Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Tomorrow I will publish a short story. It will be under Short Stories II. It is called Dr. House meets the Butlers. I will then take time off for about three weeks.

Epilogue

Paris – January 1, 1910

Scarlett woke up. She rolled over to the other side of the bed. Rhett's watch was on his nightside table. She turned on the gas lights. She opened the watch to check the time. Inside the watch was a picture of Genie. It had been taken on her fourth birthday. The picture was worn and tattered, but she knew he would never replace it.

It was five o'clock. That didn't surprise Scarlett. It seemed she always woke up at that time these days from dreams of Rhett.

Rhett wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He whispered, "Go back to sleep. We can sleep for at least another thirty minutes."

Scarlett snuggled into her husband of forty-two years. She thought, 'Yes, another thirty minutes. These days sleep is all we can do in the bed together.'

Yet Scarlett didn't go to sleep. She thought about her second chance at life. It had its fair share of tragedies. Some were repeats from their first timeline, some were not. Yet, she and Rhett had weathered them altogether. No matter what they had clung to each other. Scarlett smiled. Maybe the truth was that she had clung to Rhett and when he knew she wouldn't let him shake her off he had clung to her.

Rhett had never moved her and the family away from Atlanta. They still owned the mansion. Wade and his family and Ella and her family still lived there. The mansion was certainly large enough to accommodate two families. Her other children had homes of their own.

Rhett had made them take a vacation every summer in August when it was the hottest in the South.

Surprisingly the events were not exactly the same. Gerry had been conceived the night of Ashley's surprise birthday party, but it had not been a night of dark passion between Rhett and Scarlett.

Melly had visited while Scarlett was in her confinement, but not every day. It was more like once a week when she was dropping Beau off to play with Wade.

Rhett had taken the family to New York for Christmas to give Scarlett a break from her confinement. Gerry had not been due until late January, so the couple thought they were safe traveling to the North.

On Christmas morning, Scarlett knew she was in labor. Rhett had the desk clerk send for a doctor to help deliver the baby. All they could find was a mid-wife to help. Rhett, Mammy, and the mid-wife successfully brought the little boy into the world. He was tiny, but both Mammy and the mid-wife thought he was going to survive. The mid-wife's last piece of instruction was to keep the room warm. It was like an oven in their hotel suite, but everyone knew better than to complain. Rhett was a mad man during that time. Yet day by day Gerry had gotten stronger. He was now the CEO of Emporium, Inc. Finally, on January fifteenth in a private car the family returned to Atlanta.

The entire time the family was in New York, Scarlett had not telegraphed her managers. She didn't need to. They were good managers and if something came up, they didn't know how to handle, they knew how to get in touch with her.

Rhett had never overruled Mammy or Scarlett in regard to his daughter. He far too often said yes in Scarlett's opinion but in the end it hadn't mattered.

Genie died at four and a half but not from a jumping accident. No, she had died from an unknown disease that had laid the entire household down. The entire city actually. Everyone in the household had gotten sick but Genie was the only one who had succumbed to the disease. Even Gerry at age two had survived.

Scarlett smiled as she remembered Rhett trying to run away. The afternoon of the funeral, he had packed his trunk and told her, "I will be back when I can handle this."

Scarlett followed him without any luggage. She had gotten into the carriage with him to go to the train station. She said, "I'm going with you."

Rhett replied, "You have to go back and take care of the children."

"No, I don't. If you can run away from your responsibilities, I can run away from mine."

"I know you won't leave your children."

"Yes, I can. Mammy will take care of them."

"You don't have any clothes."

"I can buy some."

There was silence in the cab until the couple got to the train station, with a sad smile, Rhett said, "You aren't going to let me leave, are you?"

"No. The children need us, not just me. I need you. I can't do it alone anymore. I have struggled to survive too many times by myself. I won't be the responsible one anymore."

Rhett rapped on the roof of the carriage. Pork said, "Yes, Mr. Rhett."

"Take us back to the mansion. It seems I'm not leaving after all."

On the way back to the mansion, Scarlett said, "You probably saved your mother's life."

"What?"

"I would have killed her before she got on the train to Charleston."

Rhett smiled and said, "She leaves tomorrow morning."

"She is the most self-righteous sanctimonious woman I have ever met. She is actually looking down her nose at me for having married an unreceived man despite the fact that the man is her son."

Rhett smiled and said, "Then it is a very good thing I am returning with you. I wouldn't want to visit you in prison."

"Thank you, Dear."

Scarlett found out two days after Genie's funeral that Melly had passed away also. Everyone at the Hamilton House had contracted the mystery disease, but only Melly had passed away. She had never been a healthy woman. Everyone else had pulled threw, even PittyPat.

Scarlett, Rhett, and Wade attended the funeral. Ella had asked to stay home. It was difficult, but they had to do it to honor a true friend.

Scarlett never learned if Melly had been with child at the time, but at least Ashley didn't have to carry the burden of being responsible for his wife's death.

Scarlett would miss her sister-in-law. The women would have always had a bond because of their years during the war and those years they had struggled to survive. Yet, the women had moved in different directions. Melly continued living the old southern way of properness and honor. Scarlett had embraced what would become known as the new South. After the Republicans and Scallawags had left Atlanta, Scarlett had become friends with the Yankee women who were putting down roots in Atlanta.

