Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Eighteen

Rhett made donations to all the matron's charities to further their endeavor of getting received back into polite society. He would insist on giving the check to the matron himself. He wouldn't let go of the check until they looked him in the eyes and thanked him.

Rhett was being charming and solicitous. He began to ask the matron's advice in regard to childrearing. He would always start the conversation by saying, "Scarlett and I were discussing the best way to …." Further into the conversation if the matron questioned why, he wasn't just following Scarlett's suggestion, he would say conspiratorially, "Scarlett has not always shown the wisest discernment. After all she married me, didn't she?" Most of the time the matron would smile. He had even gotten a few chuckles with that line.

Rhett could be seen frequently in the park with Bonnie and Ella. He would stop and speak to each and every one of the dragons. Once a week Scarlett would go with Rhett and the girls. Rhett would ask the older women's opinion of childrearing. If Scarlett was with him when he asked the older woman a question, she would smile the smile of someone humoring another person. At least seventy-five percent of the time after the older woman answered the questioned Rhett would turn to Scarlett and say, "You were right, once again." Scarlett would give Rhett a smile of love and say, "Yes, darling but you keep asking questions until you are satisfied." Rhett would pat Scarlett's hand and say, "Thank you for humoring me." The couple would walk off and the older woman would think, 'The Butlers certainly have changed with the birth of their daughter.' Or 'Maybe it was a love match after all.'

Scarlett and Rhett had decided to not continue their German lessons. After several sessions they knew it would take them too long to get fluent in the language. They just learned some key phrases and words.

Such as: Idiot - Dummkopf

Horse -Pferd which was short for horse's ass.

The little man - Der kleine mann

Can you believe him? - kannst du ihm glauben

They also learn some terms of endearment so that people would think all the words were terms of endearment. Which may have been the truth since both Rhett and Scarlett got aroused by talking badly about Ashley Wilkes.

Treasure - Schatz

Darling - Liebling

Baby or Honey - Schatzchen

Clever Bunny - Kluger Hase

Christmas day came and there were too many presents for everyone. Even Scarlett went overboard with the number of presents she bought.

The Butlers invited the Wilkes and the Hamiltons to Christmas dinner. India had sent a note over asking to bring a guest. Scarlett had agreed. When India walked in the mansion, Scarlett marveled at how different she looked than that sour face woman that had joined them for their supper party. India couldn't wait to show Scarlett her ring.

India said, "Thank you. For giving me another Stuart."

"You're welcome."

Since this was not a formal supper party but was a family event with the children Scarlett had not arranged the seating. Ashley had guided Melanie to Scarlett's end of the table. Ashley had then sat next to Scarlett and indicated that Melanie should sit next to him. Scarlett could not believe what Ashley had done. How disrespectful can Ashley get? Ashley was going to flirt with her all evening while Melanie had to endure it. On Christmas day no less. Suddenly Scarlett saw a chance to break this little tea party up. Loud enough for everyone to hear she said, "Ashley be a dear and trade places with Uncle Henry. We can't have him and Aunt PittyPat sitting next to each other."

Ashley wanted to say no but he had to behave like a gentleman besides Uncle Henry was already on his way over to take his chair. Melanie's expression brightened. She had not been looking forward to Ashley and Scarlett flirting all through the meal and being ignored. She would also have to pretend she didn't notice her husband flirting with another woman. Melly decided that Scarlett was falling out of love with Ashley and in love with her husband. She would not say anything to Ashley about it. It would just make him mad. Ashley didn't need anything to make him mad. He had turned into a grumpy, angry man who couldn't say a kind word to anyone.

The seating arrangements ended up being Rhett at the head of the table with India on his right and Ella on his left. Stuart next to India, Melly next to Stuart with Uncle Henry on Scarlett's left. On Scarlett's right was Wade with Beau next to him. Ashley was sitting next to Aunt PittyPat with Aunt PittyPat sitting next to Ella.

