Almost Alice

I won't tell you how to live your life So please stay far away from mine Always watching out for which and when Is always running out of time Drip drops in like skin of summer All once everything unwinds Inside-out and all about my heart Is always running out of time Always running out of time I have to know If you flew away with me The faster I go The further away it seems we get And floating our way out Tick tock, try to stop the forward motion All heads tend to fall behind Wasted whethers of the wish cut steeper Is always running out of time Always running out of time I have to know If you flew away with me The faster I go The further away it seems we get We fall behind And all of her end I should have stayed But I lost my head With all of our words Devoicing themselves I should have stayed But I lost my head I should have stayed But I lost myself Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of time Always running out of timeAlways Running out of Time - Motion City

The next few days were full of bad news. The pansies at the far end of the Tulgey wood had been attacked by minions that could only belong to Stayne. The river was filling again around the red castle. Stayne growing greedy for soldiers, was slaughtering. The reign of terror had begun again.

"You are the king." McTwisp told Tarrant, "You must think of something to do!"

"I'm not the king" Tarrant reminded him, "And I have no desire to be one. But you are correct, we must think of something." He glanced to Alice and she nodded her agreement.

Much later, he found her in the tower, staring at her armor and the Vorpal sword. He knew she blamed herself which was rather silly in his opinion but changed nothing.

Without turning she spoke to him, "Once it was simple."

He nodded, moving to wrap his arms around her from behind, "Once it was. I hope one day it can be again. But even if it never is, its not your fault, or mine. It's his."

She nodded, relaxing back into him. "Sometimes I wonder," she murmured, "How much of Iracebeth's terror was really his?"

Tarrant smoothed her hair over one shoulder, "No one can ever really know." he admitted, pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck. He had found her shoulders and throat to be quite sensitive. She sighed, but gasped as he nipped the flesh.

"I want you" he growled in her ear.

"You've had me twice today already." she pointed out.

He sniffed, "Your point being?"

She smiled and turned in his arms to press a kiss to the underside of his chin. "We have much to do at the moment. You did send the bandersnatch out on another patrol."

He nodded, clever fingers finding the buttons of her coat.

"He'll be returning soon" she whispered against his mouth, "You'll need to be there when he does."

And he stepped back, "Blast it all. All I want is to touch you. Why is there so little time in the day?"

Alice laughed softly and pushed him towards a chair in a dark corner, "I think I can ease you a little."

He arched a bright brow, "How so?"

She ran her hand along the cloth covered length of him, "We'll do it quickly."

Tarrant blinked, "Anything worth doing Alice, is worth taking the time to do."

But when she pulled him free and gripped him just so, he decided to see it her way.

She pushed him into the chair and knelt before him. "Alice?"

She smiled deviously at him, "You always have all of me Tarrant" she told him, "Now I get to have all of you. Would you deny me?"

He shook his head, mesmerized by her.

He knew what she was about to do, but he had never thought she would wish it.

Alice stared at the large length before her, and blew lightly on the straining head. He closed his eyes and then opened them quickly, not wanting to miss anything.

She slowly leaned forward, a little uncertain and lapped at the shining bead that bloomed at the tip. He shuddered, gripping the arms of the chair tightly. She wrapped her little hand around him and then licked up one side and then the other.

Then meeting his eyes, she opened her mouth wider, watching him parrot the action and closed her lips over him. She hoped she was doing this correctly. "Ah…Alice." he moaned. His hand came up to cup her cheek as her tongue swirled.

"Like that?" she asked as she pulled back.

His eyes were that lovely yellow green and he nodded, "Open a wee bit more fer me" he coaxed heatedly. Alice did as he asked and lowered her head once more. This time she felt him gently take hold of her hair and lift her slightly before releasing her to slide back down. "Like this love".

She repeated the action, swirling her tongue at the tip of him on her way up for good measure. He groaned low and deep, his fingers stroking her hair and scalp. She couldn't quite take him all, but he reached down and showed her how to move her hand to make up for it.

"Yer lovely" he crooned to her, "All hot and wet and heaven."

His words kindled the fires in her lower belly and she moved her mouth faster on him. "Harder lass." And she sucked harder. He threw his head back and moaned aloud. Her name a litany of praise and love spilling from his lips.

Tarrant felt the heat rising up over him and panted for her to stop. She looked up in question, "Did I do it wrong?" Her mouth was swollen, red and very wet. With his thumb he stroked her cheek and shook his head.

"You are perfect Alice, but I do not wish it to end this way." He reached down lifting her onto his lap. He fused their lips together, tasting the traces of his passion and her own sweet flavor. His fingers stroked her breasts through her thin shirt and she tilted her head back. Tarrant let his lips disengage from her, his tongue following slowly after as he traced the tender arch of her palate with it.

