Bonnie's recovery had been a rocky one; it had taken longer than Doctor Meade had thought for her injuries to heal. The two months he had promised, turned to three, then slowly four, then six. The plaster, heavy and caked on had turned to lighter slings and lighter plaster, and finally, Bonnie was healed enough, he felt.
"Mother!"
Scarlett turned from her vanity where she was carefully lining her eyes with the newest shipment of kohl from her store. Blinking to clear her vision, she smiled down at her daughter.
"Yes, precious?"
"My plaster itches something awful, and I'm very hungry!"Bonnie frowned; her black curls framing her angelic face, her blue eyes watering with what Scarlett suspected were crocodile tears.
"I know, darling, but Doctor Meade is going to be here in a little while to take off your plasters and then you can have a nice supper, all right?" Scarlett reigned in a smile; Bonnie didn't like being laughed at.
"No! I want them off now!"
"Bonnie Blue Butler, did I hear a tone?" Rhett's playful voice chimed into the conversation suddenly. Bonnie merely harrumphed. Rhett smiled and turned to Scarlett. "Good morning, dear, have you seen my blue vest, I cannot seem to find it..."
She nodded, "I believe it's in the parlor. When the boys came over for poker last night, you all got rather comfortable…" She arched an eyebrow.
"Ah, still sore that I let them smoke, then?"
"Rhett Butler, you know that I detest the smell of smoke and it won't come out of the cushions for days!"
"You don't seem to mind it when I smoke, my pet." He looked at her closely, a smile in his eyes.
"Yes, well, it's ever so dashing on you, Rhett!" She exaggeratedly flirted with him.
He merely smiled, gave her a wink and held out his arms for Bonnie. "Come on sweetheart; let's get you something to eat."
Bonnie smiled triumphantly at her mother and let her chubby arms rest around her father, waving generously at her mother, who made a face and turned back to the vanity.
After Bonnie had awoken that day, Rhett and Scarlett had spoken about her behavior. She had finally convinced him that she was getting too spoiled, too unruly, she needed some discipline. They had agreed to compromise. Scarlett would give up the lumber mills and spend time with Bonnie, and Rhett would let Mammy and Scarlett have some say in Bonnie's life, finally. It had worked out quite well, even solving some of Rhett and Scarlett's problems. Bonnie became one less thing to argue about, and without the presence of the lumber mills, Ashley Wilkes became one less thing to worry about, and soon Rhett and Scarlett became closer, more like best friends than anything. The teased each other mercilessly, sometimes going too far, argued good-naturedly, and managed to share a home together.
---
"Daddy, I don't want to drink that stuff, it tastes bad! Please, daddy! Please, don't make me!"
Rhett turned to Scarlett for help, no matter how hard he tried, when Bonnie looked at him with those big blue eyes, and pouted, he daren't refuse her.
Scarlett was not pleased. "Eugenia Victoria, you complained all this week about your plasters and now when you're finally getting them off, you do this? Well, I guess they'll have to stay on."
Scarlett stared at her daughter with her arms folded.
"Fine," the little girl muttered.
Scarlett smiled, "That's better darling, now tell Doctor Meade you're sorry for being so rude."
The apology was nearly silent, but the fact old Doctor Meade even received one was enough for Scarlett, who relented and sat beside Rhett, holding her husband's hand and receiving a squeeze in gratitude.
"Now drink up, Miss Butler, and when you wake up, those nasty old plasters will be a thing of the past!" Doctor Meade instructed kindly.
---
"Finally," she murmured to Rhett after Bonnie had left the table for bed and a bath, "some peace and quiet."
He refilled his wine glass and smiled, "I'll drink to that!"
She smiled in turn and took a slow drink of her wine. She opened her mouth to speak but was soon caught in a yawn.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rhett, it's not the company, I must be more tired than I thought!"
Rhett stifled his own yawn, "No, my dear, no need for apologies, I'm going to head to bed as well, my conversation would be halted tonight."
They both rose from the table, and she took a moment to stretch, closing her green eyes, she didn't notice his eyes hungrily travel over her body, watching as the crème colored gown hugged her gorgeous body. When she opened her eyes, he was at her side, offering her his arm.
She knew that it was no longer because her chest pained her, and she smiled at him through lowered lashes. When she reached the doorway, they shared a goodnight kiss, not chaste, but not lewd. She hesitated for a moment as he turned to go into his room.
