Chapter 12:

Ball at Heart Castle: Part 2

The ball was in full swing! People were dancing all around with only a few people sitting down to talk to each other. I however still stood in front of Blood who was still looking down at me. I turned my head to look at the people who were dancing, the men who led the ladies and the beautiful faceless women whose dresses seemed to flow as they turned. I wished I could be like one of those beautiful faceless women who glowed as they danced, but I knew I could never be one of those ladies I was still just a kid.

"Would you like to dance, Raven?" asked Blood.

I looked back to Blood and gave him a questioning look. "Really?" I asked.

He nodded. "Elliot." he called.

Elliot's immediately popped up next to him with cake on the corner of his mouth and a fork in hand with a slice of cake on it, it smelled like carrot cake. I knew it! "Yes, Boss!" replied Elliot.

"Hold my cane for me." He ordered handing Elliot his cane.

"Sure thing, Boss!"

And with that Elliot had gone back to the food table to stuff his face with probably the remnants of the carrot cake. I giggled as I watched him leave and stopped when I seen Blood's offer his hand. "Would you do me the honor of giving me this dance, young lady." asked Blood.

I looked from his face to his hand, thinking about taking up on his offer. I carefully placed my small hand in his bigger, nodding as I did so. Blood and I walked out to the middle of the ballroom and I turned to stand in front of him, realizing how short I was compared to him. I only came up to his waist or a little bit higher, and I honestly couldn't figure out how this whole dance thing was going to work, I mean the heels I was wearing gave me a little height but not much. He lifted me slightly to where my heeled feet rested on top of his, then he began to move when the music started again. He took step after step with me on his feet and strangely I felt like I was floating on air. It felt wonderful and I could feel my face heat up.

When the song ended I got off of Blood's feet before I curtsied with a bow of my head and thanked him. "Thank you for dancing with me, Mister Dupre."

"It was my pleasure, young lady." he said grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it. "I hoped you enjoyed it."

"Oh, I did enjoy it! It felt like I was floating on air, despite being on your feet. And I am sorry about that."

Blood chuckles, "It wasn't a problem for me, after all you're too short."

I smiled in an attempt to hide the sneer I wanted to pull when he called me short. "Well I am a kid, sir."

Blood chuckled and then he escorted me back off the dance floor before excusing himself. I nodded as he turned and left before setting off to find the Jokers. I found Black sitting down at a table but no White. I smiled and hugged Black from behind. "Joker!"

Black jumped and went rigid before relaxing when he looked over his shoulder and saw it was just me. "What?" he asked.

"What are you doing just sitting here?" I asked then looked around. "Where's White?"

"How should I know?"

What a stick in the mud. I released him and appeared at his side gripping his hand. "Hey, let's go dance!" I suggested smiling at him.

He looked at me with a VERY faint stain of pink stretching across his cheeks. "Why would I want to do that?" he sneered looking away from me.

"You don't want to?" I asked sadly sniffling as tears appeared at the corner of my eyes.

He looked at me and sat up straighter pulling a napkin off the table and using it to wipe my eyes. "Hey don't cry." he reassured. "I never said that."

"So does that mean you want to?" I asked hopefully looking at him pleadingly.

"Uh..." he looked at my face and sighed, "Sure."

I smiled and hugged him. "Yay! Thank you!" I took Black's hand and dragged him out into the crowd of dancing people. Black awkwardly took my hand and we started dancing. With one step forward, then to the the left, and then to the right we danced amongst the dancers. Just like with Blood it felt like I was dancing on air, and just like before with Blood I was standing on his feet. I looked up at Black's face and gave him a bright smile as he looked down at me with a frown. I giggled at him as we turned, I knew deep down he was smiling but he couldn't show it. With each turn and step we took time seemed to slow down and everything disappeared until it was only Black and I. I couldn't help but blush as I stared at him and only when I looked away from his gaze did time speed back up again. It was then that I noticed that the music was reaching the end of its tune. Our movements came to a stop and we took a step back from each other before Black bowed and I curtsied.

"Thanks for dancing with me!" I thanked as I smiled up at Black.

