My plan was to post the end of the fic for Thanksgiving. Then I was too busy to get it done in the days leading up to it. Then total unexpected slam of unexpected real life stuff that resulted in me only being home and appropriately awake for 4 hours of the day and 2 of those hours I should have been sleeping for. I definitely saw emails from you guys and it was one those, "I'll respond later" but well if you saw the state of my apartment right now, I failed miserably at dealing with things later.

I promise you guys, I was not off having fun and leaving you waiting. Sorry if anyone was worried. Someone was in the hospital, it was not me and it was not COVID, but it resulted in me taking on a whole lot of other stuff.

Fingers crossed, I will write all the little bits to have this done by Xmas.


-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Chapter Twenty-Two

Atlanta

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Scarlett did not mind the way the eyes of Atlanta followed her as she walked down the street. She was in a violet mohair walking dress, trimmed in violet, her hat sitting jauntily forward on her head, fresh flowers pinned to it. The baby in his wicker stroller, smiling out adoringly, letting everyone see what a perfect baby he was. So big and strong and handsome. The children were walking beside her. Her fair-haired Lawrence was such a wonderful brother, he held Ella's hand so firmly, Scarlett never worried about the little girl dashing out on to the crowded street.

Scarlett found it impossible not to compare the children as she looked over at them. How shabbily dressed little Beau was compared to his cousins. Oh, the stitching was neat and no fabric was frayed, but being this close it was clear the differences in the quality. It simply wasn't fair that a child of Ashley's was dressed in such a manner. Why he should be the golden-haired child of Clayton County.

Scarlett gave another look over at Lawrence. Why he wasn't even 11 and the girls were already giggling about him. Setting their caps on him, planning to live in the great white house.

He was a handsome child with refined features, with his flaxen hair and blue eyes, he was simply so princely, the kind of male girls dreamed of to rescue them out of the drudgery of their lives. Scarlett immediately felt guilty when she looked over at Beau and he rewarded her with a smile. He was such a loving and adoring nephew, certainly more engaging than her sister's children. Scarlett turned to Melly suddenly sure she should offer to pass along the boys old clothing to Beau, he didn't deserve to be punished for the life his parents led.

She was about to speak as she saw Melly's hand up in a gentle wave. Scarlett followed her gaze and saw Belle Watling, of all of the hideous creatures she could see in town, of course it would be the worst. Scarlett was panicked for a moment worried that the woman would approach them in public. In broad daylight. Belle studied them so intently.

"How dare that women even look upon us," Scarlett spoke softly.

"Why Scarlett, there are good aspects to Belle. Is Rhett not still friends with her?"

It hadn't occurred to Scarlett that Rhett could still social with her, he had promised not to bed anyone, but her, but he hadn't made any promises about not socializing with other women. "He's a married man," was all she could think to say and hope Melly wouldn't see how flimsy the words were.

"Of course."

Scarlett turned her head to look back at that red-headed wench and saw her standing still, continuing to stare even though only their backsides were presented to her. The woman turned so quickly upon seeing Scarlett's gaze it was as if she'd been slapped, she turned on her heel and headed in the opposite direction. It took Scarlett less than a minute to realize the woman had been staring at Lawrence.

o-o-o

Their bedroom in the Atlanta house was far unlike their bedrooms at home or in Charleston. While Scarlett had designed those rooms to reflect herself it was clear this room she had designed to suit him. Walnut furniture filled the room, in some pieces burled walnut, making the design in the wood often more fascinating and intricate than the fabrics in the room.

The bed sturdy and more than ample in length for his size and its width certainly allowed for a great deal of maneuverability, their highback bed, in the classic Eastlake style with its ornate floral details and elaborately carved frame. Ornate, but so simple compared to his wife's tastes. Straight or gently curved lines. It was very nearly ecclesiastical, something so very pious about the bed, which frankly made entirely too much sense considering how much worshipping went on in it.

