Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

This chapter contains a shout-out to Miss Tricey for sharing her experience with a stethoscope with me.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Wade loved to ice skate and he was anxiously waiting for it to get cold enough for the lakes to freeze so Rhett built him a lake in the back yard. It was only about three inches deep but that was all Wade needed. Basically, he just needed a frozen surface. Scarlett had said to Rhett, "You are so smart. In our lake we don't have to worry about him falling through the ice. Thank you, Dear."

Rhett had not thought of all of that when he had the lake built but he would bask in Scarlett's admiration anyway.

Once the lake was built, Wade was the most popular boy in his class. He had always been a likeable boy but even more so for he was slowly shaking off all the stigma in his mind that his parents were not acceptable people. He had always been of two minds. He had loved, admired and been proud of his parents but there were proper people like his Aunt Melly, Aunt PittyPat, and Uncle Henry who had not thought very highly of his parents because of their actions and the people they associated with. Wade had always been a little defensive about his relatives' attitude towards his amazing parents. Here in New York his parents were liked and respected by everyone. He could be outwardly proud of them everywhere he went. Furthermore, Wade was liked and respected by everyone.

Wade was almost twelve and Scarlett was beginning to realize that her son was quite the athlete. She briefly wondered if Wade had inherited that trait from Charlie. She would ask Melly in her next letter. If she remembered.

One morning in early December, Scarlett was woken up by a cold piece of metal being placed upon her. When she felt the cold metal, she had yelped and tried to push it away. It was then that she felt a strong arm. She was instantly awake. The picture in front of her made her mad. There was Rhett holding his stethoscope. She instantly knew what had happened. He had tried placing it against her lower abdomen. It was clear that he was trying to hear the baby's heartbeat. She rolled away from him and said, "Go away and let me sleep. You can listen to the baby when I'm awake. Not when I am asleep."

Rhett had gone away without saying anything. As Scarlett was lying there trying to go back to sleep, she wondered how many times he had done that in the past. One thing she knew he would warm up the metal before he tried that again. She knew he would do it again. Probably tomorrow morning. Silly man.

Every morning Rhett and the children were out on their frozen lake ice skating even Gerry. Scarlett would not put her ice skates on this winter. She was not taking any chances with the baby. It would devastate Rhett if something happened to any of the children.

When Christmas came Rhett once again went overboard on the presents. He again bought his unborn child presents but these were more gender neutral. He once again had a staff member wrap the presents. He once again acted so surprised when he unwrapped the presents despite the fact, he was the person who had bought the presents in the first place. This time Scarlett openly laughed at his behavior.

This year for Christmas dinner, Scarlett had invited the Brooks. They had spiced roast beef that all their friends had recommended. It was good. With it they had mashed turnips, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, and rolls. They had Christmas cookies and plum pudding.

Over the dinner table Genie announced, "Lee and I are going to get married."

Without missing a beat, Rhett said, "You are too young to get married. You have to be twenty-five to get married."

Lee said while looking at Genie, "I guess we will just have to wait."

"Rats."

Which made everyone at the table laugh.

After everyone finished eating, all the children got to go ice skating. Dean and Rhett joined the children while Scarlett and Violet stayed inside and drank hot chocolate.

Gerry and Genie got to skip their naps which later in the day both Rhett and Scarlett regretted. As Rhett listened to Bonnie whine and cry, he thought, 'I certainly was a fool to think that was cute or adorable. That is just annoying. I let her get away with it because I didn't want to lose her love.'

As Rhett left the children with Mammy, he said, "Sorry for creating two fussy children for you to have to deal with."

"It is alright, Mr. Rhett, they had so much fun this afternoon."

Scarlett had a small party for Gerry's second birthday. The party was partly outdoors during the entertainment portion then they had moved inside. Scarlett had allowed both Ella and Wade to invite some of their friends to the party. The house was overrun with children and their parents.

Later that night, Scarlett said, "I think we are well liked here."

"When we want to be we can be very charming."

"I noticed that you made a few mocking comments at the party."

"Of course, I did. I always will," Scarlett smiled at her husband, and he continued, "But now there isn't any bite in my comments."

"I disagree with that statement."

"Alright. Not much bite."

"That I will agree with. Have you notice what an athlete Wade is?" With Rhett's nod, Scarlett went on, "I would never have thought of Charlie as an athlete."

"My Dear, Wade did not inherit that trait from Charlie but from you."

"Me!?"

"Yes. Didn't you tell me that you could run faster than all the boys when you were a child. Or climb a tree faster than them also."

"Yes. I could do that."

"Don't you always win when you and Purple are playing tennis?"

"Rhett! I have told you not to call Violet that."

"I know."

Scarlett glared at Rhett. Rhett would have been extremely amused if he had known that Dean regularly called Scarlett Red when he and Violet were talking about her. Scarlett said, "Yes, I do."

