It's going to be a bit of a series. With Blood and Alice as the main couple. It's where Blood was the one to get her. In the manga. It starts a bit after that. I don't own any of the characters obviously. Though I am trying to use a lot of the information from the different storylines. Through her adventures in all the landsish. In this one Blood is closer to the manga version. Because honestly, I think it fits closer to a Wonderland theme.

"How long do you plan to be gone Alice?"

Startled, I turn around. "Julius." Breathing a sigh of relief, "You startled me."

"Mmm." His brow quirked up, "I feel it's more surprising that you would be startled at this point." He walked beside me to lean against the railing. His long hair being moved by the wind.

"I'm just going to be gone for about 10 time periods. Not too long. I've got your coffee stocked. I picked up enough parts for 20 time periods in case something happens. I've also got some premade food in the kitchen. Eat it. Ace shouldn't be back till another 12."

"He's supposed to be back in another 3."

"That's why I'm being generous and saying 12."

An incredibly rare corner smile graced his lips. "At least that's something we can count on when it comes to Ace." As quickly as it came it disappeared into his normal set frown. I decided long ago that looking at a Julius's smile, or well different facial expressions, was like rare bird watching sometimes. You know where the bird is supposed to be, but you don't always see it and you feel like whenever you glance away it's going to come by. And Julius would place top in rare bird watcher species. "Alice…"

"Hmmm?"

Sighing, "I could send word and ask the Cheshire Cat to come walk you to and from his home."

"Julius. I do know the way. I'm not Ace."

He tensed up clearly having trouble wanting to explain whatever he was getting at. "Not all faceless care about the Outsiders and their feelings."

"Julius here hold out your hand." Perplexed he did as told. This is a good day to watch Julius. Keeping that smile and thought to myself, I place my hand into my pocket, grab the item, and gently place it in his hand. My way back home.

"This?" He stares in bafflement at his hand.

"I can't alleviate your fears when it comes to me walking back and forth by myself." His head snaps up wanting to jut in. I hold up my hand to let me finish. "Not yet. It's too constraining. I'll figure it out as I go and slowly get used to the idea. But that that." Taking a deep breath, "You and all of Wonderland know it's my way back. I'm not ready to make the decision. Not all the way. If someone other than me got ahold of this then they could force me or someone else into a decision. I trust you Julius.

I get you're worried because of me working to be with Blood, but hopefully this will alleviate your fear of having that decision decided for me. I'm leaving it with you until I see you next Julius."

He still looked at it and placed it in his pocket gently. "Who said I was worried?" The grumbling came low. Unfortunately a wave of anxiety hit knowing I don't have it on me. Pushing it down, probably with pure stubbornness and trust, I mentally chide myself. I already made my choice. I'm not going to ask for it back.

"Come back and retrieve your ticket soon. I'm not a safe box."

All the sudden the time period switched to early light before dawn. A few mumbled string of curses were heard by the Clockmaker. "I'll put some coffee on for when you get up. Why don't you take a nap? I expect my score when I come back though."

An 'mmmmm' was all I had as a reply as the sleepy clockmaker went towards the bed upstairs. I went to the kitchen and made some coffee. Humming to myself, this will definitely be at the very least an 80. I even bought those special coffee beans. I left some on the pot for warmth and took a small cup upstairs with a warmer around it. He was already sound asleep as I placed the cup on the nightstand.

Closing the door quietly I grabbed my luggage and made my way to Blood's mansion. A small smile and a deniable blush went to my cheeks thinking about it.

***Clockmaker***

I woke up thanks to my role. Looked outside and saw light. Not quite midday, but close to it. I overslept. Looking at the knowingly cold coffee I still drink it.

Yawning, I stretch and rubb my face. A shower before work. Then heat up the coffee. Make some food. And go back to all of their stopped times. I could hear the role's displeasure at my lateness, but today I'm brushing it off. Between myself and the role's desire, I'm probably not going to bed for awhile afterwards.

Besides the girl is gone. Ace isn't do for awhile either. Ah Alice. Before I take off my clothes I look down to find her vial in my hand. A wave of displeasure hits my face that I don't remember pulling it out of my pocket. Rolling it around in my palm it doesn't feel as sturdy as it once was.

It shows how seriously she's considering staying here.

'Do you love Alice, Clockmaker?' The role asks me a question. How unusual.

'I do love Alice. But here at this time it's not romantic. Maybe in the beginning I could see it. If she had come to love me maybe just maybe I could have learned to love her romantically. But now it's honestly just platonic. The feelings I have could be considered between a younger sister and daughter.

A fleeting imagine skirts across my imagination of her in what she thinks that cloth of what she considered a nightgown.

Groaning inwardly from embarrassment and leaning my head against the wall. 'Thanks role' I don't hear anything back, but I get a faint feeling of amusement

Yeah. I'm glad I convinced her that she shouldn't wear that for the nightly coffee raids. There are those times that prove I'm a guy though. If she insists on bringing me coffee, I had to insist that she stop wearing it or wear something over it.

Still, Alice this is Wonderland. And I'm a roleholder. Gripping the vial tightly, I grimace. That dark Wonderland feeling happens that ultimately wants to destroy her only path to her world and the one to force her to drink this to send her home. The vial starts to get hot in my hand as I drop it in the sink. Looking at it, the outside glows like it's been put into the fire. Heat radiates off of it.

"I'm not going too." I say out loud. The vial immediately starts to visibly look cooler. Sighing. "Alice you trust me too much. To the point that even the vial won't have me think such thoughts while in my care."

Picking the pink vial up cautiously and lifting it to the light to stare at the way it reflects. Like the light behind clocks. Honestly, whatever choice she chooses. I don't want her to finish the game all the way. Not the way it's meant to be finished. Not the way that one Outsider finished it.

Twirling it once more, I place it in my pocket and gingerly hang my coat up. Then strip for the shower.

"I wonder if my Ace would kill you immediately if he knew or help you finish it the long way."

Flashes of pain happen from saying it out loud. Damn. Damnit. The white noise and light quickly came sharp and heavy. Then disappeared almost as quickly. Damn warning. Sighing, I find myself crouched in the fetal position.

How disgraceful.

Standing up, I turn the water on and let it just fall down on my back. Thinking about them isn't doing me any favors. She's not here and Ace isn't coming any time soon. It's causing me to over think everything.

'Focus… You're the Clockmaker. Keeper of time. You're late.'

Picking up the pace, I agree. I am late.