Alice woke slowly with a tremendous headache the next morning, groaning in pain. She stood and shuffled over to her wardrobe and, throwing on a dress, leaned against the wall weakly.

The pain was gone, replaced with dull aches…

She stumbled to the door and opened it, yawning.

Jabberwocky sat at his desk, musing with his hands folded before him. Glancing at Alice, he smiled, "Ah… Alice… good sleep last night?"

Alice glared at him vehemently, "No thanks to you!"

"Come here, Alice."

"Why?"

"Come here."

"Wh-"

"Just come here."

Sighing, Alice watched him warily as she approached him. As soon as she was close enough, Jabberwocky grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, "Alice… Sit down…" He pushed her down to sit in front of him and started combing his deep midnight black fingers through her blond hair, his touch gentle. "Alice, Alice, Alice… Oh, Alice…"

He twirled a lock of her hair between his fingers.

Alice was stiff under his fingers, shivering as she felt his cold fingers toy with her hair, forcing herself not to think about anything lest it be imagination. A shiver ran down her spine.

Jabberwocky continued his grooming, speaking quietly to himself. Eyes narrowing, he slid his hands down the length of her hair, combing it delicately, "You remind me of someone, Alice… Not the blasted Lily child Hatter thinks you are…. No… Alice…"

Alice bent her head back to peer up at his face, eyes curious but distrustful. Was this just a different ploy to get her imagining?

Suddenly, Jabberwocky had tugged her up off the floor and onto his lap, grinning, "You remind me of my daughter, Alice. I had to leave her in the Shadowlands when I was banished, and now…" He nestled his face into her shoulder, breathing in her scent deeply, "Oh, Alice… You remind me so much of my daughter…"

Alice turned her head to stare at his red-tinged black hair, "You have a daughter?"

"Yes…" Raising his head, Jabberwocky met Alice's eyes and held them, "Why do you ask? You think I'm incapable of having a family?" His voice was dangerous, and his hands tightened at her side.

"But… you had to leave them?"

Jabberwocky flinched, his eyes changing to a lighter yellow, before sighing softly, "…Yes…"

There was a knock at the door and, instantly, Alice was standing with Jabberwocky brushing all evidence of his grooming of Alice away. Snarling, he glared at her and barked, "Come in!"
The door opened and March's gray fuzzy ears perked in before his head followed, "Eh… sir? I've come to take Alice for breakfast?"
"Yes… yes…" Jabberwock muttered, preoccupied with his thoughts.

Motioning Alice to come over him, March smiled, "Breakfast?"

"Sure."

As soon as they left the room, Alice asked, "Umm… March? Why did Jabberwock get banished?" Alice glanced up at the Hare's bobbing long gray ears eyes, curious.

Pausing, March hesitated, "Why do you want to know?"
Alice shuffled her feet, "He said I remind him of his daughter."

There settled a dark blanket of silence, March digesting this information before sighing, "Okay. I'll tell you… Well… you see, the Shadowlands is… I'm going off what Jabberwocky told me and Hatter, but the Shadowland laws are strict."

"Strict?"

"If you steal something, you get hung. Or prison for lots of years."

"Oh…" Alice's eyes grew wide.

Shrugging, March began once more down the hall, talking as he went, "Well, Jabberwocky was first-born prince of the Shadowlands, bound to become the King. Happy as could be, I guess. Favorite of the people too. Girls flocking to him. Imagination eater, had the sight and a bit of color too. Very, very rare for a shadowlander. Not to mention-"

Alice interrupted, "What do you mean 'the sight'?"

Motioning to his eyes, March replied, "His eyes. Most shadowlanders are all black. And he can see different things, like Hatter." As Alice shuddered, he started once more, "Well, anyways, he… uh… had so-said daughter."

"And?"

"Daughter out of wedlock. Four years before anyone found out."

Alice's eyes snapped into wide orbs of disbelief, "What?"

March rolled his colorless eyes, "Now, back to the story. The consequence of… huh… having children without getting married was death, but, being the crown prince and all, Jabberwock was banished by his father."

"What happened to-"

"Lady was hung, daughter enslaved."

Alice stared at him, "So… Jabberwocky was banished because he had a daughter?"

Nod.

"And then he came here and took over?"

"Yes…" March's ears wilted, "And he did a bliddy good job at it too!"

