Random Scenes in the future. For those that always want a bit more. For all the rest STOP reading.
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The Final Bits and Pieces

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

1873

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Certainly, a bountiful garden this year," Rhett said approaching Scarlett from behind as he stepped into the gated off kitchen garden at Tara.

She startled ever so, "It is, isn't it?"

"What has you so lost in thought?" he said going to embrace her from behind.

"It's all so easy," she said leaning back into his embrace.

"What is exactly my sweet?" he didn't imagine she meant the garden because she never got her hands dirty unless she was instructing a servant how to do something. She made the oldest children learn to garden, but she watched from under a parasol.

"Everything," she said is amazement. Her head tilted up and back so she could look at her handsome husband. Nearing 45 and he had only grown more attractive. "It was all so hard, it was nearly impossible, but now…Why it's like they couldn't possibly be the same life."

"You had to endure far too much my darling."

"I suppose everyone did."

There was a feeling of shock and astonishment than ran through him, as Scarlett, his Scarlett was not only reflecting upon the past, but acknowledging others. Since returning from England, he saw how often she acted for others, but so very often her words associated with the acts were matter of fact, he was sure there was depth behind them, but she nearly never voiced it.

"When I think about it, it doesn't seem possible that life could be this good."

"I promise you, it is," he said still holding her tightly. He'd never let anything bad touch her again.

"There are moments where our life feels like a dream."

"Does it?"

"Still moments like this."

"Still and quiet," his lips lifted up slightly.

"Perhaps the quiet moments are so rare they feel like a dream," she smiled back while still looking out upon the garden she had spent hours toiling in and just past it the field where she had planted crops by hand, while starving.

"I know the feeling." And he did for it swept over him nearly every morning as he viewed his beloved asleep in their bed, knowing that she was his and everything in her house, their house, was his.

"Do you ever wonder if it was all lined up so, as awful as it was at times, so we would end up right here?"

He smiled gently, there was a depth developing in his wife as she matured. "I do."

She continued to be silent and reflective.

"So very many things had to happen in order for me to be at that barbeque. Then for Wade and Ella to be ours. Why even our boys. I can't imagine them being anything but Julian and Kenneth."

Her hand went to her stomach.

"Again?" he questioned.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said not looking forward to anything that would come for the next nine months.

He laughed lightly, "I'm sorry."

"You should be," she informed him. "Stop talking about it."

"We'll plan to go New Orleans or Charleston."

"That'll be nice or at least better."

"Do you still want to go to Pittsburg on Tuesday?"

"No, but I don't want you to go without me, so I'll make the best of it."

He laughed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

He rode like the devil from Atlanta to Calverton after receiving a telegram to the Peachtree house, 'Scarlett lost the baby. She is recovering.' He had a morning full of meetings planned, but he hadn't said anything more than, "Cancel them," to his man of business, who had brought the telegram to him.

George was waiting for him by the time his stallion reached the front steps of their house. "Miss Scarlett's fine. Best calm down before you frighten the children."

Rhett shot an angry look at the servant, who was nonplussed by the attitude, likely because he remained right in his statement. Rhett forced himself to take a deep breath.

"Miss Scarlett's in her parlor," the maid said taking his hat.

"She should be in bed," he lashed out.

"Miss Scarlett didn't think so."

Scarlett and her sister were both in the parlor knitting.

"She should be in bed," Rhett directed his angry words at her incompetent sister.

"She is right here," Scarlett dryly said, "what on earth would I do in bed all day without you?"

"Scarlett!" Suellen's eyes were wide.

Scarlett shrugged without repentance.

"How are you?" He still didn't rush to her side, he was taking in every aspect of her to ensure she was indeed well.

"Perfectly fine. Sit down, you're scaring Suellen."

He gave Suellen the briefest of glances, she wore her normal expression of being annoyed at her sister before going to her sister. He gently wrapped an arm around Scarlett, whispering a soft, "My darling," before he placed a kiss into her hair.

"Rhett, I'm perfectly fine, it was hardly anything."

Another look at Suellen confirmed that Scarlett's words were as false as he suspected them to be.

"I'll go check on the children," Suellen said going to give the couple privacy.

"How are you actually?" he asked with his fingers tilting her face up to look at him.