"Rhett!" She called, and he turned, enquiring, "Would you like to stay? I mean, not just tonight, after all it's your bedroom too…and, well, now that Bonnie's all right…well. Yes, would you like to stay?"
A finger was placed on her lips to quiet her rambling before his lips took their place.
"Yes," he whispered, "I would love to stay."
---
Things had stayed that way for a week, every night Scarlett would undress flirtatiously with Rhett watching greedily, every night he would do the same, and at the last second, she turned away, a small smile playing about her lips. She would dress for bed and he would do so as well, letting her slide into the bed first, and then following. The tension, the heat that was palpable between the two had the servants, neighbors, and Old Guard gossiping for days.
It was on a Monday night that all that pent up pressure was released, explosively.
Rhett and Scarlett began to argue. Again.
---
"Rhett," she pleaded, swallowing her pride, "you cannot let her go on like this, bossing you about, it's unseemly for a four year old girl!"
He turned to her, whiskey on his breath, the scent of cigar spicing his normal cologne. His black eyes glittered unpleasantly, "And what of you, Scarlett? How much time have you even spent with your daughter this week? How many times has Bonnie come to me after I return home, pleading me to play dolls with her, and have a tea party? Daddy, daddy, Mother won't play dolls with me…won't you play, daddy?"
She turned white, "That's not fair, Rhett." Her voice was quiet.
But he would not be quelled, "Bah, Scarlett. Nothing's fair for you, is it? No matter how much you try, you'll always be a bad mother. I don't even know why she wants to play with you. It's not fair, is it?" He mocked her, "And for that matter, nothing's enough either! I could lay the world at your feet, but it wouldn't matter, because it wasn't your precious Ashley Wilkes!"
"You," she snarled, "you have no right." Her hand moved forward as if to strike him, but he caught it, and pulled painfully, tugging her to him.
"I have every right," he replied, his eyes dancing differently, "I'm your husband."
They stood there for a moment, her green eyes watering at his grip, his lip curled in contempt, his face down turned, searching hers intently. And slowly, then quicker, she raised herself up, curling her arm around his head, and crashed their lips together.
It was not a gentle kiss, nor loving. It was hard, almost uncomfortable for both of them, but they eased into each other's arms, Rhett pulling her to his chest with a muffled grunt of appreciation. Her arms tangled at his neck, weaving through his hair, cupping his face, stroking his jaw, his neck, his chest, and then lower still.
He broke the kiss, panting for air, gasping her name as she ran her fingers over his trousers, cupping him and squeezing gently. His breaths were shallow as she danced about with careful fingers at the juncture where his thighs met. After choking back what she knew to be a moan, he grabbed her fingers and stilled her hand, pressing the heel of it firmly against him. Shuddering, he spoke.
"Scarlett, it's too soon," he took in another breath as she smiled wickedly and cupped him again; "you're not healed yet."
She shook her head stubbornly, "I'm more than enough healed, Rhett. Please," she gave him a heated look, "unless you don't want to…"
He growled, "Minx, you know exactly what I want," and pushed his hips into her hand.
He nipped at her neck and she shuddered delicately and whispered, "Take me to bed, Rhett."
He was only too happy to comply.
---
"This doesn't solve everything, my pet…" His voice startled her out of the lull she had been resting in. Idly, her fingernails traced designs across his bare chest, and pulled up the sheet, covering them both more thoroughly. "Scarlett?" He questioned again.
"I know," she replied, "but Rhett, we've got to stop arguing like children! You spoil Bonnie too much," she placed a hand over his mouth, "no, hush; let me finish and then you can talk. We have to get her in line, you know it. You tell me I'm a bad mother, but Rhett, you never let me around her! She's my daughter too! I carried her under my heart for nine months, I birthed her, I fed her, I changed her…I was there too…and you have got to stop bringing Ashley up! I don't love him anymore than I love a brother. But, Rhett...he'll always be a part of our lives, you know that…"
"Yes," he scowled, "I know that. And you're right," he swallowed, "Bonnie is out of hand…but I just can't say no to her…if you were with us, I might have more control…" he lightened the mood and ticked at her ribs for a moment before resting his hand there.
She giggled, "Well, you've right worn me out, Mr. Butler, I think we should get some sleep now…" She turned over and blew out the candlelit lamp by the bed and gently kissed him goodnight. "Goodnight Rhett." She nestled into his arms and he murmured the same.
