Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Note: I decided that Scarlett was going to have an emotional reaction to her near-death experience. She was going to make the most of every day. The Italicize part is straight out of the book. I need it to set-up the meeting with The Wilkes.

Scarlett said, 'He wants to buy me out?'
Rhett said, 'Yes. But of course, I told him you wouldn't sell.'
'I wish you'd let me mind my own business.'
'Well, you know you wouldn't part with the mills. I told him that he knew as well as I did that you couldn't bear not to have your finger in everybody's pie, and if you sold out to him, then you wouldn't be able to tell him how to mind his own business.'

Suddenly she stopped herself from responding emotionally. She took a deep breath and said, "The least I can do is hear his offer. Would you arrange for us to meet tomorrow?" Rhett nodded.

"Thank you my dear. I am going to lay down now. Can you help me up the stairs? It is a little scary." Scarlett watched him and saw it. Just a flicker but he was surprised and then guilty. Scarlett realized she had to think this all through. She didn't believe in Ashley's windfall. That meant Rhett was behind all this. What a sneak.
Rhett help her up the stairs remaining his impersonal self. He left her at her bedroom door and said, "Do you need help with anything else?"
Scarlett answered, "Can you have someone bring me a tray up with my supper? I'm exhausted." There she saw it again. It was just a flicker. But he was feeling guilty. Good.
She needed to plan her next moved. Scarlett knew she had almost died. She was not going to waste her time on a man who was weak. Scarlett was done with Ashley Wilkes. If he had really loved her, he would have married her and not Melanie. He was the reason she was the talk of the town. He was always talking about the sad past. He had acted guilty at the party. He had not shut India down. What a weak man! She knew what she was going to do about the mills and laughed out loud. While she was at Tara, she had already decided to sell her share in the mills. She could never go back out there again without everyone talking about her. Rhett misplayed his hand. He thought she would only sell to Ashley. It was the opposite anyone but Ashley. He was such a bad business man he would ruin her mills in a year at the most.

Things were going to change in her life. When one looks death in the face one realizes what is important. She was not going to waste any more time on dreams. She was going to enjoy her life now. She had thought a lot about her life while she was a Tara. All the things she wanted to do or things she wanted to have. She wanted to see the world. Rhett had plenty of money she didn't need to make anymore. She could just play the rest of her life.

Scarlett did end up taking a nap and she dreamed of a baby. A baby that looked like Rhett. She woke up when Pansy brought the tray in. Scarlett had the rest of her plan. She'd make him give her another baby. She laughed at the irony of it all. She actually wanted several more children. She'd make sure he couldn't run away from her again. She would wrap the Old Guard around her little finger by becoming the demurest wife Atlanta had ever seen. Everywhere she went people would see her with all her beautiful children.

Scarlett woke the next morning and went down the servant's staircase. Rhett was eating breakfast with the children and she went around the table giving everyone a kiss on the cheek. With all her free time she was going to be a good mother. She would be a good mother in her own way. She had already started with Ella and Wade while they were at Tara. When Bonnie thought they were getting something she wasn't Bonnie would come to her. Rhett was eying her suspiciously and she smiled back innocently. He told her the meeting was this afternoon at 1 PM. She questioned whether he could make it since that was when he went to the bank.

Rhett said, "Don't worry. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
She looked at him questioningly but didn't say anything.
She asked the children, "Do you have any plans for today?"
Wade said, "Uncle Rhett is taking us to the park."
Scarlett said, "That sounds like great fun. I think I'll tag along." When she saw her children's happy faces it made her feel good. Scarlett had worked to be in Wade and Ella's lives while she was a Tara. When the children got too much for her she just went and laid down. Nobody questioned it because she was recuperating.
Rhett said, "Don't you need to check on the store or the mills?"
Scarlett said innocently, "No. Nothing is more important than spending time with my family."
There it was again a tell. So fast if one wasn't looking right at him one would not know. For a split second his true emotion was on his face. And what she saw was suspicion
Rhett said, "As soon as we finish breakfast we will go."
The rest got up from the table and Rhett looked like he wanted to make a mocking comment but he refrained. Scarlett smiled. Rhett got up and walked out of the dining room. Scarlett finished her coffee and her muffin then grabbed another muffin, put on her bonnet and went to sit by the front door and waited for them smiling the entire time.

As they walked to the park Rhett gave her his arm and slowed his step to match hers. Bonnie wanted him to hurry but Rhett told her they had to wait on Mother. Bonnie looked at her suspiciously and Scarlett smiled back.

Rhett said to Scarlett, "If you get tired, I will walk you back to the house. I don't want you overdoing."