"Fine. Losing a child is far easier than having a child." She paused, "Why it was barely much of anything in comparison."

"That doesn't mean it was easy."

"It means it's fine. It happened, it's over, I'm fine. The doctor told me to rest for a few days."

"I imagine he meant in bed."

"What difference could it possibly make if my feet are up or down?"

"You should sleep."

"I slept plenty, if I sleep anymore I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"You should have sent someone for me."

"You know I have no interest in being widowed a third time. There was nothing you could have done."

"I should have been without."

"You're here now."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

1877

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"What shall we call her?" Scarlett asked holding the baby. The little dark-haired baby with the bluest of eyes that Scarlett hoped would always remain that shade, they did so remind her of her Pa.

"Oh this one is Katie, no doubt."

"Katie? But we already named Kenneth after me."

"Oh but this one will be even more you. Why I'm not even sure her eyes will stay this blue, I imagine some green will find their way in eventually."

She looked up at him, nonplussed by the way he wasn't looking at her, but their baby, for he was seeing her in their baby. She loved the way he loved her, deep and all encompassing. Her gaze dropped back down to the baby in her arms, "Katie is so plain, we should call her something like Katerina or Katherine."

"There is nothing about my Katie girl that is plain," he said stroking the baby's cheek.

She did so very much love the way he loved. "Katie Eugenia."

"Eugenia?" Rhett finally looked up at his wife.

"Well we have to make it sound regal. Julian, Kenneth and then just a Katie. Why even Ella is Ella Lorena."

He laughed lightly, "Katie Victoria," he corrected looking down at the baby once more.

"Katie Victoria," Scarlett repeated looking down at the little girl in her arms. "Why that's just perfect."

o-o-o

He sat in the rocker with Katie as Scarlett napped. Not noticing that after nearly nine years of being with Scarlett and being on the fourth baby that he automatically sat in a rocker at this point, often even without a baby or child in his arms.

Below them he knew the floor was filled with family. Their five children, surrounded by their grandmother, great aunts, aunts, and several cousins.

He looked down at the sixth, lips lifting up in amusement that he hadn't even realized until she was halfway here that they had indeed been trying for a sixth for some time.

They had realized Scarlett was expecting again not long after Kenneth turned one, but not even a month passed before she wasn't.

Kenneth was two and a half when they realized it again and then two weeks later she wasn't.

After that point she refused to use any of what deemed a 'potion' for preventing pregnancy, placing the blame for the lost pregnancies upon them, she wanted to not fall pregnant, not to lose children. So more often than not it was just them and the time honored method that had resulted in Kenneth. They grew more and more lax, eventually he stayed with her more often than he left her at the end. By the time they realized she was expecting again, months had passed since he had bothered to finish outside of her.

They'd been in Charleston for the summer when they realized and Scarlett refused to risk traveling back to Georgia while expecting.

Wade hadn't minded spending his final school year before college in Charleston since his brother and cousin were already attending the College of Charleston and it was far more enjoyable to be out on the town with them and their college friends than back in the country. Ella and Julian had their set friends that they always played with in Charleston, so attending school with them wasn't particularly different than attending school with their friends back home in Georgia.

There were certainly more amusements for an expecting Scarlett in Charleston than their country home. He found it remarkable how easily his country family adapted to city life for longer than a visit. He'd had more than a few moments though of longing for their quiet life. Where more nights were spent alone with his family than in the company of others, when more often than not he could stop in the middle of the day and easily seek out his wife and her company.

He'd been happy to stay in Charleston though for Katie, especially for Scarlett expecting Katie, after those two losses, there had been a part of him expecting something to go wrong and he'd wanted a doctor, several doctors close at hand.

Not that they had called the doctor when Scarlett had gone into labor, no they simply retreated upstairs while the children played downstairs. He'd done his best to amuse and distract his wife and when the time grew close, he called the servant with midwife experience upstairs and sent another servant for the doctor, in case he would be needed and another to inform their extended family.

Katie had been born and she and Scarlett cleaned up by the time the doctor arrived, he had given them a cursory examine before declaring them both fine and being on his way.

Rhett looked over at his sleeping wife, who in sleep was still the mirror image of the woman he had married eight years earlier and then down to the baby he imagined would be her mirror image and recalled the day he had pieced their actions and the expecting baby together.

