**Disclaimer** I do not own AIW

I am so sorry I haven't updated this in so long. I've been trying to make it the best I could, because this is the last chapter and I kept editing little bits of it here and there. I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing this! It means so much and I am very greatful for the feedback I received. I will definately be writing more in the future and it will involve Stayne. I hope everyone enjoys this!

Chapter 12

Pulling herself out of the rabbit hole, Alice knelt on the ground for a minute, looking around her. It was dark outside and there was a light breeze blowing in the spring air. She staggered to her feet, carefully making her way down the steep hill and towards the home of the Ascots.

As she approached the mansion, she could make out a figure standing on the back patio. Whoever it was, they spotted her and immediately rushed towards her.

"Alice?" she recognized the voice as that of Lord Ascot. Reaching her, he pulled the pipe he had been smoking out of his mouth and stared at her in bewilderment.

"Lord Ascot, I am so sorry I-I fell down a rabbit hole and I hit my head and…" Alice struggled to find the words. "I-I cannot marry your son, Hamish."

"Calm yourself, dear girl. We all thought something terrible had happened. Everyone has been looking for you!"

"Sir, I am so sorry to be acting in this unusual manner, but…could you not mention to anyone that you have seen me? I need…I need to go home and speak with my sister, Margaret."

"Are you quite all right, Alice?"

"Please sir, I must speak to my sister."

He hesitated for a moment before helping her around to the front of the estate. "Of course. I will…I will get my carriage and take you there myself."

"Thank you, sir. I-I just can't explain everything right now…but I will when I can."

Alice rapped lightly on the door, waiting for someone to answer. The carriage pulled away and gradually disappeared down the street. A moment passed before the door opened, revealing her sister to be standing there in her nightgown and robe with a candle in her hand.

"Alice?" she asked, a look of shock on her face. Throwing her arms around her younger sister,

"Margaret, I-I need to speak with you." Alice choked out as her sister let her inside. As they sat down in two chairs by the fire, Margaret looked at her sister as if she were seeing a ghost.

"Alice, where have you been? We've been looking for you all day and…and mother thought you were dead! Hamish was terribly upset and Lady Ascot-"

"Margaret, I've come to say goodbye." Alice cut in. The elder sister shut her mouth, staring back at her in bewilderment.

"W-What do you mean?"

"I'm leaving. I-I've found happiness somewhere else; somewhere where I belong."

"Alice, you're speaking nonsense."

"I am completely serious, Margaret. I'm not coming back and I'm not marrying Hamish. I do not love him."

"What?" Margaret said, rubbing her forehead. "You're speaking complete nonsense. I've told you before, you don't want to be a burden on mother and you'll have to marry sometime. And besides, you cannot do better than a lord."

'What about a king?' Alice thought to herself with a mental smirk. Standing up, she placed a hand on her sister's shoulder.

"There is someone else."

"Alice!" her sister snapped, standing up. "You are shaming our family! What do you mean there is someone else? You are supposed to marry Hamish!"

"I don't love him, I told you! I found someone else and I'm happy with him! I refuse to stay here and abide by the ridiculous fads of this society and marry someone who has little to no imagination whatsoever!"

It was then that Margaret caught sight of the love bites and scratches on Alice's neck and shoulders by the light of the fire. Gasping, she placed one hand over her mouth, falling back into her chair.

"What…are…those?" she asked, completely mortified and not really wanting to imagine how they had gotten there. Alice quickly tried to hide them, turning away.

"They are…they are…" she couldn't admit it.

"How could you act this way? It is not proper, Alice!"

"I don't care!" she wheeled around, fists clenched. "Who is to say what is proper and what isn't?"

There was a long silence before Alice walked over to a nearby desk, pulling out some parchment and ink. Sitting down, she began to write out a long letter to Lord Ascot, detailing her ideas for the company and what she deemed would be an ideal move to make in terms of trade. When she was finished, she folded it up and left it there, turning back to Margaret.

"When I am gone…tell mother I am fine, but not returning…and give this letter to Lord Ascot. It's important."

Margaret nodded sadly, staring back into the fire.

"Margie, please do not be so cold with me. You must understand…" Alice said and moved across the room, giving her sister a final hug goodbye before sneaking back out the door and heading out for her trip back to the rabbit hole.

The wind had picked up since Alice arrived back in London. The trees blew as she stumbled across the Ascot's estate, cold and tired. She held her arms, shivering and wandering up the long way to the rabbit hole.

Why couldn't Margaret just understand? Alice did not wish for their farewells to be so cold, but the elder sister would just not approve. Tripping on her own feet, Alice tumbled to the ground, feeling the tears come to her eyes. She grasped the grass in her fingers, sobbing silently. This place was not where she belonged. She belonged in Underland with her friends; with Ilosovic. The wind rustled through the leaves above, the only sound she could hear. Getting up slowly, she pressed onward, heading up the steep hill.

