Epilogue

Nine months later, on 18 January 1872, Gerald Leighton Butler was born, to the great joy of both his parents.

True to Mammy's prediction a couple of years prior, Rhett did indeed burst with pride over the birth of his son, and, carrying him around in his arms, swore that not only could he make out a sharp intelligence in the boy's curious blue eyes, but that in seventeen or eighteen years time no girl in Atlanta would be able to resist the little devil. Scarlett smiled at this, for she, too, was exceedingly proud, and she was sure that one fine day this child would be a force to be reckoned with – just like his father.

"And his mother, I dare say," Rhett laughed when she told him, briefly looking up at her from his son's peaceful face.

In a rare fit of generosity, Scarlett had offered Rhett to choose a name for the child himself, but was secretly happy when he declined, laughingly telling her to give the new family member whatever dreadful name she fancied most. He was pleasantly surprised when she came up with her late father's first name (for she did not even consider choosing girls names; after all, she had made up her mind the child was to be a boy). One day, while Scarlett was still wracking her brain for a fitting second name, Rhett offhandely proposed the name Leighton. He told her he'd come across it in a newspaper, and that it apparently meant "green meadow", which would further honor Gerald O'Haras memory. Scarlett loved the ring of it, and so as Gerald Leighton Butler her baby came into the world, the grand-son of an Irish immigrant and a lady of French descent, son of two renegades and brother to three siblings who doted on him almost as much as his parents.

Bonnie, who had exhibited unhealthy fits of jealousy during Scarlett's pregnancy, surprised them all by welcoming her baby brother relatively amiably on the day of his birth, even asking to look at him and hold him. In the weeks that followed, she would occasionally pout at her father whenever she felt let down, for he was head over heels for the new addition to the family and spent much more time in Scarlett's room than in the nursery. But whenever Bonnie Blue would throw a small tantrum, Rhett would quickly reassure her that she was his favorite girl, his big girl, and he only attended to Gerald so much because the baby couldn't look after himself the way she did. He also bought her plenty of gifts, and so, on the whole, she was sufficiently mollified.

Wade and Ella took to their new brother as they took to most things these days: patiently and genially. Urged by Rhett, Scarlett had worked hard to regain their good graces, and they, starved for their mother's attention, had welcomed her shyly but with open arms. Reassured that she cared for them after all, they accepted the fuss made over Gerry with as good a grace as they could muster, and patiently took a back seat, for even at their young age they knew they had not the charm any mutual child of Scarlett and Rhett must naturally possess.

And he was a charming boy.

Much to her surprise, Scarlett had been very pleased when she found out about her pregnancy. She had never welcomed the condition before, but, following her reconciliation with Rhett, found she couldn't be more thrilled to have another child. Now that she had leisure and money to smooth his path! His path. Touching her belly as she left Dr. Meade's, she prayed fervently for the child to be a boy, a son to be the living image of his father. He would be a little prince, dark and strong and handsome, not a nervous little creature like Wade.

When he did come, he was everything she'd hoped he would be. An image of health, his skin was smooth and tanned, his hair black and his features even, with full lips and a small, perfectly shaped nose. Only his eyes did not remind her of Rhett, for they were crystal blue, just like Bonnie's – just like Gerald's. She saw her kind, boisterous father in those eyes and it only increased her love for her son a thousandfold, if that was even possible, for she loved him madly, deeply, utterly.

Rhett would laugh every time he saw her carrying the boy around and kissing his little nose, but his eyes told her he was far from unmoved by her antics. Sometimes he jokingly told her that no matter what she did, she couldn't make Gerald love her more than him, but Scarlett knew he was glad and proud that she had finally discovered her mothering potential. True, she would never be the naturally maternal type, to whom nurturing and caring came easily. She would never be one of those omnipresent mothers who could spend endless amounts of time pretending to care for the mindless jabbering of their offspring without exhibiting but the slightest sign of annoyance. She was a woman in her own right, more than a just a mother, and she took pride in what she had achieved. Nor would she ever love her children as selflessly as Melanie and the rest of the Old Guard allegedly loved theirs. But, these days, sure of Rhett's unconditional love and support, she felt that she could carve out her own path as a mother. Yes, she'd always be different from women like Melly, but she could still be a loving parent, and perhaps be to her son not a moral beacon but a pillar of strength.

"He's wonderful, is he not?" Rhett asked her one night, sneaking his arms around her from behind as she bent over Gerald's cradle to peer at his sleeping face.

"Oh, yes. I think he's the most beautiful baby in the world."

Her husband chuckled even as he pressed himself against her body, raking his hands over her torso, from her hips up to her sensitive breasts. She sighed, leaning against him even as desire pooled in her belly.

