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Bec wasn't allowed to leave the hospital for at least another month after that.

However, the entire time, Anne sat by his side, telling him stories, laughing at his jokes, keeping him updated on future plans for the show and simply pouring out her heart to him.

Life hadn't been an easy road for either Anne or Bec to travel on but, together, it could be a hell of a lot easier.

By the first week, Bec's swelling had gone done. By the second, his infection was clearing up. By the third, he was able to sit up in bed without feeling much pain. By the end of the fourth, he could stand and walk slowly around by himself with the help of a support stick.

The doctor, confident that he was well on the road to recovery, discharged him from the ward roughly a month after the fire at the museum had taken place.

On the day that Anne was to go and collect him, though, she received a series of surprises and good news.

That morning, Anne was up bright and early. For the first time since Oma had died, she was able to go about her duties with a smile on her face and a song on her lips.

"Mein kind, wann immer du dich aufgeregt fühlst denke daran, dass ich immer in deinem herzen bei dir sein werde [My child, whenever you are feeling upset, remember that I will always be with you in your heart]."

As her grandmother's words echoed through her mind, Anne let a soft sigh of contentment escape her mouth.

All was well.

She could finally be at peace.

Sucking on the corner of her bottom lip, Anne chanced a quick glance around the room and shook her head in amusement.

After the devastating fire that had burnt the museum to the ground, the city council decided to step in and assist the now-homeless performers.

With help from their wide base of fans, Barnum and his recruits were able to rent out a large apartment in the central city while they were getting back on their feet. Everyday, they would return to the site of the fire and aid the clean-up crew with the disposing of the charred wreckage.

In the meanwhile, Phillip, with some help from his contacts, secured a plot of land down near the edge of the river that rippled its way through New York. Barnum bought a massive tent, with an accompanying flagpole, strings of bright, flickering lights and an entire truck-load of wild and unusual creatures, to pitch on the airy space.

It wasn't like the arena or the museum at all...but it would have to do for now.

In order to make the most of their situation and do what was best for the entire team, Barnum and Phillip shook hands over a deed stating that they were now equal partners in running the show.

Now, instead of simply being called The Barnum Show, their wonderful collection of acts and oddities was newly-titled, The Greatest Show.

Lettie, Charles, O'Clancy and the others set about advertising the group's next act which was predicated, in the papers, to be the biggest and best one yet. The date was set for the Fourth of July and, within two days, the event was completely booked out.

It was a twist Anne had definitely not seen coming.

At that very moment, she was gazing fondly upon the sleeping forms of her peers...ones who had rescued her from the deadly pit of darkness and destruction, ones who were so loyal and kind to her they were like her second family, ones who had always been there when most had shunned and ridiculed her.

Quietly, so as not to disturb anyone, Anne gathered up her shawl and shoes and crept, on silent feet, across the room towards the back door. As she pushed down on the door handle and slipped outside, she was arrested by a flurry of movement from beside her.

Startled, she spun around to see the forms of Deng Yan and W.D cuddled up against the brick wall outside!

Her mouth dropped open in shock and her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "Deng Yan? W.D?" she gasped. "W-what is this?"

The two hurriedly untangled themselves from each other, each desperately scrambling around for an excuse.

"Stop!" Anne held up a hand. As she stepped back and carefully surveyed them, a lilting smile spread across her face. "I knew it! I knew there was something up with you two! Now, I can tell the others and we can all tease you about being the newest love-birds to throw their socks to the pitch. Congrats. You've both done me proud."

"Wait...so you're not mad?" Deng Yan piped up, almost timidly.

"How could I be? You're my brother and you're my best friend. You both deserve to be happy."

As Anne pulled her shawl over her shoulders and headed down the street, she passed through a bustling market sparkling with colourful fruit and vegetable displays and beaming stall holders. She bowed her head and shoved and elbowed her way through the crowd like an expert. In fact, she had almost cleared the square when she heard a voice in the distance calling her name.

Furrowing her brow in confusion, Anne turned around to see a breathless Miss Patterson rushing up to her from behind.

"Fräulein Patterson! Was tun Sie hier? [Miss Patterson. What are you doing here]?" she exclaimed.

"Ich musste dich sehen [I had to see you]," the older woman placed a gentle hand on Anne's shoulder. "Wie geht es dir [How are you doing]?"

Anne pressed her lips into a long, firm line. "Mir geht es eigentlich gut. Ehrlich. Du bist nicht gekommen, um mir nachzufolgen, um das zu fragen, oder? Wie geht's? [I'm actually doing okay. Honestly. You did not come chasing after me to ask that though, did you? What's up]?"

