AN: Um yea Bonnie awful in the book. If you search "Bonnie" in the text it is basically just a horror story. Scarlett did have some decent mothering thoughts in the book, so we're going to keep that going.

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Part Four

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On Saturday evening after Rhett had tucked the children into bed he walked into Scarlett's room where she remained in bed.

"The baby?" Rhett was hesitant to question, he had heard her being violently ill as servants entered and exited her room.

"Has put me in my place, there will be no more brandy while he is in residence."

"Our children prefer wine," he nodded at her, recalling how he once gave up whiskey for Bonnie.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Provided you can get out of bed tomorrow, the children and I expect you to join us for church."

"I don't attend church," she reminded him.

"This is non-negotiable Scarlett. If you wish for us to remain a family, we will begin to act like a family."

"And we'll do better than most," she looked at him with a sad smile.

"That we will Mrs. Butler," Rhett nodded at her and went to go change for bed.

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Rhett woke up before Scarlett on Monday morning. On Friday he had offered to generously overpay a servant to sit outside of the nursery while the girls slept. He had offered the generous salary in order to ensure the servant would actually perform the task at hand. To keep the candle lit, the house from burning down and most importantly to wake him up if Bonnie actually had a night terror.

Rhett Butler after 10 years had successfully achieved in getting the part of Scarlett he wanted the least. Her body. And what a lovely body it was as it lay flush against his, the smoothness of her skin to the coarseness of his. No matter how angry or annoyed she was at him, a single touch or kiss and she took as much as he would give and offered as much as he would take.

He wondered if he had actually made some inroads that fateful night regarding her mind. Had she actually heard what he had said and not just plotted out ways to use it against him? It had certainly felt like it on Friday night. After the anger of what had been on her mind passed, it had been reassuring. Maybe, possibly Scarlett wouldn't be trapped a child forever but grow, if not into a wife, perhaps a mother. Maybe then they could stand together as equals, not as husband and wife, but father and mother.

He was fairly certain the baby had her heart now. He wondered what that said when the one part of her that he had wanted for years was given to a piece of him. His child had her heart. Her gaze hadn't lingered on Ashley at church, shooting away when people noticed. Her hand kept dropping to her stomach, a small smile on her lips, both dropping away as soon as she realized what she was doing.

Three nights passed without a single knock to the door regarding Bonnie, although he wasn't sure he could have responded on Friday if they had knocked.

Saturday night he found himself holding an exhausted Scarlett, who despite sleeping the majority of the day due to her sickness had fallen asleep in his arms as he read to her.

She was, after all, the mother of his children.

He had to do his best to amuse her and keep her company when she felt so poorly.

After all Scarlett could hold her brandy, it was the baby that could not.

On Sunday, they had one of those wonderfully nice domestic days that they had in the start of their marriage, although again, the baby had done wonders for Scarlett, getting her into church when Wade could not.

It felt like they were starting fresh as a family, as if his dreams with Scarlett could actually come true.

He recognized now though that he had to let those dreams go. Perhaps getting Scarlett to let go of Ashley was enough.

She was in his arms. She was willingly in his arms and the third person in their bed was actually there and more often than not they both forgot about him. The third person in their bed was a part of them, perhaps the best part of them because for once they both seemed to recognize everyone in their family. The third person pulled them together instead of pulling them apart.

Rhett wondered the odds of it. Wondered the odds of one night in so long. One night when he was at his lowest and did his best to bring her down with him. One night at his weakest after years of faking strength.

One night could create a child that finally gave Scarlett a hope and dream of something aside from a life, long lost, or fairy tale princes in stories read to their children.

"Mmm," Scarlett murmured against him, her hand ran low across his stomach, her foot along the inside of his calf, "Good morning Rhett."

Rhett supposed that one out of three was better than none and went to greet his wife.

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Scarlett felt them all morning at the store.

Looking at her.

Talking about her.

She had escaped from the store to Melly, who was thankfully in between one of her many charitable activities (Scarlett truthfully should know when and what those were, but she generally did not).

Scarlett wanted to yell, 'They all know' only then Melly would ask 'know what,' in that adorably sweet and naive way of hers.

Know about the baby, be questioning whether the baby was Rhett's or Ashley's. Oh the idea that she would have ever done anything with Ashley horrified Scarlett now. Had it horrified Scarlett the moment Melly slid her arm through Scarlett's or when Rhett caught up to her in the hallway? Scarlett didn't know. She knew the baby was Rhett's. She knew she wanted the baby to be Rhett's. She didn't want the baby to mirror her with green eyes, to reflect the past with her Pa's blue. She wanted to see eyes so dark they stole your soul. She wanted Rhett's.

She found herself smiling at all the little babies that passed in the street, the mothers trying to wrangle several young tots. Why she didn't just want this baby she wanted one or two after him. It horrified her and it horrified her that it horrified her and more often than not her hand went to her stomach to reassure him that she did want him. Which then led to those looking at her and talking about her.

It was a vicious, vicious cycle.

Then there was Melly, her sweet saving grace.

Scarlett should probably be worried that her daughters had driven both schoolteachers out of the top floor of the Peachtree House, but having Melly soothe her worries was far greater than that.

After all Bonnie could hardly at the age of two push her new governess out the window. So really that was a battle for a different day.

Melly could chatter, Melly could gush, especially about Rhett. Most often Scarlett filtered her out, but today with talk about the baby Scarlett could hear about how Rhett doted on her. She could hear about his interest with the children.

He was and had always been very interested with the children, even before Bonnie, even before they were married.

Scarlett paused, examining what Melly was saying about Rhett loving her.

Had that been true? Had those words Rhett had spoken the night they created this baby actually been true?

She saw Rhett as someone else now. She knew that. He no longer maintained that nonchalant demeanor as well as he once had. It was constantly slipping and falling.

There was something to be said for people like Rhett, for people like Melly. People that saw the truth in people and stood by them.

Oh her husband was a downright ass, a brute, but she...

And then there it was, the same thought that had begun the morning after that fateful night…

She loved him.

And she quite possibly always had.

Oh and Rhett Butler regardless of whether or not he loved her, which she now recognized did not factor into gaining power over him. If anything his love for her made it so he would never be at her mercy, he was entirely too strong and pigheaded to let that emotion lead him.

It seemed awfully unfair that her love for him made her weak, but his for her fortified him.

Regardless. He had chosen her.

Chosen the children.

They would have a better life than most.

She was sure of that.

Thanks for reading!