Hey guys! So I'll be traveling for 2 weeks. If it goes past 2 weeks, I'll try to pop on with my phone that I am trapped in a foreign land.
The houses: Rhett loves the outside of Atlanta, but not the inside. Rhett tolerates/does not hate the outside of Calverton, Rhett will like, but not love the inside. Scarlett got free reign on the inside of the Atlanta house, Calverton they compromised on.
Old Guard: Melly will pop up again and you'll get some of the Old Guard feelings regarding the Butlers.
Aunt Pitty: I don't know if she'd be totally upset if Scarlett abandoned the country and moved back into the house with another husband, even if that husband is Rhett. She'd get her grandnephew back. Lol. It's not going to happen, but dealing with Rhett could be tolerable for having Wade back.
Mama not mother: In the novel, Wade and Bonnie were both two and calling Scarlett mother. Scarlett called her mother, Mother and her father, Pa. I think it's just one of her fancy and refined things. She wants to be like her mother, her mother is a gently bred upper class female, she is who Scarlett expected/planned to be. Other people hear what a child calls their parent and up until Rhett tells her to forget them, Scarlett is often very concerned about what other people think about her.
Hey guys! So I'll be traveling for 2 weeks. If it goes past 2 weeks, I'll try to pop on with my phone that I am trapped in a foreign land.
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Part Nineteen
Early June 1869
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"I do wish I'd gotten with child when the sheath broke," Scarlett said taking a handkerchief to her forehead. She had gone into the office to do work, but it was so dreadfully hot and the baby was certainly larger than the last two, she couldn't find a comfortable position to look over the books.
His laugh was quick, he'd not risk it for longer. "What about your reputation?"
"It could go to hell if it meant this baby was out of my body."
The weather had gone up several degrees over last week and Scarlett had given up on anything aside from nightgowns and dressing gowns. She had even sat outside on the back porch in them, daring him to say a single word. They had at least always been full dress gowns, the most formal and refined of personal wear.
Mammy had begun mentioning repeatedly around halfway through that the baby would be bigger than the last two. Scarlett and Rhett had foolishly assumed that meant the baby had been created a month prior. No, the baby was simply large and had recently decided the only places it was comfortable were on Scarlett's bladder or against her lungs. Rhett had spent ages the last few nights trying to find a way she'd be comfortable in bed.
Overnight she'd gone from barely acting pregnant to being so pregnant she couldn't function.
"Make love to me, get this baby out of me," she looked over in misery.
"I don't think that's a wise idea."
"Because I'm so massive you're not attracted to me any longer, I'm sweaty and disgusting."
She was more endearing than the children during their tired tantrums.
"You take yourself in hand, I'm fairly certain you can accomplish it with," she looked down in disgust, "this."
He paused for a moment stunned at her words, it seemed as if exhausted and miserable Scarlett became as crass as drunk Scarlett. "My dear, I don't know what I'm more shocked by right now that I actually taught you that," because he had a very sudden memory of how lustful Scarlett had become halfway through her pregnancy and he'd had to catch up to her because he wasn't reacting fast enough, "or that you repeated it."
"I would do anything to get this baby out of me."
"I know, I'm sorry," he said taking her hand, "I would like nothing more than to make love to you, but you know Mammy sent word that it looked like Suellen would be having her baby today."
"I'm older, I should get to have my baby first."
"I don't know what to tell you, Scarlett."
She whimpered.
"Come now my sweet. How about I fill the tub for you, I'll wash your hair-"
"Are you implying that I need to bathe?"
"I think it might make you feel better. Now come get out of that chair, let's get you into a more comfortable one while I see about your bath."
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Mid-June 1869
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"We need to get you cleaned up Miss Scarlett," Prissy announced.
"Could you give us a few minutes," Scarlett said still cradling her baby against her as Rhett held them both in his arms as he sat on the bed with her. "Please Mammy?"
"Course child," Mammy smiled at her baby holding her baby looking as happy as when she was a child.
"Isn't he perfect?" Scarlett looked up at her husband.
"Will his looks improve in time?"
"Ella's certainly did," Scarlett smiled and looked down at her baby.
He laughed, "I don't recall her looking so-"
"Compressed? They both were. Thank god considering I'm the one they took the journey through."
He laughed again.
"Are you pleased to have a son?"
"I already had a son. I suppose though considering we already had both a son and daughter, another son is just as fine as a daughter, although I imagine I would have appreciated your beauty living on beyond us."
"Just so long as you remember that you only get one."
Another laugh passed his lips, "You have only reminded me of that a few times my sweet. My gratitude knows no limits for him."
"For another nuisance?"
"Oh and he will be. Our son," his hand moved along their boy.
