Post by Sw on Nov 24, 2022 17:38:09 GMT -5
Yes finally after twenty years I have finished this story. It took way to long to write the Epilogue but I finally got around to writing it.
Epilogue
'What a difference a year makes' thought Scarlett as she watched Rhett, Wade, and Ella running after the twins who had just started to learn to run themselves. They were all celebrating Scarlett's birthday, even Mammy had returned from Tara for the big day. Along with Will, they had ridden the train up for the day, but would be returning to Tara soon.
How Rhett had pulled off this surprise party for Scarlett without her knowing a thing about it was a mystery to Scarlett. But he had just smiled at her that very morning and told her to make sure to return from the store for lunch.
As she had walked into their home, she was met with a loud Happy Birthday from her family and the few people who still received them after the latest scandal of Rhett's broken engagement to Anne while he was still a married man.
Aunt Pittypat came along with Uncle Henry, Ashley, and Beau were there as well. Something that had surprised Scarlett. For as much as she loved Rhett and didn't even think of Ashley that much any longer, only when keeping her promise to Melly. Rhett still did not like Mr. Wilkes, but tolerated his presence because he was one of the few people in Atlanta who did not shun them.
This time around, Atlanta had taken Scarlett's side and crossed the street when Rhett walked by. Scarlett herself they give pity looks to. She hated their pity, but took it so that the children were still invited to parties. Hopefully by the time the twins were old enough to attend parties, Rhett's scandal would be forgotten or forgiven. He was good at getting people to forgive him. Scarlett herself had forgiven him for his engagement to Anne Hampton. Rhett had explained everything about what had happened and how he had just found himself trapped. He had never loved Anne and was very happy to not have to marry her.
Besides, Rhett had been so good about not yelling at her for learning about the Twins months after their birth. The Butler's had truly turned the page on their past troubled marriage. They still fought time to time, but now the making up was fun.
Scarlett's looked down at her wrist to admire the bracelet Rhett's had given her that very morning as her birthday present, it matched her engagement ring and made Scarlett smile. It must have cost a small fortune.
////////
Rhett was worn out after the surprise party for Scarlett birthday. It had been their older children's idea, well really it had been Ella's idea, she had been so thrilled at the idea of throwing her Mother a big party Rhett's didn't have the heart to tell the young girl no one would show up if they did invite the whole of Atlanta.
He was once again a blackguard, and very few of the old guard talked to him. And only then because he was working back at the bank, and they needed his help getting a loan. Grinning and bearing it when they acted like they were doing him the favor just talking to him when they received their loans was something Rhett's hated but did for Scarlett and their children.
Another thing he hated was having Mr. Wilkes at the party today. But Wade had asked if his Uncle and cousin were coming, and he couldn't very well not invite them after that. Rhett hated being related to Ashley, even if it was in a run about way. Since the news of his broken engagement to Anne Hampton had made the rounds in Atlanta, Mr. Wilkes had looked upon Rhett as if he was an insect he wanted to step on. Of course the honorable gentlemen that he was Mr. Wilkes still talked to Rhett if only he wouldn't, Rhett would be happier.
Pittypat and Henry came because Wade had asked them too as well, and they couldn't refuse their young nephew. The invitation to Tara, had been for Will and Mammy to attend. Will had written they couldn't stay longer than the afternoon and had to return home on the evening train. Rhett was sure it was because of the second-oldest O'Hara's daughter's demands. Seeing as how Scarlett and her sister didn't get along very well, Rhett just agreed to letting Will and Mammy borrow a carriage for the return trip to the train station.
Rhett knew how much getting to see Mammy would make Scarlett happy. Mammy had decided she wanted to live her last days out at Tara. Scarlett he knew wished Mammy would change her mind and move back in with them, but the older woman would not, and they had only gotten to see her if they visited Tara, which was hard to do with the Twins being so little right now.
How Scarlett had ridden on the train from here to Charleston and back in two days, Rhett would never know, with the Twins. Perhaps it was easier when they were smaller at only three months, then they might have slept more. It didn't matter now though, they were up and running all the time.
It seemed to Rhett that they charged each other up, they wore him out. Rhett couldn't help but smile just thinking about his youngest children. They always kept you on your toes. Rhett was sure if Scarlett and he would bless with any more children, they would overrun them, but in a good way. Keeping the children happy was a full time job that kept Rhett and Scarlett very busy. It did not give them time to dwell on the past, and the wrongs and the hurts they had done to the other.
Rhett still thought of Bonnie daily, he knew she would have loved her baby brother and sister. But the all consuming pain of losing her was lessing. It still hurt that would never end, but now he had reasons to live on to not close himself off from the world of feelings to let himself be happy again.
