Title: Scarlett's Turn - part 2

Rating: PG for now

Author: Cutekitty74

Timeline: This begins shortly after Rhett's departure from Scarlett at the end of "Gone With The Wind."

Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters of "Gone With The Wind" , just the story line…

Feedback is appreciated. Please send comments to Cutekitty74@yahoo.com

Thank you for reading my story, I hope that it you enjoyed it! Please be gentle this is the first Gone With The Wind story I have ever written!

The journey to Tara seemed to take forever to Rhett, a growing pain in his heart told him that he was wrong in leaving her. He had let his own pain overshadow her attempt "Why didn't I listen" he mumbled to himself as he pushed the horse on down the rain soaked road "The look in her eyes was the truth." Around the bend in the road he went and up the extensive drive to Tara. First he took in how the house had changed since his last visit with Scarlett, he could see much improvement, but it would never hold the former glory it once did. Dismounting he approached the house two steps at a time, unaware of the fear that his eyes held. He was about to knock when the door opened. There stood Mammy.

"Mister Rhett" she began as she stepped out to the porch and closed the door "What brings yous to Tara?" she asked. Her old face showing no emotion to him.

Rhett cleared his throat "I need to see Scarlett" there was a desperation in his voice.

Mammy sensed his desperation "Well Mister Rhett my lamb isn't here" she said in a cool voice "she done took her children and left."

Rhett processed what Mammy had said "But how, I would of caught her at the station" he stopped as he realized what the feeling had meant at the station, she was on that train, leaving him "Thank you Mammy" he turned and left without another word.

Mammy watched him as he rode like thunder down the road away from Tara "What am I to do with you two" she mumbled as she thought of the loss in Miss Scarlett's eyes when she left and now the desperation in his "One of these days they might grow up" she finished as she set her old bones down on the swing and watched the fading dust settle on the road "One of these days."

The trip to Atlanta went with no trouble. Prissy met them at the station and gave them the bags. They traded trains and headed to Charleston. Wade watched Atlanta fade from site and felt relief that Rhett had not found them yet. He turned to his Mother and saw her eyes were still dull and lifeless "Mother" he whispered catching her attention.

"Yes dear" replied Scarlett.

"Mother please tell me again about the Tara in Ireland, I can't wait to see it" he smiled hoping to get her mind on other things.

Scarlett looked down upon her son and was very aware of his tactics and how he was trying to get her to think of other things than her current situation. She smiled "Well my Pa used to say that there wasn't a more beautiful place than the real Tara. The green grass goes on for miles and is the shade of emeralds. The castle that used to stand atop Tara was a King's home and many parties were held there."

Wade smiled as his Mother's voice lifted and a light came back to her eyes "Mammy was right about Mother" he thought "She gets her strength from Tara, no matter which Tara." He listened to tales of the little people and fairies of Ireland and couldn't wait to see it for himself. He interrupted his Mother "You talk as though you have already been there" he said.

Scarlett smiled and shook her head "Well your Grandpa had a unique way of telling a tale to make you feel as though you were really there, but my Mother would shake her head at the stories and say they were exaggerated."

"Tell me about Grandma" Ella peeped up. She had always wondered what her Grandmother had been like, she had heard all kinds of stories about her Grandpa, but not many of her.

Scarlett gathered Ella on her lap and began to tell them about their Grandmother and what a great lady she was.

And this is how they passed their time until dinner and then a nap before arriving at Charleston. They wasted no time and were soon aboard the ship that would take Scarlett and her children to her Father's home. Once settled in their adjoining rooms Scarlett let the reality of her life hit her again. She had lost so much, her daughter, her best friend and now her husband. She frowned more when she thought of Rhett and how she had hurt him over the years. Mammy had been right about her she was a spoiled child and now must pay the consequences of her actions. Her thoughts then turned to her living Children and how in just a short time they had grown closer. Her last thoughts were a promise she made to herself and them to be the best Mother she could. She drifted off to a dreamless sleep, so exhausted from the days travels. This morning they were in Atlanta and late this evening they were leaving all the nightmares behind. But as the night wore on the same nightmare came, the fog closing in on her and she could not find her way out. This time she could make out a figure in the fog and as she ran closer she saw it was Rhett. His face cold as he had been on there last meeting repeating those horrible words to her again "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn" over and over again until she awoke with a start. She was drenched in sweat. Her eyes alive with fear from the dream and anger "How dare he walk away" she hissed. She got up, went to her wash basin and threw cold water on her face to wash the dream away. Glancing at the clock she realized it was not too early to begin her day. As she changed she realized she was going to have trouble dressing with out Prissy's help, but she had left Prissy and everyone behind. Standing in the middle of her room she looked defeated again "Of course I just jump in without thinking again" at that a sleepy Ella entered her room. Scarlett turned to her daughter "Honey what are you doing up?" she asked.

