Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. Without Margaret Mitchell, this work would not exist. I do not own any part of Gone With The Wind and no money is being made from this story.

Chapter Thirty: Tomorrow Is Another Day

"Rhett? Rhett?"

"Mmm."

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

His dream had ended abruptly and he was being shaken back into a reality where he was not making love to his wife. His eyes refused to open and for a moment he contemplated the idea of simply ignoring the soldier. Each morning the same officer had been bringing him his meals but he had never been this personable or teasing. A typical greeting was a gruff grunt or a "Wake up, Butler". Damn it! He was simply not ready to awaken just yet.

He turned his body over and buried his head into the pillow which strangely enough smelled faintly familiar. Inhaling deeply he thought that his pillow smelled just like Scarlett. He must be imagining things.

"Rhett, wake up! If you don't wake up this instant, this will certainly be the last time I bring you breakfast in bed."

The voice was vaguely familiar. Strangely enough, the soldier sounded like his wife. An aggravated Scarlett. Suddenly, he felt the covers slip down the length of his body. His normally impeccable reflexes were not enough to prevent this. Without warning, he felt his legs being grabbed and someone was tickling his feet.

"What the-"

He twisted his body towards the foot of the bed and his now opened eyes were blinded by the harsh light invading the room. He blinked several times before he was able to focus on his wife who had her arms wrapped around his lower legs and wore a huge grin on her face. It did not take much effort but in a single movement, he lunged for her and grasping her about the waist, flung her onto the bed and pinned her under his naked body. Her shriek filled the quiet of the room

"Rhett, you are more troublesome than both Wade and Everett."

"And you didn't believe me when I said that boys were more trouble than girls," he teased, loving the feel of her body underneath his.

"But really, Rhett. I went to all this trouble to bring you breakfast like the dutiful little wife and what do I get in return?

Rhett burst out laughing and then pressed his lips against hers, feeling her body loosen and her arms wrap around his neck. When their lips broke apart, he hovered above her and they both smiled, simply happy to be in each other's arms.

"Rhett, you must cover yourself. What if Wade wanders in and finds you like this?"

"Yes, Mrs. Butler. Whatever you say. I best listen."

He rolled off of her and as he went in search of his drawers from the night before, she moved the tray onto the bed between them. Sitting down beside her and propping himself against the pillow, he realized that he was starving.

"This is something wholly unexpected. The young belle I married is actually up before me? I could get used to this, Scarlett," Rhett said, as a forkful of eggs reached his mouth.

"Don't. I have expectations, Rhett. When we first married you brought me breakfast from the kitchens at the hotel. I expect the very same treatment to continue tomorrow. I didn't get much of a honeymoon, did I?"

"No, you didn't," he chuckled as he took another bite. "Speaking of honeymoons. I expect you would like a proper one?"

"Certainly, I do."

"There were plenty of nice hotels in Charleston before the war. I'm sure we could spend a few days together." He watched her as her cheeks began to redden.

Scarlett remained silent but continued to watch him. He bit into and chewed a piece of toast, pretending to consider the matter as Scarlett looked at him with thinly veiled annoyance.

"We could spend a few weeks in Atlanta. The hotel there was very nice."

"The Yankees destroyed it." Rhett could see that Scarlett was trying to refrain from voice her displeasure.

"Savannah is still nice this time of year."

"It is."

"Or maybe New Orleans." He took another bite of eggs and could see the battle his wife was waging trying to remain calm.

"New Orleans seems acceptable but Rhett-"

"How about Paris followed by London?" He watched her eyes light up and grinned at her. "I have some property I need to regain overseas."

"You mean you actually had the money? The Confederate gold?" Scarlett exclaimed, inching closer to him on the bed, nearly upsetting the cups of weak coffee on the tray between them.

He picked up the cup and brought it to his lips. Pausing slightly he remarked. "Only some of it Scarlett. But there was no way I was going to admit it to the Yankees. Of course, that matters little now. The right people have been made aware of my, shall we say, services."

"Rhett, they were going to hang you!"

"They didn't, Scarlett and while I appreciate your frustration, I would have gone to my death knowing you and the boys were taken care of."