“A penny for your thoughts” Scarlett offered, shaking Rhett out of his thoughts. As she walked up to him, having just seen Mammy, and Will set off in their carriage headed for the train station. They were the last guest to leave. Scarlett had hoped to get time privately to ask Mammy to stay, but Will was glued to the older woman's side. Scarlett was sure he had orders from Suellen not to allow Mammy to stay in Atlanta.
“I was just thinking how well your party turned out” Rhett replied as he turned to look at Scarlett. She looked beautiful to him, she had dressed up today, it being her birthday and all. He noticed that her new bracelet matched her dress perfectly. Which made him smile, knowing she enjoyed her present.
“Thank you, for the party, Rhett” and to prove how much she meant it, Scarlett leaned up to place a soft kiss on her husband's lips. After pulling away, she said, “I know how much you don't enjoy the company of most of the guest we had today. But you still invited them to make me happy, so thank you”
"Your most welcome, My Pet" Rhett responded with, knowing just a few years ago he would have played Scarlett's comment off making a snared remark about it being nothing. Not wanting her to know just how much he cared about her.
"But if you really want to thank me" Rhett began making sure none of the children were around to overhear before he finished "I can think of a few ways you can tonight in our bedroom"
"Rhett you cad" Scarlett remarked as she playfully hit his arm with her hand, laughing as she did to show that she didn't really mean those words at all.
"I am positive you knew I was a cad when you married me, Mrs. Butler" was Rhett's witty retort.
"That I did, Mr. Butler" Scarlett acknowledgment "but I thought you would outgrow it"
"Outgrow it you say" Rhett laughed out "My dear Mrs. Butler, I do believe you married me because I was a cad."
"Well the way you did ask for my hand in marriage was very caddish" Scarlett barter back trying to keep a straight face. "But I just thought my womanly wilds caught you finally"
"Caught me they did" Rhett come back with as he pulled Scarlett into a very welcome embrace that lasted a bit too long as Gerry had escaped Pansy and found his parents kissing.
Little Gerry Butler pulled on his Father's pants leg to get his attention, then called out “Mama” when they pulled apart.
Scarlett smiled at her baby son as she bent down and picked him up. Smiling, Gerry looked thrilled to have his Mother all to himself. As he leaned up and kissed her cheek, showing his Father that he wasn't the only Butler man in the house who wanted Scarlett's attention.
“Happy” Gerry said he had been saying it all day long. He didn't seem to understand Birthday was supposed to come after that or just couldn't say the longer word, either way, Scarlett knew what her youngest son meant.
"Why thank you, Gerry, yes Mama has had a very Happy Birthday" Scarlett comment back as she started walking with Gerry in search of Pansy and Cat.
"Rhett, once I find Pansy and get the children down for the night. We can finish our discussion on your caddish ways"
"As you wish My Pet, it is after all your birthday" Rhett answered back. Knowing he had one gift left to give his wife before they retired for the night. It was one he hoped she would enjoy as much as he planned to.
It was a weekend away for just the two of them.
His Mother and Sister would be coming in next week for a visit. It would be the first time Eleanor Butler had gotten to see the twins. After his broken engagement, Rhett was once again shunned in Charleston. While Rhett did not feel overly bad about that, seeing as how the only way to not be shunned was to divorce Scarlett and marry Anne. And that was something he was never going to do. He wasn't going to feel sorry about it.
That is not the way Rhett lived his life. He did not like to think about the things he did wrong or play the what-if game. Besides, Rhett Butler was the happiest he had been since Bonnie had been born. He wasn't giving that up for anything.
Like he had once told Scarlett years ago now you didn't know how freeing it was to not have to worry about your reputation. Charleston would have smothered him after a while. And having Anne as a wife would have bored him to death.
No, Rhett was happy with the Wife he had. One that could drive him wild with her childish way. Yet he didn't want anyone else. He wanted to spoil Scarlett and their children.
So while his Mother and sister Rosemary were visiting, Scarlett and He would slip away for the weekend to a hotel, to go dancing and just have a small vacation just the two of them. Rhett couldn't wait to have his Wife all to himself.
The last time Scarlett and he had any really time to themselves had been that weekend she had asked for. Her price for ending their marriage, Rhett laughed to the empty room at that. Her price had been what led to them saving their marriage.
Scarlett coming to Charleston had been what led to Rhett finally following his heart and going home to, the only woman, he had ever loved. To going home to his children Wade and Ella and finding out he had the twins. Yes, that lost weekend, Scarlett asked for had saved their marriage and Rhett Butler couldn't be happier it did.
