The early morning sunlight spills in from the open window, casting its vibrant glow on everything it lands on.

Alois starts to stir under the light but he can't bring himself to open his eyes. He fell asleep last night and had the most wonderful dream, he dreamt that Claude had come to see him and that after some discussion and all was forgiven. That dream melted into the next one where he dreamt that Claude held him, keeping him close and tight in his arms. Alois dreamt of how he fell into the most beautiful, restful sleep that he has had in a long time. However, now that he is awake, he felt nothing. No sleep, no arms holding him and no bodies cuddling together – nothing, nothing was with him but this dream.

Reaching back, he feels the space beside him for something, anything to prove that he wasn't alone that night but, unfortunately, the opposite side of the bed is cold. He opens his eyes as he sighs heavily, knowing Hannah will be in soon to commence their daily routine. However, he doesn't want to move, he wants to keep that feeling of Claude with him just that little bit longer.

"I've drawn you a bath." A smooth voice speaks to him softly from the bathroom. His eyes shut and stay closed as he smiles to himself, perhaps he is still dreaming?

Claude walks over to the bed. He gets on top of it and crawls over to Alois, sweeping a pile of blond hair from his forehead before planting a gentle kiss.

"Am I… Is this a dream?" Alois whispers softly, trying not to smile too broadly.

"If it is, I must be dreaming too." Claude purrs sweetly as Alois rolls over onto his back. His bright blue eyes lock into Claudes' golden ones and they both smile. Raising his hands up, Alois cups Claudes' face and brings him down, close to his face. Full, moistened lips just brush over Claudes' before they kiss.

Claude goes heavy on top of him as he scoops him up in his arms, holding Alois against him tightly. His lips open and part as his tongue goes in search of Alois'. They meet, intertwining and massaging one another. Claudes' hand runs up Alois' back, over his neck stopping just underneath his head, tangling his fingers in his hair.

Alois pulls at Claudes' shirt, lifting it upwards. He slips his hand underneath and feels the hot skin that is concealed. The pads of his fingertips feel each muscle of his back as they tense and relax.

Breaking apart from their kiss Claude pulls apart the flimsy fabric that covers Alois' chest, revealing the creamy skin underneath. Claude then unknots the tie on his robe, teasing it and unraveling it like he was unwrapping the most delicately wrapped present.

Claude runs his hands down Alois' exposed torso, making his back arch upwards, almost begging to be touched. Sliding his spectacles up the bridge up his nose, Claude looks at Alois' naked body hungrily.

"What do you want me to do?" He growls, Alois bites his lower lip.

"Touch me again." He requests innocently.

"Yes, your highness." Claude bows slightly as he bends over, kissing the smooth skin of his neck and working his way down his chest. He slowly and ever so gently draws his hand across his body, causing his head to roll back and his body to move and contort with each touch.

Just as they start to relax into each other, the door flies open and Hannah marches into the room, with the triplets in tow.

"When you said you were going to get him ready, I didn't realize that this is what you were talking about." She simpers.

"Hannah! You could knock first!" Alois frantically tries to cover himself back up by wrapping his robe back around him.

"I doubt you would have heard me." She smirks as her eyes land on Claude. She raises her brow at him as he re-tucks his shirttails back into the waistband of his trousers and gets off of Alois.

Hannah walks over to them and smacks Alois playfully with her black book.

"Ow Hannah!"

"I came in to see how the bath was going and I can see that it hasn't happened." She looks over her shoulder to Canterbury who nods and rushes into the bathroom. "I've come to discuss your schedule."

"Now?"

"Just because he's here doesn't mean you can get out of your routine, now come on."

"H-how did you know he was here?"

"Alois, do you really think I don't know what's going on in my own establishment?" She pauses as he looks at her curiously. "Besides, Mr. Faustus and I had a nice chat before you woke, didn't we?" Her gaze goes to Claude who nods at Alois.

"What about?"

"Now don't you worry about that, for now, everything is fine." She said as Canterbury came out of the bathroom. "And now it's time for your bath, and you have a fitting at Hopkins for your new dress at ten." She hurries him into the bathroom and Claude follows suit but Hannah stops him. "I think you've seen enough of him for one morning."

Alois turns and pouts. Claude walks over to him and puts his hand on to his cheek, running his thumb over the soft skin.

"It's all right, I have to take care of something but I'll be back later tonight." His voice is low and calm, which causes Alois to grin broadly.

"Okay, I'll wait until tonight." He winks as he ambles into the bathroom, ushered by Canterbury, who shuts the door.

As he undresses and slips into the bath, Alois stretches out and rests his head on the warm porcelain behind him. He starts to chew on his lower lip as he mulls over a thought, it was something Claude had said when he first saw him earlier yesterday night – he was leaving for Boston by the end of this week.

