Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

For those of you who chose to skip the previous chapter – Percy and Elizabeth had a wonderful night of love and declared their love for each other.

A little bit of mature content.

Chapter Twenty-Four

When Percy woke in the middle of the night with his wife pressed up against him and an erection, he thanked his lucky stars for both of them. He woke Elizabeth with kisses. He got her thoroughly aroused. He had given her two orgasms, before he had entered her. He didn't last very long once he was inside her, but he didn't think she minded.

The next morning, Percy woke up to Elizabeth running her hands all over his body. She whispered, "May I touch you?"

"Anytime."

Elizabeth giggled and said, "Maybe not anytime."

"Anytime in our bedroom."

Elizabeth did touch her husband's member. She kept running her hand up and down his shaft. Finally, he said, "Unless you want our fun to be over, you better stop."

Elizabeth stopped her hand. She got up on her elbow and looked down at Percy. She said, "You can achieve your satisfaction without being inside me?"

"Yes, but we aren't going to talk about that right now. I will tell you all later. You will soon know more about relations than any proper lady has ever known."

"Alright. Kiss me in spite of my morning breath."

"What morning breath?"

Percy did kiss Elizabeth. Yes, she did have morning breath, but he didn't care. She was kissing him with passion and holding him close. She had said she loved him. She was going to try not to be so proper. All wonderful things.

Percy was so happy that Elizabeth was allowing herself to feel the feelings she was feeling. She was a fairly passionate woman. He marveled at her steely control. She had managed to keep all that passion under wraps for over forty years. He didn't know exactly how old his wife was, but he guessed she was at least forty.

After Percy and Elizabeth were finished, he explained a few things to his wife about the male anatomy. She was amazed. He didn't tell her that much. She wasn't ready for that much information. He would give her pieces of information a little bit at a time.

Percy got out of the bed to get the hot water the servant had brought to him. Just as the servant had every morning for the last twenty-six years. Percy got cleaned up while continually looking at his naked wife in the bed. His wife for her part continually watched him the entire time he was getting dressed. In the past, Elizabeth had turned over in the bed, so her back was to Percy. That way she didn't accidentally see her husband's naked body. Now, she wanted to see her husband's naked body. It gave her a strange feeling, but she liked that feeling.

After Percy had left the room, Elizabeth sadly thought about the fact she had given up twenty-six years of pleasure because of adhering to someone else's standards. She resolved right then and there to never miss out on anything even if she lost her social position in Charleston.

At breakfast Elizabeth noticed her daughter-in-law was not joining them. She said to Rhett, "Where is Scarlett?"

"She is suffering from morning sickness. She will have a piece of toast and drink some tea. Even the smell of the food can turn her stomach. She will lie in bed until she feels better.

"Ah, yes. I remember that. I was sick with all three of my children. I certainly sympathize with what Scarlett is going through."

Rhett was confused. His mother had never extended sincere sympathy to anyone. She could mouth the words, but her family knew she truly didn't care. Right at that moment he got the feeling she was really sympathetic towards his wife.

At dinner later that day, Elizabeth said, "Rhett, Scarlett, it was rude of me yesterday to not congratulate you two on the good news of you two expecting a baby. I know you are excited, as are your father and me.

Percy smiled. Elizabeth was already working to become a more loving person.

A stunned Rhett said, "Thank you, Mother. Yes, we are extremely excited."

"I think what we should do is decorate your room first, Mother."

Nervously Mabel said, "Scarlett made some wonderful suggestions last night."

"Great. Let me hear them."

"Hum, hum."

Scarlett said, "I suggested that we paint the walls another color. Then get new drapes, a new bed spread, and new rugs to match."

"A good suggestion, but what if we put up wallpaper instead."

Hesitantly Scarlett said, "That is a good suggestion. What do you think, Grandmother?"

Elizabeth knew at that moment her world had definitely changed. She looked at Percy and smiled. Yes, it had changed for the better.

Mabel said, "I don't know."

Elizabeth said, "Let's all go down to Martha's shop and see what kind of wallpaper she has. If you don't like any of them, we can get Mr. Hobbs to come to the house with his paint samples."

"That sounds like a great idea."

"Do either of you want new furniture?"

Mabel said, "No, I am happy with my furniture."

Rosemary tentatively said, "I would like to look and see what they have."

"Great. I can't go this afternoon because we have a committee meeting for the St. Cecilia Ball. Although I know it will be a dreadful bore, Mother and I must attend. How about tomorrow afternoon? Can everyone make it? Mother, Scarlett, Rosemary?"

Rosemary said, "I'm getting to go too?"

"Of course, Silly. How can you pick out your wallpaper if you don't go look at it?"

"Usually, you just tell me what I can have."

"No more of that. It is time for you to make your own decisions. Right or wrong."

Percy said, "Not to worry my daughter if you hate it, we can redo the whole damn thing."

Although Mabel scowled at Percy, Elizabeth smiled at him. She said, "Exactly."

Rosemary happily said, "I can go."

Scarlett said, "I don't have any plans for tomorrow."

Mabel said, "Me either."

"Great. We will go right after dinner tomorrow afternoon."

It was quiet while everyone was eating their meal. Scarlett looked at Rhett with a questioning look. He whispered, "I have no idea what is going on. She has never acted like this before."

