Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-One

All the matrons were talking about Captain Butler and his silly behavior over his stepchildren. At one of the sewing bees Scarlett was attending to keep her foot in the door of respectability, Mrs. Elsing took her aside. She said, "Scarlett, you need to talk to Captain Butler about his behavior."

"What behavior?"

"The silly way he is behaving in regard to your children. He is behaving like an old woman over them."

"I think it is wonderful the way Rhett is behaving with Wade and Ella."

"Everyone agrees that it is wonderful that he loves his stepchildren so much, but everyone also thinks it is very unmanly."

Scarlett didn't know if it was unmanly, but she wished Rhett was not so demonstrative of his love for the children in public. She didn't want anyone asking themselves why he was that way although she thought their secret was safe because nobody but them knew about their encounters. She would never say anything to Rhett about his behavior though. She had already learned Rhett was going to do what Rhett wanted to do. Furthermore, she wanted her children to feel loved by both her and Rhett. Scarlett burst out laughing. She said, "My husband could never be unmanly even if he wore a dress. No, Mrs. Elsing, I will not say anything to my husband about his behavior. My husband is not the one who needs to change but all the other fathers need to change. I am so incredibly lucky for so many reasons in regard to Rhett but he loving my children like they were his own is truly my finest blessing. I know that both Charlie and Frank would be pleased to know that the man who has taken on the responsibility of raising their child loves their child. Don't you agree Mrs. Elsing that Frank and Charlie would be pleased to know someone has taken on the onus burden of raising their child?"

"Yes, I suppose your late husbands would be pleased that someone loves his child as much as they would have."

"That is particularly important to me. Although I will never let my children forget their real fathers, I want them to love and be loved by the man fulfilling that role. Rhett and I feel that our children should know how deeply they are loved. They should not be treated as an afterthought or an inconvenience."

"You all are going to ruin them by treating them that way."

"We are going to ruin them by treating them like they are loved. Surely not."

"The Bible says, 'Spare the rod spoil the child.'

"Rhett doesn't believe in that."

"He doesn't believe in spanking his children?"

"That too but I meant he doesn't believe in the bible. Good day, Mrs. Elsing."

Mrs. Elsing was so stunned that she didn't say another word. Scarlett was mad that the matrons were sticking their noses into hers and Rhett's business again. She understood why they thought doing business with the Yankees and Republicans was wrong. They were the enemy. Although Scarlett didn't agree. The war was over. It was time to make lots of money. Yet them telling her and Rhett how to raise their children was just too much.

Later that night when Scarlett told Rhett of her conversation with Mrs. Elsing he roared with laughter. Scarlett said, "Will they never get tired of sticking their noses in our business?"

"No, we have committed a very grave sin in their opinion," Scarlett's eyes got big. Rhett said, "No, not that. Our grave sin is that we are successful. We have broken all their rules and we have succeeded."

"What can we do about it?"

"Besides move away, nothing."

"Not yet, Rhett."

"We will soon, my lady."

"I know but not yet."

"Alright."

A few nights later over supper, Rhett asked Wade, "Do you want to be tutored or go to school?"

"I would like to go to school, Daddy."

"Tomorrow I will find a school for you to attend in September."

Scarlett listened to the conversation, and she wanted to object. She wanted to say Wade was too little to go to school. Yet she knew he wasn't. It was time for him to go to school. He was six after all. She looked at Ella who was only two and thought, 'At least Ella is still a baby. No, Ella is a toddler.' As Scarlett looked at Ella sitting there eating her meal mostly by herself, she put her hand on her stomach and thought, 'It is alright. I will have another baby soon.'

Rhett was watching his wife look at his daughter with so much love on her face that it almost took his breath away. She didn't love him but at least she loved his children. It was enough for now.

Now that Scarlett knew Rhett better, she wasn't as angry at him. She hadn't forgiven him completely, but he would always go after what he wanted. Rhett had taken advantage of her but that was Rhett. He would always use every advantage that he had. They were alike she would use every advantage she had also. Scarlett knew that Rhett was fond of her. Not just because he told her so but because he was always doing little things to make her happy. She wished he wouldn't tease her about them being intimate but she knew he was going to tease her about something so it might as well be that. She just wished she didn't always get so embarrassed, but she guessed she always would.

Rhett had decided to send Wade to St. Anthony's Parochial School. Rhett had checked out every boy's school in Atlanta and he finally deem this one good enough for his son to attend. Rhett was not pleased with the fact that Wade would receive religious training. Yet Scarlett knew that Rhett had chosen St. Anthony's over the other schools because of her desire that Wade receive religious training. Scarlett didn't want to attend Mass herself, but she did want her children to be taught about religion.

One afternoon Rhett went to interview several Yankee doctors about whether the use of chloroform was really safe. They all agreed that giving the mother a small amount of chloroform was safe. Each one shared with him how extremely dangerous it was for a woman to have a child. About all the things that could go wrong. About how much pain the mother was in even before she went into active labor. After he had learned all that information, he had decided he was going to try to not get Scarlett pregnant again. On top of the danger was the fact she didn't want any more children. Nonetheless, unless they were extremely lucky, they would have more children because they weren't going to stop being intimate.

