"The Long Road"

AUTHOR: Melly (otherwise know as, RHETTLOVER!)

RATING: PG

EMAIL: GWTWindyChick3@juno.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own GWTW, (unfortunately!) :(

TIMELINE: After Scarlett has arrived at Tara during the War.

SYNOPSIS: Forgot.read my other posts. DUH!

DISTRIBUTION: scarlettonline.com, fanfiction.net, network54.com.etc.

NOTE: I am almost done!

CHAPTER: 8.Missing You

As Rhett walked towards the house, he never felt so idiotic before in his

life. How could he have ever thought that Scarlett could ever love him? When she stood

up from that rock he saw pure love in her eyes, pure love for Ashley Wilkes. He couldn't

stay here any longer. He had to leave. How could he stay here and watch Scarlett goggle

all over him. It would hurt him even more, not that he wasn't hurting now. Rhett was so

in love with Scarlett that it hurt. Whenever he was blockading, he would imagine Scarlett

next to him with his arm about her waist. Her raven hair would flow behind her and she'd

lean over railing and scream with childish fright. Nevertheless, when he turned to touch her, she

was gone. When he was laying on the ground bleeding with a gunshot to the chest, he

would see Scarlett kneeling next to him holding his hand, whispering comforting words

to him, but when he went to touch her face, she would disappear. He had suffered too

much, and had to get away from it, where he could do his best to forget Scarlett O'Hara.

The horse nickered softly as Rhett led it into the makeshift stable Pork had

made to house their only horse and the one Rhett owned that had collapsed on his way to

Tara. When he finally reached the house, he slowly shut the door and crept up the stairs,

avoiding the chatter in the parlor knowing Ashley Wilkes would be there. He could

never see Ashley again without killing him with his own hands. Once he reached his

bedroom door, he carefully turned the doorknob handle and opened the door, thanking

God id didn't make any noise. He immediately gathered all the clothes he had borrowed

from Scarlett's Father, that happened to be a little bug on him, and placed them in a sack.

Once his belongings were gathered, he sat on the bed and pulled out his canteen full of

brandy. Finishing it in one long swig, he threw across the room, not caring who heard.

Pulling out a cigar, he stretched out on the bed, trying to figure out an easy way to leave

in the morning without anyone noticing.

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Scarlett finally made back into the house after what seemed like hours of

reflecting on what a large mistake she made. She should have just told Rhett. If she knew

that he loved her, why did her pride stop her? Pride is a terrible thing, she thought to

herself as she entered the house slowly, slipping past the parlor looking for the "swoon

bottle". If anything could keep her from going crazy, it was a glass of brandy, or maybe

two. After searching numerous cupboards, she finally found what she had been looking

for. Sneaking off with her prized booty, she tiptoed up the stairs. Wondering if Rhett was

time in her life that she had ever fallen in love and she blows it by mentioning Ashley. He

always got in the way of things. If Ashley were not alive, she would have recognized her

love for Rhett long ago and none of this might have happened. She loved Rhett so much,

that she didn't think she could go on if he left. He was always there. Just when she

thought she'd slip or get lost, he'd find her and get her back on track. He was the only

one besides Melly who knew that shot that Yankee and comforted her when she told him

about Mother. Sitting up she took a small sip of the brandy. The warm liquid flowed

down her throat and filled her with a tingly but almost numb feeling. Wanting more she

took a larger drink. She did this till the bottle was gone and laid her head back down. The

warmness reached her whole body now and she felt completely numb. As small tears

escaped from her eyes, she found sleep and drifted off, dreamlessly.

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Waking up to the sunlight in her eyes, Scarlett immediately got out of bed

but fell back down to the floor. Her awakening was to fast for the state she was in. She

was definitely feeling the aftermath of the bottle of brandy she drank last night. She felt

dizzy as she crawled over to her vanity and grabbed the mirror. Scarlett's face looked

pale and drained and her eyes had nags beneath them. She looked awful, not to mention

skinny after eating little or no food each day. Grabbing onto her chair, she slowly pulled

herself up and got dressed as fast as she could. She couldn't let Rhett leave, she had to

tell him before it was too late. Putting on her best dress, that is the open with the least

stains, and quietly opened her door. Straightening her shoulders, she walked across the

hall, and lightly knocked on Rhett's door.

Scarlett remembered the last time she came to his room and began

blushing deeply. When she heard no response, she panicked and knocked louder this

time. "Rhett, are you there?" she said feebly. Yet again, hearing no response, she opened

the door to see the empty bed made, and every thing in order, but no Rhett and nothing

that belonged to him either. Frantically, she turned around and ran down the stairs as fast

as she could. Pulling open the door, she ran down the path to the stables and opened up

the door with great effort, only to find one horse. "NO!" she gasped. Rhett had left, just

like he said he would. Staring at the only horse left, she stood there in disbelief. She

looked down the road and saw a small cloud of dust from where Rhett Butler rode away,

out of Scarlett's life.

