Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. It is thrilling to me each and every time I get a review or a PM.

Protos Heis wrote me a suggestion of how Diamond and Rust would end. I misread her PM completely. I didn't use her suggested ending for the ending of Diamond and Rust, but her PM did inspire this alternate ending.

Tomorrow I will publish chapter one of a short fanfic. It is titled 'If Only.' It was a short story I wrote that has a bittersweet ending, then because I always want Rhett and Scarlett to have a happy ending, I wrote three other endings. Therefore, the fanfic will only be four chapters long. After I publish that I will take two weeks off to rest and rejuvenate.

Alternate Ending # Two

What if Marvin sent Rhett back in time to the night Melanie died.

April 1883 New York City

Rhett Butler was dying. He had everything arranged for when he finally passed away. His attorney would clean up his estate. Everything he currently owned would go to Scarlett Green. He wished he could see her again, but he was too sick to go to Boston even with what's her name's help.

Rhett hoped he was right about there not being a God. If there was one, he was going to hell. He had committed too many sins surviving and getting rich. Ironically, the only things he regretted doing was letting Bonnie make that jump and throwing Scarlett away with both hands when she finally had come to love him.

A man appeared in Rhett's apartment. Rhett didn't know how he had gotten there. If Rhett could have moved rapidly, he would have gotten his gun. In truth, he didn't care if this man killed him. It would be an easier death than what he had in front of him. He did care that this man not hurt what's her name. Over the last five years she had been good to him. She had never balked at pretending to be another woman. She had never balked at taking care of him once he had gotten sick.

Before Rhett could speak the man had said, "Tonight is the night you are scheduled to die, but I have come to make you an offer."

"Who are you? The Grim Reaper?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. Would you like to right the wrongs of your life?"

"I very much would. What will it cost me?"

The man had smiled and said, "That is what I like about you, Rhett. Everything is dollars and cents with you. You think you can buy anything you want. It will cost you your soul if you fail to win Scarlett's heart."

"What makes you think I want to win Scarlett's heart?"

"Rhett, I know all about you. Am I not right? You do want a chance to win Scarlett's heart."

Rhett paused. He decided that he could win Scarlett's heart. Despite everything he had done to her in the end she had claimed to love him. He had just not been able to believe it. He definitely could make her love him this time. He knew all the mistakes he had made. He said, "Yes, I accept your bargain."

"I will send you back to the most important moment of your life."

"Thank you."

There was a flash of lightning and Rhett was back in the mansion. He was in the dining room and there was a full decanter of whiskey in front of him.

The man was really a demon named Marvin Zindler. As he watched Rhett Butler disappear, he smiled a mean smile. What Butler didn't know was that Scarlett was being sent back in time also. The Scarlett who was returning to seventy-three was a woman who had been badly hurt by Butler. A woman that Butler had callously divorced. A woman who wanted nothing to do with Butler in the least little bit. It would be a miracle if the woman ever talked to Butler again much less fall in love with him.

Rhett had a strong feeling that he had been returned to the night Miss Melly had died. He sighed. He would have thought he was being returned to Charleston during the buggy incident or the Fire House or when he had allowed Bonnie to make that fatal jump or any of a hundred encounters with Scarlett, but not this night. He, then, knew this was the most important moment of his life. It was when he had thrown Scarlett away with both hands. When she told him she loved him, he would tell her that he loved her and always would. No, he would tell her first before she even told him about Miss Melly or her love.

A moment before Scarlett had been in her brownstone in Boston and now, she was running down the street. She stopped. She had to appraise her situation.

Scarlett knew she was in Atlanta. It was night. How had she gotten here? Had she gone crazy? If she had gone crazy was there anything she could do to restore her sanity. If she had gone crazy, Wade would take care of everything. He knew she had money hidden all over the house.

Scarlett looked around. What was she going to do now? She would act like she had been returned in time even though the entire idea was impossible. She wouldn't tell anyone. They would lock her up if she did.

