Author's Note: I want to thank Therese, for taken the time to beta this for me. Without you I know I couldn't do this, thank you so much for taking two hours to edit this chapter for me.
Chapter 2: The Birthday Gift
Rhett couldn't help but laugh at himself, what a mess he had gotten into. You would think having lived this once, it would have taught him something. Well it had, just not something that would help get him out of this.
What it had taught him was what would happen if, he didn't do what was expected of him. Perhaps being 45, instead of 17, this time around had something to do with not wanting to give up the life he worked so hard to rebuild.
The last thing he wanted to do was divorce Scarlett, to marry a little girl who reminded him of Mrs. Wilkes. However, if he wanted to keep his reputation, Rhett did not have a choice. As soon as Scarlett signed the divorce papers, he would be forced to marry Anne.
A smile appeared on his face, as Rhett couldn't help but wonder if Scarlett would be true to her word, and sign their marriage away? She hadn't been so far, because if she had, he never would have gotten those letters of hers.
It had taken all his will power not to open them. What if Scarlett had being writing asking for help? Well, she could have written to his lawyer for help. No, Scarlett had just written them hoping to get him to return to her. And, that was something Rhett promised himself he would never do.
He still couldn't believe how close he had come to not leaving Atlanta, a year ago. Rhett had truly wanted to stay, but thankfully had not. Scarlett had been right, after having returned he remembered all the reasons why he had left in the first place.
She had hurt him too badly for Rhett to ever just kiss and make up. Scarlett had mooned after another man, the whole time he had known her. And just when she could have that man, Scarlett decided that he, her own husband, was who she loved. It would be funny, if it wasn't actually true, or his life.
Some, most would say Scarlett had gotten what she deserved, then again most would say the same about him. And, it looked as if his past had caught up to him too. The only thing he regretted, about this whole affair, was that Scarlett would be hurt. No matter how much Rhett hated what Scarlett had done to him, he never willingly wanted to hurt her.
And because of that, he would wait before sending the divorce papers to her. Scarlett's birthday was coming soon, and the last thing either would want, was for her to receive them on that special day of her's. When they had been first married, and every year after that, she would always remind him that it was coming up.
Sometimes Scarlett could be such a child. One Rhett always wanted to spoil. Nevertheless, that was in the past now. Soon he would be married to someone new, and Scarlett would be free, to hopefully find someone else to love.
But Rhett would be lying to himself, if he didn't admit that the thought of another man holding Scarlett made him sick to the stomach. No matter how much time went by, to him Scarlett would always be that Southern Belle he met at Twelve Oaks a lifetime ago now.
Life had a way of making some people bitter, and others just sad. Well, Rhett had lived bitter and sad too long. That was all his life with Scarlett was, and could be like. It was better to be married to a young lady who loved him completely, even if he didn't love that young lady in return, than return to the living hell life was like with Scarlett.
Rhett set the divorce papers down on his desk, as he heard his Mother calling him. A second after he left his office Rosemary, Rhett's younger sister, entered. She had been talking to Anne, and wanted to get Rhett's approval on a date for the wedding.
She was about to turn and leave, when she noticed some papers just lying out on Rhett's desk. A quick look at them told Rosemary all she needed to know. Rhett wasn't a free man. Everyone in Charleston thought Rhett Butler had gotten divorced a year ago. But he hadn't. Rhett wasn't going to be able to marry Anne, if that vixen he had married didn't sign these papers soon.
With her brother and Anne's reputations in mind, Rosemary took the divorce papers, and headed out of Rhett's office. The sooner these papers were sent, the sooner Rhett could marry Anne. With that idea in mind, Rosemary Butler set off on her mission to end Rhett's marriage to one Scarlett O'Hara.
/
How could someone, who claimed to love you once, send you divorce papers on your birthday, of all days? There was no way Scarlett believed Rhett had forgotten her birthday, that just wasn't possible. The whole time they had been married she had reminded him too many times, for it to ever just slip his mind.
No, Rhett had done this to teach her whatever lesson he thought she needed to learn this time. One never did know what that lesson was, until Mr. Butler decided to tell you himself.
So far, Rhett had taught Scarlett about heartache, and how no matter how much one wanted to, they couldn't be forgiven for the unforgivable. But Rhett sending these papers today, of all days, was also something unforgivable. Of course, he probable wouldn't see it that way, he never did.