The thick maroon carpets were soft, far too soft than should be required by something meant for the floor. So many were layered upon the floor that there was never a need for slippers inside their room and he had pulled his wife from the settee in front of the fireplace more than once and made love to her on the carpet. The fabric of the damask drapes so heavy and tightly woven, they could sleep until the afternoon and never notice, which they could only do because the rugs were so thick a maid could move silently in their room when they had a late night.

The only gilt in their room, unlike the rest of the house, was the large gilted frame for Scarlett's vanity mirror, which she had only recently replaced. Along with replacing her small vanity seat with a larger bench. It was a bedroom of luxury and decadence suited to him. Normally a place of comfort and reprieve, in their chaotic townhome that was nearly always filled with guests.

It was not such a room today. No, today his generally contented wife had fire in her eyes and not the good kind he was used to seeing, especially in this room. Rage.

"How could you?" Scarlett turned upon him.

His mind briefly flashed to a frivolous answer, it was occasionally fun to play with Scarlett's fiery and impetuous temper, especially considering how infrequently it emerged. However, seeing as he was unsure of the reason behind her rage and despite the low odds of it being justifiable, he decided against it in that moment. "My dear, I find myself at a loss. What have I done?"

"What have you done? Why I'll tell you what you've done. You've destroyed our family."

A flash of fear tore through him, but he never let it show. "And how have I done that?"

She laughed, "How have you…" she laughed again, "you gave me a child of a whore to raise."

"I gave you no child to raise. You took in Lawrence despite my misgivings and against my repeated suggestions that we not bring him to Georgia."

"But you withheld the one piece of information that you know would have kept me from doing so."

"That Belle Watling gave birth to him," he filled in the information he had no doubt she had finally figured out.

"She's his mother."

"She hasn't taken care of the boy in several years."

"He was born into a whorehouse," Scarlett said with her eyes wide as she made that connection, "he was raised in a house full of prostitutes."

"He wasn't even a year before he was settled elsewhere." He asked the question, he'd wondered for some time. "Whose did you think he was?"

"Certainly not hers."

"Then whose."

"I don't know Rhett. I suppose I thought he was the result of one of your awful friends and a mistress. He isn't yours is he? He looks nothing like her, but a throwback, I believe that's what you call yourself."

"No, he's not mine Scarlett."

"But he could have been."

"My dear are you asking if I've ever slept with Belle. If you're going to ask, then ask. Certainly you're learning now what all of your half questions and hiding from the truth will get you."

"A whore's bastard as my son. Can it get worse than that? Fine Rhett, did you-are you sleeping with Belle Watling."

He sighed, "I did promise you faithfulness. Are you questioning my word?"

"What, no," she shook her head, almost in a moment of panic, then something changed in her eyes, "Yes. I suppose I am. I would have never thought you could allow something like this to happen without a mention. You've certainly done a number of reckless things in your life, but this."

"He's a boy Scarlett, my ward. She hasn't had any contact with him since he was a toddler."

"You're not answering my question."

"I am only sleeping with you my dear, which is what I expect to be the status until I take my final breath."

"But you slept with her."

He gave her an annoyed look, "Yes, for many years. Like many men in this town and others. You do understand the nature of her business do you not?"

"Is he yours?"

"He is not."

"How did you end up with him?"

"As I told you when I was young and impressionable that girl died-"

"She was a whore," full awareness dawned upon Scarlett.

"She was."

"Was that baby yours?"

"It was not, but don't take that to mean I was a saint. It was simply before I realized that if you are only intimate with one woman that they take it to mean more than it does."

"Is that why Belle looks after you so? Was she once the only woman?"

"For a period, yes. Whores, mistresses and wives can all equally become possessive. The title does not change the woman."

"You're disgusting."

"For speaking honestly? Who did you think you married? Did you think you could whitewash my past? That your desire for a country gentleman would be stronger than who you actually married?"

"I didn't think that you would do this to our family."

"And what have I done to our family."

"We'll be ruined when they find out. He'll be ruined."

"No one will find out Scarlett. We're in an entirely new state."

