Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: It starts out sad but it does have a happy ending.

Rhett and Scarlett do end up together.

Chapter One

In July of eighteen-eighty Scarlett and Nick were at Grand Central Depot. They had just gotten back from Europe and were on their way back to Macon. They would stop at Tara to pick-up Wade and Ella. As they were walking to their train Scarlett saw Rhett. She stopped walking. It had been over six years since she had seen him. He looked as handsome as ever. His hair was almost all gray and he had a few more wrinkles but who didn't. How old was he now? Fifty? No. Fifty-two.

There was a woman with him. She was at least five years older than Scarlett. Scarlett wondered if this was the woman he left her for. Scarlett saw the woman looking at him with love and concern on her face. Rhett looked down at her with affection on his face. He then looked up and saw Scarlett. She was older but it had made her more beautiful. He said her name and thought, 'She's as beautiful as ever.'

Scarlett was standing in the middle of the passageway just staring at him. She said his name also. Rhett hurriedly walked across the corridor. Scarlett hurried to meet him. He was smiling so big and she was beaming at him. He reached down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She reached up and cupped his cheek. They just stared at each other neither hiding their feelings. She knew he still loved her and he knew she had really loved him. They hugged each other and whispered words of love. It was the only time they had both felt it at the same time.

Suddenly there was a man beside Scarlett and there was a woman beside Rhett. He turned to his wife, Emma and said, "Dear this is my" he paused because she wasn't his anything. Scarlett said, "Scarlett Fowler. This is my husband Nick." Rhett said, "This is my wife, Emma." Scarlett looked at the woman. She didn't look like her but she did have black hair and green eyes. Rhett looked at the man. The man looked to be in his late forties. He had black hair, brown eyes and a mustache and that was where their similarities ended.

Scarlett said, "We have just arrived back from Europe. I finally got to see Paris. Nick had some business over there so I went along."

Rhett said, "We have arrived from Charleston. We are going to see some of the sights of New York. There are a couple of museums we would like to visit. Maybe take in an opera."

Nick said, "We need to go or we will miss our train." He turned to the couple and said, "Nice to meet you."

Emma said, "We need to go also. It was nice to meet you too."

Rhett said, "Take her to Tara. That's where she should be now. I'll get the forms and send them to you at Tara."

Scarlett said, "Thank you Rhett. It would mean a lot to me."

Rhett then reached out and cupped her cheek and she put her hand over his hand while they stared into each other's eyes. Rhett had been about to kiss her and she would have welcomed the kiss. Then as if they both realized they were not alone, they both turned and walked away in opposite directions.

Both couples had walked away then like an irresistible force between them Rhett and Scarlett both looked back over their shoulders for one last look at their true love.

Rhett hoped the teaching hospital had a cure for the cancer in his lungs but he doubted it. That was really why they were in New York. He knew he would be dead before the year was over. He was glad he had gotten to see her one more time.

She didn't know how but Scarlett knew that Rhett was dying and he would be dead before the year was over. She was glad she had gotten to see him one more time

Scarlett

After Scarlett and Nick had gotten on the train Scarlett had settled in her seat with her book. Nick had settled in beside her with his book. Scarlett stared out the window as her thoughts turned to that year after Bonnie's death. That year that everything changed.

She was lost in thought then she heard her husband calling her. She smiled and said, "What is it, my love?"

Nick knew that she had been thinking about her former husband. He had always known she still loved him but he didn't care. He was happy with her most of the time. He said, "Do you want something to eat? I am going to the dinner car."

Scarlett said, "Yes. I'm starving." She got up and straighten her skirt and smiled even while thinking, 'I wish I was back at the Fire House and hadn't tried to trick Rhett.'

Rhett

Rhett knew he had not been good company tonight and he knew that Emma knew why but she would never say anything. That wouldn't be proper. He did often wonder how he had ended up with such a proper woman as his wife. He was sitting in the common room enjoying a rare glass of whiskey and a fine Cuban cigar. There were so few things that brought him pleasure these days. He knew he was dying so he was going to enjoy these small pleasures while he could.

Emma had already retired to her bedroom. He and Emma had not shared a bedroom in years. Actually, he and Emma had never shared a bedroom. He had felt very little desire for a woman since Bonnie had died. Of course, if Scarlett had been in his bed, he would have felt different. The few times he and Emma had relations he had been thinking about Scarlett the entire time. Each time he was with her and he had climaxed, he had told her he loved her and luckily not added a name to the utterance.

It's one of those paradoxical situations. He had been broken by Scarlett, their marriage and Bonnie's death. Emma had fixed him with her compassion, kindness, and understanding. He had loved her and he had married her because he had felt comfortable, wanted and she had belonged to proper Charlestonian society. Once he was completely fixed and accepted in Charleston, he found Emma boring and unexciting. He found Charleston boring and unexciting. He still loved her but like he loved Rosemary. They were intellectual equals; she was always proper and sophisticated. He enjoyed his time with her but if she was gone, he rarely missed her. He stayed with her at first to be accepted by Charlestonian society then when he no longer cared about the good people of Charleston he stayed because Scarlett had married another man.