Scarlett looked around again. She realized that she was just a block away from Melly's house. Was this the night Melly died? Was this the night she had finally grown up? She remembered that she had run back to the mansion to tell Rhett of her love for him.

Scarlett decided she had to make sure what night it was. She would go back to Melly's house and make sure it was that awful night.

Scarlett returned to the little house on Ivy Street. She saw Dr. Meade's buggy. She snuck in the front door. She could hear everyone crying. She peeked into the parlor. There was India and PittyPat. Yes, it was the night Melly died. India had not been allowed inside Melly's house since the sawmill incident. Scarlett snuck back out.

Scarlett started running again. She would go to the mansion. Rhett was there and he was sober. She would tell Rhett she loved him before she told him Melly was dead. She wouldn't tell him she thought she had returned in time. He might think she was crazy and lock her away instead of divorcing her.

Scarlett stopped running again. She had remembered all the hateful things Rhett had said last time about how she had ruined their marriage and how he no longer loved her. He had then proven he no longer loved her by divorcing her and being so cruel and ugly that next year. He had said their marriage had been over once Bonnie had died. What could she say this time to change his mind? What could she say to get him to give them one more chance? Did she really want one more chance? She didn't know.

Scarlett decided that she would not tell Rhett she loved him. She would salvage as much pride as she could in this moment. He would leave the next day. She would wait until he offered her half a million dollars then she would sign the divorce papers. She would sell everything and move to Boston, except the store. She would still give it to Hugh. She would meet Patrick and live happily ever after. She would make sure to save Patrick's life this time.

As Scarlett walked up the steps into the mansion, she thought, 'Why did this happen to me? Is this a chance to correct my mistakes? It is too late to correct my mistakes. Rhett's mind is made up and he is leaving me. There isn't anything I can say or do to change Rhett's mind. Let me get this over with.'

Scarlett called out Rhett's name although she knew exactly where he was. She heard a response from upstairs which was strange. Last time he had been in the dining room. She heard him say, "I'll be right down. Meet me in the parlor."

Scarlett walked toward that room. When Rhett joined her in the parlor, she noticed he was putting his wedding ring on. After he got it on, he said, "It has gotten snugger over the years."

Rhett did something he hadn't done in years. He smiled a pleasant smile at her.

Rhett stared at Scarlett. She was so beautiful to him. He had been such a stupid ass to leave her and divorce her. He wouldn't make that mistake again. He knew she loved him. Last time she had offered to have another one of his children. He would definitely take her up on her offer this time. He wanted a child. Maybe they would make a baby that very night, that is if he could get his cock to work. He would have to stop drinking and smoking this very night. Either way ten years with Scarlett was better than a hundred years with anyone else.

Rhett then walked over and sat down on the sofa. He patted the spot beside himself, then he said, "Come sit beside me."

Scarlett had no idea why Rhett was behaving so differently than he had for the last five years but she would enjoy it while he was being nice. She said, "Gladly."

Once Scarlett was settled, to see what she would say, Rhett said, "Well?"

"Well, what?"

Rhett looked at Scarlett. She was dressed all in black. She was wearing the broach that she had worn after Bonnie's death. The mansion was eerily quiet. Nobody was home, but them. The servants weren't moving around. He knew it was the night Miss Melly had died. He said, "Has Miss Melly died?"

"Yes, she was strong until the end."

"Did you get to speak with her?"

"Yes, she told me to treat you kindly because you love me."

"Yes, I do. I have loved you since I saw you on the stairwell at Twelve Oaks."

Rhett had not intended to say that, but the words had just come out. The words had suddenly been in his mind. They were the only thing he could think of saying.

Rhett said, "The world has lost a great lady."

"Indeed, they have. I know I never really loved Ashley."

Scarlett had not intended to say that, but suddenly she heard the words in her mind and thought why not tell him.

Rhett said, "Tell me about it."

