Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Note: I just can't believe Scarlett would have accepted all the blame for the failed marriage especially after Rhett left the way he did.

When Scarlett woke up the day after Melly's death she had a change of attitude about Rhett. She wasn't going after him. If that was his idea of love, she wanted none of it. That son of a bitch was blaming her for the disaster of their marriage. That cruel, mean, mocking man was blaming her! How dare he? If she had met him halfway? Did the man not know he had never given her any hint that he wanted her to meet him halfway? Rhett was brutal. He went 12 years without telling me he loved me. What a coward! He didn't tell her because she might make his life a living hell. What had their life been but a living hell? He was running away now. He always ran away. From when he was a blockade runner to Rough and Ready to New Orleans to Belle's to Charleston. Run Rhett run. When he couldn't run away physically, he ran away by putting a mask over his emotions. What a coward. She did love him but she also realized he was weak both Rhett and Ashley were weak cowards. They were big fat lying cowards. They should have told her how they felt in clear easy to understand English but no! They had both talk in a way that both of them knew she would never understand. Cads!

.
She would get through the funeral for Melly then she would get her children and go to Tara. She was going to move on with her life. The only people she had ever been able to rely on was Melly and herself. Melly was gone so that left only herself to rely on. Wait! She had been able to depend on her children. All she needed was a plan for their future. She would think about it later she had to concentrate on the funeral. Scarlett arranged and paid for the funeral. She descended on the little house on Ivy Street like a general marshaling her troops. She sent Uncle Peter to get Wade and Ella. She parked Aunt PittyPat in the front parlor to receive visitors. She had India make out a list of people to inform. She sent Uncle Henry to send these telegrams. When she was finally finished it was almost 10 pm. The funeral was in two days to give relatives time to get to Atlanta. She opened her house to all the relatives.

The funeral was simple. Scarlett stood way back so no one would think she wanted Ashley. She heard people talking about how nice the funeral was and she wanted to scream I've had plenty of experience with funerals. She stood there like a statue holding Wade and Ella's hands. She saw Rhett at the funeral. He was away from everyone which suited her fine. Before he could escape, she sent the kids to tell him goodbye. Soon Scarlett and children were in the carriage going home. The next day before she could go to Tara, she had to start her plan to take care of Ashley and Beau like she had promised Melly. Scarlett make Ashley go with her to Uncle Henry's office. They asked Uncle Henry to find a buyer for the mills. The next morning, they were on the train to Jonesboro. When she arrived at Tara, she was happy for a moment then very sad. It occurred to her Tara was no longer hers. Suellen was the mistress here. How had that worked out? She had sold her soul for Tara only to be exiled from it. After marrying Frank, she had to stay in Atlanta to run the mills and support everyone. She was never going to be able to live at Tara again. It was Will and Suellen's now.

After two weeks Wade ask her about Uncle Rhett. When was he coming back? Scarlett gently told them Uncle Rhett was never coming back. His heartbreak over Bonnie was so great he couldn't deal with seeing them every day especially with their mother looking so much like Bonnie.

In October Mammy passed away in her sleep. Scarlett made sure she was buried right next to Ellen O'Hara. They stayed at Tara for another month before they returned to Atlanta.

While she was at Tara thought about Rhett and their life together, all 12 years. Rhett was been so much fun until she married him then he became possessive and so jealous of Ashley. She knew now it was because she was his wife. That made her his property! Literally! And what was going on in Ashley's mind when he encouraged her to turn Rhett out of their bedroom or had he? Had she misunderstood. Both of them couldn't say a sentence in plain English to save their souls. Varmints!

Scarlett could not stay in Atlanta. It had too many memories of Melly, Bonnie, Frank and Rhett. It would be too difficult for her children to endure the unending gossip about her. No matter what she did the Old Guard would always be gossiping about her. She was getting a divorce and leaving Atlanta. She would go to Boston. Wade wanted to go to school there. Did they have a girl's college? Radcliffe? Perfect for Ella. She hired a tutor for Wade because as she told him the ugly gossip about her was going to be too much for him to bear but soon, they were going to be in Boston. She would sell Ashley the store he could support himself and Beau with the store and she would have fulfilled her promise to Melly. She was selling everything in Atlanta and moving to Boston. If she knew Rhett like she believed she did he would send her the divorce papers within six months of Melly dying. To Rhett she would be a loose string that he needed to cut off. She was waiting for the divorce papers to come in the mail. Rhett had to make the first offer so she could get the best settlement possible.