'Were we trying for another child?' He asked the question abruptly as they'd been sitting in front of the fire in their personal sitting room that adjoined their bedroom, both dressed and ready for bed.

'What?' she still half in the state of lull she'd been placed into by his soothing voice, the warm fire and the comfort of her body resting against his.

'We were trying for another child,' he said in final realization. 'We certainly weren't doing anything to prevent another child, so I am more than sure that means we were trying for another child.'

'I don't think that's actually what that means,' she rolled her eyes.

'My dear, admit it. You were trying for a baby. A fifth baby when you hadn't wanted more than two.'

'Well what did it say about us that I couldn't keep a pregnancy and then I stopped falling pregnant.'

He laughed lightly.

'I was pregnant twice. I got used to the idea of having a new baby.'

'You wanted a new baby,' he smirked.

'I still only like our babies. I would much prefer though if someone else could have them. This one is plenty though. After he or she is born, I will happily never fall pregnant again.'

"You my sweet," he whispered, "are certainly more than enough. You have such a wonderful life ahead of you."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

1878

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Thank you for coming Scarlett," Ashely said as he sat with Scarlett in the parlor.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come faster."

"You were in New Orleans," he nodded, understanding the distance she'd had to travel, "I should have sent word when it started, but it had been going so well."

Melly's labor with their second son had gone on for over a day, the baby had finally been born healthy, but it had taken far too much out of Melly. She had only lasted for over a day before succumbing.

"I tried my best-"

He nodded, "Did Rhett remain in New Orleans?"

"We had the children with us. We couldn't settle everything fast enough for us all to catch the train, so I took the baby and he's following behind with the rest."

"How is little Katie?"

"Crawling."

"Feels like only yesterday Melly was writing me to tell me of Wade just starting to crawl."

"Wade will be 17 on his next birthday."

Ashley let out a stunned laugh. "Is West Point going well? We haven't heard from him in a few weeks."

"Certainly better than it went for his father, there's thankfully enough of Charlie in him to make up for Rhett and I."

Ashley let out a light laugh, "Are your other boys still terrorizing all of Clayton County."

"They're still confined to Calverton and Tara when they're not in school. Camilla Tarleton is still avoiding walking under trees."

"How did a 7-year-old get up there with a bucket of water?"

"I imagine that would have involved the 9-year-old, although I can't say for certain Ella wasn't involved as well." Her eldest daughter always looked so innocent, Scarlett was fairly certain she often never was.

"She is your daughter. Melly loves-loved hearing about all of their exploits."

"We should have come to Atlanta more."

Ashley shook his head, "You had your farm and the children."

Scarlett felt another wave of guilt wash over her, she and Rhett had traveled extensively over the years, but they never seemed to be in Atlanta for more than a weekend every few months. Melly had offered to watch the children when they travelled, but it had always just been easier to leave them at Tara or have a Tarleton stay with them. They'd left them in Savannah and Charleston with family more than once, but never with Melly in Atlanta. Perhaps if Scarlett had shared her children, Melly wouldn't have tried to have another baby when Beau started to become a young man.

Wade always played with his cousin whenever they were in Atlanta and the week Melly would bring him to visit in the summer, but he'd had Lawrence and his friends from school. Rhett had him on a pony since he was 6, so it had never been a difficulty for him to travel several miles to play with his friends even though there were so few children. They had all been so easily occupied in in the country, Atlanta had just seemed so unnecessary.

"What can I do to help?"

"I believe my sisters have it all in hand."

"Are you sure? I could arrange the dinner for after, we could have it brought in-"

"We have it well in hand Mrs. Butler," India Wilkes with her pinched face said walking into the room, holding the bundled up baby. "Although I imagine it would all go easier if not for your servant in the kitchen distracting the entire staff."

Prissy had met her at the station in Atlanta to care for the baby having come in from the country on her own.

"She's one person she's hardly distracting."

"Her three children and your own?"

"I was not aware Prissy's children were in Atlanta."

"They've been here since this morning distracting Pork and Dilcey."

She couldn't send Prissy home with Katie until the baby nursed. "I'll talk to her."

"We'd do best if you just left Scarlett and came back with the visitors tomorrow."

