Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Eighty-Three

The Butlers and the Wilkes celebrated the Christmas of eighty-one. Everyone had a good time. They chopped down a tree, Rhett gave too many presents, they sang songs, and Rhett praised Elsie's cooking which was really beginning to bother Scarlett. She was definitely tired of her husband praising another woman for any reason.

In the spring of eighty-two Melly was working at the Asylum and writing books with Charlie Johnson. Ella and Bonnie continued attending Hartford Finishing School. Rhett was having regular meetings with Mr. Stewart about Alex.

That May Beau graduated as valedictorian thus automatically being accepted at Harvard.

They had their annual picnic in June of eighty-two and Rhett extorted huge sums of money out of his acquaintances. All the students and alumni from the school were invited and there was an open invitation to any deaf person in Hartford.

Ella at age fifteen fell in love with Jacob Moore. She met him at their annual picnic for the Asylum in June. Ella saw him sitting alone at one of the picnic benches and went and sat with him. They talked the rest of the afternoon through sign language. Jacob had been born deaf and had attended the Asylum. Jacob was a handsome man with a great job from a good family but he had not been well liked by the young ladies of Hartford because of his deafness. He was only twenty-one but he could already support a wife and family.

After the picnic Jacob sent Ella poems and gifts every day. Finally, after two weeks Jacob began calling on Ella. Jacob was thrilled when he found out that all of the servants in the Butler household knew sign language. He was even more amazed that Ella's parents could sign.

Rhett made it clear to Jacob that he would not let Ella marry just anyone and that Jacob would have to prove himself worthy of being Ella's husband. Rhett told all Ella's gentleman callers the same thing. Rhett also told them that he was happy to support Ella until he deemed someone worthy to marry her. Although Ella had other gentleman callers, Ella was only interested in Jacob. Rhett and Scarlett made her continue receiving other gentleman callers anyway to be sure Jacob was truly the one she wanted.

At age thirteen Bonnie believed that she should be allowed to receive gentleman callers like Ella but her father was adamant she would not be allowed to do that until she was fourteen. She pouted and ignored her father for several weeks but Rhett didn't budge. He knew what was best for his little girl and he would never go against his better judgement again.

Henry continued being a very eligible bachelor as far as the widows in Hartford were concerned.

Wade had arranged with Mrs. Jackson a room for Beau at the same boarding house he lived at starting September 1st. The boys didn't need an escort to Cambridge but neither young man protested when they found out that their mothers were going to make the trip with them. The mothers left the young men at the boarding house and returned to Hartford that same day.

Scarlett held Melly the entire train trip back to Hartford. Melly had wanted to stay overnight and have breakfast with the boys on their first day of school but Scarlett knew it was better to make a clean break. Scarlett knew that Beau would not appreciate being seen having breakfast with his mother on his first day at the college. Those were the noble reasons. The less than noble reason was that Scarlett didn't sleep well without Rhett beside her.

At one point Melanie said, "He was all I had left of Ashley."

Scarlett replied, "You still have him. He will always be your son."

Melanie didn't reply. Scarlett was very glad Melanie had her job at the Asylum. She needed all those children to love and to love her.

In December of eighteen eighty-two an event happened that changed Wade's life. One of Wade's professors, Mr. Waterstone, had invited him to a Christmas party. Wade had only gone because he liked Mr. Waterstone and didn't want to offend him. He had only planned to stay for a short amount of time for the next day he was going to Hartford for Christmas. He would have already been in Hartford but he was waiting on Beau to finish his last mid-term exam.

Mr. Waterstone had a daughter and a niece that he needed to get married. Mr. Waterstone knew that Wade was Rhett Butler's stepson and believed the boy would inherit a sizable amount of money. Besides that, Mr. Waterstone knew Wade was going to be a very good lawyer. He was a very smart, eloquent, polished, hard-working young man. He knew that Wade wanted to graduate first in his class which showed the drive the young man had. He could also see that Wade was a very handsome man.

Just as Mr. Waterston had hoped, at the party Wade met a pretty young lady, she was Mr. Waterstone's niece. It was clear that she was a very popular girl. Wade decided that she was going to be his wife. Her name was Alice Price.

In the spring of eighty-three Rhett was meeting with Mr. Stewart in regard to Alex's behavior on a semi-regular basis. Alex was an excellent student. He was a very smart little boy.

Beau and Wade were at Harvard. Wade was courting Alice Price. Beau was courting a lot of different women. He was a little arrogant. He knew he was handsome, smart and likeable. He knew he had a great future ahead of him. He believed he could have his pick of the ladies to be his wife.

Ella had a lot of gentleman callers although Jacob Miller was her favorite. With her birthday in February Rhett allowed Bonnie to start receiving gentleman callers although she was not receiving nearly as many as Ella. Bonnie and Ella were still attending the Finishing School.

Melanie was teaching at the Asylum and writing another book with Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson had married. Melanie was glad he had someone special even if she was a little sad that he was no longer a special friend. It was just as well. All they could ever be was friends.

