Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

I have changed Mr. Jackson's appearance from plain to attractive.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Almost immediately Scarlett told Rhett he was not drinking in their suite or in their future home. He wrapped his arms around her and said, "Of course not, my love." He even managed to quit smoking cigars although he was not a nice person for about a month. The only thing that kept him away from starting smoking again was the thought of spending more years with Scarlett and his children.

Rhett and Scarlett went house hunting together. Scarlett had to drag Rhett along. Rhett had said, "Let me build you a house."

She had replied, "There is no point in spending all that money. We are only going to live here until you clean out the Republican government's coffers.

He kept saying, "I don't care. Whatever you want. It is my gift to you."

She would reply, "You do care. I need your help to make it into a home. And I don't want it to be a gift from you to me. I want it to be ours."

Rhett would smile and continue going with her to look at houses. He was surprised when she wouldn't look at any house that was more than six blocks from Melanie's house. He said, "I would have thought you would have been more concerned about the size of the house than its location. I would have thought you would want a house big enough to make all the peahens jealous."

"Who cares about the peahens? I just want us to be comfortable. I am going to be going to Melly's a lot, so we need to be close."

"I am surprised that you now like Miss Melly so much."

"When I realized I didn't love Ashley then I was able to realize my feelings for Melly."

"I am certainly glad you realized you really didn't love Mr. Wilkes. I am certainly glad you realized you like Miss Melly…"

"Love."

"Pardon me."

"I love Melly."

Rhett smiled and said, "I am glad you realized you love Miss Melly, but I am most glad you realized that you loved me."

"I am glad you came to your senses before it was too late."

"You and me both, baby."

They were quiet for a while then Scarlett said, "You will need to invite your mother and sister over for Christmas and the birth of the baby."

"Certainly."

They finally found one that Scarlett was willing to accept. It was within walking distance from Melanie Wilkes. It had six-bedrooms and an exceedingly small back yard. There was no room to set-up a jump. Rhett had all the luxuries available in eighteen sixty-eight installed. It was small enough they only needed a few servants; a cook, a housekeeper, a butler, a head groomsman, a stable boy and a couple of maids. And Mammy, of course.

Rhett started carrying ten cent pieces in his pocket. When he saw a person down on their luck, he gave them one of the ten cent pieces. It actually made him feel good to be helping other people. Were their people taking advantage of his generosity? Probably. He felt he was helping so many and that was what was important.

As he started looking for people to help, he found so many people. He gave Melly money to feed the orphans. Melly said, "Captain Butler we don't need your money."

Rhett had replied, "You may not need it, but my money will feed so many more children. Please accept the money for them."

"For the orphans."

One night as they were lying in the bed, Scarlett said, "Why do you give people ten cent pieces? What is in it for you?"

Rhett burst out laughing. When he got a hold of himself, he said, "Absolutely nothing."

"I thought you didn't ever do anything without expecting something back?"

"I am trying to be a better person."

"Why?"

"Maybe to get into heaven."

"It is going to take a lot more than giving out ten-cent pieces for you to get into heaven."

"Hopefully, I will have many years to work on this project."

Scarlett could hear the laughter in his voice and said, "You will need as many as you can get."

On hearing that Rhett did laugh, and he said, "You could work on being a better person also."

"I am atoning for all the wrong I have ever done by putting up with you. You would try the patience of a saint."

"And you certainly aren't a saint."

When Rhett felt Scarlett slap his chest, he guessed the discussion was over, but it seemed Scarlett had one last thing to say, "Mrs. Merriwether needs another loan for her bakery."

Rhett heard the laughter in Scarlett's voice and said, "You just want me to loan her the money because you know how much it would gall her to have to accept the money."

When he heard Scarlett burst out laughing, he knew he was right. He pulled her close and started telling his stories.

The next day Rhett decided that he would arrange a loan for Mrs. Merriwether and not take credit for it. He hated the old battle axe but maybe he would get more points with the man with the long white beard if he helped his enemy. Rhett decided he probably wouldn't because the man with the long white beard could probably discern his true motives. He hadn't gotten credit for saving Mr. Wilkes' life because he had only saved his life so Scarlett wouldn't turn him into a martyr.

He would arrange the loan anyway. He proceeded to the bank to do just that.

Scarlett had to make sure Melanie lived but then she wanted to move back to London. She had enjoyed living there. She would like to live at Tara, but she knew Rhett would never live in the country. Maybe he would change his mind when he got older. She definitely did not want to live in Atlanta where the old ways were suffocating. She would never forgive the matrons for the way they had treated her last time. Maybe she deserved to be treated that way because she had scoffed at all their rules, but how else could she have fed her extended family. The matrons never considered that while they were talking bad about her. No, she wouldn't forgive them.

In London she and Rhett could behave the way they wanted to behave. When Scarlett thought about it, it made her giggle because the ways in London were much older, but they were not suffocating.

She had really liked Samuel Jackson. He was an excellent teacher. Scarlett sent notes to all the employment agencies looking for Samuel Jackson. One agency had a Samuel Jackson on their rolls, but he was employed with a family right now. Scarlett went to the employment agency and used all her charm on the administrator to get him to give her Mr. Jackson's current employers name. Scarlett sent him a note inquiring if he was interested in coming to work for her as her son's tutor.