Scarlett looked to Ashley, "Yes, I'm sure India's right. I'm sure you'll want to get the house prepared for your family's arrival."

"Of course," she nodded, "I'll just collect Prissy-"

"Don't forget her children."

"Of course not," Scarlett held her temper in check and said her goodbyes.

o-o-o

"Ugh that woman!" Scarlett fumed not for the first time since meeting her husband at the train. He'd been carrying their sleeping seven-year-old, with a guiding hand on the half asleep nine-year-old as if he were ready to grasp the back of his jacket should the child start to fall. Ella holding their nanny's hand, she too looking weary from the travel. The children hadn't even wanted a snack before they went to bed, so nothing had stopped Scarlett's fury for the last hour, it would pop up and then be filled with remorse for Melly's loss and it had gone on through the quick supper they took and her readying for bed.

"That woman is grieving her sister just like you," he said finally hoping she'd had enough of her anger, he said catching her in his arms. He couldn't even be angry with that witch of a woman, who had returned to the Hamilton-Wilkes household because of Melly's pregnancy with his and Scarlett's blessing.

"I should have seen Melly more."

"Scarlett, you've been managing Calverton, Tara, our household and raising six children."

"Don't forget dealing with Suellen," her sister was more trying than all six children.

He laughed.

"You've helped. I should have found the time." She could have always let Rhett do more.

"We've seen far more of Miss Melly than we have of my sister."

"But the children have spent far more time with your sister than Melly and there's no changing that."

"No there's not and there's nothing wrong with that. Just like there's nothing wrong with the fact that Suellen has spent more time with the children than anyone aside from us."

"When you say it like that there is, I never actually thought of that."

"The children love their aunt and uncle and their cousins. I imagine it is the exact life your parents had wished for you."

"Why didn't we live in Atlanta like you wanted?"

"I don't know, but I am more than grateful you developed a conscience at such a late age."

"I was 22, remind me how old you are Captain Butler."

"While I may be an old man, I don't feel like one because you insisted we live in the country. I'd likely have a large paunch and a curved back if we lived in the city."

"I imagine I'd have one less child if that were true." Scarlett took in the sight of her muscular and trim husband, he spent a large portion of every day working with the horses, he had the vitality of a man twenty years his junior.

He laughed and pulled her in tighter.

"Did I sacrifice my waist for yours?"

"If you did we made an excellent decision just as always, your 24 inch waist is far superior."

"I can get it to 20."

"Yes, if I carry you and you don't speak."

She hit him.

"Miss Melly made the best decisions she did for her family just as we did ours. Knowing Miss Melly I'd imagine she'd have not a single regret with the outcome being that her boy is healthy and strong."

"To be raised by India and Honey."

"To be raised. Miss Melly was never to be long for this world, she was far too good for it."

"She was the same age as my mother."

"Better that she was lost to new life than disease. Now come my love, let's get to bed. The children will be up with the sun and the boys will both arrive before noon and Suellen will be here on the afternoon train and I imagine there will be even more children."

"It's two days, we have enough staff to go and care for them while Will takes care of Tara."

"We do, but that would involve your sister using good judgement so I am sure they will be on the train with her."

She sighed and ran her hands along her husband's back.

He dropped a kiss down to her lips.

She rose up for it as deepened it and pressed her body even closer to his.

"Scarlett, you're supposed to be crying into my chest."

"I need you."

"You have me."

"You know what I mean."

He smirked.

"Darling."

"It's late and nothing is unpacked, I don't even know where anything is packed."

"It's fine just finish outside, it's only once."

"You are aware my dear that you just explained how you conceived both of our sons."

"I'll risk it," she said lifting back up, he caught her back in another kiss, but after several moments and her hands beginning to wander, he stopped the kiss.

"I'll certainly not." The idea of losing Scarlett so strong in his mind, it had been since the moment they'd received the telegraph. He pulled her up into another kiss. "Start checking your bags, I'll check mine." He patted her on the behind as he quickly turned her away.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Scarlett awoke without her husband beside her and no memory of him leaving. After nearly ten years it was a feeling she was more than used to, very rarely did she awaken or retain the memories of him extricating himself from underneath her. There were days when he lingered in bed, waiting for her to awaken, but after so many years, more often than not, he got up and went about his day with the hour less he slept than her, which was more often than not two when he wasn't kept busy on the farm.

