Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Forty-Two

Nov 10: Clark came by to see me on the pretense of bringing me a baby gift. I almost cried when I told him She isn't yours. She has red hair. He smiled at me and said So does my mother. She is mine. Go get her. Let me see her. After I brought Ella to Clark and he looked at her, he said, She is mine. Her hair is my mother's and her nose is mine. His words made me so happy. He then said Let me hold her for a minute. She is my first born. I let Clark hold her for a little while then I said Give her back before people think it is odd you holding a baby for so long. Sadly, Clark handed Ella over. I could tell he didn't want to let her go. Abruptly he said I have to go. When do you get out of your confinement? I said December 1. He said I will meet you at the bend in the road. I said Yes, my love. Clark hurried away, but not before I saw the tears in his eyes. There were tears in my eyes also.

Dec 1: I am out of my confinement. Johnny's mill did good, and Leslie's mill did even better. I am so glad that most of Leslie's salary is based on a percentage of the profits. He deserves the monetary reward.

Dec 4: It is Wednesday! Frank is gone and Clark is here. I told him we couldn't have any more children until we were married. At first, he thought I meant we wouldn't have relations, but after I assured him, we still would be having relations, he agreed with me. He also agreed to find a way to prevent making another baby.

Dec 11: Clark found a way to prevent creating a child. It is called the sponge. The best part is that I can use it with Frank too. He found out about the sponge from his friend Ona. They are just a little bit too chummy for my peace of mind.

Dec 25: Everyone was at the house for Christmas dinner including Clark. He is a frequent visitor at our home. There was no reason to not invite him. It broke my heart the way he kept looking at Ella.

Jan 15 67: Clark is continuing to escort me home past Shantytown. We always have relations. I put the sponge in before I leave the house. I hope it is still effective after being in me for all that time.

Feb 14: I am missing Clark more than usual. Today is the day of love, but I can't be with the one I love.

April 12: I was attacked while driving home. I was lucky not to be assaulted. Big Sam saved me. My wonderful husband Frank doesn't seem that concerned about my safety. I wish the man would die. I'm sure Clark is beside himself with frustration. He had to meet a man about a business deal and the only time the man would meet him was in the afternoon, therefore he wasn't escorting me. I hope he doesn't blame himself. I haven't gotten to talk to him. I don't even know if he knows. I hope he comes by, but I don't know if I will be able to sneak out and meet him with Frank here.

April 13: Frank is dead. He left last night while telling me there was an emergency political meeting. At the time I thought, What can prompt an emergency political meeting? I know now it was so the good Southern gentleman could defend my honor. If the Yankees confiscate all of my property because of Frank's actions I am going to spit on his grave. The worst part is I am going to have to pretend I am sorry he is dead. Clark rushed in last night telling Olivia it was a trap and she had to tell him where they had gone so he could rescue them. He hadn't gotten there in time to save Frank. Frank was the only one killed. Although Leslie and Tommy Welburn were both injured. I hope neither one of them dies. I know everyone will blame me although I don't think it was my fault. I didn't ask them to defend my honor. I would never want my honor defended. At least, Clark is alive. I know it is wrong of me, but I am happy that I am rid of Frank. I suppose I should feel guilty that I married him for his money, made his life miserable, and in a roundabout way caused his death. But I'm not. I am certainly not going to pretend here in my diary.

April 14: Did Clark kill Frank? Just the other day, Clark jokingly said, 'Don't worry, my love, Frank can't live forever.' I am not appalled. I am actually happy. I will never have to let that old man touch me again. Luckily, I am not with child although I wouldn't mind having another of Clark's children. Did he try to kill Leslie? Clark hates the man so much. No, if Clark had tried to kill Leslie he would have succeeded. Oh, I hear Aunt PittyPat. I think Clark has come by.

Clark asked me to marry him, but he is going to England. He said he has business over there. He said although the sponge prevented making a baby, it wasn't one hundred percent, so for six months we better be apart, or we will be the talk of Atlanta and not the way we usually are but for our sinful actions. He made me laugh. He always makes me laugh. I am going to miss him so much. I told him to let me put the sponge in and I would be right back. He smiled his sexy smile and said I will wait forever with an offer like that. It was wonderful. Now we truly belong only to each other. I will never be intimate with anyone, but Clark for the rest of my life.

October 15: Clark is back! Clark is back! Just in time to celebrate Ella's first birthday. She looks a lot like me, but I think I see one or two of Clark's features. Ella just must be his.

