So I put up a poll on my profile about, which if any story plotlines would interest you. I am going to include it at the bottom of this in case the link does not work, but it would be great if you could vote on the poll, but really I will take wherever you vote.

Thanks again for the reviews guys, it means so much that you all stick with me for the nice, non-eventful stuff.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Part Twenty Six

Late January 1873

Atlanta

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Scarlett?" Rhett said rushing into their bedroom having been informed that his wife wanted to see him there as soon as he returned. Pork had told him she hadn't looked good, Rhett hadn't hesitated in sending the man out to get the doctor, which he looked relieved that he had finally been given permission to do so. Rhett had seen a cluster of servants disappear down the hall, it had likely been a discussion before he'd arrived home.

She was in her chemise on the bed, a pillow on her lap, her hair slightly wild, she'd obviously cried at some point, although now she was still.

"It's so horrible Rhett."

She was fine, their children were fine. It was a horrible thought, but it was all he could think. He didn't enter the room to find his wife covered in blood, struggling to live. It couldn't be that terrible if she was still with him. "What happened?" Had there been some disaster he didn't know about, had someone passed? Henry certainly wasn't in his prime anymore.

"Melly's pregnant."

Miss Melly, whose health was always fragile. Who saw Dr. Meade more than most women twice her age. He found himself collapsing into a chair by her bedside.

"She's so happy Rhett, she thinks it'll be fine."

"Perhaps it will be."

"No it won't," Scarlett's tears started again, "I'm going to lose her. The children will lose her. Ashley will lose her. Atlanta will lose her. How could she do this?"

"Perhaps there's still time to talk reason into her," Rhett suddenly said spurned to life.

"I tried," Scarlett said still clutching the pillow over her own stomach. Their own growing children that she would do anything for.

"I'll talk to Ashley, get him to see reason," Rhett said standing. He would do anything to keep Scarlett alive, Ashley couldn't be enough of a fool to let his wife go on with the pregnancy. It would certainly be a risk to end it, but likely a lesser risk.

"He did this," Scarlett cried.

"He talked her into this pregnancy?" Rhett would kill the man.

"No, she told him it would be fine. She talked him into it. Why didn't I let her hold Teddy more? I'll let her hold these babies all the time, hell I'll give-" Scarlett paused, realizing what she was about to say and realizing she could never go through with that. "They can move in with us, she can help me take care of the babies just like they were her own."

"Oh my sweet," Rhett said finally being able to move past his own despair and focus on Scarlett's. He climbed into bed with her and she discarded the pillow to press herself into his body. If anyone could fix this in her eyes it was Rhett, he would figure out a way, he would at least pull them all through it.

o~o~o

A short knock prepared Rhett for the door opening, Prissy opened it for Dr. Meade before excusing herself.

Rhett waited to speak until Dr. Meade got closer to the bed. "She found out about Mrs. Wilkes' pregnancy."

Dr. Meade gave a somber nod, "Has Scarlett felt any pains, any bleeding?"

Rhett shook his head, "I believe she's just upset."

"Better let me have a look at her, I'd rather not take any chances. Has she been resting in the afternoons?"

Rhett nodded, "Sometime she spends the entire afternoon in bed with the children."

"Scarlett certainly grew into a wonderful mother," Dr. Meade smiled, still surprised, although happily that the young girl had matured so well, albeit significantly later than they all expected.

"She certainly did," Rhett smiled down at her, "Scarlett," he softly spoke and ran a finger along her face.

Dr. Meade watched the couple before him. Watched as Scarlett Butler behaved more like a lost child than the strong-willed woman he was used to. She was diminutive and docile to her husband. Dr. Meade just like everyone had questioned Melanie Wilkes' devotion to such a woman, but Dr. Meade could see it clearly now, their devotion was mutual. Scarlett was already broken from the likely loss of Melly.

He didn't do much aside from a cursory exam on Scarlett, normally spouses would step out of the room, but Rhett did not. There was blatant devotion and caring from Scarlett's spouse. It wasn't fleeting or hiding as it had once been, it was fully on display.

