"Mally, could you toss some sugar cubes Winthrop's way? He is looking rather bitter," Tarrant teased at the head of the table outside of his home.

The table was set to seat twenty people at least but only himself, Mally, Thackery and a tied-up Winthrop sat for tea. Nivens would make an appearance every now and then, only to make sure that Winthrop was still captive and that his friends were still aware that the White Knight was indeed a threat.

Mally obliged happily, tossing a few sugar cubes at Winthrop's face, each one hitting their mark, bouncing off of the White Knight's face and into the cup of tea before him that had grown cold. His eyes glared in the direction that the assault had come from as the rest of the table roared with laughter.

Tarrant grinned happily as he picked up his own cup when his eyes spotted Alice, Time and Chess approaching them. She was dressed in the simple gray shift he had made from one of Time's curtains and while the clothing was simple he felt as though Alice could make anything look good and he felt a strong urge to make her a hat, among other things.

"Oi, where is the Knave?!" The Dormouse shouted standing up on her chair ready to draw her pin.

Alice ignored the question and looked to Tarrant directly.

"Is there a space that Ilosovic can rest?" Alice asked. "I don't know if you have a bed large enough to hold him," Alice said as Chessur showed off the unconscious and wrapped up former Knave. The mad trio laughed at the sight of the smallness of the villain.

"A butter dish would suit him just fine!" Mally popped off and the laughter escalated. Alice bit her tongue as she marched away from the group and towards the mill house. Stepping inside, her eyes moved to the kitchen and was relieved to see that there was a table that would be long enough to hold Ilosovic's full height. She wiped the table free of the items that littered the top of the furniture. Pots, pans, cups, half-eaten pastries and junk went clattering to the floor.

Waving Chessure over to her position, the cat hovered over to the table and set the shrunken man down as Alice dug into the brown bag for upelkuchen. Attempting to feed her still unconscious husband, Alice cursed the situation and set the cake aside. Getting him to eat any solids would prove to be rather difficult while he remained to be in this state.

A creak of a floorboard broke Alice's train of thought and she glanced up to see Tarrant entering the room. His yellow-green eyes looming over Ilosovic. The Knave who was partly responsible for the eradication of his clan could be squashed like the slimy, slurvish worm he was, but the hatter took in a deep breath and focused his gaze on the distressed Alice.

"What is it that you need?" He asked, feeling that he would regret offering any assistance, but it was also a debt owed in his mind as well. Alice sighed and shook her head.

"I need him to wake up so I can make him right again," Alice muttered as she sat down at the table. "I don't suppose that upelkuchen comes in a tea or liquid form?" Alice inquired and Tarrant shook his head, unsure as Nivens entered the room and leaned up to examine the Black King.

"It can be made into a tea," the white rabbit assured as he plucked the cake and motioned towards the hearth where a boiling pot of water was already set. "I'll have it ready in a few moments. I'm glad that you've returned to us Alice, but we need to discuss where we will go from here."

Alice was tempted to touch her sleeping husband's head but was also terrified of damaging him in the process. Keeping her hands clasped closed, Alice eyed Nivens from where she sat and shook her head.

"Let me guess, we need to leave Under," Alice said looking away from the group. "Why is it that whenever I try to make things right I usually make things worse?" The comment made Tarrant and Nivens eye one another before Tarrant knelt before Alice and placed his hands over hers.

"Whenever I am making a hat, I tend to make a great big mess first. Pieces of this and that are all scattered about and it makes no sense, but before you know it I have a hat that is fit for even the maddest of heads. I'd very much like to think that is what is happening now, don't you?" Tarrant asked. Alice smiled sadly and nodded, looking up as Nivens began to stir the boiling pot with a ladle.

Satisfied with the steeped upelkuchen, the white rabbit took a wooden bowl and poured a small amount of the liquid into it before moving to the table. He motioned to give it to Alice but pulled back as she reached out.

"On second thought, you tend to have poor judgment when it comes to using these things," Nivens said as he set the bowl onto the table and climbed up onto a spare chair.

"I've made myself right this time haven't I?!" Alice asked as she gestured to her frame, frustrated with the lack of faith but Nivens shook his head in disagreement.

"No, actually. You are a pinch and a half taller than usual," the rabbit said and motioned to pour the liquid into Stayne's mouth.

