Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eleven

The rest of the evening didn't go much better. Scarlett was mad that Rhett's mother was judging her much the same as the matrons of Atlanta and her aunts. When Scarlett had addressed Elizabeth as Mother the older woman said, "I would prefer you called me Mrs. Butler."

In a mocking tone, Scarlett turned to Rosemary and said, "Shall I call you Miss Butler?"

"If you don't mind."

"Then be sure and address me as Mrs. Butler and my son as Mr. Butler."

Rhett burst out laughing.

Elizabeth was mad that Rhett was wearing a bright yellow suit and she was also frustrated that she was going to have to take money from her unreceived son in order to survive. Lord knows that nobody else in the family had any money to give her. She knew that Langston had sold everything of value they had.

Rosemary was appalled that her brother would so disrespect their father by not wearing black for him. She wasn't really fond of her brother. He was the reason she had not received any decent offers of marriage.

Rhett thought the evening was going as well as he had hoped. Over dessert, Rhett said, "Mother, what time shall I pick you up tomorrow?"

"I can't go out in public for at least a year after Langston's death."

"I will have to choose your new home, your furniture, and your staff myself I guess, or I guess you could continue to live in this house. I don't know if I will be able to return in a year," With a smile and pride in his voice, Rhett continued, "As you can see, Scarlett is with child. In September I am taking her to London to have her baby because the medical care is so much better in Europe than in the South. The South is almost backward in medical care. I have no idea when we will return if ever."

Elizabeth's lips had tightened when Rhett had mentioned Scarlett's condition. One didn't talk about those things but, of course, her unreceived son would talk about whatever he wanted to talk about. With a cold stare Elizabeth said, "We cannot continue to live in this house. It is in quite the state of disrepair."

"Why didn't Langston get it fixed?"

"Rhett do not refer to your father by his first name."

"Ah but he is not my father. He disowned me."

Elizabeth looked at Rhett with disapproval. Rhett stared back with no expression on his face. Finally, Elizabeth said, "Your father didn't have the money to get it repaired. He was spending all our money on food instead."

"What time do you want me to pick you up?"

In a tight voice, Elizabeth said, "Pick me up at nine."

"Are you going with us, Rosemary?"

"I don't know."

Elizabeth said, "Yes, you are. I will need your help making decisions."

"Very good. I will see you at nine tomorrow."

After they were in the cab, Scarlett said, "I will go visit with my aunts tomorrow."

"Good idea, Dear."

"That way you don't have to go with me."

"True but rest assured they will lecture you on your choice of husbands and the fact you aren't wearing black."

"I know but I'm going to do what is right."

"How long are you going to continue doing the right thing."

"For a while longer."

After Rhett and Scarlett were alone in their bedroom, Rhett said, "Why did you call Wade Mr. Butler?"

"From now on I want him to use the last name Butler. I know the Hamiltons will not be happy with that decision, but I want us to be a family and people in a family all have the same last name."

"I'm alright with it."

"Thank you, Dear."

Rhett and Scarlett were quiet for a few minutes while they disrobed. Once Scarlett had her nightgown on, she said, "I can't believe that woman I met tonight snuck around to meet you. She is as prim and proper as my aunts."

"It is kind of unbelievable. I guess she missed me and wanted to see me."

"I guess so. I guess she loves you."

"Yes, but doesn't approve of my actions."

"I know she certainly didn't approve of you wearing that yellow suit."

Rhett burst out laughing and said, "No, she didn't."

Scarlett got in the bed and smiled her special smile at Rhett. He quickly joined her in that bed.

The next day, Rhett wore a light blue suit that in Scarlett's opinion was really a quite nice-looking suit. She personally thought Rhett's taste in clothing while very stylish was too conservative. The family had breakfast in the restaurant. After breakfast Rhett left the hotel. Scarlett and Wade took Mammy's breakfast up to her.

Around ten Scarlett and Wade left to call on her aunts. Mammy had refused to go with them. She had said, "I have had enough of Miss Eulalie and Miss Pauline to last me a lifetime."

The aunts lived together now that they were both widows to save on expenses. Scarlett looked at her aunts and noticed that they were fat also. Was this a middle-age thing? No for her mother had not been fat. Scarlett failed to remember that Ellen O'Hara had not been middle-aged when she died. She had just been thirty-five years old. The women looked the same as they had always looked to Scarlett. They looked like self-righteous prigs. Neither woman had ever been pretty but now they were downright ugly. Their hair was gray, and their mustaches were better than Rhett's.

The visit was as awful as Scarlett had known it was going to be. The women had criticized her for marrying Rhett, not wearing black, being out in public in her condition, and for not giving them enough money. Finally, it had been long enough, and Scarlett left. Once she no longer cared about being received in the South, she would stop visiting with them.

On their way back to the hotel, Scarlett and Wade had dinner at a restaurant Rhett had recommended. The food was extremely good. They got an order to go for Mammy and returned to the hotel. Wade and Mammy took a nap and Scarlett read a book that Rhett had bought her. Now that she could no longer receive suitors, she had to find other ways to entertain herself.

Although Scarlett's morning was not very enjoyable both Elizabeth and Rosemary would gladly have traded places with her. To give Rhett credit he had not been mocking or rude, in fact, he had been a complete gentleman all day long. He had told them about his life since the last time they had seen him. Of him and Scarlett getting married then having to escape from Atlanta. He spoke about his time at Tara. He asked about their time during the war. He asked how his brother and his family were doing.

