Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Nine
Rhett had remained in the parlor while he composed himself. She had indeed gotten the better of him. She had gotten him to swear to never run away with her children again and she had gotten him to pledge to be faithful. She had even gotten him to accept her bastard child as his child. There was no way that was his baby. It had only been one night. Maybe three times but only one night. Truth was he knew she had not been physically unfaithful to him because Mr. Wilkes would not be physically unfaithful to his wife. He knew the only man she would be unfaithful with was Mr. Wilkes. He knew it was his child.
Rhett burst out laughing when he thought, 'I did this all to myself. Scarlett was right. I indeed never considered the fact I might have gotten her pregnant. Not once in the entire time since that April night had it crossed my mind. She had also been right when she had said, 'If you had gone to Tara either time, you would have found out the truth but instead you just kept running away.' Scarlett had known I would never go to Tara because it was her stronghold. Therefore, she had not worried about me finding out the truth. It appears that my wife is not as unobservant as I thought. She knows me much better than I thought she did. I have to grow up and stop running away when things get hard. Whether it is to Belle's or to Charleston.'
What had he gotten in this deal? He had gotten a happy Bonnie because she was going to be with both her parents. He had gotten to return to the master bedroom and have relations with Scarlett. That was the carrot that made him agree to the deal.
He laughed when he remembered her response to him saying she had lost her waist. She had said, 'It appears that way.'
He had indeed underestimated her. It won't ever happen again.
Rhett strolled back into the dining room and sat down at the table. All the children looked at him nervously even Bonnie. He said, "I am sorry for frightening y'all by yelling at your mother. You can relax. We are not going to be fighting anymore. Your mother has won this round," Rhett turned to Scarlett and ignored her triumphant expression and said, "I can't wait to meet …. my son tomorrow. Your mother is going to go back to Tara this afternoon to …. What is his name?"
"He doesn't have one yet. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I don't care. Whatever you want?"
"What about Seamus Patrick?"
Scarlett had deliberately picked the most Irish name she could think of in order to get Rhett's involvement. She knew the Charlestonian snob would never tolerate his son having that Irish of a name.
Rhett laughed and said, "I guess I do care. No. What about Thaddeus Judas?"
Scarlett scowled, "Definitely not Judas."
"How about Kennesaw for my mother. It is her maiden name."
"Thaddeus Kennesaw Butler. That is certainly a mouthful. Let me think about it."
"Who wants to stay here with me and who wants to return to Tara with your mother?"
Ella and Bonnie both said, "Stay here."
Wade said, "Go with Mother."
Scarlett smiled at her children. Yes. She had gotten the better of Rhett Butler. She better savor this victory for she would never get another one. She had even gotten him to demand one of the things she wanted. Rhett back in her bed.
Mammy stayed with the girls while Wade and Scarlett returned to Tara.
Rhett took Scarlett and Wade to the train station. On the way she said, "Will you go buy a bassinet for the baby? I want to pick out his crib myself after I get out of my confinement."
"I will be happy to buy a bassinet for my son."
"Thank you." Scarlett ignored the way Rhett had stressed the word 'son.'
After Rhett had walked Scarlett and Wade to the train, she leaned into kiss Rhett's cheek. As she did, she whispered, "I know I don't love Ashley."
She got on the train and looked at Rhett. He looked so smug nonetheless Scarlett could tell he was happy under the smugness. She had told him because she wanted peace and she would not have peace if Rhett thought his wife loved another man. He might be alright with her not loving him, but she now knew he would never be alright with her loving another man. She didn't know what she felt for Rhett but from now forward she was going to be a good wife to him.
She did get home in time to give the baby his afternoon feeding. She had not seeped too badly, so all was well. She wasn't worried about Rhett running away with Bonnie. He would not leave his son behind. She looked at the baby boy with his green eyes and wondered if he looked like a Thaddeus and she decided that he definitely looked like a Thad. She laid on her bed as her son nursed and thought, 'This day was a miracle. A miracle indeed."
Scarlett thought of everything she had agreed to do. She was happy to resume their marital relations, she was happy never to be alone with Ashley again, she was happy to live in the same house with Rhett, she was even happy not to spend time with the Scallawags. The Scallawags were getting as boring as the Old Guard. What was the last thing she had agreed to? She remembered, travel with Rhett at least once a year.
That made her pause. Maybe she hadn't completely killed all of Rhett's love that night in New Orleans. Was it possible that Rhett still loved her? He had told her so that night, but she had thought it was a lie based on his actions the following days. Could Rhett still love her? All she needed was just a little bit of love for her left in his heart and she could make it grow.
Scarlett didn't know it, but she had a seed of hope. A seed of hope that she and Rhett could be happy together. The other thing that Scarlett didn't realize was that she hadn't thought about how to use his love against him. All she knew in that moment was that she wanted Rhett to love her.
The next day Scarlett and her two sons boarded the train for Atlanta with her servants. Pork, Dilcey, Prissy and Dwight were happy to be going back to Atlanta. They liked living in Atlanta better than in the country although they did like visiting it. Scarlett smiled. Judging by the dirty looks Dilcey was giving Dwight there may be a wedding in their future.
