Author's Notes: Scarlett has retrograde amnesia in this story. What I have Dr. Dunn saying in this story is accurate. A man named Theodule-Armand Ribot did live and his theory is still true today. I have fudged with the timeline a little bit to make it fit with Scarlett and Rhett's timeline. When a person gets retrograde amnesia, it is permanent. What does one forget with this type of amnesia? Mainly a person loses their episodic memories but not their procedural memories. In other words, one would lose the memory of having ridden a bike but not the skill required to ride a bike. There will also be changes to a person's personality because who we are is based on what has happened to us during our life. Scarlett is an opportunistic person in GWTW and she will still be opportunistic but in a more subtle way.

I have Scarlett saying things while speaking that she has no memory of until the words are spoken. I have made this up. It is not normal.

I have also given Scarlett a little bit of a sixth sense. She knows things without knowing how she knows these things.

A miscarriage while falling down the stairs during the first trimester is not very likely. During this stage, the fetus is incredibly small, and the positioning makes it hard for a fall down the stairs to cause a miscarriage. The baby sits low in the pelvis and is well protected by the mother's pelvis bones. From VeryWellfamily.

Chapter One

"Rhett!" Scarlett was screaming as loud as she could as she was running through the fog. Where was he? Why couldn't she find him? What was he? A man, a boy, a dog? She screamed his name again. Suddenly she felt someone near her and she grabbed for the person with all her strength. She opened her eyes, looked into a pair of sweet brown eyes and said, "Rhett!" The woman said, "I will go get him." That didn't calm Scarlett down so she screamed his name again and again. Finally, a man was running into the room and he sat down on the bed. She tried to throw herself into his arms but she couldn't move and she had something very bulky on her right arm. When she tried to move her arm, it hurt so bad she nearly passed out. The man held her left hand and said, "I'm here, Scarlett. I'm here. Don't try to move. You are too hurt." She looked at him but she didn't recognize him. He was a man in his late thirties with black hair and dark brown eyes. He looked disheveled. He had stubble on his face, his hair was all in disarray and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. His clothes looked like he had been wearing them for several days. She didn't care what he looked like. She felt better with him just being there. She felt safe now. She said, "I finally found you." Rhett didn't know what she was talking about but he agreed with her. He needed her to calm down and not move. She was in very bad shape. She had been asleep for the last two days and he had gotten drunk, sobered up and was on his way to getting drunk again when Miss Melly came for him. Rhett could not believe she called for him.

She looked at him and said, "Don't leave me. I need you here."

Rhett was relieved she wanted him to be with her. He said, "I'm here as long as you want me."

Scarlett said, "I hurt so bad. Can you give me something for the pain?"

Rhett looked at her sadly and said, "It is no wonder you hurt. You have a broken arm, two cracked ribs and bruises over three fourths of your body but miraculously you are still with child so Dr. Meade won't let you have any laudanum. It may hurt the baby."

Scarlett happily said, "I'm with child? What happened to me?"

Rhett wondered about her asking about the child but maybe she was confused because of coming out of her deep sleep. Rhett looked ashamed and said, "You fell down the stairs."

Scarlett knew he was ashamed of something in regard to her falling down the stairs. She wanted to know the rest of the story but she couldn't handle it right now. She was in a lot of pain but he made her feel better just being there.

Scarlett said, "What time is it? How long have I been asleep?"

Rhett said, "It is ten in the morning and you have been asleep for almost two days."

Scarlett said, "Can I have something to eat?"

Rhett said, "Yes. I will get Mammy to bring you some soup."

Scarlett's hand tightened on his hand and she said, "Don't leave." There was a panicky look on her face.

That is when the woman moved into her line of sight. She said, "I will get the soup."

Rhett turned to the woman and said, "Thanks Miss Melly."

Scarlett looked at the woman and did not recognize her either. The woman was small. She was about the size of a twelve-year-old. She had plain brown hair and brown eyes. She had a very plain face but there was so much love and compassion showing on her face that it made her beautiful. Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "I am going to close my eyes until my soup gets here but that doesn't mean I want you to leave." And she continued holding his hand.

