I want to apologize for any racist names that are said during this story toward African Americans. This is, of course, a Civil Way story and although the Civil War was about States' Right it was also about Slavery. Some of the Characters in this story will refer to the slaves as 'Darkie(s)'. Please do no flame for this. Thank you for understanding.

The hot sun of the June day radiated onto the guests of Willow Creek with a vengeance. The summer at the large plantation had been almost unbearable with it's constant heat waves and terrible thunderstorms. Although the pure water from the sky promised a good year of growth for the cotton planted throughout the fields, the humidity was dreadful for both the ladies and gentlemen who resided in the small county.

Below an old willow with it's branches draped over it's thick trunk sat a belle surrounded by some of the most well known and handsome gentlemen within a twenty mile radius. Her shining gold hair poured down onto her perfectly shaped shoulders and plentiful bosom like rain on a warm spring day. It's soft waves graced her mid back tempting any man present to take it into his fingers to feel it's silky texture and her eyes were pools of water that had been undisturbed for eons. Bellow her daisy yellow twelve hoop dress with it's white and sky blue ribbons and lace was skin the color of ivory, completely untouched by freckles nor blemishes. She was beautiful and no man denied it.

"Ah do declare, Mr. Anderson, you do seem to get handomah and handsomah everahtime Ah see you! Are you trying to make this poah little Southern belle jealous by courting mah little sistah?" Her southern drawl charmed Anderson into a stutter as well as the death gripping stares that were sent his way by the other's who were sitting and waiting for the lovely girl to give even a moments notice..

"Wh-Why, no, Miss Serena. Ah wouldn't dahe try to make a pr-pretty thang like you jealous. Ah just.. uhh..." Poor Mr. Anderson sank into his shy way of curling up into a little ball when women talked to him. He was the one men always seemed to pick out from the herd to hunt before tearing him to pieces.

"Don't bothah with this old fool, Miss Serena. He couldn't talk his way out of a papah bag. Besides he won't be around much longah, isn't that right, Anderson? He'll be goin' off to wah soon. Signed up early this mornin'." A long jawed man standing to her side said with animated gestures. "And us othah fine gentlemen will be stayin' right here, making sure everah one of your wishes come true."

Serena turned to Anderson with a pouting expression splashed all over her face. "Mr. Anderson this can't be true, can it? Your not goin' off to fight those horrible Yankees, are you? I couldn't bare it if you were killed." She clutched her hands in a teasing manner. She had no real feelings for the cowardly pup, but like all southern girls her age, unmarried, and beautiful she had been taught by her mother to always act like she was interested in a gentleman, to always be kind and gentle, and to always act as if the gentleman was smarter and wiser then she was. This was hardly the case, however, for there was hardly one gentlemen in the county who had graduated from college.

Frightened as a child Mr. Anderson tried to recompose himself before looking back up to the lovely girl that sat beside him. "Miss Serena, This wah will be ovah soon. You don't have to worry that pretty little f-face of yours..." He was quickly cut of the fast talking, long faced gentlemen that had humiliated him before.

"No, Miss Serena... You don't have to worry that pretty face of yours one bit. Mr. Anderson will be crying back for his mama a week after he leaves for Virginia." He paused as the other men laughed at Anderson's expense. "Now, may Ah have the honah to waltz with you this evenin'. Or have you promised them all to Mr. Campton? Please tell me you have at least one Waltz free for me?"

Serena blushed when Andrew Campton's name was spoken. Although it wasn't proper for a gentleman to bring up the interest of one lady to a gentlemen this plantation son seemed to be all out of manners. "Why, suh, you are no gentleman if you expect me to answer a questions like that. I will not save one Waltz for you nor any of the othah men here who have not come to mah defense for such rudeness. Save you, Mr. Anderson, I will gladly waltz with you this very night."

The men seemed to growl as she had turned all of their hopes of waltzing with her to just dreams that would never come true. Although they would have been true gentlemen if they had come to the lady's defense it was well known knowledge of Serena's infatuation with Andrew. Serena was simply in love with the fool, although he paid her no real attention. But as it was common knowledge of Serena's passion for the man it was also common knowledge of his fastness toward women, a trait many women were unaware of.

