Chapter 2: Home
A/N: I decided to continue this story after all. Enjoy.
"Am I doing the right thing?" Scarlett asked to no one in particular as the carriage rolled away from Rhett and the house he had allowed her to build.
"Of course this was the right thing to do." Scarlett told herself. "Look at what he did to you. He would leave you and go to Belle's, leaving you home while Bonnie and he went to London and you mustn't forget you lost the baby because of him," Were the words that played within her mind.
"Mother, where are we going?" Bonnie's voice brought Scarlett back to reality.
Looking down at Bonnie Scarlett tried to hide the pain with a little fake smile "Back to Tara," How could she hide such a thing? A thing like this couldn't be hidden for long, before long talk would be going around Atlanta about how Scarlett had left Rhett. This was no different than him leaving to go to that Belle or…oh it just wasn't the same and Scarlett knew it.
"Where Aunt Suellen and Aunt Carreen live." Bonnie said with a smile. She had never visited Tara before. Her mother had told her countless stories about the home she and her sisters had been raised.
"Yes, darling, but Aunt Carreen doesn't live there anymore." Scarlett corrected her daughter as she saw her holding her little black and white kitten. That little kitten Rhett had given her when they went to London just two months earlier.
Not saying another word Scarlett silently slipped back into her thoughts, "But there were many times when Rhett was good to me. He let me make my childhood home Tara again. He brought me that new green bonnet for me during the war years, giving me whatever I wanted, until my heart was content." Scarlett pondered to herself, "Could my heart be content ever again?" She knew with ironclad certainty that' only time would be able to tell this.
"Mother, how long does it take us to get to Tara?" Bonnie asked already growing bored with her kitten. The kitten swatted at the tassel on Bonnie's traveling dress, as the child sighed. Her mother and she hadn't been in the carriage very long and she already wanted something else to do.
"About an hour, maybe a little longer," Scarlett answered as she placed Bonnie on her lap. Now was her chance to spend some time with her daughter. It was a chance she never got before, because of Rhett. He was always taking her places, giving her things to make her love him more and not she. Not this time, this time she was going to spoil Bonnie as much as she wanted. Even though she didn't show it even though she deserved her affection in the first four years of her daughter's life, she was going to now.
A small yawn escaped Bonnie's lips, while her eyes began to get heavy. "I think someone's getting sleepy." Scarlett said with a small laugh as she played with her daughter's fine, curly hair.
"No, I'm not tired mother," Bonnie protested However another yawn escaped just seconds later.
"By the time you wake up, we will be at Tara," Scarlett told Bonnie as she slowly rocked her back and forth. Rhett never had such a problem getting her to sleep. Why did she have to have such a hard time to get her to sleep? She wasn't Rhett. 'She wasn't worried, she knew within no time at all she would be the better parent.
"Alright, mother," Bonnie said giving in closing her eyes as she rested her head on her mother's chest. Scarlett pulled a small blanket from her bag and pulled it over them. The little kitten poked its head out and began meowing.
"Sorry kitten," 'Scarlett laughed softly so as not to disturb her sleeping child.
Should she have really left Rhett? Why of course she should have and that's what she did. Why was she asking herself such a question? She shook her head as if trying to physically dispose of the thought and to drive the man from her mind. She would think about it tomorrow, for tomorrow was another day.
The fog finally began to lift as the night wore on. The moon bright and high in the sky, while stars shone all around. While the moon spilled it's faint light onto the path leading her onwards, towards home.
Stirring a little Bonnie began to talk in her sleep. Telling her everything was okay and that she was right there, Scarlett kissed her forehead and told her to go back to sleep. Settling down, Bonnie's face became peaceful once again.
They were more than halfway to Tara by now. Before long they would be at Tara safe and sound. Laying her head back Scarlett shut her eyes and tired to catch some sleep as well.
Are you really doing the right thing? The words kept saying as Scarlett began falling into a light sleep…
"Where am I?" Scarlett asked aloud. Turing she saw a door just to the right of her. Pushing the door open ever so slightly as it made a small noise.
Just beyond the door was a very dark room. The room was so dark she didn't know where she was? She could barely see anything in front of her. Walking ever so slowly Scarlett tried not to run into anything as she wasn't sure where she was.
She never recalled having this dream before. No, she always had the dream that she was running in the fog after someone or something.
Stepping into the room a little farther she could see a fire lit in the corner of the room, However that did nothing to take the chill off that Scarlett was feeling as she got farther and farther into the room.
Just in front of the fireplace was a big chair with a small table along with two glasses and a bottle. The bottle was half drunk, one glass had liquor in it and the other had been knocked over and appeared to have spilled all over the table and floor.
It appeared to Scarlett that there was someone in the chair; someone rather large sat in it. Taking another step forward Scarlett held her breath as she tried to see who it was.
Step by step the floor began to creak and crack as she got closer to the chair and fireplace. Creeping ever closer Scarlett was about to reach out to touch the figure… When all of a sudden the carriage hit a bump and woke Scarlett from her slumber.
Scarlett felt her head thrust forward as the carriage hit a deep rut in the road. Shaking her head Scarlett looked around her to realize that they were just down the road from Tara.
What was that all about? That dream didn't make any sense. Who could the figure in the chair be? The room didn't look familiar either. Not thinking about it Scarlett let it slip from her mind. Looking down she noticed Bonnie still sleeping while the Kitten had curled up on the opposite side that Scarlett sat on.
A few minutes later they arrived at Tara. Opening the door a maid came out to greet them. "Take Bonnie up to Carreen's old room" Scarlett whispered to the maid as she handed Bonnie to her. Taking the sleeping child inside and up to the bed room, Scarlett, walked in a little after them, while Big Sam carried in the bags. Sighing ever so heavily Scarlett put a hand to her forehead.
"Ms. Scarlett, maybe ya better get some sleep as well." Farah said as she came down the steps.
"No, Farah, I'm not tired." Scarlett answered as she turned and looked at her. She was afraid to go to sleep in fear of what that dream might bring.
"Where are the rest of them? Where's Mr. Rhett?" Farah asked as she went over to the door to look out.
"He isn't coming, I-I left him." Scarlett said sitting in a nearby chair. "Mammy is still at Tara. She has no idea that I've left."
Farah didn't know what to say about such matter. She was shocked just like everyone else would be when they would wake in the morning.
Scarlett got to her feet and headed up stairs for a good night's rest. She must have been much more tired then what she thought she was. Being quiet Scarlett tried not to wake her sister and her family. Before heading to her old room she opened Bonnie's door. Peaking in Scarlett tiptoed in and tucked in her daughter. Before leaving she kissed her forehead and departed.
"Scarlett, what are you doing here?" Suellen's voice came within the hall.
Turing from the door Scarlett faced her sister. Not answering she walked to her old room. "Scarlett, what is it?" Suellen wasn't the one to ask such a thing, but for her sister to be here it must be bad.
Turing and looking at her Scarlett answered. "I will explain in the morning."
Walking into her old room she could recall so many memories within in this space…Getting ready for those Beaus's she had. The Tarleton twins were very fond of her, in fact she could recall it when they fought over which one would win her over. If Scarlett would have known both brothers were to die during the war years she would have told them she wasn't interested. Getting into bed Scarlett shut her eyes as the sound of heavy sleeping filled the home.
A/N: Scarlett's finally back at Tara the place she can call home. Is Scarlett doing the right thing? Will Bonnie love her more then Rhett? Review!