Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter One Hundred and Three

Later that evening after supper, Scarlett was in bed exhausted from walking up and down the stairs to attend supper. Harrison was with Rosemary in their room, Percy was sleeping in the bassinet in his mother's room. Rosemary had Agnes show her how to change the baby's diaper. For now, she would deal with it herself. Jude was sleeping, and Rhett, Tom, and Grace were in the family parlor. They were playing a board game that Grace was incredibly good at. She usually won, which infuriated Tom because he felt that because he was three years older than Grace and a boy besides, he should always beat her. The only thing that made Tom feel better about losing to Grace was that Dad was losing to her also. Although there were times that Tom thought Dad was letting Grace win.

One time when Tom had won a couple of games in a row, Grace had said, "I let you win."

That had made Tom so mad he turned the game board over. After he saw Grace's smirking face, he had yelled at her, "That was a lie."

Grace had gotten up to start to walk out of the family parlor. As she was walking out, she said, "Sure, Tom, sure. It was just a lie."

By Grace's tone, Tom knew she had said the lie part to irritate him. They never talked about it again. Yet every time he won, which wasn't often, she would sit there with that smirk on her face.

Tom knew that Grace was Dad's favorite, but it was alright because he was Mama's favorite. He then had a horrible thought. If the babies were all girls, would he be fifth in line for his father's affections? No, that could not be borne. At least, he was ahead of Jude. He had to start praying for boys. All boys. He didn't know how it worked so he asked his father. He said, "Will the new babies be all boys or all girls?"

Rhett stared at his son. He said, "I don't know. I have been assuming they would all be one gender or the other, but we might get a mixture."

Grace said, "I want all girls."

Tom said, "I want all boys."

Rhett said, "We take what we get. I will ask Uncle Steven about the gender possibilities next time I see him."

"That will be Saturday when we go serve the soup."

"Indeed."

Rhett looked at his children. He was so glad he was home to stay. He had missed doing these simple things with them.

Benson found Rhett in the family parlor with his children. Rhett excused himself and met Benson in the hallway.

After Rhett left, Tom said, "Let us wait until Dad gets back to continue the game."

Grace was her parents' child, and she knew that Tom didn't want to continue the game because he didn't want to lose to her one more time, but he would. She would just have to wait for sweet victory until Daddy came back. Yet, in that moment she was completely Rhett's daughter when she said, "Of course, I can wait to win one more time."

Tom closed his eyes and kept his temper. He couldn't yell at Grace with Dad just outside the room. Dad would not yell or speak harshly to Tom. No, he would sit down and explain why it was wrong to yell at another person. Now that Dad was home to stay things had certainly changed. And all those changes were not for the best.

After Rhett joined Benson in the hallway, the butler said, "She has given me permission to give you her personal information as long as you agree to buy her granddaughter also. Her granddaughter is only eleven and cannot be left alone."

"Of course. I will buy her granddaughter also. The granddaughter can live with us also."

"Her name is Jezebel, and she belongs to Henry Potter."

Rhett gasped. Henry Potter was known by everyone in Charleston for being an extremely evil man. The rumors about the man were so awful nobody received the man in their homes although technically he was still part of proper society. If he was going to buy Jezebel from that man, he would have to be his slyest. If Potter knew Rhett wanted Jezebel and her granddaughter in particular their prices would double if not triple.

Rhett now knew why Jezebel didn't want anyone to see her face or know her name. Any distrust Rhett had felt towards Jezebel had vanished. He now had to free her and her granddaughter somehow. He just knew Potter would turn the young girl into a sex slave when she turned twelve. He looked over at innocent Grace and Rhett vowed that would not happen to the other young girl.

Rhett said, "What is the granddaughter's name?"

"Athaliah."

"Was that not Queen Jezebel's daughter's name from the bible?"

"Yes, it was Jezebel's daughter's name also. She died in childbirth. She did not want to live. Her husband had been sold down the river."

Rhett returned to the parlor and finished playing the board game. His mind was not on the game, and he made a foolish blunder which allowed Grace to win. Because of Tom's frustration over the board game, he forgot himself and said, "Dad! How could you?!"

Rhett smiled at his son. His son who had the killer instinct to always want to win. His son who was frustrated by his younger sister winning so often. He said, "I'm sorry, Tom. I wasn't paying attention." Then Rhett poured salt into Tom's wound by tousling Grace's hair and saying, "She probably would have won anyway. Now, go on upstairs and get ready for bed."

The children got up and hugged and kissed their father good night. Grace said, "Can we tell Mama good night?"

"Yes, but be quiet. If she is asleep, don't wake her up."

The children said, "Yes, sir."

As Grace and Tom were walking up the stairs, she knew better than to aggravate her brother anymore that night. He really was a good brother, and he usually took care of her. It was just so much fun to aggravate him. Of course, he had his moments when he liked to aggravate her.

Their mother was awake and happy to see them. Being trapped in her room meant there were less opportunities for her to interact with her children. She missed her children, yet she found them so exhausting these days.

