The automaton controlled rickshaw pulled up to the front of The Phantasma family house just as dusk painted the sky. Rose's distinct scream turned into a giggle escaped from under the rickshaw's canopy as it came to a jagged stop.

"Between this and your sister's riding I am going to die before we are wed!" She stood, her legs shaking. "It's a good thing I used your new hat pin today or I shall have lost my hat in this thing!"

Gustave laughed, "Oh Rose! Quit being so dramatic!" He quickly exited the stairs, briefcase in one hand. Once on the ground he extended his free hand and helped his fiancée out. "This just needs a bit more work. It's only the prototype. Besides I do believe you were the one who pushed me to take over Phantasma." He linked his arm to hers, "We're going to come back from Paris to this large empty house when we could be going back to Manhattan."

She pushed her derriere into his side as they walked up the porch stairs, "You talk as if we're slaves to this place. We can still spend most of our time in Manhattan. Though the decadent things we can do as man and wife all alone in a big house."

Gustave spun her around and pulled her into his arm, "I wouldn't say such tempting things at the moment. As new master of Phantasma I was able to get you out of sharing a bed with my mother and into a guest bedroom. However, it is one furthest away from my room and closest to the servant's quarters. And they will tattle on me."

Rose lifted her arms and laced them around his neck, "But will they tattle on me? I am not family yet, rather rude to gossip about a guest. Of course, they are fools to believe there is such a nice couch in Phantasma's office for nothing. How many times do you think your parents did what we…"

"Stop right there, Rose!" He pushed his fingers not holding his briefcase on her lips. "First order of business tomorrow, as the new master of Phantasma, a new couch for the office."

Rose giggled and pulled him back into her arms, "May I help choose? Something with cushions that are puffy?"

At that moment, Charlotte walked up to the house. "Gustave! How dare you!" She exclaimed upon seeing her brother. "How can you do this and not tell me!" She stormed up the stairs of the porch.

Gustave sighed as he let go of his fiancée, "Go on in. Let me have some time with my sister." He kissed her lightly.

Rose nodded and turned to front door and disappeared behind it.

"Charlotte, I am assuming you are talking about my taking control of Phantasma? How did you learn?"

"Rasputin told me he's leaving."

"Yes he is unfortunately," Gustave walked over to the wooden bench on their porch and sat down. "I know you are sweet on him."

"But you're taking over of Phantasma? Why didn't anyone tell me? You or Dada? And why?"

Gustave gestured to the empty spot on the bench beside him, "Papa only came to me a few days ago about it. It was mostly Mama's idea."

"Really?" Charlotte sat down.

"Yes. Her retiring made them believe it was time for Papa to retire as well. This wasn't exactly planned. I didn't originally want it." The young mister sighed and leaned back against the bench. "Rose made me change my mind. She said I have never been this happy working for her father. I had spent so much effort trying to figure out what it was like to be normal, I lost who I really was." He lifted his hand and patted his sister's cheek, "Papa didn't want to tell you or anyone else because it was supposed to be a big exciting announcement at the closing day ceremony. He's going to give me a big fake key, it's going to be funny."

Charlotte sighed and swung her legs back and forth, "It's just too much at once, Goose. Falling in love, you getting married, Mama retiring, now to learn you're taking over! And Rasputin's leaving! And they want to go to Florida for the winter!"

"A lot of change at once is difficult, that I understand all too well. Especially when all of it is out of your control and none of it your fault," Gustave sighed as he looked up at the sky. "Everything that happened in that two week period fourteen years ago…sometimes I'm amazed at how well I came out. I have never told anyone this, Lotte, not even Rose, but for a long time I would sometimes dream I was back in Paris. Mama never got the invitation to sing in America. I lived my whole live believing Raoul was my father, never learning about Papa and Phantasma. Uncle Phillippe helped Raoul get over his drinking and gambling and helped him pay off his debts. Mama and I would host concerts where she would sing songs I wrote for her. It was a lovely simple life. And then I'd wake up and find myself here in America. I never talked about these dreams because they replaced the nightmares I had. The nightmares about when Meg kidnapped me and mostly what I saw when she shot Mama that night on the pier."

"Oh Goose!" Charlotte exclaimed throwing her arms around her brother. "It's like I know but I don't realize or understand everything you lived through! And here I am complaining about things that must seem so silly in comparison! I really thought I had been improving in how I behaved, but I am still selfish."

The older brother laughed as he returned her embrace, "You're not selfish. I am so happy and grateful none of my siblings have to live what I lived through. And change is difficult no matter what. And you've had your own challenges. I would have never had the life I did if I came out with any of Papa's birthmarks like yours or Arthur's." Gustave raised one of his hands to her face and gently touched her forehead, "Raoul would have known instantly I was not his child."

Both sat silent for a minute holding each other. Charlotte finally spoke, "So what should I do? How do I handle all of this?"

"Keep doing what you have been doing. I've noticed how much you've matured since the beginning of this summer. You are almost nothing like the bratty little sister I remember. Remember the first summer Rose would visit Phantasma and you told Mama she gave me a lock of her hair?"

Charlotte laughed as she released her brother from her embrace, "I remember how mad I got at you calling me a brat over it. And how angry I was at the beginning of this summer for you two getting engaged. And now here I know something far more damaging but Rose and I are soon to be sister-in-laws so we're now like sisters and help each other and have secrets." She stood up from the bench.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" The young mister jumped out of the bench.

"Don't worry, Goose. You'll be married in a few weeks and I'm not going to ruin the happiness and love you to have." She leaned in and kissed her brother on the cheek, "Good night. Thank you."