It worked as it was intended, Ilosovic quickly outgrowing the scrap of cloth and the table he was laid on with his limbs spilling off the sides. Alice tore the curtains from the windows that overlooked the mad tea party and draped the sun-bleached pink material over his bare body. She would have to request Tarrant to custom fit him with something but that request would have to wait until he was awake- though Alice knew some convincing would have to take place.

Alice observed Ilosovic closer now that they were safe and relatively the right and proper sizes. His skin was sickly pale, grayish even, his lips blue from whatever Mirana had been slipping him. He shivered suddenly and upon feeling his forehead Alice wasn't surprised to feel the heat of a fever.

"Is there a cure for this vile poisonous liquid?" Alice inquired looking back at Niven's who was preparing to dispose of the brewed upelkuchen.

"'Fraid not, Alice," came Tarrant's voice now from the doorway. Though the orange-haired man spoke to her, his now gray eyes were back on the man that laid on his kitchen table. "I'm not a stranger to the muiriled juices- sought it's pleasures after Horovendoush Day, to forget the flames that the Jabberwocky brought. Alas, all the brew did for me was bring more flames to mind, but some swear that they experience wondrous things on it. I never touched that brew again and stuck to just drinking tea," Tarrant said with a distant voice. Snapping back to the current period he was living in, Tarrant placed his attention onto the woman he now regarded as a mutual ally. "I had but a nip of the stuff, didn't take long for me to recover, but the Knave looks like that's all he's been fed."

Alice took in a deep breath and nodded. She wasn't a complete stranger to addiction. While the state of her husband's health was her top concern, Alice feared that they would not be able to treat Ilosovic properly before Mirana discovered his disappearance and came after them.

"We can't stay here long, but I also fear moving him while he is like this," Alice whispered looking at Niven who was in possession of the Oraculum. Her near bloodshot eyes then traveled to Time. "Have you recovered enough to see that far ahead, or must we go into the future blindly?"

Time grinned. While he had made a temporary pact with the Black Queen he did enjoy the plight she faced now. It was a race against some many different versions of himself now. How long until Stayne recovered, how soon would it be until Mirana discovered their whereabouts and set her knights and hounds upon them, how quickly could they escape- it was a delicious sight.

"I cannot say just yet, at most, I could give you a ten-minute warning," Time said as he closed his eyes and chuckled. "Oh, and Mirana is quite aware that her prisoner is gone," Time stated. "No scouts assembled yet- but she isn't happy."

"I imagine that this would be the first place that Mirana would expect to look for us," Alice whispered looking back to Tarrant with worry. "We need to leave immediately, but I don't know where else we can go."

"Why not return to Deces?" The hatter suggested, the blunt statement made Alice sit back in surprise.

"Is there anything left there to go back to?" Alice questioned and Tarrant scratched his head at the inquiry.

"I don't see why there wouldn't be, after you fled out of our reach and the Knave was declared dead we left the Outlands. No reason to muck about in those parts, with its leaders gone," Tarrant replied and Alice felt the forgotten feeling of hope run through her again, but they couldn't go running back to Deces, no so long as the mirror that led back home was in Mamoreal. She would have to consult Nivens on the doors between this realm and her home later. For now, she desired only to rest.

"Well we can't go anywhere until Ilosovic is at least able to walk on his own," Alice said as she pulled up a chair and sat down. "Since his existence was kept a secret, and that we have Winthrop as our captive, we won't have to worry about Mirana just yet," Alice continued with a yawn as she rested her head at the corner of the table.

"I could make a bed for you, Alice," Tarrant offered, but Alice had already slipped off to sleep. The hatter sighed at the sight of the woman before giving another look to the vulnerable man on the table. It would be so easy to end the life of the Knave, but after all the trouble this Alice had gone through to get him back. Why, it would be like pouring spoiled milk into a pot of tea!

Shaking his head, Tarrant retreated into another room to pull-up a moth-eaten blanket from his favorite chair and returned to the kitchen to drape it over Alice's shoulders.

"Sweet dreams, Alice."

It was dark when Alice awoke, but the light of a full pale moon helped illuminate the room. Groggy and still half asleep, Alice rubbed at her eyes to look for her friends, but they were no longer outside. Alice figured that they had all retired to proper sleeping quarters and that the White Knight was properly secured. Or at least she hoped so. She considered ensuring that this was the case but Alice wasn't willing to leave Ilosovic's side.

