Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Meades only lived three blocks over from Yerkes, but they didn't want to show up to the celebration sweating so they had taken their buggy. There wasn't enough room in the Meade's buggy for everyone. Therefore, as everyone was getting ready to leave, Scarlet asked Rhett to drive her, Wade, and Prissy to the Meade's home. Rhett agreed. When they got to the Meade's home Rhett carried Scarlett's bag to the Meade's foyer.

After everyone greeted everyone else, Cora said, "I am going to put you and your son in Darcy's old room. I have a bed for your maid in the servants' quarters. Let me show you the way."

"Prissy, you follow Mrs. Meade and start getting Wade ready for bed," Scarlett passed Wade over to Prissy. She continued, "I'm going to show Rhett out."

When Rhett and Scarlett were outside, he said, "I will pick you and Wade up tomorrow morning. I will drop you off at the hospital then take Prissy and Wade back to Dr. Harper's house."

"Thank you, Rhett. I would invite you to stay but..."

"It isn't your home or even partially your home. Don't worry. Kiss me."

"I can't kiss you here on the street."

"Just a quick kiss."

Scarlett smiled and said, "No. It isn't proper."

"I am just going to keep standing here until you kiss me."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Alright."

It wasn't a quick kiss, but Scarlett was smiling when she backed away. She then turned and walked into the house. She had noticed how nervous Rhett had gotten at just attending a wedding. She just sighed. If Sherman got any closer, epidemic or no epidemic, she was going to return to Tara. Maybe if she was absent from his world, he would finally ask her to marry him.

Yerkes and India's wedding night was a magical time for them. He was not a young man therefore he was not so needy that he had to race to the goal. He also knew that India was nervous and scared. What young girl wouldn't be? He took a lot of time kissing her. He stroked her arms and back until she was thoroughly ready. When he started to enter her, he said, "I'm sorry but it will only hurt for a minute. Just know I love you."

India had not answered. It had hurt but then it felt good. When it was over it was just like Scarlett had said. She felt loved and cherished. The way Yerkes always made her feel.

The next morning when India woke up, she was startled. Her first thought was 'Who is in bed with me?'

India knew it was her husband. She was now India Harper. She was now Mrs. Yerkes Harper. She was now a married lady, and her husband certainly wasn't a stupid lout. In fact, she believed that her husband was smarter than Ashley and maybe even Captain Butler. No, Yerkes wasn't handsome, but he also didn't have that awful red hair that Stuart had. As she continued laying there, she wondered what her and Yerkes children would look like. They would probably be average looking, but they would be kind and smart. She smiled really big because of Yerkes being so well respected in Atlanta, she would not have to worry about what people thought about her brother.

As India continued to lie there Yerkes turned over and said, "You really did say yes. It isn't a dream."

"No, it isn't a dream."

Yerkes scooted closer and kissed India. He kept kissing India. He might not be a young man who wanted to race to the goal, but he was still a man who wanted to reach the goal.

After everything was said and done. India once again felt loved and treasured. Yerkes rolled over and got out of bed. He said, "Come on we can't be late to work, or everyone will be talking about why we were late."

India jumped out of the bed and immediately realized she was naked. She looked at her husband casually getting dressed without any embarrassment. She shrugged her shoulders and reached for her shimmy. She had worn her new blue dress yesterday, so today she would wear her second-best dress which was yellow. It looked genuinely nice on her.

Soon the Harpers were walking to the hospital, as they got to the entrance, they saw Rhett dropping Scarlett off. They saw her squeeze his hand then get out of the buggy and walk into the hospital.

Yerkes said, "Why aren't they already married?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. A blind man could see that they are in love with each other.

The first night after, Yerkes and India had gotten married it was awkward in the parlor between Scarlett and the Harpers. Scarlett was so happy when Rhett showed up. With his presence all the awkwardness had evaporated between the other people in the parlor.

Scarlett asked Rhett, "How is your family doing?"

"The same as everyone in the South. They are suffering from shortages and runaway inflation."

"Rhett, when is it ever going to end?"

"It will end when the generals realize that their honor is not worth all these young men dying."

Yerkes said, "I wish they would hurry up and realize it. I am past tired of telling all these young men that there is nothing I can do to save them."

India said, "That is so hard on both you and Dr. Meade."

"Yes, it is. It is hard on you ladies also. I am amazed that both of you can continue putting on a happy face when you flirt with the young men."

India said, "I don't flirt with them."

"India, I am not jealous. You are trying to make their last days happy days just like Scarlett."

Rhett smiled at Scarlett and said, "You flirting with a young man would always make them happy and in their last days it is the least you can do."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Come along, I have a meeting with another businessman at eight."

"Alright."

Scarlett walked Rhett to the front door and gave him several kisses. She then hurried upstairs to finish her book.

