'No Soul'??? *No HEART*?? *FEH* To That!!

Pinocchio *HATED* that HER eyes were on her and 'Papa Charlie' at least half the time. Could *FEEL her* smirking with glinting cold eyes at 'Bella's' constant depression and tossingturningwrithing screaming nightmares. *Enjoying* her pain with a capital 'P'. To the point of Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr., Bellatrix Black-Lestrange, or *even ALBUS DUMBLEDORE*-!!

What was even worse was that her *PAIN* and NUMBNESS was tangled with both sheer grief and *ugly nasty* feelings ...concerning HIM. (And she didn't mean her now ex-boyfriend but still 'amico'.) Would she ever be able to *TRULY grieve*??? -Or was that forever barred from her, given what HE'D done that was just as bad as anything the Fox, Cat, Other Puppet-Master, Coachman, and the Chicken Farmer had done to her (whether they'd known she wasn't *a BOY* or no)??

She *NEEDED* therapy- BADLY. *Everyone* in the Madrigal-Swan-Belmagio family did! ...But so long as *HER eyes* were Watching, even when they were Off, -it was just a risk that none of them could take. Even for the adults, because *what if they influenced her to seek out help*?? NO, NO, NO- mustn't *do THAT*!

*Pinocchio HATED her so-called mother*. As much as now her not-so sweet, gentle, caring, loving 'padre'. Because of them, she had *SUFFERED* with a blaring neon blood-red capital 'S' practically from the night she was 'born'!! They were the reason she was *alive*, 'si'- but they were also the cause of her PAIN in and out of her former home. Erratic, scattered, harebrained, or no, *Mrs. Renee* had been/was more of an honest-to-gosh 'madre' than I-Il-ILARIA had ever been! (-But would that one day *horribly CHANGE* when she discovered that 'Bella' was reallytrulyhonestly *female!Pinocchio*???) ...And Chief Charlie Swan and Senor Bruno Madrigal were MOST DEFINITELY more true fathers who would *NEVER EVER* Touch a child, much less *their own*, whatever age.

But even the times when those cold glaring hateful eyes as dark green as Pinocchio's were bright blue *WEREN'T Watching* were tinged with bittersweetness. With Sorrow. *HURT*. Remembered betrayal times two, awake or asleep.

Whether 'Bella Swan' or Pinocchio Belmagio, she still Suffered. (At least her old and new family's *WARM* hugs plus Figaro's and Senor Bruno's rats' 'kisses' and cuddles helped- even if just a little. [And at least *Alice* was Still Here; hadn't disappeared like the others, despite supposing to...])

The soundtrack to her life now?? "Animal I Have Become", "Bang Bang", "Because of You", "Breathe Me", "Broken Angel", "Concrete Angel", "Confessions of a Broken Heart", "Dance With the Devil", "Everybody's Fool", "Face Down", "Family Portrait", "For the Love of a Daughter", "I Want My Innocence Back", "Puppet-Boy", "Runaway Love", "'Til It Happens to You", "What Hurts the Most", "The Waking Nightmare", "The Heart Is Slow to Learn", "Not One of Us", and the first half of "Out There".

Not even *holidays* would be sacred as they should be, she and the others all sickeningly found out come Halloween. -Which meant that CHRISTMAS was going to have to be quiet with a more-or-less capital 'Q'. Because of course, 'Bella' was supposed to be nothing but *M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E* now that 'Edward' was gone! *No no no*- couldn't even get a break *during 'NATALE'*, if he wasn't there!

(The Madrigals, elder two Belmagios, and Alice especially pouted over this. Because *'Nocchi* more than deserved a nice NORMAL holiday as herself, after all she'd been through! -But 'thanks' to a certain half-Heartless, she wouldn't; not In Full.)

Thankfully, Alice Saw *ONE reprieve* coming that SHE wouldn't have her cold cruel eyes on: Pinocchio's ACTUAL birthday on November ninth, as well as Mirabel's. And since she was not only turning fifteen but turning fifteen in a *partial HISPANIC* household, she would be getting a *quinceanera*! -Which wasn't just a *VERY LAVISH birthday party*, but a celebration that traditionally marked a girl's coming-of-age; somewhat equivalent to a debutante ball or coming-out party. (The Hispanic version of the USA's 'Sweet Sixteen', basically.)

