"So... Why did you want to come back to the Enchanted Forest so soon? I thought you were excited to be back in Wonderland." Jefferson said with furrowed eyebrows, removing his jacket and hanging it on a dining chair. It was already late in the day and the sun was beginning to set on the Enchanted Forest, casting a fiery glow on the inside of Jefferson's home.

"I've been thinking," she started, approaching Jefferson from behind and grasping his shoulders in her dainty gloved hands and massaging them gently. "And I think it would be good for us to live in the Enchanted Forest." Jefferson's heart did a flip at the sound of "us". He was still growing accustomed to being a half to a whole. His relationship with Alice was so new, so fresh - it had blossomed more quickly than he'd ever expected. His world had taken on a lighter look - it was brighter, the sun shined with a new light. Jefferson still found himself marveling at Alice and her returned affections.

"I did not know that you were so fond of my glamorous life I lead here. It's not too dull for you?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Of course not," she said wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back and taking comfort in the heartbeat that was steadily thumping. "Being with you is anything but dull."

"But still," he continued. "Why live here? Why not Wonderland?"

"It's safe here," she started," And...because something occurred to me, Jefferson." Jefferson waited a moment for her to continue.

"And what would that be Alice?" he asked prodding playfully.

"All these worlds that I go to... They are so different... So unique. And it just got me to thinking... How valuable something from one world would be in another. Just imagine how much someone would pay to get their hands on something so rare you can't even find it in your own world. We could make a fortune!" Alice said releasing Jefferson from her hold.

"I suppose I never really thought about that," Jefferson said, taking a seat at the small dining room table. Alice moved to sit down across from him and gazed at him with excitement glowing dimly in her eyes. "The trading and selling of goods isn't exactly a bustling business in Wonderland, which is why it is perfect here. Just think... We could live in comfort. No more mushroom picking," she teased.

"What kinds of things would be selling?" he asked.

"All sorts of things. Perhaps the growth and shrinking foods from Wonderland. Like you said before, I'm sure someone could find use for that sort of thing, and at the price of a pretty penny. And in Neverland they have fairies there, with dust that can make you fly," she said, her voice and pace increasing with a sort of wonderment and determination, "Can you imagine it Jefferson? We'd both have new lives, and we'd have everything we could ever wish for," she said standing from her chair and taking two long strides to Jefferson and crouching at his level, grabbing his hands to hold in hers.

"What about The Red Queen?" He questioned. "Wonderland is doomed. I realize that now," she murmured, her voice hanging heavy in the air, her eyes glazing over with hopelessness, "The Red Queen can't be defeated. There's no place for me there anymore," she said, lifting her gaze from their hands to his face, "My place is with you," she said softly.

"And what of your friends?"

"They are better off without me, believe me. The Red Queen was hardly interested in them before I came around." Alice hoped one day she'd be able to convince herself of this. She knew them to be true, but guilt was still plaguing her spirit. Part of her felt like leaving Wonderland was utterly selfish and deplorable, no matter what Chessure said, but she couldn't quell the urge she was feeling to live a life free of worry with Jefferson. And it's wasn't like she was leaving forever, she kept reminding herself. She would go back. One day.

"Are you sure of this?" He asked her, his eye brows furrowing slightly.

"Yes," she said with confidence. "Even so, if I change my mind, Wonderland is only a flick of the wrist away."

"Well if you're going to live here, we probably should take another trip to the market tomorrow," he said leaving his seat.

"Oh?"

"Yes. I'm afraid your clothes have reached the end of their days, my dear," he said searching among the cupboards for something to eat. Alice had been alternating between a handful of ratty dresses that came only to her knees. Her legs were covered by stockings that were so worn that they could scarcely be called stockings, full of holes, patches and fabric that she wrapped around her legs in areas that the damage was too great. The only thing that were no practically falling off her body were her boots, the scuffed brown leather, being obviously worn for many years, clinging tightly laced to her feet perfectly. Her day to day ensembles were aged and clearly not of origin of Wonderland or the Enchanted Forest, Jefferson figured that they belonged to Alice's homeland. She had admitted to him that she returned there from time to time but she was not overly fond of her visits there.

"Who needs clothes?" she said taking Jefferson's vacant chair. "Clothes are highly overrated. Nudity is much more comfortable," she said lazily placing her hands behind her head and leaning back. Jefferson rolled his eyes as he found a loaf of bread and knife to cut it with.

"So you wish to parade around the village in the nude?" he asked with a small smile as he carefully sliced. "That might cause a stir."

"Good," she said leaving her seat approaching Jefferson and grabbing a slice of bread from over his shoulder, and taking a large bite filling her mouth.

"That's attractive," he said with a scoff upon seeing her stuffed cheeks.

