When their new surroundings materialized around them, Rhett knew exactly where they were before his mind even registered it completely. The crimson carpet, scarlet curtains, the complete gloominess of the foyer crushed him with its weight of repressed memories—memories he had no desire to revisit for they were still very raw. The Peachtree street mansion. He and Scarlett had spent too many dismal moments here.

"This house, why did you have to bring me here?" he asked shakily, turning to Melanie with eyes aflame with anguish.

Melanie smiled and laid her pale hand gently on his muscular arm. "Three people that once meant a great deal to you reside here."

"Three?" Rhett asked. "What Christmas is this?"

"It is this Christmas, Captain Butler."

Melanie pointed in the direction of the parlor where the soft glow of a fire and candlelight resonated out into the hall. Feeling Bonnie's small hand clutch his own, Rhett followed Melanie's silent instructions and stopped in the doorway to the parlor. A large Christmas tree, elaborately decorated with garlands and holly stood in the corner, lit up by the blazing fire in the fireplace. On the floor around the tree were scattered a vast array of toys and torn and crumpled paper, and in the middle of the mess, half buried in the pile were Wade and little Ella. A sudden guilty feeling crept up on Rhett and settled in the pit of his stomach. In his grief for Bonnie and Melanie, and his delirious drive to forget Scarlett he had all but forgotten the two other children who meant just as much to him as if he had fathered them himself. He had not seen them in so long, but there they were, sleeping under the Christmas tree, and it seemed to him as if he had never been gone. Ella, with her ginger curls spread over the floor, was clutching a doll that Rhett had never seen before, and he noticed Wade with his arm around his little sister, as if protecting her.

"Wade and Ella, I never thought of how all of this trauma would affect them. They look so peaceful," Rhett whispered. "Melanie," he said louder, turning to the small woman beside him, "tell me they have not suffered because of Scarlett and I."

"They miss you a great deal, Captain Butler, and Bonnie too. Wade has been through much and he feels protective over Ella now that you're gone, and Scarlett has tried hard to connect with them."

Her last words startled him. Scarlett, trying to be close to her children? For as long as he had known her, her own offspring had always come second to her own personal desires. It was nearly incomprehensible to him, but then again, he remembered the pitiful, shameful look in her pure green eyes when he used to let her know of his feelings about her indecency as a mother. Now that he thought about it, it was almost as if she had silently admitted defeat…or that she had been hurt by his words. Again, a feeling of consternation fell upon him as he realized things about his own behavior that he had not acknowledged before. He had not been the world's greatest father, but he had never really given Scarlett a significant chance to be a good mother, especially to Bonnie.

Out of the warm silence that seemed to fill house, there came the soft sound of footsteps in the foyer accompanied by hushed voices. Rhett turned his head and his weary dark eyes fell upon the woman whom he once loved with all of his heart. She was walking slowly, almost tiredly toward the parlor, and he recognized Ashley Wilkes following suite, with a tired Beau in his arms. At the sight of that man Rhett felt the tide of anger and jealousy that had always been associated with Ashley rise in his chest. What was he doing here, spending Christmas with Scarlett and her children?

"Don't be upset, Captain Butler. Feelings of jealousy are not necessary. Scarlett is fulfilling her promise," Melanie mused.

"What on earth are you talking about? What is he doing here?"

"Scarlett explained it the night you informed her that you were leaving. I had made her promise to look after Ashley when I was no longer here physically. She promised, and she has kept her promise as she has always kept all of her promises, both to others and to herself."

Rhett sighed dejectedly and observed Scarlett as she came closer to where they stood. "Captain Butler, you know her better than anyone. I was there that night when she told you she loved you. Do not be deceived by the current situation. Scarlett has been a great help to Ashley and our son out of her obligation to me."

Rhett again turned to observe Scarlett's face as she advanced toward the parlor. Dark circles could be seen under her eyes, and her skin looked almost sickly pale, as if she had not been properly taking care of herself. How long had she been like this, he suddenly found himself wondering. He realized now that in his own grief over the tragedies that plagued them both, he had not noticed the state of his wife. But he supposed that even if he had noticed it would not have mattered, for he was in no condition at that time to comfort a woman who had no sympathy for anyone's feelings but her own. How he had needed her then! How he had needed to know that she felt the same pain, cried the same tears that he did! But the words that she had spoken in her own sorrow had pushed him further into solitude, and it was only now that his heart had begun to heal and those darkest days began to be forgotten.

Her presence, though he was not physically on the same earthy plane as she, was palpable, and he felt drawn to her as he always had. Just as she brushed past him into the parlor he instinctively reached out and grazed her hair with his fingertips. He had felt her physically, and suddenly she froze mid stride, looking around with her eyes narrowed and alert.

