A/N: Ok Second Fanfic attempt because as we all know the idea comes and you go with it. Hoping everyone likes it. Again any similarities to anything in existence are completely coincidence.

I am totally a fan of Britney's new CD Circus which provided the inspiration but it is totally not a song fic, just the jumping point for all the craziness.

And this time, I am gonna be a review ho, please please review!!!!!

All Human, AU and possible OOC.

Rated T for now, possible M for future scenarios.

Disclaimer: If you know it, I don't own it but damn it's fun to play with!

Circus

Welcome to the Big Top!

I jumped back with a start as another clown crossed my path grinning in the menacing way they do. I shivered as I saw the painted face. Clowns were unnatural. There was a reason no one ever liked clowns. I was pulled from my clown reverie as I was drawn to all the colors and lights surrounding me. It was easy to be distracted with the whirling lights and dinging sounds.

To my right arcade games could be played and bodies of all ages were hitting the moles popping up from their holes for points. Just next to them shots could be heard from a sharp shooting adventure and if you were so inclined, the prize of a goldfish if you could toss a ring on a bottle top.

To my left were the three traditionally striped tents, the tell tale signs that this was indeed a circus. The main show wasn't set to start for another hour so we were still left to our devices, or rather; I was left to the mercy of my friends as they were left to their devices.

"There you are. I thought I'd never find you." A slender arm linked with mine as I gathered my wits about me and looked into the eyes of the blonde speaking. She was petite wearing a mini skirt and tight tank top with the words Superstar bedazzled on the front. I nearly rolled my eyes at the intrusion on my personal space when a second expertly manicured hand caressed my cheek drawing my attention in the opposite direction.

Two exquisite pink plump glossy lips met mine in a slow sensual tango, my thoughts becoming hazy. Now this intrusion I welcomed. I shrugged 'Superstar' off so I could embrace the source of my pleasant confusion. The kiss seemed to end as soon as it began, I had barely registered 'Superstar's' gasp of surprise and let out a low chuckle grinning at my new friend. My eyes met two violet orbs shining with mischief as my companion circled her arms around my waist and smirked condescendingly at 'Superstar'.

"I'd say my pick up line was much more successful than yours." My friend purred at 'Superstar' as she rested her head on my chest leaving 'Superstar' to stand flabbergasted and humiliated in front of her friends. I would have loved to call it the War of the Blondes but there was no contest. I chuckled again watching 'Superstar' retreat hastily in a huff and placed a gentle kiss on my angel's head with a whispered Thank You.

"Masen! Why are you kissing my sister?" Jasper was making his way over with five new bags of cotton candy. We'd been through eight already and seemed to be trying to break our record of twelve from last years carnival. You would think we had learned when we ended up puking it all back up hours later but no, where was the fun. This year's challenge would be to keep it down but I already knew my stomach was going to be putting up a good argument against me. I reached for my new bag and began to munch, mmm I liked the blue kind best.

Rose let go of my waist reaching for her new bag while punching her brother in the side when he put his arm around her shoulders in an effort to mess her hair. "Relax Jas, I was saving poor Edward here from certain doom with a 'Superstar'." On the last word she jumped and went down on one knee with both arms in the air in salute to an old Saturday Night Live sketch with Molly Shannon. She started opening her candy as she righted herself. " 'I thought I'd never find you?' uuhhh, she might as well have asked you to bust your nut up her hole. That would have been a much more original pick up than 'I thought I'd never find you." I let out a hearty laugh at her crassness before quieting down. You'd never know the filth that could come from that girl's mouth by looking at her.

Rose was tall I knew for a girl generally. I didn't know her exact height but she fell below my 6'2" and her height was mostly attributed to a pair of killer legs that went on forever. She had a tight body, easily more beautiful than any Victoria Secret model and long naturally blonde hair that I was happy to describe at every opportunity as stripper hair, all loose and flowing with long waves right down to her waist. I had a thing for stripper hair. She was sex walking all packaged with a nice little finishing bow of violet eyes and a smile that would leave any man melting, thanking her for gracing them with her presence. The best part was that she was also just like one of the guys when she busted out gems like busting nuts in holes and had the mind of an evil genius.

