Author's note: this is the first story I'm doing that isn't about Charmed or some kind of Charmed cross over. Please read and review but first... a summary.

Summary: more than a century has past since the dissipation of the O'Hara-Butler marriage and the Atlanta mansion is home to Ella Kennedy's descendants. Ellen and Michael Harrington live with their four young daughters, Melanie, 21 and engaged to Austin West, 22; Victoria, 18; Kennedy, 16; and Cora, 14 years old. The four young women will grow up and handle the complications that come with falling in love as they learn more about their family history, while some of them learn from the mistakes of the past and others are doomed to repeat them.

*I am not incorporating the plot from the sequel to Gone With the Wind.

Things may seem as if they advance fairly quick in this story but it's because I want to cover a large amount of time. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read and review.

Victoria dusted off an old photo album as she rummaged through the boxes that she and her sisters had dug up from the family attic. They had been brought down to the dining room and left on the table for their convenience. Already the four girls had been through hundreds of pictures and had found a collection of journals from various ancestors, but it was this photo album that would uncover the most interesting of characters and unknown trivia about her family's past.

Victoria was the second born child of Ellen and Michael Harrington, and while all of her sisters were beauties it was Victoria who received everyone's attention the moment she walked into a room. Her long, flowing locks were like a pool of liquid onyx and her eyes the brightest, most captivating green that mesmerized all who gazed upon them.

Her sisters, Melanie, Kennedy, and Cora, were also sifting through boxes in the hopes of putting together a scrapbook of their family history for their mother's upcoming birthday. They were looking to find any and all birth certificates, wedding licenses and other documents that helped paint a picture of the lives that had been lead at their ancestral home in one of Atlanta's most impressive mansions.

"Oh, my God, y'all," Victoria exclaimed, "I think I hit the jack pot," the eighteen year old cried in excitement. Her sisters got up from their seats and crowded around her to get a look.

"It's not just a photo album," Melanie said. "It's some kind of ledger with household expenses and receipts, and look," the eldest commanded. "There are invitations for weddings and balls and every important social event from that era. Oh, Mama will love this!"

"But who are they," Cora asked. The baby of the family, Cora was fourteen years old and already just as pretty as her sisters. She had the most gorgeous red hair which she had inherited from her mother, the reigning monarch of the clan. Her eyes were brandy colored and she had the body of a ballerina, which of course she was. Their mother had insisted on plenty of after school activities and Cora was discovered to be extremely talented in dance.

"Scarlett Butler," Victoria read the script underneath one of the photos. "Look at the date listed," she told her sisters. "It's the same year as the house was built. This is exactly what we've been looking for."

Melanie nodded her head in agreement. "You're right, and since it seems like whoever put this together put an accurate family tree in starting from…Scarlett and Rhett Butler," she read off, "we should be able to outline the order of our scrapbook."

"Well, while you do that," Kennedy interjected, "I can scan the photos onto my laptop and we can make a hard copy for everyone in the family. They can be the party favors," the sixteen year old suggested.

"That's a great idea," Victoria said. "While you're both doing that maybe Cora and I can keep looking through the photos and the old journals for any exciting events. We'll also take notes so we can write little summaries about all of our ancestors."

"Great, let's get to do it," Mel agreed.

The girls worked through lunch and were glad that their father had taken their mother away for the weekend so that they didn't have to sneak around to finish their gift for their mother's surprise party. They had learned that Scarlett had left the house to her eldest and only surviving daughter Ella, and the O'Hara family plantation to her son, Wade.

They worked their way through journals and scanned excerpts into Kennedy's computer for a more authentic look. Cora had discovered that Scarlett was the first in a long line of unconventional women in their family line. Having been married three times, Scarlett had been the source of numerous rumors because of her ownership of a lumber yard and a long time torch she had carried for a distant marital relation that had supposedly ruined her third and final marriage to a man she would later claim was the true love of her life.

After almost three days of rushing through research and putting the scrapbook together, the girls were ready for the party preparations to begin. Their father had taken care of hiring the caterers and event organizer and they came to set up Sunday afternoon for the couple's arrival. Guests began to show up around a quarter to five and everyone was enjoying themselves when they heard the large iron gates at the driveway open.

"Everybody, hide," Melanie demanded and she and her sisters moved to a less conspicuous position. "Surprise," they yelled the moment their mother and father walked through the doors.

"Oh, my goodness," Ellen proclaimed. "What is all this?"

"It's your birthday party," Cora told her with a huge grin. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? It's wonderful! Girls, thank you so much," she said and moved to hug each one of her daughters. "Oh, it's beautiful!"

They moved around the house giving their mother a look at the festivities and the chance to mingle with her guests, mostly aunts, uncles and cousins. Soon, it was time for the birthday toasts and cake.

