Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Seven

That night as Rhett and Scarlett were getting ready for bed, he said, "Tara is already a happier place without Suellen here."

"Yes, it is. Thank goodness, Frank was willing to marry her. I don't understand how he can love her. I don't understand how she can love him for that matter."

"He is a gentleman, he has a thriving business, and he had a pulse. She is a young girl who adores him. What middle-aged man wouldn't want that. No wait, what unattractive, middle-aged man wouldn't want that."

Scarlett had burst out laughing. She thought, 'Rhett has been such a God send since we escaped from Atlanta. No matter how bad things got he always made me laugh and he always found a way around all the boulders fate had put in my way. Just like him thinking of putting the cotton in the slave cabins. Thanks to him thinking of that, we had cotton to sell, and we got an excellent price for it. He has been so generous with his money. If I didn't have enough cash for the supplies, he has always made up the difference without saying a word to me about it. I know he has done that because he has always come back with everything on my list even when I knew there wasn't enough money. Yes, definitely a God send. I hope he wants to be physical tonight.'

Scarlett smiled at Rhett with her special smile. The smile she smiled when she wanted to be intimate. She would never ask or even get something started but Rhett knew when she gave him that smile what she wanted. He hadn't let her down yet.

Within the week, Careen had banished Scarlett, Rhett, and Wade from the plantation. She had said to Scarlett, "While you are still here everyone will continue thinking of you as the boss. You must leave. You need to take Mammy and Prissy with you. Mammy to help you with Wade and Prissy because the child drives me insane."

Scarlett thought Careen calling Prissy a child was funny because Scarlett knew as did Careen that Prissy was only a year younger than Careen. Scarlett said, "Certainly. We will be gone by tomorrow. You will keep Pork and Dilcey?"

"Yes. Pork is good with Pa and Dilcey is a good hard worker. They will enjoy living here. They can keep their son close to them here."

"That's right."

The next day the Butlers were on the train to Atlanta.

Once Rhett and Scarlett got to Atlanta, he got them a three-room suite at the National Hotel. One room for him and Scarlett, one room for Mammy and Wade, and one room for Prissy. Rhett had taken Scarlett to the modiste and then they had gone to the tailor for Rhett. Rhett had offered his opinion at the dress shop which Scarlett had ignored. Scarlett had offered her opinion at the men's clothing shop which Rhett had ignored.

Rhett and Scarlett had gone to the jewelry store after the tailor to choose rings. They spent a lot of time squabbling over which style of ring to choose. Scarlett wanted them to match and since Rhett was going to be wearing the ring, he didn't want anything outlandish. They finally settled on a set of rings. It was plainer than Scarlett wanted but it did look nice next to her emerald.

Scarlett and Mammy had gone to Kennedy's to get some fabric to make clothes for Mammy, Prissy, and Wade. Scarlett spoke to Suellen. Although it had only been a week since Suellen had gotten married, she seemed happy. Scarlett guessed so. Scarlett thought, 'After Suellen has a child, she will have everything she ever wanted. A husband, a house, a child, and getting to live in the city.'

Suellen said, "I am working in the store right now to keep the overhead down. We need to save every penny we can for the house. Also, to watch over Frank, he is far too generous with giving out credit."

Scarlett smiled. She thought, 'There is my sister. She has already found something to complain about.' Scarlett said, "Everyone is poor these days."

"Except your husband."

"Yes, except my husband."

Scarlett was not ashamed that Rhett was rich. He had taken advantage of a situation and made money on it. Just as he was taking advantage of another situation and making money on it. Yet, Rhett had stuck with her for a year when his money was of no value. Scarlett said, "You and Frank must come to the hotel and have supper with us one night."

"I will ask Frank and let you know."

After purchasing several yards of fabric, pins, scissors, a couple of patterns, and a few toys for Wade, the women returned to the hotel. All the women would spend the next several days sewing new clothes.

As Scarlett left the store, she decided she was happy for her sister. She hoped Suellen was content in her life. She wished she could slap Suellen a few more times, though, just for the joy of doing it. Alas those days were over.

Rhett spent the days with Scarlett and Wade, but his nights were spent at saloons. He always had supper with Scarlett and Wade then went out to conduct business.

Rhett was finding that spending time in saloons was not as invigorating as it had been when he was single. He knew that was because he was no longer lonely. Scarlett was such delightful company.

Rhett made himself go anyway because that was where the money was. He wondered when he would feel like he had enough money. He knew he still didn't feel like he had enough even though he had over a million dollars in his overseas account.

Every night as he crawled into bed with Scarlett, he thought himself an incredibly lucky man. He had gotten her to marry him without ever admitting his feelings for her. When she told him she loved him, he would then tell her he loved her. Most nights he would wake her up to make love to her. She never objected. No, she always welcomed his advances.

Things went well the first week. Rhett and Scarlett picked up their clothes. When Rhett saw Scarlett in one of her new dresses the next morning, he said, "There is that beautiful girl from the barbecue."

"And there is that arrogant man from the barbecue."

"Why can't I be the handsome man from the barbecue?"

"Because you are already too vain."

"As are you but I tell you anyway."

"And I appreciate it, Dear."

