A/N Important- please read

Rhett and Scarlett are my favorite couple. They are my original OTP. I will try to remain as close as they are presented in Gone with the Wind, but I can and will manipulate them to do my bidding (which, by the way, is staying together). This story has been building up in me for about a month, now. I'm going to write as much as I can, but I can not promise regular updates, for writer's block is a bitch. Thank you for giving my story a try.

Update 7-15-15

There were several errors regarding to plot, spelling, and grammar. Rest assured they are fixed! Sorry for any confusion, and sorry for dashed hopes if you wanted and update. I shall update on Sunday, promise!

-Red

I start in Chapter Fifty of the book.

Scarlett hadn't been feeling well for a few weeks when she decided to visit Dr. Meade. He looked at her after a few moments, and simply said, "Scarlett, you're with child."

Scarlett fumed the whole way home. Pregnant! Why, she didn't' want anymore children! She felt awful about ruining the two she already had.

It was with real hate she had in her eyes that she stormed into her bedroom at twilight and told Rhett she was going to have a baby.

He was lounging in a silk dressing gown a cloud of smoke and his eyes when sharply to her face as she spoke. But he said nothing. He watched her in silence but there was a tenseness about his pose, as he waited for her next words, that was lost on her. Indignation and despair had claimed her to the exclusion of all other thoughts.

"You know I don't want anymore children! I never wanted any at all. OH, don't sit there and laugh! You don't want it, either. Oh, mother of God!"

If he was waiting for words from her, these were not the words he wanted. His face hardened slightly and his eyes became blank.

"Well, why not give it to Miss Melly? Didn't you tell me that she was so misguided as to want another baby?"

"Oh, I could kill you! I won't have, I tell you, I won't!"

"No? pray, continue."

"Oh, there are things to do. I'm not the stupid country fool I used to be. Now, I know that a woman doesn't have to have children if she doesn't want them! There are things-"

He was on his feet and had her by the wrist and there was a hard, driving fear in his face.

"Scarlett, you fool, tell me the truth! You haven't done anything?"

"No, I haven't, but I'm going to. Do you think I'm going to have my figure ruined all over again, just when I've gotten my waist line down and am having a good time and-"

"Where did you get this idea? Who's been telling you things?

"Mamie Bart-she-"

"The madam of a whorehouse would know such tricks. That woman never puts foot in this house again, do you understand? After all, it is my house and I'm the master of it. I do not even want you to speak to her again."

"I'll do as I please. Turn me loose! Why should you care?"

"I don't care whether you have one child or twenty, but I do care if you die."

"Die? Me?"

"Yes, die. I don't suppose Mamie Bart told you the chances a woman takes when she does things like that?"

Scarlett, stunned, found a seat. She hadn't thought of that. Well, she'd rather die than have a baby. And Rhett's, at that! Fiddle-dee-dee.

After a second, she said: "No. She just said it would fix things up fine."

"By God, I will kill her!" cried Rhett and his face was black with rage. He looked into Scarlett's tear-stained face and some of the wrath faded but it was still set. Suddenly he picked her up in his arms and sat down in the chair, holding her close to him, tightly, as if he feared she would get away from him.

"Listen, my baby, I won't have you take your life in your hands. Do you hear? Good God, I don't want children anymore than you do, but I can't support them. I don't want to hear anymore foolishness out of you, and if you dare try to- Scarlett, you'll have your baby, if I have to handcuff you to my wrist for the next nine months."

Rhett held her tighter. She felt like she couldn't breathe, but she didn't protest.

The next day at supper, after the children had gone to bed, Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "I think you were right, Rhett. Melly should have this baby. She'd love it."

Rhett resisted the urge to roll his eyes and laugh with joy at the same time.

The next few weeks passed noiselessly. She wasn't feeling well. This pregnancy was taking every ounce of energy out of her. Her second month of pregnancy tired her so badly that climbing up the stairs was difficult. One day, Rhett found her winded halfway up. He laughed, and swept her off her feet.

"Long day, my pet?"

"Oh, Rhett, don't tease me. I didn't even have enough energy to get down."

Rhett looked down at Scarlett. In all the time he'd known her, she'd never admitted to weakness. Not willingly. Something was wrong. He laid her on their bed, and pulled blankets around her. "

"Rhett, would you lie by me?"

Yes, something was wrong with Scarlett. His heart twinged for her, though. She was his weakness. He kicked off his shoes and laid next to her. Tired from crying, Scarlett dozed instantly. Rhett dozed, too.

He was awakened rudely, by something warm by his legs. He opened his eyes to see red on the bed. Blood. He threw back the covers and saw the blood was coming from Scarlett. He panicked. He ran downstairs, looking for Mammy.

"Mammy!" he called.

She lumbered out from the kitchen. "Yes Mista Rhett?" She saw the panic in Rhett's face. "What's wrong with my lamb?"

"Mammy, it's Scarlett. She's bleeding and I don't know why. I'm going for Dr Meade."

Mammy hurried up the stairs, fast as she could go, up to her lamb.

Rhett hurried out the door.

And hour and a half later, Dr Meade came out of the bedroom, looking at Rhett and Melanie. "Captain Butler, Mrs. Wilkes, I hate to inform you that Scarlett is in labor. I fear this was caused by stress."

Rhett blanched inwardly. These past few months, they had done nothing but fight.

Melly spoke: "Labor? But she's hardly-"

Dr. Meade nodded his head.

"Scarlett's body decided that the baby wouldn't be safe in this word, so... but, come, Mrs. Wilkes. Scarlett is in labor."

Melly stood and joined Dr. Meade.

"You may go in now," the doctor nodded at Rhett. "But I must warn you. She is feverish and delusional. And don't wake her."

