Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Their stay in Charleston was much the same as their stay in June. Elizabeth and Rosemary were charming and polite, but they never went anywhere with the family. Rhett had brought them back some lovely fabric from France.

When Scarlett had seen Rhett buying it for his mother and sister she had said, "I want some too."

"Which one?"

"Both. I don't have to worry about us showing up somewhere in the same dress."

Rhett laughed and said, "No you don't."

Rhett took the family sailing and started showing Wade how to work the sails. Scarlett was pleased that Rhett was such a good father especially now that she knew he had not had a good father himself. Scarlett decided that was why he was such a good father. He knew what it was like to have a bad father.

They returned to Atlanta in August and Scarlett had the Wilkes over for dinner so she could tell them all about their trip. As Scarlett and Rhett were talking about the trip, Ashley recounted his adventures on his Grand Tour. Scarlett stared at Ashley. He looked so alive and filled with excitement. It made her happy at first to see him the way he was before the war then it made her think of him telling her these same stories when he was supposedly not courting her. That sour her disposition.

When Rhett started talking about their time in Rome Scarlett's good mood was restored. Rhett said, "Unlike you Mr. Wilkes, I didn't have a grand tour. I wonder if it was because I never graduated from a university." That made Scarlett and Melly giggled and Ashley scowl. Scarlett gave Melanie and Ashley a book on the history of Florence. The family gave Beau some toy soldiers one which looked a lot like Napoleon.

A week after their return to Atlanta the family went to Tara for Scarlett to check the books and give them the gifts, they had bought them in Europe. Suellen had two daughters. One was born a year after Ella, and one was born a year after Genie. Their names were Susie and Solange. Ella and Genie liked to play with Suellen's daughters although Solange, the younger, was just six months old. They got Will a new knife, Suellen a new wristwatch and the girls some new toys. Scarlett was excited to see what progress Suellen had made with the cotton yields.

Scarlett liked that Suellen was so actively involved in the running of Tara. She also saw that Will and Sue were a team. Although it was only Sue that discussed things with Scarlett, she knew that Sue had already discussed them with Will. Kind of like she and Rhett discussed things to do with the store, but the final decision was hers. Or the way Rhett discussed his deals with her and answered her questions and listened to her suggestions. Yet the final decision was his. Scarlett had been right because the Benteens had a vested interest in Tara, they were making it profitable. Scarlett and Sue talked about how hard it was to get seasonal laborers and what their options were for the future.

Rhett didn't say much during these discussions for he really didn't have much to say about running a plantation. It wasn't something he had ever wanted to do so he had never paid attention when his father had tried to train him on how to run a plantation. He did know that his wife was a very clever woman. He loved to listen to her thoughts on how to get more yield from the land. He could tell just from listening to her that they were good practical ideas. Rhett could tell that Suellen thought so too. When Rhett heard Suellen's ideas they too were practical and well-thought out. At the end of the discussion, Sue said, "Let's try the cheapest ones first then work our way up to the more expensive ones. One last thing I want to discuss. If we make the profit, I project we are going to make then we would have enough money to buy a cotton gin. Will," Here Sue looked at Will and smiled. She then continued, "could run the gin while Big Sam and I work the laborers. We can make a nice profit from running a gin. Mr. Stanley's gin is for sale. He passed away last spring and his widow is going to move to Macon to be with her daughter."

"I like that idea. As every plantation starts yielding more and more then we will make more money. Do you want me to come down and negotiate with Mrs. Stanley?"

"No, I am already in negotiations with her."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Let's buy a gin."

As they got into the bed that night Rhett said, "I think you and your sister are going to do the impossible and turn this into a thriving plantation again."

Scarlett smiled at him and said, "Thank you. I would never have thought Sue had such a head for business."

"Just like her older sister."

"Yeah. She can add a column of numbers up faster than I can and I am quite fast. I think Sue and I are more alike than either one of us wants to admit."

"Except you are charismatic and she isn't."

"Although I do think Will is quite taken with her."

"I do too."

Scarlett didn't verbally answer him. She leaned forward and kissed him. She didn't initiate relations very often, but it always thrilled him when she did.

The rest of the year sped by. They had a birthday party for Ella when she turned four. She was going to be a beautiful girl. She was looking less and less like Scarlett but not like Rhett. If Scarlett had to name the person Ella was beginning to look like it would be Scarlett's mother-in-law. Thank goodness Mrs. Butler was never going to come to Atlanta. Ella still resembled Scarlett enough that there was no doubt Scarlett was her mother. She had copper colored hair, bottle green eyes and dimples. She was tall for a four-year-old, so Scarlett guessed she was going to take after Rhett in that respect. Of course, Frank was tall too so nobody would question that. She had a quick and nimble brain and, yes, she did like to aggravate people. Her favorite target was Wade, of course, but she was Wade's favorite target so that was fair.

