Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen.

The next morning as Frank was getting out of bed, he said, "Come with me to the store, so you can pick out some fabric and patterns for some new dresses. You can get some clothes for George." Frank had smiled and added, "I know the owner. I can get everything at cost."

Suellen had laughed a happy laugh. She did go with Frank to the store. They were busy so she started helping the customers. She quickly learned how to work the cash register. George had found himself a book to read. He had sat in the back room and read his book all day.

Every day for the next week, Suellen and George had gone with Frank to the store to buy fabric. Every day the store was busy. One night over supper Frank said, "I guess I need to hire another clerk."

Suellen said, "I have an idea, but I must make sure it is even possible." She turned to Melly, and said, "How long can we stay with you?"

Sarah Jane said, "I don't know."

Melly while looking at Matty said, "As long as you want. You are good company."

"Thank you. Frank, I will work at the store. If you don't have to pay another person, we can save more money and buy ourselves a house instead of living behind the store."

Frank, who had a few days when he had not eaten, was happy to save more money. He said, "For a little while. Just until we know if this increase in business is going to last."

While all that was going on Rhett, Scarlett, their children, Inez, and Agnes were on a ship to Plymouth to visit their relatives and get all of Rhett's money. Harrison was left in charge of the townhouse which meant Benson was left in charge. There was Rosemary and Percy, of course, and Nancy, Molly, Delta, Meg, Mike, John, Jezebel, and Athaliah. Jezebel had volunteered to take care of Percy.

John had been tasked with the chore of tearing down the old chicken coop and building another smaller one. They would still lock up their chickens at night, but without Rhett's steady supply of chickens the number of birds was dwindling. John, Mike, and Athaliah were going to do the rebuilding. Athaliah knew a lot about chickens. Pigs and calves too, but the Butlers didn't have any of those.

Agnes had been right about getting her sea legs. Four hours after the ship had shoved off, she was feeling better. Part of it was because the ship was so much larger than a small boat it wasn't affected by the water's movement as a small boat was.

While Scarlett had been packing for the trip, she had found the rabbit fur muff that her parents had given her so many years ago. It had seen better days, but she would never give it away any more than she would give any of Rhett's gifts away. She still wore the cameo broach occasionally. Every time she put it on it made her think of storming into a brothel to rescue her husband. How old had she been? Eighteen. Rhett had given her a new red wrapper and mysteriously her old wrapper had disappeared. Which was good. She could hardly fit in it anymore.

Rhett still had his robe she had given him. It was worn, but there was no point in giving him a new one. He wouldn't wear it.

Scarlett and Rhett were standing by the guardrail watching Charleston disappear. Both were wondering what they would find when they returned to the South. He said, "Steven and I are going to start writing our article about a woman giving birth to triplets."

"Rosemary and I should write the book instead of you men."

"Go ahead. Write your side of the story."

"I will."

"I will help you."

"I don't need your help to recount my experience. That is an experience I will never forget."

"No, but you might need my help with the spelling of the words."

Scarlett walked off in a huff. Rhett smiled. He knew it was a sign of immaturity, but he still couldn't resist making his wife mad.

The day after Rhett and Scarlett sailed out of Charleston, Henry Potter met his maker. As he was leaving the Devil's Paw several of his former slaves jumped him. They stole his money then beat him to death. They dropped his body in the harbor. He surfaced several days later.

When Jezebel heard the news, she didn't care how it happened. All she cared about was that Henry Potter was dead. Henry Potter who had raped her, his daughter, and all the other female slaves as soon as they came of age. Except for Mr. Butler's intervention Mr. Henry would have raped his granddaughter while she was still just eleven years old. He had seen all the female slaves as nothing more than an object to relieve his sexual need.

In the end nobody was the least little bit concerned about who had killed Henry Potter. Certainly not the Yankees. Certainly not the local authorities. Certainly not his fellow businessmen. And certainly not his wife.

Although Rhett had been out of Charleston for over a week when Henry's body surfaced, he was blamed for Potter's death, nonetheless.

Henry's wife took all of his money and moved to Atlanta. She had reverted back to her maiden name and became Ellen Corby. She lived a quiet life and only associated with a few women but no men. Men could not be trusted. She now had a wonderful life thanks to Henry's money. Luckily, she had never had children by that spawn of the devil.

The voyage was smooth, for which Agnes was grateful. When the Butlers arrived in Plymouth, they went to a hotel. There were too many of them to stay with anyone else. Although Tom, Grace, and Jude did get to spend the night with Beth and Percy a couple of times.

Percy taught Rhett about gemstones. Percy took him to his favorite jewelry store and Rhett bought Faith a bracelet with blue stones, Hope a bracelet with green stones, and Charity a bracelet with brown stones. Although the girls had developed their own personalities, Scarlett had the nursemaids continue to put the ribbons around their ankles. Unfortunately, the girls kept untying the ribbon.