The girls had created a stunning power point presentation of the scrapbook they would be gifting their mom for all their guests to see. The girls had taken turns going over the different eras of their family history in the house with Melanie presenting the origin of the house after the civil war, Victoria the early nineteen hundreds through the 1940s, Kennedy covering the '50s through her mother's birth in 1973, and Cora went over their mother's life and accomplishments up until her 38th birthday.

After the presentation the music started up again and the girls were so happy with the way things had turned out. Melanie was talking to her cousin Charles when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she squealed with excitement when she realized it was Rafe. He picked her up in a bear hug and spun her around.

"What are you doing here," she asked him, "and where's Austin?"

"Your boyfriend is talking to your parents over there," the tall, muscular man told her. "I came along to keep you company while he's gone."

"Oh, Rafe," Melanie laughed, "I'm sure there are plenty of other girls you could be keeping company right now. God knows we invited every major family – and single girl— in Atlanta tonight for the celebration. Besides, didn't Austin tell me last week that someone was found in the Gamma Alpha Beta house after curfew and was accosted by the house mother?"

Rafe laughed whole heartedly. "What? You think it was me that was in the GAB house? You know better than to think I would set foot in such a residence," he said barely keeping a straight face and lost it completely when Melanie gave him a small tap and they broke out into a fit of laughter. They both knew he was exactly the type to step foot into the GAB house even though the sisters had a less then…virginal reputation.

"Ah, there he is," Kennedy said dragging Cora along. The two girls giggled as Rafe bowed to them.

"Well, as I live and breathe," Rafe said dramatically. "How did I get so lucky as to be surrounded by the Harrington girls?"

"Not all of us are here," Cora replied. "Where's Victoria?"

"Ah, yes. Where is dear Tori," Rafe asked looking around.

"If I know my sister she's waiting for you to leave," Melanie said.

The truth of the matter was that for as long as the Harrington girls had known Austin and Rafe that the girls had been infatuated with those boys, with the exception of Victoria. Almost immediately she and Rafe had taken a dislike to one another.

That had been four years ago, when Melanie was seventeen and Victoria fourteen. Their parents had spent the summer taken the two eldest girls on college tours all over Georgia and Victoria had bumped into Austin in the campus store. He didn't know she wasn't a student and had asked her out.

Victoria, however cute she thought the tall blonde was, had felt a vibe that just told her that Austin would be perfect for Melanie. She had set up a double date with him and Austin assured her that he had a friend for Melanie that would be just great. When they arrived at their movie Victoria did everything possible to divert Austin's attention to Melanie and it worked, but it didn't go unnoticed by Melanie's date, Rafe. Rafe recalled looking at the younger girl with amusement over Austin's and Melanie's heads, but if you had asked Victoria she would tell you that he had glared at her for her shenanigans.

Rafe looked around and saw Victoria talking to Mark Sheridan, another senior at her high school. Making his way to her, leaving her sisters grinning at his antics while anticipating what was to come.

Victoria flirted and batted her eye lashes as she laughed at Mark's jokes when all of a sudden she felt herself being pulled into someone and was being kissed stupid. At first she had pushed the person but after a moment her arms wrapped around them and she let every thought go out of her head.

"Hello, darling," Rafe said after he pulled his lips away but kept her wrapped in his arms. "And who might this be," he asked looking at Mark.

"Just a friend," Mark said. "I'd better go; I think I see Ingrid, anyway," he said and left to go see to the other girl.

Victoria gathered her wits about her and gave a quick hard slap to Rafe's chest. "What did you have to do that for?"

"Ah, did you have your eyes set on Mark? Looks like he favors Ingrid, though. I'm sure Austin would be pleased to see his little sister with such a fine young man," Rafe joked even as Victoria's eyes narrowed on him.

"You're such a hateful jerk," Victoria told him. "Why don't you go bother someone else?"

"Like who? Besides, you're the only girl I'm interested in," the twenty-two year old said with laughter in his eyes.

"Uh, just stay away from me, got it?" Victoria moved past him to go find her sisters who were crying their eyes out with laughter. "Stop encouraging him," she yelled at them. "He'll never leave me alone if you keep paying attention to him."

"You act like he's the biggest pain in the world," Cora said. "You know boys who tease girls just do it because they like them."

Victoria's eyes opened in shock and her sisters laughed even harder. "He doesn't do it because he likes me," she told them. "He does it because he's still mad at me."

"Mad at you for what," Melanie asked. "You've never done anything to him except treat him like he's not there. That's why he messes with you. Just try being a little nicer, he's really a great guy."

"He's mad at me for fixing you up with Austin and he's never forgiven me for that and now look what he did! He just scared Mark off and running to that silly twit, Ingrid. Who would ever believe that she's related to Austin? She's just awful."

"Victoria, be nice. She's going to be my sister-in law someday," Melanie said.

