes was there. The man kept staring at his wife. Admirably Scarlett never even talked to him accept what would be considered polite. After the party Rhett found out that Ashley had a new nickname as far as Scarlett was concerned. 'That rat bastard Ashley Wilkes.' Needless to say, it made Rhett happy.

Wade's birthday party was such a success Rhett and Scarlett gave a birthday party for Bonnie. The party was going to mark Rhett's attempt to redeem his reputation and return to polite society. He had concluded all his dealings with the Scalawags and the Republican government. He was still doing business with Yankees but it was up north so the good people of Atlanta would never know about it. The party was not as big of a success as Wade's party but a good amount of people from the gentry did attend. Most notable of people who did not attend was Mrs. Merriwether. Rhett carried Bonnie around with him for most of the party until the child became fussy and Scarlett took her inside and laid her down for a nap. Rhett thought that was a positive indication of the state of their relationship. Scarlett had felt comfortable enough with him to just take the child from him without worrying about it starting a fight. Scarlett was right the child did need a nap which was a credit to her mothering skills.

The men whose lives he had saved welcomed him with open arms but they weren't the hearts he needed to win over. Rhett was able to hear what women thought of him and adjust his schmoozing appropriately. He knew Mrs. Merriwether needed a loan to expand her bakery and he had made it happen. He had guaranteed the loan personally. He told Mrs. Merriwether of his Confederate service and even though Scarlett had told her this before she had never bothered to have it checked out. When she had it checked out it was indeed true. Rhett had given Mrs. Elsing a check for her favorite committee. He and Scarlett started attending the Episcopal Church which really stunned the people of Atlanta. He was already a member of the Democratic Party but not the clan. His joining the clan would upset Scarlett too much and besides he didn't agree with the clan's actions. He had developed some friendships with the other gentleman. He set himself up with a desk at the bank and went there most afternoons. The bank president wanted to give him an office but that was the last thing he wanted. He needed to appear as ordinary as the rest of the gentlemen in town. So, he had his desk set-up right by the entrance. He helped as many of the gentry as would let him. He went to the park every morning and tried to socialize and ingratiate himself with the ladies. He would make Scarlett come with him at least two times a week. When Scarlett was with him, he would ask for advice on child rearing like how to get Bonnie to stop sucking her thumb. When the ladies would look at Scarlett like she should know the answer she would say, "I never had this problem with Wade or Ella. I do wish my mother was still alive to give me advise." Then she would put her handkerchief up to her eyes and blot the nonexistent tears. Rhett would just pat her hand and look at the matrons. They created the perfect picture of a loving couple trying to do right by their daughter. The matrons ate it up.

Scarlett had at first told Rhett she would not go to the park with him. That was too embarrassing for her to endure. Rhett smiled and said, "What is it going to cost me to get you to whole heartly participate in going to the park with me three times a week?"

She said, "You have to quit drinking before six o'clock and cut back to five cigars a day."

He countered with, "I agree to not drink before six and I will cut back to ten cigars a day."

"I will only go to the park two times a week."

"Done."

How could he really object when she was doing it so he would be healthier. He loved the fact that she was so opportunistic. So was he.

In April it had been a year since Rhett had begun hearing women's thoughts. He was grateful to be able to hear Scarlett's thoughts. Only by hearing her thoughts had he truly gotten to know her. By hearing her thoughts, he had come to know what was important to her and he had finally met her needs. By hearing all women's thoughts, he had learned he was a cruel, mean, arrogant, self-centered bastard. Only by hearing himself called that time after time did he accept it as true and change his ways. Only by hearing the whores think disparaging thoughts did he find out that he was not an exceptional lover and that they were not his friends. He had been humbled by that knowledge. Only by hearing his mother's thoughts had he been able to free himself of his father's destructive influence. He was still an arrogant, self-centered bastard but he was no longer cruel or mean.

In May Rhett and Scarlett were at Kennedy's when Belle Wattling entered the store presumably to make a purchase. Rhett snubbed her as any gentleman would do. He heard in his head, 'Good for you, Rhett, good for you.' He didn't care what Belle thought of him and he was glad he had found out the truth all those months ago. He was really glad he had for it was then that he knew Scarlett was his only path to happiness.

The matrons were beginning to soften their stance in regard to Captain Butler. It seemed he had finally seen the error of his ways. Was it the birth of his child that changed him? Was it his reconciliation with Scarlett that changed him? Actually, both of them had changed in the last year. They appeared to be a happily married couple who wanted to conform to society's standards.

In June the Butlers were finally invited to a supper party at the Picards home. It was then they knew they had been accepted back into polite society. The matrons did wonder about all their trips to Clayton County and the rumors the Butlers had bought a gin. The matrons had heard that Scarlett was the one managing the gin but they didn't believe it to be true. They couldn't imagine Captain Butler not wanting to be in charge. Truth be told Rhett was happy just tagging along with Scarlett. He had never been an on hands type of guy. He had always preferred being an investor. The fact that running a business made Scarlett very happy was reward in itself. She would talk about the businesses and she would listen to Rhett's advice. He really didn't care if the gin made money or not although he could not imagine Scarlett being so lackadaisical about not making money. She was so much more relaxed about money since he had given her the trust fund but she would never not care at all. She actually talked and thought more about him and her children than she did her businesses which made him very happy. She was relaxed enough about money that when he brought up going to Paris she had replied, "Next spring."

In July when they went to Charleston for Rosemary's wedding, she was fine with leaving Mr. Elsing in charge for a month. Although she did make Rhett promise they would be back before the first of August so she could monitor the startup of the gin. Rosemary was marrying Scott Jennings. Mr. Jennings had asked her to marry him thus beating out George Taylor. Rosemary thought she loved him but she wasn't sure. Rosemary had shared her anxieties over not being sure with Scarlett. Scarlett had said, "Love comes after marriage to a woman. Scott will make you a good husband." They were going to live above the toy store. Rhett told Scarlett that Rosemary marrying a shop keeper was probably making his father turn over in his grave which amused Rhett very much. Rosemary had no problems getting Robert to consent to the marriage. Scarlett knew Rhett was paying for the wedding and was happy for Rosemary that she got the wedding she really wanted. It was a lovely wedding and almost everyone in Charleston polite society was there. Sadly, they had not even been allowed to sit with the family during the ceremony. Rhett quipped, "If I hadn't paid for everything Robert may not have even allowed me in the church." Scarlett had giggled.

At the reception they had seen George Taylor escorting one of the bride's maids around.

Rhett said, "Rosemary introduced them to each other. She thinks they are a perfect match."

Scarlett had said, "I guess she can take over our matchmaking duties here in Charleston." They had laughed.

It made Scarlett mad the way people would speak to her just so they could snub Rhett. It made Rhett happy that his little warrior princess was mad on his account. It actually made him happy they were speaking to her. That meant she had been accepted completely in Atlanta. Scarlett thought, 'I wish our wedding could have been like this.' Rhett thought, 'Me too, baby.' Later after they had retired for the night Scarlett said, "I certainly don't want that for our children."

Rhett understood what she was referring to and said, "Is it worth all the pain you have been going through this last year?"

She yawned and said, "Yes."

Rhett pulled her closer and said, "For me too."