Scarlett said, "I'm fine right now but thank you. Can we sit on that bench over there?

Rhett helped Scarlett to the bench while the children ran off. Rhett didn't sit down but continued to stare at the children. Scarlett laughed and said, "Go on Rhett. I'm fine just sitting here watching y'all."

Rhett said, "Are you sure?"

Scarlett just nodded her head. She was not alone for long. Every few minutes one of the children ran up to say something to her or show her something. Soon it was time to go back to the house to get cleaned up for dinner. The children were in high spirits. They were all talking at once. Every now and then Scarlett would laugh at something one of them said. Rhett could tell that Scarlett was tiring because she kept holding his arm tighter and tighter. When they got to the house, she asked Wade to help her upstairs so she could lay down before the meeting. Wade told her he would see she got dinner on a tray in her room.

She smiled and said, "That is so kind of you, Wade." Rhett remembered when she said that to him all the time. It was like a knife in the gut. Why had she stopped? Probably because he stopped doing kind things for her.

That afternoon at 1 PM the Wilkes arrived at the Butlers home. Once they were all seated in the parlor Ashley told about getting the windfall. Scarlett said, "It gives you renewed faith in your fellow man." She watched Melly squirm.

Ashley said, "I would like to buy out your share of the mills with this windfall and named a price."
Scarlett said, "That is a generous benefactor. You have no idea who it was? Do you remember nursing a man through the small pox?
Ashley said, "No I don't. That's why I think the money was meant for someone else. I feel bad about it because I feel like I got someone else's reward. I can't return it because it was unsigned and no return address."
Scarlett had her most understanding face on but she wanted to laugh because Melly couldn't tell a lie and it was written all over her sweet face. Rhett is probably thinking how all his plans are going up in a ball of flames.
Rhett said, "Mr. Wilkes you are a good man so you probably just don't remember doing it."
Scarlett thought that must have galled him.
Melly said, "That's right, Ashley, you are always doing good deeds.
Before Scarlett burst out laughing and ruined everything she had to get herself under control.
Scarlett said, "I have thought about your offer since Rhett told me yesterday." Turned and smiled at Rhett. "But I can't accept your offer. I do have a counter offer that I think you will like a lot more. I will trade you my store for your half of the mills. I think you will be much happier running a store instead of the mills. I know Frank enjoyed talking to all of his friends as they came in to make purchases. I think you would like that part of the job also. What's more if something should happen to you, perish the thought, then Melly could run it." Scarlett turned to Melly and patted her hand and said, "If needed I could help." Scarlett turned back to Ashley and said, "Then you could put that windfall in the bank and save it for Beau's college education. What do you say?"
Ashley was smiling and said, "Are you sure? Isn't the store worth more than half of the mills?"
Scarlett said, "What is money when it comes to helping my sister and her husband? Isn't that right, Rhett."
Rhett smiled at her and said, "Of course, my dear." While wondering what she was up to.
Ashley looked at Melly and she nodded her head. Ashley said, "Yes. Thank you. This is a much better plan."
Scarlett said, "I'm glad everyone thinks this is a good plan. Rhett, darling, will you talk to Uncle Henry about all the paperwork?"
Rhett said, "If you wish." Not his plan but actually a better plan. Ashley could run the store and make a success especially with Melly helping him. And Scarlett and Ashley would no longer be partners. They would no longer have a reason to spend time together.
Scarlett said, "Let's start your training tomorrow at the store at 8. Melly, please, come along to keep the gossip down. Don't worry about your mill I'll have Johnny run both mills until I find someone to replace you. Rhett, will you send your runner to tell Johnny about his extra work load? Or you could go out there yourself. It is just too much travel for me right now.
Rhett agreed. And the meeting was over.

As they were walking to the door Scarlett said to Melly, "Melly, will you make sure it gets around that I am no longer friends with Scallawags and Republicans. That I have seen the light and I am deeply ashamed that I was friends with them at all. I have sold you and Ashley the store and I have the mills up for sale. I am going to stay at home and take care of my family."
Once the Wilkes were out the door Scarlett said to Rhett, "Once the mills are completely in my name, please, sell them."
At that Rhett allowed his shock to show. He said to her, "If you don't have the mills and the store what are you going to do with your time?"
Scarlett said, "Be a wife and mother. What did you have planned for me to do with my time when you engineered this event?"

She laughed at Rhett's shocked expression that quickly disappeared. Scarlett's said, "Melly can't tell a lie either. It was written all over her face."

She started to walk away but stopped and said, "We need to talk. Will you come to my room after you put Bonnie to bed tonight?"
Rhett said formally, "I would love to come to your room, Madame."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Thanks." Ignoring any undertone.