I do not own American Horror Story: Freakshow.

I doubt Ryan Murphy would even recognize it now.

Wherever You Are

Soooooo . . .

"So . . . what are you going to do when you graduate?"

Hip college advisors.

"Hey, where are you planning to go when you graduate?"

Chatty co-workers.

"Whoo-hoo! Almost time to graduate!"

Overenthusiastic friends.

Why does everyone keep saying that?

I don't want to talk about it!

I like where I am! I like what I'm doing!

Leave me alone! I don't want things to change!

Even Patrick seemed to be in on it.

"Are you, uh, are you going to go back to Florida when you graduate?"

Albeit trepidatiously.

She looked at him.

That face she loved was blank.

Eyes veiled. Mouth closed and thin.

As if preparing himself for whatever declaration she proclaimed.

And she just didn't know.

She had fled, yes, with permission, fled home after high school graduation and a long, accomodating family summer.

Joyously embracing something new and completely different with relish and gusto.

But this graduation . . .

"No. I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it."

She shrugged.

"I know everybody's getting excited but . . ."

Anxiety rising.

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

As she chewed her lip.

"I don't want to do anything."

Feeling squirmy and nervous.

"I just want to stay here."

Then she piled herself into his arms, the most wonderful, most soothing place in the whole wide world.

"And be with you."

She could feel his heart beating.

He was asleep and she was awake and Scruffy Sam the Sublime was nestled at their feet.

And she could feel his heart beating.

Flat on his back, deep, even breaths rising and falling his chest.

Her hand light upon his cotton t-shirted chest.

It was his birthday, his assigned birthday anyway . . .

I mean, Jesus, to never really know anything . . .

. . . and she had tried to celebrate it right.

"Ta-Da!"

"Wow, grilled cheese sandwiches."

"And chocolate cupcakes!"

They had celebrated.

". . . hat on Sam, lemme snap the picture, seriously-"

And celebrated.

". . . you, happy birthday to you . . ."

And celebrated.

"Wow, Annabel . . . I . . ."

And now here they were, him peacefully sleeping and her keeping watch over him . . .

I mean, look at that face, Sam . . .

And she didn't want it to go away.

Change.

Become less.

What am I going to do?

"So, Ana Darling, what's the plan?"

She shrugged, mind half already focused on the night's shift.

"I don't know. Maybe open with 'RubberBand Man'. It's got good pep and pump, you kn-"

"I mean after graduation."

Annabel stopped.

Oh, for shit's sake, Dave.

She had, thanks to Patrick, gotten good at waiting.

Dave the Radio Man was better.

Finally, she caved.

"Dave, man, honestly, I'd just love to, like, stay here and spin tunes like I've been doing."

Her frustration was evident, she guessed.

He smiled gently and seemed to consider her words.

Nodding as he spoke.

"Yeah, I get it. And I'll hire you full time if that's what you want, no problem at all."

He paused.

You're not Patrick, Dave.

"But you've all the potential in the world, Ana. You've got raw talent and a perfect voice. You've got drive and determination toward what you want. You could go anywhere, do anything. As far as radio goes, NPR's gaining ground all the time. You could stretch your wings, climb up as far as you wanted."

Annabel didn't respond, dreading that he might be subtly trying to get rid of her.

Then Dave the Radio Man smiled and it was real.

"Look, if you want to stay here, you got it. I'll put in the papers and you can Easy Groove to your heart's content."

She relaxed.

"But if and when you decide to go, I'll give you a glowing recomendation any time, just let me know, okay?"

Annabel pretended to not need to wipe away tears.

"'Kay. Cool. Thanks, Dave."

"So I've decided to stay here after graduation. Dave said he would put me on the Nightshift fulltime."

"Wow, that's great."

The relief in Patrick's voice was exactly what she wanted to hear.

But there was another topic of consideration to face up to.

"And I was also thinking about graduation and, uh, . . ."

"Graduation is coming up."

Elizabeth Ann and Dorothy Jean were on the phone.

"May 18."

To their darling baby girl.

"Oh, yes, Annabel, we're so -"

Who was all of almost twenty and one and a half.

"-proud of you!"

Who had a job she loved.

"And I was wondering . . ."

And a happy life, so far as they could tell.

"Um . . ."

And about to graduate college.

". . . will you please come?"

And silence fell. Even between them momentarily.

"I know it's a long way . . ."

Before they managed to draw a mental breath.

". . . and I know you don't like different places but . . ."

College graduation? There? In Colorado?

That's-

-a long way away.

"I really, really want you to be here. Please?"

No. We couldn't, it's too far, it's-

-our-

-daughter.

"Yes, of course we'll come, darling."

"Just tell us when."

Okay, let's see two days up there . . .

. . . two days back.

Three days with Annabel.

Seven days in all.

That's a week!

That it is.

Oh my, Sister. We're -

-going on vacation.

"Hey, girls, how was the day?"

"We're going to Colorado!"

He never even skipped a beat.

"That bad, huh?"

Their laughter tickled his insides, warming him and making him smile just like it always did.

"Jimmy!"

"Annabel's invited us to graduation, can you believe it?"

Jimmy shrugged congenially, nodding.

"Yeah, of course. We're her parents!"

Then he paused, mind actually absorbing what his conjoined wives had just said.

"Wow. Colorado, huh?"

Bette and Dot nodded firmly.

Calmly.

And with complete confidence and determination.

"Yes."

"And it's going to be wonderful!"

Jimmy stood still, mind racing with possibilities and probabilities.

Bette and Dot moved smoothly around the kitchen, finishing up preparations for their modest dinner of chicken pot pie.

Jimmy watched them, unable to see them anywhere but the relative safety and comfort of Brandon, Florida.

Finally, he spoke the only words he could.

"Okay. When do we leave?"

"Alright, Ted. I'm gonna need you to run the store for a week in May."

"Oh, wow, what's up, boss?"

"Goin' to Colorado. My little girl's graduating college."

"Wow! Congrats, sir!"

"Well, thanks. It's all her, you know? She's always been so smart and a hard worker-"

"Colorado, though? You gonna fly?"

Light snort.

"Oh, hell, no. You kiddin'? I'm not a bird."

He waved his hooks vaguely.

"Probably wouldn't let me on a plane with these anyway, don't ya think?"

Brief chuckle.

"No. Probably not."

"Lucy, we need you to keep an eye on the house for a week in May."

Baffled incomprehension.

"Why? What's-"

Sunshine breaking through the clouds.

"Oh! Is it time for Annabel to graduate?"

Outright glee.

"Yes! And she asked us to come! Can you believe it?!"

Excited hugs. Happy tears.

"Oh, sweet friends, of course I can believe it. I told you she just needed time to sort herself out."

Kleenex passed all around.

A few moments of sniffling.

"And you know, I think it was also her Patrick. A boy without a family gives perspective to one who's always had one. No matter how different they are."

Ah, yes, the anxiety of becoming a grownup. Happens to us all at some point.

Couple of new considerations here. What do you think?

Thanks to brigid1318 and midnightrebellion86 for always reviewing! :D

See you next weekend!