EPILOGUE

"Content?" he leaned against the banister trapping her between his arms.

"Are you kidding me? A whole weekend with no children around? That's heavenly," she sighed and put his arms around her.

"We haven't really made good use of this place ever since I bought it," he whispered in her ear. He had bought the beach house as a present for their tenth anniversary, but they were only visiting during the summer with the whole family. "We should visit more regularly," he kissed her neck. "Without the children."

"How did you persuade Ross to take them over to Dunmore Landing for the weekend?"

"I promised him these keys for the next one," he said mischievously.

"Why, Rhett Butler," she exclaimed. "Do you mean to tell me that I am going to spend the next weekend with seven children in the house?"

"I'm afraid so," he chuckled.

"Rhett," she pouted.

"Come now, it won't be that bad," he reassured her. "You can go shopping with the girls and I can take the boys out sailing if the weather is good. I can't wait to put my hands on her wheel."

Her present for this year's anniversary. A brand new sailing boat.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" she smiled at him.

"There is only one name for such a beauty."

"Ellie?" she arched one brow.

"Scarlett, Scarlett! Will you ever learn?" he sighed and pulled her closer. "No one can outrun you in my heart, darling. Not even her."

"Is that so?" she meant to tease, but her voice was throaty. "Well, she isn't going to like it."

"Naming the boat after you?" he puzzled.

"No," she laughed. "Taking the boys sailing and leaving her behind. Especially when spending the day putting on dresses will be the alternative. Oh, Rhett!" she sighed in despair. "What are we going to do with her? If it was up to her, she would be walking around in her brothers' trousers."

Ellie! Their youngest. Black curly hair, bright green emerald eyes and already a tomboy at her five. The apple of his eye!

He quickly stepped into the room the moment Mammy allowed him to and went to her with large strides. He sought her lips first, as always. It was when he broke apart that he noticed her tears. A cold shiver run down his spine, his breath grew shallow and he mastered all his will power to turn to their newborn. He knew what it was without being told. Such a perfect miniature could be nothing else.

"It's a girl," he whispered.

The familiar pain, his long old friend, was slowly creeping back in, uninvited, unwanted. As if sensing the emotional turmoil he was going through, the baby opened the shut puffy lids and his heart stopped. Her eyes were blue, but not the clear blue he remembered so well. Hers were a deep bluish green. And right at that moment she focused them on him. And there was no pain, no fear, no sadness in the world anymore. Everything that was him –body, mind, heart and soul- was lost, trapped once and for all into the tiny little fingers of his daughter. And for the first time after many years, Rhett rested his head on his wife's chest and wept.

"I guess growing up with two older brothers can do that to a girl," he laughed. "None of the boys are exactly tranquil personalities. It was only natural that she would follow their lead."

"She could have followed Florence's lead instead. She is such a sweet young lady. And our sons could benefit from their three cousins' example too. Oh, why can't our children be more like Evelyn's?" she whined. "Good natured and obedient?"

"Scarlett, it was highly unlikely that any child coming from us would be good natured and obedient," he teased. "Don't worry. It would come to her, the female vanity. It came to you and you never let go ever since."

"Mammy says I'm the pot calling the kettle black," she laughed. "I was just like Ellie and maybe even worse. At least she listens to me from time to time."

"My point exactly. They may be improved, but they are versions of us just the same. Now, Mrs. Butler, we didn't come here with no children to talk about them, did we?"

"You are right," she smiled. "I only hope we will find all three of them in one piece when we go back."

"Our little devils will be just fine. It's Ross and Evelyn I would worry about if I were you."

He put a chain around her neck before she had a chance to say anything else.

"Oh," she breathed surprised and looked down at the gold heart shaped medallion resting on her bosom. She opened it with trembling fingers. It was specially made to fit all four pictures of their children. She raised her watery eyes to him.

"What about you?" she whispered. "Shouldn't I carry you on me too?"

"You carry this for fifteen years," he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the huge stone of her engagement ring. The ring he knew had never left her finger since the day he put it there.

