Author's Note: I've never been very patient, and this has been sitting around on my computer for a month now... so I guess I'm going to post it all in the span of a day. Hope this helps with the sadness earlier!

He awoke to same scene that he had witnessed ever since that first morning after Scarlett had died because of their argument. The guilt weighed upon him, but he wouldn't waste this last day with her. He wouldn't waster a single moment. He had too few moments as it was.

He leapt from the bed, pulling on clothes, haphazardly, in a rush to get to Scarlett. In his haste, he knocked off a glass that sat on the dresser.

"Rhett, are you doing all right, honey?" Called Belle's voice from the other side of the door.

"I'm fine, Belle." He called as he fumbled with his buttons. "Can you send someone to get my horse saddled. I'm in a hurry."

"Sure, honey." She replied as he listened to her footsteps fading down the hall.

He didn't want anything to be missed, even in his haste. He wanted Scarlett to see him the way he had always tried to be seen, as nothing less than immaculately groomed. As soon as he was pleased with his appearance in the mirror and certain that even she would be unable to find fault with him, he grabbed his hat and rushed out the door and down the stairs. The groom was just bringing around his horse, which Rhett quickly took the reins and nimbly flung his leg over the saddle and was on his way to Scarlett's side.

His breath was a cold mist hovering in front of his face. But everything else was irrelevant as he rushed to her side.

As soon as he arrived home, instead of leaving the horse at the Negro boy as he had become in the habit of doing, he urged the horse to jump the fence onto the lawn. He rode the horse hard until he was at the front steps. He jumped down and sprinted up the steps. He flung the doors open, not bothering to even shut it behind him.

He obviously startled his wife who was still descending the staircase, ready to enjoy her breakfast. Rhett rushed at her, a very startled expression came over Scarlett's face. He took Scarlett into his arms. She was still staring at him, completely startled and shocked by his attentions.

"I love you, Scarlett. I'm not going to waste another day, hiding behind our past mistakes. We don't have time for it. All we are only promised today. I'm not wasting another minute." He lowered his head to brush a kiss on her neck.

She giggled lightly, as his mustache tickled her skin "Rhett what on earth has gotten into you. I've never seen you act like this, not even on our honeymoon."

"So you love me Scarlett? Do you still love me?" He asked fervently as he stared into her eyes.

She looked into the black pits that glimmered with love and passion. "I...I... rhett, I don't know what to say."

"Just tell me if you love me."

Her breath caught in her throat as he pulled her hand to his lips, and then he turned her hand over traced letters into her hand. He spelled out "I love you." then he dropped his lips to her wrist, placing hot sensual kisses where her pulse was growing increasingly erratic. "I do." She whispered breathlessly. "I do love you, Rhett."

"Then kiss me. Kiss me Scarlett." His lips descended to hers. "I've wanted this for so long. I don't think I ever stopped loving you." He grabbed her hand and started pulling her to the stairs.

"Rhett, no. Not now. It's morning. Wade and Ella will be down soon."

He dropped another kiss on her lips, and then his lips traveled lower where ever his lips could find uncovered skin. "We are married, Scarlett."

"But, Rhett it's daytime. It's just not decent." She squealed as he nipped her ear lobe. "Rhett!" She cried, lightly slapping him away.

In response, her stomach growled which caused Rhett to chuckle. "Consistency, thy name is Scarlett. Some things never change. I take it that you are hungry."

She grinned at him, as he led her into the dining room. "Sit", he commanded.

She primly sat watching him as he filled only one place to over flowing. "Aren't you going to fix me a plate?"

"This is your plate, my pet." He chuckled.

He sat the plate in front of her and then perched on the table instead of finding a chair to sit in. He scooped up a generous bite of eggs. "Open your mouth."

She hesitantly opened her mouth and was rewarded with a forkful of food. She smiled at him, which caused him to drop a light kiss on her lips.

When she had finished the bite, she looked at him inquisitively. "What has come over you Rhett Butler? Only a few months ago, goodness only yesterday, you were telling me that you didn't love me that I had killed your love and that it didn't matter that I loved you. Why the sudden change?"

He smiled with a sadness that she didn't understand. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"That's an odd thing to say. Rhett, can I have a cup of coffee?" She asked.

"Trust me. If you really like the dress that you have chosen, then you should by pass the coffee this morning."

They continued sharing their breakfast, and just as they were finishing, Ella burst into the room. "Uncle Rhett," she chirped. "Why are you sitting on the table? Mother you look so happy."

