Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Four

Finally, the day arrived, and Scarlett knew she was in labor. She woke Rhett up and said, "Go get Mammy and send a footman for Dr. Harrison."

Rhett rang the bell pull and when a servant arrived, he told her to go get Mammy. When Mammy got to the room, Rhett left the room. He sent a footman for the doctor and another for Miss Melly. He got dressed. It was incredibly early. Nobody else was awake so he went back to his room.

Rhett saw Scarlett sitting in a chair. She looked like she was in so much pain and this was just the beginning. Rhett looked at Mammy and said, "What can I do to help until someone else gets here?"

Mammy took pity on Captain Butler. He was a man of action just like Miss Scarlett. For him sitting around waiting would be horrible. Mammy said, "Walk with Miss Scarlett."

"Alright."

As Scarlett would have a contraction, she would grip Rhett's arm. Rhett said rather stupidly, "Your contractions are not supposed to be that strong already."

Scarlett smiled weakly at him and said, "It seems this child is in a hurry to enter the world."

Soon Melly and Beau arrived. There was no mistaking the worried expression on Rhett's face. Melly said, "Captain Butler, would you take the children to the park. It will still be a while. They need to stay busy."

"Of course."

Rhett woke Ella and Wade up. Prissy got Ella dressed and Wade got himself dressed. Soon the four of them were on their way to the park.

Dr. Harrison arrived and he administered the chloroform. Scarlett thought, 'Thank you, Mamie.'

Less than three hours later, Scarlett gave birth to another daughter. Her daughter had indeed been in a hurry to enter the world.

When Scarlett saw Eugenia Victoria Butler, she looked just like her also except with blue eyes. Scarlett was still coming down off the chloroform haze and she thought, 'I wonder if her eyes will turn brown also. I hope not. She and Wade would look too much alike. Oh well, I can't do anything about it any way. I wonder if Rhett is going to be disappointed that she doesn't look like him. Too bad. She is going to look like an O'Hara also.'

Rhett had come back from the park after an hour, he knew it was far too early, but he couldn't stay away. He had sent a footman to inform the wet nurse that she would need to come to their house for the baby was being born.

He was in the nursery playing with his children. All morning Rhett had been gripped with fear that he was going to lose Scarlett. Finally, Miss Melly came and placed the baby in his arms. Miss Melly said hesitantly, "It's a girl."

"That is wonderful. As long as she is healthy. Is Scarlett alright?"

"She is doing fine. You will be able to see her in a minute. As soon as they get the room cleaned up."

"Thank you. Children, come look at your sister."

Wade and Ella were happy with their sister. Wade reached out and stroked the baby's arm while Ella reached out and grabbed the baby's face. Rhett said sharply, "No, Ella. Don't."

Ella started crying because of the sharpness of Rhett's tone. Rhett stretched out his arm and pulled her to his side to comfort her.

Melly saw Rhett's worried expression and said, "She doesn't know how to be gentle yet. We will have to teach her."

"That's normal?"

"Yes. I don't know why but toddlers always seemed to be attracted to the face. Wade did it to Beau a lot when he was first born."

"As you said we will have to teach her to be gentle."

"Yes, I will be back in a few minutes to get you.

Rhett was so incredibly happy. He wasn't kidding when he had told Scarlett he would like twenty of them, but they wouldn't have that many. He was too scared of losing Scarlett. He was going to try to not have anymore. They would have more because accidents did happen, and they weren't going to stop being intimate.

When Rhett was allowed to enter the room he said, "Thank you, Scarlett."

Scarlett smiled at him and said, "I really didn't have much of a choice. You threatened to handcuff me to you. I would not have been able to handle being with you all day and all night. That would have been sheer torture."

Rhett had smiled and said, "I will always do what I have to do to keep you alive. That is what a good husband must do."

"Remember you promise me two years before we try again."

"We will not try again. I agree with you three is enough but if you get pregnant, we will welcome that child into the world also."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Did you know that one in three women die while giving birth to a child?"

"Yes, I did."

"It is the leading cause of death in young women. Is that why you don't want any more?"

"Yes, that and going into the grotesque shape. Not to mention the pain of labor and delivery although the chloroform made that bearable."

"Hopefully, there will be no more. I can't take the chance of anything happening to you. After all…."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I know. Who would take care of your needs if I wasn't around?"

"Exactly"

They smiled at each other. Scarlett was sitting up in the bed and Rhett had sat down next to her with the baby. They talked about the baby. Rhett told her about what Ella had done and what Melly had said. Soon Scarlett's meal was delivered. While she ate Rhett told her stories. Once she was finished eating her eyes started drooping, Rhett stood up and said, "I will let you get some sleep. While I see if the wet nurse is here.

In a sleepy voice Scarlett said, "Now that it is all over don't let them bar you from the room. I need you to keep the nightmares away."

Rhett smiled. Got off the bed and kissed his wife on the top of her head.

When Genie was four weeks old, Rhett said, "She is so beautiful."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"I don't see anything of me in her."

"That's because she's not yours."

Rhett smiled at Scarlett and laughed. She smiled innocently at him. He knew the child was his. He had his wife under constant surveillance before they wed, and he knew his Scarlett would never forsake her wedding vows.

Melanie walked through the door and had taken the baby away from Rhett.