Turning her half-lidded eyes to the man on the table before her, Alice felt Ilosovic's forehead and frowned. His condition seemed to only grow worse but it wasn't a mystery to her why he didn't seem to be improving. While she wasn't familiar with the muiriled potion, Alice knew withdrawals when she saw it. Several of the sailors who had been assigned to The Wonder had grown fond of the opium that was abundant in China, and when their supplies were depleted the symptoms arrived overnight but the problems they had remained for upwards of a week.

She could still recall the stench of vomit below deck, the mindless mutterings of anxious and sleepless men. She had scolded those crew members once they were well again. She held resentment towards her husband for having sent her away, but she couldn't not feel such emotions towards him now, and certainly not for his current suffering. Seeing the way that Ilosovic shuddered from his chills and soaked the curtain in sweat, Alice knew Ilosovic would not have wanted himself to end up in such a state. It was a far cry from the intimidating and downright freighting person he could be. The cruel monster she once believed him to truly be.

Moving away from the table, Alice quietly began to gather what she could to break the fever. A few rags and a washbasin was all she could find, but there wasn't much else she could do. Pouring out the chilled water from the pitcher and into the bowl, Alice took notice that Ilosovic shifted uncomfortably on the table. She dunked her hand into the water with the cloth in hand and ringed the excess water out of the rag, going over the steps in her head of how she treated the opium struck sailors. Nearly a day had passed since the rescue of Ilosovic Stayne, and assuming that his last dose came before his liberation, the worst had yet to come.

The second that the cool rag touched Ilosovic's forehead he began to scream. His eye was welded shut but his body flailed viciously, knocking Alice's arms away and the damp cloth to the floor. Thankfully the pitcher and basin were spared as Alice left them on the seat of the chair she had been occupying earlier.

Alice's first instinct was to secure her husband and while Ilosovic had lost a decent amount of his mass from his imprisonment, his 7 foot-and-then-some frame had no problem in matching Alice's 5 foot 5 stature.

She climbed on top of the table and hovered over Ilosovic. Taking hold of his face, Alice attempted to soothe him with her words, but they weren't necessary. Alice blinked in confusion as Ilosovic became as still as death once her weight was on his chest. She hadn't even told him to stop but the pressure alone seemed to pacify him.

No, that wasn't quite right. The expression on his face read of pain and Alice adjusted herself to place as little of herself on him as possible and straddled his torso, but Ilosovic remained as silent and as still as a grave. She wasn't sure what had caused the outburst or why he had stopped so suddenly but she desperately needed to know. It was possibly the only occasion she wished Time would be present in her life but she didn't desire to expose her husband to anyone who had delivered him to harm.

"Ilosovic, please tell me what is wrong," Alice whispered, near tears herself. "I need to bring your fever down, she whispered leaning over to collect the remaining rag that hung over the side of the bucket. At the sound of the water, Ilosovic's breathing increased dramatically, enough for Alice to pause briefly but she moved to place the rag over his forehead but stopped herself seeing that Ilosovic's eye was wide open, his pupil was expanded so wide that the blue iris was no longer visible.

"Please," he uttered, fear evident in his voice. "Please don't." A tear escaped his eye and Alice dropped the soaked rag to the floor beneath her, the waterlogged textile landing with a loud slap against the wooden floorboards.

There was a heavy silence between the two of them. For Alice, she was trying to piece together why her husband believed himself to be in harm's way, meanwhile, Ilosovic was waiting still for the suffering to come. Upon realizing he was safe, Ilosovic did something that Alice hadn't quite expected.

He wept.

Tears were streaming from both his damaged and closed eye, the salty liquid welling up in the sloops of his ears, mortifying Alice who was still left in the dark on why he was so distressed, but his fear clearly came from the presence of water.

"Oh Ilosovic, what has Mirana done to you?" Alice asked as she laid herself down and held her husband tight, tears leaving her eyes as well. She felt helpless in her hopes to heal Ilosovic, and bitterly loathed her over-optimistic mindset for the endeavor. The only visible wound on her husband had been the missing finger and obvious malnourishment, but the way that White Queen delivered pain was clearly different from the torment that Iracebeth used.

Ilosovic did not respond to Alice's question. Feverish and delirious from the beginning of his withdrawals, his cries continued, quieting overtime.