Finally, the divorce papers arrived the first of December. She was not surprised at how quickly Rhett had sent them. He was blaming her for their entire disastrous marriage. Scarlett told Uncle Henry to send them back asking for twice what he had offered. He wrote back calling her every name in the book but the new papers had the asked upon amount. She couldn't believe her luck. She had stated that amount hoping to end up in the middle. He really must want to get rid of her or he was worth a lot more than she thought. She didn't care. With this amount she would have enough to live on the rest of her life. Once she signed these papers, she was free, free of him, free of Atlanta and the old guard, and free of the south. She went to see Uncle Henry and signed the papers and within a month she had her final divorce degree. It was the end of January of 1874.

She marked February 1st 1874 as the first day of their new lives. 1873 had been a horrible year and she was glad it had ended, actually the end of a horrible decade or maybe the end of a horrible life.
She had convinced Ashley to sell the mills right after Melly had died because Ashley was not the best business man in the best of times therefore she knew he would have destroyed the mills in the months after Melly's death. Ashley had not really understood what was going on. He had only done what Scarlett had told him to do. In his grief he had not been able to fight her. Scarlett had also convinced Ashley to move in with Aunt PittyPat. She told him he needed to get away from all the memories of Melly. The truth was she knew she was going to have to support him for a while and she was already supporting Aunt PittyPat so it was cheaper for her. Now that the store was legally hers, she sold it to Ashley and showed India how to run it. Fortunately for Ashley he had always been surrounded by strong capable women. India quickly learned the ins and outs of the store.

In March they had visited Boston. Scarlett had found a beautiful Victorian home near Wade's new school, Esters Preparatory School for Young Men. It was four bedrooms upstairs and a parlor, sitting room, library, breakfast nook and dining room downstairs. Scarlett had indoor plumbing installed. She loved the house. Sadly, Rhett probably would have loved it too. But she quickly shut that door. She must always remember he was a coward. Twelve years and he was too scared to say I love you. Bastard.

By April 1st the house was sold including the furniture. Scarlett had sold everything except the Hamilton House which was in trust to Wade and Beau. She had set up three trust; one for Tara, one for Aunt Pittypat and one for her aunts. Everything that had belonged to Rhett had been shipped to his mother's house in Charleston except for his books. Scarlett gave the books to Beau. When Scarlett was about the box up Bonnie's stuff Wade and Ella were there to help her. Wade said, "This isn't something you should do by yourself, Mother." With the children's help they had quickly packed up all of the items from Bonnie's short life. The clothes she had shipped to Suellen and everything else was given to India to dispose of for her. When India saw the items, Scarlett knew by the look on her face that most of them would end up in the store. Scarlett hoped so because most of the toys hadn't even been taken out of the box.

Before they left Atlanta Scarlett, Wade and Ella visit Bonnie, Melly, Frank and Charles's graves. They remembered a few happy times but they were all too sad to want to talk about Bonnie or Aunt Melly for long. Scarlett told them what wonderful men their fathers had been and they both should be proud. They were all crying by the time they left the cemetery. As they left Scarlett said, "Let's make the next twelve years as good as the last twelve years were bad." Since Melanie's death they had bonded and learned to depend on each other. It was exactly what they all needed and they were now a tight little family. Scarlett thought maybe this is best.

Chapter Two

They had most of their stuff shipped to Boston but she was going to make a farewell tour of her relatives. Scarlett didn't plan to return to the south any time soon. She first went to Tara and stayed two weeks. It was a farm. It would never be the majestic beauty of her childhood. She wondered if it ever was that beautiful. They went to Charleston and stayed with her aunts for two weeks. That was two weeks too long. Scarlett met Rhett's mother, a nice proper lady. She didn't ask about Rhett because she didn't care. He was a coward and she was not going to spend any more time worrying or wondering about him. They went to Savannah and stayed with her grandfather Pierre Robillard for a month. The only person he was interested in was Wade, his male heir. Grandpere gave her a thousand dollars for her expenses and she almost screamed. Why couldn't you give me $300 when I really needed it. Because her Grandpere was a bastard too.

