Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Despite Scarlett steadfast refusal to move to London, when she and Rhett went house hunting the next day, he showed her not just the rental houses but also the ones for sale. He was hoping that she would fall in love with one of the houses and it would make her consider moving to London.

After three years of marriage and ten years of acquaintanceship, Scarlett knew her husband was not a man who gave up on a goal easily. As she and Rhett looked at the homes, there were some indeed that she liked a lot. She also knew that they were not rental homes for their design and décor was too avant garde to be a rental home. She remembered what he had said about the last house they had rented. The décor was boring in order to not offend anyone.

It amused Scarlett greatly when Rhett would start talking about the merits of one of the more innovative homes. In the end she chose a simple home that she knew was a rental. She also knew it would suit them for the next six months.

A week later the family was moved into the home. The home came with a skeleton staff. Scarlett knew she would have to hire some more people but for now she just wanted to get settled into the home. There was not a large room for the nursery therefore, Scarlett gave Wade a room of his own and put Ella and Genie in a room. There was a large room that could be turned into a playroom and Scarlett gave Mammy the room beside it.

Although Dr. Schmid had told Rhett they could resume their marital relationship, he had been restraining himself because he was afraid on it negatively affecting the baby. Scarlett must have been leery of having intercourse also for she voluntarily took care of his needs. Although Rhett did offer to help her with her needs, she turned him down. She whispered, "I can't take the chance of ….."

"Alright. I understand. Although I will have to eat a dozen oysters to keep up with you once we can resume being intimate after the baby is born."

Scarlett laughed and said, "At least a dozen."

Scarlett went to see Dr. Hickman after they were settled in the house. She told him what had happened in Zurich and what Dr. Schmid had said.

Dr. Hickman said, "We know so little about what goes on inside the human body and even less about what goes on inside the womb. I do agree with Dr. Schmid that it probably wasn't anything serious, but we will just have to wait and see. Are you in any pain?"

"No more than usual."

"Do you want to hear its heartbeat?"

"Yes."

A smile broke out on Scarlett's face when she heard her son's heartbeat. She too thought the baby was going to be a boy. She was not going to remind Rhett that he could hear his son's heartbeat. He would just have to remember on his own.

Dr. Hickman said, "You are doing fine. Just take it easy. Come back and see me in a month."

"Alright."

When Scarlett got home, Rhett already had his stethoscope in his hand to hear the baby's heartbeat. She just smiled and sat down. She made herself comfortable. It would not be just Rhett who would want to hear the baby's heartbeat but Mammy, Wade, Ella, and even Genie. Scarlett sighed. This was going to be a long four months but at least she was where the best medical care was, she didn't have to go into confinement, and there was also the magical gas.

The couple had found a cookbook in Paris with a recipe for croissants. Rhett had translated it for Scarlett. She took it to the cook, Mrs. Snyder, and asked her to create it for the family. Mrs. Snyder was able to create a pastry that resembled the croissant, which was tasty enough, but it wasn't nearly as good as the croissants they had gotten in Paris.

Mrs. Snyder was a decent cook, but she had no imagination. She followed the recipe to the letter. It was simply good, plain fare.

Scarlett decided to take the recipe book to Atlanta and maybe their cook at the mansion could do better with the recipe. Then Scarlett had another idea of what she would do with the recipe book once they got back home.

When Genie told her mother she had three croissants for breakfast, Scarlett smiled. She remembered telling Rhett his baby liked croissants also. That appeared to be very correct. Scarlett said, "What else did you have for breakfast?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"What did Daddy say?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"So, Daddy let you eat nothing but pastry for breakfast?"

"Yes."

"I will have to talk to Daddy about this. Just eating pastry for breakfast is not good for you."

"Mama, I don't want to eat anything but croissants."

"Nonetheless, you will not just eat pastry for breakfast."

Genie started to pout but didn't even bother to push out her lip because her mother was giving her a look that had frozen the child in motion. Genie knew she needn't bother to pout; her mother wouldn't change her mind. What was worse was that Daddy would never disobey Mama. She knew from now on she would have to eat more than just pastry for breakfast. Rats! Genie wished she hadn't said anything to Mama about just having pastry for breakfast. Rats!

Later that day while in the parlor, Scarlett said, "Rhett, you can't let Genie just eat pastry for breakfast."

"Why not?"

"If all she eats is pastry, she will get fat. She needs to eat some protein."

"I will not let her just eat pastry for breakfast again, but she was enjoying herself so much, I couldn't stop her. She reminded me of you in Paris when you begrudged me even giving away even one of your croissants," Scarlett scowled at Rhett. He continued, "You did. In fact, you gave everyone a mean look the entire time they were eating one of your croissants despite the fact you had just eaten three of them yourself and we could get more from the bakery the very next day."

"Just hush up, Rhett, and don't let Genie do it again."

"Of course, Dear, I will never let Bonnie behave just like her mother again. Of course, maybe the best way to monitor Bonnie's food intake is for you to get up and have breakfast with the family."

Scarlett looked daggers at Rhett and said, "Read me another story while I knit on these booties."

