Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback. It always makes me so happy when I get a review or a PM.

Chapter Twenty-Five

At two months when Genie smiled at Rhett he turned to Scarlett and smirked. He said, "It seems this child that isn't mine has my mother's smile also."

Scarlett smiled at him, "It appears she does. I do so hope her eyes don't turn brown like Wade's. They would look to much alike then."

"Remember we can move away from the South."

Scarlett just smiled at her husband. He never missed an opportunity to try to get his way.

For their first anniversary, Rhett took Scarlett out to supper at a new restaurant in town. He picked it because of the name. It was called Chalet Basque. The restaurant was built like a Swiss Chalet. Scarlett knew Rhett was making fun of her, but she didn't care. She had learned long ago that he was always going to be making fun of her about something. The food was of a French cuisine, and it reminded Rhett of food he had when he was in Paris.

Scarlett said, "This is really good."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Is real French food this good?"

"Better. We shall go to Europe the summer after Genie turns one."

"I don't know Rhett. Let's talk about it later."

"Alright, my darling."

"You look very beautiful tonight with your tiara on."

"Thank you. My husband gave it to me as an anniversary present.

"Your husband has good taste."

"Yes, he does. He chose me after all."

Rhett laughed.

After dinner they went dancing. Rhett soon hurried her home. Scarlett didn't object.

When Genie was three months old Rhett informed Scarlett that the photographer was coming to the house on Thursday for their quarterly picture. He had started having their picture taken together about three months after Frank died. Luckily, the gossips never heard about that. Not that it really mattered Rhett had given them so much more to gossip about that there getting their picture taken together would have been a drop in the bucket. The first time they had done it he had said, "In case you manage to run away from me, I want a picture to show everyone."

He made no explanation of why he had a picture taken of all of them or a picture taken of just her and her children. Sometimes her hard, cold husband was as soft as a marshmallow. Before they moved into the house, they went to the photographer's studio. Now the photographer came to the house to take their pictures.

During the summer of sixty-nine, Scarlett finally decided to have her crush. She was going to have it in the middle of July. Not on July fourth for no one celebrated the holiday anymore but on the seventeenth of the month. Rhett had enjoyed listening to her talk about her plans. She was inviting everyone. The Atlanta gentry, the Scallawags and the Republicans. When he heard her say she was inviting the governor, he said, "No, my lady, you are not inviting the governor. If you invite the governor, you will burn your bridges with the Old Guard, and they will never forgive you."

"Honey, it will be such an honor to have the governor in our home."

"No, it won't."

"I think you are wrong. I am going to invite him."

In that moment Rhett knew there was nothing he could say to prevent her from inviting the governor to her crush. It always amazed him how she could be such a ferocious competitor one minute but so naïve and innocent the next minute. He loved and hated the fact that when she made up her mind about something she never let the naysayers deter her from her goal. It was his duty to protect her even from herself. Therefore, he would have to tell Bullock not to attend her crush.

Rhett felt shame that he had not protected her from herself before but instead had taken advantage of her innocence. All he could do now is make sure no one ever took advantage of her again including himself.

Rhett hoped it didn't cause hard feelings with Bullock but if it did then he would weather that storm. He didn't care about the Old Guard. He knew they would move away from Atlanta long before Wade turned eighteen. Yet he didn't want anyone shunning her because she had invited the Republican governor into her home.

The next day he stopped into Bullock's office. He was admitted immediately.

Rufus Bullock said, "Rhett, what brings you to my office? I hope you are not going to try to wheedle information out of me about who is going to get what government contracts."

"No, Rufus, this is a social call."

"Really? Go on."

"You know my wife is kind of naïve about politics."

"Yes, yes. She is such a sweet young thing though."

Rhett smiled. His wonderful wife was definitely not a sweet young thing. She was young but she definitely wasn't sweet, and he would not want her to be. He said, "She is having an open house at our home, and she will be sending you and invitation. I will take it as a personal favor if you and your cronies do not attend."

Rufus laughed out loud. He said, "I guess she doesn't understand how my presence in her home would ruin her socially in the South for generations to come."

"No, she does not. She is incredibly young and naïve."

"I never thought you would marry a southern lady. She doesn't seem to be your type."

"There is just something about her that wouldn't let me forget her."

"That is true. She does leave a lasting impression. I won't say anymore because she is your wife. Don't worry, Rhett, I won't show up at her party and I will make sure my cronies don't either."

"Thank you. Let's get together and have a drink soon."

"You bet."

The next week Rhett was pleased when Scarlett told him that Governor Bullock had written a note back saying he could not attend. A few days after that Scarlett told Rhett, "Most of the Scallawags are not attending my party."

"We will have a good time without them."

Scarlett was sad for the next couple of days. Rhett in truth didn't care if Scarlett ruined her reputation, for he was ready to leave Atlanta and their backwards way of thinking, but Scarlett did care. Therefore, he was going to protector from herself. He didn't want her to leave because she was forced to leave, but because she was ready to leave also. He wanted her to embrace their new life.

