Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Six

Rhett did come to dinner Sunday at noon. The ladies were very much entertained by him. Scarlett thought he is charming, good-looking, rich, and unobtainable everything that would make most women chase after him so much, no wonder he is so conceited. As the meal ended Rhett told the ladies that he was going to be out of town for a while and he would call on them when he returned to Atlanta.

Scarlett smiled and said, "We will miss you while you are gone. Is it possible for you to bring some books for Melly? They would have to be in English for Melly can't read anything written in French."

"I will be more than happy to bring Mrs. Wilkes some books."

"When do you think you will be back?"

"Before Christmas."

"That is good. I'm sure my parents will want to spend Christmas with their only grandchild."

Melly said, "We, of course, would like to spend Christmas with Wade but Aunt PittyPat and I understand that you must accommodate your parents' desires."

"I must or they would not let me come back to Atlanta."

"That would just be awful, Darling."

"I will have to stay until after Wade's first birthday. I know my parents are going to demand they be allowed to spend that with Wade as well."

"Of course, they will Darling."

Rhett said, "I will make a point of being back in Atlanta to sell my goods before Christmas."

Scarlett said, "We will look forward to seeing you then. Are you done?" With Rhett's nod, Scarlett stood up and said, "Let me see you out."

At the door, Rhett said, "Why did your father not warn me off from courting you?"

"He thinks that trying to warn you off will make you that much more determined."

"He would be right. Will I be allowed to call on you when I come back?"

"I don't know what you are asking Mr. Butler. Are you asking if it would be proper for you to call on me or are you asking if I will allow you to call on me. The answer is yes to either question."

Rhett smiled and walked down the steps. She was never boring.

Scarlett was smiling also. She would have to manage Mr. Butler very carefully if she was going to get him to the altar. He could never know how fond she was of him until he asked her to marry him. She would have to make sure he thought he was one of many.

During the rest of the summer and fall Rhett sailed in and out of Charleston taking out cotton to store in his warehouse in South Lancashire. When he got to the city, he went to the bookstore and bought books for Mrs. Wilkes. He didn't know what she liked to read. He should have asked her what her favorite authors were. Therefore, Rhett bought mostly books that would be considered women's books. He bought several books for himself that after he finished reading them, he would give to Mrs. Wilkes also. He bought supplies in France then returned to Charleston. In the first year, he bought mainly items for the military but now in this second year he was buying more items for the civilians, yet he was still buying items for the military. Both items were earning him some nice profits.

During that same time, Melly and Scarlett were helping at the hospital. Scarlett left Wade with Prissy and Aunt PittyPat. Wade was certainly loved by his Hamilton relatives.

Scarlett loved him too. She was enjoying him so much more now that he was more interactive with her. Every day when she got home from the hospital, Wade's smile brightened her heart. The fact that it was her smile always thrilled her to the moon. At eight months he had started sitting up, at nine months he had started getting up on his hands and knees, at ten months he had started crawling, and at eleven months he had started pulling himself up into a standing position.

One night, Melly said, "We need to move all these knick knacks out of Wade's reach."

"I guess so."

"If we don't, they will all be broken in six months."

Scarlett laughed as she watched Wade reach for a small vase. She got up and took it away from the boy. The boy was not happy about being deprived of his treasure and he started voicing his displeasure at this event. Therefore, Scarlett picked him up and walked around with him until he calmed down. She had never had any desire to have children like Melly but as soon as she saw that little baby boy she knew she loved him almost as much as she loved herself. She had also been glad Charlie was living on through Wade.

Soon it was the end of November, Rhett knew he would have to go visit Mrs. Hamilton then or he would have to wait another two months to go to Atlanta. He certainly wasn't going to visit her at Tara. No, that would reveal too much about his feelings.

Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton was a confident woman and especially about her appeal toward men. Rhett was sure, that she had never lost a man to another woman. She was beautiful, smart, and although he wouldn't say she was funny, she was amusing to be around.

When Rhett Butler showed up on the doorstep of the Hamilton House the second week of December, he was loaded down with Christmas presents and a box of books. He had given his crew two weeks off to spend Christmas with their families. They would sail out of Charleston on December twenty-sixth.

After Scarlett left to go to her family plantation, Rhett would return to Charleston and spend Christmas with his family. He would enjoy playing with his nieces and his nephew. Robert had a boy and a girl while Rosemary just had the one girl. Of course, Robert and Luther would not be there for they were off fighting in the war. Fools.

After Uncle Peter answered the door as a result of Rhett's knock, Rhett said, "Is Mrs. Hamilton in?"

"Yes, Sir. She is in the parlor with Miss Melanie and Miss PittyPat. Let me show you the way."

"Will you take this box of books?"

"Of course, Sir."

Uncle Peter announced Rhett's presence and place the box on the floor by the tea table. Rhett walked into the parlor and placed the presents down on the tea table. He handed a box to PittyPat and another box to Melanie. There were two more boxes on the table and a hat box. He picked one of the boxes up and said, "This is for Wade. Where is he?"

