Alice in Wonderland and all related characters and places are owned by...actually...no one. The original book is in the public domain as I recall. Still, all due credit to Lewis Carroll. Of course, the movie belongs to Tim Burton and Walt Disney Pictures.

~xxx~

Tired brown eyes surveyed an equally tired, brown room. A party, her mother had called it. To celebrate her return, no less. For an event that she assumed was treated as a happy one, she couldn't help but feel that it seemed a more appropriate gathering for the death of a loved one; nay, not even a loved one; that would dictate more emotion than was on display before her. For what Alice Kingsleigh saw upon entering her mother's drawing room was simply bland; a collection of various pompous businessmen and young bucktoothed aristocrats that had quite clearly never lifted a finger in their entire silver-spoon-fed lives.

Despite her please, Alice's mother had done it again. She may as well have simply lined the men up and been done with it, rather than falling back on this horrible pretence. One day she had been back in London, and already Alice was faced with the prospect of suitors. The only difference was that now she was appealing not just because of her family's wealth, but due to her own talents for business; though the thought caused Alice to mentally scoff: what man would allow is wife to assist – or even lead – his business ventures?

Not that business was at the forefront of her mind of late. Two years in China had seen to that; she had arrived with the air of adventure still filling her lungs, and left with her heart filled with nothing but shame. The opium dens that had quickly sprung up in and around Hong Kong had seen to that. And that wasn't even half of the story; she couldn't bear to think of what the trade was doing to others around the world. Upon her decision to return home, Alice had made up a story about desiring to see England again, and to be with her mother. But in truth she was running away, and she knew it. There was nothing she could do to make up for the damage she had already played a part in, but settling for removing herself from the whole affair was better than resigning herself to it.

"Excuse me, Miss Kingsley?" A voice stirred her from her quickly deteriorating internal monologue. Alice looked up to find a man looking down at her. A man of roughly 30, she recognised him as one of Lord Ascot's associates; one of the few that had supported her business role. He was a rather large man; thick set. So much so in fact that his suit appeared to be anything but appropriate. "You look very nice tonight, but…you look rather distracted."

"Tired, is all," Alice replied succinctly, not wishing to be drawn into a conversation. The man smiled.

"Are the well-to-do's boring you?" he asked, seating himself in the chair beside Alice's. "It's alright, you don't need to answer." As if an answer was needed. "I couldn't help but notice a rather large number of attractive, single men," he continued. "Or was it just my imagination?"

"You're quite correct," the blonde woman replied with a sigh. "No doubt my mother's doing." As if summoned by that mere mention, Helen Kingsleigh appeared from behind the seat in which Alice was sat, looking rather flustered.

"Alice, just what are you doing hidden away over here?" She cast an eye over the man Alice had been talking to. He smiled pleasantly in return.

"Attempting to escape the hounds," Alice replied quite casually. She glanced up at her mother. "It seems they haven't been fed in quite a while…"

"Enough of your nonsense," her mother half-snapped. "There are some people you need to meet." She returned her gaze to the man seated beside her daughter. "I believe Mr Eames was just leaving." He gave Alice a sympathetic smile.

"Yes, I believe I was," he replied, getting to his feet and straightening his dinner jacket. "Don't give them an easy meal, Miss Kingsleigh." He disappeared off into the rest of the guests, leaving Alice at the mercy of her mother. She sighed again and allowed herself to be lead away from the comfort of her chair, straight to one of the 'frightfully charming' men she had observed earlier.

"Alice, this is Lord Rockford," her mother said. The man nodded and smiled. At least Alice assumed he was smiling; it was difficult to tell beneath his monstrous moustache. "And his son, Thomas." A younger man, almost identical aside from the colour of his furry face, nodded. "The Rockfords are involved in the coal-mining business."

"We're aptly named," the elder man laughed. Alice got the impression he'd made that joke many times before. She barely managed the most transparent of false smiles. "Your mother tells us you had a foray into the world of business yourself," he continued. "How….unique."

"Oh come now, father," Thomas spoke up. "No need to highlight her childish imaginings. I'm sure Miss Kingsleigh is quite embarrassed about the whole thing." Alice's mother looked nervous; worried about how her daughter would respond. Alice had no doubt that her mother was offended by the remark as she was, but unlike her mother, Alice wasn't desperate for her to find a husband. On the other hand, she was too tired to make a fuss.

"I'm sure," she responded simply. She could almost hear the mental sigh of relief from her mother.

"Still, a novel experience, I am sure," Thomas continued with a laugh. Novel? Is that what she was?

"Novel indeed!" his father added. "Who would have thought…?"

"I would have thought, actually," Alice replied icily. Her mother's relief started to fade.

"Come along, Alice," she said sternly, taking her daughter by the arm. "There are so many people you need to meet."

"So many people you want me to meet," Alice corrected, glancing over her shoulder at the Rockfords' bemused expressions as she was led away.

