For: Mina

Prompt: That cute video where the Santa knows sign language

Pairing: Edward/Bella

Edward had to try very hard not to tap his foot as he waited in line. He had a love/hate relationship with things like this. On the one hand, he wanted what any parent wanted-for his baby to have all the experiences any other child did. On the other hand, he couldn't deny his child had limitations. As much as he didn't want to limit her, he knew this experience wasn't going to be the same for Hope as it was for most of the rest of the children.

His Hope was deaf. She wouldn't be able to have a conversation with Santa about what she wanted for Christmas.

Still, Hope was in good spirits as they progressed in line. She bounced in place and tapped him constantly to get his attention. She signed her questions in the usual flurry of a three-year-old child just quieter. He did his best to answer her creative queries, making up stories about the reindeer being missing because they were out doing advanced training maneuvers.

Finally, it was their turn. Edward said an internal prayer that they could get through this with the minimum amount of awkwardness and stepped forward.

"Ho, ho, ho. Who have we here? What's your name, little one?" Santa said.

Hope paid him no mind, used to the fact she couldn't speak to most people. She clambered onto his lap and looked for the person with the camera.

Santa looked to Edward who smiled. "My daughter, Hope, is deaf," he said. "She-"

But before he could explain that he'd helped her write out her list, Santa grinned. "Can she sign?"

"Yes, of course."

"No problem." Santa tapped on Hope's arm, getting her attention. She looked up, all grins, and to Edward's surprise, Santa started signing.

Hope's eyes went wide with pleasure. She started signing enthusiastically back. Edward felt tears prick at his eyes. His little girl got to tell Santa with her own hands what she wanted, just like any other girl.

He was surprised again when Hope pointed at him and signed something at Santa Edward didn't catch. Santa threw his head back.

"I'll see what I can do," Santa signed. Then he beckoned to one of the nearby elves-a pretty young woman about college aged. Rather than speak to the woman, he signed something. She seemed taken aback and signed a response.

Edward made it a point not to eavesdrop on others' conversations, but he couldn't help but pick up something the woman signed. "You are embarrassing!" She looked toward him and blushed furiously.

"Sorry about that," she signed to Edward as he stepped off to the side to where the photos would come up. "He's my dad, and he's trying to set us up."

"What?" Edward said out loud, taken aback.

Hope barreled into him just then, her grin happy. She lifted her arms, and Edward pulled her up so she could look at the photos they'd taken. All the while, he cast glances at the pretty elf. She was deaf too, he realized. And good with his daughter. Hope giggled at something she signed.

"Baby, what did you ask Santa for?" he asked Hope when they were walking away.

She shrugged, smiled winningly, and signed that she was thirsty and could they have a Jamba. Edward agreed, and as they sipped, he considered.

It was somewhat surreal to have Santa try to set him up with his daughter. It should have been creepy, but it made an odd sort of sense. After all, Edward knew what it was like to worry about the future of his deaf daughter. As he learned more of sign language, he was understanding more and more that deaf culture didn't beat around the bush. They were direct and blunt.

Whatever Hope had told Santa, he must have gotten the picture that Edward was a single father. A single father with a deaf daughter-in a unique position to have a connection with his own daughter.

It did make sense.

As they left Jamba Juice, Edward arced back in the direction of Santa's Village. There was no harm in seeing if Pretty Elf was interested, after all.

A/N: A note about tidbits-if I haven't gotten to yours, don't worry. I will.