Mrs. Meade had remarked about the change in Captain Butler after Rhett had arrived on their doorstep the morning after he'd made the determination that Scarlett was likely carrying two babies. He'd been inundated with questions, some that occasionally felt like accusations. He could not with a clear conscience remand Scarlett to bed for the remainder of her pregnancy as her husband wanted.

The conversation switched from Scarlett and the babies she carried to her sister-in-law. The conversation still being led by Rhett.

"You'll see Miss Melly as often as you deem necessary, every day, twice if need be. Send all the bills directly to me," Rhett went about handling the situation as best he could.

"I don't imagine there'll be much I can do to safely deliver that child to term," Dr. Meade wished it would be as simple as extra time and effort, he would have gladly donated his services to the young mother.

"Just do your best to keep Miss Melly as healthy as possible, give her a chance even if the baby doesn't have one," Rhett's voice was matter of fact.

Dr. Meade noticed Scarlett's hand gently move against her stomach at her husband's words. He imagined and experienced most husbands would choose their wife's life over their children, Rhett Butler was no different and Dr. Meade was suddenly aware that Scarlett knew that.

"Please Doctor," Scarlett spoke softly.

"Miss Melly was always going to receive my best possible care," he promised them.

"What else can we do?" Rhett questioned.

"Good food, little stress, rest," the doctor supplied.

"We'll send servants, she can stay in bed throughout the duration," Rhett suggested.

"I imagine that will weaken her even further, the bedbound are the most vulnerable of my population."

"Whatever you want her to do, she'll do," Scarlett promised.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Mid-March 1873

Atlanta

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Scarlett truly didn't mind her confinement in Atlanta this time around. She truthfully didn't have the energy to even think about facing Atlanta. She was quite certain she glared at Prissy and Mammy, whoever would come to help her dress every morning. She would have no problem remaining in her dressing robe all day, however, Rhett had told her if she did that she would have to stay in their rooms.

Carrying twins made Scarlett suddenly understand the burden she suspected most women faced with pregnancy. She couldn't recall the last time she had been comfortable, She couldn't sit, she couldn't sleep, she could barely even eat. Nothing was comfortable and all of it was hard. Dr. Meade expected the children to be born in late May or early June, although he told her to expect to go earlier.

It tortured Scarlett to realize she had to hope and pray to go later for the sake of their children. She would do this until August if need be, but truly despite her love for them, she doubted she could go longer than that. Certainly not with the sanity of her family intact.

Rhett had brought in several new settees, chaises and chairs to try to ease her discomfort until eventually, he had brought in the furniture maker himself.

Their bed had a new mattress.

Their meals had practically everything that had made them tasty removed from them as Rhett eliminated aspects of the meals one by one to figure out the causes of her discomfort after them. A servant seemed to be bringing her something to eat or drink every half hour because she seemed to have no room in her stomach with the two babies crowding it and Rhett was convinced she would waste away.

Intimacies with her husband were now massages for every single part of her body that hurt because of the pregnancy, which were all of them.

According to Mammy she was still carrying well, which truly made Scarlett wonder if the women of the world were insane if they chose to do something worse than what she was experiencing, more than once.

Then a baby would move after a long time being still or she would see Rhett's smile in response to them.

Damn it all if she knew she wouldn't willingly go through it knowing what she would face.

She was in bed with Teddy and the girls when Rhett found her. The bed was simply the safest and easiest place for her to engage with the rambunctious toddler. Between the girls watching after him and occasionally pulling him back and Prissy and Estelle on either side of the bed.

The adults all went silent when they saw the look on Rhett's face, a look he was unable to hide. The children were oblivious to it and all scrambled to greet him.

He treasured the feeling of the three children in his arms because they would certainly never wait to be greeted individually.

Estelle was quick to gather up the children and Prissy, who was on the verge of tears when Rhett said that he needed to talk Scarlett in private.

"She's dying," Rhett said softly as he sat next to his wife in a chair.