"What's wrong, Scarlett?" Ashley asked as he came up behind her. Rhett watched, holding his breath.

Scarlett brought her hand up and lightly patted down her hair where Rhett had touched it. "That's funny," she said hesitantly. "Did you feel that? It was a cold breeze just now, and it ruffled my hair."

"It must have been a draft. It has been unusually chilly this winter."

She stood still in a moment of confusion before nodding her head in agreement. "Yes, it must have been. How strange," she whispered, but then dismissed it from her mind and went to rouse Wade and Ella from their sleep.

"Daddy, you can't do that," Bonnie scolded.

"Do what?"

"Captain Butler," Melanie interjected seriously, walking over to his side, "She felt your presence. You mustn't touch her again tonight, it's dangerous. She doesn't know we're here and that's the way it is supposed to be. You must understand that you cannot bridge the space between our time and hers."

Rhett was taken aback at Melanie's words. Scarlett had felt him? "But I don't understand," he said confusedly.

"Scarlett cannot see us. There are times when the living are allowed to feel those watching over them in their time of need, but you are not one of us."

Rhett waited for Melanie to continue but she said nothing further, instead turning her head to watch Scarlett with her two living children. Accepting the silence, Rhett did as Melanie had done and studied Scarlett on the other side of the room. She slowly bent over and placed her hand on Ellas ginger curls, brushing them out of her little face with such a delicate motion that Rhett, for an instant, thought he was seeing a completely different woman than the one he used to know; and perhaps he was.

Scarlett took Wade's arm from around Ella and quietly whispered his name. At the sound of his mother's voice Wade opened his eyes and slowly sat up, yawning as he picked stray pieces of wrapping paper from his pajamas.

Scarlett was busy trying to wake Ella from her slumber, but when she noticed Wade observing them she turned her head and softly smiled. It was a genuine smile that radiated warmth throughout the room, and Rhett took in a short breath, for he could not remember the last time that he saw Scarlett smile like that.

"Merry Christmas, Wade Hampton," she smiled before looking away and giving Ella's shoulder a little shake.

"Merry Christmas, mother," Wade said shyly.

When Ella finally opened her eyes and sat up next to her brother, Rhett witnessed the most extraordinary thing. Scarlett held out her thin arms and picked Ella up, motioning for Wade to stand as well. "I think it's time for you two to go up to bed," she said.

"Oh, but mother, it's still Christmas!" Wade pouted sadly, bending down to pick up some of his and Ella's new toys.

"Yes, I know, but only for a little while longer. Your sister needs to be tucked in."

Rhett could not help the small smile that formed on his lips as he observed Scarlett with her children. Despite the kindness he had just witnessed her display, part of the old, strict Scarlett still remained in the imperial tone of her voice. And yet she looked so small with Ella in her arms, as if her petite frame could barely carry her little child. If Scarlett had only opened her heart to him when they were married, before so much misfortune had befallen them, he would have been glad to help her. If he tried he could picture himself walking over to her, bending over and adoringly kissing her head before lifting Ella into his own strong arms and relieving Scarlett of the burden.

"Did you thank Uncle Ashley for the presents?" Scarlett asked.

Wade walked over to where Ashley stood and held out his hand, imitating the way he used to act older than his years when addressing Rhett. "Thank you for the gifts, Uncle Ashley. Ella thanks you too."

Ashley smiled and patted Wade on the head. "You're welcome, Wade." Then, turning to Scarlett, he said softly, "Let me take Ella to bed for you."

"Don't be silly, Ashley, you have Beau to carry. Wade can take her upstairs by himself, can't you, Wade?" she said addressing her son. Wade nodded his head in obedience and waited as Scarlett kissed Ella on the cheek and told her to be a good girl and follow her brother. Once her children had made their way out of the room Scarlett turned back to Ashley.

"Thank you so much for bringing the children gifts. You didn't have to go out of you way to do that. And thank you for visiting and bringing Beau tonight. It helps to have company sometimes," she said tiredly. Rhett noticed that she was not really looking at Ashley but rather looking through him with eyes that seemed heavy and distracted.

"You know it was no trouble, Scarlett." When she said nothing in return Ashley put his hand on her arm, and she finally looked up at him. "I know this is hard on you, being, well—alone on Christmas. It was the least I could do to come and visit you. Scarlett, you're so brave to keep going like this, only I worry about you. You look like you haven't slept in a while."

