Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Scarlett had been associating and spending time with the Scalawag wives who talked very earthy. I don't believe Cora May's subject matter would have shocked her. I'm sure Scarlett didn't share anything really personal with the Scalawag wives or anyone else.

Chapter Ten

When Scarlett had walked down the hall Christmas morning on her way to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee she had peaked in the nursery. Ella and Bonnie were asleep in Bonnie's bed. Bonnie must have started crying in the night and Ella had gotten in bed with her to calm her down. Scarlett knew that Ella and Bonnie slept together more times than not. Scarlett knew that she wasn't the only person Ella could soothe. She left them asleep but as soon as the door was closed, she saw Wade peeking out his door. She didn't say anything she just extended her hand and Wade came and joined her. They didn't speak until they were in the kitchen. Wade rambled on about his friends and Scarlett was happy to note that he now had a lot of friends. She didn't know what had changed but she was glad for Wade that they had changed.

She took her cup of coffee and he took a glass of milk and they went back upstairs. When they reached the nursery, Ella was sneaking out. When she saw them, she said, "Merry Christmas."

Scarlett said, "Go ahead and wake Bonnie up. When she is awake tell her to go get her Daddy and meet us in the parlor by the Christmas tree."

Everyone loved their presents. The children were in high spirits. They all kept running over to show Scarlett and Rhett their presents. Scarlett responded enthusiastically when they showed her something. Scarlett was happy when Wade and Ella shared with her but even more so when Bonnie did. Rhett may always be Bonnie's favorite but Bonnie's display of affection showed that Scarlett was forming a relationship with her child.

Several days after the incident at the modiste Rhett had convinced Scarlett to go back. At first, she had told him to go and order the dresses for the girls. He had told her that he would never pick the right fabric and she had to go. She looked at him suspiciously but then she knew he was right. She was so particular on her daughters' clothes. So, she went back with Rhett by her side the entire time. She wondered how he could always be right there but she never felt like he was hovering. Rhett had gone back the next day and had a dress made for Scarlett that was red and green and made from the same fabric as her daughters' dresses were made from. Scarlett's dress looked a little garish to him but once she put it on it looked beautiful on her. He thought with some pride she was probably one of the few women who could carry the style off.

They had several people over for Christmas dinner: The Wilkes, Aunt PittyPat, Uncle Henry, Cora May and her husband Franklin.

Cora May had brought presents for all the children and looked so happy when the children were pleased with the gifts. Scarlett smiled when Ella went over to Cora May and showed Cora May her new doll. Ella eventually ended up sitting in her lap. Cora May had looked so serene while she was holding Ella. The two appeared to be having a really good time. She held Ella until dinner was served. Scarlett looked at her oldest daughter and again thought how wonderful she was. Ella has so much love and compassion in her. She always knows when someone is suffering and tries to help.

After dinner and before dessert Ashley announced he had sold the mills to a Yankee investor. Ashley was going to work for Uncle Henry as a clerk in his law office. After Ashley made this announcement Scarlett said, "I hope you made enough money to cover your windfall." Ashley paled and said, "Of course I did." Everyone except Aunt PittyPat knew he was lying. He looked so guilty. Rhett wondered if Scarlett had intentionally twisted the knife in Wilkes' gut and judging by the tiny little smirk on her face, he decided she had. It made him very happy.

After dessert and coffee when everyone got up to leave Scarlett walked around the table to stand next to Rhett. He put his arm around her waist while they said 'Good bye' to their guest. They moved the food to the kitchen and put it up. They stacked the dishes in the sink to await the servants when they came back to work the next day. They didn't discuss their guests. They retired to the family parlor for the rest of the day. The children played with their toys. Rhett coaxed Scarlett into playing the piano and they all sang Christmas carols. They had a light supper from the leftovers. It was a good day for everyone.

Rhett wasn't sure he liked Cora May but she made Scarlett happy so he decided it didn't matter if he liked her or not. He certainly wasn't going to say anything negative about her to Scarlett. Every time she went to her friend's house, she came back happy. He was not going to ruin that.

As they got into bed later that night, Rhett said, "Franklin reminds me of someone but I can't quite place him."

