I am sorry, I haven't updated in awhile, but I have had family obligations and my father has been in the hospital. I have tried to update my other stories and work on NANO, but it has been difficult.

However, Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I really do look forward to them, and I am glad you all are enjoying the chapters, this is my first attempt at fanfiction! I really appreciate the response!

WBG 3

Scarlett made her way up the steps of Aunt Pitty's porch, as Wade knocked on the door. The house was aglow with gas lamps and candles, and Scarlett could smell the pine wreath that hung on the door. Prissy followed with Ella carrying boxes of brown paper wrapped gifts up the step's as Uncle Peter opened the door to the guests.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Butler."

"Merry Christmas, Uncle Peter. Please help Prissy and Ella with the boxes."

"Yes, ma'am."

Uncle Peter took the larger boxes out of Prissy arms, so she could collect the smaller ones from Ella. As Scarlett hung up her cloak, Ella skipped in behind her and calling out Beau's name. Wade helped his mother with her cloak keeping an eye on the hallway for Beau. Beau didn't come out, but India did.

"Hello, children, Scarlett."

"Merry Christmas, Aunt India!" Ella twirled, running with her new leather boots up to India.

"Merry Christmas, India," answered Scarlett, "It's so quiet in here, where's AUnt Pitty?"

"Everyone is in the dining room."

"I hope we aren't late?" Scarlett looked around.

"No, no. It's just me and Aunt Pitty. Beau is coming over later with Dilcey. Ashley still isn't up to par."

Scarlett followed India with the children into Aunt Pitty's dining room. The table was adorned with the crystal candle sticks Scarlett had given her the previous Christmas. Scarlett smiled at how Bonnie was so convinced that they were meant for a princess. Ella and Wade sat on each side of Aunt Pitty, and Scarlett sat next to India at Aunt Pitty sat at the oblong table. Scarlett looked at how small the table looked, it had been opened for ten the previous year, now it was opened for six. Scarlett dismissed the thought before her emotions would surface, three people she loved dearly would not be at Christmas dinner. Aunt Pitty sat sulking and Scarlett didn't dare want to start her swoon, so she sat quietly waiting for Beau.

Ella broke the silence by asking for a glass of milk. Scarlett hushed her, and India was only to happy to get up and leave the desolate dinner. Scarlett wished she was back in her bed, her stomach was still tender, and she doubted she would enjoy the duck Dilcey had been cooking all day.

As if reading Scarlett's mind, Aunt Pitty asked, "You do look tired, Scarlett. I hope you are doing better?"

"Yes, I am feeling better. I even had a nap today."

"Oh, dear, I hope you can enjoy the food, tonight. I know how you love Dilcey's sweet potatoes, I told her, if Scarlett and the children are coming, you better make a big batch!"

"Thank you, Aunt Pitty. Yes, I was just thinking of those potatoes. Everything smells so good."

"Yes, it does, I just wish Beau would get here! Ashley was so sick himself today, and then last night, he went out-"

Wade's eyes were big, looking from his mother to his Aunt. Scarlett smiled, "Aunt Pitty, I'm sure Ashley will feel better soon. India told me how he had to go out to Dr. Meade's house."

"Yes, yes, that's where he went."

Soon the door opened from the kitchen, and India brought a pitcher of milk followed by Beau and Ella. Beau's face was somber and he made his way around the table kissing his Aunt's Merry Christmas. Beau's soulful brown eyes looked at Scarlett with Melanie's soul, as he greeted her with a "Merry Christmas". Scarlett smiled back as the boy kissed her cheek. Aunt Pitty's lip trembled as she kissed Beau, and choked out a greeting. Scarlett felt guilty as she prayed during grace in her head that this tortured dinner would be over soon.

Wade was the first to dig into the mound of sweet potatoes and green beans in his plate, and Scarlett kicked his leg under the table darting a glance at him, which made him slow down eating, and turned purple. Ella picked at her slice of duck complaining about the dark gray meat. Scarlett reached over and poured gravy on it, silently. Ella got stopped complaining, know her mother wasn't silent often, and if she was quiet, she was mad. India kept the conversation at dinner going as she asked Wade and Beau about their studies at the Private school. Beau seemed to be the more serious student, who knew more about his teachers, than Wade. Wade added tidbits about the teachers who were difficult, "Mr. Kilkenny, he is so hard. I have to study for that class."

Scarlett answered her gloating son, "You should study for all your classes, Wade Hampton!"

"I do, Mother. It's just for Kilkenny's history class, you have to study longer."

Aunt Pitty looked at the boy, and she realized the smug smile on his face was the only feature he inherited from his mother. Aunt Pitty was afraid of bringing anything up to Scarlett about Rhett, but her conscience bothered her after she received a large box from Charleston last week with gifts for her, India and Beau. In the box was three smaller boxes with Scarlett, Ella and Wade's name on it. Pitty prayed that dinner would last longer, so she didn't have to reveal the gifts from Rhett. But, her prayers were not being answered.

