Locked Out, Locked In

Alice was woken by the sound of crying. She closed her teal eyes briefly, and then a second later, opened her sleepy, tired eyes. She started to get up when she felt hands pull her back. "Alice go back to sleep. I'll go put them back to sleep." Blood said. "Thanks." Alice yawned, going back to sleep quickly.

Blood smiled softly as he watched Alice snuggle deeper into her pillow. He flinched when he remembered…

"Hey Blood." Elliot said. Blood nodded sharply. "Where's Alice?" Elliot asked, handing Blood another document that needed his signature. Blood frowned. "She got mad and left." Elliot stopped and glanced at Blood.

"Blood, you do know she's been sleep-deprived?" He asked. Blood froze. "Sleep deprived?" Blood asked curtly, panic setting on his normally calm poker face. Elliot nodded. "Yeah. The Twins have been keeping her busy. She's had the worst bags under her eyes for weeks now." Blood was still frozen as Elliot continued. "If she were to go out anywhere- even if it was outside- I'm sure she'd collapse of tiredness."

Blood shook his head as he walked towards his children's room. He opened the door and was greeted by the loud cries of his Twins. He chuckled softly, taking off his coat as Ebony and Phoenix stood up and waved their tiny arms in the air.

"Hello you two." He cooed, picking both of them up. He frowned a tiny bit. "You two are almost one year old now…" Ebony threw her hand in the air, catching Blood by surprise…

And leaving a tiny red mark on his forehead.

Around the size of a small fist.

Phoenix giggled. Ebony stared silently at Phoenix, as if his laughing wasn't what she was expecting from her brother. And then she burst into her tiny giggles as her gaze shifted quickly between the mark on Blood's forehead, her fist, his face and then her brother.

Blood stared at the two in a silent shock as he set the two down in front of him on the floor. He kneeled in front of them. "You two think it's funny? Blood said.

"Well how do you like THIS?" He asked, tickling both of them. The Twins burst into a round of laughter.

Alice opened her eyes as she heard the sound of laughter slightly ringing through the room. She slowly stood up, stretching before getting up, slipping her feet into her slippers and quickly grabbing her camera*. She quietly tip-toed to the nursery room, and at the sight she saw, bit back her laugher.

The Twins had somehow managed to push their proud, tall Mafia boss of a Father down, and were messing with him.

Phoenix had stolen Blood's plain top hat and was currently sitting on his stomach, as if it were the most comfiest and normal-est place to just sit, and play with his father's top hat.

Ebony was on Blood's chest, simply starting at her brother, as if it were the most enchanting thing she had ever witnessed in her whole life. Her cyan eyes flashed between her older brother**, and her amused father.

Quickly, Alice stepped in and took three pictures.

"M-mama!" The Twins shouted, and forgot all about their embarrassed father who had been their playground and quickly stumbled towards their mother. Alice quickly hid the camera before Blood could see exactly what her hands were clutching.

"That looked like fun." Alice said, picking up both Twins only to walk over to Blood and sit down next to him. Blood spoke; "It was all fun and games until Phoenix started to eat my hat." Alice laughed. "I suppose it would be all fun and games until that happened."

Alice leaned into Blood as the Twins crawled away towards their huge chest filled with toys.

"Hey Blood?" Alice said, looking up at her husband. "Hmm?" He hummed, twisting a lock of her hari in his fingers. "Who are we inviting towards their first birthday party?" She asked, lazily rolling her head to look at him. "Just us at the Mansion." He responded.

Alice looked up. "No. Everyone should come. Or at least just the role-holders." She said, sitting upright. Blood sighed. "Alice, do you know how dangerous it could be? Do you really want Peter to be there? Because as soon as he were to glance at you, I'd rip his rabbit ears off his head and feed them to a whale." He responded.

"But they're family." Alice replied, ignoring the bit about Peter. Blood shook his head. "Let's not fight about it now." He said, kissing her temple. Alice sighed. "Fine." She responded. Blood chuckled a bit darkly.

Alice blushed and shot away from Blood. "W-what was that?!" She whispered-shrieked. Blood stared at Alice with a small smirk. "What?" He asked, innocently. Alice blushed a bit harder, quickly glancing away. "Y-your finger were on my back." She stuttered.

Blood had a full blown smirk on his face now. "Would you like my fingers to be somewhere else Sweetheart?" Alice's mouth dropped open. "W-what?!" Blood chuckled. "Do you want me to go into details?" He asked. "N-no!" She shrieked, looking away, embarrassed. Blood smiled.

Ebony yawned and crawled on to her mother's lap, quickly falling asleep. Phoenix yawned, and ended up on Blood's lap. Both parents looked down at the sleeping child in their lap before glancing back towards each other.

They stared at each other for a moment before laughing softly.

"Alice, I'm going to the Amusement Park to talk to Gowland." Blood said, slinging on his jacket. Alice nodded. "Can I, uhh, ca-can I, you know, if you don't mind that is, can I go?" Alice stuttered. Blood nodded. Alice smiled brightly and ran to slip on a light blue jacket.

