Okay, I'm on a roll tonight, I was inspired to write the next chapter, maybe I'll get to Ashley, but why delve into the past, Rhett and Scarlett have final gotten it right! ANyway, ENJOY ENJOY!

WBG Chapter 18

Wade and Ella ate breakfast alone at the table, and the sound of grown up voices were heard in the hallway near his mother's bedroom. Mammy brought a tray, set for two people, and hurried back to the dining room with the children. Wade looked with round eyes at Mammy, "Where's Uncle Rhett? He wasn't in his room this morning. Did he leave?"

Mammy looked at the boy, "He's having breakfast with your Mother."

"Is she sick? She was sick yesterday." said Wade, as he rolled his eyes.

Ella looked up, at Wade's declaration which was quite flippant, "Wade? Don't talk like that to Mammy."

Wade lowered his gaze, "I'm sorry, Mammy. Mother is just always sick when she doesn't want to worry with us."

Mammy's eyes narrowed, this boy was surely Miz Scarlett's boy, and it was about time he started speaking his mind. Ella's eyes grew large as she listened to Wade, and realized something that they both knew, he had the gumption to verbalize.

"Master Wade, your Mother is doing better now, she ate too much at dinner the other night. Mr. Rhett is making plans for today."

Mammy figured not to make a big deal over what Wade thought of Scarlett, because she knew it to be true. ALso, Mammy knew that the couple needed time to be alone, because after the loud voices and arguing last night, there were hours of quiet, that allowed Mr. Rhett to wake this morning looking exhausted and happy, greeting her at the door to get the tray. Mammy didn't need to ask, to know an happy tired man is a husband who has been with his wife all night.

In Mrs. Butler's room, Rhett stole a slice of bacon, as he watched Scarlett devour her last spoon of eggs. Scarlett was starving, and Rhett had finished most the cakes last night, after Scarlett had drifted into a peaceful, exhausted sleep.

Scarlett looked at Rhett, still naked under his robe, "You better get dressed."

"Maybe, I don't need to wear clothes, today."

"Rhett," Scarlett giggled, "How can we stay in bed all day, with the children awake?"

"I think Mammy will help us out."

Scarlett reddened to her hairline, sipping her coffee, "Mammy? Of course, she is beside herself excited, I heard her cooing 'Mr. Rhett, this and that' this morning."

Rhett nearly spit out his coffee, "Scarlett, why?"

Scarlett stirred her coffee, "Well, she wants me happy, and you make me happy. She also wants us to have more children."

Rhett eyed Scarlett, as much as he enjoyed last night, the consequence was something he wasn't sure he could handle, but would if he had to, "Well, that may take time. We were in the new house almost six months before-"

Scarlett's eyes softened, he couldn't say her name,"Rhett, I know, but I was still nursing Ella then, but the last time-"

Rhett looked at her with remorse, he remembers the second time, it did only take once, and Scarlett couldn't say it either. He had lost his little girl, and she had lost her baby, maybe they did need a third child to call it "ours", not "his" and "hers".

Rhett smiled, "Let's deal with the immediate future, if we can't stay in bed all day, what are we going to do?"

Scarlett finished her coffee and cocked her head, "You know New Orleans better than me."

Rhett smiled, "Yes, I do, but not all my activities are proper for children."

Scarlett laughed, and sunk back under the covers, pulling them around her bare breasts, "Well? Maybe we should just stay in?"

Rhett laughed and pulled the covers off of her making her shriek, pulling a pillow in front of her, Rhett scooped her up throwing the pillow to the side, "I want to see my beautiful wife!" His mouth searched her neck for the spot that made her purr, caressing it gently with his warm lips. Scarlett closed her eyes, and enjoyed the ripples of pleasure going through her neck to her belly.

The door shook, and Wade's voice called out, "Uncle Rhett?" Scarlett froze in Rhett's arms and he lifted his head long enough to ask, "Yes, Wade, what is it?"

