Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Truckee Gal – I will not make you wait. Scarlett is pregnant.

Chapter Twenty-One

On Christmas day, Percy Butler opened an envelope from his eldest son. It had a Christmas card and a note inside it. The note said: You are ridiculously hard to buy a present for because if you want something you go out and buy it. Scarlett's and my present to you is not something you can buy. Your first grandchild should arrive sometime in August/September. Rhett

Percy looked up at his eldest son and said, "May your first born make you as proud of him as my first born has made me."

With a catch in his voice, Rhett said, "I'm hoping for a girl."

"You will be happy with what you get."

Scarlett said, "I'm hoping for a healthy baby."

"I will pray for that."

When Scarlett had missed her flow, she knew she was with child, that, and the morning sickness, therefore, there was no reason not to tell everyone. She had even written to her mother. She had asked her mother if she could have Mammy full well knowing her mother would tell her no.

At eleven-thirty, the Moon showed up. Felicia had brought roasted vegetables. They were broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. She had brought some plum pudding and a mincemeat pie. The conversation was nice. Percy and Warren talked about England. Percy had visited it when he took his Grand Tour. Rhett had not wanted to take a Grand Tour. He had wanted to go to California and find a fortune in gold. Percy doubted that Robert would want to go on a Grand Tour either. It would mean leaving Daphne for six months. The boy would never take the chance of losing her while he was away from Charleston.

It was actually the first time Elizabeth had met Warren and Felicia and only the second time she had met Daphne. No matter how many socials or teas Scarlett hosted, her mother-in-law was never home. Over the dinner table, Elizabeth was polite and cordial. When Warren told a couple of jokes, she did not laugh or even give him a smile. Soon the meal was over, and Robert escorted the family to the door while making plans to call on Daphne the next day.

At Tara, the family was sitting down to their typical Christmas dinner: roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, rolls, and pecan pie. Gerald, Ellen, and Careen were happy with the presents that Scarlett had sent. Suellen had been annoyed at her present. Her thought was, 'Who would want a book as a present?' To make matters worse Careen had said, "I have heard about that book. Can I borrow it when you are finished reading it."

Suellen had handed the book to Careen and said, "You can have it. I am never going to read a book no matter how bored I am."

Ellen said, "It is just as well. Now that Scarlett is no longer living with us, I find that I can't keep up with the mending. Therefore, you are going to have to start helping me."

"Why can't Careen help you?"

"Because I have other things I would like Careen to help me with. And mind your mouth, young lady. I don't like your attitude."

"Yes, Ma'am."

While the family was eating Ellen said, "Gerry, while you were at Twelve Oaks the other day was there any talk about the plans for Ashley's wedding."

"Some. Both Honey and India are going to be bridesmaids."

"Honey seems a little young to be a bridesmaid. She is only thirteen."

"Fourteen. John told me that Charles Hamilton declined to marry Honey."

"Really? Why?"

"I think the Hamiltons are putting as much distance between themselves and the Wilkeses."

"I believe you are right especially with Melanie marrying someone else."

"I also don't think Charlie was completely sold on the match."

"That is true. He did spend a lot of time with Scarlett at all the parties."

"Him and every other young man at any social event."

Suellen said, "When can I start receiving gentleman callers?"

Ellen said, "When you turn fourteen. So, two more years."

"Fourteen?!"

"Mind your mouth."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Has anyone asked to call on you?"

"No."

"Then it is not an issue. Scarlett wrote and told me she was with child."

When Ellen and Gerald's eyes met, they both knew they were thinking about their lost children. They hoped Scarlett would not have to go through the pain of losing a child. They hoped they would not have to go through the pain of losing a grandchild. Gerald said, "I hope it is a girl."

"We will all pray for that."

Suellen thought, 'Scarlett isn't even living at Tara, and she is still managing to be the center of attention.

Several days later Elizabeth learned she was going to be a grandmother.

Over supper Rhett said, "Scarlett and I would like to have the room that is Rosemary's for our baby. Rosemary has agreed…."

Sharply Elizabeth said, "Your what?"

Elizabeth was not happy. She didn't want to be a grandmother. Grandmothers were old women like her mother. She wasn't an old woman. She had just turned forty that year. In truth, Elizabeth was forty-two, but she consistently lied to herself about her age.

With a quick look at Rhett's father, he knew Percy had not told his wife about her becoming a grandmother. Percy said, "I didn't want her spoiling my happiness about the baby."

The truth was that Percy and Elizabeth rarely had a conversation, not even in their bedroom.

Rhett said to Percy, "Fair enough." He turned and looked right at his mother. He said, "We believe that Scarlett is with child. We are both extremely excited about it. We hope you will share in our happiness."

Elizabeth said, "You will have to move out."

Percy said, "No, they don't."

"We don't have room for a baby."

"What are you talking about we have several extra bedrooms?"

Elizabeth ignored her husband and instead turned towards her eldest son. She said, "You cannot have Rosemary's room."

"Why not? Rosemary's willing to move. I asked her."

