Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Forty-Nine

The next day at breakfast, Ellen asked to speak to Scarlett alone. Once they were seated in her mother's office Ellen said, "I know what you are doing."

Scarlett put the most innocent look on her face and said, "What?"

"You are playing on my fears for my grandson's life."

"No, Mother…"

"Katie Scarlett, stop it. I will give you until harvest is over to find a nursemaid that you are happy with. Mammy says that Rhett fires the girls for the flimsiest of reasons. All I'm saying is that you better have found a good nursemaid by November fifteenth, or you will be taking care of your son yourself. On November fifteenth, your father will be boarding the train to Charleston to bring my mammy back to Tara. Do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Now go. I have work to do."

"Yes ma'am."

Scarlett went to find Rhett. She knew where he would be. With their baby. Rhett was sitting on the floor playing with Tommy. She sat down next to him. He said, "What is it?"

"We can take Mammy back with us, but in November Pa is going to come get her and bring her back to Tara no matter what."

"We got a year of excellent care."

With a sad smile, Scarlett said, "She said she knew what I was doing."

"She has known you all your life. Probably Mammy has known too."

"True. She has known me all my life also."

"Maybe we will be able to get Mammy back when we have another child."

"As long as Suellen or Careen hasn't just had one."

"Cheer up. It is not the end of the world."

"It practically is."

Later that day at dinner, Scarlett asked, "Where is Suellen?"

Ellen said, "At Twelve Oaks."

"What is she doing over there?"

Gerald said, "She and that nitwit Honey have gotten to be good friends."

"Gerry!"

"I didn't say anything that everybody didn't already know."

Careen said, "I think she has a crush on Ashley."

Gerald, Ellen, and Scarlett at the same time said, "What?!"

"She is always talking about him much the same way…. Never mind. While she is over there visiting Honey, she spends time with Ashley also."

Ellen said, "It wouldn't be a bad match for Suellen."

Scarlett said, "If she is willing to marry a man who is in love with another woman, then it would be a good match for her. The Wilkeses are the riches family in the county."

Gerald said, "I don't know. I don't think they are compatible. For example, Ashley loves to read, and Suellen has said she will never read a book no matter how bored she is. Besides as I have said before, the Wilkeses are odd folks. Mind my words, Katie Scarlett, I would never have approved a match between you and that Wilkes' boy."

"Pa, my feelings were not that invested in my relationship with Ashley."

Fortunately, nobody contradicted Scarlett, but everyone, Rhett included, knew the truth.

Ellen quickly said, "I guess we will just have to wait and see what becomes of this romance."

Careen said, "Indeed, Mother."

Ellen arranged a small party for Tommy's birthday. The only people at the party were Tommy's relatives. Ellen and Gerald gave their grandson a rocking horse. Suellen gave Tommy a blue dress that came to his calf now that he was walking, and Careen gave the boy a white pinafore and some white tights. Ellen did not serve a cake either because she agreed with Mammy that babies didn't need sugar. Rhett and Scarlett had given their son new shoes, a top, and some carved animals. Rhett had bought the carved animals at a general store.

The rest of the time the Butlers and their nursemaids were at Tara flew by for Scarlett and Rhett. Finally, Rhett, Scarlett, Tommy, Mammy, and Faith were on the train to Charleston. Ellen was the only person in the foyer to see the group off. Scarlett had said goodbye to everyone the night before. Scarlett had tried to be kind to Suellen while they were visiting. Scarlett had a feeling that other people didn't like her sister any more than she did.

Scarlett once again got more food than she thought they would eat and then got some more food. Seth took them into Jonesboro and helped them with the trunks. Rhett made a point of thanking Seth for his help.

After the group was seated on the train, Scarlett said, "What is the plan?"

"Keep hiring nursemaids until we find a keeper. As a last resort, we will make one of the slave girls take care of him."

"No, Rhett. I don't trust them not to hurt Tommy."

"Very well. As a last resort you can take care of Tommy."

"Yes, I will do it. Nothing can happen to Tommy."

"You are right, my love, nothing can happen to Tommy especially considering he is the only one we are going to have."

"Rhett! Stop it! You know we are going to have more. Just not on purpose."

Rhett sighed and said, "I will accept it, but I'm still not happy about it."

Scarlett reached into the box and brought out a pastry. She said, "Cinnamon roll?"

"Yes, please. I really like these. They are so small. I can just pop them in my mouth."

"I know. I like them too. I got the recipe from the cook. Hopefully she gave me all the ingredients."

"What do you mean?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "Slaves have been known to leave out a key ingredient, so the other cook's cinnamon rolls are not as good as hers."

"Passive resistance."

"What do you mean?"

"If you ever decided to challenge your mother's cook on her leaving out an ingredient, she could claim that she didn't leave out an ingredient. If you pushed her more, she could say she forgot. You could not prove she hadn't forgotten."

"No, I couldn't."

"They work slower, or not as hard, or don't remember what you told them to do, or even put things in the food to make their master sick or even poison us."

Scarlett whispered, "Why do they not revolt? There are more of them than us."

"True, but the Nat Turner revolt proved to the slaves that if they weren't successful there would be hell to pay."

"Explain."

Quietly Rhett said, "Nat Turner was a slave who could read and write. He was a preacher. It is said he had a vision of his fellow slaves and himself overthrowing the system. They didn't. Nat Turner and his fifty-five conspirators were killed. In order to strike fear into the other slaves over a hundred slaves were killed as an act of vengeance. It is one thing to be willing to sacrifice your life, but they had to ask themselves, 'Do I have the right to put my brethren's lives in jeopardy?' Fortunately for our system, most of the slaves came down on the side of 'No I don't."

