Author's Note - Thank You everyone for sticking with this story. I apologize if the ending comes as too sweet, but I can't imagine it ending any differently. Thanks for reading!

It took time for her to recover, and Dr. Meade was very clear about the seriousness of the need for them to have separate beds for an extended period. But Rhett refused. All too often Scarlett still woke in the night from dreams that left her in panicked tears. He could not leave her to suffer those alone. Nor did he have any desire to sleep on the floor. He knew that he had the ability to be as strong as he needed, understanding the consequences. There was no temptation too great that he would risk Scarlett's life. And having lived the life that he had, he also knew of ways to prevent the issues that the good doctor was concerned with. And no matter how difficult it was to procure some of the implements and devices that could be used, he still had connections with the people that everyone else of their society would refer to as a bad lot.

It was over a month before Scarlett was well enough to be up and about. For the first few weeks, it had been a trial for her to even rise from the bed to attend personal matters, and each such excursion robbed her of strength and energy. But Scarlett was adamant about taking care of such things. She didn'tmind being pampered, but she refused to be treated as an invalid. She would recount stories from after the war that still made Rhett ill to think about. She was stronger than most men he had ever encountered. But her weakness was so severe that Rhett even considered bringing in a wet nurse, but Scarlett adamantly refused. Confined almost completely to her bed as she was, she wanted the time with the baby. But feeding the baby was almost more than she could handle at first. There were times when Rhett was needed to help her hold the baby, for even with the baby's slight weight, it was more than she could manage when she was as weak as she was, Rhett refused to leave her side while she was holding the baby and only briefly if the the baby was in the room. It meant that he spent a great deal of time in the room, watching Scarlett as she did her best to protect her modesty as the child suckled at her breast.

"Elizabeth, you are so beautiful," Scarlett would coo to the baby as she held her. They had easily decided on the first name since both of Scarlett's other daughter's names both started with E as did both Ellen and Eleanor. Of course Bonnie's name had seemed to have ceased being Eugenia Victoria just as soon as Melanie had commented that her eyes were as blue as the Bonnie blue flag. And after Rhett assured her that history claimed that Elizabeth was one of the greatest rulers of all time, Scarlett was confident that they had chosen a strong, regal name for their daughter. She preferred that her little girl's name made her sound like a little queen. It was the middle name that was cause for many hours of debate. Scarlett preferred another name that would be equally royal as Victoria, while Rhett suggested names to show what a blessing the child had been. One of Scarlett's favorites was Christine, while Rhett that since neither of them deserved to be blessed with such a child, that she was a sign of unmerited, unearned favor thus Grace was the perfect choice. "We could call her, Gracie."

Scarlett could find no objection to the name. Within moments, it seemed the perfect name, and she quickly forgot that it had been Rhett's idea instead of her own. The name seemed to fit the child. It was as if it was the name she was meant to have, much more so than Elizabeth, which was such a large name for such a tiny baby. Scarlett was completely mesmerized by staring into the face of her youngest child. The blue of Gracie's eyes had slowly changed, until they were a rich chocolate brown, which contrasted vividly with the paleness of her skin. She looked like her mother, but her eyes were much closer to her father's eyes. She was a good natured, quiet, sweet child from the moment that she arrived. It was impossible not to love her.

In the years that followed Gracie grew into a sweet natured child, and eventually into a sweet natured young lady. Wade and Ella accepted her fully, although Wade never did quite forgive Rhett for the problems that he remembered from the first part of his parent's marriage. As soon as he was old enough, he left to attend Harvard, rarely to return to Atlanta again. Ella quickly fell back into the life that she had once lived, but now instead of feeling overshadowed by her younger sister, she felt the need to care for her. Ella was able to block out the bad memories of her earlier years and enjoy the new life that her parents shared. Gracie looked up to Ella in absolute adoration. Much to her father and mother's chagrin, it was Ella's name which first rolled off of the child's tongue.

Even Atlanta slowly began to forgive the Butler's for their past transgressions. Although they never quite fit the mold that the old matrons desired, they sought respectability for the sake of the children.

Scarlett slowly learned to control her temper, and whatever fits of rage came, were weathered by those from within the house. When the confines of society were pressing down to intently on them, they would choose to go on a trip, wherever the mood might possibly strike them, away from the eyes of those who had once been against them, and in those times they could live as scandalously as they desired. But as they grew older, some of the tensions that had once been so taut between them weakened. And they learned to live in relative harmony. Gracie would be the last child born of their wedlock. Scarlett's body had been too damaged by Gracie's birth, and Rhett would not even consider. After all he had a son and two daughters. He needed nothing else.

Their lives had been changed forever, but things could have been very different, if Scarlett had read a letter that thankfully had never been written.