Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Forty-Eight

Bob told the editor in chief the next day about Ashley having a book published. Bob speculated that if the book was popular Mr. Wilkes would be quitting soon. If Mr. Wilkes quit, could Bob have his position as the reporter for the political beat?

The editor in chief, Henry J. Raymond, replied, "I will have to talk to Ashley about his book."

Henry got up and went to Ashley's desk. He said, "Mr. Wilkes, would you go to dinner with me?"

"Of course."

The two men went to a little café down the street from the newspaper office. Henry said, "Bob says you have written a book."

"Yes, sir. I wrote one that was published in Monthly Anthology, and I have written another one that will be released in November."

"What is the name of it?"

"War and Peace."

"What is it about?"

Ashley told Henry what it was about. After Ashley stopped speaking, Henry said, "I have written four books so far. My last two were about Mr. Lincoln. Such a shame he had to die."

"Yes, it was."

"Just because I want to be aware of what is on the horizon, any plans to quit?"

Ashley smiled and said, "Not a single one. I only wrote the books to be able to afford to buy my wife a house and all the furniture she wants."

"I'm sure you have another book in you."

"I do too, sir."

"Call me Henry.

"Yes, sir." When Ashley saw the stern look on Henry's face, he said, "Henry."

The two men spent the next hour talking about the political climate, the future of the South, the future of the former slaves, and Abraham Lincoln. When they walked back to the New York Times building, they were fast friends.

As the men were walking back Henry said, "Would you like to become my assistant editor?"

"No, sir. I don't like telling men what to do."

"Neither do I but it is part of my job."

At the end of September Gerry turned one. Scarlett weaned him off the breast. The baby would start staying home all the time now. Both Rhett and Scarlett were thinking, 'I am finally going to get my life back.'

Rhett and Scarlett had a first birthday party for Gerry. They invited a lot of their friends, business acquaintances, even some of Ashley and Melly's friends that they had gotten to know and liked. John and Maureen Robinson and their children were invited, and they attended. John did not bring his cousin, Paul. That would have just been awkward.

Scarlett was a lot more willing to be Maureen's friend now that she wasn't actively angry at Ashley. It ended up the ladies had a lot in common. As Scarlett was sitting there, she knew this was what Rhett and Coco meant last Christmas. Her employees were not her friends. Friends have things in common and, in truth, she had nothing in common with those women. It wasn't that she was better than them, although she was, it was like Rhett had said the sword of Damocles was always hanging over those women's heads. The closest she had come to having that sword hanging over her head was the first six months after she had bought half the dress shop.

Scarlett got up from her conversation with Maureen and looked around the room. She saw her husband carrying her son walking around the party. She smiled. They really did look like two peas in a pod, then Gerry saw her and smiled at her. It was her smile even down to the dimples. The baby called her name. She went over and took Gerry from her husband.

As with Wade, seeing Gerry's smile always made her happy. It made her feel like the child was hers too. The boy had black hair and dark brown eyes like his father but that was alright she liked her husband's looks.

Scarlett saw Wade. She smiled at him also. Yes, he looked like Charlie but not really. There was nothing effeminate about the boy. Nothing whatsoever.

In October, Ina May visited Melly to confirm she was with child. Excitedly, she told Ashley. The announcement once again confused Ashley. How could he be getting his wife with child if none of his seed was getting into her. He was going to have to speak to a doctor about this issue. What was the name of the doctor that Rhett had called to examine Mr. O'Hara? He remembered Ben Casey. Ashley once again was glad they were in the North. The doctor would tell him the information while in the South the doctor would have told him – It isn't proper to talk about that issue.

After his appointment, Ashley knew how he was getting his wife with child. There was seed in his pre-ejaculate fluid. Now he had to decide if he and Melly were going to continue having a physical relationship. They certainly would until May when the baby was due but what about after that?

After many weeks of thinking about it, Ashley decided that if Ina May said Melly could carry another baby, he would continue having relations with her. His prevention method was certainly slowing down the number of children they were having. Not only was there Melly's health to consider but there was the cost of having another child to think about also.

That thought made Ashley smile. Before the war, he had never considered the cost of anything. He would admit that a lot of his problem during his first timeline was that he was a spoiled brat who didn't want to face the reality of his life. In this timeline having purposely given up his life of privilege, it had been easier to accept his poverty.

At the end of October, Suellen wrote Scarlett and told her that she had a daughter. The baby had red hair, green eyes, and looked just like Benjamin. She had decided to call the baby Ella for their mother. Benjamin suggested Lorena for Ella's middle name. Suellen had liked the sound of it, so she said yes to her husband.

Scarlett stared at the letter in utter disbelief. That night in the parlor, she said, "Ella Lorena lives on."

"What?!"

"Suellen had a daughter. She named her baby Ella Lorena."

"No!"

"'Yes. The baby has red hair, green eyes and looks like her father."

"This is so strange."

"Yes, it is."

"Did you tell your sister about our baby girl?"

