Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

If anyone is wondering yes, I did make a batch of pralines after writing that chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gerald came into Atlanta once a month to get the supplies. Tara was self-sufficient now. Just barely but Gerald was optimistic about the future. When he came to town, he got most of his supplies from Kennedy's and visited with Suellen. She and Frank were still living in the rooms behind the store. Gerald thought his middle daughter was finally happy.

Gerald still bought some of his supplies from Mr. Dorr, but the shopkeeper was never very warm and friendly. After going to Dorr's Gerald stopped by the hotel and went to dinner with his eldest daughter and her husband.

Scarlett was optimistic about the future because she was married to Rhett. Rhett was optimistic about the future because he was married to Scarlett, and he was still received in Atlanta. Although attending the social functions did try his self-control at times.

In May, Gerald informed Scarlett that Careen had agreed to marry Will. Scarlett said, "Who asked her to marry Will, you or Will?"

Gerald smiled at his daughter and said, "Will did."

Rhett said, "With a lot of encouragement from you, right?"

"I may have said I would not object to him marrying Careen."

"What did Careen say?

"I don't know what she said to Will but to me she said that she was marrying Will because he was a good man, and he was good for Tara. Will has even offered to become Catholic for her."

Rhett said, "They have a lot more going for them than most couples do."

Gerald said, "Believe it or not Suellen and Frank are incredibly happy together. Suellen has actually become almost nice. By the way she is with child. It will be here in October."

"How perfect for her."

Scarlett smiled at Rhett, and he smiled back.

After Gerald had left them, Rhett said, "If we can't have children, it is alright. We have each other."

"All I need is you."

"All I need is you, too. Although I do want children, so we won't stop trying."

On their first anniversary, they were still living at the National Hotel. They had a suite with two bedrooms. The extra bedroom functioned as a library. It was where they stored all their books and Rhett's investment ledgers. As they were having supper to celebrate their first anniversary, Rhett said, "Would you like to go to Europe this summer and get away from the heat and the matrons?"

"That sounds like a grand idea. When shall we leave?"

"As soon as I can make the arrangements."

"Perfect. Where are you going to take me?"

For the rest of the evening, Rhett excitedly told Scarlett about the sights of Europe. She sat there and smiled at her husband. At that moment she had a kernel of hope that despite all his hard work Rhett would be willing to leave Atlanta. He would be willing to leave the South.

For the next week, Rhett was happily making their plans to travel to Charleston then take a steamer to London. All week long all he could talk about was the European vacation.

June sixth Rhett got a telegram from his brother. It read: Father dead STOP Funeral two days STOP You must be there STOP You will stay with Mother STOP

Rhett stared at the telegram. He didn't know what to make of it. It was the first time either of his siblings had reached out to him. He guessed he would be there. He guessed he would wear black for the man that had disowned him.

Rhett got up to go into the bedroom where Scarlett was still asleep. He woke her up and said, "We are going to Charleston this evening. Do you have a black dress?"

A sleepy Scarlett said, "No, I threw them all away after I was out of mourning for Charlie."

"Let's go to the modiste. You must have a black dress to attend Langston Butler's funeral."

"What? Why, Rhett?"

"I will explain as I get you dressed."

After Scarlett was out of the bed and had put her shimmy and pantalets on and he could think about something other than her amazing body, Rhett said, "My brother is demanding that I be at my father's funeral. It is the first time he has reached out to me in almost fifteen years. We will be there."

Scarlett knew that Rhett was hopeful that he would be accepted back into his family, but he would not speak of it. She would not speak of it. It would be too terrible to bear if they spoke of it and it didn't come true.

With liberal use of his money a couple of black dresses were ready for Scarlett to pick up at five o'clock that afternoon. Rhett knew the dresses would not be something Scarlett would normally wear but she had accepted them because of the time crunch. The dresses were so plain that Rhett was sure Scarlett was cringing inside with the thought of wearing them.

Rhett and Scarlett stepped off the train from Atlanta eighteen hours after they left the city. It was afternoon in Charleston. They took a cab to Rhett's parents' townhouse. As they got out of the cab, Scarlett looked at the townhouse and thought, 'It certainly is shabby.'

Rhett knocked on the door. After the butler let them in, Rhett said, "Harvey, you are still here."

"Of course, I am Mr. Rhett. Where would I go? Welcome home, Mr. Rhett. You have certainly been missed except for your practical jokes, of course."

"I haven't pulled a practical joke since I was thirteen."

Rhett hugged the man, and the man hugged him back. Soon they heard rapid footfalls. Rhett and Scarlett turned and there was Elizabeth Butler with a big smile on her face. Soon Rhett and his mother were hugging. Rhett, Scarlett, and Elizabeth were hugging. Elizabeth said, "You are staying here. I will tolerate no argument from you."

"Of course, Mother. I would love to stay here. Are you sure?"

"Never surer. Can you give me some money to give to the cook so she can get us a lot of food for supper? We will be celebrating tonight. My eldest son has returned from the dead."

"Of course," Rhett took out his wallet and got a twenty-dollar bill out. He handed her the bill and said, "Here give her this."

"Thank you, Rhett. Harvey, will you help my son and his wife with their trunks."