Scarlett stared at Rhett. There were no harsh words. There were no accusations. She hesitantly said, "He was something I made up in my mind."

"What do you mean?"

"When I saw him when he had returned from his Grand Tour, he looked like a golden knight. I was just fourteen at the time. When he started calling on me, I was over the moon with happiness. As fourteen-year-old girls are inclined to do I thought he was perfect. I refused to listen when anyone would tell me he wasn't."

Rhett smiled and said,"I certainly know that is true."

Scarlett smiled back and said, "I was what you have always said I was a child."

"Instead of constantly criticizing you, I should have helped you grow up. I should have realized that because of how much you had suffered through the war years and afterwards you just wanted to have fun. You wanted to return to your privileged life. The life you had before the war. During the first five years after my disownment, I certainly wanted to return to my privileged life. I think the worst part for me was I hadn't known how privileged my life was."

"I didn't either. My love for Ashley was part of my privileged life."

"True. All part of the pomp and ceremony. When one is starving all that really doesn't matter."

"We both need to work on saying 'I'm sorry."

With a smile Rhett said, "That is going to take a lot of work for us."

"I will start. I'm sorry for calling you a murderer when Bonnie died."

"Thank you for the apology. Nonetheless, I am responsible for her death. I think that is why I have been drinking so much since her death. I have been trying to forget that because I didn't stick to my no, my daughter died. One of my reasons for living."

"Rhett, it was an accident."

"I am going to quit drinking and smoking altogether. It is going to be a rough time for you. Of course, the last five years haven't been a picnic.

Scarlett last time had run into the mansion and told Rhett about her love for him. This time she was speaking slowly like she was thinking about each word before she said it. He was also choosing his words carefully. He said, "Do you think there is a chance we can make our marriage work now that you know you don't love Mr. Wilkes?"

Scarlett stared at Rhett. She was flabbergasted. Last time he had clearly declared that their marriage had been over when Bonnie died. As a bubble of hope sprang forth, Patrick, Melanie, and Tricia raced through her mind. If she stayed with Rhett, she would not have them. Yet, to get them, Rhett would have to divorce her. If he still loved her, he would never let her go. He would never stop trying to make her love him. He would stay in Atlanta. He would continue to live with her. Scarlett blurted out the next thought that crossed her mind. She said, "Can you stop having relations with other women?"

"I have never wanted to have sex with any other woman, but you. If you are willing to have relations with me, I will never be unfaithful to you again."

"I will. I am willing to take the chance of getting with child."

"Thank you. I need a child."

Scarlett started crying. She was crying for her baby, Bonnie, Melanie, her lost dream, her daughters Melanie and Tricia, her relationship with Patrick, and everything else she had lost because of her obtuseness and her pride.

Rhett thought Scarlett was crying because of her grief over Miss Melly and Bonnie. He said, "Come sit on my lap. Let's cry together."

Once Scarlett was settled in Rhett's lap, they did cry. They cried for their children that were dead or lost. Rhett cried for his lost naivety. They cried for the years they had lost. Rhett cried for his lost station in life. When they were cried out, Rhett handed her his handkerchief. He said, "How is it, my dear, that in any crisis you never have a handkerchief?"

Scarlett used the handkerchief and handed it back to Rhett. As she did so, she said, "That is why you have to stay around. To continue taking care of me."

Rhett used the handkerchief then replied, "Gladly, but I am going to take much better care of you than I have in the past."

"I love you, too. I promised Melly I would take care of Ashley."

"We will. No, I will for a little while. He hates me so maybe that will motivate him to not be dependent on someone else."

"Melly and I coddled him. We were trying to help him, but we were actually hurting him by not letting him fail."

"Go on."

"Don't get mad."

"No, I won't. You are finally seeing the light."

