Chapter 2: Overwhelming emotions.

Alice was restless at Blood's words, "But she's dangerous, there's a reason the dodo bird only exists every few years." not to mention sleeping in the mansion itself got her nerves on end. This is why she liked to stay at the clock tower. It was nice and quiet, safe. The mafia mansion was to on edge for her.

Some how she managed to get to sleep.

"Well, I see you've met my daughter." Nightmare appeared hovering over Alice once again, a true smile on his lips for once, unlike the smirk he normally wore.

"Is she really your daughter?"

"No exactly...You can say I adopted her." He said, hovering just above the ground for a moment before setting his feet on the sand. "Her mother worked for me and Gray a while back. She died giving birth and I took Rain in when I realized she was the next dodo bird."

"Something that Blood said is bothering me.."

"About Rain being dangerous?" Alice nodded, wondering how he knew - then realized it was Nightmare she was talking to. "That's right, she is very dangerous." Alice's eyes widened, and Nightmare chuckled. "The dodo bird is going extient. The role is slowly fading away, soon it won't exist at all."

"Is that even possible?"

Nightmare shrugged. "It hasn't happened before...but with the politics as they are now, there isn't exactly a need for a lawyer now is there?" He sighed for a moment before continueing. "Because of this, dodo bird tend to be quiet emotional. That's what makes them dangerous, overwheleming emotions. They cling to the things that are closest to them and won't let them she gets riled up about something, she blacks out. Next thing she knows she's hurting someone she's closed to. Rain is also the type of girl that doesn't know when to stop, the combination will probably be the death of her." Alice shuddered at the thought.

"I never knew someone cold be so...unstable..." she wasn't sure if that was the right word, but it was the only one she could think of. Nightmare seemed to agree with her anyways.

"Yes, and no one really seems to like her - since she also has the power to send anyone to Wonderland's prision, Infact it was her who locked up the March Hare a few years back."

'It was her who locked up elliot?' Alice thought, "I thought it was Julius."

"He's the one that ordered him to be arrested and locked away, but it was Rain who actually put him there." He said, a small smirk on his features. "However the Hare's anger is pointed towards Julius, not Rain. She was just following her orders is all."

"That makes since...Poor Rain." Alice's eyes saddened, and Nightmare's smirk grew.

"I would be careful around her Alice, my daughter seems to not like you like the others of wonderland." This snapped Alice's attention back to the demon.

"What?"

"You saw the way she looked when the twins were paying more attention to you than her?" Rain's face went across Alice's mind. "She's jealous. She wants to like you, but her love for the twins and the want of them by her side overpowers that feeling. Like I said, her emotions are dangerous."

"She's in love with the twins?" At the mention of this, Nightmare coughed up blood again. "Hey!" Alice ran over to him as he fell to his knees. Nightmare used his purple cloth to wipe the blood away.

"Unforutaly, she is." Nightmare sighed, hanging his head. "Although she's to childish to realize what she is feeling. Ugh!" He gripped his hair. "Of all the people in wonderland! She had to fall for those two!" He almost sobbed, and Alice gave a small smile.

"You're just being an overprotective father." Nightmare looked up at her. "If she's so overemotional and clingy like you say, maybe the twins are the best thing for her. Those two seem to like being around her alot, maybe it will turn out well." She tried to reassure him, but he just gave a sigh.

"You'll understand her state of mind soon enough...but please watch after my daughter until then." With that being said, Alice started to feel herself being woken up.

"Hey, Alice. Alice~ Alice!" By the third time her name was called, the blonde's eyes were open. She looked over to see Rain in her adult form standing over her. "Well, it only took forever for you to wake up - probably talking to my father huh?"

"Yes, sorry." Alice chuckled nervously as she sat up on the bed before moving out of it. She straightened herself out while looking over at Rain. "Um, why are you in your adult form now?"

"Because if I stayed a child, I would've asked to stay longer, and then we both would've gotten yelled at even more by Julius." The two women laughed before leaving the room. Alice didn't see how she was dangerous at all...

"Leaving now Alice?" The blonde turned to meet Elliot's gaze.

"Yes, Julius is probably worried about Rain so -" She stopped herself there, remembering what Nightmare had told her about Rain and Elliot. She looked between them, the air slightly tense, but not overwhelming.

"See you later Elliot~ Maybe we can play together next time."

"Maybe."

Alice sighed in relief as the two didn't fight. They seemed to share a small goodbye before the two headed towards the gate. The twins were waiting, in their normal child forms. When they saw Alice walk up, they both hugged her once again. Alice could feel Rain stiffen next to her, and not wanting to push her luck, she pushed the twins off of her as soon as possible.

"You aren't going to stay?"

"Stay and play with us!"

"We need to get back, Julius will probably be worried and Rain needs to get back to studying." The twins quickly went to rain and hugged her aswell, not bothering to change forms this time.

"See ya later Rain!" Alice noticed how they didn't hug Rain as tight or as long as they huffed her.

"Come play again!" Dum said with a smile.

Rain smiled at them, kissing their foreheads before walking out of the gates with Alice. The walk back to the tower was quiet and very unsettling for Alice. Neither of them said a word, and Alice wasn't sure what to say. The only noise was the nature around them and the sound of Rain's cane hitting the ground next to her. She was so distracted with trying to find a way to start a conversation, she almost didn't realize that they were at the clock tower already. Julius was standing outside, arms crossed infront of his chest and with a stone cold look on his face.

"Morning Uncle Julius." Rain smiled as they walked up, spinning her cane around.

"you get double work today." Rain groaned, but didn't seem to argue. "Alice, I know you just got back, but do you mind getting some parts from town?"

