"Do you think she got my letter?" Peter asked Gustave hesitantly. 

"What does it matter?" Gustave shrugged brushing his daughter's hair. "Luke says you broke the poor kid's heart leaving as you did." 

"Your Mother didn't give me much of a choice," Peter said gruffly, "Besides I doubt she'll miss me. Poor kid. I don't know why that dress made me so mad." 

"I know," Mary said peeping up with bright green eyes, "Papa said that you-" 

"Shh!" Gustave snapped putting a hand over Mary's mouth, "That's enough of you." 

Peter frowned, "What is it, Gustave?" 

"Nothing. If you can't sort it out yourself I'm in no position to lecture you." Gustave noted rising and busying himself finding Mary's coat. 

"Must you go back to Paris?" Peter whined picking at a stray piece of wood on the table. 

"I'm afraid I either go to Paris," Gustave chuckled, "Or die here when my father comes after me."

Peter watched carefully as a shadow passed over his friends face. 

"You sure you don't want me to come? I could take Mary for the week and-" 

"Uncle Peter!" Mary squealed, "You'd take me! Out in your car?"

"To all the best places," Peter affirmed giving Gustave a glance of hopeful exuberance. 

"No," Gustave said with a shudder, "I'll never let her out of my sight." 

Mary looked down in sullen disappointment.  

"Chin up darling," Peter said comforting her with a smile. "Your Father loves you very much. That's all." 

"I never get to go anywhere!" 

Peter gave a laugh and looked to Gustave, "She sounds more like Ilios every day." 

Mary's eyes brightened, "He would be my uncle then," She thought to herself with scheming delight.

"Will your Father let her go?" Peter asked curiously. 

"I don't see why not." Gustave shrugged. 

"Go where?" Mary inquired. 

"To the seaside, in Trouville." Gustave answered, "I thought it be good for us, to get away." 

Peter looked down and played with his cuffs uncomfortably, "Let us not talk of Trouville. Ever. Now, what Miss Mary, will you wear to meet your cousins?" 

"Why can't we speak of Trouville?" Mary said ignoring his request, "I thought you loved the seashore." 

Peter frowned at himself, Indeed, why did it anger him so? 

"And then Aunt Ilios can take me shopping," Mary mentioned as Peter was snapped from his trance and back into the conversation. 

"Nonsense," Peter laughed. 

"Not nonsense at all," Gustave chided closing a suitcase, "Ilios is a young woman, she can take Mary out if she pleases." 

"A grown woman," Peter scoffed, "No dear fellow, I think not." 

Gustave shrugged and shot a glance to Mary that made the small girl giggle. 

"What have you done now?" Peter asked flushing red, "What kind of stories have you been putting into Mary's head?" 

Mary frowned a little pout, "Papa never tells stories. He says they're only disappointments." 

"Ilios would be horrified," Peter said with a small laugh, his eyes gloomy and downcast. 

"Uncle," Mary whispered tugging on his sleeve, "Could we not talk about Ilios?" 

"I'm not!" Peter exclaimed rather crossly, "I was just making a passing comment." 

"A comment that has been threaded through all three hours of our visit Peter," Gustave chuckled, "Come to Mary. We'll leave Peter to his own thoughts." 

"And what does that mean?" Peter sniped. 

"I'm sure you'll find out," Gustave said tipping his hat, "Come Mary."

"Yes, Father." Mary complied. 

She looked over at her adoring uncle and gave his cheek a small peck that made him exceedingly proud and fond of the little girl. 

"Ilios once kissed my cheek like that." He murmured. 

"What?" Gustave asked opening the door. 

"Nothing," Peter smiled. 

The two bid adieu and Peters smile vanished as the door slammed. 

"She's a snip!" Peter exclaimed, "I don't know what all this nonsense about her being a young lady is. She's barely a snip! She always off making dreadful childish noise, having fun with all her troubling little evil schemes." 

He punched the table in an angry reverence for the whole of the family. Had his dear sister lived, she would had put his mind at ease he knew it to be so. She had always, even in their youngest of youthful hours had a way with settling him. 

But now she was gone, out of reach, just as Ilios was. 

"Of course," Peter sighed, "That weekend by the sea. She was exceedingly mature. Quite a pleasure, not once making me suffer. No not at all that I remember.  She was rather pretty." 

Peter stood up quickly and shook the thought from his head, "She hadn't the shape to wear that silly dress. I'm quite sure, that should she wear it out if a boy appeared he would certainly. What a brat! Cheating at cards is enough to recommend lack of morals in character but to then bribe herself into vacation well-"

He tapped his chin and shook his head violently. A gentleman caller hah! 

The child probably didn't even know boys weren't girls. 

"I must in truth confess," He sighed to himself parting the window and watching as Gustave helped Mary into the coach."That in that brand new little dress she looked surprisingly grown up, and had a definite allure. It was a shock in fact to me-"

He gave a small laugh and bit his lip checking his watch, "I don't see why it should be such a shock, She's Growing older it is true which is what little girls always do until that unexpected hour when they blossom up into-" 

Peter dropped his pocket watch to the floor and it's shining glass face shattered like rain across a large surface. 

"No," Peter laughed gravely shaking his head. "No, it can't be." 

But here he was!

"Good God!" He muttered wiping his desk clear, "My God what has become of me?!" 

How long?

Since Trouville at least, and the dress must have settled it. 

"Liane!" He gaped, "She looked just as Liane did the first night I met her." 

Could such things be?

Why she had been growing this entire time, from child to the beautiful woman she was now. Overnight a breathless change had overcome her! A wonderful breathless change! 

"Nancy!" He shouted. 

"Master!" The housekeeper said rushing down the stairs. She gave a small yelp at the mad man surrounded by glass.

"Nancy clean this up and book a train. I'm to Paris in the morning."

"Are you alright?!" Nancy exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Fine!" Peter laughed hysterically, "I've been a fool, Nancy. We both have, stupid fools! Why it all makes sense! A sort of perfect wonderful horrid sense."

"Sir!" Nancy called as he charged out the door, "Sir your coat! It's raining!"

"I don't need it," He grinned spreading his arms to his side and his hair and clothing slowly grew damp, "Let it rain! Let it rain all the skies want. It doesn't bother me any!"

"Sir?" Nancy called in confusion. 

"I love her Nancy!" He shouted making his way down the street, closing his eyes and turning his head upwards to feel the cool wet drops splash against his crimson cheeks. "I do believe I love her more than I've ever loved anything or anyone."

He kicked his feet in the puddles and looked up and aside every once and a while in a state of complete bliss. 

For once his heart seemed at peace, he let the thoughts run easily through his mind, let them lead him down alleys, through rivers and stores. 

"Let the rain fall," He grinned, "I've got her. I shall always love the rain now. For in the rain I found her and myself all in one." 

And so we shall leave our changed man.

Leave him and the rain to fall, one in love, the other to the ground.