Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-One

Scarlett did start calling on the proper ladies of society with Melly, India, and PittyPat. By the time it was the middle of September, she was no longer doing that. She was tired of PittyPat and her stupidity. She was tired of India and her snide comments. She was tired of boring Melly, but most of all she was tired of the women only having two topics of conversation. How good things were before the war or when were the men going to get the right to vote back.

Rhett had taken her to several social events and the ladies were nice and friendly. When one of the ladies, Mamie Bart, invited her for tea one afternoon, Scarlett gladly accepted. There were a variety of women at the tea. Some had actually belonged to the planters' class before the war. Some weren't much better than white trash. When Scarlett got home that night, she told Rhett all about the women she had met. Rhett said, "Mamie Bart used to run a brothel in New Orleans."

"How do you know that? Never mind, I know how you know. Did you use her services? Never mind, I don't want to know. In fact, I don't want to know any of that information."

"I mention it to you because she might suggest a way for you not to get with child."

"I thought you knew of a way."

"I do, but her way might be less intrusive."

"What is your way?"

"I remove myself before my big moment so none of my seed gets inside you."

"If none of your seed got inside me then I wouldn't get with child."

"True. It also means I can never mess up."

"Is it hard to do?"

"I don't know. I have never done it."

"You might not be able to do it. I will definitely ask Mamie about preventatives. Although it isn't proper to talk about those things."

"You either talk with Mamie and behave improperly or you accept you are going to have a child every year."

"When you put it like that, I will definitely be going to talk to Mamie."

"Are you ready to admit you are with child?"

"No. Let's drive around tomorrow and look at houses."

"Of course, but you are just postponing the inevitable."

"Did you talk to doctors about them giving me something for the pain?"

"I talked to the Yankee doctors. I was afraid the Southern doctors would not tell me the truth."

"What did they say?"

"There are two ways. You are given either Ether or Chloroform. Most people recommended Chloroform because it didn't smell as bad as the Ether."

"If they know about it, can they do it here?"

"I suppose, but it doesn't matter. We are going to London where the overall medical care is better. You will be happy to know that since Victoria became queen, the royal physicians have had to spend a lot more time researching women's issues."

"I like that name. What do you think of naming our daughter Victoria?"

"I like it."

Rhett didn't care what Scarlett called their daughter. If by some miracle, he got his Bonnie back he would just start calling her Bonnie despite what her real name was. Just as he had in the last timeline.

Scarlett went to call on the Republican and Scallawag' wives two to three times a week. Sometimes the ladies played whist. Scarlett was always mad when she got paired up with Peggy Bundy. That woman was stupid. One time when Scarlett was complaining to Rhett about the woman, he said, "Her husband, Al, isn't much smarter."

Scarlett laughed and changed the subject.

Scarlett had asked Mamie about preventatives and Mamie had educated Scarlett on the ways to prevent conceiving a child. Scarlett was happy. She had control of the preventative. She was not going to rely on Rhett. She was going to use the sponge method. She smiled. She would have to rely on Rhett to get it in and take it out, but she didn't think that he would mind.

Scarlett chose to have Ella's third birthday party at Hamilton House instead of at the hotel restaurant. She thought it would be cozier. She later regretted that decision. The night of the party, the family had fried chicken, turnips, and Ella's favorite macaroni and cheese. At the table were PittyPat, Henry, Ashley, Melly, Beau, Rhett, Wade, and, of course, Scarlett. There was an uninvited guest also. India Wilkes.

Although Scarlett wondered why India bothered to come. She certainly wasn't having a good time judging by the scowl on her face.

Scarlett had whispered to Rhett, "As much as she hates me, I am surprised she invited herself to my daughter's birthday party."

"Why does she hate you?"

By now Scarlett knew that Rhett didn't have a strong need to be proper or honorable. They just had to be honorable enough to stay received, which they were. She said, "I stole her suitor away when I was sixteen. She hasn't ever gotten over it."

"Was it Charlie?"

"No, another boy from the county, Stuart Tarleton. He died at Gettysburg so she would have been alone either way."

Rhett smiled at the heartless way Scarlett had dismissed India's feelings as of no consequence. He said, "It seems that Miss Wilkes does believe it would have made a difference."

"It wouldn't have."

"We will never know. Let's stop talking about her."

"Yes, let's." To the entire group, Scarlett said, "Who wants cake?"

There were a lot of 'I do's to which Scarlett replied, "Let me get the cake from the kitchen. Melly, come with me to get the dessert plates."

"Of course, Darling."