It amazed Scarlett how Rhett could see her faults, but never his own. The man had hurt her more than anyone ever had, yet she still loved him and he hated her. How could they both be two sides of the same coin? If only they would get on board, either loving each other or hating each other, at the same time.
At one time, Scarlett had been convinced, she had hated Rhett. In fact, she thought she hated the scoundrel the whole time of their marriage, up until the night Melanie had died. Little good did it do her now, to know she loved the cad.
As much as Scarlett wanted to blame Rhett for their marriage failing, she knew it was just as much her fault. That did not make it hurt any less, that he would think so little of her, while she was madly in love with him.
Scarlett, could still remember the day he left her, standing crying at the train station. Rhett had wanted to believe he would return, but she had known he wouldn't. If only he had stayed or answered one of her many letters, Scarlett wouldn't now be caught between a rock and a hard place. But Rhett hadn't, and now Scarlett didn't know what to do.
Well that wasn't really true; she had been raised to do the right thing, by her Mother and Pa. Ellen O'Hara, had been a Lady, and no true lady would have done any of the things Scarlett had. But that wasn't really important at the moment. What was, was should she tell Rhett about something that would change his world, as it had changed hers? Or just give him his divorce, as she had promised him a year ago?
This was not an easy question to answer. Rhett either way would be happy, but would she? Scarlett knew not being married to Rhett any longer would not make her happy, but would him threatening to take away the life she had now be any better?
The answer was of course no. But that did little good to help. If she didn't tell him, Rhett would never forgive her. Yet, hadn't she tried many times before only to have her letters returned, unopened, and the money Rhett promised for the house stopped, until she stopped sending letters.
Yes, Rhett had caused this just as much as she had. It was time for one of them to grow up, and act like an adult. Scarlett knew that eventually Rhett would learn of their children's birth. And he was more likely to forgive her, if he learned of the twins' from her, instead of that Watling creature.
Scarlett's temper came into play as she remembered today was her 28th birthday, and instead of a gift from her husband, she had gotten papers to end their long-suffering marriage. One that wouldn't be ending, if only Rhett would open his heart back up too her.
Smiling, Scarlett called out for Pansy; if she was going to leave tomorrow, she was going to need to be packed and ready tonight. The question was should she take Wade and Ella along? Rhett loved her older children, and they in return loved him. It might help if they came along, Rhett wouldn't yell at her with them present. And he would certainly want to yell.
Yes, Scarlett decided she would bring all her children along. Besides both Wade and Ella were good with the twins. Gerald O'Hara Butler and Rosemary Melanie Butler both wanted nothing but attention from anyone in their sight. Gerry, as Gerald was known loved Ella, who bumbled to her baby brother nonstop. For being only three months old, the twins were their Mother and older siblings' world.
Rosemary was known as Cat, because of her green emerald cat like eyes. Kitty Cat, as Scarlett most of the time called her youngest child, looked just like her father. Then again so did Gerry, right down to Rhett's dark eyes. Sometimes, Scarlett would just sneak into the nursery to look at her sleeping babies.
Scarlett on those nights would remember, after Bonnie had been born, how Rhett would every few hours sneak in to look at her just to make sure she was alright. She had laughed at him then. Now all these years later, here she was Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler, mother of five actually acting like a first time mother. It was something she was sure Rhett would find funny.
Shaking her head, Scarlett pushed that thought aside for now.
"Pansy" Scarlett called out again not wanting to look for the former slave. Where was that girl at? Well if she didn't show soon, Scarlett had decided to forgo waiting, and start packing herself. Another minute passed. No Pansy. Scarlett started up the stairs.
First thing to do was find the children; they needed to know about the trip, and perhaps Wade would want to pack his own things. Ella would want to pack her own clothes, but Scarlett wouldn't allow that. The small girl would pack dolls and forget all about dresses or anything else she would need. Sometimes, Scarlett wondered where on earth she had gotten such a child from? It had to be from her Father.
But now wasn't the time to be thinking about Frank Kennedy, not that there was ever a time to think of him. Or, how she had stolen him away from Suellen. Scarlett still felt guilty over his death. If she hadn't been to the Mill that day, and coming home by herself Frank would still be alive. And she would still be stuck married to him.
