Prompted by anonymous on Tumblr: I couldn't help myself, 28, because it seems like an actual challenge with this Alice/Ivy ship. ("This is why we can't have nice things.")

Drizella carded her fingers through Alice's hair, letting out a tiny sigh. Alice had drifted back to sleep not long after they cuddled up by the fire place, snoring lightly in her arms. She knew what she had to do when she woke up. She would tell her the truth about the poisoned heart reversal, help her find a real cure. It was the least she could do for Alice, even if she hated her for it.

"Well, well, well." Drizella's head snapped up and she gulped. "A bit old for hide-and-go-seek aren't you?"

"Mother…how…"

"Never mind how." Lady Tremaine walked closer to them, examining a half dressed Alice. "Who is she?"

"That doesn't matter. Please don't hurt her."

"What good would that do me? It'd only punish you."

Drizella rolled her eyes. "It wouldn't be the first time you've done something like that."

"I thought you would know better by now to do something like this," Tremaine ignored her. "Sleeping with someone by the likes of her, her clothes are all raggedy, she can't come from anywhere noble."

"She's a good person, which is more than you can say."

Tremaine's eyes narrowed and for once, Drizella straightened up. She rose to her feet and looked her mother square in the eye, she wasn't going to back down. She would protect Alice, make sure that Mother wouldn't be able to do any harm this time around.

"And just what are you going to do about it?" Tremaine asked. "Have you forgotten who I am?"

"I haven't forgotten that you need my help in order to succeed."

"You're right, I need you. I also need you to understand, love is weakness. You falling in love, it's only going to get in the way of our plan."

"Who said I was falling in love?"

"I'm pretty, darling, not stupid." She looked back down and Alice, scoffing. "This is why we can't have nice things."

Tremaine raised a hand and caused Alice to disappear. Drizella's eyes widened and she raced over to her mother.

"What did you do to her?!"

"Relax, I just sent her back to where she came from." She laughed when Drizella raised her hands. "You're not going to do anything, you don't have the stomach for it." She smirked as her daughter frowned. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"You couldn't let me have one thing, could you?"

"After all the pain you've caused me, why should I let you be happy?"

Drizella's jaw locked. "Get out of here, Mother."

"I'll see you soon, darling."

Tremaine disappeared and Drizella collapsed to her knees by the fire, watching it slowly die out. She'd be lucky if she ever saw Alice again.