"I could see it, in just one look, I could see who she was to him. The entire town will think he's yours with that whore."

"No one with eyes would ever imagine Lawrence is my blood."

"That wouldn't stop them from suggesting he is."

o-o-o

"The girls told me you were here," Belle said upon entering Rhett's room at the sporting house. The hour was far too early for most patrons, the sporting house only began to fill up after supper. She had been more than surprised to arrive and hear from the girls that Rhett had appeared in the middle of the afternoon.

"It's good to see you Belle," he nodded.

"It's wonderful to see you, Rhett. Why we all miss seeing you. We were sure when you got that big house, you'd be moving back to Atlanta."

"We have big houses everywhere now. We're in negotiations to build one down in New Orleans as well."

"There are so many beautiful houses there, there weren't any that suited your new wife?"

"She has it in her mind that our house there should be done in the Second Empire style."

"I don't know that term."

"It uses many elements of various styles. I believe she is particularly drawn to the mansard roof and the domes. Opulent would be a word to describe the feel of it."

"Like the inside of your home in Atlanta?"

"You've heard of it."

"It's a favored topic amongst the wives, the husbands can't help but repeating it."

"We've a wonderful architect in New Orleans. It will be done in the best of style that it can be."

"Well that's nice."

He nodded.

"What were you doing in here?" she asked, "Why aren't you downstairs? Would you like me to send a girl up?"

"No," he shook his head, "I was retrieving my personal belongings. I realized I've been remiss in having you keep this room for me."

"Well the club's part yours, you're free to-"

"I have four children and a wife now. The sporting house is all yours. I left the papers in your office."

"Just because-"

"There is some truth to a man's reputation is all he has. I'll not tarnish Scarlett's or the children's anymore than it already is by being tied to me."

"You're a-"

"Scarlett saw you staring at Lawrence today, she knows he's your son."

"Whose did she think he was?"

"She actually had two very reasonable guesses," he supplied for their fight had gone on for some time. He had several friends in New Orleans with fair hair and eyes, the two she had attributed to Lawrence had moved in his circle at the time and had both been married. "She wants to sell the house in Atlanta."

"Why?"

"She believes others would realize you gave birth to Lawrence."

"How? Why he doesn't look anything like me, he certainly is handsome though."

"Apparently how you were watching the boy on the street." There were points during the fight that she hadn't just wanted to leave Atlanta, but all of Georgia so it could never be pieced together.

"Why I hardly looked at him, it was the first time I saw him since he was a baby. The only thing I've had of him was the photograph you brought me 7 years ago. Why he barely looks anything like that."

"You haven't shown anyone that, have you?" there was a sudden look of anger in his eyes.

"No, not in years."

"Damnation, Scarlett might have been right. Have you told anyone about having a child?"

"Not for some time," fear coursed through Belle as she recalled telling Mrs. Wilkes about having a child.

"When Scarlett insisted on bringing the boy to us, I'll admit none of this ever occurred to me."

"She really did choose to bring Lawrence to live with you that wasn't just Mrs. Wilkes trying to make Scarlett look like a decent person?"

"She insisted repeatedly despite my objections. But the boy's been a good fit, Wade and Ella enjoy having him as a brother."

"Well that's nice."

"Belle," he softened looking at his old friend, "I know this is going to sound unusually cruel, but Scarlett is his mother now. If you can't promise me that you'll ignore Lawrence when you see him, I'll have to abide by Scarlett's wishes and remove my family from Atlanta entirely."

"Why Rhett-"

"It's not a matter for discussion."

"She's doing this just to be cruel."

"I'll not deny that Scarlett certainly isn't fond of you, but in this instance, her actions are more than justified. I have four children to think of. Perhaps Scarlett's own could weather the gossip, but I'll not risk doors being closed to them simply because of my connection to you. As for Lawrence, in a handful of years he'll be off at college and then a man on his own. There is already more than a risk that his associations will be limited due to his status as my ward with no familial claims to be made."

