It was late when a snowy owl flew up to his studio apartment’s window. He was half asleep and paying for the alcoholic tendencies that had been worse recently than normal. The rolled up letter was sobering though. Quickly Augustin replied. He would always drop everything and anything for the woman he received the letter from. Now more than ever he knew that she needed him.

Sparrow and Gus had a special relationship. She was the only woman he would ever marry. And he would do it in a heartbeat. So of course with the crushing news he got about packing. Augustin ran around his quant home grabbing the bare essentials for now. He didn’t care if he found normal work he could stand in for Sparrow bartending and helping run the inn he was sure if he really needed the money. That was not what this trip was going to be about.

He actually let his mind start to proses what she had said in the letter. Orion and her broke up? How was that even possible. Of course he instantly hated the man because he had hurt his dear Sparrow. Gus remembered how head over heels she was for the man. Before Augustin and Sparrow used to gossip about men, compare notes. When Sparrow actually got serious with Orion that was all she would talk about, how amazing her man was. Gus was just jealous because he wanted to be in love too. It was a miracle that Sparrow had settled down at all.

The second part really broke his heart. She lost her babies. It was just salt in the wound. All he could hope was that it wasn’t Orion who caused that one. Gus was flustered as he tried to get everything together, but he managed to get a small bag put together. He would worry about the lack of stuff later. Now he just had to get going and be there for a woman who was always there for him when he needed her.

Gus took some time to calm everything and clear his mind and get a clear picture of where he needed to be. He appeared before The Laughing Gnome Inn one piece. There had been countless times that he apperated there, but those were very different circumstances. Normally it was because his friend was a complete angel and let him stay at the Inn when he was in town for shows. With a sigh he walked in and up to the door. Gus knocked lightly. “Sparrow?”

A small shiver ran through his body as the snow fell around him. He couldn’t wait until the spring took over. The door opened and a dog ran out first. Augustin let a small laugh out. That small moment almost made him forget why he was there. Looking at Sparrow made it all very obvious that she was in a dark space.

Her arms wrapped around him and Gus hugged his friend back. He missed being around Sparrow. It had been too long sense he visited. Recently Gus just wanted to let his bestie be happy in her relationship. Now that it was all falling apart he almost felt bad that he had given her that space.

“Of course petit oiseau ( little bird ) I’m always here when you need me.” Augustin walked into the in out of the snow. He got to get a good look at Sparrow now. She was still beautiful even in the sweater and yoga pants. Gus would always be jealous at the amazing natural beauty that was Sparrow.

“No no it’s been slow of Ophelia lately. Even if I had to this is more important honey,” He reassured reaching out and smoothing down some of her fiery red hair. Augustin felt like he owed the world to this woman and to see her so down and broken broke his heart. She helped him through a lot of family things that sadly were not solved but at least he could run away from it.

“Let’s go get comfy and find some ice cream or something to pig out on and talk.” He then offered taking her hands in his. “Maybe if you are feeling up to it I can paint your face.” Gus winked with a smile. He was trying to get her spirits up. Dong Sparrow’s was one of his favorites. They would play dress up. There were many weekends when Gus was in town performing they would swap cloths. Many times he would be disappointed over and over again that they didn’t wear the same shoe size. “Does that sound good ?”

Augustin was actually a little lost in the situation he wanted so much to just know how to take all her sorrow and pain away. Of course the only things he could think of doing was what they always did with sleep overs, sing badly and loudly, make up and share a bottle of wine.

Gus remembered the letter announcing the engagement. He was already part of her wedding party and he was more than thrilled. He even asked if he could make a costume change in the middles. Start the day off in a fierce suit and end the day in a sickening dress. Of course never outshining the lovely bride. Not that he could. Of course that was not something that was going to happen now.

“It’s nothing Sparrow, I owe you my life and you know that,” He took her hand for a second to squeeze it. She made her way behind the bar after that Augustin adjusted the strap to his bag on his shoulder. Sparrow agreed that movies and that made the man smile.

He remembered all the nights when they were younger they would stay up until the sun peaked over the horizon binging on things like princess movies. Every song they sang along to and danced around the room. Of course as they got older they would watch things like chick flicks making fun of them as they spooned ice cream into their mouths. Still Disney would always be his favorite. It made him love the nickname Gus Gus even more.

Next she snatched up a bottle of wine. She knew his weaknesses so well. Naturally that bottle was going to be killed by the time they fell asleep be it because they shared or because he gave into his darker habits. Augustin would have to remember that he was there to be with Sparrow in her time of need, not to drowned his own daemons.

Gus pouted in thought. “Hmmm I think that is all we need. Good food good drink good company,” He listed off theatrically and then hooked his arm in Sparrow. “Now take me to your room darling and let this party commence.” Everything was a show for Augustin.

There was no more planning for a wedding now. As far as Augustin was concerned it was better now that she found out about the nasty side of Orion than later. Of course he never wanted his best friend to go through so much hurt. He didn’t want her to have to loose children. Now he just wanted to make sure that she could be lifted back up and understand that she was still beautiful and strong.

Sparrow was always someone that Gus looked up to. She was honestly a very big inspiration for Ophelia. If only he could bring that into himself truly his life would be easier and better. Sadly that was going to take more time.

Her normally cheeky humor came out with an eyelash flutter and a question. Gus smirked “I make no promises.” Gus joked back. If Augustin found no one else in the world to be by his side he would have Sparrow. The drag queen knew that. It was comforting. At the same time he would never want to have the red head hold back from finding her soul mate. Though one thing he could provide for her that no other man could would be a fierce wardrobe that they could share.