It is at that moment that Alois cannot help but start to panic, at the end of this week, is Claude going to leave him?

…

Five hours earlier.

A gentle fading flicker of lamplight illuminates the room, which is silent save for the soft sounds of chests rising and falling as oxygen fills their lungs. Alois rolls over onto his side, nestling into Claudes' chest, and fitting into him like a perfectly cut puzzle piece. Claude instinctively brings him in closer as he tightens his wrapped arms around him. This is the best sleep the pair have had in months as they snuggle together.

There is a soft knock on the door and after a moment, the door opens a crack and Hannah pokes her head through. Her eyes land on the pair, Claude lying on his side cradling a soundly sleeping Alois in his arms. Hannah is more than relieved to see that they still have all their clothing on as she enters the room. Shaking her head, she smiles as she hitches up her skirt a little and tiptoes over. Standing just beside them by the edge of the bed she clears her throat.

"Mr. Faustus." She whispers so as to not to disturb Alois but Claude doesn't stir. "Mr. Faustus, please wake up." She bends over and nudges him gently. Claude groans and shifts slightly as he stretches out.

She wiggles her index finger for him to follow her. "May I speak with you for a moment, please?"

"Okay?"

He follows her downstairs and passes the last remaining clients who were stragglers, still drinking and having a good time with the intoxicated chouchoute. She leads him down into her office, where the triplets are sitting next to each other, whispering and chuckling to one another until she enters the room and then they immediately stand to attention.

"Please excuse us." She says firmly and they each bow slightly and move out of the office. Hannah motions for Claude to take a seat on the opposite side of her desk, which he does and she takes a seat behind the desk. Crossing her legs at her ankles, she leans over on her right elbow and rests her chin on the back of her knuckles, as she examines Claude carefully.

"I didn't put two and two together until about now." Her tone of voice is measured.

"I don't understand."

"Well, the Songbird of course. You paid handsomely to jump the queue and to book him out for a couple of hours - I thought that you were just keen."

"And what am I now?"

"You're in love with that boy. I can see it."

"What if I am?" He replies curtly, knowing that she is a close acquaintance with Aleister.

"If I can see it, then so can anyone else." She replies.

"And who is anyone else?"

Hannah simply smiles at him.

"Mr. Faustus, I don't know what you're planning but I think you should take my advice, leave Alois alone. If you decide to pursue him, you will be putting yourself in grave danger." She warns.

Claude sits upright, almost leaning forward slightly.

"What do you mean?" He asks, almost whispering. Hannah leans forward, resting her elbows on top of the desk.

"I mean Aleister will kill you or he'll kill Alois or maybe you both."

"What if I take him away from here? I'm not saying I would but-"

"He wouldn't go with you no matter how in love he may be." She leans back again.

"And why not?"

"Luka, his brother. Do you really think he'd leave him in this state? Besides, where would you go? Short of leaving the country, there is nowhere outside of Storyville that will allow a public display of homosexuality."

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you think Aleister keeps him caged here? It's the only place he can see him and be open with him. Don't doubt for a second that if he could, he would have Alois living with him instead of in a brothel."

Claude thinks about this for a moment and then dips his head solemnly. It was true; there isn't anywhere they could go in America that would accept them. Deciding to shake that thought, his mind wanders over to another, something that has been bothering him for the last few months.

"What is their relationship like, Alois and Aleister's? Does Alois love him?"

"Absolutely not. I would have thought that he might until a few months ago, well, you were there and I suppose their tiff was about you as well?" Claude nods. "Well then seeing as though you won't heed my advice, there is something you need to know about Aleister, he will stop at nothing, to make sure that boy is his and his alone. If he knew you were still in the picture – I simply shudder to think." Her tone is very serious and Claude can feel his heart race.

"His brother, how bad is he?"

"Worse than Alois believes he is." She stops for a moment and then smiles sweetly. "Mr. Faustus, a piece of advice, leave Alois alone and don't make this harder on him. Go back to Boston and never look back. You're not the first to fall in love with him and I can assure you that you won't be the last."

"Unfortunately Ms. Annafellows, I can't leave him. He is a part of me, everything about him I desire, even his soul tempts me."

"Well then, I will help you where I can."

"Why would you help me?"

"Because I love his brother, therefore, I love him and I just want to see him happy and if it's you then..." She drifts off for a moment as her Grandfather clock sounds out, announcing that it's seven in the morning. "Oh dear, we spoke all night. I'm going to have to get him ready for the day and draw him a bath-"

"Please, allow me." Claude insists. "I'll take care of him from now on."

