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Part Six

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"Rhett," Scarlett slowly looked up from the book she was reading aloud with Ella tucked alongside her on the settee and Wade sitting at her feet looking up, as Rhett sat across from her in a chair with Bonnie on his lap, "stop looking at me as if I never read to the children."

"It has simply been some time since I have witnessed it," Rhett answered his wife as they sat in the parlor they had retired to after dinner with the children.

"The world did not stop simply because you left town for 3 months, I do read to my children."

"Mother has a lovely voice," Ella supplied.

"That she does," Rhett smiled, "do go on my pet. We are all waiting to see how the story continues."

o~o~o

"Perhaps Wade and I could go for a ride," Rhett said pondering the upcoming weekend.

"Wade is not getting on a horse in the city," Scarlett looked over at her husband.

Wade watched with quiet, but wide eyes.

"The few times a year you take them to Tara is hardly enough time for the boy to gain appropriate experience," now that Rhett had this thought in his mind, it had solidified. He used to take the boy with him, just as he did Bonnie. He should have had the boy on horseback years ago.

"With the streetcar, the carriages, the carts? The city is growing entirely too fast for Wade to ride until-"

"Until he is experienced?" Rhett questioned with a knowing smirk.

"I want to ride," Bonnie declared from her father's lap.

"You may ride on your father's lap as you always do," Scarlett silenced that argument before Rhett could say anything. Daring him to try to countermand her.

"Daddy would get lonely without you," Rhett informed his daughter, knowing a meltdown would not aid Wade's cause.

"I like when we ride at Tara," Wade softly spoke up.

Scarlett smiled down at him, "I know you do, perhaps you can stay for longer this summer. It is just not safe for a boy your age to ride in the city."

"There are some stables on the outskirts on the city Mother," Wade offered.

Scarlett looked at him.

"Some classmates ride there," he supplied trying to stop the look, although he did rather want to run out of the room.

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Scarlett questioned her son, "I would have arranged-" Scarlett paused and slowly let her gaze return to Rhett.

"That settles that."

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"Captain Butler," Melly smiled across the dinner table at him.

Suppers with the Hamilton-Wilkes, one of the banes of Rett Butler's life. It was worse that even his darling little Bonnie doted on that weasel Ashley Wilkes.

"It is so wonderful of you to offer to take Beau with you and Wade to ride."

"Think nothing of it Miss Melly," especially since it wasn't his idea, but Scarlett's who had given him little choice in the matter. Rhett hadn't entirely recalled how often his wife socialized with the Wilkes as he had spent so much time avoiding her. There had been a part of him that assumed he had made it out to be much greater than it was, sadly he was mistaken. It was unnaturally frequent. Melly was a wonderful aunt and a true sister to Scarlett, she just had the misfortunate of being married to Ashley Wilkes. "Bonnie," Rhett snapped slightly seeing his daughter out of her seat and climbing up Ashley going for his glass of wine.

"I don't mind," Ashley smiled.

"Well I do, we are working on having proper table etiquette," Scarlett said firmly, "please return to your seat Bonnie."

Ashley laughed, "They're only young once Scarlett."

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Wade and Beau sat in the open carriage with Bonnie between them. Wade had wanted to say something to his Uncle Rhett when he suggested it would be better for Bonnie to be able to see him as he rode on horseback alongside them. Bonnie needed doors. A roof. Possibly to be tethered like Ramsey when he took his dog along Peachtree on the way to Beau's.

He and Beau had their arms woven with hers and each held onto their other hand to try to lock her in place. Wade still didn't understand little sisters. Oh Ella was alright now, but still, she wasn't anything special.

And now there was going to be another one, he knew it would be a girl as well. It was just his fate to be surrounded by them.

He could still remember back, back when it was him and his mother. Even when Ella was a baby, back when it was them living with Aunt Pittypat and Uncle Frank. Living at the hotel with Uncle Rhett.

It had been nice.

Much nicer than the big house.

He had thought it would be like that again when Uncle Rhett left and took her. Mother spent more time with he and Ella, but it hadn't been like before.

So Bonnie and even more little brats like her were his fate if he wanted his mother to be happy.

o~o~o

"Do you think the new baby will be a girl too?" Wade said looking forlornly at his baby sister chasing after a ribbon Beau was running around her with. It was all fun and games until she actually wanted it.

Rhett chuckled softly and placed a hand on his stepson's back, "You know about the baby?"

"They never told us, but they talk about it in front of us," Mammy, Mother, Prissy…

Rhett laughed again, "I suspect they talk about many a thing they should not in front of you."

"Should I not know about the baby?" Wade questioned.

"Of course you should know, it will be your new brother or sister. Just for your mother's sake, don't discuss it outside of the house."

"Yes sir."

"Now do you not want another little sister?" Rhett took a bite of ham the kitchen had included in the hamper sent along with them, to tide them over until supper time since they were missing dinner.

As if on cue, Bonnie let out a shriek.

Rhett laughed again, "Your mother seems to have it in her mind that it will be a boy. I suppose because you, Wade have been an unnaturally easy child. We already have our hands full with your mother and Bonnie, don't we my boy."

"Yes sir."

"I know your mother and I have-" Rhett paused, then decided to continue on, after all he was an uncouth brute, it was his right to discuss things highly inappropriate with his family. "You're my boy, Wade. I know it didn't seem like it and I let you and Ella down-"

"And Mother," Wade cut in.

"Yes, I suppose your mother as well. It takes a lot to stand up to your mother-"

"I know," Wade quickly supplied.

Rhett laughed again, "I suppose it was just easier to give her what I thought she wanted."

"I think you gave her too much, she and Bonnie," Wade shrugged.

"Yes," Rhett placed a hand on his boy, "I suppose you're right."

"We should never take Bonnie here again without Mammy or Prissy or-"

Rhett laughed, a bellowing laugh. "I am sorry if it is another girl, but I am incredibly grateful they will always have you to look out for them."

Wade sighed.

o~o~o

"That boy of ours," Rhett grinned as he walked towards Scarlett leaning over ledgers at her desk, despite it being a Saturday.

"He is an excellent horseman when he is at Tara," Scarlett smiled.

"Yes, he and Beau both rode quite well. Rhett shook his head, "He would prefer no more sisters."

Scarlett laughed softly, "I can hardly blame him." She laughed again suddenly, "God, how bad must they be that he actually confessed that."

"You did not see Pork trying to contain Bonnie while I was with the boys."

"Rhett, you took Bonnie without at least Prissy?"

"Yes, he also brought that up," Rhett dropped to a chair across from Scarlett, "He was just a little boy." My little boy.

"Do you remember when Ella was a baby and you said boys were nuisances?" Scarlett looked over at him. She wondered for a moment if she was brave enough, bold enough to bring up his ward. How many years had last passed since she had? Fearful one day she might get more than a passing answer. No not today.

"A man reserves the right to change that when he gets his own little boy," he leaned back in his chair.

"A wife, children," Scarlett gave a knowing smirk.

He threw his head back in a laugh, "Life would have been a lot easier if you agreed to be my mistress."

"For us both Rhett Butler."

For such a large man Rhett Butler was spry on his feet, he bounded out of that chair and had Scarlett's face cupped as he kissed her before the smile even reached her lips.

Thanks for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed this lighthearted chapter, maybe even chuckled.