The crackle of bacon and the smell of freshly brewed coffee gently woke Alice from her restless sleep, her eyelids fluttered open and she sat up with a small yawn. The first thing she noticed was that she had fallen asleep in her towel, the second was that she was on the couch, thirdly she found herself still gripping the joker card.

Disappointment flushed over Alice as she remembered that last night wasn't in fact a nightmare.

She reached forward and placed the card in her purse with a sigh before getting up and walking to the kitchen. She was greeted by the sight of William leaning over the stove stirring eggs and flipping bacon. He was still in his pj's and his hair was slightly messy.

"Hey babe!" Will said while glancing at Alice flashing a wide smile. Taken aback by his happiness Alice gave him a confused look.

"Uh hey" she replied, as if asking a question. Will ignored her dry tone and walked over to her; he grabbed her head gently and placed a kiss on her forehead. Alice's brows furrowed with confusion at the loving gesture. Had he not remembered last night? Had he not recalled punching her in the face?

"You have a big day today so I made you breakfast and your lunch." Will stated proudly while returning to the stove. Alice strained to remember what she had to do today; she was still trying to process last night. Will interrupted her thinking,

"Your first day at Gotham City Ballet is today…ring any bells?" he asked her with a smirk.

"Oh shit!" Alice said remembering that she still hadn't signed the contract. She raced out of the kitchen without a word and grabbed her purse from the living room table. She pulled out the official looking papers and scanned them fast before sloppily signing her name. She shoved the papers back in her purse and looked at the clock. It read 9:00am, class started at 9:30 and the theater was 15 minutes away.

With this in mind Alice ran to the bedroom and let her towel fall to the floor as she rummaged through boxes trying to find her dance clothing. She ripped open a box and to her luck a pile of neatly folded leotards stared back at her. She grabbed the first one and put it on without a second thought. She reached further into the box and pulled out a pair of tights. As she put her legs into the constricting fabric she noticed a few small runs, it would have to do, she didn't have time to find an un-ripped pair.

She rushed into the bathroom and opened drawers wildly trying to find hair pins. A triumphant smile slid onto Alice's face as she found a fresh package. She started to rip the package open and froze when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

Hints of black and blue encompassed her left eye and cheek. Alice dropped the hair pins and touched the tender bruise. Tears welled up in her eyes; she couldn't help but feel sorry for herself. After all, the only person she loved did that to her.

Alice let the hot tears slide down her cheeks as distant memories of her family filled her mind. She still couldn't comprehend that Will was all she had left. Well technically she had her only living blood relative, Uncle Jervis, but he was in Arkham for reasons Alice didn't know about. But upon last night's events she realized that she didn't even have William. And to make it all worse Alice noticed that her leotard was the Joker's shade of purple.

She wiped the tears away and collected the fallen pins before messily putting her hair into a bun. As she walked out of the bathroom she glanced at the clock, 9:10. She still had 5 minutes. Alice slipped on a sweater and leggings over her dance attire and rushed back downstairs.

She walked into the kitchen and fixed herself a to-go cup of coffee while trying to avoid William. Her efforts were in vein when he came up and hugged her from behind. He nuzzled his face into her neck breathing in her warm vanilla scent. Alice responded by nudging her shoulders and shaking him off. His once comforting touch now sickened her.

William stepped back and looked down to the floor before glancing back at Alice. Anger filled him; she had no right to reject him after he made a whole breakfast just for her. Or so he thought.

Sensing the change in mood Alice turned around and flashed a sweet simile. She stepped to him and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Even though it made her sick Alice leaned in further and pressed her lips against his. He responded by pulling her closer and grabbing the back of her neck. Alice felt rage rumble within her but she decided that sacrificing a kiss was better than another black eye.

She pulled away with a forced smile, "I gotta' go, love you babe".

Will responded with a grin as she dashed out of the kitchen and to the front door picking up her bags as she went.

Alice burst through the stage door of the theater and ran through the narrow corridors. She raced up a flight of stairs and through a dim lit hallway before reaching her destination. She slammed open a large metal door and stumbled into a big bright studio. She froze when she noticed the other 30 dancers staring at her; she smiled nervously and looked around the room. She spotted David Kent, the director; he stood up from his seat upon her arrival and chuckled to himself before opening his mouth to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the esteemed Alice Rose Polanco." He gestured towards her as all the other dancers began to clap and smile. Alice blushed and smiled back at David.

"I want you all to make Alice feel at home," he spoke in direction to the other dancers, "It's an honor to have her here. Now Please resume class while I have a word with Alice." The pianist cleared his throat and started to play a simple melody. The dancers responded by taking their place at the barre and stretching to the music.

David made his way over to Alice with a concerned look on his face. He ushered her out the door and down the hall way into his office. He took his place behind his desk as Alice sat in front of him.

"Dear God, what happened Alice?" he motioned to her eye with concern.

"Oh it's nothing, clumsy me I ran into a cabinet." She responded nervously.

"Well as long as your okay", David said while shifting in his seat. "Now I wanted to talk to you about tonight, as you know it's our debut performance of Swan Lake and we have a lot of important people watching. But unfortunately, our Swan Queen called me this morning saying she was throwing up and doesn't think she can perform."

"That's awful Mr. Kent is she okay?" Alice replied with genuine concern.