"Wait, Harvey, this is my wife, Scarlett. Scarlett, this is our butler. He has been with us since I was a child. Where am I staying?"

"In your room, of course. Everyone except Langston continued to refer to that room as Rhett's room."

That made Rhett smile. He said, "Harvey, if you get Scarlett's trunk, I can get mine."

Rhett and Scarlett were no sooner in his room when an attractive, slim, tall, young woman of about thirty rushed through the door. She hugged Rhett and he hugged her back. She said, "Welcome home, Big Brother. Welcome home. You have been missed."

"I have missed you, too, Rosemary. You have grown into a beautiful woman."

"Thank you. All these years I never knew Mother was secretly meeting with you. I wish she had told Robert and me, but she was right to not trust anyone." Rosemary turned to look at Scarlett and said, "You must be the woman that made Rhett want to be received again."

"I'm Scarlett Butler but I don't know about all that."

"Never mind. I will let you get settled. Do you need anything? Let me make sure you have wash water and soap. Yes, you do. Agnes is still with us, Rhett. You remember how lazy she was before the war. She is worse now but Mother won't send her away."

"Rosemary, take a breath."

"Right. I will see you at supper. Robert and Daphne will be there also. For this first meeting in so many years they will leave their children at home."

Rosemary gave both Rhett and Scarlett another hug then left the room.

Scarlett said, "Rhett, what is going on?"

"Hell, if I know. Let's get cleaned up. We can go downstairs and ask my mother about it."

After Rhett and Scarlett had gotten cleaned up, he looked around the room. He said, "It is exactly the way I left it except for my keepsakes. I wonder what happen to them," With bitterness Rhett said, "Langston probably burned them."

"Maybe your mother was able to save them."

"I had a rock collection and believe it or not a stamp collection."

"Honey don't think about it. You couldn't have taken them with you."

"And my model ship collection."

"We can start a new collection. That sounds interesting to me."

Rhett smiled at her and said, "I think it is something you would like. You, of course, will have to bear through me telling you all about each and every ship."

"Gladly. Come on. Let's gets some answers."

"Alright."

Rhett took Scarlett's hand and went in search of Elizabeth Butler.

Rhett and Scarlett found Elizabeth in the family parlor. Nobody would think that Rhett's mother was sad. She was smiling ear to ear. She said, "Sit down. Would you like some tea? Whiskey?"

Rhett said, "Yes, whiskey for me and tea for Scarlett."

Elizabeth got up and pulled the bell pull. As she did, she said, "Are you hungry? We have a little bit of food in the house."

Scarlett said, "I am fine. I will wait for supper."

"Mother, when is the funeral?"

"Tomorrow morning at ten."

"Do you need money for the food at the reception?"

"There isn't going to be any food at the reception. Langston Butler couldn't afford to pay for food for his own reception. Robert can't afford to pay for food either. Of course, Rosemary and I don't have any money. So, we have no other choice but to not provide food," With a mischievous smile, Elizabeth added, "If only Langston had a son that could afford to pay for the food for his reception but alas Langston does not."

All three people laughed. While they were laughing a middle-aged woman came into the room. The woman said, "Welcome home, Mr. Rhett."

"Thank you, Agnes. This is my wife, Scarlett. Scarlett, this is Agnes."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too, ma'am."

Elizabeth said, "Please bring us tea for two and some whiskey for my son."

"Yes ma'am. Fran made butter cookies this morning for you, Mr. Rhett, when she heard you were going to be here today. Would you like some?"

"Of course. Fran's butter cookies are delightful. My favorites."

After Agnes had left the room, Rhett said, "Mother what is going on?"

"I never disowned you and now that my husband is dead, I don't have to obey his dictates and before that I did. It seems that your siblings never disowned you either. Or the household staff for that matter. We are all claiming you again," With a quick smile, Elizabeth said, "As soon as Langston was dead, Robert turned to me and said, 'Where is Rhett?' I was stunned and said, 'What?' Robert smiled and said, 'I know you have kept track of your eldest son. It is time for him to come home again. So, I told him how to get in touch with you."

"Mother! Won't this cause a scandal."

"Maybe but this is the scandal we should have lived through fifteen years ago, not the one of you compromising Sarah Douglass and refusing to marry her. You didn't compromise her. The wheel broke on our buggy. If Langston Butler had come down hard on the side of it being an accident, then Michael Douglass would have back down especially after he realized that he was not going to be able to bully you into marrying his daughter. Langston could have encouraged that acceptance by offering Mr. Douglass a bribe."

"Ah but that didn't fit Langston's plans to get our family aligned with the Douglasses."

"Or him getting rid of you while acting oh so proper. We will live through this. I am not going to spend the rest of my life sneaking around in the shadows to see you. I don't think your siblings are either. I have never been ashamed of you. They have never been ashamed of you. We will not start being now even if all of Charleston shuns us. If they do, Rosemary and I will just move to Atlanta and live with you."

Scarlett said, "You and Rosemary are certainly welcome to live with us. Robert and his family too."

"We would finally have to buy a house if we had that many people living with us."

Scarlett flashed her husband a smile and said, "And my mother-in-law could deal with the staff."

"Gladly."