Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-One

In April of eighteen seventy-one Scarlett was at Melly's house helping to prepare for the party. At dinner time she said to Melly, "I don't feel well. I am going to go lay down and hopefully I will nip this in the bud."

Melanie had said, "Yes, darling, go lay down. I hope you will be able to attend the party."

Scarlett had said, "Me too."

Things were so different now that she didn't think she would get caught with Ashley's arm around her, but she didn't want to take any chances. She knew that Rhett was still insanely jealous of Ashley. She knew that Rhett knew she loved him. Also, she now knew that despite his bravado Rhett was insecure as far as her love was concerned. She knew that he loved her so much that even the merest chance that she didn't love him that much sent Rhett into a panic. She knew this because that was how she felt about his love.

They went to the party together and Scarlett had worn one of the dresses that Rhett had bought her in London. Scarlett knew that Rhett recognized it as one he had bought her, but he refrained from making any snide comments about the dress. He did say, "That is a lovely dress you have on. If only you had the perfect jewelry to wear with it."

She had laughed and said, "The jewelry I have on is good enough for these old bats."

Which did make Rhett laugh even if he was still annoyed that she had sold all the jewelry he had bought her in London. He had been so annoyed that he hadn't bought her any jewelry for the first year they were married except a gift on Vicky's birth and their fake anniversary which was now their real anniversary. He still hadn't bought her very much jewelry. He had bought her a watch, a bracelet to match the necklace he had already given her, a couple of rings and a brooch. He instead bought her flowers, sheet music, perfume, candy, and stationery. All gifts that a gentleman caller would give during their first months of courtship. He had also bought her several nightgowns. He did love to give gifts and she loved to receive them. If she wanted more jewelry, she knew he was alright with her going down and buying it herself. He just wasn't going to buy it very often.

They had stayed for a while but as soon as He's a jolly good fellow was sung, they had left. Scarlett wanted to conceive her son. The son she had lost in the last timeline. She wanted that baby. She wanted him so badly. The night of Ashley's birthday party she initiated relations with Rhett. When he reached for the sheath, she stayed his hand and he said, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. By the time this baby is born Vicky will be three."

Later as he laid in their bed listening to the soft little snore Scarlett made when she slept, Rhett knew this was the day he and Scarlett had gotten together in the last timeline. He knew that indeed they had conceived a child that day and tonight. His two children would have grown up as bastards just because he had stubbornly refused to tell the love of his life that he loved her. He was filled with regret. He had hurt so many people that he claimed to love by being a narcissistic, insensitive reprobate. He would always be grateful for this second chance.

Much later in the night, Rhett woke up to Scarlett kissing him. Scarlett didn't know if their son was already conceived but she knew they had done it three times that night. So, they were going to do it three times tonight. She giggled when she thought, 'Hopefully nobody runs away this time.'

The day after the party Scarlett was impressed with how different the conversation was between her and Melanie. Unfortunately, India was still living with Melanie because there had been no justification for Melanie to kick her out of the house. As Scarlett helped clean-up, she looked at India and felt pity for her. Pity for what India had allowed to happen to her life. Scarlett knew that she shouldn't have stolen Stuart away from India just because she could, but India had allowed that incident to turn her bitter and sour. There were a lot of women in the South who were now old maids, but they were making happy lives for themselves as best they could. Hadn't Honey been able to find a husband? Yes, Honey had to marry below her station but so many women had to do that. The truth was that even she had married below her station twice. Frank had just been a shop keeper and Rhett was not received.

Scarlett said, "Who was that with Fanny last night?"

Melanie said, "Her knew suitor, Jim Hicks."

"Mr. Hicks is hideous."

Melanie said, "Scarlett!" Yet Scarlett saw the twinkle in Melanie's eyes. If India hadn't been there Melanie would have added a comment also.

India said, "I think it is nice that Fanny has a gentleman caller especially after her husband was killed so tragically."

"I guess anything is better than nothing." Scarlett was tired of people throwing that incident in her face. She had not asked anyone to defend her honor and she was tired of being blamed for the actions of some damn, fool men. She should have known what they were going to do but she had been distraught by having almost been raped. She had believed Frank when he had said he wasn't in the clan. No, she was not going to feel guilt no matter how many times people tried to make her feel guilty.

When Scarlett looked at India, she knew her missive had hit home. Scarlett smiled smugly. Scarlett was fine with engaging in a verbal war with India. After having been in many verbal wars with Rhett dealing with India was child's play. One of the things Scarlett did was repurpose Rhett's insults. She would just say what Rhett had said to her. Scarlett didn't understand the insult, but India did which made Scarlett laugh even more. She even imitated Rhett's sarcastic laugh which always made Melanie secretively smile. Now that Scarlett knew Melanie didn't like India, she didn't restrain herself at all during her interactions with India. She also didn't feel one bit guilty.

