Author's Note:

I haven't written a fanfiction for a looooong time now. I had rather thought those days were over and left behind with the other things I did when I was younger. However, my love for Gone with the Wind had been rekindled and with it my need for closure. So here it is, I'll try to update frequently, please try to review! Thanks!

Disclaimer:

I do not own the storyline of characters of Gone with the Wind, they belong entirely to Margaret Mitchell. I use them only as inspiration to base my own story off of.

Chapter I

Scarlett awoke to the stillness that is a summer morning. It was as hot as it was dry, and at some point in the night she had managed to kick all the sheets off her bed. She allowed herself a moment to adjust to the sunlight streaming in through her curtains before ringing the bell for Mammy. Today was a big day. Today was the day she was going to get her childhood sweetheart to propose to her. After all, a marriage between herself and Rhett Butler had practically been arranged from the day she was born. Granted, he had a notorious reputation for his acts of ill-repute and he was several years older than her, but she knew that he would make a good husband.

She had realized she loved him two years ago, shortly after he left for one of his trips to Charleston. The proverb "distance makes the heart grow fonder" had proved correct in her case, because the terrible distress that followed his departure had been what finally proved his grip on her heart. Prior to that, she had merely been swept away by the grand picnics they frequented together and the many waltzes he held her during. But it was an undeniable fact, she was absolutely and hopelessly in love with the swarthy, scandalous man that was Rhett Butler.

She was an ever proper lady, but Scarlett was not unaware as to how her charms affected Rhett. And for that reason, she had set her mind on wearing a dress that was not entirely picnic-appropriate. But she cared little about what the neighbors would think, the deep green accents were just the thing to bring out her own emerald eyes, and the low-cut bosom surely wouldn't hurt. She would have to fight Mammy on it, but was prepared to eat a whole breakfast muffin as a bribe. One muffin, she had decided, would little affect her seventeen inch waist.

Nearly an hour later, the O'Hara clan had finally managed to load themselves into their carriage. Even as the possibility of war coursed through the south, pleasantries such as today's grand barbecue were frequent and largely attended. Mr. O'Hara was not one for toying with the issues of war, it was a young man's fight and he was no longer the lively thing that had snatched the beautiful Ellen Robillard from Charleston. Still, he was always ready to proclaim his undying love for the south and supply the other men with his irish potato whiskey. The thought of the growing angst between the north and the south had hardly occurred to him today, because he greatly anticipated the marrying off of his eldest daughter. Life without his strong-headed, irish-blooded Katie Scarlett would be dismal and dull, but as a father he wanted to see all his children happily and safely settled down. Especially Scarlett, who he feared would scare all of her beaux off with her monstrous temper and frequent mood swings.

As the carriage moved towards Twelve Oaks, and the smell of simmering meats drifted across the fields of cotton, Mr. O'Hara decided to broach the subject. "So what do you think, my Katie Scarlett, is today the day your Mr. Butler asks me for your hand?"

"Oh Pa, how you do go on!" Scarlett replied, but he could see the faint blush creeping across her cheeks, and her turned towards his wife and winked. Surely today would be the day, for war was on the horizon and who knew how much longer their little utopia would last.

As they approached the festivities, Scarlett could have leaped out of the carriage with anticipation. She was too confident in her charms and beauty to even consider the possibility that Rhett might not propose, and she was ready to have the whole affair over with. Sure enough, as they approached she could make out the tan face and the onyx eyes that belonged to her Rhett, who she could tell was eagerly awaiting her arrival. His eyes, she thought, were so deep and dark one could easily get lose themselves in them.

"Ms. Suellen, allow me," Rhett said politely, as he helped Scarlett's plain, unremarkable sister out of the carriage, before handing her off to the equally plain and unremarkable Frank Kennedy. It was truly a mark of his good character, at least in Scarlett's mind, how kind he was to such a nondescript creature.

"Ms. O'Hara, you look as stunning today as I believe you ever have," Scarlett blushed under his compliment, noticing how his dark eyes seem to pull in every aspect of her appearance, from her low bodice to her recently pinched cheeks.

"Good day Mr. Butler, might I say you too are looking well," it was always a game with Rhett, she could never let him know how much she truly enjoyed his company, and in return he must always let her know exactly how much he enjoyed her appearance.

Laughing the hearty, resounding laugh that he did, her folded her dainty hand into his well muscled arm and began escorting her towards the rest of the party. Behind them, Scarlett's youngest sister Carreen had accepted the arm of one of the Tarleton twins, but Scarlett was far too enamored to grieve the loss of one of her own suitors. In fact, at that moment it seemed as if everything was quite perfect.