October 21: Clark snuck into my bedroom last night. It is a good thing my bedroom is on the back of the house. I hope Olivia didn't hear anything. I don't care if Leslie heard Rhett. In fact, I hope he did. He came to Ella's birthday party. He looked completely the part of the proud Papa.

November 1: Clark brought me the biggest diamond I have ever seen. It must be at least five carats. He is so wonderful. He got us matching rings. His is engraved with Vivian and mine is engraved with Clark.

December 25: I once again asked Clark to Christmas dinner after all he is still a frequent visitor to Hamilton House.

Mar 17 68: It is my birthday, but Mrs. Merriwether ruined my day by telling me all the reasons I shouldn't marry Clark. She talked to me like I didn't know that Clark was not received or that he stole the Confederate gold. Nincompoop.

Mar 30: Mammy told me not to marry Clark. She said if I did, I would just be a mule like Captain Gable. It hurt for Mammy to call Clark a mule and I guess me too.

April 17: We got married on April 15th. Before I started showing with the baby. I am probably two months along. We were already planning to get married as soon as I was out of deep mourning. Why do I care? Clark isn't received and he never will be because he won't humble himself that much. This one is definitely Clark's. The truth is I know Ella is Clark's child also. No child that beautiful could belong to Frank Kennedy. Her eyes have turned green. She looks so much like me, but I see Clark in her features.

May 1: We had so much fun on our honeymoon in New Orleans.

Scarlett skipped over most of the description of their time in New Orleans. Mitchell had copied it word for word. Except Vivian doesn't mention anything about a fight or Clark leaving her in the middle of the night. She did mention that she hadn't had her nightmare since she had started sleeping with Clark. She did mention to Clark about Mammy calling them mules. She didn't want to bring Mammy back a present. Clark convinced her to give Mammy some assorted candies. As a lark they decided to give Mammy five yards of taffeta fabric to make a petticoat out of.

Scarlett paused in her read to reflect. She thought it was so sad that Mitchell had only given Clark and Vivian two weeks of happiness before Clark started being mean to her.

May 15: We are going to build our house at 207 Peach Tree Lane. It is a double lot. Clark won both of them in a poker game. He is amazing. He said I could build it and design it any way I wanted. He is so wonderful. I chose a Swiss Chalet design.

Sep 1: We have moved into our house because I must go into my confinement. The inside is still not finished.

Sep 15: If Clark says one more word about the décor of the house. I am going to scream. The entire time the house was being built if I asked his opinion, he would say Whatever you want. It is my gift to you. I don't care. Well, it seems he does care very much. The man makes me so mad.

Oct 19: Ella second birthday. She is so beautiful. I think she is beginning to favor Clark. So does he. I know because he told me so.

November 16: Clark's birthday. He is forty. All I could think to give him was me. He seemed happy with his gift.

December 15: Eugenie Victoria has been born. We had another little girl. She looks just like me, but she has the bluest eyes.

Jan 15 69: Clark and Olivia gave Genie that silly nickname of Bonnie. No matter what I say, Clark is determined to call her that. Just because her eyes are as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag.

Jan 30: I told Clark it was unmanly the amount of time he spends with his daughters. He laughed and said I will prove to you that I am one hundred percent man later tonight or right now If you say one more word. What else could I do but say 'one more word.' Clark burst out laughing but he swept me up in his arms and carried me to our bedroom. I know we shouldn't have been completely intimate, but I can never tell the man no. I just hope I don't get with child again. I hope Clark removed himself in time.

Feb 1: I asked Clark if we could wait to have more children. He said maybe a year but not much longer. He is not a young man.

Mar 1: I am not with child. Yeah!

Mar 17 70: I am having so much fun with Clark and the Scalawags I haven't had time to write in my diary in over a year. Clark doesn't want me to work. He said I could use his money to support the people at Tara and my aunts. I sold the sawmills to Leslie. He seems to be doing fine with them. It is not my problem. I sold the store. It always reminded me too much of Frank. I used the money to pay off Careen's dowry. I don't agree with her choice to hide herself away in a nunnery, but it is her choice.

June 1: I am with child again. When I mentioned it to some of the Scallawag wives, Mamie told me how to get rid of it. I was appalled. Why would I ever want to get rid of one of my children? They are too precious.

Aug 16: It is harvesting time at Tara. Clark took me down for the day. They are so busy there was no time to visit.