Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twelve

The next morning when Rhett joined her, Scarlett said, "Do you think I am selfish and unaware of you and your feelings?"

"Not now but you were during the war. Not just to me but to Wade and Miss Melly also."

"Give me an example."

"When I would return to Atlanta, you would never even ask me how my trip was or where I had been. You wanted to talk about you and what you had been up to."

Scarlett stared at Rhett without speaking. She knew what Rhett had said was true. Child that she had been she had never wanted to talk about anything but herself.

Finally, Scarlett said, "Then I will have to do better. Tell me about your family."

Rhett smiled at her and said, "My father is thankfully dead…."

"Rhett!"

Rhett smiled but didn't look the least bit repentant. He continued, "My mother is in good health. My sister, Rosemary, lives with her. She is probably just a couple of years older than you. I have a brother, but he is of no importance. He won't speak to me. He is married and has three children, I think. They are all very proper Charleston people."

"How often do you see your mother and sister?"

"Maybe once a year if that often. I write her once a month."

"Were you always different? I was."

Rhett smiled and said, "I most definitely was. I knew the rules. I just didn't understand why we had to follow them. I still don't."

"Did your mother side with your father about disowning you?"

Rhett ignored the question and started telling Scarlett about his childhood in Charleston and she let him change the subject. She had gotten all she was going to get out of him today. Maybe ever.

After they had been meeting in the park for about a month, Rhett said, "Run away with me. You and all your children. Even your father. We could live in Paris as Mr. and Mrs. Butler, and nobody would ever know any different."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want me to run away with you? And don't give me that worn out story about wanting my body. No man does what you have done for me just to have a woman's body."

Rhett smiled, "I was asking you to marry me that night on the porch. If you hadn't had that triumphant look on your face I would have."

"Oh Rhett, why did you insult me instead."

"Because sometimes I can behave like a foolish child also. This is something you should know about me. I lash out at people irrationally when I am hurt."

"And you never apologize."

"No, I never apologize."

"You need to work on both those issues."

"Indeed, I do, and I will if you move to Paris with me. You are my first love and probably my only love. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else. I have certainly waited for you longer than I thought I would wait for any woman."

"I love you, too but it is just as well we didn't marry then. I had to truly realize that Ashley didn't love me and that I didn't love him before we could be happy."

"Then you will run away to Paris with me?"

"I will think about it. It is a decision that doesn't just affect me. I will need to also think about whether I will take Beau with me. He is not my child, yet he is. I am the only mother he has ever known. Give me a couple of days to think about it."

"A couple of days."

"It is time for me to return to my chores. Until tomorrow."

Rhett smiled and said, "If you ran away with me, you would never have to do chores again."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Give me a couple of days."

Scarlett was still not one hundred percent sure about returning to Rhett so right now she was stalling for time. If Rhett knew she loved him, would she get playful, kind Rhett. What about when they argued? Would he say hateful things to her? Would he be faithful to her always? Could she get him to listen to her worries and concerns? Would he spoil her the way he had spoiled Bonnie? Yes, he would. He had let her have anything she wanted even when she believed herself in love with Ashley. Would they be able to get Bonnie back? Could she make Rhett share Bonnie with her? Could she get Rhett to not spoil Bonnie so completely. She guessed the real question was would he respect her.

That night Rhett said to Belle, "I may be leaving Atlanta in the near future, permanently. If I do, I will have to sell my half of The Painted Lady. Would you like to buy it?"

"How much?"

"I guess three hundred dollars. You would mostly be buying the land. You have built up the business."

"Let me know when you decide one way or the other.

Belle knew what that meant. If Rhett was leaving Atlanta, Mrs. Wilkes was going with him. Rhett would never leave Mrs. Wilkes. He had waited for over six years for her to be available. Strangely he had even saved the man's life and asked her to lie and provide an alibi for the man. Belle had done it to keep Mr. Wilkes alive.

Belle knew as did almost everyone in Atlanta that Rhett was meeting Mrs. Wilkes in the park every morning. They weren't being very discreet. They almost acted like they didn't care who knew. Well, Belle decided to make sure Mr. Wilkes knew. Afterall, she couldn't let her golden goose just fly away.

The next day around dinner time, Belle who was dressed as a very dowdy woman showed up at Ashley's sawmill. Ashley greeted Belle by saying, "Mrs. Watling, please come in. Do you want to buy some lumber?"

"No, I need to give you some information. Your wife and Rhett Butler meet in the park everyday right in front of your boys."

To Belle's happiness Mr. Wilkes' face got red. In a tight voice he said, "Thank you for this information. Will there be anything else?"

"No, I think that is all I came to tell you."

"Then let me walk you out."

"Thank you."

Ashley fumed about the information all afternoon long. He had told Scarlett to never speak to Captain Butler again. The man was too fond of his wife.

