Chapter 4-

"Blood!" Alice shouted as the Hatter dragged her through the garden.

Looking back at her with a smirk on his face he asked, "Yes Princess?"

He was enjoying this and she could tell. Sometimes Blood really got on her nerves. Yanking her hand out of his hold she stopped in her place. Blood looked back at her, amusement in his eyes. Alice glared at him. "Just where did you think you were taking me?" she demanded.

Blood chuckled. "To the best place to help me write the story of course." At this the Hatter started to walk towards her.

Alice, scared, took a few steps back. Each step he advanced she moved back. This happened until her back was pressed firmly against the trunk of a tree. Yet he walked until he was an inch away from her. Placing on hand on the trunk next to her face he leaned in so that their noses were touching. "So what do you say?" he asked huskily. "Will you help me?"

The foreigner was shaking. This Blood, he was scaring her out of her wits. Alice could think of nothing while his lips were slowly descending towards hers. Acting on impulse she scurried around to the back of the tree. This was possible because he had only one hand blocking her.

Blood's amused look vanished as he spotted her peeking out from behind the tree. As he reached around Alice screamed. The sound seemed to echo slightly. While dashing to the other side of the tree, Alice felt her wrist grabbed tightly. She was yanked against the broad chest of the Hatter.

She squirmed with all her strength, trying to get away, but his strong arms held her to him. "Let go!" she shouted, suddenly kneeing him between the legs.

"Owww!" he mumbled, tears building up in his eyes.

Alice didn't even pause to see Blood in a state nobody had seen him before. She ran towards where she could make out the gate. Tears of her own were streaming down her face as she ran.

"Hey! Alice!" a voice called from behind her.

She didn't stop, just kept on running.

Strong arms grabbed her shoulders and forced her to turn towards whoever it was. "Stop it!" she shouted, hitting the person on the chest.

"Alice, it's me, Elliot! Stop! Stop!" the man yelled.

Realization crossed Alice's mind. Looking up she saw the March Hare holding her. She sighed and wiped her tearstained face. "I'm sorry Elliot," she mumbled.

Elliot smiled slightly and pulled her into a hug. "It's alright. You're safe now," he comforted her.

After several moments Alice's breathing went back to normal and Elliot let her go. "Are you better now?" he asked her.

She nodded. "Thank you Elliot."

A grin spread across his face then. He grabbed her hand and began to lead her away. "I want to give you something," he told her.

"What is it?" she inquired.

Smiling back at her he said, "You'll see."

The two walked towards the garden. As they reached the center scents drifted towards Alice. All the fragrances of the flowers filled the air and made her feel like she was in her garden at home. As Alice took in the many roses, tulips, and daisies Elliot went around the bushes looking for something. "Alice! Come here!" he called out, motioning her to come.

Alice walked over and saw what he was looking at. It was a bunch of medium sized flowers of the same kind, each one growing on top of another. Each one had five blue petals that almost looked purplish.

Elliot picked one. Alice looked up to see what he was doing. His hands reached to her left ear where he tucked the flower in with her hair. Removing his hands and looking at her he smiled softly. "Beautiful," he whispered.

The brunette smiled. "What type of flower is it?" she asked him.

The hare looked at his feet while he said, "Jacob's Ladder. I thought it would look good with your eye color."

He smiled widened. "Thank you, Elliot. You're so sweet." At this Alice went up on her tiptoes and kissed Elliot on the cheek. When she pulled away both blushed.

Neither one was aware of the Hatter, clenching his fists as he watched the spectacle from one of the many rose bushes.