Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was Saturday so the entire family drove around the city looking at house styles. They had first stopped at Rhett's lawyer, Frank Galvin. Scarlett and the children sat in the cab and waited while Rhett took care of his business. He came out and told Scarlett, "The papers will be ready to sign in a week."

"Great."

"I left everything to you in trust. After your death everything will go to our children." At Scarlett's questioning look, Rhett had continued, "All our children."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"That is as long as you never remarry."

"Rhett, you can't control me from the grave."

Rhett laughed and said, "It appears I can. I know you will never give up access to my money."

When Scarlett scowled at him, he just grinned back.

Scarlett turned to the children and said, "We are going to look for a house to buy."

It soon became clear that Rhett was not completely joking about getting a Georgian style. They saw Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic, and Victorian styles. The Victorian was Scarlett's favorite. As they were heading back to the hotel, he said, "We will find something that you like and that I can tolerate."

Scarlett stuck out her tongue at Rhett. He just smiled. He was so happy. She really loved him.

A week later Melly came to call on Scarlett at the hotel. She had bad news. As they were sitting in the restaurant after their tea had been served, Melly said, "Mr. Greene has given Ashley two weeks to find another job."

"Don't worry. Rhett will give him a job at his bank. Try these sandwiches. They are really good."

"Thank you, Dear." After trying the sandwiches, Melly said, "These are good."

"Eat up. If you don't eat them, they will go to waste."

"Thank you, Darling, Ashley said if he can't find a job here, maybe his friend can give him a job in New York."

For a moment, Scarlett wondered if going to New York would be the best thing for Ashley, but then she remembered that Rhett had agreed it would be the worst thing for Melly. She would be a bird out of water. No, that wasn't right. A duck out of water. Scarlett looked at her sister-in-law and knew she couldn't let her leave the South. Melly would shrivel up and die. Scarlett said, "No, Rhett will find him something. Wait a minute. Do you think Ashley would like to own a general store."

"No, I think Ashley would rather do something that didn't involve other people."

"That doesn't make any sense to me."

"Of course it doesn't. The more people interaction you have the stronger you get."

"Are you saying that Ashley gets stronger with less interaction with people?"

"Yes, I am."

"Not to worry. Rhett will find Ashley the perfect job. He will do it fast. He wants to get everything settled before we leave for London."

"You are going to London?"

"Yes, I am going to have a baby. Rhett believes the best medical care in the world is in Europe, so he is taking me there so nothing happens to me."

Melly smiled and said, "That is so wonderful, that you are having a baby, and that Captain Butler cares so much about your safety to take you to London to ensure you have the best care possible."

While Melly was smiling, she wondered if better medical care would have saved her from being damaged. She didn't blame Scarlett. The woman had done the best she could. Yet, she would always wonder, nonetheless, although she was happy not to have to perform her wifely duties. That had been awful. The only thing that had made it bearable was the thought she would have a child.

"Rhett is incredibly involved with the child already. He is annoyed we can't get Mammy to be our nursemaid."

"Why can't you. I'm sure Mammy would be happy to come back to you when she finds out you are with child."

"No, she will stay with Suellen. She will think Suellen needs her more and in truth although I hate to admit it, Sue does need her more. Sue doesn't have anyone, but Mammy. I can afford to hire two or three nursemaids."

"Why does Captain Butler care who's your child's nursemaid?"

"I don't know. Although it is clear to me, Rhett is going to be really involved with this baby. It is almost unmasculine which is saying a lot considering how masculine Rhett is."

"That is true. Although it is nice to hear of a man being excited about his offspring."

"Rhett definitely is."

Melly definitely was envious of Scarlett's choice of husband. Although Melly had heard the rumors about Captain Butler's questionable activities during the war, there was no denying that the man was a good father and husband. With a rare act of unloyalty, Melly wondered if Ashley would be better off not being so honorable and proper. If Ashley would forget the past, would they be better off?

Melly heard Scarlett say, "Tell Ashley not to sell his half of the sawmill on Decatur Rd. Even when he gets another job, he can enjoy he benefits of his investment."

It was all Scarlett could do to get the last sentence out. It still galled her that she had given Ashley half of the sawmill to keep him in Atlanta. What a fool she had been. What a blind, silly, childish fool she had been to have been so enthralled with Ashley that she had given away her security for the future on a dream.

Melly had replied to Scarlett, "Of course. That makes sense."

Melly resolved to tell Ashley what Scarlett had said. It would be Scarlett telling him what to do, not her.

Scarlett spoke pleasantly with Melly for the next thirty minutes. As the women were getting up to leave, Scarlett said, "I don't wish her any ill wind, but just in case something happens to Aunt PittyPat … well, keep Cookie and Uncle Peter fed. Give them a place to live. When I get back from London, I will give them a job. It is the least we can do to such faithful servants."

"Of course. Of course."

As Scarlett was walking up the stairs, she shook her head. She wondered how she could have been such a fool to idolize Ashley Wilkes. Ashley who was a shadow puppet himself. She thanked God that she had seen the truth about Ashley. She thanked God, she had met Rhett. Rhett, her one true love.

