Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

To my guest reviewer who asked: If Scarlett would meet Steven sooner? No, she won't meet him at all. At this time, Steven was still married to Bessie and living in Concord, New Hampshire, or off fighting in the war.

Chapter Fourteen

It was the first of December, Rhett figured he had given Scarlett enough time to realize that he was going to walk out of her life if she didn't become his mistress. He went to the dress shop. After Scarlett saw him, she said, "Leave you are no longer welcome here."

"Scarlett…."

"No, Mr. Butler, I no longer want to have a relationship with you. I am a lady no matter what you think about me."

"Scarlett…"

"Leave."

"Scarlett, let me talk to you."

"No, I know what you think about me. Contrary to your opinion, I am a lady. It is what I am despite everything I have had to do to survive."

"I am staying at Carter's if you want to talk. I have a present for you."

Rhett waved the small package in the air.

Scarlett said, "I don't want your present. I just want you to leave."

Rhett put the present on the counter. He turned and walked out of the dress shop. As he was walking out, he knew that she would never contact him. He knew in that moment that he had broken something in their relationship that might never be mended. He knew that she might love him, but she would never humble herself enough to become his mistress. He now knew that even though she might love him it would take a miracle for her to take him back, because of the damage he had done by asking her to be his mistress. As he walked back to his hotel, he acknowledged that had been an extremely insulting thing to have asked of Scarlett. She was right. She was a lady no matter what she did. Not that he would ever admit such a thing to her.

The next day when Rhett returned to his hotel, the desk clerk called him over. The desk clerk was holding out the package that he had left at Scarlett's store the day before. The clerk said, "A runner dropped this off for you."

Rhett took the package and said, "Thank you."

Once Rhett got to his suite, he tossed the package in his trunk. He thought, 'To hell with her. She isn't the only fish in the sea. The relations would probably have been lousy anyway. After all, she is a lady. Everyone knows ladies don't know anything about relations.'

Rhett would find out in the next several months that Scarlett O'Hara was not an easy woman to forget.

On Christmas Day, Scarlett and Melly finally exchanged Christmas presents. Scarlett gave Melly a new hat and purse and Melly had gotten Coco to make Scarlett a new dress. Ashley gave Melly another new dress which coincidentally matched the hat Scarlett had given her. Melly gave Ashley another new suit. Wade got new clothes from his mother and his aunt gave him several toys.

The trio went to John Robinson's house for Christmas dinner. John's parents, Abner and Maude were there, Don and Judy West, Zachary Smith, and John's cousin, Paul Newman.

Paul was an older man of about thirty-five. He was a sworn bachelor, but he did like to be around pretty women. He managed to seat himself next to Scarlett at the table. He had not been in New York last year in December. He had been in Europe on business.

Scarlett thought Paul was a handsome, charming man with blond hair and very blue eyes, but she did not want to get involved with another man. Her heart had already been stomped on enough. She now knew that the man wanting to remain a bachelor was not necessarily for the best. Yet Scarlett was drawn to the man.

Paul had made Scarlett laugh several times during the meal. He had made her feel like a beautiful, attractive, vibrant, young woman. He made her feel like that young girl at the barbecue before her conversation with Ashley despite the fact that Wade had been sitting in her lap the entire meal. When Scarlett had told him that she owned a dress shop, he had peppered her with questions in regard to the running of the business. At the end of the meal when she was getting up to join the other ladies in the parlor, Paul said, "Where is your shop?"

"It is on Beaver Street by Hanover Square."

"Is it called Hamilton's?"

"No, it is named after my partner, Chanel's."

"I will see you tomorrow. I am intrigued to see this delightful shop you have told me about."

"Good. I look forward to seeing you."

Paul did stop by Chanel's the next day. Scarlett happily showed him the entire store. Paul could tell she was immensely proud of the store. After thirty minutes, he said, "This is quite the accomplishment for someone so young."

"Coco helped a lot. She is an artist with a needle and thread."

"Nice. Would you like to go to supper Saturday night?"

"Yes."

"I will pick you up at six. What is your address?"

Scarlett gave Paul her address and walked him to the door. She was smiling the rest of the afternoon. Coco, Louise, and Edith were happy for the young girl. It was about time she was smiling again.

For the next several months, Scarlett was content with her life again. She still missed Rhett, but Paul was a delightful, respectful companion. Wade had turned two and he had been moved into his own room. The dress shop was still making lots of money.

After the first of the year, two things happened at Chanel's. One was of a greater significance than the other. The first was that Louise had hired an assistant, Thelma Dickinson. Louise paid Thelma out of her share of the profits. The second was going to send Chanel's into even greater success.

Scarlett found a drawing of a dress that Coco had designed. When Scarlett found it, she insisted that Coco make her a dress from that pattern. Coco explained, "I don't have a pattern. It is a dress I dreamed up."

"You have to make a pattern. These dresses would sell like hot cakes."