Scarlett was enjoying her life. She missed Wade and Beau, of course, but they were going on with their lives as they should. Scarlett was teaching the girls all her tricks although Rhett wasn't happy about it. Scarlett was loving on Alex but not interfering with Rhett's disciplining of their son. Rhett knew how Alex's brain worked so it was better that he did it and not her. She would either be too hard or too soft.

Henry Hamilton was still a much sought-after gentleman by the widows in town.

In June of eighty-three Ella and Bonnie graduated from Hartford Academy. The Head Mistress of the School was handing out the diplomas and the girls were curtsying and walking off the stage. Another woman was announcing the young lady's name. Ella was awarded the honor of being elected most congenial of all the ladies in the graduating class while Bonnie had been elected most beautiful by her classmates.

Rhett thought he recognized the Head Mistress. It was Emily Prater, the girl from the buggy incident. At least he thought it was. It had been over thirty years actually closer to forty-five with the time leap years.

After Bonnie and Ella had left the stage Rhett whispered to Scarlett, "What is the head mistress's name?"

"Mrs. Sullivan. Why?"

"She reminds me of someone I used to know."

After all the girls were handed their diplomas the young ladies and their families attended a tea on the lawn.

Rhett said, "Congratulations Ella and Bonnie."

Eugenia said, "I want to be called Eugenia from now on."

Scarlett said, "Alright, Precious"

Eugenia smiled at her mother.

Rhett said, "What's wrong with Bonnie?"

"Bonnie is a kid's name."

Rhett scowled. Scarlett and Melly smiled. Alex said, "Alright Eugenia. It's going to be hard. I've called you Bonnie all my life."

Eugenia smiled at her younger brother and said, "I just won't answer when you call me Bonnie."

"That's one way to break us of the habit of calling you Bonnie."

As they were talking, Mrs. Sullivan was greeting all the young ladies and their families. Rhett couldn't get a good look at her face but he decided it wasn't Emily Prater. As Mrs. Sullivan got to their group his long dormant senses were beginning to wake up. He realized a split second before Mrs. Sullivan's hand made contact with his face. As Rhett stood there stunned, he felt an excruciating pain spread through the entire lower region of his body. Mrs. Sullivan had kneed him. He was grasping Scarlett's arm trying to stay on his feet. His son ran over to help his mother keep his father standing. From some place far away, he heard his wife say, "I didn't know you knew Mrs. Sullivan. It is clear she knows you."

Alex said, "Mama this is not the time for jokes."

"It is always the time for jokes if they are at your father's expense. Rhett, dear, sit down. Eugenia got you a chair."

When Rhett could talk, he whispered to Scarlett but Melly overheard, "It is the girl from the buggy incident."

Scarlett and Melly looked at each other and burst out laughing. Rhett scowled. Their children had puzzled looks on their faces.

Scarlett got control of herself and said, "Can you walk? Or would you like to stay here so you and Mrs. Sullivan can have another tete a tete."

"I can walk. Alex, help me to the coach."

Scarlett and Melly couldn't keep from laughing throughout the rest of the day. When they retired that night Rhett said, "I think you owe me an apology for laughing at me and my misfortune all day."

"Nope!" Then she burst out laughing again.

For the first time in their relationship Rhett gave Scarlett his back in the bed. Scarlett didn't care. She was having too much fun. He was the one that usually enjoyed people's discomfort. Right now, she was enjoying his discomfort. She loved Rhett and she understood his reasons for not marrying that girl but he did ruin her. So, he deserved what she did to him today. She was lying there pressed up against his back. She thought, "I will make him feel better but not today. I don't think he would appreciate it tonight." That thought made her break into laughter again. Then she thought, 'If Rhett scoots over anymore, he will fall off the bed.'

For the next several days when ever Scarlett saw Rhett she burst into laughter. When Melly saw him she just smiled like she knew a good joke. Rhett didn't think it was the least bit funny.

At the end of the week Scarlett could look at Rhett without laughing or even giggling. He was still giving her his back in the bed though. She did notice he wasn't on the edge of the bed anymore. She had snuggled up to him as she had every night. She ran her hand down his chest, down his stomach, and down to the battered organ. Scarlett whispered, "Let see if it still works" Rhett was determined not to respond to her sexual overtures. When Scarlett didn't feel Rhett responding she started whispering what she was going to do to him and she had not used any euphemisms. She said words he hadn't even known that she knew. Despite his best-efforts Rhett still had no control over his body in regard to Scarlett. His body once again betrayed him.

When Scarlett felt him responding she whispered, "That's better. Come on let's play."

Rhett turned onto his back and pulled his wife to him. He kissed her almost in a punishing way. He had been annoyed at her thinking his pain was funny. She kissed him back in the same manner. With that he knew his wife was not going to apologize for laughing at him while he was in pain. He accepted defeat and made up with his wife.

The next day he admitted to himself, if the roles were reversed, he would have thought it was funny too.