It wasn't until the sun was glaring through the kitchen window that Alice realized that she had fallen back to sleep. She slowly turned her head up to Ilosovic to see if he was awake as well, but to her relief his eye was closed. She couldn't recall if he had stopped crying before she had passed out or if she slept through his whimpers. It had honestly only felt like a few seconds had passed them by. Sitting up, Alice did all that she could not stir the man beneath her but she stilled herself looking upon his face.

Her heart gave painful pangs, seeing how much he had withered. His cheeks were hollow, dark circles clung around his eyes, and his thin lips were painfully chapped. These were all things that made her feel hatred towards Mirana, but the way that Ilosovic had looked at her last night hurt the most. Her hand reached out to hold his face again but she refrained from making contact, her hesitation out of fear of startling him again.

"He won't wake for another hour," Time announced from the doorway, making Alice stiffen before she cast her eyes over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at the man as he bit into an apple, no regard for the volume he made.

Climbing off of her husband and the table, Alice quickly grabbed Time by the arm and pulled him outside to speak.

"Ilosovic isn't well-, I don't know what Mirana has done to him, but he is terrified of water. Now more than ever," she whispered, recalling how Mirana specifically chose to drown him from the Cliffs of Bane. "Tell me that you are able to see a glimpse into his past now, I need to know how to help him."

Time continued to chip away at his apple, his expression was smug as he ate away at the fruit. He set his eyes to the window where he could see the still sleeping Black King and shook his head.

"Apologies, Alice, but his past is still a bit murky to me," He said before tossing the apple core over his shoulder. "Though, I don't need to see his past to know what transpired. Mirana has always enjoyed drowning things, Ilosovic most of all. I suppose she managed to find a more controlled way to drown the beanstalk without killing him, at least according to my brother."

Alice's eyes widened at the statement and nodded, remembering how Death broke the news that Ilosovic was still alive. Only she was more concerned with killing Time rather than the condition of her husband. Ashamed of that fact, Alice grabbed her arm, her hand over the scars that the bandersnatch had gifted her with.

"Can you summon him?" Alice asked softly and Time chuckled in response.

"I could, but I don't want to," Time said as he moved to the bunched up tables seeking out his next treat to eat. What wasn't stale from being left out overnight had been claimed by bugs. "You could call him yourself you know," Time suggested as he dusted off a bumbleberry scone. "All you have to do is kill someone and Death will be at the door."

"I'm not a murderer," Alice said as she tightened her fists in frustration. "And I'm not as easily swayed as Mirana either."

"No, I suppose you aren't," Time sighed as he set the scone down. "But Winthrop would not hesitate to kill you, or anyone else here for that matter. Why risk the potential of letting that man harm someone you care about when you can use him to your own benefit?" Time tempted as he neared Alice again. "I think he would even be glad to go. Since you've blinded him, I can see that his quality of life hasn't been great. A once respected and feared man has been reduced to a pitied old man."

Alice couldn't explain why guilt crept into her mind. When she had lashed out at Winthrop upon the battlefield years ago it was purely out of defense for herself and Ilosovic. She did not regret making that move but she could empathize with any sense of hopelessness.

"I hate to interrupt," came Tarrant's voice, triggering the pair to look back at the house to see the home's owner in a blue nightcap, sleeping gown and slippers ensemble approach. "It is a little difficult to start the day without a strong cup of tea, and it is harder still to make a cup of tea when a loathsome creature is sleeping but a few steps away from my tea stash. Would it be possible for us to move the Knave somewhere else? Perhaps a nice bog, or a bandersnatch nest?" The hatter suggested as he clasped his hands together hopefully and looked to Alice, seeking her permission to remove Ilosovic from the kitchen.

"Time said that Ilosovic would be awake again within the hour, it may be easier to move him when he is conscious," Alice said as the rest of the companions emerged from the home.

"Shouldda left him my size at least," Mally grumbled as she climbed up Tarrant's gown, already dressed for the day. "I would have liked to have a proper fight with him."

"Where is the White Knight?" Alice asked, changing the subject as she found herself unable to argue with the group. All fingers were pointed behind Alice and her eyes went to the table. Stepping around Time, Alice grabbed the edge of the table cloth and lifted it up to see Winthrop still bound underneath the table. Alice cast a glare back to the rest of the group. "He could have escaped! Or worse! He could have killed us all in our sleep!"

"But I didn't," Winthrop replied with his eyes still closed. "But you should listen to that two-faced clock of ours and put me out of your misery before I decide to do just that."