"Oh."

Scarlett stared at Elizabeth. She was an attractive woman. She had blonde hair and cobalt blue eyes. Scarlett stared in disbelief as her mother-in-law smiled shyly at her husband. Scarlett knew something had happened between Elizabeth and Percy last night.

Elizabeth said, "I would like to go sailing."

Elizabeth couldn't have said anything more earth shattering than her last statement. Percy smiled lovingly at his wife. He said, "What about we all go on Friday?"

"Let me check my schedule, but I think that will be convenient. Even if it isn't, I will rearrange things to make it convenient."

"Everyone is welcome, but if nobody else wants to go you and I will go out by ourselves."

"That sounds delightful. Robert, do you think you will be able to go? If so, be sure and asked Daphne to go with us."

"Yes, I think I will be able to go, and I will be happy to invite Daphne."

"And her parents, of course."

Rhett said, "Maybe they can fix us another delicious picnic dinner."

Elizabeth said, "Picnic dinner?"

Percy said, "Not to worry, my love, we eat the picnic dinner aboard the yacht. You will not have to wade in the water."

Scarlett said, "Although wading in the water can be fun. Rhett and I did that while we were at Myrtle Beach last year. We bought bathing suits and got in the water. I wore a big floppy hat, so I didn't get sun on my face. Just my arms and shoulders.

Of all the people sitting at the dining room table besides Percy, Scarlett seemed to be accepting the new and improved Elizabeth the easiest. Of course, Scarlett didn't have a lifetime of memories to overcome.

Elizabeth said, "Thank you, Dear, for mentioning a big hat. I will have to go see Liz tomorrow and get a big hat ordered. And maybe a bathing suit made although it will be several months before I can wear a bathing suit." She then turned to Percy and continued, "Let's go to Myrtle Beach this summer. Just the two of us. It is time I discovered how wonderful the rest of the world is." After she said that she smiled at Rhett.

Rhett smiled back and said, "Yes, it is, Mother."

Scarlett said, "Rhett and I will be happy to take care of Rosemary."

"Thank you, Dear. Mother will be here also so I know Rosemary will be well taken care of." Elizabeth smiled at her daughter and said, "Rosemary is such a well-behaved young lady I know she won't be any trouble."

Elizabeth smiled at Rosemary and Rosemary nervously smiled back. Everyone stared at Elizabeth.

Rhett said, "What is going on Mother?"

Elizabeth smiled at her eldest son. Of course, he would be the one to challenge the change in her. Robert and Rosemary would wonder, but never ask a question. They would just try to find their way in this new world. She said, "I have lived my life by someone else's rules my entire life. As you said, Rhett, sometimes those antiquated rules need to be broken. I am going to live my life by my rules from now on. I am no longer going to be about honor, duty, and doing the supposedly right thing. I am going to be about fun and adventure from now on." She smiled at Percy and added, "With my husband's help, of course."

Mabel said, "Elizabeth."

"That is another thing. I want to be called Beth from now on."

"Mabel said, "Elizabeth!"

"No, Mother, Beth. Junior was right when he said, 'Have fun while you can, Beth. Life is too short to always be proper.' Mabel gasped at Beth's referring to her dead son. Nobody else knew who Junior was because neither Elizabeth nor Mabel ever talked about him. Beth continued, "I will not answer if you call me Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a stuck-up snob who isn't any fun and has no feelings. Beth is going to be fun, adventurous, unpretentious, and welcoming."

Percy said, "I might just call you my love until I get used to the name change. Although this Beth sounds like someone I would like very much."

"She is, my love. Scarlett, call me Mother."

"Thank you."

"We need to find you a midwife. I will talk to my friends. No, my acquaintances because I have no friends."

"My love, you may have to drop several of your acquaintances. If they criticize you, just walk away."

"Good advice."

While Beth and Mabel were at the committee meeting, the ladies were trying to decide who should get an invitation. Of course, everyone on the committee would get one. As Beth was sitting there listening to all those women criticize and sit in judgement of the other members of the gentry, she felt like screaming. That had felt good last night, but she wouldn't do it here. She looked over at Eulalie Hicks and thought, 'Yes, if the old judgmental witch had kept her mouth shut nobody else would ever have found out. Although Rhett is so much happier now that he is married to Scarlett. She makes him happy.' Suddenly Beth stood up before she screamed at the insanity in the room.

One of the other ladies said, "What is it, Elizabeth?"

"Beth. I have decided to go by Beth now. I have never like being called Elizabeth, so I decided to not be called that anymore."

"You can't just go around changing your name."

"Why not? There is no law against it. I stood up because I just remembered another appointment I have. Come along, Mother."

Another lady said, "Elizabeth, Elizabeth."

"Beth."

The lady looked at all the other ladies and everyone had confused looks on their faces. Finally, the woman said, "Beth."

"Yes?"

"Don't forget about the once-a-month graveyard clean up on Friday. Ten to noon. Everyone is bringing a covered dish."

"I can't make it. I am going sailing with my family on Friday. Let's go, Mother."

As Beth walked to the carriage she thought, 'We aren't doing any cleaning. It is just an opportunity to make us feel good about ourselves as our servants do all the true manual labor.