Sometimes the insult was not appropriate to the moment, but Scarlett just acted like India hadn't understood the insult and laughed her nasty laugh. That was also something that Rhett did. He would laugh even more when she didn't get the insult.

One time Scarlett had said to Rhett, "Isn't the point of an insult to hurt my feelings? If I don't understand the insult, then my feelings aren't hurt. It isn't news to me that you think I am stupid."

Rhett had replied, "I don't think you are stupid. In fact, I think you are very clever. I just wish you wanted to become better educated."

"Insulting me is not going to make me want to be better educated."

"What would make you want to be better educated?"

"I don't know."

"Please think about it. You are missing a wonderful world of literature."

"I don't like to read."

"I could read to you."

"Alright but not one of those boring books you like to read."

"I will make sure it is an adventure story."

The next night Rhett started reading: Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne. Scarlett liked listening to Rhett read. He had a nice voice. She thought maybe she would enjoy this. She did sewing, knitting, or mending while he read. They were quite the genteel couple.

Scarlett spent time with all her children. She talked to Wade about the books he was reading, what his favorite game was, how his studies were going and anything else she could think of to talk to him about. She asked Wade what his favorite subject was. She had expected him to say reading or writing for she knew he loved to do those things. When he had replied, "Adding things up."

Scarlett had smiled and said, "Really."

"I can't explain it, but I can look at a column of numbers and I know what the sum is."

"You don't have to explain that to me. That is what happens to me also."

Wade had smiled. He said, "I like living with you and everyone else here in Atlanta but are we ever going to move back to Tara?"

"Probably not. Your father doesn't like the country."

"So, the rest of us have to suffer because he doesn't like the country."

"Please don't talk that way about your father. Doesn't he take us to Tara all the time?"

"Yes, but visiting isn't the same as living there."

Scarlett smiled sadly at Wade and said, "No, it isn't. Maybe someday you can take over the running of Tara when Uncle Will passes."

"I hope so."

"Until then be happy. I don't like it when you are grumpy."

Wade smiled and said, "I love you, Mama."

Scarlett smiled back and treasured the moment and said, "I love you also my wonderful son."

This was such a special moment for Scarlett. She hadn't had these kinds of moments in her first timeline. She knew what was important now. Her husband and her children.

In June while at a sewing bee Scarlett saw Melanie's cousin, Prudence, sit down next to Melanie. Scarlett darted over and sat down just as Prudence started talking about her bowel movements. Even Scarlett's presence didn't stop Prudence from sharing graphic details. Scarlett said, "God's nightgown! You aren't supposed to speak of that kind of thing. If you have those kinds of problems, go see Dr. Meade."

Prudence jumped up and walked off.

Melanie said, "Thank you, my dear."

"Certainly. Nobody wants to hear about that."

"I'm sure even Dr. Meade doesn't want to hear that much detail."

The ladies giggled together. When Prudence heard them laughing, she gave Scarlett a hateful look.

Scarlett said, "It looks like I have made another enemy."

That made the ladies laugh harder. Scarlett didn't care. As long as she had Melanie she would be received in Atlanta.

Her children received invitations to children's birthday parties because Scarlett made sure to give the loveliest presents. She gave a nice toy, clothes and shoes. She would wrap the toy separately from the clothes and shoes. She would hand the wrapped clothes and shoes to the mother and say, "This is for later at home."

The mother may not like her, but she would always say, "Thank you, Scarlett. That is so kind of you." Everyone was poor and clothes and shoes were what every child always needed.

In July she knew she was going to have her son. When she told Rhett, he looked at her so strangely that she wasn't sure he was happy. Then he held her close and said more to himself than to her, "I was such a damn fool," In a louder voice, he said, "Thank you for taking me back."

Scarlett said, "Of course, darling." She thought all of this was very strange, but Rhett was always saying things she didn't understand. He held her for a long time then finally he kissed her with a tender kiss.

He said, "I am such a lucky man."

Rhett was kind and loving her entire pregnancy. Scarlett was always talking about the baby to Ella and Vicky. Every night no matter how bad she felt Scarlett made herself go brush her daughters' hair. Rhett had offered to do it for her on more than one occasion and she had smiled and said, "No, my love, this is one of my favorite activities."

Ella was so excited that they were going to have another baby. Vicky was excited because Ella was excited. Ella would ask almost every night when the baby would be here then Vicky would say, "My baby brother" and pat Scarlett's baby bump. Scarlett would patiently explain that it would be several months before the baby would arrive. She would never correct Vicky when she called the baby a boy. In fact, Scarlett always referred to the baby as a boy also.

As Mammy would watch as Miss Scarlett interacted with her daughters, she wondered when Miss Scarlett had gotten so much patience. Miss Scarlett was usually one to snap and snarl at her children but now she would just smile at them when they asked the same question many, many times again and again.