Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Ten

Rhett returned to reading Scarlett's journal. He had to get it finished that night before she became aware that it was missing.

June 24th

I thought about writing Rhett and telling him about the baby, but I want him to come home because he wants to come home, not because I am with child. If he never comes home, I will endure the outfall just as I have weathered all the storms of my life.

June 30th

If Rhett doesn't return before August first, I will sell my businesses and move to Tara. He can never know about the baby. He would just steal another child away from me.

July 4th

It certainly isn't Independence Day for me, Dr. Meade told Mrs. Meade I was with child and now everyone knows. The old witch had the nerve to congratulate me at a sewing bee in front of everyone else. Melly was hurt I hadn't told her first. I got out of that by telling her I wanted to tell Rhett first. No point in moving to Tara. Soon Belle will get a message to Rhett, and he will be back. I don't want him back that way. I want him back because he wants to live with me. I'm such a silly fool. That will never happen. Rhett doesn't even want me or like me.

Rhett smiled and thought, 'I like you more than you will ever know, and I could never stop wanting you.' He read the last two entries again. Just so he could keep the timeline straight.

July 9th

The dust has settled. The battle lines have been drawn. The only person given neutrality is PittyPat Hamilton. She can't live alone so she needs India although she has been living alone ever since I moved out with my marriage to Rhett. Melanie can't cut her aunt. The aunt that raised her. Melly has kindly offered her aunt grace. If PittyPat calls at Melanie's home she is welcomed, but Melly will never enter PittyPat's home as long as India is living there. Much to PittyPat's unhappiness, I cut her off without a cent. I will continue to do so as long as she is harboring India. I also have refused to enter her home. Henry has found the money to support the women. Some of it was his money and some of it was Ashley's money as I understand. India would not accept Ashley's money, but Henry certainly would.

I haven't been alone with Ashley since the incident. The whole affair has been hard on him. He really looks old and haggard. Why doesn't he do something? Rhett would do something. It might be the wrong thing, but he would do something. I miss him so much. I miss him, his light flippant touch in anecdotes that made me shout with laughter, his sardonic grin that reduced my troubles to nothing, even his jeers that hurt. Most of all I miss him just being in the house with me. I always knew when he was home. He just has to come home.

I won't think about Bonnie. That just hurts too much.

I will keep trying to build a relationship with Wade and Ella. They are all I have now. And the baby. I am so disappointed in Ashley and his actions. Actually, his lack of actions. He is still trying to behave properly despite everything. I have heard he offer to give India money to live on. God's nightgown! That is taking properness way too far. The woman besmirched his name all over town and he is still willing to support her. If he was any kind of a man, he would send her back to Macon to live with Honey. Rhett would have. Rhett would not support anyone who was talking badly about him.

Rhett said to himself, "That is true. I would not."

July 10th

When is Rhett coming home? When is he going to bring my Bonnie back? I will just die if he never returns. At least, I have his child. I remember when people would say to me – It must be a comfort to have Charlie's child to remember him by. - I didn't want a child, and I certainly didn't want Charlie's child. As I look at those words, I wonder if Wade has always felt unwanted by me and that is why he is frightened of me. What is that noise? Oh, someone has entered the house. It is Rhett and Bonnie. I just know it. At last, they are back!

He placed the book under her vanity table. He got undressed and got in the bed with Scarlett. He arranged her body, so she was lying on his chest.

Rhett laid in the bed thinking about what he had learned in the last twenty-four hours:

She was grateful for Miss Melly's actions.
She was frustrated with Ashley.
She wrote about him a lot more than she wrote about Ashley.
She had missed him.
She wanted the baby.

What was Rhett going to do?:

He was going to make sure Ashley felt the shame of his infidelity.
He was going to make sure Scarlett stayed frustrated with Ashley and his lack of action.
He was going to declare her innocence to anyone who would listen.
He was going to tell everyone that he had left Atlanta on business. Thousands of dollars had been at stake. Scarlett had understood why he had to leave.
He was going to complain about how badly he felt for having been gone so long. He hadn't realized how dreadful things were for Scarlett in Atlanta. She hadn't said a word to him because she knew he needed to concentrate on his business deals.

Rhett smiled. His greatest lie would be to make people think that Scarlett had been an innocent victim of Ashley's ungentlemanly behavior. He was going to say, 'Scarlett flirts with everyone. She doesn't mean anything by it. I'm afraid Ashley took her seriously.'

Most importantly Rhett was going to turn the full force of his charm on his lovely bride.

Rhett sighed. He would have to go back to The Painted Lady and play poker to tell all those lies. Unfortunately, several times. He would get Belle to spread the rumor of what he thought also.

