Charlotte walked into the main stable and right to Belle's door, only to find it open and empty. She gasped and ran to the office, "Gleb! Gleb! Where is she?"

The Russian looked up from his paperwork, "Where is who?"

"Belle!" Charlotte stood in the doorway. "Her stall is empty!"

"Oh Belle," Gleb smiled. "Rasputin wanted to see if he still has the same bond with her that he did before he left."

"What? What are you saying?"

Gleb's smile grew larger, "Rasputin is back."

A proper young lady does not give into her anger. However, certain situations one must stand up for themselves. Charlotte ran out to the fenced in field where she saw Belle fighting with Rasputin. She was biting hard on her bit pulling away from him. She could tell in only a few moments the zebra would buck.

"Let go of the reins now before she kicks you!"

Rasputin did as he was told and the zebra galloped away, whinnying the whole time. He held his large six figured hands up, "Lottie, it's just me."

Charlotte finally walked up to him, stopping a few feet in front of him. Her blue eyes burned as she looked at him firmly, "Do not call me, Lottie. It's Miss Charlotte. And did I give you permission to remove my animal?"

Perplexity plagued the man's face, "What is this? I been excited waiting for you to come out here, surprise you. I spent last summer working with Belle, why I need permission now?"

"Because she is my animal! And you don't know what has happened or changed since you've been gone! You spooked her! Now I have to calm her down," Charlotte turned around and walked back to the zebra's stall.

Rasputin followed her, "That is true. And I sorry. But what is with Miss Charlotte? I not expect such a cold welcome from you, Lottie. What happened?"

She removed some carrots that were in a bucket outside Belle's stable, "I wasn't expecting you to come back. I was foolish and immature last summer. Your cousin was correct in saying not to get involved with me." She headed back towards the field and he followed.

"I told you my cousin put ideas in my head, I had to go so I could think for myself. I thought of you so much while working with the Ringling."

"Yet I never got one letter."

"I told you I had to find myself first. By time I did I started thinking of you again and figured I surprise you by coming back. Lottie please, I…"

"It's Miss Charlotte!" Charlotte turned away from, called the zebra, and held out a carrot. Belle came and ate that carrot and then another. Charlotte grabbed the reins. She whispered to the zebra as she ran her fingers through its mane.

"Why you be so mean?" Rasputin balled his hands into fists. "You kiss me goodbye yet act like this now?"

"Just because I did not run into your arms like you expected me to doesn't make me mean," Charlotte lead the zebra further into the field. "I said your cousin was correct in saying not to get involved with me. I was a foolish child last summer. I've learned I cannot just give into my whims and fancies. Doing so is what made me a brat. I am on my way to becoming a proper young lady. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new routine to rehearse in my new costume."

Gustave sat at the desk in Phantasma's office going through bills, Rose rubbing his shoulders. He sat down his pen, "You know I should be doing that to you. You're the one carrying my child."

"I'll save it up for when I'm further along," Rose kissed the top of his head. "Besides you seem stressed."

"We open in two weeks and this is our first time running the park by ourselves, of course I'm a little stressed. And I have to worry about your health. And then my mother…how is she even pregnant in her 40s?"

Rose wrapped her arms around her husband, "God's miracle."

"I guess. But isn't it queer for an uncle or aunt to be the same age as their nephew or niece?"

"What did you expect from your family?"

Gustave looked up at his wife, "Our family."

The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Enter!" Gustave called.

Charlotte stormed in, "When did you rehire Rasputin?"

"I see that your time at the boarding school has improved your temper."

Charlotte stood still, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She calmed her tone, "Is there a reason you rehired Rasputin?

Gustave turned his chair to face her, "Yes. We could use the extra help in the stable and he already knows the place."

"May you please have a talk with him and tell him he is not to interact with me."

Rose walked over to her sister-in-law, "What happened, Lottie? You were in love with him last summer. I thought you would be happy to see him."

Charlotte met Rose's gaze, "I was foolish last summer and you know that. How I treated you when you were first engaged to my brother to how I threw myself at Rasputin even though he wasn't completely sure if he cared for me the same way." She walked over to the couch, the green skirt billowing behind her. She sat down and crossed her legs, "I have so many things to accomplish before I even think about love again. I need to finish school. Maybe I will go to college; I cannot perform in shows forever."

Gustave's eyes widen, "That school really has changed you, Lottie."

Rose smiled as she sat down next to the younger girl, "I think that's a splendid idea!" She wrapped her arms around her, "I finished high school and then when Goose started college we lost contact. We found each other again. I am not saying you will find Rasputin again but God will make sure love will find you."

"So what about Rasputin?" Charlotte returned her sister-in-law's embrace but locked eyes with her brother.

Gustave sighed as he picked up his pen, "Find a mature way to deal with him, Charlotte. He's a good worker and I am not catering to your demands the way father did."

"Goose!" Rose protested.

"No, Rose he's right. I have two options face it or run around and avoid Rasputin. I will probably do one until I am ready to do the other."