Oh, thank you for the reviews! I just wanted to tell you all that Scarlett and Rhett are going to have their meeting, I'm just building a bridge to get to it. Let's call it suspended anticipation, lol. After all, what is a GWTW fic without Scarlett and Rhett??? It's coming, but when? I don't know, but it's coming that much I promise you.

The Journey Home

Chapter Nine

Wedding Day

The day of Careen and Noah's wedding was cool but clear. Every family in the county came for the celebration, as it had been so long since there was reason to celebrate. Scarlett had spared no expense in making the event spectacular. Tara gleamed as never before with her high walls pristinely whitewashed, the windows sparkling clean and the lawn neatly manicured. Greenery and bustles of colorful flowers were draped along the balcony and windows giving the house an air of delicacy that Scarlett knew would make her mother proud.

Mammy could hardly contain her pleasure at seeing Miss Ellen's home almost back to the way it was. She and Scarlett had helped Careen dress that morning in the gown that Scarlett had commissioned for her. She was gloriously beautiful in the flowing white folds of silk and taffeta and Mammy's pride was bursting at the seams.

"It shore do make me proud to see mah lambs so happy," she beamed. "Miss Careen, you's mighty pretty today."

"Thank you, Mammy and thank you, Scarlett. How can I ever repay you for what you've done?"

"Fiddle dee dee, Careen. You don't have to repay me. I'm doing this because I want to. I'm doing it to make Ma and Pa proud."

"I just can't believe this day is here. It's like a dream come true."

"I know Miss Ellen's lookin' down ret now and smilin' from ear to ear. I's ain't been dis happy in a long time."

It made Scarlett feel good to see Mammy so happy after all the years she knew she had been unhappy living in Atlanta. She intended to see to it that Mammy's days were filled with happiness from now on. She was getting on in years and Scarlett would see to it that her load was easy to bear for the rest of her life.

After finishing dressing Careen and all the preparations were finished, it was time to start the wedding. Scarlett sat in the front row along with Cathleen and her husband and watched as Careen came down the aisle. Her eyes shone bright with love as she joined Noah at the altar. They repeated their vows, Noah placed a simple gold band on her finger and before their family and friends, Careen and Noah became man and wife. After the cursory kiss, they turned to the guests, beaming with joy and happiness.

Scarlett's own joy for her sister was in abundance. She was glad that Careen had found a good man in Noah and that she hadn't been foolish like she herself had been. She had all the love she would have ever needed in Rhett but like the fool she was, she had done precisely what he predicted she would do… she had taken her happiness and thrown it away with both hands.

Now Rhett wanted a divorce from her. Divorce! The word sounded vile and it was vile, no one she had ever known was divorced. She didn't want that to happen, not when she knew she hadn't even had a chance to try and win him back. No, no, no, she thought, I will not let Rhett divorce me. He still loves me, I know he does. I'm not giving up that easy. I may have lost him for now, but I will not give him up. I just won't.

Pasting a smile on her face, she clapped as the happy couple made their way down the aisle. She would not allow the sad memories she carried with her to cloud Careen's day. Turning toward the back to watch them, she spotted Ashley standing the watching her as she watched them.

He smiled softly and nodded. Poor Ashley, she thought, even on this day he looks misplaced. Although his face had lost some of the haunted look he carried with him in days following Melly's death, she could see where he had lost weight beneath the coat he wore. It fairly hung on his shoulders giving the appearance of it wearing him rather than him wearing it.

Following the guests, Scarlett came up to him. He immediately took her hands and warmly kissed her cheek.

"Scarlett, how lovely you look," he commented as he held her back to observe her gown. She had chosen a peach satin with ruffles along the bodice that was peppered with small clusters of peach and ivory flowers swooping up to her shoulders.

It was demure in style and yet grand enough to compliment her beauty rather than stifle it. "Thank you, Ashley," she responded.

