Title: Only A Dream

Pairing(s): Stayne/Alice
Rating: PG-13/T Warnings: None
Summary: The Knave and Alice make a deal

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: The title is inspired from the song (of the same name) off the Danny Elfman soundtrack for Tim Burton's "Alice". Thank You to all those that encouraged and supported me to write and *gasp* post this story! My inspiration came from all of you :) This is my very first fanfic EVER so I hope you enjoy!

"Oooh Um!"

I tensed as I heard the Knave's deep voice directly behind me. There was something about the way he looked at me when I was sitting next to the Red Queen earlier that made me feel very uncomfortable. Like he was sizing me up or something, I can't explain it. I've never had someone look at me that way before. It also seemed like he was enthralled with me but I can't phantom the reason why.

He grabbed me by my waist in one fluid motion and spun me into the crimson wall behind us, pinning me there with his body and both of his gloved hands on either side of my head.

"Now, Um...you don't expect me to believe that is your real name do you?"

I panicked in that moment. Did he find out that I'm Alice and if so how? Should I speak the truth or deny it?

"Speak girl! You are testing my patience!"

In that moment I could think of only one other name to give him that was not my own, "Margaret." I shuddered when I realized I gave that man my sister's name. A name I did not want to hear on his tongue or to be heard in a taunt.

The Knave just smirked at me as he removed his left hand from the wall to trail it down my side and grasp my hip.

"Leave me alone!" I whispered harshly as I pushed him away from me and moved down towards the hallway.

"But Alice...I have something that you want."

My heart stopped as I turned to see him leaning against the wall, the spot where I had just occupied as he casually licked his bottom lip in one swift motion.

"You know my name," I said dumbly in response. I'm aware I could have tried to deny it. But he said it without any trace of doubt. He knew who I was and he just looked me in the eyes and grinned, "I know your name."

"How did you find out?"

He pushed himself off the wall and took a step towards me, "You were only just a little tyke last time you were here but I never forget a pretty face and my, how you have grown Alice." The last part was said in seductive hiss.

I backed away from him again and shouted, "I've never been here before!" I lowered my voice and continued, "I'm not the Alice everyone is talking about. You are deeply mistaken sir so please let me be on my way."

I turned around only to have his deep voice stop me yet again. This was not the first or the last time the Knave's voice would stop my beating heart, if only for a frenzied moment.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Is it to find the Vorpal sword?"

I felt my large eyes widen and I exhaled softly as I tried to regain my breath, "No."

"Don't…"

I felt his gloved hand squeeze my shoulder and I turned around to face him against my will.

"Don't lie to me Alice," he said with a hint of a threat.

I gulped and found myself staring at his pale face, long black hair, his scar, and the heart-shaped eye patch covering his left eye. I quickly turned my eyes downcast and asked, "What do you want?"

"I want you to save me…in the end."

"Save you?"

"Yes. On Frabjous Day you will slay the Jabberwocky and bring peace to Underland. The White Queen will want me to pay for the injustice the Red Queen has forced me to perform. I want you to pardon me, she will listen to you."

I looked back up at the Knave through narrowed eyes, "Is that all?"

He smirked and responded, "No. That is not all."

"What else do you want?"

He roughly caressed my right cheek and said, "I believe it is what we both want."

I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat and spat out, "You are mistaken, sir. And I will give you nothing. There will be no deal!"

Before I knew what was happening the Knave grasped my head in his large hands and pulled me forward into a harsh kiss. It was urgent, desperate, and hungry. When I felt him try to slip his tongue past my slightly parted lips I pulled back and slapped him hard across the face.

"I said leave me alone!"

I took off into a full sprint down the hallway and could hear him following me. I tried turning right, left, and in every random variation to throw him off my path but he was persistent. When he caught up with me he put his hands on my hips and lifted me slightly off the ground. I started kicking the air furiously hoping in vain that he would let me go.

"Stop fussing you stupid girl! You are lucky no one has seen or heard us yet! Do you know what the Red Queen would do if she discovered us?"

"That is your problem, not mine!"

"It would be both our problems you silly girl! Now stop this right now!"

"No! I am tired of people always telling me what to do!"

It was then that I felt his grip on my hips lessen as he whispered so softly I almost didn't hear him, "Yes, as am I."

I did not know how to respond to that as he placed me down softly on the plush carpet in the hallway. He did not let me go though as one of his hand's fingers drummed lightly up and down my thigh as if contemplating his next move or course of action.

I tried to break the uneasy silence that was settling awkwardly between us, "Maybe…perhaps we can reach a deal or a compromise."

He said nothing so I continued, "I will plead with the White Queen to forgive your past crimes if you tell me where the Vorpal sword is."

"Hmmm," the Knave brushed my long blonde hair to the side and kissed the back of my neck, nibbling at my collarbone a little he said, "and what about the other thing I want?"

My whole entire body started to become unbearably hot and I knew my face was as red as the walls, floor, and decorations that surrounded us. I tried to form a coherent thought but his warm breath ghosting over the back of my neck was terribly distracting.

"If I get the sword and slay the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day…" at this point the Knave had taken off one of his gloves and was trailing it up my stomach which was gently toying with the red cord holding together my hastily made dress, "if all of my friends are unharmed at the end of all this –," his long fingers caressed gracefully over one of my breasts, "then I will give you what you want."

He softly kissed the shell of my ear and tugged on my earlobe before he whispered roughly, "Deal."

And with that one word the spell seemed to be broken and I realized what had just transpired between us. I was embarrassed and ashamed that I had let him touch me like that. Or really, I closed my eyes tightly in defeat, how I already craved it. So quickly it seemed I let him gain the upper hand. Where was my "muchness" that Tarrant had mentioned before? I seemed to have fallen into a complex game with the Knave and I didn't know my next move or what the objective of the game even was anymore.

"Where is the Vorpal sword, Knave?"

"I think…you can call me by my name, Ilosovic Stayne. I'd like to hear it coming from your lips, especially in wanton pleasure."

He said the last part with an insolent smile on his face and I let out a shaky gasp and tried to keep my heartbeat down. To my ears it sounded like a thunderous roar that could alert everyone in the castle where we were. Stayne kissed me again in that moment and I let him. This time I did not resist when his tongue sought invitation to my mouth.

When I pulled away gasping for breath he looked around and then leaned forward and quietly said, "The Vorpal Sword is hidden in the den of the Bandersnatch."

"The Bandersnatch?! I'm not going anywhere that creature inhabits!" I thought of what it did to my arm and continued, "And how am I to get the sword from it?"

"You're very clever Alice. I'm sure you will figure something out."

"But you said you'd help me get the sword," I leaned over and accepting this game we entered into added faintly, "Stayne."

Stayne wrapped his arms around me and pressed me against his leather clad body. I would never admit this out loud but Stayne's tall, large form was comforting and very appealing to me. At seven and a half feet in height I felt safe in his oddly passionate embrace. His very big hands cupped my bottom and rested there, tenderly squeezing when he replied, "I said I'd tell you where to find the Vorpal sword but how to attain it was not part of our little bargain. Though, I would suggest trying to strike some kind of a deal with it. Every living thing wants something, Alice. Just find out what."

Stayne kissed me one last time on the lips and then on the forehead before he stepped away with a sly grin on his face and left me with his parting words, "See you in a few days my dear, my savior."

Then I was left in the corridor feeling loneliness I hadn't felt since my father passed away and with only the sound of his boots retreating into the darkness.

One thing comforted me throughout this whole ordeal, though. As I briskly walked to see if I could find Tarrant, Nivens, or Mallymkun I remembered something very important.

This is all only a dream. A crazy, mad dream.

THE END

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