Hubble shrugged his cloak closer to himself, shivering in the early morning mist. Another night of undercover scouting gone and done…

Stepping forward, he blew a small cloud of ice before trotting down the street away from the castle. His thoughts strayed out to Alice, wondering how she was doing. Was she even Alice? As she strolled into the main square, he took a single glance and froze.

The gallows in center square had been empty when he left to scout, but now displayed a gruesome victim. A large sign pinned to the man proclaimed that this was the thief who had been stealing from the Jabberwock. Hubble remembered the two guards telling him about it. Apparently, they had caught the robber, or one of their comrades.

In front of the gallows, two stiff black cards guarded the hanging corpse from any would be 'rescuers'. Hubble sighed and skirted the edges of the square, while crows overhead squawked in trepidation.

Hatter was just dozing off when March knocked at his door. Snorting awake, he blinked in slight confusion when he found himself hunched over his desk with a crumpled page of scrawl under his hand. He yawned, stretched, and walked over to the door to open it. Alice bounded in with a cheer, brushing past him. March entered with an apologetic smile and clapped a hand on Hatter's shoulder, "Hiya, Hats! Up to a little gallows duty tonight?"
Growling, Hatter yanked his shoulder out of his friend's grasp, "Depends."

Alice turned to him, eyes gleeful, "Ah, come on, Hatter!"

"You put her up to this!" Glaring at March, Hatter crossed his arms.

Shrugging, March smiled, "Jabberwock wants me and you out there-"

"Fine, fine."

March clapped his hands together, a broad smile etching into his features, "But first, you need to cheer up! What's the bliddy matter?"
Grimacing, the Mad Hatter glanced at Alice, who sat on his bed, and growled, "I'm hungry. And when I went back to the kitchens, the cooks had sent the boy home. So now I'm hungry."

March's ears perked up, "I've got just the thing! Just let me drop off Alice and-"

"I can stay here, can't I?" Alice jumped up from the bed, "Jabberwocky creeped me out this morning!"

A slight frown on his face, Hatter shot a questioning glance at March, who shrugged, "He told her she reminded him of his daughter."

Hatter switched his gaze to Alice, then back to March, then resumed a steady examination of Alice. Digging the locket out from under his shirt, he snapped it open and held it up, comparing the portrait inside side-to-side with Alice. A dreamy look came across his face and he smiled, "She looks more of Lily than any spawn of his."

March chuckled, "All right, all right! I'll leave you two lovebirds alone!" Ducking out, he started laughing uproariously as he retreated down the hall.

Alice leapt up with an indignant squeak, but Hatter snapped out of his reverie with a snarl and slammed the door, "That wasn't funny!"

March was already too far to hear even with his sensitive ears.

Hatter glared at the door for a moment before glancing slowly back at Alice, eyes wide in disbelief that March would have the audacity to leave Alice even after Hatter had finished telling him that he was hungry. Licking his lips nervously, Hatter stammered, "D-d-do you need anything?" He felt so shy without March here to boost him up!
Alice smiled at him gently, "No, I'm fine…"

Slowly walking to the bed, Hatter sat next to her with hands clenched together in front of him, "Um… so…" He faltered and fell silent, blushing.

Alice pondered the awkward situation as the minutes grew longer and longer, finally huffing, "You want to go outside and play hide-and-seek?"

Forcing a dim smile, Hatter echoed, "Sure… why not?"

March quickly strolled down the streets of the capitol, eyes scouting the signs of the shops. Now… where had that candy shop gone? Sighing, he glanced at the street post and thought about where he was going. He was on Old Heart Street… so…

March jerked as a little clang rang out and surveyed a small boy staring at him with wide scared eyes. A small bucket rolled down from the steps and bumped into March's boot. Cocking his head, March asked, "Do you know where the candy shop is?"

Eyes still wide and blue, the boy nodded.

"Will you tell me?"
Regaining his voice, the boy stuttered, "Y-y-y-yes, sir… I-i-it's two streets down and one over." The boy looked absolutely terrified.

March nodded curtly and dug a hand into his pocket, extracting a small silver coin. He bent and, scooping up the bucket, placed the coin inside and handed it back to its owner with a grin, "Thank you."

Gulping, the boy gave a shuddering nod.

March started off again with happy determination.

"You don't know how to play hide-and-seek?" Alice stared incredulously at Hatter, whose face was a pasty white.

