Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Seventeen

Two weeks after his first visit, Rhett return to Mrs. Merriwether's home but this time he brought both Bonnie and Ella. It was in the afternoon which normally was the time that the girls took their naps. Ella normally was a very good- natured child but she got whiny if she didn't get enough sleep.

Rhett took the buggy because Ella was nervous around horses and large dogs. When they got to Mrs. Merriwether's everyone was in a good mood, but Rhett knew that within thirty minutes Ella would be done. When Rhett knocked on the door to Mrs. Merriwether's home, he looked the picture of fatherly devotion.

Rhett said, "I'm here to see Mrs. Merriwether about her loan. Rhett Butler."

The butler knew to show Mr. Butler into the parlor. He also knew the Madame was going to be in a bad mood the rest of the day because of this man's visit.

When Mrs. Merriwether joined Rhett in the parlor, he was playing peek a boo with Ella and Bonnie. The girls were giggling and laughing. Dolly thought, 'At least he is a good father.'

Dolly walked in and said, "Captain Butler how nice of you to come back."

Before Rhett could answer Ella said, "Today my birthday."

Mrs. Merriwether who was rarely around small children, except her grandchildren, didn't understand what Ella was saying. Mrs. Merriwether said, "What, Honey?"

Ella repeated it but not any clearer, "Today my birthday."

Rhett sat there and smiled at Ella like she was doing the most wonderful thing. Mrs. Merriwether said, "Say it again."

Ella said, "Today my birthday."

When Rhett looked at Mrs. Merriwether's frustrated face he said, "Today is her birthday. We are going to have a party later today."

"Happy Birthday, .."

"Thank you."

Rhett smiled at Ella and said, "Let's talk about what you need the money for?"

"New equipment and to enlarge the kitchen."

"Would it not be cheaper to rent space than add on to your current kitchen?"

"I have priced all the possible options and enlarging the kitchen is the cheapest."

As they went over the numbers Rhett said, "I wish Scarlett was here. She can add a column in her head with amazing accuracy. It's astonishing. Don't you think it is pretty incredible that she can do that? She is wonderful"

Dolly said with a tight expression, "Yes, of course."

They talked for a little bit longer until Bonnie accidently slapped Ella's leg. Rhett couldn't get Ella to stop crying then Bonnie decided to join her sister in her crying. Rhett stood up and said, "I must go." He carried the girls from the house. The girls were better once they were in the buggy. Five minutes after they got home Ella was in her little bed and sound asleep. That girl did like her naps. Bonnie took a little bit longer to get to sleep.

By the time the girls woke up from their naps Melly was already at the mansion. The weather was turning cooler, and it was pleasant outside. Melly and Scarlett were sitting on the back porch watching the girls play. They were chatting away like the old friends they were. Rhett joined them while they waited for the boys to get home. After the boys got home from school, they had a small party. Ella had a wonderful time. She got several presents from her mother and her Uncle Rhett and a new doll from Melly. Scarlett noticed that Melly was relaxed around Rhett which made her happy. Rhett fawning over her was probably one of the few joys in her life. Ella blew out her candles and Scarlett served everyone cake. Bonnie was sitting in Rhett's lap. Scarlett said, "Do you want cake Rhett?"

"Yes."

"Then you have to put Bonnie down."

"Why?"

"She is too young to have cake?"

"You are going to deny your daughter cake?"

"She is too young to have sweets."

"A little cake isn't going to hurt her."

"It won't hurt her but if we give her sweets too soon then it makes it harder to get her to eat vegetables and meat, Rhett."

"So, you are suddenly an expert of child rearing."

"I have had two before her."

"That other people raised."

"That's not true."

"You aren't a good mother."

"I am trying to be but regardless I know I am right on this point."

"How do you know you are right?"

"Because Melly told me when Wade was this age and I wanted to give him some candy."

They both turned to look at Melly. Her cheeks were pink. She never argued with Ashley. It embarrassed her to listen to the couple argue yet she was impressed by Scarlett's ability to argue with Captain Butler.

Rhett said, "Is that right Miss Melly?"

Melly said, "Yes, it is."

"I won't have cake either. I don't want her to feel like she is being excluded."

With that comment Scarlett just shook her head. Her husband was a very strange man. Amazing to Melly there was no tension between the couple the rest of the party. Because Scarlett and Rhett never raised their voices or changed the tone of their voices the children did not realized the couple was having an argument, so no one got upset.

As Melly and Beau were getting ready to leave Scarlett said, "Melly, you are forgetting your cloak."

There in Scarlett's hands was a plain, gray cloak. It looked almost identical to the cloak she had at home except the one in Scarlett's hands wasn't threadbare. Scarlett said, "Here let me put it on you."

When Scarlett opened the cloak up, Melly saw that the lining was the same color as her cloak at home. Scarlett put the cloak around Melly, and she decided that she could fool Ashley into thinking it was her old cloak. He never paid that much attention to her clothing anyway. She was tired of being cold all winter long.

Scarlett whispered, "Ashley will never know. Bring your old cloak over here tomorrow and I will give it to someone in need."