Rhett laughed and said, "Let's go down to breakfast."

Scarlett had a birthday party for Wade. She had invited Uncle Henry and Aunt PittyPat to supper at the hotel for the event. Aunt PittyPat sent a note back asking if they could have the party at the Hamilton House instead. Scarlett wrote back stating she was fine with that as long as her husband was received into the home. Aunt PittyPat wrote back stating, "Of course, your husband is welcome."

It made Scarlett laugh for she knew that Aunt PittyPat hadn't wanted to receive Rhett during the war and Scarlett was sure Aunt PittyPat wanted to receive him even less now that he was associating with Republicans. Nonetheless, Scarlett had sent Prissy to Aunt PittyPat's home with some money to buy food for the party especially flour and sugar for a birthday cake.

Wade was excited at his birthday party. Scarlett and Rhett were relaxed. They were used to people being cold towards them. Uncle Henry and Aunt PittyPat were uncomfortable for the entire party, but they stuck it out because they knew all access to Wade would come through Scarlett.

The food was good. Fried chicken, greens, corn, and yams were served. Neither Wade nor Scarlett nor Rhett ate their yams. The birthday cake was chocolate with chocolate icing. The Hamiltons had given Wade some toy soldiers and some books. Scarlett and Rhett had given him clothes, new shoes, a new blanket, toy soldiers, a yoyo, and some jacks.

As soon as the cake was eaten, Rhett stood up and said, "We have to go. I need to meet another businessman."

Aunt PittyPat had said, "At this time of night."

With a condescending smile, Rhett replied, "Yes, at this time of night. Come along, Scarlett. Wade."

"Alright, Daddy."

Judging by the frowns on the older people's faces, they did not approve of Wade calling Rhett Daddy. Scarlett didn't care. Rhett was Wade's father. They were a family.

Suellen sent a note to Scarlett stating that while they would be happy to have supper with them, they would prefer to have it in their suite. Scarlett smiled. She knew why Frank wanted to have supper in their suite. It was simple - to not be seen in public with them. Scarlett sent a note back offering to have supper in their suite the next Saturday. Unfortunately, the plans had to be cancelled.

The second Thursday night Rhett and Scarlett were in Atlanta, he was arrested for shooting a freedman. Captain Jaffrey was the person who arrested Rhett. Rhett didn't resist. He knew that Jaffrey knew that the charges were false. In truth, Rhett had been half expecting to get arrested. The authorities were going to want him to tell them who his Yankee partners in crime were. While Rhett had not done anything that could get him arrested. He knew people who had and what they had done. Rhett asked Jaffrey to have someone let his wife know where he was.

As soon as Scarlett found out she wanted to go out and find Rhett, but Mammy talked her out of it. Mammy said, "Child, it is late. A young woman shouldn't be walking the streets in a town filled with Yankee soldiers. You would get yourself killed. Then when Mr. Rhett got out, he would kill me for letting you go out at night. I know I am old but I'm still not ready to meet the Lord."

Scarlett had smiled at Mammy and said, "You are right. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for him. I will go see Mr. Powe first thing tomorrow morning. It is Rhett's lawyer who can help Rhett now."

The next morning, Scarlett was at Mr. Powe's office before the man was there. She told him that Rhett had been arrested and she didn't know anything else. Mr. Powe said, "Go back to the hotel. I will find Mr. Butler. I will get him the legal help he needs. I will let you know where he is as soon as I know."

"Thank you, Mr. Powe. I need to see him."

"I will see if I can get you in for a visit. I will let you know as soon as I can. Let me go to the Yankee headquarters"

"We are staying at the National Hotel. Room 217."

"Alright. Now calm yourself down and return to your hotel."

As Scarlett was riding back to the hotel in a cab, she thought, 'One more boulder in our way. Rhett will fix this just as he has all the other boulders fate has placed in our way.'

After three hours of waiting, Scarlett was a bundle of nerves. She saw all Wade's toys all over his bedroom floor, but Wade was not in the room. Scarlett got mad that Wade had made such a mess and left it. She yelled out, "Wade!"

When Wade didn't answer she started looking for him. He was not in the suite. Neither Mammy nor Prissy were in the suite. Now Scarlett was worried about where everyone was.

Finally, after ten minutes, Mammy, Prissy, and Wade returned to the suite. Scarlett saw that they had dinner. Scarlett had not even known it was that late.

Scarlett snapped at Mammy, "Why didn't you tell me you were going to get dinner?"

"I did, Miss Scarlett. You said uhuh so I thought you heard me."

"Well, I didn't."

Mammy didn't reply to her little lamb statement. She knew Miss Scarlett was worried to death about where Mr. Rhett was. Mammy simply said, "Come to the table, Child. Eat your food before it gets cold. When you and Mr. Wade get finished Prissy and I will eat."

"Go ahead and feed Wade. I'm not hungry."

"Child, at least try to eat. You don't want to faint when you finally get to see Mr. Rhett."

"Alright. What did you get?"

"Ham, mashed potatoes, and greens. There is also some corn bread."

Scarlett did sit down to eat. She found she was hungry. She ate her entire meal. Now that they were eating full meals regularly, she would have to start watching how much she was eating. She wasn't getting fat.