Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Fifteen

After the group got to the courthouse, Gerald said, "Here we are. You two are going to be staying at the National Hotel, right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I will meet you there tomorrow at ten then we will go buy the supplies. We can bring them back with us."

"Yes, Sir."

It was a very brief ceremony. The couple promised to love, honor, and cherish each other. They promised to stay together in sickness and in health. They promised to forsake all others. Soon the judge pronounced them man and wife. Rhett and Scarlett walked to the train station and Melly, Gerald, Suellen, and Careen returned to Tara and their miserable lives.

Rhett had taken half his clothes out of his trunk so there was room for Scarlett's clothes. He carried his trunk while they walked to the National. Along the way they ran into Mrs. Merriwether. Scarlett said, "Mrs. Merriwether, how good to see you."

"And you too, Scarlett, Captain Butler."

"Congratulate us. We got married today."

"How wonderful for you two."

"Yes, Rhett just arrived at Tara yesterday. He had been serving in the Confederate army."

"Really? Who did you serve under?"

"My commander was Colonel Carrollton. I was moved to the artillery when they found out about my time at West Point."

"I'm glad you survived all in one piece. So many didn't."

"True."

"Will you be living in Atlanta?"

"Eventually. Probably after the first of the year. For now, we are going to live at Tara for Mr. O'Hara needs our help."

"When you are in Atlanta full-time do come to call."

"Of course, Mrs. Merriwether."

The couple walked away. As soon as Rhett and Scarlett didn't think the matron could hear them, she said, "You did it, Baby."

"Indeed, I did. I just can't ever do anything wrong again."

"Then we will have to travel quite a bit for we both know you couldn't be good for the rest of your life."

"Thank you for being willing to travel with me."

"I want to visit Paris and London."

"I will take you to New York, Boston, Denver, and San Francisco also. I think you would like San Francisco. It has beautiful weather there even in the summertime. I don't know anyone who lives there anymore. I know a lot of people who live in New York and Boston. Although I would like to visit Denver and take you to see the Grand Canyon."

"What is that? A big hole in the ground?"

"Basically, but it is beautiful."

"We can talk about it later. Let's walk faster."

With a smirk on his face Rhett said, "Why are you in a hurry to get to the hotel?"

"I'm hungry."

"I am also."

Rhett checked them into the National Hotel, and he had the bellhop place their trunk in their room. They had dinner in the hotel restaurant. Rhett and Scarlett both ate too much. They even had dessert. It was chocolate cake. Rhett whispered, "You will have to let me show you what delightful things we can do with chocolate cake.

Scarlett giggled and said, "If we keep eating like this it won't be long before we will have gained our weight back."

"Mammy's cure-all really is a cure-all. My stomach hasn't felt this good probably since I left you to join the army. Finished?"

"Yes."

"Let's go take a bath."

"Yes."

Rhett paid the bill, and they left the dining room.

Rhett and Scarlett stopped by the front desk to request a bath. The clerk told them it would be about fifteen minutes.

As the couple was walking up the stairs Rhett said, "I wonder what we can do for the next fifteen minutes."

"We don't have time for that. We will after we take our bath."

"Alright."

Rhett was happy she wanted to do it again and that she didn't think they should only do it in the dark in their night clothes.

The next morning Rhett and Scarlett met Gerald in the lobby of the National Hotel. They went to the general store that the O'Haras had always used in the past. Lester Dorr, the owner said, "I don't have very many supplies. I haven't got much money to buy supplies."

"What have you got?"

Rhett took what he had. The trio visited four more general stores and finally had enough supplies. They returned to Tara. Along the way Rhett said, "Gerald, how long do you need Scarlett and me to stay at the plantation?"

Scarlett didn't say anything about Rhett calling her father by his given name. Gerald stared at Rhett and finally said, "Call me Gerry. And yes, I need you two to stay at least until the cotton is picked. I will need help getting it to the gin. Someone has to drive the wagon to the gin and wait while it is ginned then drive it back while someone needs to stay at the plantation and watch the field hands. Hopefully, some of my former slaves will get hungry enough to return to the plantation. I can't pay them, but I can feed them."

The rest of the trip back to the plantation was pleasant for everyone. Scarlett was surprised at how many different topics Rhett and Pa found to talk about.

For the rest of the summer, Rhett and Scarlett along with all the other Tara residents worked around the plantation every day. In the evenings, Rhett and Melly would talk about books they had read. They were beginning to get mail again and Melly found out that her aunt had moved back to Atlanta. PittyPat wanted Melanie and Beau to returned to Atlanta. Melanie said, "I would like to, but I don't have the money for the train fare."

Scarlett and Rhett made eye contact and finally, Scarlett said, "Yes, that is what we will do." She turned and said, "Melly, in a couple of days Rhett and I are going to Charleston for me to meet his mother and for Rhett to give her some money. We are then going to meet Pa at Dorr's General Store about a week later. You and Beau could ride up to Atlanta with Pa."

"That is a great idea. Are you alright with that Mr. O'Hara?"