Rhett clenched his fists. Who was Ashely to worry about Scarlett, he thought bitterly. But he watched Scarlett close her eyes for a moment as if to think of what she would say next, and when he looked closely, he thought he saw her lip trembling. Her fragility cracked the steel he had built around his heart and he allowed pain for her to creep in.

"Ashley," she whispered, taking a small step back, "you have enough problems of your own. Please don't worry about mine. I—I'll be alright."

"Yes, I know you will. I know you miss…him…but Scarlett you don't deserve to be so unhappy. If only he could see you right now, he'd be sorry for what he's done to you."

Rhett winced at Ashley's words and whispered, as if they could hear him, "Scarlett, I am here."

"They can't hear you, daddy," Bonnie reminded him.

"Oh Ashley, please don't," Scarlett continued.

"But you're unhappy because Captain Butler isn't here, I know you are."

Scarlett sighed heavily, "I'm trying my best not to be, Ashley, but it's hard. I still love him, I think I always did, and I can't forget him just because he left. I'm trying to make the best of things. So please, let's not talk about it anymore, especially today since it's Christmas. We should be happy, and I'm happy you came to visit. Really I am." She looked away and started walking toward the door while Ashley followed behind her.

"Thank you again, Ashley, for spending Christmas with me and the children. I know they appreciated it, and I appreciated the company."

Ashley set Beau on his feet and pulled Scarlett into a gentle, friendly embrace. "You know you're welcome to visit us at our house any time."

Scarlett nodded her head slowly. "Thank you. Merry Christmas, Ashley. Good night."

"Good night, Scarlett." And with that last farewell he turned and walked out into the misty December night.

Closing the door softly, Scarlett walked back toward the stairs with her shoulders hunched and her head hung low. Rhett could feel the weight of her depression hanging in the air, and even if he did not want to acknowledge it and realize that he had played a part in making her this way, his heart acted on its own and again he unwillingly ached for her. They followed her up the long flight of stairs and into the bedroom that she and Rhett had shared once, a long time ago, when they were still truly man and wife. Here they watched as she slowly walked over to the bureau where she kept her trinkets and valuables. She stood there looking at her things for a few moments and when she had picked something out, it was not a piece of jewelry or perfume, but a porcelain doll that stood at the back of the bureau.

Rhett gasped as he watched her delicately pick up the doll and walk back over to the bed where she sat down. It was not just any doll that Scarlett was holding, it was special. It had belonged to Bonnie, and he watched, mesmerized as she smoothed down the dress and hair.

"Daddy?" Bonnie said softly, holding her arms out in a signal to Rhett that she wanted to be picked up. He obliged, smiling sadly. "Do you remember the Christmas when Saint Nicholas brought me Victoria?" Victoria was the name that Scarlett had bestowed on the doll because Bonnie had been unable to talk then. Unwilling to let himself remember, but unable to make himself stop, Rhett's mind traveled back to a happier time, back to the Christmas of 1869.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Rhett was in high spirits as he walked into his and Scarlett's bedroom in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. He had just finished placing the gifts under the tree for Wade, Ella and Scarlett. This was their second Christmas together as a married couple, but it was extra special to him because Scarlett had given birth to his daughter over the summer, the first of many children, he hoped. He quietly opened the door, expecting to find Scarlett asleep as she had been when he had slipped out of bed earlier. Instead he found her sitting up in bed, nursing the baby. Her eyes were closed and her hair was disheveled, but as he stood watching the peaceful scene his heart came near to bursting with happiness and pride for his wife and child. Scarlett, he knew, had not been happy when she found out she was pregnant, but despite her somewhat distant attitude even now, five months after giving birth, she still performed the motherly duties that were her responsibility and bore them with little complaint.

Light as an Indian, he walked over to the dressing room and reached behind a pile of hat boxes, pulling out a long wooden case that contained a special present. Carefully he sat down on the bed next to Scarlett and reached out his hand to touch the soft black down that covered their daughter's head. Scarlett's eyes shot open at the unexpected movement and she gasped audibly.

"God's nightgown, Rhett! What on earth are you doing? You scared the life out of me!"

Rhett smiled lightly and said "I'm sorry, Scarlett. I saw you from the doorway and you looked so peaceful here with Bonnie. I didn't want to disturb you."

As if fleetingly realizing that her nightgown was open and that her baby had not finished feeding, Scarlett embarrassingly turned away and pulled her nightgown together as much as she could. But Rhett, sensing her obvious discomfort in his presence, did not wish to leave or turn away and leave her be. He found her beautiful in her matronly state, and though he liked to tease her and spark the flame of her temper, he greatly admired her and had no intention of making her uncomfortable now in so tender a moment. "Scarlett, don't be embarrassed," he whispered, lightly putting his hand on her back and willing her to face him again. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Scarlett did not turn around until Bonnie had finished and had fallen asleep in her arms. When she finally faced Rhett, she kept her eyes on the coverlet of the bed, and with one hand saving her modesty from the curious eyes of her husband, she asked Rhett to take the baby and put her in the cradle next to the bed.