Rhett smiled at her. "I told your mother that I was sorry that I had been spending so much time away from you. And she is happy to know it."

Ella seemed to accept it without any question. She filled her plate with food and sat at the table, primly chewing her food, living proof of mammy's careful tutelage.

"Ella, I'm going to take your mother upstairs." Ella nodded at her step-fathers words and continued her careful consumption of the meal.

When they were out of ear shot of the dining room, Scarlett protested. "Rhett, I need to go to the store today. I have to check the books."

"No." He told her explicitly.

"Rhett, oh, do be reasonable. I just need to make sure that everything is ready for the end of the year. I shouldn't be there long." Scarlett pleaded.

"I want you here with me. And we can spend the day with the children. They need to feel like a real family, they haven't had that in a very long time, perhaps they never have." Rhett reasoned.

"That is fine for us to spend time with them, but I still need to go in to the store, even if its just for a few minutes. And I need to do some last minute shopping."

"then, I'll come with you, and we will make sure that it is brief." He offered.

"Rhett, I don't understand why you are making such an issue of me going in to the store to check the books. I''ll be sure to spend plenty of time with you."

"Fine let's go now. I'll take you in early, and then this afternoon we can do something with the children. I honestly don't know what, but I'm sure that we will figure it out."

Scarlett grabbed her wraps from Prissy. "Fine, let's go now."

"All right. Let's go."

At the store, Scarlett was able to quickly reconcile the books. "Rhett, I need to do some shopping."

"Fine, I'll join you." He said, offering her his hand.

"Rhett, could you consider that it's possible that I meed to go shopping without you." She told him impatiently.

"Scarlett, I want to spend this day with you." He said with a glimmer in his eyes that she could not identify.

"Just give me half an hour to shop without you. We can meet back here, and then we can finish the shopping." She offered, her eyelashes fluttering in an overly practiced and polished manner.

"Fine. But please be careful."

"Oh, Rhett. You act like something is going to happen to me. It's almost like the dream I had last night." She said twisting her head to look him in the eyes.

"You had a dream about something happening to you?" He asked.

"Yes, it was odd. I dreamed that I died, Rhett. And I dreamed that I saw Bonnie. That part was so real. It was as if I was really holding her." Scarlett stopped. "I'm sorry, Rhett. I shouldn't have mentioned her."

"I don't want you to act as if she was never born. She lived. And yes it is painful to remember her, but it's worse to act as if she was never here."

"Oh, Rhett. I was so horrible to you. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I said. I should have showed her more that I loved her." Scarlett said with misty eyes.

"No, Scarlett. I know. It's water under the bridge. It doesn't matter any longer." He stared at her longingly, as if drinking in the sight of her, as if he could never look at her enough. "If you are going to do some shopping, we better get going."

Scarlett nodded. "Let's go." She offered him her arm, and they stepped out of the office together, looking very much the picture of a couple very much in love.

Rhett kissed her cheek before releasing her to go make her purchases. "Enjoy yourself."

With her freedom, Scarlett rushed to a jewelry shop, trying to find the perfect gift for Rhett. She hadn't even been sure that he would even be in Atlanta for the Holiday. The Rhett that had arrived at the house this morning, was a stranger, albeit a very pleasant stranger. He had been loving and attentive and open.

She found a simple gold watch, that seemed to be something special, something that would let him know that she still loved him. Not only that she still loved him, but that she really did love him. She fingered the fine, gold chain. "I'll take it. I want it to be engraved with our wedding date."

The clerk promised to have the piece engraved and delivered before the stores closed for the evening. Scarlett requested that the watch be delivered to Kennedy's Emporium, as opposed to the house. If Rhett happened to intercept it, then he might open it. At least that is what Scarlett would do if she were in that situation.

With a triumphant flounce, she turned and left the store – hurrying to get back to Rhett's side. Who knew how long this overly attentive and considerate mood would last?

In his free moments, Rhett had arranged for a picnic in the park, and a ride in the country with the children. He wanted to make the most of every moment.

Wade and Ella were thrilled with the attention. Rhett snuggled next to Scarlett during the ride, offering her discreet gentle kisses that were rewarded with embarrassed looks from Wade and contented sighs from Ella. Ella obviously was enchanted with the affection being displayed between her parents.

They all sipped hot cocoa as they rode the streets of Atlanta. Scarlett giggled as she hadn't giggled since the war. The cares of her life seem to be fading with the lavishness of Rhett's love.