"Sure! No problem at all, just let me grab some money from my room." Julius and Rain allowed Alice to pass them before they walked up the tower themselves. They made it to Julius's office, Rain sat where her books were still set at the table, and Julius sat across from her.

"Your thoughts?"

"On what?"

"Alice." Rain stiffened and Julius narrowed his eyes. "You hate her."

"Yup." She opened a book and turned a few pages.

"Because the twins like her?"

"Uh-huh." The sound of more pages turning went through the room. Julius sighed, standing up and walking over to the window to see Alice walking towards town.

"She isn't intentially doing it."

"She must be good if she's tricked you."

"Wha-"

"Come on Uncle Julius," Rain laughed, flipping opening another book on the table. "You've hardly let me stay here in the past, then an outsider walks in and you suddenly decide to open your home to her?"

"It's not like -"

"It's not like what Julius?" Suddenly Rain was infront of Julius, which caused him to step back in surprise. One because she had appeared so suddenly, two because for once, she hadn't called him 'uncle'. He backed into the window and she stared at him through her glasses. "Well?" Julius was silent, blue eyes staring at purple. Rain sighed, wrapping her arms around Julius's neck, hugging him tightly. He froze, unsure what to do. "I love you so much, dear uncle." Julius felt a preasure against his neck, the blade of Rain's sword was against it. He stucked in a breath, wishing he had his gun on him. "I love you, you love me right?"

"If this is what you do to people you love, I hate to be someone you hate."

Rain turned her head to see the Knight of Hearts standing in the doorway, wearing his long brown blood soaked coat. "Hey, I'm home." Rain slowly pulled away from Julius, who finally let out the breath he had been holding in. "I set you out a week ago."

"Yeah, well, I got lost." Ace laughed it off. He pulled out a large bag, blood soaked parts of it. Rain didn't seem to object, so Julius walked forward and took the bag.

"You always get lost." With that he went back to his desk. "Rain, you still have studying to do." The dodo bird groaned but went back to the table piled with books. "Ace, you can leave now, I'll send for you again later."

"Alright~" The knight cheered, taking the cloak off of himself. "Good to see you again Dodo." He gave a fake smile towards Rain, who glared back at him. Ace soon left, leaving the two alone once again. The sound of Julius tinkering with the clocks filled the room for a good hour, before sobs could be heard. The blue haired male sighed, standing up and walking over to Rain, who he noticed had chaanged back into her child form.

"Rain, don't cry, you know I'm useless when you do that."

"B-But! I-I did it again...! I-I don't l-like al-almost hurting y-you...!" She sobbed harder, squeezing her stuffed animal tightly to her chest. Julius sighed, and for once took Nightmare's advice.

"If she starts crying, which she probably will, just pick her up and sing to her or something. Or just walking around with her in your arms sometimes work."

'He makes it sound so easy, he does realize who I am right? Not to mention she's to big to be picked up like that...'

He knelled down infront of Rain's chair, "Come on." He held out his arms, which Rain jumped into almost automaticly. He put one arm under her legs, and another around her shoulders before standing up with little difficulty.

"Aw~ how cute." Ace's voice came back through the door. Julius turned and glared at him.

"Didn't you leave?"

"You know, you're tower is so big and -" A shot rang out and Ace blinked, looking next to him to see a bullet hole in the doorframe. Ace looked back at Julius, his arms were full, so it was Rain who shot him. He looked at the girl, her eyes were full of tears and she was pointing the small gun at him.

"Leave now . I want to talk to uncle Julius alone." She sniffed, the gun turning back into her stuffed animal. She hugged it tightly against her chest before leaning her head on Julius' shoulder. Julius couldn't help but give a chuckle and pat the young girl's head.

"Good girl, next time don't miss."

"Hey! That's mean, but whatever, I need to get back to the castle anyhow." Ace left again, hopefully for good that time. Julius sighed, now for his other problem. he peered down at Rain, who was still sheeding tears into his coat.

"I-I'm sorry J-Julius..."

"It's fine Rain, I understand." The girl couldn't help it, she couldn't control her emotions. . "Just go to sleep, you can finish studying later." With that Julius leaned against the wall of his office until the girl fell asleep. He gave a small smile before heading out of his office and down the hall with the girl in his arms.

"Hey! Sorry it took me so long, I ran into Boris and Ace on the way here." He heard alice behind him.

"Not at the same time I hope."

"No, Boris was in town." She said, before noticing Rain's white hair. "Did she fall asleep?"

"Yes, the girl doesn't have much enderance when it comes to studying. Once again I blame Nightmare." He gave a huff, stopping infront of Rain's room. "Can you open the door for me?"

"Huh? Oh, sure." She said, snapping out of the thoughts that Julius and Rain looked very cute. she walked over, putting the bag she was carrying in one arm, then opening the door to Rain's room. Julius walked inside, Alice close behind him.

Rain's room reminded Alice of Blood's office and the twins room. On one side, the walls were covered with weapons that Alice wouldn't even begin to describe. On the other walls were rows and stacks of books, they appeared to be out of order, and there was stacks besides the bookselves of books that needed to go back onto them. Looking closer at the books, she noticed they all had to do with law.

"Nightmare can deal with her now," Julius said as he put Rain under the purple sheets of her bed. "Atleast until she wakes up."

Alice smiled at the clockmaker. "You're a good uncle Julius." She could've sworn he either blushed or smiled at the comment, maybe even both.

"Let's let her sleep, I need to get back to work." Julius and her then left the room. Rain slept soundly with a smile on her lips.