"You still might." She shot him a look as she stole the toast out of his hand and began chewing it thoughtfully. Rhett was certain that this conversation was far from over but for the moment his wife was appeased. "Rhett, what happened with your father? Have you reconciled with him?"

Putting his fork on the tray, he twisted his body to better look at his wife. "For my mother's sake," Rhett began, "and silence, my father has decided that he was two sons. He's not happy about it and his pride has taken a beating but the answer is yes."

"I don't understand, Rhett. If it was that easy why didn't he-"

"Scarlett, it wasn't. Before yesterday his pride would not allow him to take the first step. He knew that I was providing money to my mother throughout the war. He was able to ignore my aid because he chose to. He is a very stubborn man. Had my mother not, shall we say, reminded him of her intimate knowledge of not only his business and personal life, he likely would have let me swing."

"That's horrible, Rhett."

"That is Stephen Butler."

Picking up the tray from the bed, he placed it on the ground beside the bed. Turning back to her he whispered, "I don't want to talk about my father any longer, Scarlett. I actually don't want to do any talking."

"Rhett-"

Unfortunately, neither Scarlett or Rhett heard the next words she meant to speak.

April 1869: Tara Plantation, Clayton County, Georgia

The sky was a shockingly brilliant shade of azure blue, a sharp contrast to the red Georgia clay that his father-in-law had loved so much. Looking out over the rolling green foothills, so different from his Charleston upbringing, Rhett's thoughts turned to the man who had taken a chance on him when no one else would have dared to.

In a moment of contemplation, Rhett had asked his mother-in-law why they had allowed him to court her daughter - Scarlett had been a new widow and he was not received. Ellen reminded him of the conversation that he and Gerald had shortly after the Atlanta bazaar. She admitted that Gerald had seen so much of himself in Rhett and decided that just like Ellen's father who had grudgingly given Gerald a chance years before, so would he. Gerald was certain, Ellen told him, after that first meeting, that Rhett was the only man who would make his daughter happy. He and Scarlett might not always see eye to eye but true happiness was measured over the course of a lifetime as well as in each ordinary day.

Rhett looked out over the expanse of land that he and Scarlett now owned. He remembered Belle's warning from years before that Scarlett was going to turn him into a respectable gentleman, living on a beautiful plantation with a passel of children. The very thought had frightened him that day but now he was glad that his life had proceeded in that direction. He did not think of her often, just in passing, but Rhett felt a moment of sadness that Belle had disappeared from Atlanta and his life. Upon his return home, his wife had made it abundantly clear that if Belle's name was ever brought up in connection with him he would regret it. He never asked her what she meant by her ominous words; he didn't need to. He never doubted that she meant it.

He had asked Scarlett only once: "Are you sure this is where you want to be, my love?"

"Rhett, as long as I'm with you, I'll be happy. Home is wherever you and the boys are."

But Rhett had known the truth even if Scarlett couldn't or wouldn't say it aloud: she had to return to Tara, the land, the red clay. It was in her blood and not returning would have haunted her, haunted him, until her dying day.

And so Tara had slowly been rebuilt. It would never be what it had been when Gerald O'Hara was alive. That way of life had gone with the wind but the new house had quickly become a home. They had re-christened the new house Tara because Rhett knew that it would have made his father-in-law happy. In place of the old rambling house a new, majestic white-columned home was built. Cedar trees had been replanted on either side of the gravel driveway leading up to the front entrance. The grounds were well manicured and the magnolia, wisteria and dogwood trees blossomed everywhere. The gardens in the back would soon be in full bloom and that is where Rhett sat in a gazebo that his wife had insisted they build.

Gone were the slave cabins and the overseer's house and the miles of cotton. Rhett had no desire to farm cotton. In truth, his money was well invested and he had only agreed to rebuild on the land seeing that it meant so much to his wife and the father-in-law that was still fondly remembered in Clayton County. This land had belonged to the man who had taken a chance on him and Rhett was beginning to cherish it.

Lighting the cigar in his hands, Rhett recalled a conversation he had had with his mother just before her departure from Atlanta before the Christmas of 1862. Scarlett had just discovered his relationship with Belle and had thrown him out of her aunt's Peachtree Street home. His mother challenged his resistance to change.

"You have so much love to give, Rhett. Doesn't it hurt to hold it in and never share it? At some point, you have to trust someone."