Black scoffed and turned on his heels after he placed his hand on my shoulder and gently pushed me back to the table. I obeyed and sat down next to him, smiling at White as I did so. "Well, well!" White greeted as he smiled at us. "You two looked like you were having fun out there!"

"I was!" I answered cheerfully. "I want to dance with you too, White!"

White chuckled and Black smiled softly, although to the untrained eye it was barely noticeable. White stood up and kneeled beside my chair taking my hand gently in his own as he looked me in the eye. "I would be honored to dance with such a beautiful young lady such as yourself." said White. I cheered and jumped to my feet as White stood back up and we left to the dance floor, leaving behind, what I thought I saw, a pouting Black. I pushed it from my mind thinking it wasn't possible, Black isn't the pouting type.

I turned to stand in front of White and got in position. Instead of getting on White's feet like I did with Black and Blood, White took both my hands as the music picked up speed. He began turning me into the crowd happily before he placed a hand around my waist and dipped me backwards. I released a giggle as he brought me back up and swung me around to the beat of the music. He took a step to the side, and began a fast waltz, before spinning me around again. It went into a cycle, spinning me through the crowd and then a quickened waltz. I laughed heartily as we danced. White was a lot more carefree than Black, he was much more fun to dance with! But that didn't mean I didn't like dancing with Black! He was fun to dance with too.

White dipped me backwards one more time as the song came to an end. I stared into White's red orb with a blush creeping to my face. Why would I be blushing? How strange. White pulled me back up straight and escorted me off the dance floor. I skipped back over to the table and was pulled into White's lap as he sat down. "Thank you for the dance, Joker!" I thanked looking at the two red heads. "It was wonderful!"

They both smiled and I leaned my head on White's shoulder. I smiled as I watched the rest of the faceless people dance among other faceless dancers. Even without a face they all look so pretty! Deciding to tear my eyes away from the dancing I looked around the room and my eyes landed on the food table. My eyes widened and a blush stretched across my cheeks as my stomach growled.

"My, my! What was that?" asked White, looking at me with a smirk.

"I...It was my stomach." I replied.

Both Jokers erupted into small chuckles. White set me on the ground and both Jokers stood up from their seats. "Then let's go get something to eat." chuckled White. I nodded and White grabbed my hand and walked me over to the refreshment table with Black following behind us. White grabbed a plate and handed one to me then one to Black who scoffed and grabbed my hand and pulled me to one end of the table, White sighed as he followed behind us.

"What do you want?" asked Black as he piled on the sweets. I could only stare in wonder at the pile on his plate. H-How can he eat that much sweets?! Black got me staring at him and he glared. "What?"

"N-Nothing!" I replied as I turned to the table grabbing a piece of strawberry cake. Mommy said if I ate too much sweets I'd get cavities and have to go to the dentist. Maybe I should ask White to send Black to the dentist, with that many sweets I'm almost positive he's got dozens of cavities!

"Is that all you wanted?"

I jumped at the voice behind me, I turned my head with a gasp. "Ace." I sighed. "You startled me!"

"Ah, forgive me" chuckled Ace. He calmed his chuckles and pointed to the plate with a lone piece of cake. "Is that all you're going to get? Surely as a kid you'd get more!"

I looked down at the piece of cake in my hands. "Mommy said that if I have too much sweets that I would get cavities." I then looked back towards Black, who was retreating back toward our table. "I'm pretty sure Black needs to go to the dentist."

Ace burst out laughing as White came over to my side placing a hand on my shoulder. I could practically feel the icy glare that he sent Ace. "I guess with that pile, I'm sure he does!" laughed Ace.

"Oh my, what are we laughing about?" asked White. Ace stopped laughing and looked towards White. I craned my head up to look at him. "We're talking about how Black needs to go to the dentist because that's too much sweets for anyone." I replied.

"I DO NOT!" yelled Black from his spot at the table, who may I say, was scarfing down sweets.

I stared blankly at him. T-There's no way he can stomach all that he just had a pile of it and now it's almost gone! I stared at my piece of cake and back at Black. I abandoned the two and walked over to Black. "Here." I said placing my piece of cake next to his almost empty plate.