Soon the candles were blown out although Scarlett had to help the little girl understand what she was supposed to do. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Everyone had a piece even India, although even that didn't bring a smile to her face. For Ella's birthday she got clothes, toys, and a couple of dolls. Rhett and Scarlett kept the gifts few because they just didn't have the room for a lot of items in their suite.

The couple had not gotten around to renting a home. They had decided to wait until they got back from London. If they rented a house, they would have to buy furniture for the house. Which would mean that they had to store the furniture somewhere when they sailed to England. No point in going to that expense. Furthermore, the furniture might not blend with the décor of their new home.

Scarlett was willing to admit that she was with child although she had not formally announced it to Rhett. She had just stopped arguing with him when he brought up the topic of their child.

Scarlett spent time with Ella in the mornings. She, Rhett, and Ella would usually have dinner in the National Hotel dining room. She would go call on Republican and Yankee ladies often in the afternoon. Rhett read his correspondence and checked on his investments while she was out. Ella took a nap. Wade was in school. Scarlett checked on the store twice a week as she always had, but she was seriously thinking about selling it. The family would have supper together in one of the many restaurants that Rhett knew of in Atlanta.

One night while riding back from supper, Scarlett asked him, "How do you know of so many good restaurants?"

"I have lived here for many years, and I ate out every night."

"Did you ever long for a home cooked meal?"

"Occasionally, but as I told you I have travel quite a lot in my adult life so home cooked meals were something I had just learned to live without."

"Soon you will be having home cooked meals again."

"We need to be sure we get a great cook. I don't want to have mediocre food the rest of my life."

"Nor do I."

"I wish I could steal Cookie away from Aunt PittyPat, but Cookie would never leave Aunt PittyPat."

"No, no. We will find a good cook once we get back from London."

"Of course, Darling."

"Maybe Cookie will be in need of a job when we get back."

"What do you mean?" When Rhett didn't answer, Scarlett looked at him. After looking at his expression, she added, "That is always a possibility. I will have to tell Melly to keep her employed if that happens."

"Be tactful."

"I will try to be."

After the family got back and the children were in bed, Rhett said, "I'm going out for a little bit."

"Rhett, please be careful. Better yet don't go at all."

"Scarlett, stop. I am going to conduct business in saloons."

"Saloons? Saloons? Oh no, Rhett, only immoral people frequent those establishments. No! No!"

Rhett walked over to the sideboard and poured her a brandy. He brought it to her and said, "Drink this and calm down."

Scarlett sat down and took the glass from Rhett. She took a sip and then her eyes got big. She said, "Are there …. Are there…" Scarlett whispered the next words, "those kinds of women there."

Rhett smiled and said, "Yes, there are, but you don't have to worry. I don't need their services."

With an ultra-confident expression on her face, Scarlett said, "Of course, I don't need to worry about that. I just ask because where those women are there are usually the worst kind of men."

With a smile, Rhett said, "The men that hang around those types of women are just like any other men."

"No, they are bad men, and you are going to get yourself killed. Then I will be alone again."

Rhett smiled. He was happy. There was his selfish, self-centered wife. He sat down next to Scarlett. She said, "I want some more brandy."

"One more glass. It isn't good for the baby."

"Alright."

Rhett got the brandy and sat back down next to Scarlett; he handed her the drink. He said, "I am just finishing up some deals. I'm not starting anymore because of us getting ready to move to London."

"But we aren't leaving for a couple of months."

"No, we aren't, but sometimes these things take more time than expected."

"I'm so afraid for you. I married Charlie, he got me with child, then he died. I married Frank, he got me with child, then he died. I married you and you got me with child right away also. I don't want the pattern to continue. I'm worried you will die, and I will be all alone again except for my precious children."

"Scarlett, calm down. I can't promise I won't die on you, but I am a very cautious man. I have never taken chances with my life. I am even more cautious now because of you and the children. Honey, it is like picking money up off the ground."

"I'm just scared of losing you."

Rhett wrapped his arms around her and said, "We are going to grow old and gray together."

"Speak for yourself. I am never growing old or getting gray hair."

Rhett stood up and said, "Tomorrow we will visit my attorney, and I will get a will drawn up to protect you, then we will drive around Atlanta looking at house styles, but now I really have to go."

"As you wish."

Rhett pulled Scarlett to her feet and kissed her with a passionate kiss. He said, "That is a promise of more to come."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I will read my book until you get back."

The next day Scarlett was all smiles. She wasn't any less worried about Rhett's life, but she had realized after he had left the night before that he was going to do what he wanted to do. He might not do something to make her happy or he might do something to make her happy, but overall, he was going to do what he thought was right and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Just as she had realized when they got back from their honeymoon, she couldn't bully him or browbeat him into doing anything.