At least if she were, he wouldn't be trying to divorce her now. No, only a cad as low as Rhett Butler would dare do such a thing. It was times like now, Scarlett couldn't help but wonder what she saw in the man?
None of that mattered though, she would have time to think of that tomorrow on the train ride. Right this minute, what mattered was getting hers and the children's' things packed. If she could only find Pansy, things would go a lot smoother.
/
Hours and hours of Ella's questions and babies crying had given Scarlett one powerful headache. It seemed Gerry didn't like the feel of the train moving. Ella had taken it upon her young shoulders to quiet her younger brother, which, when she failed, became tweny questions of why Gerry wouldn't stop.
Cat and Wade for their part were a joy to have along. Both sat quietly by, the baby in her brother's arms.
Scarlett was surprised at herself, she had not yelled at Ella once during the whole trip, which took extraordinary effort. Instead, she had answered her oldest daughter's questions, every single one of them no matter how silly they were.
One good thing that came out of the nightmare trip, was that Scarlett hadn't had any free time to think of Rhett, o, the end of their marriage. Or the way he would react to learning of their children. There was always the chance Rhett would think she had gotten herself pregnant, in order to trap him into staying married to her.
That idea hadn't even crossed her mind at the time, when she asked Rhett for their weekend. It wasn't until a week after she had gotten Rhett's letter, that she noticed that it was possible she was with child. After suffering the miscarriage, sometimes she went a few months in-between, so it just never came to Scarlett's mind that she was carrying Rhett's child, well children, at that time.
When Dr. Meade had told her, the first thing Scarlett wanted to do was get on a train and tell Rhett the wonderful news. But it was Dr. Meade who reminded Scarlett that she and Rhett weren't on good terms. It seemed the whole of Atlanta had learned of them separating. Under Doctor's orders, Scarlett wasn't allowed anything or anyone who would upset or cause her worry. Scarlett wasn't about to listen to the good doctor, until he told her that if she didn't, there was a good chance she would lose her baby.
Therefore, instead of going herself, she had written Rhett the good news, only to receive said letter back, and the next two she sent as well. After that, Scarlett was too angry with Rhett to care if he learned about the baby or not.
After the twins were born, fear of Rhett's reaction finally came into play. What if he didn't want them, or if he tried to take them away? Scarlett didn't want to have to deal with that, and she had been sick at the time. So she kept putting off telling her husband. But now she didn't have a choice. Scarlett hated the fact that she was using her children to get their father back.
She had wanted Rhett to return because he loved her, not so he could be close to his children. If he did come home now, Scarlett would always know it was because of the twins.
/
Rhett tried to smile at Anne as she sat across from him at the dinner table, but he had to force himself to. That was never a problem he had with Scarlett, when conversation was offered. Scarlett always said or did something to keep him amused. Rhett knew one wasn't supposed to laugh at their wife all the time, but with Scarlett it was either laughing at her or hating her. There was never an in-between, and Rhett found he missed that.
Anne was a well-behaved young woman, and anyone would be proud to have her for a wife. Yet, Rhett found the more time he spent with her, the more he compared her to his current wife. Scarlett was a hard act to follow, no one could really ever take her place in his life. While he didn't love her any longer, Rhett still longed for her.
"Rhett, what about the fourth of next month?" Anne's voice asked, breaking into his thoughts.
"The fourth?" Rhett asked, having no idea what they were talking about.
"Really, Rhett you should pay better attention." Eleanor Butler told her eldest child, "We're talking about the date for the wedding."
Rhett looked at his Mother, then Anne. There was no way possible his marriage to Scarlett would be over by then. He hadn't even sent the papers to Scarlett, in fact he had to visit his lawyer tomorrow, to get another set, because he had misplaced the first. Then you always had to add Scarlett's unwillingness to sign away the Butler name. The soonest he could wed again would be at least two months, and that was if he could talk Scarlett into signing the papers the second time he asked.
"Isn't that a little soon?" Rosemary asked, smiling at Rhett.
Rhett silently gave his sister a thank you look, and wondered how she knew he needed bailing out?
"I don't think so," Anne said, looking at her soon to be husband and sister in law.
