Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Ninety-Eight

On July second, the people of the South found out that Lee was fighting a battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was a bloody battle but weren't they all. The battle waged on for three days with Lee retreating. The South had lost the battle and the war. Vicksburg fell July fourth and the Union had complete control of the Mississippi. They had also divided the Confederacy. In hindsight in the years to come the old men at the Feed Store would tell anyone who would listen what Bobby Lee should have done. Yet the Confederacy continued to fight. So many people believed they still had a chance. Believing they still had a chance made their suffering worthwhile.

To Scarlett Butler whether the Confederacy or the Union won was not of any importance to her. What was important was that her babies stay in the womb and that Rhett stopped running the blockade. She couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't be strong anymore. She needed Rhett to shoulder this load she had been carrying.

One of the other captains came to the townhouse to get paid for his cargo. Without meeting her eyes the man said, "I ain't going back. I'm done running the blockade. It is too dangerous. Some of those cannon balls I felt the wind as it roared passed me."

"Mr. Stephenson, thank you for your service. I will go to the dock and see if the second wants to take over captaining the ship."

"Of course, Ma'am."

"Let me get you your money."

"Thank you. I will pay the crew."

After Mr. Stephenson had left the townhouse, she went and got Tom out of the school room. She said to Harrison, "Today is a free day. Have fun. I have need of Tom. Come along my son."

Grace was a little bit jealous that Tom was always getting to go places with Mama, but she knew it was because Tom was a boy, and she wasn't. Secretly Grace knew Daddy loved her best simply because she was a girl. Therefore, it was fair.

Scarlett sold the merchandise on the ship to a broker. She thought about saving some of the cargo for her mother, but something told her not to bother. She told the broker to get his merchandise off the ship as quickly as possible. There were no men to guard the items.

Scarlett had been right. Except for the cargo the ship was empty. She and Tom grabbed the chickens and the piglets that were in their crates. There were also a couple of calves that she took also. Mr. Tyson would just have to take care of the calves also. She didn't know what was on the manifest and she didn't care. The broker could just try to get the money out of her. She made Tom lead the calves away. She wasn't getting close to a cow even if it was a baby cow. She left the ship right where Mr. Stephenson had moored it. Rhett could deal with it later. She didn't even care if someone stole it. That made her think of Mr. Christian. She guessed she had a soft spot in her heart for him. She didn't want him to get killed. Him and his absurd ears.

Scarlett was praying that Rhett made it home. There was a lot of military activity in the harbor. The Union was determined to close the harbor. Everyone in the townhouse knew what was going on in the harbor. Everyone knew that Scarlett was extremely worried. Everyone kept reassuring Scarlett that Rhett would make it through the blockade, it made her worry that much more. It really must be bad if everyone felt the need to reassure her.

Rhett's ship was one of the last ships through. He probably would not have risked trying to run the blockade if his wife and family hadn't been on the other side. His extremely with child wife. As he and Mr. Matthews were managing to avoid shells, Rhett had the absurd thought, 'If I get killed, Scarlett is going to kill me.' The thought made him laugh, but he made himself stop because even to himself it had a hysterical edge to it.

Rhett stared at Mr. Matthews. He was as calm as a cucumber. Rhett shouted at him, "How can you be so calm? We could get killed at any moment."

"Yes, we could, but unlike you, Mr. Butler, I have nothing to live for. I have no wife or children. I don't even have a home. Everything I own is on this ship with me including all my money. Therefore, if I die, I die."

After they had dock and Rhett had disembarked from the ship, he wanted to fall to his knees and thank God he was still alive. He had been an agnostic at best, but more likely an atheist. Yet, he thanked the God he had always believed in. He thanked God for just being on solid ground. He thanked God for Scarlett. He thanked God for his children. He thanked God for a broken buggy wheel and his lust for Scarlett. He prayed that his babies would survive, but more than that he prayed for Scarlett's survival. Everything would be alright if Scarlett survived. He and she would struggle through everything as long as they had each other. He honestly didn't know what he would do with himself if something happened to his wife.

That morning Rhett crawled into bed with Scarlett. He did not try to get her aroused. He just wanted to hold her and listen to her breathe. He put his hand on her bump and felt at least one of his children moving. Her bump was huge. She must be so uncomfortable.

Scarlett with difficulty turned over and said, "Rhett?"

"Yes."

"Thank God. You cannot leave me ever again."

"If it is that important to you, I will stop running the blockade."

"The Yankees have closed the harbor. You couldn't leave even if you wanted to."

"They hadn't closed it completely or I wouldn't be here. I risked my life just to return to you."

"A year ago, I would have told you that you were foolish for risking your life to return to me. Now, I am so extremely happy you did."

Rhett kissed Scarlett passionately. She kissed him back and said, "I am in mild labor, but I think it will stop."

"And if it doesn't?"

"I don't know."

"It is too early."

"Yes, two months too early. I have been having false labor since July first."

"It has to stop."

"I hope so."

After about thirty minutes, Rhett said, "Has it stopped?"

"No, but it hasn't gotten any stronger either."

"Shall I call for Rosemary?"

"No, not unless it gets stronger."

"We need to talk about names."

"If they are girls – Faith, Hope, and Charity."

