This is my first Splintered fic. I haven't yet read the other books, and don't own the first, so please excuse any errors. Everyhting, the characters, the idea, the plots, it all belongs to the great A.G. Howard.

The new child has been born, and she's a reminder of my failure. If possible, she looks even more like Alice than her mother does. Or maybe it's just my bitterness, my hatred of Alison for betraying me.

Just like the rest of them.

The thing that kills me is the knowledge that I almost got through to her. She had begun to be interested, but then Tommy Toes stepped into her life. With eyes too small and smile too wide, he was positively ugly. But she fell in love immediately, and forgot all about poor Morpheus.

Poor me.

My heart aches. The sprites sense it. They flutter around, the little nuisances, constantly inquiring about my health. After a while, I snap, telling them all to just leave me alone. For once.

It's ironic, since I've always been alone.

Alison named the child Alyssa. At least it wasn't a boy. I think I would've thrown a fit. I'm not patient; 75 years is far, far too long. I can't be bound to Queen Red forever. I have to escape.

I have to try again. Yet my bones feel weary just thinking about it. Somehow, I know it won't work. Alison loves her child, too much; she won't let me get anywhere near her. All of the girls, the problem was with trust. They didn't trust me. How can I get Alyssa to trust me?

Well, what're the greatest bonds in a child's life? Motherly love, and friendship. I'm not about to pull a Red and impersonate Alison, so I settle for the latter. I'll be her friend. Teach her about Wonderland, the things she needs to get through the tests. I'll teach her to trust me, and love me, so that when I call her, she comes at once.

It appears that I'll be having a childhood for the first time in my life. And I can't help but be excited. This will work. I know it.

It has to.