"Du warst immer ein kluges Mädchen [You were always a smart girl]," Miss Patterson sighed. "Nun, hier geht es. Ich biete dir kostenlos an Trapezunterrich [Well, here goes. I'm offering you free trapeze lessons]."

Anne stopped and stared at her mentor, agape. "W-what...?"

"Ja. Ich möchte, dass die Dinge so sind, wie sie waren. Kommst du morgen rein nach der Vorstellungkommst [Yes. I want things to be like they were. Will you come in tomorrow after the show]?"

Anne couldn't help but smile. "Ich werde dort sein [I'll be there]," she nodded eagerly.

As Miss Patterson turned to leave, Anne leaned forward and grabbed her elbow. "Wirklich vielen Dank [Thank you, really]."

So, it was with a cheery smile and a merry whistle that Anne made her way down the cobblestone pathway that directed her to the road upon which the large and airy hospital sat.

She had been in there every single day for the last month and while the place was too sterile and formal for her liking, she looked forward to each visit because she knew she would get to see Bec.

"Hi, Larry, how is he?" Anne addressed a young, blonde nurse crowding the reception desk.

He glanced up at her and grinned. "Oh. Hey Anne. He's doing great. I'm sure he's looking forward to seeing you."

Anne smirked in satisfaction as she discarded her shawl onto the rack situated near the end of the desk. Briskly, she strode down a series of hallways, nodding politely to the staff members as she passed them. Then, she stopped in front of the door leading into Bec's room.

She took a deep breath and tucked some stray strands of hair behind her ears before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

"Bec?" she queried softly.

Bec was sitting on the edge of his neatly-made bed, glasses on and book in hand. His support stick was lying next to him as was a bulky bag of his belongings. When he heard Anne's voice, he lifted his head and a bright smile etched across his good-looking features.

"Thank god I'm leaving," he sighed in relief as he pushed himself up into a standing position. "I thought this day would never come."

"Mm. Me neither," Anne chuckled as she enfolded Bec in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're coming home."

"As am I," he breathed against her neck as he pulled back and studied her.

Anne blushed under his scrutinising gaze. "W-what is it?"

"Nothing," Bec shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just thinking about how beautiful you are."

Before Anne could fumble around for a response, Bec placed both of his large, calloused hands against her cheek-bones and drew her closer towards him. His breath, scenting of peppermint and lemons, brushed gently against her lips and chin. As he stared longingly at her, he passed a wet tongue over his lips. Then, without further warning, he pressed his mouth to hers in a flurry of passion.

Anne's breath caught in the back of her throat and a tiny squeak of surprise escaped her. For a moment, she stood there, as stiff as a board. Then, she relaxed, smiled into the kiss and wrapped both arms around Bec's waist.

This boy would be the death of her yet.

There was much anticipation and excitement amongst the performers when Bec walked in the door. He was overloaded with questions and hugs by the guys and squeals and kisses from the girls. When, however, he could finally escape the crowded atmosphere unnoticed, he seized Anne's hand and pulled her out of the room.

"What are you doing, Bec?" she gasped out laughingly. "You want to abandon your own Welcome Back party?"

He shrugged, a small smirk twisting the corner of his mouth. "Something like that. C'mon. I wanna show you something."

Giggling under her breath, Anne allowed Bec to take her through a maze of empty alleyways and a circuit of deserted streets. As they both neared the edge of a housing development area, Bec paused next to a flat-roofed, brick-walled beauty that stood out amongst its fellow companions.

As he started up the fire escape that wound its way up the side of the building, Anne hung back, reluctant to follow.

"Oh, come on," he urged. "It'll be fun. Besides, I'm right here. I won't let you fall."

Uncertainly, Anne followed Bec up to the roof of the construction. As she pulled herself over the ledge and brushed back the curly locks hanging in her face, she couldn't help but gape at what she saw.

The whole of New York City could be seen from this vantage point! Twinkling street lights. Tiny dots of colour. Swathes of sunbeams. The rotating wheels of carts and the clip-clopping hooves of the horses.

"I come up here to think when I'm upset or need some space," Bec broke into her thoughts. "It's a really peaceful place. Do you like it?"

Anne nodded as she placed her head on his shoulder. "It's amazing."