"He imagine he'll be a handful."
"We're likely to spend a lot of money finding a school that will keep him for longer than six months."
It was her turn to laugh.
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He held their boy while she napped. Their stubborn boy for Rhett had spent last ten days doing everything he could to bring on her labor. Everything Betina had suggested they had tried. They had made love, he had massaged her feet, they had walked around the outside of the arena more times than he could count, he was fairly sure the grass had flattened because of them. Scarlett had eaten and drank every concoction Betina had placed before her.
Finally, today just as they finished taking the afternoon meal and he was escorting her to the parlor did it begin. After nine months of waiting and two weeks of agony for the entire household, it seemed almost bizarre to have it over in four hours. Scarlett had demanded that he remain with her so he wouldn't dare think about doing it to her again in the future. Her bad mood had lifted as her labor progressed, it was the end she sought for the suffering she'd endured the last few weeks.
He heard the children on the stairs having returned from Tara with Estelle and made his way out of their bedroom and to the hallway.
The sight of them as he held the baby in his arms, the dark-haired baby. They were very nearly a rainbow with their variety. Lawrence's fair hair and blue eyes, Wade's soft brown hair and eyes, Ella's strawberry blonde and bluish green eyes. He would have to have them sit for a portrait; a photograph wouldn't do his family justice.
"Calm," Estelle said holding Ella's hand tighter as she tried to run to him.
"Come meet your brother," Rhett said squatting down so the children would easily be able to see him.
"Does he have a name Uncle Rhett?" Lawrence asked as they approached.
"Is Mother okay?" Wade questioned.
"That's not Lily," Ella said viewing the baby in her father's arms.
"No, Lily is your cousin, this is your brother and your mother is fine. She did however fall asleep before we named the baby. I'm sure she'll rectify that as soon as she awakens."
"Glad it's a boy," was Wade's comment.
Lawrence nodded.
"Mine?" Ella questioned as she continued to view the baby suspiciously since she hadn't been allowed to touch Lily at Tara. A hand crept out to try to touch the bundle.
"Yes yours, but you must be very gentle with him for some time."
"He's like Mother's figurines," Wade informed her.
Ella sighed and pulled her hand back.
"I promise you my dear in several months he will be just as much fun as you and the boys are," Rhett laughed. "Estelle will read to you tonight and Mammy will tuck you in."
"Are you sure Mother's fine?" Wade questioned. He'd heard from one of the older kids that mother's died having babies. Lawrence had told him to ignore it and his mother had rolled her eyes and informed him she had no intention of dying having a baby.
"Perfectly fine, but I imagine if I leave your mother's side when she's just had a baby even for you children then she'll have my head. She's sound asleep, just like you three should be. You'll see her in the morning."
Lawrence smirked, not doubting Uncle Rhett's opinion of Aunt Scarlett's reaction for one second.
"Goodnight Uncle Rhett."
"Goodnight Daddy."
"Night Daddy," Ella said going to plant a kiss on her father, which he readily accepted.
"Goodnight children, be good for Estelle."
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"You'll be awake all night," Rhett smiled as Scarlett awakened to the food tray Mammy had brought in.
"I could sleep for a month after the last month," Scarlett dryly retorted and lifted her hands for the baby. "Hello, my baby," Scarlett greeted her son, "I suppose you're far hungrier than I."
"I can feed you while you feed him," Rhett said watching as his wife shifted her gown and set about getting the baby to latch on again.
She looked up with a smile, "It's fine I can wait," and then her head immediately dropped down again.
Devoted, contented, infatuated. His wife, who had not wanted another baby and had used it as an argument against marriage. She loved his son; she was happy in her life. He had told her he loved her repeatedly over the last few weeks, she returned the sentiment with a look of annoyance nearly every single time. She hadn't spoken the words before, not fully, she said it with the children, 'Tell Daddy we love him.' She loved a part of him, a single role. She loved the provider and the protector. It was something, it was what he wanted for her, to feel safe again.
He did so wish she loved all of him that she felt it to her bones as he did. She loved him as a provider, lusted for his body, was entertained by him as a man. As a man, he was a friend, someone to amuse and entertain her, to listen to her woes. It was all so close to what he desired, it gave the illusion of it very nearly perfectly.
They were all such very odd thoughts to have as he watched her hold their child for only the third time, but he forced himself to have them before he fell upon his knees and confessed it all. Confessed the greater meaning he now saw in life, how there was so much more than he had ever imagined. How their love would live on forever because of their boy. They were combined in another life, bound in another life.
She gave another quick look up at her husband. "He is amazing isn't he?"