And it was going to be a *GREAT* night.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

*ALL OF the adult males* of the Madrigal-Swan-Belmagio family cried when they saw how *BEAUTIFUL* their two younger girls were and had become- from Charlie to Gemini. (Even *'pequeno' Antonio* felt a little tearful, though he didn't really know why. -Then again, he *practically WORSHIPED* Mira, and by now ADORED 'Nocchi; so...) And Zia Mama Chiara, Cleo, and Alice also dabbed at their eyes with lace-trimmed cotton handkerchiefs before and after helping 'Mira' and 'Nocchi' get ready, feeling happy and sad at the same time yet trying not to smear their own makeup.

Traditionally, there was first a Mass at the local church to give thanks for the birthday girl making the transition to a young woman from a child ...but since there were unfortunately THINGS to consider, this wasn't plausible. Luckily, just as with a ship's captain, a Wishing Faerie could also act as a priest for officiating marriages and the like, so there was a smaller quieter 'Misa de Accion de Gracias' in the Cullens' private chapel (something that Dr. Carlie had had built partially out of nostalgia due to her being a priest's daughter) even if not in an actual church. There, both Madrigal-Swan girls were crowned with beautiful tiaras that matched/corresponded with the rest of their jewelry as well as blessed by 'the Blue Faerie'.

The Grand Entrance, the Toast, then From Flat Slippers to Heels- Bruno changed Mirabel's shoes, and Charlie changed 'Nocchi's. Their Court was their family since, again, there were THINGS to consider (thankseversomuch, Signorina Fata Scarlatta- *NOT*). The Last Doll ritual, punctuated both funnily and sweetly by an actual quote by Sara Crewe from 'A Little Princess'...

"I am getting *very old*."

"You see, I shall never live to have another doll given me."

%"This will be my *LAST doll*."%

"There is something ...SOLEMN about it."

"If I could write poetry, I am sure a poem about 'The Last Doll' would be very nice. -But I *CANNOT write poetry*."

"I have TRIED, and *it made me LAUGH*! It did not sound like Watts or Coleridge or Shakespeare *AT ALL*!"

"No one could *EVER* take Emily's place, but I should respect The Last Doll *very much*; and I am sure *the SCHOOL* would love it!"

%"They all like dolls, though some of the Big Ones -the *almost-fifteen ones*- pretend they are TOO GROWN UP."%

The Father-Daughter Waltz- not just times two, but *times FIVE*, given Jiminy, Sebastian, and Gemini and how they'd been there for Pinocchio *more than* He-Who-Shalt-Not-Be-Named-Anymore-Than-'Moldyshorts' ever since she first Awoke. Between 'Nocchi and Charlie plus Mirabel and Bruno? 'Dos Oruguitas'. Switched? 'We Are One'.
Jiminy- 'My Little Girl'. Sebastian- 'Open Your Arms to Better Tomorrows' (his own personal song he'd been struggling with for the longest time and now had FINALLY finished it and worked out the kinks to). Gemini- '"Zing!" Went the Strings of My Heart'. *MOTHER-Daughter* Dance between Chiara and 'Nocchi- 'Baby Mine'. Dance between the Belmagio sisters- 'You'll Be In My Heart' (performed by Celtic Woman rather than Phil Collins himself).

The Quinceanera Waltz- "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes". (Jiminy again 'stole' 'Nocchi for this one, and Bruno Mira.) The Surprise Dance performed by both Mira and 'Nocchi- a mash-up of "Good to Be Bad" from 'Descendants 3', "Naughty" from 'Matilda the Musical', and "What's Gonna Happen Next??" from 'Barbie and the Secret Door'. *WOW*, could both those girls MOVE on the dance floor or stage-!!

Then, from there, it was basically dance, music, food, and *fun, fun, FUN*, including breaking *fifteen small pinatas*! (*SORELY* BADLY needed fun, at that.)

