Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Eight

In April of 1871 Melanie decided to give Ashley a surprise birthday party. Scarlett had helped in every way. She had spent the day helping to decorate Melly's house. At the end of the day when all Scarlett wanted to do was lay down to rest before the party Melly asked her to go to Uncle Henry's office and keep Ashley there until 5:30. Scarlett so wanted to say no but she could never say no to Melly. Scarlett went straight to Rhett's office at the bank. She hadn't trusted Ashley Wilkes since the investigation incident. She would make Rhett go with her to protect her. Rhett was glad to escort Scarlett to Uncle Henry's office. He too did not trust Ashley. When they got there Ashley was surprised to see them. He asked Scarlett, "Why aren't you helping Melly decorate for the party?" Once Scarlett found out Ashley knew she was ready to leave. She had a bad feeling. Something bad was going to happened. Rhett continued to talk to Ashley about what the Democratic party was doing. Ashley started talking about all the people in the county who had died in the war. Both Scarlett and Rhett tried to change the subject. Scarlett turned to Rhett and pressed her face against his chest. Rhett wrapped her up in his arms. She started crying. All Rhett could do was hold her and pat her back. She finally composed herself enough to walk out of the office. Rhett told Ashley, "Stay until India gets here."

When they got home Scarlett asked, "Do we have to go to the party?"

Rhett said, "Unfortunately yes. But think of it as a ten-year anniversary for us

Scarlett looked at him questionably. Rhett said, "Ten years ago today we met."

With that Scarlett smiled and said, "What a lucky day for you." Rhett burst out laughing. He knew she was going to get through it all.

They attended the party and later conceived another child. Scarlett knew Rhett had too much love for it to just be given to one child. On January 20th 1872 James Gerald Butler was born. He looked just like his mother except he had his father's smile which always made Scarlett happy when he smiled at her.

In the summer of 1873 Bonnie was jumping and wanted to raise the bar. Her father firmly told her no and that she would have to wait until she was six. She would get a bigger pony when she was six which could jump higher. No matter how much Bonnie cried, stomped and pouted her father did not give in. He knew what was best for her.

In September Scarlett had happy news then the worst possible news. She was pregnant again but then her best friend died trying to have another child. Rhett was with her the entire time she was planning the funeral and arranging everything. He made sure she didn't do too much. After the funeral Ashley was a wreck but Scarlett didn't care. He had tried to ruin her marriage twice that she knew of. Maybe more times than that. After the funeral as they were lying in bed Scarlett told Rhett what Alex had said that day. Charlie was strong enough to resist his entire family trying to get him not to marry her. Scarlett said, "That was the way Melly was. You look at her and think the wind could blow her over but she was a rock. She was true to her conviction. Nobody could break her."

Rhett said, "Wade is that way."

Scarlett said, "Yes he is."

Six months after Melanie's death in March of 1874 their second son, Alexander Rhett Butler, was born. He looked like his father but he had the same blue eyes as Bonnie and his mother's dimples. At that time Ashley was considered the town drunk. She had promised Melly to take care of Ashley and Beau but she couldn't help Ashley because he didn't want help. She took Beau into her home and raised him as her son.

In July of 1876 their final child, Melanie Elizabeth was born in England. Rhett had taken them to England so he could have a procedure. He didn't really explain it to Scarlett just assured her there would be no more children and there weren't. It spoke to the way their marriage was. Rhett took care of everything but explained very little. Scarlett didn't really care she trusted Rhett.

In 1877 Ashley committed suicide. Beau had been living with the Butlers since Alex had been born so Scarlett just told him his father had died without giving any details. She planned and arranged that funeral also. Some said he died from a broken heart but Scarlett thought it was from a guilty conscience. Nothing changed in Beau's world. He continued living with Uncle Rhett and Aunt Scarlett until he went to Harvard. He then went to Harvard Law. After graduation he joined Wade in Uncle Henry's office. They made a great team.

Rhett and Scarlett were able to see all of their children get married. All the children married well. Wade was the last to get married but finally Anna Burns, one of the Hamilton cousins, got him to the alter.

Scarlett never saw that scary dangerous man again but she was always aware that he was there. He may be buried under several generations of civility but he still existed. Considering Rhett's grandfather was a pirate maybe there wasn't several generations of civility.

Scarlett occasionally would wonder why Alex had told her the information about Charlie and Ashley but she was always glad he did. She might have wasted her entire life waiting on Ashley.

Rhett started taking care of his body after James was born. He recognized that he had abused his body in his youth. He quit drinking and cut back to one cigar a day. He began to exercise and eat right. He forced Scarlett to quit drinking and exercise with him. Every day Atlanta would see them out walking together. What they didn't see was Scarlett grumbling the entire time. She did it because she wanted him to take care of his body but she couldn't just give in without a fight. Rhett liked a challenge and she enjoyed providing him with one.

In the fall of 1893, they celebrated twenty-five years of marriage with a trip to New Orleans. They stayed at the same hotel. They ate good food and marveled at how much the city had changed. This time nobody was wishing they were in someone else's arms and nobody stormed out of the hotel room.

One day in the spring of 1895 while they were sitting on their porch Rhett said to Scarlett, "You have made my life worth living. Thank you for the wonderful experience."

Scarlett looked at Rhett and knew he was not going to live much longer. She just knew and she knew he knew. Scarlett said, "I love you. Thank you for taking me with you on this adventure."

As they were lying in bed Rhett said, "We have had a good life. We raised seven children which are all happily married with children of their own. The boys will make sure you are financially secure and the girls will make sure you are emotionally taken care of or is it the other way around.

Scarlett cuddled up to Rhett and said, "You made sure I was financially secure and you have taken care of me emotionally.

Rhett Butler died that night at the age of 67 of a heart attack. When his wife of twenty-seven years woke up, she was not surprised. She sent a message to all her children telling them to come to the house their father was dead.

She would go to the cemetery every day to talk to him. She would often stop by and talk to Charlie and Melly and sometimes Frank but never Ashley. Some people thought it was morbid but her children understood their father had been their mother's best friend so of course she had to talk to him every day.

In 1901 when the doctor told her she had lung cancer she smiled and thought 'This is your fault Rhett Butler. All those cigars you were always smoking.' She didn't want any treatment. She had done everything she needed to do. She was ready to be with Rhett again. She missed him so. She died peacefully in April of 1902 at the age of 57.