With the back of his legs set against the bed frame, Alice forced Ilosovic to sit, his eye still holding terror as she loomed over him. He looked so fragile to her at this moment, because he was. He might have displayed an older version of himself just moments ago but that was before the rains came. She held no intention of breaking him but he looked to be crumbling before her very eyes.

"Don't wake me up," he whispered as Alice took hold of his face and she kissed his lips ever so gently, a barely audible gasp escaping his lips. "Alice-"

"It's not a dream, Ilosovic. Please let me prove that to you."

Alice kissed him deeper as she buried her hands into his dark and tangled locks and as he returned the kiss a moan was released but it came off as a whimper.

"This isn't a dream," Alice said again and Ilosovic shook his head.

"That's exactly something that Almost Alice would say," he mumbled back. She frowned at having to prove herself against a figment of imagination, mainly because it was a false version of herself she had to go against.

"And what would Almost Alice not do?"

Stayne became dead silent at the question. Was there a scenario that he didn't dream of? The Alice of his dreams was as gentle as she was being now, but Alice was always a mystery to him.

"I don't even know what my regular Alice would do," Ilosovic confessed, and as the words left his mouth the woman straddled his still clothed lap and she took hold of his hands, placing them on her hips where they sat limply. Her hands went to cup his face again, her sweet honey-brown eyes staring into his icy blue orb.

"I'm fairly certain I would like to kiss you, but I'm not sure how I can if you keep imagining I'll vanish at the first chance I get."

Suddenly his hands gripped her waist with enough pressure to leave a mark. He held her in fear that if he wasn't careful, she would vanish before his very eye. Alice didn't protest on the hold he had as a part of her almost feared all of this was a dream as well. How many times had she woken up from a fever dream? How many nights had she believed herself to have spent a night in passion with the man beneath her only to wake up alone?

"This version of me, this, Almost Alice… Can you describe her to me?" she asked as one of her hands went to comb through his hair, the other remaining on his cheek.

"Well, she's you," Ilosovic answered numbly, unaware that he was leaning into Alice's hand. The Alice he had grown accustomed to lacked the fierceness he so adored, but it was a comfort to not have to fight her. "Soft, small, and sweet."

Alice furrowed her brow. She knew that he had meant well with the words, and she wanted to provide that same sweetness he enjoyed, but she didn't want him to slip off into his delusions again.

Both of their attentions were snapped away from each other at the sound of rain shedding on the balcony, Ilosovic stared at the water streams with concern, as if waiting for them to drown them both, and rather than running, he motioned to pull her closer but Alice had managed to slip away.

Well out of reach from her husband's grasp Alice stepped out into the rain, allowing the downpour to soak her skin, clothes and hair. Her gaze went out to the rest of the mismanaged kingdom before she turned her eyes back inside to see Ilosovic staring in horror. His expression changed once she began to remove her clothes.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like, Ilosovic? I'm preparing to make love to you," she cooed as she threw down her petticoat and began to lift her simple dress over her head, trying not to break eye contact with the man who was mesmerized within the bedroom.

"Would you care to join me?" Alice asked gently. She wasn't going to push it, having seen only a glimpse of the horrors that he had been through. Who could blame him for being deterred from the water? But this was in her mind a cruel tease- something that his dream Alice wouldn't dare to do to him. Hopefully not at least.

To her surprise, he did rise to the occasion, or at the very least neared the open doors.

"Please… Come back inside," Ilosovic whispered.

"In a moment, but I haven't had a proper wash since I came through the mirror," Alice stated as she stood in only her undergarments. She could see lust stirring for her husband and she looked away, embarrassed for the first time in a long while. It had been ages since she had felt his touch and here she stood, denying them both of the pleasure of each other.

Her fingers trembled as she began to peel the soaking wet pieces of clothing from her skin. The rain nearly drowned out the strangled moan Ilosovic delivered from the doorway. Licking her lips Alice raised her eyes to meet her husband again as she covered herself as modestly as she could.

"Alice-"

"Just another moment," Alice said as she turned her back to him. Her cousins had been far more reckless than her when it came to such ventures. Skinny dipping, promiscuous behavior with strangers- and while Alice was safely secluded from prying eyes and only in the company of her husband this was the most obscene thing she had ever done. And she was going to take it a step further.

