Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Five

Later, after both Rhett and Scarlett were sated and satisfied, Rhett started telling his stories. A lot of his stories were from the six years he had lived in Cambridge. Scarlett told some stories also. After she finished one story, Rhett said, "How did you managed to frame Belle?"

"Why do you think I framed Belle?"

"Because I know that I left five hundred dollars in counterfeit bills in my desk at the mansion. I also remember leaving a lot of bearer bonds and all my sapphire jewelry in my desk also, but I know I am never seeing that money again." Scarlett giggled. Rhett continued, "I just want to know how you did it."

"When I found the counterfeit bills, I took eight of the fives to the bank.."

"My bank?"

"Yes." Scarlett giggled again. She said, "I exchanged the eight fives for two twenties. I took them to every bank in Atlanta. When I had visited every bank in Atlanta, I had three hundred and twenty dollars. I considered going to Athens or Macon, but it would take all day. I would have to take Gerry with me and find some place private to nurse him, so that was out of the question."

"You nursed Gerry yourself? I am stunned."

"I had to. You ran off with the wet nurse. Then I remembered the three hundred dollars Belle had given me during the war."

"Belle gave you three hundred dollars?"

"Yes, during the war. She was smart. She gave it to Melly outside of the hospital. She made sure I was with Melly at the time. She made up a story about the other women not taking her money, but her money was as good as anyone else's money. She had the money wrapped up in one of your handkerchiefs. Your initials were on it. I made sure Melly never saw them. Belle did it to make sure I knew you were a man who would use whores."

With awe in his voice, Rhett said, "You continued to receive me."

"Yeah, you were great fun."

Rhett pulled Scarlett on top of him. He said, "Am I still great fun?"

"When you are being nice, you are incredible fun."

After several kisses, Rhett pulled back and said, "Go on with your story."

"I took a full widow's weeds from the store. The hat had a veil on it so nobody could see my face. I pushed my hair up under my hat. I then walked into The Painted Lady. I said to Belle, 'Here is your three hundred dollars back. I should have taken your advice and stayed far, far away from the man.' I put the money on the bar and turned around and walked out."

"Go on. I know that isn't all of the story."

"No, it isn't. I took the outfit back to the store and put it on sale. It was sold within the week. I wanted the outfit to belong to someone else."

"Why didn't you just burn it?"

"I wanted to get the cost of the dress back at least."

"True. You wouldn't want you revenge to cost you anything."

"No, I wouldn't."

"What did you do next?"

"I wrote the Treasury Department that Belle Watling was passing counterfeit bills."

With a smile Rhett said, "The Treasury Department investigated."

"Yes. I think some of the banks had discovered the fake fives also."

"You will be happy to know that I couldn't sell my half of The Painted Lady before it went bankrupt."

With laughter in her voice, Scarlett said, "So you had to eat the entire loss."

"Yes, my clever, vindictive wife. That was brilliant. You framed Belle with my money. You managed to punish both Belle and me."

"You both deserved it."

"I don't know if Belle deserved it because she was just doing her job, but I certainly did."

Solemnly Scarlett said, "Yes, you did."

Equally solemnly Rhett said, "Never again, my love."

Scarlett giggled and said, "I manage to get Mrs. Merriwether in trouble also."

"Please tell me how."

"I bought pies and paid her with the fake fives. For some reason, the Teller at her bank noticed that one of her bills was counterfeit. I guess all the Tellers were on the lookout for fake fives since they had already discovered that there were counterfeit fives being circulated in Atlanta. After that all the Tellers were on high alert when Mrs. Merriwether made a deposit. One of the vice presidents was monitoring her deposits. From what I heard the last deposit she made both the Teller, and the vice president inspected every one of her bills. After that Rene had to make the deposits. The Treasury agents spent the afternoon with her, but no charges were filed against her."

Scarlett laughed. Rhett laughed. Finally, he said, "Probably because she was a lady. Besides they already had someone to hang the crime on. Someone who didn't matter to most people. Not even me. Well done, my love. Very well done."

Scarlett kissed Rhett. He kissed her back. That was all he could do. He was a one and done man now. He knew he would be lucky to be a one and done man in the future.

The next day Scarlett introduced Rhett to Tom Jefferson. She left him there and headed to the store. She was going to have to hire another person to work in the general store. She knew she was going to start taking more time off. She wanted to spend more time with Rhett. He really was great fun now that he was being nice. Well, nice for him.

Tom and Rhett hit it off as well. He recommended a school for the boys to attend. Although Rhett wrote the name down, he had decided not to send the boys to school until next September. He stopped and asked, "What month does the school year start?"

"The last Monday in January."

