It'll turn out all right

By Strawberry

Romance/Drama

Chapter 8

I don't own SM! Or scenes from gone with the wind or the dresses! Or the dresses descriptions!

Serena stood outside Mina and Andrew now burned house, she had to leave home as soon as the rampage on town was over, the guilt ate her up. The words "you killed her." were burned into her mind and they would be forever. The house had been burned, she breathed in, everything was gone. Almost everything at least, some of downtown was intact. She turned around and head to Mina's aunt. It was where she was staying with Charles, Mina and Andrew; of coarse it was only temporary for all of them. Her aunt didn't have much money let alone space. She sat there in her room, a bottle of whisky in her hand, ever since the death of her youngest sister, the one she was supposed to take care of she had been drinking heavily. She despised the taste of burning whisky going down her throat, yet she couldn't live without it.

"Miss Serena." Mammy called

"What is it?" She asked angrily as she came to the door

"Captain Shields is heres for yous." she said

"Why on earth would he show his sorry face around here again?" she asked herself

"Tell him I'll be right down." She said, she took the bottle of cologne and gargled, she then put some in her hair so he couldn't smell the alcohol. She walked slowly down; there he was dressed as elegant as ever, with a black suit and gray vest with a black ascot, his pants were also black.

"Black isn't your color Serena." he said, she looked down at her attire; her mourning dress was on,

"I heard about your sister." he continued,

"My condolences." he continued

"Never mind about that, Why are you here?!" she demanded, he took her hand and kissed it,

"I don't know how you had the courage to show up here after what you did to me!" she said as she grabbed her hand,

"My dear, I have something I managed to salvage while your house was burning, he picked up a box, she slowly took and opened it, why it was the beautiful green bonnet he had given her, he couldn't find it when she was packing, he mood changed,

"Oh Darien, thank you." she said as she took out the bonnet and inspected it. It was still perfect, he came closer,

"Drop the act Serena, I know you've been drinking, it would take a whole bottle of cologne to cover up how much you've been drinking." he said,

"It not good to drink alone Serena, people will talk." he said, she turned her back on him,

"It must be more than losing your sister, after all, women are you immortal enemies." he said, he put his hand on her shoulder, she turned around,

"Oh Darien! It was all my fault, if I had just went when Charles and mammy and Amy were sick they wouldn't of gotten it, she wouldn't have died." she sobbed, she ran into his embrace,

"Come now Serena, it wasn't your fault, she still would have gotten it with or without you there, you wouldn't have done everything, there was no escape from her getting sick." he said, he helped her sit down,

"But I was supposed to look after her! Oh Darien, I've done such terrible things, things you can't even imagine and to my own family!" she cried,

"I bet I can imagine It." he said, she ignored him

"Like what?" he asked,

"I stole Suellens beau, I-I wasn't even fond of him, I wasn't there when mother was sick and dying, I was out having fun, I never cared for any of my family except my parents and I killed them." she said

"And how did you kill them?" he asked

"I was selfish, maybe if mother didn't have so much work, she wouldn't have gotten ill." she cried,

"I'm going to hell, I know It." she cried

"Serena, I believe you're on the verge of a crying jam. So I'll say what I came here to say." he said, she dried her eyes

"Say it and get out!" she yelled, he didn't respond,

"Well?!" she asked impatiently,

"What is it?" she asked

"That I can't go without out you another moment." he said, was he joking, she couldn't tell,

"Oh you really are one of the sot ill-bread men I've ever met. Joking at a time like this, when I'm in mourning!" she yelled,

"Serena, I made up my mind when I first met you and was quite swept of my feet with your charm. You're the only women for me. After I left you, you won't come to me as you once did so I see I will have to marry you." he said

"I've never heard of such bad taste in all my life." she said, he took her hands,

"What It be more convincing if I dropped to my knees?" He asked. He dropped to his knee, like a traditional proposal position.

 "Get out of here!" she yelled, why was he joking about such things?

"Forgive me for startling you with the impetuosity of my sentiments, my dear Serena, I mean my dear Miss O'Hara. But it cannot have escaped your notice that for some time past, the friendship I have felt for you has ripened into a deeper feeling. A feeling more beautiful, more pure, more sacred... dare I name it? Can it be love?" he said, everything he had just said had such mock-sincerity

"Get up. I don't like your jokes Darien." she whined

"This is an honorable proposal of marriage, I would have asked you later but I am leaving on a very extended trip and when I return I fear you'll have somehow gotten yourself into something with Mr. Wilkes." he said seriously

"You're coarse and conceited and I think this conversation has gone as far as it's going to go." She said bitterly

"I'm never going to marry unless it's to Andrew." she said

"Oh yes you will and you'll marry Me." he said confidently

"You? you? I don't love you." she said

"Have you ever considered to marry for fun?" he questioned

"Marriage fun? Fun for the men you mean." she said, he chuckled

"Do you want them to hear you?" she asked,

"You love a little boy. Why not try a husband of the right age, with a way with women." he said

"You're a fool. When you no I will always love another man." she said

"Stop it Serena. Stop it." he said as he grabbed her closer, he kissed her again, the sweaty palms, light headedness, churning stomach and fast heart rate returned, but this time she didn't pull away,  she enjoyed the feeling but it was new to her. Why did she feel like this with him? She didn't love him, she knew she didn't. But this was the opportunity to be taken away, like she always wanted. Sure it was Darien but she was fond of him. He pulled away

"If you don't say yes, I'll come to your house every night and serenade you outside your window. Say you'll marry me. Say you will." he ordered, she just wanted to kiss more

"Yes." she said quickly as she puckered up again, he went in but then stopped

"You're not going to take it back. You mean it?" he asked, she nodded quickly and puckered up again but still no kiss, instead he let her go, she stood there in disbelief. Why had he let her go?

"What changed your mind? Is it my money?" he asked, she looked away,

"Well money does help and I am fond of you Darien." she said sweetly,

"Fond of me?" he repeated

"Well if I told you I was madly in love with you would you believe me?" she asked, she looked at him, his face was stone hard but then it softened, he chuckled

"I suppose your right, I can stand anything from you but a lie. No Serena, you aren't in love with me any more than I am with you, heaven help the man who really loves you, you'd put him through hell." he said,

"Well my dear what kind of ring would you like?" he asked

"Oh a great big diamond." she squealed, the day's of luxury would be coming back, and soon.

"You shall have the biggest, and most vulgar ring I can find." he said as he laughed, she ran into his arms,

"Oh but Darien, you will be back soon won't you?" she asked

"Is it because you need to see your ring or you'll miss me?" He asked, she hesitated and bit her lip, he knew when she was lying, he laughed

"I swear, if you ever did a selfless deed I would drop dead from shock." he said, she ignored him, he let her go

"Well I must be going." he said

"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye?" she asked

"Haven't you had enough kissing for one day." he jeered

"Oh go on! Go and I hope you never come back1" she yelled

"But I will." he said as he left.

TBC