Disclaimer: I don't own Criss Angel or Cirque Du Soleil…obviously.

So this story is sorta, kinda a sequel to my last fanfic Reaching the Moon, although a lot of time has passed in between so let me catch you up. Okay, so Luna and Criss were together a while blah blah blah, and then they got married blah blah blah, and then they had a daughter named Holly (full name Holly Willow Sarantakos). So yes…Now we're assuming that Criss is doing his cirque show believe, and Holly is 17 (yes I realize the time frame doesn't fit). Okay…So read and enjoy (and review!).

'Time for the big finale' Criss thought to himself. He looked from side to side and saw the other characters running to hoist him in to the air. He rose upwards upon their shoulders letting the screams of joy sink in from the adoring fans. Criss carefully balanced himself, preparing to 'disappear'. He raised his hand and waved once to the audience, and then the flash of light happened and he felt himself falling backwards further and further in darkness until his spine connected with a soft cushion. Above him appalled spectators stood in mobs like schools of fish, clapping with ferocity. The two 'Ushers' that had been holding him up looked around in mock surprise, placing their hands on their heads and peeking around corners. Criss hoisted himself of the cushiony mats, and proceeded to run up the side stairs to rejoin the performers in taking a bow, however he paused at the top. He could finally see the faces of each individual fish in the crowd, unlike when he was on stage being blinded by numerous lights. He liked this part the most, because illusions were just plain boring to do unless you could see the reactions. A variety of expressions were scattered through the crowd- joy, wonder, some worry, but mostly pure awe and admiration. Criss smiled at this and then walked out to the line of performers joining hands with several in the middle.

"Ladies and Gentleman," a deep announcer's voice prompted. "Please give a big round of applause to our amazing performers who have worked for years on this show!" The applause grew loud once more and people began grabbing all personal items and shuffling down the aisles, while whispering questioning words of wonder about what they'd seen. The performers all separated their hands and patted each other on the back while walking off stage. Criss wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead which he'd accumulated from the large amounts of energy he'd exerted which was required of all cirque members. He walked around the corner of the giant maroon curtain and was bombarded by two lovely women he knew well.

"That was amazing daddy!" exclaimed an enthusiastic teen with shining dark blue eyes. "Since when did you guys change the finale?" she asked Criss, her curly red hair bobbing up and down as she shifted from one foot to the other.

Criss embraced the girl in a hug and laughed at her fervor. "Thanks Holly. Well, I was getting bored of just sitting there and listening to people clap like they would at any other finale. I decided to spice it up a little," he said and then winked at the other woman nearby. She walked over to him and slid in to his arms before giving him a surprisingly deep kiss. Holly made a not-so-subtle gagging sound and muttered 'get a room'. Criss just smiled at his daughter and wife, feeling grateful that they were both safe and with him now. He'd been a bit more protective of them in the past year due to prior events.

"Quick meeting!" yelled the director Serge Denoncourt while motioning his arm towards a back room. Criss complied and left his wife and daughter to themselves for a moment. The two began discussing their plans for the upcoming weekend. They then noticed someone who seemed out of place among all the sequence and spandex usually found backstage. He was young-maybe late teens-and tall with ruffled black hair and piercing green eyes.

"Uh, excuse me?" the man asked a stage hand. "I'm looking for Criss Angel?" The stage hand shook his head.

"All the performers are in a meeting right now. Off limits to outsiders. Are you allowed to be back here anyways kid?" the stage hand asked tipping his head to the side while assessing the other man.

"First off, my name isn't 'kid' it's Shadow, okay?" he replied sharply, causing the eavesdropping duo to whisper that maybe the guy had touched a nerve. "And yes, I am allowed." he replied in a more placid tone. He held up a laminated press pass that had been hanging unnoticed on top of his dark green shirt. The stage hand nodded as a subtle form of acknowledgement and then continued his work dragging props off the stage. Shadow looked around for a moment, wondering what to do. He needed this interview, he thought. He was hoping to write a review of the show for his school newspaper, but his teacher didn't allow articles to be submitted unless they had interviews from the source, which made things tricky.

He looked around once more and then grabbed a piece of paper and a pen off of a nearby table and scribbled something furiously on the paper. Then he searched the room for someone who looked trustworthy enough to deliver his message, and spotted Holly who was now packing up her bag while her mother went in the back to tell Criss that they'd meet him at home.

"Hey, can you do me a favor?" he asked Holly's back, since she was crouched over her purse playing with her cell phone. She put it down and turned to face Shadow. A moment passed where the two just paused while taking in one another's features. Holly's eyes drifted over Shadow's highly defined jaw and chin, his perfectly messy hair, but mostly his eyes. They were the color of fresh grass, and she couldn't stop staring at them. Shadow caught her gaze but Holly quickly broke it feeling a heat rise in her neck and cheeks. She tilted her head down a bit and pushed back fiery ringlets that had fallen to her face.

"Uh…sure," she finally replied awkwardly. "What do you need?" Shadow watched her shrink back a little before he replied.

"I really need to get an interview with the main performer here Criss Angel; you know which one he is right?" He paused and Holly nodded. "But, I guess he's in a meeting right now and I can't really stick around much longer so I was wondering if you could give him my phone number so he can contact me and we can set up a time and place?" Holly nodded, because for some reason unbeknownst to her, her voice box had suddenly gone on strike. "Thanks so much," he responded flashing her a brilliant smile that Holly couldn't help but return. "My name's Shadow by the way," he added.

Holly nodded again. "Yeah I kind of overheard you talking to Luke the stage hand," she said. "I'm Holly." Shadow smiled again.

"Well it's nice to meet you Holly," he said. He opened his mouth to say something more but a singing of a familiar song came from his pants pocket. Holly tried to hide a smile as she heard the words being sung from her own father's voice: "Are you ready to...Are you ready to...Are you ready to go? Into Amystika. Into Amystika." Shadow turned to the side to answer.

"What's up?...Oh, hey Karen…Alright I'll be there in an hour or so…I love you too. Bye."

Holly felt strangely uncomfortable after overhearing his conversation and decided to go find her mom so they could leave.

"Well I'll be sure he gets this," she said waving the paper in the air. Without waiting to hear a response she hastily walked away leaving Shadow to watch her go. Once in the car, Holly unfolded the paper Shadow had handed her. It read:

Nicholas Heaton (call me Shadow)

887-5574

Holly folded it again and put it in her pocket before closing her eyes and sleeping for the remainder of the ride.