"That goes with Grace, but what about Ellen for your mother or Elizabeth for mine?"

"No. Faith, Hope, and Charity, but you can pick the boys names."

"Alright. Give me a few minutes to think."

After a while Rhett said, "Yes! Christopher, Noah, and Erik."

"What is the common theme?"

"They are all sailors."

"Eric?"

"Erik the Red. With a 'k.' He was a Viking explorer."

"Alright, but with a 'c.' Go on."

"Christopher Columbus and Noah from the bible."

"Alright. With the middle name Rhett.

"No, I will come up with some middle names if I have to."

"Alright."

"What middle names are you going to put with the girl names?"

"Beth, Ellen, and Solange for my grandmother."

"Alright. Are you still in labor?"

"No."

"I wonder if there is a way to stop you from going into labor too early."

"Let us talk to Steven."

"Alright."

"I will talk with Mammy."

"Alright."

"You must find a midwife. We can ask her."

"Alright. Now close your eyes and rest. I will just lay here and hold you."

"This reminds me of all our train rides when we were first married."

"Why?"

"Your erection was pressing into me then also."

"I will take care of it later."

"You can take care of it now. I don't mind."

"No, right now I just want to hold you. Once the babies are born, we will never be intimate again."

Scarlett sleepily said, "Don't be ridiculous. We will be intimate again. This is a freak thing. It is not going to happen again."

At breakfast the children were excited to see Rhett. He once again sat on the floor, so all the children could sit next to him. For once Rosemary was at breakfast on time. Harrison was seated beside her. Rhett said, "Rosemary, Scarlett is having false labor."

"So soon."

"You need to find a way to stop her from going into labor too early."

"I told you Rhett only the good Lord can stop it."

"Talk to all your doctor friends maybe one of them knows something you and Steven don't know." Rosemary stared at Rhett. He said, "I am sorry if that came out rude or mocking. It was not my intention."

"Wow, Rhett, you really must be worried. An apology. When was the last time you gave someone one of those?"

"When I was ten and our Mammy made me do it."

"Didn't mean it for a minute, did you?"

Rhett grinned and said, "Not a word, but Mammy wasn't shy about using that switch on me so I did it."

Rosemary and Scarlett laughed. Rosemary stood up and Harrison stood up also. He said, "Let me help you get into your buggy."

Tom was almost twelve and very smart. He didn't understand most of what Dad and Aunt Rosemary were talking about, but he knew it had to do with mother. He didn't know what labor was, but it didn't sound good. Aunt Rosemary had said Dad was worried about Mama. If Dad was worried, then things had to be bad. Tom blurted out, "Mama isn't going to die, is she?"

Scarlett and Rhett with shocked expressions looked at Tom. She said, "We must explain. Even the improper parts so he doesn't worry."

"You are right, my love."

Rhett took a deep breath, he said, "First the good news. I am not going to be running the blockade for a while."

Tom and Grace's faces turned pale and Grace said, "Then Mama really is sick, if you are staying home."

Scarlett laughed and said, "I'm not dying. I'm having a baby. I'm having three babies as a matter of fact. There isn't much room in my womb for all three babies so they may choose to come out early, but we can't let them come out early because there is a lot of growing, they still have to do inside me."

Grace said, "They can't grow outside you like Jude did."

"Yes, but it is a different type of growing. This growing is better if it is done inside me."

Rhett said, "I have stopped running the blockade because it is too dangerous. I must stay alive to take care of your mother and all my children. Now no worries. Everyone is going to be just fine."

Tom and Grace appeared a little bit relieved. They were still worried, but they had complete faith in their father, so all was alright.

Nancy who had been refreshing the serving bowls had heard everything. She was not as confident in Mr. Butler's ability to prevent tragedy as his children were. He was a fine man, but just a man. She would tell Benson. He would tell his friend Jezabel. The old woman that helped Miss Beth with the yellow fever. Jezabel would fix Mrs. Butler up, no doubt about it.

Later that morning, Rhett sent Mr. Matthews a note. It said: Send my mother-in-law what I told you to send her. I will find a broker to buy the rest of the load. As soon as the cargo is off the ship get the cotton loaded and get out to sea if you think it is safe. If not send me a note and I will dispose of the Blue Moon and Stephenson's ship. If you sail to England, tell my brother to sell the Blue Moon. Find your way back to South Carolina or start a new life in Plymouth.

Rhett went to Seth Findley's office and made him a good deal for his cargo. All he required was that Mr. Findley get the merchandise off the ship immediately. That wasn't a problem. That was standard procedure when dealing with a blockade runner. The captains always wanted the merchandise off the ship immediately so they could get back out to sea.

After Rhett returned to the townhouse, he sent a note to Stephen for him to come examine Scarlett as soon as possible.

After Mr. Matthews read Rhett's note he made several decisions. He decided to start a new life in England, and he decided to sail with women and children on his ship. He told the crew, "We are sailing to England, and we are not returning. If you want to move to England with me, go get your families. We shove off as soon as the cotton is loaded."

That night the Blue Moon made it through the blockade one last time. On board was Mr. Matthews, his favorite whore, half his crew, and their families. Nobody knew what awaited them in Plymouth, but their lives had not been they great in Charleston, so they were willing to take the gamble.