I do not own American Horror Story: Freak Show.

And I really can't call this a horror story or a freak show anymore. It's just a story now :)

Jimmy, Not Moses

The Start of Something . . . Again


The first time Dot and Jimmy kissed was in his darkened freak show trailer.

He had been drunk and unclean.

Torn apart with grief and guilt.

And still it had been what Dot had wanted.

Offering up everything, her and Bette along with her.

Nearly naked, revealing their conjoined body to a man for the very first time ever.

Offering themselves, their most secret parts.

It had been an extreme move.

That had not ended well.

The second time they kissed was very different.

Earlier that evening they had spontaneously splurged (a whole dollar) on a diner meal of burgers, fries, and shakes.

Chatting together, the three of them, enjoying the simple freedom of being out.

Ignoring the bewildered looks of people who fancied themselves more appropriate, more socially worthy than them.

Who really should have taken a cue from the former carnies.

And been more accepting.

Or at least minded their own business.

But that was no matter.

Because they had each other, the three of them.

Then, in a fit of wild abandon, they had spent even more of their precious coinage on a night at the movies.

Jimmy had insisted on paying for three tickets (a whole dollar and a dime), as there were three individuals amongst them.

And the movie teller had only nodded, stunned and mortified by their shocking arrival.

And done as the hook-handed man had insisted.

They'd even purchased popcorn to share and cokes (another twenty cents) as well.

And so it was that the rolling high spenders for the evening sat and indulged in the uncommon pleasure of a night out at the movies.

'Gentleman Prefer Blondes'

Marilyn Monroe

Jane Russell

Bette was watching the film, completely engrossed in the predictably unpredictable antics of Marilyn Monroe when she felt it.

A slight pull to her right, nothing unusual.

"I can be smart when it's important. . ."

She barely noticed it, a lifelong accustom of a conjoined twin.

Oh, I am gonna remember that line, thank you, Ms. Monroe.

Until a rush of tingles and heat flowed unexpectedly through her body.

All of her body.

Oh, now really, she's not that . . .

And she glanced to her right.

Oh.

To see Dot and Jimmy joined in a kiss.

A rather innocent, lovely kiss.

But a kiss nonetheless.

Which seemed to be having a profound effect on their shared body.

She felt happiness for her sister, through the euphoria surging through their body.

Followed by a touch of yearning.

Oh to be desired.

Which she resolutely pushed away.

And, determined to respect her sister's privacy, resolutely focused on the screen.

And whatever the hell was happening on it.

Which she couldn't quite find the desire to care about.


Dot wasn't expecting it, wasn't trying to get kissed.

She was simply enjoying the time out, the time with him.

And Ms. Monroe, of course.

"Excuse me, but what is the way to Europe, France?"

Good luck with those bidets, honey. You're in for a real treat.

Though she really didn't mind when it did happen.

She was smiling and laughing, enjoying the silliness of the movie.

And glanced over at him, wondering he was really enjoying the ridiculous film or simply kindly waiting for it to be over for the girls' sake.

Then again, he does have Ms. Monroe and her assets up there to entertain him.

Jimmy, her darling, glanced over at her, his dark eyes alight, gratefully, with something other than tears.

And a small smile on his lips he probably didn't even know was there.

Oh. He doesn't care about her much at all, does he? He sees me.

Her heart warmed and swelled at the fond look he gifted her.

Then his gaze deepened into something more and he leaned toward her.

His lips held residues of salty popcorn and sweet cola.

He tasted delicious.

And wonderful.

She unconsciously brought her hand up, fingers barely grazing his jawline.

Savoring the simple, lingering contact.

That send shivers and tingles all over her body.

Maybe gentlemen don't really prefer blondes after all then.


Jimmy had not intended on kissing her.

He hadn't planned it.

Some sort of sparks or electricity or whatever those sappy romance people called it, had been going on between them for a while.

And he'd tried to ignore them.

Because he was broken.

A handless, jobless man living off the charity of others.

When it'd always been him who had led people, taken care of them.

So he wasn't really accustomed to feeling so useless.

And good women like Bette and Dot didn't need a useless, worthless waste weighing them down.

But he'd been feeling so much better lately.

Gotten hooks, much more useful for the outside world.

A job, his first real job outside of the freak show.

With a schedule and regular pay and a nametag and everything.

He'd been feeling more . . . normal than he had in a long time.

Maybe ever.

And it was all thanks to those lovely women beside him.

Dot and Bette.

His saviors.

So he hadn't suggested burgers and a movie with a date in mind.

Just . . . celebration. Of things starting to turn around maybe.

Get better.

Just maybe.

But there in the darkened theater, chuckling at the lightness and frivolities emanating from the screen . . .

"There was an old man named Sidney... who drank till he ruined a kidney . . ."

Haha, nice one, toots.

. . . he'd felt swept away.

Glanced over at her, at Dot.