Still though after ten years, he was still her first thought when she awoke, especially as his scent lingered upon the bed and her own body. She gave a stretch as she always did, nuzzled into the pillow for a moment longer. She didn't often think of their wealth, but she always took comfort in it. She never took for granted the softness of their sheets, the perfectly filled down pillows, which she only used for that hour or two in the mornings.

She had a routine, several minutes of luxuriating in bed. Then she would rise and do a quick pass over her face and body with the water in the basin, if need be, retrieve her nightgown from the floor, put on a dressing gown, brush her teeth and face and join the family downstairs for breakfast before they would all separate for the day. It was such a familiar and comfortable habit and she imagined the children looking back upon it fondly as she did so many of her own childhood memories and on nearly all days that was enough to pull her from the comfort of their bed.

Today though, mid-stretch, it occurred to her where she was and what had transpired. She recalled being in New Orleans with Rhett and the four youngest. She recalled her husband's face as he read the telegram. How he had pulled her to him and how in those few moments it felt as if he'd be able to solve the horrible situation at hand, her husband was always so capable, but sadly her husband was not God.

Still though, together they were quickly able to settle upon a path for addressing the situation and barely a half hour later she was kissing her husband and children goodbye and setting out on the train. Of course, even then, that had been too late.

She shouldn't have gone, she'd known Melly's time was getting closer, but they imagined it was at least another month and the trip was only a week. She and Rhett had come in just two weekends prior with Katie and Melly had seemed more than fine. Scarlett regretted letting the children remain behind at Calverton, but they so preferred the country to the city, there were far more adventures to get into when not so carefully watched by their family or the help.

It all crashed upon Scarlett mid-stretch.

"I wish I could tell you it was all a dream," Rhett said crossing the room, in an emerald robe and with Katie in his arms in her linen sleepwear.

"It just doesn't seem real," she said sitting up and reached for her robe, which her husband always thoughtfully placed at her bedside. Covering up was a necessity with babies that considered your body theirs.

"I wish it were not," he arrived at her bedside and waited until she had secured the garment around her before handing off the baby. Dropping a kiss upon her head as he did so.

"Good morning my sweet girl," Scarlett kissed the dark-haired baby with eyes nearly the mirror image of her own. There was such comfort in this moment with their perfect baby in her arms, Rhett going around the bed, sure to be climbing into it and soon to be pulling her towards him. She let out a breath seconds later as she was pulled alongside him, the warmth and the strength of him surrounding her.

"How are you doing?"

"My head is still filled with all the pointless what ifs."

"They'll pass," he said knowingly.

"I don't know. I think for once some will actually linger. She was a far better friend and sister than I was."

"You were very different women, leading very different lives. I imagine you were more to each other than most would have been."

"I imagine most husbands would have lied and said I was a far better friend than-"

"Than you thought, surely, than Miss Melly, certainly not. I love you, but I have never been blind to your faults and considering the fault in this situation is our family. You did the best you could."

"I do wish that would remove how awful I feel. Rhett did you feed Katie?"

"Seeing as no one else was up, Katie and I took breakfast in the sitting room."

"Why is there still porridge on her?"

"I cleaned her up as best I could, you know they're particularly squirmy at this stage."

"Squirmy? It's bad enough you don't correct the children's grammar, you don't need to pick it up."

"I correct yours my dear, you correct theirs."

She rolled her eyes, "Get me a wet cloth."

He laughed and detached from his wife to do her bidding and then smiled watching her interact with their youngest.

"Put her on the floor, she's been far too couped up," Scarlett told her husband after giving the baby a kiss for being so good while she was being cleaned.

"She'll be walking by the week's end," Rhett said as humored his daughter and let her walk with him guiding her for a few minutes.

"She's so different than Kenneth."

"He was more than content to have everyone carry him."

"He still is," Scarlett thought back to yesterday and Rhett carrying their son off the train and into the house.

Rhett smiled, "So he is. Katie will certainly be like Ella and sewing skirts onto pants."

"So eager to be part of all the action," Scarlett said swinging her legs around the side of the bed.

"That she is," Rhett took a hairbrush off the vanity and handed it to Katie who proceeded to beat it against the floor.

