Finally finished with this work :P I give my thanks to the awesome beta-reader who has helped me with this piece of junk I call a fic XD Right now, on with the show! Also, I might need suggestions on Blood's personality~ Anybody willing to help? PM me or send it on a review :)

"Hey!" January shouted from his tree stump, standing up hastily. "I came up with the name Archer!"

September grinned before speaking, her light hair frolicking in the wind. "You didn't come up with that name, ya know~ It was a simple, pathetic excuse to plagiarize "Arthur and the Round Table" just like how you plagiarized the story with the purple dinosaur you named "Marney" jackass."

January turned to the seemingly aged ten-year old and shouted, "That's not true you little good-for-nothing bitch! Now stop interrupting your elder brother!"

November mentally kicked himself. Just adding fuel to the fire.

September rose, her cheery green eyes were glaring daggers. "Heads up oh-so noble one, I'm ten while you're seven!" She dragged the last word out low and slow.

January was about to retort, the grass under his feet turning a dreaded brown when October had silenced them.

"ENOUGH!" Shouting, October raised his hands up in the air, a cold gust of wind blew at them. The bonfire was still high and mighty, but the image inside it's hearth went murky, blurred and
unrecognizable.

November decided he better stop the scuffle and continue with his tale to get this dumb get-together over with. He started, not caring that the wind was still blowing strongly and that everyone was still fixated on the two arguing siblings.

The bonfire's hearth focused back on the image of the Detective and the Wolf.

"And so," November shouted over the wind; capturing most of the Month's attention, "Alice and Boris marched to the place where they knew, although reluctantly, they could get help; All the Kings horses and All the Kings men... the cops of the 'Book'."

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Archer Sparrow scoped his room before dialling the combination to his safe. He opened it and found pretty much nothing except for a small photo album. Retrieving it, he felt the worn spine and torn cover before slamming the door to the safe closed.

His office door creaked and Archer smelt the familiar smell of the outside world. The world behind his mask.

"Fine evening ain't it Archer Sparrow?"

Archer turned around, nearly dropping his glass photo frame. Cuddling it up to his chest, he wasn't surprised to see Alice and the Wolf there. After all, his lackeys had had been gossiping about the two lately.

And he couldn't help but feel... odd and twisted.

Alice fiddled with the purple feather boa slung around her neck; the same boa she stole from Boris' duffel bag.

He gripped the photo harder. Taking a step to his left, he found the Wolf with his small ears folded against his scalp. Just like a cat's, Archer thought dimly.

"Well, what can I do for a couple of hard detectives?"

"You know," Alice questioned. Her naivety always amused him. Walking forward to his seat, he set the frame flat-down on the table and took a seat on his leather recliner. Pushing it back, Archer smiled. Crimson eyes hidden behind his mask clashing with the Wolf's.

Alice slumped and walked to the bookcase to her right. Her finger trailed on each book's spine and she murmured the titles aloud.

Dragging his hand through his russet locks, Archer couldn't help but feel pleased and yet cautious as to why they were here. Using the same hand, he flipped a small hollow wooden gnomes head open and pressed a button.

Boris's glare intensified. "We ain't a danger Archer."

He laughed. For no utter reason.

"You as a danger is like believing Alice will solve the accident involving Dumpty's case~ Aren't I right Alice?" He looked to his left and saw the girl sitting on the floor, mumbling to herself. She seemed to be ignoring them, but Archer knew better.

"Huh? Whazzat?"

Boris gritted his teeth before walking slowly to the chief of the cops. He was a danger, and Big Bad Wolf knew that the chief should have been called Big Bad Archer as a nickname. Not Archer as in ace for his archery skills.

"Well, there's someone that believes the Egg was murdered. His wife, Sierra 'Meo' Dumpty or whatever her middle name was, Ace."

"Well, by the looks of it, I don't think I would be of much help and all~"

"You have the files connecting to his murder don't you?"

"I LIKE CAT'S!"

Archer smiled when Boris nearly jumped at the wrong statement. He watched from the corner of his eyes; a fine trick he learned in his elementary years of school. There Alice was, holding a book and slamming it on the floor.

Boris's surprised look turned into one of anger. "What did you do to her!"

