Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Seventeen

The couple had stopped at Warren's bakery and bought some food. Scarlett got the rolls that she had been dreaming about for the last several weeks. She was going to have two of them.

Soon they were at the Hamilton House with a lot of pastries and muffins for everyone. They sent a note to Melly asking her to come join them for breakfast with the boys. When Wade had asked to sit next to her, Scarlett had scooped him up on her lap and said, "You can sit right here."

Soon everyone was seated around the dining room table. Wade turned to Rhett and said, "What am I to call you from now on?"

Rhett leaned forward and said, "You must call me Dad from now on."

"Alright, Daddy."

"Miss Melly, are you alright with that?"

"Of course, Charlie is gone. You are Wade's father now."

"True but we won't ever let Wade forget him."

"Thank you, Captain Butler.

PittyPat was close to having vapors, but she was not leaving the table. It had been so long since the family had anything to eat but the basic necessities. She calmed her nerves by helping herself to another sweet roll. PittyPat was horrified that Scarlett could be so improper as to marry Rhett Butler at all, but she was even more appalled that it hadn't even been a week since Mr. Kennedy had been killed. The couple were sitting there so calmly holding hands like what they had done was not the most outrageous thing in the world.

Scarlett said, "Melly, would you do me the favor of cleaning my room out. I can't get all my dresses in my trunk. You must take them and wear them. And Frank's clothing. I couldn't bear to see Frank's clothing and belongings when we finally return. Maybe Ashley can find something that he wants that was Frank's before you give them to charity. And Wade's clothes too," Scarlett smiled at her son. She turned back to Melanie. She said, "There will be a lot. It is time he hit another growth spurt."

"Of course. Of course. When are you going to return?"

"Rhett?"

"I'm not sure. I have several investments in Europe that I need to see about. It will be at least six months, but it might even be nine months."

"It might be even longer, Melly. For if Rhett gets me with child, we will stay in Europe because the medical care is so much better there."

Melanie and PittyPat blushed at Scarlett talking so openly about her getting with child. Scarlett already knew that they would be staying in London for a while. She had gotten pregnant with Bonnie on their honeymoon. In fact, she may already be with child."

"What about Wade's education?"

Rhett said, "I am sure we will be settled somewhere before it is time for Wade to go to school, but I can hire a tutor if we aren't. If possible, we will send him to school, so he has other boys to play with."

Melanie could not help but see the love between Rhett and Scarlett. She wondered when this happened. No, she wondered when Scarlett realized she didn't love Ashley. Melly wasn't sure if Ashley could do the job without Scarlett pushing him and helping him. It didn't matter. Maybe without Scarlet to carry him Ashley would rise up and be the man he was supposed to be. Then Melanie wanted to die when she heard Scarlett say that they had to go see Uncle Henry so she could get him to sell her sawmills and her store. What was Ashley going to do if his boss didn't forgive his mistakes like Scarlett always did. As if reading her mind Scarlett said, "I am going to get Uncle Henry to get Ashley a job as a law clerk. He can spend all his days with old books looking for past …. What is the right word, Dear?"

"Past precedents and case histories."

Scarlett had discussed her idea about getting Ashley a different job the day before over dinner. When she had mentioned her idea of getting Ashley a job as a law clerk, she had seen Rhett's expression tighten ever so slightly. Obtuse Scarlett would never have noticed that. She had also been staring at Rhett waiting to see his reaction when she mentioned Ashley. She had said, "Rhett, we must do something. Most of his salary is based on how much profit we make at his mill, and we aren't making that much profit at his mill. He can't sell. He wouldn't be able to sell ice at the equator," Rhett had laughed. She had continued, "Rhett, we must get him a different job. A job he would be good at. He doesn't make enough to support Melly and Beau very well."

Rhett had smiled and said, "What is this? You caring about Miss Melly?"

"Of course, she is my family."

Rhett had smiled again and said, "Then by all means let's get him a better job."

"Thank you, Dear."

Scarlett smiled at Rhett, and she said, "Thank you," She turned back to Melly and continued, "Past precedents and case histories. He would be as happy as a clam. He would be spending all his days with old books."

"Yes, he would, Darling. Thank you."

"Melly, take some of this food back to Ashley."

"Thank you, dear."

"Let me get some for Mammy and Joyce then you can have whatever is left."

PittyPat reached out and grabbed two muffins and two sweet rolls. She said, "For Peter and Cookie."

Everyone smiled. Yes, Peter and Cookie would get a pastry, but Aunt PittyPat had wanted some more for herself.

Rhett and Scarlett, the children, Joyce the wet nurse, and Mammy left the Hamilton House. Scarlett was carrying Ella out to the coach. Scarlett sat the baby on her lap. She realized that Ella was such a happy baby. She seemed to always be smiling.