"More like that movie monster-in law," Kennedy said taking Victoria's side. "Let's be honest, she's always been jealous of Victoria. I mean, come on. Even after she campaigned so hard for home coming queen she still only got runner up."

"And Victoria didn't even try to run for it and she got it," Cora said. "Besides, you know how fake she acts whenever we have them over for dinner. Eh, she pretends to be so nice to me but did you know that she bought the dress she gave me for my birthday in a size too small on purpose? That's just evil."

"She did not," Melanie said. "I'm sure it was an accident."

"Psh! That's why I overheard her talking to Mary Kate about it, right," Cora asked.

"She didn't," Victoria exclaimed as an angry glint took to her green eyes. "I'll kill her!"

Victoria turned to look for the other girl and Melanie grabbed her. "No, leave it alone. All you can really do is kill her with kindness. Especially since you're all going to be my bridesmaids," she added under her breath.

"What," the other three girls cried.

"Now hush! She's Austin's little sister, alright. Just ignore her and I'm sure she'll return the favor."

"Well, at least we'll have sometime before the wedding happens. We can just ignore her until then," Kennedy said. "It's not like you set a date or anything."

Melanie began twisting her engagement ring as her sisters laughed and began joking. It was more than five minutes later when Victoria noticed this and gave her sister a little pat on the arm. "What's the matter? You're so quiet."

"We set the date," Melanie said with a small smile. "We're going to be married this June."

"But that's good news," Victoria said and gave her big sister a hug. "We were only kidding about Ingrid, right guys?"

"Yeah," Kennedy and Cora jumped in. "Besides, we can't wait to be bridesmaids," Cora said. "Just so long as the dress doesn't clash with my hair," she added.

Melanie laughed. "Good! I can't wait to be Mrs. Austin West, and to see him as I walk down the aisle," Melanie said wistfully. "And of course you'll be my maid of honor," she told Victoria. "I'll dress you girls in jewel tones, maybe emerald green or sapphire blue. I'll wear mother's wedding dress, of course, and the wedding will be here at the house."

"June's only ten months away," Kennedy reminded her. "How are we going to get everything done in time?"

"Don't worry about it, Ken. Mama will hire the best wedding planner out there and everything will be perfect for Mel," Victoria said.

"I still can't believe you're getting married," Cora said. "You'll only be twenty-two. You're so young," the redhead said.

"Mama was only seventeen when she got married and had me," Melanie reminded her younger sisters and pushed her caramel colored hair behind her ears. She had gotten it styled in an inverted bob with side bangs that made her look really posh and sophisticated. "Besides, when you meet the right person you'll never want anything but to be with them. Right, Victoria?"

"Why are you asking me," she asked and followed Melanie's gaze to see Rafe laughing with someone else, though he was staring at the Harrington sisters. Victoria turned her attention back to Melanie with a sour face. "The only bad thing about your marriage is him. Maybe, he'll go away to grad school and never come back."

Kennedy and Cora looked at each other with wide grins and Mel ran a gentle hand up and down her sisters back.

Victoria opened the door to the library and looked to make sure no one was in there. Sitting down on the Victorian settee, Victoria let her hair down and put her legs up.

The party was going on in full swing downstairs and being around so many people was sapping her energy. She started to relax when she heard the door open and shut behind her. Turning, she let out of breath of frustration as she saw the one person she wanted to see the least.

"Running away, my dear Victoria? I didn't peg you as a coward," Rafe said as he walked his way to sit directly across from her in an old arm chair.

"And what would I be running away from, other than you?"

"You just answered my question," he said; his voice losing its joking manner as it became more dangerous in nature.

Rafe reminded her of one of those lion cubs raised in captivity. They would play with you and give you kisses and the next moment they were ripping out your throat with their teeth. It was unsettling. Especially now that Rafe wasn't taking his eyes off of her and she had no idea what he was possibly looking at.

Standing, Rafe took her by the arms and lifted her until she was wrapped in his arms.

"What are you doing," she said and tried to squirm her way out.

"What I should have done months ago," he said and kissed her again. It was hard at first as his mouth crushed her lips to his, but after a minute her reserve softened and she sunk into his kiss and his arms. It was certainly the most peaceful and enjoyable time they had spent together.

"Tell me you love me," he said in between kisses.

"Um hmm," was her response as she dragged him closer to kiss him again.

"Tell me you'll marry me."

"Um hmm," she murmured.

"Tonight?"

Victoria pushed apart, one hand still resting over his heart as she looked up into his eyes. "Are you serious? We've known each other for four years and this is the first time we've been alone together without one of us sustaining injuries," she reminded him.

"We only hurt the ones we love," he told her and placed his palm on her cheek before kissing her again.

"Alright," she said as the haze began to clear from their latest kiss. "But where will we go?"

"Where everybody in love goes," Rafe told her. "Vegas," he said and led her out of the library and down the stairs undetected, weaving in between guests as they made their way out the large front door into the night.