Black stared down at me for a second, then to the cake, and back to me. He gave me a gentle smile and pulled me up into his lap. I blushed as he rested an arm around my waist to keep me still. "How about we share this one?" he asked taking a fork and cut a piece before stabbing it with a fork and offering it to my mouth.

I smiled happily and opened my mouth, accepting the piece of cake. My face lit up as the taste of strawberry washed over my taste buds. Mmm! Strawberry! Black took a bite then fed me another piece. "I love strawberry!" I squealed as I swallowed. He gave a small chuckle as we sat ate the cake together.

"Well don't you two look cute!" said White as he joined us.

Black scoffed as he fed me another piece. "Jealous?" he asked giving Black a smirk. I looked from Black to White, why would White be jealous?

"Well of course." replied White, "It's not fair."

"Too bad." chided Black.

"What's not fair?" I asked looking at White.

"Well, sweetheart, how could you let Black feed you, but not me? Don't you love me, too?" replied White, who looked at me with a broken expression.

I felt my cheeks heat up as I turned fully to White and grabbed his hand. "No, I love you too, White! How c-could you s-sa-say that?" I gasped as I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes. "I'm sorry!"

White's eyes flashed and I could've sworn I seen a smirk flash across his lips before replacing it with a sad smile. "Do you really?" he asked placing a hand to my cheek. I grabbed his hand and leaned into his touch. "Yes, of course!" I shouted.

White smiled and leaned into my face giving me a peck on the cheek. "I'm glad." he whispered into my ear sending shivers down my spine. How strange...

It was an hour into the ball and I was wandering about the ballroom looking for the Queen, Vivaldi. After sitting with Joker it hit me that Mommy mentioned a woman named Vivaldi once before, saying she was an old friend of hers that she missed. I came across the Queen, she was sitting at a table near the back of the room but she wasn't alone.

"Vivaldi!" I called quickly walking over to the table. "Hello again, Mister Dupre." I gave him a curtsy and turned to the Queen and did the same.

"Hello again, Young Lady" greeted Blood.

"There is no need to be so formal with us." calmed Vivaldi.

"Okay! Hey, Vivaldi, I was wondering if I could ask you something?" I asked standing next to her.

"Go ahead." she replied.

"You know my Mommy right?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Well, I think I remember Mommy saying something about you, Vivaldi."

Vivaldi's eyes widened and she completely turned and asked excitedly, "She did?"

I nodded. "Yes, she said that she had an old friend with your name and that she missed you. I was wondering if you were the one she was talking about." I gave the older woman a sad smile. "Mommy doesn't usually tell me about her friends, or sometimes not even meet them. But she spoke highly of you! And glad to have met you, Vivaldi!" I gave her my brightest smile and hugged her.

I felt her arms wrap around my small form and embraced me.

"What do you mean she didn't let you meet her friends?" asked Blood.

I pulled away from Vivaldi's arms and turned my head to Blood. "Well, when Mommy's friends were coming over she'd make me stay in the room before they arrived and not to come out until she came and got me." I replied giving a smile.

"What?" asked a shocked Vivaldi.

"She didn't want me to cause trouble for her friends."

"That doesn't sound like Alice." mumbled Vivaldi. "She was always so kind."

"It seems since Alice has left, she has changed a lot." shot in Blood as he took a sip of what I expected to be tea.

"Changed? How so? Tell us!" Vivaldi demanded glaring at Blood.

Blood gave her a smirk and took another sip of tea, ignoring her question. As for me I could only look on in confusion. Mommy was Mommy, I don't see how she could have changed...

Vivaldi turned to me and was about to speak when I felt arms wrap around me and lifted me off the ground. I gave out a squeak and looked to the face that held me. "Ace!" I squeaked. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Haha, sorry!" laughed Ace as he nuzzled my cheek.

I smiled and patted his head, "It's alright, Ace! I forgive you." I giggled.

Ace cheered and swung me around in his arms. I giggled then was set back on the ground when Vivaldi ordered him to do so. "Now, you can answer our question." said Vivaldi.

"What was your question?" I asked looking to her.

"We asked how your mother has changed." replied Vivaldi.