Traditionally, quinceanera dresses were white- but that wasn't such a 'Must-Have' in this day and age; and both Mirabel Madrigal-Swan and Pinocchio Belmagio 'nee Tommaso were rather COLORFUL individuals, so their gowns of course reflected that. Mirabel's was pure smooth emerald-green silk with small puffed sleeves and embroidered almost all over with sparkling golden thread with symbols representing her now-family, and she wore jewelry made out of pieces of Papa Bruno's more positive Vision Tablets- Pinocchio's dress was a blend between sky-blue and violet slightly-sparkling chiffon silk with short sheer lightly frilled sleeves, a layered skirt, tiny opalescent pearl beads sprinkled over the sweetheart bodice, a sheer lavender ribbon around the waist, and small silvery or diamond-esque stars embroidered all over with a few pearly moon-crickets here and there, her own jewelry rose-gold and crafted of blue topazes and rainbow moonstones, and violet amethysts, tanzanites, and opals. Mirabel wore emerald green soft flat slippers or heels to match, -but *Pinocchio* instead now donned actual heeled ruby slippers with silver soles a la Dorothy Gale. Both girls wore lightnaturaltasteful makeup, and carried small-ish bouquets of flowers that matched or coordinated with their dresses.

(Alice almost swallowed her tongue- could hardly catch her breath. 'Third time's the charm' *INDEED*!!)

Other flowers, balloons, and decorations- they all matched Mira's and 'Nocchi's dresses. -And as a little bit of a cheeky nod to their both being Sapphic i.e. lesbians, Alice, Jiminy, and Bruno also made it a LITERAL 'Coming-Out' party complete with small Pride or Lesbian flags, green carnations, violets, white lilies, rainbow roses, unicorns, lambdas, pink triangles, white knots, and two rainbow-shaded interlocking female symbols here and there. (Mirabel thought that this was *HILARIOUS* and very very fitting plus actually very sweet- Pinocchio was more than a bit taken aback at first, but still awful touched; even finding it a bit funny and ironic herself. After all, these days, a quinceanera wasn't just about traditionally celebrating a girl's fifteenth birthday- now, it was also a moment to express her individuality and asperations for the future! So, if the shoe fit, *why not* also sneak in a hint or two of irony??)

Dinner consisted of both Italian and Colombian delights, common and not so much. The desserts were the same. The multi-tiered cake not yet cut was a dark chocolate one with fudge frosting and buttercream chrysanthemums, peonies, lilies, fleur-de-mayo, blue roses, asters, and snowdrops. Respectively, both girls' birth-flowers, the national flower of Italy, the national flower of Colombia, each of their own personal favorite flower, and a shared favorite flower. (And one or two rainbow roses and violets.)

It was BIG and *GLITZY*, yet semi-small and intimate. Filled with life, laughter, dancing, singing (there was a kareoke bar alongside many sorts of games), warmth inside and out- and love.

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'Bella' had not really cared for celebrating her birthday due to being raised on a kindergarten teacher's salary, and then on meeting seemingly-seventeen-year-old 'Edward Cullen' AKA reallytruly *ALIVE!Cedric Diggory*, she had *HATED* it because she would be sort of turning *one year older* than her (*BLEH*) boyfriend and true love. Pinocchio, on the other hand?? -Turned out she LOVED celebrating her birthday, quinceanera or no! Loved attending and celebrating parties, *PERIOD*; small, medium, or big!

She didn't even mind that hers' and Mirabel's birthdays were on the same day. Because like Cleo and her own big sister Dolores, Mirabel Valentina Brunita Beatriz Madrigal-Swan was *a SWEETHEART*; and she more than deserved to have an awful nice celebration/party dedicated to her, after all that she herself had been through concerning her own JERKS of parents, blood-sisters, aunt and uncle, cousin, and grandmother ever since she *DIDN'T get* her Door and Gift as she was 'supposed to' as a born-Madrigal! (Mostly emotionally, but words can *HURT* as much as palms, fists, and belts, 'Nocchi all too well knew. And *psychologically*??? Was just plain *a MESS*, to say the least!) So, no- Pinocchio did not mind sharing a natal day *in the least*, because 'sharing is caring', and she had NO DESIRE whatsoever to be *SELFISH; either a little or a lot. *No thank you*!!!