Alice frowned as she released the material in her hand and buried her face into her hands, resisting the urge to scream. This was not at all how she had envisioned her return and things were getting more complicated by the minute. Taking a deep breath, Alice lifted her head and focused on Nivens who was rubbing at his red eyes, still full of sand from his sleep.

"Nivens, I returned to Under through a mirror. What do you know about traveling through looking-glasses?" Alice asked as she pulled out a seat from the table and seated herself, her entire frame pointed towards the group still.

The white rabbit's ears perked up at the sound of his name and he looked up to the early morning sky in thought.

"Well, it isn't the most subtle way of travel, but it is efficient, to say the least," Nivens said as he took a few steps closer to Alice. "Why do you ask?"

"I left my son behind. By my count, I have been here for nearly two days but I expect only a few hours have passed for my home. I can't be gone for too much longer without making my family worry about my well-being," Alice stated. "I need to get back so I can leave a message of some sort or…"

"Or what?" Chessur inquired as he floated over to the table taking his own seat, prompting everyone else to join as well.

Alice cast her gaze into the dirty teacup, unable to look anyone in the eye as they gathered around her. Pursing her lips together, Alice shook her head.

"It may be for the best, if I take Ilosovic back to my home," Alice started, catching a few shocked expressions. "I don't want to, believe me, I don't- but I have underestimated Mirana so many times. I've been fortunate to survive her wrath so far but Ilosovic-"

"You cannea leave us now!" Tarrant shouted as he rose to his feet, slamming the table as he stood. "Who else can make the White Queen pay for what she has taken from us!" Tarrant asked looking around the table. "It takes a Queen to end a Queen's reign!"

Alice blinked at Tarrant's words and looked around the table as the rest began to nod in agreement.

"He is right," Nivens responded nervously. "Should you leave us again, there is no telling what will happen to Under."

"Oh I think there is a telling," Chessur said as he folded his paws beneath his chin. "We'll all be condemned to be traitors. Best case scenario would be banishment or execution. Worst case would be whatever punishment the Knave received," Chessur stated as he lifted up the teacup in front of him and frowned, realizing that the beverage was not prime for consumption. Time suddenly began to laugh, earning everyone's gaze.

"Oh that would be something!" Time said from where he stood. "I could see Mirana being merciful with most of you lot actually, but not you Hatter. Oh no, she might make you suffer a bit in Ilosovic's place." Time said as he eyed Alice, missing Tarrant's look of worry to savor Alice's ire.

"It's because of my hats, isn't it?" Tarrant asked and Time laughed again, now looking to the clueless man.

"No, she does adore those silly things actually. She would make you suffer because it would hurt Alice," Time replied.

"Time, drop it. I'm convinced now, I will stay the course so please just leave it be," Alice hissed.

"I'm confused, why would Mirana harm me to get to Alice?" Tarrant asked, looking back and forth to the Black Queen and the Mad God known as Time. "I'm both of their friends aren't I? What good would hurting me do?"

"Well," Time started up slowly as Alice rose to her feet.

"Don't-"

"Oh dear," Chessur muttered as he vanished making Thackery jump.

"Once upon a time, Tarrant, you and Alice were very good friends," Time mused as he cocked his head towards the hatter again. "Such good friends that you risked your life to save her when no one else would. Sure, friends do make such risks for each other, but your friendship is a bit more complicated than that." Suddenly Tarrant's face went slack and his eyes turned a shade of purple, recalling the image on the oraculum of him savagely attacking Alice. Tarrant opened his mouth to speak but Time continued his ramblings.

"You were willing to die to free Alice, and she was willing to marry a monster to ensure your safety," Time said with a smirk. "I've truly never seen such a mutual act of love in all my years," Time said as he drew a finger underneath one of his eyes as though he was removing a tear from his face. "I know that I foretold the union between Alice and Ilosovic what feels like eons ago, but the compassion you two held for one another was so natural, unforced and real! I'm rather upset with myself for setting Alice on this course."

Alice and Tarrant both moved their gazes away from Time to meet one another, but Alice quickly turned her head away. She wanted to state that it was in the past, that it was behind them, that there were more important issues to deal with at the moment, but she could not bring herself to say any of those.

"Is it true?" Tarrant asked softly. "... Did ye love me? Truly?"

