Chapter 22 and 23 is a filler, to wrap up the ASHLEY portion, but the new addition will come up in Chapter 24, which I plan to get out in the next week. Between working, and reading, I have been distracted, and now this time off is getting me inspired!

The train pulled up in Jonesboro station in the early evening, just as the sky turned a mottled turquoise and azure among the gray clouds, as the afternoon showers came to an end. The children hurried out the train, waving to their Uncle Will, as Rhett hurried ahead to catch up to them, Mammy took Scarlett's arm.

"Miz Scarlett, about Tara, you goin' be on your good behavior with Miz Suellen?"

"Of course, Mammy. We are only staying a two weeks, and then on to Atlanta, when school starts for the children."

Mammy nodded, and kept hooded eyes on her charge.

Scarlett was sore from the long ride, she had fallen asleep in a twisted position between the window and Ella, and her neck and shoulders were tight. She stretched as she stood on the platform, and Rhett tipped the porter as he wheeled the stack of trunks toward Will's wagon. Ella started pulling at the ribbon as it slipped down her plait, and Mammy hurried over to fix her hair grumbling. Scarlett greeted Will, with a kiss on the cheek, and breathed in the fresh, wet dirt from the shower mixed with oil and smoke from the train, a smiled crept through her lips.

"Happy?" a voice clucked as his mustache tickled her ear.

Scarlett sighed, "Yes, I think so."

"You think so?"

"As soon as I get a bath, and lay in my soft bed, I will be ecstatic!"

Rhett laughed, and took her arm over to the wagon, he helped her up into the second row seat next to Mammy, and Rhett climbed next to Will. Wade and Ella sat among the trunks in the open back. Will looked over his shoulder at Scarlett, "You're quiet, are you well, Scarlett?"

Scarlett removed her hat, and fiddled with her hat on her lap, "I'm well, just tired, it was a long ride."

Rhett chuckled, "We all were sorry to leave New Orleans, we had a wonderful spring there."

Wade sat up on his knees, poking his head between Scarlett and Mammy, "It was fun, we saw alligators, Uncle Will!"

Will chuckled, "Alligators? I guess you were sorry to leave."

Scarlett sighed, "Yes, the city is beautiful, and it was quite peaceful."

Rhett eyed Scarlett, her head down turned, and concentrating on the pale green ribbon on her bonnet, no she wasn't herself. She looked up catching his eye, and he grinned, and she nodded back. Ella stood up, holding on the seat that Scarlett and Mammy sat, "We got pralines for everybody, can I have one before bed?"

Mammy squeezed the child's hand, as they passed over a bumpy patch, "Sit down, chile, you need to have dinner first."

Will offered, "Suellen was holding dinner, til you all got here. Dilcey was making some ham, sweet potatoes and corn on the cob for tonight!"

Rhett clucked, "One ham? I'm afraid Wade could probably finish that off by himself."

Wade laughed, "Yes, sir!"

Scarlett remained quiet, "SUellen is doing well, and the girls?"

"Fine, fine. Little Susie aint so little anymore and the other two growing like weeds, and whoa, those girls, Well, I don't have to tell you, Scarlett, can they fight!"

Scarlett smiled politely, "Well, Sue deserves it, she was horrid-"

Mammy's hand was on hers, and her eyes narrowed.

Will laughed, "We hoping this next one's a boy."

Scarlett drew in a breath, "Oh, another one, Will?"

"Well, I guess Sue had no time to write. We were mighty surprised to get the wire last month that ya'll were passing through to Atlanta. But, yeah, probably October."

Scarlett withdrawn quietly, and turned her head and wiped her eyes. She had lived in a vacuum in New Orleans, but she hadn't realized that life went on without her. Scarlett had understood the benefit of waiting to have another child, but it didn't make it any easier, and being back in Georgia was home, familiar, but all her insecurities and anxieties had returned. She would face her sister, nasty and jealous Suellen, and her advanced pregnancy would only bring out the anger and resentment that seemed just below the surface when Suellen was around, and breathing. Her biggest concern was facing the Old Guard back in Atlanta, Rhett had written and recieved updates from Pitty about Beau, and in her letters that dripped with questions to ignite the gossip fires, there was clearly no need to worry about him or Ashley. Scarlett feared that once in Atlanta, the fantasy of happiness would disappear, which she thought could be guaranteed if she return, also expecting a new baby, with her adoring husband. She tried to make sense of her fears, Rhett had been nothing but helpful and loving, even though they hadn't been intimate in more than a month, but he had settled for kisses and cuddling under the mosquito netting at night, talking and laughing until the wee hours, but would he accept this with Watling dangling her goods around, and for how long would he be satisfied with marriage in this manner? The doctor had said at least six months, a year of her courses were not regular, and this was day two, as she waited watching the calendar, as the doctor suggested. Two days was nothing, June only had 30 days, but it had never been one day in the pass. "You aren't a twenty anymore." Mammy had said. Scarlett had huffed, "I'm not that old!"