-Such things 'Little Woodenhead' was happily tiredly thinking while catching her breath, resting her feet, getting a breath of both metaphorical and literal fresh air, and looking up at the stars out on a balcony that overlooked Dr. Carlie's and Mrs. Esme's flower, vegetable, berry, and herb gardens and their fruit orchard. For the first time all night, she was alone ...or so she thought.

"Now, *what's this*?? What's a fair lovely princess such as yourself doing out here all alone?"

Pinocchio smiled softly and blushed a bit while slowly turning around after the initial jump and squeak, Alice's beautiful musical voice like a merry chime of silver Christmas bells not just brushing but *caressing* her ears. "I- I c-could say th' same for you, m-m'lady," she replied sweetly and courteously. "N-No gentleman escort t'night?"

"No. My- tastes run toward ...seafood more than bacon, if you know what I mean, sweet." Now 'twas a *near-PURR*, as silky and seductive as either Lady Carmilla Karnstein, 'Dracula's Daughter' Marya Zaleska, or vampire!Lucy Westerna- yet still with Alice's genuine sweetness and kindness. Still, it made 'Nocchi swallow hard a bit and shiver, same as those velvet-soft yet *slightly burning* gold-tinged dark brown eyes locked onto her own large brilliant blue ones.

For all her showing her legs, shoulders, and arms, the youngest female Cullen was *the PICTURE* of simple beauty and elegance in a body-hugging royal-blue velveteen dress with spaghetti straps, a bodice that dipped a little and played 'peek-a-boo' with her decolletage, and a knee-length skirt accessorized only by a matching 'plain' hair-ribbon, silver-and-sapphire necklace, and flats, and Pinocchio almost felt like a child playing dress-up next to her as well as *CAPTIVATED*. Key-word being *'almost'*. Even if not in leaps and bounds, her confidence had at least grown *some*, thanks to her new and old 'famiglie'; meaning that dressed-up or not, she didn't feel '*UG-LY*' next to one of the most beautiful near-flawless creatures in the world anymore!
She wore no shawl or cardigan despite Jack Frost nipping her nose and any of area of exposed skin, of course- 'Nocchi meanwhile now having draped a light-ish soft green shawl over her shoulders.

"I- I kn-know what you mean, m-'mia signora'. Ev-Even a little b-'baby gay' l-like me...!" Pinocchio both assured and laughed, feeling the sparkle in her eyes turn up a notch and her heart fluttering and then skipping a beat as her mouth went a little dry. 'Edward' had *DAZZLED* her as 'Bella', 'si'- but ALICE... She was- *ENCHANTING*. Enticing. *Enthralling*. BEAUTIFUL, inside and out.

"*Is that so*...? No gentlemanly or princely escort for you either tonight, darling?"

"N-No, ma'am."

"In that case... May *I* join you? Offer you some company? It gets DULL to be alone..."

"S-'Si, signora'! Of- 'F course!"

"Thank you most kindly, Miss Belmagio-Swan. Such a DEAR *SWEET child* you are...!"

"Y-You're most kindly w-welcome, Signorina C-Cullen."

For a while, they merely companiably stood side by side and star-gazed while listening to the laughter, chatter, jokes, and snatches of song from inside the Cullen house, Alice wrapping a cool slender arm around 'Nocchi's own small thin waist and 'Nocchi more than trustingly and happily leaning into Alice's side and resting her dark bejeweled head on the elder female's shoulder. Then-

"Th-Thank you f-for lettin' us u-use your house for- for Mira's 'n my quince. 'S- 'S awful a-appreciated-!" Pinocchio uttered shyly.

"You're welcome, 'Nocchi- MORE THAN," Alice murmured sweetly in reply, her dark eyes soft and sparkling at the same time while a smile pirouetted over her full rose-tinted lips and she gently tenderly gave her 'bestest friend' a small squeeze. "You and Mira 'abstively posolutely' deserve to have a *FABULOUS* birthday, big fifteen or sixteen or no! Know why?? Because. You. Are. Both. *SWEETHEARTS*!"

'And also because you've both been through HELL *and BACK* via *your own stinkin' family*,' was what her own big expressive eyes said hotly yet kindly but Alice herself didn't say aloud. Pinocchio still got the message *loud and clear*, though- and she stole an arm of her own around Alice's waist and gave the tiny pixie-faced vampire with 'Kingdom Hearts' hair a sweet gentle squeeze in turn in added 'thanks'.

