Whoa, two chapters in one day! YAY!! Anyway, I'm loving the reviews you guys keep sending! ^.^ So here's chapter 7! I'll try to see if I can get one more chapter in before I go to bed but no promises!

Enjoy! ^^

They left Absolem and started walking back to Hatter's house.

Alice was quiet while the others chatting about nothing important. Only Tarrant seemed to notice; he glanced at her from time to time, out of the corner of his eye. She stared at the ground, her pretty face had a deep frown on it; she looked like she was in deep thought.

What is she thinking of? He wondered. I hope she's not thinking of home. The thought of her leaving broke his heart. He was already attached to her, he even found her extremely attractive. She was beautiful as a child and she had grown into a gorgeous young lady. Her cerulean eyes were still bright and filled with childish curiosity, her face was pale and flawless, and her hair was long and silky looking.

He suddenly got the urge to reach over and touch it but he was afraid that he'd frighten the poor girl. He didn't like the idea of scaring her; that's not what she was there for. She was there because…she was the only innocent person in that damn town. He had realized that when she first talked to him as a child. She was all innocence and that pleased him.

"Tarrant!"

Tarrant looked over at Mallymkun and Thackery. "What is it?"

"Red card soldiers!" The March Hare cried and then he and Mallymkun began running the other way. Chessur had already disappeared. Coward! Tarrant growled inwardly, taking Alice by the hand. "We have to run! Now!"

She nodded and followed him. She glanced behind her and saw about a dozen red card soldiers. "Why are they chasing us?" She yelled.

"Because the Red Queen orders them to!"

"Why?"

"Because she hates us and we hate her!"

Tarrant hid behind a tree with Alice right behind him. She was so close to him that he felt her warm breath on the back of his neck and he tried not to shudder. He liked having her close but not this close; soon his heart began to pound against his ribcage.

"Why does she hate you all?" She whispered into his ear and he felt a cold shiver go down his spine.

"Because…well, I lost my temper with one day and I…insulted her." He replied, quietly.

"What did you say to her?"

"I called her a very bad name."

"What name?" she asked.

Tarrant suddenly felt nervous. "Well, I-I called her…a… you know this really isn't something you should hear!" He whispered back.

She put her small hand on his shoulder and his heart skipped a beat. God, she's so warm.

"Tell me." She whispered, firmly.

"I…called her a…bitch." He finally replied.

She giggled quietly and his heart fluttered at the sound. "That's all?"

He turned around and gave her a shocked look. "What do you mean 'That's all'?"

Alice grinned up at him. "You seem to have it in your head that I've never heard words like that."

He gaped at her. "Where on earth did you hear such terrible words?"

"The women in my town. And of course the sailors that pass through." She answered.

His shocked expression made her giggle again. He looked so adorable when he was like that. "What would make you listen to such things?" He asked, turning around to see if the card soldiers were gone yet.

"I get…curious." She whispered in his ear. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his heart almost stopped. God, she was so close to him and it drove him nuts.

Suddenly they both heard the soldier's footsteps coming their way. Tarrant grabbed her hand and starting to run. The soldiers began to catch up with them so he let go of her hand and pushed her forward. "Run, Alice!"

"What about you?"

"Don't worry about me! Just run!" He yelled.

Alice very reluctantly began to run the other way, away from Tarrant and the card soldiers. She ran faster than she's ever run before until she could no longer hear the card soldiers. She hid behind a big tree; she wondered if Tarrant was okay. God, please let him be all right.

She glanced around her then she looked to see if there were soldiers around the area. When she was sure that she was safe she came out from behind the tree. The wooded area was quiet…too quiet.

A pair of hands grabbed her and pinned her against a tree. It was a card soldier. He grabbed her skirts and she realized what he wanted to do. She fought, she screamed, she bit, she kicked, and she punched as hard as she could but he wouldn't stop. He began to pull her skirts up and she started screaming.

"HELP ME!! TARRANT, PLEASE HELP ME!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. The card soldier cursed and slapped her, hard. She yelped then bit his hand, good and hard. He yelled out in pain and dropped her. He grabbed his spear and pointed at her.

"You little bitch—!" Suddenly the end of a spear protruded out of his chest. Blood splattered Alice's face and the forest floor.

