Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Eighteen

Two and a half weeks later, Scarlett had gotten over her anger at Rhett. He really was a difficult man for her to stay mad at. He really was very charming. He did show her a good time in New Orleans. She did not let herself think about their past. Everything that had happened before they said 'I do' was locked behind a closed door. Her actions and his actions.

The very first day they had gone to the modiste and milliner. They ordered over two dozen dresses, undergarments and hats. The dresses were in bright, lively colors. Rhett ordered a dozen nightgowns that covered truly little, or the fabric was so sheer one could almost see through it. Most of the items would be ready before they left New Orleans, but a few items were going to have to be mailed to them.

They socialized with some people he knew in New Orleans. They talked about common past history, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Scarlett said, "I like your friends."

"They are not my friends; they are my business colleagues."

"Oh!"

"I don't have a lot of friends. I am not a likeable person. You of all people should know that."

She had smiled and said, "That is true."

"I enjoy aggravating other people too much."

"That is also true."

They were at a party which had dancing. After much dancing they went out on one of the porches to get some air. As they were standing in the shadows kissing another couple came out on the porch. The couple did not see Rhett and Scarlett standing there. The woman said, "I can't believe Rhett Butler got married. I thought he was a confirmed bachelor."

"I guess not. He is married now."

"She is just a child. She must be half Mr. Butler's age."

"Only a child would marry Butler. He is such an arrogant bastard."

"I don't know why he married her. She's not even that pretty."

Rhett stepped forward and said, "Mrs. Yarborough, I would appreciate you keeping your opinion about my wife to yourself but for the record. I can assure you she is not a child, but all woman and I find her delightful and very entertaining. As far as her looks are concerned, I find her beautiful. LeRoy, you need not contact me with anymore investment opportunities. Come along, Scarlett. Let us leave."

"Just a minute, Rhett. The only reason my husband is arrogant is because he knows he is better than everyone else."

Mrs. Yarborough said, "I never."

LeRoy said, "Damn it, Rhett. Let me apologize."

Rhett and Scarlett never slowed down their steps. They left the ballroom. On their way back to their hotel, Scarlett said, "Thank you for defending me."

"Of course, no one speaks badly about my wife but me. Thank you for defending me."

"No one speaks badly about my husband but me. For the record, I only explained why you were arrogant. I never denied that you were arrogant or a bastard because you really are an arrogant bastard."

"Yes, I am."

"Rhett, that is not something to be proud about."

"But I am."

Scarlett just shook her head and leaned into her husband.

Rhett took her to the best restaurants, and she had the best food. Rhett had been funny and amusing. He had been teasing but not mean or unkind. A couple of times when he had hurt her feelings, he had said, "I guess that's not funny to you."

She had smiled and said, "No, it's not."

"Then I won't tease you about it."

And he didn't. If he teased her about something and it made her mad, he continued teasing her about that. He didn't mind making her mad. He just didn't want to hurt her feelings on purpose. He would hurt her feelings inadvertently often enough. He really was trying to be a good husband.

One night as they were lying in bed Scarlett had been thinking about what their life in Atlanta was going to be like. She knew the matrons would be talking about her and Rhett. They always did. She had sighed with the thought.

She had felt Rhett get rigid then he had said, "May God damn your cheating little soul to hell for all eternity!"

Scarlett turned over and said, "What did I do?"

Rhett didn't speak. He got out of the bed and stomped across the room. He started putting his clothes on in jerky movements.

She repeated, "What did I do?"

He still didn't speak. She got out of the bed stark naked. She stood in front of him and said, "If you are sending me to hell for all eternity, please tell me why?"

Rhett stared at Scarlett with such a cruel look on his face that he scared her, but she tried to not let it show on her face. Very coldly he said, "It is considered very bad form to be thinking about another man when you are in bed with your husband."

"I wasn't thinking of another man."

"What were you thinking about then?"

"I was thinking about the matrons of Atlanta and how they were going to be talking about you and me. How they are always talking about me. I'm tired of everyone talking about me but there isn't anything I can do about it. Please believe me Rhett. How could I be thinking of anyone but you when I was in bed with you. You do kind of fill up the bed."

That made Rhett laughed, and he suddenly became very aware that his wife was standing in front of him without a stitch of clothing on. "I guess I will believe you since you are exposing your body in such a delightful way."

Scarlett screeked. She got back in the bed.

Rhett took off his clothes and got back in the bed with Scarlett.

Rhett decided he had jumped to the wrong conclusion. He began to wonder if she was not as enthralled with Mr. Wilkes as she had been. She kept telling him that she was in love with Mr. Wilkes but as he thought about the last year her actions had told a different story. He decided that he needed to study Scarlett's actions, not her words.

As Scarlett snuggled into Rhett, she was so glad he had believed her.

She thought about telling Rhett she no longer loved Ashley, but she decided not to. She still felt she needed that barrier there. She felt she still needed to be a challenge to her husband.

That night Scarlett had a nightmare for the first time since they had gotten married. She woke Rhett up with her thrashing. He gently woke her up. When she saw him, she threw her arms around him and said, "Rhett! It was awful. I was running and running. I was searching for someone."

"Then you found me."

"Yes, I found you."

She hugged him tight, and Rhett pressed her up against him.

She murmured, "You make me feel safe."

That statement thrilled Rhett. He replied, "I will always keep you safe from now on."

Sleepily Scarlett replied, "Alright."

The rest of their honeymoon was non-eventful. They laughed. They played. They went to all the sights. They picked up Scarlett's clothing. Scarlett bought Mammy and Melanie genuinely nice presents. She was going to need those ladies so much in the future she wanted to engender a little good will.