Melly normally came by several times during the week, but today hadn't been one of her normal days, so Scarlett hadn't thought anything about it when her sister hadn't visited. "She's lost the baby?"

"She lost the baby early in the morning, Dr. Meade's been with her," Rhett held his wife's hand.

She pulled it away, "Why are you just telling me this? It's nearly one in the afternoon."

"We didn't want to upset you-"

"Upset me, my dearest friend in the entire world needed me and you didn't tell me."

"Scarlett please try to remain calm, please think of yourself and our children."

"I need to see her," she ordered him.

"I am here to take you; I just need you to promise to-"

"Stay calm, yes I heard you the first time. Will you be helping me up or will I be rolling like a turtle flipped on its back?"

o~o~o

She found herself crying unexpectedly as her husband straightened her clothing as she was on her feet after hours in bed. Minutes after she had been told his words truly hit her. "Perhaps she'll be alright."

"I wish that were true my dear. I've been at the house most of the day, she simply doesn't have your strength. Miss Melly has always been all heart."

"You've been there?"

"I thought I should be close by."

"Is that where Mammy's been all day?" Scarlett suddenly realized she hadn't seen Mammy all day.

"Yes."

"Everyone, but me," Scarlett realized.

"Scarlett, you're-"

"Carrying babies, not an invalid. She needed me Rhett."

"She needs you and the children to be alright more." He needed them to be alright.

"Can we please just go?"

o~o~o

It was Ashley that she saw first, a grizzled old Ashley. He had been changing the last few months as the hope bloomed within Melly, it had died within Ashley. He had known the good could not last. He was broken now, in likely the final way. "She's asked for you."

"I didn't know," she cried, practically hating the warm body at her side, her husband who had kept this to himself.

"She didn't want you to, your babies-" his eyes closed, "why did I let her? It was going so well."

Dr. Meade came out of the room and saw Scarlett, he gave a look of reproach to Rhett. "This is certainly not in your best judgment."

Dr. Meade quickly handled the Wilkes' sister and Aunt Pitty.

Before drawing Scarlett closer to the door he whispered, "You must do everything in your power to not get upset, to not let Melly get upset. She may be gone, but your children are not. No hysterics or deathbed confessions. Let her pass easily. I will not go from her bed to yours today."

Scarlett nodded like a child who had just received a scolding.

"Should I go in with you?" Rhett questioned at the door.

She shook her head gently.

"I'll be just outside the door should you need me."

She nodded before opening the door.

o~o~o

Scarlett blinked as they exited the house, Rhett had refused to allow her to stay with the family as they waited for Melly to draw her final breaths.

It was a beautiful spring day, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was blue, the air was warm. The street before them was brimming with the day. It was so at odds with what was taking place inside the house.

Her hand went to her stomach, there rarely seemed to be a moment without one of them moving. She could see her husband's suddenly fearful expression. She took his hand to where a baby moved within her, regardless of the fact that they were on the street.

"Beau has no idea," Scarlett suddenly realized.

"Miss Melly thought it best to send him to school."

"A few last hours in his old world," she spoke softly.

"I'll retrieve the boys myself from school."

"I'm his aunt, I should-"

"I'm his uncle," Rhett reminded her.

"What would I do without you?" She asked suddenly.

"You will never need to worry about that."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise, please let's get you home."

Thanks for reading!

I'm sorry their good luck bubble burst guys!

Next Fic Options:

1) In the Broken Light of Day: Would be a continuation of what is already on FFN. Starts immediately after the end of the book, as Scarlett goes from hopeful to realistic. They are simply a broken couple with Rhett being waaay more broken than Scarlett.

2) Eclipsed by the Moon: Scarlett stops Rhett from taking off with Bonnie for that 3 month trip, by running off to Tara with her. So the family ends up in Charleston together.

3) Untitled Fic (inspired by the other fics): I have a line in the first one where Scarlett apologizes to Rhett for not having more children while he could bear to love them. So the staircase scene would resolve with nasty words from Rhett, but Scarlett safely leaving the stairs.