Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW. I am not making any money on this writing.

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

Chapter Eleven

This time only Tommy Welburn had been killed. Rhett saved Ashley's life. He saved Ashley's life because he didn't want Scarlett to turn him into a martyr. This time, although Scarlett was concerned about Ashley living, she was more concerned about how this foolish raid would affect her in the community. Luckily, her property was not in jeopardy because neither she nor her husband had gone on that raid. The husband that she didn't have.

It didn't take Scarlett long to find out. Two days later, Scarlett knew she was being blamed for Tommy's death. Luckily, Melly wasn't blaming her for Ashley almost dying. Melly said, "The gentlemen were just doing what honor dictated they do. Defend a Southern woman who had been assaulted."

Scarlett thought, 'I would not want anyone to die defending my honor least of all Ashley. Him and his damn honor.'

When Mystic Rhett heard Scarlett's thoughts, he thought, 'Progress. The chink is going to come through Ashley's honor. Let me work on that.'

Mystic Rhett said, "Yes, his damn honor is always getting in the way of my plans."

Scarlett thought, 'I wish he would just do what I wanted him to do and stop being so damn honorable.'

Over the next two weeks, Mystic Rhett would say things like, 'If it wasn't for Ashley's honor, you would be the one in there taking care of him.' Or. 'If it wasn't for Ashley's honor you would not have to be working like a dog to support everyone.' Or. 'Ashley and his honor would be appalled at my actions regarding the sawmills.' Or. 'If Ashley and the others hadn't gone out to defend me because of honor my reputation wouldn't be so bad in the community.' Or 'Ashley would have been the perfect husband before the war, but now he is a turtle on his backside all because of his honor. Useless.'

Mystic Rhett continued to tell Scarlett that she no longer loved Ashley. She had outgrown him. He also added, "He is just the one that got away."

Mystic Rhett said, "How can you still love Ashley after all the shame he brought upon you?"

For the first time ever, Scarlett responded to a statement about Ashley, she said, "What shame?"

"The shame of him marrying another woman after he had been calling on you for two years."

"I don't know. I will think about that tomorrow."

Mystic Rhett sighed.

An hour later, Scarlett said, "He is so handsome and honorable."

Mystic Rhett answered, "Not very honorable to call on you for two years then marry another woman.

After another hour when Mystic Rhett didn't get an answer, he said, "That damn honor that is keeping the two of you apart."

Scarlett sighed. She remembered her life before the war. Her wonderful life. Her life had been pretty damn awful since that last barbecue. She was a lady, damn it. She shouldn't have to be doing the things she was doing to put a roof over hers and Wade's head. Precious Wade. And the rest of her ungrateful family. No, it was just her ungrateful aunts. Suellen and Will made a profit and were managing Tara quite wonderfully. If things went well next harvest, she would just start sending money for one-time expenses.

Before the first of May, Mammy reminded Scarlett that she needed to go to Tara to help Suellen deliver her baby. Scarlett had to get away from Atlanta and the condemnation therefore she and Wade went to Tara also. She told Johnny and Hugh to sell while she was gone. She was only going to be gone for two weeks. How much damage could they do in that amount of time?

While at Tara Scarlett decided she would bring Prissy back with her to be a nursemaid and to help her dress.

Wade and Scarlett had a fun time. Suellen looked miserable, but she also looked happy. She didn't make any snide comments towards Scarlett. Suellen believed her life was better than Scarlett's. Scarlett was a widow and had to work hard running her two sawmills to support the family and Tara. Admittedly she and Will had made a profit thus easing Scarlett's burden, but the burden was still there. Suellen also thought, 'It would be horrible to have to live with the man one loves with his wife right there. Yes, I am the lucky one because I have Will.'

Scarlett saw there was a real bond between Will and Suellen. She was happy for her sister. Not that she would ever lower her standards enough to marry a Cracker.

When the thought, 'What about a man not received?' popped into her head courtesy of Mystic Rhett. She replied, "He is awfully rich." A few minutes later she added, "And such a good kisser. I wonder if he could make the rest of it fun."

Mystic Rhett said, "Yes, he can if you let him."

Scarlett took Wade for a walk on the grounds. She told him how her life had been before the war. As she talked Mystic Rhett realized that was why she was staunchly holding on to her belief of hers and Ashley's love. The man represented her perfect life from before the war. It was all she had left from her former life. The problem was he didn't know how to make her give up her desire to return to her life before the war.

Mystic Rhett knew he would have to ponder the situation for a long time until he found the answer, but he was optimistic that he would figure out how to break Ashley's hold on Scarlett. He also knew why Ashley was keeping Scarlett tied to him. Her adoring him was a wonderful part of his past also.

Scarlett said to Suellen over supper one night, "I am tired of supporting our aunts. I am going to tell them to move to Tara. That is the only way we will continue to support them."