"What are you asking me to do?"

"I've never known you to let your gaze linger on any other child. Certainly not of-"

"Your class? Why are you really one of them? Did you return to the life you ran from?"

"I suppose I did. My family more than approves of our marriage. My brother has decided that my association with Scarlett and her family forgives my past egress and will allow me to pay for my nephews' schooling," he drawled sarcastically.

"How kind of him to overlook your last twenty years to benefit himself."

"It pleases my mother and sister and it allowed more doors to open to my family and I in Charleston."

"Because you're respectable now?"

"I have four children to think of."

"One of them is mine and we've been friends for nearly twenty years."

"Scarlett's my wife."

"She married another man while you were in love with her."

"She came to me first and I offered to make her my mistress. Marriage to Frank Kennedy was punishment enough."

"It's nice that you aren't still denying that you love her."

"I spent my life with no vulnerabilities, you can hardly have expected me to embrace one so easily."

"You just expect me to walk away and never look upon my son because it would upset your wife."

"I offered you an alternative to the abortion. You could have left this life years ago and reclaimed the boy if it was what you truly wanted. Atlanta was more than kind to us both."

"It's not that easy."

"No I suppose it wasn't. I'm sorry to say this is easy, Belle."

"Choosing Scarlett over me?"

"Considering how many years I chose Scarlett over myself, you shouldn't be surprised. But I took on two children when I married Scarlett and now I have one of my own. There is far more at stake than an upset wife."

"But-"

"It's clear you're not able to stay away. I'll-"

"Rhett-"

"We'll no longer bring the children to Atlanta. They have enough to occupy themselves at home."

"You just finished your house here."

"Scarlett never had any interest in it aside from being a weekend home. I'm sure we'll still use it on occasion just without the children."

"Rhett that's just silly."

His eyes took a turn that made Belle realize she had pushed him too far. "The wellbeing is my family is far from silly."

"I didn't mean that at all Rhett. Just that you just bought the house and it's so close. And that yard, why it's so large I imagine you could lose a child in it."

"They have a much larger yard at home."

"Well yes, but-Well if this means so much to you, of course, I'll avoid Lawrence. He's my flesh and blood, I want what's best for him."

"This isn't for a matter of months, but years. He'll grow up one day and I'll tell him about you and then the choice will be his, but for now he's got a good life."

"I understand," she nodded.

Rhett picked up the saddlebag he'd draped over a chair, filled with the personal belongings from the room.

"You'll still come to visit, have a drink, play-"

"No. For the sake of the children I must put as much distance as possible between the man I was and the man I am now. I don't imagine the Old Guard will ever truly forget my association with this place, but I'll not give them anything new to talk about."

"Rhett, nearly all of the husbands-"

"Which is likely why all of the wives talk. No and in a few years, Ella will be able to understand what goes on in a place like this," he nodded, "and I won't allow the boys to think for a moment or anyone to think for a moment that I'm not faithful to their mother. I'll not raise them to think they shouldn't be faithful to their wives." That they should marry a woman that wasn't their everything, that others would fill that void.

"But-"

"It's not up for debate. There are plenty of places to seek out a card game. Don't worry, I won't finance another one and give you competition." He nodded again, "I wish you the best Belle."

"Goodbye Rhett," Belle's words were soft as she watched in shock as her friend of twenty years walked out on her forever.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Christmas Eve 1869

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"My dear I hope you are not still bemoaning the fact that I would not allow you to place candles upon the tree," Rhett said walking up to his wife in the family parlor as she admired one of the three trees in their house that had been placed upon tables and covered in bright ornaments.

"Not after the way you described what burning alive would feel like," she turned and gave him a dirty look.

"Then what are you thinking of?" he asked wrapping his arms around her.

"Last year I thought how it was the best Christmas since the war."

"And what do you think this year?"

"That it's the best Christmas ever."

"Is it really?"