Rosemary said, "I would like the room on the other side of Grandmother."

"No!"

Percy said, "I repeat Rhett's question, why not?"

Elizabeth said, "Because that has always been Rosemary's room."

"Elizabeth, things change." Percy turned to Rosemary and said, "Yes, you can have the room on the other side of your grandmother."

"Can I redecorate it?"

Elizabeth said, "No."

At the same time, Percy said, "Yes, you can." While looking at Elizabeth, he continued, "I will help you with it."

A beaming Rosemary said, "Thank you, Father."

Elizabeth was thinking, 'Worst day ever.'

Elizabeth's world was about to get even worse. Mabel said, "I would like to change rooms also. That room I am in gets too cold in the winter."

Elizabeth didn't speak. She just stared at her mother. For her part Mabel ignored her daughter and just looked at her son-in-law. The man Mabel thought her daughter should treat better than she did. She had never said anything to her daughter because her daughter never listened to anyone else.

Percy and Robert hid their smiles. Rhett and Scarlett did not. Rosemary didn't quite understand what her grandmother had done. Percy said, "Of course, you can. Which room would you like?"

"I would like the room Rosemary is getting, but I will be happy with the room across from Rhett and Scarlett."

Rosemary said, "You can have the room I said I wanted, and I will take your room."

Percy said, "Very good. That will save the room across from Rhett and Scarlett for when they move their baby out of their nursery."

Elizabeth finally recovered herself enough to say, "Why can't their child stay in the nursery?"

"Because I am sure, Elizabeth, this will not be their last child. Therefore, their son will have to move out of the nursery to make room for the next baby."

With those words, Elizabeth stood up. She laid her napkin on the table. She walked out of the room. Everyone watched her go. After she had left the dining room, Percy said, "Mrs. Kennesaw, did you want to redecorate your new room?"

After over twenty-six years, Mabel said, "Make it Mother and yes, I would like to change the wall color and get new drapes."

Scarlett bravely said, "I will be glad to help you. I know the name of everyone you need to contact, Mrs. Kennesaw."

"Make it Grandmother. Yes, I would appreciate your help. I want something that doesn't scream Charleston."

Rhett said, "Scarlett is the best person to help you. She doesn't know what Charleston is."

"Yes, I do. It is everything dull and boring."

Rhett smiled at her. He would never tell Scarlett, but he found all that Charleston décor extremely boring now. He would never tell her because if he did, she would want to go even more outlandish than she would accept now.

Percy said, "Scarlett, call me Father."

"Thank you, Father."

Everyone finished their meal in silence, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. At the end of the meal, Mabel said, "Let us retire to the parlor and discuss my decorating plans."

Rosemary stood up and said, "And mine too."

Scarlett stood up and said, "Sounds like fun."

After the women had left the room, Percy said, "Robert, in May you will graduate. Starting in June, I will start training you to run Middleton Acres."

Robert looked at Rhett then back at Percy. He said, "But I'm not the oldest son."

"No, you aren't." With a smile at Rhett, Percy went on, "I am not going to punish my sons because they weren't born in the right order. Rhett would bungle running the plantation because his heart wouldn't be in it. You on the other hand will do an excellent job. In my will, I have left the plantation to you. Rhett and Rosemary will get large sums of money. I don't know how much because I'm still making money all the time. You, Robert, will receive some money also, of course, just not as much as Rhett and Rosemary."

"Thank you, Father. Rhett, are you alright with this?"

Rhett smiled at Robert and said, "More than alright. Now you can ask Daphne to marry you."

"I will."

Percy said, "Let's go to the jewelry store tomorrow. I will help you pick out a ring to give her as an engagement ring."

"Thank you, Father. I have classes in the morning, but I can go in the afternoon."

"Perfect. We will go right after dinner. Let us join the ladies."

Even after the men joined the women, the discussion was still about the decorating plans. Percy and Rhett were making suggestions.

Robert was not even listening to the discussion. He was thinking how wonderful his life was. He had told Daphne he loved her, and she had told him she loved him too. They had done a little kissing, but that was it. He was afraid of going too far. He was afraid of frightening her with his need.

Luckily, Rhett had given him the sex talk, so he wouldn't be completely ignorant on his wedding night. Rhett had also reassured him that what was happening to him at night was normal. There for a while he thought he was a first-class freak, but Rhett had assured him those dreams happened to all men.

Robert thought, 'I wonder how long it will take for us to get married. It certainly won't be as quickly as Rhett. Ah damn. Mother is going to ruin everything by insisting it be done the proper, Charlestonian way. The worst part is she won't listen to anyone else's opinion. I wonder if I can get Daphne to elope. No, Daphne would never go for that. I hope Daphne will be happy living in the country. We have never talked about it. Unfortunately, that would be a deal breaker. I have dreamed about living and managing a plantation for all of my life. I am not trained to do anything else. He would invite her to go with them next time they went to the plantation. Her and her parents.'

Robert spent the rest of the evening thinking about Daphne becoming his wife until he realized he had to get his mind off that subject before he embarrassed himself.