Scarlett hoped like her Melly had been able to give up her dream. Melly's dream had been to be married to Ashley, be a mistress of a fine plantation, and have a house full of children. True enough she was married to Ashley, but there was no plantation and no children. She couldn't get the plantation back, and Scarlett decided that Melly had realized she would never have a house full of children either.

Rhett didn't fall into the bottle. When he would have a few extra drinks, Scarlett would remind him how much she needed him to get through that tough time. He would smile and say, "I know you do."

Scarlett knew Rhett truly did know how much she needed him.

Mammy once again wanted to return to Tara and live out the rest of her days. Genie's death had taken a lot out of her. The older woman said, "She reminded me of my Miss Ellen when she was that age. It is almost like I have lost my Miss Ellen again."

"It is time for you to go to Tara and live out the rest of your life in tranquility."

"I just want to live out my life in peace."

"I will make the arrangements. I am sure Suellen will be happy to have you."

"Thank you, Miss Scarlett."

Within two weeks, Mammy was on the train to Jonesboro. Scarlett had gone with the old nursemaid to the train station and Rhett had gone with Scarlett.

As Rhett and Scarlett got into the carriage to return to their mansion, he said, "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I am going to miss her, but it is time she stopped working."

"I suppose."

"You will have to find us another nursemaid."

Rhett groaned, but he knew Scarlett was right. He would be the one hiring and firing the nursemaids.

Ashley had enjoyed working at the bank as a Teller. He had even been promoted to Head Teller. He had managed to keep it until his death from pneumonia five years later. Scarlett had taken Beau into her home. Ashley had left his custody to Rhett. Afterwards, Rhett said, "For once Mr. Wilkes did the right thing and didn't let honor get in his way of what was right for his son."

Rhett later got Beau a commission at West Point. Scarlett really wondered how he had done that, but when she asked him about it. He said, "I have my ways."

Scarlett let him keep his secrets. He had so few from her these days.

It had been an entire year after Genie's death before Rhett and Scarlett had relations again. They had done other things to ease their sexual need, but there was no intercourse. Scarlett had never questioned it. She knew why they weren't being completely intimate. It was because Rhett didn't want to make another child. He had told Scarlett, "I won't add to the people I love. I am already risking my heart with you, Gerry, Wade, and Ella."

On the anniversary of Genie's death, Rhett and Scarlett had been completely intimate. When they were finished, she said, "Are you trying to get me with child?"

"Not at first. Tonight, I needed to be one with you. As I laid here thinking I realized I want another daughter. Not to replace Mira but because I want a daughter's love. It is different than a son's love."

"Alright, Dear."

Not quite a year later they welcomed Arabella into the household. Rhett had been with Scarlett through her labor and delivery. As he had said, "You are never going through that alone again.

After Arabella, Rhett and Scarlett had started using preventatives again. Yet, Scarlett knew it was more their lack of activity than the preventatives that had slowed down the growth of their family.

Scarlett smiled as she thought about Rhett giving Arabella the nickname Bella. Scarlett had said, "Anything but Bella."

Rhett had smiled and said, "She was my friend and business partner. Nothing more, but I will find another name to give Arabella as a nickname."

"And not Mira either."

"Of course not."

Rhett had ended up calling his daughter Ari.

Surprising to Scarlett, Rhett never gave his sons nicknames except the obvious ones.

Scarlett could hardly believe that a man so sexually needy as Rhett was their first timeline was the same man who did not initiate things more often than he did. In fact, Scarlett initiated things much more often than Rhett did.

Rhett had never said no, but he seemed content just to sleep next to her night after night.

Scarlett decided that before Rhett knew he was loved by her that while he was being intimate was the only time Rhett had felt loved much less wanted.

It explained Rhett's relationship with Belle in their first timeline. She made him feel wanted and loved. She probably had long before he met Scarlett. It hadn't mattered that she was a whore. She had wanted him. That was all that mattered.

Almost five years later Quincy had been born. Once again Rhett was there through the entire ordeal. After that Rhett and Scarlett stopped having intercourse. They would do other things to bring each other pleasure but nothing that might result in a child.

Scarlett was alright with it. She honestly had never wanted to have children. She loved the ones she had but she didn't want anymore. She would take the chance of another child over not sleeping with Rhett.

At least Rhett and Scarlett had stopped until she went through menopause. After that they had relations again, but not very often because age was taking a toll on Rhett's ability to function.

At the time of Genie's death, Scarlett had two stores, and she was happy with that number. Afterwards she poured herself into expanding The Emporium Stores. The name always made Rhett smile. Despite spending a lot of time building her empire she never neglected her living children. When she was inspecting the stores or going over the books her children were often with her. She had a special room in the back of both her stores for her children to stay in while they were at the stores. The rooms had books and toys in them.