The End.
Epilogue
'What a difference a year makes' thought Scarlett as she watched Rhett, Wade, and Ella running after the twins who had just started to learn to run themselves. They were all celebrating Scarlett's birthday, even Mammy had returned from Tara for the big day. Along with Will, they had ridden the train up for the day, but would be returning to Tara soon.
How Rhett had pulled off this surprise party for Scarlett without her knowing a thing about it was a mystery to Scarlett. But he had just smiled at her that very morning and told her to make sure to return from the store for lunch.
As she had walked into their home, she was met with a loud Happy Birthday from her family and the few people who still received them after the latest scandal of Rhett's broken engagement to Anne while he was still a married man.
Aunt Pittypat came along with Uncle Henry, Ashley, and Beau were there as well. Something that had surprised Scarlett. For as much as she loved Rhett and didn't even think of Ashley that much any longer, only when keeping her promise to Melly. Rhett still did not like Mr. Wilkes, but tolerated his presence because he was one of the few people in Atlanta who did not shun them.
This time around, Atlanta had taken Scarlett's side and crossed the street when Rhett walked by. Scarlett herself they give pity looks to. She hated their pity, but took it so that the children were still invited to parties. Hopefully by the time the twins were old enough to attend parties, Rhett's scandal would be forgotten or forgiven. He was good at getting people to forgive him. Scarlett herself had forgiven him for his engagement to Anne Hampton. Rhett had explained everything about what had happened and how he had just found himself trapped. He had never loved Anne and was very happy to not have to marry her.
Besides, Rhett had been so good about not yelling at her for learning about the Twins months after their birth. The Butler's had truly turned the page on their past troubled marriage. They still fought time to time, but now the making up was fun.
Scarlett's looked down at her wrist to admire the bracelet Rhett's had given her that very morning as her birthday present, it matched her engagement ring and made Scarlett smile. It must have cost a small fortune.
////////
Rhett was worn out after the surprise party for Scarlett birthday. It had been their older children's idea, well really it had been Ella's idea, she had been so thrilled at the idea of throwing her Mother a big party Rhett's didn't have the heart to tell the young girl no one would show up if they did invite the whole of Atlanta.
He was once again a blackguard, and very few of the old guard talked to him. And only then because he was working back at the bank, and they needed his help getting a loan. Grinning and bearing it when they acted like they were doing him the favor just talking to him when they received their loans was something Rhett's hated but did for Scarlett and their children.
Another thing he hated was having Mr. Wilkes at the party today. But Wade had asked if his Uncle and cousin were coming, and he couldn't very well not invite them after that. Rhett hated being related to Ashley, even if it was in a run about way. Since the news of his broken engagement to Anne Hampton had made the rounds in Atlanta, Mr. Wilkes had looked upon Rhett as if he was an insect he wanted to step on. Of course the honorable gentlemen that he was Mr. Wilkes still talked to Rhett if only he wouldn't, Rhett would be happier.
Pittypat and Henry came because Wade had asked them too as well, and they couldn't refuse their young nephew. The invitation to Tara, had been for Will and Mammy to attend. Will had written they couldn't stay longer than the afternoon and had to return home on the evening train. Rhett was sure it was because of the second-oldest O'Hara's daughter's demands. Seeing as how Scarlett and her sister didn't get along very well, Rhett just agreed to letting Will and Mammy borrow a carriage for the return trip to the train station.
Rhett knew how much getting to see Mammy would make Scarlett happy. Mammy had decided she wanted to live her last days out at Tara. Scarlett he knew wished Mammy would change her mind and move back in with them, but the older woman would not, and they had only gotten to see her if they visited Tara, which was hard to do with the Twins being so little right now.
How Scarlett had ridden on the train from here to Charleston and back in two days, Rhett would never know, with the Twins. Perhaps it was easier when they were smaller at only three months, then they might have slept more. It didn't matter now though, they were up and running all the time.
It seemed to Rhett that they charged each other up, they wore him out. Rhett couldn't help but smile just thinking about his youngest children. They always kept you on your toes. Rhett was sure if Scarlett and he would bless with any more children, they would overrun them, but in a good way. Keeping the children happy was a full time job that kept Rhett and Scarlett very busy. It did not give them time to dwell on the past, and the wrongs and the hurts they had done to the other.
Rhett still thought of Bonnie daily, he knew she would have loved her baby brother and sister. But the all consuming pain of losing her was lessing. It still hurt that would never end, but now he had reasons to live on to not close himself off from the world of feelings to let himself be happy again.