She had always fit great into a group with Jasper and I. Each set of us having our own dynamic. It made things easy on me that she and Jas were so alike; it was as if I had one best friend with gender issues, they were that alike, and their resemblance was eerie too. Sure you expected some similarity between twins, but Jasper was easily as pretty as Rose. He stood just a little taller than I did with that same blonde hair that he wore in longish waves. I always teased him that he was trying to grow his own stripper hair which would result in me getting hit with some foreign object. Then the similarities ended and the differences began, most notably, where Rose's eyes held a vibrant violet color, Jasper's were a cool pale ice blue.

The Hale siblings' appearances certainly demanded attention and that attention only grew when the three of us were together. We were an attractive group with me rounding us out in stark contrast. My hair always seemed a mess in bronze, my eyes an emerald green. When we were just relaxing together, people could always be heard commenting on how we looked like the models in a Calvin Klein ad. It was our curse really. It never failed that one if not more of us would need 'saving' at some point from the legions of fans that seemed to flock to us. Today it seemed had been my day to be saved.

I glanced at Jasper and winked as he caught my eye deciding to have some fun of my own. I nuzzled closer to Rosalie's neck for effect as I whispered in her ear playfully. "I think your pick up was quite original." Her breathe hitched just slightly before she squealed and smacked me with her bag of candy while Jasper just shook his head.

"You know I thank God every day you two couldn't last an hour in a romantic relationship. It would just be wrong." Rose smiled while I just nodded in agreement. He was completely right. We knew, we had tried and we had lasted less than an hour before our dueling personalities made it very clear that our bond was better off platonic. We'd have eventually ended up hating each other or killing each other, and it was much more fun to flirt and joke as we did without the pressure. I blame the temporary lapse in judgment on the stripper hair. It didn't change the effect we knew we had on each other and it had instead turned into a game between us to see whose actions could elicit the biggest reaction from the other.

"Come on you two He-Men. Let's see who's strongest before heading into the Big Top." Rose led us to the Strong Man game. I looked up to gage what kind of strength this would take. It stood about twenty feet up to hit the bell. It didn't look like it would take that much effort to hit the bell. Jasper was already warming up his arms by doing some swings. We lucked out not having to wait in line with everyone starting to head for the Big Top for the big show. The games master approached us.

"Are you ready to test your strength gentlemen?" Jasper was bouncing in anticipation and we were drawing a crowd. It was starting to tip towards a higher volume of females and I knew it wasn't the game grabbing the attention.

"You're going down Masen." Jasper mocked me before letting a huge swing rip. The sledgehammer arced gracefully but came down with a boom as he hit the trigger dead centre sending the weight flying high in defiance of gravity. The spectators clapped and got louder as we watched the lights flash with each inch higher until ending at 96% earning Jasper the title of Superman.

"Damn guy that is the highest any visitor has ever been able to hit." the games master announced in awe. Jasper walked away with a bounce in his step and made as though to tip his hat to me as I took position. He was a smug bastard but so far this time he had earned gloating rights. I would just have to work extra hard to make sure I beat him. I just needed the right incentive.

I rubbed my hands together ready for my shot. The crowd was silent as I prepped my swing. "Hey Rose," I looked over my shoulder and flashed my trademark grin, "what's my prize when I beat your brother?"

"Edward if you beat Jasper, I will…" and I nearly blushed at what she whispered in my ear. I had my incentive.

"Rose." Jasper glared at his sister while she smiled sweetly.

"Oh relax, I just told him I would give him a kiss if he won." She promised me a kiss alright. I heard her mutter under her breathe, that he just didn't know where she promised it. I may have been a virgin but it didn't mean I couldn't indulge in other pleasures. I was getting excited just thinking about it. This was in the bag. I readied my swing when I was interrupted.

"Oh well, if it is just a kiss then, you don't mind opening the competitive field do you. Why not promise a kiss to anyone who can beat my score?" Rose scoffed at him.