Rhett wanted to wait and give the girls their bracelets on their second birthday, but Scarlett demanded that he give them to the girls right away. She was tired of tying those ribbons and she knew Agnes and Inez were too. The girls were not happy when they couldn't figure out how to get the bracelets off.

Rhett could have used colored glass for the bracelets, but colored glass was not good enough for his daughters. The bracelets were made with Sapphires, Emeralds, and Enstatite. Every year they would get another stone until they had stopped growing.

Rhett had bought Grace and Scarlett bracelets also. Grace's bracelet was blue and Scarlett's green. Now that he had access to his money, he was going to buy his loved ones a lot of presents. So, his sons would not feel left out, he bought them necklaces.

Everyone in the family got new clothes made. Scarlett had gotten the girls matching outfits in a pretty yellow fabric.

After seeing the girls in their outfits, Rhett said, "Never again. They look like a set instead of individuals."

"You are right, Rhett."

"Of course, I am."

The family's time in England was pleasant and it was nice to see that all the Butlers had settled into their new lives. Rhett also knew that nobody was going to be hurting for money ever again. The family's time in New York was pleasant. Rhett visited with Mr. Vanderbilt but shied away from investing in railroads. He had a bad feeling about them. He always heeded his feelings. They had never steered him wrong so far. He thought about Scarlett and smiled as he remembered him getting that feeling that taking her on a buggy ride was something he had to do.

Rhett took Scarlett, Tom, Grace, and Jude to Barnum's American Museum. They spent two days there. Inez, Agnes, and the triplets stayed at the hotel.

During the visit Rhett said, "The Confederate Army of Manhattan tried to burn the museum down in November of sixty-four."

"There was a Confederate Army all the way up here."

"Men who supported the Southern cause."

"How stupid. Why did they try to burn the museum down?"

"To cause chaos, I guess."

"That's equally stupid."

"I suppose."

"Let's go look at the whales."

"Alright. Let's."

Rhett and Scarlett went to an opera that was sung in English. On the way back to the hotel, Scarlett said, "I don't think I like those performances."

"Me neither."

All the Butlers went to the menagerie that was at Central Park. The children enjoyed themselves very much. Surprisingly to Scarlett nobody got scared. She guessed her children weren't fearful people.

The family also had their pictures taken by a photographer. They had one of Rhett and Scarlett, one of the entire family, and one of just the children. It was a challenging task for the photographer to get all the children to look at the camera, but he did.

Soon the family was back in Charleston. On the way back to the townhouse, there was construction everywhere. Scarlett asked, "Are you going to start a sawmill?"

"I don't think so. I'm not good at the small details. I'm a big picture guy."

"No, you are a handsome, charming man who can sell anything. Even ice to Eskimos."

"Eskimos?"

Tom said, "They are people who live at the North Pole. You didn't know that, Dad?"

"Yes, Son, I knew that I was just surprised your mother knew it."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett.

Tom said, "Why would Mama say it. They wouldn't need ice."

Rhett smiled and said, "No, they would not need ice. Your mother meant that I was so good of a salesman that I could sell people something they didn't need."

Grace said, "That's true. Especially women because you are so handsome."

Scarlett said, "Enough or your father's head will be too big to fit in this cab."

Tom said, "What does that mean?"

"It means he is conceited."

"Where did that come from?"

Everyone looked at Rhett and he said, "I have no idea."

Everyone looked at Rhett with disappointment. Scarlett said, "That certainly brought you back down to earth." When Tom started to speak, she added, "It means to be humbled and I have no idea of its origins. Jude, what did you like best about our trip?"

"Sleeping in the same room with Tom. I would like to continue sleeping with him."

"I am sure you would, but you are three and a half therefore, you will continue to sleep in the nursery."

"I am a big boy. I don't need a nursemaid."

When Scarlett started to speak, Rhett spoke over her and said, "We as your parents will decide when you don't need a nursemaid."

"Mama…"

"You heard your father. No."

Rhett said, "Besides, don't you like Inez sleeping in the same room with you."

"Yes, Daddy, I do."

Scarlett said, "Percy would be so lonely without you."

Jude said in a superior tone, "That is true. He needs me. He is just a baby like Charity, Hope, and Faith.

Scarlett and Rhett barely contained their laughter. They did not make eye contact. They knew they would lose it if they did. Jude had said it the same way Rhett would have said it.

All three little girls had at the same time indignantly squawked out, "No babies."

Later Rhett and Scarlett laughed about Jude's words in their bedroom. They both loved it when any of the children were their parent's child.

That week at Sunday dinner, Scarlett found out that Suellen had married Frank Kennedy.

Scarlett said, "That was fast."

Ellen told the group the entire story. She ended by saying, "Judging by Suellen's letters she seems incredibly happy. They are going to continue living with the Perry's until they can afford to buy a house."

Rhett said, "Just what the Perrys' needed. An insurgence of cash."

Harrison said, "It is what everyone in the South needs."

Rhett said, "Indeed."