Phew! After who knows how long it's been, I'm finally able to update!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, for all of you who are like "What the heck happened!? It's WAY past your normal update-every-two-weeks deadline!" Give me a chance to explain...

My dang charger for my laptop broke =( Stupid cheap thing...anway, I have to save what little battery I have left on my computer for homework and junk like that. On rare occasions I was able to type some before my laptop died *cries* And my school is too cheap to replace my charger so I have to order a new one myself which could take a while. Yeah, our laptops are provided by the school along with chargers but the company we get our stuff from went bankrupt so we're screwed for the moment. But I must give a big thank you to all of my friends who've let me borrow their chargers for weekends and stuff. Especially my friend WHO I AM FOREVER IN DEBTED TO Kaitlyn! She let me borrow her charger today because she didn't need it and understood the pain of not being able to write. So it's because of her that I was able to even finish it!!

Ok, now that my ranting and raving is over...please enjoy the chapter! Or at least those of you who bothered to read my long explanation...heh heh sorry about that...ON WITH THE STORY!!!

"Oh yeah…that…" Amelia avoided eye contact with the sharply dressed skeleton before her. She had kind of hoped that he would be able to keep his promise but forget about the "condition" for she feared it would be something embarrassing just to get back at her.

"I would like…" he moved one foot forward and raised her hand still in his bony, yet gentle grasp, "a dance." He beamed.

"Wha!?" something so simple as dancing was not what she expected. "M-me?" she pointed to herself with her free hand in disbelief. A light pink blush splashed across her cheeks.

"Yes you." He chuckled, "This is your end of the deal remember?" he arched a would-be eyebrow and smiled.

"Ah, well g-good point." She nodded and let him lead her out into the middle of the square.

As soon as they stood in the beginning dance position, the mood of the music changed and it flowed to a smooth, almost lulling tempo. Jack and Amelia began to dance the classic waltz, thankfully the one she knew. Many of the other citizens followed their example so they paired up and began to move in time to the music as well.

But to Amelia, they all seemed a mile away.

Despite her nerves, her gaze wasn't transfixed on her feet to avoid stumbling, but on his kind, serene eyes. With him, she seemed to just know the steps and didn't have to struggle to remember. Even more, there seemed to be an air of familiarity as the music played and they danced perfectly in time. A soft smile graced her lips as a wonderful, overwhelming sense of happiness surrounded her. She felt as though she needn't have a care in the world and all that mattered was just this one, single moment in time that all of her problems seemed to just disappear. They simply faded away for she was with the person she cared for the most. She felt completely at ease even as he brought her in close and she felt as though she were walking on air whenever he spun her around. She wanted it to last forever, but he led her close to him one last time and the song ended. But the dream-like moment abruptly came to a halt as sorceress was snapped back to reality when she heard applause all around them.

They turned their heads and stepped back to see that the citizens had formed a circle around them sometime during their performance and now were clapping enthusiastically. There were even a few shouts and cheers among the crowd. Apparently, this was much as a surprise to Jack as it was to Amelia for it seemed that he too hadn't noticed them until just then. She flushed a little, embarrassed about her forgetfulness, but then he took her hand and they gave a bow to their audience.

Her heart was still racing and her mind still tried to grasp the thought that what had just happened did in fact happen.

'I just danced with Jack…I just danced with Jack!' she repeated disbelievingly over and over in her mind until an odd thought struck her. 'I swear this has happened before! The music, Jack and I, the waltz, it all seems so familiar…but why? Why do I feel this way?'

Little did she know that the music would have offered a big clue had she listened more carefully to its dream-like sound.

She was still in a slight daze and obediently let him lead her off the square to sit down on the ledge of the fountain of eerie green water with the grotesque monster statue. She was rather thankful for the break for it would give her still racing heart time to slow down and time to breathe. However, the precious, if slightly awkward, silence between them didn't last very long.

"Amelia, I'm glad that you will be staying as the heir, relieved even." Jack beamed at her before he continued. "But there's just one last thing I want you to know."

He really sparked her curiosity and she couldn't help but keep her gaze transfixed on him.

"I named you as the one to inherit the throne for a reason." He began, "It's because six years ago, I saw something in you that I hadn't seen in any other person before."

"What was it?" she asked, slightly confused but listened intently.

"A leader." His eyes held their familiar warmth, "A true born leader. One whom I knew I could trust Halloween Town with. Not only that, but you proved it as well. You saved all of Halloween, including me for that matter." He chuckled. "You did so with the courage and boldness only someone with real potential as a leader would have."