Alice returned her sight onto the Mad Hatter. He was so many things to her. Her first and oldest friend, someone she had relied on to get her through the day, someone she grew to fear, but yes, there was a time when she would have claimed to have loved him.

"Tarrant," Alice started and watched as his eyes shifted from purple to yellow.

"We loved each other?" Tarrant asked, conflicted with the information. He turned his gaze to the visible friends at the table, all of them avoiding his eyes. Frowning, the hatter looked back to Alice for answers.

Alice was seized up with fear as she was taken back to the day that resulted with damaged shoulder blades and nightmares that continued to this day. Back home people would say that time heals all wounds but in Under he seemed to take pleasure in reopening wounds.

"Tarrant, that was another life," Alice confessed as she sat down. "You might not be able to remember your past with me, but I do. And I remember my time with Ilosovic, I've made my decision once before, please don't make me do it again." Alice said on the verge of tears.

Much to everyone's surprise, Tarrant rounded the table and placed himself into his knees before Alice, clasping his hands around one of hers. His eyes back to the luminous green that she had always preferred.

"Alice, you are right. I can't recall what Time is referring to, but I can see that it hurts you and I know that I don't want that either," Tarrant said, giving Time a look of warning before turning his head back to a weepy looking Alice. "I wouldn't mind taking something from the Knave, but you aren't a thing. You are your own person," Tarrant said as he got to his feet again, his hands still wrapped around hers. "But if you ever want to rid yourself of that foul beastie of a man, I hope you'll let me know."

Alice released a laugh of relief as her free hand began to wipe away at the tears that she was shedding. Nodding furiously she agreed with her body language but her words would contradict the display.

"He isn't a saint, I will give everyone that, but he has some redeeming qualities, I swear," Alice said as she got to her feet again. Pulling her hand free she wrapped her arms around Tarrant and he returned her hug.

Alice gave a sigh of relief and from over Tarrant's shoulder she saw that Time was as smug looking as ever. She furrowed her brow at him, questioning again who's side he was on or if he truly enjoyed making a mess of things, but then her eye caught movement behind Time.

Ilosovic Stayne emerged from the Mad Hatter's home but did not break the threshold of the front door. He was hunched over and leaning against the doorframe for support, the wool blanket wrapped around his waist. Ilosovic's eye was on the back of Tarrant's head with an expression of ill intent as he motioned forward but collapsed after two steps into the open.

Alice swore softly as she pulled herself away from Tarrant and went to Ilosovic's side, attempting to get him to his feet again.

"You shouldn't be up and about right now, but a table is no place to rest either," Alice sighed heavily as she moved the hair from Ilosovic's face. "Tarrant? Please tell me we have a proper bed for him?"

"There is a pile of hay for the pig to sully," Tarrant grumbled. Alice knew it was an insult but it was the best that they would be able to do. As Alice helped Ilosovic up to his feet again her eyes went to Nivens.

"Some spare blankets if you could. Along with some broth as well," Alice said as she eyed the famished state her husband was in.

When her request was met with silent nods Alice moved to go around the home and for the small open shed out back. It was a far cry from the luxury of Deces, but the hay was at least more insulating than the cold stone prison she had pulled Ilosovic from.

As they came to the edge of the hay pile, Alice helped her husband down into the prickly padding, wishing she had waited for some sheets to come first but the short trip seemed to wind Ilosovic as he nestled into the dry grass without a word. His eye closed as she placed the back of one of her hands over her forehead.

"You're still burning up," Alice muttered bitterly and a weak smile broke across Ilosovic's chapped lips.

"You almost sound like her this time," he mumbled breathlessly. The comment made Alice frown.

"Sound like who?" Alice asked as she moved closer.

"Alice. You sound closer to my Alice," Ilosovic replied. Alice wanted to break the news that she was indeed the Alice he was referring to but little good would come from that conversation now. Her eyes looked out as Nivens and Thackery approached, the hare covered in blankets and Nivens with a wooden bowl in hand.

"Thank you," Alice whispered as she took the bowl from the white rabbit as Thackery piled the bunches up blankets over Ilosovic's torso. Nivens nodded silently as Thackery made his way back towards the tea party table.

"Alice, I'm not entirely sure if Time is on our side," Nivens said cautiously, watching as Alice sat her husband up to drink the warm liquid meal. "The way he attempted to pit Tarrant against you just now was incredibly cruel."