From there they went to New York. They had a ball. They behave like children at the candy store. There was so much to do and they did it all. They finally ended up in Boston on the fourth of July. The entire city was having a grand celebration. It was wonderful. They spent the next two months acclimatizing to the northern ways. Maybe because of her treatment by the Old Guard in Atlanta Scarlett was happy for once to not be the center of attention. She was enjoying her life in Boston. Here in the North nobody seemed to care that she was divorced. Wade was at Esters Preparatory School and Ella was in Penwright Academy for Girls, a school that promoted education and knowledge over handwriting and social graces. Most girls that graduated from Penwright went on to college something Scarlett wanted very much for Ella.

In the last year Scarlett had grown up emotional. Scarlett's children now felt loved and wanted. They now had a mother they could depend on to be there for them. Scarlett was amazed at how wonderful her children were. The family made lot of friends. They were nice people who didn't ask too many questions. They accept her for who she wanted to be. They never asked about her past but if she wanted to talk about it, they would listen. Scarlett returned the favor and never asked about their past either. It was a little weird at first nobody caring about one's family tree but she loved it. Scarlett had men wanting to court her but she politely turned them all down.

At the beginning of 1875 Scarlett received word that her Grandpere had died and she and Wade were named in the will. They all traveled by train to Savannah. Indeed, Wade was named Grandpere's heir but his money would be in trust until he was twenty-five with Scarlett as the executor. Wade had inherited close to a million dollars. Scarlett just wanted to scream at her Grandpere and call him all sorts of names. We don't need it now! We needed it in 1865.

The will also left money to her aunts. Scarlett left the trust in place. She didn't want to deal with them begging for more.

In February they were back in Boston again the children had only missed two weeks of school. They easily caught up. Scarlett went back to her peaceful life.

Unbeknownst to Scarlett her family had been observed while in Savannah. It wasn't an accident. Rhett knew through his mother that Scarlett's Grandpere was dead. He wanted to see her without her seeing him. She was still so beautiful. He wondered if she was single. Probably not. He doubted Scarlett would stay single for long. There was no man with her as she went about her business in Savannah. He decided he would go to Atlanta and find out what was happening with her. She had never been far from his thoughts in the last year since their divorce was final. After the divorce was final Rhett decided that he wasn't ever going to find peace in the bottom of a bottle. He sobered up and dried out. He wondered how many years it had been since he had gone a day without drinking. With sobriety he admitted that he had treated Scarlett badly and the disaster that was their marriage was as much his fault as hers. Rhett traveled looking for peace maybe peace was with Scarlett.

Rhett Butler did go to Atlanta and in 18 months the town had changed. Belle had sold out and moved to New Orleans. Scarlett and children had been gone for over a year. Rhett visited with Henry Hamilton. Scarlett had convinced Ashley to sell the mills which he did and made a nice profit on them. But here is where Scarlett's plan was amazing. After the divorce was final, she sold him the store and showed India how to run the store. Technically the store was Ashley's but India was the real boss. The store was very successful in spite of the fact Ashley didn't show up most days. She sold the house with the furniture in it. She made quite a bit on that sale.

Rhett wanted to know what had happened to Bonnie's belongs. He was glad he didn't have to see them again. They were given to a local charity. Scarlett had left something for him if he ever showed up. It was Bonnie's favorite nightgown. He wondered how Scarlett could be kind enough to let him have this last token of Bonnie. He tried to make himself believe she didn't care but he knew in his heart she had given this up for him on purpose. Rhett didn't know but Scarlett had kept a stuffed doll that Bonnie had slept with all her life. It was the only gift Scarlett had ever been allowed give her child. Scarlett was sure if Rhett had been able to get it away from Bonnie it would have ended up in the trash. But Bonnie would not go to bed without it. Finally, Rhett asked Henry if Scarlett was in Atlanta to which Henry shook his head no. And he informed Rhett she was not at Tara either. Rhett wanted to know where was Scarlett? Henry didn't know. Rhett went to see Ashley. Ashley had not heard from her since she left Atlanta. Rhett went to Tara. Will told him they didn't know where she was either. Every one of them was lying to him. They didn't want him back in her life. She was finally happy.

