Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Fifty-Four

The next morning Scarlett and Rhett found Will, Careen, Cassie, and Mammy in the lobby. Scarlett said, "My old buggy and horse are at the Hamilton House. You can get them after dinner. Shall we take a cab?"

Rhett said, "Yes, let's go children, and everyone else."

The children, the servants, Will and Careen were the only witnesses. After the ceremony, Rhett said to their few witnesses, "Let's get a cab to Hamilton House."

Dinner was attended by PittyPat, India, Ashley, Melly, Beau, Will, Careen, Cassie, Ella, Wade, Rhett, and Scarlett. The food was good and there was a lot of it. Rhett and Scarlett had chosen roast beef, pickled beets, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls, and yams. The conversation was very lighthearted. Rhett talked about what he and his bride were going to do in New Orleans. Scarlett had to slam her mouth shut a couple of times not to talk about the sights and the food in the French city.

The only awkward part happened when Wade asked Beau to come sit with him at the end of the table. Beau said no. Melly then invited Wade to join them in the middle of the table. Wade said, "No, I want to sit next to my Aunt Careen."

Melanie looked so hurt, but six-year-olds usually tell the truth. The saddest part to Scarlet was that Melly was never going to get that opportunity to bond with Wade. There was no void for her to fill because Wade's mother was very much in his life. The other sadder reason was that Melanie was a stranger to Wade. Unfortunately, she probably always would be because Scarlett was moving to Boston and her children were moving with her.

Scarlett did want to giggle as PittyPat, Melanie, and India kept staring at Careen's short hair. It was about six inches all the way around. Scarlett could tell that Mammy had done some trimming and shaping of Careen's hair, but nonetheless, it was short for a woman.

As the meal was winding down, Scarlett stood up and said, "Let me get Uncle Peter to hook up the horse to my buggy."

The first words Ashley said to the table at large were, "You are going to take your old buggy."

Scarlett said, "Yes, Rhett gave it to Will. Or maybe it was to Careen so she didn't have to drive the wagon."

Ashley looked around the table at his relatives and said, "What are we going to do for transportation?"

"I don't know. Excuse me, while I go tell Uncle Peter to hook up my old horse to my old buggy."

Will stood up and said, "Scarlett, don't bother Uncle Peter. I will hook it up myself."

Rhett stood up and said, "Let me help you."

Scarlett whispered, "Coward."

Rhett whispered back, "Yes."

After the men left the room, there was an uncomfortable silence in the room. Wade said, "Why is everyone being so quiet?"

Careen said, "Ssh."

"Why?"

"Just ssh. I will tell you later."

It was plain that Wade didn't understand, but he obeyed his aunt. After another extended silence, Scarlett said, "What do you hear from Honey?"

India said, "What do you care or are you planning on stealing her husband also?"

"India, did you not see the man that is my husband. Not only is he handsome, but he is funny, smart, and one of the richest men in Georgia if not the South."

The silence lasted until Rhett and Will came back. Will said, "The children are going to have to sit in someone's lap. There are only four seats and seven people. Let's go." With a smile at Rhett, Will continued, "If the horse dies, I want time to get to Tara and get back while the sun is still up."

The Wilkeses and PittyPat were appalled by Will's statement. To speak so casually about an animal dying was just not done. Scarlett and Careen hadn't even noticed. They had gotten up and started gathering up children.

Rhett said, "I told Prissy to get Mammy and meet us at the stables."

Everyone quickly told the Wilkeses and Pittypat goodbye and were heading towards the stables. Careen and Scarlett took the time to get their hats and their purses. Scarlett laughed as she saw Careen's hat. It had an elastic band to fit under the chin to keep the hat on. Careen smiled and said, "Well, I don't have any hair to pin the hat into."

"No, you don't. Come on."

Soon Will, Careen, Mammy, Prissy, Cassie, Wade, and Ella were in the buggy. Will had gotten the children's carpetbag from the foyer.

As Scarlett looked at everyone crammed into the buggy, she said, "What was I thinking? Big Sam can take my buggy and go down to Tara with you. That way if the horse dies, you all can get in the other buggy and get back to Tara. It will also be more comfortable for everyone."

Rhett said, "That is a good idea, Scarlett. That way Careen, the children, and the servants won't be left out on the road where anyone could rob them."

Everyone knew what the real danger was these days. Although robbing the women of what little they had would probably happen, but they would probably lose their virtues if not their lives.

Will and Careen said at the same time, "Good idea."

Rhett said, "We can take a cab to the hotel."

"You go on with Will to the hotel. That way you can go ahead and get the buggy ready. Mammy can stay here with me. Let me go get Big Sam. I'll be right back."

Mammy got out of the buggy and Rhett climbed into the back seat. He said, "Will, can you pick us up in Jonesboro in three weeks."

"Yes, just let me know which train you are on."

"Yes."

By the time Scarlett came out of the house, the old buggy was on its way to the hotel. She said to Mammy, "Big Sam is getting his clothes. He seemed happy to be going to Tara."

Mammy said, "He is. Liberty and Big Sam have jumped the broom."

"Why? They can get legally married now."

