Scarlett and Rhett walked down the pier together. As Scarlett reflected what had happened to her within the past two days, bittersweet tears began to run her cheeks.
"What's the matter, darling?" Rhett asked her in a gentle voice, free of mockery or laughter. Scarlett managed a smile for him.
"I'll be all right, Rhett. I just can't believe that this is all happening. It isn't the way I planned it at all. I-I wasn't planning to tell you about Cat for a long time. I wanted to hurt you, just the way you had hurt me. Oh, I wanted this baby so much, for I also thought it would bring us back together. But when I was about to board a ship for America to go home to you, I-I..." Scarlett broke off, all the sadness and pain she had felt at that moment coming back to her. She turned to Rhett and sobbed into his chest. He made no attempt to stop her, just embraced her.
Rhett was continuously haunted by how much he had hurt Scarlett. She had hurt him in so many ways as well, but perhaps he had deserved them. He knew that he had been too harsh with her when she had come to Charleston, but he didn't want to fall in love with her again. What he hadn't realized was that he loved her more then than he had at any other time in his life, and it made him feel weak. When she had left Charleston without so much as a good-bye, he had become angry. He had felt that she was punishing him, so he wanted to put her through the pain that she had put him through. So he divorced her. He had petitioned the legislature for a legal divorce, and it had been passed because of his family influence and his exceedingly large bank account. But that hadn't been enough. He knew that Scarlett could still try to get him back. Then one day he had noticed the shine in Anne Hampton's eyes when she looked at him and he realized that she was in love with him. It was perfect. Scarlett could never take him if he belonged to another woman. He did consider that Ashley had been married when Scarlett was still obsessing over him, but she couldn't have him nonetheless.
Rhett flashed back to the day that he had been at the Charleston harbor, escorting some British friends to their ship. After they had boarded, and he had turned around to leave, he felt a chill go down his spine, immediately followed by warmth. He spun around, and saw none other than the love of his life, Scarlett O'Hara, looking at him with such longing and remorse that he almost couldn't bear to look at her. For just a second, he felt that he would give up everything in the world to put the past behind him and be with Scarlett. But it took just that one second to scare him, and he left the pier immediately, shaken.
He told himself that he must never see her again, but his love for her brought him to Ireland, three times. But this time, the third time, he had escaped his life of misery in Charleston, where his wife and child and just died. No, he hadn't really loved Anne. Oh, but he had cared for her, she was so kind and gentle, and he was so unworthy of her. She had reminded him so much of Melly.
Rhett had gone to Ireland devastated, his life torn to shreds. But there was still hope. There was still hope that Scarlett loved him. But when he had heard that she was betrothed to the Earl of Fenton, he lost it. He was with his friend Bart Morland, who was in pretty bad shape himself, and they had gotten drunk together. No, he had gone beyond drunk. Rhett could usually hold his liquor pretty well. But Rhett drank glass after glass, wallowing in his misery. There was nothing left for him in the world anymore. Everyone had left him. Bonnie, Anne and their dead babies, Scarlett's miscarried child. And now Scarlett. This was what hurt worst of all, because Scarlett was still alive, he was still so in love with her, but she had slipped past his fingers.
Rhett blinked, returning to the present. Yes, he had hurt Scarlett, and had gotten what he deserved in return. But that was over now. They were together. He had been filled with joy beyond comparison when he had rescued Scarlett out of the streets of Ballyhara. As they embraced he realized that she still loved him; there still was hope. But when she told him of Cat, her daughter, their daughter, he was stunned. Only a minute ago he thought he was the most joyous man in the world. But, oh, now he had a daughter! Bonnie was gone until they met in heaven, but Katie Colum was his second chance.
As they had hid in the tower of Ballyhara just the day before, Scarlett had commented to Rhett that she didn't seem to belong anywhere. Not in America, not in Ireland, no, not even Tara. Rhett looked down at Scarlett, who was no longer sobbing. He tipped her face towards his and smiled.
"Don't you see? You belong with me, Scarlett."