I am sorry it took me a while to update this chapter. I wasn't really sure how I wanted this chapter to be so I rewrote a few times. I hope ya'll like this.
Eleanor went from Rhett's room to find the children. Once she found them she told them that they now had a baby brother. Both the children were overjoyed. They were anxious to go up and see their brother, but Eleanor stopped them and took them into the parlor. They sat down and Eleanor carefully tried to explain to them that Rhett was indeed alive.
"What I am trying to say children is that Rhett didn't die in that shipwreck like we thought he did." Eleanor hoped her words were being understood.
Ella's face showed her confusion, "What are you talking about, Momma told us he did die."
Eleanor tried to explain better, "I know that is what she said. She thought he had died, but we were all wrong. Do you understand what I'm saying? Rhett is not dead."
Wade joined the conversation, "If he isn't dead where is he?"
"I'm right here." Rhett had been listening to this little scene.
Both children set glued to there seat. They were completely shocked at the sight of their once dead step-father. They hadn't quit realized what Eleanor had told them.
"Is it really you Uncle Rhett?" Ella's voice was shy as she was afraid of this man.
Rhett hoped their shock would soon subside; he was longing to hug them, "Yes Ella sweat heart it's me. I swear it is."
Ella was instantly convinced with these words and she ran from her seat to Rhett's open arms. "I missed you so much Uncle Rhett and Momma was so sad."
"I missed you too baby." Rhett never wanted to let go of this little girl.
Rhett looked up as he heard Wade cleared his throat. "Wade I have missed you very much also." Rhett went to hug his son.
Instead of accepting the hug, Wade stuck out his had for a manly hand shake. Wade was still unsure of Rhett's mysterious return. If he hadn't died Wade was wondering where he had been so long, especially when Wade's mother needed him so much. "I'm glad you're alright Rhett." Wade was on the other hand glad that maybe now his mother wouldn't be as sad.
Wade had never called Rhett by his name only before and it scared Rhett. He was afraid that this situation had hurt Wade to an unforgivable point. He hoped that in time their relationship would be mended.
Rhett had spent the rest of the day with his mother and children. After their reunion Eleanor had led them upstairs to see the baby. When Rhett finally laid eyes on his son, tears ran down his face. He was overwhelmed with his love for this baby and his memories of his precious Bonnie. They all went to the back yard to spend their time. Rhett held the baby in his arms the whole time. He couldn't believe that having only known about his son for a few hours he was completely in love with him.
Scarlett had slept the rest of the day and night. Eleanor check on Scarlett constantly. She couldn't wait for Scarlett to see Rhett and Rhett jr. Eleanor knew that Scarlett would be ecstatic. Rhett had taken over for his mother at night fall. He knew she probably hadn't slept since the night before last, because of the baby being born. He sat at Scarlett's side not wanting to take his eyes off of Scarlett. He had come to the realization that he loved Scarlett and didn't want to live without her. When he had thought he would never see her again his heart had broken. He realized how important she was to him. Rhett drifted off to sleep with thoughts of his and Scarlett's new life together.
"No, no Rhett come back please don't go. No please." Scarlett was thrashing on the bed and yelling out her pleas. Rhett had been woken up and couldn't help but try to sooth Scarlett. Only for a fleeting moment did Rhett consider that Scarlett waking up so disturbed would be even more frightened upon seeing him.
"Hush now honey. It's only a dream." Rhett held Scarlett close to him and smoothed her hair with his hand.
Scarlett was disoriented and confused about what was going on. "Oh Rhett I had such a bad dream. I dreamed that you were dead. It was awful." As Scarlett looked up at Rhett she started to think that something wasn't right.
"It's all right darling. I'm right here." Rhett wasn't sure if he should tell her that it wasn't really a dream.
As Scarlett tried to move herself to be able to see Rhett better she felt very sore. It seemed like every muscle in her body was sore. Then she realized that something must have happened to her for Rhett to be in her room acting so nice. "Rhett what happened?"
Before Rhett could answer there was a soft coo heard from the baby. Scarlett's head snapped toward the bassinet that held her beautiful baby. All the memories from the past months came rushing back to her and she pulled away from Rhett with horror in her eyes. "Y…you're dead."
"Scarlett calm down." Rhett was trying to think of the right way to explain to her.
"It's not possible. You're not really here, you're dead." Scarlett was pinching herself to try and wake up.
Rhett knew Scarlett was in shock, "Scarlett, I am here, alive and here."