"It doesn't have to be this day, but I've had thoughts of us in places beyond the bedroom."

Ilosovic swallowed at the confession but did not venture from where he stood, even though his loins were beckoning to couple with the gorgeous woman only feet from him. He watched as the hand that covered her sweet mound began to shift and he realized that she was starting without him.

"I've dreamt of having you here on the balcony, in the courtyard and… even in the throne room," Alice whimpered as she played with her folds. "I've dreamt of sitting upon you as you sat on your throne-" Alice stifled as inserted a finger into herself.

Ilosovic did his utmost best to ignore his mounting lust. He wanted to act upon it, so much so that he managed to step out into the rain, the cool drops of water felt like needles to him but he stood still, waiting for the dream to end. Waiting to wake to a wet cloth over his face and the White Witch at his side.

"Come back inside."

Alice released a moan as she continued to pleasure herself, shutting her eyes as she leaned back against the stone railing. The rain intensified but Alice was already soaked to the bone. She continued her motions, even as she grew cold, promising herself that she would retreat to the shelter at the next plea from her husband. Opening her eyes, however, she found him already halfway to her. Both were frozen in place, waiting for the next one to move.

"It's cold," Ilosovic whispered, wincing as the rain continued to pelt him. "It's always so cold in my dreams… when I'm awake. Like my world is stone cold."

Alice had hoped that doing something as bold as she had would have convinced him that he was not sleeping, but it had backfired on her. Wiping the tears and raindrops from her face, Alice moved to return inside, but in her attempt to pull him inside she found him wedged in place.

"Let's go inside and get warm."

"I know I'm not dreaming, Alice."

"How do you know?" she asked, turning her gaze upward to his face. "What makes this moment believable and not the others?" she asked in frustration and he smiled gently.

"Because only the true Alice would be so stubborn to ignore my wishes," he mumbled before kissing her deeply and Alice returned the passion, throwing her arms around his shoulders.

Ilosovic didn't waste another moment in the rain as he gathered her up into his arms and brought her back inside, their lips still locked as he carried her to the foot of the bed. She shivered as the cold had finally set into her but she was confident that she would be warmed soon enough. Their lips separated and the pair caught their breaths as she was lowered to the bed.

"I'm also not as easily winded in my dreams," Ilosovic started with a certain sadness in his voice. Before he could pull himself away Alice reached for his face again and kept his attention on her.

"You are doing splendidly- and we're going to get you back to your whole self again," she promised before glancing to the hand that was a finger short. She bit her lip knowing she had misspoken but he kissed her forehead, not wanting either of them to dwell on what they couldn't fix.

"As much as I wish that I could still bear my ring, I'm thankful that I was not deprived of the fingers that could wear you," he cooed before slipping his left middle and forefinger into her womanhood, their entrance more than apparent as Alice moaned out. He reveled in the sensations, pumping his hand slowly and urged his wife to lay back so he could better tend to her pleasures. "You feel so much better in the flesh."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Alice asked impatiently before releasing a gasp as he rolled his thumb over her clitoris.

"I'm taking my time with the real thing," Ilosovic replied as he observed her. As lewd as she made herself to be moments ago, she was making sounds that did not come from a seasoned harlot but rather a virgin. She squirmed beneath his touch, mewled at each pulse. By the seasons she was driving him mad but he could do this forever if she let him. And so far, she was allowing the sweet torture to go on. Her cries, if containing actual words, were pleas to continue. Moans of 'yes' and 'more' left her mouth.

But then she pleaded for him.

"I want you, Ilosovic. I need you. Please," she whimpered.

"How long has it been, my wild flower?"

"Too long."

Ilosovic nodded in agreement as he pulled his fingers from her and motioned his hands to tend to his clothing. The sight of them clearly offended Alice as she sat up and began to help him with his trousers.

"Almost Alice certainly isn't as rabid as you either," Ilosovic teased, earning a glare from his wife. She did not hold her grudge for long however as he suddenly felt a wave of pleasure consume him. Alice had wrapped her lips around the top of his manhood once it was freed from the pants that Tarrant had cursed him with.

By the seasons, she was far more enthusiastic than he could recall. He didn't remember her ever using her mouth on him before, and though he wanted to question where she had learned the practice he was far too steeped in pleasure to spoil the moment.