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As he left, Rhett knew right where he needed to go. Charleston. Home

to his Mother, where he could live a Scarlett-free life. He had always hoped against hope

that Scarlett would someday love him, but he was wrong. Scarlett probably won't even

notice that I left, she'll be so bust waiting on Ashley hand and foot. Oh, I forgot, Rhett

thought to himself. Scarlett needed me to do slave labor around Tara. Ashley's so special,

why can't he do it? This conversation between his mind and heart continued till he

reached town. He knew that forgetting Scarlett O'Hara would be a difficult thing to do.

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Scarlett was certain that her life couldn't' get any worse. The fact that

Rhett had left only made matters worse, not just for her, but for everyone. Pa needed

Rhett's able body to help him with numerous things, mainly putting shoes on the horse.

Scarlett needs his help to, but Ashley would have to do. Wade especially missed Rhett.

Wade highly liked Rhett's company and would always be following him about asking

him questions about certain things. Rhett was so good with children, he didn't seem to

mind. At night, Wade would sit in Rhett's lap as Rhett would retell stories of the war.

Wade would watch in fascination as Rhett made sword motions with his hands and

would imitate gunshots. Scarlett smiled as she remembered back on those moments.

To think that Rhett could have been a father to Wade, someone to watch

over him and help him become the strong man he should be. None of this would happen and it

was all Scarlett's fault. She couldn't even blame Ashley anymore, as much as she like to.

She should have been smart enough to realize that she didn't love Ashley. Trying not to

dwell on the things that didn't matter, she cleared the table of it's breakfast contents. As

she placed the dishes in the water, she heard a clattering of hooves. For a slight moment,

she had the slightest hope that Rhett could be back, but hopes were diminished when she

reached the window and saw a carriage coming up the road. Walking outside, she saw the

figures of what looked liked a man and a woman. The carriage looked fairly new and was

surprised that someone that lived out here had enough money for two healthy horses, let

alone a new carriage. When the carriage stopped in front of the house, Jonas Wilkerson,

their former overseer, stepped out of the carriage. Next, came, of all people, Emmie

Slattery, the trashy little slut that had given her mother the typhoid that killed her.

Anger was being pumped through her veins when she yelled out, "Get off

those steps, you trashy wench. Get off this land!" Jonas spoke up and said, "You mustn't

speak that way to my wife." Laughing sarcastically Scarlett replied, "Wife? About time.

Who baptized your other brats after you killed my Mother." Emmie tried to retreat but

Jonas stopped her. "We came here to pay a call-a friendly call to talk a little business with

old friends," Jonas replied glaring at Scarlett. "Friends?" Scarlett said with equal

viciousness. "Since when were we friends with the likes of you?" Emmie, terrified now,

ran back to the carriage hiding from Scarlett's fury. "Still high and mighty, aren't you?

Well, I know all about you. I know you can't pay your taxes, and I know your Father's

turned idiot." Scarlett had completely forgotten about the taxes. She was sure that Rhett

could help her out, considering that he had millions. But now that he was gone.Jonas

interrupted her thoughts with another ejaculation. "I came out here to offer to buy this

place from you-to make you a right good offer. Emmie's had a hankering to live here

and I am willing to buy this whole place, lock, stock and barrel."

Scarlett rethought his last words. Emmie and him, living in Tara, her

precious Tara. The thought disgusted her. Emmie, who killed her Mother.Her Irish

anger was boiling out of her as she reached down and picked up a handful of Tara' read

earth. Throwing it as hard as she could into Jonas's face she cried, "That's all of Tara

you'll ever get." His face was beet red now with anger. He quickly turned around and

began walking towards the carriage. Scarlett felt better now, knowing that she'd made

mad. That would show him never to show his face here again. "You'll regret this," Jonas

yelled as the carriage pulled away.

Scarlett dusted her hands and watched as he rode of, madder than hell.

Hearing a pounding behind her she quickly turned around to see Pa on his horse which

galloped with such a speed she had never seen. Scarlett heard him cry, "I'll show you

who the owner of Tara is!" Oh, God! she thought as she clasped her hand to her mouth,

he's going to jump. He neared the fence that the Slatterly carriage had just passed.

Running desperately after him she heard the cracking of wood and saw the horse reel

back and fall to the ground. Scarlett ran faster than she ever had before in her life.

She reached Pa and saw him lying there, looking so limp. She stood there for a moment,

comprehending all that happened. Loosing all ability to know what was going on, Scarlett

slowly fell to the ground beside Pa, as Ashley, Melanie, and her sisters came running

from the house.