(An: I'm getting nice responses to this. I feel special. Lovely, lovely, w00t w00t. I decided not to drag out the thing between Remy and Rogue.. didn't want to make it all cliche-y and tired. I hope I've added a slight twist to the usual "Rogue's-mad-at-Remy" device, but if not, meh.)

(Alice)

I am a bit surprised to awaken in Cheshire's arms. He is awake, and gives me an absent smile. It is clear that his mind is elsewhere.

"The sun is rising," he informs me after a bit. I nod and he lets me go.

I reach over and prod Remy. He sits up with a start, clutching my wrist. He blinks and slowly lets go. "Sorry," he says, blinking.

"Jumpy, are we?" asks Cheshire.

Remy glares at him, and I notice his peculiar eyes. They are red on black, and glowing in the half-light. The effect is creepy and reminds me of my enemies. Lots of glowing eyes for comparison there.

Remy gently nudges Rogue and moves away, almost as if he doesn't want her to know that he did it.

She awakens. One of her white stripes is falling in her face.

Remy's fingers twitch like he wants to brush it away. He shoves them in his pockets and looks away.

I poke my head out of the tree, and immediately pull it back, seeing the battilion of Diamond Card Guards. They aren't bad, certainly, but they can attack from a distance or fetch reinforcements. That wouldn't be pleasant.

"What is going on?" I ask, sliding down the side of the tree.

Cheshire shrugs. "I don't know."

"That's a first," I point out. Cheshire gives me a haughty look and continues. It's at times like this that I remember he was once a cat.

"A good person to ask might be the Cattipillar."

I scoff. "That old liar? He did more ill that good, the last time I checked. He's still doing that silly Oracle act."

"Then perhaps the Mad Hatter? He's not far from here."

I shiver a litte. "But if everything's going back to bad, what if..." I trail off, not wanting to think about that.

Cheshire shrugs again. "We won't know if he is or not unless we look," he points out.

"But if he is.. oh Cheshire, I don't think I could do that, not again." I trail off, hugging myself.

"Who are you two talking to?" asks Rogue. She is fully awake now, and has pushed her hair back into place.

I notice that Remy's hands are still jammed in his pockets, and he is still pointedly looking away.

"The Mad Hatter is a friend of mine," I explain. "When I came back to Wonderland he was.. he was different. Bad. I.." I can't finish.

Cheshire puts a hand on my shoulder. "He was evil, torturing his friends. Alice had to.. defeat him. He is alive now, but we fear he may.. revert to his former self."

I give Cheshire a small, grateful smile. He knows when to not talk in riddles.

"We may as well get going," I say, stepping out of the tree. The card guards are gone and the forest seems to be deserted.

We set off through the forest.

A FEW MINUTES LATER...

(Cheshire's POV)

We approach the crossing tree. There are various signs on it. The one pointing left reads, "To the Mad Hatter," and the right says, "To the March Hare." Not that that last really matters; the Hare's always at Hatter's for a tea party that never ends...

Alice pauses, and then walks down the left path. Remy, Rogue, and I follow.

There is no longer a gate to the Mad Hatter's house. Instead there is a large, hulking stone building. Alice frowns and turns to Remy and Rogue. "You two," she says, "You two are going to have to work out whatever's going on between you. The Mad Hatter's house is a maze, and if we argue, we die." She sits down. She is trembling a bit. I sit next to her and Remy and Rogue walk off a bit. She puts her face in her hands. "I can't do it again Cheshire, I just can't!" she wails softly. "The Hatter's my friend!"

I put my arm around her. "Shhh, Kitten, everything will right itself in the end."

She leans against me. I notice that she doesn't flinch. "Somehow, Cheshire, I doubt that..."

(Rogue's POV)

It's obvious to me that Remy's mad. I don't speak. Suddenly he turns to me. "Look, Rogue-"

"Ah don't want your excuses swamp rat," I reply.

Remy growls faintly, eyes glowing. "I'm not givin' you an excuse, it's de truth!" He glares and pushes me against a tree, so I'm trapped. "You're going to listen. Got dat?" He doesn't wait for a response, just continues. "Look Rogue. De Assasins had m' brother. M' brother! Dey were gonna kill him Rogue. Dat's why I went back! Belladonna's dead now! The marriage is off!" His tone softens, as does his grip. "Look, Rogue, I like you a lot. I don' want t' hurt you. Did you ever consider dat maybe it hurt me to leave as much as it did you?"

I don't reply. There's not really much I could say to that anyway.

Remy drops me. "Can you get along wit' m' now?" he asks. His eyes aren't mad anymore, they're hopeful.

"Ah'm still mad at ya swamp rat." I poked him in the chest. "Ah'll fight with ya, but ya have a lot more explainin' ta do." I walk off towards the building.

(Remy's)

I sigh with relief. I feel better now that I've finally got her to listen.

I never wanted to hurt her. Really.

Why hurt someone who means the world to you?

I catch up, and we all enter the building. The door shuts behind us with an ominous sounding clang.

(There we go. I think that one was shorter then usual, but eh. C'est la vie. Does everyone understand that "Ah'll fight with ya" means Rogue will tolerate Remy?)