Was it a dream? No- Alice had proven that she was the real thing. But still, he pinched at himself before casting a lustful eye on the woman who tended to his manhood like it was a candied stick.

"Wild flower, if- if you keep this up, I might not have any energy left for you," Ilosovic murmured. The statement summoned Alice to look up at him. As much as he enjoyed the surprise fellatio, Ilosovic far preferred giving his wife pleasure as well.

Wordlessly, Alice abandoned his member and rose up again. Ilosovic swallowed as she straddled his lap again, her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she slowly impaled herself onto his hardened cock, muffled sounds of delight came from them both. Alice slowly adjusted herself up only to drive herself down again, closer to reaching the base of his throbbing cock.

As Alice slowly worked them both, Ilosovic let her continue her pace, his hands and lips wandering her skin. Her soft, honeysuckle, skin. He massaged her sides, groped at her breasts, which were plumper than he recalled- she had matured more. No. She had given life, and her body had changed to provide the required sustenance required. His mouth kissed her jawline, her ear lobe, neck, and shoulder. Winning more soft cries of pleasure from his wife. He began to rock his own hips, attempting to meet her rhythm when Alice forcefully pushed him onto his back.

Surprised by the move, he opened his mouth but a finger to his mouth silenced him.

"I'm not letting you take charge here. Not this time," Alice whispered as she continued to roll her hips, sliding up and down his cock.

He wasn't going to debate on this matter yet. Watching her ride him was a dream in itself considering the living nightmare he had endured- but this was so much better than a dream. This was real. She was real. But he still pinched himself to be sure.

She increased her speed and his hand slid up to rest on her waist, following her motions, waiting for the right opportunity to seize control. His thumbs sliding over her hip bones, more flesh had been added to this region, and he recognized her posterior was also more ample. He greatly approved of the added weight to his wife.

She drove herself down, harder than before and stumbled forward slightly- giving Ilosovic his window of opportunity. He wrapped his arms around her, sealing her body close to his with little room to break free. Even though most of his mass had withered away he was still lean enough to bind her to him. With reckless abandon, he began to fuck her, plowing her from below. The loudest cry of pleasure emitted from Alice, fueling the man to only drive into her deeper than the thrust before.

With each thrust he made, a new squeal or shout came from the woman- she cried out his name and he swore he nearly came at that, but he pressed on, not resting until he had nothing left to give- or until she was thoroughly satisfied. He quickly rolled over and pinned Alice down to the bed, from this position he could get in deeper.

"You're a cheat, Ilosovic Stayne," Alice cursed playfully and he grinned in agreement.

"I'll let you reign next time, my love, but I want desperately to win this battle," he growled huskily into her ear before plunging himself in again. A breathless gasp came from Alice, her arms free to do as they wish, she let her hands fall upon his back, her fingernails scraping against his skin. It was a sensation that Ilosovic had forgotten but savored.

Alice moaned as her husband continued to stretch her maidenhood, filling her with a mix of pain and pleasure. So much time had passed since they had last coupled, Alice was unused to the company beyond her own fingers. She couldn't say if she had finished or not- all she knew was that she enjoyed the company of her lover.

The man she loved.

Ilosovic felt himself coming to a finish.

"Alice, I-"

He couldn't even get the words out before he came, spilling his pent up desire into her. Exhausted and spent, Ilosovic kept himself from crashing down on Alice by rolling off to the side, but a part of Alice wished she could have had his weight upon her fully. If only to truly convince herself that she wasn't dreaming this either. Before he could catch a single breath her lips were on his and he accepted the smothering with gratitude.

"That was-,"

"Wonderful?" Alice finished for him and he nodded.

"Wonderful indeed," he breathed, closing his eyes as his left hand was seized by his wife, her lips gracing each of his knuckles. A particularly long brush of her lips laid on the knuckle that lacked a finger. He watched the interaction with pain and cleared his throat.

"Alice?"

"Yes, Ilosovic?"

"I don't care how it is done. Should I leave this realm or we remain here but, I want our family together. I want to see our son," Ilosovic whispered. Prophecies, Time, the Oraculum, and all of Under be damned. He longed for peace- even if it meant forsaking the rest of his world. Not that it gave a damn about him, or her for that matter.

Alice nodded in agreement, her hand still holding his. "We'll all be together soon, Ilosovic. We need only to cross through a mirror to get to our son."