Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Five

Jasmine made hamburger stroganoff and Scarlett made a salad sort of. Jasmine kept smiling to herself. It was obvious that Scarlett had never made a salad before.

Without looking at her Scarlett said, "What is an abortion?"

"It is the termination of a pregnancy."

"Oh."

"It is illegal in Louisiana."

"Oh."

"Do you want just us to talk about contraceptives or do you want to wait until Rhett is around?"

"Yes, but we have to do it when Rhett is around. He would be so mad if I went behind his back after he told me not to."

"So would Marshall."

Dinner was fun with lots of conversation. They had wine with their meal. After everyone finished eating, Jasmine said, "Marsh, you have to get them IDs."

"You want me a sworn officer of the law to do something illegal and get them fake IDs."

"Yes. You know they must have them. Get one of your snitches to hook you up."

Marshall laughed and said, "I will take care of it tomorrow. Take them to one of those photo booths and get their pictures taken in black and white."

Rhett and Scarlett didn't know what they were talking about, so they just kept quiet. They moved into the living room and continued talking. Rhett said, "I need to find a saloon and a poker game so I can make some money."

"I will not help you with that. Gambling in Louisiana is illegal. I heard there are some dens of iniquity on Poydras. The real money is in Las Vegas and Reno. I hear they are going to have a World Series of Poker in Reno in August. Let me get more information on it for you."

"What is Las Vegas and Reno?

"Cities in Nevada."

"What is Nevada?"

"A state out west. It is on this side of California."

"What is the World Series?"

"It is a baseball term. Baseball is a sport."

"I know what baseball is. We played it when I was in the Confederate army. Go on."

"Men are paid to play the game and people go watch them play for entertainment. To simplify it the two best teams in the league play each other at the end of the season and it is called the World Series of Baseball."

"So, it is a tournament of poker players."

"Yes."

Thanks. Yes, I would appreciate the information on that tournament," Rhett looked at Scarlett and said, "Are you ready to retire?"

Scarlett nodded and rose. Rhett rose and he linked his arm in hers. When they got to the bedroom Jasmine had assigned them Scarlett realized she didn't have a nightgown. When Scarlett was about to break down crying, Rhett said, "Let me see if Jasmine has one you can borrow."

"Thank you, Rhett."

He came back with a nightgown that was not sexy nor revealing. He smiled at the relief on her face. He also had two toothbrushes, some toothpaste, and a hairbrush. Rhett said, "Jasmine said, "It is recommended that we brush our teeth every morning and every night."

The nightgown exposed Scarlett's legs. Rhett looked at them and said, "As shapely as your legs are I would like to be the only man that ever sees them."

Scarlett was startled by Rhett's words, yet they pleased her. She liked this possessive Rhett. She said, "Alright."

The couple prepared for bed. Rhett got in the bed and watched Scarlett brush her hair one hundred strokes. It gave Rhett a sense of normalcy that he needed. Soon Scarlett was in the bed with Rhett. They snuggled up together. Scarlett said, "Rhett I'm so worried about Ella and Wade. What if I don't get back to them?"

"They will be fine they will have Miss Melly."

"My businesses will be ruined by the time I get back to them."

"Maybe, but you are clever enough to bring them back."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Rhett started to say something about the little gentleman, and he stopped himself. In that moment he realized he talked more about Ashley Wilkes than Scarlett ever did. In that moment he realized that when he attacked Mr. Wilkes, she dug in to defend him. In that moment it was crystal clear to him. When he attacked, she defended whether she wanted to or not. It was her nature to always defend herself and her decisions. When he made mocking comments, she defended. When he made cruel comments, she defended. He had to stop doing that, starting now!

Instead, Rhett kissed his wife and she definitely kissed him back. Rhett made love to his wife. He was still on his honeymoon after all. The way she clung to him while they were going to sleep, pleased him very much.

The next morning, they got dressed in their new clothes. Rhett tried on the briefs first then he tried on the boxers. He left the boxers on. He put on a black pull over shirt and one of his pairs of black pants. Scarlett put on a beige dress that had little flowers on it. It had a belt that Scarlett knew was not to be tighten down. She looked at her reflection and frowned. Rhett looked at her and said, "Put a pair of those bright tights on."

"I'm not sure they would go with this dress."

"Who cares? You need something bright on your body to make you happy."

"Thank you, Rhett.

When they walked into the kitchen, Jasmine was seated at the breakfast bar. She smiled at them and said, "I will fix the scrambled eggs now. Do you want toast?"

They both said, "Yes."

"Scarlett, put a couple of pieces in the toaster."

Jasmine walked to the refrigerator and took out the eggs and the milk.

As Jasmine turned around and saw Scarlett still standing there, she smiled. She said, "This is a toaster. Get a couple of pieces from that loaf over there and place one in each opening. Then push down on the lever."

Scarlett walked over to the loaf of bread and took the plastic clip off. When she opened the bread, the slices fell down. She said, "Look Rhett they have sliced bread that one can buy at the market."

"You're kidding. The bread is pre-sliced."

"Yes!"

"Wow!"

Jasmine thought, 'The saying: It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Really is an accurate saying.'

Scarlett looked at Jasmine wistfully. She was dressed so cute in flowery pants that only went to the knees and a blue button up shirt. She looked at Rhett and said, "Can I get some pants like Jasmine has on?"