She moaned for him and he cupped her nape, even as he fought the layers of the skirt she wore. Working them up and away until he could cup the covered heat of her. His fingers slipped beneath the thin cotton finding her slickness and stroked her to a needful frenzy. Mouth still on hers, his hands slipped between them to lift her up.

She gasped at the sharp tug that tore her delicate undergarments away, then she felt him, long and thick against her. "Take me Alice" he growled to her, his eyes flickering now. She felt him brace himself and slowly she sank onto him. Feeling the hard heat slowly stretch her. When just his head was lodged in her, she sucked in a deep breath.

"Pain lass?" he asked. She shook her head urgently and then braced her hands on his shoulders, feeling his hands cup the globes of her bottom and let herself fall slowly. So slowly. His hands moved to tangle in her hair, his mouth on hers once more. "Mmmm" he hummed against her lips. Then she dropped her brow to rest against his and closed her eyes in bliss.

And then he was there, in the deep heart of her that needed him most. When she opened her eyes they were hazy and half closed. Tarrant decided he liked that look very much. "Ride me" he commanded and Alice lifted herself and let herself fall, feeling every glorious inch of him slide within her, heated friction and velvet desire.

Tarrant was content to let her move slowly at first, seeing the high color in her cheeks, the treasure of her mouth fall open as she learned to take what she wanted. Slipping a hand between them, he pressed her pearl, making her moan loudly and swivel her hips in tight circles. An instinctive motion and one he very much liked.

Soon, however her pace was not enough and he looped one arm beneath her bottom and the other at her back and lifted her, then slammed her down hard upon himself. She keened and he groaned. With every downward thrust he twisted his hips abrading that tender bit of flesh at her apex.

All too soon Alice was a quivering mass of molten woman in his arms and he gloried in it. "Thas it" he rasped to her, feeling his own end nearing, "Come fer me again and again my heart."

"Tarrant!"

His hands tightened on her hips and slammed her down one last time, hips swiveling to prolong sweet sensation as they fell over that high precipice together. They rested there for long minutes, ragged breath and pounding hearts. Alice felt the warmth of his release flow from her as he shifted and slipped from her heat. They both groaned at the feeling.

He pressed a chaste kiss to her brow and smoothed her sweat damp hair.

It was only a matter of minutes afterward that the bandersnatch returned. The interlude was over for now.

Dinner was a somber affair. Each member of the group seemed lost in his or her own thoughts. Things were very bad in Underland. Time was slipping from them. Alice was no closer to understanding the fire of Underland and Tarrant no closer to killing the knave.

The march hare had prepared a fine meal and set it quietly before his fellows. He didn't fling any of the perfectly salted soup and when he took his seat and bent his head to speak with the hatter, there were no outbursts of laughter or "cup" or "spoon". This alerted Alice to the seriousness of the talk.

She cast a shy, sideways glance at the hatter beside her. He was different, somehow more calm, more commanding. Or perhaps she imagined it since he commanded her so well in private. He caught her gaze and leaned back in his chair, catching her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her knuckles before turning back to the hare. Though Alice hadn't missed the saucy wink he'd given her.

The hatter had seen the blush cover her cheeks and spread over her throat, he'd follow that lovely shade soon enough he promised himself. In the week since he'd claimed her, he had reveled in his private paradise of her body and love. For it seemed when it came to her, his appetite was voracious. He ran his finger over his lower lip, recalling the piquant taste of her. He'd have it against very soon.

Alice stood suddenly and Mally blinked at her, "Alright Alice?"

"Yes, just a little tired. Excuse me." They bid her good night as she brushed past the table.

"I'll be there soon lass." Tarrant called to her, making her blush again. She didn't miss his hungry look and felt herself heat as she walked across the room holding his eyes.

"Hello."

Alice jolted as Chessur popped into sight inches before her. She stumbled backwards.

"Time to go" Chess purred to her and she flailed backwards into a large mirror that appeared behind her. Before she could catch herself, Alice tumbled backwards into the liquid surface of the mirror.

"Alice!" the others shouted, Tarrant had leapt over the table, reaching the mirror just as her outstretched fingertips fell beneath the rippling silver surface. He felt his own graze now solid glass. He shouted her name but she as gone, the portal closed.

He stared at his reflection, the eyes looking back at him a livid orange. He growled at himself and raised his hand. Chess caught his sleeve, "Break it and she can never return Tarrant" he warned quietly.

The hatter spun on him ,his orange eyes like fire in the dark rings marking his face. He suddenly seemed more dangerous and sinister than Chess had ever recalled. "Ye lickspittle nyaff" the hatter roared in a vicious sounding brogue, "Ye interferin feline, I'll strangle ye wi yer own tail!"