“A penny for your thoughts” Scarlett offered, shaking Rhett out of his thoughts. As she walked up to him, having just seen Mammy, and Will set off in their carriage headed for the train station. They were the last guest to leave. Scarlett had hoped to get time privately to ask Mammy to stay, but Will was glued to the older woman's side. Scarlett was sure he had orders from Suellen not to allow Mammy to stay in Atlanta.
“I was just thinking how well your party turned out” Rhett replied as he turned to look at Scarlett. She looked beautiful to him, she had dressed up today, it being her birthday and all. He noticed that her new bracelet matched her dress perfectly. Which made him smile, knowing she enjoyed her present.
“Thank you, for the party, Rhett” and to prove how much she meant it, Scarlett leaned up to place a soft kiss on her husband's lips. After pulling away, she said, “I know how much you don't enjoy the company of most of the guest we had today. But you still invited them to make me happy, so thank you”
"Your most welcome, My Pet" Rhett responded with, knowing just a few years ago he would have played Scarlett's comment off making a snared remark about it being nothing. Not wanting her to know just how much he cared about her.
"But if you really want to thank me" Rhett began making sure none of the children were around to overhear before he finished "I can think of a few ways you can tonight in our bedroom"
"Rhett you cad" Scarlett remarked as she playfully hit his arm with her hand, laughing as she did to show that she didn't really mean those words at all.
"I am positive you knew I was a cad when you married me, Mrs. Butler" was Rhett's witty retort.
"That I did, Mr. Butler" Scarlett acknowledgment "but I thought you would outgrow it"
"Outgrow it you say" Rhett laughed out "My dear Mrs. Butler, I do believe you married me because I was a cad."
"Well the way you did ask for my hand in marriage was very caddish" Scarlett barter back trying to keep a straight face. "But I just thought my womanly wilds caught you finally"
"Caught me they did" Rhett come back with as he pulled Scarlett into a very welcome embrace that lasted a bit too long as Gerry had escaped Pansy and found his parents kissing.
Little Gerry Butler pulled on his Father's pants leg to get his attention, then called out “Mama” when they pulled apart.
Scarlett smiled at her baby son as she bent down and picked him up. Smiling, Gerry looked thrilled to have his Mother all to himself. As he leaned up and kissed her cheek, showing his Father that he wasn't the only Butler man in the house who wanted Scarlett's attention.
“Happy” Gerry said he had been saying it all day long. He didn't seem to understand Birthday was supposed to come after that or just couldn't say the longer word, either way, Scarlett knew what her youngest son meant.
"Why thank you, Gerry, yes Mama has had a very Happy Birthday" Scarlett comment back as she started walking with Gerry in search of Pansy and Cat.
"Rhett, once I find Pansy and get the children down for the night. We can finish our discussion on your caddish ways"
"As you wish My Pet, it is after all your birthday" Rhett answered back. Knowing he had one gift left to give his wife before they retired for the night. It was one he hoped she would enjoy as much as he planned to.
It was a weekend away for just the two of them.
His Mother and Sister would be coming in next week for a visit. It would be the first time Eleanor Butler had gotten to see the twins. After his broken engagement, Rhett was once again shunned in Charleston. While Rhett did not feel overly bad about that, seeing as how the only way to not be shunned was to divorce Scarlett and marry Anne. And that was something he was never going to do. He wasn't going to feel sorry about it.
That is not the way Rhett lived his life. He did not like to think about the things he did wrong or play the what-if game. Besides, Rhett Butler was the happiest he had been since Bonnie had been born. He wasn't giving that up for anything.
Like he had once told Scarlett years ago now you didn't know how freeing it was to not have to worry about your reputation. Charleston would have smothered him after a while. And having Anne as a wife would have bored him to death.
No, Rhett was happy with the Wife he had. One that could drive him wild with her childish way. Yet he didn't want anyone else. He wanted to spoil Scarlett and their children.
So while his Mother and sister Rosemary were visiting, Scarlett and He would slip away for the weekend to a hotel, to go dancing and just have a small vacation just the two of them. Rhett couldn't wait to have his Wife all to himself.
The last time Scarlett and he had any really time to themselves had been that weekend she had asked for. Her price for ending their marriage, Rhett laughed to the empty room at that. Her price had been what led to them saving their marriage.
Scarlett coming to Charleston had been what led to Rhett finally following his heart and going home to, the only woman, he had ever loved. To going home to his children Wade and Ella and finding out he had the twins. Yes, that lost weekend, Scarlett asked for had saved their marriage and Rhett Butler couldn't be happier it did.
The End.