Robin finished hanging up the squirell feeder. The small fuzzy animal had gotten Alice to open up so much and Robin wanted to attract the creature back so Alice had someone she felt she could talk to. She walked inside and noticed Alice sitting in the floor in the corner of the kitchen, watching as Zelena walked around making breakfast and clutching a blanket as usual. They'd figured out which places she liked to be the most and made more make-shift forts for her in the kitchen corner and in the bathroom.

Zelena walked around more and then dropped a spoon, it landed at the edge of Alice's blanket. Alice glanced at it. Would Zelena want her to hand it to her or just leave it where it was? It was close enough to her, wasn't it? Alice reached to grab it just as Zelena was bending over to do the same. They bumped into each other. Alice's eyes went wide as she dropped the spoon and clutched her blanket tighter. She wasn't supposed to get close to her. Alice's eyes remained wide as she tried to decide what to do. Zelena was really close and mother always told her to stay away from her unless she was in trouble. And she had touched Zelena. She hadn't meant to but she couldn't explain that. She just wanted to curl up in the safety of the corner that was her room. But she couldn't do that so she sat frozen more than usual and then let her eyes dart from Zelena and back to other parts of the room quickly but never losing her focus on Zelena. She needed to apologize.

"Sorry," she whispered. Zelena looked at the fear apparent in Alice's eyes and stepped back. She wasn't helping the situation by staying so close.

"It's okay, thank-you." Alice nodded, still somewhat scared.

Henry walked into the room "Good morning, everyone!"

Alice flinched but otherwise ignored Henry's presence.

"Hey Alice, want to play a game?" Robin offered after it was clear Alice wasn't going to be comfortable watching Zelena cook at the moment. Alice was still a little shaky and kept glancing over in Zelena's direction more than she usually would.

Alice thought for a moment. She would if Robin would play where she already was. Alice nodded.

"Do you want to play somewhere else?"

Alice shook her head and pointed at the floor. She wasn't sure if it was okay to move right now and Robin came and sat down next to her and they played their game until breakfast was ready. Zelena knew Alice would do just as she told her to but wondered if she could get her to pick where she'd sit.

"Alice, where do you want to sit?"

Alice blinked. Where did she want to sit? She wasn't sure what that meant. She knew what it meant but it didn't make sense being directed to her. Mother never asked her what she wanted or where she wanted to be. She just told her where she wanted her to be and Alice did as she asked. It was easier that way. Where did Zelena want her? She wasn't supposed to move anywhere without being told to. So how was she suppoosed to do this? Not move? Yeah? Alice darted her glance between Zelena and the floor. She decided it'd be best to stay where she was.

She pointed to the floor. "Here," she whispered assumping Zelena wanted an answer. Zelena held in a sigh. It wasn't quite what she'd hoped Alice would do. Would it hurt to push a little further?

"Are you sure?"

Alice stared at Zelena. She didn't know what she wanted. She was fine where she was but did Zelena not want her to stay put? She wanted her to just tell her what to do. She knew how to handle that. She didn't know how to handle this. Alice shook her head. She still didn't know what Zelena wanted. She darted her eyes around the room. Was it okay if she went back to her room? Of course not! But she wanted to. She wouldn't do it, though.

"Where do you want to sit to eat, Alice?" Alice stared at the floor for a moment and then let her eyes wander again as thoughts darted across her brain. She didn't know what to do. It was so much easier in the tower. Sure, she had been scared of mother but she was scared here too. She didn't know what Zelena wanted from her. She never did. She made it even less clear than mother had when she was angry, but Zelena didn't seem like she was angry at her. Alice held in the questions she had. It was different inside. If she was outside she'd feel like she could talk a bit more. And Zelena was asking her where she wanted to be. Was it okay? Alice took in a breath, if she asked would Zelena be upset? How would she react? She hadn't gotten upset with her yet, had she? Alice decided against it. She couldn't do it. She wanted to go outside but wouldn't ask to do it. That could only end poorly for her. She'd wait until Zelena told her to go out there again. She hoped it was soon. The rules were different there. And she felt like it was okay to talk more. At least to the little brown fluffy thing that she'd met, Robin had called it a squierell. Alice pointed to the ground again and gave a quiet answer to the question. "here."

Zelena didn't believe that Alice wanted to stay where she was . But it was clear she wouldn't move without some kind of structure. What if she had choices? She'd like it outside hadn't she?

"Do you want to go outside or sit at the table?"

Alice didn't know what to do. It was a direct question but she wasn't supposed to say what she wanted. She'd liked it outside but what did Zelena want her to do? Alice liked it better outside. The rules were different, she could talk a bit more. But what was the rule about asking to go? She wanted to. How did that work? She didn't know what to do. What was the worst that could happen? A voice in the back of her mind reminded her that Zelena could hurt her if she wanted to, just like mother had. But another part of her told her Zelena hadn't tried to. Yet? She decided the risk was okay but was still frighgtened. She took in a breath and muttered as quickly and quietly as she could manage. Asking for things while inside wasn't okay "Outside."

Zelena saw Alice's mouth move but didn't hear a sound. "I didn't hear you, can you say it again?"

Alice was scared now. Was Zelena angry at her answer? She couldn't change it now. She sucked in another breath and brought the volume of her whisper up slightly. "Outside."

Zelena wanted to let out a cheer. Alice wanted something and was asking for it. Sure she had to be given a bit of encouragement and it'd taken giving her choices and it was nearly inaudible at first but it still worked.