"Fine, you're on, anyone who beats your score gets a kiss from me." She crossed her arms over her chest. It just spurred my incentive even more seeing her assets get accentuated.

I breathed out as I heaved the heavy sledgehammer behind me and swung exhaling with the exertion, the head landing on the trigger dead centre like Jasper only this time as my weight marker climbed there was no noise as everyone was anxious to see the results. 89%, 90% and it climbed higher, 91%, 92%, 93% and it stopped. I stared open mouthed. I had lost. I took my defeat graciously as the crowd cheered my attempt turning to shake my friend's hand.

"Alright if you two are done with the pissing contest, we need to get to our seats." Rose started to head to the big top when the games master called to her.

"Um Miss, but did you mean what you said about any other man that wanted to try his luck." Rose grinned.

"Yeah sure, who's going to try their luck? If they beat 96%, I'll give them a kiss." The games master motioned for us to move to allow the contestant through and it was only now that we noticed the hulking man who had been behind us. It was a wonder we hadn't noticed the eclipse he gave as he had towered over us. I was probably exaggerating but this guy was huge.

His clothes were ripped and dirty and he didn't even glance at us as he strode to take position. He seemed to move in slow motion. The gasps as he walked forward were mind blowing; everyone seemed to find him impressive in size. He picked up the sledgehammer as if it were made of sawdust rather than the heavy oak it was and with a single flick sent the weight soaring to a 100% ding with virtually no effort at all. There was no applause, my own clapping ending before beginning as no one made a move to congratulate the beast.

"Looks like I am not the lucky recipient this time Rose." I looked at her and nudged her side only to notice her face had taken on the incredulous look of the crowd. I looked at the Hulk and realized he was walking to us and immediately I felt my face take on the same look as it all clicked into place. The entire right half of his face was scarred in raised bumps, disfigured and dragging in different places, bandages covering what seemed to be the newest additions. It wasn't the disfigurement that drew me though; it was the slight moisture gathering in his eyes as he looked at Rose, a myriad of emotions passing from delight and excitement to sadness. As he closed the distance, I felt Rose take a step back, her face taking on more and more horror as he came closer to claim his prize.

The crowd turned mean, people got brave and began hurling out insults; let the poor girl alone, she shouldn't have to kiss a beast. The games master came and put one hand on the Hulk's arm, the other on his back to get his attention, when he had it, he shook his head and spoke softly telling him it was a misunderstanding and he had better return to his position. The mob mentality of the crowd escalated and I felt as if I were in the scene with Quasimodo in the square in the Hunchback of Notre Dame where everyone realizes that's his real face and begins to throw produce at him. But we had no Esmeralda to save our Quasimodo.

"WHAT IS THE UPROAR?" A voice came over the crowd as a feline looking man came into view wearing a black tux with tails. The games master and the Hulk looked scared. People shouted what had happened out to him from every direction, his eyes widening and glancing at Rose who was still frozen between Jasper and I then back to the Hulk. His voice was barely a whisper when he spoke next. "Is what they say true?"

"It was a misunderstanding Master. We were wrong about the rules is all, no harm done." The games master was stuttering as he spoke, the Hulk seemed to have shrunk in size as he hunched over and tried to avoid eye contact.

The boss stepped closer to the shrinking Hulk and asked again. The Hulk made a tiny noise and nodded as the feline man exhaled slowly and again looked at us. Something in his eye as he looked at Rose didn't sit well with me. "Emmett, go where you need to, I will be there shortly." The Hulk looked at Rose one more time, tears beginning to fall and walked away through the crowd and behind the Big Top. Not even an hour at the circus and there had already been so much excitement. It was as if trouble followed us.

The feline man approached us with open arms. "Please forgive Emmett, he is simple, a pet of sorts who must have misunderstood the wager. I am James Laurent. My father owns the circus. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience." He bowed his head humbly. Well that explained the tux; he was the owner's son. I allowed myself a closer inspection; his smile looked as if it was a permanent glare. His eyes seems to hide malicious secrets only he knew, he was creepy. To top it off, he referred to the Hulk as a pet, a simpleton, but now we knew, Emmett as he called him, was one of the Carney's.

