Eventually Alice and Robin ended up at Emerald Acres Farm and Zelena did not look pleased. When the two girls entered the house, they were immediately sat down while Zelena chewed their ears off.
"First off, you forgot the firewood. Second, you were gone for MUCH longer than one hour. Third, you brought home a stray!" Robin bristled. She could allow herself to be berated for not doing her chores, but she would not allow Alice to be offended.
"Mother, Alice is not a stray. You've met her before when she saved my life. I am sorry about the rest of it, but you cannot go around calling people strays, especially in front of them!" Zelena huffed.
"Right. Sorry, dear. I just get so worried when you do things like this and somehow it manages to happen when this one comes around."
"Mother you're overreacting. We've run into each other only twice, this being the third time."
"Still. Every time you two meet something bad happens." It was at this time that Alice chose to put in her two cents.
"We've discussed that, Madam, and I have to say neither of us is too happy about it either." Robin was glad she wasn't on the receiving end of the look Zelena was giving Alice.
"I'm not sure it's your place to be in this conversation."
"Well you're discussing me and I'm sitting right here. Frankly, I don't think either of us needs to take what you've been dishing. Your daughter did a right brave thing saving me back there and you're scolding her for doing it. It's not right." At this point, all three were standing up and both Robin and Zelena were surprised at the outburst. Robin cautiously placed her hand on Alice's upper arm.
"Alice, it's alright. I appreciate the defense, but she's my mother. She has the right to-"
"Not like this. She has a right to you, but she can't treat you like this." Alice met Robin's gaze. "She can't scold you for helping people. It's not right..."
Zelena stood silent as Robin hugged Alice. Her heart was swelling more than she could have ever imagined. To have someone stand up to her mother like that, even over such a small thing, was reassuring and stabilizing in the most spectacular way. When they pulled apart, Robin wiped at the tears on Alice's face before turning to her mother.
"She's staying the night. I won't let her travel at this hour." Zelena heaved a resigned sigh.
"Fine, but we're not done talking about this. She can sleep in the guest room." Robin nodded and walked Alice down the hall to show her the room.
Later that night, Robin woke up to a short shriek. Her mother slept on the other side of the house so it had to be... Alice! Robin jolted out of bed and ran down the hall to the guest room. Inside she found Alice sitting up, shaking like a leaf and covered in sweat. Alice looked to her with haunted eyes as she entered. "I-it was just a dream. Or rather a nightmare, but I'm f-fine." Robin shook her head and crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed and hugged the frightened girl.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Robin felt the girl's grip on her tighten.
"It was just about when I fought the Jabberwocky. In the dream, my friends are attacking and they keep... dying. Over and over again. Then instead of finally killing it, I get swallowed whole and I find... their corpses in the belly with me." A small sob emitted from Alice and Robin began rubbing circles on her back.
"Shhhhh. It's ok. It was only a dream. It's not real." Alice pulled back and Robin could see the tears streaming down her face.
"You don't understand. It is real. I was the only one who survived the fight. All my friends... they all died because I couldn't save them fast enough." Robin swallowed hard. She had never battled anything outright beyond the occasional bandits, and even then she had done it alone without having to worry about anyone.
"This... this is more of a recurring memory then?" Alice nodded. "Have you ever told anyone about it?" Alice shook her head.
"What would they do? Confirm the thing I've known all my life, that I'm mad..." Robin's heart broke at the words. Suddenly, a memory of something she had read in another realm came to mind.
"Maybe that's true. Maybe you are mad." She placed a hand on Alice's cheek. "But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are." This gained a smile from Alice and ended the onslaught of tears. Robin wiped away the remaining ones and stood up. "It's not nearly morning yet so we should probably get back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
Robin was about to exit when she heard Alice say, "Wait!" Robin turned around and her eyes met a blushing face. "I... Would you... stay?" Robin nodded and came back to the bed, slipping under the covers with Alice.
"Scooch over, you mattress hog." Alice chuckled and gave Robin more room. Alice turned over to face the wall and Robin placed an arm across Alice's waist. She felt the girl stiffen in surprise. "You're too far away now... and it's cold," she mumbled as she felt herself slipping into sleep.
Robin heard Alice mutter, "Sure it is," when she moved closer and the two fell into an easy sleep for the rest of the night.