'Rewriting The Stars'

Authors Note: Although not many people are interested in this topic of fan fiction so I have realised as I have done research possibly because it comes up as an error every time I try to place this story under "Movie: The Greatest Showman" category, I am still happy to continue writing this as there are not many but a few of you who are really enjoying this story :) Which is all the audience an author needs :) I love the love story between Anne and Phillip in the Greatest Showman so I am more then happy to continue writing my interpretation of what their future would look like :)


Chapter Two

It was nearing seven o'clock of the evening and Phillip was seated in a carriage being pulled by two zebras conducted by a scrawny, little man gripping the reigns. Phillip spent most of the journey checking his watch and counting down the minutes as they came and went. He was dressed in a fine black tux with a matching bowtie, ironed until there was not a crinkle left exposed.

"Right here." Phillip called out to the coachman. The carriage stopped outside of a small two story apartment. The coachman looked surprised to be there. It looked old and rundown but Anne had told Phillip that it wasn't as bad as it looked. Phillip got out of the carriage and walked up the porch to knock on the front door. As soon as his knuckles touched the wood the door swung open. W.D stood in the doorway standing a foot higher than Phillip and then some when he lifted his chin.

"Uh... Hi W.D... I'm here to pick up Anne." Phillip said rather awkwardly. W.D eyed Phillip up and down as if Phillip needed his approval before he could even move a muscle.

"Anne! Carlyle's here." W.D called out.

"I'm coming." Phillip heard Anne call back in a sort of rushed tone from upstairs. While they waited for her Phillip tried to avert eye contact with W.D by looking at a pot plant hanging from the roof. An awkward silence lasted for what felt like an eternity to Phillip.

"What have you planned for tonight?" W.D asked breaking the silence. Phillip looked at him not prepared or expecting to have a conversation.

"Uh... It's a surprise." Phillip said. W.D narrowed his eyes at Phillip not letting him walk out of the house with his sister in arm without him knowing where they were going.

"I'm treating her to a nice dinner and a show." Phillip said as he noticed the conflict in W.D's face.

"You know, people ain't gonna like it when they see you two together." W.D said. Phillip frowned becoming tired of hearing that statement.

"I'll protect her." Phillip said instantly. W.D nodded knowing that Phillip meant what he said.

"Good." W.D said.

They heard Anne rushing down the stairs and soon she was standing next to her brother in the doorway. Phillip beamed at her delighted at the sight. She wore a long, tight purple dress with black lace that stretched around her shoulders and chest. Phillip was lost for words.

"Ready?" she said to a dazed Phillip.

"Uh... yeah. Yes." Phillip said still smiling.

W.D gave his sister a hug before he stepped out of the doorway and allowed Anne to take Phillip's arm.

"Hey Carlyle... you may be my boss at the circus... but when you're with my sister, you're just like every other punk in this town." W.D said. Anne shot him a look as to tell him to back off, but Phillip was happy to listen.

"Anything happens to her... you know who's coming for you." W.D threatened.

"I'll keep that in mind. I promise you nothing will happen to her." Phillip assured.

"Good." W.D said. And with that Anne and Phillip were soon on their way, their first disapproving look of the night delivered from the coachman.


Along the journey Phillip gifted Anne with a gorgeous corsage. She lit up when she saw it. Phillip wrapped it around her wrist.

"I'm sorry I didn't say it before... you look beautiful." Phillip said to her. She smiled and gently kissed his lips.

"You too." she said back to him. For the entire journey Phillip held Anne's hand tightly. He was excited to finally take her out on their first date. Even the carriage ride Phillip would consider the perfect date. Anywhere would be perfect just as long as he was with her.

When the carriage finally pulled up outside the theatre and Phillip escorted Anne out, the look on her face when she saw where they were proved that this was not the perfect place for a perfect date.

"What's wrong?" Phillip asked her kindly resting a hand on her shoulder. "You said you have always waned to visit the theatre...so I thought..." Phillip began.

"I know... and I have but... remember what happened the last time we came here together?" Anne said to him.

"Hey, don't worry about that." Phillip said to her as he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "You're here with me... and I'm here with you. If anyone has something to say about it then let them. I'm happy and you're happy... that's all that matters." Phillip said. He held out his arm smiling and Anne nodded and took it in her own.


When they approached the man sitting in the box office around came their second look of disapproval for the evening.

"Phillip Carlyle, tickets for two please." Phillip said confidently. The man sighed when he saw who he was with and effortlessly handed the tickets to Phillip.

"Thanks." he said to him. Phillip walked into the theatre looking straight ahead but Anne found herself looking back at the man who gave her a filthy look. Phillip led the way and she followed closely behind. As they entered the theatre a few people who were standing on the steps stopped their conversations to glare at the odd couple. Phillip felt Anne tense and he held her arm tighter as to comfort her.

"We should go back..." Anne whispered to him.

"No. This is our night... your night...let's keep walking. Trust me." he said to her. And she did. They walked right past, Anne feeding off of Phillip's courage. They collected their programmes and entered the theatre. The stage alone was enough to blow Anne away. It was magnificent and huge. It seated a thousand people and had a grand stage to look upon. Phillip smiled as he watched Anne's reaction.

"This way." he said to her leading them to their seats. They squeezed between rows of people all of which frowned upon them.

"Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me." both Phillip and Anne repeated over and over again until at last they could sit.

"We can see everything from up here. What is this show about?" Anne asked Phillip looking through the programme.

"It's one of my favourites. It's a dramatic love story between a man and a woman of two opposing households, and that's all I'm going to tell you. I wouldn't want to spoil your first show, but I have a feeling you're going to love it." Phillip said. Anne smiled eager to discover what this was all about. It was only minutes to go until the show would start and Anne could hardly wait.