"Either do I," Miss Eleanor said. She hadn't missed the look Rhett had given Rosemary. When it came to Rhett, Mrs. Butler never would put anything past her son. Was he regretting asking Anne to marry him?
"It's not that, it's just that the fourth is Wade's birthday, and I promised the lad I would be there when he turned twelve," Rhett said lying through his teeth. Wade's birthday had already passed last month. And, he had sent the boy, who was like a son to him, a hunting knife with a promise to one day teach the boy how to use it.
"Wade?" Anne asked, looking to Mrs. Butler like a young girl looked to her Mother, for answers to questions she didn't know.
Eleanor looked to her son. She wasn't aware Rhett was still in contact with his former step-children." Well Wade is you see his..."
"Wade's my step-son; I've known the boy since he was a baby," Rhett answered, and promised himself, when he went to talk to Scarlett, to spend time with the boy.
"Don't you mean former step-son?" Anne asked, making it clear she didn't like the sound of Rhett's relationship with the boy.
"No I mean step-son. You don't divorce children, Anne. Beside the fact, I am the only father the boy has ever known, and the same goes for Ella," Rhett said, making his point on this matter clear as well.
Rosemary and Miss Eleanor both looked at Rhett, as Anne had tears coming to her eyes. Neither had ever heard Rhett take such a demanding tone before, and both couldn't believe the way he had treated Anne.
Rhett knew what his Mother and Sister wanted him to do. But he would be damned if he would apologize to Anne over this. Wade and Ella would always be a part of his life, and just because he wouldn't be married to Scarlett, that wouldn't change. Those children loved him. The only reason he hadn't visited them in the last year was because he didn't want to run into Scarlett. After he was remarried, Scarlett's pride hopefully wouldn't allow her to throw herself at him. Which would solve that problem for him. As long as she didn't do that, Rhett knew he could content himself.
"Anne, you just don't understand, Scarlett has never been what one would call a good Mother. She puts her businesses before her children, she has gone days without seeing them. They think of me as their Father, I can't abandon them," Rhett said, with such passion in his voice. Everyone expect his Mother who knew him so well, would have believed that was his reason for not wanting to cut off contact with his stepchildren.
"Rhett, of course we understand that, don't we Anne?" Rosemary asked trying to smooth things over with her good friend and brother.
"Of course," Anne replied smiling coldly, not understanding one bit.
Before Rhett could say anything in response,, all four heard a knock at the door. Smiling, they waited for the servant to announce who their uninvited guest was. Rhett was hoping for a gentlemen calling, so he could excuse himself from the ladies for the night.
"I can show myself to the Dining room," a female voice said, loud enough for all to hear at the dinner table.
Rhett's heart stopped as he heard that voice, one that had haunted him for over twelve years now. It couldn't be, his ears had to be playing tricks on him, Scarlett here in Charleston? Now of all times, Rhett found he was laughing, and couldn't stop himself. Even when three pair of eyes were on him.
"Good Evening everyone," Scarlett said. Faking confidence in her voice, "Rhett, Miss Eleanor" Scarlett said, as she nodded her head at each of them. To say she had surprised Rhett and the others was a understatement, which had her turn her lips into a small smirk.
"I can see you're in the middle of dinner, I'm sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to let Rhett know I will be staying at my Aunts, and that we really need to talk" Scarlett said. She was enjoying having the upper hand on Rhett for once.
"What could you possibly have to talk about?" Anne asked, not liking the sound of this.
"Actually me and my hu-" Scarlett began but, before she could finish, Rhett cut her off.
"Anne, Rosemary, I don't believe either of you ever had the honor of meeting Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler." Rhett said, making sure to add each of Scarlett's last names.
Rosemary's mouth hung open, and a look of terror came into her eyes. This wasn't good. If only she hadn't sent those papers, Scarlett wouldn't be here now. But how was she to know her sister in law would show up?
Anne was in shock, the woman before her was beautiful and there was no way she could ever compare to her. And from the glare in Rhett's eyes, she could tell he still had feelings for his ex-wife.