So, for the next few hours, that's exactly where they stayed...amongst the sparkle of the city lights and the spark of their growing love.

~~~~

Bustle. Hustle. Talking. Yelling. Swish. Swash.

It was ten minutes until show-time and all was mayhem backstage.

Trying to keep out of the way, Anne closeted herself inside the fake, cardboard walls of the performers' wardrobe. Using a small circle of glass from her make-up bag, Anne adjusted her pink, taffy wig and touched up on her mascara and lipstick. As she snapped the silvery bag shut, she heard the subtle sound of someone tapping their fingers against the wall behind her.

Quickly, she spun around to see Phillip, donned in a velvet, red cape and a top hat, standing near the doorway, looking at her.

"It's three minutes until the curtains open," he offered with a small, nervous chuckle. "You should probably come and take your place now."

Anne shot him a hurried smile. "Oh. Of course. Thank you, Phil. I'll be right out."

As she brushed past him, Phillip stopped her by placing a hand on her arm. "A-are you happy?" he whispered, his words dancing across her ear-lobe. "Are you happy with the choice that you made?"

For a moment, Anne didn't reply. Then, she stated with a firm certainty, "Yes. Yes, I am."

As the curtains flung up and Anne swung around the tent on her hoop, her gaze skittered across the awed faces of her audience, the ear-splitting smacks of their hands and the thunderous booms of their feet.

She had experienced the ups and downs of life, the poor, the rich, the shunned, the wanted, the ignored, the famous, the street life, the show life.

It had all helped her become the person that she was.

W.D. Oma. Miss Patterson. Phillip. Barnum. Bec.

They, too, had helped her become the best version of herself that she could ever be.

When Anne grabbed a hold of the rope hanging by her head and descended gracefully to the ground to stand with her peers, she turned her attention from the raging crowd to her friends.

Lettie. The plump, bearded lady was swirling around in a long, purple dress, trimmed with lace, and singing at the top of her voice.

Deng Yan. The petite, Asian girl was twirling sticks of fire through the air.

W.D. The tall, dark-skinned boy was jumping through a series of hola hoops.

Charles. The small, regal form of the lad was sitting on a tiny elephant calf as it bounced energetically around the tent.

O'Clancy. The towering figure of the man was tottering uneasily on his stilts as he led in an array of animals.

Barnum. The older face of the gentleman was bursting with excitement as he took his centre-stage position as the showman.

Phillip. The charming demeanour of the man was dazzlingly shown by his expert dance moves and his beaming smile.

And Bec...wait. Where was he?

As Anne took her place amidst the dancers circling around Barnum, she scanned every which place she could see with a searching set of eyes.

Bec wasn't there.

With some difficulty, Anne managed to control herself and wait until her first act had finished before going off to find him.

As she walked out of the tent, a large bouquet of red roses landed near her feet. Glancing up, Anne noticed that one of the onlookers had thrown them to her in the hopes of getting her attention. Smiling and waving, Anne bent down to pick up the roses.

Turning about on one heel, she called out, "Deng Yan!" before tossing the bunch of flowers to her friend.

As Deng Yan accepted the roses and waved them above her head, Anne saw her opportunity and slipped out from behind the folds of the red-and-white tent.

Upon exiting, she tilted her head to one side and caught a glimpse of movement from within the box office that had been erected near the main entrance of the tent. Advancing towards it, Anne saw, to her surprise, that Bec was inside, counting out the extra strips of tickets.

"Bec," she crooned as she lent up against the box. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be inside, enjoying yourself?"

"I - I couldn't rest ... not with all the money simply sitting out here," he mumbled.

"I know but Barnum hired security guards for a reason," Anne chuckled fondly.

Bec nibbled on his lower lip and a bright flush entered his cheeks. "Well...if you must know...I wanted to see the Fourth of July fireworks. When I was a child, my mother and I used to sit out and watch them every year. I - I didn't want to miss it."

Anne smiled. "If that's the case, I'll stay and watch them with you." Reaching forward, she grabbed Bec's hand and guided him out of the box. "I don't wanna miss them either."

A smirking Bec grabbed Anne by the forearms and pulled her close to his chest. He rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her big, brown eyes.

"I love you, Anne Wheeler. I always have and I always will."

As their lips collided in a breathtaking fizz of sparks, a series of loud pop's and bang's occurred.

Suddenly, the entire night-time sky was alight with fireworks - twinkles of blue, flashes of green and sizzles of pink.

When Anne's hands cradled the back of Bec's head and her mouth melted into the kiss, one that was aflame with lavish lust, it was as if everything else had faded away, leaving just her and Bec standing there, together, alone.

True, Anne had once been considered an outcast of society, a taboo subject of the upper class and a freak to the men who roamed the streets at night.

But she had been strong, she had been brave, she had been fearless, she had fought and she had overcome.

This, the poverty, the death, the spark, the hope, the show...it was her story.

And it was a story that would never be forgotten.

T H E E N D

Gif: Anne as she performs in the tent.

Question of the update: Eek. This part was a little bit cheesy. Sorry about that. Anyways, would did you all think? Were you happy with how the book ended? Would you like a sequel? Please, be honest.

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