"Alright, my love."

Rhett didn't even try to keep the smug smile off his face. Every time Scarlett glared at him, he smiled bigger.

Once the family had a permanent address, Scarlett wrote Melanie and told her what it was. Scarlett also wrote Mr. Elsing and asked him if he had any questions about the store. Surprising to Scarlett that Hugh did not write her back, but Fanny had. It seems Fanny had taken over keeping the books and ordering stock at the store. Scarlett smiled when she read that. Fanny was doing everything that Scarlett had always done. Fanny did have some questions and Scarlett was happy to answer them.

Melanie's letter was all about Ashley, Beau, and her committees. After reading Melanie's letter, Scarlett went to find Rhett. Once she had found him, she said, "Guess what Ashley did?"

"What?"

"Quit his job at the sawmills and got a job as a teller."

Already knowing what the answer was Rhett asked Scarlett, "What bank?"

"First Atlantic," With a mischievous smile on her face, Scarlett innocently asked, "That is your bank, isn't it?"

Without expression Rhett said, "Yes, will I never be rid of that boil on my ass."

Scarlett laughed and laughed. She finally said, "He is your problem now."

"Yes, he is. Although, I must say that I am surprised he actually went out and found another job."

"What are you going to do about him working at your bank?"

"Nothing. For the most part I don't get involved in my investments. Mr. Lowry will fire Mr. Wilkes if he doesn't do his job. As long as he does his job then there is no problem."

"I wonder how the rumor of him using harlots is doing?"

"We will have to wait until we get back to find out."

The family had a busy social life in London. They renewed their friendships with people they had met while they were in London last time. Although Rhett made them stay home every third night so Scarlett would not overdo. She never argued with him about her resting so much. She knew they were both worried about the baby.

At the end of September, Scarlett got a letter from Melanie. It was as boring as Melly had always been. Scarlett now found that because she was no longer desperately wanting to hear any scrap of information about Ashley, Melly was an extremely boring person. Furthermore, because it wasn't proper to gossip about other people Melly didn't even tell interesting tidbits about other people.

Scarlett had also gotten another letter from Fanny. The beginning of the letter were questions about the running of the store which Scarlett would be happy to answer. The rest of the letter was about what everyone else in proper society was doing.

Scarlett wrote both ladies back and continued a correspondence the rest of her time in London. All of Scarlett's letters to Melanie were talking about how grand their life was in London and how awful it was that she was with child again. Scarlett would fill up an entire page about the trials and tribulations of carrying a child. She would end all her letters to Melanie by saying but it is my lot in life because I am a woman. All of her letters to Fanny were upbeat and happy. She also told Fanny about all the wonderful things the family was doing in London.

In October, Scarlett hosted a fifth birthday party for Ella. Everyone had a good time.

There was a party to celebrate Rhett's birthday in November. After the party was over, while in their bedroom, Rhett said, "Why don't we ever celebrate your birthday?"

"I don't have birthdays."

"Everyone has birthdays."

"No, I haven't had a birthday since I was sixteen."

"You know you aren't still sixteen even if you don't acknowledge another year has passed."

Scarlett didn't answer which Rhett decided was answer enough.

Rhett said, "I know you told me, but I don't remember what day you were born."

"The day of my birth was March seventeenth, but you better not ever mention it to anyone. That is if you want to keep breathing."

Rhett got into the bed and didn't say another word about Scarlett's non-birthday.

In the middle of December, Scarlett said, "I hired another nursemaid to help Mammy. Please don't fire her until Gerry is born. We need her to watch the children while Mammy helps me deliver my baby."

"I will tolerate her incompetence until my son is born then I will fire her."

"Who knows you might actually find her competent."

"I suppose there is always that possibility. As unlikely as it may be."

Scarlett didn't argue with Rhett. She knew the new nursemaid would be fired within a week of Gerry being born. She was just glad she had Mammy although if Mammy wasn't her long-time servant Scarlett was pretty sure Mammy would have been fired a long time ago.

The family celebrated Christmas English style. Rhett bought too many presents. He even bought presents for his unborn son. Rhett had even gone to the trouble of having one of the staff wrap the baby's presents which Scarlett thought was extremely silly. Needless to say, she didn't tell him that. What was even sillier to her was that Rhett was the one opening the presents. After the gift was unwrapped, he would act so excited about the present. It was silly to Scarlett because Rhett was the one who had bought the present in the first place. At least, he didn't pretend to show the present to the baby. This time when she noticed that all the presents were for a boy, she didn't say a word. She thought the baby was a boy also.

Rhett and Scarlett had Christmas dinner and invited ten other families. Most of the men were business acquaintances of Rhett but nonetheless they were fun. They were a lot more sophisticated than their friends in Atlanta. They had a goose for their dinner. The sides were green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, and rolls. They had chocolate cake for dessert.

The dinner was loud and boisterous mainly because there were a lot of people in the room. A good time was had by all.

Rhett and Scarlett had been invited to a New Year's Eve party, but they turned the invitation down. That would have required too much standing and they would have been out too late. In the end it was fortunate that the couple had stayed home and rested.