Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Six

When the family got to Paris, Scarlett sent Rhett out to buy her a dozen croissants. When he returned with a dozen, she was happy. She was not happy when he shared her croissants with everyone in the family including Mammy.

When Rhett saw the scowl on Scarlett's face, he said, "I can buy you more tomorrow."

"We need to get the recipe."

"We will look for a recipe in a cookbook."

"That won't do. The recipe will be in French."

Rhett laughed and said, "I will translate it for you."

When the family was in Rome Scarlett knew she was with child, she had missed her flow three times. That night she wore nothing to bed but her emerald parure. Rhett said, "You look beautiful in your jewelry."

"Thank you."

Rhett started kissing Scarlett and she resisted. He raised his head and looked at her questioningly. She said, "Why did you give me this jewelry?"

"Because I love you."

"No, so I would let you get me with child again."

"There is that also."

"You did."

"I did what?"

"You got me with child. I think it was the night we declared our love."

"That would be wonderful if it was."

"Happy?"

"Of course, every man wants a son."

"No, you don't you want another daughter."

"I will love what I get."

"As much as you love Genie?"

"As much as I love Bonnie but not as much as I love you."

"Oh Rhett."

"Let's have fun."

"Yes."

After Scarlett had told Rhett she was with child and they told the children and Mammy, she wrote Melly complaining about the terrible thing that Rhett had done to her. She was with child again. The only plus was they were in Europe where the medical care was better. Soon they would return to London. The family would probably be gone from Atlanta for an entire year.

Scarlett sent Pork a telegram telling him of their news and that the family would not be back to Atlanta until the next spring.

Scarlett also wrote Suellen telling her the same thing and that if Suellen needed any money to contact Mr. Powe.

The family traveled to Venice then on to Zurich. While on the train to Zurich, Rhett considered going ahead and getting a vasectomy. He decided against it because he would like to have another daughter but then he would get it done because he didn't want to practice coitus interruptus for the rest of his life. Or at least it would seem like the rest of his life. He figured Scarlett was twenty-six or twenty-seven at most. That meant it would be at least another fifteen years before she went through the change of life. That would be a long time to have to be perfect.

One evening while Rhett and Scarlett were in Zurich, after she had come back from the privy, she said, "Rhett, you need to get me a doctor."

"What is the matter? Is it the baby?"

"I don't know what it is, but there is blood on my pantalets. Not a lot but in my condition, there should be no blood."

"Let me help you to the bed. It will be alright. I will get Mammy to stay with you. I will go down to the lobby and send a runner to Dr. Schmid."

"Dr Schmid?"

"A doctor I know of in Zurich."

"How?"

Rhett quickly thought of a lie. He said, "You know I traveled in Europe in my youth. One time while in Zurich I needed a doctor. Dr. Schmid was the doctor the desk clerk recommended."

"That is amazing you remembered his name."

"Yes, now get in the bed while I get Mammy."

As Rhett was hurrying down the stairs, he truly was amazed he had remembered the doctor's name. It had been over thirteen years since Scarlett's miscarriage. Rhett said a quick prayer. He prayed, "Don't let them die."

After Rhett sent the runner, he hurried back upstairs. When Rhett entered his and Scarlett's room Mammy said, "Mr. Rhett, why don't you watch the children?"

"No, Mammy, I will not be watching the children. I will be right here. What do I need to do?"

Mammy stood there scowling at Rhett. He said, "You can scowl all you want. You can wish me in Hades but here is where I am going to be. I love Scarlett and she loves me. I will not be relegated to waiting outside this room."

"Yes, Mr. Rhett. If you are going to stay, help me get her into a nightgown."

"No just put me in my dressing gown."

"Alright."

Soon Scarlett was in her dressing gown and in their bed. When Rhett heard the knock on the hotel room door, he went to answer it. He let Dr. Schmid into the hotel suite. When he tried to follow the doctor into their bedroom, the doctor stopped him and said, "I will come get you as soon as I am finished examining your wife."

"But I…."

"No! Please be seated in the common room."

With that the doctor shut the door in Rhett's face. For now, he would not make a scene but if she was miscarrying Gerry, he was going to be in that room. In fifteen minutes, the doctor came to the door and entered the common room. He shut the door behind him.

Dr. Schmid said, "First, I don't think she is miscarrying the baby. Second, I don't know where the blood is coming from. I would recommend you remain in Zurich for at least another week. We will see if it gets worse. I will be back in a couple of days. In the afternoon."

"Is that the truth?"

"Yes, as far as I know. It could be something as simple as a tiny blood vessel burst. At this time, it is just a wait and see. No relations. She is not in any pain but if she begins to hurt give her a small glass of brandy. Too much alcohol is bad for the baby. Also, if she does begin to hurt send me a note. I will come right over."

"Is it too early to hear the heartbeat?"

"Yes. I usually start hearing it when the mother is five months along."

"Alright."

"You owe me twenty francs."

