Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Seventeen

It was Gerry's first birthday. Scarlett was enjoying her flat stomach for she knew that tonight Rhett would stop using preventatives and once again she would be with child. She had been correct. That night once again Rhett stopped using preventatives. Scarlett didn't know how lucky she was that Rhett had a deadline. That was the only way he could make himself use preventatives was knowing when he could stop using them.

October arrived and so did the cooler weather. When harvest was over the sisters again started meeting at Kennedy's when Careen and Will came into Atlanta to get the supplies. Scarlett could not fail to notice that neither Suellen nor Careen were with child. How could they not be as fertile as she was? They were half Irish too.

When they met in November, Careen shared the happy news that she was with child. Scarlett thought, 'At last! They have been married for over a year almost a year and a half.'

Careen said, "The baby is due in April. Can Mammy come stay with me and deliver my baby?"

"I will ask Mammy if she wants to and if she does, I am fine with it. If not, I think Dilcey can help you."

"Or Mrs. Tarleton. I have gotten rather close to her in the last couple of years."

"That is strange. Considering you are married to another man besides her son."

"Mrs. Tarleton likes Will and Brent has been dead for over five years. She encouraged me to marry Will and move on with my life."

"Alright."

That afternoon Scarlett said to Mammy, "Careen is with child. The baby is due in April. She wants you to deliver her baby."

"As long as you don't need me."

"I guess you can go stay with her starting in March. I guess I will have to hire another nursemaid."

"You probably should anyway. I'm not as young as I once was so it is getting harder for me to get around."

"I will contact the employment agency tomorrow."

That night as Rhett and Scarlett were returning from a social event, she said, "Careen is with child."

"That's nice."

"It is due in April."

"Alright."

"She wants Mammy to deliver her baby."

"What did you say?"

"If Mammy wanted to go stay with Careen, I would let her. Mammy does. We will need to hire another nursemaid. I am going to contact the employment agency tomorrow."

"I will be doing the interviewing."

"Rhett that would be so improper."

"Nonetheless, it is what is going to happen."

"Alright."

"What is bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, you can tell me anything and I won't think any less of you."

"What if Mammy gets down to Tara and she likes living with Careen more than living with me."

Rhett burst out laughing and finally said, "Selfish until the end."

"You are too."

"Yes, I am. You know you are Mammy's favorite. She has been willing to travel with us to England twice just to be with you."

"I think she likes you too."

"Yes, but she loves you like you were her own child. She will return to us."

"I hope so."

Rhett and Scarlett had arrived at their home. Rhett got out of the carriage then helped Scarlett out. He said, "Come on, I will make you forget all about possibly losing Mammy. I'll do that thing you really like."

"Shh, not in public."

Rhett laughed and took her hand. "Then come along."

Rhett hurried Scarlett up the stairs, and he did make her forget about possibly losing Mammy.

Later in the week the interviews for nursemaid began. After Rhett had interviewed twenty women, he said, "Is Mammy the only competent nursemaid in Atlanta?"

"I'm sure there is someone out there who can do the job."

"You may have to tell Careen she can't have Mammy."

"You know I can't do that."

"I'll keep trying."

After Rhett had interviewed another ten women, he found one he was willing to try. Her name was Lulu. Mammy liked her which helped matters. After a week Rhett decided she was acceptable, not as good as Mammy, but acceptable.

The couple went out to celebrate Rhett's birthday in the middle of November. Over supper Scarlett said, "I am not with child."

Rhett knew what Scarlett was telling him. He was not going to get birthday relations this year. He smiled and said, "That's a good thing. You don't want to have another child."

"That is true. I am happy. Sort of."

Scarlett gave Rhett a shy little smile and he smiled back. He said, "I am going to have the trout almondine."

"I am going to have roast beef."

Rhett and Scarlett had an incredibly good time. They even had champagne. Scarlett thought Rhett was so very entertaining. Later in the evening Scarlett said, "Did you sell the sailboat?"

"Yes. I can easily buy another one when we return to London."

"Are you still making an obscene amount of money?"

"Yes, I probably will until the Democrats get back into power."

"How long do you think we are going to be under martial law?"

"Until the Republicans need a favor from the Democrats or the Northern taxpayers revolt."

"What do you mean, Dear?"

"It is expensive to maintain a military presence in eleven states especially one as big as Texas. Soon the Northern taxpayers are going to say, 'Enough is enough. The war is over. Let's move on.' Or as I said the Republicans are going to need a favor."

"Like what?"

"I don't have any idea but sooner or later it will happen."

"Are we attending the musical soiree at the Cranes tomorrow?"

"We definitely are."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Big deal brewing?"

"One of my biggest."

"Good. I had a new dress made."

"And bought new jewelry too."

"Oh, did you get the bill?"

"Yes, I did."

"You must come to the park tomorrow with me and the children."

"Of course, Rhett. I will be happy too."

If Rhett didn't think Scarlett was spending enough time with the children, he would tell her so. She always spent more time with them for a while then she went back to doing what she wanted to do until Rhett once again told her to spend time with the children.