---
Snow fell from the heavens and lightly dusted the city as it grew closer to Christmas Eve. Carolers went door to door each night, singing the Joy of the Lord to all, proclaiming the good news to each family they found. In the parlor, a great pine tree, shedding large amounts of needles was centered. A great red drapery lay below the branches to catch the shedding and adorn the room with festive spirit. Large parcels, small packages and everything in between were wrapped beneath the tree, adorned in golden paper, bright green bows, and red ribbons. Strings of popcorn and beads wound about the branches and delicate baubles hung from perilous perches.
Bonnie sat on Scarlett's lap, trying to count how many presents she would have, while Rhett read the latest reports in the paper, determined to finish before supper started, eager to get business out of the way.
"Three, four, five, seven…" Bonnie raised pudgy fingers for each number and Scarlett clucked her tongue.
"No baby, it's three, four, five, six, seven…"
Bonnie stuck her tongue out and sneered, "I don't even like six, it's a stupid number," she finished snottily.
Rhett folded the paper and looked at his daughter sternly, "Bonnie Blue…"
Bonnie grudgingly counted correctly, starting again, "six, seven, eight…"
Suddenly the doorbell rang and Bonnie shrieked, "Mama, Daddy, its Uncle Ashley and Aunt Melly! And Beau!"
She wouldn't stop squealinguntil Pork had shown the red-nosed couple into the parlor. Melanie had immediatelyswept in, thanking Pork for taking her coat, holding her son's hand as he bounced, eager to open presents. A lovely eggplant dress with delicate red ribbontrailed behind Melanie's ankles, followed by a matching shawl, falling haphazardly off one shoulder. Her plain locks were decorated with a golden sprig of holly and red ribbons, letting her braids twirl into an elegant twist. Her face was healthily flushed and her smile was wide as she exchanged a kiss with Scarlett, and a formal embrace with Rhett.
"Oh Scarlett, what a divine dress you have on, you look lovely!"
Scarlett smiled, "Melly, I look downright homely next to you!"
Melanie smiled and flushed a bright pink, shaking her head humbly. "Scarlett," she said with a secretive smile, "you're practically glowing!"
Scarlett merely smiled back and tapped her nose to the other woman. Ashley was greeted with a kiss on the cheek from Scarlett, brotherly in every aspect, Rhett noted, as he shook hands with the man heartily, his mood improving drastically.
"I say, Captain Butler, it was ever so kind of you to send for the gifts before, I don't think we would have managed to carry them all the way here!"
Rhett smiled at Melly, a soft smile that he rarely used with Scarlett. She felt a twinge of jealously, but ruthlessly pushed it down. It wasn't Melly's fault that her sister-in-law's husband was so exasperating and difficult to read. She missed Rhett's response, but it didn't matter as she had been tackled into a hug by her nephew.
"Why Beauregard Wilkes, you just might be the most handsome man in this house! She patted his golden head fondly and stooped to embrace him.
"Thanks Auntie Scarlett!" He smiled, and she grinned back, noting his missing tooth.
"Mother, can we open presents now, please?" Bonnie looked up at Scarlett with her gorgeous eyes and Scarlett felt her resolve crumble.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to open them before supper, would it Rhett?"
He merely swung Bonnie onto his hip and winked.
---
"We'll see you at Mass tomorrow morning, darling!"
Melanie and Ashley had parted, taking a carriage home, Beau asleep on his father's shoulder, a trail of drool escaping his mouth as the lap robe was placed upon him. Scarlett had raised a hand in farewell, shivering. Had it gotten colder? A warm weight settled across her hips and wrapped itself around her, pulling her into a warmer embrace. She felt lips graze her forehead and sighed, leaning into her husband.
"Bonnie's asleep already."
"I know, she was really worn out…opening those presents like nothing I've ever seen before!" They shared a mutual laugh and she sniffled again.
"Come inside, Scarlett, you'll catch a cold."
"All right," she complied.
They settled in front of the fire and he poured some cognac into a glass, offering one to her. Surprisingly, she declined. She looked a lot like Bonnie, he mused. Sitting there, her feet curled under her, her mouth a little bit open, her eyes bright and wide. When he had settled into his chair she had risen, and thinking she was retiring, he had merely sighed, closing his eyes. He opened his eyes, startled, a moment later, when she had settled herself in his lap. He let her move around for a moment, keeping very still and then wrapped his arms about her waist, letting her lean back onto his chest. She sighed and they sat in silence a little while longer.