"She's beautiful, you know," Rhett said softly, sitting back down next to Scarlett and placing his hand over hers. For some reason he felt that he could be open with Scarlett, even if she did not return the sentiment. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that they were alone, in the dark, at an hour when the rest of the world was asleep. Or perhaps it was simply the magic that this special holiday could bring. He was not sure, but he wanted to be close to her. "I don't know if I ever thanked you," he added kindly.

Her eyes met his in the pink-tinted light that had started to creep through the window, a signal of the approaching dawn. "Thank me for what?"

"For Bonnie. I never thought I'd have children, you know. She's amazing."

He could not tell is she was embarrassed or amazed at his confession of loving to be a father, but she took in a breath and whispered, "Oh."

"Here, I wanted to show you something," he said quickly, changing the subject. He reached for the box that he had set on the chair next to the bed when he had come into the room.

"What is it?"

"It's a gift. It's actually something I ordered for Bonnie, but she's too small to have it now so I was hoping that you would keep it until she gets older." He pulled the box onto his lap and took off the lid to reveal a gorgeous and, no doubt, expensive genuine china doll.

Scarlett gasped and reached out for it, delicately handling and observing it as if she were afraid it would break in her hands. "What a gorgeous doll, Rhett! It must have cost a fortune." Rhett chuckled and leaned over to light the oil lamp so that Scarlett could see better. The doll had jet black ringlets framing her peach painted face, the slightest pink tint on her cheeks, and cobalt blue eyes that looked like sapphires, though Scarlett knew they were just glass. The material of the red dress was of the softest velvet that was intricately laced with gold design and flowed down to cover all but the tips of her shiny black buckle shoes. It was the most beautiful doll in the world. Never had Scarlett seen anything like it in any shop in any city she had been to.

"Rhett, where did you get it?" she whispered.

"I have contacts in France who placed an order for it with a Danish doll maker in Copenhagen. They sent it by ship a month ago." He laughed softly as he thought about the trouble he had to go through to make sure it was made to his specific orders and arrived in the United States in one piece. "I have another gift for you, but I wanted to show you this. It's a special present to commemorate Bonnie's first Christmas. I wanted her eye color. Who knows, maybe it looks like you."

"Oh Rhett, don't be silly, it's a doll. But really, it's beautiful. I'll name it Victoria, after Bonnie's real middle name."

"That's fine. Now you'll promise to take good care of it? I don't want you to break it in one of your tantrums. After all, as you guessed, it was rather expensive," he said slightly mockingly.

Scarlett shot him an annoyed glance, but then turned her attention back to the doll. "Don't worry, it won't get broken. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some more sleep before Wade and Ella wake up. I haven't had much in the past few months, you know."

Rhett smiled and put the doll back in its box before extinguishing the lamp and putting his arm around Scarlett. "Would it be too much to ask for a goodnight kiss, my pet?" he said with laughter in his voice.

Scarlett studied him for a moment in the darkness. Then, it was as if her annoyance and short temper that she'd carried with her since before Bonnie was born vanished for a moment because she leaned in and softly kissed him on the lips. "Merry Christmas, Rhett."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I remember," Rhett said to Bonnie after returning from his memory. He thought now, as he observed Scarlett alone on the bed, holding the doll as if it were a child, that if they had ever been happy in their marriage, surely that Christmas morning was one of the rare moments of marital bliss. Now he stood from afar, watching as her resilience crumbled in front of him and tears slipped down her pale cheeks. She was whispering and it sounded as if she were apologizing, to Bonnie, to him.

"Is this the first time she's done this, Melanie?" he inquired with a voice slightly uneven from the combination of his memories and the scene in front of him.

"No. She's mourned Bonnie since the day she passed on, and has wept for you since the day you left. She is trying her best to move on, Captain Butler, really she is, but even Scarlett is not immune to grave emotion, just as you aren't. She needs someone to help her move forward, someone who knows what she's been through, just as you have."

Rhett knew this night that he had seen a side of Scarlett he had never experienced before, but yet he could not bring himself to open his heart quite yet, and he told Melanie so.

Melanie smiled somewhat sadly and said, "Well, we must go now. There is still another Christmas we must show you. Come, the dawn approaches quickly." Taking Melanie and Bonnie took both of his hand again and before he had time to look at Scarlett once more, the scene faded to black yet again.