Alice nodded, holding in her thoughts as she watched Ilosovic ingest the broth without question. When the bowl was emptied she handed it back to the rabbit and allowed Ilosovic to lay himself back down.

"I know. There isn't much for us to trust, only that he wants Mirana to lose the crown as much as we do, but the more I think on this the more helpless I feel," Alice admitted as she began to straighten out the additional blankets. "I doubt there is an army ready to fight for us in the Outlands, and I'm even less certain of Ilosovic being well enough to face a threat if Mirana should bring the fight here. The only advantage we hold at the moment is Time's hand and having her champion as a captive."

Nivens' whiskers twitched at Alice's response. There wasn't much to disagree with nor anything to be truly hopeful for. His eyes shifted over to Ilosovic and he was met with a strange feeling. Curiosity was wholly unfamiliar to the rabbit who only wanted to accomplish things in a timely matter. Wondering did not suit him but he hadn't been part of a beaurocratic body in some time.

"How in Time's name did you become fond of him?" Nivens asked bluntly. He realized how cruel the question sounded and opened his mouth to apologize but Alice smiled softly at him.

"It wasn't roses and kisses to begin with I can tell you that much," Alice whispered as she turned her attention away from Nivens and back to her husband who looked as though he was taken by sleep once more. "He was cruel to be sure, and my pledge to wed him did come only to save Tarrant's life but he isn't all bad," Alice said as her hand went to the ring that hung around her neck. "After Winthrop attacked me, Ilosovic moved up the wedding date. I was so terrified, I had no doubts that he would have claimed me that night because of our status of husband and wife but you know what he did instead?" Nivens shook his head and Alice continued. "He wrote a letter to Mirana to inform her that I was no longer a champion but a queen, and any attack upon me should be an official declaration. Obviously, Mirana did not uphold that law but… he held his word to me." Alice whispered, the hand that had been on the ring was now placed over Ilosovic's left hand, the one that was missing his ring finger.

"Honesty is much harder to come by from where I hail from. My family kept things from me, associates and business partners always attempted to pin shortcomings upon me or belittle me- but Ilosovic, oddly enough, was open with me about everything. Well- almost everything."

"You weren't aware of the plan to get you out of Under, were you?" Nivens asked and Alice shook her head. "From what I could tell from conversations with Grail, the manuver was a last resort should all else fail, but I could be wrong."

"I just wish-" Alice started but stopped herself. She was still upset after all this time, even after she swore that she had forgiven him. Shaking her head she looked to Nivens and nodded for the house. "Thank you again, but you should help yourself to some tea this morning before it goes cold."

"May I bring you back a cup? Maybe another for Stayne?" Nivens inquired but Alice shook her head.

"We'll be alright. Rest is what he needs for now," Alice replied and with a bow Nivens hopped back to the kitchen to indulge in some tea. Alice sighed heavily and looked to the cloudless sky with relief. "At least the weather is in our favor," she said absently with a hand resting on Ilosovic's blanket-covered chest. She was unaware of his eye watching her with suspicion, as he waited for the sound of water to rush into his ears and down his throat.

He waited in silence for the dream to take a darker turn as well. For Time or Tarrant to attack them, for Mirana's army to capture them and do unspeakable things to his wife. Enough time had passed that made him consider that maybe he was in a more pleasant dream than a nightmare, but it still felt off.

He was nauseated and feeling weaker than usual, yet the soup he had consumed had more flavor than any other meal he had taken in the past several years. He didn't dare question what was happening now however. He was content to sit and watch his wildflower enjoying the warm sun.

"I think I like this dream," Ilosovic mumbled softly, and Alice turned her beautiful sun-kissed brown eyes on him again. A smile was offered. But it was much sadder than the ones he was used to.

Alice wanted to pinch him to convince him that he was indeed awake, but a part of her felt the need to pinch herself as well. The fact that he was alive and beside her made the woman wary of the possibility of it being an illusion of sorts but the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her hand was enough to convince her this was real.

"I think I like this dream as well," Alice agreed, figuring it would be best to play along for now. She didn't know if the drug he was coming down from could cause violent tendencies, but she didn't want to risk Stayne lashing out at her or hurting himself. Instead, Alice laid beside her husband, ignoring the irritating pricks that the hay pile delivered as she nestled herself into his side.