Ella took AUnt Pitty's hand and kissed it, then she piped up, "Aunt Pitty, you smell like Mother, tonight!"

Scarlett glared at Ella, it seemed the little girl's strangeness could be tolerated in her house, but it bother Scarlett to have others deal with Ella's behavior.

Aunt Pitty turned red, and her lips trembled. Wade stared at Scarlett wondering if his mother was going to slap Ella. She had slapped him once when they lived at Tara, but he had never seen her slap Ella.

"Oh, Ella, dear, I do, I guess I do smell like your mother."

Scarlett apologized, "Aunt Pitty, I'm sorry. Ella is so silly sometimes. Tell AUnt Pitty your sorry Ella, you upset her!"

Ella dropped her fork, and stammered an apology, and Aunt Pitty raised her hand, "No, no. It's not that. Ella didn't upset me."

Scarlett looked at Pitty and asked, "Well, great balls of fire! What's the matter, then?"

India looked at Pitty, and said it very plainly, "Aunt Pitty is wearing perfume, she got as a gift."

Scarlett looked at India, and realized, only Scarlett could have afforded that perfume, it was from New Orleans, and it was a herb that grew in the swamp "Vertiver". Scarlett put her fork down and looked across at India, and swallowed.

"I see."

India picked up her fork and added, "Let's just enjoy dinner. We-we can talk about it later."

The rest of the meal was quiet, until Dilcey brought out the desert that Scarlett had Mammy bring over. It was a triple layer cake with thick vanilla icing, and cinnamon pecans covering the top. The children were excited and chattered as they dug into the moist chocolate cake. Scarlett had only managed to eat her sweet potatoes and a leg of the duck, so she tried to force down the cake, until her stomach rumbled in protest.

Wade saw his mother's cake was untouched except for a bite, and he asked, "Can I finish yours?"

Scarlett tossed the plate at him, "You can share it with Beau."

Aunt Pitty and India urged the children to go find their names on gifts in the parlor, while the ladies finished their coffees. Scarlett stirred hers placing the spoon down.

"so, India, you all saw Rhett?"

Pitty was the first to answer, "No, he mailed us a box."

"Scarlett, I told you about the book." India reminded her.

"I know, I just can't believe he forgot us."

Pitty's heart broke, Scarlett's voice sounded so small, maybe because she had been sick. Aunt Pitty spit out her most fearful phrase, "No, he didn't. He sent the presents here, he knew you all would come to dinner."

Scarlett's eyes lit up as she looked Pitty, with her moist eyes smiling. India was silent, and then she asked, "Where is he?"

Scarlett's heart sunk, and then she put on her bravest face, "Rhett wants to pursue a new business, and he needed to go down to Nausau before the end of the year. He's coming back in January."

Both ladies looked at each other and mumbled, "Oh."

Scarlett went on, "Rhett has just been so, so depressed since everything- I thought this would do him some good."

Again, there was an "oh" in unison, Scarlett figured the sewing circles had her divorced by now.

Ella was the first to bring in a small box and put it in Scarlett's lap, "Look, there's your name, S and a C."

Scarlett smiled, "Thank you, sweetheart." and gave her daughter a kiss on her ginger curls pulled back with a white bow. As Ella beamed up at her, she noticed her white and green taffeta dress was soiled with cake crumbs.

It was a scrawled out writing of AUnt Pitty. Ella waited to see her mother's gift, as she unwrapped it, it was a beautiful gold and pink frame, with a sepia photo inside. Scarlett peered at the three smiling faces, Ella sitting on an elegant ottoman with her hands in her lap, and the tilt of her thin faced, reminded Scarlett of her sister Careen. Standing behind Ella was the two boys, in their Sunday best: Wade with a tooth smile, and his soft Hamilton eyes, and fair haired Beau with his soft brown eyes, as if Melanie stared back at her.

"It's beautful!" Scarlett exclaimed, "It's my favorite gift!"

Ella smiled, "Aunt Pitty took us after Church one day, and she took a picture for her, and for you."

Scarlett told Pitty, "Thank you, this is so lovely!"

Aunt Pitty smiled, "I'm so glad you like it. I thought Ella looked like your mother in that picture, even though she has her father's eyes and nose. And Wade and Beau look so much like the Hamiltons."

Scarlett nodded, "Yes, they do, Auntie."

The ladies joined the children in the parlor, and the brown paper was being cleaned up by Uncle Peter. Wade was showing off his new gloves and scarf in a dark maroon, and Beau was dressed in a similar set in navy blue. India must have worked all Autumn on them. Ella had a cute set of mittens and a scarf in a pale pink with white tassels from India. India had made Scarlett a muffler in the navy blue with small ruffles. Scarlett was appreciative at the thought, knowing India could not afford anymore than she had done.