"No harm done, but now with the delay we will hardly be able to watch the show." Rose had regained her wits but made no effort to change her position.

"Well then, allow me to make amends as well, if you'll follow me into the Big Top, I invite you to sit in my personal boxed area. You will feel you are inside the action." Rose nodded and we followed James past the ticket vendors and the still remaining crowds under the umbrella of gold and red.

I took in everything as we were led to a private seating area down centre with two rows of five seats each sectioned off. James motioned for us to take a seat signaling he would return.

"Can you believe this, wow!" Rose's eyes danced as I saw what she saw. There were three circles in front of us. A larger one in the very centre of the tent and two smaller circles outlines at opposite ends within the bigger one. There were balls and hula hoops lying in various areas. Clowns rode around on unicycles while in the centre of the ring a fire eater blew large flames in circles. There were no nets but a trapeze of varying levels could be seen anchored above us. There was a pillow of sashes in the very centre of the ceiling at the very top of the highest tip of the tent looking a bit out of place in it's pale blue color among all the gold and red. The fire eater made his exit as James returned to his seat fifteen minutes later nodding to us again, his gaze lingering on Rose when the lights began to dim and spotlights began to roam the room with the heavy beat of the music being cued. My eyes were drawn to the centre of the ring where a figure stood standing shrouded in shadow. I leaned in instinctively. I could tell it was a girl. The only parts of her fully illuminated were the black thigh high stilettos she wore. The music swelled louder as the show began.

there's only two types of people in the world
the ones that entertain
and the ones that observe

well baby I'm a put-on-a-show kinda girl
don't like the backseat
gotta be first

I watched as the action exploded around the girl while she sang and played to the crowd. She could be seen clearly now wearing those stiletto boots with a gold foil miniskirt with a red sequined top that looked like a vest. She had also put on a top hat. She was the ring leader it would seem. I lost myself watching everything unfold.

The clowns were back on the unicycles doing tricks and circles on one side of her while the fire eaters were performing their own act in another section all while she continued to sing.

I'm like the ringleader
I call the shots
I'm like a fire cracker
I make it hot
when I put on a show

She was conducting the acts now like the song suggested, all the performers pausing to give each other a moment spotlight while she continued to conduct them like they were her personal orchestra.

The performance struck me as such, it was a musical composition, each note placed just so to draw that perfect reaction. You were left in wonder as your eyes were directed above to the taste of trapeze as lithe bodies flipped at least fifty feet in the air with no safeties.

all eyes on me in the center of the ring
just like a circus
when I crack that whip, everybody gonna trip
just like a circus
don't stand there watching me
follow me, show me what you can do
everybody let go, we can make a dance floor
just like a circus

The tent had gone completely dark and when the lights returned the ringleader was now flicking a whip while surrounded by two very real mountain lions. I was on the edge of my seat, something in me wanting to run to the centre and pull her from harms way as they growled and stalked around her.

The song ended and the lions were commanded to lie down which they did. The whip never left her hands. Once the applause from the opening died down including our own enthusiastic clapping she spoke.

"Welcome to the Circus! Allow me to introduce myself; I am your ringleader Nights Belladonna. I do hope you are prepared for a night of wonder and magic." As she spoke, she readied hoops and flames no doubt for the tricks the lions would be doing.

"Anything can happen here." Her voice fluctuated with each announcement. "You may encounter romance." Rose petals flew down around us from an unknown location as the patrons tried to locate the source. "You'll see beauty, but you will also meet the beasts."

She cracked the whip and the lions jumped to growl. "SAHARA! SAVANNAH!" The next 15 minutes my eyes were glued as she bantered with the crowd and had the lions eating out of her hands. I was sure no one could see her as I could in these seats, only twenty five feet from her. She was beautiful, and her name was starting to haunt me.

Nights Belladonna. The Lion Tamer.

The trapeze was next and each time I glanced at my companions each of our eyes were glowing. They flipped and walked ropes with umbrellas and riding bikes.

