Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twelve

Later that night, Melanie thought, 'With all this activity I will be with child in no time. From my eighth month on I will make Scarlett come live with me at Twelve Oaks. I just know she will get me the help I need. I wonder why I think I am going to need help. Just a feeling but my feelings have never been wrong.'

After Christmas dinner at Hamilton House where PittyPat had indeed served the Hamiltons last chicken, Ashley said, "I am not returning to the front. The war is lost. I am not going to risk my life or my family's lives on a lost cause. I am returning to Twelve Oaks. I will get prepared for the hard years to come."

John said, "What are you talking about? You have to return to the front. It is the only honorable thing to do."

"No, Father, my family is more important than honor. I just know that if I am not here Melly and the baby will die. I have to protect my wife and child."

"You don't have any children."

"By the time it is Christmas next year, I will have a child."

"How do you know that?"

"I just know. I also just know that returning to my troops would be the biggest mistake I could ever make. Again, I just know. I decided all this on the train while I was coming down here."

"I should disown you for this."

"Go ahead but I am not going anywhere except to Jonesboro. We are going to plant vegetables and forget about the cotton until the war is over. We can't sell the cotton right now anyway."

"We can't forget about the cotton altogether. We have to keep picking it so we can sell it as soon as the war is over."

"Thank you, Father. We can leave for the plantation tomorrow."

Melanie said, "I will have to tell Dr. Meade I am leaving. I don't know what he is going to do without my nursing assistance."

PittyPat said, "What am I going to do without someone to live with me?"

India said, "I will solve both of those problems. I will live with Aunt PittyPat, and I will nurse at the hospital."

PittyPat said, "Wonderful!"

Melanie said, "It isn't easy work."

"Neither is running a plantation, but I have been doing that since I was fifteen years old."

Melanie wondered if that was a snide comment directed at her because she had never taken over the running of Twelve Oaks once she and Ashley got married but instead just continued living in Atlanta. She at last decided that India had just been stating a fact.

John said, "You can stay until Scarlett returns then she can live with PittyPat and help at the hospital."

"Yes, Father. Melly, I will tell Dr. Meade tomorrow that you are moving to Twelve Oaks.

India was already trying to figure out how she could stay in Atlanta. No matter how hard the work at the hospital was, it couldn't be as hard as running a plantation.

India was also wondering what it was going to be like living with Scarlett. As a child, Scarlett had been a lot of fun. After she matured into a woman, she was a pain to be around. That really wasn't Scarlett's fault that all the men preferred her to every other woman. Yet, it was just annoying that all the men thought she was so wonderful. India had always believed that if Scarlett had given Stuart and iota of encouragement that he would have started calling on Scarlett instead of her. Yet Scarlett never had. India had observed that Scarlett made the man make the first act of abandonment. Of course, once the man had started calling on Scarlett, she never turned them away. In hindsight, it might have been nice if Scarlett had stolen Stuart away, so she hadn't had to put up with the stupid lout. Although she had to admit, the way things worked out were better. India would just tell everyone that the only reason she was an old maid was because her fiancé had been killed in the war.

Honey said, "I want to stay in Atlanta also. I can help at the hospital."

John said, "No, you will come home with me to Twelve Oaks. PittyPat doesn't need another mouth to feed."

Henry said, "That is definitely the truth. We can barely feed ourselves, much less one more."

Honey chose to pout instead of arguing. Not that either path would end in a victory.

When Melanie had heard Ashley say he would have a child by next Christmas she had known she was already with child.

Melanie said, "Thank you, India, for offering to tell Dr Meade for me. My condolences on the loss of your fiancé."

"Thank you, Melly. I know Stuart is in a better place now. My heart bleeds for Mrs. Tarleton because she has lost all her sons to the war."

Ashley said, "And all her horses too."

That made everyone laugh.

India was not glad Stuart had died at Gettysburg but how everything turned out was the best possible solution for her life. She didn't have to live with that stupid lout. Yes, she would be an old maid but that was because her fiancé was killed in the war. With Ashley refusing to go back to the war, either he or their father would be around to support her. Melly would have to run the plantation. She could just sit around the main house and do nothing for the first time in almost seven years. She knew how she would get to stay in Atlanta. She would just defy her father and not return to Twelve Oaks. He would have to come and get her.

The day after Christmas, Ashley sent his commander a telegram from the train station, right before they boarded the train to Jonesboro. Once the telegram was sent Ashley felt like a great burden had been taken off his shoulders. He felt better than he had since the day of the barbecue. He was controlling his future. He was not going to let the whims of fate control his life. He paused for a moment and wondered if he was doing the right thing. He squared his shoulders and thought, 'It doesn't matter how it turns out, this is the path I am taking. I think it is the best path but only time will tell.'