They had several trunks but there was still a lot more that needed to be returned to Atlanta. Scarlett told Sue to hire some local girls to pack up the rest of her stuff. When they were finished, let her know and she would send Dwight and Pork down to pick it up
Rhett was there to meet them when the train arrived in Atlanta. It appeared he had left the girls at home. As soon as they were off the train, Scarlett handed his son to him. Rhett took one look at the boy and knew he was looking at his son. The boy looked just like him. That was fortunate for everyone but especially this little man.
Scarlett knew Rhett was in love again. Good. He was a good father. He would have to charm the matrons and get Thad received. She wasn't going to do anything scandalous, but she wasn't going to grovel either. She was going to take care of her children and her husband. Also, she was tired of everyone thinking she was stupid. She had been playing the dumb belle so long that she almost forgot what it was like to act like an intelligent person. She was going to find out whatever happen to that bitch Abigail Newman. That bitch certainly didn't marry better than she had. As soon as she was out of her confinement, she would get the Pinkerton Agency to look for the harlot. Scarlett hoped she was a madame at a brothel.
Rhett said, "Where is the wet nurse?"
Scarlett laughed and said, "I am nursing him myself."
Rhett had looked at her and said, "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"That is going to be different."
"Yes, it will."
There were so many people and so much luggage that the driver had to make two trips.
Rhett said, "I moved my belongings to the master bedroom now that we will be sharing a bedroom." He led her to the new room. He watched as Scarlett put her stuff in the room. It made him happy to see her belongings next to his again. No matter what he was never sleeping anywhere but right next to Scarlett again.
Scarlett said, "I will need to buy a new vanity table," She looked around the room. She said, "Where is the bassinet?"
"I put it in the room next to Ella and Bonnie to make it easier for Mammy. I will go get it."
When Rhett brought it into the room Scarlett thought it certainly looks like a bassinet for a boy. There was no lace or ribbons or bows on it. In fact, in Scarlett's opinion it looked very plain.
As she put the bassinet on her side of the bed, she said, "Thad will be sleeping with us for a while."
Rhett smiled and said, "I don't mind him. With him I don't have to behave myself as much."
Scarlett smiled and said, "I will try not to disturb you in the middle of the night."
"I am a light sleeper so don't worry about me just take care of our son."
"I need to leave one of the gas lamps on so I can see him when he starts crying. Also, it has only been four weeks since I gave birth to him so it will be another two weeks before we can be intimate again."
Rhett was amazed. She hadn't blushed or acted embarrassed. She had just stated the facts.
Rhett said, "I thought you couldn't sleep with a lamp lit."
"People change. People's priorities change."
Rhett just stared at Scarlett. Finally, Scarlett was happy with the position of the bassinet, and she turned to Rhett and said, "You might as well go ahead and introduce me to the staff."
"If you don't like someone you can let them go."
"I will."
That night was their first night together in the same bed in almost three years except for that one night. Rhett lit a cigar. Neither one of them spoke as they got ready for bed. Rhett had laid in the bed. He watched Scarlett brush out her hair and she put a little moisturizer around her eyes and mouth.
Finally, he said, "I don't have anything planned for Bonnie's birthday."
Scarlett said, "I will pull something together," As she got in the bed. She continued, "Did you get her some presents?'
"Not yet. I will do so tomorrow."
Scarlett rolled over onto her side of the bed with her back to him.
Rhett lit his cigar and then he asked her, "What do you think we should give her?"
When he didn't receive an answer, he knew she was already asleep.
Rhett was happy. Scarlett was different. She wasn't a child anymore. No, she was definitely all woman now. He didn't want to live the way they had been living before Wilkes' birthday party. He would work to develop a better relationship with her. He wouldn't run away. He would talk to her in words she could understand. He would work toward a win-win solution to their conflicts. He would stop aggravating her just to make her mad. No, he couldn't promise himself that. He would always love to aggravate her.
He didn't know if she would ever love him, but he would make himself be alright with her not loving him. She loved his children. She could be pleasant company when she was happy. It would be enough. Other people had made it work with much less. He hoped they were together for a very long time.
When Scarlett had returned two days ago, he thought he held all the good cards. Rhett had thought she would want to return to Atlanta to be with Mr. Wilkes, but she seemed perfectly happy to go back to Tara and spend the rest of her life there. Judging by what Ella had said to Bonnie at Christmas, he figured that Bonnie had been crying for him every night. He knew that Scarlett had handled it as a parent. She had acknowledged Bonnie's unhappiness but hadn't given in to her demands just to make her happy. He knew that Ella had learned what to say by listening to what Scarlett said to Bonnie every night. He decided that Scarlett was a better mother than he had ever given her credit for.
Upon reflection he had not made a bad deal. His wife was sleeping with him and willing to have relations with him and he had another child. She had not seemed to be opposed to having more children. Most important she knew she no longer loved Wilkes.