The more Cora May had told her about her husband the more he had reminded Scarlett of Ashley. When the two men were together it was very obvious that they both were boring, proper gentlemen. They had spent time over dinner talking about some ancient poem that they both had read. Cora May had given Scarlett an eye roll and it was all Scarlett could do to not burst out laughing. Scarlett laid there and giggled. Rhett looked over at her and wondered at her giggling. He was a little annoyed that she wasn't sharing what she was giggling about but he wasn't going to ask her. He laid there and enjoyed the sound of her giggling and her enjoying her private joke.

Scarlett went to visit Cora May every week. Scarlett found out that Cora May was very well read. Cora May had shared that she liked studying people and trying to figure out why they did the things they did. Scarlett was astonished that anyone would spend time trying to figure out the motives of other people. Scarlett decided that she was going to try to be a lot more concerned about other people from now on.

Cora May made the funniest comments about the Peahens that Scarlett couldn't help but laugh in spite of her sadness. Cora May's disrespectful comments made her think of Rhett before they had gotten married. Rhett had been so funny then. She pushed thoughts of Rhett away because she wanted to be happy and laugh if only for a little while. When she was with Cora May she didn't want to ruin her visits by thinking sad thoughts so Scarlett forced herself not to think about anything but right now.

Cora May listened to Scarlett and made Scarlett feel better. When Cora May had said she could say anything when she was visiting, she really meant it. No matter what Scarlett said Cora May was not shocked and she never acted disapproving. When Scarlett would talk about something that would make her sad Cora May had a way of turning it around and Scarlett wasn't sad anymore. Cora May was always paying her compliments but she did it in such a way that Scarlett just accepted it as true. Cora May never said anything about her looks or her figure. Cora May knew that for too long Scarlett had only thought of herself as a pretty face or a woman with a good body. Scarlett had been visiting Cora May for a while now and every time she left Scarlett felt better.

This week Cora May served them brandy as always. They talked for a little bit about the other ladies and Scarlett smiled at Cora May's remarks.

After they were on their second glass of brandy Cora May said, "Since it is common knowledge that you and your husband have separate bedrooms how did you conceive your child? It was Captain Butler's, wasn't it?

Scarlett was offended. She said, "Of course it was. I never did anything with Ashley Wilkes."

Cora May said, "I never thought it could be Mr. Wilkes's child. He is too insipid to ever do anything not proper. Just like my husband."

Scarlett asked, "What does insipid mean?"

Cora May said, "Dull, boring, wishy-washy."

Scarlett giggled and said, "That is Ashley. And yes, it was Rhett's child."

Cora May said, "And?"

Scarlett said quietly, "He got drunk and forced himself on me."

Cora May said, "And you are ashamed that you liked it."

Scarlett looked at Cora May with big eyes. Scarlett was so amazed that Cora May knew she liked it. She was more curious than embarrassed and she said, "How did you know?"

Cora May said, "One of the biggest injustices done to ladies is convincing them that to enjoy relations is not ladylike. Fortunately for me my parents enjoyed a wonderful sex life. When my mother gave me the mother daughter talk before my wedding, she told me how much fun relations could be and to enjoy myself immensely. She told me to think of it as a time to play and have fun. There was never any fun or playing with Franklin. We never even took off our night clothes. Franklin would never do anything that wasn't proper. Once I accepted that I was barren I took a lover. I found out there was a world of pleasure out there. It is not much of a positive but one thing positive about being barren is you can have relations all you want without ever worrying about getting pregnant. So, if you wanted to take a lover there would not be any consequences from it. Or you can just seduce your husband back into your bed. If you had fun that night when at first you didn't want to have relations think how much fun you can have when you really want to have relations.

Scarlett stared at Cora May and had turned beet red with the bluntness of the conversation. The more Cora May talked the more enthralled Scarlett was. Scarlett said, "We are already sleeping together but Rhett hasn't tried to initiate relations since his return to my bed. I don't think he wants me. He said he was tired of me when I asked for separate bedrooms because I didn't want to have any more children."

Cora May said, "Remember when I told you that your husband was a liar. That was probably his second biggest lie he told you. The first being that he only wanted to marry you for your body."

Scarlett said hopefully, "Do you really think it was a lie?"

Cora May said, "I know it was a lie. I am pretty sure your husband has been lashing out at you every time you have hurt him. I am sure he has been spewing a lot of hate, pain and lies at you."