"Of course." Gerald was happy to get Mrs. Wilkes and her son off the plantation. They were just dead weight. She was too weak to work out in the fields and the boy was too young. But even Gerald couldn't be cold-hearted enough to run them off. This was perfect. He would drive them into Atlanta, and they would become someone else's problem. -

Suellen said, "I want to go to Atlanta. Mr. Kennedy is in Atlanta. He sent me a letter. He has opened a general store."

"You can come, Missy, but there won't be any room on the buckboard on the way back. You would have to ride in the back of the wagon with the supplies."

"Why can't Scarlett ride in the back of the wagon? Or Rhett and Scarlett?"

Rhett said, "Simply put Suellen, it is my money that is buying the supplies therefore my wife and I should get the best privileges."

Gerald O'Hara was a pragmatist. He needed his son-in-law's money to survive. He wasn't going to be embarrassed about the situation. He wasn't going to be self-conscious and uncomfortable about Rhett buying the supplies. It was just the way it was because of the damn war. If everyone at Tara was going to survive, they needed supplies. If Rhett was willing to buy the supplies Gerald was going to accept them."

Suellen said with a scowl, "Alright. I will ride in the back of the wagon. Can we at least get the supplies from Mr. Kennedy's store?"

"Yes, we can start there. We may have to visit several stores to get everything we need. Gerry, we will meet at the Hamilton House a week from Saturday then go supply shopping."

"Ten o'clock?"

"Yes."

That Saturday Scarlett and Rhett were on the train to Charleston. He could see she was nervous. He said, "Relax. She is going to love you. You not only made me a marrying man but a man who wanted to be received."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I did, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. Now come on, let's try out the mattress."

"In which room?"

"Both of them."

Scarlett giggled and took Rhett's hand. They had a wonderful time on their trip to Charleston. As they were getting off the train, Rhett said, "Are you a lot more relaxed about meeting my mother now?"

"Yes," With a playful smile, Scarlett said, "Was that why you made love to me so much? So, I would be relaxed about meeting your mother?"

"Of course, that is the kind of husband I am. Self-sacrificing."

Scarlett laughed. Rhett grabbed their trunk, and they got a cab. The cab took them to the Dewberry Hotel. After they were in their suite, Rhett sent his mother a note. All it said was – Here tomorrow morning.

Over supper Rhett explained the procedure he had to go through to meet up with his mother. He said to Scarlett, "I know that it will seem very convoluted to you, but it is what I have to do to protect my mother from her husband's wrath."

"Would he hurt her?"

With a sad smile Rhett said, "Yes, mostly verbally but he may also strike her."

Scarlett put her hand over her mouth and gasped. She finally said, "I can't imagine any gentleman striking a lady."

"Unfortunately, my dear, far too many do," Rhett looked away and in a sad voice said, "I tried to stop him from hitting my mother once when I was fourteen. He took me out and had the overseer whip me," After a long pause in an equally sad voice he said, "I guess it was worth it. He never hit her again. At least until I was disowned."

"Rhett. You don't have any scars on your back."

"My mammy had a cream to stop me from scarring."

"That is what that bump is on your shoulder. A welt."

"Yes. Therefore, we have to do what we have to do to protect her even if it does seem convoluted and unnecessary. My father certainly isn't like your father."

"I will follow your lead and not ask questions. I just hope I get to meet her."

"Me too, Baby. What we will do is get up and have breakfast at a restaurant down the street. We will then walk to the Gramercy Park and wait."

"Wait?"

"Wait until she can get away. Hopefully without her husband."

"How long will we have to wait?"

"I don't know. Like I said until she can get away."

"Will you buy me a fashion magazine?"

"Yes, and a news magazine. I don't want my wife to be an empty-headed twit."

"I don't want to be educated."

"But you will be."

"No!"

"This I will not argue with you about. You will become better educated because you have a marvelous brain that it would be a shame to waste."

"I'm not that smart."

"Yes, you are. You no longer have to pretend to be stupid with anyone but especially not with me."

"What is for dessert?"

With a twinkle in his eye, Rhett said, "Chocolate cake."

The next morning as Rhett and Scarlett were getting dressed, he said, "Let's go to New Orleans on our honeymoon. I will buy you a brand-new wardrobe."

"Of course, Love, but not until after the first of the year. Rhett, are the Yankees going to arrest you?"

"What for?"

"For your blockade running?"

"I don't think so. The Yankees will be more interested in bigger fish like George Trenholm or Marvin Davis or Ricky Holt. Those men had fifty to sixty ships. Or Shep Houghton. He had over a hundred ships."

"If they try, we will just run off to Mexico."

"Or Paris."

Scarlett laughed and said, "I think I would prefer Paris."

"Let's go to breakfast."

The couple had a big breakfast then stopped at a general store. Rhett bought a paper, a fashion magazine, and a news magazine. They walked to Gramercy Park. They found a bench to sit on and they waited.

Scarlett said, "What does your mother look like?"

"A feminine version of me."

"How marvelous."

"Huh?"

"How wonderful that you don't look like your father. That would be horrible to see that awful man every time you looked in the mirror."

Rhett grasped Scarlett's hand and said, "Baby, I love you."

Scarlett smiled but she truly didn't understand what she had said that was so wonderful, but she would bask in Rhett's happiness, nonetheless. She said, "I love you, too."