"We did get what we bargained for, didn't we?"

"How so?" he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Fun, love and a passel of brats."

He burst into laughter. "Love wasn't part of the bargain."

"Wasn't it?" she smiled at him.

"Maybe in small print," he smiled back.

He looked at her and all he could see was the sixteen year old girl he saw twenty two years ago. Alabaster skin, emerald green eyes, thin, gracious body. With a few thin lines here and there and a few more inches around the waist, but still the beauty of five counties and two states. And even after so many years, she could still take his breath away.

She looked at him and all she could see was the dashing blockade runner she met at a barbeque at Twelve Oaks. Swarthy tanned face, tall strong body, thick black hair, only a bit greyer at the temples. And even after so many years he could still make her knees turn weak.

He drew her into a kiss. As deep and consuming as the one he had given her in Aunt Pitty's library. And once again, the world around them ceased to exist.

So, this is it! Their 15th year anniversary! And I can't believe I'm actually saying this! This. Is. It. After one and a half year, 40 chapters and 130k words this story has come to an end! So moved, so sad and so happy at the same time. For so many different reasons! First of all, it is the very first story I have ever finished! And even if it is based on someone else's characters, still it is my very first! It is far from perfect, but I'm so proud I managed to bring it to an end! And I wouldn't have, if it wasn't for this fantom! So many things I learned during this time: how to write in English, how to research and provide valid information, how to create new characters, how to expand the existing ones, how to create new plot lines out of nowhere, how to dive even deeper into the characters and try to keep them true! At least I hope I did!

But most and beyond all, I learned how it feels like to be accepted as a writer, to be read and followed and favorited! And that was, is and always will be priceless! So the time has come to thank all those people responsible for this cherished experience! It's a very long list and I ask for your patience! (Or fell free to ignore me!)

First of all, Rhett's love. My very first reviewer ever and a constant one ever since! I can still remember the feeling when I received my first review! Thank you!

Then, annaPanag. Far more than just a constant reviewer and supporter! She has borne with me through my (one too many) writter's blocks, through my insecurities over certain chapters, always willing to read my pieces before posting them and with an endless stock of ideas to help me! So yes, Anna, one thank you isn't enough!

Dixie Cross, HelenSES, Ondine03 (even if she isn't around anymore). My personal top 3 in here in strict alphabetical order. Love your stories, love your writing style, learned so much from you, admire you as writers. And I remember rubbing my eyes in disbelief when I first received reviews from you! It was when I realized that maybe –just maybe- I was actually writing something worth reading.

Then there are the constant ones, the ones who are with me from the beginning and stayed with me throughout this journey (random order): Carol CR, NGArmyWife, Cobert Fan, Valushka, XX12, areadegirl, Joyce LaKee, jmeec316, Melody-Rose-20, dixiedreaming, LibeRATE1511, The-What-If-Chapters, Amaranthe Athenais. And the later additions: Krysania, scifiromance, DianaBanana1.

And then so many others (God, you are so many): PearlPrincess, Ann aspiring writer, GEMMAC, tricorvus, Miss Anly, Coco B, Firth's Darcy, Hermiaxx, scribbles97, BrittanyPrimouse, rosamglamyan, .muse, ChicoChina, phiphi78, silver10run, snoj67, princeofalmora and priyankita, Thwarted Moony, starlite22, Amber611, Nettiedreamer, gildedlily89, Jdragonfire29, wiccagirl-2005, babbs098, thepurpleway, jamistame, SkyBlueSW, Fawkes Bevaue, ludivine77, Bite Anyday, ilidio 13, lavavalanche and all those following and favoriting. I did my best not to forget anyone, but if I did, I'm sorry!

And finally the guests, who too have honored me with their opinion on my story.

A huge thanks to each and every one of you!

Ok, I'm going to stop now, because I'm getting emotional and I don't want to! This maybe the end of this story, but there are more to come! So, if you feel like it, stay with me!

Until next time, take care! xxx Christina