"Yes, after I figure out a way to make some money. You can only wear them in the house though."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Jasmine thought, 'My how things have changed in one hundred years. I wear whatever I want. No, I don't Marshall doesn't like me exposing too much of my legs.'

After breakfast was over, Rhett asked Jasmine, "Where can I get some cigars?"

"It has been proven that smoking is linked to you acquiring lung cancer. Do you know what lung cancer is?"

Rhett said haughtily, "Yes, I know what lung cancer is. Where can I get some cigars?"

"What is lung cancer?"

Jasmine said, "Cancer is a malignant growth in an area of the body. That can kill."

"Rhett, you have to stop smoking now!"

Rhett said scornfully, "No, I don't want to stop smoking now."

"At least cut back. You really smoke too much."

"I will try to cut back but I am not going to quit."

"Smoking has also been linked to heart problems."

"Didn't you tell me your father died of a heart attack?"

Rhett said derisively, "Yes, Scarlett, my father died of a heart attack when he was in his sixties. Now, stop this."

Trying for casualness but failing Jasmine said, "You should probably stop drinking also. You always drank too much. With your alcohol consumption you could easily get cirrhosis of the liver."

"Jasmine, I don't like the way you said that. Does Rhett get cirrhosis of the liver?"

Jasmine stood up and started cleaning up the breakfast dishes. She said, "I am not going to say yes or no. I am not going to tell you about your future. Help me with the dishes."

Rhett and Scarlett's eyes met. Jasmine was not a particularly good liar. They both knew that Rhett got cirrhosis of the liver. He quietly said, "I will quit drinking. I will cut back on my cigars."

Scarlett said, "Thank you. I don't want you to die on me too."

Her statement pleased Rhett extremely much.

Scarlett picked up the rest of the dishes and followed Jasmine into the kitchen. Jasmine taught Scarlett how to load a dish washer. Jasmine smiled as she watched Scarlett load the dish washer. It was plain to see that she thought this activity beneath her. Jasmine was pleased she was doing it anyway.

Rhett went to get cleaned up. He took a shower which he loved until the hot water ran out. Jasmine then lectured him on not using up all the hot water. She showed them the hot water tank and explained that there was a limited amount at any one time. Scarlett and Jasmine had to wait until later in the day to take a shower which was not a problem to Scarlett, she wasn't used to bathing every day.

Scarlett said, "What day does your washer woman come?"

"My washer woman is here every day. Bring your dirty clothes and come with me."

All three of them went to a small room outside the kitchen. There were two machines in the small room. They were both white. Jasmine pointed at one and said, "This is a washing machine," She then pointed at the other machine and said, "That is a dryer. They do exactly what their names imply. Just put your clothes in the washer."

Rhett and Scarlett placed their clothes in the opening in the top of the machine. Jasmine took a large jug and said, "Detergent," At their puzzled faces she added, "Soap." She added the soap, closed the lid, turned the dial, and pushed the start button. Jasmine said, "In thirty minutes we will come back and transfer them to the dryer. Let's go get your pictures taken."

Jasmine took them to one of the photobooths where they could get instant pictures. The couple was amazed. Jasmine found a tobacconist and took the couple to visit his shop. When Rhett asked for his favorite brand, he found out it was not available. He said, "Just give me anything from Cuba."

The shop owner said, "I cannot give you anything from Cuba. There is a Cuban embargo. We are not allowed to buy any Cuban products. This one here is closest to it but it is not a smooth as a Cuban."

"Let me have a couple of them. I will come back tomorrow if I like them."

When they got in the car, Jasmine said, "It is too complicated for me to explain in the car. I will get Marshall to help me explain over dinner."

When they got back to the house, Jasmine showed them how to move their clothes to the dryer. An hour later when the clothes were finished, Jasmine was quite amused by Rhett and Scarlett folding their clothes. It was plain to Jasmine that Scarlett and Rhett had always had someone to take care of their clothing.

That night over dinner Jasmine and Marshall did try to explain the Cuban embargo but it was like trying to explain it to a couple of five-year-olds. Jasmine tried to explain what communism was and that baffled Rhett and Scarlett why anyone would want that kind of government. Marshall tried to explain what a nuclear weapon was, but Rhett and Scarlett didn't have enough of a science background to understand what he was trying to tell them. Finally, Rhett said, "This Castro did something the President didn't like and now our government is punishing the entire country."

Marshall said, "That is a very simplistic point of description but basically yes."

"Alright."

They went back to the tobacconist every day for the next week until Rhett said, "All of these are horrible. I will quit. At least until we return to our own time."

"Maybe longer if you feel better once you quit smoking."

"That's true, Jasmine. Rhett, I am happy you are quitting for now."

Later that night as Rhett was lying in the bed listening to Scarlett snore softly, he realized that he didn't miss being in eighteen sixty-eight. He really liked being one hundred years away from Mr. Wilkes. He would miss seeing his mother, sister, and Belle. No, not Belle. She was amusing but the bottom line she was just someone to pass time with. She wasn't really that important to him. Curiously to Rhett her children were the only people Scarlett talked about returning to. She had mentioned Tara a couple of times. He knew he couldn't get her Tara to this time but maybe he could get Wade and Ella to join them. He laughed at himself. He had no idea how he and Scarlett got here much less how to get someone else to nineteen sixty-eight.