I do not own American Horror Story: Freak Show.

But I would like to have a little fun here.

A Winter in Wisconsin

Something Normal

The weather stayed moderately chilly for several weeks afterward. As if reassuring them that their winter in the north would be an easy ride, a welcome change in their yearly routine. In the daytime, the sometimes cloudy, sometimes clear conditions gave forth temperatures of sixties, dropping down to fifties, sometimes all the way down to forties. When the sun went away in the evenings, it was a bit colder. All the way down to the twenties.

Colder than Jimmy'd ever experienced in his short life.

Still, it seemed to be pretty manageable.

Ah, I can handle this. Jeez, is this all Paul was talking about? Just an opportunity to wear my gloves without attracting attention.

Then one morning several hours after sunrise as they were all shivering in the mess tent, it was clear the warmth had finally fled and wasn't coming back.

And some people were rather put out about it.

"Jimmy, all the water's frozen!"

Evie, her tall, imposing stature slumped in defeat onto a bench, pouting terribly.

Paul, ever resourceful and ever of jovial manner, offered his help.

"Whiskey's still wet."

She turned on him, towering over him, her face growing redder by the second.

"Paul, I am not washing my hair in whiskey!"

Legless Suzi atop a table, wrapped tightly in her thickest coat and hat, sipped on a cup of bitter joe before responding.

"You shouldn't be washing your hair at all in this weather. It'll likely freeze and break off."

Eve folded her arms defiantly, glaring at her friend.

"Suzi, I don't have money for that fancy dry shampoo. Besides, it's disgusting. And I can't afford a salon!"

Evie looked ready to burst into tears. Jimmy grinned at her as he bolted down the rest of his meager breakfast.

'Aw, don't cry, Evie. Come on, I'll help you wash your hair. I bet even Ma Petite will help if we ask her."

Amazon Eve sniffed pitifully and offered a hopeful smile.

"Really?"

Jimmy shrugged, smiling his dimple at her.

"Sure, why not?"

Eve's trailer was very femininely decorated, just like her. It smelled good too.

Jimmy didn't know trailers could smell that nice.

Eve sat, a towel under her neck, leaning back in a chair. Her long dark hair streaming wet dripped into the disconnected sink. A large bowl of clean river water stood next to her on the counter. It was slightly tepid from being heated on the stove minutes before. They couldn't afford the energy output to heat it as much as they would have preferred.

Jimmy leaned over her right side, running his fused fingers all through her hair and rubbing her scalp the way Ma used to do for him when he was very young.

Ma Petite stood on the counter to Eve's left, drying sections of hair with a towel as soon as Jimmy thoroughly rinsed them.

Eve's eyes were closed. She sighed appreciatively, her entire body relaxing.

'You've got great hands, Jimmy.'

He smiled a little.

"Thanks."

They worked in quiet for a few minutes. Well, mostly quiet. Ma Petite's tuneless humming was so high-pitched Jimmy could barely hear it.

Then he spoke up again, almost talking more to himself than to either woman present.

"It's just nice to do something . . . normal with them sometimes."

Neither female replied. Eve knew of his occasional side gig but Jimmy didn't know if Ma Petite did. He really preferred her not.

"Do you . . . like it?" Eve asked.

He didn't respond for a moment. Hesitant to talk in front of Ma Petite.

"Well, I don't know," he tried to keep his tone casual. "They are girls. And they are . . . you know . . ."

He trailed off, shrugging. He had lots of mixed emotions about it. Finally he chose the easiest answer.

"And I get paid. It's a win-win, I guess. Everybody goes home happy."

She looked at him, her gentle spirit attuned to his confliction.

"I know, Jimmy."

She blindly patted his hand and gazed at him, her handsome face kind. He could see in her dark eyes that she wanted more out of this life for him, more for herself.

Ma Petite appeared not to take notice of their conversation at all, continuing her gentle toweling in silence.

When they finished washing and drying Eve's hair, Ma Petite slowly and skillfully plaited it in an intricate braid. Jimmy stood next to her, arms folded across his chest, watching in admiration.

Wow, that's amazing. It's almost like art or something.

Suddenly Ma Petite turned to him and laid a tiny hand on his chest near his heart. She spoke slowly so as to be absolutely understood.

"You are more than your hands. They are not everything you are. You are this too."

Then she moved her hand from his chest to tenderly stroke his cheek with soft fingers as she seemed to stare into his soul.

Jimmy felt his eyes sting as his heart swelled.

Washing hair does not make me cry. Stop it.

Ma Petite dropped her hand then and turned to her tallest friend, touching the freshly completed braid lightly.

"I am done. It will stay clean a long time now and not feel so greasy."

Eve got up and looked at herself in the mirror. She gasped in thrilled surprise, her hands flying to her face.

"Oh, Ma Petite, it's beautiful! Thank you!"

Jimmy watched with a smile as the exuberant woman swept Ma Petite up in a hug that made the tiny girl giggle and squeal.

Then without putting Ma Petite down, Eve leaned over and kissed Jimmy on the cheek.

"Thank you, Jimmy. It was your idea after all."

He gave her a lopsided grin as she fussed over her new appearance for another moment or two. Then they rebundled themselves up in preparation for their triumphant return outside. Jimmy handed Eve her hat but she stuffed it into a coat pocket.

"Evie, your head's gonna get cold."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"It'll be worth it to show this off. At least for a few minutes anyway," she gushed.

Paul met them as they walked through the chilly air.

"Lovely 'do, Eve."

Then he turned on Jimmy, a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"So, you going to start cooking now too, mate?"

Before Jimmy could retaliate Paul's tease, Eve offered a coy smile to the Englishman.

"Of the two of you, which one has made a buxom young woman sigh in pleasure today?"

Paul blinked in surprise. Jimmy snorted laughter as Evie winked at him. And Ma Petite rolled her eyes good-naturedly at them all.

Wow! I really didn't expect to have such positive feedback here. But I appreciate you all ever so much! :D

Why have Jimmy and Ma Petite wash Eve's hair instead of her doing it herself? I dunno. Why do anything, right?

And I know Evie doesn't have super long hair in the show, but maybe she did back then.

Thanks to the1upguy, brigid1318, Jurana Keri, and my two mystery guests for reviewing.

Thanks as well to DelaneyP12, Psychopathic Kitty, TwilightNewMoonEclipseMidnight (twilight fan I take it? *winks), and emilyrugburn for adding your support to this wintery tale.

And finally, for my concerned mystery guest, no, there will be no Maggie here. This story takes place four years before our Freak Show episodes.