He sighed and finished his drink. He thought, 'I wish I was back at the Fire House. I know now how I could have saved Tara for her.'

Rhett and Scarlett had said, "I wish I was back at the Fire House." at the same time. And suddenly…

Scarlett felt she was swimming to the surface from a long way down. When she finally opened her eyes, she was staring into Rhett's dark brown ones. There was so much concern written on his face. Someone was trying to force brandy in her mouth but it was ending up down her neck instead. She finally was able to say, "Stop. Stop. Let me sit up then I will drink the brandy."

She then noticed the young Yankee officer beside her. She was at the Fire House. How did she get back here? Her wish had come true but after Rhett had discovered she was trying to trick him.

She looked down and Rhett was gently slapping her wrist. She looked at him and said, "Please stop." She grabbed his hand and held it tight. He held her hand just as tightly like he was afraid of her escaping. She was not letting him escape her this time. If he truly loved her then they would think of a solution that didn't involve Frank Kennedy.

Rhett said, "I think she is fine now, officer. Leave the brandy so if she needs some more, I can give it to her." They both watched the officer leave. Rhett swallowed down the rest of the brandy.

Scarlett leaned forward and kissed Rhett. She said, "I love you." This may be her only chance to change the awfulness of her life. She was not going to be coquettish.

Rhett smiled again and said, "I love you too. Did you come back too?" Rhett knew she had but he wanted her to confirm it.

"Oh, thank God. I don't have to go through this alone."

Rhett smiled that cocky smile of his and said, "What are your feelings for Mr. Wilkes?"

She smiled and said, "Just an old friend who was lucky enough to marry the most wonderful woman in the south."

They kissed each other and Scarlett said, "What has happened? How did this happen?"

"I don't know. I will think about it later. I have plenty of time to think while I am locked up here. More important when you leave here and run into Frank get him to take you to the Catholic church. Arrange to have the priest meet you here tomorrow. We will get married. I am not taking any chances of you marrying someone else."

Scarlett smiled at Rhett's statement. It made her feel good. Scarlett said, "Alright. What about Tara? It's alright if I lose it." She closed her eyes when she felt the pain of losing Tara.

"You will not lose it. I have had several years to think about how I could have saved Tara for you." He gave her a self-deprecating smile.

"How?"

"It really is so simple. I will buy it when they auction it off for back taxes. The same way Wilkerson plans on getting it. Then you will own it entirely by yourself."

"I will own it with you." She said and smiled up at him so sweetly. "I will send for Suellen and get her married to Frank. They deserve each other. I will see if Suellen is willing to give three hundred dollars to save Tara. Last time I didn't think she would and I wouldn't risk losing Tara. I still don't want to lose Tara but I want you more. With your plan I may be able to get both. I want to see how selfish she really is."

"What about the rest of the residence of Tara?"

"I don't know. Will, Pa, Careen and the servants are alright there for a little bit. I want Melly to stay in Atlanta but not at the cost of destroying what is left of Ashley's soul."

"I can get him a job with a newspaper. I think he would be very good at writing stories."

"He always could…. can see both sides of an issue."

"It would be an honorable, self-sacrificing calling which would be right up Mr. Wilkes purview."

Scarlett laughed at Rhett's expression. It was so filled with disgust. "Not everyone can be a selfish, self-centered renegade like us."

"Everyone can. Just not as easily as you and I. Yes. I will do that as soon as I get out. We do need to keep Mrs. Wilkes in Atlanta to ensure you stay received after everyone finds out about our marriage. You are going to have to be nice and polite to those old biddies."

"I know. I can do it. That year after Melly died and you …. Well I found out how important community really was. No making everyone pea green with envy this time."

"Does that mean you don't want your huge engagement ring again?"

"I still want it but we will pick something out a little more tasteful. I still like ostentatious stuff but I have learned to tone it down." And she smiled up at him. She then whispered, "After we get married tomorrow do you think we will be able to consummate our marriage."

"Oh God I hope so. It's been way too long." They both laughed with delight.

He stood up and helped her up. "You have to go so you can run into old Frank."

"Alright. I will see you tomorrow. Kiss me." And Rhett kissed her like he hadn't seen her in a hundred years.

Scarlett paused before she left and said almost in a whisper, "Do you think we are going to get our babies back?"

Rhett said confidently, "Absolutely"

Scarlett said, "Alright" and hurried out the door.

Rhett wished he felt as confident as he led Scarlett to believe. He thought, 'They had to get their babies back.'