Dinner was particularly good and the conversation lively. The children were loud. Uncle Henry shared a few funny anecdotes with Scarlett and Melly. The ladies laughed at most of his tales. Rhett and Stuart entertained India with narratives about their days in Charleston. Rhett kept Aunt PittyPat involved in the conversation. Which left Ashley no one to talk to but Wade and Beau. The truth was that Wade and Beau were talking and Ashley was just listening. Bonnie was in Rhett's lap, but he had agreed to make Bonnie eat from her own plate. Needless to say, Ashley did not have a good time at the meal except for the few adoring looks he had gotten from Scarlett. Even Melanie was more interested in talking to her Uncle Henry than paying attention to him.

They had pecan pie which the cook had made in little individual dishes. The bowls were all different colors but there was only one orange bowl. The serving maid brought the desserts. Scarlett had chosen the dessert for it was Ashley's favorite. As Scarlett placed the dishes in front of everyone, Melanie said, "Pecan pie. It has been so long since we have had pecan pie."

Scarlett said, "It's Rhett's favorite."

Rhett smiled and said, "No, Schatzchen, my favorite is chocolate cake."

"Silly me. It's Ashley's favorite. Sorry Liebling."

When Ashley looked at Captain Butler, he didn't look happy about the mix-up. Ashley would have been disappointed to know Scarlett and Rhett had planned the whole mix-up. Ashley smirked. Rhett turned and asked Melly a question about the beautification committee that she was president of. Melly answered the question, but she was very reserve with Captain Butler. She was not going to get talked to again. Scarlett was surprised at how reserve Melly was being with Rhett.

When Scarlett looked at Rhett, he said, "Der kleine mann."

"Ah."

Scarlett didn't know what had happened, but she knew that Ashley had done something to Melanie to make her reserve with Rhett. Scarlett thought, 'Poor Melly. It must be awful to be married to that dummkopf. I will have to be that much nicer to Melly.'

Scarlett finished passing out the desserts and everyone dug in. Everyone was saying how good the pie was except for Ashley. Ashley's serving had nutmeg in it. The nutmeg wasn't awful like the salt was in the sugar cookies, but it gave the pie a strange after taste. Ashley kept looking at everyone wondering what the joke was. This pie was barely edible.

As soon as the children had finished their desserts, they had gotten restless, and Scarlett had sent them upstairs to the playroom. Scarlett suggested that the ladies retire to the formal parlor.

The conversation amongst the women was about India's wedding and the local gossip. Scarlett served everyone a glass of mulberry wine. The conversation was light and friendly even between India and Scarlett. It seemed Scarlett and India had moved away from being mortal enemies, maybe even friends. Scarlett felt sorry for Melanie but not sorry enough to quit torturing Ashley.

When the men joined them, Rhett sat down next to Scarlett as was his custom. The couple still managed to interact with other people in the room. For a moment they were content in each other's company. For a moment everything was right with the world. Scarlett smiled at Rhett and Rhett smiled at Scarlett. Yes, indeed, life was perfect for the Butlers.

Stuart sat next to India. Stuart really liked being Rhett's friend. He was always defying proper etiquette and then Stuart could just follow suit.

After not very long their guests left. Mammy took the girls to the nursery for a nap, Wade went to his room to read and Rhett and Scarlett went to their room. They both laughed a lot at Ashley having no one to talk to at dinner but what they really enjoyed was sharing their impressions of Ashley's expressions while everyone was eating the pie. It wasn't long before the libidos took over and they had a very good time.

That night after the children were asleep, Scarlett surprised Rhett with a small chocolate cake in the parlor. When Rhett saw the dessert, he picked the cake tray up and said, "Let us retire to our bedroom."

As Scarlett reached to pick-up the plates and forks Rhett said, "We will not need those. I am going to show you what delightful things we can do with chocolate cake."

When they got to their room Rhett started helping Scarlett get undressed. She said, "What about the cake?"