"Yeah she's fine, food poisoning is a bitch, but I'm going to cut right to the chase Alice, would you be able to perform as Swan Queen, tonight."

"Wow um, I don't know what to say..."

"Say yes Alice, I know you know the roll and frankly I have total faith you would perform it better than her." David reached his hand out across the desk. Alice returned the gesture and placed her hand and in his.

So many things were running through her head. Of course she wanted to say yes but after last night's traumatic experiences she questioned if she was in any state to perform, let alone in front of an important audience. She would have ten hours to prepare, she already knew the choreography but she would need to still rehearse. Alice looked down at their interlocked hands and then met David's cool grey eyes,

"Yes. I'll do it. I would be honored."

"YES ALICE I KNEW YOU WOULD SAY YES!" David practically jumped out of his chair with excitement. They both stood up and David maneuvered his way around the desk and hugged Alice tightly. He pulled away and started talking fast,

"Okay so what scenes do you feel like you need the most work on, and you need to meet your prince, oh and don't let me forget to have you try the costumes on!" he ushered her out of the office quickly before she could respond.

It was five minutes until curtain and Alice was back stage putting rosin on her pointe shoes. She crushed the little crystals with her shoes in hope of not slipping on stage. She could feel the nerves settle in her stomach as she heard the humming chatter of the audience. The other dancers were backstage preparing as well, some keeping to themselves and others nervously talking.

Alice tried to keep to herself as well but she couldn't help but over hear some of the gossip.

"Did you see that Alice girl is she even good?" A swan whispered to another, the other chimed in,

"Yeah she's been all over the news; I can't believe she came back after what happened to her, mmm such a pity." Alice glanced over at the gossiping swans only long enough to listen in on the conversation next to her.

"I heard that Gotham's playboy is here", a young swan giggled. The other dancer next to her mockingly gasped,

"Oh my, Bruce Wayne!"

Alice froze when she heard that name. Suddenly memories from her not so distant childhood came flooding back, memories of her and her best friend Bruce.

"Alice, I'm gonna' find you!" Bruce yelled into the dark.

"Not unless I find you first Brucey boy." Alice responded before bumping into a tall figure.

"Ha, I found you first Alice, now give me my birthday present! A guy can only be 16 for so long you know."

"Fine you really want your present?" Alice asked slowly inching towards Bruce.

"Yes Alice come on alrea-", Bruce was cut off as Alice's lips locked around his. He kissed her back roughly, their mouths moving together as one. They got lost in each other.

Alice shuddered at the memory, Alice was his first love. Now he was Gotham's 'playboy'? She hadn't heard from Bruce since she ran away, she had hoped he would run after her but he never did. For all she knew he could have been dead and she wouldn't have ever known. Now she was about to perform for him?

The nerves in her stomach started to stir again as applause reached her ears, it was followed by the familiar click and tug of the curtain opening.

Alice pushed all thoughts out of her head, took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage gracefully.

The heat from the stage lights warmed Alice as she started to dance to the iconic Swan Lake theme. Dancing was Alice's only escape, she let herself melt away with every beautiful step. The delicate white feathers that adorned her head and bodice shimmered slightly in the light creating an ethereal look. She seemed to float around the stage enchanting the audience. She felt a rush of euphoria come over her; this was her only release and loved every second of it.

Alice soaked in the applause when she bowed initiating the end of act one. The red curtain closed as people stood to their feet providing a standing ovation. Alice rushed off the stage and through the wings rushing to the dressing room to change for act two.

She stepped into the dressing room and started to carefully apply black makeup to her eyes in a winged out fashion, she then replaced her pale pink lips with a vampy red. She studied her reflection in the mirror. The black swan stared back at her; all she needed to do now was put on the black tutu.

A few blocks away the Joker sat in the passenger seat of a speeding van while he loaded bullets into his silver revolver. Tonight was the night; tonight he was going to take back his city and make things 'right'.

As the clown pulled on his purple leather gloves thoughts of the brown eyed Alice danced in his head. The moment he saw that Alice had returned to Gotham he knew exactly who she was, she was not the victim of her brother's insanity like everyone thought. No, she was the victim of her uncle's insanity, Jervis Tetch, otherwise known as The Mad Hatter.

The Joker had gotten to know Jervis very well when he was in Arkham, but he knew him long before that. They had met when the Joker was only 15, before he had the scars before his innocence was stripped from him. All it took was one day, one bad day. He had successfully repressed the memories from that night for years. So well he had forgotten what actually happened. But as soon as he saw Alice all over the news all the memories came flooding back. It was like her face alone was the detonator to ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.

"You know my little Knave of Hearts, you remind me of my niece, Alice." The Mad Hatter caressed the cowering boy's cheek. "I see myself in her, and I see myself in you."

The Joker was halted back into reality as the van skidded to a harsh stop in front of theater. His head smacked the dash board hard leaving him slightly dizzy. He sat back up and glared at the goon in the driver's seat, without a second thought he put the gun up to the drivers head and pulled the trigger. Blood spattered everywhere and goon was slumped over the steering wheel.

"That's what ya get for driving reckless." He broke into a manic fit of laughter while the other goons in the back seat stared at him with fear. Turning back to them he licked his lips and cracked his neck side to side,

"Alright boys lets go, we can't be late for tea."