Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Fifty-Two.

Despite neither the Butlers nor the freed people saying a word about what Percy had done in November soon several other slave owners had heard about Percy freeing his slaves. In September at a social event one of the other slave owners, James Earl Ray, spoke to Percy about his slaves. James Earl said, "I want to talk to you about your slaves."

"I don't have any slaves. I gave them all their freedom."

"That is what I heard. Why in the hell did you do that? Are you stupid?"

"I think it is wrong to own another man."

"They aren't men. They are a sub-human life form."

"No, James Earl. They are men and women just like you and me."

"Maybe like you, but not like me. Your actions have made my slaves unhappy."

"I am sorry about that, but I had to do what I thought was right."

"How much did freeing your slaves cost you?"

"In a monetary amount or in a conscience amount? It freed my conscience. I sleep quite nicely now."

"I have always slept quite nicely. How much in a monetary amount?"

"Probably close to half a million dollars."

James Earl's eyes bugged out and he said, "Are you crazy to throw all that money away?"

"I don't think so. Good day, James Earl."

After talking with most of the men, the group decided to have a group of nine men make the decisions for the group. The first thing the nine men decided was that, at least for now, they were not going to dole out the money. They would use some of the money to buy what the people needed. For example, fabric for everyone to have new clothes.

Therefore, three of the women and Beth went into Charleston to a general store. Beth helped them purchased everything they needed to make new clothes for everyone. This was something that Beth had done every year to provide the slaves with fabric to make new clothes from every year. Like Percy, she was helping the freed people until they had a better grasp of the system. Also, like Percy so they would not be taken advantage of by crooks.

Fortunately for the freed people neither Beth nor Percy thought they were stupid people, just naïve people.

Nothing unusual happened in the following months. Rhett followed his investments closely and scowled every time Scarlett got her monthly. He had stopped complaining about her not wanting anymore children. In December he decided that the reason he wasn't getting Scarlett with child was that he was ejaculating too often. He decided that he needed to store up his seed so that his fluid would overwhelm the iron sulfate solution. Therefore, after her monthly in December he restrained from having relations except for once a week. Scarlett was not happy about them not being intimate any more often than once a week, but because she was a lady she didn't complain. The worst part to her was not only was she not being sexually satisfied, but Rhett was cross and irritated by almost everyone, but especially her. When she got her monthly in January of fifty-four, he decided that was a stupid theory and went back to having relations every night and every morning. It had been extremely difficult to sleep next to the woman he loved night after night without having relations. As far as Scarlett was concerned, she was once again a happy lady.

In late January Daphne went into labor again. Although Scarlett was there to assist in the delivery of the child, this time Daphne had made sure the midwife was alright with her receiving ether to ease her pain. Dr. Kiley was summoned once again. The midwife, Angela Lansbury, observed the effects of the ether and thought, 'Wonderful. A way to relieve the mother's pain.'

It was another boy. Robert and Daphne named him, Kennesaw Robert. Rhett was annoyed about that. He had wanted to name his next son Kennesaw, but now they couldn't.

That night in their bedroom, Rhett said to Scarlett, "Because of your stupid desire to not have any more children Robert was able to steal Kennesaw away from us."

Scarlett sighed and calmly said, "It is not a stupid desire and there is no guarantee we would have had another son. We might just have all girls from now on."

"If we ever have any more at all."

"Rhett, I am so tired of you and this attitude. Because of your strong desire to have another child, against my better judgement, I have agreed to not using a prevention starting in August until you get me with child."

"What if it takes us a couple of years to conceive another child?"

"What if it does? We are both young. I am only going to be twenty-one in March. We have at least twenty more years of being able to make children."

"It might take us all twenty years to conceive another one. And Robert will have used all the good names by then. Or maybe even Rosemary."

Scarlett sighed again and shook her head. Rhett had said she was unreasonable, but in her opinion, he was the one being unreasonable. She said, "I don't think you have to worry about Rosemary. She is in love with Mr. Ford."

"How do you know?"

"I can tell by the way she looks at him. She always has a melancholic expression on her face. Then suddenly she will plaster a smile on her face and look around like checking to see if anyone saw her looking at Mr. Ford."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I bet she regrets inviting him to go sailing with us."

"I'm sure he does too. I have seen him looking at her with a sorrowful look on his face."

"This is out of character for you. You are usually not an observant person."

"Maybe I'm growing up."

"Maybe. I certainly don't regret inviting you on a buggy ride."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I don't regret accepting or going with you without a chaperon."

"Maybe it is just as well the events unfolded like they did. We probably would never have seen each other again if we hadn't had to get married."

"True. I would have been in Clayton County."

"Pining away for Mr. Wilkes."

"I was not emotionally involved with Ashley. I didn't care anymore for him than I did all the rest of my beaus."