"Do you really think they care so much for people they have never met?"

"Yes, they do, because they are all in the same situation. After the Nat Turner's revolt every slave state passed laws making it illegal for a master to teach his slave how to read. A lot of states passed laws not only restricting the movements of slaves, but of freed people of African descent."

"I don't want to think about this."

"Nor do I, but we must come to terms with the fact that the plush life we live is because of someone else's labor."

"Stop talking about it."

"Of course, my love."

Rhett took Scarlett's hand. Regrettably, most of the people in the South were quite willing to turn a blind eye to someone else's suffering or even worse delude themselves into thinking the slaves were happy with their lot in life.

In a few minutes, Scarlett said, "Would you get my carpet bag? I am going to sew on Tommy's new clothes."

"Certainly. I was surprised how much clothing a baby goes through."

"True, but I am saving all of Tommy's clothes for our next child since most of his dresses are gender neutral."

"The child we may or may not have."

"Rhett, I'm tired of this. You know we are going to have more children."

"No, I don't. Maybe we just got lucky with Tommy. What if you aren't that fertile?"

"No, Rhett. I am very fertile. I am Irish after all."

"Half Irish."

"My mother got with child every year."

"How about this, if we have not conceived another child by the time Tommy is five you will let me get you with child again."

Scarlett sighed. She was so tired of all of this. Finally, she said, "Yes." Just to shut Rhett up about it.

As the train approached Charleston, Scarlett said, "Is Jimmy meeting us?"

"No, I told my father that we would take a cab from the train station."

"Very well."

"Do you want to go get something to eat?"

"No, I'm too tired. Let's just go to the townhouse."

"Very well."

The next morning Rhett sent a note to the employment agency to send over a nursemaid. That action started the revolving door of nursemaids. Whoever the agency sent over they employed her. At least for a little while. Although Rhett was handling all of the firing of the nursemaids there had been a couple of them that Scarlett had told him to fire. They were all worthless.

On September nineteenth, Scarlett got the note that told her that Daphne was in labor. Scarlett had Rhett go with her. She said, "You can keep Robert company."

"Very well."

After Scarlett got to Daphne's room and she saw her friend writhing in pain. She said, "I will be right back. I will get you something for the pain, Daphne."

"Please!"

Scarlett hurried down the stairs to the parlor where she found Rhett. She said, "You didn't tell Robert about ether?"

"As a matter of fact, no."

"Go get the doctor to give Daphne the ether."

"I'm on my way. Come on Robert. I will explain on the way."

Scarlett went back upstairs. After she was back in Daphne's room, she said, "Rhett is going to get a doctor to give you ether. You will still hurt, but not as much."

The midwife stepped forward and said, "Ma'am, it is God's will that a woman will suffer while delivering a child."

Scarlett remembered Rhett's words and said, "What are you some kind of sadist? My sister-in-law is getting relief and if anyone tries to stop me, I will have my husband remove you from the room."

"You don't have to remove me from the room. I will not be a party to this. I don't want God's wrath coming down on me."

"Get your stuff and get out."

Felicia said, "Scarlett, we need her."

"No, we don't. When Rhett gets back, I will have him go get my mammy and the wet nurse. My mammy can deliver the baby."

"Wonderful."

By this time the midwife had left the house. It was over forty-five minutes before Rhett, Robert, and Dr. Kiley got to the townhouse. Rhett had Robert show Dr. Kiley to Daphne's room. After Scarlett saw Dr. Kiley, she left the room and returned to the parlor. When she saw Rhett, she said, "Go get Mammy and Faith. I fired the midwife. She was a sadist."

"On my way. Come along Mr. Moon. I will explain everything along the way."

Within thirty minutes, Daphne was getting relief from the pain and Mammy was in the room. All three men were back in the parlor. After another hour, when Felicia could see how much the ether was helping her daughter, she said, "Thank you, Scarlett."

"You're welcome. No woman should have to go through that pain."

"You are right. No woman should have to go through that pain."

Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Kiley looked at Mammy and said, "Is she close?"

"Yes. Very close."

"I have given her all I can give her for now. If she is almost finished, I won't wait around. I need to get back to my patients."

Scarlett said, "Thank you, Doctor. Let me take you to the parlor so Robert can pay you."

Felicia said, "No, I will."

"And miss the big moment. You stay. I will be right back."

As it turned out, Scarlett was back in time for the baby's birth also. Soon Mammy was holding the baby boy out to Felicia. She said, "Please, clean the baby up, Grandmother."

With tears in her eyes, Felicia took the child and said, "Yes, certainly."

Daphne said, "What is it?"

Scarlett said, "A boy."

"Robert will be happy."

"What are you going to call him?"

"Alexander Robert."

"Fine name."

Felicia brought the baby to Daphnie and for once Scarlett was aware of the situation. This was a moment for mother and child to share. Alone. Scarlett said, "Let me go tell Robert the good news. You can bring the baby down in a moment, Mrs. Moon. I won't be back up, Daphne. I will come to visit in a couple of days."

"Thanks, Scarlett, for everything."

"Yes, Dear, thank you very much."

Soon Scarlett was in the parlor, and she said to Robert, "It is a boy. Congratulations. As soon as the room is cleaned up, Mrs. Moon, will come get you."

Warren said, "Let me pour us a drink."

"Certainly, Sir."