A Thank You goes out to everyone who has left Feedback for this story. I thought I had upload this chapter already and surprised to find I hadn't. I'm working on the next chapter hoping to have it out sometime early Dec.

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Chapter 5

Wade looked at the stairs then seeing the coast was clear made his way to the Hotel's front desk. The Clerk took notice of the boy and smiled warming as he asked. "Is there something I can help you with Young Sir."

Wade nodded his head as he spoke softly "Yes" it seemed he was almost afraid to say the word aloud. The one thing he had inherited from his Mother though was courage and he hadn't come this far to turn back now without doing what he set out to do.

The Clerk waited patiently with a smile on his face waiting for the boy to continue. Knowing that whatever he wanted had to be important to the young man before him.

"Can you send a note to Mr. Rhett Butler for me?" Wade asked as he looked around his shoulder making sure that Ella or his Mother hadn't appeared behind him. "I'm afraid I don't have his address. But it's important that he receive my letter."

The Clerk knew the young boy needed his help but he couldn't help but also have a sinking feeling that if he did as the young lad wished it would cause Miss Hampton a great deal of trouble. For the Clerk was one of the few people. Who happened to know who checked into the hotel the night before.

This morning as the former Mrs. Butler and her children came down to the restaurant for breakfast the Clerk had been behind the desk and naturally had seen them past by. So knowing this was Mr. Butler's former wife's son asking about sending him a letter didn't set well for Miss Hampton. What if the lad were trying to plead with Mr. Butler to return with them? Could he in good conscious aid in perhaps breaking a Lady's heart?

And yet looking into the soft brown eyes of the Child across the desk. He couldn't with good conscious not do what had been asked of him.

"I'm sure I can find the address for you Mr.?" the Clerk asked suddenly wanting to know what last name this brave boy bared.

"Hamilton, my name is Wade Hamilton Sir," Wade said smiling his plan was almost over and soon he could return to Ella and hope he did before his Mother returned.

"Well then Mr. Hamilton your need these for your letter" The Clerk stated as he took a sheet of paper and ink pen handed them to Wade.

"Thank You" was Wade's reply as he started to work on his note. Knowing there was little time left Wade was short but to the point. Hoping that his Uncle Rhett would receive the letter before they left and do as he plead. Wade finished writing and folded the paper in half handing it back to the Clerk.

"Can you make sure this gets sent out right away?" Wade asked as he took a few steps backwards. The answer came in a nodded and Wade then turned as he thanked the Clerk once again. Getting back to Ella before he was found out most important on his mind now that his plan was in motion.

The carriage ride to the train station was one in silence with the occasional cooing for one of the twins. Wade kept looking out the window of the enclosed carriage hoping to caught a glimpse of his Uncle Rhett trying to stop them from leaving. Ella was wide eyed thinking of all the things she would asks her Mother once they boarded the train.

Scarlett was busying trying to stop herself from remember the hurt look on Rhett's face this morning. Knowing that most likely that would be the last time she saw him for many years or ever.

Scarlett had never been stupid she knew eventual Rhett would learn about Cat & Gerry cutting of all contact with him would only work for so long. One day he would learn of the Butler Twins. Scarlett could only hope by then that perhaps he would have children by Anne and wouldn't feel the need to take her's.

But just thinking of Rhett fathering children with another woman torn apart what was left of Scarlett already broken heart.

She had to be strong though never in her life has Scarlett O'Hara ever been allowed to be weak. This was a mess she herself has made and now it was time she paid the price for all the wrong she had done so many. It was only fair she should lose her love after all hadn't she stole Honey & Suellen's ?

As they neared the Station Scarlett shook those thoughts away she would think of them tomorrow when she was at home in the safety of her room. Where she could cry her eyes out and no one would be the wiser.

Right now she needed to concentration on how she would get the children and luggage from the carriage to the train with only Pansy there to help her do both. Of course the carriage driver could arrange for the bags to be taken care of that just left the children.
Wade would have to watch Ella she had a tendency to walk off when something caught her eye. Losing sight of Ella at the train station would most certainly cause them to miss their train. And the next train leaving for Atlanta wasn't until six that night. Just the idea of that happening didn't set well with Scarlett. Yes, Wade would have to keep Ella with him at all times and he in turn would have to be with her.

The Train Station seemed busier then Scarlett would have thought possible for this early of time in the morning. Wade was taken his job of watching Elle serious and kept the young girl from wander off. As Scarlett stood in line for their tickets with Cat pressed close to her chest. Pansy had Gerry and was walking the young Mr. Butler back and forth he didn't like the noise of the Station and let everyone know it.

After want seemed like ages to Scarlett she found herself the next in line and a sleeping baby in her arms. As she told the clerk how many tickets she needed it finally dawned on Scarlett it was over. All those times she had secretly hoped of Rhett coming back to her were at an end now. He wasn't ever coming for her.