When Alexis Colby had come into Scarlett's original store looking for a job, Scarlett had hired Alexis immediately. Scarlett told the woman, "If you show promise I will pay you for performing the role of manager." Alexis had been able to read through the lines and she had become the unofficial manager to the first store. Once again, all the employees knew it but Hugh. Hugh was a decent manager, but Alexis was brilliant. She had doubled the store's profits her first year.

When Scarlett opened her third store, with Rhett's urging she made Alexis the manager in name. She hired Krystie Carrington to become Phil's assistant manager. She made Krystie the same offer. She accepted. When Scarlett opened her fourth store she made Krystie the manager in name also. By this time, after working with Alexis Hugh was a pretty good manager. By the time Scarlett had promoted Krystie, she had trained Phil to be a good manager.

Scarlett was often seen carrying her baby around while she was inspecting the stores. Part of it was because she was nursing Arabella but most of it was because her children, all her children, were extremely precious to her. When Rhett came with her to inspect the stores, he would carry Arabella around. They repeated the whole thing when Quincy arrived.

Within ten years, Scarlett had opened Emporium stores all across the South. There were twenty stores when she stepped down as CEO. Twice what she had in the first timeline. That was because Rhett was helping her build the business. His role was that of advisor and supporter. Occasionally he lent her money, but it was no longer an interest free loan.

The stores were now no longer her concern. Gerry was the CEO and there were thirty. She thought that was too many, but she kept her mouth shut. If everything went to hell in a handbasket, Gerry could start all over with Rhett's millions.

Wade went to the University of Georgia and became an architect. When Scarlett had tried to persuade him to get a degree in business and become part of the Emporium Enterprises. He refused. He said, "That is the last thing on earth I want to do. Scarlett had smiled. He was quite the brave young man now. He had met a man at the University of Georgia, Samuel Lee (no relation to Robert E. Lee), in one of his classes. Sam had moved with Wade back to Atlanta and they had opened up an Architectural Firm together.

Soon Sam was calling on Ella. The couple eventually married.

Scarlett had hired Colin Firth to be one of her vice-presidents. When he had asked Rhett for permission to start calling on Arabella, Scarlett had shut the relationship down pretty quickly. She knew that nobody knew that she and Colin had relations in her first timeline, but her. She just couldn't handle the thought of Colin ending up being Arabella's husband. Besides, she clearly remembered that Colin had been more interested in her bank balance than her personality. She was sure the same was true in regard to Arabella.

Arabella had ended up marrying a vice-president from Rhett's bank. When Archibald asked for Arabella's hand in marriage, Rhett had replied, "Yes, but if you don't do your job, I will fire you just like anyone else."

Archibald knew he was good at his job therefore he wasn't worried. They were married the next spring.

Arabella and Gerry came to the mansion at least once a month for supper with their spouses. They would often just drop by to visit with her and Rhett. When they just dropped by it made Scarlett so very happy.

Ella and Wade still lived at the mansion with their families. After Wade got married, Scarlett offered to let him and his wife live at the mansion because he and Sam were still trying to get their architectural firm off the ground. When Rhett found out the only reason Sam had not asked Ella to marry him was because he couldn't afford to support her yet, Rhett told him, "Get married at the courthouse and then move in. Scarlett and I would love to have you."

Sam and Ella got married the very next day.

Quincy turned eighteen in ninety-eight. He asked his dad if he could travel the world instead of going to college. Rhett had said, "Yes. Your mother doesn't know it, but we will be traveling the world also." At his son's shocked face, Rhett laughed aloud. He said, "What do you think of that, Son?"

Quincy being Rhett's son bluntly said, "You and Mother are not traveling with me."

Rhett had laughed and said, "Of course not. I don't want you cramping my style. You would be surprised at what that woman will do when she feels uninhibited." At Quincy's appalled and disgusted face, Rhett said, "Unfortunately, she rarely feels uninhibited especially when her children are around." When Quincy paled a little more, his father said, "Not to worry, Son. We will not be traveling with you. Don't say anything to your mother. She doesn't know yet."

Quincy had walked away desperately trying to get the image of his extremely proper mother doing anything the least bit uninhibited.

Rhett for his part was smiling a very broad smile. Even as old as he was, he still liked to aggravate people, even his children. No, especially his sons.

Scarlett had not been happy with either decision but after thirty-seven years of acquaintanceship with Rhett Butler, she knew she was stepping down as CEO and she was going to travel with her husband. She also knew that he had given their son permission to travel the world also and there wasn't anything she could do about that either.

After five years Quincy had returned to Atlanta and went to work for Emporium, Inc. He was a vice-president. He had taken Colin's place after the man had moved on.

Scarlett had made a point of being in Atlanta on January first of nineteen hundred because she had wanted to participate in all the festivities. She and Rhett had regaled all the grandchildren with their stories about the way things used to be.

Now ten years later Scarlett was in a hotel suite in Paris. She was happily lying on her husband's chest and enjoying every minute of it. She was staring out the window looking at the Eifel tower. She knew all the history of the tower. Rhett had informed her of it all. She always acted like he was boring her, but she was really interested in what he was saying. He knew it too. She asked too many questions for a woman not interested.

Scarlett was so grateful every day for her second chance. So grateful for every day she got to spend with Rhett. Even the days when she wanted to crush his head like a grape.