Melanie turned and hugged Scarlett. She said, "I will just cut it up for rags." She and Beau hurried out the door. Melly liked her cloak very much.

When they were in the family parlor later that night Scarlett smiled at Rhett and said, "It is just the first of many nos we will have to say to her."

Rhett said, "I don't like it."

"Nobody does, darling."

"I am sorry about that comment about you being a bad mother. I know you are trying to be a good mother now."

"You are forgiven. Although I might point out that my mothering ability was not why you married me."

Rhett smiled and said, "No it isn't I knew you where a bad mother before we got married."

Before Scarlett could slap his arm, Rhett took her hand. Rhett held Scarlett's hand. No Rhett still wasn't happy, but he knew that Scarlett was thinking of what was best for their daughter. Not what would make their daughter happy in that moment.

Two weeks later on Rhett's birthday the couple went out to supper. They went dancing. They went to Ashley's mill and had relations on Ashley's desk. They left the remains of their activity on his desk. By the time they got home they were so excited they had relations again. As Scarlett drifted off to sleep, she knew that with all this activity she would soon be pregnant, but she was having too much fun to stop now. When she thought about them having another child she was alright with them conceiving one, but she still wanted them to try to not have another one yet.

Unfortunately for Rhett and Scarlett's desire to be mean by the time Ashley got to work the evidence was dried and didn't look identifiable at all. Although Ashley did ponder what it was all day and what that smell was that he smelled when he walked into the office.

With the holiday season upon them Rhett and Scarlett got distracted from their hobby. There were presents to buy. A tree to put up and decorate. The mansion to decorate.

When Rhett found out from Stuart that he was going to ask India to marry him, the couple decided to send her another dress. This one was in a pretty green color. On the note Scarlett wrote: Merry Christmas. The Butlers. This time India had no qualms about accepting the dress even though the neckline was much lower than India was comfortable with. India pushed her modesty away by thinking, 'Scarlett knows how to catch a man. I am going to trust her."

India was so excited to have a new dress to wear to supper with Stuart. He had asked her out to supper and had hinted that it was going to be a special night. She so hoped Stuart was going to ask her to marry him. She thought she was in love with him. She knew she was happy with him. India smiled and thought, 'Who would believe I owe it all to Scarlett.'

Rhett went by himself on his last visit to Mrs. Merriwether's. Rhett and Dolly talked about the loan and talked about the loan. Rhett made no move to leave, and Dolly couldn't bring herself to do what she had to do to get the loan. Rhett said, "Did Scarlett ever tell you that I joined the confederate army in the eleventh hour. I guess I was more patriotic than I thought."

"Yes, Scarlett did tell me of your service when I was trying to talk her out of marrying you. Who did you serve under?"

The first thought that shot through Rhett's head was, 'This old busybody tried to talk Scarlett out of marrying me. How dare she?' The second thought was 'I wonder what else Scarlett told this old witch. It sort of sounds like she defended me.'

Rhett told her all about his service. Dolly planned to write that general and verify this information. They sat there for a while longer. Until Rhett said, "If only there was someone who would guarantee your loan."

Dolly was cursing Rhett Butler, but she guessed he was entitled to his pound of flesh. At long last Dolly said, "Captain Butler can you find it in your heart to guarantee my loan?"

"Of course. I will take care of it tomorrow. Come by the bank the day after tomorrow and the check will be waiting. What day is best for our weekly meetings?"

"What?"

"We will meet weekly so I can monitor your progress to ensure you will be able to pay back the loan."

"Does Wednesday morning at nine work for you?"

"I would prefer Wednesday at one in the afternoon."

"That is convenient for me also."

With that Rhett got up and bowed. There was no mockery in the bow. Rhett left the home. Rhett was beginning to come around to Scarlett's way of thinking. They needed to get received back into polite society for the children's sake. Furthermore, he was going to take all the blame for Scarlett inviting Bullock into their home.

That night when Rhett and Scarlett were getting ready for bed, Rhett took the brush from Scarlett's hand. As he brushed her hair he said, "Did you defend me to Mrs. Merriwether?"

"I defended you to a lot of people until I just got tired of them never listening to what I was saying about you."

"Did Mrs. Merriwether try to talk you out of marrying me?"

"Yes, I told her that I would have married you even if you had fought for the Yankees."

"Thank you, my dear. Listen to me, Scarlett, from now forward if someone says something about you inviting Bullock into our home, I want you to tell them I made you do it because he was my business associate."

"Alright. Why?"

"Because I know I can charm those old biddies into accepting me while your charm is rather lacking with other women."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"If you can defend me then I can and will defend you."

"Oh Rhett, it has been so long since anyone besides Melly has defended me."

"I know, my pretty bunny, but no more. I am going to take care of you from now on."

Scarlett hugged him so tight and wouldn't let go for a long time. It truly had been a long time since anyone had defended her except Melly, of course.

Author's Notes: The phrase 'a pound of flesh' comes from William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. The moneylender Shylock demands the flesh of the 'merchant of Venice' Antonio, under a provision in their contract. Shylock never gets the pound of flesh, however, because the character Portia discovers a point of law that overrides the contract; Shylock is forbidden to shed any blood in getting the flesh from Antonio's body.