Rhett looked into Scarlett's eyes. He was searching for something, he didn't know what but he knew he had found it. His face broke into the happiest smile Scarlett had ever seen. He wrapped his arms around Scarlett's waist and pulled her against him. She tightened her arms around his neck and their lips met again. Rhett picked Scarlett up and wordlessly carried her into her bedroom.

Once he reached her bed he put her down gently. He turned around and started to walk away when Scarlett cried,

"Damn You Rhett Butler, Don't you walk away from me again"

Rhett kept on walking ignoring her cry until he reached her doorway. He stopped there and locked the door then turned around and looked at Scarlett with his trademark half smirk,

"I wouldn't dream of it"

He quickly crossed her room and made his way back to her bed. He started to unbutton his shirt when Scarlett's hand stopped him. He looked at her.

"Let me" She answered his silent question.

Scarlett's nimble fingers made quick work of Rhett's shirt. It was soon tossed on the floor carelessly. She ran her fingers over his chest lovingly, enjoying the obvious reaction Rhett had to her touch.

"My turn" Rhett whispered.

In contrast to Scarlett, Rhett took his time unbuttoning her dress. He stopped after every button to kiss any exposed flesh he could see. When he had finally finished, Scarlett stepped out of the dress and it too was thrown to the side without a thought.

Rhett took that time to admire her body. After having four children her waist was still tiny. Motherhood had only enhanced her curves making her more alluring than ever before.

"I'm so glad you stopped wearing a corset" he murmured to Scarlett while divesting her of her remaining clothes.

At the same time Scarlett had unbuttoned his pants and pulled it low over his hips. Within moments they were both naked. Rhett pulled Scarlett close and brushed her hair from her face.

"Are you sure?" he started to ask when Scarlett kissed him, silencing any doubt he may have had.

The whole night the only words spoken again were affirmations of their love and sweet nothings as the couple reached peaks of bliss they had never before experienced or even known possible.

Hours later, they lay spent in each other's arms. Both were awake but neither spoke, afraid perhaps of spoiling the intimacy they had created. Rhett was lazily drawing circles on Scarlett's bare back while she absently kissed his chest now and then. They were just enjoying the feeling of being close to each other when Scarlett finally broke the silence,

"I don't know what you're thinking Rhett. I have never been good at reading you. But please, if you are going to dismiss tonight as a mistake can you spare me the pain on Christmas Day?"

Rhett just pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair. He had been regretting his actions but those regrets sprang from actions quite different to what Scarlett was thinking.

"How could I regret the single most magnificent night of my life?" Rhett asked lovingly.

Scarlett felt tears rushing to her eyes and even though she willed them away then fell anyway.

"My Darling, don't cry. Please, I'll do anything to make you happy" Rhett said.

Those words brought a rush of more longing and love than Scarlett could bear.

"Just today Rhett, can we forget? Forget Charleston and Atlanta, Forget the past. Can we just be a happy family? For one day? Please Rhett" Scarlett begged.

"Nothing would make me happier." Rhett said with a small smile. That night he finally admitted to himself what he had known to be true all along. He was in love with Scarlett O'Hara and he always would be. He reveled in the idea that she felt the same and always would too.

'This is what I'm missing with Anne. Passion, Love.' He thought and then banished Anne from his mind. This Christmas it was going to be about just Scarlett and Cat.

Scarlett sighed happily and snuggled closer to Rhett. Her kisses to his chest became longer and she worked her way up his body, kissing his shoulders, his neck, his chin and finally his mouth.

When they broke off the kiss Rhett laughed, "Mrs. Butler, what would your mother say!"

This time, calling her Mrs. Butler felt right. In his heart Scarlett would always remain the only true Mrs. Rhett Butler.

"Well Mr. Butler" Scarlett said in her best Southern Belle simper, "She'd say it was my duty to see that my husband was satisfied and surely you're not complaining?"

Rhett threw his head back and laughed,

"I love you Scarlett"

"I love you Rhett"

And again, they lost themselves in each other until they finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

Scarlett woke up feeling something tickling her face. She was startled at first but when she realized it was Rhett kissing her, she smiled happily.

"Good morning Mrs. Butler"

"Mmmmmm… Good Morning Mr. Butler. It would be an even better morning if I could wake up in say, two hours" She mumbled against Rhett's lips.

