Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback. At Chapter twenty-seven I said I had about ten more chapters. It seems I have at least ten after this one. Plus, the alternative ending.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

In February of seventy-three Scarlett and Melanie were sitting on Scarlett's back porch watching the children play. Melanie said, "I had always dreamed of having a house full of children," Melly held up her hand when Scarlett started to protest. Melly continued, "I don't want that anymore. You were right when you said Ashley would never be able to handle it if I were to die. Maybe the Ashley before our world was destroyed but not this Ashley."

Scarlett gave her a sad smile and said, "I don't think Ashley could survive without you either. He is a lot stronger now because of his success at running the store but you are his rock."

Melanie sadly smiled and said, "So we will remain just friends for a while longer. I am probably the only woman on the earth who can't wait to go through the change of life."

Scarlett laughed and rubbed her abdomen where she knew her baby was growing. She said, "I'm ready also but we are going to somehow find a way to remove all that facial hair. I don't want my mustache to be better than Rhett's.

"What? You don't want a mustache and beard?"

The ladies laughed and started making mean comments about who had the best mustache of the matrons.

In March, Dr. Meade confirmed Scarlett was with child. She told Rhett that while she wanted the child, she really didn't like being pregnant. Rhett kissed her and said, "Thank you for not being mad at me for getting you pregnant."

A few days later Rhett presented Scarlett with a gift. It was a parure of diamonds and emeralds. When Scarlett opened it, she squealed with delight. There was a tiara, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, and a pair of earbobs. Rhett said, "If you can so quickly forgive me for getting you pregnant again so soon after Kenny, I can forgive you for selling my gifts. If I get my conceit out of the way, it just makes sense to sell all those items you didn't think that you would ever use again."

"Rhett, I wouldn't have sold them if I thought you were going to come for me. When I left London, I didn't think I was ever going to see you again."

"No baby, I was the person in the wrong all the way around" Scarlett was stunned. Rhett rarely apologized and even rarer said he was completely wrong. Rhett smiled at Scarlett's shocked face. He continued, "I should never have accepted your offer. I should have told you I loved you when you told me you loved me. I should never have let you leave London without marrying me. I am so incredibly lucky you took me back. So extremely lucky."

Scarlett was hugging Rhett like she was never going to let him go. Rhett had never been so open and honest with her except for maybe that awful night Melly died. She still wasn't sure he had loved her in their first timeline, but she knew without a doubt he loved her in this timeline, so she didn't care. She was utterly amazed. Rhett had never taken full responsibility for their problems. Ever.

"Rhett, I love you so much."

"I don't know what happened to you when Old Frank died but you grew up with that event. I had to grow up too. You're leaving me caused me to grow up." Rhett thought, 'After six years of being a total idiot. I am so lucky for this second chance.'

"Thank you, Rhett. I just realized what a selfish and self-centered person I really was with Frank's death. I realized that my actions do affect others. It was like all-in-one night I realized how wonderful Melly was, how Ashley was not what I thought he was and that you loved me."

"You thought I loved you when you made me that offer? Why did you not just accept my marriage proposal?"

"If I had accepted your proposal and we were married, do you honestly think you would have ever told me you loved me. Be honest."

Rhett looked at Scarlett for an exceptionally long time and he finally said, "No. I never would have. Only the thought of losing you made me actually say the words."

Scarlett hugged Rhett again and Rhett kissed Scarlett with his special kiss. She said, "I love you."

"I love you, too. Yes, I know I don't say it often enough."

Scarlett smiled at him. He then said, "We are going out for supper and dancing tonight. I know you will want to show off your new jewelry. Be ready at six."

"You know me so well."

"Almost as well as you know me."

That night as they were enjoying their supper, they talked about their future in Atlanta.

Scarlett said, "We will never be completely received back into Southern Society."

Rhett had replied, "Not without a lot of groveling. I refuse to do that."

"Where does that leave the children?"

"It leaves them not being completely received either."

"Rhett."

"They would do better in England."

"I wouldn't mind moving back to England. I enjoyed living there."

"My money would get us received into almost every home."

"The children will make better matches in England. Maybe even marry into the peerage."

Rhett knew that would never happen, but he said, "Maybe. Could you live that far away from Tara? Forever." Rhett knew she had said they would move back to England when they were house hunting, but he had not thought she would really do it when the time came. He still didn't think she would be willing to live that far from Tara. The place she had sold her soul twice for.

Scarlett looked startled by the question. She didn't know what she had been thinking. She said, "Never see Tara again. Ever. I don't know Rhett."

Ever so gently Rhett said, "That is what we are talking about. If we move to England so the children can make good matches, once the children are married, we will never move away from them."

"What should I do?"

"I cannot tell you, baby. I have never felt the attachment to a piece of land that you feel toward Tara. To me the answer is simple. We move to England. It is not that cut and dry for you."

"You haven't ever felt an attachment to a piece of land?"

"No, my attachment is to you. As long as I am with you, I don't care where we are."

