Phillip walked into the circus with W.D, he saw Anne storming out of the ring, she looked furious.

Her whole body was tense and shaking with anger, her head lowered as she unwrapped her hands clumsily. Her jaw was clenched, her eyebrows pinched tightly, her eyes burned with fury.

Every inch of her gave her away, he could tell something had gotten her really worked up.

When she looked up and spotted Phillip and W.D her body instantly relaxed, the anger melted away from her face.

She ran to Phillip and wrapped her arms around his neck letting out a relieved laugh, "thank god you're here" she breathed and placed a kiss to his cheek.

He held her waist and bent his head to look in her eyes, "hey what's wrong?" He asked.

Anne eyes switched between Phillip and her brother, she smiled convincingly enough but he could see the fire in her eyes, "oh nothing" she lied.

They both saw right through it, "Anne, what's happened?" W.D asked, taking a step closer to her.

Anne removed her arms from Phillip's neck, "honestly it's nothing" she said.

Phillip frowned, "W.D can you give us a second?" He asked, W.D crossed his arms giving Anne a concerned look before he nodded, "I'll be just over there" he pointed over his shoulder before walking away.

Phillip pulled Anne close to him, resting his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes slowly and smiled.

"What's wrong?" Phillip asked, Anne shook her head, "it's nothing" she said, her voice shook, he heard the distress in her tone.

Phillip lifted her chin and kissed her, "I know you Anne, you can't lie to me" his tone soft and quiet.

She shook her head, "you've been so stressed lately, I don't want to add to your stress. I don't want you to worry" she looked into his eyes.

They were full of worry already, she hated it. She wish she knew what she could say to put his mind at ease, she couldn't tell him what had just happened, not now.

Phillip frowned, "so I have reason to worry?" He asked.

Anne sighed and glanced over her shoulder, Maurice stood by the hoop watching them, when he saw her turn around he backed quickly away to his room.

"It's Maurice" she said, Phillip pulled his head back, "Maurice? What about him?" He asked.

She cradled his cheek in her palm, "I've suspected something was off for a while and today he…" she trailed off.

Phillip's frown deepened, "what? What did he do?" He asked protectively holding Anne closer.

She looked away, she couldn't stand to see the look on his face, "he tried to kiss me" she spoke, her voice no louder than a whisper but judging by the way his hands tensed, his grip tightening he had heard her.

He didn't spoke for a moment, Anne looked at him slowly, he held a confused look on his face.

He blinked a few times, "sorry what?" He asked, "Maurice tried to kiss me, I didn't let him of course, I slapped him" she repeated.

She expected him to get angry or yell at her but instead he kissed her.

Not just their typical peck on the lips a few second kiss.

No this was the kind of kiss you might give the woman you love just before the world ends, a kiss full of passion and love. He poured his heart and soul into the kiss.

Anne pulled away, "what?" she breathed, "you're not mad?".

Phillip shook his head, "not at you, no. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to kill Maurice. But you didn't do anything wrong, I can remember how guilty I felt when Marguax came onto me. I can imagine you're probably feeling similarly, I love you Anne and I know you love me too".

She smiled, how she could possibly deserve someone so understanding and loving was far beyond her, "I do, I love you so much Phil. Thank you for understanding".

He pulled her close, he rested his chin on her shoulder as he hugged her. She frowned when she felt something hard in his pocket, "what's that?" She asked going to pull away.

Phillip's eyes widened, the ring was in his pocket. He pulled her closer again, "nothing, what's what?" He asked, she tried to pull away again but he held her there, "what's in your pocket?" She asked.

Phillip laughed nervously, "what're you talking about? There's nothing in my pocket", she finally pushed Phillip away. There was an oddly shaped lump in his pocket.

She grabbed his pocket, "oh really? What's this then?" She asked, Phillip stumbled backwards, "oh that's just-" Anne surged forward in an attempt to reach into his pocket, "Anne!" He yelped.

He reached into his pocket pulling out something he hid in his hand, "W.D!" He yelled, he tossed the object through the air to him where he stood a few metres away.

W.D caught the object and took off running through the circus, it had happened too fast for Anne to process what had just happened, she turned to Phillip, "what was that?" She asked.

Phillip held up his hands, "it was nothing, just some new cufflinks I had bought W.D" he lied, Anne scoffed "really cufflinks?" She questioned, hands on her hips.

Phillip nodded, "mhm, yep. Cufflinks", Anne arched her brow, "W.D's never worn cufflinks in his life, why would he start now? And why would you buy him cufflinks after a business meeting?" She interrogated.

Phillip laughed, "whoa, what's with all the questions?" He asked, Anne shook her head and laughed, "you are such a terrible liar".