Melanie had told India that she would get Scarlett to bring India's clothes back with her when she returned to Atlanta.

When the Wilkeses arrived in Jonesboro, they got Mr. Price to take them out to the plantation. As soon as they had settled in at Twelve Oaks, they discovered that half of the slaves had run off. John and Ashley discussed what needed to be done first. They decided that they needed to plant vegetables.

Ashley and John decided to go ahead and free their slaves. They needed them to stay therefore the men decided the best way to get them to stay was to go into a partnership with them. It they stayed and worked the Wilkeses would continue to feed them but the slaves could leave any time they wanted to. Of course, there would be no more whippings.

The slaves knew that the food supplies were scarce. They knew that was why a few of the slaves that had run off had returned because the slaves had not been able to find anything to eat. Therefore, they agreed to stay and work. It really wasn't any different than their lives currently were. If they didn't like it, they could just leave then.

Melanie had sent Scarlett a note telling her that she was living at Twelve Oaks now. As soon as Scarlett got the note, she went to find Gerald. She said, "Pa, Can I borrow the buggy? I have to go to Twelve Oaks. Melly is there."

"Why is Melly at Twelve Oaks?"

"I don't know why. That is why I have to go over there."

"Alright. Let me help you get the buggy ready."

"What happened to Gus?"

"Gone."

Soon Scarlett was on her way to Twelve Oaks. When she got there, she couldn't help but notice how quiet it was. She thought, 'Quite the stark difference from that day in April in sixty-one when the Wilkeses gave that last barbecue."

Scarlett also noticed that Mr. Wilkes had not been keeping up with the maintenance of their house either. In fact, the main house looked even shabbier than the main house at Tara.

Scarlett was admitted into the home by the Wilkeses long time butler, Albert. Scarlett smiled at him and said, "Can you tell me where Melly is?"

"I think she is in the kitchen."

"Thank you. I know the way."

Melly had indeed been in the kitchen talking with the cook about what they were going to have for dinner and supper. When she saw Scarlett she said, "Vegetables."

"Us too. We are even eating black-eyed peas."

"Scarlett, that is animal feed."

"It seems they are human feed also. What are you doing here?"

"Let's go in the parlor."

"Can I have a drink of water first?"

"Sure. If I can find a glass." After opening several cupboards, Melly finally found a glass. She got it out and filled it with water. She handed it to Scarlett.

Scarlett took a couple of sips then said, "Let's go to the parlor."

After the ladies were seated in the parlor, Melanie told Scarlett the entire story. After she was finished, Scarlett said, "That is pretty brave of Ashley. Even I know people will be all judgmental about him not returning to his troops."

"He feels like he needs to stay here and protect his family."

"I'm glad he feels that way. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Me neither. Ashley has a feeling we will have a child by this time next year."

"I hope so. You will make a great mother."

"I know. I have been practicing on Wade."

"He has loved every minute of it."

"Will you take India's clothes to her in Atlanta?"

"Of course, bring them over so I don't forget them. Do you know anything about running a plantation?"

"Not really. I do know how to manage a household, but I guess managing a plantation is a lot more work."

"Come on back to Tara with me and Mother can get you started. I have to go visit Cathy and extend my sympathies about her brother Rafe," After seeing Melly's puzzled expression, Scarlett added, "He died," Scarlett paused then added, "I wonder if people who lost a loved one because of the war will be more sympathetic toward Ashley or more hostile."

"Some will be more sympathetic but I'm afraid most won't. Let me go find Ashley and tell him that I am going to Tara to talk with your mother. I'll be right back."

Scarlett got up and walked into the foyer. As she was waiting for Melly to return, she knew Melly was going to have a baby this coming year also. She was so glad that Ashley was here to take care of her. She was glad that Mammy and Mother were just a short distance away. They would make sure nothing bad happened to Melly. Scarlett knew her sister-in-law wasn't made to bear children. She remembered when they had shared a room at Fayetteville Academy, she had seen Melly in her shimmy a couple of times. Even after they had turned fourteen, Melly's figure was that of a young boy. No curves whatsoever.

Finally, Melly returned with her bonnet in her hand. She stopped in front of the mirror and tied her ribbons. She looked at Scarlett with her green hat on and smiled. She said, "Are you ever going to wear any other hat?"

"Yes, when Rhett buys me another one."

The ladies laughed then got in the buggy and headed to Tara. They chatted along the way about their Christmases, about what else Ashley had said, and about their futures. They didn't talk about the war or the hard years the South had in front of them.