ROMANCE UNDER THE BIG TOP (LuRe REVERSE BIG BANG) CHAPTER TWO
Beta: Thanks to teddybear9298 for her help with this story! As usual, I went in later and made changes, so all mistakes are mine.
Premise: LuRe AU. Set in a travelling circus that roams around the MidWest during the 1890s. Several Oakdalers will pop up here and there throughout the story.
Rating: Chapter Two is PG-13, but later chapters may get steamier
Genre: Angst, romance, some hurt/comfort....in other words, soapy. You've been warned. Over time this story has taken on a life of its own; expect to find just about everything including the kitchen sink, in it. However, if a kitchen sink does appear, that is your signal that the end of the story is near.
A/Ns: Once upon a time long, long ago, I signed up for the LuRe Reverse Big Bang and selected this title, based on the fantastic artwork supplied by luresoromantic. I can't thank her enough for the beautiful banner! And a terribly belated thank you to traciamc for organizing the Reverse BB. Thanks also goes to flowersforchuck, who initiated a discussion in the LuRe community about Reid having a profession other than being a doctor.....it has spurred me on to wrestle this story into shape!
This story is dedicated to zzzfreckles, who has encouraged me over the past two years to continue writing this story and has been sooooooooo patient. Thank you.
A/N1: You will find that Luke is the focus of this chapter. I intend to the switch the POVs back and forth from chapter to chapter (with one or two exceptions) for the rest of the story. This has been a huge story-telling challenge for me (and the reason the story lingered in my "drawer" for so long). Often the next chapter will pick up in the middle of the last because I thought it was important for you to find out what the other's reaction was. I hope it is not too confusing.
A/N2: Photos are from a 1902 article I found about the "Organization of a Modern Circus" (something that Henry is striving for). It's only 3 years later than when this is set, so little would have changed in the meantime although it featured a much larger circus that is 3-ringed and travelled by train.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two