Scarlett swatted Rhett's chest and he smiled. He remembered when she had done that in New Orleans. When she had been comfortable with him. When he had been her friend. She smiled at him. He kissed her. A light-hearted kiss. The kind of kiss a husband casually gives his wife. She kissed him back just as casually. She said, "I had Ashley on a pedestal, and I wouldn't let him get down. I wouldn't let him grow up. As you were always saying I kept rescuing him. Melly kept letting me rescue him, because we both believed he couldn't make it without our help. I don't know if he could or couldn't, but if we are going to work, I have to distance myself from Ashley."

"Yes, Baby, you will. Mr. Wilkes is just a man trying to live his life by rules that no longer apply."

"He better start living by the new rules just like everyone else."

"Indeed. I will go to Marrietta tomorrow and get Wade and Ella while you take care of the funeral. After the funeral, let's spend a week in the country."

Scarlett said, "At Tara!?"

"Yes, at Tara. When we come back, I will get Mr. Wilkes a job at a boys' school. I have a friend who owns a boys' school. I can persuade him to hire Mr. Wilkes."

Strangely to Rhett he had never thought of Mr. Wilkes as a teacher, but he now believed it would be the perfect job for the man.

Scarlett said, "Thank you, Rhett."

"You can find a buyer for the sawmills."

"I know just the man, Brooks Robinson."

"You know I never do anything without getting something out of it, right?"

Scarlett giggled. She said in between kisses, "If you think I am going to kiss you as a way of saying thank you, you are mistaken."

Rhett said in between responding kisses, "I would never dream of forcing you to kiss me."

"That's a good thing."

"Once we get the Hamiltons and the Wilkeses settled how do you feel about traveling?"

"I think that is a great idea. Let's leave all this heartbreak behind."

Rhett turned serious and said, "We can't leave all our heartbreak behind, but together we can handle it."

"With you by my side, I can handle anything."

"Let's go upstairs to your bedroom and start trying to make that baby."

"There is nothing I would like more. Can you carry me up the stairs?"

"Gladly."

Rhett and Scarlett's night together was wonderful. Rhett's member had risen to the occasion. Afterwards, he said, "Once we make another baby, we will start using preventatives. Unfortunately, none of the methods is one hundred percent."

"I don't ever want to sleep without you again."

"I don't want to sleep without you either. I will find out all the details about preventatives tomorrow."

"Not from Belle. She would lie."

Rhett laughed. He laughed a joyous laugh. He had not laughed so happily since that night in New Orleans when he had overreacted to a sigh. It had been over nine years since the death of his daughter, and he no longer felt the pain so intensely. He would always miss Bonnie and he would always regret his actions, but he was optimistic about his and Scarlett's future. So was she. They were probably more optimistic than they had been on their wedding day.

As Rhett and Scarlett were sleeping in each other's arms, Scarlett's demon, Peggy Mitchell said, "What the hell, Marvin! He was about to die, and you had his soul in the bag. You let him return in time. He won her heart. You may be a boy wonder, but you still have a lot to learn."

"Just shut the fuck up, Peggy. What the hell do you know?"

"I know that when you have a sucker on the hook, you don't let them off. They are going to have a rough year becoming a couple, but after that they will be extremely happy. They will be noncollectables.

Clarence floated down. He said, "I had accepted the assignment of helping Rhett save his soul and thus earning my wings. Thanks to you, Marvin, he didn't need my help. I will be around to ensure they are happy for the rest of their lives."

Marvin said, "Fuck you, Odbody, you are just a second-class angel."

"Not anymore. I had found a human with a good heart, but it seems Rhett didn't need my help. He just needed to be returned to the most critical moment of his life. I had thought it was him not apologizing to Buddy Hackett, but it seems you were right Marvin. Rhett not accepting Scarlett's love was the most important moment in his life. I am an angel first class now. Did you not hear the bells ringing?"

"Was that for you?" With Clarence's nod, Marvin said, "Go suck a great, big, green donkey's dick."

Peggy said, "You really don't deserve the promotion. You only won because of Dumbass' mistake. He ruined it all by sending Scarlett back in time also. Over the last ten years Scarlett has matured. She now knew she had to make it work with Rhett because he wasn't going to divorce her. In truth, Rhett was the one she wanted to spend eternity with."