These words fell on silent ears. Rhett wasn't listening, the gears in his head were winding, trying to figure out how he could have prevented this.

Rhett sat, in a stupor, but he noticed for the first time that he had forgotten his shoes.

Fiddle-dee-dee, he could hear Scarlett's voice in his mind. "Fiddle-dee-dee, my pet."

After the stillborn, Scarlett was miserable; Rhett was miserable. At first, Rhett was a doting husband, wiping Scarlett's brow, feeding her soup when she was awake. After a week of no improvement, he gave up and sat next to her.

"Scarlett, talk to me, darling." His dark eyes pleaded with her green ones. She looked like her soul had snapped.

"Rhett..." she whispered. "Rhett, I had hoped to give this baby to Melly. I couldn't even do that for her. It was bad enough that I pretended to love her brother-" Her voice broke on the last word. Rhett wrapped Scarlett in his arms.

"I'm sorry, darling."

Neither one were themselves. Scarlett refused to get out of bed and Rhett refused to leave her side, except to get more brandy. They both drank; they both were zombies. After two or three weeks, Mammy sent for Melly.

"Miz Melly, you must do something! Miz Scarlett and Mistah Rhett, they ain't themselves!" Mammy cried. Mammy was at Melly's house, sitting on a couch. Mammy told Melly what had been happening at the Butler house. Scarlett refused to eat, besides when Rhett force fed her. Scarlett had lost a considerable amount of weight, and she was pale. Rhett hadn't seen the light of day in two weeks, and his formally tan face looked pale, almost as pale as Scarlett. "Miz Melly, aihm mighty worried 'bout those two! They don't speak, and Miz Scarlett threatened to jump down the stairs if Mistah Rhett touched her again!"

Melly's face lost all color, and she sank to the couch. "Oh, Mammy! How awful! I must go there at once! Beau, Beau darling come here."

Beau came to his mother, still small for his age.

"Beau, darling, I'm going over to Aunt Scarlett's. You be good and go play at the Picard's. I'll come to get you after supper."

"Mother, can't I come with you?" Beau pleaded.

"Maybe tomorrow," she smiled at him.

Melly tentatively knocked on Scarlett and Rhett's door. "Scarlett, Captain Butler, it's me, Melanie."

After a few seconds, and some rustling, Rhett answered: "Come in, Mrs. Wilkes."

Not knowing what to expect, she opened the door. The smell of liquor and cigar hit her so hard that she became nauseated. She took a breath and walked toward the bed.

"Now, darling Scarlett, won't you tell me what's wrong?"

Scarlett looked down at her hands. "Melly, I'm sure you don't want to know."

Melly kneeled next to her sister-in-law. "Of course I do, you goose." she sweetly said, with a joking tone.

Scarlett sighed. "Melly-Melly, I wanted to give this baby to you. That's why I can't get out of bed. I've failed you," her voice broke, and she started crying.

"Oh, Scarlett!" Melanie cried, throwing her arms around Scarlett. "Oh, darling, how kind of you! Oh, honey, you haven't failed me."

Scarlett cired into Melanie's hair. Rhett, who had never felt ill will toward Melanie, felt some now. His wife had opened up to her in minutes, where it had taken him a week. But Melanie was a saint, and he understood.

After twenty minutes of soothing Scarlett, Melanie held her at arm's length. "There, now. Won't you eat?"

Scarlett nodded.

"And I'll come by tomorrow with Beau and we can have lunch. How does that sound?" S

Scarlett nodded.

She straightened up and looked Rhett in the eye. "Now, Captain Butler, if Scarlett has been drinking alone, you'll have me to answer to."

Rhett's eyes widened in surprise, but he kept his composure. "Of course, Mrs. Wilkes."

"I'll see you both tomorrow."

Melanie turned and smiled as she exited.

"Mammy, darling," she smiled, going down the stairs, "the Butlers will be wanting food tonight."

Mammy hugged Melanie. "Thank you, Missus Wilkes! You sure are heaven sent!"

Melly laughed.

"Thank you, Miz Melly, fo makin mah lamb better!"

A month passed, and Scarlett had some strength back. She could make it down the steps now, if she held onto the banister. She wasn't healing as quickly as Rhett would have liked, but Dr. Meade assured him that she would get better.

"Give her time. Her body went through severe trauma. You're lucky she didn't die."

One night, Rhett had decided that he wanted to see Belle. He never touched her, and she felt the lack of his presence. He only had two drinks before he headed home.

"Rhett," she called after him, "if you love her so much, why do you come back to me?"

Rhett didn't answer, for he didn't have one.

When he got back home, he heard Scarlett screaming. He rushed upstairs. He was sure she was dying when he flung the door open. She was still asleep. A nightmare! He ran to her and cradled. her.

"Scarlett, Scarlett wake up," he crooned. He shook her lightly until her eyes opened.

"Rhett, Rhett is that you?"

"Yes, darling, it is."

"Oh, Rhett," Scarlett sobbed.

"Rhett, I had a dream about a burning house."

"A burning house?"

"Yes, and you were in it! You wouldn't come to me, so I laid next to you... Oh, Rhett!" She held onto him desperately, as if he were going into the flames.

He chuckled lightly.

"Don't laugh, Rhett," she mewed.

He smiled into her hair. "Of course, my darling. Now, why were you screaming?"

"Because... the flames hurt."

"Darling, are you in pain?" he exclaimed.

"A little, but you're here now."

His heart thumped. What is this woman doing to me?

"Let's get you something for the pain."

He went to get up, but Scarlett held onto him. He chuckled again. When he looked down, she was asleep. When he tried to get up again, she was tangled in his clothes and in his limbs. He sighed, and decided to sleep as he was.