Hi! This is not my first time writing fanfiction but it is my first time posting it for all the world to see. Constructive criticism of any kind is always appreciated! I'm hoping for this story to be many many chapters and filled with Jimmy/Dandy fluff and hurt/comfort...but still keep it exciting and continue a plot. I'll try to update every couple of days. Hope you guys like it!

It was a hot, humid, summer day when Dandy Mott found himself walking the grounds of the local freak show. The nearly setting sun beat down on him and his new shoes kicked up dust with every step. Beads of sweat accumulated on his forehead and in his chestnut colored hair. The rich boy looked completely out of place. He slowly turned his head back and forth, trying to take it all in. Although…there wasn't very much to take in. A few worn tents, some sad looking trailers, a ferris wheel, and a carousel. It was all in a state of dilapidated disrepair. But to Dandy, it all looked perfect. There was no place in the world that he felt more suited for. He had realized this the first time he had been here…just a few weeks ago with his mother. But he was hoping no one he talked to today would recall that little incident. With any luck, this eerie, rundown circus ground would soon become his new home. It had to become his new home. He had never been very good with the word "no".

"It's now or never." He thought to himself as he straightened his jacket and ran his fingers through his hair. He then peered inside one of the tents, only to find a man, who looked to be in his early twenties, sweeping the dusty floor. Immediately his attention was drawn to the man's hands. They were abnormally long and his fingers seemed to be somehow fused together. "The lobster boy" he thought as he tentatively made his way over. The man looked up and seemed startled to see Dandy standing before him. Lobster claws aside, he was attractive. With round brown eyes and dirty blonde hair sculpted into a small type of quiff. His face looked young, with pale skin and dimples but still somehow tired. Like he had endured a lot. "Oh…uh…hi? Can I help you?" He asked. Immediately, Dandy began to beam. He didn't seem to recognize him. Perfect. "You most certainly can." He said cheerfully as he approached the man. He reached out his hand. "I'm Dandy. Dandy Mott." The Lobster Boy began to shake his hand and Dandy couldn't help but sneak a glimpse at the fused skin that had made the man a roadside attraction. It really wasn't all that awful. In fact, with some minor surgeries, his hands may be able to look almost normal. "I'm Jimmy Darling." He said. "And may I ask why you're here?"

Dandy wrung his hands nervously 'This is it.' He thought to himself 'I have one shot at convincing him I belong here.' If this failed, he would be forced to his current life. One of boredom and angst. He had to do this. It was his only way out. He took a deep breath and went for it.

" I have a request to make of you Jimmy. It's rather large but I only ask that you hear me out. Well, you see…for as long as I can remember, I've known that there was something off about me. I've been forced into high class society all my life. And well…in that type of setting, people with oddities are isolated. I'm sure you know that already though." He paused for a moment, contemplating his next words. "Listen Jimmy, I'm…Well I'm looking for a home." Jimmy's eyes widened a bit but Dandy just continued. "Of course I have one already but its nothing like a real home should be. I need people who will embrace my differences, people who will welcome and celebrate them. You see…I've had an epiphany. And I truly believe that this is where I belong." He bit his lip lightly and directed his eyes towards the ground. Jimmy stared at him with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open with a lack of things to say.

After what felt like forever, he opened his mouth to speak. "There's…there's nothing wrong with you Dandy. At least not physically." Dandy then attempted to splutter out a series of words, desperately trying to convince Jimmy that he belonged. That he was worth taking a chance on. "I…uh...I…maybe if I…um…what if I…" Jimmy began to take pity on the poor guy. Clearly he wasn't having an easy time fitting in anywhere. And wasn't the freak show supposed to be a place where misfits find a home? And a family? He couldn't just let him in though…the guy had no deformities or oddities whatsoever. No one had ever come to Jimmy like this. Seeking out a home in the freak show. But there was no way Elsa would ever buy him a separate trailer. Especially for someone who could really contribute nothing to the show. People would object to letting such a high society being anywhere around the show…let alone in it. But…Difficulties aside, Jimmy had to give Dandy a home.

"Listen Dandy… "He thought he saw tears beginning to swell in the rich boys eyes. "Let's be honest here. You have no physical deformities. No one is going to pay to see a normal man in a freak show." Dandy turned his attention back to the ground as a tear silently slid down his face. "However…" Began Jimmy. Quickly, Dandy looked up, his eyes full of hope and glimmering with tears. "I may be able to convince Elsa to allow you to stay with me in my trailer. There's a couch in there that you could sleep on and you could be a part of the family. But not a performer in the show. Maybe help out backstage or somethin'" As Jimmy finished his offer, Dandy's face broke into a grin. He quickly wiped the stray tears from his face and nearly jumped up and down in excitement. Jimmy found it strange how childlike he was. He looked like a kid on Christmas. "Thank you. Oh thank you so much. You won't regret it, I swear. I'll become one of you and I'll help with whatever you need me for and I'll do backstage things and cook and clean and…thank you thank you thank you." Dandy was nearly glowing with enthusiasm. Jimmy laughed quietly at the other boy's eagerness. Despite his quirks, Dandy seemed like a nice enough guy. And this was the good thing to do right?