She looked down at her hands in her lap for a moment as a soft, yet sad expression came across her features.

"Maybe…but let's not forget I was the cause of that disaster six years ago." She then looked up to him, her sadness replaced with that of seriousness. "Why did you entrust this town, this entire holiday, to me after that?"

"Like I said, I saw the future ruler of Halloween Town within you even before you could, especially when you saved us all from disaster." He grinned, "Besides, you've proved yourself more than worthy yet again over these past few months. To pull all of this off within such a short amount of time tells me that you care for these wonderful citizens, this wonderful place, just as much as I do." He laughed a little, "If not more!"

"Wow," she blushed a little but smiled at his compliment, "and here I thought that I was just trying to prove to myself that I wouldn't be a big screw up. Which, I guess, sort of happened huh?" she giggled then rested her hands on the cool stone of the fountain's ledge as she thought about how grateful she was to the townspeople for accepting her back.

"Well yeah sort of." He chuckled again. "But here we are now and everything is just fine."

He lifted his hand, but hesitated a moment before placing it over hers, causing her to blush bright red even though he intended it as a friendly gesture.

"There is no one else I would rather have as the future Queen of Halloween." He calmly spoke.

A little flustered, though she tried to hide it, she turned her head and glanced at his hand gently holding hers then looked up at him. He simply smiled his familiar, kind smile and she couldn't help but return it with one of her own as well.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack noticed a figure approaching them so he discreetly removed his hand from hers to avoid any unneeded false accusations.

"May I be so honored with the privilege to dance with the princess?" a low masculine voice asked.

Amelia turned her head and looked up to see Alucard standing before her, his hand kindly offered to her, patiently waiting for her reply. A soft smile upon his lips and his crimson eyes seemed to have a faint eerie glow about them as his gaze seemed to burn into her very soul.

The Princess of Halloween quickly stole a glance at the Pumpkin King next to her before turning back to the waiting vampire. She delicately placed her hand in his and gave a kind smile with a curt nod as her answer.

The corners of Alucard's mouth curved into a near-smirk and his fine, sharp fangs were revealed. But it was only for a brief moment for he turned his head away to guide her out into the square. They took up the first position and the music began to start, everyone dancing in time. But the young sorceress couldn't help but notice something different. The mood set off by the music seemed darker than the last song, but considering it was Halloween that shouldn't have been a surprise. As she looked up into his crimson eyes she expected to feel some form of attraction considering she had still yet to break up with him. But she felt nothing. It seemed as though his eyes no longer captivated her like they once had. His deep baritone voice no longer made her swoon. His devilishly handsome face didn't make her cheeks heat up by simply looking at him like they had so much before. She wasn't dancing with her vampire boyfriend. No, she was dancing with an attractive vampire named Alucard whom she was now certain she no longer felt anything for.

"Is something wrong my dear?" he asked with genuine concern, a heartfelt expression crossed his features.

"Oh, it's nothing really. Just hoping that I don't do anything to cause another screw up." She said a little glumly, though it wasn't the real reason for her troubles.

"Honestly I never would have guessed that you were human." He said with a grin, trying to cheer her up.

"Yeah, that wasn't exactly the way I pictured everyone finding out." She laughed sheepishly.

"Well you're not just a mere mortal you know. You have real sorcery in your blood that you inherited." He pointed out.

"But I was still a human before I was ever a sorceress." She stated.

"True, but I think you've convinced everyone here that you are much more than that. You are going to make a fine Queen one day." He smiled at her, his eyes soft as he gazed into her cerulean orbs.

"Thank you. You have no idea what a relief that is to know that at least someone has faith in my abilities where I clearly do not." She laughed lightly at her own joke.

"Oh, come on now Amelia." He stated, though he had to stifle a laugh, "You know that's not true. All the people of Halloween Town believe in you or else Dr. Finklestein would have had his way and you would be walking home right now never to return."

"Ok I'll give you that one." She rolled her eyes and giggled.

'Hmm…something just isn't right.' A curious skeleton mentally asked himself as he watched the vampire and the sorceress. He arched a would-be eyebrow as he took notice of their expressions.

Alucard had that same look he always gave Amelia whenever they were together. Not love-struck per se, but his affections were definitely as strong as ever toward the young heir. Said princess certainly felt anything but the same. She didn't look him in the eye unless she was talking to him or if he spoke to her. Her mind seemed to be somewhere else like there was something truly bothering her. That was when it finally clicked.