Rhett went to Charleston. He asked his mother to ask her friends, Scarlett's aunts, if they knew where Scarlett was living. Scarlett's aunt told him she was living in Boston and gave him the address. When he arrived in Boston it was the first of June. Her neighbors informed him she had gone to London for the summer. Rhett followed her to London. Rhett never questioned that he was doing a lot of traveling for a woman he had divorced the year before.

Rhett went to London but Scarlett had actually gone to Dublin to see her relatives. She didn't stay very long. She went to London. She was staying at the Savoy Hotel. She remembered that she had sent etters to Rhett to this hotel when they were engaged. It was a very nice hotel. It reminded her too much of the coward Rhett and her engagement ring. He had deliberately bought the most vulgar diamond for her to have to wear all around Atlanta. He knew she was embarrassed by the size. The bastard. They moved on to Paris, Madrid, Venice, Florence, Rome, the Swiss Alps and Berlin and finally returned to the London. They stayed at another hotel that had only been built last year. By this time, they were all too tired to think of anything but rest. One more week and they were going back to Boston.

Wade told her over lunch one day that he had never been happier. Scarlett surprised all three of them by saying neither had she and she knew it was the truth. Maybe this was all the happiness there was for her. She knew she hated both Ashley and Rhett. They were weak cowards. If this was all there was then she was okay with it. She had no desire to ever marry again.

When Rhett didn't find them in London, he conducted some business and then went to Paris. Paris reminded him of the war and buying Scarlett that green hat. He wondered what had happened to it. Rhett would have been surprised to learn that Scarlett still had it. Maybe he should have told her he loved her sooner. Would it had made a difference? He didn't know. He had spent too many weeks here in Europe already. He was going home. Where was that now? Not Charleston. Not Atlanta. He wanted to see Scarlett. He would go to Boston and wait for her. She and the children had to go back there before September when school started.

He booked his passage on the first ship leaving for the northern part of the United States which was heading to New York.

Scarlett and her children were already halfway across the Atlantic Ocean at this time. They talked about what they had seen and done. They talked about what needed to be done as soon as they got home to get ready for school. They talked about their friends in Boston. They talked about their life in Atlanta. They had some fond memories but they were often overshadowed by the awful ones. Wade commented on the awful battles between her and Rhett. Scarlett agreed the battles were terrible and apologized for her part in them. She said, "I never could resist the barbs he would throw out at me. I don't know what that was but that was not love no matter what anyone says."

Ella said, "What was with his obsession with Bonnie? It was like the only person Bonnie could be with was him. It was like he wanted to own her completely. He wouldn't even let you take her to Tara."

Scarlett said, "I think Uncle Rhett is a very lonely man who doesn't know how to have friends. He just has acquaintances." Scarlett grasped the truth of what she said. Rhett wanted to own her body and soul. Wasn't that what Ashley had said in the library all those years ago. You would want all of a man, Scarlett, his body, his heart, his soul, his thoughts. And if you did not have them, you would be miserable. Yes. She and Rhett were alike in so many ways. The way they needed to be alike to make their marriage work was compassion and forgiveness. The traits neither of them had possessed at the time. They both had too much pride and stubbornness. They were like stubborn mules. Scarlett thought of Mammy. She missed the old woman so much.

With great excitement the children went back to school. As Scarlett dropped them off, she decided her life was good. When she got home sitting on her front porch was Rhett Butler.

As Scarlett walked past him all she said, "Get off my front porch, Rhett Butler." As her butler let her into the house she said, "Don't let this man in."

Rhett had risen when he saw Scarlett get out of the coach. He said, Scarlett, "Don't be like this. I just wanted to see you."

She turned and said, "Now you have seen me. Go away! Joseph, shut the door." Joseph shut the door in Rhett's face.

Rhett shouted through the door "I would like to talk to you."

Joseph opened the door and said, "Ms. O'Hara says for you to contact her attorney. Her Boston attorney is Richard Ferguson." And shut the door.