"Taking his nap."

"Then you will have to give it to him after he wakes up."

"Alright. What is it?"

"Blocks."

Rhett handed the last box to Scarlett. He said, "This is my Christmas gift to you. It is an appropriate gift at this stage of our courtship," He put his hand on the hat box. He said, "This is my gift to you for next Christmas or maybe two Christmases from now. I saw it in a shop in Paris and thought it was a perfect hat for you, therefore I bought it. All you have to do is store it until we reach that stage in our relationship. If we never reach that stage or I die during running the blockade, you can keep it as a farewell gift."

Scarlett smiled. She said, "Thank you, Mr. Butler. I too have a gift for you that is appropriate to the stage at our relationship we are at. Let me get it. It is upstairs."

"No, you can give it to me tomorrow night. It will be an excuse for me to call on you again so shortly. Go ahead and open your presents."

The ladies' gifts were chocolates for PittyPat, stationery for Melly, and scented soaps for Scarlett. All of them were appropriate gifts. And hairpins for everyone. Rhett didn't know where hairpins fell on the hierarchy of gift giving but he had known all the ladies would appreciate them. He had been right.

After the ladies had thanked Rhett for his gifts. Rhett said, "Go ahead and open the hat box. I would like to see your expression when you first see the hat."

"Alright."

Scarlett opened the hat box and pushed the tissue away. When she saw the hat, her expression was one of awe and pleasure. She took the hat out of the box. The other ladies oohed and aahed over the hat. Scarlett hurried out into the hallway where she could use the hall mirror to see what the hat looked like on her. Rhett, Melly, and PittyPat had followed her out into the hallway. The hat was gorgeous, and she looked great in it.

Scarlett turned to Rhett, "It is going to be torture to have to wait to wear this hat but it is just as well I have to wait. It will be a year and a half until I can wear color again. Thank you."

After everyone was seated in the parlor once again, Melly said, "If you are coming over tomorrow night, you must come to supper."

"If I must, I accept. I didn't know who your favorite authors were, so I got you a variety of writers. I have even given you some that I had finished reading."

Scarlett and Melly looked at each other and smiled. Melly liked romances while Scarlett liked adventure stories. Melly had no problem with people thinking she was a blue stocking, but Scarlett didn't want anyone to know she enjoyed reading stories almost as much as Melly did. Therefore, Melly would help her keep her secret.

Scarlett knew that if Melly hadn't been her best friend, she would never have started reading books. When they had been children, Melly had always told Scarlett about the book she was reading. She had made the books seem so interesting. Scarlett first started reading books that Melly had already finished reading. Since Melly had already told her all about the books, Scarlett could skip the boring parts. After a while between Melly introducing her to the world of books and the boredom on the plantation, Scarlett started picking out books on her own.

Melly said, "I like all kinds of writers. I like everything from romance to adventure to even that new genre science fiction."

"Then you should find several books in that box that you will like. There might even be one or two that Mrs. Hamilton will read out of boredom." With those words Rhett flashed Scarlett a smile and she smiled back.

"I don't know if I will ever get that bored. Tell us about your exciting travels."

Rhett spent the next thirty minutes telling of his travels over the last six months. The ladies updated him on what was happening in Atlanta and in Clayton County. Everyone talked about the war.

Prissy came to the door of the parlor with Wade in her arms. She said, "He woke up early."

"Has he been fed?"

"Yes, Miss Scarlett."

Scarlett got up and went and took Wade out of Prissy's arms. Scarlett kept Wade with her most of the time she was at home. Melly and PittyPat certainly didn't mind the boy being in the room either.

Scarlett got the present and ripped the wrapping paper off of it. She said to Wade, "Uncle Rhett, has brought you some blocks."

Scarlett sat the boy on the floor and placed his blocks beside him. One of the blocks immediately went into Wade's mouth. Melly said, "He likes the toy."

Everyone laughed.

Scarlett asked, "How is our investment coming along?"

"Oh, thank you for reminding me," Rhett stood up and took out his wallet. He handed Scarlett a hundred dollars. He continued, "Next time I am here I will probably bring you another hundred dollars."

"Wonderful, Mr. Butler."

"Let me take my leave. I will see you tomorrow night for supper. What time do you eat?"

"We eat at six. Let me walk you to the door. Here, Melly, hold my money."

Melly gladly took the money. After all half of it was hers. She said, "Certainly."

When Rhett and Scarlett got to the door, he bent down and kissed her. She whispered, "You are such a good kisser."

"So are you. I can tell you have been kissed a lot."

"Maybe not a lot but I have been kissed a few times."

"And if I have anything to say about it you will be kissed a few more times."

Scarlett opened up the door and said, "Good night, Captain Butler. You are letting in the cold air."

"Good night. Mrs. Hamilton."

Rhett walked to the Satin Slipper. He made enough money at the poker table to be able to purchase another black-haired whore and he did. He had an exceptionally good time.