Okay. So let's be real. I think you all have realized how big of a Broadway nerd I truly am. Because of that, you should expect that I saw The Greatest Showman the day it came out and have seen it multiple times since… which I did and which I have. It was absolutely incredible and probably the best movie I've seen in a long time. So naturally as a fangirl, I have to write a fanfiction for it.

One of my favorite parts of it was the romance between Phillip and Anne. I already love the whole forbidden love theme and the fact that it was not only class but race-based as well just made it so beautiful. So their relationship after the movie ends is what this story will focus around. Hope you all enjoy

Charity Barnum smiled politely at her parents standing in the snow at the front door. "Mother, father. So good to see you two." She greeted, letting them into the warmth of the entrance hall. She led them into the parlor where a roaring fire burned in the fireplace, illuminating P.T. and Phillip standing by the fully decorated Christmas tree. "I believe you two already know Phillip Carlyle." Benjamin nodded and shook hands with him while Hannah received a kiss on the hand.

"It's good to see you both again." Phillip smiled.

"I'm surprised to see you without a beautiful woman on your arm." Hannah smirked. "A handsome man like yourself could get any girl in the city."

"Actually…" Phillip started but was cut off by a girlish squeal coming from the stairs. The younger Barnum daughter flew down the stairs in her Christmas dress. Phillip caught the girl with emphasized joking grunt. "Woah, little doll, what's got you so excited?"

"Anne did my hair! Look!" Helen gave her parents and Phillip a toothy grin. Phillip set her down so she could turn to show the braid in her hair, a purple ribbon threading through her golden blonde locks.

"It looks gorgeous, Helen." Charity complimented.

"Anne does good work." P.T. agreed.

"She's upstairs doing Caroline's hair." Helen explained. "She brought us the ribbons. She says they're part of our present." Phillip smiled, knowing Anne had gotten them the most thoughtful gifts.

"Well I'll go get them and then we can start dinner." Charity said, clapping her hands. "You all can head into the dining room while I do that." They all nodded, following P.T. into the dining room. Helen eagerly grabbed Phillip's hand and playfully dragged him to the seat next to hers.

She let out a laugh as Phillip pulled out her seat for her with a flourish. She gave him a shaky curtsy before taking her seat. P.T. sat at the head of the table with Benjamin at the other end and Hannah at her husband's side. Benjamin raised an eyebrow when he saw three more place settings as opposed to just the two for Charity and Caroline. "Is someone else joining us tonight?" He asked.

Before anyone could answer, Charity came into the room, holding Caroline's hand. Caroline's dirty blonde hair created an elegant braid crown with an identical purple ribbon. "Doesn't she look divine?" Charity smiled. Everyone nodded their agreements while Caroline took one of the empty seats. Phillip's eyebrows furrowed and Charity looked behind her and sighed. She had expected as much.

Without a word, Phillip left the room and found Anne sitting on the staircase in the beautiful midnight blue gown she had had made for tonight. She twisted her hands as if wrapping the protective tape around them. "Why does this scene look familiar?" Phillip joked lightly, referring to the ruined night at the theatre he had planned all those months ago. She cracked a small smile before letting it fall. He came to crouch in front of her and took her hands in his. "Anne, talk to me. You were so excited for this dinner and seeing the girls. What happened?"

"I… I didn't know Charity's parents were going to be here." She answered quietly. He sighed. He knew exactly where her mind was going. "Think of how your parents looked at me before we were even together. How do you think Charity's parents are going to look at both of us when they find out? I love you, Phillip. More than anything. But I can't let you go through that."

"Anne, look at me." She slowly lifted her head, connecting her hazel eyes with his blue ones. "Do you remember that first show I took over in the tent?" She nodded. "Think about that night. A sold-out crowd cheering for us, for what we have. It doesn't matter what two judgmental snobs think. You should've seen Helen's reaction when she came down after you did her hair. You're her and Caroline's sister. P.T. and Charity see you as a daughter. Those are the people who should matter to you. And if the way her parents look at you still affects you, just think of that night and how the crowd looked at us."

He leaned his forehead against hers, feeling her take a shaky breath. "We did promise to rewrite the stars together." She said quietly. He smiled proudly at her, quickly kissing her lips. He stood up, her following slowly. He offered her his arm which she took with a grateful smile.

He led her down the stairs and into the dining room. Benjamin and Hannah's eyes widened when they set eyes on the girl on Phillip's arm. Anne took in a sharp breath but relaxed when the Barnum's all gave her warm, loving smiles. Phillip smiled at the tension leaving her body and led her over to the seat next to his. He pulled out her chair for her and she hoped the blush on her cheeks wasn't noticeable. She was still getting used to being treated with love like Phillip's. "Benjamin, Hannah, this is Anne Wheeler." P.T. introduced, "She performs trapeze and acrobatics in the circus."

"She also happens to be the beautiful girl I am always eager to have on my arm." Phillip continued, kissing Anne on the cheek and taking the seat between her and Helen.

"Anne, I love what you did with the girls' hair." Charity smiled as the first course was served.

