A/N: So, funny story, I thought that I had uploaded the alternative ending to this story when I had finished it, like, forever ago. And it was recently brought to my attention that I hadn't. Feeling like a butt, I decided to upload the alternative ending to this story. Tell me what you think okay? R&R. Enjoy!

You Won't Do Better Than a Lord. But What About a Knave?

A bit dazed and disoriented, Alice stumbled out of the rabbit hole. She could barely stay standing and had to sit down for a few minutes to recuperate from her travel up from Underland. Thoughts of Stayne floated about in her head, making her feel even more lightheaded than before. Alice promised him that she would come back, and after she dealt with a few things here, at her 'Engagement Party', she would.

When her legs finally settled down a bit, she began walking back to the party, on the same route she had taken when she followed McTwisp down the hole. It'd took her longer than before, for she was walking, and also because part of her was dreading to do what she had too. She was going to tell Hamish no, tell his mother about her liking for rabbits, and reassure her mother and sister that the path she was taking was her own and that she'd be cared for.

Finally, she heard loud chatter from around the hedges and the gazebo came into view. Taking a deep breath, she walked with a brisk air on confidence about her. If she could slay a creature like the Jabberwocky, then she could slay Hamish, though she had no intentions of killing him. Stayne might, but not her. He was a decent enough man, just not the one for her. Especially considering his digestive difficulties.

Stepping up onto the gazebo, she walked until she was off to Hamish's left and staring down at him. Everyone gasped when they saw her. Hamish, her mother, Margaret, and everyone else eyed her up and down.

"Dear Lord, are you all right, Alice?" Lord Ascot asked her.

"What happened to your clothes?" her mother interrupted her response to Hamish's father.

"Nothing much, Mother. I just fell down a hole and bonked my head is all." Stepping down a few steps, she turned to Hamish. "I'm sorry, but I can't marry you. You're a decent boy, Hamish, but you're not the one for me."

"Alice! There you are. I've been running around all over looking for you." Stayne's voice called out to her and she looked around for him. He entered the party just as she did, and he was now standing on the gazebo. His hair was a tangled mess and he appeared out of breath, as though he had been running. He had to bend forward a bit in order to fit into the gazebo. She hadn't noticed how tall he was until then.

"Who is this?" Hamish inquired, glaring at Stayne, looking him up and down. But she didn't care, she thought Stayne looked handsome with his wild hair and hunched body.

"Hamish, this is my...um..."

"Stayne."

He walked down to her, needing her bend further down to leave the gazebo and stood beside her. Although his expression was one of relief, his eyes smiled down brightly at her. It was then that she realized that she was smiling herself, like a lovesick fool. Apparently, Stayne's answer was enough to silence Hamish, as he had kept his gaze downcast and he appeared rather upset, though that was nothing compared to his mother.

"What is the meaning of all of this? How dare you ruining twenty years of planning, you stupid girl?" Lady Ascot's words bit her, making her frown and wince slightly. Though that was all the reaction that Stayne needed.

"She is by no means stupid. And she has come to set her affairs in order, so you should be thankful that she has thought of you." He wanted to say more, but he refused to speak too harshly in front of Alice. That, and speaking in such an ugly manner to a lady was rather inappropriate. He might have been a man with a shady past and character, but he wasn't a brute or fiend.

Off put by his words, Lady Ascot huffed and stormed away, refusing to speak to look at anyone. Alice sighed. She had hoped that such words wouldn't have been spoken on such a joyous day. Although she was saying goodbye, the future ahead was promising, and the fact that she was going to spend it in Underland with Stayne made it all the more wonderful.

Margaret approached her, obvious disapproval and sadness evident on her face. She grabbed Alice's hands and squeezed them, looking her in the eye, pleading with her to change her mind.

"Alice, I know I told you that you wouldn't do better than a lord. How could you go and throw your life away? What do you have planned?" Her sister was almost frantic. Alice smiled in a reassuring way and hugged Margaret.

"I know that you're worried, but I'm not throwing my life away. I'm going to make good use of it, and I want to do that with Stayne. I'm going back with him, but don't worry. I'm in good hands." Margaret looked him over and was about to protest again when Alice interrupted.

"I know that I won't do better than a lord, but what about a knave?" Margaret looked puzzled.

"A knave?"

"A knave of hearts. I know that he may lookstrange creatures."

He smiled, having remembered what Alice told him about her dreams when she was a child and what her father would say to her.

"What kind of creatures?"

The End