So, this isn't actually a plot relevant chapter... Doesn't advance the plot or provide backstory. It's just that I have this planned out for the most part and then this idea suddenly popped into my head. I've decided the best point in the chronological history would be at some point during the last chapter, probably before Francis said "I love you." Although, it would have to be after the white rose bit so, maybe he had it planned and that was before that as well? I don't know, but, this is just a bonus chapter - like they do in manga, really...

Francis stood, gazing out of his window. He sighed. What should he do today?

"Sir? Are you alright?" asked a voice behind him. A voice he had grown to love. It made him tingle a little. It was a feeling that no other women could make him feel. He'd never really felt this way before.

He turned to face Alice, smiling lightly. "Non. Je suis d'accord."

Alice tilted her head, frowning questioningly. "I… don't know what you just said…"

"Ah, désolé. I said that I am okay. You need not worry, Alice." He smiled at her again. He was astonished to see her smile back.

"That's good. I…" She looked down and fiddled with her apron. "I was just… a little worried, is all…"

"You were worried about me, cher?" asked Francis, surprised. He walked forward, taking her hands from the apron. He tilted his head and smiled at her. "That makes me 'appy, cher…"

Alice blushed. "I…" She wriggled a hand from his grasp and plunged it into her apron before pulling it back out again, holding the white rose he had given her. "I want to thank you for this, sir…"

Francis stared, his happiness growing. She had kept it! Perhaps this would be easier than he thought…

"You may call me Francis," he said before pulling her towards him, his free hand wrapping around her waist so he could hold her to him. She gave a small gasp and he smiled. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Call me Francis and call on me as much as you wish…" He leaned back to see her reaction. Her face was red but, otherwise, looked happy.

"Francis…" she breathed, almost fearfully. "Francis…" she said a little louder. "I-" Francis stopped her with a finger to her lips.

"Let us talk with our actions…" he murmured to her before removing his finger and leaning forward.

"Francis," she said again. Annoyance flashed in Francis' eyes for a second before the loving look came back. He closed his eyes.

"Hush, cher," he said. "Alice… I-"

"Francis!"

"Alice…" he murmured again, leaning forward more, prepared to kiss.

"Oi, Francis, you idiot! Would you open your eyes, already?!"

Confused, Francis hesitantly opened his eyes. He found himself lying in bed, Alice leaning over him, shaking his shoulder. Once she noticed he was awake she straightened up. "Finally!" she snapped, stalking off to open the curtains.

Rather rattled (mostly because he was a little aroused from his dream), Francis sat up, hesitantly, rubbing his eyes. Although, now that he was more awake, a couple of thoughts entered his head. Firstly, a panicked one, wondering if he had spoken in his sleep. The second was puzzlement as to why she hadn't opened the curtains first when that would surely have helped with waking him up.

"I'll let you get dressed," said Alice, walking to the door. She paused in the doorway, her hand on the door handle, prepared to close it behind her.

"Please don't ever dream about me again," she muttered just loud enough for him to hear and turn red before she pulled the door closed behind her…

He was doing it again. Asking her to do stupid things. Things no self-respecting person would ever agree to do. But, of course, she was a lesser citizen because she was a woman, expected to do things like this without complaining.

"You want me to do what?!" exclaimed Alice.

"Un massage, cher," Francis replied, his back to her. He was sitting on the bed where he had been when she had entered. She had only come in to extinguish the candles. Now he shrugged off his dressing gown before lying down. Thankfully, Alice didn't see anything from the front. She stared at him in disgust and panic.

"Wh-What?!" she exclaimed. She was getting fed up with this. She had managed to undertake numerous undignified tasks but, seeing him lying there, naked, was most definitely the last straw. She glanced around and noticed that one of the ropes for tying the heavy, red curtains was lying on the floor, detached from its hook. She crossed over to it and picked it up before going to the bed.

"Yes, sir," she mumbled. She knelt on the bed before crawling over to him. The best place would be… She straddled his waist, facing his head.

"Ah, cher…" said Francis, sounding happy. "You are embarrassing me," he added, teasingly.

Alice said nothing, taking an end of the rope in each hand. Then, abruptly, she leaned forward and slipped the rope around his neck. Then she pulled backwards on it. Francis made a satisfying gagging sound. "A-Alice!" he exclaimed.

"Shut up, shut up, you bastard!" Alice shouted at him. "You brought this on yourself! Stop trying to get me into your bed, for God's sake! And in such undignified ways! You bastard!"

"Alice!" Francis choked out.

"Shut up and die already!"

"Alice!" said Heather's voice from Francis' mouth. Alice froze. What the hell was that? "Alice!" exclaimed Francis, Heather's voice still emitting from him.

Alice blinked and, suddenly, she realised she was in bed, Heather shaking her, her hands gripping the blanket as if it was the rope. She gasped and relaxed as Heather sat on her own bed, looking rather shaken.

"Are you okay?" she asked, surveying Alice. "You were screaming and shouting about 'bastards' and 'beds'… You gave me such a fright. Was it a nightmare?"

"Sorry," murmured Alice. "Yeah, a nightmare…" But, I suppose, not such a bad one…

So, yeah, a bit of an explanation needed, methinks.

Although this does nothing of the plot, the second part certainly says something about Alice's character... Sort of...

The bit where she's on top of him, too - that was a bit more erotic than I intended... O.o Ah, well...

And, the last sentence - take that any way you want. :D