The party was well attended by the Atlanta gentry and Rhett knew that most of them had attended for one of three reasons. They wanted to see the inside of their house, Rhett had saved their life, or Melanie Wilkes had browbeat them into it.

It was a fine party as far as Rhett was concerned. A few of the men talked to him but none of the ladies. Everyone talked to Scarlett. She was sort of accepted and Rhett was happy for her. That night as they laid in their bed Rhett said, "Did you have a good time?"

"Yes."

"Are you still sad that the governor didn't attend?"

"Yes, and all my Scallawag friends."

"All the Old Guard came including Mrs. Merriwether"

"Yes, and they looked down their noses at my decor. I wonder if they practice that look at home."

"They are probably born that way. Maybe the next party you have your Scallawag friends will attend."

"No, I am not having any more parties for a while."

"Alright, if that is what you want."

"There was too much talk about the war and that always makes me sad. Why can't they just get over it?"

"Because they have nothing to look forward to, so they prefer to look back like Mr. Wilkes."

"Tell me a funny story."

Rhett was happy to tell her a story. He was sad that she was disappointed by the turn out at her Crush, but he had done what he thought was best for her. Even though she despised the Old Guard, she also desperately wanted to be received by them. He now was going to do everything in his power to make sure they still received her except not doing business with the Scallawags and Republicans. That money was just too easy. He would take all the blame for her associating with them though. He didn't need to worry they would never receive him.

Rhett took Scarlett to Tara the first of August for her to take care of the plantation records. Although the truth was that Suellen kept the records these days. Scarlett just double checked her work bi-annually. Suellen and Scarlett went over there plans for the next six months. Suellen told Scarlett some of the changes she had made, and Scarlett agreed they were good changes. They only stayed a week. That was all Rhett could stand. To him it was so very boring, but Wade, Ella and Scarlett always seemed so happy while they were there. Rhett said as he looked at the house, "It needs a new coat of paint."

"Yes, Suellen is going to get it done in the spring."

"The fence needs to be mended."

"Yes, Suellen will work on it in the spring also."

"There is lots to do."

"Rhett, I wish you could have seen it before the war. It was beautiful. It wasn't as grand as Twelve Oaks, but it was magnificent."

"I'm sure it was. My family plantation was also amazing. It had been in my grandmother Butler's family for many generations. My grandmother was the only child to make it to adulthood therefore she inherited the estate. My grandfather poured a bunch of money into it and brought it back to its former glory."

"Did you grow cotton?"

"No, rice. I never felt the attachment to it that you feel for Tara. It must be the Irish in you. They always feel an affinity to the ground. To me one piece of dirt is the same as any other piece of dirt.

Scarlett smiled at him and said, "No, your affinity is with the water. What is your favorite part of the ocean?"

Rhett flashed her a quick smile and said, "The Caribbean Sea," Rhett paused and then he said, "Or is it the Cuban senoritas?"

Scarlett scowled but she wasn't mad. She didn't know how she knew but she knew that Rhett would always be faithful to her. They continued walking around the grounds. Scarlett told him stories from her youth. She felt like an old woman for those days seemed so exceedingly long ago.

At the end of the week Scarlett said, "You have a particularly good cook. I think I might steal her away from you."

Scarlett looked into Suellen's cold, deadly brown eyes as Suellen said, "If you try to steal my cook our truce is over. It is one thing to steal my fiancé but an entirely different matter for you to steal my cook."

Scarlett laughed and said, "You are right to safeguard your cook. It is easier to replace a man than a good cook."

Everyone at the table laughed although Will and Rhett didn't think it nearly as funny as the ladies did.

They returned to Atlanta and Scarlett started planning Ella's third birthday party. She invited Scallawags's children and Old Guard children. She had a nice turn-out although neither group talked to each other. Melly told all the Old Guard that Rhett had made Scarlett invite the Scallawag's children.

For Ella's third birthday Rhett bought her a pony of her own. Ella was not as afraid as Wade had been when Rhett placed him on top of his new pony. Yet she was nervous and uncomfortable. Rhett knew she just needed to get her confidence up. He would sit her on the pony and keep his hand on her back until he saw her relax. He would slowly remove his hand but as soon as he saw her getting nervous, he would put his hand back. Slowly but surely, he got Ella comfortable with being alone on top of a pony.

By this time Genie was seven months old and could easily ride in front of her father on his horse. So, Rhett and his children were riding in the park often. Rhett took the girls riding every morning. Rhett bought Ella four riding habits for everyday Ella wanted to wear something different. She was so much like her mother.

Ella had insisted that Rhett buy Genie a couple of riding habits also. Ella said, "Genie told me she wanted a habit also."

Rhett knew that Genie could not speak nonetheless he said, "Did she now? Did she happen to mention what color she wanted her riding habit to be?"

Ella had solemnly nodded her head up and down. She said, "Blue and red."

Rhett ordered the riding habits from Mrs. Krause and didn't feel the least bit foolish for buying riding habits for a seven-month-old little girl.