Chapter Eight:Oh King of Hearts!

"Me…"

As if reading her thoughts Cheshire Cat muttered the word in her ear. "I am the winner." He smirked as he pulled her tight to his chest as he leaned back into his chair, kissing her hard.

Lucy was so surprised she barely had enough of her brain functioning to kiss back.

"You see…." He said in a husky voice, breaking away from the kiss, looking into her eyes. "You see I win…because I've finally got you right where I want you."

He smirked at her.

Lucy blinked and then glared at him. "Oh I see…. So I'm just a pawn? Is that it? A new little cat toy for you hm?" She stood up swiftly with her hands on her hips. She momentarily did a double take in her own head, 'Wait a minute…why…this shouldn't bother me. I just a second ago was declaring myself the winner! Ugh! I gotta get out of this place!'

"What? No Lucy wait I—"

She turned on her heal and marched down the hall, not even bothering to look back as he called her name.

Cheshire slumped down in his chair staring off into space with a blank expression.

"What the hell just happened?" He whispered.

He glared ahead at nothing in particular, "What have I done?" He slammed is fist onto the table. "I had her…." His glare softened just a little. "She was so close to being mine…." His fist unclenched. "I was going to tell her…."

Cheshire looked down at the floor. "Gah! Why'd I have to say 'I win'!"

The Cat King buried his face in his hands and his body slumped low into his chair.

Lucy wiped her eyes furiously as she stormed down the hall.

'I know this was supposed to be a game, so why am I upset again?'

The thought repeated in her head as she walked into her room that she shared with the White Rabbit.

Luckily he was not there. As much as she loved the creature, she really was not in the mood to talk to him right now.

She went over to the wardrobe and opened it. She was surprised to find her regular clothes hanging there.

"Wait…. What?"

Shaking her head Lucy grabbed the clothes and changed quickly. Just in time too, for the White Rabbit walked through the door.

"Oh miss Lucy! Your normal clothes are back! That was kind of the King. Oh! Are you alright deary?"

Lucy sighed and gave a half smile. "I'm fine don't worry but…I'm going to head home. I…. don't really think I should be here anymore."

The Rabbit looked at her for a long time before sighing, "Very well…. I can take you back up my Rabbit Hole if you'd like." He said as his ears dropped slightly.

"Aw mister Rabbit…" Lucy whined as she embraced the creature. "I'm so sorry, I'm not leaving because I'm homesick. It's just…. well I just don't think it'd be a good idea to stay." She whispered softly to him.

The White Rabbit hugged her back gently. "That's alright Lucy, I understand." He said. Boy did he ever understand too!

'Your highness….. damn it all! We all love this girl and you're driving her away!'

Lucy and the Rabbit pulled apart and they both wiped they're eyes.

"Alright miss Lucy, we may leave if you are ready."

She nodded. "Yes, but can we visit with the March Hare and the Mad Hatter first? I'd like to have one last tea party with them. Oh and of course the Caterpillar! I can't leave without seeing him once more."

The Rabbit chuckled. "Of course Lucy, whatever you wish."

They left the palace with no sign of the Cheshire cat anywhere.

'And good bloody bye to you too!' Lucy shouted in her head, a frown on her face.

"Things might have been different…stupid-head…" She muttered under her breath. 'Oh wow, real mature there Lucy!'

"What was that Lucy?" The Rabbit asked her.

"Oh…its nothing…let's just get going shall we?"

The Rabbit nodded and hopped forward not entirely believe her. Lucy followed behind, and though she said she wasn't going to, she did look back.

"Goodbye…" She whispered softly, before disappearing into the wood.

His fingers touched a spot on the window. The spot where he last saw Lucy at the edge of the forest. He smiled slightly to himself, she had turned around, she had whispered goodbye.

(Well he assumed, he saw her mouth move at least…though that could have been a 'fuck you'…)

She hadn't even been gone for an hour but his color was once again gone. He was a black and white blob once more.

"It would seem…that without her you have become…shall we say lifeless?" A voice said from the shadows.

Cheshire turned quickly. Not good. No one ever snuck up on him so easily, "Who is that? Show yourself!"

The stranger came out form his hiding place.

Cheshire took in a breath, "I thought you were in the forest now?" He muttered.

"Yes well…I don't take to well to forest life." The other chuckled.

The cat crossed his arms over his chest, his tail and ears twitched anxiously.

"So…living accommodations aren't suiting you? Is that what brings you here? Oh King of Hearts!"