Anne had noticed Phillip had been really stressed all week, he wasn't sleeping well. She would wake up in the night and he still hadn't fallen asleep in the early hours.

Last night she rolled over around 4 in the morning and he was just staring up at the ceiling, his eyes heavy but open. Anne frowned, "Phillip it's 4am" she groaned.

He jumped at the sound of her voice after hours of silence, "oh, is it?" he mumbled distracted, Anne brushed her lips against his cheek, "what's wrong baby?" She asked.

His lips lifted at the corner when she kissed him but apart from that he didn't move, "nothing, I just can't sleep, too many thoughts in my head, they won't me fall asleep".

Anne blinked the sleep out of her eyes and sat up, "what thoughts?" She asked with a yawn, Phillip finally looked at her, "nothing important, just work and stuff… Go back to sleep, my love" he told her.

She rested her head on his shoulder, "no way, not with you sitting here awake, alone with your thoughts. If you're staying up then I am too".

Phillip tilted his head so it rested against hers, "you're not going to let me change your mind are you?" He said.

She smiled and shook her head, "oh Phillip, you know me so well" she laughed.

He sighed and lifted his arm, "come here then", she kissed his cheek again before shuffling into him, he wrapped his around her and they lay back against the bed together.

Anne traced shapes over his heart, "can you sing to me?" He asked, she smirked, "really?" She asked.

He looked at her expectantly, she laughed and nodded, "English, French or Shona?" She asked, "it's so cool having a girlfriend who speaks 3 different languages" he grinned.

He thought for a moment, "you choose" he decided after a few seconds. Anne screwed up her mouth as she thought.

She ran her fingers gently through his, "hold me tight and hold me fast, this magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose" she sang softly.

He smiled sleepily and nestled against her, "when you kiss me heaven sighs and though I close my eyes, I see la vie en rose" she paused to kiss his forehead.

She twirled his hair between her fingers, the feeling and her voice slowly lulling him to sleep, "when you hold me to your heart, I'm in worlds apart, a world where roses bloom. And when you speak angels sing from above, and everyday words seem to turn into love songs".

Phillip's eyes began to droop at long last, "give your heart and soul to me, and life will surely be le vie en rose" she finished.

She chuckled when she felt Phillip's head sink against her, his soft snores sounding he was finally asleep. She was glad to fall asleep again herself.

Now it was nearly 3 in the afternoon and they were in the middle of an all cast rehearsal, Phillip was working them all particularly hard that day.

They were going through the reprise of the greatest show, their last song. They had gone over it at least five times but it still wasn't good enough in Phillip's eyes.

He paced before them, cane in hand watching them as they performed to him, with a tut he lifted his fingers to his lips and wolf whistled loudly.

The musical oddities stopped playing, Phillip raised his hand to silence the troupe, "okay this is good but good isn't good enough, I'm looking for perfect" he said loudly.

W.D rubbed his neck, "come on Carlyle, we've been at it for hours" he groaned.

Phillip nodded, "this is our last song but we will practice until this is the best it can be, I know you all can do better and so I will push you until you give me your best".

He pointed at the oddities in turn, "Lettie sing louder, Charles ride slower, Frederic go stand next to Flora, Sarah move in front of Maurice" he ordered.

Lauren threw her head back, "with all due respect Mr Carlyle, you've moved us around 3 times, what difference does it make?" She asked.

Phillip balanced on the lip of the ring, "what difference does it make? Maurice has a stronger voice than Sarah and when he stands in front of her he drowns her out whereas if she stands in front of him her voice will carry further. Flora sings in mezzo-sopprano, Frederic sings in baritone. They both sing in similar vocal ranges so it would make sense acoustically for them to sing next to each other" Phillip explained.

Lauren nodded and stepped back, since Anne had defended Phillip she hadn't said another word against him but had given him a chance.

She decided despite being white he wasn't too bad a guy, Maurice and Phillip however still hated each other in an unspoken, passive way.

He clapped his hands, "again from the top!" He yelled. The music started up again, Phillip sang his part but stayed standing in front of them so he could look at the number from the audience's perspective.

He walked amongst the oddities as he scanned for things needing improvement, "louder Lettie! Mary try going up an octave! Charles slow it down a bit" Phillip barked.

Charles rode the baby elephant, firing his pistols. At Phillip's request he slowed down a bit, although rolling his eyes and mumbling something under his breath.

Phillip stood in front of Anne watching her closely, critiquing her every move. "tidy up the footwork Anne" he yelled over the singing.

She gave him an irritated look before attempting to dance in a cleaner, less sloppy way.

She hated it when Phillip went into overdrive, he nit-picked at everything little thing and obsessed over making everything perfect.

