Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Two

The rest of the day the couple stayed in the guest bedroom. Scarlett was confident that Genie's life would be restored. Rhett was only convinced because Scarlett had no doubts. They chatted the rest of the day. Rhett said, "That woman told you lies about me?"

"Al-jani doesn't lie."

"What she said wasn't true? I could care less about my father and Charleston. He was a hypocrite just like everyone in proper society. I am certainly glad we don't have to put up with all that garbage."

"I see the sour grapes are out today. Tell me about it. You aren't going anywhere."

Rhett sat down and looked out the window. He said, "It was the biggest mistake of my life."

"Not marrying her?"

"No, convincing Mary Beth to leave her chaperon at home."

"Oh, Rhett."

"I took her for a buggy ride in the middle of the afternoon. We should have been back long before dark. Before thirty minutes had passed, I knew that she was a ninny. I didn't even try to kiss her. I turned the buggy around and was heading back to town when that damn wheel broke," Rhett stared off for a long while. Finally, he continued, "I wouldn't marry her because I hadn't done anything wrong. I had proof that the wheel had broken. None of that mattered. I got her home after dark. That was all that mattered. I was quite the catch then despite me having been expelled from West Point. I was young, handsome, and the heir to a vast fortune. You know the saddest part is that I wasn't even attracted to her. She was pretty enough. She was a blue-eyed blond, but I have always preferred women with dark hair and especially with green eyes," Scarlett smiled at the statement. She waited. Rhett continued, "She was a ninny. I didn't want to marry a ninny. The truth is I didn't want to marry at all and especially not to a ninny over a broken buggy wheel. I wanted to go have adventures which I did. I was so young. I was only twenty-two. I truly didn't know what I was giving up."

"If you could go back and marry her, would you?"

"At one time I would have said yes without any doubts but now I don't think so. What if by being married to her, I never met you? What if I never left Charleston? What if I became as dull and boring as everyone else in proper society," Rhett paused. He finally continued, "My father told me that if I didn't marry Mary Beth, he would have to disown me. I said, 'How can the son of a pirate be such a fuddy duddy?' With a sad smile my father said, 'It is because I am the son of a pirate that we must be even more proper than everyone else. Our position is tenuous at best.' I said, 'I am not going to do it. I didn't do anything wrong.' He said, 'You always were a stubborn bastard. I will give you twenty-four hours to change your mind. Think about everything you are going to be giving up.' He walked out of the room."

Rhett was quiet for so long Scarlett finally said, "Go on."

"As I said I was only twenty-two. I really didn't know what I was giving up. Both my parents were crying when I strutted out of the townhouse. A year later, when I heard Mary Beth had died of typhoid fever, I knew by then everything I had given up for that act of defiance. I finally realized how important a reputation was. I told you when we danced at the Hospital Bazaar that if one is rich enough and brave enough, they don't need a reputation. That was a bunch of bravado."

"Oh Rhett."

"I could have married her and then I would have been rid of her in no time. Of course, if I had married her, she probably would have lived to be a hundred."

Scarlett laughed at Rhett's joke as he had wanted her to. It was the same one he had made in the earlier timeline.

Rhett turned and looked directly at her with a stare that was piercing. He said, "Have I made your life good enough that you don't regret having given everything up for me?"

Scarlett came and sat beside him and said, "You have more than made up for not being received in the South besides, we are received in the finest houses in New York, London, and Boston."

She took his hand and held it. Scarlett didn't really say that much more. She let Rhett get it all out. Probably it was the first time he had told anyone all the details and especially how he really felt at the time.

Finally, in a quiet voice Rhett said, "Nobody stood beside me. Nobody defended me. Nobody argued that it was just a broken buggy wheel. Not just for my sake but for Mary Beth's sake. She was ruined too. Her father was more intent on trapping me into marriage with his daughter. As I said I was quite the catch. We were so extremely rich, and they were so awfully poor," In an incredibly quiet voice, he said, "That hurt so bad. It hurt so bad I never thought I would ever be able to love again," His voice got stronger when he said, "Until a sixteen-year-old shallow, selfish, vain girl burst into my life. You captured my heart before I had even known it was in jeopardy."

"How do you feel about it today?"

"I try to tell myself that it doesn't matter but that twenty-two-year-old boy still wants to be received in Charleston. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you. Actually, I do. I would still be drinking too much, making too much money in questionable ways, and still running away from myself."

They were quiet. Another piece of the puzzle came into place. In their first timeline, Rhett had given her gifts in order to keep himself apart from her. He didn't feel safe enough to give of himself. Nonetheless he had expected her to break through all his barriers and see the real needy man beneath. It was a good thing her nincompoop was charming and attractive for he was really stupid sometimes.

After a few minutes, Rhett said, "Are you sure this is going to work?"

Scarlett replied, "Yes, as sure as I'm sitting here."

Several times during the day Scarlett left the room and went and got Gerry to let him nurse, but Scarlett took Gerry back to Mammy as soon as he was finished. Seeing Gerry seemed to upset Rhett.

