Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Six

Scarlett was a member of the Committee for the Beautification of Confederate Graves. Fanny Welburn was a member of the committee also. Scarlett had said to Fanny, "I know it doesn't take away all the pain, but I am sorry for my part in your husband's death."

Fanny had replied, "You are right. It doesn't take away the pain."

Scarlett had smiled as Fanny had walked away. It may not make Fanny feel better, but it did make Scarlett feel better.

She thought beautifying the graves was a noble effort although at times it made her sad to think of all the young men who had died in that stupid war. At times she got really tired of them talking about the young men who had died in their noble quest.

Scarlett didn't think it was such a noble quest. She thought the South had been stupid to go to war over the issue of slavery. Scarlett knew both Rhett and Mr. Jackson thought slavery would have died out when machines replaced men. They both had explained to her the industrial revolution that had taken place in the North.

Mr. Jackson had explained why the South had gone to war. After he had explained it, she thought the war was even more stupid. In her opinion which she believed Rhett shared the South had gone to war over an issue that was not truly in jeopardy at the time. She understood why the right to vote was so important now. The men in office should have taken the issue through the courts not taken up the sword.

The first Saturday in August the committee had a fund raiser. Scarlett had invited the Wilkes to attend with them. Rhett was not happy with having to spend the entire evening with the Wilkes, but Scarlett had said, "I know you don't like Ashley, but I wanted to give Melly a night out."

"I don't dislike Mr. Wilkes as much now that you don't believe yourself in love with him."

Which shocked Scarlett. Rhett was usually not so honest about his emotions. She replied, "Please try to have a good time."

"I will have a good time. I will be with you. Is there going to be dancing?"

"Yes."

"I will have a great time swirling you around the dance floor."

"Me too."

The Butlers picked up the Wilkes on their way to the fundraiser. When the two couples arrived at the fund raiser, several men greeted Rhett. Scarlett asked, "Where do you know them from?"

Rhett said, "The Thursday night committee meeting." He then burst out laughing.

Scarlett scowled and said, "I know. I would not think it was funny."

"Let's find our table."

At first Scarlett did have a lovely time until Rhett became engrossed with his conversation with Ashley. At first it was just pleasant conversation with everyone at the table participating. The group talked about things the Democratic party was doing. The men talked about some other local topics of interest. Ashley and Rhett talked about some of the sites of interest in Europe. It was when Ashley and Rhett started talking about some ancient book was when Rhett became immersed into his conversation with Ashley.

Scarlett was not happy with this. She didn't know why but she didn't want Rhett and Ashley to be friends. She certainly didn't want Rhett paying more attention to Ashley than her. The irony of the situation did not escape Scarlett. She wondered how many times she had ignored Rhett while being enraptured with Ashley in the first timeline. She didn't care if she was getting her just desserts. She would not stand for it. She kept making Rhett get out on the dance floor. After they had danced several dances, Rhett would hurry them back to the table to continue his conversation with Ashley. To further add injury to insult Ashley was equally engrossed in their conversation. No! She did not like this at all.

Melly smiled when she saw the scowl on Scarlett's face as Scarlett looked at the men. Melly knew that Scarlett would not want to know how much in common the two men were. Melly knew they had both been raised the same so it would be natural for them to have common interest. Melly also knew that in their core they were totally different. Ashley would always be more like the South before the war and Captain Butler would always be more like the South after the war. They both opposed the war, but Ashley chose duty and honor while Captain Butler chose his own self-interest.

After Rhett and Scarlett had dropped the Wilkes off at their home Scarlett said snidely, "Did you and your new friend make plans to get together again?"

Rhett burst out laughing. When Scarlett glared at him, he laughed even harder. When Rhett could speak, he said, "I never thought you would be jealous of my relationship with Mr. Wilkes."

"Jealous! Jealous! I am not jealous of your relationship with that over-educated, windbag but I am beginning to see what y'all have in common. You both like to make people feel stupid by using four syllable words and talking about things nobody in the world cares about."

Rhett had not seen Scarlett this mad in a long time and knew he shouldn't, but he had to fan the flames. He said, "That is not right, my dear, every well-educated person would find those topics interesting."

"I am pretty sure you couldn't find ten other men who would think those topics interesting."

"You may be right, but it was so refreshing to have an intelligent conversation. I live in a desert of any kind of scholarly discussion."

"You… You... You jackass."

They had arrived back at their home and their driver opened the door and waited to assist Scarlett down. As she was stepping out of the coach, Rhett said, "Except Wade, of course."

Rhett got out of the coach as his wife stormed off. As Rhett followed Scarlett inside the house, he thought, 'I might as well enjoy myself. She will be mad at me for the next several days no matter what I do now.'