Rhett said, "Do you think her eyes are going to turn green?"

"Indeed not, Captain Butler, they will stay blue like Mr. O'Hara's eyes. As blue as the bonnie blue flag."

Rhett laughed and said, "Bonnie Blue Butler."

"No, Rhett! Genie!"

"Whatever you wish, my lady."

"Thank you, Rhett."

Scarlett's confinement was finally over. She was getting dress to go out. She was frowning at Prissy. Prissy had told her that her waist measured eighteen inches. She had gained another inch. With every child she gained an inch. She was glad Rhett didn't want to have any more. Although she wasn't giving up relations to achieve that goal. Rhett had been right that day so long ago. She did need him to take care of her needs. She had been unhappy about not being completely intimate these last three months. She had liked their activities and they had both reached sexual satisfaction, but she had always felt that the party was over too soon.

Scarlett got in her buggy. Her buggy always made her smile. She knew that Rhett thought it was gaudy, yet he had bought it for her anyway. What's more he rode around in it with her. She smiled. Sometimes he was so stiff neck Charlestonian that Scarlett had to laugh. She went to the store to check the books and how well Hugh had run the store over the last several months. She saw the sign over the door and remembered her plans to change the name. What was it Rhett had suggested? It was Caveat Emporium. She liked the emporium part, but she wasn't sure about caveat.

Ashley Wilkes walked into the store. He seemed to be doing better. Hopefully, he was finally adjusting to the new world they were living in. As Scarlett looked at Ashley, she saw what a pitiable man he was. All her anger and hatred for him disappeared. Scarlett thought, 'I will ask Ashley what caveat means. He knows Latin.'

"Ashley, it has been far too long since I have seen you."

Ashley gave Scarlett and adoring look which Scarlett ignored. He was always looking at her that way except when Melly was around. He truly disgusted her.

Ashley said, "Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Melly says she is beautiful. That she looks just like you"

"She does. All my children look like me."

"If that is true, they will all be attractive people."

"Thank you. Ashley what does caveat mean? Rhett suggested it for a new name for the store. He said it was Latin."

"It means buyer beware," Ashley gave Scarlett a look of pity that made her mad at him. She was mad at Rhett too but that was a constant state since the day they met. He continued, "My dear, why did you marry him? You are one step away from not being received yourself now, especially after all those unladylike things you did when you were married to Mr. Kennedy. It isn't your fault though. It is Rhett Butler's fault. He is coarse and brutal. He has poisoned you. He poisons everything he touches. I know I should be grateful for he saved my life, but I wish it had been anyone else but Rhett Butler. When I think about him touching you….."

"Mr. Wilkes, you forget yourself. I will not tolerate you speaking of my husband in that manner. Good day. I need to see to my business."

Scarlett walked away from Ashley. She was mad. How dare he criticize her behavior when that behavior kept him fed and provided him with a job. He was as ungrateful as her aunts. How dare he talk about Rhett that way. Nobody talked that way about her husband except her, of course. He wasn't coarse or brutal. He just didn't pretend to be a gentleman like Ashley did. She went to the office and checked the books. She soon left. Ashley had ruined her day. As she drove home, she decided to think about Rhett's mean joke to get her mind off of Ashley's unkind words.

Scarlett decided that she was going to see how far her husband would let her go without telling her what caveat meant. She knew that Ashley would never voluntarily speak to Rhett and vice versa so she didn't have to worry Ashley would tell Rhett she knew what caveat meant.

When she got home and found Rhett in the parlor, she said, "The store is doing great. Mr. Elsing made a profit while I was in my confinement. I had forgotten about my wanting to change the name of the store until I saw the sign. I think I am going to change it to Caveat Emporium like you suggested. It has such a sophisticated ring to it."

Rhett had made that suggestion as a joke but if she was actually going to change the name to Caveat Emporium, he would have to nip this in the bud. He would not tolerate Scarlett being the brunt of a joke and everyone laughing at her. Only he could laugh at her and that was in the privacy of their home. Rhett said, "No, my lady. Caveat Emporium means 'buyer beware.' So, you are not changing it to that."

That statement earned him a scowl, but Scarlett wasn't unhappy. Rhett had nipped the name change in the bud. He was not going to let anyone but him make fun of her. He was always going to make fun of her so that was alright. If he protected her from others, it would be alright.

"Was that a mean joke?"

"It was a joke. I would not have let you actually use that name."

"It would have been horrible everyone laughing at me."

"The only person who can laugh at you is me."

Scarlett scowled again and said, "Let's think of another name besides Kennedy's. As I said before 'None of us are Kennedys now."

"I don't want you to use Butler's"

"Nor do I."

"Why don't you just call it The Emporium?"

"I do like that. What does Emporium mean?"

"It is Latin. In the strict sense of the word, it means marketplace or trading center, but people use it interchangeable with shop."

"So, I'm changing the name to The Shop."

Rhett laughed and said, "I guess you are, but I still think it sounds more sophisticated than Kennedy's."

Scarlett laughed and said, "I do too."

Scarlett was happy. It was a paradoxical situation. Rhett loved to make fun of her and tease her, yet he would not let anyone else make fun of her or tease her. Scarlett was happy. Rhett would always make fun of her and tease her but if he protected her from others, she was alright with it. Since their marriage he really had worked hard at protecting her.