"Don't ever touch her!" A very angry and crazy Scottish voice roared, twisting the spear inside the soldier. The soldier yelled out in pain, begging him to stop.

Alice whimpered and covered her eyes with her hands. The sound of flesh ripping and bones crunching filled the air as well as the pungent smell of blood. She whimpered louder when the soldier's cries of pain became screams of pain and misery. He begged the attacker for mercy but he was ignored.

Her whimpers became quiet again when the card soldier stopped screaming. She peeked through her fingers and gasped. There was Tarrant kneeling next to the soldier, chopping him into little tiny pieces. He had his back to her but she could see his blood hands working furiously.

When he finished he stood up and admired his work. "That'll teach you to touch something that belongs to me!" He whispered, angrily.

Alice whimpered loudly and he finally turned around. His face was covered in blood, as was his clothes and his hands. There was a crazed expression on his bloody face. He looked absolutely mad and livid.

"T-Tarrant?" She ventured quietly.

He suddenly realized that she was scared and his face soon showed a look of concern. He took a step toward Alice and when she cringed, he stopped. "Alice…"

Her bottom lip trembled as she tried desperately not to cry. Then she did something he didn't expect…She ran over and threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shirt where the blood was scarce. It took him a minute before he wrapped his large arms around her lithe, shaking form.

"Shh, Alice. It's all right. It's all over." He whispered soothingly in her ear. He felt her sobbing cease and she soon went limp in his arms. He picked her up bridal style and began to walk home.

When Tarrant got home, Mallymkun was there to greet him at the door. "Tarrant! Good lord, what happened to you? What happened to Alice?!?" She asked, hysterically.

Tarrant ignored her, heading straight for the bedroom. He laid Alice on the bed and went into the bathroom. He took off his jacket then unbuttoned his shirt and trousers. He left the dirty clothes on the floor and began to run water for a bath. The water was so hot that it caused him to hiss in pain; the hot water left angry welts on his alabaster skin.

I deserve worse. He thought, sinking deeper into the water. The hot water began to turn red from the blood and he quickly grabbed the bar of soap and began to wash all of the crimson liquid off.

How could you do that with her sitting right there?! He inwardly scolded himself. You monster! He scrubbed harder and harder, leaving red angry marks on his arms and legs. He put down the bar of soap then unplugged the drain to let the water out. He stood up and grabbed a towel, drying off his skin and hair.

He pulled out a pair of blue trousers, underwear and a purple shirt. He was buttoning up his shirt when he heard a quiet whimper from the bedroom. He opened the door, Alice was still lying on the bed, fast asleep but she was tossing and turning. He quietly rushed over to her, taking her small body in his arms. He rocked her back and forth, whispering soothing things to her. She relaxed against him and wrapped her arms around his neck, hiding her face in his shoulder. His breath caught in his throat when she breathed on his neck. Her breath was warm and sweet causing goose bumps to rise on his neck.

When her lips brushed against his jaw, his heart began to race. Her tiny hands twisted in his soft, curly hair and she dragged her lips across his cheek. She brushed her lips against his ever so gently and he bit back a moan.

She's awake. She's got to be! He thought, breathing heavily. No…she wouldn't do this if she were awake. Not after…

Alice brushed her lips against his again and then finally pressed them on his. Her hands twisted in his orange hair, pulling him closer to her. He knew that it wasn't right, that it was a good thing to take advantage of an unconscious lady but her lips were so soft and warm on his. He gave in and gently took her face in his hands, kissing her back. She let out a little moan and he almost lost it.

You got to stop! Stop before this goes too far!

But Tarrant ignored the little voice in his head and kissed Alice back ferociously but not too hard so he wouldn't hurt her. When her lips parted, his tongue immediately darted into her warm mouth. He groaned. She tasted like the mint chocolate tea that she had earlier. It caused a jolt of passion go through him and he knew that if he didn't stop then he'd never stop.

He very reluctantly stopped kissing her. She let out a content sigh as he placed her back on the bed. He slowly pulled the covers out underneath her and covered Alice with them. He got off the bed, watching as she slept peacefully. He stood there for a moment before quietly walking out of the bedroom.

Hahahahahahaha! I made them kiss! They should've kissed in the movie! I hated that they didn't kiss, I almost cried. . Anyways, review! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! ^_^