disclaimer:APH does not belong to me

Pardon the grammar, and I hope you guys enjoy this rather long chapter. I'm sorry for the grammar and please leave a comment/ review. Scotland and Ireland may be OOC in this (I imagine them to be a lot more harsh that Wales and Northern Ireland)

Alice's siblings lived in the forest parts of the Kingdom of Spades. True, they were suppose to take over the throne, but they really didn't want to. That left Alice and Peter to fill in the needed positions for the court. Alice sighed as the Royal Coach was greeted by many citizens. It has been five weeks and well, the Kingdom of Spades has not seen their Queen and they have far missed her. Alice's little window was open and she waved as the people waved at her. Her King, Alfred was back in the Suit's Palace. Suddenly the Coach stopped. Alice slammed into her seat.

"I'm sorry my lady," the driver said. "But it seems your brothers are here to personally get you in the Family Coach." Alice sighed and peeked out the little window, and there it was. Scotland on the driver's seat, with their four Yorkshire Coach Horses. Alice got out of the coach, at the same time, Skye (Scotland) got down and greeted his sister with a hug.

"What's up?" he asked as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and lead her to the coach. "You usually don't contact us unless you have a problem…"Scotland stopped when he felt two heart beats on the same exact spot. He looked at Alice. "Maybe I'll wait until we get home" he said. Alice nodded. Skye then opened up the carriage and helped his sister in the coach.

William was cutting some of the vegetables for the little meal they were having. He then stopped when he felt three heartbeats approaching the house. He turned around and looked at Conner.

"Hey Conner…" he began. Conner turned to him.

"hm?"

"Do you feel that?" William asked. Conner looked at the door and then nodded.

"Yeah…there's an extra life here…it is only Alice that's visiting right?" As soon as the door opened, Skye and Alice stepped in. Alice put her hood down and looked around. She smiled to herself.

"I miss this place" she said.

"Well it's your home too, you can visit" Conner said as he got Alice's coat from her. Alice thanked him and hugged him. They sat on the dinner table and talked. Finally William asked Alice something.

"are you pregnant?" he asked. Scotland and Conner stopped laughing as they looked at their sister. Alice looked at her brothers. She began to draw little circles on her stomach with her index finger. She nodded. Skye, William and Conner smiled.

"As much as I don't want to think about what you and that brat do, I'm happy for you" Skye said. This broke Alice. Her smile was then broken into a frown, and sooner her hands met her face as she began crying. William looked at Skye and then embraced his sister.

"A child is suppose to bring happiness" William began. "Is there any reason why this would bring you a basketful of unhappiness and misery?" he asked. Alice looked up.

"THIS CHILD MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HIS!" she yelled. William, Skye and Conner looked at each other.

"wait" Conner started

"what?" William asked

"EXPLAIN THIS SHIT TO ME RIGHT NOW" Skye exclaimed. Suddenly Ireland ran into the house and saw Alice.

"I was outside gathering berries….. and then I heard Alice crying..." she said. She then dropped the basket on the floor and rushed to Alice. "geez guys! Bugger off and let her have some space" she said. She then grabbed Alice's hands. "Is it true?" she asked. Alice looked at her, she is being such a child now. Irene sighed. "Is it true that you're pregnant and the child could be Francis?" Irene asked.

"WHAT IN THE-" Skye stopped himself before he could break the wall of the house. Conner then turned to Irene.

"How do you know this sister?" he asked.

"A fae told me" she said. She then hugged Alice. "Mind telling us the story?" she asked. Alice nodded and her siblings arranged themselves in front of their sobbing sister.

Alfred walked around the Suit's Palace. Yao followed him around, with Ace in his arms.

"Alfred" Yao said as he tried to get the King's attention. When that failed, he reached out and tugged on the King's coat. "Alfred" Yao said. He tried his best to not wake up the young Ace of Spades. Alfred finally turned around and gave his undivided attention to Yao.

"hm?" he asked. Yao sighed.

" The citizens are getting worried" Yao said. " they miss their Queen" Yao said. "How long are going to hide the fact the Alice is pregnant?" he asked. Alfred frowned. That has been in his mind for the pass few days.

"We'll have to talk about it when she comes back from her relatives" he said. Yao then sighed. " Why did this have to happen?" he asked. "It's too scandalous! The royal bloodline will be highly affected!" Yao said.

