Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Eight

On the night of Rhett and Scarlett's anniversary, they had supper in their room. It was Frogmore stew because he knew it was one of her favorites. Everyone in the townhouse had the stew because Beth was not going to make Jenima cook two meals. The couple had buttermilk pie for dessert. It wasn't either one of their favorites, but that was what Beth had already told the cook to fix and Rhett didn't want to annoy his mother. She had been extremely helpful during the last few months. He also didn't want to make the cook do extra work.

The couple did have relations that night. There wasn't a lot of activity because it was all Scarlett could do to participate at all.

On the morning of the fifteenth, Scarlett got a telegram from her father. It said: Put your mother, Mammy, and your sisters on the train STOP They will be arriving in twelve hours STOP.

Scarlett excitedly hurried to find Rhett. He was in the office that he shared with his father.

Before the family had left to go to Middleton Acres in June, Percy had said, "Rhett, where do you store all your papers."

"In a trunk in my room."

"No, go get a desk and a file cabinet and put them in my office. We can share that space."

"Thank you, Sir."

Rhett had gone out the next day and bought a nice desk while making sure it wasn't bigger than his father's desk. The file cabinet was the same size, but file cabinets were all pretty much the same size.

Scarlett entered the office without knocking. Percy was there also, but he just smiled at his daughter-in-law's entrance. It would never occur to her that she wasn't welcome somewhere. She was waving what looked like a telegram. Before Rhett or Percy could speak, she said, "They are on their way." Happily, she said, "Mother, Mammy, Careen and..." Sourly she added, "Suellen. Where shall we put them all?"

Rhett stood up and shut his ledgers. He said, "Let's go find Mother and ask her."

Percy watched them leave. As always when he thought about it, he was glad they had the new and improved Beth. She would accommodate all of Scarlett's family. Thank goodness, Robert was living with Daphne's family now because that meant they had three extra bedrooms. No just two. The third room was the baby's room and Scarlett would not be happy with anyone, but her baby sleeping in that room.

This was the room assignments: Mammy was in the servants' quarters, Ellen was in the room across from Rhett and Scarlett, and Careen and Suellen were in Robert's old room.

At five o'clock, Percy said to Rhett, "Go with Jimmy down to the train station as soon as supper is over to pick up Scarlett's family."

"They aren't supposed to arrive until seven thirty."

"What if the train arrives early? Do you want your mother-in-law having to deal with having to get a cab to the townhouse while she is exhausted? You can whisk them off to the carriage while assuring them that their supper is waiting for them at the townhouse."

Rhett smiled and said, "I can be the kind and thoughtful son-in-law."

"Exactly."

"Father, you are so wise."

"Thank you, Rhett."

As soon as supper was over, Rhett stood up and said, "Scarlett, I am going to get your family."

Scarlett looked at her watch that was on her bracelet and said, "But it is only six forty-five."

"Yes, I will be early, but I have a book to occupy my time if they don't arrive until seven-thirty. But if they arrive early, I will be there to whisk them off to the carriage while assuring them that their supper is waiting for them at the townhouse."

"You are so wonderful, Rhett."

Percy didn't feel one ounce of anger at Rhett for stealing his idea. It would have been what he would have done in similar circumstances. Whatever it took to win the fair maiden's heart or make a fortune.

As it turned out, the train had not been early. Rhett had read his book and passed the time pleasantly.

Jimmy had been happy just to sit and not have to do anything. As far as Jimmy was concerned the Butlers were good masters, but they were masters, nonetheless. As far as the servants that lived at the townhouse, their lot was the best it could be as a slave, nonetheless if anyone of them got a chance to escape they would take it. If they died trying that was a risk all of them were willing to take.

When Rhett finally got the women back to the townhouse, Scarlett greeted them by saying, "What took you so long?"

"The train inconsiderately was on time."

Scarlett hadn't been listening. She had been hugging her mother, Mammy, Careen, and even Suellen. She said, "Benson, would you show Mammy her room and then get her a plate of food."

"Of course, Miss Scarlett."

"My mother's trunk needs to go to the spare bedroom and my sisters' trunk needs to go to Robert's old bedroom."

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you."

"I will let Jemina know that the food needs to be served."

"Thank you." Scarlett said to her family, "This way to the dining room, but first let me introduce you to Rhett's family again."

Scarlett led them to the family parlor. She introduced everyone. Beth said, "It is a pleasure to see you, again. I am sure you are hungry, go on into the dining room. We can get to know each other tomorrow."

At the end of the meal, Ellen said, "Scarlett, what is with your dress?"

"I didn't want to wear a tent. My mother-in-law thought up this style. It was even her idea to sew the strip of fabric across the bottom."

Rhett said, "It is fine, Mrs. O'Hara. Nobody but family has seen Scarlett in her unusual dresses. The dresses make her feel pretty. Something she truly needs to feel right now."

"It isn't right."

"Mrs. O'Hara, it is very much alright. What is important right now is Scarlett is kept happy. We do want a happy baby."

