Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Seven

When Wade walked into Scarlett's room, she could tell he was scared, but for once she knew he wasn't scared of her. No, he was scared that she was hurt badly or worse dead. Tears sprang into Scarlett's eyes. Her little boy loved her. She would work on becoming a better mother. She would sell her businesses and become a full-time mother. No, she couldn't do that. She would go stark raving mad without something to do besides the house, and the children. She looked at Rhett and smiled. Maybe he would want to spend time with her again. She shook her head and thought, 'First things first. Assure Wade you aren't dying and that you love him.' Scarlett stopped her thoughts and, with awe, thought, "I do love him. I love him very much.'

A strange fact entered Scarlett's head, "He may not like me, but he loves me more than any other person in the world even Melly. He loves me more than Ashley does. It isn't that he doesn't like me. He is simply scared of me."

Scarlett said, "Come here, Wade, and let me hug you."

Wade moved forward nervously. Scarlett wondered why your son was nervous to approach her. As if reading her mind, Rhett who was standing by the head of the bed whispered, "You have never offered to hug him before."

In a normal voice, Scarlett said, "I haven't."

In a normal voice, Rhett said, "No, in fact when he tried to hug you, you shooed him off."

"Come here. Don't be shy. Let me hug you. You can't hug me because Mama's ribs are cracked but I can hug you. Come closer."

Scarlett hugged her son even though it hurt her to hug him tightly, but she knew she somehow had to do a better job of being a mother. She had almost died. She wasn't going to let her son's last memories of her be of a scary, frightening woman. To her horror, Wade started crying. She felt the anger and disgust swelling up in her. Her first thought was, 'How can a ten-year-old little boy be crying?' She took a deep breath and held her son closer. She looked at Rhett and with beseeching eyes, whispered, "Why?"

Rhett quietly said, "He is so happy you are alive. He was sure you were going to die."

Scarlett started to roll her eyes then she remembered the relief she had felt when she knew Rhett was not dead after he had been missing for two days. A few tears had escaped her eyes at that moment also. No, she would not hurt Wade the way Rhett had hurt her. She would cherish his love and concern. She thought, 'He may be the only male who ever stands up for me. Rhett and Ashley certainly aren't going to do it. Ashley because he is weak and Rhett because he doesn't care about me. The only people he cares about are Bonnie and himself.'

Scarlett kept hugging Wade for a long time until she just had to let him go. She said, "Sit beside me. I will hug you again once my arms stop hurting."

Wade sat on the bed and said, "It hurts you to hug me."

"Yes, because one, no two… I don't know. Some of my ribs are hurt. That pain extends into my arms."

"What happened?"

"I don't remember. I've forgotten all about that time. What happened Rhett?"

Rhett thought, 'I hope she believes this lie.' He said, "When we arrived you ran down the stairs to greet Bonnie. Once she hugged you, she wanted to go see Mammy. I walked up the stairs and you said, 'It took you long enough to get back.' I said, 'My business in New Orleans took longer than I expected then I went to see my mother.' You stood up and we continued bickering as we walked up the stairs to the landing. Once we were on the landing you said, 'Thankfully you got back just in time.' I said, 'Just in time?' You said, 'Before I began to show. I am with child.' I reached for you, but you moved to avoid my arms. When you moved sharply you slipped. You rolled down the stairs. I grabbed for you, but I was too late. I raced down the stairs trying to stop you, but I didn't reach you in time."

Wade said, "I heard you yelling for Pork to go get Dr. Meade. I knew something was seriously wrong with Mother."

"Mama."

"What?"

"Call me Mama."

Wade grinned and said, "Sure."

Rhett said, "If we are changing our names, call me Dad."

"Sure, Dad."

Scarlett didn't look at Rhett. She just continued to hold her child. This was the longest she had ever held him. No, that wasn't right. She had held him and rocked him when he had been so sick while they were at Tara. She had been so afraid he was going to die. With shame she thought, 'As soon as he got well again, he became a nuisance again.'

Scarlett wondered, 'What have I been doing for the last ten years instead of spending time with him? Flirting with the soldiers, visiting with Rhett, keeping the wolf from the door while we were at Tara, putting up with Frank, building my sawmills into large money makers, visiting with Rhett, and for the last three years I have been busy having fun while my marriage, my children, and my business have sunk deeper and deeper into neglect and disregard. No, wait. I have been mooning after a man who doesn't even have the strength to stand up to his own sister. A man who is so concerned with being proper that he has lied to everyone instead of telling everyone that – Yes, I was hugging Scarlett. It was a hug between old friends.' And send that bitch back to Macon.

There was no more conversation, finally, Rhett said, "Wade, now you know your mother is fine. Let's go back to the nursery and you can let Ella come see your mother."

Scarlett said, "You need to come to see me tomorrow afternoon. Give me a kiss on the cheek."