They invited both groups of their acquaintances. The Scallawags and Republicans talked to Rhett and Scarlett while the Old Guard only talked to Scarlett except for Melly who talked to Rhett also. Rhett got Ella several presents and a new green riding habit.

Wade's teacher told Rhett that Wade was too smart for his class and needed to be moved up a grade. The couple talked about it for a long time. Rhett wanted his son to be challenged academically but Scarlett wanted him to have friends. Rhett won the argument by saying, "If he is not challenged academically, he will get into mischief."

Scarlett had sighed and replied, "As charming as he is I guess I don't have to worry about him not having friends."

"No, you have to worry more about him getting into trouble. Trust me."

She had smiled and said, "Alright. Have him moved up."

The next day Wade was moved up a grade.

Christmas came and they celebrated with the Wilkes and the Hamiltons. It was mind-numbing for Scarlett. Ashley's long boring stories of the years before the war, India's looks of hate at Scarlett, Aunt PittyPat's telling all the gossip, Melly and Rhett talking about a book they both had read, Uncle Henry talking about what the Democratic Party was doing, and the children giggling and talking too loudly. Finally, the dinner was over, and guests were out the door. The children were turned over to Mammy for naps and quiet time. Rhett and Scarlett enjoyed a brandy in the parlor. Rhett said, "I know it is a little early, but you look like you need one."

"I do."

"I'm going to buy Wade a larger pony for his birthday."

"The one he has is just fine."

"No, he needs a bigger pony."

"Alright."

"I am going to get Genie a pony for her birthday."

"No, Rhett she is too little. I don't trust her on a pony by herself. I'm afraid she will fall off and get trampled by the horse."

"My lady, that isn't going to happen."

"You don't think it is going to happen, but it most certainly could."

"She has a fine seat."

"How do you know she has never ridden by herself? Wait until she is three like you did Ella."

"Scarlett, nothing is going to happen to her."

"Rhett, remember when you made me tear out the staircase just because one of our children could trip and fall down the stairs. This is the same thing. Wait until she is three, please."

"Alright. I guess I will have to since you are using my own words against me."

"Thank you."

He came and sat down beside her, and they sat there in companionable silence. Rhett knew she didn't love him, but he was content with his life. She didn't love anyone else either. His marriage was definitely better than his parents' marriage. After what he had done to her the fact that she no longer hated him might be all he ever got but he would be happy with it.

They gave Wade a birthday party in January and there was a good turnout of boys but there were still the two groups. Wade loved his pony. He told Rhett, "Dad, you are the best. Thank you." Wade was certainly a handsome boy. Maybe because he was a boy, he reminded Scarlett of Rhett the most, but he still looked mostly like her except for his eyes.

They had a celebration for Genie, but she really didn't have any friends except her family. They just invited Melly, Beau and Aunt PittyPat. True to his word Rhett did not get Genie a pony instead he got her a doll almost as big as she was. He also got her two more riding habits that Ella had informed him that Genie wanted for her birthday. In blue and yellow this time. Scarlett got her clothes. Genie was going to be beautiful also and she had retained her dark blue eyes so all three of their children had different colored eyes.

As Scarlett watched her children, she knew that soon she would have to leave the South. No, they didn't look like Rhett, but they were starting to behave like him. Part of that could be explained by the fact that Rhett was raising them but if anyone ever started questioning their parentage it would not stand up to close scrutiny. She wasn't ready yet. She felt there was a reason she had to stay in Atlanta.

They went out to celebrate their third anniversary and Rhett again begrudgingly took her to Chalet Basque. In the last two years she had not gotten pregnant. It seemed Rhett was serious about not having anymore. Scarlett was happy. She didn't want any more either. She knew next month her luck could change for she knew it could only take one oops for her to get pregnant. For now, she was going to enjoy not being pregnant.

The next morning, Rhett knew that Scarlett cared more for him when she had such a concerned look on her face when he woke up that morning and felt like he was coughing up a lung. In that moment he knew she cared a great deal for him. It was good enough. More than he could have expected. More than he deserved.

Scarlett looked at him with all the worry on her face and said, "Please stop smoking."

Rhett smiled and said, "I will for you and the children."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Maybe I should quit drinking too."

"Please."

He said, "For you I will quit."

"Thank you." When the tears came into his wife's eyes, Rhett knew she wanted him to live an awfully long time.

As Rhett got up and got cleaned up, he wondered how he had gotten this miracle, but he was not going to take it for granted. The woman he had treated so very badly by some miracle cared for him a great deal. No, he didn't deserve it, but he was going to cherish her and his miracle forever. He already knew that he would love her forever.

Was he going to aggravate her? Hell yes. He would never be able to stop himself from aggravating her. She was so cute when she got upset at him.

Scarlett may not have encouraged Rhett to quit smoking and drinking if she knew that his smoking and drinking was keeping his sperm count low. Truth was she probably would have still encouraged him to stop smoking and drinking because she knew she loved the rat-bastard, but she wasn't going to tell him. He would be insufferable if he knew she loved him especially after everything he had done to her.