Rhett started laughing. Why did he think it would be simple to have a conversation with Scarlett? Nothing is ever easy with Scarlett. Rhett then shouted, "I can always hang out by Ella's school until you decide to talk to me."

Scarlett was standing on the other side of the door because she knew Rhett Butler would never just go away unless he was running away. Of course, he would know Ella would be the weakest link.

She opened the door and said, "I will meet you at Sullivan's Cafe in 15 minutes. It's ten blocks down that way."

"Can I ride in your carriage, Ms. O'Hara?" Rhett asked with a smirk.

"No." Scarlett said as she proceeded toward the carriage but walked right by it on her way to the cafe.

Rhett caught up with her and said, "You are being ridiculous, my ..."

Scarlett snarled, "I am not your anything. Please wait to speak until we get to the cafe."

Rhett thought that was strange but he didn't talk just walked beside her. He looked at her and he knew he was still attracted to her. Damn his body.

When they got to the cafe Rhett knew why she didn't want to talk until they were sitting at the table.

Everyone there knew her and treated her so friendly. The waitress brought her a cup of tea. The waitress asked, "Do you want a muffin Ms. O'Hara? We have the blueberry that you like so well."

Scarlett said, "Yes, please. Sandy, this is my former husband, Rhett Butler," As Rhett smiled his most charming smile the whole cafe fell silent and everyone was staring at him but he kept the smile on his face. Scarlett continued, "Did you want something? Coffee, tea, a muffin?"

Rhett smiled at Sandy and said, "Coffee and a blueberry muffin."

Sandy smiled back and said, "I'll be right back."

Scarlett said, "What brings you to Boston?"

Rhett looked at her and said, "You."

Scarlett waited for Sandy to lay their items down and leave. She said, "No. Go away. You said everything you needed to say the night of Melly's death. The postscript was said the first of December when you sent the divorce papers. Of course, if there was any doubt left your last note extinguished it. I made a lot of mistakes in our marriage but I didn't make them all. We were both to blame. I have found peace in the last two years. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life but letting you back into it to my life would be the worst mistake I could make. We are exactly alike too damn proud and stubborn. You were right about when you returned from Belle's that was a chance for us to change but you gave me nothing to reach out to. The baby could have been a new beginning but we ruined that too. We squandered all our chances. All I want now is peace. I can't have peace with you in my life in any form. I look at you and see all my mistakes and the children I lost."

Rhett looked at her with his mask on and said, "You said you loved me. Was it a lie?"

Scarlett gently put her hand on his arm and said, "No. That was not a lie but at 30 I have learned to not let my emotion control my actions. As I said I am at peace here. I am part of the community. My children are not social outcasts. I am not throwing this away this time."

Rhett said, "I don't have to accept this. I can move here and wear you down. I love you."

Scarlett gave Rhett a sad smile. She said, "Please accept that we tried. We had our chances. We aren't meant to be. Please leave us with a little dignity."

On that Rhett accepted defeat she was right they would never be able to forget the past. They couldn't mend the pieces and say it was new. It was just that he was lonely. He missed her and the children. He stood up and put some money on table and prepared to leave. As if reading his mind Scarlett said, "Find someone as well educated and as well read as you to settled down with but always remember I do give a damn."

Sandy came up and said, "Mr. Butler left quickly. Is everything alright?"

Scarlett smiled up at Sandy and said, "He will be back. He likes a challenge. If we are to be together, he will have to win me back. He would not appreciate what he had if I was too easily obtained."

Epilogue:

Rhett sent Scarlett a Christmas card in December of 1875. She wrote him back telling him news of Wade, Ella and herself. Rhett wrote back and they started corresponding. Through the letters they found out that they had both grown up and had both stopped drinking. Now they could become true friends. They no longer felt the need to hide their true self or their true feelings. They were no longer afraid of the other using their feelings against them. In early 1877 when Rhett was in Boston on business, he took Scarlett to dinner at his hotel. When he offered to show her his room and she accepted things changed in their relationship. He had convinced her with the assurance of a guaranteed pregnancy prevention method. It was not a happy conversation when she found out this had been available after Bonnie was born. She admitted it probably wouldn't have matter. After that evening Rhett did buy a house within walking distance from Scarlett. Every time there after he was in town which was often, he would visit them always taking Scarlett to dinner and dancing. Wade made a comment after one of these visits when Scarlett was walking on air, "Rhett seems to do a lot of business in Boston." Scarlett just laughed.