In the next hour, she was paraded around in front of multiple wealthy Lords and their offspring. Every time, the conversation quickly turned to Alice's status as a businesswoman; and every time she was treated to a series of comments ranging from sceptical to downright offensive. By the time Lord Edgeworth – a particularly repugnant banker with a nose that seemed intent on swallowing his face – had told her that if it had been his daughter setting sail into a new world, he would have had her lobotomised, she had had enough.

On the way to the next suitor, she wrenched her arm away from her mother's grasp. This had gone on too long; she was behaving just as she had done two years ago; passive and quiet. Stopping roughly in the middle of the room, she glanced around her; most hadn't noticed. Her mother turned on her heel.

"Alice, what are you doing?"

"I'm not doing this anymore," Alice said, shaking her head. "I can't do this anymore." Now a few people were looking.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I will not allow myself to be paraded around like this," she continued. "I thought we had seen an end to this business."

"Well….yes…but I had hoped you would meet an appropriate husband during your business ventures," Mrs Kingsleigh explained. The background chatter had all but died now; most eyes fixed on the two women.

"So it was all a lie? You never truly accepted what I said all that time ago?" Her mother remained silent, not meeting her daughter's gaze. Alice took a step backwards, casting her eyes over their 'audience'. "You all think I am a 'novelty', and oddity. I would agree with you; but I do not seek to be looked down upon." She looked back at her mother. "Why is it so important that I find a husband, mother? Why?"

Again she was met with nothing but stares.

"I desire no man at my side," she continued, her voice growing in confidence. "I am not here for your entertainment, nor am I willing to lower myself to a life as some…dowdy housewife." She gave the room another look, inwardly proud that she had reduced them to a stunned silence. "I am not a person you want to cross." She turned back at her mother, and gave a sad smile. "Not anymore." She took a few more steps towards the door. "I am sorry that I could not be the daughter you wanted; on these shores or otherwise." That seemed to hit her mother hard. "But this is who I am. You keep trying to bring all these people into my life, but I am fine without them. Better even."

And with that, she turned on her heel and swept out of the room, leaving a rather stunned Helen Kingsleigh alone among her guests. Alice made her way as quickly as possible to the nearest exit; the doors through the pantry. Stepping out into the cold air, she regretted not stopping to pick up some warmer clothing. But there was no turning back now, not after her 'speech'. Still, a little frosty weather wasn't going to dampen her spirits. For the first time since she had left England on the Wonder, she felt as though she was starting something; just what that something was, she had no idea, but at that moment it didn't matter. She continued on her way a short distance to the wall overlooking the estate's grounds, bathed in the red light of the sunset.

"Running away, Alice?" a voice asked. Startled, she turned to find a familiar figure standing some way behind her.

"Mr Eames?" He nodded. His arms were folded behind his back, and he wore a warm expression.

"Or perhaps you are not running from something, but to something?" he continued with a smile. To something? Alice was confused.

"What do you mean?" Her tone was slightly cautious, still unsure of this man.

"I mean that it is quite clear you don't belong here," he said, drawing level with her and looking out over the grounds. "You seem like a caged animal; trapped within the confines of tradition and ceremony."

"A very apt summary," Alice replied with a small smile. "Mother is so desperate for me to find a husband, settle down, continue the family line…"

"Does she not realise that any marriage will in fact result in the termination of your family's line?" the man mused. "Your name will change, and any and all children will bear the father's name…"

"It shows how little I have thought about it," the blonde replied with a chuckle. "That hadn't even occurred to me…"

"Have you even thought of romance?" Alice raised an eyebrow. "Surely there must have been at least one person in your lifetime? You are…21 now, correct?"

"That's right." She looked away, her eyes distant. "And indeed I have been drawn to someone, once." She smiled involuntarily. "It could never have worked…but it was nice to dream…"

"Sometimes…" the man stepped closer, and Alice turned to face him. "…dreams are just as important." And in that instant, Alice was hit by a flurry or recognition. "Go to her, Alice. She is waiting for you to return." His smile widened. "Don't keep her waiting, love." For a moment, emerald green eyes returned the young woman's gaze.

"Chessur?"

The man blinked, and all was normal. "I should return to the manor," he said. He moved his hands from behind him, and revealed that he had been carrying a small bundle. Wordlessly, her held it out and the blonde woman took it. "Until next time, Alice." She watched, stunned as the man walked away. She couldn't have imagined that; she wasn't that mad. Curious, Alice looked down at the bundle he had handed her, and saw that it was in fact her own coat, neatly folded.

A sudden determination gripping her, she allowed the garment to unfold and quickly pulled it on. As she buttoned it, her feet began to carry her towards the nearby woods. They were almost pitch black; the dying sunlight unable to penetrate the thick branches that hung overhead. And yet, she found her way. She had played in these woods as a child, and knew every path; visible or not. Before long, she happened upon a large tree in the centre of a clearing; a tree that hadn't been there before.

Her pace barely slowed as she allowed herself to fall into the waiting hole.