Samuel was not happy in his current employment. He was trying to teach two girls who were Yankee brats. The girls were always making unkind comments about Southerners. When Samuel had mentioned it to Mrs. Nelson, her only response had been, "You need to not be so thin-skinned."

So, when he got the note from a Scarlett Butler asking him to come to her home to interview for the role of tutor, he was happy to comply.

Scarlett went through the motions of interviewing him, but she already knew she was going to hire him. She smiled at him. He was still an attractive man with kind eyes. As she looked at him, she thought, 'He would look handsomer with a mustache.'

During the interview Samuel asked, "Is your husband Rhett Butler?"

"Yes, is that going to be a problem?"

"No, I was just wondering."

Samuel accepted the position and went back to his former employer's home. He packed his trunk and as he walked out the door told Mrs. Nelson, "You will have to find another tutor to teach those brats of yours."

Mrs. Nelson replied, "How dare you call my daughters brats."

Samuel had laughed and said, "Don't be so thin-skinned."

Mrs. Nelson had screeched, "I will make sure everyone knows what a lousy tutor you are."

"You are a Yankee. Nobody cares what you think."

Samuel hoped things worked out at the Butler household. He had definitely burned that bridge.

Samuel didn't know it, but he was going to be employed by the Butlers for a long time. For Mrs. Butler needed his knowledge as much as the children did. When Rhett said something, Scarlett didn't understand she knew Mr. Jackson would be able to explain it to her and he would do it in a respectful manner. Scarlett hoped he would come to England with them.

It was surprising how many people believed their story about getting married in London the year before. There were several reasons why the matrons believed their little lie. Everyone had known Scarlett hadn't love Frank Kennedy and had only married him for his money. Everyone knew that Captain Butler had been in love with Scarlett for years. Otherwise, why would that man call on her while she was married to another man. Lastly, everyone knew that Scarlett and Rhett Butler often did not behave with the appropriate amount of etiquette. Scarlett was received only when she was with Melanie Wilkes. Mrs. Merriwether wouldn't even speak to her. Rhett was not received at all. Strangely though they always received invitations to all the fund raisers. They usually attended because they wanted the people at their table to have to talk to them and be polite to them. They were both trying to be better people, but they still had a long way to go to ever be considered good people.

After her return to Atlanta Scarlett went to see Melanie several times a week. Scarlett would make unkind comments about all the matrons, Aunt PittyPat, and especially India. At first, Melly had reprimanded Scarlett for her comments then Melly started smiling when Scarlett made comments then Melly started laughing at the comments. The first time Melanie had made an unkind comment, Scarlett knew it had just slipped out. It was about India so, of course, Scarlett had thought it was hilarious. She badgered Melanie about the gossip and what Melanie's true feelings were. Scarlett asked Melly's advice on almost everything.

Since Scarlett had read Melanie's journals Scarlett knew Melanie was wiser than she had ever known. Yes, they were compatible, but they certainly were different. Scarlett's way was always to go straight at an obstacle. Melanie's way was always to find a way around the obstacle.

Melanie had been so excited about Scarlett's pregnancy. Melanie had happily said, "At least one of us can have children," When Melanie saw the frown on Scarlett's face she had continued, "You were right I barely survived having Beau. I am never going to try that again. You were also right that Ashley would not be able to handle it if something happened to me." Melanie was alright with not having any more children. She could not take the chance of leaving Beau motherless. She knew in her heart she had been incredibly lucky to have survived the delivery of Beau and she was not going to push her luck.

Scarlett knew that this Melanie wasn't going to try to have another baby. She was thinking about Ashley and Beau not just her desire. Scarlett wondered if Melanie had some residual knowledge from the first timeline.

Scarlett also knew that Melanie fed the orphans and sometimes they would sleep in her basement. The children didn't trust adults, but they trusted her.

The dowagers would try to shame Scarlett about her pregnancy and her marriage to Captain Butler. She would just smile and say, "This isn't the worst mistake I have made in my life. I love Rhett. Of course, I want to be his wife. I suppose we should have waited the required amount of time for mourning, but Rhett is not a young man, and we didn't want to give up a year of being married. The truth is we probably should have gotten married during the war, but Rhett still thought he didn't want to get married then."

Scarlett had Will get the supplies for Tara from Ashley's general store. Scarlett would smile when she would think of what a perfect fit running a general store was for Ashley. Rhett had been right. Ashley had not been adjusting well to the world that he found himself in. Rhett had also said that Ashley was trying to live by rules that no longer applied. That was true. What had hurt the most was being in a job that he was a complete mismatch for. Scarlett didn't know if working in a bank in New York would have been better, but it didn't matter because running a general store was a good match.

When Ashley found out that Scarlett had married Rhett Butler and she was acting like she loved him, Ashely knew she was no longer that belle at the barbecue. That image of the belle was the last cherished memory for him to lose. Ashley really did hate Rhett Butler. The thought of Scarlett willingly letting that coarse, brutish man touch her disgusted Ashley. If he wasn't such a gentleman, he would not have been able to be civil to either one of them. Luckily, he had little interaction with them. In fact, if Ashley didn't know better, he would think that Scarlett was avoiding him.