When Rhett got to their bedroom, Scarlett presented her back to him for him to loosen her corset. As they got undress Rhett said, "Did you have fun tonight? I'm sorry if you felt I was ignoring you. I was too busy having an intellectual conversation with my new friend."

"Just shut up!"

"I know now why you were so enthralled by the man."

"I swear Rhett Butler if you say another word, I will kill you in your sleep."

Rhett didn't speak any more. When Kenny started rooting around which signaled, he was getting ready to wake up, Scarlett said, "If I'm too angry to nurse him, you will have to walk with him until I calm down."

At that point Rhett did go about soothing his wife for he would not have his son suffer because he was having fun at his wife's expense. He even apologized for making her so mad. By the time Kenny woke up Scarlett had calmed down enough for her milk to flow. Rhett knew she had not forgiven him, but she was just remaining calm for Kenny's sake.

As Rhett watched Kenny nursing, he said, "I didn't know you being mad could stop your milk from flowing."

"Of course not, that information is not in one of those ancient tomes you like to read."

Rhett had smiled and said, "No it isn't. How did you know?"

"Mammy told me. She told me I have to be calm and relaxed for my milk to flow."

"I guess I will have to behave myself until you ween Kenny."

"It will be soon. He is eating table food now. He has too hardy of an appetite for me to keep up with him."

"Is that bad?"

"No, Mammy said, 'Some women produce buckets full, and some women produce a lot less."

"You should have told me. I wouldn't have made you that mad."

"I wasn't really thinking about Kenny in the middle of our argument," She smiled and said, "I'm glad you and Ashley have someone to talk to about those ancient text."

"I would still rather talk with you any day."

"So, it isn't a desert of intelligent conversation?"

Rhett smiled and said, "It is but I still would rather talk to you."

Scarlett scowled back and switched her child to the other breast. After a while Rhett put Kenny back in his bassinet and the couple went to sleep in each other's arms.

Over the next several days when Scarlett wasn't around Rhett would allow himself to laugh about Scarlett being jealous of his relationship with Mr. Wilkes. She didn't need to worry. He still hated the man.

In late August Scarlett received a telegram from Elizabeth. It said: Pauline dead STOP Do not come STOP Will handle arrangements STOP

Scarlett sent Suellen a telegram. It said: Aunt Pauline dead STOP Do you want to attend funeral STOP.

Suellen sent a telegram back. It said: No STOP

Scarlett laughed when she got Suellen's telegram. She guessed Suellen wasn't even going to discuss the subject.

In about ten days Scarlett received a letter from Elizabeth. It said: Your Aunt Pauline died quietly in her sleep. She didn't suffer. I have made all the arrangements. I have given her clothes and almost all her possessions to charity. There didn't seemed to be anything of sentimental value. I had them send the bill to your Uncle Henry.

Scarlett wrote back and said: Thank you.

Scarlett went to see Henry Hamilton and she told him to leave the trust intact for the next month but then buy US bonds with whatever money was left in the trust. On a whim, Scarlett went to the jewelry store and bought Rhett a signet ring with his initials on it. The jeweler said, "It will be ready within the week."

"I will pick it up. I do not want my husband to see it before I give it to him."

"Very good, Mrs. Butler"

As Scarlett left the jewelry store the owner thought with as much money as Rhett Butler has one would think he would spend more money in a jewelry store. He decided that Mrs. Butler must not like a lot of jewelry. He had never seen her wear very much.

The truth was it was another one of their little battles they were waging. Rhett would not buy Scarlett jewelry because she sold the last pieces, he had given her, and Scarlett would not buy jewelry because she didn't want Rhett to think it bothered her that he wasn't buying her jewelry.

When Scarlett gave Rhett the ring he was pleased and put it on right away. Scarlett was happy he liked it. Rhett being Rhett had to get his jab in said, "I will treasure it always. In fact, I want to be buried with it on."

"You keep that talk up, and your funeral will be sooner than you think."

Rhett had just laughed and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her and she kissed him back. She couldn't stay mad at him over him saying that. That would be like being mad at the sun for rising.

Rosemary and Elizabeth came for Christmas. By this time Scarlett had gotten used to the idea of Rosemary and Mr. Jackson. Scarlett wasn't worried. She was sure Mr. Jackson would not be able to find a better paying job.

By December Kenny was sleeping in the nursery. He was completely on table food. Although Scarlett missed the closeness with her child, she knew it had been the time to ween him. Rhett's libido had certainly had a celebration when that had happened.

It seemed Rhett's libido had an exceptionally good time in December. There was that fateful night when the box that contained the sheaths had been empty. Rhett had convinced Scarlett that he would make sure he didn't get her pregnant. He would withdraw before he finished. When Rhett needed to go somewhere else, he hadn't gone anywhere else. Scarlett had known they had conceived their third child. She hadn't been mad. She hadn't been thinking about preventing a child either.