Alice's cool sweet breath puffed over Pinocchio's much warmer cheek- trailed over onto her lips, making them and her face pleasantly tingle. She was silken-soft and hard as marble at the same time; actually QUITE EASY to snuggle into and cuddle with, despite her cool/cold temperature-! She was a teeny-tiny teddy-bear or little stuffed black cat- albeit, one with *very sharp claws and teeth*; a pretty perfect but well-loved porcelain doll compared to Pinocchio's once-literal puppet state...

"*How BEAUTIFUL* you are... Even more so with a sparkle in your eyes and a non-forced smile on your face-!" Alice near-whispered in enchanted awe, ghosting the fingertips of her 'free' hand over Pinocchio's soft warm-to-hot freckled rosy cheek, causing the blue-eyed girl to shiver again while her heart thudded in her chest. "I mean, you were ALWAYS pretty before, and *VERY lovely* on Prom Night and your not-birthday-after-all- don't get me wrong! But- When- When you're happy, TRULY happy, and not, you know, *sulking* ...it's just-,"
Now *bubbly cheery optimistic Alice* sounded SHY- and not the ironic kind of 'shy' as in the self-named song Princess Winifred 'Fred' the Woebegone sang in 'Once Upon a Mattress'. And was- Was she *actually BLUSHING* a little???! "It's like... seeing the sunrise or stars come out. -I wonder if Cedric as 'Edward' *REALLY knew* HOW lucky he was, to see those smiles lighting up your eyes. *Your FACE*. Your- Your *WHOLE BEING*..."

If Pinocchio hadn't already known that Alice and Jasper had not just broken up but been DIVORCED since That Night, she would have nervously stammered, 'But- But wh-what about Jasper???' -As it was, she DID know ...so she just blushed further herself and dipped her head, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"And *the blush* in your cheeks- it's not just 'lovely'. *It's ADORABLE*...!" Alice went on lovingly and reverently, now running the back of her hand and fingers over 'Nocchi's silken near-hot flesh and providing a welcome blessed coolness despite the nip in the air. "Your *freckles*- they're just SO DARNED CUTE! Making you even *cute-ER*... Your nose- it's not just 'cute/adorable' but *beautiful and unique*; as much as the rest of you... Your eyes- they're not just the prettiest shade of blue I've ever seen, but they REVEAL instead of reflect. *Windows*- not mirrors."

Those eyes -*ALICE'S eyes*- were so soft and warm, -yet HUNGRY at the same time. Not Hunger ...but *something else*. Something that Pinocchio had never really truly felt before on *HER OWN behalf*; just felt, seen, heard, sensed, and tasted it *graspinggreedyvilelecherouscruelmocking* times five back when it should never have even been *a FOOTNOTE* in her mind, heart, or soul, much less ON HER BODY, seven years ago...

But this time, it *DIDN'T frighten or disgust* her. Instead, the look in Alice's gold-tinged nut-brown eyes- EXCITED her. As it might have excited *Miss Laura* in 'Carmilla', but EXPECTATIONS and the like greatly loathsomely suppressed it until she described the beautiful dark lady 'vampiro's' further affections as 'hateful'...

*Alice*, however, would *NEVER EVER* hurt her- whether as 'Bella' or Pinocchio!! Especially not ON PURPOSE-!

'Nocchi's own big blue eyes were languid and burning as she blushed softly yet hard; *she herself* felt love-more-than-friends stir in her once-shattered heart and hunger AKA *'lust'* flicker and build up in her soul. She felt HER OWN dress rise and fall 'with tumultuous respiration' at the bosom, her throat parched and lips now so dry that she had to dart out her tongue and lick them-

Alice groaned softly akin to an animal in pain, grinding her sharp white teeth and biting her own lip. VENOM was surely pooling in her mouth as much as saliva!! "Now *YOU'RE teasing me*, Laura dearest."

