Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

TLWtlw asked if the story was almost over. To answer that question, I will say the story has seventy-five chapters, one epilogue, and two alternate endings.

Chapter Seventy

Scarlett had been right. Everyone remembered Rhett from the barbecue and because of his activities during the war. Not very many people spoke to the couple. Certainly, none of the women wanted to speak to Scarlett. They all remembered her activities before the war.

As Rhett and Scarlett walked around, they did note that their children were not being ostracized. They were alright with being shunned. They had both been shunned all their life for being more popular than everyone else.

Rhett said, "We are about as popular as a freedwoman in Dolly's parlor."

Scarlett giggled. She said, "I was thinking we were as popular as a sinner in church."

Rhett chuckled. He said, "They are all sinners."

"True."

"Let me get us some punch."

"Thanks."

As Scarlett watched Rhett walk away, she smiled. She thought, 'That man could strut sitting down."

Rhett came back and the crowd parted for him.

Scarlett said, "You are as popular as an egg sucking dog."

Rhett smiled and said, "You are as welcome as an outhouse breeze."

"As welcome as a screwworm."

"As a skunk at a lawn party."

Rhett and Scarlett both started laughing. He said, "At least neither one of us wants to be welcome."

"Not anymore. Have you seen the number of women giving me judgmental looks because I am outside the house while being so far along."

"I don't know if that is why they are giving you judgmental looks. There are so many reasons to choose from."

"Not the least that I am married to you."

The couple laughed.

They spent the next two hours talking about everyone else in a very judgmental way even if they had to make the stories up.

At one point Alex Fontaine moved into Rhett and Scarlett's orbit and she said, "Have you heard from Tony?"

Alex actually stopped walking long enough to talk to the couple. He said, "Nothing since that postcard from Galveston. If I knew where he was, I would write him and tell him to come home."

Scarlett said, "I'm sure he would like to come home."

"I don't know. He may be living a good life somewhere else. He might have struck it rich in the California gold mines."

"Or met and married a rich debutante."

Rhett said, "Wherever it is I am sure he is doing great."

Scarlett said, "Tony is one of those men that always lands on his feet."

Alex said, "Tony and I thought we were so lucky to have survived the war in one piece. We never dreamed that what we would face back at home would be worse than what we had endured while serving."

"At least, you came home."

"I sometimes wonder if that really is a blessing." With a smile, Alex said, "Listen to me. Talking about things that should be forgotten. Goodbye, Scarlett, Captain Butler."

After Alex was far enough away and Scarlett knew he couldn't hear her, she said, "He wasn't just talking about the war, was he?"

"No, he wasn't."

"Do you think that was how your mother thought of you when you were out of touch?"

"I hope so. I hope she didn't suffer anymore over me than she had to."

With a very bright face, Scarlett said, "She certainly isn't suffering now."

"No, she isn't. Speaking of my mother, did you buy her something from The Last Century?"

"Yes, it is a Christmas present."

"Did she pick it out?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"How did you know it wasn't something I had bought?"

"Because, my love, an antique to you is something from the fifties."

Scarlett stuck out her tongue at Rhett. She said, "Let me go help Careen change her dress."

"Did you have the mother/daughter talk?"

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"Relations can be a lot of fun if she forgets she is a lady and just tries to have fun. Not to look at it as her duty, but her opportunity to show her husband physically how much she loves him."

"Why didn't you go into more detail?"

Scarlett whispered, "I don't know how much Will knows how to do. I wanted her to have low expectations."

"Good idea. Go help her change her dress, then we will leave. I have endured all the shunning I want to endure today."

"Gladly, my love."

When Scarlett and Careen had gotten to what was now Careen's bedroom, Mammy was there. When the sisters saw her, they had shocked looks on their faces. Mammy said, "I just wanted to take the time to tell you two how proud your mother would be of you girls. Have you heard the story of your mother and Phillipe?"

Scarlett said, "I have."

Careen said, "I haven't."

When Mammy opened her mouth to speak, Scarlett interrupted her and said, "When Mother was fifteen, she fell in love with her poor cousin. He wasn't good enough for her. Grandpere sent him away. He promised to come back for mother. He died. She learned he was dead the day before Pa asked her to marry him. Her cousin was her one true love, so she was devastated by his death. To get away from Savannah she married Pa and spent the rest of her life barely living. Almost what you and I did. Fate intervened with both of us. I met Rhett. You met Will. Now we are both going to live happily ever after. Mammy will give you more details."

Mammy said, "That is it in a nutshell."

Scarlett said, "I love you, Mammy. I know you won't want me to say this, but you were more mother to us than Ellen Robillard O'Hara ever was. I'm glad you are going to be staying with Careen. She needs you. As I said I have Mr. Wonderful."

Mammy smiled. She said, "Let's get you out of that dress, Child. Mr. Will isn't going to wait all day."

Careen bragged, "Yes, he will if he has to."

Soon Rhett, Scarlett, Prissy, and the children were on their way back to Atlanta. Scarlett had watched Wade and Ella hugged Cassie goodbye. It made Scarlett sad. In another time and another place, the cousins could have been good friends much like Beau and Wade were in the earlier timeline. Sadly, it was not to be because Rhett and Scarlett could not live in the South. This afternoon had proved that.

After the family returned to the National Hotel, Scarlett sent a note to Melly for her, Beau, and PittyPat to come have tea with her the next afternoon. One last time for them to see Wade before the family returned to Boston. Melly accepted.