"Of course not, Dear."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett. He had made his statement with ridicule to imply he was just agreeing with her to keep the peace, but he knew the truth.`

"I didn't."

"I don't care if you did. You love me now and that is all that matters."

"I guess so."

In February Rhett and Scarlett went out to supper to celebrate Valentine's Day. He had given her flowers and she had given him her special thank you. The couple had a lovely time all night long. She had even foregone the insertion of the cloth. Robert and Daphne did not go out to eat, but he had bought her some flowers. He had stayed away from candy because she was feeling thick. Warren gave Felicia some flowers. He still hadn't been to see the doctor about his chest pains therefore he went to bed early because his chest was hurting.

Rosemary had indeed told Luke to stop calling on her. Unlike Scarlett who had been happy letting a lot of men call on her, Rosemary couldn't handle it. Like her mother she had no patience for mindless babble. The only way Beth had been able to tolerate listening to hours of mindless babble when she was Elizabeth was because it was the proper thing to do, that and her steely control.

Rosemary was letting a young man named, Douglas Ross, call on her. He was a doctor and he worked with his father. Rosemary liked him a lot. Not as much as she had liked Harrison, but that ship had sailed so to speak. She found his talking about treating people interesting. She would often have a passing thought about how much fun it would be to be a doctor, but she never would be able to. Well-brought up young ladies didn't work.

Doug had come to call and brought her a box of chocolates to mark the occasion. They had sat in the parlor with Beth and Percy. The foursome had a pleasant conversation. Although Beth and Percy let Rosemary and Doug do most of the talking.

In March two events happened. The one with the most initial impact was Warren Moon passing away in his sleep. He really should have made the time to go see a doctor. He had heart problems, but he probably could have lived another five years if he had taken care of himself. Felicia and Daphne were both devastated. It had been the three of them for so many years. Yes, they now had Robert, Alex, and Kenny, but they were going to miss their husband and father respectively so very much.

Robert had taken charge. He sent a note to his mother informing her of Warren's death and asking her which funeral home did they use. In no time at all, Beth and Scarlett were at the Moons' home. Beth said, "I have already sent a note to Mr. Lynch telling him that you are in need of his services. I gave him your address. I hope that was alright."

Felicia said, "Of course. I can't do this. Robert?"

"Yes, Mummy, I will handle everything. Is there anything special you want for him?"

"I don't know. I can't think."

"I will handle it. Mother, will you help me?"

"Of course."

Scarlett said, "Do you have the needed items to prepare the house for mourning?"

Felicia said, "No."

"I will go to the general store and get everything. Then the servants and I can prepare the house."

"Thank you, Dear. Daphne, go get my purse. You go with Scarlett so you can pay for everything."

"Are you sure, Mummy? Don't you want me to stay with you?"

"Yes, but you must go purchase and pay for everything that is needed."

When Scarlett started to tell Mrs. Moon to not worry about that right now, she saw Beth shake her head. Beth whispered, "Don't shame her by not letting her pay for her husband's funeral."

"Yes, ma'am."

Although Felicia was sitting in the parlor with Beth and Robert when Mr. Lynch was asking all his questions, she never said a word. Robert would look at his mother-in-law then answer the question. Beth said, "How soon will it take to prepare the body?"

"I will have the body prepared by the day after tomorrow."

Robert said, "We will be down later today to pick out the coffin and the plot."

"Yes, sir. Can you show me where the body is?"

"Yes, follow me."

Robert and Beth had gone down to the funeral home and picked out the coffin and the plot. On the way back they put a notice in the paper with the time and location of Warren Moon's funeral. It would be two days hence at ten in the morning.

After the house was prepared for mourning Beth and Scarlett returned to the townhouse.

Both Scarlett and Rosemary had to get another dress dyed for the funeral. Rosemary had outgrown her dress and Scarlett had not been able to squeeze herself into her dress.

Robert had closed the textile mill on the morning of the funeral only. Most of his workers got paid by the hour and he could not strip them of an entire days' pay to honor their now dead boss. Robert was ready to start running the textile mills his way. He was always amazed that his father-in-law had immigrated to the United States because he was a man set in his ways. He rarely wanted to change anything. In fact, he only changed things when he had no other choice.

The other event that happened in March was Scarlett did not get her flow. Her getting with child had nothing to do with Rhett's actions, well except the obvious one. Not even not using a prevention on St. Valentine's Day had any effect. It was just one of those things. Sometimes the iron oxide didn't kill all the sperm.

Rhett was cautiously excited. If Scarlett missed another flow, then he would get excited. She just might be late. Although he doubted it. The woman was as regular as clockwork.

Author's Notes: Men who have normal sperm quality maintain normal sperm motility and concentrations even with daily ejaculations. According to The Mayo Clinic