You might think he would go easier on her, Anne being his girlfriend and all but if anything he pushed her harder than anyone else, he was determined he wouldn't let his emotions influence how he treated her so he was harsher with her at work than anyone else.

Her footwork was fine.

Phillip joined in again on the last few lines, when he took Anne's hand on the part he was supposed to kiss her he held up her finger to her and turned to face the oddities, "hold your last positions" he commanded.

The music stopped and the troupe stayed frozen in their last positions, all panting and out of breath.

Phillip dropped Anne's hand and walked amongst them inspecting their positions, "Constantine raise your arm higher, Oliver straighten your back, Josephine get on your knees".

Charles smirked, he cracked a sly joke to Clause, the strong man. Phillip shot him a warning look, "Carlyle, please hurry up this is not an easy position to hold" W.D hissed, shaking slightly from the strain.

Phillip held his hands up, "alright, take it from the last chorus, this is the last time and then we're done for today" he announced.

Everyone rushed to get to their places for the chorus, eager to end rehearsals.

This time when it got to the part where Phillip kissed Anne he did, he dipped her and removed his hat before kissing her, it was slow and sweet and perfect.

She blushed as he pulled her back to her feet, "right that's it, you're free to go, good work today guys but let's try and do it better tonight!" Phillip called.

Lettie, W.D, Constantine and Charles made their way over to Phillip and Anne, "boy am I tired after the long rehearsal" Constantine chuckled as he wiped his brow.

Lettie nodded, "I need some water, my throat is so dry, I've been singing for hours".

Phillip turned to W.D, "I need to see you in my office, now" he said seriously.

W.D frowned, "what about?" He asked, "get in my office!" Phillip roared.

Everyone jumped, "Phillip, what're you doing?" Anne asked, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

She knew he'd been tense lately but this was very out of character for him.

Phillip ignored her, "now Wheeler" he snapped, W.D raised his eyebrows but nodded, "yes sir" he said obediently.

Everyone watched as Phillip frog marched him to the room and closed the door, "what the hell's gotten into him?" He heard Charles whisper.

He walked over to his desk, perching himself on the edge as he looked at W.D, "is there a problem Mr Carlyle?" he asked.

He decided judging by Phillip's aggressive tone it was best he dealt with this professionally, regarding Phillip as his boss rather than his friend.

Phillip's strict expression dropped immediately, "I'm sorry about that, I need to talk to you about something" he said in his normal calm voice.

W.D stared at him in confusion, what the hell was going on? Phillip had just switched from calm to angry back to calm in under two minutes, "okay… What is it?" He asked.

"So it's Anne's birthday in two weeks right?" He asked.

W.D's eyes followed Phillip as W.D stood in place, "yes?" He prompted, "and she's never really done anything for it before" Phillip continued.

W.D nodded, "right, so what is it you want to ask me?" He asked, Phillip tried to keep a straight face but a smile was tugging at his lips and he couldn't stop the grin from spreading to his cheeks.

"Well, I want to do something for her this year, I know she told me not to but I've got something really big planned and I'm going to need your help" Phillip explained.

"I'm not sure Carlyle, she was adamant I didn't tell you because she didn't want you to make a big deal about her birthday, she's never cared about the day, she doesn't want anyone to fuss over her" he replied.

Phillip looked unfazed at W.D's hesitation, he rose to his feet and began pacing however "I've been through hell and back with Anne, we've been together for a year and a half and she turned my life upside down in the best way imaginable. I know for a fact I want to spend my life with her…" Phillip said passionately.

He took a deep breath, he stood still, turning to face W.D, "W.D I'm asking for your blessing, I would like to ask Anne to marry me" he said nervously.

W.D's face lit up, he grinned and surged forward embracing Phillip in a bear hug, "of course you have my blessing" he cried.

Phillip laughed in relief, "I haven't got the ring yet, I was going to ask you to help me buy it if you agreed to give me Anne's hand in marriage" he said.

W.D laughed, "what the hell was all that then?" He asked jabbing his thumb over his shoulder, "oh, you're the only person who can know, so if anyone asks you were in trouble for the inappropriate comments you've been making behind my back".

W.D frowned, "I haven't made any inappropriate comments about you behind your back" he said, Phillip shook his head, "not yet, as we are both aware Maurice doesn't like me because I'm white and you used to feel the same, so what if you were to just have a conversation where you may or may not agree with whatever he has to say about me" he suggested.

W.D scoffed, "you know, I really underestimated you Carlyle" he wagged his finger at Phillip.

Phillip blushed slightly at the unexpected compliment, "yeah well" he laughed.

W.D outstretched his hand, "welcome to the family Phillip".