Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own plot; everything else goes to Margaret Mitchel.

Chapter I

"Don't cry Dear, I'll be back in just a couple of weeks, and then we can go on our honeymoon and move to Atlanta and we will live happily forever." Charles Hamilton told his young wife Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton as they stood on the station platform before he boarded his train that would take him to the rest of his company. They stood there with his sister Melanie Wilkes and her husband Ashley Wilkes, who was also preparing to leave for war.

Scarlett stood there on that April morning, thinking what a fool her husband was for believing she was crying over his leaving. That was the best part of this whole war was that she would be getting rid of him for a few weeks until this whole mess was over. What she was crying about was that the war was also taking her beloved Ashley away from her; Ashley, who was now married to her sister-in-law Melanie.

"I will try not to cry, Charles; for you." Scarlett said, hoping if she stopped the tears, he would leave already. She wanted to go home and be away from him. It worked. He kissed her cheek gently and then turned and boarded the train, leaving her standing alone on the platform next to her new sister-in-law.

"Goodbye Charles! Goodbye Ashley!" Melanie called from beside Scarlett. She waved with her little white handkerchief as the train pulled away from the station, then she turned towards Scarlett. "Come Scarlett dear, let's get you home. You look so tired. You need to think of something other than Charles. He will be back soon and then you can be together again, just as Ashley and I will be together again soon too." Melanie took Scarlett's arm and began to lead her back to the carriage that would take her home.

"Oh will she never go away! I can't stand this mealy mouthed little brat anymore!" Scarlett thought to herself as Melanie lead her to the carriage. "Thank you Melly, I will go home and rest. I'm feeling quite tired. I think it will do me some good." Scarlett said sweetly as she looked down at Mrs. Wilkes from her place in the carriage. It was all she could do to not completely ignore Melanie Wilkes and tell Pork to get the carriage home as fast as he could. But, she had to be polite. She had to be a lady. So, Scarlett smiled the sweetest smile she could as she asked Pork to take her home and told Melanie that she would see her tomorrow before she left to go home to Atlanta.

The next day, Scarlett woke up late and went downstairs to the breakfast table. Everyone was already gone and the table cleared, so she then went to the kitchen.

"Mammy, could you make me a plate? I'm famished." Scarlett said as she entered the kitchen.

"Of course I can honey child." Mammy replied as she began to put food onto a plate for Scarlett before setting it in front of her at the table in the kitchen.

"Thank you Mammy." Scarlett said as she began to eat the food Mammy had prepared for her.

When Scarlett had finished eating, she returned to her room to prepare for going to town. Melanie was leaving today, and Scarlett, as her sister-in-law, was expected to see her off. She was none too excited about this, but at least it would get her out of the house for a while. Maybe she could go shopping while she was out. A new hat or a new pair of shoes would make her feel better.

When Scarlett arrived at the station, Melanie was already there, surrounded by a group of women saying goodbye. Scarlett walked over, pasting a smile on her face as she grew closer.

"Melly, are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" Scarlett asked sweetly as she stood next to Melanie. "I would love for us to become close like real sisters."

"Oh, Scarlett, I'm sorry but I must get home. Aunt Pitty needs me. You understand don't you? But as soon as this is all over, you and Charles will come to Atlanta and then we can be real sisters." Melanie smiled at Scarlett with all the love in her heart. She was so glad that Scarlett and Charles had married. She could tell that Scarlett truly made Charles happy.

"Alright, I understand Melanie; I look forward to the end of this blasted war now more than ever. Hopefully it will all be over soon so we can be sisters for real." Scarlett said, knowing that Melanie honestly believed every lie she was spouting. This really was too easy.

Two weeks later, the war was still underway. Scarlett had received numerous letters from her adoring husband; letters professing his love for her, and all the plans he was making for their future. Telling her of how much he missed her, and how, when the war was over, he would come home to her and he would make her happy. Letters that, had Scarlett not imagined were from Ashley, would have made her sick. She felt obligated to write him letters in return, but just couldn't manage to make them come out sounding so love-struck. The most she could manage was telling him how she wished he would come home soon. But, that seemed to be enough for him. If his letters were any indication, he never once suspected that she cared nothing for him, and was in fact, repulsed by him. Their wedding night, and the nights that followed, leading up to his departure a week later, were by far the worst of her life. How anyone could find that as enjoyable she wasn't sure. It felt degrading, and horrible. It hurt a great deal too. All she remembered was embarrassment and pain. That was another part of his returning that she was dreading.

Another two weeks passed and the letters were still the same. All full of plans for the future and of how much he loved her. Now though, Scarlett had something else to write her husband of. It had been 5 weeks since their wedding, and her menstrual bleeding hadn't come yet. Mammy and her mother said she was with child. This was not in Scarlett's plan the day she agreed to marry Charles. Her plan only included making Ashley jealous. It had nothing to do with babies. But, there was nothing she could do about it now, it was happening and she supposed Charles had a right to know of the impending birth of his child. So, Scarlett wrote him.

Dearest Charles,

I have wonderful news for you. I am with child. Our child will be born in January, and I pray that you will be home safe by that time.

With love,

Scarlett

When Scarlett was finished with her letter, she sealed it and gave it to Pork to take to the post to be mailed.

A week later, there was a reply.

My darling Scarlett,

This is wonderful news! I can't express to you how happy it makes me to learn of the news that you are with child. I am overjoyed! I too pray that I will be home in time for the birth of our baby. I am sure that I will be. Things here can't last much longer. The Yankees will surely give in soon when they see that they can't win this war. But I don't wish to talk of such things as war with you. You are far too delicate to hear of such affairs.

I love you very much, please take the best care of yourself and the baby, and I will be home to you soon.

With all my love,

Charles

Scarlett rolled her eyes upon reading the letter, crumpling it up and throwing it to the floor. "...Too delicate to hear of such affairs". Just who did he think he was talking to? His sister? She wasn't some simpering little girl who was stupid and only said what she was told to day. She was Scarlett O'Hara. Her father had taught her well. She was smart and didn't need some man telling her what she could and couldn't talk about and understand.

A/N: So, I have had the idea for this story for a while, I just never wrote it; and since I was in a writing mood today, I just decided to go ahead and start it. What do you think so far?

~Cat~