Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Seven

For the next week, Rhett was by Scarlett's side the entire time. If she needed to go to the privy, he was there to help her. If she wanted something to eat, he went to get it for her. He read her poetry which she didn't like. He read her some adventure stories which she liked better. He read her articles from his financial magazine. Those she really liked. She liked those well enough that when he started talking about world events that were affecting the financial world, she was extremely interested.

When Mammy told him to take the children for a walk in the park, he did despite his strong desire to remain by Scarlett's side. He knew that whatever Mammy was doing was something he didn't want to see. No, it was something that Scarlett didn't want him to see. He and the children went to the park, but they also stopped at a store and bought Scarlett a small present. Every day someone else got to give their mother the present. He knew he had to be a better parent to Bonnie and to Wade and Ella also.

A week later as Rhett and the children were returning to the suite after having had dinner in the hotel restaurant, as the group walked up the stairs, Rhett turned and said, "Bonnie, if you don't take a nap, I am not going to let you have dessert tonight after dinner."

"Yes, Daddy."

Of course, Rhett wasn't going to be the one to enforce the no dessert dictate but even him threatening the child was a big step forward into true parenthood. After three months of really being aware of Bonnie's behavior, he already knew that she was not a nice little girl when she didn't take a nap. Before that fateful night, it hadn't bothered him when she whined and was grumpy. Rhett would just give her what she wanted to put her in a good mood. Now, he had decided that he didn't want to put up with that behavior anymore.

After Rhett and the children had gotten to the suite, he gave Ella and Bonnie a kiss. He said, "Wade, go on and read your book and rest."

"Yes, Uncle Rhett."

Rhett looked at the boy and said, "Why don't you call me Dad?"

A big smile broke out on Wade's face, and he said, "Yes, Sir."

"You too Ella."

"Thank you, Daddy."

Two weeks after the miscarriage as Scarlett and Rhett were lying in their bed, she said, "I didn't want the baby, but I didn't want it to die either. Are you sad, too?"

"Yes, but remember there was something wrong with the baby, so God took him to heaven."

"Him?"

"I just feel like it was a boy. Come here and let me hold you. It is just too sad to think about. Let's push it to the back of our minds and just not think about it anymore."

After Rhett knew Scarlett was asleep, he wept for his son and for the fact they could never have any more children because of his foolish action. He had never felt shame or regret very often in his life but right now he was feeling it full force.

Scarlett made a full recovery and marveled at how good Rhett had been to her during her miscarriage and her recovery time. He had absolutely refused to be barred from the room which made Mammy and Dr. Schmid unhappy, but it had made Scarlett so incredibly happy. Maybe just maybe he really did love her. It had made Scarlett feel so loved and cherished.

The family finished touring Europe. Scarlett and Rhett were having a good time in each other's company. Rhett was aggravating and teasing but Scarlett was not taking herself as serious as she used to. They were behaving like best friends. Scarlett had learned how to keep her thoughts away from Ashley and now she rarely thought of him or Melanie for that matter. She had also learned to shut down any thoughts of Belle and Rhett. She had chosen to forgive him so all that was in the past but if he ever cheated on her again, she would kill him. And that whore too.

Scarlett was more mature now than she had been when she and Rhett had married. She was even more mature than she had been when Bonnie was born. She had been very lonely for the last two years for sure but probably ever since they had gotten back from New Orleans. Now that she had fun, kind, aggravating Rhett back she was happy again and she didn't feel lonely. Her loneliness had made her very aware of her situation with Ashley. When Rhett had said that about them having fun until Melly died, she had immediately thought it was a grand idea. Afterall, she didn't have anything else to do until the status quo changed either with Melly's death or Rhett's death. She didn't want to think about Rhett dying so she wouldn't, but she was truly optimistic that she could have a fun life until his death.

Scarlett was still not a good mother, but at least now she wasn't snapping or yelling at her children. Rhett had decided that she just didn't have a maternal bone in her body. He had decided that was alright. There were so many other amazing things about Scarlett O'Hara Butler.

When the family boarded the ship to return to Georgia, Mammy was no wiser about what had happened to change Mr. Rhett. Yes, Miss Scarlett had changed but she had changed in response to Mr. Rhett loving her and pampering her. Maybe someday she would find out, but she wasn't going to lose any sleep over the matter. Miss Scarlett was happy and so was Mr. Rhett therefore everyone else was happy except maybe the little miss. She sure didn't like hearing the word no.

On the ship as they were heading home as Rhett and Scarlett were lying in bed, she said, "I have enjoyed traveling with you and seeing the sights of Europe but I'm afraid I am going to be very bored when we get back to Atlanta. I wish I hadn't sold my businesses."

"Then buy another business. You have the money."

"I want my mills back," When she felt Rhett tense, she added, "But I can't because the rumors and gossip would just start right back up again. Rhett, I was so proud of what I had accomplished. I built those mills up from nothing."

"You could buy the store back."

"No, that was Frank's. I would never have sold it, but I wouldn't want to buy it back."

"When we get back to Atlanta, find another business to buy."

"You don't mind."