"But how? You died in the ship wreck. It's not possible. No one survived." Scarlett just couldn't comprehend that Rhett was really there; that he had held her in her arms, something she had longed for a long time.
"I'm not sure how I survived actually. I was knocked out some after the ship capsized and didn't wake up again until I was on land. I guess I just wasn't really ready to die yet." Rhett grinned as he teased about not being ready to die.
Scarlett was angered at Rhett's statement. "That is nothing to joke about Rhett Butler. I just can't believe it. You're supposed to be dead." Scarlett pulled herself farther away from Rhett. "This has to be a dream. Either that or you're a ghost. I hope it is the first one."
"Scarlett I don't know how to make you see that it is really me and realized that you are awake." Rhett watch Scarlett closely.
Scarlett reached out to touch his face with her hand, "Oh Rhett I…I just don't know what to think. I do know that I have missed you more than anything.
Rhett pulled Scarlett to him. "My god I have missed you so much. I love you Scarlett."
Those words were ones that Scarlett had wanted to hear since the day Rhett had left. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked deep into his eyes, "I love you too Rhett."
Then they shared a kiss that was so full of so many different emotions. It wasn't as much a sexual kiss as it was one of confirming reality and expressing true love.
"I don't even know the words to express how I feel. When I was told you were dead a piece of me died too and now." Scarlett tightened her arms around Rhett, covering his face with light kisses.
Rhett pulled away slightly, "Scarlett, I want you to know that I wanted to come back right after the wreck." He had decided to go ahead and explain what happened Scarlett deserved an explanation of his prolonged absence.
"Why didn't you? What happened?" Scarlett asked.
Rhett took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Scarlett the story of his false imprisonment. Scarlett was visibly disturbed when Rhett had mentioned that he was sentenced to death. Even thought she had thought he was dead for the passed few months thinking of him dying now was awful.
"Scarlett during the wreck I thought I was going to die and I thought about never seeing you again. It broke my heart. Then when I was sentenced to death all I could think about was seeing you one more time. I realized that no matter how hard I tried to forget you I never would be able to and that I would never be able to stop loving you. I don't ever want to be away from you again." Rhett held Scarlett so tight he was afraid of hurting her, but couldn't loosen his grip for fear of if he did it would all be a dream.
"Oh Rhett, I don't know what to say. I am so sorry that you had to go through that." Scarlett paused as she ran her hand across Rhett's cheek. "When Mr. Wilson told me I didn't know what to do. I couldn't imagine living without you. It was so hard."
Rhett felt awful for putting Scarlett through so much pain. "Scarlett I'm sorry about everything. If I had only stayed hear none of this would have happened. I hope you will find some way to forgive me."
"Rhett it wasn't entirely your fault. I hadn't been the best person to live with and then that night," Scarlett blushed a bit at the memory of their last night together, "Anyway I don't blame you for needing time alone to think."
Rhett was amazed at how grown up Scarlett sounded. 'Maybe she really has grown up a bit.' Rhett thought to himself. Before either of them was able to say another word they were interrupted by their son's cries.
Rhett went over and picked the small baby up into his large hands. He smiled a proud smile as he walked back toward Scarlett. "You don't know how happy I was when I came home to such a wonderful surprise."
Scarlett had forgotten that she hadn't even seen her child yet, she didn't even know if it was a boy or girl. "Rhett if it weren't for the baby I don't know how I would have made it through. Please let me see it."
"It, why Mrs. Butler, what a horrible thing to call your son." Rhett grinned. He knew Scarlett hadn't been able to stay awake enough to find out the sex of the baby.
"It's a boy. Oh Rhett I just knew it would be." Scarlett reached her arms out as Rhett lowered the baby into them.
"How, may I ask, were you so sure he was a boy?" Rhett was truly interested.
Scarlett looked up at Rhett with new tears forming in her eyes, tears of joy. "I don't know. It's just that I really wanted him to be a boy. The truth is I didn't even really have a girl name pick out. Rhett he looks so much like you."
Rhett examined his son for a minute, "I suppose he does resemble me a bit."
"You suppose, why Rhett he is the mirror image of you." Scarlett couldn't take her eyes off of her son.
"Yes I know. People will never have to wonder who his father is will they?" Rhett was only trying to make small talk, but Scarlett took it the wrong way.
"What is that supposed to mean Rhett Butler?" Scarlett couldn't believe he was suggesting that people wouldn't think the baby was his. "It's not my fault that you left the night I got pregnant and weren't here during the whole time.
Rhett was angered at Scarlett statement but tried to keep his cool. "Scarlett I didn't mean that. All I meant was that he does truly look like me."