The next morning, Rhett woke up with Scarlett lying on top of him. Much the same way they had gone to sleep. The only difference was Scarlett had her bent leg extended across his upper thighs. He may not have had any sexual desire the day before, but he had a lot now. It didn't matter. Scarlett could no more participate in physical activity that morning than she could have the day before yesterday. Furthermore, he had to make her understand that she wasn't just an available body, but the woman he wanted above all others. He would certainly talk to Dr. Harrison about resuming their physical relationship. He sure couldn't ask Dr. Meade about that.

Rhett eased out of the bed. He put the pants back on that he had been wearing the day before. He would get Pork to move his clothes. No, he would ask Mammy to do it. He turned back to Scarlett and kissed her goodbye. He was humming a happy tune when he walked into his old bedroom.

Rhett answered the knock on his door. It was Esau with his hot water. Rhett shaved and got cleaned up. He went to the nursery to find Mammy. He did find Mammy, but he also found all the children. They were all excited to see him. He said, "Get ready to go down to breakfast. I need to talk to Mammy for a minute."

As the children got ready to go to breakfast, Mammy said, "Yes, Mr. Rhett."

"Would you move my belongings back into Scarlett's bedroom?"

"Yes, Mr. Rhett. I will do it myself."

"Thank you. I don't want anyone to disturb Scarlett."

"I understand."

At breakfast Bonnie said, "Mother. See."

Rhett said, "Yes, I will take you to see your mother after breakfast."

Wade said, "Sir…."

"I will take you too, but like yesterday it will be one at a time. If I get back in time, I will take you all this morning."

"Thank you, Dad."

Rhett asked the children what they had done while he and Bonnie had been away. In almost every other sentence Wade talked about Scarlett coming to the nursery and playing with him. Or just talking to him about the books he was reading or his lessons at school. Rhett made a mental note to tell Scarlett how much Wade had been talking about her.

After breakfast Rhett got on his horse and rode over to Dr. Harrison's office. The receptionist asked him, "Why are you here to see the doctor?"

"I need to talk to him about my wife?"

The receptionist didn't ask any more questions. It was not unusual for a husband to discuss his wife with the doctor. He knew when husbands wanted to talk to the doctor it was because their wife was acting crazy or was refusing to preform her wifely duties. He didn't care. He said, "What is your name?"

"Rhett Butler."

"Have a seat. The doctor will be with you in a few minutes."

About ten minutes later a middle-aged woman open the door to the waiting room and said, "Mr. Butler." After Rhett stood up, she said, "Follow me."

After Rhett was shown to an examining room, the woman said, "Just have a seat anywhere. Dr. Harrison will be with you shortly."

In approximately ten minutes, a man in his thirties walked through the door. He said, "My name is Greg Harrison. I understand you want to speak to me about your wife."

Rhett stood up and said, "Rhett Butler. Yes, I do. I am worried about her memory."

That statement threw Greg for a loop because it was not what he was expecting. It seemed Mr. Butler had a legitimate medical concern about his wife. He said, "Please, sit down." After both men were seated, he continued, "Please elaborate on what your concern is?"

"My wife accidently fell down our staircase about three days ago. She hit her head on the stairs at least three times."

"Did she pass out?"

"Yes."

"Go on."

"She has two cracked ribs, her arms hurt, and her head hurts constantly. She can't move her arms."

"Does it hurt as bad as it did in the beginning?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask. We can't give her any laudanum because she is with child."

"That is amazing she didn't lose the child."

"Yes, it is."

"What is her memory like?"

"At first, she didn't remember anything after the accident. Not even how she managed to fall down the stairs. Now she remembers what she has been told but she doesn't remember it for herself."

"Would you say that she remembers everything that has happened in the last two days?"

"I'm not sure but in the last day I think she is remembering what has happened."

"Does she remember what has happened before the accident?"

"Yes. Sort of. She remembers everything up to the accident. She doesn't remember what happened right before the accident."

"And she probably never will, but that is normal with head injuries." Dr. Harrison stood up and said, "Let me go visit your wife. I will be able to tell you more once I have spoken to her myself. You go on home. I will not need a ride. I will bring my buggy. What is your address?"

"260 Peach Tree Lane."

"Go on home. I will be there shortly. I have to tell William and Gladys I will be out of the office for a while. They will not be happy because they will have to deal with the patients that are here."

"Thank you, Dr. Harrison. Let me go home and be sure she is clothed appropriately."

"Of course. I would say 'Don't worry about that,' but you Southerners hold a great store by what is proper and what isn't."

"I don't but if I don't make sure she is clothed, she will be gossiped about. She doesn't need any more of that."

"What?"

As Rhett was walking out the door of the examining room, he said, "You don't need to understand. I will see you within thirty minutes."

"Yes. Yes. Let me go up front."

With those words both men walked out of the exam room.