December came and Ellen turned three. The house was full of little girls. Rhett walked around the entire party carrying Gerry. To Scarlett it was amazing both Rhett's children had ever learned to walk as much as he like carrying them around.

The Butlers had the Benteens, the Kennedys and the Hamiltons to Christmas dinner. Scarlett knew that Aunt PittyPat and Uncle Henry had not wanted to enter their home, but it was the only way the older people were going to get to spend any time with Wade on Christmas Day. The Benteens had come to Atlanta the day before and were going to return to Tara the day after Christmas. The Kennedys had supper with the group the night before and Suellen and Susie would have dinner with them before The Benteens got on the train in the afternoon.

Scarlett and Suellen had truly moved into another phase of their relationship. They were no longer making snide comments to each other. They weren't friends but they had a good if superficial relationship. Nonetheless Scarlett would occasionally think about how much she had enjoyed slapping Suellen that day she refused to pick cotton.

Scarlett threw Wade an eighth birthday party and the house was filled with a lot of little boys. Later as Scarlett watched Wade and Rhett talking about his gifts, she was thankful that Rhett was such a good father. Who would have ever thought that arrogant, mocking, jackass she knew during the war years could be such a kind, loving, supportive father? Certainly not her.

That night Scarlett said, "I am blessed you are such a good parent. I know I am not that good of a parent, but you know I love them."

"Yes, I do but you need to show them more. They don't know it."

"I will try, Rhett."

"That is all I can ask, for you to try."

"How much money did you make at the party?"

"I am hurt that you think I would make money at my own son's birthday party."

"Hurt or not I know you did."

"Over a thousand dollars."

"Good. Although fun the Scallawags are so low class. I'm ready to be back in London."

On February fourteenth Rhett and Scarlett had gone to a fund raiser the Monument Committee were giving. They still did not receive a warm reception although everyone at the event knew they were there. Rhett had worn his bright yellow suit and Scarlett had worn a bright red dress. Nobody at their table talked to them or really even looked at them which amused the couple very much. The scowl on Mrs. Merriwether's face was the most amusing.

Scarlett and Rhett didn't want to talk to a member of the Atlanta gentry. They had only gone for the dancing. The dancing and to make the Old Guard receive them sort of. They had eaten supper at home because they knew the size of the meal they were served would be rather small. And they had been right.

The music had been good and because they had spent most of their evening on the dance floor it had not matter that no one was speaking to them. There was one moment when Scarlett knew that Aunt PittyPat had got up to walk over to their table to speak to them. Scarlett had stood up and said, "Let's go get some air, Rhett."

"Sure."

Once Scarlett and Rhett were on the patio, he had cocked his eyebrow at her. She had smiled and said, "Avoiding Aunt PittyPat. She was about to do the right thing and speak to us."

"We can't let her do that."

Rhett and Scarlett had both laughed. Once they saw that PittyPat had returned to her table they went out on the dance floor. PittyPat never started walking in their direction again.

Soon Rhett was taking Scarlett home. He had more control over his body now in regard to Scarlett but not much more. Dancing with her all night long was extremely stimulating. Scarlett must have been very aroused also for she did all the things he always wanted her to do without his prompting.

Soon Mammy was on the train to Tara, Lulu had turn out to be a fairly good nursemaid. Mammy knew she was leaving the Butler children in good hands. It still made Mammy happy when both Mr. Rhett and Miss Scarlett reminded her that two weeks after the baby was born, she was to return to Atlanta.

While Mammy was at Tara, Scarlett said to Rhett, "I am with child again. You are going to have to do something about this or we will have twenty children before I go through the change of life."

"When we get to London, I will ask the doctors about another type of preventative. Maybe I will like it better."

"I hope so."

Scarlett walked out of the room, and Rhett said to the empty air, "I hope so too."

When Mammy return to Atlanta in May, she informed Scarlett that Careen had a boy and they named him William Gerald. Scarlett informed Mammy that they were returning to London in August. Mammy said, "I guess I got back in time."

Alice was happy to be returning to London for a visit. She certainly did enjoy working for the Butlers.

Scarlett told Lulu, "We are going to London for me to have my baby. We will return in six months. Do you want to go with us?"

"London, England?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes, London, England."

"Of course, I do."

"Make your plans. We will be leaving in the middle of August."

Scarlett didn't ask Rhett if they would be sailing out of Charleston because she knew they would not. Rhett would never go to Charleston again for any reason. He had even signed the townhouse over to his mother. It was sad to Scarlett, but she knew it was the only way Rhett could handle his relationship with his family. They loved him but they didn't like him. Rhett loved them but didn't like them either. It wasn't because Rhett had not married the girl in the buggy incident. It was because they would never understand why Rhett had not married the girl.

The couple went through the same routine they had twice before except everything was in place for their departure to London. In the middle of August, the Butlers left Atlanta. They were sailing out of New Orleans. It had happy memories for both Scarlett and Rhett. They spent a week in the city before they boarded the ship to London.