Rhett and Scarlett got Mammy, Joyce, and the children settled at the hotel. Rhett said to Mammy, "There is a park just a couple of blocks away from the hotel, that you can take the children to before it gets too hot. I will arrange to have some food sent up around eleven."

Mammy had formally replied, "Thank you, Captain Butler. Yes, I will take the children to the park. It will be good for Master Wade to be able to run around a little bit."

As they were walking down the stair Scarlett said, "Mammy will eventually soften towards you, Dear. It is just that right now she thinks you are a jackass dressed up in a horse's harness."

Rhett's laughter rang out. He finally said, "She will eventually soften toward me. I have a way with women."

Scarlett had linked her arm in his as they were waiting for the cab. She thought, 'There's my conceited doofus.'

The couple went on to Henry Hamilton's office. When Henry greeted them, Scarlett said, "I need to discuss some issues with you."

"Come on in my office."

"Come along, Rhett," To Henry Scarlett said, "Rhett and I got married yesterday," As they were getting seated Henry absorb that information. Scarlett knew he would not be any happier with Wade's stepfather being Rhett Butler than he was last time, but Scarlett didn't care anymore than she had last time. She continued, "We are going on our honeymoon tomorrow. We are taking the children with us because we don't know when we will be back. I would like for you to sell the sawmills for me. Bruce Youngblood has wanted to buy the sawmills for quite some time. Once the mills are sold you can put the money in a trust fund you will set-up for Wade and Ella. Make me the executor and Rhett the second alternative. After the store is legally mine then you can sell it and put that money in the trust also."

"Of course."

"I don't know if Ashley will want to sell his half of the sawmill, but we need to find him other employment. Being a manager of a sawmill is not working out for him. If he keeps ownership of the sawmill, he can still reap the benefits," Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "Explain to Uncle Henry my idea."

"Certainly. Mr. Hamilton, Scarlett believes, and I do too, that Mr. Wilkes working as a law clerk would be a perfect job for him. Mr. Wilkes is not a salesman, but he would be as happy as a pig in slop if he was researching cases, looking for past precedents and looking for similar cases."

"I actually agree with you, and I know a man looking for a law clerk. He is a Yankee, but it will be a perfect job for Ashley. I will go talk to Mr. Burns this afternoon."

"Thank you. Let me sign the power of attorney so you can sell my properties and Charlie's properties. That all goes in the trust fund."

"Scarlett, I would suggest not selling the properties for you have both lots rented. Wait until action is required on your part."

"Alright. I will send them a note telling them to send their rental payments to you. Take that money and send my aunts a twenty-five dollar check each month. Put the rest of the money in the trust fund. Let me give you their names and address."

"Certainly."

After Scarlett had written down the information she turned to Rhett and said, "Shall we go, Dear?"

"Yes."

Henry watched the couple leave. All he could think was at least they would be out of Atlanta therefore their antics would not reflect badly on the Hamilton clan.

Scarlett had changed her mind about sending her aunts a check each month. Mainly because her mother would not want her sisters to starve.

The couple left to go see Rhett's attorney, Joe Powe. Rhett had the man draw up a will and paid him extra to have it done before they left Atlanta.

They stopped by a bookstore and Scarlett bought a couple of books on mythology and a copy of Aesop's Fables. Rhett bought her a copy of the Odyssey. He said, "You might like this one. It is my favorite book."

Scarlett had not liked the book when she had tried to read it in the other timeline, but she would try to read it again. Maybe she would like it better if Rhett was there to explain the book to her.

They had dinner in another of Rhett's favorite restaurant. Scarlett said, "How do you stay so fit eating all this good food?"

"I don't know. I just do."

"I will have to start cutting back. I don't want to get fat."

"I will help you burn off the extra calories," Scarlett had not known what Rhett was implying until he added, "Later tonight and maybe tomorrow morning."

Scarlett had blushed and giggled all at the same time. They spent the afternoon with the children. As Scarlett watched Rhett play with Wade and Ella, she knew she was lucky he was a good stepfather and she had never appreciated it. It seemed there was a lot of good things that she had taken for granted, not just his gifts and his attention.

Soon they were having supper in the dining room at the Hotel. When supper was over and they were back in their suite, Rhett said, "I have to go out and take care of some business."

"Of course, Dear. You go on. I will just read my book and have a glass of brandy."

"I won't be too late."

"Of course, Dear."

Rhett kissed her as he had when he had proposed. As before it left Scarlett breathless. All too soon Rhett left the suite. Scarlett knew where he was going. He was going to scare Belle within an inch of her life to be sure she stuck to the story about the gentleman being at the brothel all evening. She guessed he was going to be as secretive in this timeline as he had in their past timeline.