"Of course he is," Rhett murmured into her ear. "Look at his mother."

That night was the first they spent together since their son's birth, and Scarlett relished once more in the dizzying passion, the sweet surrender. There was so much tenderness in Rhett's touch, tenderness and a maddening, maddening patience, born out of the desire not to hurt her. He kissed her as though he had the whole night before him, worshiped her body with his hands. She held onto him, careful not to wake their boy as he slept in his cradle, muffling her cries in Rhett's shoulder. This, she had learned, was life with the Rhett he'd never allowed himself to be in the past: all gentle kindness, fierce desire, and endless, endless pleasure. He really did love her as tenderly as ever a man loved a woman.

Ever since that evening in Melanie's garden, they had found their way back to each other, had found each other in the first place. It was all still fresh, to be sure, for not even a year had passed since they had sneaked back into the Wilkes's house, hand in hand, smiles on their faces, hope in their eyes. It hadn't been smooth sailing to get to know each other all over again, to deal with old resentments and forgive past hurts. He had struggled to trust in her completely with regard to Ashley, urging her to sell her mill to the man in order to cut another tie to the person who'd always stood in their way.

After rich meditations on refusal and rebellion – she loved that mill! – Scarlett had eventually acquiesced, for Rhett just wouldn't let it go. She had tried hard not to cry as she signed the papers, but Ashley had only smiled uncomfortably, probably glad to finally be rid of her supervision. They saw each other but rarely these days, and, now that the mill was his, they'd see even less of each other. Melanie she saw quite often, though, and relished in their close friendship.

As for Belle Watling, Scarlett had, after many sleepless nights, decided that she could bear it if Rhett went to her blasted establishment for drinks and gaming. The mere thought of him touching that woman, even if it was but to say a word of greeting, made her want to retch, but she knew instinctively that sometimes a man needed to occupy himself with something other than his wife and family, just as she had always loved visiting the mills or the store instead of spending all of her time at home. And so she let him go, furiously, and she was furious each time he returned. But, in time, she grew a little more relaxed, even as he began to truly believe that she really didn't care for Ashley anymore. And then she learned that she was pregnant, and Rhett was always by her side. He was always there during those months, holding and soothing her, catering to her every whim.

She had missed his touch during the past weeks, and as she lay there in the darkness, with him sleeping next to her, his even breathing a soothing sound, she wondered whether he'd go to Belle's in the near future. She asked herself if it would really still pain her that much if he did, and to her surprise the answer was no. Rhett would never be a usual man, and she admired him for that, even if she did not appreciate all of his choices. She knew he'd never betray her again, and she loved him enough to live with the fact that he had – well, strange friends. After all, as he'd once pointed out to her, he wouldn't forbid her to see Ashley, and so she wouldn't forbid him to see Belle.

She laughed a little at her reasoning, thinking how odd it sounded even to her own ears. But, she figured, Ashley was no better than Belle, not after what he'd done to Melanie all those months ago. Scarlett was sure he no longer visited Belle's establishment, but still, he had demeaned himself, and so Rhett was probably right in suggesting that if Scarlett could see Ashley, he could see Belle.

It was strange to think, even now, that although Ashley had always stood between herself and Rhett in the past, his dirtiest secret had brought them together in the end. Had she believed in God, she would have claimed He worked in mysterious ways. In any case, how strange, how entirely inexplicable that something so horrible as discovering a man such as Ashley entering a bordello could lead to something as beautiful as what she now shared with Rhett. For beautiful it was.

Gerald gurgled in his sleep, and Scarlett smiled as she turned to her side, tucking her right hand under her face and trying to make out Rhett's sharp, aristocratic features in the dark. She loved watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful when he slept, and she loved having him beside her. She loved so many things about him that she could not bear the thought of ever losing him.

One day, when their son was grown, and Bonnie was grown, perhaps they'd ask their mother how she and Rhett had fallen in love. She would probably leave out most of the troubling parts, such as the fact that she 'd almost thrown it all away for the sake of a doomed infatuation with Uncle Ashley. She would probably not mention Belle Watling either, and Rhett's betrayal after Bonnie's birth. She'd probably not tell her favorite children that it had taken her years to realize just how much she loved their father.

But she would tell them of a charmed first meeting, and of the many years of courtship that followed. She'd tell them of a great friendship, and mutual respect, and sweet desire. Lastly, she'd tell them of a deep bond that conquered all, of an affection that saved from darkness and swirling mist.

She'd tell them a tale of redeeming love.

IT IS DONE! Jeez, it took me ages. Anyway, a big thank you to everyone who's still with me at this point. I hope you've enjoyed this story and I dearly hope you liked the final two installments. Let me know what you think, be well, and merry Christmas!