In September, the couple had a huge fight about whether the Democrats would ever return to power in Georgia. They were returning from a party and Scarlett had said, "Those people are so much fun."

"Enjoy your low-brow friends now. They will soon be out of office."

"No, that will never happen."

"Yes, it will sooner or later. It is just a matter of time."

Rhett sanctimonious tone had infuriated Scarlett so much that she continued arguing even after she knew she should shut up. She said superiorly, "Rhett, we are a conquered people. Why would they ever let us rule ourselves again. No, those people will be here for a long time."

"My dear, those people will be gone before we are. They will flee like cockroaches when one lights a candle."

"You don't know everything."

"True but I know a lot more than you."

By this time, they had reached their bedroom in the suite. There was silence the entire time they were getting ready for bed. After they were in bed, Rhett reached for Scarlett. She scooted out of the bed so fast she fell to the floor. Rhett burst out laughing. Scarlett grabbed her pillow and left the room. She could hear Rhett's laughter in the common room.

Scarlett never came back to their bedroom that night. The next two nights she slept in the common room. Rhett no longer thought her actions were funny. He decided that if she wanted to sleep alone, he would let her sleep alone. He would go to New Orleans. He had some business to take care of not the least being checking up on his ward.

The next day he packed his clothing. At the last minute he decided to take Wade with him. It could be a father-son adventure. He had Mammy pack Wade's clothing. Rhett ignored Mammy's looks of disapproval. He also ignored her muttering. She had muttered, "It ain't right to steal someone's child away."

Wade's excitement made Rhett excited. Before Rhett and Wade got out of the carriage at the train station, Rhett knew what he was doing was going to make the situation worse. He had been about to break Scarlett's trust. Her trust that he wouldn't run away with their child. Her trust that at the end of the day he would be there. Rhett turned to Wade and said, "Wade, I'm sorry. I just remembered a meeting I have to be in town for tomorrow. Let's go next week."

"Alright, Daddy."

Rhett felt a stab of conscience at the utter trust the boy was giving him when Rhett had been about to use the boy to hurt Scarlett. Rhett said, "Take us back to the hotel. Our plans have changed."

That night over supper Rhett said, "Scarlett, I have some business in New Orleans. I am going to take Wade with me. It will be a father-son adventure," Rhett looked at Wade and smiled. He continued, "Unless you have some objections."

"What about school?"

"He can get caught up when we get back."

"Then it sounds like fun. When will you leave and how long will you be gone?"

"Next Wednesday. We will be gone a week."

"Wonderful"

That night Scarlett was once again in their bed. She was very loving, and Rhett knew what had made her return to her marital bed. He was even more glad he hadn't just run away. This was a much better resolution to their fight. Although neither person said they were sorry.

Wade and Rhett did go to New Orleans. They had a fun time. Rhett didn't even feel the regret of not getting to go to a saloon and play poker. He was enjoying being with his son. Rhett took Wade to his business meetings and Rhett was so proud that the boy sat there so well behaved. He knew that was Scarlett's influence. Rhett smiled. Sometimes he thought she was too strict with Ella and Wade, but he knew that she was training them for the world they were going to inhabit.

Rhett saw a woman that was half business associate and half lover. He quickly picked Wade up and ran away. He did not want that woman to see him. He definitely didn't want that woman seeing his son. After they were safe, Rhett realized how much he had change since he had found out Wade was his son. He only wanted the best for his son. For a moment he wondered if that was what his father had felt for him when he was Wade's age. Probably. He then pushed all those thoughts away. Maybe someday he could open that wound but not today.

Rhett even introduced Wade to his fifteen-year-old ward. Soon the young man was going to be on his own. His ward, Nate, wanted to move out west. Rhett would probably give him the money next year and let him go.

On the train ride back to Atlanta in their private car, Wade got in bed with Rhett in the middle of the night. When Rhett woke up with the boy beside him, he was surprised. He didn't even remember Wade getting in bed with him. The boy was pressed up against him much like his mother did when she was sleeping. Rhett got up and got them some breakfast. Over breakfast, Rhett said, "Son, do you have nightmares?"

"Before Mama married you all the time but not very much anymore."

"Why do you think that is so?"

"Because Mama said, 'You are so big and strong you will protect Mama, Ella and me' therefore we don't have to be scared anymore."

That statement made Rhett's heart sing. It made him so incredibly happy that his son felt safe with him. It made him happy that Scarlett thought he would protect her and her children. Rhett said, "I will always protect you, your mother and your sister."

"It was awful when we were living at Tara. All we had to eat was yams. Mama always let me sleep with her even after she married the other Daddy."

Wade calling Frank Daddy still hurt but he deserved it. Rhett said, "Why don't you come get in bed with your Mama and me?"

"Because I don't have nightmares hardly anymore. I had one last night though."

"Any time you have a nightmare you can get in bed with me now."

"Thank you, Daddy."

Right there in that moment Rhett swore to himself that he would protect his children and the woman he loved. He also swore that if any man did to his daughter what he had done to Scarlett, he would kill him. No questions asked. Remembering what he did, as always, invoked shame and regret for his actions.