"Not a word. I didn't even tell her we lost a baby, much less a baby girl."

"This is so strange."

"I am going to get my grandmother's picture back."

"How?"

"By asking for it."

Rhett smiled. He didn't think that was going to work but it didn't hurt for Scarlett to ask for the picture.

Scarlett wrote Suellen, "Congratulations on your new baby. Do you have Grandmother Robillard's picture."

"Yes."

"I want it."

"Come and get it."

"I just might."

"If you try, I will hide it where you will never find it. Can I interest you in one of the last family pictures instead?"

"Yes, you can. Send me one of the best ones."

"Alright."

That had been what Scarlett had really wanted. That picture of Solange Robillard sneering was not very pleasant to look at.

Scarlett told Rhett, "You were right. Suellen and Careen took the mementos with them to Savannah. I demanded the picture of my grandmother from Suellen. She said no but she is going to send me some family pictures instead."

Rhett smiled. He said, "Did you get what you wanted?"

"Don't I always?"

"Yes, you do. I'm just glad you wanted me."

Scarlett laughed. She said, "The best part was that I made you think it was your idea."

"Indeed, you did."

The fall of sixty-six was quiet for Rhett and Scarlett. It seemed the iron sulfate and the sponge were doing the job of preventing Scarlett from getting with child. She was happy. He was happy that he didn't have to wear a condom or practice the pull-out method. He was afraid one of those times he wouldn't be able to do it. He would get her with child then she would be reluctant to have relations with him ever again.

Gerry was talking and his first word was Wawa which everyone took to mean Wade. His next word was 'no' which he could pronounce quite clearly. In November he had said Dada followed quickly by Mama. Rhett had said, "Best birthday present ever."

Scarlett teased, "Even better than me saying yes."

Rhett smiled and said, "No, that will always be the best birthday present. Best birthday present after you saying yes."

Scarlett laughed.

Rhett and Scarlett went out to supper and dancing to celebrate their second anniversary. After dancing a set, she said, "I can't believe we didn't know how much the other loved to dance."

"I know. If it hadn't been for your father's dementia, we might never have known."

"I am surprised you never asked me while you were calling on me."

"I can't believe that either."

Rhett and Scarlett laughed.

Once again, the Butlers invited guests to their house for Christmas dinner. It was the same people they invited last year except this year John and Maureen and their children showed up. His parents had gone out West to have Christmas with Paul. Zachary Smith had passed away. It would have been just the Robinsons and Don and Judy West. Maureen sent Scarlett a note asking if she could invite the Wests to Christmas dinner. Scarlett immediately sent a note back saying, 'Of course.'

A good time was had by all. Rhett had given Wade, Beau, and Gerry far too many presents, but Scarlett didn't say anything. Giving gifts made Rhett happy. She knew he was trying to buy people's love and she was sad that he felt the need to do that, but nonetheless he did. Scarlett sent out Christmas cards. She even sent one to Suellen. Suellen sent a card back that had a picture of herself, Benjamin, Ella, and two other women. Since one of the women was old enough to be Benjamin's mother Scarlett assumed the two other women were Suellen's mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Suellen wrote about how wonderful her life was. How great Moore Paint Company was doing. How she was still selling paint for the company and about how Julianne was happy to take care of Ella for her when she had to make sells calls. Scarlett smiled and thought, 'A surrogate child for her sister-in-law.'

As Scarlett looked at the picture, she could tell how much brother and sister looked alike. It would be easy for Julianne to pretend that Ella was her daughter. Scarlett said, "Especially if her eyes are green like Ella's.

Suellen would never tell Scarlett, but Benjamin knew ways to keep her from getting with child and he practiced them. That made Suellen love him that much more.

Scarlett hosted a fifth birthday party for Wade. As Wade was opening his presents, she walked over to Melly and said, "Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that he was born."

"I know, Darling."

Rhett had bought Wade a pair of ice skates. He was going to teach the boy how to skate, of course, Rhett would have to learn how to skate before he could teach anyone. In the end, Rhett had paid a man to give both him and Wade lessons. Much to Rhett's chagrin, Wade got good on the skates much quicker than Rhett did.

After one of Rhett's lessons, he said, "Why did I decide to do this? I have spent more time on my backside than on my skates."

"You can always quit."

Rhett with all his Charleston snootiness said, "Butlers don't quit."

It had made Scarlett smile. It was the first time in their entire acquaintanceship that Rhett had made himself part of the Butler family.

Author's Notes: Henry J. Raymond was the actual name of the editor in chief in sixty-six. He was co-founder of The New York Times with George Jones. The paper was founded in fifty-one. Raymond was the editor in chief from fifty-one until his death in sixty-nine. He was forty-nine at the time of his death. With Raymond's death Jones took over managing the paper.

Ella Lorena is one of my favorite characters in the canon. I wanted her to live on, but I also wanted her not to be Rhett and Scarlett's child. The Ella in the canon is sweet, kind, and thoughtful. None of Rhett and Scarlett's children will be sweet, kind, and thoughtful.