"Why isn't it all simply so perfect?" Scarlett gave a look upon the room. The fraser fir on the table covered in ornaments, boughs of the fir were also upon the mantle where stockings were hung, holly above the mirrors. "The house and the dinner, I can't imagine your mother and sister ever had a Christmas like this with your brother and his family."

"It was good of you to invite them even though I know you only did it so we wouldn't be invited to Charleston."

"This house is meant to host Christmas."

"Indeed it is. You did a wonderful job decorating. So the best Christmas ever?"

"I didn't dare hope things could ever be this good again. Why it's even better than I dreamed of as a girl."

"I'm glad."

"Don't be so smug Rhett Butler. You were right about the marriage, I'm right about plenty of other things."

"What about the baby that you loathed to be bound down by."

She gave him a dirty look, "Ella wasn't even four months old when I said that Rhett. Trust me, it would have been awful. Frankly it wasn't wonderful when she was two."

"But," his hands went to his wife's trim waist, "you came through it wonderfully."

"I agreed to having another baby. So that is hardly a case of you were right and I was wrong. I am glad we got it over and done with early, simply for the sake of my wardrobe. My wardrobe now is far more expansive than it was when we first married and I lost several dresses that were too intricate to be expanded the inch and a half that your son added to my waist. They sit there in the closet tormenting me."

"He's only six months old. Those dresses may not be lost yet," he smirked. "I promise you though, no one, but you notices that inch and a half."

She grunted.

He laughed.

"Shall we return to waxing poetically about this Christmas or shall we remain on your waist, I'll need a closer inspection if you insist on focusing on that."

"No, I want to sit here and savor how perfect our Christmas is."

"Should I retrieve some punch? I believe they left it in the dining room."

"Oh no more of that ghastly port, there should still be more of the Tom and Jerry. You'll need to go into the kitchen for hot water."

"Are you sure? That is rather heavy and sweet for so close to bed."

"Yes," she smiled, "and while you're in there. See if Betina left any sweets out."

"She knows you my dear, I know she did," he smirked.

"I am so grateful your mother isn't a Catholic and I'm not forced to fast on Christmas Eve."

He laughed, "I imagine we would never share the holidays with my family if fasting were involved."

"I can hardly understand the Catholics create more suffering in the world," she shook her head.

"Your quota is full my sweet, I'd never allow you to be subjected to anymore," he said dropping a kiss to her lips.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

March 1870

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Her eyes flicked to her husband on the floor with the two youngest children. They were all far too noisy to be in the office as she worked, but she didn't quite mind them in there despite the fact that everything took twice as long when they were present.

Jules and Ella were both playing with blocks, although Ella's blocks were being stacked upon each other and Jules' were being bashed and occasionally put in his mouth. Rhett's hand on Jules' round tummy, keeping the boy in place and away from his sister's creation.

They simply made such a sight, Ella with her short strawberry blonde hair held out of her face with a blue ribbon, attired in her soft blue and white dress with the blue sash adorned with a cluster of pearls. Scarlett had just finished the dress yesterday and her husband was under penalty of death if anything happened to it. Jules' in his long white gown. Rhett with his long legs stretched out and covered in tan trousers, a white shirt and his suspenders. His vest and coat were neatly draped over the back of a chair.

"Are you going into town?" Scarlett said noticing the light color of his clothing, it certainly wasn't meant to be working with the horses.

"I thought we could go for a drive later. We haven't left Calverton in several days."

"We ride every morning."

"My dear we now own so much land, we never left our property."

She sighed, "I suppose you're right and we should. It's not as if we don't see people. It's just so much nicer to host than be visitors." She gave him a thoughtful look, "Are we going into town or-"

"The Tarletons invited us to see the progress on Fair Hill if you'll recall."

"I must have blocked it out," she sighed. "Perhaps we should go tomorrow. I'll have Betina-"

"I informed Betina this morning, she prepared a kouign-amann."

She sighed again, "At least there's that."

He smirked, "I believe it's time we finally start planning our trip to France. Julian will be a year in three months."

"Did you want to go this summer?"