Wade kissed her cheek and gave Scarlett a tentative smile. He said, "Alright."

Rhett led the boy out of the room. He came back with Ella. Scarlett smiled. She was a silly little girl, but hopefully she would grow out of it. Scarlett said, "Come sit beside me on the bed."

Ella did sit next to her mother on the bed, but her questions never ceased. Yet, she never waited for the answer before she asked her next question. She watched Rhett just start answering the latest question. Ella was squirming around a lot more. After Rhett watch Scarlett wince for the third time, he picked the little girl up and said, "You can come back tomorrow when Mama feels better."

"Alright. Bye, Mama."

"Goodbye, Sweetheart."

Rhett woke Bonnie up from her nap. He soon realized that was a bad idea. It appeared that Bonnie was grumpy when woken up.

When Rhett tried to put the child in Scarlett's lap, Bonnie would have none of it. She wanted to stay in her Daddy's arms. She clung to him. When he tried again to put Bonnie in Scarlett's lap the little girl started crying harder, Scarlett said, "Don't force her. She obviously isn't worried about my health. Take her back to the nursery."

Rhett sighed this had not been a good idea. As Rhett got to the door, Scarlett said, "I am going to take a nap."

Rhett just nodded. He didn't go back to Scarlett's room. He knew she was embarrassed by the way her children had behaved around her. The only one that had given her any love was Wade. He hoped she appreciated Wade a little bit more. He hoped she would give Wade more love.

Rhett went to his room to finish reading Scarlett's journal. He had to get it read before she noticed it was gone. She was getting more and more alert every day. He would just start reading from April twentieth.

Scarlett laid in her bed. Her head and her heart were hurting. Her own children wanted nothing to do with her. She had figured that Wade and Ella didn't want to have anything to do with her while Rhett had been gone, but she had thought Bonnie had loved her. She guessed not.

Scarlett also wondered what really happened on the stairs. She knew Rhett was lying. It must have been something awful if Rhett lied about it. Of course, he would never feel guilty about lying to her. He no longer had the capacity to feel guilt.

Rhett opened the journal and started with the next entry after he had left town.

April 20th

Last night I couldn't write about this. I was too busy crying my eyes out. Every time I think about the fact, I was just an available body to Rhett, it makes me want to cry and I have cried far too much. When I think about what a silly, vain fool I had been thinking he really loved me, I am filled with despair. I don't think I will ever be happy again.

This is what I couldn't write about last night. I went to see Melly to explain what had happened. She told me I didn't need to explain a thing. She told me she would never believe anything ugly about me or Ashley. It was just what Rhett said, 'She can't imagine anyone she loves being dishonorable.' No, she can't. I don't know why but she loves me. I don't know how.

I wanted so much to confess all my sins and Ashley's too, but I stopped myself in time. If I did that, I would destroy the woman that was Melly. The good woman that was worth ten of me. That will be my cross to bear for the rest of my life. Every time she defends me, I will know I don't deserve her defense of me. Every kind gesture she does for me, I will know I don't deserve it.

Rhett paused to think about what he had just read. Could Scarlett honestly believe that Miss Melly was worth ten of her. He would wait and see. Rhett continued reading the journal. The next entry was the next day.

April 21st

I must never be alone with Ashley again. We must never speak of our feelings ever again. At least, not until we both are free. I can do that for Melly to atone for my actions. The only thing that matters now was that I keep Melanie's high opinion of me. I must keep her thinking I am modest, kind, and pure of heart. I don't care what anyone else thinks of me, not even Ashley or Rhett as long as Melly thinks highly of me.

April 22nd

Melly said that people are speaking badly about me because they are jealous of how smart and successful I am. Because I have succeeded where some many men have failed. No, Melly, they are speaking badly about me because I am a shrew. An ill-tempered witch.

Rhett smiled and said, "True, my pet, but you being an ill-tempered witch is why I love you." He went on reading.

April 28th

Melly swore that she was going to show India and Mrs. Elsing what was what. She swore she was going to fix it so neither of them could hold up their heads in public. If people think they can spread lies about her husband and her sister-in-law, they have another thing coming. I am going to have to be so incredibly good. I cannot let Melly's sacrifice of her family be in vain. I can't ever give anyone a chance to spread rumors about me ever again. Not for my sake or for Ashley's sake, but for Melly's sake. I know I will always feel guilty for being partially responsible for causing the feud that is going to split the town and the families for generations. Actually, Ashley bears most of the guilt. He should have gotten India to realize that yes, she was going to hurt me, but she was also going to hurt Melly and Ashley also. The very people who had taken her in.

Rhett said, "That is the silliness of proper people. Miss Wilkes is cutting off her nose to spite her face even though she is beholden to Ashley. He should teach her a lesson about biting the hand that feeds her by cutting her off completely."