In about fifteen minutes Melly returned with the soup. Rhett tried to let go of Scarlett's hand but she again tightened her hand around his hand. He had no idea what was going on except that she wanted him to be with her. Rhett gently called her name, "Scarlett" and there was no response. He called her name again and she opened her eyes. Rhett was looking right at her. She thought 'That must be my name. Why do I not know my own name?' Rhett said, "Your soup is here. I am going to try to move you into a sitting position. Tell me if it hurts too much."

Scarlett nodded her head. She could tell he was being extremely gentle with her but it still hurt a lot but finally she was in a sitting position. She could eat her soup now. Rhett saw the tears in Scarlett's eyes and knew he had hurt her while he was moving her.

When Scarlett's breathing returned to normal, she said, "Rhett"

He turned to look at her and she said, "While she is feeding me the soup, why don't you get cleaned up and get something to eat? I guess you haven't left my side in two days."

Rhett smiled a sheepish smile and said, "I do smell pretty bad. I will do that and be back. Thank you, Miss Melly."

Melly replied, "Your welcome, Captain Butler."

While Melly was feeding Scarlett the soup she was talking to Scarlett. She was telling her about some people but Scarlett did not know any of them. She didn't even know who this woman was. What was her name? Melly? Yes. That was it. She had such a kind face.

Melanie said, "Your children have been worried about you."

These people she had been talking about must be her children. Why did she not remember them? Scarlett said, "I hope they don't worry too much. You will tell them I am alright, won't you?"

Melanie said, "Of course, I will."

As Melanie continued talking about these people Scarlett was trying to remember their names. There was Beau, Wade, Ella, Bonnie and Ashley. Were they all her children? She needed to think. She had no memory before she was screaming for Rhett. She knew he was her husband. She knew he loved her and she knew she loved him. He made her feel extremely safe. She had remembered his name. This woman was Melly and she knew this woman loved her too. She knew she love this woman. Scarlett felt safe with her too. Not as safe as with Rhett but safe. As she got more information maybe her memory would come back. She wasn't going to say anything for a little bit.

Just as she finished the soup, the door opened and in walked an older stout woman who had a no-nonsense air about her. The woman looked like she was in her late fifties. Her hair was black without any gray in it and her black eyes were loving. As Scarlett was wondering who she was the woman scurried over to the bed and Melly moved out of the way. She reached to hug Scarlett and Scarlett said, "Don't hug me. I hurt too much." Scarlett saw that her words had hurt the woman and said, "Maybe just a small, very gentle one." As the woman hugged her Scarlett tried not to wince. Thankfully it was over quickly. Scarlett didn't know who she was but the woman loved her and Scarlett knew she loved this woman too.

Mammy said, "I was so worried about you my lamb."

Scarlett said, "I am in pretty bad shape."

Mammy said, "You and Mr. Rhett shouldn't have been arguing at the top of the stairs. And with Mr. Rhett having just gotten back."

Scarlett thought 'That explains his guilt but there is still more to the story.' She said, "I don't think we will do that again."

Mammy and Miss Melly fussed over her until Rhett got back. She feels safe with these women. When Scarlett saw him all cleaned up, she thought 'Wow! No wonder we have so many kids.' Scarlett rubbed her abdomen. She hoped her baby was alright.

Rhett said, "Miss Melly I will sit with Scarlett. Why don't you go get the children from Miss PittyPat's before they drive her into a swoon? Mammy, send someone to fetch Dr. Meade and can you have some sandwiches brought up? At least three or four." As he looked at Scarlett with a knowing smile.

Scarlett thought 'He knows me so well. He knows that I am still hungry. The older woman must be her mammy.'

After the women left Scarlett said, "Thank you for getting me a sandwich. The soup definitely did not fill me up." After saying this she noticed a shocked look quickly cross his face. Scarlett wondered 'Do I not thank him regularly?'

While they waited for the sandwiches Rhett started talking about his recent trip to Charleston. He and their daughter Bonnie had gone. Scarlett could tell they had been gone a long time. Rhett's mother lived in Charleston. They also went to New Orleans. To Scarlett Rhett seemed uncomfortable about having shared that piece of information. Scarlett wondered why.

