Hey, everyone. I've been trying to get onto Fanfic for over a week. I guess it's a problem I have at work. So I finally got on here at home. Sorry for the long wait. I'm going to load the rest of the chapters and the epilogue. Hope you enjoy it!!!

Chapter 7

A month passed by quickly as Scarlett and Katie fell into the routine that was life at Tara. During the day they would help with the household chores and at night they would spend their time visiting with their family and neighbors.

One afternoon as Scarlett and Katie hung out the wash, Scarlett asked Katie if she was glad they had decided to come to Tara.

"Oh yes, Mother. I love it here. It's very odd, but I really do feel like I belong here. I know that doesn't make sense. But its how I've felt since the day we arrived".

Scarlett smiled "I'm so glad. I was worried that you would not like it here. Now the only thing is we have to decide how long we are going to stay".

"Yes I've been thinking about that quite a bit. I know this is your real home. I can only imagine how much you have missed it. And I know it will be hard for me to go back to England, so I know it will be for you also."

"Yes it will be hard on me to leave. But don't you want to get back to England so that you can be with Duncan?"

"Of course I want to be with him but I really feel like I belong here. So when I wrote Duncan several weeks ago I told him what I was feeling."

"You did now, did you?" Scarlett said in her best Irish brogue.

"Yes I did." Katie said as she laughed at her Mother's silliness. Then she continued, "And today when Will brought the mail, well, I had a letter from Duncan. I think you will find his reply quiet interesting."

Scarlett set down the laundry basket and looked at Katie "So what will I find so interesting about this reply of his?"

"Well", Katie said as she grinned at her Mother. "His father has been looking at expanding their exotic goods business and had actually looked at the east coast once before. Now Duncan thinks he can convince him to set up a business over here. That is, if there is a reason for Duncan to come here in the first place."

"Katie, are you telling me you want to stay here?" Scarlett asked cautiously. Scarlett had wanted to broach the subject of staying with her before, but never knew quite how to do so.

"Yes, Mother I am. Don't get me wrong. I love England and I had a wonderful childhood there. But Duncan and I will be starting our life together soon. And well, I would really like it to be amongst my family."

Scarlett could not believe her ears. "Oh honey, that's wonderful. When will Duncan know for sure?"

"Well his father had to talk to a few more of his contacts. So when Duncan writes me next he should be able to tell me."

Scarlett and Katie both waited impatiently for Duncan's letter. They did not tell any of the family of their plans.

Finally the letter from Duncan arrived. His father had agreed to start up a branch of their family business in America. Duncan inquired if Scarlett could be of some assistance setting up shop in Atlanta. Scarlett smiled at that. She would enjoy helping Duncan immensely. It had been many years since she was involved in any business affairs.

His letter went on to say that he would be arriving in the States six weeks after the date of the letter. That after his arrival he would need to stop in several of the port cities and set up contacts for the shipping of the dry goods from the docks to his shop in Atlanta. And that he would contact them when he arrived there.

That night Scarlett and Katie shared their news with the whole family. Everyone was very excited and overjoyed to know that they would be staying.

Ella most of all. She hugged her Mother and through her tears said "Now we really can be a family."

Scarlett could barely contain her emotions at knowing that her two oldest children indeed did want her in their lives.

So the very next morning Scarlett set about contacting her lawyer in England. She needed to have all their personal belongings packed up and shipped. She also needed to have the manor put up for sale.

Her next move was to contact the bank in Atlanta. She wrote the president personally asking him to handle the transfer of all her money from her account in England as well as the money from the sale of the manor.

Finally she found Katie a tutor in Jonesboro, so that she could complete her last bit of studies.

As Scarlett was finishing up all the preparations needed for her and Katie to be able to stay, Duncan Shierfield was just stepping off a ship onto the Charleston dock.

He immediately made his way to the law office of a family acquaintance, Mr. Marshall Hudson. He had contacted Marshall before leaving England and now had to stop in and sign the contracts for payment of the workers that would be transporting the goods from the docks to Atlanta.

When he arrived, Marshall's secretary said that he still had someone with him and then started up a friendly conversation. They did not hear Marshall and his other client come out as they talked.

"So what are you doing here in America Mr. Shierfield?" the secretary asked.

"I'm going to Atlanta to start up a branch of my family's exotic dry good business."

"Atlanta did you say? I have family in Atlanta. Why did you choose Atlanta?"

"Well, my fiancée's family is from near there. She and her Mother have just moved back here from England."

"Oh, what is her family name?"

"It's O'Hara."

Just then the gentleman speaking to Marshall stopped mid-sentence. 'No I must have misheard him. I know he didn't just say O'Hara. Did he?'

As Duncan continued his conversation with the secretary, the gentleman walked over to him. "I'm sorry sir. I did not mean to eavesdrop but I believe I heard you say something about the O'Hara's from near Atlanta, was I correct?"

Duncan looked at the gentleman for a moment "Yes, that's correct."

"Do you know them?"

"Yes I do. My fiancée is an O'Hara." Duncan was starting to get a little uneasy with the strangers questions.

"I'm sorry I do not mean to pry but I know of the O'Hara's also. May I ask which of the O'Hara's you are engaged to?"

"I am engaged to Katie O'Hara." As if reading the strangers mind Duncan then added "Her Mother is Scarlett O'Hara".

Before Duncan could ask the gentleman how he knew of the O'Hara's the man had grabbed up his hat and coat and mumbled something to Marshall about contacting him later.

As he stepped outside Marshall's office, Rhett Butler fought to catch his breathe. He felt as though someone had just kicked him in the gut.

"Scarlett" he mumbled as he made his way down the street. He had walked several blocks before he could think coherently again.

"Scarlett is alive and she is back in Atlanta. After all these years." Rhett said to the bright afternoon sun.

"And she has a daughter."