"I heard mother scream."

Scarlett buried her face in Rhett's chest muffling a nervous giggle.

Rhett groaned, "Your mother is fine, she was laughing."

Rhett poked Scarlett in the ribs, "Wade Hampton, finish your breakfast! Uncle Rhett was telling me a joke." Scarlett's voice was authoritative and loud. Rhett kissed her lips again, and the shuffling of the boy's oversized feet died down.

Wade froze halfway down the hall staring at the locked door, 'Since when did his Mother laugh, he hadn't seen her even smile since Bonnie died.' he thought joining Ella back at the table.

Scarlett pulled away and looked at at Rhett whispering, "We can't do this, he's old enough to figure us out."

"So what?"

"No, Rhett, he already has a bad attitude about me, just think if he knows we are doing this in the daytime, he'll hate me, more."

Rhett smiled, "Very well, get dressed and we will go somewhere, but this afternoon, you are mine!"

Ella and Wade watched the shadow in the hall and the opening and closing of Uncle Rhett's door. Wade's face was red, and he pursed his lips. Ella looked at Wade, he was quite mad. Wade had heard stories from the older boys at school, about things people did at the Saloon, and how his stepfather did them, too. Wade grew angry thinking, how he had defended his Uncle Rhett, and now Uncle Rhett was making his mother show him her body, and he making her look at his. A fear went through Wade, 'What if he makes Mother work at the Saloon?' Ella watched as tears almost filled Wade's eyes, and she asked, "Wade? Are you crying?"

Wade looked at his little sister's monkey face spotted with freckles, and her unruly, auburn hair unraveling from the ribbons, "No, Ella." He wished he was as young and innocent as she was, again, and he wished his Aunt Melly were here, she would know how to help them.

It was nearly noon, when his mother came out of her bedroom. She was dressed in a striped, gray dress, and her jade cameo, but she wore a very elaborate green feathered hat, and green, ruffled gloves. Ella ran up to her and pulled on her hand, "Mother, I haven't seen you in so long. Come see what I wrote for you."

"Ella, I was ill yesterday, but Mother is better, now."

Scarlett sat on the sofa, and leaned over the picture on the floor, filled with circles and lines in the shape of red and purple flowers. Ella had wrote her alphabet and her name in scrawling, poor penmanship along the bottom of the page. Wade watched as his mother raved about Ella's flowers, but fussed about her shaky lines that stood for her four letter name. Wade wondered how her mother could act so demure, after acting like a saloon woman.

Wade sat at the table, and lined up his soldiers, keeping an eye on Scarlett and his sister.

"Wade, how are you today?" Scarlett asked.

"Fine." Wade glared at her.

"Is that all you have to say?"

Wade stood up, and walked over to the sofa, "I don't like your hat, it's too fancy."

Scarlett's mouth made an "O", "I beg your pardon?"

"Where are you going?" Wade asked, folding his arms.

"Your Uncle Rhett is taking us to an art gallery. I would like to get a beautiful painting for our house from New Orleans." Scarlett preened the hat in question.

Wade didn't say a word. Ella bounced on the sofa, "Can we come, too?"

"Yes, we are all going to go." Scarlett said as she tried to fix Ella's hair. Ella's ribbons were not quite tight enough. The lavender taffeta dress had the same white ribbons gathering the skirts, and her white boots swung knocking the sofa legs, until Scarlett complained, "Ella, be still."

Rhett's door closed with a thud, and he joined the family in the den, "Are we ready?"

Scarlett sighed, "No, I'm changing my hat."

Rhett raised his eyebrow, "Why? Isn't that the new one you had delivered the other day?"

Scarlett shook her head, "Yes, but Wade doesn't like it."

Rhett looked at Wade, who stood with folded arms and a cocked eyebrow, "Wade?"

"She looks like a saloon girl!"

The room filled with a heaviness, as Scarlett reached across to slap his face, and Rhett caught her hand, "Don't, Scarlett."