Depressed, Hatter sighed sullenly, "What do you have to do?"
Alice glanced around the outer courtyard of the fortress. Sparse dirt covered the ground where parading troops had trampled it flat, edged by the barracks and some scraggly trees. "Well, one of us counts while the other hides and, when they're done counting, the one who counted tries to find the one who hid."
"Like this?" Hatter started counting, gazing at Alice curiously.

"You have to close your eyes."
"Oh… okay… so… how long do I count to?"

Smiling, Alice cheered, "Let's start with a hundred."
Hatter closed his eyes and started muttering, and Alice sprinted off to hide.

March opened the candy shop's door, ears perking as a small bell jingled out, "Hello? Ms. Candy lady person?" Closing the door behind him, he sniffed the wonderful sweet scent of candy as he glanced around the shop.

Many of the capitol's people had taken up professions after the revolution. Some ladies baked pies, some men did caps, and children sold themselves off as cheap laborers… So house-shops like these weren't uncommon. A small comfortable living room lay to his right, while to his left sat a long counter with small jars on top. In the center of the room was a wooden table with six chairs around it, where a customer could wait while the shopkeeper baked, or stitched, or made candy, as was in this case.

An older woman walked in from a brightly lit room, namely the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, "-And try to make the chocolates look good when you wrap them, okay?" Turning to the door, she apologized, "I'm sorry to keep you-" She froze when she saw who it was, jaw dropping and eyes flaring in fear.

March bowed respectfully, "Oh, it's quite all right, ma'am. Just here to ask if you have any buttermallows."

"I-I… I'll have to make more, sir."

March smiled, strolled to the table, and sat at table, "I'll wait."

Gulping, the lady nodded and offered, "W-w-would you like something to drink, sir?"
"Cider?"
"Yes, sir." The lady ducked beneath the counter and came back up holding a bottle of apple cider. Hastily pouring it out into a mug, she set it on the table before hurrying back into the kitchen.

March sipped his drink, thoughtfully pondering the taste of the sweet juice. He'd never been to this candy shop before…

Alice laughed quietly to herself, nestling down in the darkness of the box. Underneath her were waxy-feeling cloaks. She had found a bin behind one of the barracks and had hidden inside. And so far, about twenty minutes, Hatter hadn't found her.

Alice stopped laughing as she heard voices nearing.

"You see the General? He looks like he's lost something."

"Wonder what it is."

"Ah… who cares? Probably that little necklace of his."

"Of the princess?"

"Yeah… you've seen it?"
A scoff, "Seen it? He lets no one even touch it!"

The footsteps stopped in front of the bin and the first voice sounded thoughtful, "Looks like rain, don't it?"

"Yeah."

The top of the bin lifted, and Alice stared up at a black card talking over his shoulder, "I'm getting a rain shawl and…" He trailed off as he saw Alice.

The other card peered around and cocked his head, "Hey… it's the Alice girl."

Alice raised a shy hand and waved, "Uh… hi."

Card #1 looked back at Card #2, "I'm just not seeing this, am I?"
"I'm seeing it too."

Digging two cloaks out from under her, Alice held them up, "Here you go. But could you close the lid? Me and Hatter are playing a game."

The card took the shawls with an odd look crossing his face, "Okay…" Closing the lid, he began muttering to his companion once more.

Alice sighed in relief.

Minutes passed, and Alice began fidgeting as her legs cramped and…

The box's lid slammed open and Hatter glared down at her venomously, "I finally found you!"
Alice gazed up at him, smiling, "Where'd you look?"
"I went clear around the battlements! I have half the mind to eat your legs off!" Grabbing her, Hatter hefted her out of the bin with a growl.

Alice dusted some clear dirt of her dress, "Now you get to hide."
Hatter's anger turned to excitement, "I get to hide?"

"Yes."

"Do I have to stay outside?"
"Yes."

Hatter's eyes were gleaming as he smiled sharply, "You'll never find me!"

"Give me an hour before you come out, or at least until I give up." Closing her eyes, Alice began to count. She heard Hatter scramble away with a soft laugh.

March had finished his third cup of cider and was just starting on his fourth when the lady came out hefting a basket of brightly wrapped chocolates. Glancing at March as she set it on the counter, she muttered, "Your candy just needs to be wrapped, sir. It'll be but a moment."
"Thank you." March raised his glass to drink some more.

Just as he was swallowing, the kitchen door opened and Hubble, in a sugar coated smock, came out twirling a yellow ribbon around a buttermallow bag, "Hey mom? The butterma-" He froze when he saw March.