Anne let herself smile at the older woman despite the looks, almost glares, she felt from Benjamin and Hannah. "Thank you, Charity." Hannah's eyes widened a bit hearing her call Charity by her first name. "I took the ribbons from the first costume I was given for the circus." Helen and Caroline both gasped with smiles. "I know how much the girls like watching my performances so I thought they would like to have a bit of it with them."

"Girls, what do you say?" P.T. chided lightly.

"Thank you, Anne!" They chorused together.

Anne laughed, sending Phillip's heart racing at the sound. "If it's okay with your parents, after dinner, I'll give you the other gifts I brought for you guys." The girls turned to their parents with pleading in their eyes.

"I think that can be arranged." P.T. said. The girls clapped in glee. "But that's only after dinner so you'll have to be patient." They diligently nodded and continued eating.

Dinner was a somewhat pleasant affair. The food was great and Anne learned to ignore the subtle comments and glances Charity's parents were sending her way. Phillip had been right. Remembering the night the crowd cheered for their love and seeing the smiles on the Barnum's faces had been just what she needed to get by. After dessert, Helen and Caroline were all but begging to know what Anne had gotten them for Christmas.

"Okay, okay." She jokingly gave in. "The gifts are under the tree. Come on." With those two words, the girls scampered into the parlor, Anne, Phillip and Charity following close behind.

P.T. and the Halletts started to follow but P.T. stopped them before leaving the door. "Don't think Charity, Phillip, or I missed the looks and comments you were giving Anne." He said in a dangerously quiet voice. "I don't care what you think about her or what society does, she is a member of this family and will be treated as such."

Without another word, P.T. turned and found Phillip and Anne on the couch in the parlor. Helen and Caroline were on the floor in front of them, colorfully wrapped boxes in their laps. "Phillip said it wouldn't be fair to open them without you or mommy in the room." Caroline said.

"Charity went to get some champagne for us and sparkling cider for the girls." Phillip explained. P.T. nodded and took a seat next to his performers. Benjamin and Hannah came into the room silently, taking seats as far from the young couple as possible. Phillip noticed this and decided to poke the bear just a bit. He wrapped an arm around Anne's waist and kissed her temple. She smiled brightly at him.

Charity came in a moment later with a tray of glasses and two bottles. One of sparkling cider and one of champagne. She dispensed the drinks before taking a seat next to her husband. "Okay, girls. I'm dying to see what Anne got for you." She said.

Caroline tore the paper off her box and lifted the lid. She gasped, pulling out a lavender dress. "You've told me how much you love my costume." Anne explained, "And the first costume that I had was going to be sold for scraps so instead, I had the fabric made into a dress for you."

"I love it!" Caroline exclaimed, clutching the dress close to her chest. She rushed over and hugged Anne tightly. "Thank you so much, Anne!"

"I'm glad you like it." Anne smiled and hugged her back. She gently released Caroline and went to kneel in front of the younger Barnum daughter. "Helen, your mom and dad told me that you like telling stories." She nodded eagerly. "And that you've learned how to write full sentences?" She nodded once again. "Then, I hope you like this gift."

Helen opened the box and gasped. She pulled out a beautiful leather-bound journal. "Oh, it's beautiful." Charity breathed. Anne smiled her thanks with a light blush on her cheeks.

"I thought you could use this to write all your stories in." She pulled out a small pack of pencils from the box. "So you can write in it."

Helen smiled at the young woman she saw as her big sister. "Thank you." She said in a whisper. Anne smiled at the small girl and brought her into a hug. Phillip smiled. He loved seeing Anne so relaxed and loving around the family. He didn't know much about her past before the circus but he knew all she had left was her brother so it was amazing to see her so open with the Barnums.

A loud pounding on the door shocked everyone out of their thoughts. Anne pulled out of the hug and everyone glanced around curiously. The pounding happened again and Charity rushed to answer it. A few moments passed in silence before Charity came back with W.D behind her. He was flustered and quickly pulled Anne into an embrace.

"Oh, thank God." He said quietly.

"W.D, what are you doing here?" P.T. asked when they released each other.

He tried to form words but all that came out were stutters. Anne gently cupped her brother's face in her hands. "W.D, what's going on? What's wrong?"

"I should've been more careful." He finally muttered. "I am so sorry, Anne."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Anne comforted. "What are you on about?"

"Sit him down." Charity instructed. "He needs to breathe."

Anne nodded and directed W.D to the couch, sitting him down and pouring him a small glass of champagne. He drank gratefully and ran a hand through his hair while Anne gently rubbed his back. "Now, can you tell us what has you so worked up?" P.T asked concerned.

W.D stood up to face Anne and with shaking hands, pulled a letter from his jacket. "I wasn't careful enough." He said quietly, holding out the letter to Anne.

She took the letter and cautiously opened it, her eyes widening at the familiar handwriting. Her hands started shaking as well, followed closely by tremors throughout her entire body. Phillip quickly rushed over to her and cupped her face in his hands. "Anne? Anne, what's wrong?" She didn't respond. It appeared as if she was staring into nothingness. "Anne, talk to me! Please!"

The minute the word was out of his mouth, multiple voices yelled her name when her eyes rolled back and she collapsed into Phillip's arms, unconscious.

So there you have it! The first chapter of my new story! If you guys would like me to continue it, please tell me so in a nice little review, it won't take you long, I swear! I do hope to continue this story so until then, please R&R!