"What was that Pirolit?" Nights Belladonna was talking to a clown that kept interfering with each performance, interacting with her audience play. There were even times someone from the audience would be pulled to participate.

"There is a grizzly loose in the arena, oh no, that won't do with all these people. What do we do, we need to protect them." Pirolit the clown shrugged and comedically visibly started shivering like he was shaking in his boots.

"I know Pirolit, we shall just have to find something to scare the bear, but where shall we find such a monstrosity." Pirolit whispered in her ear and she lowered her voice as if they were sharing a secret for their ears only. "You don't say, there lives a beast here of that magnitude. No surely such a horror does not exist and not so close." Pirolit talked to her ear again. With no warning there was a loud angry bear in the ring and she was cowering with Pirolit when the Hulk came into the ring as well to the collective gasp of the audience. It was as if he had become even more deformed in the hour since we had seen him. He stared the bear down and a cage was lowered over them both and they began to fight. My gaze drifted to the side of the ring where Nights Belladonna was watching with what looked like fear in her eyes. She saw this all the time didn't she?

The bear was beat and cleared from the stage as Nights Belladonna and Pirolit continued their interactions drawing us all in more and more. The clowns were back picking on Pirolit, the fire eaters were even more daring if that is possible, the elephant walkers made their appearance and I knew the show would be closing soon.

"Well Pirolit, it would seem the show has come to a close." He gestured wildly at the ceiling. "Yes I imagine it is a beautiful night, have you been watching the lights." Pirolit nodded enthusiastically and kept looking up.

A low haunting song began. "There aren't many who can resist the allure of Aurora BoreeAlice." The sheets of blue came undone with such a speed and a body was hurtling down to the floor. Another collective gasp was heard as silence overtook the crowd watching as a real life fairy began to fly amongst us.

A sprite of a woman with black hair and sparkles in a light blue dress wrapped herself in the pale blue silk climbing and doing death drops, wrapping her arms so she could soar above us. It was the most enchanting surreal performance of the evening. It was a perfect ending. When she was done she didn't take a bow or acknowledge her performance but simply wrapped herself back to the heavens of the tent.

"Thank you for joining us this evening and be sure to visit again, remember nothing is ever the same twice at the circus." I was already thinking about when we could come back, the circus would only be in town for two weeks. At least this was the first night, I hate to think if I had come later and had to realize I had missed time here.

I watched Nights Belladonna leave the stage for the final time and could feel the air of sadness she seemed to carry with her. It wasn't enough to watch the show. I had to meet her. I snuck a look at my friends and noticed Jasper's eyes still glued to the pale blue silk that held an Earth bound fairy. I touched his shoulder to get his attention and saw the same resolve in his eyes as I was sure was in mine.

"James," the feline turned to us. "Is there any way we can possibly meet the performers?" His face clouded over quickly before he resumed his façade.

"No I am afraid not. They do not like to socialize with the locals, it breaks their concentration, but I do hope you enjoyed the show and will join us again." He directed the last comment at Rose who was only just standing. He took her hand and kissed it while she smiled her trademark smile.

"I'm sure you will." She winked at me when James turned his back and left.

We walked in silence until we had left the grounds, all stunned by the beauty and wonder of the night as well as longing for the privacy from listening ears.

"Rose, you have to stay away from that guy, there is something off about it." Jasper was shaken from his thoughts long enough to agree with me.

"Boys, you know I can take care of myself, I was actually thinking that if I kept the boss boy busy, you might have a chance at meeting a certain Lion Tamer," she pointedly looked at me, "and a certain Acrobatic Tinkerbelle." She pointedly looked at Jasper.

Yes, we were that transparent. "Alright, but if anything weird happens at all," I warned her, "we play it safe, something just seems off you know." We all nodded. Something had struck us but we couldn't place it and I knew that tonight I would be dreaming of a new Night.

As we drove away I could swear I heard howling and crying with steel clanging coming from the circus grounds.

A/N: Ok so this is the first chapter, remember please review to let me know to continue or not.