…

"Thank you, thank you all." She titters.

The Songbird has just finished her performance. She addresses the packed house through the chorus of wolf whistles and cheers as she hitches her skirt and curtsies.

"We love you Songbird!" Shouts a member of the audience.

"Well I love you all too. Now I must go I have other appointments to keep and I mustn't keep them waiting." She blows a kiss to the crowd before strolling off the stage.

Giggling to himself, Alois makes his way towards the stairs and then rushes up. Getting to his door, he smoothes down his dress and runs his hands through his hair as he takes a deep breath before he enters the room.

His eyes dart around the room before they land on Claude as he is lying out on top of the bed, he reclines back as he tucks his right arm behind his head whilst he reads a book in the other. Alois smiles to himself as Claude looks up from his book and sees him. He saunters over to the bed, over exaggerating the swing of his hips.

Claude arches and eyebrow, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Trying to." Alois pouts.

"You don't need to try love, just be yourself – that's enough for me."

"How is it that you can say all the right things?"

Claude shrugs, "I suppose it's easy when you're in love."

Alois lets out a light squeal and rushes over to him, pouncing on top of him and showering him with butterfly kisses.

There is a brisk knock on the door.

"Go away Hannah, I'm busy!"

"Oh? Busy doing what?" Asks the voice from the other side of the door. Claude immediately lets him go as Alois struggles out of his embrace.

"Merde, merde, merde!" He curses under his breath, "You have to hide." He whispers to Claude as he pushes him off the bed.

"What's taking you so long my little songbird, you know I hate waiting." Aleister calls out from the other side of the door.

Quickly sliding off of the bed, Alois grabs Claude and shoves him into the wardrobe, just pulling the door closed but accidentally leaving it ajar slightly. Scrambling, he makes his way over to the bedroom door and opens it.

"What do you want Mr. Chamber?" He snaps as he uses his body to block the entrance but Aleister pushes his way through. "What are you doing?"

"Just how long are you going to pout my love?"

"What do you mean?" Alois closes the door and refuses to turn to him even though he's right behind him.

Aleister grabs his shoulders from behind and hurls him onto the bed. Alois rolls his head over towards the wardrobe and his eyes widen in horror as he sees Claude watching them.

"What I mean, sweet songbird, is that I have given you more than enough time to be mad about Faustus but he's headed back to Boston soon so it'll just be you and I again. Wouldn't you like that?" Alois remains mute, which starts to infuriate Aleister. He leans over Alois, takes his wrists into his hands and squeezes them hard as he pushes Alois further into the bed. "I am not going to lose to a man who doesn't want you." He growls, "You forget just who you belong to."

"Y-you're hurting me." Alois winces as Aleister starts to dig his nails into his flesh.

"You're hurting me pet. I love you, you know, I love you so much and yet – you never seem to return my affections."

Alois looks back over towards the wardrobe to see Claude shaking with rage; Aleister grabs his chin and turns his face back towards him. "What has you so distracted my little butterfly?" He coos. Alois puts on the brightest smile he could muster and lowers his eyelids seductively.

"N-nothing." He pauses, "I do love you Aleister." He purrs as he lies.

Aleister loosens up the grip on his wrists and dips his head towards Alois, staring him straight in the eyes.

"If only that were true." He breathes before sitting up immediately and slapping Alois in the face. The sharp slap is so hard that a red trace of his handprint is left on Alois' cheek.

Alois starts to struggle underneath him but Aleister continues to pin him down. Bending over again, he places his lips onto Alois' as he squirms. After a while, Alois stops struggling and gives in to the kiss, trying to relax his body as the tighter it is, the firmer Aleisters' grip is on him.

Aleister releases him and takes his body into his arms.

"I will make you love me again." He threatens as he hugs him. Alois goes limp in his arms, hoping to be released soon.

There is another knock on the door and Hannah quickly enters.

She looks straight at Aleister who is scowling at her and then she looks around for Claude, not finding him.

"What is it Hannah, can't you see we're in the middle of something?" Barks Aleister.

"I'm sorry I-" She stops abruptly as she looks at Alois, his eyes keep darting from her to the wardrobe.

"Well, what is it?"

"A telegram came, it's from the hospital. Alois – it's Luka, he's taken a turn for the worse." She blurts out as tears start to fall from her eyes.

Authors' Note: Thank you to everyone for the follows, favorites, reviews, PMs and the love on Tumblr. When I started writing this, I didn't think anyone would read it because it's Alois and Claude. They are my OTP and I love them dearly, so it's awesome to know that I'm not alone. I am crap at responding to people but I'm working on it – though, if you have any questions, Tumblr is the best place – I seem to respond quicker there… don't know why.

Bisous!