"Utterly amazing," he said placing a hand upon their boy and dropping a kiss to the top of her plaited hair.
"You still only get the one," she said shooting up a warning look.
He laughed gently, "I am very aware."
"I'm not kidding Rhett. You were supposed to be horrified by what happens in childbirth. You almost looked enthralled." She was fairly certain he had looked further than he was supposed to, around the sheet that should have hidden the worst of it, but she would certainly never ask what exactly he saw.
"There was no almost, I was. You were amazing," he dropped another kiss to her head. "Don't worry, no matter how spectacular and impressive you were in the last few hours, I will not likely forget the last few weeks."
"He has to weigh four pounds more than the other children," Scarlett looked down at the baby and then up at her husband.
"Two," Mammy chimed in from across the room. "He's sure longer than Mister Wade was," Mammy gave a look at Rhett's tall frame.
"My apologies," he nodded at both women.
"Don't you worry about it none child. You came through just fine like I'd done told you. Your body's meant to have babies."
"Mammy take that back right now before Rhett gets it in his head that another one of these will be a good plan for the future," Scarlett's eyes were wide with horror and she looked more like a 14 year old girl than a 24 year old mother of three.
Rhett let out another laugh, "I promise I will not. Now what do you say we get to naming this little boy?"
"It should be something classy and refined," Scarlett nodded, "French, since-" Scarlett stopped herself just before admitting that he'd talked her into it being just them once in New Orleans, "since we honeymooned in New Orleans."
"That is an excellent idea. What about Phillipe?"
"No," Mammy nearly shouted across the room.
"Whatever is wrong with Phillipe, that sounds like a lovely name, Phillipe Butler," Scarlett asked.
"Miss Ellen's cousin Phillipe died in New Orleans."
"Why that almost sounds poignant, the Robillard's lost a Phillipe in New Orleans and we brought one back," Rhett remarked.
"No," Mammy shook her head, "bad juju, that'd be what they'd call it. You leave those ghost lying Mister Rhett, you don't bring them into this house."
"Whatever-" Scarlett was about to question the story, wonder what happened, but the look Mammy sent her sent a chill down her bones. "What about Louis?" She threw in the first name she thought of.
"He may have been a king, but the idea of our son being called, Louie! Sends chills down my spine."
"Well when you say it like that, it sends them down mine as well," Scarlett shifted the baby to her shoulder, where Mammy had put a cloth on her several moments before.
He let out another laugh.
"Oh do sit in the bed Rhett so the baby can be next to me while I eat."
"I will overlook the fact that you don't want me next to you while you eat," he said going to take a seat.
"Of course, I do, you'll be holding the baby," she smiled at him and transferred the baby over.
Mammy moved the tray over Scarlett's lap.
"Now names," Scarlett nodded as she picked up her utensils.
"Emile."
"Not bad."
"Andre."
"I knew one, didn't like him."
"Francois."
"Too fussy."
"My dear did you just say something is too fussy."
"We would end up shorting his name to Franco or Frank."
"Turns out I'm in need of sleep as well," Rhett couldn't believe he'd suggested such a name.
"Well don't expect to get that for several months." The baby would stay in the room with them, Rhett would have the full experience of having a child, even if she had to suffer through the full experience of having a child. Babies could seem easy when they were out of the way.
"Jacques."
"Everyone will just call him Jack."
Jack Butler, he didn't hate that. "Jules? I did promise you, jewels."
"Do recall I did all the work for him?"
"I recall participating," he gave her a look.
"Yes in the fun, certainly not the work."
"I-" he paused and gave a look at Mammy. Suddenly mentioning the sweat and hours of effort and moments sure he'd have a heart attack were not a good idea.
"Julian is nice. A little less crass not like we're flaunting our wealth in everyone's face. I'd never hear the end of it from Suellen. We could call him Jules though. Wouldn't that be sweet," she gave another adoring look to the baby in his arms.
"Julian Butler," Rhett said looking down at the baby, "what about a middle name?" He asked looking back up.
"We'll just give him yours. JKB."
He smiled, "Wonderful monogram my dear."
"His signature will be marvelous," she smiled and moved to touch the baby again.
"Focus on eating Scarlett," he smiled, "words I never thought I'd have to say prior to last month."
"I imagine once I'm done being exhausted I'll be starving for month," she answered with a shake of her head, "you are an impressively big boy," she went kiss the baby.
"Last kiss, Scarlett. Finish your plate and you can have the baby back."
She pouted and turned back to her food.
"Would you like me to feed you while you hold the baby?"
"No, you've been positively annoying shoving food and drinks down my throat. I'm feeling much better, I don't trust myself not to shove a biscuit in your face."
Thanks for reading!