"You are an excellent dancer and that takes athletic ability too."

"I guess you are right. It is nice to see myself in my son."

"I know. I like seeing myself in my children also."

"Things have certainly changed in the last year not the least being our wardrobes. We now need a full set of winter clothes. Not just an overcoat and a scarf."

"And several pairs of wool socks. We were lucky today was a mild day so we could have part of the party outside."

"Yes, we were, or the acrobats would have broken some of your lovely furniture."

"Hush up, Rhett."

Rhett replied the same way he had been replying for the last six years. He said, "Yes, Dear." With both of them knowing he would not be quiet for awfully long.

In early January, Violet shared with Scarlett that she was with child again. Scarlett said, "Find a doctor that will give you chloroform to ease the pain of labor."

"Is that safe?"

"Queen Victoria used it with her last three children."

"I will do that."

When Rhett found out that Violet was with child, the next time he and Dean took the children sledding, he told Dean about the procedure he was going to get done in Zurich. Dean had replied, "Violet wants a lot of children, but I think after the next one I will follow your advice."

Soon there was Wade's birthday which they had to celebrate inside because it was too cold to be outside even if one was all bundled up. Although despite the cold, Wade and his friends went ice skating after the party was over.

Between Wade's birthday and Genie's birthday everyone was packing their trunks with their favorite clothes and their favorite toys.

Scarlett and Rhett talked about taking the bassinet with them and decided against it. It was not worth all the trouble it would mean to take when they could buy another one in London.

There were a lot of children at Genie's birthday party. Rhett marveled that she was five. He had marveled in his last lifetime also. He was so grateful that she hadn't died in either lifetime. Just the first one. The one that he knew he had lived but he didn't remember living. He had to stop thinking about that. He would never understand what had happened. He was just glad it had happened.

The Butlers had let their staff go except the butler, the housekeeper, the cook, and the stable master. They were not especially fond of any of their employees yet.

The day after Genie's birthday party, the Butlers were sailing out of New York on their way to Paris. Rhett had some business interest there that he was going to sell. They would go to Zurich and Rhett would sell his business interest there and have the procedure done. Rhett was hoping Scarlett felt well enough to go to Milan and take in an opera at La Scala.

Even though this was not the children's first time on a ship only Wade really remembered their return from London after Gerry was born. Therefore, Rhett took all the children on a tour of the ship once again. Mammy and Scarlett went along just to go along. It would all be brand new to Scarlett because she had not tried to remember what Rhett had said last time. It wasn't important enough to her to remember. Rhett was thrilled that Scarlett wanted to be with them and that she wanted to hear all about the ship again.

After the family arrived in Paris, Scarlett had Rhett buy her some croissants. After she took her first bite she said, "It is good but not as good as Rene's."

During the family's time in Paris, whenever they went out to eat someone would say, "Rene/Mr. Picard makes it better."

Rhett knew that the family was remembering the food as better than it was, but he too thought Rene's food was better.

After the family had been in Paris for two weeks, Rhett said to Scarlett, "I have sold all my business interest here in Paris. Do you feel up to going to Milan?"

"Yes, I do. I don't want to curse myself, but this has been my easiest time with carrying a child."

"Is it easy enough that you might consider having another child after this one."

Scarlett laughed and said, "Hell no."

"Just asking."

"Yes, let's go take in a couple of operas in Milan."

The next day the family was on the train leaving Paris. Rhett and Scarlett went to see Romeo and Juliet then they went to see Aria. They had both seen them before but not at the La Scala which was world famous for its acoustics. Rhett and Scarlett got all dressed up both times. Scarlett was still able to fit into dresses that were fashionable as long as they had a high waist. She wore her diamond parure both nights. Rhett wore quite a bit of jewelry also.

One week later the family was on the train to Zurich. After being in the city for a week, Rhett went to see Dr. Schmid to get the procedure done. Dr. Schmid was able to do it right then.

Dr. Schmid said, "It will be sixty days before you are completely sterile."

"That's alright. My wife is seven months pregnant. By the time there is a chance of me getting her with child again, it will have been much more than sixty days."

"Alright. Drink some alcohol for the pain. Send me a note if you have any questions or problems."

"I will do that. Goodbye."

As before he was in some pain but not enough to make him have to stay in bed. This time though he allowed himself to have three glasses of brandy to take the edge off the pain. Rhett even let Scarlett have numerous sips of brandy.

A week later, Rhett had sold his business interest in Zurich and the family was on the train to Calais. In Calais they would take a ferry to Dover. In Dover they would take a train to London.

Rhett didn't even try to talk Scarlett into moving to London. He knew that she had been right. He had been lucky to get her to move hours away from Tara. There was no way he would get her to move an ocean away. They found another rental house. They were in their home within a week of arriving in London.