"I am looking for some short-term investments. My wife and I aren't committed to continuing to live in Sydney."

"I guess it is different than living in the United States. It is all I have ever known. I have lived my entire life here. Why did you move here?"

"My wife ran away with our sons. She moved here to hide from me. She did a good job hiding from me. I almost didn't find her." At Tom's shocked face, Rhett added, "We have since reconciled."

Tom's face still had a shocked expression on it. He handed Rhett a piece of paper. He said, "Here is a list of houses for rent and here is a list of houses for sale."

Rhett took the paper and stood up. He said, "I will get back with you on which house we either want to buy or rent."

The two men shook hands. As Tom watched Rhett leave his office, he wondered if what the man had said was true or if he had been joking. He dismissed it from his thoughts because he would never know.

After Scarlett got to the store, she said to Sid, "Now that my husband has joined me here in Sydney. I will be hiring another clerk. He will just be part-time."

Sid was a man in his late fifties. He had worked at Cooper's General Store when it had been owned by Walter Cooper. That had been three owners ago counting Mrs. Butler. He thought it was funny that nobody had ever wanted to change the name. He said, "Mrs. Butler, I have a spinster daughter that needs to find a job. She would be happy to work part-time. If you were to hire her, I would be happy to train her."

"How old is she?"

"Twenty-five."

"Yes, bring her with you tomorrow." As Scarlett started to walk away, she turned back to Sid and said, "What is her name?"

"Emily, Emily Dickenson."

"Good. Now let's get back to work."

"Mrs. Butler, now that your husband has joined you here in Sydney, will you still be bringing your children to work?"

Sid had heard and seen everything that transpired between the couple. Most of what was said he couldn't believe. He really couldn't believe that Mrs. Butler had called her husband a rat bastard. Nor could he believe how much physical contact they had made. He did know that Mrs. Butler was extremely happy now.

Scarlett continued walking to the other side of the room. She said, "Not as much. Probably only when Rhett has something he has to do. Is that a problem?"

"No, ma'am. It is not a problem to me. I was just wondering."

"Good. I'm going to look at the books while it is slow."

"Yes, ma'am."

Over the dinner table, Rhett said, "School starts here in Sydney the last Monday in January, but I have decided to not enroll the twins in school until we commit to staying in Australia."

"Rhett, my love, that is something we should discuss."

"Do you disagree?"

"I don't want them to forget everything that Wade has spent a lot of time and energy teaching them."

"I will continue teaching them in the morning."

"Then I have no problem with them not starting school until we make our decision, but in the future, we need to discuss what is best for the boys. They are my sons also. I am not going to let you have complete control of them."

"Of course not. This will be hard for me. For the last five years I have been making decisions by myself."

"No, for the last ten years you have been doing that."

Rhett started to say something mocking about her not being a mother to Bonnie, but he stopped himself. Instead, he said, "Just as you have been making decisions by yourself for the last almost six years. What does everyone want for Christmas?"

That effectively ended the conversation. Kenny and Gerry immediately started telling their father what they wanted for Christmas. Even Ella started telling Rhett her wish list. Scarlett asked Wade, "What do you want for Christmas?"

"Clothes and books."

"Maybe Rhett and I can think of something special to give you.

Rhett said, "And you, my love."

"All I want for Christmas is you."

"Thank you, Dear, but I will get you something else as well."

"What do you want for Christmas, Rhett?"

As all the children turned to look at Rhett, he smiled at them. He said, "All I want for Christmas is my family."

Scarlett said, "You already have that. I will get you something else as well. Now I must go back to the store. I have hired a new employee; therefore, we can go looking for houses tomorrow. Ella, do you think you will be alright staying here with the boys alone tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes ma'am. I do. If I need help, there is Charles and Alice."

"Thank you, Sweetheart." Scarlett turned to Rhett and said, "Butler and maid. Now, I must return to the store."

Rhett said, "What is your new clerk's name."

"Emily Dickenson. She is Sid's spinster daughter."

"I'll walk you out. That surprises me that you hired a woman."

"Sid asked me to. She will be his responsibility."

"Of course."

Rhett waited while Scarlett put her bonnet on. When she was done, she turned her face up to him. He kissed her and she kissed him back. As she walked out the door, she said, "Until tonight."

Rhett thought, 'This becoming a couple is going to be a lot harder than I thought. In truth, this will be the first time we have ever been a couple except maybe those two weeks in New Orleans. Shake that off man. You have gotten a second chance.'

The next day when Scarlett met Emily, she liked her immediately. Sid started training her while Scarlett looked over the books. As she added up another column of numbers she wondered if any of her children had inherited her gift for numbers. She would find out.