"Where are her toys?"

"Packed or the nursery I assume," he said moving across the room to join Scarlett seated on the side of their bed.

"Where does the time go? Feels like yesterday Melly and I were trying to occupy Wade."

"It goes faster with children, they grow up too fast. If Ella is anything like you, in a handful of years we'll be grandparents."

"She won't be."

"And how do you know that."

Scarlett smirked, "She sews dresses onto the sides of pants."

He smiled. "I enjoy the idea of us being grandparents, sitting in our rockers telling stories."

"How is that any different than you being a father?"

"I am hoping there will be less bodily fluids."

"You hand them off to the servants plenty."

"There will be no guilt when I hand them off to their parents."

She laughed.

"I want nothing more than to grow old with you, I cannot imagine what Mr. Wilkes is enduring right now and what will always be with him."

"Such a horrible thing and while they're both still so young."

"That will never be us. I am more than grateful that we're done having children."

"Considering last night, I hardly imagine we're done."

"We take precautions."

"Every manner of precaution has failed us at least once. We'll have more children," Scarlett said in resignation, "but I certainly have no intention of ever dying having a child, although I imagine one of them will likely be the death of me." Katie reached her mother's legs and attempted to climb up them and the bedclothing.

"I imagine they will take me out well before you my dear," he said bending to retrieve their girl.

"I hope so for all you encourage them."

"I have never appreciated your stubborn nature more. I feel oddly relieved."

"I could hardly leave the children to be raised alone by you. I do know how often Ella rides astride."

"But you are still impressed she was clever enough to sew the skirt of her old habit onto Wade's old pants."

"Her needlework has improved," Scarlett smirked. "However, you let her get away with far too much for a young lady."

"She was born in the middle of four brothers."

"Iris is less than a year younger and Lily is the same age as Julian."

"They're hardly interesting, why even now they barely do more than sit in the corner with their dolls."

"If it weren't for you, Ella would be sitting and playing with them."

"Her brothers are far more interesting. I know you don't disagree."

"Just remember in a few years when Ella is expelled from one finishing school after another, you are to blame."

"Proudly," he smiled.

"How is it we haven't even married 10 years and it feels like a lifetime?"

"I imagine the three lives we brought into this world and your country living."

"My country living?"

"We spend far more of the day together than our city counterparts."

"I hope you aren't making a case for quantity over quality."

"Not at all, we far succeed them in both. We were friends before we were lovers. I imagine most of them married strangers."

"I certainly never had any idealized versions of you."

"Nor I you."

Scarlett smirked. She wondered if Melly had known who Ashley was when they married or she had seen him as Scarlett had, as that glittering prince.

"Have I distracted you enough? Should I begin to ready for the day?"

"Not yet. The moment we stand I'll need to actually face it."

"Will you go to the Wilkes after breakfast?"

"No, I'll wait for Suellen to arrive and then we'll go together. I'll send a servant over with a note."

"Your sister serving a purpose, I feel as if I should make note of this momentous occasion."

Scarlett rolled her eyes.

"Bothersome tasks you can assign to the younger ones," Rhett lifted up their daughter so she was standing on his legs, "my sweet, you should be glad you are far younger than all your siblings, so your aunt's fate is not yours."

Scarlett laughed and took Katie's hand. She held onto it while looking at her husband, "It feels like the end of an era that has long since passed."

"Which of the many eras?"

"You as a scoundrel and a cad courting me, not to be your wife, but your mistress."

He let out a light laugh, "I am more than glad you rejected that offer. Imagine my mortification, several years in realizing I still hadn't tired of you and I'd have to admit I was wrong and ask you to be my wife."

"Several years?"

"It did take me four years to realize I should have made you my wife. I am rather stubborn if you didn't notice, once I have a thought in my mind, I commit to it."

"You don't say," she smiled.

He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Are you ready to face the day my love?" he questioned looking into her eyes as he cupped the side of her jaw.

"No, but I'll do it if you're by my side."

"Always," he promised.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

1883

London

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Scarlett founds herself tapping her fingers aimlessly on her thigh. The townhouse was always so quiet on Mondays without the children. Over a year and a half prior after several misdeeds at Ella's finishing school, the school had suggested she find a better placement and Rhett realized he'd overindulged their eldest daughter.