"Well you should have just said that in the first place." Scarlett was still a bit irritated at Rhett's words.
"All right Scarlett I'm sorry. I should have phrased myself better. Let's not dwell on it. Mother told me that you wanted him to be name after me. Is that true?" Rhett hoped changing the subject would also change the mood.
Scarlett knew what Rhett was trying to do so she played along, "Of course Rhett, I wouldn't think of naming him anything else."
Rhett contemplated for a moment before answering, "I am truly honored, but don't you think it will be a little confusing to have two Rhetts around here?"
"I suppose your right. Maybe we should come up with a nickname for him." Scarlett was happy Rhett liked the name.
"A nickname, yes I believe that would be good. What did you have in mind, my dear?" Rhett liked the idea.
Scarlett thought on the subject for an instant, "I'm not sure. I haven't gotten that far yet. What about something like junior?"
"No, no not junior. It just doesn't suit him. It needs to be something special, unique. You remember how Bonnie got her nickname; it needs to be something like that." Over his time away Rhett had been able to cope with the loss of his precious daughter and was now able to talk about her freely.
Scarlett thought back to the day that Bonnie had gotten her name. Rhett was telling her how he was sure that Bonnie's eyes would stay blue when Melanie came in. Rhett stated his case to Melanie and she said that they were as blue as a Bonnie Blue flag, thus giving her a nickname forever. Many people didn't even know what Bonnie's real name was.
Rhett watched Scarlett's face and knew that she was thinking of that day. "What about we use his initials like RJ for Rhett Junior?"
"I don't know…RJ. RJ it seems so simple, but it grows on you. Yes think RJ is what we should call him. Well RJ is asleep; you should probably lay him back down." Scarlett handed the baby back to Rhett.
Rhett place him in back in the bassinet. Once the baby was tucked in Rhett climbed onto the bed and took Scarlett into his arms. They like that for what seemed like a life time, silently holding each other never wanting to let go.
It took a few days for the Butler household to settle down from the recent events. Rhett and Scarlett's relationship was stronger than ever before. They love each other very much. They were both also completely in love and devoted to their son. If RJ wasn't with one parent he was with the other at all times.
Rhett and Scarlett were sitting in their bedroom, yes their bedroom, enjoying some time alone. They cherished their time they had to sit and talk.
"Rhett do you think things will ever be normal again?" Scarlett couldn't get over how weird it seemed to have Rhett home. There were many neighbors and busy bodies who had stopped by to see for themselves.
"I don't know. I guess it depends on what you call normal." All that mattered to Rhett was that he was home and he had his family. "If normal is what we had before I left, than no I don't think or hope we will ever get back to normal."
Scarlett looked at Rhett with a loving smile, "You know your right. I suppose it's just that things are so different now. Do you think people will ever accept us for who we are?"
"Scarlett we have never fit in with everyone else. You and I are different; we know how to enjoy life." Rhett hugged Scarlett closer to him and kissed the top of her head.
Scarlett closed her eyes and breathed in as Rhett kissed her head. She was so glad he was there and completely in love with her. She still had to pinch herself to remember she wasn't dreaming. Scarlett raised her hand to Rhett's neck and pulled him down for a passionate kiss.
They were both pulled out of their kiss because of RJ's whines. Rhett smiled at Scarlett and said, "As much as I enjoyed our last embrace, maybe we should refrain from doing that for a while."
"What? Why?" Scarlett was shocked; she was afraid that Rhett didn't want her.
"It's not what you're thinking, my pet, might I remind of that child over there. I don't believe that you are physically ready for that just yet. In do time Scarlett in do time." Rhett gave Scarlett a seductive smile as he stood to go pick up the baby.
"It might just be worth the wait. Besides the reason for our waiting is well worth it." Scarlett loved to see Rhett holding RJ.
Rhett gave Scarlett a devilish smile as he sat back down by Scarlett. " You know I do believe he is already spoiled and it only took us a few days."
Scarlett touched her son's head and looked into his wide open eyes. "Of course he is. Oh Rhett look at his eyes."
"Why, what is it?" Rhett was afraid something was wrong.
"If you look really close you can see it." Scarlett was smiling from ear to ear.
Rhett was completely confused, "See what Scarlett?"
Scarlett looked up at Rhett, "His eyes are changing. They are going to be green, just like mine. Finally there is something on him that resembles me."
"Ah I see it now. Well doesn't that beat all?" Rhett was transfixed on the baby's eyes.