I awoke early with a huge smile upon my face. Paul and I were together! I am not all quite sure what that meant but it did mean something. He liked me. He thought I was beautiful. No man has ever told me that.

Quickly and as thoroughly as I could I wrote all of the past days antics to Eliezer and Petras, not wanting to imagine their reactions. I would half expect they demand that I come home. Just the thought alone of a man, a true man in my life was enough to frighten them.

This I was sure of.

That and the fact I was almost murdered by a clown.

Scribbling the last of my notes to both of them I rose and began to get ready. After my shower I took extra care and picked out my best dress, wanting to please Paul.

Doing what I could with my hair, I let it hang down in my waves rather than pull it up.

Straightening my sleeves I looked upon my tattoo.

I did not want to have any secrets to keep from Paul...but how does one even begin to explain the hell I went through? Furthermore, how would he react? What would he think?

Would he even believe me?

The knock on the door forced me to pull my sleeve carefully back into place as I sighed. Hiding was becoming increasingly exhausting and I did not know how much longer I could keep it up for.

Stopping briefly to smooth my dress and hair I answered my door where Paul was standing on the other side. He had wildflowers in his hands and a bright smile on his face.

"For you my lady." He spoke in his honey voice as he held out the flowers and I took them with a sparkling grin. No one had ever given me flowers except for my uncle and my papa.

"Oh Paul thank you." Pressing the blooms to my nose, breathing in their heavenly scent, "Come in and I will put them in a jar." Turning around to find a container.

Filling the small jar with water I carefully placed the flowers on the kitchen table under the sunlight. Lightly I touched one of the petals, "They are so beautiful." Touched by such a simple gesture.

Turning around I kissed him on the cheek and I could have sworn I saw a blush hint at his cheeks.

But maybe it was just my imagination.

"Shall we go to breakfast, the natives will be restless if there is no food." Joking as I took his arm and shut the door.

The two of us walked through the nearly abandoned camp ground in the early morning. Well early for the performers at least.

"You look lovely today, I like your hair down." Paul commented and I grinned making a mental note to wear my hair down more.

"So what do you all do for Miss Elsa's birthday week?" Inquiring since I did not know the normal procedure.

"Well basically the whole week is us celebrating the days up to her birthday. Today we all line up and give her, her presents." He told me.

"Interesting." I commented thinking it was a bit silly to have a whole birthday week, but it was not my opinion to voice.

"What did you always do for birthdays?" Paul asked me as we had reached the kitchen. He sat down at the nearest table.

"Well no one I knew ever had a whole week." Joking to him, "No for as long as I could remember birthdays were a treasured event, but for many different reasons."

He cocked his head waiting for me to continue.

"Birthdays were a time less about presents and material things but being with the people you loved. Only the wealthiest, well to do families could afford the best, we were well off but by no means wealthy." Smiling, "I think the two best birthday presents I have ever received was a glass pendent necklace of a bird from my papa when I was seven. That was his pet name for me mano mažai paukštis. My little bird."

"And the other?" Paul's curiosity flowing.

"A bar of chocolate." Replying as a tiny smile crept onto my face.

"One bar of chocolate?" Paul laughed.

"Hey a bar of chocolate was very hard to come by during the war." Laughing as I pointed my spoon at him, "Rations and all that." Waving my hand.

I paused, "It was the last birthday we were all together...before...before..." Trailing off.

Before the deportation to the camps, before we were all separated and our lives forever altered. I busied myself with the eggs. Hoping not to cry.

I heard Paul rise and come up behind me, "I am sorry. I am just not ready to talk about it all. Not yet." Whispering him.

He kissed my shoulder, "It's alright love. You'll talk about it when you're good and ready." Paul reassured me.

Turning around I smiled at him, "Thank you."

We stared into each others eyes for a few moments before our lips met. It was brief, beautiful and magical.

I broke apart needing air that I thought was in my lungs, but apparently not.

Someone cleared their throat and Paul and I jumped apart.

Turning around I saw Jimmy's smug face staring at us.

