Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.
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slowly editing! You'll see at the end of each chapter if th...
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After Emma and Henry's tearful reunion, we ran straight to Gold's shop. We followed behind a frantic Snow, antsy to wake up her husband. When we got there there's already a group formed around David. I recognize some of them from the day the curse is broken. Leroy and the other dwarves that I never learned the names of along with Ruby.
Snow sits by David's side and leans down while everyone holds their breath in anticipation. Her lips press into his and a bright light fills the room almost instantly. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when David's eyes open, filled with love at the sight of his wife. I feel a pang in my chest that I've grown used to over the years. Loneliness. It's especially alive in this room, filled with old friends and family. Myself being the only odd one out. Well, not exactly.
I look over to see Regina standing to the side and I can't help but sympathize with her. She's an outcast due to her own actions but the look in her eye is all too familiar. I had lumped Cora and Regina together without a second thought when I had discovered she's Cora's daughter. But I've never seen Cora show any emotion before. Just cruelty.
"How about dinner at Granny's? On me." Ruby's words break me out of my thoughts as she looks around the room.
"As long as it's not Chimera, I'm in." Emma jokes and I clench my jaw. I shift uncomfortably, unsure if the invite even extends to me. Me and Emma have become pretty close over the past couple of days along with Snow but everyone else doesn't know me.
"Alice, are you coming?" Emma's voice calls out and I look up in surprise, immediately feeling stupid for feeling the way I did.
"Oh, yeah, sure. I'll be there in a bit." I stutter out and she gives me a nod before putting her arm around Henry's shoulder and walking out. The rest follow after her joyfully catching up. I turn around once I can no longer hear the chatter to face Regina who looks as though she's barely holding it together.
"Let me guess, this is the part where you get your revenge." She spits out tearfully and I sigh heavily. I don't say anything for a good minute, considering.
"No. This is the part where I offer you forgiveness." I say softly. Her gaze shoots up so fast it was almost comical. She looks almost horrified, causing me to laugh a little.
"Why?" She asks suspiciously.
"I know your mother. She's hated me since I was a little girl. Before I could even manage to pick up a sword, let alone use one." I begin to explain. I trail off for a moment, lost in memories of Wonderland.
"Where are you going with this?" She asks lowly.
"Your mother would have closed that portal and never looked back." I say simply and she looks at me, starting to understand. "You're trying. I'm not going to treat someone who's trying like a villain. Especially when I now know you learned it all from her." I explain. I mean every word too, which is probably more shocking to me than it is to her.
"I..." She trails off, looking as though I had just stuck her. Still though, beneath it all, I can see she's truly affected by my words.
"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that I'm wiping the slate clean." I tell her with a nod. She takes a moment to compose herself, wiping her eyes discreetly.
"Thank you, Alice." She mutters under her breath but I hear her none the less.
"You wanna come to Granny's?" I ask awkwardly, extending another olive branch. She looks even more shocked but she hides it well with a faux smile.
"No, thank you. I don't think I'm welcome." She says, looking down at the ground with a rueful smile.
"I understand." Is all I say with an apologetic smile before turning to catch up with the others.
"Alice!" I stop dead in my tracks and turn around with furrowed brows. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out... a set of keys? She holds them out to me, urging me to grab them. I reach out hesitantly before doing so.
"What's this?" I ask dumbly.
"A key. To an apartment here in Storybrooke." Comes her simple reply. My eyes widen and I look up to see she has an apologetic look on her face.
"You're giving me an apartment?" I ask, dumbfounded.
"Consider it an apology." She says as an explanation and I feel tears start to form in my own eyes. Maybe she really has changed after all.
"I've never had a place of my own... I've always shared it with either my mother or husband...." I say to myself before grinning at her. "Thank you Regina. This is a good start."
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