September 2nd 1927 - Red Cloud, Nebraska

"The role was offered to Raymond but he didn't want it," Billie shrugged as he pulled at the sequins of his new leotard. It was a dappled grey with yellow and black spots, his face was done up like some sort of cat's.

Dean recalled Lorraine mentioning the word "ocelot" as she had stuck sequined whiskers to Billie's cheeks. They glinted and caught the light when he smiled.

Juan was stood beside them, doing his warm up stretches with Anita's help, he was dressed the same as his partner except he had stripes where Billie had spots.

"Papa prefers to be in the background," Anita replied, tutting as Juan's handstand knocked her feathered headdress askew. "Plus he already has his hands full with being the Horse Master and Stage Manager."

"He seems a lot happier these days,” Dean commented.

"Tell me about it!" Viv laughed, coming up next to Dean and planting a kiss on her brother's cheek, "You ready for your act little brother?"

Dean nodded with a smile, "I am now I've got a beautiful assistant to help me."

Viv snorted and batted at his arm, "Hey - it's just this once okay? I'm not doing your show with you every night - I've got plates to spin."

"To break more like," Clara laughed as she ran up beside them.

"Where's Dahlia?" Billie frowned at her, leaning forward to steady himself on Dean's shoulder as he stretched his quads.

"Oh she's around here somewhere..." Clara began, scanning her eyes about the tent. Suddenly a loud girlish scream went up from the far corner.

"Oh good, Melvin's found her," Clara nodded, rushing off to go retrieve her giant python.

Dean watched as he saw Raymond Breaux hurrying towards them, "Have we started - did I miss it?" The older man asked, reaching forwards to peck Viv on the mouth.

"Nope - not nine-thirty yet," Billie replied, winking at Dean.

"Have you seen her tonight?" Viv asked, looking anxiously at Raymond. "She refused to let me see the costume before the show - I felt like a groom not being allowed to see the wedding dress!"

Raymond chuckled, drawing Viv closer to him when a distinct hush fell over the previously noisy audience in the Big Top.

"Hey," Billie whispered to Dean, grabbing hold of his hand and giving it a tight squeeze before letting go. "Looks like that's my cue."

"Be careful," Dean nodded with a stern look.

"I love you too," Billie winked back as he scurried off towards the rigging alongside Juan.

"Shh - she's about to go on!" Viv hissed, grabbing both Dean and Raymond's hands and leading them, along with the others, to the entrance of the side tent, staring out at the main arena.

Suddenly, a spotlight flicked on in the darkness, the flooding brightness illuminating a single figure standing in the centre of the ring.

Her red waistcoat fitted snugly, tapered at the waist - the seamstress Lorraine had clearly tailored it to suit feminine curves. She wore a shiny black top hat, which was tipped at an angle on her curled locks and her lipstick was a deep rouge to match the outfit.

"Oh my god," Viv gasped beside her brother. "She looks amazing!"

A booming voice called out from the stage,

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages!"

Dean caught his breath, a smile spreading across his face.

"Welcome to the opening night of The Greatest Show On Earth! - Cirque de la Lune here in Red Cloud, Nebraska!"

The applause rang out loudly across the echoing Big Top, mixed in with the enthusiastic cheers of the circus folk coming from the performers' tent.

"I am the Ringmistress! The Madame Loyal! And I will be here with you all night -lauding the luring in lines of lyrical loquacity! But you can call me Lola!"

The responding applause was simply deafening as Lola beamed round at the audience.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen - it is with great pleasure that I introduce our first act, prepare to be amazed by...The Flying Foxes!"

Dean's heart leapt as the spotlights swung upwards to reveal the two young acrobats, stood on either side of the arena, waving and smiling out at the crowd.

Large green eyes found Dean's, gazing down at him fondly through the mesh of a newly suspended safety net.

Dean grinned as he watched Billie mouth something at him, "Found you".

In the colour and the lights, in the shadows and the dark, I will always find you.

The music started up as the trapeze artists leapt into action, swinging with increasing speed across the expanse of the tent - taking Dean's heart with them.

***

In the end, both brother and sister felt satisfied - Dean got to keep moving whilst Viv found her home.

It was also a compromise that allowed them to stay together. Travelling with the circus from town to town, they realised that home wasn't about the location.

Home for Dean and Viv was three things; the smell of caramelised popcorn, the sound of the crowds cheering and crying out in amazement, and most importantly of all - being with the people they loved.

Le cirque est la famille