The morning slipped quickly away as other guests were greeted and led to the back of the large Plantations house for the barbeque. The house was gorgeous in all of it's glory. There was not one side of it that was not covered in red brick and not one window was not accompanied by dark green shutters and lovely hand made glass. On the front lawn of the house was a path that stretched a mile where horses and carriages road to meet the plantation. To either side of the path were Willow trees as old as when the first settler had come to the Americas and under their weeping branches was a well manicured lawn with no weeds nor dry spots. To the back of the large home was a lovely veranda that looked out onto an open area where many could sit for an outside party and beautiful gardens filled with roses, magnolia trees, and other suck flowers. Beyond the gardens was a creek that ran across the plantation which weaved through even more willow trees and beyond that was another 200 acres of prosperous cotton fields. Yes, Willow's Creek was something to be proud of.

Serena entered the great plantation home smiling with her little sister. She was quickly stopped by Mr. Anderson, who ran up to her and took hold of her arm. He saw the flaw in his action as soon as he glanced at her face and released her. It was very rude to touch anyone while speaking to them. "Ah'm sorry, Miss Serena" He said as his eyes hit the black and white marble tiled floor. "Ah didn't mean-"

Serena smiled kindly as she looked upon dear Anderson. "It's quite alright, Mr. Anderson." She paused as his eyes regained their excitement and he looked her straight in the eyes. Something he had not done all day nor any time during his life to any woman. "Now, you wanted to speak to me about something?"

"Well y-yes, I did. Is it true that you are goin' to let me waltz with you? That you are going to decline all othah invitations by those gentlemen this mornin'?" He smiled like a child being given a sweet by he's Mammy. "Because if it's true... I would be honored to dance any waltz that is not filled, Miss Serena."

Serena looked to her sister, who had been quite interested in Mr. Anderson for some time. When she saw the saddened look and her blue eyes hit the floor Serena had had enough. Her sister would not feel this way on her account. "Mr. Anderson, although Ah am deeply honahed by your request... Miss Mina is a far bettah dancah than Ah. And Ah'm sure that she would be glad to fill her book with your name."

Mina's blue eyes lifted from the marbled tile back up the gentleman's face. "Oh... Yes, Mr. Anderson... That is, if your askin'?" She let a few golden curls fall over her shoulders onto her pink and lavender gown. She was about an inch shorter then her 5'6" sister but just as endowed. She batted her eyes are the gentlemen the way her sister had taught her.

Mr. Anderson stood aghast for Mina was the real woman that he had loved and for her to accept any dance that he would ask for made him happier then a field hand with new clothing. "M-Miss Mina, of course, Ah'm asking you. Ah would love to dance everah waltz with you... Do you have any spots left?"

Mina's complexion brightened as she responded, "Yes, Ah do believe I do."

@)~~~~}~~~~~

After having a short conversation with Mr. Anderson Serena and Mina finally made it to Serena's bedroom for their mid day nap. By the time they had gotten through the white double dorrs the entire room was filled with girls and their personal maids. Both of the girls rushed over to Serena's bed to make sure that it was saved for the two of them.

"Where in the world have you two been?" Asked Luna, their maid. "Your won't believe how hawd it is to make sure your bed hasn't been taken by one of these ladies. They're beasts." She laughed as she helped Mina out of her pink frock.

Serena hushed Luna as soon as she had finished her last statements. "Do you want to get yourself in trouble! If any of the girls here hear you calling them beasts they'll report you to their fathers and you know what would happen after that?!" She scolded, although she had wanted to laugh. The girls were beasts when it came to something they wanted.

Luna was a pretty little thing standing at 5'2. She didn't have the same dark skin as most slaves for her's was light enough to mistaken her for a white girl. She was a half breed, half white half darkie. Her eyes were a dark brown and her lips were larger showing of her black side and her hair was light brown and curly reminding everyone one who saw her that she was half white. Luna and both the girls were well aware of their kinship for Luna's father was their father and when they were not in public they treated each other as such, sisters.