"Not- N-*Not ON PURPOSE*, M-Miss Carmilla!" Pinocchio swallowed, heart thundering in her breast. *Oh 'Dio'*, but her 'cara dolce' vampire friend *smelled SO GOOD*...! Like cherry-raspberry-chocolate ice cream touched with mint... (Were she warm as warm, she would have had the aroma of fresh ripened raspberries, cherry cobbler or cherry-mint pie, and just-melted chocolate; but both or either made *Pinocchio* long to take a lick and sink her teeth in deep-!!)

This time, Alice moaned softly but didn't utter a word afterwards- then she drew 'Nocchi closer still, cupped the younger girl's face in her porcelain-doll hands, lowered her own-

And whispered tender and sweet yet dark and possessive while trailing her *COOL lips* along Pinocchio's cheek in conversely hot kisses, "*You are MINE*- you SHALL be mine; and *you and I are one forever*...!"

'*To ME* you are belonging!!' And THIS time, Pinocchio more than gladly near-sobbed back as she planted warm/hot slightly messy desperate loving kisses of her own onto every inch of her assaulter's face she could reach (including her own nose), "*Oh, YES*!! *'Si- si'*! Y-*YES*, Alice- *my Carmilla, my Lucy*- YES...! You're- YOU'RE *MINE*, too, 'amore mia'-!"

"*ALWAYS*-! *Always and FOREVER*, my sweet brave bright beautiful little Pinocchio... *The Laura to my Carmilla- the Mina to my Lucy*... (Though both MUCH LESS *ILL-fated* this time around, thankyouverymuch, Messers Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker!) My blood will be *YOUR blood*- my bed will be YOUR bed... *There's always a tomorrow*; *there's always ONE MORE NIGHT*...!"

There, Alice froze, SO BADLY wanting to kiss those sweet still semi-innocent lips either chaste or deep- but forcing herself to *STOP* because *'Nocchi* needed to make the first move, after she'd been *so HURT* by nastyfouldisgustingvileperverted creeps and child abusers...!!

Pinocchio either rubbed her lip between her teeth or (gently) bit it, swallowing hard. Consensually or no, this was *her first time ever* kissing a *FE-male*; another girl/lady! It was- NERVE-WRACKING, to say the least. -But, again: her Alice, her dear sweet wonderful beautiful Alice, would *NEVER* hurt her, with words or actions; much less GRIEVOUSLY...! She was a *gentle* Carmilla- a KIND Carmilla; *SWEET Lucy* still-

And then, as David Bowie's 'As the World Falls Down' from 'Labyrinth' hauntingly played in the background, Pinocchio leaned forward with gently puckered lips and eyes fluttered shut ...and tenderly yet hungrily pressed her soft warm lips against Alice's cool silken plush mouth. And just as darkly sweet, Alice pressed back with a shuddering breath as her own eyes slid shut, still cradling 'Nocchi's face.

*THIS time*, Pinocchio's blood didn't boil under her skin or burn in her lips. It simmered in her veins still, 'si'- but now her heart *quivered and fluttered before unfurling like a flower* and FIREWORKS soared and sparked in her soul as she and *ALICE* kissed! Her gasp and Alice's moan was soft and wild at the same time, Alice's cold soft-yet-hard hands cupping and cradling 'Nocchi's face and 'Nocchi both caressing her small thin pale freckled fingers through and burying them into Alice's silken messy short black locks of hair. Their lips parted under one another as they breathed in one another's scent (though for the moment, tongues stayed put)...
There was LOVE- *TRUE LOVE* in this kiss. Not just *lust* or *the IDEA* of being in love, or both.

When Pinocchio responded, Alice didn't pull away or turn to unresponsive cold hard stone. She still CONTROLLED HERSELF not to slide or push her tongue in much less let it dance around either wildly or sweetly or teasingly- not to *bite or nibble that soft sweet plumpening reddening little bottom lip or nip the upper one*, but continued the kiss until they *HAD TO* pull away so that 'Nocchi could breathe even though she was hardly panting or struggling for breath. Then she and Pinocchio drew one another into a *PROPER hug*, Alice's wintry marble-silk cheek placed against 'Nocchi's much longer less messy dark hair and 'Nocchi's small *WARM* cheek nestled against Alice's throat and collarbone.