Clarence said, "It doesn't matter how I won. Just as long as I saved his soul."

"I only returned him to this day and time because they had already lost their children. I didn't know this was the most important time in their lives. I only returned her also because of all the harm he had done her. Damn. Damn. Damn."

Peggy said, "Marvin, that is why you have to do your research. You can't just fly by the seat of your pants. Go back to cleaning out the latrines where you belong and leave the heavy lifting to the adults."

Clarence watched first Marvin then Peggy disappear. He floated down to where Scarlett was sleeping. He knew he wasn't supposed to physically interfere in humans' lives, but he couldn't resist. Rhett and Scarlett needed a baby or two to love, especially Rhett. He couldn't give them Bonnie or the baby back because those souls had already been used, but he could give Scarlett back her daughters. Rhett would be happy because he had two more daughters to love.

Clarence had been able to whisper in Rhett's ear at the critical moments and once in Scarlett's ear when she needed a push. He had done very well on his first assignment.

Nine Months Later – In London, England

Rhett would not wait down the hall in the parlor. He had refused to leave their bedroom. If anything happened to Scarlett, he wanted to be right there. He wanted to tell her he loved her in her last moments. He was doing what he should have done when she lost the baby. Their baby! Their son! He would never be relegated to waiting for news in another room again. He was going to be right there, no matter what. He had even insisted they go to London because the medical care was so much better in Europe than it was in the South. Scarlett had only agreed because in London she would not have to go into a confinement.

An hour later the babies had been born. They were girls. They had black hair and very blue eyes. They were twins. Yet, they weren't. From the beginning it was plain to see that they were not twins, but siblings that had been born at the same time.

After a year, the girls no longer had blue eyes. One had green eyes and the other one brown eyes. Scarlett knew somehow, someway she had gotten her Melanie and her Tricia back. They were named Victoria and Eugenia. They were her lost babies. She never said a word to Rhett. How could she explain to Rhett that she had been returned in time.

Rhett was happy. He had two daughters he didn't deserve, but he would fight with everything he had to keep them, along with Scarlett, Wade, and Ella.

Rhett gave Scarlett a pair of sapphire earbobs a week after he had returned in time. He wore the sapphire cufflinks all the time. The first time Rhett had worn them, he had said, "They were the perfect present. I'm sorry I was so unkind."

Scarlett had been stunned by Rhett's apology. Since the night of Melly's death, Rhett had expressed regret for his actions more times than Scarlett could count. Not just for his most recent actions, but for all of his actions since they had met. He had even apologized for leaving her at Rough and Ready. That had certainly shocked her.

Rhett knew Scarlett was confused by him saying he was sorry so often, but he now knew that it was what he needed to do to create a happy home. That was one of the things he had learned in the first timeline. He could not explain to Scarlett the change in his actions and attitude. If he told her he had returned in time, she would think he was crazy. Besides he didn't want her asking questions about those ten years. No, there were things she just didn't need to know about.

In seventy-seven Rhett went to New York on business. He found Charlotte in the same brothel he had met her in during the first timeline. He gave her ten thousand dollars and told her, "Get out of this business. Go open a flower shop."

Charlotte took the money. She got her friend Flo, and the women left the brothel that very night. The next day Charlotte bought a flower shop. She couldn't read or write, but Flo could. At least, functionally. Charlotte could add up numbers so the women were going to make it.

In eighty, when Scarlett was getting Wade enrolled at Harvard, she took the time to look Patrick up. He was married and had a child. He appeared to be happy. That was good enough for Scarlett. She still loved Patrick enough to want him to be happy.

In April of eighty-three Rhett was extremely happy he wasn't dying. He didn't know how long he had, but each day was a miracle as far as he was concerned. Maybe, just maybe, he would be able to walk Genie and Tory down the aisle.