Luna took both of the girl's dresses and put the one that belonged to Serena while taking the other in her hands and getting ready to take it back to Mina's room, across the hall. "Is there anything else Ah can do for you before I go, Miss Serena? Miss Mina?" She got no's from both of them and she was off.

@)~~~~}~~~~~

Serena arose from her peaceful sleep finding most of the girls already getting ready for the ball that would be taking place shortly. She glared at her sister the younger girl went through her dresses and helped herself to putting on one of Serena's favorite satin gowns. "Ah would have let you barrow one if you had asked me before hand... But since you did not... Ah'm not goin' to let you." She raised an eyebrow at her sister in a playful way who returned the look with utter sorrow.

"Oh, please, darling, let me weah this one. It looks so good on me and Mr. Anderson has asked me to waltz with him... Thanks to you." She paused as she saw her sister consider it. "You are a darling, and your beautiful and intelligent and since you are all of these things you would of course let me barrow this lovely thing that does not compare to your looks." She knew she had her then.

"Oh you are a little wretch!" Serena said playfully. "Fine Fine, but I sweah to the God Almighty that if you return it with one stain or rip I'll send you to the Yankees myself and let them have with you."

Mina smiled as she looked herself in the mirror a few more times. "Ah think you should weah that one, Sistah." She pointed her little finger at a beautiful satin crimson gown that hung in the armoire. "You would look beautiful in it."

Serena gave a smile as she walked up to the ball gown in her undergarments. "Ah think I will weah that one."

@)~~~~}~~~~~

The ball had begun as soon as the hot Georgia sun had hit the horizon. Serena had made her way into the room with her sister without a flaw when they had finished dressing and were deemed ready to charm any man present.

The elder of the two girls was halfway into the ballroom when she was bombarded with the men that had been promised no dances that afternoon. She reassured them that they would not get one dance from her that night and sent them on their not-so-merry way.

After the thwart of men had been shooed she found herself quite bored until Andrew Campton made his way through the large doors of the ball room and looked her way. He walked steadily with a look in his eyes that she had not seen on him before. He smirked and when he got close enough to her, bowed. "Why deah Miss Serena, You look simply ravishing in that crimson dress. Ah might just have to get down on one knee right now and propose." His drawl had the most charm she had ever heard from another man.

Andrew Campton was the most handsome man in the county. All the woman desired him and not one despised him. His light brown hair hung in his eyes like a child's hair might and his body was harder then any other man around. He had snake green eyes and a lovely face for a gentleman. His only downfall of course was his reputation towards women that only the men knew about. It was a complete secret which worked to his advantage. Not one woman he slept with would tell a soul he had done so for his temper was too great to want to marry and the men that knew of his fastness would not bring it up for the sympathy of the ladies he took advantage of.

"May I have this waltz, Miss Serena?" He took her hand without waiting for a response and led her to the dance floor. She was too dumb founded to reply so they started to dance Silence reaped the first half of the song before Campton finally asked, "How old are you, Miss Serena?"

"Oh, Mr. Campton..." She knew it was improper for a gentleman to ask such a question and for a lady to answer but she did so just the same. "Ah'm 17. Why does it mattah?"

"It doesn't." He replied. "Ah was just curious. Can't a man be curious?"

"Well I suppose so... to an extent."

The rest of the ball went off swimmingly with dinner being served promptly at seven and the guests enjoying themselves with all the wine and food that they could drink and eat. Serena had spent almost the entire night with Andrew who seemed to know all of the guests as old friends. She smiled and said "hello" to all those she wasn't acquainted with until one women dressed all in dark green approached her. "My dear Serena, I do believe it is about time that this party be over. It's almost twelve and there's going to be a fox hunt in the morning. None of the women here are going to want to deal with a angry husband when he does not want to wake." Her accent was of pure Yankee which made Serena's ears want to burst.

"Yes, Step Mother, then we will announce the end of the party and part with our guests." She smiled a fake smile before going to the end of the long ball room and taking a glass from one of the darkies who walked about with champagne and clanging it with a piece of silverware to get everyone's attention. "Mah deah guests, My Step Mother, Sister and Ah thank you for taking part in today's festivities but we must end this ball for there is a fox hunt at Moss Neck tomorrow morning."