"I see you have brought your Tara back to life and how grand it is. Everything is beautiful, Scarlett. Mr. O'Hara would certainly be proud of what you have done here. I know I am."

"This is how Tara should always be and shall always be as long as I'm alive to see to it."

"You always were strong and brave, I have always admired that about you, you know. You, who had the strength I never possessed. Do you see what you've accomplished, Scarlett? You've done more and come further than anyone I know and because of it, we're standing here today."

"Ashley, let's not drone on about that," she said slightly embarrassed by his accolades. It was so strange to feel that way considering that at one time she would have died a hundred deaths to hear those words from him. "You will stay for the party, won't you?" she asked to change the subject from herself.

"Perhaps for a bit. It seems I have come at a good time to say goodbye as the entire county is here."

"Goodbye?" she repeated. "So, you really are leaving for Virginia?"

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Yes, my dear, I am. I must take Beau away from here. If we stay with Aunt Pitty we will be smothered, with good intentions mind you, but smothered nonetheless. India has agreed to stay with her, which is just as well."

"I'm glad for you, if this is really what you want."

"It is, for you see, if I stay I will be forever haunted by the memory of Melly and Scarlett, that is something that is too hard to bear right now. I need peace and I can't find it here, unless…" he paused and broke eye contact from her, lowering his head.

"Unless what?"

Ashley shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Never mind, it's not important right now. You have guests to attend to and I've taken too much of your time. But Scarlett, there is something I would like to speak to you about, something more private than I can discuss right now."

Never one who liked to be kept in the dark, Scarlett frowned. "What is it, Ashley? Is there something wrong that I'm unaware of?"

"No, no, my dear, nothing like that. Later…" he patted her hand and stepped away from her. She watched him for a moment and sighed. How strange life was, she thought. She had wanted him for years and now… well, now she was glad he was leaving for Virginia. It was a relief to her to be free from the obligation she had promised Melly.

Scarlett lifted her skirts and headed for house away from the crowd that had gathered a little further down by the creek where the party was. It was decided to have it there as it was so much cooler beneath the trees next to the water. She wanted to freshen up a bit before joining Careen and Noah and her guests, but she had no more rounded the steps when a buggy came trotting up the drive. Stiffening, Scarlett's mouth drew tight when she saw Suellen and Jonas through the windows.

Fury fumed within her at the sight of them. She redirected her course to the front steps, waiting for them to bring the carriage to a stop.

"Just what are you doing here?" she snapped at them before they even opened the door.

"Careen is my sister, too," Suellen's pouty voice carried her from the buggy to the ground in front of Scarlett. Jerkily smoothing out her dress, she narrowed her eyes on her face. "You just think you're the queen around here, don't you? You don't own any more of Tara than I do, so don't you forget that, Scarlett."

"You weren't invited and you aren't wanted here, so take your trashy husband and get off this property."

"Look here, madam-" Jonas started angrily, but Suellen sushed him with her hand.

"I will not leave here! You don't know how humiliating it is to have hear that my own sister is getting married and I wasn't made aware of it until this very morning. I am still a part of this family and I will not be treated this way."

"Do you think I would have you here to ruin Careen's day? You, whose claim to this family is the very epitome of humiliation. You aren't wanted here, nor is your Yankee husband. The both of you make me sick. You aren't fit to even step a foot on this porch! Now leave!"

"I hate you, Scarlett, how I despise you. How dare you think you can order me around like that. I can go anywhere I please and there isn't one thing you can do to stop me."

Scarlett's anger erupted within her as it always did where Suellen was concerned. "Suellen, heed my words or rue them. If you don't leave right this minute I will make it my mission in life to ruin you and don't think I can't do it. Whatever piddly means you have doesn't even begin to compare to the power and wealth I have and I will break you."

"Are you threatening me?" Suellen's faced paled at Scarlett's contemptuous words.

"Take it as you please," she answered coldly.

