Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Judging by the reviews I got questioning who Abigail Newman is. I didn't do a very good job referring back to her.

She was the girl at La Fayette Academy that bullied Scarlett. She made sure none of the other girls liked her. She made sure everyone cruelly teased Scarlett about being Irish. I write about her in Chapter Two.

I made her up. She is not an original character from GWTW.

Chapter Twelve

Everyone in Atlanta was talking about Scarlett and Rhett Butler. Nobody knew what was going on with the couple. The couple was seen house hunting and they had seemed very happy. There was a lot of laughter from both of them. Where had they been for the last year? Had they been together? Was it true they had another child? Didn't Will say Scarlett had been at Tara all fall? If they were together why had Scarlett not been in Atlanta in December and January? When Butler was in Atlanta in October, hadn't he said they were traveling together. Nobody had seen Scarlett since she left Atlanta last August. Why did she sell her businesses and her mansion? Nobody knew anything for sure. That cracker that was Scarlett's brother-in-law wouldn't tell anybody anything. Henry Hamilton, who everyone knew Butler had visited in October, wouldn't say anything either. Why did Scarlett go to the Pickerton Agency the second day out of her confinement?

Rhett had gone to Belle's a couple of times to have a drink and play cards. When people would ask him about the last year Rhett would maintain that he and Scarlett had been together since she left town in August. He didn't know why Will had told them she was at Tara. She wasn't with him in October or December because both times there had been a crisis at Tara she had to deal with. Yes, he and Scarlett had another child, and he couldn't be happier. Didn't every man want a son?

In the middle of March Dolly Merriwether did something she swore she would never do. She called on Scarlett Butler. She had brought PittyPat Hamilton with her although Dolly regretted that decision. In the short trip from PittyPat's home, PittyPat had said, "I'm going to faint" at least three times.

When Pork had told Scarlett there were two women waiting for her in the front parlor, she was stunned to say the least. She went to her room and freshened up. She had laid Thad in his bassinet.

She didn't know who it could be. She hoped it wasn't any of the Scallawag wives but if it was, she would order them out of her house. She didn't want that white trash in her house.

When she got to the parlor and saw who it was, she wanted to throw them out of her house. She knew why they were in her parlor. They were there to inspect her baby. Mrs. Merriwether wanted to determine who her baby's father was. Scarlett was again angry at Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler.

"Mrs. Merriwether and Aunt PittyPat. This is such a surprise."

Dolly said without a trace of embarrassment, "I suppose it is. We have come to see your new baby."

Scarlett looked at PittyPat who was so embarrassed by their purpose at Scarlett's house.

Scarlett said, "Let me see if I can find him. Rhett is always carrying him around with him. Excuse me."

Scarlett walked down the hall and into Rhett's office. She didn't even bother to knock. She just burst through the door. When Rhett looked up and saw Scarlett his first thought was, 'She is so beautiful. I haven't seen her this mad in a long time.' His second thought, "She seems to be mad at me. Why?"

Scarlett said, "I'm going upstairs and getting our son. The lookie-loos are here. In fact, the head lookie-loo, Mrs. Merriwether, is here. When I get back down to the parlor, I expect you to be in there charming the old battle-axe and not at my expense," As she walked out the door she said, "Aunt PittyPat is there also."

Even though he was talking to empty air Rhett said, "Of course, my dear."

When Scarlett got to the parlor, Rhett was indeed in the parlor charming the old battle axe. When Rhett saw her, he said, "Here is my beautiful wife and my son now. Come sit down on the divan, my dear. Let me take him over so the ladies can get a good look at him. With one look I'm sure you will agree with us on what a handsome little man he is."

Scarlett sat on the divan and Rhett took Thad. When Mrs. Merriwether saw the baby, she knew there was no doubt who the baby's father was. PittyPat said, "Oh thank goodness he looks just like you, Captain Butler.

"I know it is immodest to say my son is handsome when he looks just like me, but Scarlett thinks so too. Don't you, darling?"

Scarlett forced herself to giggle and said, "If it wouldn't swell your conceit more than it already is I would agree with you, but you are conceited enough so I will just say, 'Of Course, Dear' like a good wife.

Rhett sat down next to Scarlett with the baby in his arms and Scarlett linked her arm with his. For the next thirty minutes Rhett was his most charming. He cajoled, flattered and sweet-talked the ladies.

Mrs. Merriwether asked, "Where have you been for the last year?"

Rhett said, "We have been traveling."

"I heard Scarlett was at Tara."

"No, she was with me the entire time except when she had to take care of some emergencies at Tara in October and December. When I had to travel in January and February, she stayed at Tara for she was in her confinement. She and the children like being at Tara more than being in Atlanta."

"Scarlett why did you sell your businesses?"

"When I knew, we were going to have another child, I knew I wouldn't be able to run my businesses anymore. Rhett has been trying to get me to travel with him for years, so it seemed to be the perfect time to take him up on his offer. I sold the mansion because we had been talking about moving to San Francisco. It was too far away from Tara for me to be happy, so we have chosen to return to Atlanta."

Soon Dolly and PittyPat left. Once they were out the door Scarlett said, "Do you think she thinks Thad is your baby?"

"Yes. Definitely."

"Do you think she believe that story we told her?"

"No, but she and the rest of the matrons will pretend to believe it for Thad's sake."

"You better make sure they believe it."

"I will. He is my son. I want all our children to be received. I will take care of it. As soon as he can hold himself up, I will take him riding with me like I did Bonnie."

"That will be soon. He can already hold his head up."

"Am I forgiven for whatever I did that made you so mad an hour ago?"