"I was thinking the fall, spend our anniversary in Paris."

"That sounds nice, but what about New Orleans?" Her mind didn't fully join the conversations, not while it was so filled with the torture of having to make small talk with so many Tarletons.

"It makes more sense for us to go when the house is completed. By the time we return from France, the house should be done and ready for you to furnish. Why we can outfit it in Paris."

"Could we?" delight filled her voice.

"It's already set to be the grandest house in the Garden District, we should ensure the interior matches the exterior."

"Oh it'll be so marvelous. What of the boys? They have school, we can't just leave them behind."

"We'll hire tutors. Why we could have the boys attend school in New Orleans if you wanted. You could spend as much time setting up the house as you want."

"Leave Calverton for months?"

"We'll need at least two months in Paris and my dear I've seen you set up a house, it is hardly something we can achieve in a few weeks. Why not just take it easy and stay in New Orleans until this time next year. We'll return to the country just in time for all of the spring and summer parties to begin."

She was silent as she pondered the thought.

"We'll come back for a week or so after our trip and then travel on to New Orleans."

"Half a year in New Orleans?"

"My dear are you excited or frightened by that prospect."

"Why I imagine a little of both. I suppose this is what you planned all along when you decided we should build a house there."

"You enjoy our time in New Orleans far too much for it to only be for a few weeks out of the year. The house will allow you to throw the decadent parties I know you always wish to throw in Atlanta.

Her eyes drifted away as she was mentally planning out a magnificent party in rooms she had only seen on paper. She suddenly stopped and gave her husband a look, "Well that was an impressive distraction from the fact that you are making me visit the Tarletons today. Will you be taking me to London when I have to visit Mimosa?"

"Marriage to you is very expensive my sweet," he smirked.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Late July

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Rhett watched Scarlett at her office desk. She was writing a letter, he was fairly certain it was business rather than pleasure for she hardly paused as she would when composing personal correspondence. He was comfortably reclined on the chaise, a book in hand. It was as she began to fold the letter that he knew he couldn't delay telling her the news any longer.

"I have some news that will upset you," he said keeping his body relaxed against the sofa, trying to keep the atmosphere light, "but-"

"Did you lose money?"

"That tract of property we're developing in Atlanta, has certainly gone well over budget, but that is not-"

"I told you not to hire-"

"My dear that is not our topic at hand, berate me for hiring the southerner instead of the Yankee at a later time. Do remember that we're investing in Atlanta's good opinion of us with that development."

"I prefer money to their opinion."

"We have plenty of money, we can spend some on-"

"Buying their good opinion of us?" she rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of which, I've heard Mrs. Merriwether is thinking of expanding her bakery, it's hardly likely the bank will give her a loan."

"Did you do that for me?" Scarlett smiled, knowing her husband was a large investor in the bank.

"I suppose I should have lied and said I did, but I was thinking to loan her the money."

"That old bat!" Scarlett's eyes went wide with rage. "Do you know what she's said about you and about us?"

He did because Scarlett had told him repeatedly. "My dear do take a moment and think about this."

"What is there to think about?"

"She'll be indebted to us, not only financially-"

"You saved all the men in that family after the war, she was hardly indebted to us then."

"This is the livelihood of her entire family, Scarlett."

"I don't like this."

"You don't need to like it, but I'm doing it."

"Why?" she was offended by the idea of it, she couldn't imagine how she would feel once he actually did it.

"Because we have four children with us as parents. I will not hesitate to buy that town's good opinion of us."

"You bought them a roof for their church."

"Yes and I've helped create jobs for their men. I imagine I'll never need to stop buying their good opinion of us."

"They hardly like us."

"They tolerate us and they overlook our socializing with the Northerners."

"Considering how often Melly brings it up, I don't believe they overlook it."

"Fine Scarlett they allow us to engage in small acts of depravity and still be a part of the esteemed social circle-"

She huffed.

"Throw your fit, but I'm doing it," he said lifting his book back up.


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