AN: I won't be around tomorrow and you guys posted SUCH amazing reviews that I couldn't wait until Saturday (Rhett has us all a little heated and not in a good way). Um if anyone has not figured it out, you're going to see a lot of familiar things from ADEtP. Anything I had in that fic at the time of the staircase will be canon for this fic. Same thing will go for the eventual Option 2 Fic in Charleston. We're doing it "Sliding Doors" style, seeing how slight changes could lead to different paths.

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Part Three

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"This was a lovely idea Scarlett," Melly remarked to Scarlett as they sat in the shade while the boys ran around in the blistering July heat.

Scarlett took a cooling sip of her lemonade, "Our yard is certainly large enough for entire battles to be fought without vases being sacrificed."

Melly laughed lightly.

"Who would have ever thought of mine and Ashley's children being raised as city folk," Scarlett paused as she realized what she had said, she turned to Melly, "I didn't mean."

"I know you didn't," her sister gave a kind smile.

"I was certainly always on some type of an adventure growing up, the city seems to force them to be adults much sooner than in the country."

"Beau and Wade are certainly more adventurous than Charles was, I imagine that is yours and Ashley's influence."

"I should take the children to Tara before the summer is over."

"Oh," Melly smiled looking over at her, "that would be lovely. Let them swim in a creek, ride a pony."

"Wade," Scarlett suddenly called out, "do NOT climb that tree."

"Not climb trees," Melly smiled.

"I did not keep that child alive through the war to have him break his neck reenacting it," she dryly remarked. Although suddenly aware she had likely been the problem with how her son didn't behave as a child in their home. It really didn't seem like such an awful thing that she had raised her child to have manners and that he practiced them in front of her. What fine line had she missed that everyone else seemed to have found?

Scarlett gave a quick look down to Ella who was playing with her dolls as Prissy sat on a blanket with her. Ella was chattering away between the two dolls she held, Prissy held a doll as well and responded far quicker with the doll than she ever did when Scarlett spoke to her.

It was ridiculous that Ella had a sister just two years younger, but she was forced to play with the help.

Bonnie had thrown a fit within minutes of being outside. Everyone in the household was afraid of Rhett's wrath and Sally, the young servant Scarlett had hired after Rhett had absconded with Prissy had offered to take Bonnie inside to her playroom. She had returned twice but never stayed long.

Scarlett had returned from the mills and Kennedy's an hour early so they could have this playtime with their cousin, but Rhett's child would have none of that. She placed a hand on her stomach and thought of how it would be different with this child. Perhaps she would have another soon after this one, she so enjoyed watching Wade and Beau. She'd never win with Ella and Bonnie, not as long as Rhett were around. With two new children though, she could keep them together while they were young so they would want to spend time with each other.

Of course, that would mean allowing her husband back into her bed. She imagined she would need a lot of brandy to stomach the thought of receiving that whoring bastard back into her bed. Oh, she had imagined this baby would cause him to change his ways, just like all her thoughts regarding Rhett Butler, she'd been wrong.

"We should send the children in soon to wash for dinner," Scarlett remarked.

"Oh, let them play a little bit longer, it's nice to watch the south win," Melly smiled.

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She lay in her room night after night with her door slightly ajar. Oh, she had said it was for Bonnie and it was, but it was also for Rhett.

Thinking that he would eventually take the invitation and come into her room. To talk to her about the baby. Oh, she didn't even care if he talked about the baby or even talked, he could stand at the doorway and glare at her. He had been gone for so long, it felt like he was never going to return. That he and Bonnie would be gone forever. It had felt like forever in their big ol' house. The house that she was left to haunt, like in that novel Rhett had told her about, the woman who was left at the altar and kept all the wedding finery still out, decades later.

Their house with Bonnie's toys and Rhett's books. Their clothing still lining their armoires. Photographs of them, but no them.

No family in the family home. Just their ghosts haunting the halls. Just her left with two children, who had no need for her.

It didn't make any sense that she preferred Rhett being nasty to her in their home than him being gone from it.

He'd probably already be gone again if it weren't for the baby and how it would look to the town and his precious reputation.