Grasping a breath and pushing aside the feelings of dizziness cause by her world ending once again. Scarlett managed to get the tickets she needed to make their getaway.

What a lovesick Fool she has been thinking at the beginning of this trip that Rhett might come back with her. He had a new life one that didn't include her yet he still wanted to include her children in. Sometimes that man made no sense whatsoever.

Did he really expect Scarlett to let him come and visit her children after he married another woman? Even if she wasn't worried about Rhett taken the Twins from her Scarlett found herself wondering if she would have let Rhett visited Wade, and Ella anyway?

Didn't he realize how much that would have hurt her? Seeing him but knowing he was someone else husband when all she wanted was for him to be her's. It was no use worrying about it though, Scarlett thought after all she wasn't lately to see Rhett anytime in the near future.

He was happy and Scarlett found even mad at Rhett for being happy without her she couldn't deny him happiness after she had ruined there chance at it together. For no matter how much it hurt. Scarlett loved Rhett Butler and wanted what was best for him. And what was best for him was this Anne he was going to marry.

As the children and Pansy followed her towards the train Scarlett knew she had done the impossible she had finally stopped being the spoiled southern belle and grown up. Putting others needs before her own. Rhett needed peace and the respect he thrown away in his youth now. Anne could give that to him and for that reason only Scarlett would be a Lady and leave gracefully.
Tears were slowly filling Wade's eyes as the train started to pull out of the station. Why hadn't Uncle Rhett come? Was the only thought on his twelve year old mind, Wade had been so sure that once his letter had been read that Uncle Rhett would come.

Perhaps the reason Mother had told him they couldn't see Uncle Rhett any longer wasn't because she didn't want them too .But because He didn't want too. That he didn't love them any longer. After all it had been over a year sense the last time he seen them. If Uncle Rhett really loved them he wouldn't have just disappeared out of their lives like that.

All Wade had wanted to do by sending that letter was fix whatever had gone wrong between his Mother and Rhett. Wade wanted to see his Mother smiling again something she only did now when he, Ella, or the Twins smiled at her. Wade could see she missed Uncle Rhett and if he wasn't coming back with them it meant that Rhett didn't miss them.

When Uncle Rhett had first left Wade and Ella both had first thought he was just going on another business trip but when he didn't return after a few months they became concerned Uncle Rhett was hurt. Wade then as now didn't understand why Uncle Rhett felt that he and Ella won't important enough to be told what was happening and why Rhett wouldn't be coming back with them.

Wade was brought out of his thoughts when he heard his Mother grasp. Looking out their cabin window there stood at the train station Rhett Butler.

Scarlett noticed that Wade was being unusually quiet and promised herself to ask what was bother him as soon as they all got settled in. Ella looked ready to ask a hundred different questions again. Pansy was holding Gerry still and looked at easy that they were returning home.

"Ella would you like to hold Cat?" Scarlett asked as she seen Ella start to open her mouth to asks what she was sure to be a question.

"Oh yes Mother I would like to hold Cat." Ella replied forgetting all about the question she had been ready to ask.

Scarlett genteelly handed her youngest daughter to her oldest one. And couldn't help but smile, as Ella's face lighted up with joy as Cat took hold of her finger. She couldn't help thinking although she didn't have Rhett to make her happy any longer Scarlett knew her children always would.

They would all she had left in the whole world. The only people who truly loved her. Of course Scarlett knew she didn't deserve there love especially Wade and Ella's. She had been such a horrible Mother to them and yet they loved. Scarlett thanked God she had been able to have this second chance to make up for her mistakes with them.
Mistakes she knew wouldn't be able to make up to Bonnie. Regret over losing Bonnie after having never been a real Mother to her ate at Scarlett soul like nothing else ever would.

"Tomorrow I'll think about it all tomorrow" Scarlett whispered as she felt the train start to move. Looking out the window she saw the Train Station and the many people who were watching the train pull out. If brought her mind back to a different Train Station. And how she had watched Rhett train leave Atlanta a year ago now. That was the day she truly had lost Rhett it just had taken until now for it to become final in her heart and mind.

Tears wanted to be freed but Scarlett held strong and was about to turn from the window when she saw someone that much her grasp. There standing at the train platform was Rhett Butler his eyes locked on her forum.

Seeing him made Scarlett lose her battle against the tears and they came rush down. Why was Rhett here had he changed his mind? If only he had showed a few minutes earlier she could have gotten off the Train and asked him all these questions. Or was this Rhett's way of saying Goodbye without having to say those dreaded words aloud?

Whatever reason Rhett had come it was to late now. The train pulled out of the Station completely and with it Scarlett and her children left Charleston behind.

TBC…..