Rhett asked her, "What did Ella and Wade do while we were away."

Scarlett told him, "Nothing different just what they usually do."

Rhett asked, "How are your mills?"

She said, "They are fine."

He asked, "How is the little gentleman?"

She said, "Fine." She had no idea what he was talking about but she observed that the mills and the little gentleman were sore points with him. Luckily the sandwiches arrived before he could ask any more questions. She ate her sandwich and then asked Rhett to lay her back down so she could take a nap. Rhett did and fortunately going down was easier than going up. She closed her eyes and decided that only Wade, Ella and Bonnie were their children since Rhett didn't ask about anyone else. Whoever the little gentleman is he is not her child. The little gentleman has something to do with the mills. He must be a man that Rhett is jealous of. She wondered why Rhett would be jealous.

Before she fell asleep an older man with gray hair arrived. Rhett called him Dr. Meade. He checked her over and asked her some questions but all she said was, "I don't know." She looked at Rhett after she answered each question for reassurance. Finally, Dr. Meade said she was on the mend and left. After she got an agreement from Rhett that he wasn't going anywhere she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Scarlett woke up about two hours later and saw Rhett asleep in the chair. Scarlett tried to remember anything past when she woke up that morning. Nothing! She had lost her memory. What did she know? She was married to a very handsome, rich man. This house was expensive and her ring was huge. It's probably vulgar huge but she liked it. Melly is her best friend. How does she know that? She doesn't know but she knows it is true. She is probably the same age. She is in her early twenties but Rhett is at least in his late thirties. Did she marry him for his money? Probably but she knows she loves him. Again she doesn't know how she knows this but she knows what she knows. He definitely loves her but she doesn't think he has told her. She wonders why? He is a man who doesn't open up easily. She can tell by his blank expression but also by his dead eyes. Those eyes livened up when he talked about Bonnie so she must be his favorite. She has more than one child. Their names are Wade, Ella and Bonnie. He is jealous of the little gentleman and he hates her mills. Why does she run a business when he is this wealthy? Is he jealous of all men or just this little gentleman? Probably some of their areas of contention. From the way Mammy talked about them arguing it must be something they do a lot.

She just laid there and stared at him. He finally opened his eyes and saw her looking at him. She smiled at him. He smiled back almost as a reflex because as soon as he knew he was smiling at her he stopped but she just kept smiling at him. Whatever their problems were they had to be fixed and being nasty with each other wasn't going to solve anything.

Rhett said, "How are you feeling?"

Scarlett said, "If I don't move or breathe then I'm alright."

That guilty look passed over his face again. He said, "You are going to be laid up for at least two to three weeks. Would you like me to go out to the mills and look at the books?"

Scarlett said, "Yes. Will Melly come sit with me?"

Rhett said, "I'm sure she will if we ask her."

Scarlett said, "Where are the children?"

Rhett said, "They are staying with Miss Melly. She loves having them." It was a strange question to Rhett because the children always stayed with Melly if they weren't at home.

Scarlett said, "I would like to see them."

This surprised Rhett and he asked, "You want to see your children?"

She just nodded her head. She thought, 'Why is he surprise that she wanted to see her children?'

He said, "I will arrange a visit for tomorrow but I don't want them coming home until you are feeling much better."

She said, "How long until my arm is healed?"

He said, "It has to remain immobile for at least six to eight weeks."

She said, "Alright. Would you read a book to me?

He said, "Yes. What would you like me to read to you?"

She said, "I don't care."

He said, "Maybe a Shakespearian comedy."

She knew what a comedy was but she didn't know what a Shakespearian comedy was but said yes anyway.

Rhett went and got the book and came back to read to her. Barely into the first act she had fallen asleep. He was so glad she was alive. He had been so worried. He was very surprised she wasn't mad about what he had said but he wasn't going to ask her about it. Maybe she had forgotten he even said that horrible statement. What kind of man says to his wife 'Cheer up maybe you will have a miscarriage?' He went and got the book he was reading and a glass of whiskey.