"No you isn't but you had a problem, it just ain't going to be the same."

Scarlett was brought back to the conversation when she heard Rhett call her name.

"Hmm?" she asked looking up at him in the darkness.

"I said, 'look at the cotton, in a few weeks, it will be picking time."

Scarlett looked out at the field, "My we are that close to Tara?" The white cotton gleamed in the twilight, and the fresh summer air wafted with jasmine. Scarlett felt her spirits soar, as she looked proudly on the fields, "Yes, Rhett, it's beautiful!"

Rhett smiled and reached back to squeeze her hand, and he saw a shimmer in her eye.

After a noisy dinner with five children, Scarlett headed up to her former room, bidding her sister and nieces, "Good night." The porcelain bath tub was waiting in her dressing room, carried by Pork and prepared by Mammy, with steaming water, towels laid out, soap and rugs in place. She smiled, as she slipped into the water, and twirled the water, making bubbles. The warmth and smells of warm bath released all tension from her shoulders, as she let her body stretch out in the tub covering her arms, and shoulders with the fragrant, delicate bubbles circling the towel as miles of dust dissipated into the water. The sound of barefeet approached the dressing area, and Scarlett called out, "Ella Lorena, get to the nursery, and get ready for bed!"

A dark head popped through the door, "I'm a little too old for the nursery."

Scarlett sat up, as irritation vacated her face, and an amused smirk danced in her eyes, "I believe you are, Rhett."

"Do you mine? Can I sit?"

Scarlett felt a blush, and dismissed it, "Be my guest."

Rhett was in his robe, shirtless except for his pajama pants, and slippers. He sat on the vanity chair near her mirror, and reached over to suds her back. Scarlett gathered bubbles closer to her chest, she noticed Rhett's side glance, and he cleared his throat, "You were quiet on the way home."

"Yes, it was an uncomfortable ride home, Ella took over most of my seat, stretching out. My shoulders were aching."

Rhett reached around with the warm rag and rubbed her shoulders, as she shrugged and stretched her neck, "Better, pet?"

Scarlett glanced up, "Much better."

"Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, it's just-"

"You don't have, your problem?"

Scarlett's whole body blushed, "No." it was a whisper, "ANd it is not-"

"It is my business, when your health is involved."

Scarlett took the rag, and worked on her leg, and feet, ignoring the crudeness of her nosy husband, and he snatched the towel from her hand, "Give me your foot, I'll help you."

He tenderly rubbed the towel across her reddened feet, and the tiny blisters, "Those shoes are too small!"

"Hush, they were the only ones left in the shop."

"Scarlett, you are fool."

She glared at him, and said nothing, folding her arms over her chest. The door opened and Mammy stood shocked at Rhett's handling of Scarlett's leg and foot, her gasp, caused Scarlett to roll her eyes, "Mammy, I believe we have no room for you in here."

"Sorry, Mister Rhett." Mammy dropped the nightgown and drawers and slammed the door. Rhett laughed, and laughed, "I probably gave Mammy a stroke."

Scarlett rested back in the tub and enjoyed Rhett's massage on her sore feet, his voice was quiet and smooth as he asked, "Are you glad we're home?" He felt the tension in Scarlett build, and she sighed, "The cotton is going to bring a good crop this year."

"Scarlett?" he questioned, and she half opened her eyes, "What has you worried? You're mad about Suellen?"

"No, I'm fine. Waiting is for the best, from what the doctor said."

"Then, what's bothering you?"

Scarlett pulled her foot away, "The water is getting cold-"

Rhett held out the towel, as she clumsily stood and clutched the towel around her, and he asked again, "SOmething is wrong, I thought you wanted to come home."

"I did, but it's just, now we are home, and all the old people, old problems are back."

Rhett nodded, he understood, the fantasy of vacation was a limited illusion, and real life comes back to slap you in the face. He left and stretched out on the bed, giving her the privacy she needed to get dressed.

Scarlett joined him in the bedroom with the waft of powder and cream clouding the air, as she flopped in the bed and rolled into his side, and welcomed his strong arm around her as she folded her hands on his chest, resting her chin on them. He looked at her heavy dark lashes framing her eyes, and he smiled, "You don't want to go back to Atlanta?"