Rhett gave the doctor the money. The doctor left the hotel room. Rhett was optimistic. Gerry was still alive.

When Rhett walked into the bedroom, both Scarlett and Mammy turned anxious eyes to him. He said, "Did Dr. Schmid tell you anything?"

Scarlett shook her head.

"You are not losing the baby. He thinks a tiny blood vessel burst. Nothing to be alarmed about. Yet he doesn't know for sure where the little bit of blood is coming from therefore, he wants us to stay in Zurich for the next week which, of course, we will."

"Alrights. I will go back in the children's room."

"Thank you, Mammy."

After Mammy had left the room, Scarlett said, "You have to go out and buy me a decent night gown. Something that the doctor and Mammy can see me in."

Rhett suppressed a laugh and said, "First thing tomorrow."

"Rhett, I so regret those words I said about not being lucky enough to have a miscarriage."

"Ssh, Ssh, God isn't going to punish you for some words you said in anger. Gerry is just fine."

"Gerry?"

"Isn't that what you wanted to name Bonnie if she had been a boy?"

"Yes. Are you alright with that?"

"Yes, whatever you want to name our child is fine with me."

"You can choose the middle name."

"There is nobody I would want to name my son after."

"What about your grandfather?"

"That is tricky. My grandfather's name was Oliver but so was my father's. My father was named after his father. Therefore, I can't name my son after my grandfather without also naming him after my father and I won't do that."

Scarlett stared at Rhett for a few minutes and finally said, "Alright. If it is a boy, we will call him Gerald Rhett Butler."

"No, what was your father's full name."

"Gerald Patrick O'Hara."

"We will name our son Gerald Patrick Butler."

"Alright. Get in the bed."

"Let me get us a small glass of brandy first. You are going to have to quit drinking. Dr. Schmid said it wasn't good for the baby."

"Alright."

As Rhett and Scarlett laid in the bed passing the brandy back and forth, he said, "I will be with you the entire time."

"Thank you. I am going to need your strength."

"You have all my strength. Scarlett, I need you."

"I need you, too."

"No, Honey, you don't understand how much I need you. I know that you don't need me as much as I need you, but you have to understand you are all I have had for a long time. You and the children. When I am with you, I finally feel like I belong."

"You do belong. I never knew how much I needed you until we got married. You take such good care of me. You protect me. Baby, it seems you are all I have also. You and the children. I certainly don't have anyone or anything else," With bitterness Scarlett added, "Melly proved that."

"Don't dwell on that. Put it behind you."

"How can you talk so flippant about what she tried to do. She could have caused us a lot of trouble."

"Yes, she could have but she didn't because we," Here Rhett squeezed Scarlett to him and continued, "are stronger than one lie about us."

"I do think it is strange that both Melly and Belle told me you were unfaithful to me."

"That is not strange. It would be impossible for me to prove that I wasn't unfaithful to you. Besides, it is just about the only way they can attack me. Furthermore, a spouse being unfaithful is a hard blow for a marriage to overcome."

"True."

Rhett abruptly stood up and said, "Let me get some more brandy."

"Of course."

Rhett had to leave the room until he got his emotions under control. He had gotten another miracle, during his first lifetime. Scarlett had truly forgiven him for being unfaithful to her with an old whore. She had never once thrown Belle up to him. Rough and Ready – yes. Belle – never.

Rhett got his emotions under control and returned to his bedroom to find his wife asleep on his side of the bed. He slipped into the bed and gently scooted her over enough where he could get into the bed. He again prayed for God to not take his wife or his son. He drank the brandy and soon he was asleep.

A month later there had not been any repeats of bloody discharge and Dr. Schmid had declared that it was safe for Scarlett to travel.

Although Scarlett had not been required to stay in bed, she had not done that much. Rhett knew she was afraid. Afraid of doing something and causing the death of her baby. It made him happy that she cared so much for their baby already. They had discussed going on with their European tour and Scarlett was unwavering in her determination of them returning to London to wait for the arrival of their baby.

Rhett suggested, "We could just stay here."

"No, I am returning to Dr. Hickman and his chloroform."

"Dr. Schmid probably uses chloroform."

"Maybe but I know for sure Dr. Hickman does. Besides, we know he did a great job delivering Genie."

"Yes, he did."

After Dr. Schmid told the couple that it was alright for Scarlett to travel, they went straight back to London. They checked into the Savoy Hotel and got a suite. The very next day, Rhett went to his barrister and got a listing of houses available to rent. He also got a list of homes available to buy.

Over supper, Rhett said to the table in general, "We could always live here permanently."

Scarlett and Wade replied at the same time, "No."

After her mother and brother had replied no, Ella said, "No."

Genie said no because everyone else had said no.

Rhett had laughed and said, "Maybe in a couple of years after all your friends have left Atlanta."

"Maybe but I think you will be lucky to get me to move to the North much less an ocean away from Tara."

"I guess this is a discussion for another time."

"Indeed, it is."