"I never want to live without you either."

Rhett remained quiet. Scarlett needed to think about this matter long and hard. Finally, he said, "If you do decide for us to move to London and you are absolutely miserable, we can always move back. Nothing is permanent until our first child marries an Englishperson."

"Thank you, Rhett. I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Rhett kissed her hand and said, "Let's share a dessert so you won't be too full for dancing."

"Alright."

Scarlett was happy with sharing her dessert, but she scowled at Rhett every time he took a bite. She scowled at Rhett, so he thought he was annoying her. She knew her husband. He just couldn't help himself. So, she let him think he was annoying her then they were both happy.

Scarlett was right. Despite Rhett loving her so very much, he couldn't help himself from aggravating her. He thought she looked so ridiculously cute when she was annoyed at him.

They did go dancing and they did have a wonderful time. Scarlett had pushed thoughts of Tara and England to the back of her mind. She would think about it tomorrow but tonight she was just going to be happy dancing with the man she loved.

When they got home that night and disrobed, Scarlett refused to take off her tiara. She said, "It makes me feel like a queen."

"I guess that makes me a king. Come to bed."

After they were in the bed, Rhett said, "I have always wanted to have relations with a queen."

Scarlett giggled. Scarlett didn't even care that her tiara fell off in the midst of their activities.

The next several days Scarlett did think about Tara and England. As she was sitting at her desk going through their invitations, she noted that they truly weren't included in Atlanta society. There was only so many doors Melanie could get opened for her. There was nothing from the matrons.

She looked at the invitations to birthday parties that the children had gotten. Wade got a lot of invitations which was because he was Melanie's nephew, Ella much less, Vicky even less and Kenny none. Admittedly Kenny was only one, but Scarlett knew she was going to have to make a heart-breaking decision. She was going to have to decide between leaving Tara for good or her children not truly being received into Southern Society. Therefore, not being able to make good matches.

Scarlett knew they would never be accepted back into southern society without becoming hypocrites and doing a lot of groveling. Last time Rhett had humbled himself and groveled to all the matrons and got himself received again. He had done that partially by blaming everything on her. He wouldn't do that now. He wouldn't push her in the dirt to get himself received. He most certainly wouldn't grovel or humble himself. In the last timeline Bonnie was all he had. Bonnie was the only person who he thought would ever love him besides his mother and sister.

Scarlett also knew that she was still not liked by the matrons. They still condemned her for running the sawmill. They still blamed her for that ill-fated raid. They condemned her for marrying Rhett. She knew their quick marriage had not helped the situation, but it was really Rhett not being received that would hurt her children. No, not her children, Rhett Butler's children.

When Melanie stopped by to pick her up for one of the sewing bees, Scarlett knew she would be leaving Melly for ever also if they moved to England. They would write but it wouldn't be as good as being face to face. Scarlett tried to focus on what everyone was saying but far too often she found herself distracted.

After the sewing bee, when Melanie started to drop her off Scarlett thought about the words, she had said to Ella all those years ago when they were on the porch together. When you are making a decision, it is best to listen when people try to tell you what to do especially people older than you. They are usually wiser than you. Melly was not older than her but she was much wiser, much more insightful. Scarlett said, "Please come in. I need to talk to you about a decision I am trying to make."

"Of course, darling."

After they were seated in the parlor, Scarlett said, "Rhett is not received."

"True. He never will be without a lot of groveling."

"True. By extension, his children are not received."

"Sadly true."

"Rhett says that if we move to England, the children will be received because of his wealth."

"Then you must move to England."

"Melly!"

Melly got up and wrapped her arms around her best friend.

"I can't leave you or Tara."

"I feel honored to be placed on the same level as Tara. There is something you love more than Tara and me. Your children."

"Melly, I don't know if I can do it."

"Of course, you can do it. Your Scarlett O'Hara. Nothing can defeat you. You have defeated the Yankees, starvation, that deserter, and even financial hardship."

"I had you by my side through all of that. You, Rhett and Mammy. I need all three of you."

"This time will be easier. You won't have all that dead weight you have carried for years."

Scarlett looked at Melanie's face and wondered if she was implying Ashley, was dead weight."

Melly smiled and said, "He was then. He isn't now."

The ladies sat there for a long time with Melanie just holding Scarlett. Finally, Scarlett said, "You promise to not try to get pregnant?"

"I promise."

They sat there for a few more minutes and Scarlett said, "I guess we are moving to London."

"Oh no. This is so sudden."

They both burst out laughing.

Scarlett felt better having made Melanie promise to not try to get pregnant. Although whether she was in Atlanta or London, she couldn't stop Melanie if she really wanted to try to have another baby. Scarlett knew that neither Melanie nor Vicky nor Kenny were going to die in this timeline.

Later Scarlett thought, 'This being a better person is really hard. In the last timeline I would have just done what I wanted, and I wouldn't have cared who it hurt,' She smiled and continued her thoughts, 'Of course, that had also ended up pretty disastrously. I guess this is better.'