"No, but I am no longer mad at you."

"I'll take it." Rhett knew that she had once again been mad about him running away last April which she had every right to be mad at him about.

As soon as the weather was warm enough Rhett took Thad riding with him. Rhett got on the horse and Scarlett handed the baby up to him. Rhett thought to himself, 'My son is three months old, and it is the first time I have had him all to myself. At least, Scarlett hasn't been taking him out of my arms like I took Bonnie out of her arms. Yes, my wife was very clever to spend time with Bonnie and the other children when I was not around. She was right. I would have taken over and then I would have called her a bad mother for letting me take over.'

For the next several months Rhett took Thad riding with him in the morning. It became their special time. Rhett waved at all the matrons.

When people told Will that Scarlett and Rhett were saying that Scarlett was with Rhett all last fall. Will would say, "I don't know where Scarlett was last fall."

When the person replied, "Didn't you say she was at Tara?"

"I never said that."

Will never explained anything. Will didn't know what had happened between his sister-in-law and her husband and he really didn't care. He had heard all the gossip about Scarlett, Mr. Wilkes and his brother-in-law therefore he knew there were going to be questions on who the father was of their little boy. Will did care that there weren't any ugly rumors being circulated about the little boy therefore he would do his part to squash any of those rumors.

Rhett kowtowed and groveled to be sure everyone knew Thad was his son. He was successful. Most people accepted that he was Thad's biological father. With the boy looking so much like Rhett it was easy to accept their story. There were a lot of holes in their story, but most people ignored them.

When Rhett and Scarlett moved into their new home, it really was a home. It was tastefully decorated. Rhett could see Scarlett's taste reflected in every room and he was glad.

That day Rhett presented Scarlett with a ring box. It was a diamond ring. It was a large stone, but it was still tasteful. It had emeralds surrounding the diamond. Scarlett thought it was beautiful. She knew Rhett had picked it out with her in mind.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Rhett and Ashley hated each other but they worked together to rid Georgia of the clan.

Occasionally the two couples would go to a fund raiser together. Everyone was polite but even the men's common love of great literature could not bridge the gap of hatred between the two men. Rhett would never forgive Ashley for leading Scarlett on for so many years. Ashley would never forgive Rhett for succeeding in ways that Ashley could only imagine.

Scarlett visited with Melly two to three times a week. Melly made Scarlett go visiting with her and Scarlett knew they were only receiving her because Melly was making them. Rhett went to the bank every day and helped as many Southerners as would let him. Rhett was loved by the matrons.

When Scarlett and Rhett ran into one of the ladies of society while they were out Rhett would always make them include Scarlett in the conversation.

Scarlett hired a governess to start teaching Ella and enrolled Wade in a preparatory school.

Scarlett told Rhett, "Wade's teacher said he is the smartest kid in the class."

Rhett looked at Scarlett preening and was happy for her. He said, "Why wouldn't he be? His mother is one of the smartest women I have ever met."

Scarlett looked startled at the statement. She said, "I'm not smart."

"You outsmarted me which would take a very smart person to do. To be truthful you are the only person who has ever outsmarted me. Not once but twice," Scarlett looked at Rhett questioningly, "You outsmarted me at the Fire House also."

"I did, didn't I?"

"You are not educated. I will still want you even if you become a blue stocking. We could even make it our little secret. I would be happy to teach you everything I know. There may actually be novels you would enjoy. I know you enjoyed it when I read you 'Journey to the Center of the Earth."

"I did enjoy that."

"You enjoyed the book Emma that Miss Melly gave you."

"Yes, I did. But I could skip the boring parts because Melly had already told me all about the plot."

"I think you would like novels written by Alexander Dumas."

"Just buy me one and I will try to read it."

"Thank you, my dear. If there is something you don't understand I will be happy to explain it to you.

Scarlett read the books Rhett bought her, but she enjoyed Rhett telling her the background information more. She read Rhett's financial magazines. Once Rhett explained that what happened in the world affected her money Scarlett cared about what was happening. She started reading the papers also.

Once Scarlett really started paying attention to Rhett, he had finally been talking to her in words she could understand. He would always tease her and aggravate her. He couldn't help himself. Besides, he thought she was so cute when she got annoyed at him. He stopped trying to make her mad. He didn't need to try there were enough things that made her mad that he just had to wait and enjoy the show when she got mad.

When Thad was six months old Rhett sold his part of The Painted Lady. He was going to reform his ways and finally truly become a proper gentleman. He was alright with his wife not being a proper lady even though he never said she wasn't a lady anymore. He never called her 'His Pet' anymore either. He had signed that agreement after all. The real reason he didn't call her that was because it was just hateful and mean. He didn't want to be that way anymore.

One night in July, Scarlett said, "Mr. Elsing has missed his last two-months payments."

"Mr. Elsing is struggling to stay afloat with the store. You should buy the store back."

"I would think you wouldn't want me to work."

"I have never cared if you worked or not. I just didn't like your business partner and I want your family to be more important than your businesses."

"I would like to buy the store back. I will just give him his money that he has already paid me back. I will keep him on as manager. I liked running the store. The mills require too much time to run. With the store we can travel. I do have to fulfill my end of the bargain."

"Yes, you do. I think our first trip should be to Jonesboro. It is time I visited your family plantation."

"Yes, it is. We need to go this month before it is time to harvest the cotton."

"Let's go this weekend."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Alright. I do want to go to San Francisco. You can show me all your old haunts."

"No, my dear, I would never take my wife to the places I frequented when I lived out there. I wouldn't even want to go to them myself. I am no longer a foolish young man."

Scarlett laughed.