Rhett and Scarlett returned to Atlanta in high spirits. They got a suite at the National Hotel. They then went to get their children. When they got to the Wilkes, Ashley was there also. Scarlett had enthusiastically told them all about their time in New Orleans. It made Rhett happy that Scarlett had such a good time. While she was telling Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes stories of their time in New Orleans she would often turn and smile at Rhett. He would always smile back.

She gave the Wilkes the gift she had gotten for both of them and then she gave Melly the gift she had gotten her for watching the children while they were away. Melly opened both gifts. One was several books written by Alexander Dumas and the other was a lovely cameo. Melly was so moved by the cameo that tears sprang into her eyes. She said, "Scarlett, this is too expensive."

"Nonsense. Besides, you have to take it. You know I would never wear anything like that."

Melly laughed and said, "That is true."

Soon Mammy brought the children and their bags to the parlor. Wade squealed, "Mama!" He threw himself into Scarlett's arms. He quickly turned to Rhett and said, "Mr. Butler."

Rhett took the boy into his arms and hugged him. Rhett said, "Daddy."

Wade smiled and said, "Daddy"

Scarlett hugged Ella. Ella was reaching for Rhett, so Scarlett turned her daughter over to her father. Ella said, "Dada." The truth was that was all she had ever called Rhett and Scarlett had never corrected her.

When Ashley looked at Scarlett questioningly, she said, "Rhett wants us to be a real family, so he insisted that my children call him Daddy."

Melanie said, "I think it is nice."

"I would also like for them to have the last name Butler.

"Captain Butler, I cannot allow you to do that. Wade is the last male Hamilton. If you change his name, then our family line will have ended."

"That is why I would not officially change his name. When he turns eighteen, he can revert back to Hamilton thus carrying on the family name."

"I guess that is alright then."

"Thank you, Miss Melly, for understanding. It means a lot to me. I already love Wade and Ella so much. I don't want anyone to think of me as their stepfather. I want everyone to think of me as their real father."

As Scarlett watched Melanie's face soften with kindness, she knew Melly had bought Rhett's story completely. Scarlett looked at Ashley and knew he was suspicious of Rhett's actions. Scarlett hoped he wasn't too suspicious. Not that Ashley would ever say anything to anyone else. That wouldn't be gentlemanly to gossip about another gentleman.

As they left the home with the children and Mammy, Rhett knew two things. Scarlett had a wonderful time in New Orleans and Scarlett no longer thought herself in love with Mr. Wilkes no matter what she said. Rhett knew this because Scarlett had paid no more attention to Mr. Wilkes than she had Miss Melly. The only time Scarlett had looked closely at Wilkes was when Rhett had told them why he wanted the children to call him 'Daddy' and acquire his last name. He knew she had only done that then to see if Wilkes was buying Rhett's story.

When the group got to the suite Scarlett settled Mammy and Ella in one of the rooms, Wade in another room and Rhett and her in the largest room. Scarlett gave Mammy several dresses and a red taffeta petticoat. Scarlett didn't tell Mammy that Rhett had picked out the petticoat. Mammy would have been scandalized by the thought of a man picking out her petticoat. Also, she would not accept a gift from Captain Butler. Although technically all the gifts were all from Rhett since his money had paid for them all.

After they were in their room, Rhett said, "I guess Mammy doesn't approve of you marrying me."

"Why do you say that?"

"My first clue was she rarely looks at me. My second clue was when she does look at me, she gives me an evil glare."

"It is alright. She just thinks you are a bastard like I do."

"I will win her affections. After all I have a way with women."

"I am positive that belief is highly overrated."

Rhett laughed and Scarlett smiled. Scarlett knew that it would be a cold day in hell before Rhett ever achieved Mammy's approval.

Scarlett changed the subject and said, "Will you give me the money, so my sister Careen has a dowry to go to the convent?"

"Do you want her to go to the convent?"

With tears in her eyes Scarlett said, "No. I want her to live a full life, but this is what she wants. Careen has always been sweet, quiet and generous. I want to give her want she thinks she wants. It will make her happy."

"Yes, I will give you the money for Careen's dowry. I'll give you anything you want."

"Thank you."

"Now let's lay down and see how comfortable the bed is."

Scarlett hissed, "No! I know what you want to do."

"You want to do it too."

"Not in the middle of the day while everyone is awake."

"They won't know what we are doing."

"Mammy will. No!"

"You know she knows that we are having relations. Don't you?"

Scarlett stormed over to the door and left the room. Rhett smiled. He did so love to aggravate her. Their sex life was always an easy button to push to get her upset. She was always embarrassed about it. Outside their bed that is. She was never embarrassed while they were being intimate. In fact, at times she was rather demanding. Rhett loved it.

Later that night after they had retired for the night, they did have relations which Scarlett thoroughly enjoyed. Rhett never said another word about them not having relations that afternoon. As she drifted off to sleep, she decided it was just one more thing for him to aggravate her about.

The next day Rhett took her to the bank and added her to his signature card. He also ordered some checks for her use. The bank officer that was helping them assured Scarlett she could use Mr. Butler's checks for now.

Rhett then took her to see his lawyer, James Taylor. Rhett had a will drawn-up, his first one. He set-up a trust for his mother and sister. The rest of his money would go to Scarlett in trust as long as she never remarried. Upon her death the money would be split equally amongst her children but also in trust so their spouses couldn't get their hands on her children's money.

When they got in the cab to go back to the hotel, Rhett said, "That clause about you not remarrying is because I don't want my children raised by another man."

"The fact that you are controlling my life from beyond the grave is just a bonus, I'm sure."

Rhett smiled his pleased with himself smile, and said, "Yes, it is. It is a nice bonus though."