That night when Ashley got home, he was so mad at Scarlett he couldn't see straight. She had killed Melanie, then seduced him like a wanton woman, now she was shaming him by openly cavorting with another man. His boss on top of it. She was probably having relations with the man also.

Although supper was already on the table Ashley demanded to see Scarlett in the parlor. Once the door was shut, he said, "How dare you shame me by meeting Captain Butler in the park every day in clear view of everyone?"

"I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was at the park with my children and my friend showed up to visit with me."

"Everyday."

"He certainly can't come to our home. You would not be happy with him being here. The truth is you are not happy with anyone being here."

"You will never meet him again."

"I'm going to the park tomorrow. If my friend shows up, I will speak to him."

Ashley grabbed her arm with a grip so tight she knew it was going to leave a bruise. With a murderous look on his face, Ashley said, "No, you aren't," Ashley then did something that Scarlett would have bet her life that he would never do. He slapped her across the face. Hard enough that she tasted blood. Ashley screamed, "If you meet him tomorrow, I will kill you, you whore. First you kill Melanie then you seduce me causing me to have to marry you, and now you are shaming me by openly having an affair with another man. Of course, he would be attracted to you. He is a whore monger. I can't believe that you ever thought you would be as good as my pure and saintly Melanie."

"Alright, Ashley. I won't meet him tomorrow. I'm going to the privy. Go ahead and eat without me. I am suddenly not that hungry."

When Scarlett got to the privy she called for Genie. Once she had appeared Genie said, "Are you all right?"

When Scarlett attempted to smile, she found she had a busted lip. She said, "You warned me not to push him too far, but I never thought the 'little gentleman' would strike a woman."

"I guess he isn't the gentleman, you thought he was."

That made Scarlett laugh. She said, "Hardly. I can no longer stay in this timeline. If I can't see Rhett, I will go insane. Take me back to when Rhett asked me to marry him. I think I know everything I need to know to manage my husband."

Genie smiled and said, "I believe you do. Tomorrow morning you will wake up on that day."

"Thank you, Genie. Is there any way I can take Melanie with me?"

"I'm sorry no."

"Will Rhett and I get our daughter back?"

"I don't know. You could return after your daughter is born."

"No, we had already done so much damage to our relationship by then."

"That is true."

"I will just have to hope we get Bonnie back."

"Yes ma'am."

"I am sad I am never going to see you again. I will miss your counsel. You are the closest thing to a girlfriend that I have had in a long time."

"If you want to see me again, give the lamp to your husband and make him the owner."

"Of course."

Scarlett went into the nursery. She sat and held the baby the rest of the night. She didn't wipe the tears away. She did think, 'Life was so much easier when I didn't know I loved my children so much.'

As Genie watched Scarlett her heart broke for the young woman. Genie was feeling so much compassion for her that she did something she wasn't supposed to do. She gave Scarlett a fourth wish. Genie knew what Scarlett's fourth wish was. To get all her children back.

Scarlett had made it through the day of Frank's funeral. She was pretty dried eyed the entire time for Frank's death had been over four years for her. In truth, she had never cared about him anyway and she no longer felt guilty. The people at the funeral but especially the matrons were all very cold to her. She could care less. She had seen their true colors after Rhett had redeemed his reputation at her expense. They had all been quite happy to push her further in the mud which always appalled her. She had just been doing what she had to do to survive while Rhett had gone out of his way to be aggravating and annoying. Furthermore, Rhett had made money on the war. The same money that he had used to bribe his way back into Atlanta society. All these people turned a blind eye to all his sins. Not the least being his shaming her by blatantly using a whore. These same people were ready to tar and feather her for having hugged an old friend. The other mourners had looked at her in shock when she had fixed herself a big plate at the reception. She hadn't cared. She had been hungry. She had been starving for the last several weeks and there had only been oatmeal in the house for breakfast.

She had a small glass of brandy, but she did not want to be drunk.

Scarlett was alone in her room. The house was so quiet. Her children and Mammy were over at Melanie's house. She would go get them as soon as Rhett left. She wanted to make sure everything went as she planned before she went and got them.

Scarlett looked around the room. She wondered how she had endured being married to Frank. She shuttered at the thought. She would get someone to clean Frank's stuff out of the room quickly. Although she did not plan to live in this room again. She hoped everything went as she had planned.

Soon Scarlett heard voices downstairs and knew Rhett had finally come to call. She hurried to the landing. Aunt PittyPat had her back to Scarlett so she allowed herself to smile in a mischievous way while she said, "Rhett, you shouldn't be here. It is so improper."

"I need to talk to you about some business I had with Mr. Kennedy."

"Oh. I will be right down. Go into the library."

When Scarlett joined him in the library, Aunt PittyPat was there. She said, "Auntie, will you go upstairs? I cannot go into the parlor after…" Scarlett sobbed.

"Of course. Of course."

PittyPat left the library but not without a disapproving look. Neither person noticed.