Finally, around six Scarlett had some food sent up to them. The one thought Scarlett really wondered about was if she had not changed hers and Rhett's future would this have happened in their other timeline. She was quite sure it would have because Rhett had never told Bonnie no and he would not let anyone else tell her no either. It would have broken her proud, arrogant husband. It was close to breaking him now. Only she was keeping him whole.

That night Scarlett initiated relations. She rarely did it but tonight she knew Rhett needed to know that she still loved him despite his poor decision.

When Rhett woke up, he got up and went down the hallway to the nursery. He found Genie sleeping peacefully in her bed. He went back to his bedroom and made love to his wife. Afterwards he whispered words of love to her that he had never felt more fully. She smiled and told him she loved him also.

He got up and got dressed. When he saw Genie so excited in her riding habit, he said, "I'm sorry, Baby, but I can't let you make that jump. It is too dangerous. Daddy will get you a bigger pony who can make that jump."

"This is all Mama's fault. She talked you out of letting me try the jump."

"No, this is not your mother's fault. This is entirely my decision."

"Please, Daddy. Let me do it. I know I will make it."

"No, Eugenia Victoria. For once I am not going to let you have your way."

Genie didn't speak to him for a solid week, but Rhett didn't yield. It was the first time Genie had not gotten what she wanted out of her Daddy. Their world started to change that day. Rhett got a lot stricter with his daughter after that horrible day. He knew that he had finally started being Genie's father not her playmate.

Scarlett didn't remember anything about that horrible day and Rhett was happy she didn't. Only one of them needed to have nightmares about that awful day. Scarlett rarely woke up from a nightmare these days and he truly hope nothing triggered her nightmares again. As long as she felt safe and secure, there would be no nightmares. Although, far too often for Rhett's peace of mind, Scarlett would get restless in her sleep. Enough to wake Rhett up. Rhett had learned to wrap her up in his arms and tell her that she was safe. That he would take care of her. There would be enough food. There would be enough money. With those words she would always calm down.

Rhett was also happy that she didn't remember anything he had told her about his feelings when he was disowned. He knew she would not use his words against him, but his cautious nature was still alive and well.

Two months later when Scarlett found out Melanie was with child, Scarlett said, "Rhett, do you remember buying me this lamp on our honeymoon."

"Of course, I do. I remember everything about our honeymoon. I won't tell you why you did but you have already given me the lamp. I have used one of the wishes."

Scarlet was confused but for now she had to get Rhett to save Melanie. She handed Rhett the lamp. She said, "Then call Genie we must prevent Melanie from getting with child."

"We call her Al-jani now because of our daughter," As Rhett put the lamp back on the bookshelf. He continued, "No, Honey, I can take us back in time, but the events will unfold again just as they did in this timeline. The only person who can stop her won't stop her. She probably lied to Mr. Wilkes and said Dr. Meade said it was alright."

"You can tell Ashley not to do it."

Rhett smiled at his anxious wife and said, "Even if I was uncouth enough to talk to Mr. Wilkes about the most private part of his marriage, he would not listen. He would leave the room. Mr. Wilkes is just too proper to ever discuss that matter with anyone. Not even Dr. Meade. Dear, if Miss Melly doesn't survive, I will use one of my wishes to bring her back to life."

"You can do that?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Thank you. Tell me why I gave you the lamp."

"This is all I am going to tell you because I don't want you to have any more nightmares than you already do. We had a family tragedy, and I used my first wish to overt that tragedy."

"Did one of our children die?"

"Yes, but I'm not going to give you the details. Do not badger me about it. You know how closed mouth I can be."

"Yes, Rhett."

"She did say that if you want to talk to her just call her. As long as she is waiting for me to make my other two wishes, she has a lot of free time."

Later that day, while Scarlett was nursing Gerry she called for Al-jani. Al-jani told her again about her being Rhett's only love and about why Rhett was afraid of being hurt by someone he loved. Al-jani did not tell Scarlett about Rhett's feelings. She didn't need to. Rhett had already told Scarlett when she was in the previous timeline. Al-jani told Scarlett the information to help her understand her husband and to make their marriage stronger. Scarlett asked Al-Jani what she needed to do to save Melanie's life. Al-Jani gave her some suggestions.

Scarlett started to call her almost every time the baby was nursing. The ladies talked about a lot of things. Scarlett would use Al-jani as a sounding board. She knew she could trust Al-jani's advice because in her role as Rhett's genie she had his best interest in mind. The truth was that Scarlett by this time could make wise, sound, logical decisions. She just liked having a girl friend to talk to. Someone Scarlett could be completely open with.

Starting the next week, Scarlett and her laundry women went to the Wilkes every Monday morning. Although both Melanie and India protested, Scarlett ignored them. She vividly remembered how much work was required to hang laundry. She would just waltz into the little house with her employees in tow. Scarlett knew that the ladies were just doing the proper thing.

She also brought over her plainer maternity dresses for Melly to wear until she could get her own made.