"You do realize that if the child is not yours…." China began. Alfred looked at him and nodded. "I'll have to abdicate the throne with her" he said. Yao nearly dropped the young child.

"How are you going to just-" he paused began rocking back and forth when he felt the young boy squirm. "You just can't abdicate! Alice will have to do that!" he said.

"What about France?" he asked. Yao stopped his little tirade and looked at Alfred.

"…. This is not fair for the Queen" Yao began. Alfred looked at him.

" Yao, before we jump into any conclusions about abdications and all of that, we're missing one important thing" Alfred began. Yao looked at him. "When there's a problem there's two sides" he continued. " the main question here is 'who should be abdicated'" He then turned around and began walking, Yao followed.

"I'm not following you quite well" Yao said as he followed the King of Spades to the meeting room. Alfred stopped before the huge granite double doors and turned to Yao.

"The most important question for Alice right now is…was it rape…." Alfred paused as he tried to say the other options. "or was it consensus?" Alfred said as he opened the door. Yao's eyes widened. 'Why didn't I thought of that?' Yao thought. 'If it was rape..then The King of Diamonds will be tried…' Yao then remembered something.

"Please keep him safe" Yao remembered that those were the last words of the Queen of Diamonds to Alice when she was merely a princess.

Alfred loosened his tie as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He sighed as he remembered the days meeting. He was forced to sit next Francis Bennefoy. Much to his dismay, the King of Diamonds seemed to not even know of Alice's condition… or his possible involvement for the trouble Alice is in.

"She doesn't need this stress" he said to himself as he listed things out for his wife.

"I don't need what stress?" someone asked. When Alfred lifted his head up, he saw Alice. She was hanging her blue hood. Alfred smiled and then hugged her from behind, being careful to not hug her too tight. Alice chuckled and leaned back into Alfred

"how was the meeting?" she asked.

"boring and tiring"

"boring?"

"You weren't there to mess with"

"tired?"

" I've been thinking too much" he said. "and I didn't know that taking care of a four year old will be a hassle." he said. Alice laughed.

"How was the visit to your siblings?" he asked.

" It was quite fun really" she said as she walked away from him to go into the bathroom. Alfred followed her but stopped at the door. He watched as Alice turned the faucet on. Alice smiled at him and shooed him away.

Alfred laid down on the bed, his arms were spread out and he looked at ceiling. He listened to the drops of water hitting the floor of the bathroom. He closed his eyes and reflected on what happened today.

Kiku approached Alfred after the meeting. "Alfred-san" Kiku began. Alfred turned around. Kiku hesitated to ask, but he asked anyway. " have you asked about Alice and France's relation about the child? You know if it was all in consensus?" he asked. Alfred faltered a bit as Kiku asked the question.

"I haven't asked her" Alfred said. "She's been stressed out and well I don't want her to over think too much" he said. Kiku nodded and walked away when the Knave of Hearts was approaching them.

Alfred got out of his trance when he felt someone sit on the edge of the bed. He looked to his left and found Alice sitting on the edge, wearing her semi long sleeve night gown. She was drying her hair with a white towel, of course the insignia of the kingdom on the bottom. Alfred sighed. He then turned to his left, wrapped his arms around Alice's waist and looked up at her. Alice looked down, she smiled at her husband. Alfred mustered up the courage to smile at her. If she only knew the questions that were brewing in his mind.

"Hey" he said as he hugged Alice closer to him.

"hm?" Alice replied as she kept drying her hair.

"I have one question for you" he said. Alice looked down at him. "And you have to answer it" he said. Alice looked up, thought about it and nodded. Alfred sighed. "okay well..you know that whole ordeal of the child's paternity?" he asked. Alice nodded. "Well I was thinking about it and one questioned kept bugging me" he said. Alice stopped drying her hair for a moment, and then she resumed. 'I don't like where this is going' Alice said to herself.

"Is this child a product of rape…or was it all consensus between you two?" he asked. He waited for Alice's reply. Alice dropped her hands to her side and looked down at her husband. She opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it. Alfred looked at her.

" Please answer" he said. Alice then looked at the walls of the room.

"I can't answer that" she said. Alfred sat up in shock.

" what do you mean by you can't answer?" he asked.

"It means what it means Alfred" Alice said as she picked up the wet towel from the floor.

" It's a simple question Ali!" Alfred exclaimed. "Was it rape or not?" he asked.

"I'm telling that I can't answer that!" she exclaimed. Alfred looked at her. Alice in return, looked at away.

