AN: Lol. Still being lazy and not writing back. I remain all typed out. Thank you for the continued reviews! They mean so much to me.
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Part Nineteen
Late March 1873
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"You delivered on your Christmas present this year."
"You should know to never issue a challenge to a male," Rhett smiled approaching his wife in bed.
"I do hope this one-" Scarlett began with both hands on her stomach.
"This little one certainly seems to have made themselves more than comfortable within you," he spoke as he climbed onto the bed next to her.
"Rhett, is that your way of saying that I'm fat?"
"Nonsense Scarlett, you're rounded with our child." There had been a thickness to her waist the last two weeks that had been impossible to overlook while still allowed in her bed.
She laughed lightly, "You still think that I'm silly that I wouldn't let Dr. Meade see me even though I've been showing for weeks."
"It's endearing Scarlett. I have total faith come the fall that we'll be family of-"
She smiled as she watched him pause, "Seven, we'll be a family of seven."
"That is a profoundly large number."
She laughed again, "Should I remind you Captain Butler that you said two or three more just months ago?"
"I believe I forgot to add up the children."
"You don't want to be a family of nine?"
"I was more than fine with being a family of four."
"Explain how we got to five and six then?"
"I could show you," he offered, but then suddenly wondered if she were done with him in her bed now that she knew for sure that she was with child. He had months of uninterrupted access to his wife. He couldn't imagine not being with her for another year, if ever again. He couldn't imagine sleeping without her. He didn't even have a room anymore.
"It's the middle of the day."
Relief flooded through him with his wife's simple words, it allowed him to play his old role, "Are you suddenly afraid of a little light?"
"You just want to see me in all of my rotund glory."
"Exactly and know that I did it to you."
"Very well Captain Butler, I supposed it is my wifely duty to indulge your male pride."
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April 1873
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Scarlett wrinkled her nose as Bonnie crushed her in a hug. Her baby girl had smelled so sweetly before the arrival of Mr. Butler, the lavender oils in her soap did nothing to mask her daughter's pony. Aside from the smell, she was enjoying this new stage for Bonnie. She felt a little bereft as realized the baby stage was fully in her daughter's past, but getting to be a part of her daughter's interest was nice. Bonnie loved talking about Mr. Butler in the way Ella loved talking about everything. They could talk about anything regarding her pony and they could do it for ages. Of course, in 3 years, they'd have to get another pony because Scarlett was sure her daughter would not share with Nicholas, Bonnie had nearly lost her mind when Rhett had held the toddler in the saddle while the horse was tethered.
It was just as well that Wade had no interest in the pony since he rode his own horse with Rhett three times a week at the stable and Ella had no interest in any animals ever. She only tolerated Ramsey being near her now because Nicky liked him.
"You need to have Prissy bathe you, not just change your clothes," Scarlett informed her daughter as she pulled back.
"Mother, she wiped down my arms and legs," Bonnie showed her mother her porcelain hands.
"Bonnie, I know you were outside with your father for over 2 hours, you need a bath." And they needed a new lawn, this hobby was quickly becoming disastrous to their yard.
"Mother," the girl began to whine.
"Do I need to call Prissy or can you go find her on your own?"
She huffed and turned away.
Scarlett fought the urge to roll her eyes, wishing she could apologize to her own mother for the many times she'd likely behaved the same. Hoping this hobby of Bonnie's would be short lived, since her attitude likely wasn't.
"Daddy, tell Mother that I don't need a bath," Bonnie demanded of her father as she spotted him in the doorway.
"I would, but I imagine she's about to tell me the same thing."
Bonnie made an exaggerated moan as she walked out the door.
"Good morning my dear," he said walking over to his wife, who was settled in armchair in the seating area of their bedroom.
She sighed as her husband kissed her cheek, "Did you carry the pony Rhett?"
He laughed lightly.
"Prissy yet again only wiped down Bonnie instead of bathing her, like she's a piece of furniture."
He laughed lightly.
"It's not funny Rhett, I've spoken to her several times about this."
"Well tomorrow I plan on taking Bonnie onto Peachtree, perhaps she'll stay cleaner on the street."
"It's not the dirt, it's the smell."
"Are you implying that I smell on a regular basis, my sweet?"
"It's fine for you, Rhett. You smell like a man, Bonnie's a little girl, she should smell sweet."
"I could ask Mammy to douse her with sugar, although I imagine then she'd smell like dog." He had a mental image of Ramsey chasing her down.
Scarlett sighed, "I do hope she finds a calmer, cleaner hobby soon. I suppose I've given up on the quieter hobbies between Ella's piano and Bonnie's Apache war cries…"
He laughed again.
"Do you really think it's a good idea to take her onto the road?"
"You've seen her in the saddle, she's an excellent rider. I will position myself between her and the traffic."
She had no doubt Rhett would put his own horse between Bonnie and the streetcar and she'd seen him showing off enough times on his stallion to know that he could easily reach down and pluck their child out of her saddle.
"If Wade kept his horse stabled here, Bonnie and I could ride with he and Ella to school.
"How exactly would you get Ella there?" God how her daughter screeched when animals were near.
"How did a country girl raise a daughter afraid of animals?"
"Because I was raised to be a lady, I've made sure my daughter's received instruction in the arts, music and needlepoint."
He let out a loud laugh. "My dear, I believe I deserve more of the credit since I have been the one to pay for that instruction."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Where is Nicky?"
"Mammy took him to the nursery."
"Are you feeling alright?" He questioned. Scarlett had been sleeping later and later in recent months. He'd been bringing Nicholas downstairs in the morning and handing him off to Mammy to feed ever since he'd stopped nursing months prior. Scarlett often wouldn't see the older children until they returned home in the afternoon.
She placed a hand on her stomach, "Wonderful. I kept getting distracted watching you and Bonnie. So Mammy took him to play." She was also getting distracted watching her husband change for the day, it was meticulous and effortless all at once.
"Will you be home for dinner?" It was half past ten in the morning, she wasn't sure what Rhett had planned for the day anymore. Bonnie's new hobby had been an upheaval in everyone's life.
"Unlikely, I promised to stop into the bank. I have to figure out if the new clerk at the store can be trained to do his incredibly simple job and there's a new contract for the mill that I need to look over."
"That all sounds wonderful," she practically sighed as she still faced hours with India Wilkes and Mrs. Elsing. She'd had no choice, but to publicly do things that involved Ashley's sister to constantly remind the town that India Wilkes was nothing more than a jealous old maid.
"You may have it back any moment you wish," he offered.
She gave him a look.
He smirked, "I will escort Wade and Ella home from school and take tea with them."
"I will make sure the kitchen knows to prepare something substantial." She sighed again, "I supposed I must face my day."
She stood but was so quickly captured by her husband that it took her breath away. "Your confinement is practically looming," he said with a hand on her stomach, his breath warm on her skin.
Oh no, she did not mind the smell of Mr. Butler on Captain Butler.
"We can both make our escape from polite society."
"Whatever will we do all day Captain Butler?" She asked with a smile.
He bent his head to show her exactly how he planned to spend the days when cries began to fill the air and only seemed to move closer and not further. It was his turn to sigh.
She let out a small giggle. "I will see you later," she placed a kiss on his cheek before she went seeking out her son, flinching when she also heard a scream from her daughter.
Thanks for reading!