And he would have. Chess held his ground, his blue green eyes shimmering brightly but he refused to cower. "You must begin to act like a king if you are to be one" he said gently, "Have you ever considered that it was meant be this way? How it must be?"

Tarrant flew at him, a string of Outlandish obscenities stinging the air like scorching raindrops.

"Hatter!" came the gruff tones of the butterfly.

Tarrant stiffened, his inner turmoil bubbling at the surface, dangerously close. His hands clenched into shaking fists, his head dropped.

"Hatter?" Mally asked softly stepping an inch closer, "Are you alright?"

He gave a stiff shake of his head, "Nay I'm no." He was a rigid line of fury and anguish as he stalked to the door. They listened to his heels clip an angry staccato on the white tiles. The hare moved to follow but Chess stopped him.

"Give him time. This is most difficult for him."

Mally shook her small head, "Of all the terrible times for this to happen!" she cried out. The others nodded agreement.

"On the contrary Mally" Absalom spoke up, "I believe its right on schedule."

Alice fell fast though the darkness. No rabbit hole here, only smooth, cold darkness. The last thing she had seen was the hatter's stricken visage. Now she was alone.

"Three days Alice!" came a woman's voice from the darkness, "No more! You must be ready!"

"For what?" Alice cried back but there was no answer, only the flap of her clothing in the wind as she plummeted.

She tumbled and tumbled until she found herself in a carriage. She screamed when she realized the ground was flying toward the window and the carriage turned on it's side. Then there was blackness.

Tarrant paced the length of the chamber, his world one of anguish and torment. His Alice was gone! Again! For how long this time, three years, thirteen, forever? He pulled his pocket watch out and glared at it, watching it devour time tick by greedy tock. He threw it against the far wall.

He snarled to himself and quickened his steps. They'd finally found happiness and now…

He roared his outrage, tearing the drapes from their rods, flung flower filled vases across the room, swept candles and books and anything else from the desks and shelves with his arms. The entire castle could hear his outrage and his great pain. Even the wrath of the Jabberwocky had not been so fierce.

He turned to the large bed and drew back, unwilling to tear the soft linens from where they lay. Her scent was there. He could not bring himself to do it. His eyes fell on a handsome purple top hat and he knelt beside it. Carefully lifting it in shaking hands.

Alice's hat. He lovingly brushed it clean and lifted the brim to his nose, inhaling the sweet warmth of her. Faint now. "Come back mah Alice…." his tears refused to fall. They burned in his eyes and made his throat ache.

He remained kneeling in the catastrophe that had been their room. His and hers. His world was crumbling again.

"I know its difficult" came a soft voice from the corner.

He glanced up to see the cursed grandmother there. Her orange eyes raked the destruction sadly.

"It was you who did it." he growled gaining his feet.

She nodded, "The fire of Underland depends on it." she answered.

He lunged at her, only to be brought up on sword point. He glared into eyes very much like his own. A face that looked so similar. He arched a bright brow in question, "I'll no be driven off so easily."

The dead Hightopp wore no expression but remained unmoving between them.

Orange eyes locked with orange eyes over a broad shoulder, "We haven't come for that."

"Why then? Wha else can you take from me?" he demanded angrily.

She stepped from behind the other, "Alice wants her Hightopp" she told him in a dangerous voice, "And I want mine. The laws of Underland are set you cannot move against the Oraculum."

"Te hell wi it and ye." he snapped.

"But" she went on as though he hadn't spoken, "Hope can do a great many things."

He frowned harder, "I don follow."

She smiled sadly, "Underland needs balance. That is the highest law. A red queen, a white queen, a jabberwocky, an Alice. Everything requires balance Tarrant Hightopp, everything in Underland. A black sword…." she began to shimmer and fade. Then she was gone.

He stared at the ground as he pondered her words. "Two queens, two champions….black sword….two swords? Two swords! A white sword!" He blinked several times. Was it possible that he could undo what the knave had done? Negate the hellish spell he and Alice were locked in? Would that restored balance bring her home to him?

He wasn't certain but it was all he had for now. Turning he flung open the door and tore down the hall. "Absalom! Absalom! I need ye, ye great blue git! Oh! Abasalom!"

"What do you mean Alice is back?" came a waspish voice. That voice spurred her to wakefulness. She knew it.

Alice opened her eyes to take in the horrid shade of rose drapes above her and felt her stomach drop. "Oh no." Her eyes roved the room, taking in the gas lamps on the walls and then the portrait of Lady Ascot smiling. Her wretched terriers in her arms.

The door opened as Alice sat up, feeling her head throb. She touched a bandaged on her brow. Then stared up at Lord Ascot, Lady Ascot, Hamish and her sister Margret. "Thanks Chess" she muttered softly.