In 1878 they went back to Atlanta to memorialize the 5th anniversary of Bonnie's death. They shared a suite at the National Hotel and didn't care what anyone said. It was hard on both on them to know she had been dead longer than she had been alive. They talked about Bonnie and about the baby they lost. They talked about having other children and neither wanted to risk their heart. They never returned to Atlanta and Rhett had Bonnie's body moved to Tara. Scarlett told Rhett they would all be buried together.

When Wade graduated from Esters Preparatory School in 1880 Rhett attended the event with them and then he took all of them to supper afterwards. He was staying longer and longer in Boston and seeing a lot of Scarlett. Rhett and Scarlett continued to correspond when he was not in Boston. Sometimes, they would meet at another location and spend a week or two together. Rhett did spend time with his mother in Charleston but he was mainly living in Boston these days.

In 1884 Rhett was there when Wade graduated from Harvard and when Ella graduated from Pemwright School for Girls. Wade went on to Harvard Law School and Ella went to Radcliffe. When Rhett's mother passed away in 1887 Scarlett and Ella came for the funeral and stayed for a month until Rhett sold the house on The Battery and moved to Boston fulltime.

Wade graduated from Harvard Law in 1888 and chose to return to Atlanta and take over Uncle Henry's law practice. In 1888 Ella graduated from Radcliffe, one of Scarlett's proudest moments. In 1889 Ella married into one of the oldest families in Boston. Ella asked Rhett to walk her down the aisle and he gladly accepted. It was a very emotional time for Rhett knowing he would never get to do that with Bonnie but he hid his feelings and performed all his duties admirably. No one knew his emotional turmoil but Scarlett. He never hid anything from her now.

Over the years they had talked about their marriage but without heat or passion. Mainly they talked about what they wished they had done differently. There were no accusation just regrets of their own actions. After the wedding Rhett asked her to marry him again. He got down on bended knee and told of his great love for her which she already knew because he told all the time. She told him she loved him too which she told him all the time but she was scared for them to marry again. It had been such a disaster and they were so happy now. Rhett told her that he would wait until she was ready. He was never going to pressure her into marrying him again. Then he said, "But I'm not getting any younger." Rhett never brought the subject up again. Scarlett said yes because she wanted to wake up with him. They remarried on April 15, 1891 thirty years to the day they first met.

They were happy. They had learned from all their mistakes. There were times they would get melancholy when they thought of everything their pride and stubbornness had cost them but when that happened, they would go dancing. They both loved to dance and it made them remember the first time they had dance together. These days they rarely fought. Rhett would tease and Scarlett would pretend to be mad but they were never on the outs with each other very long. Wade had married one of the Hamilton cousins Anna Burns but he was happy so Scarlett didn't say anything. Ella gave them a grandchild in 1892 which made Scarlett and Rhett happy for Ella. They were fine with being grandparents.

They traveled but rarely to the South. They went to Atlanta to see Wade's new child. Ashley had passed away five years after Melanie. People said he die of a broken heart. Scarlett told Rhett he died of a guilty conscience. India continued to run the store while Beau became a doctor. Beau's tuition was always paid by anonymous benefactor. He came back to Atlanta and took over what was left of Dr. Meade's practice.

e They were back in their home in Boston when Rhett suffered a fatal heart attack 1893. Scarlett was beside herself with grief. She knew Rhett was older than her but she had always thought they would have more time together. She had his body buried at Tara because that is where Scarlett would be buried and she wanted him close. She hoped Rhett was wrong for once. She hoped this was not all there was. She had to believe she would see Bonnie and Rhett in the next life. The next couple of years she soldiered on straighten out all of his assets. He was a very wealthy man. She gave away some of Rhett's fortune to charities she thought he would approve of.

She felt cheated that this was all the time she got with Rhett. She had a good relationship with Ella and Wade. She loved her grandchildren and she was at peace for the most part but some days she wondered how she could go on without her cad. Ten years later in 1903 she had a stroke and died instantly. She had a smile on her face when she died.