"Son, you want to explain that?" Rhett's voice was harsh, and serious.

"That thing has ribbons, feathers and shiny beads! Where did you think you were going to wear that thing? Aunt Melly would have never wore that!"

Scarlett's heart felt sore, and her breath left her lung, "How dare you!"

"Son, why don't you go to your room for the day."

"Don't call me son! Why don't you go to my mother's room all night!"

Ella had started crying at Rhett's yelling, it was the first time she had witnessed his wrath, Scarlett was crying over how bitter Wade was to bring up Melly, and Mammy came in just as Rhett was unhooking his belt.

"Master Wade," Mammy grabbed his ear, "Get yo'self into that room!"

In one pull, Mammy marched him down the hall, and slammed his door. She came back, and welcomed Ella into her arms, wiping her eyes with her apron. Rhett sat at the table and shook his head, "Little Bastard!"

Scarlett was mortified, her face was buried in her hands, and she could barely get a breath to sob. Wade was such a hostile boy, why did he have to say those things to her.

Scarlett felt the familiar reassuring hand of Mammy on her shoulder, and felt Ella pulling at her arm, "Mother, I hate Wade! Why did he say those mean things! Your hat is pretty."

Scarlett looked at the girl's hazel eyes, round and small, but full of concern, and gathered the child in her lap. Mammy went over to Rhett, "Mr. Rhett, I want to apologize for that boy, he's young and he's been through so much, just born at a bad time."

"Mammy, I plan on having a talk with him, yet."

"Don't hit him," Scarlett warned, "I don't want him to hate us."

Rhett stood up, "He already does, what loving son would say those things to his Mother who has worked so hard to save his life, and give him everything he damn well doesn't deserve, you don't deserve this kind of treatment, Scarlett."

"I'm just, afraid, that if he turns away from us, he'll have nobody."

Mammy shook her head, "Master Wade was in a bad way this morning, fussing and complaining, just like-"

The room was silent, and Rhett smirked, "Just like who, Mammy?"

Mammy cast her eyes down, and said, "Like, Mister Gerald."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett, "That's no excuse, he is very disrespectful to you and me."

Scarlett started down the hall, and Rhett grabbed her arm, "Leave him be, we can deal with him, later. Let him be mad for now."

Rhett's lips pressed against her throbbing temple, and she found calm, as she took his arm, and they left with Ella to meet their carriage.

The day of shopping was quiet, and Scarlett was quite preoccupied with the events of the morning, and upset about Wade. Ella seemed to have forgotten it, and asked piddly questions, and shyly smiled at the shopkeepers, who offered her mints and candy sticks to keep her busy while her parents shopped. Scarlett did not find the art she was looking for and toyed with her soup in the afternoon. Ella was eating her third piece of french bread, and Scarlett had barely swallowed a spoon of soup, and Rhett reached across to hold her hand, "I will talk to him when we get home."

"Rhett, I don't know why he would say such things?"

Rhett smirked and whispered in her ear, "I think he has an idea of what we were doing. Maybe we should have come alone."

"I don't think he knows, anything about that. Unless, did you?"

"Darling, I wouldn't have said anything without your permission. However, the only way I knew about anything of the mystery of life was from my friends at school, and they were quite wrong."

"At school? You mean Beau or Raoul, why those families-"

"Scarlett, they are all curious boys no matter their families, look at me."

Scarlett puffed up and refused to say anymore,then she said, "You can talk to him tonight, and set him straight. I don't need him looking down his nose at me, too." Scarlett eyed Ella grabbing a fourth piece of bread, and slapped her hand, "Stop, eat your soup."

Ella made a face, the soup was thick and brown, and the bread tasted much better, "It's got turtles in it."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Rhett, have them take this away. I'm ready to go."

As they entered the suite, Scarlett marched straight to her room, as Ella followed her, "Dear, go play. Mother needs a nap, and time alone."