"You want to go outside?" Alice nodded. Yes. She did. "Okay, let's go outside."

Alice nodded and stood up, dropping her blanket. She wanted to bring it but didn't know if she was allowed to. Zelena noticed she'd dropped the blanket she usually had clutched in her hands. Did she need to tell her to bring it with her?

"You can bring your blanket, if you want to." Zelena considered getting her a smaller one that would be easier to carry around with her. She'd do that later. Something about them seemed to comfort Alice and she needed any comfort she could get. It had to be scary for Alice staying somewhere with people that were nothing like her so-called mother. Zelena was angry at the woman. No one should feel the need to behave the way Alice did. She was scared of nearly everything. Scared of speaking or moving or honestly even living in the same space as Zelena. She was okay around Robin and henry but still easily frightened.

Alice picked it up and followed Zelena outside, keeping her distance but watching her every move. She ate her food and then stared at Zelena waiting to see what she wanted her to do.

"Are you done eating?" Zelena asked once she noticed Alice staring at her. Alice nodded. Maybe she'd go explore?

"Okay, go explore, I guess." Alice didn't know what explore was. She wasn't inside where the rules were a bit stricter. Alice got a little more bold for once. Or at least felt more bold for a moment. "What'sexplore" Zelena blinked. Alice was asking her a question. She never did that. Zelena decided it was best to get Alice outside a bit more. It seemed to make her a lot braver.

"Good job, Alice." Alice blinked. Since when was asking a question a good thing? It was okay with Robin. But with Zelena? The outside really did have different rules, didn't it. "Oh and it means go look around." Zelena wanted to tell her to stay where she could see her but thought that might create a problem so she just decided to watch in case she tried to get too far.

Alice didn't really know where to go so went and sat down in the same place she had been the day before. She glanced around. Wait. She was outside the rules were different. She could move a little further. She stood up and took a few shaky steps forward. With every step she'd glance back at Zelena to make sure it was okay. She made it about two steps before sitting back down. It wasn't okay. She wasn't supposed to move unless told to. She was outside but the rules couldn't have been entirely different. She saw the squirell and thought it'd be nice if it said hi. The squirell came over and crawled into her lap, again. She could talk to him. He wouldn't tell. And her back was turned to Zelena. She was quiet enough. Zelena wouldn't know about the secret conversation she was having with the squirell.

" ?whatdotheywantmetodo?Idon'tlikeit. Idon'tknowwhatIwant." Alice raced through the words, still frighted about being caught speaking on her own. The squirell chattered back even though Alice didn't understand him. "Thank-you." Alice liked talking to the squirell. She could tell him how she felt without anything bad happening. She'd never had anyone like that before. The squierll ran off as Alice watched. He made her feel better even if she was still confused.

Zelena watched as Alice sat with the squirell in her lap. She was communicating with him much more than she would with anyone else. Sure it was one sided but it was better than the one worded answers she only gave if she absolutley had to. She wanted Alice to explore. She knew Alice seemed more comfortable outside. Could she get her to move out here further than the few steps she'd gone to sit? Once Zelena saw the squirell move she decided to try something. She hoped this didn't backfire like some of her other plans.

"Hey, Alice." Alice looked up and watched Zelena. Time to go back inside? "Do you want to go to the tree or go look at the bush?" Zelena pointed at what she was talking about.

Alice glanced at both things. The bush was closer. And it was close to the tower. Alice didn't know if that was the right word or not but didn't mind. She didn't want to talk but knew she had to. "bush."

Zelena nodded and gave her permission to go. Alice walked over to the bush. Where was Robin she had a question. Well a lot of questions. Could she eat the colorful things on this? What would they taste like? It was close enough she could touch it. Alice grabbed the thing in front of her and went to stick it in her mouth. It looked like food. And she was curious. And didn't know any better.

Zelena watched with horror as Alice grabbed a berry that wasn't safe to eat. She couldn't yell.

"No," Zelena hoped this didn't harm Alice's slowly growing and fragile confidence. But it would hurt her if she ate it.

Alice glanced up at Zelena. What was she doing wrong? She was just trying to eat something that looked like she could eat it. She tried to put it back on the bush but settled for gently setting it on one of the parts of the bush. "Good. Thank-you." Zelena knew Alice needed to be encouraged and told she'd done something right or she'd be scared to do anything again. "It's poisonous. Don't eat it, please."

Alice nodded. She knew what poisonous meant. Mother had made plenty of potions that were poisonous. She didn't like the way they smelled and mother had said they would taste bad. Not that she'd been talking to Alice but she could hear her talking to her plants or maybe herself.

"Thank-you, again. You can still go explore."

Alice was tired. She wanted to go in an go to bed. But she didn't have a choice. Robin came outside and saw Alice yawn.

"Alice, are you tired?" Robin asked her.

Alice nodded. It wasn't up to Robin to tell her when it was okay to go inside.

"Do you want to go inside?" Zelena asked. Alice nodded. "Okay, let's go inside." Alice followed Zelena inside and waiting for her to tell her where to go.

"You can go to the bathroom, if you need to," Zelena hated having to tell Alice it was okay to use the bathroom. But if she didn't there'd be a disaster if she ignored that need. "Just come into the kitchen when you're done."

Alice nodded and did as she was told. When she came back she stared at Zelena while she sat in her corner of the kitchen for a minute but then her tiredness caught up to her and she fell asleep.