"Rhett, you're being rude to dear Scarlett," Miss Eleanor said, not letting Rhett's earlier words just a few minutes ago affect her treatment of Scarlett. No matter what, the child had been the Mother of her only grandchild and as that, she would always treat her with respect. "You haven't introduced Scarlett to your sister or Anne"
Scarlett looked at Rhett, he didn't seem his usually cool calm self, which puzzled her. Rhett always treated life like a game, that only existed for his enjoyment. He looked to her now like Wade did, when he was about to be caught in a lie. And who was this Anne, and why did she look at Rhett like she owned him?
"Scarlett, I would like to introduce you to my sister Rosemary, and my fiancée Anne Hampton." Rhett said, with a daring look in his eyes.
Scarlett barely stopped her mouth from dropping open. But her years of playing southern belle had taught her to keep a tight reign on her emotions. Rhett was going to marry that little girl, she couldn't be over eighteen if that? Tears were fighting to take control, but instead Scarlett did the one thing no one expected. She started laughing, as Rhett had earlier, and as soon as her eyes found Rhett's, he had joined in.
"I should have known not to expect anything less from the likes of you Rhett Butler; you have always been a scoundrel." Scarlett said, as laughter overtook her again. She was laughing so hard now tears started to roll down her face.
"What do you mean by that?" Anne asked, heatedly.
Scarlett look at the girl, who wanted to be what she herself was: Mrs. Rhett Butler. Then she looked at Rhett, and could see him silently begging her not to spill the beans. Rhett deserved it, but something held Scarlett back. Perhaps it was the look of hatred on Anne's face, one she had secretly worn for Melanie all those years. She wouldn't tell, but that didn't mean Scarlett was planning on being nice to dear Anne either. Besides, not telling gave Scarlett an edge over Rhett, and right now she needed that edge.
"You'll understand what I mean, after you've been married to Rhett any length of time." Scarlett said this looking her husband in the eyes.
Rhett couldn't help but laugh at Scarlett. For whatever reason, she had decided to do him a favor and he wasn't about to take his eyes off her for a second. Nothing Scarlett O'Hara ever did was free. He just hoped the price he was asked to pay wasn't too high.
"Scarlett dear," Miss Eleanor said, taking control of the conversation "Whatever brings you to Charleston?"
Scarlett smirked at Rhett, he looked to be handling this well. After all, wasn't she only doing what Rhett had to her all those years with Ashley? She was keeping a secret for her husband.
"Truth be told there is something important I have to tell Rhett, but that can wait until morning. Like I said before I'm staying with my Aunts. I'm sure I will be seeing you there Miss Eleanor, all my Aunts ever talk of is you, and what a wonderful friend to them you have been," Scarlett said, hoping to get away without saying any more.
"Important?" Rhett asked, his eyebrow going up.
"Yes, very." Scarlett said as she walked towards the doorway. "But that can wait until tomorrow. I'm afraid you've had too many surprises, Rhett, for one day." And with that Scarlett was gone, leaving Rhett alone with three women, all wanting answers to their many questions.
"What do you think she meant by that?" Rosemary was the first to ask. This had to do with those divorce papers, she just knew it. If only she hadn't sent them, Rhett was going to kill her once he learned of what she had done.
"Do you really think it's something important?" Miss Eleanor asked turning towards her son. "Because if it is, perhaps you should go and talk to Scarlett now."
Anne, who had sat quietly by, at hearing this spoke up. "I don't think it's anything, she's just jealous, and is trying to stop Rhett and me from getting married."
Rhett looked at his soon to be bride, Anne was wrong of course. If Scarlett had wanted to stop them from getting married, all she had to do was tell everyone he was still her husband, and that she had no plans on divorcing him anytime soon. Rhett knew Scarlett too well, she wasn't playing a game. Whatever she had to tell him was something important to her; if it would be to him, was another question altogether?
"I think you're right, Mother. I'm going to try to catch Scarlett before she leaves," Rhett said, but was interrupted when a tiny voice yelled out "Uncle Rhett!" Then before Rhett could look up to see which of his step-children it was, Ella had swung herself into his arms.
"Ella," Rhett said as he lifted his step-daughter into his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"Mommy brought us for a visit to Charleston, and we got to ride on the train and it was hours and hours. And Mommy answered all my questions and she didn't yell once" Ella bumbled, not stopping a second for air.