And seen the carefree happiness on her face, she'd so rarely possessed, he'd known he cared sincerely for her.

And when she glanced over at him, her eyes aglow and nothing brooding and sad within them, he'd thought she looked like she cared too.

And he'd forgotten he was a man who had lost almost everything just over six months ago.

He'd forgotten he was a handless freak.

He'd just been Jimmy.

A guy.

Looking at a pretty girl.

His friend.

It had seemed so natural.

So welcome.

To lean over.

And simply kiss her.

So he did.

And she let him, her soft lips willing and welcome.

And kissed him back.

And it felt grest.


What do you think?

I'm not sure.

They stood uncertainly in the living room, looking upon an equally uncertain Jimmy Walker. The first awkward moment of the evening.

But they were determined to get through it.

Well, feel him out then.

Sister!

Not like that, silly. Ask him.

Well, that's a bit more appropriate. And boring.

Oh hush and just talk to the man. Don't leave him standing there like a big dope!

Well, what should I say? 'Oh, Jimmy, my darling, care for an evening of the dance of the no pants?'

Bette giggled inwardly at her sister, desperately maintaining a straight face toward the man standing suddenly lost in his own living room.

Well, maybe not that forward.

Dot held out her hand to Jimmy. He reached out with his wooden one and took it.

Instantly reminded that he was now not the man he used to be.

And completely at a loss at how to proceed as such.

"Jimmy," Dot began tentatively with a coy smile. "Would you like to . . ."

He knew what she was going to say before she said it.

And he simply could not let her.

Not with him.

Not like this.

"Dot," he interrupted anxiously. "Do you think we could . . ."

Jimmy, once a smooth man of the world, blushed despite himself.

". . . just . . . date for a while? Like normal people?"

Bette smiled fondly as Dot stroked his face.

"Why I'd be delighted, Mr. Walker."

He huffed, growing more embarrassed with each passing moment.

"Aw, don't be like that," he scolded. "It's just that . . . well, carnies don't really date or anything. So I've never tried it before."

He shuffled uncomfortably. Not only did he want to try a shot at being normal, he was also afraid of how to pleasure a female when he had no hands. He could think of one really good way, but that seemed like too much to start with.

So he was at something of a loss.

But he just couldn't talk about that yet.

"Unless it's too weird," he amended.

The women, those wonderful women, smiled in unison.

"No, it's lovely, Jimmy."

Bette talking this time while Dot gazed adoringly at him before taking up the thread.

"And I'd very much enjoy dating you."

And Jimmy grinned shyly.

"Unless you don't want me. Unless you'd rather have a guy with better prospects. And real hands."

It was incredible to know that he'd so well angered two girls at once.

"What a thing to say!" Bette spat, her face a sear of anger.

Dot narrowed her eyes dangerously at him.

"Who are you to tell me what I want and don't want?!"

Jimmy stood skewered, being glared down by two identical girls at the same time.

"I am a grown, mature, intelligent woman!"

His forehead was about to catch on fire.

"And I can make my own decisions, Jimmy, darling!"

Then Dot's glare softened.

"And I have always wanted you," she continued more softly. "I only left you alone because you said you didn't want me."

Well, and then he got arrested . . .

Shut up, dear sister.

Her deep, dark eyes suddenly shimmered with unshed tears.

"So I choose you. Unless you don't want me."

Jimmy shook his head adamantly.

"No! I care about you, both of you. I have ever since I met you."

He stopped, hating to admit his next words.

"I just can't do anything for you. Not like this."

Tears stood now in his eyes and the clearest thought floated past him.

I am so damn sick of crying. I didn't always used to cry, did I?

But the girls seemed unconcerned with Jimmy's supposed limitations. And it was Bette who now spoke.

"You can do just what she needs you to do."

That statement seemed to hold an enormous amount of innuendo and Jimmy felt his jaw drop slightly in shock at the sudden shift in conversation.

Bette giggled as Dot spoke abruptly.

"Oh no, not that. Well, not yet anyway."

And then she giggled as Jimmy's jaw dropped further.

"You can . . . share yourself, just like you've been doing. Your thoughts, your life. You don't have to be anything special. Just you, Jimmy. You're enough, more than enough."

He wanted to believe them, that he could be something good for somebody.

That he could matter.

That he could be cared about.

He wanted to believe.

He just didn't know if he could.

But he knew he wanted to.


That's right, friends and neighbors, a mere two dollars and some coins for an entire night out! I know, makes me cross-eyed too.

Anyway, here we wander off into uncharted romance territory. Anybody remember the map? The instruction manual? Magic eight ball? No? Crap.

*squares shoulders, cracks knuckles*

Okay, then. Guess I'll just have to make it up as I go along. And I'm sure you'll let me know if you don't like something, so we'll just trust each other then, yeah?

Most grateful thanks to brigid1318, Jurana Keri, DinahRay, autumnrose2010, and haily94 for keeping with those lovely reviews! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all :)