She wanted to relax herself, but everything within her was on edge, considering all the 'what if' scenarios that could play out. What if Mirana sent her forces upon them, what if Time betrayed them, or what if Tarrant got the itch for revenge on Ilosovic? What if Winthrop managed to free himself, or what if Ilosovic never fully recovered from the trauma? Her chest felt tight at the last question and she turned her gave from the treeline and up to Ilosovic who stared back at her.

"You can sleep, I won't let anyone hurt you," Alice whispered gently. Ilosovic gave a wry smile.

"To sleep within a dream is an odd thing to consider, Alice," the king mumbled to his queen. Almost Alice in this dream felt closer to the real thing, but he was overdue for his muiriled doses. Perhaps Mirana wasn't out of ways to torture him yet. Cut off the supply and start the cycle of addiction anew.

Regardless of the situation, he would entertain Almost Alice's will. He pressed his dried out lips to her forehead as his left hand absently played with her curls, slipping into darkness even as the sun warmed his face.

...

A single droplet of water splashed against Ilosovic's cheek and he was awake with his eye wide open. Adrenaline pumped through him as he mentally went through the motions for what was to come. Sitting up, he observed the downpour and waited for a flood of water to take him away from his dreams again. Seeing that Almost Alice was beside him, sleeping soundly, he did as he always had done.

He kissed her. Deeply. So deep that he deprived them both of their breaths.

Alice was never one who enjoyed being stirred from her sleep. Confused and still half asleep, Alice's hands met Ilosovic's face before her eyes did. Managing to push him away Alice began to awaken, and with that consciousness came guilt.

"Are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?" Alice asked as she pulled his face back to examine any damage she had done, but no harm was visible. Seeing that he was unscathed, Alice moved into the offensive position. "Honestly, you shouldn't kiss people while they are sleeping," she muttered, letting her hands drop from his face as she turned her head to the outside world again. "Oh, it's raining! I do hope that it passes quickly."

Ilosovic was stunned at the multiple conflictions that Almost Alice delivered in a short period of time. She had not only denied him her lips, but she had scolded his advance as well. Almost Alice had never done that previously, she would praise him for the affection, sometimes even act upon the desires herself- or at least his mind would fill in the blanks.

Additionally, and most importantly, Almost Alice was taking notice of the water. No matter what form the water came in, she would never acknowledge its existence, instead she would bid him farewell until his next sleep. Ilosovic raised his right hand to his cheek to feel the slight swelling of his cheek. His dream wife certainly never hurt him. Even if she could, she was much more doting upon him.

"Something isn't right here," Ilosovic muttered as motioned to rise but found movement a less fluid task than usual and ended up slumping right back down into the hay. "This dream, is it a nightmare?"

"Well I should certainly hope not," Alice started as she laid beside him once more. "I've gone through an awful amount of trouble to get you here and if I should wake and find out I had made it all up- well I would be rather upset." Alice admitted and smiled brilliantly up at him. "I've traveled by mirror, made it to Time's door and threatened his life, I am not sure if I should count that as one or two impossible things-," Alice pondered briefly and then shrugged as she continued to list her accomplishments off of her fingers. "I met with Death, who was a perfect gentleman I might add. I made a temporary deal with Time, rekindled my friendship with Tarrant, defeated a Gryphon, and pulled you out from underneath Mirana's castle. Should this be a dream I would venture to say that I've earned a decent breakfast having done so many impossible things."

Ilosovic watched Alice with amusement. This version of her almost felt true. He had been let down so many times before, not in a long while but he could feel himself falling for the ruse again- because this version of Alice didn't willfully do the things he wished. It was as though she had a mind of her own and he liked that very much. He just wished his head would stop pounding so he could enjoy listening to her even more.

Thunder rumbled above them and Alice grew tense. Looking at the house Alice considered if it would be worth it making the trip to see if a more suitable space could be made for them. The humble shack kept them dry for the most part, but she was concerned for their safety.

"I'm going to go check and see if we can find a spare rug to lay in inside, or see if Time would be kind enough to make this storm pass," Alice said as she rose to her feet once more, but remained still as she felt Ilosovic's hand clasp around her wrist. Looking back she could not tear herself away from Ilosovic's pale blue eye.

"Stay," he asked softly. "Stay with me until the rain is gone."

Alice remained still as she took in the plea. She couldn't deny the request. She obliged by laying beside him as she dug into the satchel Time had bestowed upon her. Ilosovic was relieved to have her company. He could dream a little longer and the married couple slipped off into sleep once more.