"I never did tell you," she started, "what Doctor Meade had told me the other day."
He sat up, startled, "Are you ill? Scarlett, what did he say?"
She smiled mysteriously, "No, no…not ill, not exactly…"
"Scarlett, what did he tell you?"
She took his hand and he looked confused, kissing it briefly, she placed it over her stomach and rubbed gently. She caught his lips in a swift kiss and then backed away, holding his hand to her stomach the whole way.
"Merry Christmas, Rhett."
Her took her face with two warm hands and kissed her gently, and when he pulled away, she smiled and cuddled closer, inevitably falling asleep. They fell asleep that Christmas, the happiest they had ever been together, her head upon his shoulder, his arm wrapped protectively around her stomach.
---
"What could possibly be taking so long?" He paced angrily. Running a hand through his mussed hair, he muttered quietly to himself, almost wearing a hole in the carpet. A particularly loud scream met his ears and he whitened, moving to go to the stairs, but a thin arm blocked his way.
Ashley Wilkes shook his head and shoved a glass of brandy into Rhett's shaking hands, guiding him to a chair.
"Calm down, Captain Butler, Melanie, Mammy and Doctor Meade have it under control; you'll just get in the way."
He nodded a couple times too many and went silent. Wincing, Rhett continued to speak, "Damnit Wilkes, that's my wife, and that's my child too…I want to be up there!"
Ashley nodded passively but said nothing, an amused smile on his face.
"You'd think you were a first-time father, Captain Butler…"
Rhett half-heartedly snarled at the blonde man, "Stop laughing at me, I'm nervous damnit…there could be…complications."
Ashley sobered and put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Scarlett's strong, Rhett. You needn't worry about her."
They both heard it then, the cry of a newborn babe, howling loudly. Ashley didn't try to stop Rhett as he sprinted up the stairs to his wife's rooms. Minutes later, though it seemed as if days had passed, he was let into the room. Mammy passed him, her silk petticoat rustling like a harsh wind and gave him a wide smile.
"Congratulations, Mista' Rhett!"
He nodded, still too nervous to speak, and Melanie passed by him, drying her hands on her apron, covering an old cotton dress. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead and he shook her hands vigorously, pressing kisses to both her cheeks in gratitude. She smiled and ushered him into the bedroom, before taking her leave.
Doctor Meade strode forth then, holding his medicinal bag, zipped and ready. "A good and easy birth, again, no matter how many hours it took. Congratulations, Captain Butler!"
He pumped the man's hand and with a dry throat, moved closer to the bed. Scarlett sat up against the head of the bed, clean sheets beneath her, with a swaddled bundle in her arms. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had purple rings under her eyes, as if she had been hit in the face during a nasty fight. Her skin was pallid, dotted with two red spots on her cheeks, and her breathing was slowly calming to an even rhythm.
Rhett thought he had never seen her so beautiful.
She looked up at him and smiled, tired, but genuine, "Come here and meet your son, Rhett."
He smiled widely and eased in the bed beside her, careful not to upset the balance, lest he cause her any pain. He curled an arm about her shoulders and let her rest her head on his chest, savoring her little sigh of appreciation.
"Thank you, Mrs. Butler…" he peered at the wrinkled face in her arms, soft dark hair covered the babe's head and his strong jaw and nose was clearly his father's. "He's perfect."
She snuggled closer, "Yes, he is…" Just as she began to drift off onto his shoulder, he whispered again.
"What are you going to name him, Scarlett?"
She looked up at him beseechingly, "I was thinking of calling him Gerald, like my Pa…Gerald Kinnicut Butler."
"I think that's a marvelous idea, Scarlett. Gerald Kinnicut it is…"
She passed the child to him and eased herself onto the pillows, relaxing slowly, just as she fell into slumber, three words left her lips, barely loud enough, but Rhett heard them just fine. "I love you…"
He looked at his son, and then his wife, feeling love coursing through his veins, "I love you too, Scarlett."
And in her sleep, she smiled beautifully.
---
Ah, thank you for the kind words! There's one more epilogue to come, so stay tuned!
Review, please! (Oh right, I forgot...I don't own Gone With the Wind.)