Suellen quickly looked at Will. She turned back to Scarlett and said, "Please, don't do that. I am content living at Tara with Will, but our aunts moving here would make our lives.. our lives.."

Will said, "A living hell. We are barely able to feed ourselves, our servants, and our fieldhands. Sue and I have to work as hard or harder than anyone else to keep Tara above water."

Suellen said, "Our aunts and their proper ways would be too much to bear."

Scarlett said, "Alright, I won't. I can hardly stand to read their judgmental letters. If they were living here, there would be no way to shut them up."

"I guess we aren't ladies anymore."

"Yes, Sue, we will always be ladies no matter what we have to do to survive."

Suellen sadly said, "Mother always said you can tell a lady by her hands. My hands no longer look like a lady's hands."

"Nor do mine. Despite Mother's words we will always be ladies."

Will said, "I never met your mother, but I feel sure she would have applauded both of you for surviving these tough times."

"Thank you, Dear."

Mystic Rhett said, "It is easy to be a lady or a gentleman if one doesn't have to struggle. Once the struggle begins that is when the winnowing process begins, and the wheat is separated from the chaff."

Scarlett said, "That is what Ashley said,"

Suellen and Mystic Rhett said at the same time, "What?"

Scarlett verbally replied to Suellen, "Ashley said, 'In these challenging times only people with brains and courage will survive. This is when the wheat will be winnowed out from the chaff."

Will said, "I agree. Your mother gave you instructions for the life she thought you were going to have to live not the life you are living."

Mystic Rhett said, "Mother could be calm and serene because she had no real struggles."

Scarlett said, "Mother would have gone to a convent because she would not be able to function in the world we are living in."

Suellen said, "That is all we are doing. Adapting to the world we are living in. A lady wouldn't marry a Cracker, but I'm glad that I did. Will is the perfect husband."

Scarlett said, "A lady wouldn't run a sawmill, but what other choice did I have."

Mystic Rhett said, "Become Rhett's mistress."

Scarlett giggled and thought, 'That certainly isn't very lady like.'

Suellen and Will didn't know why Scarlett had giggled and they stared at her waiting for her to tell them the joke. She said, "I would die before going into a convent."

"Me too, Sister. Me too."

All three people laughed.

Three days later Suellen went into labor. Mammy, Scarlett and Dilcey helped her through it. It reminded Scarlett of when Melanie had been in labor. She once again hoped she and Prissy had not damaged Melly in their ignorance. She brushed her thoughts from her mind. She would never know.

Three hours after Suellen's labor started, she gave birth to a baby girl, Ellen Solange. Mammy said, "You girls give birth to babies in the most unladylike way."

Suellen and Scarlett's eyes met and both women laughed. Scarlett said, "Another perk to not being a lady."

"Amen."

Scarlett and Wade returned to Atlanta with Prissy in tow. Scarlett said to Suellen, "You may keep Mammy until Ellen is six weeks old, then Mammy must return to Atlanta."

"If she wants to stay here, I will gladly keep her. She can do what she wants she is free now."

"She has always done what she wanted to do. Yes, I cannot stop her if she wants to stay here at Tara. Scarlett smiled and continued, "I wish I could stay here at Tara."

"It is beautiful."

"I can't believe you said that. You always hated living in the country."

"I still do, but if I have to live in the country, this is the most perfect place to live."

"I understand your logic. I will be leaving in the morning."

"I will tell Will to be ready to drive you into Jonesboro."

"Thank you."

On the train back to Atlanta, Scarlett was thinking about her conversation with Suellen about their mother. She thought, 'If I had no burdens, I could be just like her. I am tired of working as hard as I do and nobody appreciating it. I wish Rhett would ask me to marry him. I would marry him in an instant.'

Mystic Rhett said, "What about his foolishness and him getting you with child?"

'He will just have to figure out a way to make that fun. He will also have to figure out a way to prevent me from getting with child.'

"Just don't marry him. Then you don't have to worry about any of it."

Mystic Rhett realized he hadn't asked Scarlett to marry him in this timeline. Maybe his other self was not worried about Scarlett marrying someone else. Or he hadn't had a year and a half of frustration at her being married to another man. An old, ugly man at that. He remembered how irritated he was that Scarlett was carrying Frank's child and not his. He remembered how exasperated he had been each time he had left Scarlett's home and knew she and Frank were going to bed together. Maybe he had meant what he said about he couldn't wait forever to catch her between husbands. He didn't know what his other self was going to do now. Of course, if his other self asked her, they could get married the next day. They didn't have to wait out her period of deep mourning. He didn't need to wonder why his other self had not gone to London. He hadn't needed to go to London last time. He had left Atlanta until he was sure the Yankees would not suspect him of killing Frank. He guessed his other self hadn't felt the need to murder Frank to get him out of the way this time.