Pitty had got each of the children a few trinkets candies and oranges in stockings she hung by the fireplace. Ella fooled with the jacks and peppermint sticks, while the boys emptied their stockings digging out some chocolates and each a new set of pencils for school.

Pitty and India anticipated their gifts from Scarlett more than children, knowing her lavish gifts she bought each year. Beau had got new clothes and shoes the week before, but he opened the large box to find a new train set, and a smaller box that contained wooden chess set.

Pitty opened her largest box first to find a new wool blanket in a beautiful tartan plaid, and in her smaller boxes there was a set of hairpins with tiny clear twinkling stones, and another small box with silk stockings. Pitty glowed and smiled as she hugged the two children.

"I told mother to get you the plaid blanket, Auntie" smiled Wade.

"I love it. Won't I look fine in my buggy this winter!" AUnt Pitty glowed.

India quietly opened her big box, and smiled, "It's lovely! I needed a new one!" India smiled as she held the new dress in front of her. It was a dark, navy dress, with a floral underskirt that was a copper brown and green striped. Scarlett smiled, hoping she wouldn't protest, and know India could use a dress for a woman her age, instead of wearing clothes that made her look older than Pitty.

"Well, India, i thought you could use a nice dress for Sunday." Scarlett smiled, thinking, maybe she could find a husband at church.

"Yes, Scarlett, I could." India gave her a knowing look, "I shall look forward to wearing it in a few weeks."

Pitty called Ella and Wade over to the sofa, and sat holding their hands and looking at Scarlett, "Children, your Uncle Rhett sent me a big box with little gifts inside for each of you and your mother. I know he would be here, if he could, but he is busy with a new job."

"Uncle Rhett is coming back in January, he wrote me a letter." Wade explained, with the same emotionally blank look of pride in his face, as Scarlett.

Pitty took the three small boxes from the side table, and handed one to Ella a Wade. They looked at their mother, and she smiled, "Well, I never knew your Uncle Rhett to forget buying gifts, let's see what you have !"

Ella opened up her box, and a tiny, gold bobble fell out into her lap. India helped her retrieve it, It was a small gold locket with a tiny garnet jewel on top on a thin chain. Ella brought it over to Scarlett and turned around so she could attach it.

"Do, I look pretty?" Ella beamed.

"Very" answered Scarlett, "Ella, this is a locket, let's see what's inside?"

Scarlett flipped the locket open, and saw their was picture of Ella and Scarlett inside the locket. It was one of the only pictures Scarlett had taken with the child, alone. Ella must have been about two years old, it was probably a few months after she had married Rhett, when they were staying at the hotel.

Ella peered at the picture, "Momma, who is that baby with you?" Scarlett answered, "It's you, dear." Guilt crept in Scarlett's heart looking at the picture, and thinking how ugly Ella looked. She was thin, and nearly bald with Frank's big nose sitting on Scarlett's lap surrounded by a dress full of ruffles. Scarlett looked out of the photo, her eyes soft, but her mouth was set in a stern smile worried about holding her pose.

Wade interrupted as he brought his gift over to show Scarlett, it was a small bobble, too. Scarlett held out her hand, so Wade could drop it in it. It was a gold set of cufflinks with an H engraved on each. Scarlett examined them, and marvelled at the weight. The card read, "Every Gentleman needs a fine set of cuff links, my son." Scarlett couldn't help but huff at the card, and then pretended to cough.

Aunt Pitty held another small box in her hand, but Scarlett held up her hand, "Aunt Pitty, i am starting to feel quite tired. I think we will call Pork to drive us home."

Wade and Beau sulked, and then Wade asked, "Can Beau come home with us?"

Scarlett smiled, "Oh, I don't see why not? If Aunt Pitty don't mind?"

"Well, dear, I was wondering if the children might stay with me tonight. It is such a lonely night, and I don't want to be alone, you know since-"

"Aunt Pitty, that would be fine with me. Wade can stay tonight with you all. Ella and I will go home and have some tea together before bed, alright, Ellla?"

Ella looked down pouting, and the remembering her dollhouse at home said, "Yes, mother, we can play dolls."

"Well, get your coat on, so we can hurry home."

The room was cleared out of everyone except AUnt Pitty and Scarlett. Pitty handed the box to Scarlett.

"Thank you, I would rather opened my gift alone."

Pitty face turned red, "I'm sure it is something lovely."

"I'm sure, but I have been strong all day for the children, and I don't want to ruin it now."

Aunt Pitty started to ball at that moment, "Oh, Scarlett, I miss them so much, too. I can almost hear Melanie wishing us Merry Christmas, and poor little-oh, I'm sorry, but her smile and laughing-I,,, It's just not the same without them."

By now Scarlett's chest felt full and burned with tears, held back all day, and somehow she was in AUnt Pitty's arms crying, and Ella stood there looking at them, and blurted out, "I miss AUnt Melly, too!"