No "-*Oops*."/"THAT'S *an UNDERSTATEMENT*." Instead- shy, awed, soft, tender, sweet both ways-

"You- You know the lyric in 'I Kissed a Girl' by K-Katy Perry? Ab-About 'the taste of her cherry chapstick'? ...You- YOU *taste like cherries PERIOD*. R-Renier cherries 'n black cherries."

"Do I?? -Well, *you*, honey-honey, smell and taste *like CHRISTMAS*. *The most wonderful time of the year all-year round* mingled with Beast's gardens and the first fruits of summer, scent-wise...!"

"O-*Oh, gee*...! But th-thanks, I g-guess."

One heartbeat or pulse. Then two-

Quick as a blink, Alice whirled away out of Pinocchio's warm loving hold. And before the startled teen could even begin to protest, the elder 'donna' held out her hand as a gentleman to a lady and inquired courteously in her silvery bell-like voice as 'As the World Falls Down' tapered off and faded away, "Might *I* now have the pleasure and honor of dancing with the birthday girl?"

The protest died on Pinocchio's lips and in her heart before it could even really begin, and she smiled a sweet shy radiant *RAINBOW smile* as she curtsied a little and laid her small warm gloved palm over Alice's cold bare one, her big blue orbs for eyes sparkling like either Betelguese and Siruis or the Wishing Star and Second to the Right in her flushed freckled doll-face from underneath her flop of raven bangs. "*'F course* you m-may, Alice 'tesoro mia'! I've- I've been w-wantin' to dance *with YOU* a-all night..."

Alice's not-so-still heart warmed at that shy soft admission as much as 'Nocchi's whole-hearted permission as she again clasped the younger girl's slender waist. "*Same here*, sweetheart. *And now, HERE I AM*..." she crooned lovingly amidst faint thumps and haunting sweet piano notes just before Beyonce's 'Halo' began.

They stepped- they swayed- and then they began to dance in earnest, lost in one another's eyes.

~Remember those walls I built??
Well, baby, they're TUMBLING DOWN;
And they didn't even *put up a fight*-
*Didn't even MAKE A SOUND*...

I found a way to let you in,
But I *never really had any doubt*:
Standin' in the light of *your HALO*,
I've got my angel now...

It's like I've been awakened;
Every rule I had you breakin',
It's *the RISK* that I'm takin'-
I ain't *NEVER* gonna SHUT YOU OUT...!

Everywhere I'm lookin' now,
*I'm surrounded by your embrace*;
Baby, *I can see YOUR HALO*!
You know you're MY SAVING GRACE...

You're *EVERYTHING* I need and MORE-
It's written *all over your face*!
Baby, I can *FEEL your halo*;
Pray it won't fade away...~

"*Me*? *An ANGEL*???" Alice laughed, touched yet thunderstruck. She hadn't Seen THIS coming; 'no, sirree'! "-Pretty DARK angel, with cold skin and a thirst for blood and all that, 'Nocchi sweetie. MY wings would be *black as black*, or at least dark grey- not white!"

"Maybe... But you're still *MY angel*, Alice Cullen," Pinocchio murmured shyly yet meaningfully, her eyes intense yet soft. "B'fore 'n after I- I woke up. Th-*Then 'n now*. W-With or without Ed-'Edward', 'mia sole'... Not just a 'goddess' or a 'siren', no matter how almost painfully beautiful; *'mia angela'*..."

Tears of love and joy prickled Alice's eyes as she bent down and pressed another kiss onto 'Nocchi's lips, sniffing, "You're- You're *MY angel* too, Pinocchio baby. Maybe 'Bella' never was ...but *YOU ARE*, and- and *always will be*."

Pinocchio kissed Alice back, her own eyes welling up out of HAPPINESS. "I don't- I don't *HALF love ya*, Allie!" she near-mewled.

"-I don't only *HALF love* you either, 'Nocchi."

And so *the LADY* fell in love with the *princess*; neither of them 'sick' nor 'stupid'... BEST. Birthday present. *EVER*!!! *Best NIGHT* ever-!! (*Take that*, 'Carisimma Madre' who only wanted to make and keep her *MISERABLE* just because she didn't *lie down and die* or 'behave' either way!!!!)