Scarlett looked at Cora May for a long time. She was digesting what her friend had just said. Scarlett in a small voice said, "After he forced himself on me, he told me he loved me but then he left me and went to Belle's. I guess I didn't satisfy him."

Cora May said, "I'm sure you satisfied him. He ran away because he was ashamed of his behavior. Coward that he is."

Scarlett said, "He came back and acted like what we did wasn't any big deal. He even bragged about going to that whore. He made me feel like a whore. Then he ran away with my baby." Scarlett was close to tears. She couldn't believe she was telling anyone about this. She was so ashamed.

Cora May said, "You didn't do anything to be ashamed of. I don't know how you yielding to your husband makes you a whore. It doesn't even make you a whore that you enjoyed yourself. He stayed away for three days because he was embarrassed and ashamed. He ran away to Charleston because he was embarrassed and ashamed. He said what he said to hurt you because you didn't respond the way he wanted you to. Did you act happy to see him when he returned?

Scarlett said, "Any weakness I have ever shown Rhett he has used against me. When he returned, he was so cold and distant. I didn't want him to know I had missed him and had been worried about him. He always says that it is my fault he used whores. If I hadn't kicked him out of my bed, he would never have used whores."

Cora May said, "Did you put a gun to his head and force him to have relations with other women?"

Scarlett actually giggled at the image that popped into her head, she said, "No."

Cora May said, "Does the man have no self-control at all?"

Scarlett again giggled.

Cora May said, "Honey. Your husband used whores to hurt you and your husband made sure everyone knew to shame you. Since we both know you are going to have to stay with him you might as well accept you are going to have to put all of his using whores behind you. You need to make him admit that him using whores was wrong and make him promise he will never do it again."

Scarlett said, "He has already apologized and promised to never do it again."

Cora May said, "Good."

Scarlett said, "Don't you think it was kind of alright since men have strong needs?"

Cora May said, "That is what their hands are for?"

Scarlett looked puzzled and Cora May explained how a man could pleasure himself. Cora May said, "And every last one of them does it."

Cora May said, "Tell him you want to make a child but he has to be faithful to you from now on." Cora May looked at Scarlett's puzzled face and added, "You didn't tell him you were barren, did you?"

Scarlett said, "Oh God no. You are the only person I could tell because you are too."

Cora May said, "Don't tell him. Just have fun, play and forget your sorrows."

After Scarlett had left Cora May decided that Scarlett must have thought herself in love with Mr. Wilkes. That is the only thing that explains why she would continue to employ that incompetent ass. His wife being in love with another man would have driven the arrogant, proud, narcissistic Rhett Butler to irrationality especially a man so much less than him. She knew now that Rhett Butler had been punishing Scarlett for being in love with another man. Cora May knew Scarlett didn't even like Mr. Wilkes anymore but if Captain Butler ever hoped to win Scarlett's heart, he was going to have to treat her like she was a treasure that he had been lucky enough to win. He was going to have to learn to grovel and humble himself if he ever wanted to see his wife happy again. If Captain Butler spoke cruelly and was mean to Scarlett, she would withdraw even more into herself. Captain Butler apologizing for using whores and promising never to do it again was a good start.

Cora May calling Rhett a coward made Scarlett think of what Rhett had said that day in December. Thinking about their marriage and Rhett's actions while accepting he was a liar and a coward allowed her to accept that he had been hurting her because he was afraid of her. He was afraid of her using his love against him. He was afraid of her ridiculing and making fun of him if he showed her his softer side. He could never show her a weakness because he knew she would use it against him. In all honesty he had been right she would have used his love against him. He could have treated her kindly though. She knew she had been hurting him for their entire relationship but he could never tell her she hurt him instead he had retaliated. The problem was she hadn't known she had hurt him so his hurting her was unjustified to her.

If Rhett continued acting like he had been for the last couple of months they might be able to build a future together. She hoped so. She couldn't continue constantly fighting with him. If he reverted back to cruel, mean Rhett she would take all her children and run away. She felt better having a plan. She felt better knowing that Rhett being ashamed was the reason he ran away, both times. She felt a lot better knowing that Rhett had not grown tired of her.

She laughed again at the image of her holding a gun to Rhett's head. She blushed and giggled when she thought about what Cora May had said about men self-pleasuring themselves. She laughed out loud when she thought of proper Ashley doing that and she knew he did. That thought made her smile and giggle all the way home.