"Excuse me ma'am." Anne felt someone tap her shoulder rather roughly with one of the programmes. Instantly she felt violated and Phillip felt it too. She turned her head to see a fat and balding white man sitting just above her.

"Your kind sits back there." the man said pointing to the stalls. "I wasn't sure if you knew... it's hard to see your kind with it being dark in the theatre and all..." the man said.

"No actually, she's sitting here. We paid full price just as you did so no one in this theatre has any right to tell us to sit somewhere else." Phillip said standing from his seat. He wasn't just talking to the man, he was talking to every disapproving face around.

"Oh... didn't realise she was with you..." the man said oddly.

"Well now you do." Phillip stated loud and clear to everyone sitting himself back down. Anne gave him a small smile but Phillip could see the sadness the man's words had left in her eyes. He reached for her hand and clutched it tightly and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I love you." he mouthed to her. Anne smiled at him finding a small comfort in his words.

The lights dimmed and the show began to start. They held onto each other's hands throughout the show afraid to lose each other in the darkness. Phillip would occasionally look over to Anne during moments in the show but the entire time she had on a poker face. He knew it was all because of one man's words and Anne was sensitive. She was easily offended and emotional which were two qualities that Phillip adored about her. He adored everything about her.

The lights turned back on after two hours as the show had come to an end and people began making their way to the exits.

"Well was it everything you were hoping for?" Phillip asked a stunned Anne. She nodded.

"Everything and more. Thank you." she said to him. They both leaned into kiss but once their lips touched a woman squealed from above them disgusted.

"There are children in this theatre!" she spat. Two young boys stood next to the woman not seeming to care much.

"Momma that's the lady from the circus!" one of the boy's said beaming at Anne and waving at her.

"Ugh! Freaks! That's what makes it even more sickening! Let's go!" the woman said ushering her sons out.

Both Phillip and Anne looked at each other feeling a bit hurt by what the woman had said to them.

"C'mon." Phillip said taking Anne's hand.


"I'm sorry I couldn't treat you to dinner..." Phillip said sadly as he and Anne had decided to walk home.

"That's okay. I couldn't stand another person looking at us the way every person in that theatre was anyway." Anne said. "Aside from the scowls I had a great time. The show was lovely. I still prefer ours though." Anne said. Phillip chuckled.

"I have to agree with you on that one." he said.

"You have to agree with me on anything now." Anne said to him. They both laughed and clasped hands as they walked.

"It's just a shame we had to end the night early..." Anne said sadly.

"Well maybe we don't, look." Phillip said pointing to a moon lit lagoon in the distance.

"Come." he said to her leading the way.

It was beautiful. The moon shimmered against the water's surface beneath a starry night sky. No one was around to judge the couple or scowl upon them. It was only them and they cherished these moments.

"Hey look." Phillip said jogging to a tree where a tire swing hung. He sat in it just as Anne did in her ring when she would perform trapeze.

"Think I could be the next you?" Phillip said to her. She laughed as he awkwardly posed on the tire swing.

"Yeah... definitely." Anne joked. Phillip laughed and hopped out of the swing to rejoin her. They walked to the edge of the lagoon hand in hand admiring the view.

"This is beautiful." she said to him. Phillip took a moment to gaze upon her face as she looked towards the distance.

"You're beautiful." he said to her. Anne blushed and looked up at him. Phillip found his face naturally guiding its way to hers like a magnet. He felt his lips brush against hers and she responded passionately back. He felt his hands lock around her waist as he tugged her closer to him. He felt so much love for her in this moment and wanted desperately to prove it to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground so that she was face levelled with him. The kiss began to grow intense and needy for the both of them, especially Phillip as he began to take off his coat.

"Baby..." Anne whispered slightly pulling away, but he held her closer wanting more of her and drove his mouth back to hers.

"Phillip..." Anne struggled to say as she attempted to pull away again but she was locked in his hold. "Phillip please..." Anne said, and he stopped instantly.

"Not tonight." she said to him resting a palm on his cheek.

"Ok." he said kindly without a sign of complaint. He smiled respecting her wishes and gently placed her back on her feet. He put on his coat again and straightened his tie.

"Shall we?" Phillip said to Anne holding out his arm. She smiled and took it letting him escort her home.


They stood just outside the porch of Anne's home embraced in each others arms.

"I don't want to leave you..." Phillip said nearly in tears.

"I'll see you tomorrow night at the circus." Anne said to him.

"That's too long." Phillip cried hugging her tighter. Anne sighed and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Come live with meee." Phillip said almost moaning. Anne giggled.

"W.D would never let you take me from him without a fight." Anne said.

"You're worth a broken bone." Phillip replied. This made Anne laugh and she kissed his cheek.

"I need to go now." she said to him.

"No." Phillip protested holding her tighter.

"You gonna hold me here all night?" Anne asked him.

"Yup." Phillip said bluntly. Anne tried to wriggle her way out but he wouldn't budge.

"Uh you're like a big baby." Anne joked. "And you laugh like one too." she said tickling him on his back. Phillip released her and she ran for the stairs. He ran after her and captured her from behind. They both laughed and fell to the ground in each others arms.

"What's going on?" W.D said opening the door.

"Help me he won't let me go." Anne said through fits of giggles.

"Carlyle get your ass off of her." W.D said almost laughing himself. Phillip reluctantly released finally letting go and sat up on the steps.

"Alright now say your goodnights and get outta here Carlyle." W.D said to the pair. Anne sighed.

"Goodnight." she said to Phillip.

"Goodnight." he said back.

They shared one final kiss before Anne thanked him for the night and went inside. Phillip sat on the steps of the porch already missing his love. He blew her a kiss from outside before he ventured home.


:) Hope you guys liked this cute and cheesy chapter :)