OH THE WEBS WE WEAVE

Disclaimer: I do not own Heart No Kuni No Alice or any of the characters.

A/N: Hey guys sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. Last week was absolutely crazy. I want to say thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed my story and I also want to thank everyone who even reads it. I hope you all like this chapter!

CHAPTER 3-HEART BEAT

"Well it looks like we'll be camping together." exclaimed Ace with a wicked glint in his eyes. A glint that Alice didn't like one little bit.

"It looks that way."she sighed and hung her head in defeat

While Ace began setting up the tent Alice found a nice patch of grass to sit on. Leaning against the tree trunk behind her she stared up into the night sky and became lost in her thoughts. Blood Dupre, what a crazy man. She had no doubt in her mind that he would hold true to his threat. If she didn't go to the ball she knew he would come after her. That thought alone sent a cold shiver down her spine. She defiantly didn't want him chasing her down so her only option was to go to the ball. Where she would have to dance with him. Which means he would have to touch her again. Why did that thought make her heart race? She could feel herself blushing at the mere thought of his hands on her.

"Alice!"
Startled out of her thoughts she was shocked to see Ace crouched down right in front of her. She hadn't even noticed him walk over. "Oh. Ace, you're done already." she managed to say.

"Yup," he said smiling. "Hey why are you blushing?"

"I'm not blushing." she said disgruntled. Smiling at the lie Ace reached out and gently stroked her burning check.

"Yes you are. Could it be that you're embarrassed about spending the night with me?" he questioned while rasing an eyebrow.

"You make it sound so dirty." Alice said and slapped his hand away.

Ace's grin widened as he retorted, "Oh Alice I didn't mean it in a dirty way. It's not my fault if that's the first place your mind went."

Closing her eyes in frustration Alice brought her hand up to her temple as if that could ward of the headache she felt coming on. This was going to be a very long night. Opening her eyes she was once again met by a smiling Ace. "Time for bed." he declared.
Grabbing her by the wrist in one swift motion Ace pulled Alice to her feet and began leading her towards the tent.

Once inside the tent Alice noted that there was something extremely wrong. There was only one
bed.
"Ace," she said tiredly. "Why is there only one bed."

"Oh, is there only one. Hmm, I must have lost the other one." Ace said innocently. Alice immediately saw through his feigned innocence. Too tired to argue Alice plopped down on the side of th bed and began removing her shoes.

"Whatever," Alice sighed. "Just stay on your side of the bed."

How in the world did she keep getting herself into these ridiculous situations. Blood's voice rang in her ears, it's because you're seducing all the men. She snorted at the ridiculous notion. Seducing men, as if.

"Alice." she heard Ace say. Looking up at him she once again saw that wicked glint in his eye.

"What?" she asked suspiciously.

"You did promise." he said still smiling and slowly walking towards her.

Thoroughly confused she asked, "Promised what?"

Grinning like the Cheshire cat himself Ace shrugged out of his jacket and replied, "That I could listen to your heart."

Alice stared in horror at Ace and began scrambling backwards on the bed. This caused Ace's eyes to dance with excitement.

"Ace I..." but Alice was cut off as Ace flew through the air and tackled her to the bed. The air was squeezed out of her lungs as she became sandwiched between Ace and the bed. He had wrapped his arms around her slim frame in a tight bear hug and his head was placed against her chest right above her heart.

"That's the most wonderful sound in the world." said Ace as he snuggled his head against her chest. "It makes me feel like I can do anything. It makes me feel like I can change my own fate."

It was hard for her to stay completely mad at him after that confession. She knew how much he tried to fight against the role that he had been given.

"Let's sleep like this." he said nestling his head against her chest.
"Um," Alice stuttered, "I'm not really sleepy."

"Oh you're not?" Ace asked raising his head. "Well since we're already in bed I can think of other things we could do."

Alice's face turned crimson red. "What?" she managed to squeak out.

"I can help make you tired. " he said smiling down at her. Meanwhile his hand traveled up from her waist until it came to rest above her heart.

"Ace! Watch your hands." Alice shrieked attempting to bat his hand away.

"Alice," he said quietly, "your heart is beating so fast. Why is that?"

Ace was gazing at Alice with a look of wonder and something else she couldn't quite place. The way he was looking at her was beginning to make her feel extremely apprehensive.

"I'm not sure. Maybe I need to get some fresh air."she finished lamely.

"No." Ace said confidentially. "It's because of something else."

Pressing his hand a bit firmer against her chest he lowered his head to her neck. Alice let out a squeak of surprise as she felt his lips brush against the delicate skin of her neck. Her heartbeat increased ten fold.

As her heart began beating faster she felt Ace gasp against her neck, which didn't do anything to calm her racing heart. She felt him smile against her neck and he began placing butterfly kisses all along her neck and shoulder. If possible her heart rate increased even more.

Bringing his head up Ace looked down in wonder at a wide eyed and very flustered Alice.

"Alice," he breathed. "I can make your heart beat faster. "

"No." she denied shaking her head. "It's not because of you."

"Yes it is." he responded firmly.

Gently he brushed his fingers through her thick brown hair. Once again her heart rate speed up under his touch. Leaning down closer he whispered, " I like making your heart race."