I could only tilt my head to the side in confusion. Changed? Mommy has always been Mommy. How is she changed? I look to Blood than back to Vivaldi. "I'm sorry, I don't understand. Mommy is mommy I don't understand how she has changed."

Vivaldi held a face of confusion before it came to understanding and turned to Blood. "Explain." She ordered.

Blood sighed and set his tea down before explaining about what my mother has done from what I had told him. Vivaldi let out a gasp and turned sharply to me. "Surely, that cannot be so?!"

I could only stand there awkwardly as she began to make a big deal of it. A few minutes later she picked me up and hugged me tightly. I squeaked as she did so and looked to Blood from over Vivaldi's shoulder and gave him a pleading look. He smirked and took a sip of his tea and looked away. I narrowed my eyes and began to squirm in her arms as she began to say things that I didn't pay attention to. When in doubt...

"JOKER!" I screamed, trying to pry away from her.

Immediately I heard the screeching of a chair, thudding, rude words, and loud rushing footsteps. Next thing I know I'm ripped from Vivaldi's arms and into the safety of Black's. "What's wrong?!" White and Black asked in a panic. White stood in front of me with his back faced to Vivaldi, Blood, and Ace. They both looked worried, figuring something was wrong. Black looked past White and glared at Vivaldi.

"What did you do?!" he hollered.

"We did not do anything!" argued Vivaldi.

"Then why di-"

"She hugged me too tight..." I mumbled twiddling my fingers, embarrassed that I caused such a scene.

"What?" asked the Joker.

"She hugged me too tight..." I repeated then pointed at Blood. "I tried looking to him for help but he ignored me. I'm sorry, Joker"

Black looked relieved that nothing was wrong but I still could see he was upset in his eyes. White stared at me in disbelief for a second than a smile cracked on his face before he busted out laughing. Vivaldi, Ace, and Blood looked at White in disbelief to see him laughing. "To think you're so dependent on us, My lady!" he chuckled and took me from Black's arms and held me. I felt my face heat up and I looked down at my hands.

The party, from the feel of it, was reaching its climax and then the party would be over. Throughout the time from when Blood told Vivaldi about Mommy I shared a dance with Gowland, the twins, and Pierce, before he got chased and replaced by Boris and eventually got to dance with the Queen herself. It was quite magical and I had fun! I now sat back with the Jokers and rested my head on my arms as I leaned on the table, all this dancing was exhausting! But I couldn't help but have a smile on my face and I happily kicked my feet underneath the table as I went back to watching the dancers on the floor and listen to the sounds of the small orchestra as they played classical music.

"It's almost over." said White.

"About damn time!" scoffed Black as he took off his ascot around his neck and unbuttoned a few of the buttons on his shirt.

"Aaaww!" I whined sitting up with a frown on my face. "I don't want it to end yet!"

White chuckled and placed a hand on my head, "All good things must come to an end."

I sighed with a nod, knowing it was true. The blares of the trumpets came once again and the music and the dancing came to a stop as they turned to the front of the room towards Vivaldi. She thanked us for coming and hoped everyone had fun before calling the ball to a close. The people dispersed and I stood up along with the Jokers, who were ready to leave. I was about to grab to grab their hands when I was once again lifted into the air and help up in air.

"Alice~!"

I looked down at the white haired rabbit man once again. "Mister Prime Minister, sir." I said as I struggled to have my feet touch the ground. "We've been over this, I am not Mommy!"

"Yeah!" said Black, "So hands off!" Black snatched me from his arms and set me on the ground.

I smiled and grabbed a hold of Black and White's hands before glancing at the Prime Minister in the eye. "Mister Prime Minister, sir, If you want to see mommy so bad, why not go up the rabbit hole to see her?" I said. "But I don't think Mommy wants to talk to someone who is as rude as to not utter his name to me."

The Prime Minster stood flabbergasted before he started freaking out and going all over the place apologizing to my not-here-right-now Mommy and screaming how badly he wants to see her. I shook my head in amusement and stood closer to White giving a gentle tug to both Black and White's hand, telling them I'm ready to go. They looked at me and nodded, White picked me up and we bid our goodbyes to the Prime Minister and to the rest of the role holders as we passed by. I waved to everyone we passed as we left the castle and made our way home to the prison.