At the time he had run from Atlanta like a scared little boy but now he realized that Scarlett's actions in both Atlanta during the war, as well as in Charleston after the war, had shown him he could trust someone: his wife. And Scarlett needed to be close to Tara. She loved the land as much as her father had and Rhett knew she would never leave it permanently, although she promised that once the children were old enough that she would temporarily leave it behind to travel the world with him. Once they had embarked on rebuilding Tara, they never seemed to make it to Atlanta or Charleston for the seasons. Neither he or Scarlett was really interested and their young family kept them busy.

The property where Twelve Oaks had once stood had been purchased by Rhett and the land cleared. Melanie had been embarrassed at first but Rhett was insistent that Melanie and Beau would be well provided for. Part of the allure and satisfaction for Rhett in purchasing the property was that there would never be any neighbors living close by. The money had been distributed amongst Melanie, India and Honey Wilkes. Honey was married now and living in Macon but India remained unmarried. Rhett was certain that India had never gotten over the loss of Stuart and had discovered that she had more freedom as an unmarried woman than she would have if she were wed to a man she didn't love.

For a time, Scarlett's relationship with Melanie had been strained mostly because of the hurt Melanie experienced when she discovered that Scarlett had only married Melanie's brother Charles out of spite. Months had gone by before the two women had reconciled. It had come as a surprise when Melanie recently announced that she was getting married. Melanie had struck up an unlikely friendship with a distant cousin and they were planning on marrying sometime the following year. She had been nervous to tell Scarlett, who she thought would think less of her for so quickly moving on after the loss of Ashley, but Rhett was secretly happy. He liked and respected Melanie, and Beau needed a father figure in his daily life.

For now, Melanie, and Beau were living in Atlanta with Aunt Pitty but Rhett was certain that the two of them would spend the summer months with him, Scarlett and the children in Charleston. The beach house on Sullivan's Island had been a compromise. He needed to be close to the water, it calmed him, soothed him, and reminded him of his youth. If he was close to the water he could survive the long months of the year in the north Georgia countryside.

He inhaled deeply on his cigar wondering when his life would return to normal. The house, at that very moment, was filled with people. Scarlett's sister Suellen, her husband Frank and their two small daughters, Julia and Katie, had arrived from Atlanta a few days before with Melanie, Beau, Aunt Pitty and Uncle Henry in tow. The family store was left in the hands of a trusted employee but Rhett knew that both Frank and Suellen were anxious to return home. The two sisters still did not see eye to eye on anything and the less time they spent together the better it was for every member of the family.

His mother, sister and Scarlett's two aunts had arrived weeks before. With Rosemary finally married and settled in Charleston, and his father's death shortly after their reconciliation of sorts, his mother had opted to stay in the city as well. Her decision regarding her living arrangements had surprised her son as well as most of Charleston. Ellen, Eleanor, Pauline, and Eulalie, all minus their husbands, had decided to reside together under the same roof in their golden years living. Rhett did not quite understand Ellen's choice given her much younger age.

He thought about his mother-in-law, who had lived in denial of Gerald's loss for so long despite appearances to the contrary. Ellen's grief had given way to anger but at the news of Scarlett's third pregnancy, something changed. It appeared to Rhett that she had finally decided that it was time to move on and make plans for her future. Rhett wondered whether she had finally discovered just how much she had loved Gerald despite her pinning for years for a man she hardly knew. He chuckled at how similar mother and daughter were. Luckily, Scarlett's obsession had been short-lived.

Although Rhett was certain that both Ellen and Eleanor had spent more time at Tara in the last few months than they did actually living in Charleston and now with a new baby, he feared they would both try to move in.

The only person missing was Carreen who was still in the convent in Charleston; they saw her whenever they went to visit their mothers.

Rhett was amazed at his reaction to learning that Scarlett was expecting another child. He had never experienced such profound happiness mixed with fear. He relished every moment of her pregnancy given that he had missed it all with Everett. They took long walks holding hands, he massaged her swollen feet and aching back as her stomach grew and he slept behind her stroking her belly. When he touched her naked stomach and felt their child move for the first time, his wife lovingly wiped the tears from his face.