Paul went to help set the tables while I went back to cooking.

"So..." Jimmy drawled out, "Having a good morning?" I thought his smirk would crack his face.

"It would seem like the mature thing to do would not drawn attention to what you just saw." Blushing as red as a tomato.

"I don't know what you're talkin about, I didn't see anything." Jimmy causally said as he picked up a strawberry, "Just came here for my breakfast."

"Jimmy please do not say anything. We do not want anyone to know yet." Pleading with him.

"Like I said, don't know what you're babblin on about." He gave me a wink and I knew our secret was safe.

"Just keep it behind closed doors." He chuckled and I lightly elbowed him.

"Go sit down." I laughed.

Slowly and surely like clockwork every filed into the area for breakfast. We had all sat down when I noticed something odd.

"Where are Dot and Bette?" Asking looking around again to make sure they weren't there.

"It's not like them to miss breakfast." Eva became concerned.

"I will go check their tent." Rising but Miss Elsa sat me back down.

"No need my dear, the twins have gone."

"Gone?" All of us seemed to speak.

"Gone where?" Jimmy inquired.

"They ran off when I took them into town. I had my back turned for one moment and the next they were gone." Miss Elsa huffed, "And after all I had done for them!" Slapping the table top.

"Are you sure they left? It doesn't seem like them to just leave. Maybe they were taken?" Miss Ethel offered.

Miss Elsa shook her head, "No, no, no I am sure they are gone. They took advantage of us. Took what they wanted then left."

I glanced at everyone reading different expressions. I read worry, despair, concern, but mostly confusion.

We all dared not say anymore for fear of upsetting Miss Elsa again. We ate slowly and silently. None of us saying what we really thought.

Why would the twins leave?

Later we all gathered in the main tent to give Miss Elsa her presents.

Stepping forward I handed her a container.

"I am sorry, I did not know what to get you so I baked this." Smiling at her.

She opened the container and laughed, "Oh my dear how wonderful." Holding up the black forest cake I had made for her.

"I thought you would want something to remind you of home." Shyly speaking.

"It looks amazing, thank you my liebe." Miss Elsa grinned at me. My cheeks blushed as I stepped off to the side and Miss Ethel handed her a present.

Miss Elsa opened the box and gasped, "Oh, Ethel. Oh, you have outdone yourself."

"They say all the movie stars use Westmore." Miss Ethel exclaimed.

Miss Elsa looked at the box and smiled, "Yes."

"You got to have the best on your big trip out to Hollywood." Miss Ethel gushed.

I did not know what this Westmore was but I was sure it was important if movie stars were using it.

"Well, come on, step lively. Supposed to be a party. Who's next?" Turning back to us.

Paul stepped forward and handed Miss Elsa a small box. She opened and blushed with laughter before closing it, "Oh Paul you cheeky bastard." She continued laughing.

I do not know what was in that box but it gave me gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I tried to push away.

Eve stepped up with a rather large box and set it on the ground. I was startled when Miss Elsa gave out a yelp as she opened the top.

The present was Ma Petite knitted into some kind of blanket.

Miss Elsa picked up Ma Petite, "I will keep you warm, Miss Elsa." Ma Petite said in her adorable voice. I just had to smile.

"Oh, liebchen! Liebchen, liebchen, liebchen. Oh. My very own hot water bottle to cuddle with at night." She was beaming.

She looked at all of us and her face fell, "Oh What's the matter? Why such long faces? This is just the beginning of our glorious week of festivities. Why so gloomy?" Asking in confusion.

"We miss the twins." Ma Petite said sadly.

Instantly Miss Elsa's face changed.

"Did they say anything before they took off about why they wanted to leave?" Jimmy asked her.

Paul spoke up, "Maybe we should go look for them? They might be lost.."

"No!" Miss Elsa cut him off, startling all of us.

"Enough about the twins. I will have no more of this! We bring them in, give them a home, a family, and how do they repay us? By disappearing into the night!" She shouted, "So, no more about the twins! Do you hear me?! Now, I demand that you start having fun this instant." I bit my lip.