Her door was open and the only thing he'd done about it was make a cruel remark that she'd likely sleep through Bonnie having a night terror.

Of course, that didn't stop her husband from going out nearly every night. He didn't stay out for long, so she knew exactly what he was doing and where he was doing it. That red haired trollop! A better investment! She'd once thought Rhett had taste.

She heard his footsteps coming down the hallway. She picked up her book and pretended to read, after all the slight glow from her lamp would make the door being ajar even easier to notice. Perhaps he'd even come in and ask about the book. They could talk about something like they use to.

She held her shoulders stiff as she heard him enter his room and close the door. She did her best to actually read the book for a few minutes before closing the lamp and its flame and attempting to sleep.

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Late July 1871

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"I thought the children and I could go to Tara for a visit," Scarlett broached the topic with her husband nearly two weeks after his return.

"I am sure Wade and Ella would enjoy that," he didn't look up from the paper he read at the breakfast table.

"And Bonnie," she added.

He put down the paper, "Is this why you deemed it necessary to join me at the breakfast table since, I cannot recall the last time I saw you downstairs before 9."

"Bonnie is my child too Rhett."

He thought about bringing up the child she currently carried, a fair split. His and hers children. That however would involve him discussing the child and he still struggled to keep himself composed regarding his wife's treachery.

He could watch her for any signs of her misdeeds, but until the baby was born, he'd likely be without proof.

His lying wife because she wanted the baby she carried. Further proof of it being Ashley's and not someone she had selected to get her with child to ensure her husband would not leave her. In moments that she didn't realize he was watching he had witnessed her with a hand on her stomach, a smile on her face. She was happy about the baby she carried.

He liked the idea of Scarlett being far enough away from Ashley that the cad couldn't watch as Scarlett bloomed while carrying his child. Scarlett would never leave Bonnie, especially not so soon after they had just returned. The town already hated her, she would have no hope of redemption or even survival if she abandoned her child.

"A few days in the country would be wonderful for the children," he suddenly spoke.

"Really?"

"Yes, isn't that what you wanted my dear?" he asked before taking a sip of his coffee.

"With Bonnie?"

"Yes, all of your children Scarlett."

"Will you come?"

"I will accompany you there and retrieve you for the trip home," he supplied.

"You could stay with us," she offered.

"I will never be a country gentleman," he simply spoke. "I will accompany you on the morning train with the children and go to New Orleans for a few days."

"I'm sure the children would enjoy it if-"

"Tara is your white elephant, not mine. Now when would you like to go?"

"Two days from now?"

"I'll procure the tickets this afternoon," he nodded.

"We could stay for-"

"One week," his tone left no doubt the offer was final.

"But it's so hot in-"

"I will come for Bonnie in one week, if you and the remaining children choose to remain that is your choice."

"Fine," she said without fight. Well aware that Rhett would simply take off with Bonnie again.

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"It'll be different with you," Scarlett spoke with her gaze down, her hand covering her waist, just a slip of her white cotton nightgown between her hand and her stomach. Fairly certain she had just felt the baby move for the first time. The children had all just been put to bed, Wade and Ella in the nursery with their cousins and Bonnie sleeping in Careen's large bad, a candle by her bedside and Prissy on a bedroll on the floor. Rhett had been very exact with his instructions and refused to even allow the thought of Bonnie sharing a room with her mother. Scarlett had even been willing to leave the candle lit if Bonnie stayed with her.

"I won't let him steal you away from me. Not that he even wants to. Oh why doesn't he want to? I do hope you look just like him, let Rhett Butler know just what a fool he's been, believing all that cruel gossip."

The gossip had only gotten worse because he had fled with Bonnie and now with the new baby and Rhett's disinterest in her. No one would believe that the baby was her husband's. It seemed awfully cruel that they would punish a child for their opinion of its mother. No one even gave her a chance any more.

She didn't care about herself. The baby though. The baby didn't deserve to be treated like an outcast.

She gave a short nod, "If your daddy could change their opinion of him. It can't be that hard. Mama can do it too."

Thanks for reading! Lol and yes, you will see Rhett in Tara briefly in the next bit. I know someone will ask. :-P