A New Beginning by Ladybug419

Summary: Ten months ago, Melly died. Ten months ago, Rhett left her. After spending time away, Scarlett gets an important letter from Rhett, asking to see her, and she comes back to Atlanta. Can they find enough love and courage for a new beginning?

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Gone With The Wind but a DVD and a book. The rest all belongs to Margaret Mitchell.

A/N: A few warnings in here: english is not my first language, so, please, be kind to me. Also, this is my first Gone With The Wind story and I started writing it to be... well, busy. It's summer time where I live and I've got lots of free time. Oh, and another thing: I've watched the movie hundreds of times, but I'm still reading the book. Some things might not be like they are in the book, and I hope you'll forgive me. There'll probably be about nine or ten chapters, with an epilogue. That is, if you like it, of course. Which is what I expect you to. Anyway, read and review, complain if you must, but enjoy all the same! :)


Chapter One – Ten Months

This is it, Scarlett thought as she made her way through the crowd at the train station, holding Ella with one hand and Wade with the other, with Prissy following them. After months away from Atlanta, here she was. She would see the same people who saw her life gradually be ruined until she couldn't handle it anymore. She would walk through the same streets that had made her so miserable. She would go to the house where her little girl died. She would visit the man she once thought she loved. But there would be no Melly around to make her feel better, no Bonnie to be with her, no Mammy to talk to her and no Rhett to comfort her.

It had been ten months since she left Atlanta to Tara. The place instantly made her feel slightly better – deep inside she knew nothing would make it better. Only Rhett. But he left her, and for some time she simply had no idea where he could be. Charleston, maybe? Savannah? Or maybe New Orleans, or London and Paris? She didn't know and doubted he would ever tell her.

Ten months that changed so many lives. After Melanie's death, Scarlett asked Mammy, Ella and Wade to come back to Atlanta immediately – Scarlett felt she couldn't face her friend's funeral alone, and knew that her children should pay their respects for such a beloved aunt. She then decided it was time to go. She told Ashley briefly that she needed to go away, made sure the mills were fine, packed up everything and left with Wade and Ella, taking Mammy and Prissy with them.

Suellen had been surprised to see her sister back so soon, and they managed to find some truce in their relationship. They fought often – little arguments and comments here and there – but otherwise they were fine. And Scarlett had a friendly relationship with Will as well, so she couldn't complain much.

As Suellen was expecting her fourth child – she and Will already had three girls, Susie, Irene and Anne – Scarlett took over the house. She gave the servants orders and made sure everything was fine. She also decided it was time to be a mother, and create bonds with Wade and Ella became her focus. She found out it wasn't difficult – at first, she felt guilty over and over as she saw the odd looks her children gave her, not used to displays of affection coming from their mother. But after some time, they became comfortable with each other, and Scarlett let herself be captivated by her children. Wade was so grown up and looked so much like Charles. He loved to read and to talk about the war, and often asked her about his father. Scarlett did her best, but she never really knew her first husband very well. And Ella… Oh, how could Scarlett have thought so little of her daughter? Ella had improved her looks and was becoming a very pretty young lady. Scarlett could even see some of herself in her six years old daughter. She still had the manners of a young child – oh, why, she was still a young child! – but she was incredibly adorable.

Scarlett, for the first time in her life, didn't regret her children. She was sure they were the reason she was living for. They comforted her often, for she knew she wasn't the only one suffering from Bonnie's death, and even Melly's. And Scarlett was glad to see her children happy. Ella always had something to talk about and Wade simply loved Tara. For the first time in her life, Scarlett didn't feel a tingle of regret after marrying Charles and Frank. She never loved them, but they gave her two amazing children. And she should show them that they were loved. They would always know they had a mother who loved and cared for them, even if everyone else was gone.

The nights, however, were the worse. Confused dreams about Bonnie, Rhett, Pa and Mother filled them, and sometimes Wade and Ella were there too, along with a never-ending mist and so many horses and fences and stairs. It was her own life resumed, and it made it hard for her to sleep through the night.

