Title: Scarlett's Turn

Rating: PG for now

Author: Cutekitty74

Timeline: This begins shortly after Rhett's departure from Scarlett at the end of "Gone With The Wind."

Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters of "Gone With The Wind" , just the story line…

Feedback is appreciated. Please send comments to [email protected]

Thank you for reading my story, I hope that it you enjoyed it! Please be gentle this is the first Gone With The Wind story I have ever written!

The rain bit at her bare face as she watched the small casket laid to final rest. She watched the scene play out as Ashley threw himself toward the hole, only to be stopped by his sister. She had spent so many tears she felt she had no left for her best friend, her sister, but they came freely yet again. She turned and

walked away from the cemetery, from her past. Scarlett had one last reserve of strength left as she yet again closed her heart and would survive. She reached her carriage, climbed in and ordered the driver to take her to the train station. She would leave behind everything and start anew, start trying to raise the surviving children she had, try to live.

Had she turned she would have seen the stunned looks of the Old Guard as they watched her mask break, even for a moment. Perhaps Scarlett did have a heart and perhaps they had judged her wrong. She was ungodly pale and looked to have lost a considerable amount of weight. Had the mighty Mrs. Butler finally taken on too much, too much loss. Many watched the carriage disappear into the rain soaked day seeing that it did not return the direction that it had come, but instead away from it.

Another stood near an oak tree, away from the group of mourners also took note of her broken expression. He came not only to pay respect to a great woman, but to also see how Scarlett handled everything. He saw something the others could not, that the spark in her eyes was gone and he was partly to blame for that. He also noted what the others had, she looked like walking death. Had he caused this? Turning also from the cemetery he went in the opposite direction of his wife and returned to their home, his mind running trying to figure out what all it had meant. He was surprised that she did not try to stop Ashley, that she separated herself from the group. Mayhap he had judged her wrong yet again. He would give it time, they needed to think apart. His thoughts went to their parting words, she on the floor pleading with him to give her another chance declaring her love and he walking out. Had he even listened to the words she had said, their meaning, no he had been hurting like never before and chose not to see what her eyes told. He now stood at the threshold of their home. So many memories, some good, but mostly bad. He entered the house to find it ghostly silent. Making his way to her room, he hesitantly entered. Looking around he found all of her possessions in place. He entered her massive closet to find every dress hanging perfectly in place awaiting her choice. Then he thought back to how she was dressed at the burial, she was wearing a mourning dress, but not just any dress it was the one she had worn at Frank's funeral. Rhett had not noticed that at the time and had thought she had gotten rid of that dress years ago. None of this made sense, why would she leave without taking at least some of her things and why would she be dressed in something so obviously worn and old. The door opening downstairs caught his attention and he made his way back to the top of the stairs to see Prissy entering.

She jumped when she saw him "Mister Rhett yous scared me" she said in a half cry.

"I'm sorry Prissy I did not mean to startle you, but now that I have your attention do you mind telling me where everyone is?" asked Rhett in an unemotional tone. He would not give the servants, especially Scarlett's the pleasure of knowing if he was worried about her Mistress.

Prissy did not show any outward sign that his question should be out of place. She was quite aware of how he had left poor Miss Scarlett. She knew that Miss Scarlett was slowly going to kill herself if she didn't get away from here "Whys Mister Rhett she and the children done went home" she replied in an even tone.

Rhett stood there trying to make sense of the silly woman before him. He made his way down the stairs to stand in front of her "What do you mean home" he paused trying to bite down the emotion he felt building in his voice "this is their home." He now stood in front of the scared servant staring down at her.

Prissy tried to clear her throat and answered in a shaky voice "Mister Rhett she done said this ain't her home no mores and went to Tara" she silently prayed that she would not see the anger that her Mistress had just a few days prior.

Rhett said nothing, but his mind was once again a blur with thought "Of course she went home to Tara, that place is like healing medicine for her. Fine let her retreat there and I will give us some time apart, then we will talk, yes time that is all they needed. He once again turned his attention to the girl before him and spoke in a lighter tone "Are you here to collect her things then?" he questioned.

Prissy gulped and stared at the floor "Wells not exactly, she done sent me here for some of the children's things, she says she don't want anything that came of her time here" she dared to look up at him "I's sorry Mister Rhett, but that's all's I can say or she will tan my hide" Prissy took his moment of thought and snuck off to the back of the house before he could speak to her again.

Rhett stood for several minutes running the servant's words over and over again in his head. She had said Scarlett wanted nothing of her time here, so he had gone too far this time. He needed to get to Tara and straighten this out now or God knows what that woman would do, she was capable of anything she set her mind to. Hadn't he admired that in her for years and now he would be the victim of that irrational mind and it's choices. Rhett ran from the house to his carriage and ordered the driver to get him to the train station as fast as the horses could go.

