My best friend was Clara in this year's production of "The Nutcracker", so this chapter is in her honor. Enjoy!

"I don't know if I can do this," Ava said nervously. She was sitting outside of the ballet studio, waiting for her name to be called.

"You're going to do great," Emma said encouragingly, squeezing her gently. "You've been practicing for this audition for weeks. You've totally got this."

"But what if I mess up?" Ava asked.

"Then you keep going," Regina said. "No matter what happens, keep going. You're going to do great sweetheart. I know it."

"Thanks you guys," Ava said.

Ava had been doing ballet since she was very little, even though she was passed around the foster system. She made a deal with every foster home: enroll her in ballet, and she would behave herself. Every family had complied.

When she had first been adopted by Regina and Emma, Ava had worried that they wouldn't agree to her doing ballet. Especially since the ballet studio that she wanted to attend was in New York City.

But Emma and Regina had happily agreed, and now here she was. Happily dancing, and currently auditioning for a role in the studio's production of "The Nutcracker".

The door opened and a girl came out, looking as if she wanted to cry. Ava's eyes widened. What was this audition going to be like?

"Ava Swan-Mills?" a voice called. Ava looked and smiled at seeing Charlie. Charlie was Ava's favorite dancer in the studio. She was always so nice, and always seemed to put people at ease. Especially on audition days.

Ava smiled at her mothers before getting up and following Charlie back to the audition room. She could do this.

It had been 2 weeks since the audition, and Ava was freaking out. The list was coming out soon, and she was checking the website every 5 minutes, just to make sure that she hadn't missed anything by accident.

"Ava, calm down," Emma said. "The list will be out eventually. Chill."

"I can't chill," Ava said. "I need to know if I got in! And if I got in, what role I got!"

"Your level of patience seems to have rubbed off on her," Regina teased, nudging Emma gently.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I have some patience."

"So do I," Ava said. "I've had patience for 2 weeks!"

"Ava look!" Lola exclaimed, running into the room. She was in charge of watching every 5 minutes as well, but a different 5 than Ava.

"It's up?" Ava asked. "Oh no. I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Just look at it," Emma said. "The suspense is killing me now."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Of course it is." Emma just stuck her tongue out at Regina.

Ava took a deep breath before clicking on the list. She scrolled down to her name before gasping.

"What? What'd you get?" Lola asked. "Lemme see!"

"I'm the Sugar Plum Fairy," Ava said in disbelief. "My very first ballet with them, and I'm the Sugar Plum Fairy!"

Everyone had huge smiles on their faces as they all gathered for a group hug. "You should go talk to Mother Superior," Lola said. "She knows all about being a fairy."

Ava laughed before hugging her sister tightly. "Very true. I'm going to be a fairy."

Emma and Regina shared a look and a smile. This was what family was all about. And they loved it.