What was frustrating to the women was he was acting like he was at a soiree. That his father had not just died less than a week ago. Every time one of the women looked at him, they wanted to scream. He was standing in that light blue suit smiling like it was a grand day to be alive. Both women were too proper to tell him to shut up and they both knew that they needed his money. Robert could barely support his family. He could not support them also.

Although when Rhett started talking about Scarlett's new baby, Elizabeth snapped. She hissed, "Rhett, it is improper to speak of such things."

Rhett smiled a Cheshire cat grin and said, "I will try to restrain myself, but I am excited about my progeny coming into the world."

"Rhett! Stop it!"

"Alright but I have one last thing to say. I hope it is a girl. I have always wanted a daughter."

By the end of the afternoon, Rhett had made an offer on a townhouse on the Battery. They had selected furniture from the store which would be delivered in about two weeks. Rhett had arranged with his Charleston attorney to send his mother a support check every month. After Rhett made arrangements to come to supper the next night, he dropped the ladies off at their current home. Rhett decided to give his relatives a break from his cheerful company.

Rhett had not liked the way his mother and sister had spoken to Scarlett. Mrs. Butler and Miss Butler indeed. Rhett laughed when he thought of Scarlett's response. Mrs. Butler and Mr. Butler. He laughed again when he thought, 'I guess I am the only one on a first name bases with everyone although my mother and sister would probably like for me to call them Mrs. Butler and Miss Butler also.

Before Rhett, Scarlett and Wade went to supper Rhett went downstairs and got Mammy a meal from the restaurant. He wanted to take Scarlett and Wade to a special restaurant. Although the food was outstanding the service was not the greatest in the world. In fact, they were slow. He wanted Scarlett to try She-crab soup. The only place one could get it was in Charleston, South Carolina.

The meal was good. Scarlett had liked the soup. Scarlett had ordered Wade a cheese sandwich instead of the soup although he had been willing to try his mother's serving of soup, but he hadn't liked it. Rhett told Scarlett and Wade all about his day. At one point Scarlett was laughing so hard she was crying.

Scarlett told Rhett about her aunts' reaction when she had said, 'You will still get a support check, but it will be less because now you two don't have to help Mrs. Butler.'

Her Aunt Eulalie had said, 'That's just not enough.'

'It has to be enough. That is all you are getting.'

'Maybe Elizabeth can help us.'

'No, she isn't going to get much more than you do.'

Rhett laughed at that. The family finished supper and went back to the hotel.

The next day, Rhett rented a sailboat and took everyone sailing even Mammy. Everyone had a grand time. Enough of a good time that they did it every day until they left. They would be leaving as soon as Rhett's offer was accepted, and he wrote the check.

Rhett, Scarlett, and Wade had supper with Elizabeth and Rosemary every night. When Wade called Elizabeth Grandmother, Rhett knew his mother wanted to object but with a quick glance at Rhett she knew she better not. Later in the week when Wade called Rosemary Aunt Rosemary, she didn't object either. If Rhett could help it nobody was going to hurt Wade by rejecting him especially not the women who lived on his benevolence. If it had matter to Scarlett that she called his mother - Mother, Rhett would have made it happen, but he knew it hadn't. There would only be one Mother in Scarlett's life and that was Ellen O'Hara.

After Rhett's offer had been accepted for the townhouse, Rhett wrote the seller a check. He was given the keys. That night over supper, while wearing his yellow suit, Rhett said, "I am now the owner of a townhouse in Charleston. Here are the keys. I hope you two ladies enjoy living in your new home. I have arranged with Mr. Mobbs to sell this shack and give you the proceeds. We will be returning to Atlanta tomorrow. Scarlett and I have an invitation to a ball at the Governor's mansion we do not want to miss."

Rosemary said, "Surely you are not going to attend a ball at the Republican governor's mansion."

Rhett put a confused look on his face and said, "Why would we not attend? We do so like to dance."

When Rhett had said the part about attending a ball at the Governor's mansion both of the ladies' eyes got big and their lips were pressed together.

Rosemary started to reply then thought better of it. Her brother would be quite happy to withdraw his financial support.

Rhett stood up and said, "Scarlett, Wade let us go."

As the group was walking to the door, Scarlett said, "Goodbye, Mrs. Butler, Miss Butler. It was so nice to meet you."

Wade said, "Goodbye Grandmother and Aunt Rosemary."

Rhett was grinning ear to ear. That was why he loved Scarlett so much. She had not been appalled by his behavior. She had found it extremely amusing.

After Rhett and Scarlett had gotten in the cab, she said, "I guess you were right that the Peahens would not have been impressed with us attending a ball at the governor's mansion judging by the way those witches reacted."

Rhett smiled and said, "No, the Peahens would not have been impressed. Dear, I would prefer you not call my relatives witches."

"Alright."

"I'm not saying they aren't, but I would prefer you not call them that in front of…" Here Rhett pointedly looked at Wade. Wade who was sitting on his bench listening to everything his parents were saying. Scarlett looked at Wade.

Scarlett said, "Of course, that was very rude of me. I certainly shouldn't have done it."

Scarlett wanted Wade to behave properly so she guessed she would have to behave properly in front of him.

When Rhett and Scarlett were in their private car returning to Atlanta, she had asked, "What are you going to do with your suits?"

"Save them to wear whenever I am in Charleston."

Scarlett burst out laughing. When she sobered, she said, "Please throw the yellow one away."

"But it makes me look like the sun."

"Please."

"Alright, just for you but it is my favorite."