The sun was sinking, as the approached Five Points. "Oh, Rhett. I have to run by the store. I left something there, and I have to have it."

"Nothing can be that critical."

She cried in frustration. "Rhett, I have to get it. Trust me."

Rhett knew that this wasn't a battle he would win. He saw the stubborn set of her jaw. She was determined. "Fine, but I am going in with you."

"Fine, Rhett. But you can't peek."

He chuckled, kissing her softly.

Scarlett unlocked the door, and she and Rhett slipped inside. There was desperation in his eyes. His lips dropped searing kisses on her collarbone. "God, Scarlett. I love you. I love you so much!"

Scarlett smiled coquettishly. "I do so love your kisses, Rhett. But I just need to grab this package." She rushed to the office and grabbed the package that the store had delivered. "I'm ready."

She rushed out onto the front sidewalk. She giggled happily, and rushed at Rhett to give him another kiss. But in her rush, her feet got twisted in her intricate skirt. "Rhett," she cried out.

There was no way to stop the momentum. But he lunged towards her, flinging her to the side. His body falling into the street. He quickly twisted as he heard the sound of approaching hoofs.

"Rhett! Rhett!" Scarlett cried, with terror obvious in her tone.

He rose from the ground, brushing dirt from his clothes, although mud still clung in places as the horse passed within inches of him. "I'm fine. Are you?"

Scarlett's chin trembled, and tears welled in her eyes. "I almost lost you."

"You'll never know how close I was to loosing you. God, Scarlett. I love you so much."

He pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly against his chest. He showered her with kisses. Rhett escorted her to the carriage and lifted her in. "I think we should go to Midnight Mass. I think our close call had to mean something. We have a second chance."

Scarlett agreed as she snuggled into his chest. He looked off into the distance where a blue light shimmed. And he knew that he would never have to relive this day again. His daughter had given him the chance to make things right.

"I feel like Bonnie is here with us." Scarlett whispered in awe. "It's almost as if she were our very our guardian angel, and she's spending Christmas Eve with us."

"I feel her too Scarlett. I would have to say it's our Christmas miracle."

The clock had long since edged it's way past the witching hour before Scarlett found herself alone in her bedroom. She stood for a moment staring around at her surroundings, knowing that Rhett would be joining her shortly. He'd asked to be the one to tuck the children in after they returned from Mass. And Scarlett had readily agreed. She was bruised and sore from the fall she had taken when Rhett had pulled her so that she hadn't fallen in the road. She knew that she should change, but she was too weary to do more than stand there. It felt as if this one day had stretched overly a weeks time.

Rhett found here still standing in the middle of the room, staring tiredly around her like a lost and dejected child. "Is something wrong, Scarlett?"

She turned at the sound of his voice, "Oh, Rhett. So much has changed." She told him lamely.

"Are you disappointed?" he asked as he came to stand in front of her.

"No." She cried. "It's just too much. I don't know. I don't even know what to say." Weak tears seeped from her eyes.

"Oh, Darling." He whispered, placing gentle kisses in her hair.

"Can you just hold me?" She asked with misty eyes.

He said nothing in response, only pulling her tightly into his arms, as she leaned weakly against him. "Shh, Shhh, my darling, my love." AS he held her, he felt the stiff boning of her corset through the material of her dress. "Let's get you out of those clothes and into something a little less confining."

She nodded, afraid to speak, afraid of what would flow from her mouth.

He held her carefully, as if she was as fragile a porcelain doll. He slowly undressed her, then he removed her corset. She was fatigued to point where she was using all of her effort to remain standing, and yet failing at that.

Finally he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. She winced as his arms slid across her shoulder. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"A bruise, from when I fell." She whispered, her words slurring slightly from exhaustion.

Rhett dropped a butterfly kiss upon the place where it seemed that her discomfort was centered.

He lowered her to the bed, then stripped down into his under clothes before climbing in beside her. Her eyes were already closed, and her breathing had already slowed. He gathered her into his arms and cherished the feeling of holding her, savoring the fact that she had survived.

"I love you, Scarlett. I love you more than life itself. You'll never know how much I love you, you'll never know how much it hurt to lose you. You'll never know just how incredible it is to have this moment. And I'll never tell you, you would never understand just how completely lost I was with you." He contented himself with the feel of her hair brushing against his lips, feeling the pulsing of her blood against his skin.

"You are the greatest Christmas gift that I have ever been given."