"No, I don't mind. What else are you going to do? Attend sewing bees and committee meetings. Oh, I forgot go calling every week and gossip about all the other ladies in society. If you did you would be as boring as Miss Melly."

That made Scarlett laugh, and she said, "Perish the thought that I would ever be that boring."

The Butlers returned to Georgia in the middle of September. By then the gossip and rumors had all died down. Melanie had kicked India out of her house and had told everyone and anyone that they were either on her side or they were dead to her. India would not recant her statement and went to live with Aunt PittyPat. Melanie had remained cordial to Aunt PittyPat although she would never enter her home while India was living there.

General Sherman could have taken lessons from Melanie Hamilton Wilkes on a scorched earth policy. She offered nobody grace on the matter. She cut half of her relatives the first six weeks after the incident. It had worked well for Melanie that Captain Butler had taken Scarlett away to Europe to get away from the gossip. With Scarlett not in Atlanta acting defiant instead of remorseful she would have alienated everyone.

Melanie was not worried about the Butlers reconciling their differences and becoming a happily married couple. She knew there was so much anger and hostility between the couple that nothing could save them. She knew the crux of the problem between Captain Butler and Scarlett was he loved her, and she thought she loved Ashley.

Every now and then Melanie felt a smidgen of guilt about her part in the Butlers unhappy marriage, but she had to take care of herself, Ashley, and Beau didn't she. She knew the only way they were going to survive was if Scarlett continued to carry them. When Melanie felt any guilt, she told herself with Scarlett and Captain Butler's strong personalities their marriage would have failed anyway, and Scarlett did want Melly's husband.

Uncle Henry had sold Scarlett's half of the sawmills to Lorne Greene and the store to Jacob Mosley. The money was in Scarlett's bank account.

When Rhett, Scarlett, and the family had returned to Atlanta, Scarlett went to call on Melanie. The first thing Melly had told her was that Belle Watling had been murdered one night while she had been eating her supper. There were no suspects. Scarlett had thought, 'Of course, there were no suspects. Who would care about an old madame?' Scarlett had just smiled at Melly.

On her way home from Melly's, Scarlett remembered Rhett statement that Belle was dead to him. She guessed she really was. Another way she knew Rhett loved her was that he had let Ashley live although Rhett's life would be easier if the man was dead.

Rhett rarely felt sexual desire anymore. His guilt was tremendous that because of his desire he had given her the disease and that he had killed his son. He just wanted to hold her long into the night. Yet, when Scarlett would give him those shy smiles, he was always happy to be one with her.

A month after the Butlers had returned from their trip to Europe, the matrons were gossiping about them. They all knew that Scarlett had put her businesses up for sale before she and Captain Butler had left town. They all knew that Scarlett had visited Mr. Wilkes the day after the incident at the mill but Captain Butler had been with her the entire time. They had then gone to their respective attorneys. The matrons were speculating about why the Butlers had left town in such a hurry. Most people thought it was to get away from the gossip and rumors. The matrons had always thought the Butlers had a strange relationship. It had seemed that the couple had a hostile relationship not a loving one. Yet when Scarlett had needed Captain Butler to stand beside her, he had. When Scarlett had needed someone to get her away from Atlanta, Captain Butler had whisked her away to Europe. Although Captain Butler's actions that night were questionable. It had appeared that he had been extremely hostile towards Scarlett while they were at the party, and he had been seen at The Painted Lady later that night.

Admittedly, all of these items were unanswered questions, yet the ladies weren't talking about what the Butlers had done six months ago. No, they were talking about how the Butlers were almost a changed couple this last month. Captain Butler still went out occasionally at night to play cards but now it was to a saloon that did not have a brothel. Yes, Captain Butler was still taking Bonnie on a walk every afternoon when he got home from the bank but now Scarlett and usually Ella and Wade joined him. The family had started going to the Episcopal Church. It seemed both Mr. and Mrs. Butler were paying rapt attention to the sermon. Mrs. Merriwether had heard from PittyPat that the couple was redecorating their home. Which was really hard to believe because everyone knew how much Scarlett loved the décor of her home. What's more it wasn't even three years old. The couple was being seen together quite often. Despite the improperness of it, Captain Butler had even escorted Scarlett to some of those Scallawag and Republican functions she so enjoyed attending.

Melanie Wilkes was following the gossip closer than anyone else. Had her worst nightmare come true? Had Scarlett fallen out of love with Ashley? Of course, Scarlett wasn't really in love with the real Ashley just the imaginary man Scarlett thought he was in her mind. Where had all the angry hostile feelings gone that had been between Captain Butler and Scarlett?

One day as Melanie and Scarlett were going calling, Melly had said, "Poor Ashley has left his dinner at home can we take it out to him?"

"Of course."

Melly had told Ashley that she hadn't gotten his dinner made and she would bring it out to him. Melly had to see the way Scarlett behaved around Ashley. Melly knew how Ashley was going to behave. He was going to behave like a man adored and who adored his worshipper.

After the ladies had dropped Ashley's dinner off to him, Melanie was not worried. She didn't know what was going on between Scarlett and Captain Butler, but Melly knew that Scarlett still had a strong crush on Ashley. Therefore, all was good in Melly's world, but she would have to watch this closely.