Jonas' eyes bulged from his hawkish face at the audacity Scarlett presented. "Madam, I take offense at your use of threat to my wife. She is rightful owner to this land just as you are."

"I'll thank you to keep out of this, Jonas Wilkerson. Just because you're idiot enough to marry her doesn't give you any airs around here. You'll never get your dirty hands on one piece of this place."

"How dare you!" he stormed.

"Scarlett, is there a problem?" Ashley's cool, smooth voice came up behind her. "I thought I heard talking out here."

Turning to him, she smiled acidly. "Yes, Ashley, it seems my sister and her husband have come uninvited. They seem to think they have a right to be where their company is unwanted and undesirable to decent people."

"Decent people!" Suellen hissed. "You are one to talk of decency with all you have done. And, how convenient that Ashley Wilkes is here to defend you. I'm sure you two have been quite busy since Melanie has been gone. I'm sure she was barely cold in her grave before you pounced on him like the she-devil you are."

Scarlett heard Ashley's intake of breath beside her. White hot rage gripped her as she bound down the steps toward Suellen. With all the force she could muster, she cracked her hand against Suellen's shocked face, sending her screaming and stumbling backwards into the carriage.

"You hateful cow! Get out of here before I kill you!"

Hot angry tears spilled down Suellen's red cheek. "I will not!"

"You will!" she grabbed her by the arm and pushed her toward the carriage door. "If you dare speak another fowl word against Ashley or me or Melly ever again I'll see to it that you'll never step foot in this county as long as you live! Melanie Wilkes was more of a sister to me than you ever were and I loved her more than I've ever even liked you for all that you're my kin!"

A strong hand gripped her arm and swung her around. "Take your hands off my wife," Jonas growled angrily at her.

She went to jerk her arm free from his grasp when it was suddenly jerked free before she could move. Ashley's pale but stormy face was barely inches from Jonas', his voice cool but firm.

"I think it's time to take your wife away from here, Wilkerson. I think enough has been said and done and I know you'll agree with me."

Jonas stared stonily at him while Suellen's whimpering cries were coming from behind them as she stumbled back into the carriage. "Let's go, Jonas!"

"I think you're wife is ready now," Ashley gave a short, hard nod of his head. "One more thing before you do. If you ever lay another hand on Mrs. Butler again, it will be the last thing you ever do in this life."

Ashley's words were hard as flint and Jonas's eyes flinched a moment before he finally jerked free from him and stalked around to the opposite side. With a loud crack of his walking stick, he hit the roof for the driver to move.

In one bound, the carriage was on its way leaving a trial of dust behind it as it moved down the driveway.

"Are you alright?" Ashley asked her softly as he came over to her.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied and watched with seething anger as her sister drove away. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, Ashley."

"Don't be, I'm not. I can't allow anyone to speak to you that way, my dear."

Scarlett looked over at him. "She had no right to say those things, but I don't expect any less from Suellen. She's always been a brat and that will never change."

"I find it hard to believe Suellen has married that man, I never cared for his brand of cowardice. He's an unscrupulous ruffian from all I know of him."

"And that's exactly why I will find a way to keep them away from Tara. Sister or not, she's thrown herself in the gutter and I've washed my hands of her."

"I hope they didn't upset you too much. I would hate to see the day ruined for you."

"I'm fine. I suppose I look a fright, though. I had better go straighten myself up and get back to Careen before she wonders where I am."

"Very well," he said and took her arm as he led her to the front door. "This may not be the most opportune time, but please, don't forget our talk, Scarlett," he opened the door for her as she stepped in.

"You still won't tell me what it's about?" she asked, perplexed at his mysterious tone.

"When we talk," he assured her, bowed and stepped away from her. "I'll see myself to the back."

God's Nightgown! she thought uncharitably as she went up the stairs to her room. First my stupid, silly sister tries to ruin Careen's wedding and now Ashley's keeping secrets. What else is going to happen to me today?