"The Twins are sleeping so let's not wake them." Blood mused as they headed out. Alice nodded. "We're heading to the Amusement Park right?" Alice asked, as Elliot and the Bloody Twins ran ahead. "That's right." Alice's eyes lit up. "That's good. I haven't been there in forever. I missed Boris and Gowland." She said.

"We're also there to get Pierce." Blood said, as he walked along side Alice. "Pierce? Who's that?" Alice asked. Blood glanced down. "That's right. You've never been in Joker…" He mused. "Joker? Is that a role holder? Can I meet him?" Alice asked. Blood sharply looked down at her. "No."

"You mean the stupid mouse?" Dee and Dum asked Alice. "Who is he?" Alice asked again. Blood sighed in relief. Alice looked at him, a bit confused. "What?" Blood glanced at her. "Since your my wife you don't have to go through a cursed man…" ".." Alice shook her head, deciding that maybe she should ask someone else about Joker and Piece.

"Alice!" Boris yelled, running up to the Hatters. "Hey Boris." Alice replied calmly. "Where's Gowland?" Blood asked, wanting to go through with the job. Boris looked around. "He's around here… somewhere… I think… I hope…" Boris said. Alice giggled. Blood glanced around and smirked. "Hello Gowland."

"…Hatter…"

Alice leaned towards Blood. "Hi Gowland." Alice chirped. Gowlands brown eyes softened. "Hey sweet pea. How's it being a mother?" "I'm loving it. It feels weird to be without them though." She said.

Blood spoke; "Can we get on to negotiations?" Gowland nodded. "Sure thing tea-addict.

"Why don't you just DIE?!" Gowland yelled pulling out his death ra-violin. Blood stared at him. "You would kill me with your music Mary." Gowland growled. "Just DIE!" He yelled, changing his violin into a gun and shooting Blood.

Alice sighed, standing up. "Go-" "No Alice. Don't apologize." Blood said, smirking at Gowland. "Blood, come on, apologize." Alice said, her temper rising as Blood ignored her. "Blood." Alice growled. Still he ignored her. Alice's temper snapped. "Fine." She said, as she spun around on her heels and walked out of the room. She ignored the calls of Dee, Dum, Elliot, Boris, Gowland… and Blood.

Furiosuly, Alice walked towards the Hatter Mansion. After all, how could she invite Gowland to the Twins first birthday and expect him to come if her husband was being rude to Gowland?

She walked into the bedroom, glaring as she sat down on the bed. Blood quickly entered.

"Alice, are you mad?" He asked. Alice didn't answer. "Alice?" Still no reply. Blood frowned. "Alice, you can't be mad."

She snapped.

"I can't? So I can't be mad about someone I love and someone I care about fighting? Like I can't be mad about how you won't tell me about people? Like how I can't be mad about not knowing anything? And now I can't be mad?" She shrieked.

Alice was furious. She knew she what she was blaming Blood for was irrational, but she couldn't help but hate the feeling of being left in the dark. "Alice, calm down." Blood said. "Don't tell me to calm down." She replied. Blood frowned. Soon, their shouts were heard throughout the whole mansion.

Elliot popped in. "Guys, yo-"

"Oh, so now it's my fault?!" Alice yelled, glaring at Blood. Blood frowned. "Yes! You heard what Gowland said to you and you didn't say anything!" "He's just a FRIEND!" Alice yelled, throwing her hand up in the air, clearly frustrated.

Elliot tried again, "Guys-"

"What Elliot?" Blood snapped. Alice frowned. "Don't snap at Elliot for your problems." Alice replied. "You can't-"

The door slammed. Both paused and turned towards the door when they heard a small click.

Alice's eyes widened as she ran to the door, trying to open the door in vain.

"Elliot! Come on, open-"

"Not until you two make up!" Elliot shouted from the other side of the door.

Alice sighed, and turned around, staring at Blood.

"I guess we're stuck here." Alice replied.

"Yeah" Blood responded.

A/N: Hey guys! OMG okay first of all; I'm sorry. So much. For not updating lately, and for when I do update for it being short and horrible. Gomene. Second of all; how did you like this chapter? Third; I LOVE YOU GUYS FOR THE SUPPORT! Fourth; I've recently been updating a story on quotev and I've gotten a lot of hearts. But I still prefer this to that. Much more moral support here. Fifth; The reason I haven't been updating is; Writers block, Busy-ness, I have Exams next week- second exams-, Planning of other stories- in FTU I was requested a story . I WILL do it. But yea.

Thank you to all of you for liking and following and reviewing. Really, it gave me encouragement. I don't exactly know where this story is heading, but I will work on it on my free time.

Now, due my lack of update-ness, I decided I would give you guys a sort-of gift. But I'm not gonna tell you what it is. Just look forward to reading one of my best friend's work.

Because I haven't been keeping track of recent comments and all that, I won't respond. But thank you to all of you. Really. Thank you, thank you, thank youuuuuuu. Yea, YOU the one right there, reading this lonnggggg authors note. Arigato.

So, until later DreamLeavers –AutumnsNightmare.