"Nothing~" Archer stood up and walked to the cross-legged girl. Mask reflecting the sun's ray when it hit.

Alice looked up, straight eye contact with Boris. "What do you mean; "What have you done to her!" Boris? This is how I always act whenever I'm near Archer. He gives me the heebie-jeebies so I act like an idiot to distract myself."

Archer laughed, Alice laughed, Boris threw the nearest object at the two. His duffel bag.

Archer caught it with his hand. Still laughing along with Alice. "This never gets old does it Alice?"

She nodded, throwing the book weakly to Boris. It landed right in front of him, a few centimetres from his boots. On the cover, the title read, "~Ways to Annoy New People~" And below was; "Written by Archer Sparrow and Alice Liddell."

Boris's eyebrow twitched and he kicked the book back to them. He grumbled something insulting out and stomped out the door, not caring for his duffel bag.

Archer picked up the book, and in that instant the two stopped laughing. "I love a good joke but this isn't about that correct? You just want the Wolf outta' danger right? Well, where we going to now? Let me guess, the Queen's right?"

Alice stood up and brushed the dust of her trench coat. The boisterous atmosphere only shielded the growing tension. She leaned on the wall, her long hair was tied into a single braid. "How long has it been since you last took that mask off?"

"I don't know, been long possibly."

"Three years."

"This is what I don't like about people, they ask and yet know the answer~" he walked back to his table and held the photo album. Opening it, he leafed through the various pictures. "It's odd really, I wonder what Alex is doing now?"

He heard Alice's mood shift to irritation and impatience.

"I thought I told you not to mention him again Archer. Or I'll mention him."

He smiled, and again, for no utter reason. "But where's the fun in that?"

"There's none and I came here for business, not to chat about history"

"Well I want to chat about the past, but alas, we'll just have to skip on ahead correct? Alice, please take note that this conversation is getting nowhere. Humpty's death was an accident, you should be more knowledgeable. After he fell of the wall-,"

"You mean after he was pushed," Alice snarled.

Ace sighed and stopped for a moment before continuing. "- we rushed to him in a second and we just couldn't repair him alright."

Alice was still leaning on the wall. She soaked up whatever Archer was saying, but right now she was doubting herself. The cool, brash attitude she used on confronting Archer was a fake. She did believe that Humpty's death was an accident, and she believed that Sierra 'Cleo' Dumpty wasn't the Fat man's wife...

The sudden thought of yesterday flashed into her mind.

Her client.

The one she was waiting for... and it all linked.

Alice ran, ignoring the smile alighting on Archer's face and just kept on running. Back to where it all started; back to the Mockingbird and Hen's, five years ago.

She felt the wind in her face, she ran past Boris sitting on one of the bench's- chatting with a fellow policeman, past the sliding doors, past the band of thugs that always sat by the bend of the junction. Past a couple making out.

Her hair was a curtain behind her. Blue eyes wide and hand picking out her gun from her pocket, she threw the trenchcoat off and felt the wind pierce her dark blue dress.

Run, run Alice. Catch your Wonderful Wonder World~

Everything was falling to place. Distraction, Alice wanted to hit her head on a wall, everything was a distraction. Sierra was probably some con or criminal; well, whatever she was there was no turning back now, she was fooled.

Alice could hear Boris's shouts of- "Stop Alice!" -clearly. But no, whoever her client was, she had to get to him/her. Whoever it was.

Passing the same bench she spent the night in, Alice ran faster. Her skin felt hot, fire-hot needles poking her and her chest felt it was smashed and pressed by a truck. By now, her tongue was out and she was panting.

Just like dog, you'll always be able to find your Wonderland... but will it welcome you? Why don't you find out Alice?

Curiouser and curiouser~
Closer and closer~
Find, find!
Your Wonderful Wonder World Alice~

She stopped and hunched over, hands gripping her knees tightly. Her shoes weren't built for running, nor was the dress but Alice had thought it looked cute and purchased it from a pair of twins on the way to the station.

"Alice, what's going on?"

Boris's yells were distant and she almost couldn't hear his words, but Alice could tell if she didn't lose him now who knew how hurt he could get.

She smiled for a moment before grabbing the ribbon on her head and tying it hurriedly to the apartment door. She felt pride burst into her chest at her handiwork, Alice could never really tie, especially shoe-laces.