Scarlett pouted, "I do, i know we must, but its going to be the same."

Rhett sighed, "Yes, as far as I know, everything is the same there, but we don't have to be."

"Oh?"

"Well, we are on, er, better footing now, and we need to be strong not to fall back on old habits."

Rhett said habits, like it was a dirty word, and raised his eyebrow at her. Scarlett pushed up on her elbows, making him grunt, "Habits? Like what?"

Rhett saw the squareness in her jaw and the upright shoulders, as though she was a tiger on the attack, and he pulled her closer, "Come now, I was just saying, we need to do things differently."

Scarlett wriggled in his grasps, "Differently? Like what, the saloon?"

Rhett was up standing by the bed, as she knelt on the bed glowering at him, "Yes, my pet, differently, like the lumber office!"

Scarlett fumbled to get on her feet, "Rhett Butler, you know that is over!"

She circled the bed and was standing in front of him, her lace robe open and sleeveless gown flowing around her ankles as she fumed, "By the way, do you have any other advice for me? Perhaps you should take your own advice and not go look up that creature Watling!"

Mammy rushed in the room, and slammed it, making them both turn, Scarlett with a red face, and Rhett's eyes burned with fury.

"Miz Scarlett, Mister Rhett, hush your fighting! The children are in the nursery, right across the hall!"

Scarlett gathered her robe, and flopped in her side chair, and Rhett went over to Mammy, "I'm sorry, Mammy. We forgot ourselves, we will keep it down. We were just discussing Atlanta."

"I knows you were, All I had to hear was "Watling", that dyed haired woman ain't no good."

Rhett chuckled, "No worries, we will settle down now, right Scarlett."

Scarlett looked up and placated her face, "Yes, I'm going to sleep." She flopped in the bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin, closing her eyes.

As Mammy left, Rhett slipped into bed next to her, "Don't go to sleep, why are you worried about Belle?"

Scarlett's breathing hastened, and the delicate mood that held her caused tears to roll down the bridge of her nose to her pillow, and she piped in a whisper, "Why are you worried about Ashley?"

Rhett smirked, "I asked you first."

"You are a child, Rhett!" Scarlett hissed between gritted teeth, "Well, we can't, and you did it before when I didn't want more children."

Rhett sighed, "Yes, I'm guilty, but it's different you didn't throw me out our room, and I know we are, again, soon."

Scarlett was quiet, and sniffed thinking of her behavior, and how she had regretted the lost of his presence in her bed, as new tears streamed, and she gasped catching her breath. The weight of his chin on her shoulder, was comforting and the smell of cigars and scotch comforted her. His lips pressed on her cheek, and he whispered, "I'm sorry, dear."

Scarlett turned her lips, and let him kiss her, as his weight shifted from her shoulder to her side, and soon she felt his hands in her loosening her hair, and his body next to hers, warm and comforting like a downed quilt. He raised on his elbows, and looked at her, "You are beautiful, but you better not get any crazy ideas about Wilkes."

Scarlett wiggled, "Are you really that worried?"

Rhett's brows knitted together, "Quite terrified," as he rolled off of her.

Scarlett rested her hands above her head, "You don't need to be, I told you-"

"I know, but I also know what a pathetic wretch Wilkes is, and how you love to be in control and needed, and you will not be lured in by him, or I swear-"

"What did Will tell you, Rhett?"

"Will?"

"Yes, Will said at dinner that India had written Suellen, but he would tell me about it tomorrow after I rested. You were out smoking cigars with Will, I know you asked him."

Rhett sighed, "Ashley is doing fine, but he has discovered a past time."

"Not drinking, again, and not Belle's."

Rhett laughed, "No, this is quite harmless, he's going to seances."

"Say what?"

Rhett chuckled, "He's going to charletons who say they can speak to dead people."

Scarlett huffed, "We all went see Mammy Jincy, she had a crystal ball, and she told us foolish stuff, and we would bring her apples or biscuits. She's harmless."

"It's not Mammy Jincy, it's a lady from up north."

"A yankee?" Scarlett sat up.

"Now, don't get jealous."

Scarlett swatted at him, "I'm not jealous, but a yankee woman?"

"Yes, she's a spiritualist, been talking to lots of people at the seance."

Scarlett laid back down, her skin felt tingly as she laid down, "Melanie?"

Rhett snickered, "I hope Mrs. Wilkes would have more sense, even in heaven."

Scarlett's eyelids were heavy as she tried to fight sleep, "Fiddle-dee-"

Rhett looked over at her on the pillow a fan of black curls and her eyes closed in early sleep.

"Dee." Rhett finished as he blew out the candles putting them in complete darkness.