It wasn't until the third week of Luke's residence that Autumn realized she had changed.

She supposed there was a good reason for it.

She had responsibility, no longer enough time for fancy dresses and flowers to be brought to her. No more time for balls and meeting other girls her age. Luke had his faults and was no doubt a trouble maker. Yet he was loved all the more so for it.

Luke, like a true little Yankee, was of an inquiring turn, wanting to know everything, and often getting much annoyed because he could never get a satisfactory response to his propositions.

"What makes my legs go?" Luke blurted out one day as he chewed on a hot dog.

Autumn smiled slightly, "Don't chew with your mouth open, it's impolite Luke." She scolded.

He finished chewing.

"What makes us go?" he asked again.

"It's your little mind Luke." She smiled, stroking his brown haired head respectfully.

"Well how does our mind make stuff work?" Luke questioned curiously.

"Well, it's sort of like an army General. It makes your body move, as the spring makes the wheels go in Gustave's watch when I showed it to you!" She laughed.

She couldn't help but find it amusing: Luke asked such funny questions.

"Could you open me? So I'd see my brain go around?" He asked completely seriously in his philosophical nature.

"I cant do that any more than you could open the watch without breaking it open. When you're young I suppose you're all wound up and you keep running till you stop" She replied after giving it a bit of thought.

Luke seemed to accept that answer for a moment. But just a moment. His face turned sad and solemn. "So when someone shot my parents their clock stopped working? They got broken beyond repair?"

She sighed and held his hand, "I don't know, but if we find them..."

He looked down and spoke in barley a whisper, "Thanks. I know they aren't alive."

Gustave walked in and kissed Autumn on the cheek. He nodded silently to her in a way she knew meant soon. Gustave would find work soon. They would have more to eat then scraps soon.

They could get married soon.

However, Gustave hadn't been looking for a job or some money. He had been looking for the words to ask his father, to tell his father about everything.

He hadn't found the courage yet.

"Soon" he whispered to himself, "Soon."

Gustave decided he now had important unfinished business. Business with his past that needed to be dealt with accordingly.

This fire business needed to be addressed once and for all. He had received a shaky letter from Eli the other day. One that had him worrying his head off more than finding a job.

Almost hurt Ilios?! What did that mean almost?

If Father let one scratch touch-

His father's voice boomed inside his head, "Don't let your temper take control," it said. "Don't do something stupid you'll later regret."

But It felt he was far too late for such reasoning.

On the third day of his quest he stumbled upon Mark. they sat down and spoke quite eagerly to each other in accordance to the last week's events. Mark told how he and Peter had stayed together but the other boys had ventured off. Joseph was off roaming the streets somewhere trying to find Gustave and so on so forth. It wasn't until later in the conversation when the topic of Gustave's doings emerged.

Gustave rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "I found a girl." He laughed.

Mark slapped him on the back and laughed in congratulations. Then his face lit up, "Is it that dame you are always talking about?! Is it really her?"

Gustave blushed, yet nodded all the same. 

Mark grinned, "You got everything figured don't you Gustave." He smiled sadly, "You won't be needing the likes of me anymore."

"I'll always need my friends." Gustave grinned, "Listen gather up everybody, dinner at my place in honor of old times!"

"You got it Monsuire Dechangy!" Mark grinned tipping his hat. "Who knows perhaps that other lady friend of yours that I keep running in to will be present as well. I might..." he smirked slyly, "try my luck."

Gustave looked at him confused, "What lady friend?"

"The Anabel one ya knows? She's been staying at the hotels on main street all week! I've sold her more papes then any other guy on the entire blocks selling collectively. She keeps saying she waiting for some boat to Paris or something. 'Good luck' I say to her, 'Now en days its Paris or bust!'"

Gustave shook Marks hand, "Mark," he laughed "You've done a remarkably good!"

"Anytime!" Mark laughed, "I'll go start scouting out the boys! See ya later!"

Gustave smiled. Soon was sooner than he thought.

Why had Anabel told Autumn she was fine on her own, that she didn't need her anymore no one knew. Unless of course, Anabel knew- but that seemed unlikely.

He had some questions that needed answering.

But as he saw the second letter from Eli on his desk when he got back, he figured he might be needing those answers on a boat back to Paris.

The family came first.

Questions later.

If Anabel was searching for him in Paris, he would find a way to be there.

"Autumn!" Gustave called, "We're gonna gave some guest for dinner."

"Allright, food or are they eating before hand?" Autumn asked, hoping that they would eat before.

"Either is fine dear," Gustave called back with a nod. He reached for his mail opener and cut open the thinly papered envelop.

"Who's that from?" Luke questioned.

Gustave smiled fondly, "From my brother."

Lukes brow furrowed, "You never told me you had a brother."

"I do." Gustave affirmed, "And a sister."

Luke nudged Gustave ever so slightly, "Is she pretty?"

Gustave smacked him on the back of the head, "She's way out of your reach little tiger. Besides, she's my sister. She looks like me."

Gustave made the ugliest face possible. He had a lot of practice. He used to try to imagine what he would look like if he was deformed in the mirror for hours if he was little. He had a pretty good idea, enough to know he wouldn't have had his fathers advantage of a good looking one side.

"Ew," Luke blocked spitting, "Does your brother like a trumpet?"

Gustave shrugged, "I don't really know."

"What does he like?"

"Writing letters?" Gustave guessed.

"Oh." Luke shrugged. "He sounds like you."

Gustave gave an offended glance at Lukes disappointed tone but chose to ignore it.

The letter read as follows,

"Dear Gustave,

I hate to ask. But Please come home. I can't give a good reason. Other than that we all miss you terribly. That I miss you terribly. Congratulations on your engagement! I already relayed the news to Father so you needn't worry."

Gustave ran a stressed hand through his hair, "No, no, no, no no." He whispered.

"What is it?" Luke questioned.

"Oh, this is bad. This is very very bad."

"What?!" Luke cried out impatiently, "What is it?!"

"Autumn," Gustave shouted ignoring Lukes pestering.

"yes?"

"After dinner tonight we leave for Paris."

Autumns grinning face peeked out, half covered in flour. "Paris?! Do we really have enough."

"Doesn't matter, he knows."

Autumns face went pale, "Your father?"

Gustave nodded.

"Is it really that big of a de-"

Gustave raised an eyebrow.

Autumn gave a quick nod, "Yeah I'll start packing."

Luke was losing all patience, he stood arms crossed tapping his foot furiously, "Would someone please tell me what's going on."

"Luke," Gustave smiled, "Did you ever hear a story about an Opera Ghost?"

A smile spread across Lukes' face, "No! What's it bout?"

Gustave turned to Autumn and winked before she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Once upon a time..."