Leticia had been the one to suggest England and had been suggesting it since before Ella left the one room schoolhouse. Scarlett's husband with his grandiose plans had decided that the entire family would go, at least to get Ella settled. He had even talked Will into allowing Iris to accompany her cousin.

He arranged for the children to attend a school just a few hours outside of London. He leased a country estate nearby and a home in London. He'd made so very many promises of all the parties they would attend, how she'd likely have to bring a second pair of slippers on evenings out for all the dancing they would do. How easy it would be for them to slip away to Paris for a few weeks with just Katie while the older children were in school. They would go to England for the school year, enjoy part of the season and easy travel and then return to the States for the summer.

The season had barely begun when she realized she was expecting. He allowed her one ball a week for he decided they were entirely too trying, he never retreated to play cards and smoke at them for he did not trust his wife to not be swept onto the dance floor by others.

He coddled, he couldn't not after Melly, but he didn't fight her for long about retreating to the country house he had recently purchased. No they stayed in town and attended suppers, musicales and the theater. They eventually ended up retiring to the country well before the season's end, but they ended up taking the DeVaughns and hosted several other American couples before she had to retreat entirely.

Elizabeth Melanie was already as striking as her older sister Katie with their parents' dark hair, but their mother's fair skin, Liza's eyes the same startling blue as her grandfather and brother.

"Hello Mother," Lawrence said walking into the parlor. He had shot up in height in his late teens, finally stopping at 5'11, his height, his golden hair and pale blue eyes has all made him a favored catch amongst the mothers and their daughters, no one ever asked too many questioned about his background. Scarlett often thought of how odd Wade was to not be jealous of his brother's looks and how the females always flocked to Lawrence first. Wade wasn't short at 5'9, but when he stood next to his father and brother he often appeared to be. The brown waves of his hair, always kept short enough that they wouldn't settle into curls, the brown of his eyes , so common, they were never something the girls swooned about. Why his eyes had very nearly been the same shade as his childhood dog, Barry and they held the same loyalty as well. Scarlett very nearly wanted to tell every young woman that overlooked Wade in favor of the glittering titles and looks how foolish they were. But those were lessons that couldn't be taught and those foolish girls had to learn the lesson the hard way.

"Good morning Lawrence, you're here early," she said accepting his kiss on her cheek. Grateful for the company of her son. The children were all such fascinating mixtures of herself and Rhett with various other influences, they were nearly always more interesting than anyone else. It had been unfathomable two decades ago when she had become a mother how quickly the time would pass, how quickly they would go from burdens to enjoyable companions.

"I have a business opportunity that I wanted to talk about with Father."

"Is your brother still in bed?" Rhett had leased the two eldest a private residence for when they came to town, they had traveled for the better part of the year prior, but had returned before the baby was born and had yet to leave again finding town far too entertaining, proving how much they were their father's sons. The boys more often than not took the afternoon meal with their parents despite not living with them.

"You know he doesn't rise before noon."

She sighed as a mother should. They truly never went too far and their exploits were always such fun to hear about either through themselves, their father or the general gossip mill.

"Where are the girls?"

"With the nanny, they should be down shortly, it's nearly time for us to go outside," Scarlett adored her children, but she did so enjoy getting to ease into her day.

"Are you and father still planning on returning to the States next month?"

"Yes, I take it that means you and your brother will not be joining us?"

"Not if Father says yes," he tilted his head, "But you'll be returning in the fall, for school? Right?"

"So you have a business venture that you want to start and then you want your father to take care of so you two can go on your safari?"

He barely even bothered looking sheepish, "It's better that Father have activities that aren't the club."

Scarlett certainly couldn't fight him on that, allowing Rhett never ending access of people to debate had turned out poorly on several occasions. "We'll be at the country house in the fall."

"You wouldn't need to be in London, just nearby."

"I am not staying in London so you-"

"You won't need to stay in London Mother, I can't imagine anything could come up that Father couldn't solve in a day or two."

She gave her son a look.

"Mother, you want us to be successful don't you? Not just live off Father's wealth."

"I do hope this is an actual business plan and not another scheme you and your brother came up with at a gaming table," Rhett said from the doorway.