After the Harpers had been married for a month Rhett and Scarlett were sick to death of them but happy for them also. Yerkes and India were behaving like a couple of newlyweds which was what they were. It was good, but their looks and long stares were uncomfortable for Rhett and Scarlett to have to observe. They felt like intruders into intimate moments between the couple.

Because of all of that Rhett and Scarlett started sitting on the porch. It was also cooler on the porch where they might catch a breeze although not very likely in July. The couple were in full view of everyone, so they didn't need to be chaperoned. He asked, "Did you ever write Miss Melly about India's wedding?"

"Yes, she wrote back saying that Mr. Wilkes was not happy that India had married without his permission, but he was glad that India had found a gentleman to marry. In my opinion, Mr. Wilkes is probably glad he has one less mouth to feed."

"Mother says she thinks the epidemic has died down so it would be safe for me to visit if I wanted to come down."

"I can't take you down there without a chaperon but if you can get Dr. and Mrs. Harper to ride down there with us then we can go. It is about time that the Wilkes met Miss India's husband."

"I will talk to them about it tomorrow morning on the way to the hospital."

"Alright."

The couple talked about other things. Rhett told Scarlett some amusing stories from his past. Scarlett told him, some stories from her past. While her stories were not amusing, they weren't boring either. Soon it was time for Rhett to leave and meet another businessman. After she walked him to the front door, he kissed her several times. After he walked out of the house, he did what he always did. He stood outside the front door until he heard the click of the lock.

Rhett was going to The Blue Bird of Happiness. As he got into his buggy, he smiled. He thought, 'Despite it being a financial bad time for people in the South, saloons and whore houses are all surviving.

Scarlett did not go back into the parlor to speak to India and Yerkes. She didn't want to walk in on anything. She would talk to them in the morning on their way to the hospital.

The next morning Scarlett said, "Rhett said he would take me and Wade down to Clayton County, if you two would go with us otherwise we can't go because we have no one to chaperon us."

India and Yerkes looked at each other. Finally, Yerkes said, "We might as well go. I am going to have to meet your family sooner or later."

"Alright but we are not spending the night."

"Of course, I will barely be able to take one day off from the hospital much less two. When do you want to go, Scarlett?"

"Tomorrow."

"Let me talk to Arthur to make sure he can spare me tomorrow. I will let you know."

"Thank you, Dr. Harper, India."

As the trio walked home Yerkes said, "Arthur said tomorrow would be as good a day to take off as any other. We never know when Sherman and Johnson are going to engage in another battle."

"I will let Rhett know when he comes to call tonight."

"Alright."

India said, "I wonder what is for supper. Naomi is quite creative with what she does with vegetables."

"Yes, she is."

That night when Rhett came to call everything was arranged for them to leave at nine o'clock which was the time the trio usually left to walk to the hospital. Once again Prissy was not getting to go and once again, Prissy was happy to have the day to spend with Archie. She just had to be careful nobody else saw her in the barn.

The next morning everyone was in the buggy at nine and the group took off for Tara. After they were on the road to Tara, Rhett said, "We must be on the alert for soldiers both Yankee and Confederate."

Scarlett said, "What if we see a band of soldiers?"

"We will turn around and go back to Atlanta."

"Alright. I telegraphed both my parents and Melly that we were coming. Melly is completely on bedrest now."

India said, "Is Honey running the plantation?"

"Yes."

"It is about time. Except from what I hear from Scarlett I don't know what is happening at Twelve Oaks. None of my relatives are good correspondents."

"Melly is. You could write to her."

With a smile, India said, "I'm not either."

Which made the rest of the people in the buggy laugh. Scarlett said, "We will go to Twelve Oaks first. I will visit with Melly then Rhett, Wade, and I will go to Tara. After a couple of hours, we will go back to pick you two up at Twelve Oaks."

Rhett said, "And for me to look at your library, Miss India."

"Of course, I don't think Father will mind you borrowing a few books."

"If nothing else, I will get all my books back. They can keep the romances."

Scarlett teased, "You don't want any romance in your life."

"I have all the romance in my life I want."

Scarlett didn't know what Rhett meant by that statement, but it had hurt her feelings and she didn't know why. For the next few minutes, she was lost in thought. She decided that it had hurt her feelings because it was like he was saying he didn't want them to get any more involved than they were but how could that be. Didn't he want a lifelong companion? Then Scarlett had a more awful thought. Maybe what they had now was all he wanted. That thought made her sad because what they had now was not enough for her. She wanted a husband. A lifelong companion.

Scarlett made herself stop thinking about what Rhett had said. She was going to Tara. She was going to get to see her parents, her sisters, and Melly. She wasn't going to allow her day to be ruined.

Scarlett and India started pointing out all the landmarks. As they did Rhett noticed that Scarlett's voice was overly bright. He knew something had hurt her feelings, but he honestly didn't know what it was. It couldn't have been his comment about having enough romance in his life. Afterall, she was enough romance for any man. She was certainly enough woman for any man.