"Or I'll put one of you up against that wheel." She joked.

Or I hoped she was joking. I glanced at Jimmy. The concern was evident on his face. I wondered if he was going to push this out of his mind or not.

It was late in the evening when I heard a knocking at my trailer door.

I hoped it was Paul.

Opening the door I was not disappointed. He quickly stepped into the trailer before anyone saw him.

"Hi." I breathed with a grin.

"Hey." He grinned back.

So far most of our private time together was grinning at each other like idiots. But I did not mind it one bit.

"I feel like I have not seen you all day." Confessing my missing him.

"I know I went to town to try and get you something." Paul blushed.

Taking his hand I led him to the table, "Why would you get me anything Paul?" Asking as we sat down.

"Because you're my girl." He said sweetly.

I bit my lip and did not care that my blush rushed to the tips of my ears.

"But it did not go as planned." He explained somewhat darkly.

"Why what happened?" Instantly becoming worried.

"I went down to the local pharmacy to get you some perfume. Something nice because I love that way you smell, just like lavenders." Paul smiled at me, "But when I went the shop keeper started giving me a hard time."

"Why?" Inquiring.

He gestured to his body, "Because of what I am."

My shoulders slumped. My tattoo started itching. I touched his hand, "It is his loss because he does not know how amazing you are." Gently smiling at him.

I know in my mind he did blush, "Thank you love but that is not what was strange." He continued, "I saw that lad there Dandy, the toff from a few weeks ago who bought out the whole show."

"The man and his mother who tried to buy the twins?" Questioning.

Paul nodded, "That's the one. Anyway he was buy two of every item, except they were all things for women. Combs, headbands, mirrors stuff like that." Saying as he looked at me.

"You think he could have something to do with the twins disappearing?" Gasping.

"That's exactly what I think. You saw the way he was obsessed with the twins." Seriously speaking.

I bolted up from my seat, "We must tell someone!" I paused, "Jimmy! Let us tell Jimmy, he will know what to do."

Together Paul and I walked the camp finding Jimmy in the main tent folding and putting away chairs.

"Jimmy! We must talk to you." I exclaimed running up to him, "It is about the twins."

"It doesn't bother you? The way they just wandered off?" Paul asked him.

"I guess they were never really happy here." He concluded.

"But they were. You cannot really believe that?" Uneasy at his lack of curiosity and worry.

"I ran into that weirdo at the drugstore. You know, that rich kid who bought the house out a few weeks ago? He was buying two of all these girly things, makeup, brushes." Paul explained to him.

Jimmy put down one of the chair, "What are you saying?"

"Well, think about it for a second. Elsa hated them from the minute they got here for taking her spotlight away. They go, and she's right back in it. That Hollywood guy wants her again." Paul spoke harshly and Jimmy slapped him.

I gasped rushing over to Paul, "Jimmy!" Oh this was not the way I imagined this talk would go. Staring at Paul he assured me he was fine.

"You shut your mouth! Elsa has a dark heart, sure, but she saved every one of us, including me, and the both of you, and Bette and Dot." He yelled at us.

"Jimmy just calm down a little." Pleading with him, but he appeared not to have heard me.

"You know your problem? You can pass. And when no one's pretending, all the bullshit and the noise just drops away. From your position, Elsa looks like our guardian angel. But from where I'm sitting, I see a jealous broad near the end of the line who'd kill anyone or anything that got in the way of her one last shot at it." Paul spoke and every word felt like stones hitting together.

Jimmy soaked in his words. Paul led me away back to my trailer. I sat him down and studied his cheek.

"It's alright love, I've had worse." He quipped but I did not feel like laughing.

"I understand why Jimmy was upset but he should not have hit you." Stroking his cheek with my hand.

Paul kissed my hand, "It's okay. I'm okay. I'm not going to let this stop me. Not now since I just got you." He breathed and my lungs shriveled.

Not thinking I leaned forward, putting his lips to mine.