This chapter is a little humor/romance/awkward vamp Bella :) A little out of character in places, but vampires were crazy back in the day! Oh, and this chapter is a little bit of a family chapter with Jalice on spotlight.

-Swan Lake-

The dancers swirled and pounced and were as graceful as ribbons blowing in night air. I watched, knowing that even as a vampire, I couldn't match up to these mere humans' abilities. They had sculpted themselves to perform these few minutes, to shine.

The decorations on the stage glistened and glittered and the strung up bells chimed, I could hear it faintly through the televised performance with my acute ears. I could see their pores with my eyes, but it was high-definition, so I was seeing what humans thought was super-sight. Charlie would have a heart attack over a high-def TV--we had a flat screen, but I feared that was the only thing that kept him company these days besides Billy, and even then I knew things had to be awkward as Charlie mulled over how his paralyzed friend could shift into a thunderous and amazingly fast wolf.

The curtains tugged close, the dancers bounding into the darkness. I could faintly hear the instructors congratulating them and the directors shouting for the next costume change. The TV announcer assured that Sawn Lake would be back on in moments.

Esme clapped her hands softly. "That was beautiful."

I loved Esme, she was my second Renee in many ways. I didn't know if Esme had been rolling her eyes the whole time at the human's clumsiness or what, but she seemed sincere. I smiled and watched as a Kleenex commercial flashed on.

The front door creaked open, and a flurry of voices spoke quietly, boisterously, soothingly. I perked up, knowing Edward was home with his family. I had had Esme to myself for the past few hours while Edward and his siblings went out hunting. I wanted to spend some time with Esme--it seemed like as the holidays rolled near, I wanted a mother figure to love closely.

Emmett appeared in the room, his shoulders damp from the slouchy snow that was falling outside. Pine needles littered his glistening wet arms. He smiled down at me, his teeth aligned perfectly, his dimples showing. I couldn't help but grin back at my big brother Emmett.

Edward's soft lips pressed to my cheek while I wasn't watching, and he swiftly slipped into the bare seat beside me, sandwiching me pleasantly between him and Esme. Rosalie trotted in with her three inch stilettos, which I couldn't help but let my eyes flicker at and wonder why you would wear such things in the deep snow--and while hunting. Of course they didn't hurt her, but she could pull off sneakers if she really tried. Her ruby mouth was turned down as she shook at her long golden hair; it was a damp wheat color from an obvious snowball fight. Her ocher eyes blazed at Emmett as he slipped onto the loveseat. She snottily pressed against him in the seat, and crossed her arms as he smirked.

Alice and Jasper peered into the warmed room, the candles blazing on the mantle, the wax and soot smell sweet with the pine tree in the corner. I loved the holidays, though I missed Charlie and Renee dearly. Alice practically danced to the floor by Esme's feet where she lithely rearranged her skinny legs into a criss-cross sitting position, and Jasper slunk down beside her. They silently watched as an upcoming Christmas movie was promoted on TV.

The only one missing here was Carlisle, who had politely filled in at the hospital during the season.

"We are back to…Swan Lake!" The announcer on TV gleefully smiled, his teeth too large for his face, his jet black hair too coifed.

"What? Ballerinas?" Emmett interjected. Esme and I laughed and nodded, suggesting it was a girl thing. He rolled his eyes, then they popped alive with burning yellow humor. "Hey, remember when Alice and Ol' Twinkle toes did that production at that little country school we went to a couple decades ago?" Before anyone could respond, he was slapping his knee and laughing, making the house shake. I sat up, my curiosity engulfing me. Over the soothing symphonies on TV, I asked, "What?"

"Lord." Jasper rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as Alice's large and sprite-like eyes glowed in the twinkle lights of the Christmas tree, the candles yellowing her moon white complexion.

"Jazz and I danced at this play once. It was really, really quite fun." She clasped her hands and comically batted her lashes at Jasper as he shook his head, his forehead stressed. She pouted and grumbled, "Well, I thought it was fun."

"You two were very wonderful." Esme leaned forth, her eyes dancing with the memory. Oh, to see Alice dancing? She danced better than any of the ballerinas on TV while she simply walked! If she was actually trying--well, I was surprised some talent scout hadn't picked her out. "You see, it was also a Christmas production." Esme flipped at her shining hair.

I listened, fascinated. Edward added, "It was a story that no one had really heard of--I think some student at the school wrote the play. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly Christmas-themed."

"Of course it was! It was so sweet, and sad, too." Esme smiled. I blinked.

Alice added perkily, "I don't think it was meant to be all Frosty the Snowman or Jingle Bells--just an uplifting show."

Jasper was rolling his eyes as Emmett was still chortling. "It was hilarious."

"It was wonderful!" Esme scolded him. He rolled his shining eyes at his chiding mother.

"You see, love, the story was about this blind girl that always wanted to dance, but never could because every instructor she had would never allow her to publicly perform, because they feared she would fall off the stage." Edward said. I raised an eyebrow. "I know, a little odd, but it was a rather well done production. The school we attended was very acting-based. Jasper played the instructor that finally let her perform."

"It was so ludicrous! I don't even remember how Alice roped me into that one." Jasper sighed and gestured with his hands in exasperation, feeding Emmett's rumbling chuckles. Edward tilted his head, his crooked smile painted on his lips.

"Well, the final dance number was the dramatic production that the blind girl and instructor did together. It was impressive." Edward said. Jasper scoffed quietly.

That sounded amazing--Alice and Jasper dancing, twirling under the spotlight. I could imagine Alice training her irises to keep place in the middle of her eyes to maintain a blinded creature look. The decorations would glitter, the holly's shining leaves, the waxed stage floor. Alice's delicate dancing shoes, Jasper plain black ones, whispering through each other's ankles and calves. Alice would arch her back in the air, point her toes as Jasper's strong hands lifted her and twirled her, the spotlight beaming down. For it to be sunlight and not artificial would be spectacular--their glittering skin would move under their carefully tailored costumes.

I watched with misty, faraway eyes as the Swan Lake ladies scurried off stage, after their number. I sighed. "I wish I could have seen it."

I suppose I allowed a bit much passion in my voce, for everyone turned to look at me with curiosity, wondering why it was such a feat since I, too, could dance better than Swan Lake ballerinas. I supposed I could never fully believe that after such a clumsy past, even if it was becoming blurrier and blurrier.

Alice and Jasper smiled up at me, Alice's eyes like flashlights, shining with nonstop luminance. Jasper's, too, were flickering with gentle modesty at me wanting to see him dance.

I smiled shyly and watched the TV as the smell of pine, pungent and cool, rose in the air.

I can't remember where i got this idea from, and it's not the greatest chapter, but i thought it'd be fun to have Bella learn more about Alice and Jasper's past, even if it is a little silly. Not for Alice, though--she'd be the perfect ballerina, right? Well, Jasper would be great, too--it's just that Emmett pokes fun at him. I know that he could hold his own next to little Alice! :D