She kept her contact with Ashley, but most of it was about the mills and Beau. She needed and would keep her promise to Melanie. And Scarlett refused to use any of Rhett's money; she didn't really know what their situation was, and although she wanted to go after him, beg him to come back, she couldn't. She had no idea where he was and she wanted him to come back by himself.

Of course, she knew people in Atlanta talked about them. After all, she and Rhett parted ways shortly after losing their daughter, and no one saw them since. She hadn't heard of Rhett in almost ten months. But then, in mid-June, she received a letter from him, from Charleston. Requesting a meeting in Atlanta. Such a formal letter, Scarlett thought. She wondered how he knew where she was, but didn't give this much thought. Rhett wanted to see her. Maybe he finally decided to come back. Or maybe he finally decided they should get a divorce, no matter what she thought about it. Well, there was so much one could do.

Scarlett, then, decided it was time to come back to Atlanta. Wade and Ella seemed very excited with the prospect to returning to their home. So, after making all the necessary arrangements, Scarlett, Wade and Ella were on their way to Atlanta. She didn't know if they would come back to live permanently there, so she took Prissy with her and let Mammy stay at Tara for a couple more days.

"Mother, will Uncle Rhett be there?" asked Ella when they finally reached the carriage that waited for them.

"No, sweetheart, he won't. But he should come to us within' next week." Scarlett said, already expecting such a question from her daughter. Purposefully, she managed to arrive a week earlier to the so called meeting Rhett proposed. That way, she would have the time to adjust to the house she didn't long to see. "Now, now, let's go into the carriage and arrive soon."

The ride was peaceful and silent, as Ella, who generally did the most talking, fell asleep not long before they reached the Peachtree Street. Scarlett refused to look outside, knowing that if anyone saw her she would have to smile and pretend everything was fine. No, she wouldn't do that, not when everything was not fine. The simple fact of being there, riding in that carriage in which she rode many times with Rhett by her side, and Bonnie along with them, already brought so many unwanted memories. Right now, Scarlett just wanted to forget Atlanta, forget Rhett and come back to the peace and sanity of Tara.

"Mother, we're there! Can I go inside?" Wade asked, excited. Scarlett laughed at his eagerness.

"Go on. It's your house, too." Scarlett answered, as her son opened the carriage's door before anyone could do so. She laughed as he made his way to the front door, greeting Pork quickly before disappearing inside. Scarlett picked Ella up, as the little girl extended her arms up to her mother's neck and continued to sleep. Scarlett stood in front of the house, taking a very good look at it.

The house looked almost sinister these days. No lights could be seen yet, as it was still pretty early on the afternoon. Everything, however, seemed to be right. The gardens were still as beautiful as it had been before their long absence, and the gates were as pompous as they always were.

"You alright, Miz Scarlett?" Prissy asked, looking at Scarlett worriedly.

"I'll be fine, Prissy, don't worry. I'll just take Ella to bed. Oh, hello, Pork. I hope you have been doing well." Scarlett greeted the man as he approached them, smiling weakly.

"I's doin' very well, Miss Scarlett. You want me to take Miz Ella to bed?" Pork asked, already extending his arms to pick up the little girl.

"Don't worry, Pork, I'll take her to bed myself while you grab our suitcases." Scarlett said tiredly, walking up the stairs with Ella and finally reaching the door, which Wade had already dropped open.

Once inside, a sudden feeling took care of her. The house looked almost disgusting to her. There was almost no daylight into the house, everything suddenly seemed very dark and too grand. Nothing like the simplicity of Tara. Now she understood why Rhett never liked the decoration. She took a breath and greeted Dilcey, who was already expecting orders.

"Dilcey, it's good to see you. I'll be down in a few minutes so we can arrange the supper plans. Oh, and Prissy, please open up all these curtains. This house is far too dark for such a beautiful summer day." Scarlett said as she began her way to the stairs.

"Oh, Miz Scarlett, this iz what we's doin'. Mistah' Rhett jus' told us the same thing." Dilcey said, making Scarlett stop abruptly in her place.

"Has Mr. Butler arrived yet, Dilcey?" Scarlett asked, closing her eyes and not looking back at Prissy.