From a window in the parlor stood Prissy with a smile upon her face "Well that serves him right" she thought "Miss Scarlett might not be the nicest woman in the world, but he needed to be brought down a peg or two" she turned from the window and made her way upstairs to the Children's room and began packing their clothing "Wells it ain't like I totally lied to him" she thought to herself as she once again justified her actions in her mind "Miss Scarlett did say she wouldn't need any of her fancy clothing" she paused smiling at herself "I's just didn't tell him that she kept simpler clothing at Tara." Prissy finished packing and turned to leave the mansion that she had called home for many years. She carried the bags to the bottom of the stairs and to the door. She turned and took one last look at the imposing home "I's think this is gonna be one lonely house from now on" she said just barely above a whisper before she left.

Scarlett arrived at Tara to see that the children were already to leave again. She had telegrammed ahead to Sullen to have their things packed and ready and that she had decided against staying at Tara for awhile. Ella ran to meet her mother as Scarlett made her way up the stairs of her once glorious home "Momma Momma" the child called "Momma is it true we are going on a trip."

Scarlett really looked at her daughter and saw how much the child had changed, she was becoming quite a beauty. Ella's eyes had darkened to the same shade of green as hers and her ginger hair had darkened to a deep blonde with slight red highlights. Scarlett thought to herself "Yes they were right, ugly babies do become beauties." Now finding her voice "Yes darling we are going on a long trip to visit relatives even your Mother hasn't met." Scarlett smiled at her daughter as she watched the child process this information.

Ella looked up to her mother "Oh Momma we will have a great adventure" with that she turned to run back to the house to say goodbye to her Aunt and cousins.

Wade stood on the porch watching the scene play out. He never saw his mother like this before. What ever Uncle Rhett had done had crushed her. His Mother in his eyes was a tower of strength. He had never witnessed his Mother cry before, and after seeing her break from what Rhett had done and with all the loss they had suffered he found a new respect for her, she was a caring person who just perhaps had a hard time showing it. He would make it up to her and make sure she never cried like that again. Finding his voice "Mother this will be good for all of us, won't it, I mean to get away from everything" he said in a quiet voice.

Scarlett looked upon her first borne with pride. He was turning into a fine young man. She held regrets with him the most for all the hardships and lack of attention she had shown him, but somehow she had managed to raise a marvelous son "Yes Wade and I would like to get going as soon as possible" she turned to the carriage still waiting "We have to get to Jonesboro and catch our train" turning back to him and seeing genuine happiness in his brown eyes "and hopefully by the end of the week we will begin our adventure on the ocean" she paused before meeting him full on "perhaps I will find myself and be the Mother to you and your sister that I should have been all along." Tears filled her eyes again and she still could not believe she had anymore to spare.

Wade rushed down the stairs and embraced his mother about the waist "Oh Mother I could not of asked for a better Mother on all of the earth" he looked up to her again "If you weren't so strong I don't know what would of happened to all of us and I don't ever want you to change." Scarlett held her son and said a silent prayer of thanks for this, this is what she needed, her family.

Clearing her voice and wiping away her tears "Well come on you silly goose we have to get going, now go and get your sister" she said with a genuine smile upon her face. Wade ran back into the house.

An hour and half later Scarlett and her children were taking their seats on the train to take them to Atlanta again and then to Charleston, from there they would board a ship to Ireland and away from Georgia and her problems forever. She would search out her Pa's family and hopefully find the peace she so desperately wanted. Her eyes clouded over in thought as she pondered where her small family would go as she called back to memory the tales her father had told so many years ago.

Wade turned to his mother to see she was lost in thought again. He would have to be the man of the Family now and take care of her, that is what she needed someone to look out for her instead of hurting her. Wade turned his attention to the window and watched the departing passengers from the train just arriving from Atlanta. His breath caught as he saw Rhett Butler stepping off the train. He pulled back from the window and drew the curtain closed.

Scarlett noticed this as she came back from her thoughts "Wade honey why did you close the curtain." she asked startled by his action. Wade so loved to watch all the people at the stations.

Wade gulped as he turned to his Mother "The rainy weather was making me sad" he lied and prayed his Mother bought it.

"Oh" was all Scarlett said.

Wade breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't want her to see Rhett there. What was the man doing, coming to finish his Mother off for good. No Rhett Butler would not hurt his Mother again if he could help it. He turned back to his Mother and let thoughts of Rhett retreat in his mind as his Mother began telling them tales of Ireland and all she knew of Grandpa O'Hara's family.

The train left the station and their adventure began.

Rhett never saw the boy in the window of the other train. His only thought was of Scarlett and trying to get to her before she did something "But what would she do" he questioned himself again. He was agitated at the thoughts that followed. "She would do something drastic, everything she does is dramatic" he mumbled to himself as he went in search of a horse for the ride to Tara. Something made him stop and take notice of the departing train. He stood for several moments with a feeling rushing over him, was there something on that train he needed. He shook his head "No Prissy said she was returning to Tara and to Tara I will go" he headed in the opposite direction of his wife yet again.

TBC