'Well, well, well. It looks as though Amelia has still yet to break the heart of that vampire.' Jack thought as he crossed his arms, a little irked at the fact.

Since Alucard is technically her first relationship, he didn't blame her for putting it off. But not doing so for as long as she has been, well it was too long of a wait by Jack's standards. He debated whether or not to cut in so he could talk to her. It honestly was something that he shouldn't be involved in but there was still something about the vampire he didn't trust at all.

'I'm her friend, not her father.' He told himself, 'The most I can do is talk to her about it later. I really shouldn't intervene with something like this anyway.' He heaved a deep sigh, having finally made up his mind.

But also to his relief, the song ended and the dancers were applauding the musicians. Jack decided to take the opportunity to at least speak to her about it, but that plan was soon foiled.

"Jack, could I have the next dance?" the taller of the witch sisters had walked up to him.

"Hey, you said you would after me!" the shorter witch appeared, glaring angrily at her sister.

"I believe I have the pleasure." The swamp monster cut in, side-stepping the bickering two.

"No me!"

"I called the next one!"

"Hey no fair!"

"I get to dance with him!"

"No way, I do!"

"Me first!"

Before he knew it, the poor Pumpkin King was surrounded by nearly every female in Halloween Town about ready to throttle each other. He put his head in his hand and heaved an exasperated sigh. This was going to take a while.

Amelia laughed at the distraught skeleton. She and Alucard had walked off the square to make way for the other dancers. She couldn't believe how ridiculous the women were all being and just over whom would get to dance with him next.

"Does that always happen?" the vampire next to her asked with a chuckle.

"You'd be surprised." A higher pitched masculine voice piped in.

The two teenagers turned their heads to see the Mayor, who had apparently just walked up to them and overheard the conversation.

"He is a bachelor and probably the most sought after in Halloween Town." He laughed, "It happens every year, but normally not over a dance. They usually crowd around the poor guy over-complimenting his performance in the annual celebration to the point he practically has to run and hide to escape them."

"Oh so you're not jealous at all Mr. Mayor?" Amelia teased.

"Honestly, I would not want to be in his shoes right now." The elected official chuckled. "Though I am glad that he hasn't taken a liking to any of them." His face switched to his worried side, "If he ever got into a relationship, it would mean disaster for Halloween!"

Both Alucard and Amelia gave him strange looks but it was the sorceress who spoke aloud their thoughts.

"Why on earth do you say that?" she asked putting her hands on her hips, a little surprised by the peculiar statement.

"Just think about it for a moment." The Mayor began, "He would be so distracted, he would hardly even think about our horrible holiday, let alone all of the necessary preparations and the tight schedule he has to keep!"

"Well, I see your point." The let her arms relax at her sides.

"But our princess here has managed just fine," Alucard took her hand and smiled, "and she did so in less than a quarter of the time." He said to her more than he did the stout man next to them.

"True that may be, but I still stand by my opinion." The Mayor's face switched back to his happy expression, "Well it looks like he finally chose someone to get away from the mob."

The other two look over and sure enough there was the sharply dressed Jack in the center of the square dancing with the swamp monster. He was obviously very reluctant but she didn't seem to notice, or she simply didn't care because she was at the receiving end of many jealous glares from the other girls which seemed to delight her to no end.

"Amelia, forgive me but I kept forgetting all about your birthday present." Alucard spoke, "Would you mind accepting it now, even though it's quite belated."

"Oh it's only ten days." Amelia joked, "Of course I'll accept it!"

"Wonderful to hear, come with me." The handsome vampire gave a light tug on her hand and began leading her away from the square.

The young sorceress was extremely wary about following him alone so she made sure to be on guard as they headed to the far side of town. Though she really doubted he would do anything to harm her. Not to mention it would give her the opportunity she needed to finally keep her promise and break up with him.

But just what was the handsome vampire up to?

Well I must certainly say that this was one of my personal favorite chapters simply because I torture Jack by having him mobbed by fangirls!! XD But yes I know a lot of you were looking forward to the masquerade chapter and I hope it met your standards! I worked hard on it believe me!! Well, please review and don't kill me!!! I got enough death threats as it is from not updating *cries* give me a break! I'm doing the best I can, honestly!!!

Review and that will make my day, thank you so much!