"Pa! Pa!" Wade's shouts shook him from his thoughts. Wade and Everett were both running towards him. "Aunt Melly says that you can come and see the new baby."

Wade, at seven, was still enamored with him and followed him around everywhere, like the Saint Bernard puppy that he and Scarlett had brought home from their honeymoon to New Orleans where, more than likely, Scarlett had conceived the child she had just given birth to. Wade's adoption, years before, had been enthusiastically approved by both Aunt Pitty and Uncle Henry.

Little Everett was closely following him. At age four it was clear that Everett had been born with an inner daredevil, recklessness, and curiosity that amused Rhett. Scarlett joked that Everett would either become President or a scoundrel like his father. Mammy had responded that she had no doubt how he would turn out.

Rhett looked at his two sons and grinned. "We shouldn't keep Aunt Melly waiting!"

Wade and Everett chased their father as he sprinted towards the house. Rhett could hear them giggling as they tried to keep up with him but their shorter legs did not allow them to keep pace with his much longer ones. They had never seen their father in this state of excitement.

Rhett rushed through the open front door, past Suellen who was openly glaring at him and took the stairs two at a time. The two boys ran behind him, Wade slowing down to make sure Everett was still with them.

Rhett was slightly out of breath as he stepped past Mammy who was grumbling at his antics as she left the master bedroom. Scarlett lay propped up in bed and instantly Rhett could see the exhaustion on her face that she was trying to hide. But he knew her too well. He quickly glanced at his mother and mother-in-law before his eyes landed on the tiny newborn in his wife's arms. Melanie bent to take the infant from her tired limbs.

The three women who had worked so hard to keep him and Scarlett together were present to see him meet his daughter.

"Rhett, meet your daughter, Eugenie Victoria," Scarlett exclaimed.

Rhett leaning over the child had said: "Her eyes are going to be pea green."

"Indeed they are not," cried Melanie indignantly, forgetting that Scarlett's eyes were almost that shade. "They are going to be blue, like Mr. O'Hara's eyes, as blue as-as blue as the bonnie blue flag."

"Bonnie Blue Butler," laughed Rhett, taking the child from her and peering more closely into the small eyes. And Bonnie she became until even her parents did not recall that she had been named for two queens.

As his wife's best friend placed the small newborn girl into his arms everything in his life fell into place.

Married life had taught him not to argue with his wife but Rhett had quickly learned that that meant all the women in his life. How often could a man say that all the important women in his life were in the same room at the same time?

Rhett had not expected much from his life. A foolish mistake, a destroyed reputation had created a man that anticipated little. That is until he found himself at a county barbeque. He had not expected to be blessed but he was. He had fallen in love and had the family he never dreamed he'd have. He had not expected Scarlett O'Hara. She had saved him. Not once and not twice, but every day since he'd first laid eyes on her.

A.N. This epilogue is one of the first chapters I wrote of this story. This is always where and how I imagined this particular story ending. I could spend many more months exploring this particular scenario but I won't. I imagine that the father/son reconciliation was fraught with unresolved issues. I can only imagine that Rhett and Scarlett had a lot more to discuss in the days that followed.

I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all the readers and reviewers of this story, including christag, NaomiBlue, whoknows3, Truckee Gal, Livisa, TinkStar87, Miss Tricey, Sprout76, GWTWRSB, Another Guest, EmmaElizaRose, ItJustAintFittin, Conlyn70, kanga85, gabyhyatt, and Guest 1, 2 & 3. Whether you reviewed one chapter or several, your reviews made me smile and spurred me to write on days when my motivation stalled. Each time I heard a ping it drove me to keep writing. I loved the private conversations I had with many of you regarding the characters and our beloved novel. Your questions made me think and sometimes rethink a scene. If you read and don't review, please consider doing so in the future. I know I speak for most, if not all, the writers on this site but a review or pm can make the world of difference at times, especially when you are struggling with a scene or a character or your muse has abandoned you.

I have a few WIPs, including a story that takes place after the novel as well another "what if" story during their marriage, simmering that I will hopefully be able to share with you in the near future. For right now, I'm going to write whenever inspiration strikes me but there are also a number of stories I intend to catch up on. The kindest, most encouraging readers on this site are in this fandom. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you. Until next time.