Before Alice could say a word Ace's lips had descended down onto hers. Too shocked to move she laid still while Ace kissed her. It was a strangely gentle kiss. His lips were soft against her as they gently implored her to respond. His hand still placed firmly against her chest lay witness to the rapid beating of her heart.
Coming out of her temporary paralysis Alice began wiggling around under his weight trying to get out from under him. When that didn't work she decided she needed to talk some sense into him, which she would find was a huge mistake.

"Ac.." she began, but was quickly cut of when his tongue entered her mouth. Her heartbeat jumped up a notch. As if encouraged by her heart speeding up Ace began to kiss her more forcefully. Alice didn't know what to do, she had never been kissed like this before. Her mind was racing from lack of oxygen and from the current situation she was in. Fearing that she would soon pass out she clung to the only thing she could, Ace.

Encouraged by her touch Ace continued kissing her and exploring her mouth. Just as Alice was about to lose consciousness Ace released her red and swollen lips.

"I want to make your heart beat even faster."whispered Ace.

Holding her petrified gaze Ace slide his hand around her shoulder and began fumbling with the zipper on her dress. Panicking Alice grabbed onto the intruding arm and began thrashing around.
"Ace stop!" she shouted. "Stop it!"

Startled Ace looked down at her. "What is it?" he asked confused.

Alice's face was flushed and her heart was still thudding rapidly.

"I'm tired and I want to go to sleep." she replied angrily.

"But I'm not tired at all. How are you planning on making me tired?" he said huskily.

She quickly racked her brain for anything she could do to stop him from further defiling her. Coming up with the only thing she could think of she hesitantly said, " When I was younger and couldn't sleep my sister would sing this lullaby to me. I could sing it for you if you want."

Smiling down at her his grin became less wicked. "I'd like that." he replied.

And with that Ace laid back down and once again placed his head above her heart. Deciding that him snuggling up to her was better than him trying to undress her she didn't fight him off.

Taking a deep breath she began the familiar song.

"Sleep my child and peace attend thee
All through the night.
Guardian angles God will send thee
All through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping God his loving vigil keeping
All through the night."

Glancing down at Ace she noted that his eyes were closed and his breathing was becoming deeper.

"All night all day angles watching over me my lord.
All night all day angles watching over me."

She stopped singing and waited for Ace to say something. However, he was sound asleep.

Sighing Alice relaxed against the bed and rested her head on the pillow. Closing her eyes she wondered how she was ever going to fall asleep with Ace snuggled up to her. Alice wished she could fall asleep as easily as he did. She hoped that Blood never found out about this. Wait, why should it matter if he did find out? It wasn't like he was her boyfriend or anything. Why would she even compare him to her boyfriend?

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves Alice tried to clear everything from her mind. She listened to the owls gently hooting in the distance and the crickets chirping in the forest. Her breathing became deeper and before she knew it Alice had joined Ace in slumber.

At the Hatter residence

Upon approaching the gates to his mansion Blood was greeted by two enthusiastic gate keepers and a sullen looking Elliot.

" Boss Boss!" shouted the twins. "Is Alice coming?"

Smiling down at the enthusiastic twins Blood patted them on the head and said in a triumphant voice, "She had a change of heart so she will indeed be there."

"Yay!" they shouted in unison.

Blood continued on his way through the gates and was unsurprised when a disturbed Elliot fell into step beside him.

"I got all the paperwork done that you requested." Elliot stated.

"Excellent." Blood responded.

"Blood. Is Alice ok?" asked the March Hare hesitantly.

"She's fine." Blood replied without losing pace.

"May I ask why she changed her mind?" he said even more hesitantly, bunny ears flattening against his head.
"Maybe she weighed her options and decided it would be better to attend."the mafia boss said

cryptically.

Stopping in his tracks Elliot stared at Blood's retreating form. "Blood what did you.."

"Elliot." Blood interrupted. "Are you in love with Alice?"

"Wh What?" Elliot spluttered.

Turning around to face Elliot Blood said, "Because we're going to have a problem if you are. I've decided I want Alice with me, and as you know I don't share. So if you have fallen for her I recommend that you fall out of love with her. Now tell me Elliot, do we have a problem?"

"No." gulped Elliot.

"Splendid." Blood said turning on his heel. "I'll have a letter that I need delivered to the Clock Tower ready in an hour."

And with that Blood disappeared through the large doors of his mansion.

At the Clock Tower

"Hey Julius!" exclaimed Ace as he threw the door to the Clock Tower open.

Startled by the sudden outburst Julius nearly lost hold of the clock he was currently working on. Looking up he saw a beaming Ace standing in the doorway next to a very harassed looking Alice.

Pushing his chair back he quickly made his way over to the sullen looking girl with concern in his eyes.

"Alice are you ok? I was expecting you back hours ago, what happened?" Julius inquired.

"It's a long story." she sighed. "And I'd rather not tell it with the present company." Alice finished while glaring up at the smiling knight.

"What did you do?" Julius angrily questioned turning to Ace.

Not wanting to be around when Ace answered that question Alice turned and headed to her room.

"You did what?!" she heard Julius shout.

Closing the door behind her to muffle the sound of the two arguing Alice relished in finally being by herself. Walking over to her bed she was surprised to find a letter waiting for her.

Curiously she picked it up and was shocked to see that it was from the Hater residence. She quickly scanned the contents of the letter and after finishing all she could do was stare in shock at the letter in her hands.

A/N: Well that's it for Chapter 3. I hope that you all enjoyed it. I had a good time writing it. :-)

Lena