Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and the feedback.

Chapter Eighty-Nine

A few months later Scarlet decided to clean out the girl's room. When she did, she found the four-leaf clover her daughter had found all those years ago. She remembered what Liam had said. One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth, one leaf for a faithful lover and one to bring you glorious health. At that point Scarlett knew that all the gifts had been bestowed on Eugenia. Was there something mystic or other worldly going on here? Probably after all she and Rhett had traveled back in time. She was so very glad it had been bestowed on her precious daughter. She wrote out the saying that her cousin had shared and with the fragile clover she had them mounted into a frame. She gave it to Eugenia the next time she had come over to the house. It made Eugenia very happy and she hung it in her parlor.

Eugenia's speech was clear and easy to understand. She had a great gift for orating and she could be quite funny when she tried. Later in life she was urged by many people in the deaf community to become a spokesperson for their causes. Richard and Rhett encouraged her in this activity. Scarlett didn't care but when Eugenia became a suffragette Scarlett was extremely embarrassed. Rhett was extremely proud.

After Scarlett found out that Eugenia had marched for women to get the right to vote, she said to Rhett, "Thank goodness Ella isn't behaving so foolishly."

"I am proud of Eugenia for marching."

Scarlett ignored her husband's statement and said, "We can never move back to the South now."

"I didn't know we were even considering it."

"We aren't but we couldn't even if we wanted to. The peahens in Atlanta would never let me live this down."

Rhett just smiled but he did say, "Most of the peahens are dead now."

"There are always peahens, darling."

Rhett smiled because she was right. There were always peahens. He didn't want to ever live in the South again so Eugenia's marching had two benefits.

The years from eighty-four through eighty-seven had been hard on Rhett, Melanie, and Scarlett. All the children but Alex had left the nest. They were all married but Alex. The trio knew they were moving into another stage in their lives and weren't really sure they were excited about it.

When Scarlett asked Rhett what the relationship between Wade and Beau's children would be, he at first said, "Double cousins. No. That is when two siblings marry two siblings. I don't know. I guess nothing. Yes, nothing." Rhett still looked perplexed. As always when Rhett didn't have the answer Scarlett looked extremely disappointed in him. Rhett just looked at her and shrugged. She just walked away.

Wade had a son in March of eighty-seven. They named him Charles Rhett. Rhett was so proud. Beau had a son in September of eighty-seven. They named him Winfred Henry. Yet it had been Ella who had a daughter, Solange Lorena, who made Scarlett a grandmother. The little girl had been born in January of eighty-six which amused Scarlett. Didn't they already have enough birthdays in that month?

She was alright with being a grandmother and Rhett was over the moon about being a grandfather. She really was sorry she and Rhett couldn't have had more children even considering what rascals Eugenia and Alex had been. Maybe it was for the best because Rhett was not a young man and she would not want to raise them alone. She didn't think she could manage it. Rhett had always done most of the parenting. He had even done most of the disciplining after he had developed a backbone where his children were concerned. Yet she would often think maybe their third child would have truly been a combination of the two of them.

Once Alex turned fourteen, he seemed to lose his naughty ways and became a very well-behaved young man. He became so well behaved that Rhett let him ride his horse to school and back every day and Rhett stopped having meetings with Mr. Stewart. Alex did still tease and harass his sisters, his brothers-in-law and sometimes his father but never his mother.

He and his father would get into some intense conversations over the supper table about everything under the sun. Alex was always respectful to Rhett until Rhett said something surly and mocking then Alex would reply just as surly and just as mocking. When this happened, Scarlett finally realized that was how Rhett tried to control the conversation. By being surly and rude the other person became defensive and started thinking just about defending themselves. With Alex's ability to be just as cruel as Rhett he didn't back off of his position. Scarlett did notice that over time Rhett resorted to that tactic less and less and sometimes accepted defeat although never graciously. Alex was rarely surly or rude anymore to anyone but Rhett. Scarlett would always wonder what had prompted him to be when he was younger. Maybe a need for attention. She knew that was why Rhett was an aggravating donkey at times because he wanted to be the center of attention.