Scarlett closed the door, threw her gloves and hat on the bed, and stretched out next to them. As perfect as her night and morning had been, the day had been a nightmare. First, Wade's outburst, and then shopping with Ella. She could not find anything she liked, and the doorman said something jokingly to Rhett about nothing being delivered in two days. Scarlett loosened her buttons, and took a few deep breaths, her body was tired and sore, and she could use a nap, so she closed her eyes for a few minutes.

Scarlett's head felt heavy as she rose from the bed, and the room was darkened except for the gaslight near the door was softly glowing, 'I must have fell asleep for hours,' she thought as she fought to sit up on the edge of the bed. Voices were low in the parlor of the suite as she found her way down the hall. Her hair hung in curls at her shoulders, as she double checked her buttons. Rhett's broad back sat at the table, playing chess with Wade whose smile was broad and innocent again. Ella was by her side, pulling on her hand, "Mother's up!" she piped.

Rhett turned to see Scarlett glassy eyed, and dull from a late nap, "What time is it?"

"After dinner." Rhett said, "But we saved you some."

Scarlett sat at the table, and Ella ran to get Mammy.

SHe looked from Wade to Rhett, and cocked her eyebrow at Rhett. Rhett cleared his throat, "Wade has something to tell you, dear."

Wade's face was reddened, and his eyes studied his hands he rang in his lap, "Mother, I'm sorry for my outburst this morning. I was out of line."

Scarlett looked at him, and wondered if he really meant it, but she smiled, "Thank you, Wade Hampton. I hope never to hear you speak that way again."

Wade nodded, and Scarlett wished she had the same power Ellen had to make her children squirm, but the best she could get was a blush from a boy who was tall as her. Ella came back with Mammy who uncovered a silver dome of a white rice covered with jumbo shrimp and a spicy tomato sauce. Scarlett grabbed her fork, and started before Mammy had poured her wine. She was starved, not enjoying any food since breakfast.

Mammy coerced Ella in the room for her bath, after she gave her mother a kiss, and Wade followed leaving the chess set to finish tomorrow. Rhett poured a brandy and nursed it as Scarlett placed her fork down, and crossed her arms looking at the proud Mr. Butler.

"Well, you seem very full of yourself, Rhett, as usual."

"I am, Scarlett, I have accomplished something my own father never could, I got through to a little hot headed bastard."

Scarlett smirked, even though she should have been mortified by his language, "How? Did you promise him something?"

"No, I told him the truth."

Scarlett's ears buzzed, and her spine went cold, "The truth? About who?"

Rhett placed his glass down, and urged her to finish eating, "I told him the truth about love and men and women. He was quite pleased that he learned about it, and from what I hear the Bonnell's have it quite confused. Wade will be very popular."

"Rhett, you didn't tell him to be quiet about it? Really-"

"Shh, I told him, Ella's ears are too young and tender, and that he should keep his information to himself, for when he gets married and needs it, but you know he won't listen."

"Well, you can fight with the parents when he starts talking about it."

"Scarlett, it's natural for boys to talk, just be glad the boys in Atlanta will have the correct information thanks to Rhett Butler."

Scarlett laughed in spite of herself, "Who would have thought, we could thank you for that, but won't he look funny at us, I don't know if I will ever look at him again."

"Scarlett, didn't you ever wonder about your parents?"

"No, indeed. Besides, I know my Mother endured it."

Rhett cackled loudly, "That's what she told you?"

Scarlett nodded with a mouthful of shrimp, "Women-"

"Did you endure it, last night?"

Scarlett blushed.

"You are no different from any other human being, they all enjoy it."

Scarlett whispered, "Stop talking such vulgar-"

Rhett took her hand, and smiled, "Yes, let's stop talking."

As they entered into the bedroom, Scarlett smiled coyly at him, "But, I just woke up."

"Who said you were going to sleep?"

The heavy door closed with a thud and the latch clicked the lock.