March choked and slammed the glass down, sputtering, "Hubble?" Standing, he stared at the Imagineer.

Hubble crossed his arms, "Hello, March."

Hubble's mom was trembling, eyes switching from her son to the awed March Hare, "Hubble? What's going on?"
"Nothing, mom. Me and March here met in Imaginine."

March stepped forward and nodded, smiling, "And now here. And about that," March's eyes and tone grew curious, "why are you here?"

Scowling, Hubble spat, "I can't tell you that! And, besides! I remember what you did to me in Imaginine! Really, did you have to knock me out?"

"Yes, yes… you aren't captured, are you?" At Hubble's sullen nod, March let his grin grow wider and glanced at Hubble's mother, "You've raised a fine son, ma'am."

The lady returned with a thankful nod, half in relief and half in respectful fear, "I-I just hope you met on… good terms."

March shrugged, "Yes. Sort of."

Smirking, Hubble held out the buttermallow bag, "Pay for it and go away."
March's face darkened, "You know, I could kill you now, or I could go back and get some soldiers to storm this house, or," He paused then continued with a sly look, "you can be nice and talk."

As his mother's face paled, Hubble huffed and nodded, "Fine. What do you want?"

"Why are you here?"

"To visit my mom. Next question."
March tugged at one of his short whiskers, "So…uh…" His eyes slid once again to the mother, "Actually… I have to get back." Digging his hand into his pocket, he withdrew two gold coins, "Will two of these pay for the candy?"

Hubble's mother's eyes grew wide, "But! That's way too much!"
March smiled and plinked them down on the counter, "Then let me overpay you. Now, Hubble, I need that bag." Holding out his hand, he let his ears flop forward comically.

A small smile jerked at the corner of Hubble's mouth and he handed the buttermallows to March, "I have one question: How's Alice?"

"If you're asking whether or not Jabberwock is going to kill her, I don't think so. He's rather fond of Alice, actually. She's fine. Trying to be the little do-gooder around the castle." March turned to the door, saluting, "Well, good-bye."

Hubble gave a small wave before turning to his mother, "He's nice, mom. Don't worry unless you get on his bad side."

Alice had given up on finding Hatter after about half an hour of searching. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called once again, "Okay, Hatter! I give up! You can come out now!"

A low groan from her right caught her attention, and she turned to see the gates opening slightly before March squeezed through. Nodding to the cards who had let him, he glanced around, saw Alice, and strolled over, "Hello, Alice. You lost?"
Alice shook her head and explained, "Me and Hatter were playing hide-and-seek and he hid and now I can't find him."

Ears straightening, Mach slid the candy bag into his pocket, "Here. I'll help you look."

"Oh, no, that's okay!" Alice waved her hands in front of her, "I'm giving up. I think he just can't hear me."

"Oh, just not loud enough?"
Alice nodded.

Breathing deeply, March coughed to clear his throat, "I'd cover your ears if I were you…" Before Alice even had a chance to do that, he took another deep breath and roared, "HATTER, YA BLIDDY BUGGER! THE GAME'S DONE WITH, SO COME OUT OF YOUR BLINKIN' HIDIN' SPOT!"

Alice cringed under the incredible loudness of the March Hare's voice, and black cards patrolling the battlements stopped to stare at their usually 'quieter' general.

Wiping some spittle from his lip, March glanced around, hands on his hips, "Now, just wait a moment…"

Across the courtyard, Hatter popped up from where he had been hiding on a barrack's roof, eyes furrowed. Standing, he shouted, "You're giving up?"
March just lifted a hand and motioned for him to come.

Grumbling, Hatter jumped down to the ground from the low level roof and stalked over, "Does this mean… I win?"

"Uh… yeah…" Alice watched as Hatter took off his top hat, inspected it for dents, and then brushed off a leaf.

Digging the buttermallow bag out of his pocket, March tossed it to Hatter, "Got you some buttermallows."
Hatter eyed the bag, munching on his lip in thought. Finally, he shook his head and handed it back with a small tired grin, "That's okay, March. I can hold my hunger off till morning."

"It's not about you being hungry. It's about you being happy."

Hatter sighed, "Fine. But just 1." Taking the bag, he took a buttermallow out and quickly popped it into his mouth. He blanched. Forcing himself to swallow the fluff, he hacked violently and then smiled, "There. Happy now?"

March nodded, "Question: Are you?"