Chapter Five- Tomorrow IS Another Day

Months had passed and Scarlett had just been delivered of her fifth child, a precious baby girl. This birth had not gone like all the others. Something had gone wrong and Scarlett had almost died. The baby too almost didn't make it. Dr. Meade and Melanie decided they had to do the unthinkable and the child had been cut from Scarlett's womb through a large incision in Scarlett's abdomen. The pain had been horrendous, but all Scarlett wanted was for her little one to survive. The agony of the birth was unfathomable, causing Scarlett to pass out. Her screams had echoed throughout the mansion, frightening her children and all of the staff. No one was more frightened than Rhett who longed to rush to Scarlett's side, but he could not. He could only sit in the parlor, drinking potent whiskey and awaiting news on his wife and child's fate.

Finally, Melanie entered the room, looking greatly frazzed. Her hair was damp from perspiration, but she tried to smile so she could calm the worried Captain Butler. "Scarlett... how is she?" he asked fearfully. He had heard Scarlett's shrill screams of agony, but not the blessed sound of a baby's cry.

"Is… is the baby alright?" Rhett questioned.

"Captain Butler, you must sit down. Please," Melanie urged.

He nearly fell into the chair directly behind him, exhausted from his fear and all of his pacing. "Tell me..." he pleaded.

Melanie knelt close to Captain Butler and gently took his trembling hands into hers. "We almost lost Scarlett and the baby. The child was stuck and… Well, we had to do what we could…. Scarlett insisted - we had to save the baby."

Rhett's eyes grew huge with worry. "Tell me that I didn't lose her…. That Scarlett will be okay..."

"Dr. Meade had no other choice but to cut the child from her body. There was no other way. We would have lost them both, if he hadn't…."

A sob tore from Rhett's throat as he remembered Scarlett's terrible cries of pain. As the knife sliced into her skin, she must have gone through such fierce agony. He winced, feeling suddenly if he were to blame. After all, he had longed for another child - just one more.

"Ohhh Melanie," was all Rhett could say. His throat swelled as the tears filled up his eyes.

"After the child was delivered, there was a great deal of bleeding, but Scarlett wasn't in any further pain. She had passed out. Blessedly, she didn't feel a thing as Dr. Meade stitched up her wound," Melanie explained gently. "She's going to be okay, Rhett. Scarlett's strong. And although it was all so traumatic, she will get passed this. I promise you."

"Then… then she's alright?" Rhett asked with so much hope in his heart.

"Yes, Rhett, she's resting now, but she's going to be just fine… and so will her little baby."

"Was it… was it a boy… or a girl?"

"Why don't you go see for yourself," Melanie said as she gave him a tender smile.

Rhett stood up, still holding Melanie's hand. She lead him into Scarlett's bedroom and over to the antique cradle. There, bundled in a white blanket, Rhett saw his newborn child. He choked on a sob when he saw that the child was pink-cheeked and healthy. Another baby Butler had been born.

"She looks fragile, but you can pick her up," Melanie gently urged.

Pleased that he had another daughter, Rhett tenderly picked up the baby and cuddled her in his strong arms. "She looksjust like Scarlett," Rhett said with a beaming smile.

"Yes, she does," Melanie agreed.

"That's what I am going to name her. Katie Scarlett O'Hara Butler."

"Ohhh! I love that name!" Melanie said with absolute happiness.

Just then Scarlett awakened, looking at her handsome husband holding their newborn daughter. "Are you two naming another baby again, without my consent, just like you did Bonnie?" she gently chided.

Rhett grinned, seeing that his lovely wife had awakened. She looked weak and pale, but she was as sassy as ever. That's when he knew she was going to pull through and be just fine.

"Why yes, my dearest. I just named her after you, her beautiful mother."

"Don't sweet-talk me, Rhett Butler, not after what I just went through. That little one in your arms; she's going to be the last."

Dr. Meade spoke up from Scarlett's bedside. He had been watching over her with tender care. "I am afraid there will be no others," he stated. "During the surgery, I had to remove Mrs. Butler's womb. It was the only way to stop the bleeding."

Scarlett was pleased with that bit of news, because there was no way on earth she wanted to go through another birth just like that one. "I told you just one more," Scarlett said as Rhett brought the baby over so she could lovingly gaze at her.

"She does look like me," Scarlett said with happiness.

"Let's hope she didn't get your attitude," Rhett joked.

"You know you love me… and you wouldn't have me any other way."

"You're right," Rhett replied. "Not for anything in the world."

The children were brought in by Mamie to meet the new baby girl; even little Rhett, who was walking now and getting into all sorts of mischief. He climbed up on the bed with his mother. "I the baby," he said as he stuck out his little tongue at his newborn sister.

Rhett burst into laughter. "See, Scarlett… you've spoiled that boy rotten."

Scarlett caressed little Rhett's satiny curls. "Serves you right," she said. "It was you who spoiled Bonnie."

"Who's going to spoil baby Katie?" little Ella spoke up.

"We all will," Melanie said to her darling niece. "She's going to be so spoiled, just like my precious Hope."

Mamie was grumbling under her breath about there being no more room in the nursery for another crib, but deep down, she was thrilled to have another little one in the house. All she wanted more than anything was for Captain Butler and Miss Scarlett to be happy. Seeing them marveling over their new baby girl, Mamie was assured that everyone she loved was blessed and content.

"When will the new baby play with me?" Little Bonnie asked.

"Soon, Bonnie," Scarlett said to her little girl. "She'll be walking around in no time and into you and Ella's toys."

Wade rolled his eyes. He was tired of little siblings always getting into his toys. "Can I have my own room? Please?" he asked.

"That's a great idea. Wade and Ella can get their own rooms and the three little ones can share the nursery," Scarlett said with excitement.

"Ohhh really?" Rhett said. "Does that mean I get to have my beautiful wife ALL to myself?"

"You can wait until I am healed, Captain Butler," Scarlett said quietly as her words were only for his ears. "Because after all, tomorrow is another day."

The End