"Scarlett. It's Christmas!"

Scarlett finally opened her eyes and startled to see Rhett's face right in front of hers, his dark eyes filled with love.

"Finally, I get to see those beautiful green eyes. I thought I might have to go all morning without a glimpse of them" Rhett teased.

Scarlett smacked Rhett across the chest but Rhett quickly grabbed her hand and brought it to her lips.

Scarlett closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of Rhett's lips against her skin.

"Open your eyes Scarlett."

She did as she was told and was taken aback by the desire she could see in Rhett's.

"Rhett! It's morning"

Rhett chuckled, "Some things never change"

Scarlett, annoyed by that, defiantly put her arms around Rhett's neck and pulled him down for a kiss. She forgot that they were both naked so when Rhett's hand brushed against her body she nearly jumped from shock.

Rhett saw her reaction and couldn't contain his glee. He burst into loud laughter and Scarlett buried her head in her pillow angrily pushing him away.

Rhett tugged Scarlett and slowly made her turn over and face him. He rubbed the back of his hand across her cheek gently, "I love you"

Scarlett's mood suddenly lifted to the highest heaven, "I love you too" She replied quickly.

This time when Rhett kissed her, she kissed him back with all she had. His touches were reciprocated with caresses of her own. They became one again on the morning of their perfect day.

After they made love, Rhett had to sweet-talk Scarlett out of bed. Promises of breakfast and more presents did the trick and she quickly bathed and got ready.

After a scrumptious breakfast, Rhett, Scarlett and Cat all went for a ride together. Rhett rode Comet. Scarlett was on Halfmoon and Cat on her beloved Ree. While he was worried, Rhett couldn't help but be proud of his young daughter's riding skills. For once he threw caution to the wind and just relaxed with his family. Cat insisted on showing Rhett every little bit of the town that she hadn't already shown him. Scarlett found herself feeling peace she hadn't ever felt before. Not even while Bonnie was still alive.

'My poor Bonnie. I never was much of a mother to you. I'm so sorry honey. I'm trying harder this time. With Cat. And I promise I'll make it up to Wade and Ella, if they'll only let me' Scarlett thought to herself.

"Momma, hurry up"

Scarlett heard Cat call for her. Cat and Rhett had ridden up ahead and were now waiting for her to catch up.

"Coming Darlings" Scarlett yelled before kicking Halfmoon lightly to get him going.

When she got to Rhett and Cat she bestowed them both with a big unaffected smile, a smile she had been smiling all day.

Rhett grinned back and that itself would normally have shocked Scarlett but she knew how happy he was today. She knew because she was feeling the same thing.

At that moment, Scarlett felt closer to Rhett than ever before. All through their unusual friendship and tumultuous marriage she had always regarded Rhett as the handsome, sarcastic, rich, most un-gentlemanly person she knew who also knew her better than she did herself and although he accepted her, he never failed to remind her of her shortcomings. Now Scarlett understood him better, he was still handsome and rich and he was definitely not the perfect gentleman, though he played the part perfectly in Charleston. Scarlett had finally figured out that Rhett used sarcasm to cover up any hurt he might be feeling and on days like today, when he was truly happy he made Scarlett feel perfect, no shortcomings whatsoever. He was unguarded with her, something he had never been except on two occasions both ending in disaster.

'And both ending with us making love' Scarlett thought with a blush.

She remembered the night of Ashley's party and the day of the storm. She then remembered the whispered words of love and realized what she had known all along to be true, Rhett had loved her all through. Every minute of every day of their life together and apart. He had just gotten so used to denying it to her he had denied it to himself to the extent of convincing himself that he really did not feel any sort of love for her anymore. Scarlett stopped herself immediately. Today was not about the past or the future, so there would be no remembering or fantasizing.

Scarlett looked up at Rhett laughing at something Cat said and felt like her heart would burst from all the love and elation she felt at that moment. Rhett, Cat and her being a family was her dream come true and seeing it happening was the most amazing feeling ever. She knew this feeling would only be for today. But she also knew it would have to last her a lifetime so she was determined to enjoy every minute.

Hope you like. Please review.. and thanks to everyone who has already done so. Every comment inspires me to write more and hopefully write better.