The dog stumbled up the stairs. It continued to lighten the mood of the night. They would probably end up having that serious conversation at some point where Sparrow let it all spill out and Gus would sit there with a broken heart , seeing his friend cry and wanting to hunt down the jack ass that made her. It wouldn’t happen for a little while. He knew she needed fun first. There was a good chance that she hadn’t allowed herself to let go sense all of the drama happened.

“It’s perfect petit oiseau,” He smiled. Augustin was happy that she was staying away from that toxic room she used to share where his ex-fiancé. It meant that she was trying to take care of herself and not just toiling in a cloud of sorrow and self-loathing. “And enough to have a delightful sleep over. We can find you a new place too when you are ready and paint the walls while dancing around in our underwear.” Gus suggested.

He pulled Sparrow into the room letting the door close and hugged her again. Augustin had thought about moving to America. Maybe they could room together? A lonely apartment might not be one that she needed. Though to leave France would make his family unhappy. That could be a conversation for later too. “Now what do you want to start the night off with?” He asked looking down at her lovely face.

“Brooklyn would be perfect,” Augustine mused. Of course he knew the woman’s unbreaking bond with New York. Gus couldn’t blame her. It was the same tie he would always have with Paris. Even if he did leave home he couldn’t stay away for two long. He would have to visit those old stone streets. The food too. No place in America could ever match the French cuisine that he was spoiled with.

Gus grinned at her suggestion. “Oui, parfait.” He pulled her back so they both landed on the bed, him sitting on the edge and her on his lap. With his arms still loosely draped around her waist he held out his hands, fingers apart. Dark eyes studied his bare nails. “I haven’t painted my real nails in ages.” He had multiple sets of fake nails as part of his extensive wardrobe. Long, long, short, bright, bejeweled, nearly every kind of nail someone could think of. That way he could match any look he needed to with minimal work. Just a quick glue and he was ready to go.

“Not sense the last time we did this Moineau.” That was a tragedy. Now they could have more sleep overs, it made Gus giddy. Of course he knew that this was going to be an extra long stay. As long as Sparrow needed him he would be around. With the littlest thing, cleaning the Gnome, anything.

“Do you still have that amazing collection of colors?” He asked and slipped the wine form her hand so he could start opening the bottle. “If you get those and the movie set up I’ll get out wine poured and a spot on the floor ready.” Gus wiggled lightly, so that Sparrow rocked on his lap, his words were sing song and he gently swung the bottle from side to side in his hand. It was going to be just like old times, nothing less than fabulous.

Gus would cross that ocean again and again. No matter how many times his best friend needed him he would be there by her side. Of course there would be some words if things like this became a habit. Augustin knew his red haired friend though. He knew she would dust her self off like the strong woman she was and find something better and brighter without a glance back. She would only grow from this and that was the best thing about Sparrow, her endless strength.

If only Gus could be that way. He wouldn’t have the ball and chain clamped around his ankle known as his family. He could get over all that bullshit and live his life loud and proud like he really wanted to. No fear of running into one of his brother’s while he was dressed as Ophelia. No fear of getting scolded by his parents. He was almost thirty. There should be no reason he still cowered at the thought of his parents staring him down and barking their disproval. He did though, Gus was a coward.

She slid from his lap and Gus leaned back crossing his legs. He watched her move across the room to the vanity. “Good choice that yellow will look lovely on you.” Augustin carefully took the pastel blue from the few bottles for himself. He started to shake the nail polish. “I hope that you gave him a good rainbow facial,” Gus joked, a grin lighting his face.

“Ohh you are on fire tonight Sparrow. I haven’t seen that movie in ages and it’s one of my favorites.” The last time he was sure he saw it was with the fiery haired woman. They practically reenacted every scene in time with the movie as it was playing on the screen. Though it had been a while all the words were still floating around his head. Gus always had a skill for remembering song lyrics. That was why his lip sync was always on point.

Gus knew why Sparrow was so supportive of the way he decided to handle things with his family. Though he could always tell that deep know she wanted him to pull it together and just tell them. Still she would go along with being brought into his family home on his arm as his girlfriend. Augustin was sure that his mother and father were just waiting for their marriage announcement. At this point Gus was ready to place a pact with Sparrow that if they were both still single by 45 they would just settle in together.

He grinned hearing that she got his hair. Of course Gus knew just how much of a pain getting Nail polish off of most things was. He had ruined a few wigs because of freak nail polish accidents. Along with some cloths.

Gus watched his friend get the movie all set and playing. He set to getting them each a glass of wine ready and had the ice cream set in place to be picked up an devoured when they wanted to. When she sat down Gus took up one of her hands. He had her nail polish ready. Hopefully they could stay still long enough to get one of her done.

“Mkay,” Gus carefully started to apply the color one finger at a time. He smiled and glanced up at Sparrow. “Remember when you let me do your make up for the first time? I was so used to doing my own face that there was way too much going on? But your eyes, they were amazing.”

He missed that. Leaving France for a night to spend with Sparrow they would get all dressed up and go out. Some times just her and him, and other times they would have a small group. He had meet so many lovely people through Sparrow he really had no idea what he would do without the red head at his side. Now that she was the one in need he was just happy that she could trust him as a shoulder to lean on. Merlin knew that Gus had depended so much of Sparrow without her asking for much besides a karaoke night here and there together.