The years between eighty-seven and ninety were good ones. They were quiet years. Life rolled on for the Butlers and their extended families. Rhett and Scarlett almost had an empty nest now. At seventeen Alex took the entrance exam at MIT and passed with flying colors in fact he had scored the highest grade that had ever been recorded. Of course, Rhett had to crow about that to anyone who would listen. He never had outgrown loving to brag on his children and he was never ashamed when he did it. He bragged on all of them these days. He was even worse if that was possible when he began bragging on his grandchildren.

Alex went to MIT in the fall of eighty-nine. The summer before they had gone and got him a room at a boarding house. He was so excited. Scarlett kept a smile plastered on her face. Rhett let her be morose for a couple of days before he started teasing and harassing her into a better mood. Scarlett was glad she still had Melly and Henry. The house would have been so lonely without them. Henry had stopped working. His lady friends were dying out but he still popular with those that remained.

Melly still loved her work at the school. All the children loved her and she loved them all. She had such pride in her work. She would always say, "I know I shouldn't be so proud but I am none the less." Whoever was with her would reassure her that her pride was warranted. She really had found her niche in life. She always told such delightful stories of her children.

Rhett had contributed a lot of money into the research of hearing aids. Rhett had met Alexander Graham Bell when they were both on the board of the Clarke's School. Bell had patented his new invention the telephone in seventy-six. Bell needed investors in eighty and eighty-one. He asked Rhett to invest in the telephone. Rhett had. It was a great success. Rhett had always had the Midas touch as far as making money.

Wade and Beau and their families came to Hartford for Christmas. There was a full house. There was so much noise. The grandchildren were so excited. Rhett took anyone over three with him to cut down the tree. Scarlett insisted that all the girls wear bloomers to stay warm. When Scarlett had called them bloomers Rhett had looked at her and raised his eye brow. Scarlett had laughed and said, "What's in a name? They are what they are." Then she had pushed him and the rest of the family out the door. They were letting all the cold air in.

They decorated the tree, played with the grandchildren, caught up with Wade and Alice and Beau and Effie and generally had a wonderful time. Rhett praised Annie as the best cook in the world and how wonderful she was. Scarlett just smiled even though it still annoyed her for Rhett to praise any other woman but her. Scarlett would later wonder at the miracle that they had that last wonderful family Christmas.

Melly passed away in late February of eighteen-ninety. Almost as if she had waited until all the birthdays were over before dying in order not to spoil anyone's birthday. She had gotten a cold that had developed into pneumonia. Beau and Wade and all the other children had gotten to say goodbye. When Melly's time was near either Scarlett, Beau, Wade or Henry were by her side and usually all four. The only reason they would leave would be to take care of their bodily functions. Rhett had to make them eat and drink with the threat of barring them from the room if they didn't.

Melanie said to Scarlett so softy that Scarlett almost couldn't hear her, "I thought you loved Ashley during the war and even while we were at Tara after the war. Everyone told me so but after you married Rhett, I knew you didn't."

"I never loved Ashley. The only man I have ever loved is Rhett."

"You have been so good to me."

"You have always been my best friend."

Melanie smiled and said, "Yes, I have. You have been mine even when you didn't know it."

"I will see you on the other side. Death will not separate us. You, me and Rhett we will always be together."

"And Ashley."

Scarlett didn't say anything because Melanie Hamilton Wilkes was already with the angels.

After Melanie Wilkes passed away Rhett let his wife, his nephews and Henry sleep while he made arrangements to take the body home. Scarlett was going to have to go back to the South. Melanie would not rest in peace if she wasn't buried next to Mr. Wilkes although Rhett still didn't think the man deserved the honor. He had bought the plot next to Mr. Wilkes all those years ago for just this moment.