That night at Tara in the largest bedroom, Careen was dressed in a pretty nightgown. She said to Will, "I don't want us to have any secrets. So, I will talk about what happened at St. Bethany's."

"No, I don't want to know. I know the crux of it. People you thought you could trust mistreated you. I am not unaware of the faith and trust you have in me to marry me. I will never betray that trust."

"I do trust you, Will."

"And I trust you, Careen. Now, let's become man and wife."

"Alright."

Later as Careen was going to sleep, she thought, 'I bet Brent wouldn't have known how to do any of those things that Will did. They seemed so naughty but felt so good. Sadly, even if Brent had known how to do all those things (which I seriously doubt), he wouldn't have done any of them, because I am a lady.'

Will was thinking, 'I'm so happy that Careen left her lady status outside our bedroom door. Relations are a lot more fun when the woman is having a fun time also.

The next day Melanie, PittyPat, and Beau arrived at two o'clock. It was a pleasant hour for the women and the boys. At least, at first. Toward the end of the meal, PittyPat started talking about Charlie. She was remembering him as a boy and a young adult. She told stories of Charlie's life. She had talked about her father and her brother and how disappointed they would be to know that Wade, Charlie's only son, was going to be raised in the North.

PittyPat said, "Dear, please reconsider taking Wade with you to Boston."

"No."

"Melanie and Ashley could raise him properly."

"No."

"You have to leave him."

"Miss Hamilton, let me make this perfectly clear. I will not be leaving my son with anyone. Rhett and I will raise him properly so he can function in this world we now inhabit. Melly, if you write to me, I will write you back. Wade. Let's go."

"Yes, ma'am."

Scarlett stood up and placed a five-dollar coin piece on the table. She said, "That is more than enough to cover the cost of the meal. After the tip, you can keep the change."

Scarlett and Wade turned to walk away.

PittyPat cried out, "Scarlett…"

"It is Mrs. Butler to you."

Rhett had gone to pick up his mother from his sister's house. He took Ella with him. Sitting still for the entire tea was going to stretch the patience of the two little boys. Ella at two didn't have the ability to sit still that long.

When Rhett got to his sister's house, his mother was ready to go. After some pleasant small talk, Rhett, Ella, Elizabeth, and her maid were back in the cab. He had to hail down another cab. He had not had the cab wait because he had thought he would have to pry his mother lose from his sister's home.

After the family was in the cab, Elizabeth said, "That is one tiny house. What's more I could hear everything they were saying to each other in the other room."

When Elizabeth blushed, Rhett knew it wasn't what the couple had said to each other that was the problem or maybe it was. Nonetheless, his proper mother would never have said a word about what they were saying or doing in the privacy of their bedroom.

Rhett being Rhett couldn't resist saying, "Did you hear anything about you?"

Which made his mother blush even more. She snapped out, "They didn't talk about me."

Rhett couldn't stop himself when he said, "What about Scarlett or me?"

Sharply Elizabeth said, "They didn't talk about other people at all."

Although Rhett was having an enjoyable time embarrassing his mother, he was a better man now thanks to Clarence therefore he resisted the devilish urge that made him want to go on. He thought, 'You already have enough to atone for, don't add to your list.'

Rhett managed to have a pleasant conversation with his mother the rest of the way to the hotel. He had not gotten his mother a separate suite for one night, therefore when they got to the hotel Elizabeth and her maid settled themselves in the room that had been Prissy's. Prissy joined Wade and Ella in their room.

After supper while in the common room, Scarlett told Rhett and Elizabeth about her tea with PittyPat and Melanie. She ended her recount by saying, "If Melly writes me, I will write back. I don't want to sever the relationship completely, but I will not be lecture to by people who never mattered in the first place."

"Very well, Sweetheart."

Elizabeth thought, 'She is a perfect match for Rhett. They are going to be so much fun. I think life is going to be worth living again. No, life is going to be a lot of fun for once.'

Later that night, Rhett told Scarlett about what had happened to his mother. Scarlett didn't think it was funny in the least. She said, "What if she has heard us while we were….? We aren't exactly quiet."

"She hasn't heard us. We have never shared a wall with her. In fact, we have never even been in the same suite with her."

"That is good."

A little later Rhett was not so amused about his mother's embarrassment. Nothing he said could convince Scarlett to have relations with him. She was too afraid of his mother hearing them. She wouldn't have them on the train either. He certainly was happy to have his mother back in her own townhouse.

By the time the family arrived back in Boston, Rhett was cranky. He had gotten used to being with Scarlett in an intimate way very quickly. Relations were amazing. He had never been with another woman that was better than being with Scarlett.

Every night Rhett and Scarlett had been able to be intimate. She had not had a monthly since they had gotten married. It had been really hard lying next to her and not doing anything. When he had suggested she relieve his need, she had replied, "No, besides how much need can you have already it has only been two days."

"Two days of sleeping next to you."

"Get control of yourself, Rhett. You have surely gone longer than this without relations in your lifetime."

"Yes, but it was before I was sexually active."

"I know you don't have access to whores when you are at sea."

"No, but I usually take care of the problem."

"You can take care of the problem yourself now, if you want to."

Sourly, Rhett said, "No, thank you. I will wait for a better offer."

"I love you."

Grumpily Rhett replied, "I love you, too."