Later when Rhett got into bed, he found Scarlett asleep. He held her close and pleasured himself. He had not had much desire lately, but occasionally he did. There was nothing Scarlett could do to help him with his needs. She was just too tired. As he got ready to go to sleep, he repositioned their bodies, so her abdomen was on top of his abdomen. She was so large that she stretched from one side to the other side. He smiled as he felt a lot of movement. It felt like all three of them were moving around. He was so glad Scarlett could sleep through it all.

The next morning, Rhett told Scarlett, "I am going down to the docks to take care of Mr. Stephenson's ship."

"Alright."

Rhett did have to check on the ship, but he also hoped to have an encounter with Mr. Potter. The man also owned ships that were running the blockade. The man cheated his captains, his brokers, and even people who had come to him directly. The only reason people kept doing business with him was because of their need for his goods. Rhett briefly wondered what the man was going to do after the war since by then nobody would be doing business with him. Rhett would just wait and see.

Rhett found his ship that Mr. Stephenson had abandoned. He walked on board. He could see that people were squatting there. That was fine for now as long as they didn't damage anything. He didn't know what he was going to do with the ship anyway. He couldn't sell it right now. Or sail it either. Rhett was laughing at his play on words when he saw Mr. Potter.

As Rhett was standing there trying to figure out a scheme to get the crook to sell his slaves, Henry walked over to talk to Rhett.

Henry said, "I heard you have decided it is too dangerous to run the blockade anymore."

"Yes, that is true."

"I didn't take you for a coward."

"I am not a coward. I just have a family I have to take care of."

"I hope she is worth it considering how much money you are going to lose."

Rhett knew what the other man was implying and went with it. He was going to have to slither on the ground with this snake in order to outsmart him. He had an awful idea, but he was pretty sure it would work. He said, "Scarlett is a good wife, but she is getting a little long in the tooth if you know what I mean."

Only someone as amoral as Henry Potter would accept what Rhett was implying at face value. Henry chuckled and said, "It is time to replace her with a newer model."

"I could never divorce Scarlett. It would be the ruin of me."

"If you have enough courage and money, one doesn't need a reputation. I don't have one and people still do business with me."

"That's true."

Henry Potter was as old as Rhett's father. Maybe even older. Rhett said, "Did you want to talk to me about something?"

"Yes, how much do you want for your ship?"

"A thousand dollars."

"That is a bit steep."

"I really don't want to sell it. I just need to find another man to captain it for me."

"Good luck. Too many men are getting blown out of the water for blockade running to interest anyone, but the bravest of men. Like you used to be."

"I will find someone to captain it for me."

"Listen, Mr. Butler, I might have a deal for you."

"What?"

"I might have a slave you could buy."

"Why would I want to buy a slave?"

"To take care of your needs. It seems I have more than I need so I will make you a good deal."

"No, thank you. My needs are just fine. Besides, I don't need any more mouths to feed. Good day."

"Mr. Butler, if you change your mind let me know."

"I won't."

Rhett walked away. He couldn't be eager, or Mr. Potter would get the better of him. Yet, he couldn't wait too long. He didn't know when Athaliah would turn twelve. Twelve seemed to be the magic age that a man could start raping his female slaves.

When Rhett got home, he went in search of Benson. When he found the butler, he said, "I need to know anything you know about Mr. Potter. Like is he a drinker? Does he play poker? Does he have any secret vices?"

"What vices he has, are certainly not secret. That is one mean man."

"Anything."

"I will go see Jezebel tonight."

"Thanks."

Rhett found Scarlett with a pile of baby clothes in their bedroom. She had moved to the chair. He said, "Should you be sitting in a chair?"

"I don't know. I am already tired of being in bed. Help me sort these clothes."

"Alright."

Rhett sat on the floor and started piling up the clothes based on color. Scarlett said, "What are you doing?"

"Sorting the clothes."

"How?"

"By color obviously."

"No, Rhett they need to be sorted by size first then color."

"Size?"

"Yes, we need to put the clothes the babies can wear immediately in one pile no matter what color they are. Then clothes they can wear in a month in another pile."

Rhett stood up and said, "Let me go get Agnes to help you."

"Why?"

"They all look the same size to me. Baby clothes."

"You are so silly sometimes."

"How are we going to tell them apart?"

"What do you mean?"

"They are all three going to look like wrinkled old men until they are a month old. Furthermore, don't triplets look alike."

"I don't know. I have never seen a set of triplets."

"Neither have I." The couple was quiet for a minute then Rhett said, "Tom asked me if they were going to be all girls or all boys."

"What did you say?"

"I don't know."

"Go down to the hospital and ask Steven."

"I will see him Saturday at the soup give away."

"Why would you say that? Steven doesn't attend the soup give away."

"It is what Tom said."

"I don't know why Tom would say that. We only see Steven once a week, at Sunday dinner. Go. Go."

Rhett stood up and said, "On my way. I will send Agnes in here to help you. I will be back for dinner."

"Alright."

Not that it mattered to Scarlett if Rhett was back for dinner. She had her dinner in her room on a tray.