Author's Note: Enjoy another chapter! Sorry, it is a little shorter, but I felt like it ended where it needed to end. I also think that it answers some of the questions. Thank you for the reviews.

Disclaimer I own none of the characters and I am making no profit from this.

edited 6/22/23

Once Rhett had realized that Scarlett had managed to escape using the carriage that had been at his disposal he turned around to find Ella standing near the counter with her hands on her hips. The look on her face was a mirror of her mother's when he had managed to completely frustrate her to the point of spitting nails. "Uncle Rhett, I told you not to corner mother. The best way to handle her is to give her a little bit at a time to digest, and then she might come around thinking that it was her idea all along. Perhaps you have forgotten, but mother is one of the most stubborn people who ever lived. And cornering her will only make her more obstinate. In fact there were several times that Wade or I ended up losing out on a new toy or experience because we pushed her before she was ready. Back off, or you will find the door in your face." she sighed and threw up her hands in frustration. "I swear men are all like this. I should never marry." She turned back towards a smirking Rhett, "you're worse than Uncle Ashley, and that is not something to be proud of.'

Slightly rebuked at the comparison to Ashley, Rhett followed Ella into the store room, where she stowed her purse and grabbed an apron from a hook near the door. "I'm not trying to corner her," he defended. "I have just wasted so much time that I don't want to waste any more."

"Listen to me. You will be wasting a lot more time if you don't back off." Ella moved towards the front counter and dismissed the clerk who had greeted Rhett to go to lunch. "Uncle Rhett, do you remember that kitten that Bonnie brought home that Grandmother gave her? Do you remember how terrified of everything that poor animal was? Bonnie would chase it mercilessly, and if she caught it she would hold it by the neck and squeeze it too hard. Mammy would chase her to keep her from killing the kitten, and Wade would try to take it from Bonnie to keep it alive. But I learned that if I would just quietly sit in the play room reading, that the kitten would come and curl up on my lap and nuzzle my hand. Mother is that kitten. She wants to be petted, but she doesn't want to be chased and tortured and squeezed within an inch of her life." Ella offered sagely.

"I don't want to waste more time." he repeated.

"Are you dying? Is that why you came back?" Ella gasped with horror. "Please don't tell me that you are dying and that you came back just to settle the score and try and make amends to soothe your own conscience."

"No," he rebuffed, "I'm not dying. There was a moment or two when I worried that my time had come, and it made me realize that I had been a fool and wasted a decade, as you and your mother have both so clearly pointed out. Grandmother Butler passed this winter, and it made me realize that I didn't want to die alone."

Ella interrupted him to offer her condolences, and then allowed him to return to his ranting plea.

"I'd rather finally admit my mistakes and humble myself than die alone. My mother was the last of my family that would have anything to do with me. Ross hasn't spoken to me since I was cast out, and Rosemary and I are strangers. She was just a child when I left home, and she wants nothing to do with me. Father was successful in poisoning her against me, and after I left your mother like I did, I sealed the coffin on that relationship." He sat down on an empty stool placed in front of the counter. "Does that make sense why I'm back."

Ella pursed her lips, "I'm sorry about grandmother, Uncle Rhett. But that doesn't make it right. I really can't blame Aunt Rosemary, you knowingly chose to stay away almost my entire childhood. You had to have known what your departure would have on mother's already damaged reputation. Mother kept expecting that you would return for short visits at the least, something that you promised her that you would do." She held up a hand as he began to interrupt, "No, mother didn't tell me everything, but she did tell us at first that you promised that you would be back to keep down the gossip. You never once lived up to that. And I always could tell that she was watching the door at every holiday and special occasion, for years. Expecting that you would finally at very least honor your commitments to this family. But she stopped looking for you several years ago. I think that you have finally managed to outlast mother's patience and love. And I know that she isn't overly affectionate like some mothers, but she has always done her best to be what we needed and always made sure that we have everything that we needed."

Rhett leaned against the counter, crossing his arms, "You should know that your mother was already wondering if she could forgive me for what I did to her. She didn't think she could forgive me for the way that I treated you."

Ella straightened several items on the counter, as she managed to do her duties while still conversing with him. "Oh, I'm sure that I could find a way to eventually forgive you, but not without a great deal of groveling and presents." She turned towards him with an impish grin on her face. "Of which I would suggest you first start with every single birthday, Christmas, and holiday that you missed, and anniversary for mother, and then you can work forward from there. In fact, I suggest that you should go start shopping now. Time is passing, and if you want to woo mother and I to forgiveness, then you need to get started yesterday." She giggled at the surprise on his face. "I am my mother's daughter, after all." She turned serious for a moment. "But this will be your only chance at redemption, Uncle Rhett. And I think it would be unfair for you to return if you don't intend on making this work and staying, no matter how difficult it gets. We've all been hurt enough by you. Things are settled. Don't destroy that."

Ella moved away from the counter and began dusting a shelf that Rhett could see no dust on, but she turned to him with a grin that reminded him of a much younger version than the lovely young lady in front of him, 'Wade will be home today. You chose an excellent time to return. You might be able to woo mother and I, but Wade is going to be a much harder person to charm. He's told me over the years how much you disappointed him. He wanted a father, and all he ever really had as an example was you and Uncle Ashley. And both of you have left a lot to be desired in way of an example. I think that if he ever marries and has children that he will be a wonderful father, for he learned from you how not to treat your children."

Rhett nodded and rose from the stool. "Thank you, Ella. This conversation has been enlightening." He started for the door before turning back towards her, "I can be quite charming when I want to be, and I will do everything I can to prove myself to you, your mother, and to Wade. I am sorry for all of my many failings, but I didn't mean for you to be hurt. I'll see you after a while." He offered and tipped his hat to her before slipping out on the door on silent feet, the bell ringing after his absence. Ella hoped that her words had penetrated his thoughts and heart deeply enough to make an impact.