"Of course, we do. I guess it is alright as long as she doesn't leave the house."

"Of course not, Mother."

After everyone was in their rooms, Rhett said, "If my mother thought it was proper, you know it was proper."

"No, your mother is no longer that stuck-up, pretentious snob that she was when we got married. It probably isn't proper, but being proper is not all it is cracked up to be. Rhett, I am feeling so fat and ugly."

"You aren't fat and ugly."

"I know. I am with child. A big, healthy baby. My dresses make me feel somewhat pretty."

"You are pretty. You will always be pretty."

"Let's go to bed and go to sleep."

"Sleep?"

"Sleep, if you want to take care of your need, I will kiss you through it."

"No, I will wait for a better offer."

Around five o'clock, Scarlett woke Rhett up. She said, "Rhett, Rhett."

"What?"

"Send for Mammy and my mother. And I guess your mother. I am in labor. Then send for the ether. It already hurts so bad."

"Let me get dressed."

"That would be a good idea."

Rhett lit the lamp. He got out of the bed and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. He said, "I will just put on what I was wearing yesterday."

Scarlett looked at Rhett with panic on her face. He said, "How quickly are the contractions coming?"

"Quickly."

"Let me time your contractions."

"No, go get my mother, my mammy, and my ether."

"What about the midwife you had chosen?"

"Once Mammy and Mother arrived, I sent her a note telling her we didn't need her."

Rhett laughed. He quickly got dressed. He knocked on Ellen's door. When she answered it, he said, "Scarlett is in labor."

"Let me get dressed and go get Mammy."

"Yes."

Rhett walked down the hallway, he knocked on his parents' door. When his father answered, he said, "Scarlett is in labor."

He heard his mother say, "Let me get dressed and I will be right there."

"Thank you."

With that Rhett hurriedly walked to his office, he wrote a note to Dr. Kiley. It said: Come quick with your ether. My wife is in labor."

Rhett went to the servant's quarters. He woke Benson up. He gave the man a minute to wake up then he said, "I need this note taken to Dr. Kiley at 445 First Street."

"Very good, Sir. Let me wake up Charles."

"Good. Good. When he gets back, I will need him to deliver another note."

"I will tell him to find you."

"I will be in my bedroom."

Rhett was going to be with Scarlett as long as the women would let him stay.

When Rhett entered his bedroom, Beth, Mammy, and Ellen were already there.

All the women were uncomfortable with Rhett being in the room even Scarlett, but nobody was brave enough to tell him to leave. In truth, Beth knew it would do no good to tell Rhett to leave. That stubborn jackass that was her son was going to do what he wanted to do.

After thirty minutes, there was a knock on the door. Rhett answered it. There in front of him was Dr. Kiley and the footman, Charles. Dr. Kiley had his valise. Rhett pulled the doctor into the room. Dr. Kiley set his bag down on Rhett's nightside table. He opened it and pulled out a bottle and a mask.

Rhett gave Charles another note he took out of his pocket. He said to the servant, "Take this to Mrs. Bunker's house. 1717 Riverwalk Dr. "

"Yes, Sir."

Rhett closed the door and said to the room at large, "This is Dr. Kiley. He is going to give Scarlett ether to ease her pain."

Ellen said, "No, it is God's will that a woman will suffer in pain to bring a child into the world."

Rhett forcefully said to Ellen, "What are you? Some kind of sadist? This is your own daughter. She will get relief from the pain. Dr. Kiley, administer the ether." To the room at large he said, "If anyone tries to stop him, I will personally remove you from the room."

When Ellen started to speak, Rhett silenced her with a look. He said, "She will not suffer if she doesn't have to."

Beth moved forward and gently said, "Scarlett is his wife. It is his right to make decisions for her."

Stiffly Ellen said, "Of course it is. I hope he doesn't incur God's wrath."

"I will do what I think is right for Scarlett come heaven or hell."

Ellen gasped. Scarlett said, "Rhett!" She tried to sit up, but another contraction hit her and all she could do was lie there.

Dr. Kiley moved forward with his bottle of ether. Before he put the mask over Scarlett's mouth and nose, she said in a panicky voice, "Rhett."

Rhett moved across the room. He sat down on the bed on the other side of the bed from Dr. Kiley. He sat by her head with his back to the women. He took her hand and gently said, "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

As Dr. Kiley started giving Scarlett the anesthesia. Rhett said, "What is that smell?"

"The ether. It is not a pleasant smell."

"As long as it dulls the pain."

"It doesn't work immediately. It may take up to thirty minutes for Mrs. Butler to get any relief from the pain."

"Can you give her too much?"

"Yes, that is why I am going slowly."

Rhett turned around where he was facing the women in the room. He was holding Scarlett's hand the entire time. He didn't know if she could hear him, but he kept saying, "I'm right here." He rested back upon the headboard. He made eye contact with all the women in the room to let them know that he indeed wasn't leaving the room. He wasn't leaving because he was afraid if he left, they would take the ether away from Scarlett.