By the first of February, the first Chanel original had been created. Scarlett wore it to work the next day and the ladies got two orders for the dress that very day. From that day forward, Coco started designing dresses.

In February, Melanie went to see a doctor. She found out wonderful news. She was with child. She could not believe it. It was so wonderful. At last!

That night when Melly told Ashley they were going to have a child, he was stunned. The only thought running through his mind was 'How?!' Ashley had never messed up. He couldn't afford to mess up for two reasons. Melly's life and if Melly ever knew the way they finished was not normal then she would know he was trying to prevent her from getting with child. She would be so hurt because she so desperately wanted a child.

Lots of thoughts ran through Ashley's mind and the one that was like a mantra to him was – She survived last time. As Ashley looked at Melly, he realized that she was a lot healthier than she had been when she had been carrying Beau. Furthermore, Melly was going to have a midwife and not have to rely on an inexperienced Scarlett. Not that he was criticizing Scarlett. She did successfully deliver the baby and keep Melly alive.

As soon as Scarlett found out that Melly was with child, she contacted Ina May. Ina May was the midwife that had helped Scarlett.

Ina May came straight over and gave Melly an examination. Ina May said, "It is going to be a hard delivery because your hips are so narrow, but I will get you through it.

Ina May was so calm and matter of fact about things that her presence calmed everyone down.

The baby was due in September but by June, Ina May had Melly stop doing all her chores. Ina May also told Melly to rest as much as possible. Scarlett told the maid, Jean, to do what she could and not worry about the rest. They would get caught back up once the baby was born.

When Ashley found out that Melly was supposed to not do anything physical until the baby was born, he hired another maid. He told Melly it was just until the baby was born. Ashley told Scarlett he would start paying half the servants' salaries.

This pleased Scarlett for she could not stay home and do household chores, but she did like her home to be tidy.

Chanel's was extremely popular. So popular that the women had hired another seamstress to help get the orders out.

The woman, Helen Willis, would take garments home to sew together. She had three children she had to take care of without anyone to leave them with. She was paid by the number of pieces she sewed together. Scarlett made sure that before Helen left the shop there was an agreement on how many pieces there were.

Rhett was back in New York in July. He had stopped running the blockade. It was just getting too dangerous. Besides, nobody in the South had any money to purchase his goods. He was thinking about just staying in New York until the war was over. He had been in Atlanta checking on his holdings there. He had spent a few enjoyable nights with Belle but although he had been physically satisfied, he had not been emotionally satisfied. Of course, it had been a long time since he had been emotionally satisfied after having had relations. And never with a whore.

Rhett hoped Belle survived after Sherman took over the city. Who else would he get to run his saloon if she died?

Rhett was in New York for a business meeting with some of his fellow investors. They would meet tomorrow then have supper together with their wives.

That made Rhett think about Scarlett. Of course, just about everything made him think about Scarlett. Maybe he would go by her dress shop after all these meetings were over. Maybe she would be happy to see him. Maybe she had gotten over her mad about him insulting her. Probably not but Rhett knew he had to go see.

When Rhett got to the restaurant the next night, Scarlett was sitting at the table. She was there with Paul Newman. Rhett had known Paul for a number of years. Rhett wondered how Paul had met Scarlett and he wondered how long Paul had been calling on Scarlett.

Rhett had brought a guest also. Her name was Jayne Mansfield. She was a voluptuous blonde with brown eyes. She was also an actress. She was also an idiot, but she would play the part he wanted her to play. A woman in love with him. He was so glad he had hired Jayne for the night. He would not want to be here alone with Scarlett here with a date.

Rhett always hired a woman to attend these supper parties with him. The sexier the better. He didn't want to be sitting there alone looking pitiable. He wasn't pitiable. He had never wanted a wife, but everyone seemed to think he should.

Rhett couldn't help himself but look at Scarlett. He had a unique thought entered his head. It was, 'I would like to be married to Scarlett and spend the rest of our lives together.'

For Scarlett's part she never even acted like she knew who Rhett was. She looked right through him. She flirted with Paul and the other men around her. The only thought she had was, 'I guess he found a woman to become his mistress or maybe she is just a harlot that he rented for the evening.'

The entire evening Scarlett and Rhett didn't interact. For that matter, Rhett and Paul didn't interact. They, of course, knew each other but they didn't like each other. Each thought the other was mocking, sarcastic, and rude. And both were right. The difference was that Paul was never sarcastic or rude to Scarlett. He always treated her like the lady she was. Of course, Paul was not interested in a long-term relationship with Scarlett or any lady for that matter. He didn't want to be tied down to just one woman. His relationship with any proper lady was just for their companionship. He did not want to get married. He had whores to satisfy his sexual urges. Whores who knew what they were doing in the bed. He would never keep a mistress because he had decided that he like the pay as you go relationship. The only thing a mistress gave a man was exclusivity, yet Paul didn't care how many men had used the woman before him as long as she was available when he wanted a woman. After all, most women's bodies were just like every other woman's body.