Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Scarlett and Rhett went out to supper and dancing on their second anniversary. They went to Scarlett's favorite restaurant in Atlanta, Chalet Basque. Rhett always acted like he was doing Scarlett a big favor by taking her to that restaurant. The maître d's real name was Gus, but he went by Jacques because he thought it sounded so much more sophisticated which it did. Jacques knew the Butlers. The Butlers left a lasting impression on people. They were a beautiful couple and there was a dynamic energy radiating off of them. The couple was always stylishly dressed in the latest fashion. There also was the fact that Mrs. Butler was very picky about where they sat in a restaurant, but Jacques was always happy to see them for Mr. Butler was a big tipper. Jacques just let Mrs. Butler choose any table she wanted. It was easier in the long run.

Scarlett ordered her favorite appetizer and entrée. She was also planning on having dessert. Rhett groused about there not being anything on the menu that he liked and finally settled on a choice of appetizer and entrée. Rhett was not going to have dessert. He also ordered a bottle of champagne.

Scarlett knew that Rhett like the food at this restaurant almost as much as she did, but her husband never gave up anything without getting something back. He would get rewarded later tonight. She was always very amorous after dining at Chalet Basque. The building looked like a chalet.

Scarlett said to Rhett, "I am extremely glad you didn't let me build our house like a chalet. I would not like our house to look like a restaurant."

"Nor would I. The design of our house is beginning to grow on me. It has move from an eye sore to just ugly."

"I don't care what you think. I think it is beautiful."

"I like the fact you stand behind even your dreadful decisions."

"Are we going dancing after supper?"

"Of course. There is nothing I enjoy more than swirling you around the dance floor except swirling you ….."

As Scarlett looked around at the other patrons she hissed, "Rhett! Not in public."

Rhett smiled his unrepentant smile but at least he had stopped talking about their relations. Rhett started telling Scarlett about the book he was reading. She liked Rhett telling her about what he was reading. Just like with Melly he made those boring books sound interesting

After their entrées were finished and Scarlett had ordered her dessert, Rhett looked at Scarlett. He knew his bride didn't love Wilkes. He knew she didn't love him either, but he was alright with that. She was delightful. She was very entertaining. She was wonderful. She was kind and respectful most of the time. She argued with him which he wanted her to do. He would like for her to return his love, but he doubted that she would ever love him. He was the cad that had taken her virginity and left her with a bastard. He had taken advantage of her in her time of need at the Fire House and left her with another bastard. He had blackmailed her into marrying him by threatening to let everyone know that she had two bastard children. No, those were a lot of hurdles to overcome.

They did go dancing and the couple had a wonderful time. There was nothing Scarlett enjoyed more than being swirled around the dance floor except for being swirled around in their bed but she would never tell Rhett that.

The next morning Rhett woke Scarlett up to have relations. Once they were finished, Rhett said, "We are going to Europe this summer so make your arrangements."

"Rhett, I hate it when you are high handed."

"Alright. How about we go to Europe this summer after Wade is out of school?"

"I can't be gone that long. Mr. Elsing would bankrupt the store."

"Didn't he do fine while you were in your confinement?"

"Yes."

"Didn't he make you a profit?"

"Yes."

"Then why is he going to bankrupt the store now."

"He just is."

"This is why I am highhanded. You are irrational about your store. Make your arrangements."

Scarlett gave Rhett looks of hate which he ignored. He got himself dressed still ignoring Scarlett. He came over and attempted to give her a kiss goodbye, but she moved her face. He laughed and kissed her forehead. After Rhett left the room, he was thinking, 'She is always so much fun. She never surrenders.'

Scarlett at the same time was thinking once again about how she had gotten herself in this situation. As she thought about it, she thought about the simple, naïve, vain girl she had been. She was so confident in herself that she had thought once Ashley knew she loved him that he would marry her instead of Melanie. She wished Ashley had been kind enough to tell her himself that he was going to marry Melanie but no, she had to find out through the local gossip mill. Ashley was a weak man even then. He had been wanting to avoid a confrontation. Scarlett wondered for a minute about what Ashley had expected from her that day. Had he expected her not to ever confront him about his behavior? Scarlett realized that he had expected her to never say anything about him courting her for two years because a lady would never have mentioned it.

Scarlett smiled. She certainly hadn't behaved like a lady that day. She had been alone with two different men, she had thrown herself at a man, she had not left the room when Rhett had let her know he was there, she had let him kiss her, she had let him touch her and she had let him….. Well, she didn't need to think about that. She would have to be extremely strict with her daughters about never being alone with a man before marriage. She was sure her husband wasn't the only amoral bastard out there.

Although he was less of one now than he was that day in the library or that day at the Fire House. She knew he would never hurt an innocent now.

That made Scarlett smile. Scarlett got up and got ready for the day. She would make her plans to be gone all summer. Rhett would make her go on the trip no matter what. She would make Mammy come with her.