"It was consensus wasn't it?" he asked. Alice then looked down, she gripped her night gown and bit the bottom of her lip. "It was wasn't it?" Alfred asked. Alice looked away again, this time she stood up and turned her back at Alfred.

"All I can tell you is yes, something did happen between me and Francis but at the same I assure you-" before Alice could finish she stopped herself. Alfred stood up, grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around. He then grabbed her the shoulders.

" then you mean that is was pure Adultery?" he asked. Alice looked at Alfred, her eyebrows furrowed together and she clasped her hands together.

"I-I-I" Alice stuttered. She doesn't know what to do, she didn't know what to say. "I.." before she could finish, she felt Alfred let her shoulders go. He covered his mouth with his left hand and he closed his eyes. Alice looked at her husband. Her left hand reached out to him, she gave him a broken smile. She was trembling, her right hand went to caress her stomach.

"Alfred.." she began. At the slightest touch, Alfred winced and walked back. He looked at her. He looked at her broken smile, her cowering stature, her worried expression.

"So you gave in to him?" he asked. Alice looked at him.

" Alfred I tried-"

"THAT DOESN'T MATTER NOW DOES IT?" he asked her. Alice walked a couple of steps back. Her hands were on her abdomen.

" I TRIED" she yelled back. God, how both of them felt guilty for yelling. "I TRIED. I SWEAR TO YOU I TRIED TO BE FAITHFUL, I TRIED TO GET AWAY-"

"Then why did you let him get you?" he asked. "then why did you let yourself be taken by him? THEN WHY DID YOU GIVE IN TO HIS SEXUAL MINISTRATIONS?" he asked.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Alice said. "Alfred, darling please listen, I-"

" HOW COULD I LISTEN TO YOU RIGHT NOW!" Alfred asked. " YOU JUST LIED TO ME" he said. He was distancing himself from Alice, making sure that he would not harm her physically. "I can't believe you-" he was cut by Alice.

"oh you can't believe me?" she asked. " let's think about you too!" she said. Alfred looked at her.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"Natalya." Alice said. She could feel herself break. She felt her tear drops rolling down her cheeks. She watched as Alfred froze and tensed up at the mentioned name. "how dare you chide me about giving in to pleasures!" she asked. "when you were with Natalya every time we argued! YOU WOULD LEAVE ME AND TALK TO HER!" she said. "dammit Alfred!" she yelled. " not only that, but do you know what I had to deal with!" she asked. "I had to deal with Ivan constantly asking me about your relations to her! He thought that you were going to be married into the Kingdom of Clubs!" she said. "not only that! Those moments between you and Natalya were during our engagement!" she yelled. Alice cried as she felt the feelings of insecurity and pain again, the feelings she repressed the whole time.

" what happened between me and Natalya was pure misunderstanding!" Alfred defended. "it's not like I cheated on you before, during, and after our vows!" he said. Alice flinched.

" THEN SURELY THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING!" Alice explained. She began to feel dizzy, her consciousness was slipping. Her breathes were shallow and uneven.

"how could this be a misunderstanding when things are quite clear between us?" Alfred asked.

"you just admitted to me that you gave into Francis' sexual ministrations!" he said. "I see that as a confession Alice!" he said. "A confession of adultery!" Alice looked at him. Alfred shot a glare at her. Alfred winced inside as he saw his damaged queen. Her breathing was uneven, she seemed paler, and Good Lord, the tears stains on her face was not fitting for her beauty.

"I can't believe you" Alice began.

"no" Alfred interrupted. " I can't believe you" he said. Alice was about to retort, but then she cut of when they heard a noise down the hall. The angry couple stopped arguing for a second as they tried to familiarize the sound. Crying. A little child was crying.

"Ace" Alice said as she began her way to the door. Alfred grabbed her wrist and then let it go.

"no" he said. His tone was harsh, demanding, and cold. Alice flinched. "You're staying here and that's a command" he said as he left the room. As Alice watch Alfred walk out of the door, she fell to her knees, then she sank to a sitting position. Both of her hands covered her mouth, her sobbing made her shudder.

'what just happened?' Alice asked herself in thought. 'What in the bleeding hell just happened?' she asked. 'I can't believe this…' she thought. Suddenly, everything went blank. Alice's thoughts and emotions stopped as she fell limply on the floor.

That was a pain to type. I mean... It's Alice and Alfred arguing..and ;A;.

Please leave a comment/review.