"I am going to spread it all over your body and then lick it off," Rhett smiled as Scarlett's eyes got huge. He continued, "And if you want you can spread it all over my body and lick it off."

Scarlett giggled and said, "Maybe on your tummy."

"Just my tummy?"

"We will see."

Neither party was disappointed with the night's activities.

Rhett woke Scarlett up the next morning and they took a bath together. Rhett said, "Just to make sure we didn't miss any cake."

As Scarlett picked up the washcloth and stroked him, she said, "Yes, let's make sure we didn't miss any cake."

They spent a long time in the bathtub that morning. After they got out Scarlett made Rhett take the sheets to the laundry room. She said, "I would die of embarrassment if Mammy saw the sheets covered in chocolate frosting."

Rhett laughed but he did take the sheets to the laundry room. He didn't want Scarlett to become inhibited in any way for any reason.

Rhett and Scarlett celebrated New Year's Day with the children during the day. Rhett had taken a lot of time with Wade to teach him how to hold the sparklers so he wouldn't get burned. Ella and Bonnie were happy. Ella danced around without a sparkler and Bonnie crawled around on the lawn. Later as Scarlett looked at Rhett holding Bonnie's hands while she took some tentative steps around on the lawn, she knew her baby would soon be a toddler. That made Scarlett sad. Bonnie wasn't even a year old yet.

Later that night the couple sat on their lawn and watched the fireworks display. As they sat there Scarlett said, "This reminds me of when you got us out of Atlanta, and everything was on fire and exploding around us. Thank you for getting us out of Atlanta. How in the world did you find that nag and that wagon?"

"Lucky, I guess. The wagon and the horse were together. I thought I was going to be filled with buckshot as I was stealing them."

"I don't forgive you for abandoning us at Rough and Ready, but I am grateful you got us out of Atlanta."

Rhett looked at her and said, "When I was at the Fire House, I told you I never had any regrets about leaving you, but I did. I had a thousand regrets."

In the dark with Rhett beside her with the noise and the flaring lights it was just like that night. She remembered what he said that night. He loved her. At a few months short of being twenty-six Scarlett saw everything clearly. He did love her. She loved him. They were each one's other half. She couldn't say better half because they weren't good people. Yet she knew that nothing she did would ever shock him. Truth be told nothing he did would ever shock her.

Rhett looked at Scarlett and maybe it was the lighting, but she looked like she was looking at him with love. Later when they were in their bedroom, he knew it hadn't been the lighting. She did love him.

As they made love Rhett whispered words of love and she whispered the most precious words he had ever heard. She said, "I love you too."

"Let me show you how much."

Scarlett giggled into the night.

The first week of January, Wade asked his mother, "Can I invite some of my friends from school to the house to celebrate my birthday?"

"Only the boys that are Southerners."

"There is only one other boy in my class who is a Southerner."

"What is his name? I have to make sure his parents aren't Scallawags. If they aren't, you can invite him."

Wade knew that he was not invited to birthday parties like Beau, but he didn't know why. Aunt Melly had taken him with her and Beau to some of these parties but for some reason the adult had always looked annoyed. He knew what the annoyed look was. He had seen it on his mother's face often enough. Although he hadn't seen it in a long time. Wade said, "His name is Raymond Crawford."

"I will ask your Uncle Rhett about him and get back to you. Alright?"

"Alright." Wade walked away but he was a confused little boy. He just wanted to have his friends come to his house. He at first had not liked going to school with all Yankees but his classmates had been friendly and nice. It had been a while since any other child, but Beau had wanted to be his friend. He didn't know what was wrong with him.

When Rhett got home from the bank Scarlett said, "Do you know of a Scallawag with the last name Crawford?"

"Yes, Bruce Crawford. Why?"

"Wade wanted to invite some of his classmates to his birthday party, but they are all Yankees except one other little boy. The boy's name is Raymond Crawford. You know Wade doesn't get invited to parties because of us."

"Let's talk to him after supper and explain to him why he doesn't get invitations, so he knows it isn't about him personally."