As soon as the fireworks were set off, Husk instantly played The Star-Spangled Banner on the piano and he played divinely. It was sheer perfection. He made it really feel like Independence Day. Rosie watched him carefully, this allowed her to see that he was not only good at piano playing but he enjoyed it. There was something about the way his fingers stroked the key, the way he made a melody come from the instrument, it filled him such a strong sense of self-worth and pride. He really had a passion for his talent and Rosie loved that in a man.

Beth's attention was entirely on the sky that night. Watching each bolt of colored sparks rise up into the air, awing all who witnessed them. Beth always loved watching fireworks, she didn't have any intention of getting up from her spot until the spectacle was over. But as the hours ticked by, the girl soon became tired and by the time Husk finished playing his last song, she had fallen asleep in the grass.

"Oh how precious." Rosie remarked at the adorable sight. "Husk, are children not absolutely darling when they sleep?"

"Well they're certainly less annoying."

Rosie chuckled.

"I better find Alastor and inform him that this tired little chick is ready for the nest. Husk be a dear and keep an eye on her until I come back with Alastor."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean how do you know I can be trusted with children? How do you know I'm not a perv or anything? I'm not saying that I am but how do you know?"

Rosie turned to look at Husk and smile at him warmly.

"You have quite a list of flaws Husk but harming children is not one of them. You'd sooner castrate yourself before you ever touched a little girl like that. In fact you secretly adore children. Bringing a smile to their faces is the only thing you like about working in that damnable circus. I can see it in your eyes."

Husk blushed and quickly looked away.

"No good hiding your gaze from me, I've known who and what you are from the very moment you stepped into my cabaret. And the only reason why I haven't turned you into a worm is because I know your alliance with that demon Val is not a willing one."

He looked at her with eyes of shame.

"So tell me, how did he trick you?" She asked.

"I used to play piano for a theater in Vegas. I was really good at it too. In matters of shows, there were three that was most popular. The drag shows, those two guys who trained animals, and the plays with my music. Unfortunately my appearance wasn't as appealing as my talent, so when my employer was able to buy a pretty, golden, play by-itself, calliope machine, I lost my job. I tried gambling my earnings in order to live but even if you're good, cards and dice can only keep you for so long. When I looked for work for anywhere else no one would take me because I was so ugly. Then the circus came to Vegas."

Husk sighed at the terrible memory.

"Valentino said that he could get me a job where my looks and my talent would be appreciated. No one would insist that I stay hidden back stage and that my music be heard but I not seen. And I know it was a dumbass move but you have to understand, I was homeless and starving, I was at the end of my rope, and he was a natural at selling stuff."

"Oh believe me I know."

"Also I was so wasted that night I probably would have sold my own mother for a pack of cigarettes. So of course I sold my soul in exchange for working as a subject of ridicule."

"I don't think a contract is binding if you sign under influence. Then again, Valentino probably thought of that. His fine print is crafty and his exit clauses are sneaky."

"Exit clauses? He doesn't have exit clauses."

"Sure he does. All magical contracts have to have an exit clause, it's the law of magic and man. If there was none, then the contract's magic wouldn't work."

"I've read my contract countless times. I never once saw an exit clause."

"Do you really think someone like Valentino is going to make the exit clause easy to find? He knows how to make his contracts have an exit clause while making it look like it doesn't. You have to be really educated in magic in order to find it. In other words, you have to be like me."

"What are you saying?"

"Bring me the contract and I'll find the exit clause."

"You'd really do that?"

"My good sir, if the opportunity to do Valentino a disservice ever arose, I simply cannot resist."

"Holy shit! If you could really help me figure out how to get out of that deal I'd...I'd...I don't know what I'd do but I'd make it up to you anyway I can."

"Settle down and don't celebrate yet. If Valentino finds out I know how his contracts work, he may not give it to you. Don't act happy when you go back to him. Don't let him catch on."

"Oh right! Right!"

"We'll talk about this later. For now watch Beth and I will be right back with Alastor."

With that said, Rosie used a little trick to locate Alastor's exact footprints in the dirt and follow them to where he had gone. It led her right to that small lagoon where she saw a most tender but worrying sight.

A row boat floating in the middle of the lagoon and inside that boat, Alastor and Charlie were sitting so very close to each other. His arm was draped around her, her head was resting on his chest, and soft smiles had graced their faces as they were watching the beautiful starry sky together. It was like something out of a romance novel but this was all the more lovely because it was real.

Poor Rosie, she was a sensible woman so she knew that this couple was destined for tragedy and thought it best to interrupt them now. But she was a romantic too, and she didn't have the heart to spoil the moment. While you should live life realistically and with common sense, you should cherish the very rare moments of youthful dreams and hopes of everlasting love. After all, it is such matters that keeps the crueler aspects of reality from breaking your spirit.

"Everyone deserves at least one shining hour." She sighed bittersweetly.

Speaking of an hour, that's exactly how long it was before Angel returned to his original form. Though he didn't awaken until Fat Nuggets gave his cheek several licks.

"Alright, I'm up. I'm up." Angel said goraning. "Oh God what a hangover...I think...Did I acutally drink?"

"Not intentionally." Vaggie said. "As a joke somebody spiked your drink at dinner and you passed out."

"Really? I can't think of anyone here who'd do that. Other than Valentino or perhaps Beth."

Angel thought back hard and tried to remember everything that happened before he blacked out. His time as a crawfish was the first thing that came to mind.

"Oh God!" He yelled, shaking and still terrified from his experience. "I was a crawfish! It was a nightmare!"

"Well obviously."

"No! I mean it wasn't actually a nightmare! It was real! I was crunchy and small, and a chef tried to cook me!"

"Angel that's silly. How could something like that happen in real life?" Vaggie asked, playing the part of believing it was nothing more than a dream very well.

"But it did and then...I remember you! You were there! You found me! You knew it was me!"

"I did find you drunk under the table in human form. Anything else well...It's all in your head I'm afraid."

"But I...And he...The knives...And...And...Oh man I think I need to go home now and maybe lie down."

"Good idea. I'll drive."

"But how will you get home?"

"I'll walk. The circus is only two blocks from where you live."

"In that case, drive to the circus and I'll walk back. You're more likely to get mugged at night."

"Why? Because I'm a woman?"

"No because you're prettier than me."

Vaggie blushed, then she and Angel both burst out laughing. After that they got into his car and she drove back to the circus. Once the car was parked, Angel escorted her toward her tent.

"I had a very good time tonight." Vaggie admitted. "And I wanna thank you for the dance. It's been a long time since I danced just for the fun of it."

"Maybe we could go dancing sometime."

"Maybe."

They stopped at her tent and looked at each other smiling.

"Well goodnight." Angel said awkwardly, wondering if she wanted him to give her something to go with the words.

"Goodnight." She said.

"Goodnight." He said again, chuckling nervously.

"Goodnight." She repeated.

Fat Nuggets rolled his eyes and decided in that moment to take matters into his own hands. He started to run around them like crazy.

"Nugsy what are you-"

His lesh pulled their legs together, causing their lips to meet in a kiss. At first thier eyes were wide and blinking in surprise, but neithero ne of them moved away and eventually their eyes closed and they shared a long kiss. Once they parted, Vaggie silently untangled her legs from the lesh and disappeared behind the curtain of her tent with a smile on her face. Angel too, was left smiling.

Then he looked down at Fat Nuggets.

"And they say that dogs are man's best friend."