That evening before Rhett went out, Scarlett said, "Sweetheart, you need to get Ashley a job."

"I have told you that we, more in particular you, are not responsible for the Wilkeses or the Hamiltons, but I will see what is available at the bank. Mind you, my love, this is the one and only job I will get for your friend."

"Yes, Dear."

"Now kiss me."

Scarlett kissed Rhett passionately. Soon he was walking out the door. He would get the leech a job, but if Mr. Wilkes lost the job at the bank, Rhett would not get him another one.

Rhett went to First Atlantic Bank. He spoke to the Assistant Manager, Ollie Hardy. Rhett said, "I have a friend of a friend who needs a job. What have we got available?"

"We could always use another Teller. We also have a job in records for a File Clerk."

"Which one pays the most?"

"The File Clerk. It is a very boring job."

"Why?"

"The man is alone all day and all he does is file records of transactions. He has to file them in three separate locations. Just in case a record gets lost."

"I think he would like that one best. I will have him come by tomorrow and talk to you. His name is Ashley Wilkes."

Once Rhett was back at the National Hotel he told Scarlett, "Send Mr. Wilkes a note. The only opening is as a File Clerk. Have him go talk to Ollie Hardy at the First Atlanta sometime tomorrow."

"Thank you. You are the best. I will send him a note right now."

Soon Scarlett got a note back from Ashley stating: Thank you, Scarlett. I don't know what I would do without you."

Scarlett thought, 'You better figure it out because soon I'm not going to be here.'

Ashley was at the bank the next morning when it opened up. He spoke to Mr. Hardy and was hired right then and there. He rode out to his sawmill. When Mr. Greene arrived, Ashley said, "I'm quitting. Today is my last day. Can you have my final check ready this afternoon?"

"I can do better than that. I can write it out right now."

Mr. Greene went out to his buggy and brought his checkbook in. He wrote Ashley a check. As he handed the check to Ashley he said, "I paid you through the end of the month. You are a nice and proper man which is probably why you can't sell."

"I don't know, but I can't."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Work in a bank as a File Clerk."

"Do you want to sell your half of the sawmill?"

"Not yet. I will let you know if I do."

"Until then I will mail you your share of the profits. Good luck, Mr. Wilkes. Now let me find someone to take your place. Give me your key."

"Here you go."

Ashley left the office and felt better than he had in a long time. After Mr. Hardy told Ashley about the job, he had thought, 'Sounds perfect for me.'

Ashley sent Scarlett a note saying: I got the job. I start tomorrow. I didn't sell my half of the sawmill because it would be extra income coming in.

After Scarlett read the note, she thought, 'That is my money, and you should be in New York.'

Nonetheless over supper, Scarlett said, "Ashley got a job as a File Clerk at your bank. Thank you."

"Never again, Scarlett."

"I know."

Later that night, when Rhett got in the bed, he said, "Come here and give me my reward for helping your friend get a job."

"What?"

"I never do anything, if there isn't something in it for me."

Scarlett leaned forward and kissed Rhett, she said, "Let me give you your reward then."

Scarlett didn't mind giving Rhett a reward. She was going to get rewarded too.

Soon it was Rhett's birthday, and the couple went out to celebrate. Scarlett had gone to Webb's Jewelry Store and bought him a pair of sapphire cufflinks. She had planned to buy him an emerald pinky ring that matched her eyes. Maybe with a diamond on each side, so his ring matched her engagement ring. Yet, once she saw the sapphire cufflinks, she knew she could choose nothing else. The stones in the cufflinks made her think of her father's eyes and that made her happy.

After Rhett had opened the present, he just stared at the cufflinks. He said, "I love them. They are beautiful."

"Thank you, Dear."

"Did you put them on our account at Webb's?"

"Yes, why not? All my money comes from you."

"Not all your money. You still have the money you are making at the store and the money you made from selling the sawmills."

"That is my rainy-day fund."

"Rainy-day fund?"

"The money I have in case you lose all your money."

"I am not going to lose all my money, but if it makes you feel safer, you keep your rainy-day fund."

"Pa didn't think he was going to lose all his money either."

Rhett looked at his bride. Scarlett had her chin jutted out, which he knew meant she was not going to change her mind on this issue. In their first timeline, he would have mocked her and called her greedy, but he knew she wasn't greedy. She was just a girl, who was scared that she was going to be cold and hungry once again.

Rhett teased, "If I ever need a loan, will you lend me the money at no interest?"

Scarlett smiled and she was back to her playful self. She said, "I don't know. I would need to at least make what the bank would pay me."

"Please. After all, it would be for your true love."

"Alright, since it is you."

Rhett knew he was making her feel safer and more secure, but it would be a long time before she felt completely safe and secure. She would never feel completely safe and secure because she knew there could be a disaster awaiting her around every corner.

Rhett smiled and said, "Shall we have dessert?"

"Of course. It is your birthday."

"What kind of cake do you want?"

"Pecan pie."

Scarlett laughed and said, "Me too."