I thought it would be a one shot, but I decided to make it into a three shot.

Jade POV

I watched from a ledge, as my sister sat there in the rain, a contemplating look in her eye. What was she thinking about? How was she holding up? How was my little Alice?

I was tempted to reach out, and speak to her. I wanted to talk to her, to ask her how mom was. I knew I shouldn't. After all, we were supposed to be enemies now. Two people on the opposite sides of a battlefield. The thing was though, I didn't want to fight with Alice. I really didn't.

After mom had been taken to prison, Artemis had been the only innocent thing in the horrible world that had become my life. Dad almost ruined her childhood. Let her mom go to jail, training her like a soldier until she dropped. I hated him for it. It was thing to hurt me, but to hurt a little seven year old? That was just cruel.

I tried to make her feel happy. I took her for treats and games. We talked about Alice and Wonderland, how she was Alice and I was Cheshire. It worked for a while. She seemed happy. I thought I could stay, to protect her. That changed one night. Dad had one of hid criminal friends over. I heard them talking in the kitchen.

"Yeah." dad was saying. "Training them pretty well."

"Pretty hard you mean." his friend said. "I don't think it's right to train a seven year old so vigorously."

"Oh, Artemis?" dad asked. "She's a tough kid. She'll hold up. In fact, I think I can train her to be my apprentice some day. Jade too. Then we'll be ready for the League of Shadows."

I had pressed up against the wall, my heart beating. He wanted to take little Alice to the League of Shadows? I heard about them. I couldn't let that happen.

So I had stolen away. I was going to destroy the League of Shadows, before they got to Alice. Big job for a fifteen year old, I know. But I really believed I could do it. Somehow, I ended up working for them instead of destroying them. I took the name Cheshire, after Artemis and I's game. I ended up working for my father. The thought gave me a bitter taste in my mouth.

Artemis sensed me there. "Jade." she said softly.

"Hello Alice." I answered. She kept her back to me. I had the feeling she didn't want me to see her cry.

"What are doing here?" she asked.

"Can't I check in on my little sister?" I said. But my heart really wasn't in the teasing. "I'm sorry, Alice."

There was a pause. "I left you alone." I continued. "And I will never forgive myself for that. I missed you, and I am really sorry.

Alice turned around and hugged me. I was caught off guard for a minute, but then hugged her back.

"It's okay." she whispered. "After all, we are Alice and Cheshire. They go together."