A/N: Well, this is my first Cirque du Freak fanfic. I was impossibly upset when Larten died. I literally sobbed for three hours, then off and on for two more weeks. What probably upset me the most was that through the entire series, I had been rooting for Larten and Darren to get together (I knew the chances were slim, but I hoped. I don't know why, I just did.) When they didn't, I decided to take fate (and matters) into my own hands and here's the first part of the product!

"Master Shan!" yelled in warning. I spun in a full 360° circle, yet couldn't see anyone, or anything, threatening. My eyes found my mentor's again, but his seemed to change. He got darker. His form seemed to fade, seemed to become transparent.

I reached desperately after him, "Larten!" As I lunged for him, though, his figure completely disappeared, leaving nothing behind except the darkness. Tears streamed from my eyes as I dropped to my knees where he stood.

My eyes flew open as I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders shaking me. I looked around, sitting up.

"Darren?" I heard two worried voices. Looking to my left, I saw my scaly-skinned best friend, Evra Von.

"Master Shan?" Oh… I knew that voice well. I turned my head to the right and saw my mentor. Larten Crepsley.

"Um, guys?" I groaned, "What's wrong?"

"You were screaming in your sleep, Darren." Evra murmured.

"Oh." Memories of my dream came flooding back, and I felt my face flush with color.

"," Larten's voice rang like an angel's in my ears. It was welcome. "Do you think you could give Darren and me a minute alone?"

Evra nodded, his eyebrows knitting together slightly, and ducked out of the tent. I was at a loss for words. Man, I was falling for my mentor. That isn't supposed to happen! No, no it's not.

"Darren," Larten sighed, "What were you dreaming about?"

"Um… why is that relevant to anything?" I stalled.

"Darren, what you were screaming last night was my name. You were screaming, 'No, Larten, no!' What were you dreaming about, Darren?"

No point in lying. Larten could see through almost any lie anyway. I took a deep breath and sighed, "I was dreaming about you."

"Clearly. I am wondering what it is you were dreaming about me."

"I… I can't tell you."

His eyes grew angry, "Why not?!"

"Because. It's too hard to explain. I'm still not sure what my dream meant!"

His eyes softened slightly, "Do you want to talk to Mr. Tall? Or Mr. Tiny?"

I nodded, "Both, if you don't mind. I think they could both help in this situation."

He helped me up from my bed and guided me out of the tent. I couldn't stop staring at him. He seemed so perfect. No, bad Darren! Don't think that!!!

Too soon, we reached Mr. Tall's van. Larten nudged me forward when I hesitated to move. The door slid open to reveal Mr. Tall and Mr. Tiny standing side-by-side.

"Darren!" Mr. Tall exclaimed, "So glad to see you."

"Hello."

"Please come in." Mr. Tall welcomed, stepping aside with a smile. I accepted his offer and stepped inside the van. Larten turned to leave.

"Wait, Larten, don't you want to come in as well?" Mr. Tall asked.

Larten shook his head and turned his head just enough to look at Mr. Tall out of the corner of his eye, "I just came to escort Darren."

He disappeared then, running too fast for my eyes. I felt my heart sink when he left. It hurt more than any pain I've ever felt; More than losing my family, than anything.

"So, Darren, what's on your mind?" Mr. Tall asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Mr. Tall, I- uh. I had a dream last night."

"And you were wondering what it meant?"

"Yes."

We sat in silence for a few moments before he talked, "Well, you know it's awfully hard for me to help you figure out your dream without knowing it. What did you dream about, Darren?"

"Well, it was about La- Mr. Crepsley. I… I was trying to catch him, but he just disappeared into thin air. I started sobbing, and when I woke up, he and Evra were standing at my side telling me that I was screaming in my sleep. I think I'm…"

"What do you think, Darren?" Mr. Tiny asked with humor in his voice.

"I think I like him. Like, more than normal." I felt my cheeks reddening with the words.

"Darren," Mr. Tiny smiled, "Destiny is a funny thing. I know I am, right?! No but seriously, some people can't help who they fall for. They just fall. Some of them get over it and control it, but some, like you, young Shan, fall hard. It's just something that can't be controlled. That being said, I think I'm done here. I'm not the best with advice. Mr. Tall? Do you want to take over?"

Mr. Tall smiled and turned to me, "My advice to you, Darren, is very simple. You cannot keep secrets from your mentor."

"So, you're saying that I should tell Mr. Crepsley?"

Mr. Tall's grin grew wider, "Am I? That all depends on how you interpret my advice, dear boy. Now, whatever you think that I think you should do, maybe you should give it a try."

I think that means that I should tell Larten straight. But… how?

"Mr. Tall?"

"Yes, Darren?"

"How do I tell Mr. Crepsley the truth?"

"How do you think you should tell him the truth?" Of course, he just can't tell me what to do like the normal answers should be!

"Are you ever going to be straightforward with me?" I asked, getting very impatient.

"I just think that you should figure things out for yourself," he said sympathetically.

I decided to answer with the most honest answer I could think of, "Well, I think that if I knew what to say, I wouldn't be asking you!"

Mr. Tall laughed, as did Mr. Tiny. I had almost forgotten that Mr. Tiny was here.

"Well, Darren. Just, how would you tell Debbie that you loved her? Or how would you tell your family that? Just think of Larten like those people. It should make it easier."

"You think that'll work?" I asked. My voice shocked me. It was so pathetic, so desperate. "You think that if I just tell him, 'I love you,' that that'll fix everything?"

"Well, I'm not sure, but it may. I personally have never had this situation. If you want first hand experience, you might want to talk to Vancha March."

"Vancha?!"

"Yes. Vancha March was in a situation similar to yours."

Wow. Vancha. Vancha March had this exact thing happen to him. Wow.

"So, go talk to him, Darren. He's going to be back at your tent."

I nodded briefly and turned to leave. I only turned back to whisper two words to the men in the room, "Thank you."

They both smiled and gestured for me to go talk to Larten. I took a step forward into the dark, the night air swirling around me. Every step towards my tent seemed to take a lifetime. What if he rejected me? I don't know if I could live with it.

I heard something my mom used to say to me e

cho in my head. Darren, you never know how the story will end unless you give the book a try.

Well, let's pray to the gods, mom, that this book ends happy.

A/N: Well, what did you think? Please don't be too harsh. No flames please. Constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms, but no flames will be tolerated. Please review, though!