As she reached the top of the hill, she felt the presence of someone behind her. Turning around, she found Lowell, Margaret's husband, watching her. He had seen her and followed her here.

"Going to meet your lover?" he asked in his sickeningly phony voice. He stepped towards her, gesturing to her love bites. "I couldn't help but overhear some of the conversation before I left. Margaret seemed quite upset."

She had no idea how she always got herself into these situations. Alice stared back at the man facing her with defiance and a threatening undertone in her voice.

"Leave me be."

Lowell smiled with that fake expression of his, the one that made her sick to her stomach.

"But, see, I seem to have caught you at a rather odd moment. I do wonder what Hamish would think if he knew you were sneaking around behind his back."

"That's not the same. I am not married to Hamish nor do we harbor any feelings for each other. A married man should not be sneaking around behind his wife's back. And your wife is my sister!"

"Yes, well, if you keep quiet about what you saw, maybe I won't elite to your fiancée your infidelity."

Alice rolled her eyes, moving to leave, but was yanked abruptly back when Lowell grabbed hold of her arm.

"Let go of me, Lowell!" she said in an angered tone, struggling to get free.

"You keep your mouth shut about it. Margaret would never trust me again if she knew."

"Well she shouldn't! You're a fiend!" she replied, still trying to get away. "Now let go of me!"

Alice stomped on his foot, almost jerking her arm free. Filling up with annoyance and rage, Lowell slammed her into a nearby tree. She gave out a slight gasp of surprise, eyes widening.

"You insufferable-"as he raised his hand to strike her, he felt a large hand clasp around his wrist and fling him backwards. Stumbling, he fell to the ground, a look of bewilderment and confusion on his face.

"I believe the lady asked you to leave her be." Came a dark, menacing voice.

"Ilosovic." Alice just managed to whisper, still in shock. The Knave shot a glance her way before shifting his gaze to the confused man on the ground.

"And who do you think you are?" Lowell demanded, standing up.

"That is none of your concern." Stayne snapped back icily. "But allow me to make one thing very clear for you…Don't you ever lay a hand on her again."

"We were having a conversation, if you do not mind. Now if you will kindly excuse us-" he started towards Alice again, but Stayne quickly blocked him, shooting daggers with his eyes.

"Don't-touch-her."

Laughing haughtily, Lowell suddenly took a swing at him, missing completely. Grabbing his fist, Stayne shoved him away, unsheathing his sword. Alice gasped, raising a hand to her mouth as she watched Lowell once again approach Stayne, trying to hit him.

"What does it mean to you? She's just silly girl."

With one swift motion, the Knave jutted out his sword, getting the other man directly in the gut.

"If you are going to fight me, at least give me a challenge.

Pulling the bloodied weapon back out, he turned to Alice as Lowell's lifeless body fell to the ground. As he reached her, he gently brushed his gloved fingers against her cheek.

"Ilosovic…" she whispered, tears coming to her eyes.

"He won't hurt you again, Alice." Stayne leaned down so he was at her level.

"B-But you…you killed him."

"Yes."

She only stared at him, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"You just killed him…without even thinking about it."

Stayne closed his eye, as if trying to control something. His heartbeat sped up, the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He licked his lips, enjoying the rush.

"Yes, I did." He breathed, pressing a hand against the tree on either side of her head. Not waiting for a response, he kissed her roughly on the mouth, savoring the taste. After a moment, he pulled back, leaving her gasping for breath. Taking her hand, he slipped a ring onto her finger gingerly and watched her eyes light up. "I know this may not be the most appropriate time…"

Without another word, Alice threw her arms around his neck, kissing him again.

It was not until they had both gone back down the rabbit hole together and entered Underland that Alice felt the shock set in and realized what had happened. She felt her knees give way as she broke down into tears, feeling Stayne's arms reaching out to keep her up.

"Oh, Margaret would not listen to me when I told her…she told me I was speaking nonsense...and now she shall be alone for her life!" she sobbed into his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair, kneeling down and embracing her.

"Shhh…" he whispered soothingly. She buried her face into his shoulder, clutching onto him tightly. "Everything will be all right, Alice."

"B-But it won't!"

"Yes, it will." He tilted her chin up slightly.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know things will get better. Not everything will be completely fine, but it will get better."

Alice managed a small smile, wiping the tears from her eyes. Stayne brushed his thumb across her cheek, kissing her softly. This is where she wanted to be forever; in Underland. This is what mattered to her now. They continued on, heading down the long path. Finding Stayne's horse waiting for them, they both got on, riding off towards the castle; towards home. It was a perfectly twisted fairytale.