Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Please be patient with me in regard to Ella.

Chapter Fifty-One

The next day Scarlett asked Melly to walk over to Twelve Oaks with her. They took all the children and Careen joined them. The ladies took turns carrying Careen's youngest child, Paddy who was only six months old.

They talked about things in general and then Scarlett said, "Melly, we are moving North. The best school for Bonnie is in Hartford, Connecticut and Rhett wants to send Bonnie there. And when I say we I mean you too. You have to come with me."

Melanie said, "Are you sure, darling? I don't want to be an imposition."

"I would never be able to handle it being the only southern lady around."

"It is such a long way away and it is in the North."

"I would never be able to manage not having you around besides you could never live with Suellen and India ever again."

Melly blushed and said, "Scarlett it isn't proper for me to continue living with you."

"Melanie, you of all people should know that Rhett and I are rarely proper. If you weren't living with us, I would make Rhett insane by going on about which color shoes would be perfect for Bonnie's new dress and other stuff like that. You know he has gotten up and left the room on more than one occasion because I am going on about the children's clothes. If you weren't there Rhett would make me discuss all those educationally things. All those exciting new discoveries that y'all find so fascinating. That are actually so boring. We need you."

Melanie smiled and said, "Of course, I will move with you."

Melanie Wilkes did want to move with the Butlers. She loved living with the Butlers but her breeding was getting in the way of her desire. A lady didn't allow herself to be supported by anyone but a relative and she was not related to Rhett. She had accepted because she could never live with Suellen, Frank and India again. It was like comparing living in heaven to living in hell. There was no comparison. Fortunately, Rhett seemed to like her living with them also.

Melanie was excited about moving North. There were so many museums in the North. They were more traveling lectures. There was the opera. Yes, living in the North would be better. In Atlanta everything reminded her of her life before the war. That reminded her of Ashley. If she was in the North maybe she wouldn't miss him so badly.

Scarlett leaned forward and hugged Melanie and said, "Thank you so very much.

Scarlett turned to Careen and said, "We are moving North."

Careen said, "So I heard. You can't move to the North. What will I do without you? I will miss you so much."

"It is what is best for Bonnie."

"Are you sure there is no way you can stay in Atlanta?"

"Rhett says it is what we have to do. I will leave Mammy with you if we can convince her to stay. Pork and Dilcey too but they won't be as difficult to convince as Mammy."

"I know how we can convince Mammy to stay with me. What we will do is just tell her that Mother wouldn't want her to move to the North. And more of Miss Ellen's grandchildren are down here than in the North."

Scarlett said, "I couldn't have thought of a better plan myself."

"I have learned a few things from you over the last several years."

All three ladies laughed. Scarlett told the other ladies all about the school and why it was best for Bonnie. She realized Rhett hadn't told her anything about the town. She would ask him later. She would miss Careen almost as much as she would miss Pa and Mammy. Careen and her were sisters and friends. There was no rivalry between them.

They let the children play for a while. Scarlett watched as Ella patiently played with Bonnie. She never got impatient with the younger child for not doing what she wanted her to do. Bonnie never did what Ella wanted her to do when she could hear. Why should she do what Ella wanted her to do now. The boys were all running around chasing each other except Paddy who was happily eating grass.

Scarlett wished she had a picture of all the children. She would ask Rhett to get her one of everybody and of the main house. She smiled when she thought that Rhett would move heaven and earth to get her those pictures now. The truth was he would have done it in the last timeline also but she wouldn't have appreciated all his effort. She would have just accepted it as her due. She was doing a lot better in this timeline about showing appreciation to Rhett and everyone else.

As Ella and Bonnie were playing, they would have been surprised to know that both of them were thinking the same thing. They wished they could be sisters. Ella like being with Bonnie. She liked being with Bonnie's whole family. Aunt Scarlett and Uncle Rhett always made her feel loved. She would never tell anyone but she loved Aunt Scarlett more than Mother. She didn't love Uncle Rhett more than Daddy but she loved him a lot. She sometimes wished she could live with Bonnie but then she would miss her Daddy. She didn't really like George because he was always whining. If he whined Mother gave him what he wanted. If she whined for something Mother told her to be quiet and act like a big girl. If they were getting candy or a cookie Mother always gave George the biggest piece even though Ella was much bigger than George. Ella smiled when she thought, 'If Daddy was married to Aunt Melly then they all could live in Aunt Scarlett's big house. Mother had said the house was big enough for four or five families to live in it. Mother had also said the house they were living in was small and drab. Father had shushed Mother then. For once Mother obeyed Daddy.' Ella was proud of herself. She had solved the problem. She would talk to Aunt Scarlett about it.

The next day Scarlett and Careen sat down with Mammy and talked to her about her options. Scarlett said, "Rhett and I are moving North. There is a school that will help Bonnie. It is the best in the nation. I, of course, would like you to move with me but Careen would like you to stay here at Tara. She seems to think it is her turn to have you."

Careen said, "I cannot make you stay, of course, but I think you would be a lot happier here at Tara than in some nasty Yankee city."

Mammy looked at Scarlett then she looked at Careen and she smiled. She said, "You are right. I will be happier here at Tara then when I die, I can be buried right next to Miss Ellen."

"Perfect" both sisters said at the same time.

Scarlett said, "I will miss you terribly but I will see you when I come to visit."

The sisters got up and left and Mammy thought, "Those two thought they could fool me but truth is I want to stay here at Tara. I don't want to move up North with all them Yankees. I don't have very many years left."