"Humpty? Didn't I tell you that Rapunzel lives in that castle? We could ask help from her!"

"You're right Alice! We should go there! Next, we'll get eaten by the three-headed dog she has for a pet!"

"At least I had an idea!"

"..."

"Well?"

"Shush! I think he hears us, let's just go to the tower already!"

Alice turned and ran, to the lamppost where her client and her were supposed to meet. The letter to the spot was written neatly, she read it over and over again before stopping. Alice could just make out a memory of when Humpty first came here.

As a young boy with blond hair and blue eyes. Flashing white teeth and a god given face to die for, Alice was smitten by his looks. I mean, come on, wasn't everybody? She remembered sitting in the front row of his admirers and watching the thirteen year old flick his wrists and his mice would perform tricks.

It was a beautiful day.

And yet, the memory itself felt unreal and hazy. What was it that irked her for some reason?

"ALICE?"

Alice heard Boris and jogged soundlessly behind the small building. Taking shelter there, she peeked over the edge to see him hastily tear the ribbon off and leap inside, shouting and terrorizing some of the tourists.

Gripping the paper tightly, Alice bit her lip and prodded the deepest doors of her sub-consciousness.

"I love how lush your hair is Alice! Tell me, is it naturally black?"

"Nah, Humpty helped me! He's a real nice guy! Next time we come, I think I heard him mumble something about bringing the Chief of the Kings horses and Kings men brigade. And my hair isn't nearly as compatible with your long, blonde hair! Not to mention you're a beautiful sixteen year old girl."

"Really?"

"You bet it Rapunzel! And by the way, where's your prince?"

Alice felt like crying right now.

What was wrong with her? Cry? It sounded kiddy, but Alice really felt like it; right now she was lost. Just like before, just like with the "M" case. A tear, she looked back down to her arm to see the letter tearing.

... that was it, her answer.

"I can't believe I was this close to losing it!"

Holding it up horizontally, her eyes widened for the umpteenth time. That was it, her jack-pot! She struck gold! Now to find out what it meant... but first it was time to find Sierra.

L O N G B R A I D

"Big Bad Wolf, what are you doing here?"

"Searching for that damn bitch Red! And what are you doing here Alice? I couldn't even tell with that black hair of yours~"

"It's not nice to swear and my hairs a natural black you know, I'm proud of it. And, uh, Wolf, your skirts up by the teensy way."

"Wha-WHAT!"

Does anybody notice him?

Not quite. Does anybody even care for him? He wasn't really sure but there was one thing Julius Monrey hated most- it was being stuck in this cruddy tower. Where oh where was his prince in shining armour.

Oh wait, that was Archer; but now... Julius couldn't help but feel scared in his long blue frilly dress, because every night he came. He was a horror, and Julius only knew one person that could calm him down. The bad thing? He wasn't even sure who the girl was.

All he knew was the fact that her name was Alice. Alice Liddell.

Archer and him. They were the same people, Julius noted while gritting his teeth. The familiar call of his laughter from below; he was doing his job- guarding the tower, sent shivers up his spine. He turned and sat on the queen sized bed. This was all that stupid Egg's fault.

For three years he'd been up here, stuck, and where in the God's name was the egg? Probably in some club drinking beer and playing with women.

His hand raked the soft wood. Getting up, he marched to his closet and picked out his usual work uniform. It was comfortable and nice, so why not? Walking hurriedly to the toilet, loud banging and an "ouch" echoed out. Three minutes later Julius came out rubbing a small bruise on his head.

Slipping his glasses' on, Julius hoisted a life-sized doll onto his workbench. "Well Sierra, guess it's only a waiting game now," he sighed. Grabbing a pair of scissors, he sheared open the front of the doll and inseted his hand in.

A golden clock was gripped in his hand.

The only thing to do now... wait for his prince (or princess) to come and save him. Well, there were dolls to make to make for time to go faster at least...

I'm finally done! Does anyone know how grueling that was? Well, right now all I can say is that I have A LOT of plot-twists up my sleeve. I want to write them now... but I guess I shouldn't... hey, umm, just a quick think and all; should I change Night Wonder's genres to Mystery/Romance? Or should it stay as Crime/Romance?