"It is sir," Lawrence said standing, he didn't make a mention of retreating to his father's study to discuss it, well aware that excluding his mother would not work in his favor "we-"

Rhett raised a hand, "It is time for your mother and I to take your sisters outside, any business will have to wait until after. Where are they? The nanny is normally prompt."

"Liza probably needed to be changed," Scarlett said long past expecting any type of order when it came to having children in the house. "Will you be attending the musicale at the Taylors tomorrow?" She asked her son.

"No we're too wealthy, Wade and I have no interest fending off all those marriage minded mothers."

"Don't ever say such things, there's no such thing as too wealthy," his mother was appalled at such a statement.

"You aren't the one they're trying to trap," Lawrence quickly retorted.

Rhett chuckled. "Are you two still doing your system with Elijah and Peter?"

"The buddy system sir, no one is ever alone when the mamas are about."

His mother bit back a laugh.

He turned with a look of outrage at his mother, "Miss Thompson tried to compromise me in the garden Mother. I hadn't even been in the country two weeks."

"Don't look for sympathy from her, you and your brother left during your mother's confinement. You know how bored she gets."

Lawrence's mind filled with thoughts, but he held them in. Keeping them until later when he could share them with Wade, the absurdity of his parents still having children. Frankly still leading a life that should be left to people twenty years younger.

Rhett turned hearing voices in the hallway, "So your brother is why Mrs. Miller was delayed," he gave his eldest a look and regretted hiring the pretty young widow to care for their two youngest.

"Wade's here?" Lawrence looked confused.

"Mother, Father," Wade smiled as he walked in holding Liza in his arms and Katie walking next to him with her doll in hers, who quickly ran to greet her other brother.

The smiling nanny quickly making her departure.

"I will make you marry her if you do anything stupid," Scarlett threatened in a low voice.

"I just enjoy her company Mother. I figured I would help her get the girls ready for the yard."

"Which is why they're eight minutes late," Rhett dryly added. "Have some manners and escort your sister outside," Rhett gave Lawrence a look as he crossed the room to his wife's side to offer her his hand.

"Shall we?" Lawrence swept into a low bow to make his sister laugh.

"You're silly," Katie smiled at her brother.

"Charming my dear, they call it charming."

"Only to your face," his mother chimed from behind him.

"Good one Mother," Wade smiled. "Did you want to go for a ride in the park later?"

"Wouldn't that encourage all those young ladies you're trying to avoid? Being seen entertaining your mother?"

"Actually it makes him a Mama's boy and scares half of them off," Lawrence explained.

"What happens with the other half," she questioned.

"They realize that they have to appeal to you and not Wade."

"Why is that why I had to entertain four mothers and their daughters last week. That hardly seems worth an hour in the park."

"Mother," Wade gave her a look.

"They are your problem, not mine, I'm already married."

"I will happily take you for a ride," Rhett looked down at his still very young wife.

"Thank you," she smiled up at her still dashing husband.

"What does it say when you're rejected by your mother?" Lawrence questioned.

"That Mother has a better social life than most of those debutants?" Wade remarked.

"Your father is certainly a better suitor," she smiled.

Wade gave his brother a look, clear they both had comments to share later on.

"Should we play croquet?" Lawrence asked, "I don't feel like sitting."

"Might as well, although I still stand by Mother has an unfair advantage being so low to the ground," Wade declared.

"You should practice more before the summer parties begin," Scarlett suggested.

"Did you still want to host one before you return home?" Wade questioned.

"Yes, but don't worry. I'll only invite families wealthy enough that they won't try to trap you with their daughter," she smiled.

"Invite whomever you wish Mother," Lawrence said beginning to set the hoops in the ground, "if anyone is clever enough to make it past Ella and Iris, they more than belong in our family."

"If they're clever enough to keep Ella away, I will become their apt pupil," Wade agreed.

Scarlett laughed and felt Rhett's laugh echo through her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Not thinking of how good her life was, for her life was always good, no she laughed simply enjoying the moment.


The -no chance of anything else- end.

So Melly's death was going to be the original end point of the story, hence that scene and the epilogue being written. As I wrote however, I realized that wasn't the appropriate ending for this story, which is so very different than the path GwtW took.

Linger was a story of two people discovering their love and how that love helped them heal and grow.