All of the guests seemed to quickly understood and started making their way to their hats, gloves, and shawls then the door. Serena rushed to the exit to the side of her sister and step mother to say farewell. In the midst of wishing everyone a good night she was pulled aside by a mysterious person. Serena had not time to see whom it was until she stopped in the dining room with only the moonlight for visibility. Never the less she did see who it was at last. "Mr. Campton, Ah hope you had a good time tonight and wish you good luck at th-"

Andrew's mouth hit Serena's with more force than a steam engine. He held her arms tightly to pull her against his body making her moan in pain. Finally he let go. "Miss Serena, Ah had a fabulous time tonight and hope to see you soon again. May I come callin'?" He asked with a little smirk across his lips.

"O-of Course." Were the only two words that she could muster from her lips.

"You bettah get back to your guests, Miss Serena."

She nodded.

@)~~~~}~~~~~

The long day had finally ended. Both Serena and Mina were heading to their rooms to sleep when yelling was heard outside of the house. Serena stopped her yawning sister and turned to open the door. To her surprise one of the darkies road up onto the front driveway in a wagon. He yelled loudly for other's attention. "Shhhh, Ya field hand! You have some nerve coming to the house. Now git before Ah send my father a note that you've been disturbing' his family."

"Aw, no, Miss Hamilton. Don' do dat. Ah's don good. Ah's gone t'sell some cotton when wat does Ah's see? Wat does Ah's see? Dis white gentman on de road. He's don got's himself shot... Oh Miss Hamilton... He's gone got himself shot good. He hit his head too, Miss Hamilton." The darkie yelled with more energy in a field hand then she had seen in a log time.

Serena's stepmother ran down the stairs in her night robes to fast she almost knocked her stepdaughter down. "What's going on here?" She had a pistol in her hand.

Serena walked up to the wagon and then to the back of it where there was a blanket and under it a male form. "Darkie... Come here and get this blanket off of him. I want to see him before we bring him into the house."

"Yasm, Miss Hamilton." The slave did as he was told and walked to the back of the wagan that seemed about ready to crumble. He took the brown homespun blanket off of the male form to unveil a dark haired beauty of a man if it weren't for the gash on his head and the dried blood all over his body.

She looked closer to find his uniform blue! "Stupid field hand!" She yelled so that all could hear. "You've brought a Yankee to Willow's Creek. You'll get a wuppin' for this!" She rose a hand to hit him but stopped. She never liked nor had the courage to hit anyone not even a darkie.

The Yankee stepmother let out a breath of relief and went closer to the man in the wagon. She checked his pulse and whether he was breathing. "He's still alive. Let's take him in and clean him up."

Serena turned from the darkie to her stepmother with terror and fire in her eyes. "Ah will not allow a Yankee into this Confederate house! Darkie, take him down the road and bash a rock into his head. One less Yankee will do all of us some good." Although she wasn't particularly found of ordering someone to their death she knew that taking him in would be treason against the Confederate Army.

"You will do no such thing. I am the Mistress of this house and as such I have control over what goes on here. You, sir, will take this man up into the blue guest room while I go in and tell the house servants to get some warm water and rags." She looked to her stepdaughter. "Go to bed and in the morning we will discuss this... And do not tell your sister."

Serena nodded knowing she could not argue with her stepmother. If her dear father were to find out he would come right home from his regiment and punish her right then. So to comply with her stepmother she headed up to her room.

*** I hope you enjoyed that! I did this whole Chapter all in one day... ::Thinks:: Wow! I never finish a Chapter in one day. Can't wait to hear from those who read this. I don't know whether to continue unless you tell me that it's good or not! Enjoy Everyone!

Oh and just to tell everyone I am writing two other Sailormoon Alternate Universe fan fics. One is Legend of the Sun and the Moon and the other is Kisses Under a Blood Red Moon. Both I am very proud of. Please read and review to tell me what you think for all of my work.

The Lunar Witch

Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again!