Scarlett smiled as she got ready for the day. All in all, she had a good life. Ever since they had gotten married Rhett had been for the most part a fun companion. He was generous with his money. He looked after her. He defended her. He protected her. He had been faithful. He aggravated her but she was getting used to that. She knew that she could have done a lot worse. She paused and wondered for a minute if he loved her. She didn't know. She decided it didn't matter. Could she ever love him? She didn't think so not after everything he had done to her, but she didn't hate him anymore. She would continue to treat him with respect and kindness just as her mother had always treated Pa.

On June first, the Butlers and Mammy were on the train to Charleston. They were going to stay with Rhett's mother for a week before boarding a boat to London.

As Rhett and his family entered Elizabeth Butler's townhouse, Elizabeth said, "Welcome to my home."

"Thank you, Mrs. Butler."

Elizabeth turned to Rhett and took Genie from his arms. She said, "Is this my granddaughter?"

As his mother ignored the two other children, Rhett wanted to tell her they were all her grandchildren. It wouldn't make any difference. His mother was too proper of a Charlestonian woman to ever acknowledge his bastard children.

On their third night at the townhouse as Rhett and Scarlett were lying in the bed, Scarlett said, "She knows."

"Yes, if anyone would recognize my mannerisms in a child it would be the woman who saw them when I was a child."

"That and both of them have her smile. You know she recognized that."

"Yes, and her eye color and her hair color. Only a complete nincompoop would not notice that."

"Rhett, will she say something?"

"Not to worry. She won't say a word to anyone not even me."

"Do you think your sister knows?"

"No, I have not been around her enough for her to recognize my mannerisms."

"She did mention that she and Ella had the same hair color."

"You handled that beautifully by saying so did your Pa, your sister, and your late husband."

"Is it going to affect your relationship with your mother?"

"Do you remember what she said at our wedding?"

"She didn't attend our wedding."

"Do you remember what she said when we had supper at the Sweetwater Café?"

"She doesn't go out with us in public. Not even for a walk."

"She won't be seen in public with me."

"Which I am grateful for. They may not look like you, but they look enough like your mother that someone might be able to tell … Alone probably nobody could tell but together to me it is as plain as the nose on your face."

"Especially since they all have the same smile. Don't worry. She won't be seen in public with me. My mother and I really don't have much of a relationship. She welcomes me into her home mainly because I am paying all the bills. She loves me but she is ashamed of me also."

"Rhett, she seemed very pleased to see you and the children."

"She has never approved of my decision to not marry that girl. I am a source of embarrassment to her."

"Still? The buggy incident happened so many years ago. I would think she would have gotten over it."

"Well, there are those rumors that I was a food speculator and that I stole the Confederate gold."

"You were and you did."

"Maybe we are getting to the crux of why she is embarrassed by me."

"She is just like my ungrateful aunts. Ashamed of the way I made the money but not ashamed to take the money. That makes me mad."

Rhett rolled over and kissed her. He whispered, "Thank you. It has been a long time since someone has gotten mad on my behalf."

When Rhett and his family left a week later Elizabeth knew two things. One: Her son loved his wife probably more than he had allowed himself to love anyone in an exceptionally long time, if ever. Two: All of Scarlett's children were Rhett's children.

Elizabeth had known both of the older children were Rhett's bastards. Wade's eyes and smile had let her know who his father was. Ella's hair and smile had let Elizabeth know who her father was also. She had wondered how much lower her son could sink. She had thought that with the rumors that Rhett had stolen the Confederate gold and had been a food speculator he had been at rock bottom but no. She decided there was no rock bottom with her son.

She had not acknowledged what the children were for that wouldn't be proper. She just hoped nobody else noticed, especially Rosemary. Although since Rosemary's hair was the same color as Ella's her daughter may have figured it out also. Yet Elizabeth hoped not for Rosemary was so prim and proper she would be mortified at what her brother had done. Not just that he had bastards but that he had dared to bring them into their home.

Yes, they all looked mostly like their mother, but Elizabeth had recognized that proud, arrogant bearing that all the children possessed just like their father even Genie who was only eighteen months. Although Scarlett was pretty proud and arrogant also.

As they boarded the boat Rhett was pleased that his mother had interacted with all his children and that she had told them all to call her grandma. He was not pleased that at the end of the week his mother had never asked Scarlett to call her mother but that would be too informal for his oh so proper Charlestonian mother.

As Rhett and Scarlett were standing by the taffrail watching the ship leave the harbor, Mammy had Ella and Genie in the cabin getting them settled. Wade was standing between them. Wade was enjoying watching all the activity.

Rhett squatted down next to Wade and said, "Look there is Fort Sumter where the war started. Over there is Morris Island. Your daddy used to sail his sailboat around the island."

"Will you teach me to sail?"

"Yes, I will."

"Did your daddy teach you?"

"No, my grandfather. Believe it or not my father got seasick when he got on a boat."

"What is seasick?"

"Don't worry about it. It isn't going to happen to any child of mine. Scarlett, let's go get settled in the cabin."

"Of course."