As Scarlett predicted Pork and Dilcey wanted to stay at Tara and Evie, Prissy and Esau wanted to go North with them.

After their discussion with Mammy the sisters had gone outside to watch the children play. Scarlett smiled as she had seen that Bonnie had made a total mess of her dress. She didn't fuss at the child because she didn't know how to fuss in sign language and because Rhett was right. He could afford to buy Bonnie as many dresses as she needed. Rhett was also right. Bonnie was a tomboy and one day she was going to have to behave like a lady so they should let her be free now. In this timeline Rhett was a lot better about making his children behave but they were still spirited children so there was only so much they could be corralled. Rhett had not gone to Atlanta and he, Will and Gerald were playing with the children.

Ella ran over and hugged Scarlett. Ella said, "Aunt Scarlett, I have a wonderful idea."

"What is it dear."

"Can I tell you secretly?"

"Of course. Let's walk to the barn."

Ella held her hand and was skipping. Scarlett thought, 'Whatever this idea is Ella is very excited about it. I must be kind if I don't like it.'

They were all most at the barn and Scarlett said with a smile, "What is your idea?"

"If Daddy married Aunt Melly then Daddy and I could come live with you. George and Mother could just continue living with Aunt India and Aunt PittyPat."

Scarlett squatted down and said, "That isn't possible, sweetie"

Before Scarlett could go on Ella said, "Why not. Mother says your house is so big that five families could live in it."

Scarlett hid the smile at Suellen's comments and said, "It isn't possible because your father is married to your mother so he can't marry Aunt Melly."

"Then can we all move in with you?"

This conversation was breaking Scarlett's heart but she blinked back the tears and said, "Sweetie, don't you remember Uncle Rhett, Aunt Melly, and I are moving to the North."

"Bonnie too?"

"Yes, honey, Bonnie too. I would like to take you too but your parents would miss you way too much for them to let me take you."

For the first time ever, Scarlett saw Ella pout. Scarlett just hugged the child close. They had to think of a way to get Ella back.

By the end of the week Rhett had a photographer, John Brady, down from Atlanta to take pictures of everyone. Somehow Rhett had convinced Frank and Suellen to come down also. Frank and Suellen weren't displaying any signs of affection. In fact, Suellen was acting like she was mad at Frank. The same way she had always acted toward Will. Scarlett looked at Suellen and felt pity for her. She looked old and worn out. She hadn't lost any of her baby fat from George and he would be three this month. The thing that marred her looks the most was the scowl on her face. Suellen was just an unhappy person. Scarlett guess Suellen was now unhappy being married to Frank. Frank looked the same as he had when he was married to her. She hadn't improved their lives but she hadn't made things worse. She looked at Will and Careen and they were happy. She had improved their lives. She had improved Pa's life as well.

When Rhett had gone with Big Sam to pick up Mr. Brady, his assistant, Claude, Frank and Suellen he had Mr. Brady take a picture of Tara at Scarlett's favorite spot to view the plantation.

Rhett had Mr. Brady take lots of pictures. Mr. Brady took a picture of everyone together, the sisters together, the sisters with their Pa, the grandchildren with Pa, one of the sisters and the grandchildren with Pa, the grandchildren, the children with their parents, one of Melly with Beau, the parents by themselves, one of Scarlett by herself, one with Scarlett and Melly, one of the sisters with Mammy, one of the sisters, the grandchildren and Mammy. There was one of just the boys then one of Ella and Bonnie.

Scarlett really wanted a picture that included Alex, Wade, Bonnie and Ella but she couldn't think of a diplomatic way of doing it. She knew Rhett wanted that picture also because when she looked at him, he just shook his head. There was to be one of Scarlett's children next. They asked Wade to hold Alex and go sit with Bonnie. When Ella was asked to get up, Bonnie wouldn't let go of Ella's hand. Bonnie got upset when Ella tried to take her hand away. Wade sat down next to Ella and put Alex in her lap. Rhett quickly said, "It is alright just take the picture with Ella in it." Nobody seemed to notice that after Wade had put Alex in Ella's lap Bonnie had let go of Ella's hand. Ella wrapped her arms around Alex. Mr. Brady seemed to sense the urgency of taking the picture also and quickly said, "Freeze." He snapped the picture immediately.

After the picture was taken Wade picked up Alex and walked away. Ella and Bonnie walked away hand and hand. When Suellen called Ella back to have her picture taken with George. Ella didn't have any problem getting Bonnie to release her hand. Scarlett walked over and took her daughter's hand and Bonnie smiled up at her mother like she had known what her mother had wanted. Scarlett looked at her eldest son and he smiled and nodded his head. Wade didn't know why his mother loved Ella so much but he knew that she did. He had known she wanted Ella in the picture. Bonnie must have known also or more likely Bonnie had wanted Ella in every picture with her.

Rhett even had Mr. Brady take a picture of Pork, Dilcey, Flynn, Prissy, Esau and their daughter, Rachel.

After a late lunch Frank, Suellen, Mr. Brady and his assistant, Claude left in the old carriage to go into Jonesboro to catch the train back to Atlanta. Melly said to Scarlett, "I thought they would never leave. Yech!"

Scarlett laughed. Melly had lost all of her gentility when she was alone with Scarlett or Rhett. Melanie probably hated Frank now also because he had lived while Ashley had died. Melanie was always making unkind comments about Frank now also. It was a side of her sister-in-law that she rather enjoyed. Melly could be so funny when she didn't feel like she had to be nice.