"Oh, yes, he only arrived this mornin'. He ain't looking very well, ma'am. Said he needed some air and left half an hour ago." Dilcey told her, and Scarlett sighed in relief. So he wasn't in the house. Good.

Saying no more, Scarlett finally put Ella to bed in her old room. Scarlett looked around, a bit unsure about what to do. So Rhett arrived before her. Probably with the same intention she had on arriving early. For the millionth time she wondered why he wanted to see her. Perhaps… Perhaps he had found someone else and wanted her to free him.

She got out of Ella's room and closed the door silently. It had been a long ride to her daughter. Scarlett smiled as she remembered how Ella had appeared in her room last night saying she couldn't sleep because she was anxious to get to Atlanta. Scarlett understood her daughter completely, since she couldn't sleep mostly because of the same reason.

Everything was the same but everything seemed so changed. These halls, these windows, these rooms. Scarlett refused to see Bonnie's room, as well as Rhett's. She stood a few minutes in her own room; her clothes were already there, but she didn't feel the need to change her clothes. She took a look at her pompous dresses and knew she couldn't wear any of them. They seemed so alive, so… Celebrating. What would she celebrate for? No, she would stick with the simple dresses she had been wearing at Tara. She stopped a moment to look at her furniture, and her eyes lingered on the bed. Too many memories. Had any of that really happened?, Scarlett thought. A lifetime seemed to have passed since she last used this room. Was it only ten months?

She needed air and she needed light. Scarlett felt as if she was suffocating, and she couldn't take it anymore. She ran out of her room and down the stairs, going directly to the backyard. She opened the doors quickly and only stopped until she reached the end of the balcony. Oh, how she wanted to be walking freely in the lands of Tara! Without any expectations or worries! Oh, how she wanted those glorious days in the past to be back…

Scarlett instantly felt tears running through her face, and she couldn't help but let them run. She stopped fighting the tears months ago; it was useless. She then saw, from where she was, the place where Bonnie last talked to her, before jumping with that stupid pony. No, Scarlett corrected herself, it wasn't a stupid pony. It was Bonnie's pony, and she loved it. Even though it killed her.

She sobbed slightly when these thoughts occupied her mind. She wasn't ready to be back. She wanted to be, but she wasn't. What would she do if Rhett wanted a divorce? Were their chances really over? She couldn't take it. She still loved him. She tried to forget – oh, how she tried to forget him! – but simply couldn't. She sobbed one more time, when a small warm hand covered hers.

"Are you alright, Mother?" Wade asked her, concern written all over his face.

"Yes, Wade, I am alright. Do not worry about me. Mother is just being silly." Scarlett answered him, taking a deep breath and hugging her son. When had he grown up so much? Not so long ago he was just a baby and now he's already eleven and looking after her! She didn't deserve him or Ella. They were too good for her.

"Are you missing Bonnie, Mother?" Wade asked, now sounding very serious. Scarlett didn't reply until he spoke again. "I miss her too. But she's gone to a better place, right? And we'll see her again sometime in the future… Don't be sad, Mother. Bonnie would have wanted us to be happy. And she wouldn't want us to cry because of her, she hated when we cried. Remember?"

"Yes, darling, I remember. But I'm always going to miss her." Scarlett said in a quiet voice, now taking the remaining tears off her face. She pulled away to face her son. "I am going to be alright, Wade, don't tell Ella you've seen me crying. She would be very sad about it. Now, what do you think about asking Prissy or Dilcey to bring us some tea so we can enjoy this beautiful afternoon?"

"I'll be back soon." Wade said, smiling and turning to the doors to leave. Scarlett was already moving to one of the chairs when she looked at Wade again. The boy had stopped and Scarlett realized that a figure had been looking at them by the door. "Uncle Rhett!"

Wade ran to Rhett as he received the boy with open arms and a smile on his face. Scarlett tensed. He was here. How long had he been watching us? Wade looked sincerely happy as he finally got past the house to look for one of the servants and Rhett finally stood up and looked at her. Scarlett was still standing, unsure of what her next movement would be. She managed a smile as she took his appearance.

"Hello, Rhett."


A/N: So, you like it? You hate it? I would like to know. Thanks for reading, anyway!

Ladybug419