Ella looked at her Mother's clothing and let out a giggle "Mother are you having problems?" she asked pointing at the half buttoned dress.

Scarlett found herself laughing at this too "Yes I do believe I am, Thank goodness I had the sense to have the stays that tied in front."

"I can help you Mother" Ella said "I used to help dress Bonnie."

Scarlett's smiled fell a bit at the mention of her youngest child, but she pushed the pain to the small dark place and locked it up "Well good, cause I think I would have to hide in here all day without your help."

Daughter helped Mother and Mother helped daughter. Wade was up before too long and they left for the dinning room in search of breakfast laughing at the mornings events. On the way to the dinning room Scarlett stopped one of the crewmen and inquired if there was a girl to help her with some personal matters. She wasn't the least bit embarrassed by his shocked expression, and gladly took his directions to find there was a maid aboard who would help her. For the remainder of their trip she pushed Rhett from her mind, at least during the day. He would haunt her nights, but as the days turned to weeks aboard the ship she noticed that he was not torturing her as much. Perhaps she was right to distance herself from him, space is what she need to mend her broken heart and soul.

While Scarlett's luck had held out Rhett's had not. When he finally arrived back in Atlanta he had found the house empty and no sign of his estranged family. Disheartened he thought of the only person who might know where she was "If she was leaving she wouldn't leave her affairs to the wind" he mumbled as he made his way downtown "No she would have taken care of her store and mills before she left." Rhett found himself standing in the waiting room of Uncle Henry's Law Office. He knew Scarlett trusted no other when it came to her business affairs. After a few moments he was shown to the old man's office.

When Rhett looked at Henry he could see the man was in no mood to speak to him 'Well Mr. Butler what do I owe this pleasure" he said in a cold tone as he gestured Rhett to take a seat.

Rhett bit back a remark, this man might be the only one who knows where his wife had gone "Henry I won't waste time with words" he paused trying to gather himself, only Scarlett could throw him off as bad as he had been since he saw her at the funeral "I need to find Scarlett and I was hoping she had let onto you where she was headed."

Henry looked down on Rhett, his voice was still cold "Let me begin by telling you this Mr. Butler, Scarlett will always be my niece whether I approve of her actions or not, but you sir I owe nothing too" he raised his hand to silence Rhett as he continued "I have heard the tale, and yes the whole tale from her already. You have broken her and I fear if it were not for her children she would have killed herself" he took note of Rhett's face dropping at mention of suicide "Yes that is exactly how bad she was. I have sent her somewhere to get away from here and gather herself again" he finished.

Rhett stood "Well sir since you know the whole tale I will not bother with my side" he paused "I just need to find her, I have made the worst mistake of my life" Rhett pleaded.

Henry shook his head in agreement "Yes I do believe you have, for you two are a perfect match, but both too volatile for your own good" he paused as he chose his next words "I gave her my word I would not tell you where she went" again he paused watching Rhett hanging on his words. He had never seen Rhett Butler so out of sorts, perhaps he shouldn't stand in his way "I can not tell you exactly where they have gone, but I will tell you this, she has gone to find her heritage" he sat down watching Rhett reaction carefully. He saw his eyes light up as he figured it out.

Rhett turned to the old man and smile for the first time in days "Thank you Henry" with that he turned and left. He now knew where he had to go, he was shocked to think that she would travel so far by herself with two children, but then nothing Scarlett did ever surprised him. He had to make arrangements to catch her. He would be weeks behind her, and he felt an urgency, as if something bad was going to happen. He went yet again to the station, this time he knew the trail to follow…

TBC