"Alright, alright. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Jimmy warned. Dandy nodded in understanding and forced his smile into a tight poker face.

"We still have to go check with Elsa"

"Elsa?"

"She's the woman who runs all this. If ya need something, you go to Elsa."

The two boys walked to Elsa's tent in silence. Both of them were still trying to grasp what was happening. Dandy was quite possibly moving into the freak show. Jimmy would have a roommate and Dandy would have a new home. Jimmy silently prayed that the whole thing went okay and Dandy silently rejoiced at his luck. As they approached the tent, Jimmy decided it would be fair to give Dandy a few warnings.

"Alright, listen. Elsa's great. She's gave us all a family, a home, acceptance, everything. But that doesn't mean she's perfect all the time. She's definitely got some rough edges and she's pretty intimidating. But just stand there and let me do the talking and we should be all good."

Dandy nodded quickly in understanding. "Don't you worry. I won't say a thing." The last thing he wanted to do right now was screw this up. He was so close to freedom. There was no way he was letting it get away that easy.

Both boys timidly stuck their heads inside of the tent and looked around. Sitting in front of a vanity in the corner, vigorously applying large amounts of makeup was the woman Dandy presumed to be Elsa Mars. The very same one who had performed the song number on the night he visited. With short blond curls and light blue powdery eye shadow, She wasn't young, but wasn't very old either. She looked as if she was aging but was desperate to keep her youth by coating her face in eyeliners and blushes and bronzers. Dandy also noticed that she looked tired. As you would expect the leader of a failing freak show to look. With bags under her eyes and a somber expression.

"Elsa. Can I talk to you real quick?" Jimmy asked with faux confidence in his voice.

Quickly, Elsa spun around in her chair and offered a condescending smile, the edges of her red lips curling upwards. "Why, yes darling of course."

Jimmy approached her and beckoned Dandy to come with him. Dandy's mind was going a million miles a minute. 'Don't say anything.' He reminded himself 'Do not mess this up.' Elsa face contorted to one of concern and worry when she saw Dandy appear. Rarely does a man so obviously wealthy appear at the freak show without the intent of shutting them down.

"Oh…oh dear…Jimmy, who would this be?" She inquired with a feeble cracking voice.

"Elsa…this is Dandy. Dandy Mott. You remember him and his mother. They bought out the show one night and this one tried to buy the Twins." Jimmy smirked at Dandy and winked.

And in that one wink, that one smile…Dandy's mind went blank. Jimmy remembered him. He remembered Dandy, and his mother, and the dispute between them and the freak show over their refusal to sell the twins. Oh god…Had Jimmy just been playing dumb the whole time? Had he known from the beginning? Well… the better question now was what were they going to do to him? Clearly all his chances of being in the family were lost. And to top it off, he was now on the brink of a panic attack.

Elsa made glaringly intense eye contact with Dandy. Now that she realized who she was dealing with, she was far more confident and far more threatening. "Oh…yes. Yes of course I remember you." She stood up. "You wouldn't be back for our darling Bette and Dot would you?" she didn't even give him time to answer. "Because I thought I made this very clear with you and your mother the last time you were here." She got a bit closer. "They. Are. Not. For. Sale."

Dandy's heart beat faster in his chest. He had to make his new intentions clear. He had to make sure that Elsa knew he meant no harm to the freak show. "Absolutely not." He stated clearly. "My attitude has changed, Miss Mars. I am by no means here to terrorize your show. In fact I have a rather large request to make."

Jimmy cut in, silencing Dandy before he could ask. "Dandy here has come to ask for your permission, Elsa." He paused shortly "He wants to…he wants…" Before Jimmy could finish Elsa's patience wore thin. "He wants what Jimmy? Spit it out." She hissed while pursing her lips.

This time it was Jimmy's turn to take a deep breath and hope for the best. "To move in with me. He wants to be a part of our family." He flinched and slowly looked Elsa in the eyes. There was no surprise. No shock. Not even a bit of confusion. Her face remained stoic. Finally she spoke. "I expected as much."

Both Dandy and Jimmy looked at her with their faces contorted and brows furrowed. "I knew there was something about you, Dandy." She continued "Something that didn't quite match the sweater vest and fancy car. You know you don't belong there, and that's why you've come to us seeking refuge." Dandy nodded his head at each sentence. "And of course we will all take the high road, try to forget about your little run in with the twins. I give you my permission to stay here."

Both boy's faces lit up. "Thank you Ms. Mars. Thank you. I swear you won't regret it." Dandy said as he shook her hand. "Of course." Elsa replied "But just remember. It will be you who regrets it if you even think about laying one hand on any of my performers. Understood?"

Dandy nodded quickly and smiled nervously as he and Jimmy made their way out of the tent.