"Ella, do you remember my Mother, Grandma Butler?" Rhett asked, hoping to get the little girl out of his arms so he could go and find Scarlett.
A sad frown appeared, and Ella nodded her head 'yes'. At first Rhett didn't understand, until he remembered the only time Ella had ever seen his Mother was for Bonnie's funeral. Miss Eleanor was now standing beside her son and smiled at the child in his arms.
"Hello Ella, how have you been?" Miss Eleanor asked, as she motioned with her eyes for Rosemary to step forward.
"You haven't met your Aunt Rosemary yet, have you?"
Ella shook her head 'no', and Rhett let her down so she could meet Rosemary. Smiling, Rhett mouthed a silent 'thank you' to his Mother. Rhett could see Anne just standing back, and watching the scene unfold before her eyes. Leaving the room in search of Scarlett, Rhett knew she couldn't have been far.
Rhett was right, just as he opened the front door there Scarlett stood. She looked older but, nonetheless beautiful Rhett had always thought that, with age a woman was supposed to become less beautiful instead of more. But Scarlett had taught him how wrong he had been. She took his breath away standing there.
Scarlett turned when she heard the door open expecting Miss Eleanor or Rosemary returning Ella. Seeing Rhett though caught her off guard. He looked handsome, something he always was. She wanted to yell at him, and tell him how dare he become engaged to someone else. How could he, being married to her, ask another woman to be his wife, she was his wife not that Anne girl. Was there no end to the heartache he caused her?
"I'm sorry about Ella, I told her she would see you in the morning, but before I could stop her she was out the carriage door," Scarlett said, feeling out of place, something she hated. The man before her was her husband not a stranger, even if he felt like one.
"That's okay Scarlett, you know I love Ella. I was just about to come after you anyway, so it seems she saved me the trip to your Aunts," Rhett said, as Scarlett's eyes lit up into the emeralds he knew so well.
"Really, what for? I was sure you had enough on your plate tonight, explaining this to your fiancé." Scarlett said, not keeping her hurt or anger out of her tone.
Rhett chose to ignore the last of Scarlett comments. Why did she have to show up now, of all times, when he was so close to having everything figured out? But, that was Scarlett for you: always showing up, and changing things without even knowing or caring.
"Scarlett, why are you here?" Rhett asked.
Such an easy question to ask, but the answer would tear Rhett's simple life apart. Scarlett wanted to do the right thing. But right now she wasn't sure what that was once again. Was getting on a train with her children and never looking back right? Or was telling Rhett about their children and destroying the life he wanted now right? He deserved to know about his children. But Rhett also deserved happiness, and if she couldn't give it to him, Scarlett found she wanted him to have it without her.
"Rhett, are you happy?" she asked, instead of answering his question.
Rhett could see something was troubling Scarlett and, whatever it was, it was the reason she had come in the first place. Her question was one he had asked himself every day since Bonnie's death. Was he happy?
"Yes, I am. I finally feel at peace, Scarlett." Rhett answered, not wanting to face the fact he was lying through his teeth. He wasn't about to let Scarlett use his feelings against him. Not like he had that weekend.
Scarlett let Rhett's answer be all she needed to know. One day Rhett would learn of the twins that she knew. When he asked why she hadn't told him, Scarlett would remind him of this conversation, and tell him she just wanted him to happy. She wanted him to have the peace he had so longed for. Scarlett wanted Rhett to be happy, and if he was, that's all that mattered.
"That's all I needed to know Rhett, I'll sign the divorce papers. Could you get Ella for me? She's not going to like the fact that we'll be headed home tomorrow." Scarlett asked, letting her tears fill her eyes. She was letting the only man she had truly loved go. Rhett nodded his head, and as he turned his back, Scarlett started to cry.
It was over. She had lost Rhett, only he had never been her's to lose. He belonged now to that young girl sitting with his Mother and sister. Hopefully she wouldn't be as stupid as Scarlett herself had been. Scarlett had once heard but she couldn't remember who told her, ' that you have to pay for everything you've ever done'. Well, it looked as if that were true.
Drying her eyes Scarlett smiled, as she thought of poor Wade in the carriage with both babies in his arms. Yes, she had lost Rhett but she still had a part of him, the best part. Tomorrow would be another day, without Rhett, only this time it would be forever.