"They had jumped the broom before the war started. They didn't tell either Mr. Gerald or Mr. Jim. They were afraid their masters wouldn't be happy about them jumping the broom."

"Why?"

"Because they lived on two separate plantations, it wouldn't be long before they were going to want to go live with the other one."

"Like Pork and Dilcey. The freed people don't have to worry about that anymore. They can marry anyone they want."

"Legally – yes, financially – no."

Scarlett smiled. She said, "It is always something."

"Miss Scarlett, …"

"No, Mammy, don't say it. First, off we are legally husband and wife. Second, I love him, and he loves me. I know he isn't received and probably never will be. I know he is not going to be an easy man to live with. Since we met at Twelve Oaks the day the war started my destiny has been intertwined with his. Furthermore, I think he is a wonderful man."

"Yes, Miss Scarlett."

"When Rhett and I move to Boston would you like to move with us?"

With a look on Mammy's face that Scarlett now knew was one of compassion because the person knew they were going to hurt the other person, the older woman said, "No, Child, I have to stay at Tara and take care of Miss Careen and Miss Cassie. Oh and Mr. Will, too. They don't have anyone, and they certainly need my help."

"I don't have anyone. I need you to help me take care of Wade and Ella. Who is going to help me?"

Mammy smiled a big old smile, and said, "Mr. Wonderful. Remember you have Mr. Wonderful."

At first, Scarlett wanted to yell at Mammy. For not going with her, for putting someone before her, for calling Rhett Mr. Wonderful even if Scarlett did think he was wonderful. She calmed herself. She remembered the truth of the statement - Different actions result in different results. She smiled and said, "They do need you more than I do, and I do have Mr. Wonderful."

By that time Sam had joined the women. They walked to the hotel while Scarlett dealt with her anger. After she had calmed down, she thought, 'Different actions result in different results. Some good, some not so good. For the most part I am happy with the results of this do over of my life.'

A cab drove by, and Scarlett hailed it down. Once everyone was settled in the cab and she had given the driver the address. She sat back. She said to Big Sam, "Mammy says you and Liberty have jumped the broom."

"Yes, ma'am. Liberty returned to Tara hoping to find me. Once Mr. Will agreed to provide her with room and board she stayed hoping I too would return to Tara, and I would find her."

"I guess you did in a roundabout way."

After another five minutes, Scarlett, Mammy, and Big Sam were at the hotel. Scarlett saw that everyone was in one or the other buggy. Prissy, Wade, and Ella were in one and Will, Careen, and Cassie were in the other one.

Rhett said, "Mammy go ahead and get in Will's buggy and Sam get in this buggy."

"Yes, Sir."

Soon both buggies were heading down the road and Rhett and Scarlett were walking into the hotel.

Rhett said, "That was smart of you to send Big Sam down to Tara with Will. One never knows what can happen on these back roads." Scarlett looked at Rhett in shock. He continued, "Just because I was reckless enough to leave you alone in a battlefield doesn't mean I wasn't aware of the danger."

"Jerk."

"But, I'm your jerk."

"True.

As Rhett and Scarlett climbed the stairs to their suite, she said, "I guess Melly has made her choice."

"Indeed. Everyone is behaving so differently."

"True, but I think it is because we are behaving differently thus setting up different circumstances."

"True."

"If I hadn't made Frank go with me to Pa's funeral, then he and Suellen would not have gotten back together. I just know, Rhett, she took Frank back so she could best me in something."

"What sick contest is it that Frank Kennedy is the grand prize?"

Scarlett burst out laughing. When she could speak, she said, "I agree."

"You moving your aunts to Tara helped encourage your sister to run away from Tara. Frank may have just been used once again as a way for her to get away."

Scarlett laughed and said, "Nonetheless, I still can't believe she chose Frank over Will."

"That is simple. Frank was a gentleman and Will was not."

"You are right. A negative consequence is that Mammy is going to stay at Tara to take care of Cassie and Careen."

"I know it is hard to lose her, but I think that is where she wants to be. Not in Boston far away from Tara."

"Far away from my mother."

"That's right."

"Of course, I am."

"We aren't waiting until tonight."

"No, we aren't."

Earlier in the day, Rhett had asked a bell hop to move Scarlett's trunk into his suite. When they got to the suite, Rhett swept her up and carried Scarlett across the threshold. He said, "I wanted to do that last time, but…."

"You were afraid it would give too much away."

"Or you would think I was silly. I had an image to maintain."

"I do think you are silly, but I like it. Kiss me."

Rhett was thoroughly kissing Scarlett when he remembered Clarence. He broke off the kiss and said, "Let me go get us some champagne."

"We don't need champagne."

"Yes, we do." At Scarlett's confused expression, Rhett added, "I want us to have champagne. Let me go get it. I want us to do all the silly things newlyweds do."

"All right. I will put on my nightgown."

"All right. I will be right back."

As soon as Rhett was out the door, he said, "Clarence."

"What?"

"You have to go somewhere else. I want this to be just Scarlett and me."

"Let's see what can be arranged. Just go get your champagne."

Rhett went to the restaurant and got a bottle of champagne and an ice bucket. The waiter advised that it would be at least thirty minutes before the champagne was cold enough to drink. Rhett said, "It will chill for at least that long."