Scarlett was amazed that Melly had lived as long as she had. Melly had always been a sickly woman. In this timeline she had gotten seventeen more years. Seventeen years that Scarlett had appreciated. Scarlett had gotten almost twenty-five years of companionship with Melanie Wilkes. She knew without a doubt that Melly had known that Scarlett had loved her as much as she had loved Scarlett.

Melly had a special relationship with Charles Johnson. Charles had been good for Melly. He made her laugh and flattered her. He eventually knew that Melly would never marry him and moved on to find a more receptive woman. They wrote one last book after Mr. Johnson got married. Melanie had left the royalties to her books to the Asylum.

Scarlett had hoped Melly would find love again but was not surprised when she didn't. She had loved Ashley with all of her heart and no one could replace him. She had loved Ashley all her life. Of course, after his death Melanie had turned him into a mythic hero. Scarlett knew that Ashley had truly love Melanie with all of his heart. Melly was his true love. Scarlett knew that she had just been a sexual infatuation for Ashley. Although at times listening to Melanie talk about Ashley in such glowing terms had made Scarlett want to scream, she would just smile.

Henry Hamilton had sat beside his niece throughout her last hours. He couldn't believe he had out lived everyone else. There were his great nephews that he did love but he was ready to move on. His last years had been very good. He had no regrets. Henry would go with them to Atlanta to bury Melanie. He would see that she was taken care of properly though he had no doubts she would be because Scarlett and Rhett had loved her so much.

Rhett arranged for two private cars. He didn't need to ask. Everyone was going to want to go. Even Prissy demanded to go which made Rhett laugh. It was the first time in almost thirty years that Rhett saw the proud regal bearing Prissy possessed.

Scarlett was very sad that Melanie had passed away. She and Melly had never had a serious argument. Yes, they had spats but they were resolved in minutes. It would take Scarlett a long time to regain her joy of living. She never had really gotten it back in the first timeline but she had too many losses then too ever truly be happy again.

When the group got to the National Hotel, Scarlett noticed that they had redecorated but they needed to do it again. She said to Rhett, "I thought we weren't going to stay here again because it was looking seedy the last time we were here."

He had said, "I wouldn't have but it was the only hotel that could accommodate all of us on such short notice. I think it would be easier to transport a small army than our family."

"I'm glad we are staying here. I have special memories of this hotel from our wedding night."

Scarlett had not spoken that loudly but nonetheless everyone heard her. The men smiled and the ladies blushed. Now that both her daughters were married, she was not as circumspect in what she said around them. She wanted them to know that women could and should enjoy relations also.

They had not lived in the South for over seventeen years. There were not that many mourners because most of the people who had loved Melanie had already passed on. All the old battle axes were dead; Mrs. Merriwether, Dr. and Mrs. Mead, Mrs. Elsing, and Mrs. Bonner. While Scarlett was glad she didn't have to talk to any of the Old Guard she still thought it was a shame Melanie's funeral had not had a better turn out.

When Scarlett saw that the Wilkes sisters had come to the funeral she had wanted to groan. She didn't want to talk to them especially not about Melanie. To Scarlett India looked so very old and so very bitter which was such a shame for India was only two years older than she was. Honey looked sad but still pretty healthy. Scarlett decided she still was a lot prettier than either one of the Wilkes sisters, just as she always had been.

Suellen and her husband chose to attend the burial but had stood back away from the family. Sadly, nobody but Scarlett and Rhett recognized her.

Beau, Henry, nor Wade had been able to give the eulogy for their grief was still too raw. Rhett had given the eulogy and he managed to not let his emotion bleed through in his voice. He wasn't quite as sad as Scarlett but it was a great loss in his life also. Rhett smiled a sad smile when he saw that Scarlett was crying her eyes out. For once she was listening to the eulogy. Maybe she would listen to his too. Rhett would miss the discussions and the verbal battling with sweet Melanie. She had been more sister to both of them than Suellen or Rosemary had ever thought about being.