"I am highly attractive," she said in a manner that was quite the opposite, with her voice muffled from the bread. "Admit it," she said once she had swallowed, "You think I'm adorable."

"That's debatable," he teased. She raised an eyebrow and then sauntered to his clothing chest to grab his mother's old night gown, and struggled to get her corset off, letting out a frustrated groan.

"Let me help," Jefferson said just as she felt his fingers begin to work the lacing.

"I really need to get better at doing this myself. You'd think after ten years of doing this it'd get a little easier," she said with a huff, followed by a moan of pleasure as she felt the release from the confines of the restricting garment.

"How ever did you do this before?" He asked playfully.

"Very carefully," she said as Jefferson turned to give her some privacy as she removed her clothes and pulled the nightgown over her head. Jefferson busied himself with setting up his makeshift bed in the corner while Alice braided her long mass of blonde curls. Jefferson was taken aback when he turned around to find Alice watching him from his bed. She hesitated and fiddled with her fingers.

"What?" Jefferson asked.

"You know... You can sleep in the bed... With me if you want," she asked, averting her eyes from his shyly. Jefferson was taken off guard, his ears burning as he attempted to sputter out a response.

"Oh, no, Alice I couldn't," he said as politely as he could.

"Oh, Jefferson," she said, suddenly regaining her confidence. "Don't be a baby! We are two grown adults, I swear I won't bite," she said patting the bed. Jefferson hesitated, but found himself timidly approaching the bed as Alice scooted to the side to give him room. The bed was decently sized, plenty of room for one person, but a snug fit for two. Jefferson pulled himself into bed, and pulled the blanket up to cover the both of them. Alice watched Jefferson's Adam's apple bob nervously, and she let out a giggle. Jefferson's whole body was tense and distanced uncomfortably from him. She moved her body closer to his and laced her fingers through his turning onto her side and entwining one of her legs with his.

"Relax Jefferson," she said as she closed her eyes with a smile on her face, and he listened to her, letting his muscles relax and enjoying the feel of Alice's breath on his neck. "Goodnight, Alice," he said kissing her nose gently.

"Goodnight, my love," she said in return drifting into sleep.

"You sure like blue," Jefferson remarked with amusement.

"Oh hush you," she said admiring yet another cerulean gown, and then throwing it into the growing pile of dresses that lay in Jefferson's arms.

"Are you finished?" Jefferson asked.

"Yes I think so," she said thoughtfully.

"Alright, I have to get some fabric before we leave. I shan't be much longer," he said turning his back. "Try not to wander," he added. He waited for a response, and turned around to find Alice was nowhere in sight. Again. "Really?" he groaned. He had already lost Alice nearly a dozen times, and it was not yet even noon. He pushed back his hair in slight frustration, although if he was honest with himself, he couldn't be mad at Alice in the slightest.

He resigned himself to look at the fabrics and found himself getting lost in the textures and designs. Ever since he had made the hat for Alice he had felt his affinity for hatting and sewing begin to return to him. The fabric was merely meant for mending trousers, but he couldn't help but imagine the hats that he could make out of each one. His train of thought was interrupted by a commotion outside the shop, followed by a series of shrieks. He let out a sigh. Alice, He thought rolling his eyes. Days ago he may have been worried for her, but knowing her now he could safely say that Alice was more likely to be causing trouble rather than be in it. Besides, if anyone could handle themselves, it was Alice. He poked his head out of the shop's door to make sure there was no real danger, and then returned to pay for the items.

He dumped them onto the counter in a heap, and waited for the merchant to examine his finds and price them.

"That will be 10 silvers," he said gruffly.

Jefferson's eyes bulged, "Ten silvers?!" He repeated in shock.

"Are you deaf?" The man replied, his voice growing annoyed.

"Surely I can talk you down a little?" he suggested as politely as he could. "Five silvers, perhaps?"

"Five silvers?! Are you mad! Ten! I should make it eleven just for you!" He exclaimed in shock, his voice dripping of a barely contained outrage.

"I'm sorry sir, I don't have-" and suddenly Jefferson was interrupted by a hand shooting past him and dropping a pouch of heavy coins onto the counter.

"That should be enough," he heard Alice say from behind him. The man stared at her with incredulous eyes, and examined the contents of the pouch, counting out ten silver coins into his palm. Apparently Alice was counting as well, for as soon as he had ten in his palm she snatched the pouch back. "I was going to give you all of that, but I can't say I'm really impressed with your customer service," she said haughtily. The man let out a grunt of frustration, and pushed their items towards them.

"Thank you, sir, it has been lovely doing business with you," she said taking their purchases in her arms, and smugly marched out of the store. Alice nearly tipped over, with the weight of the dresses offsetting her balance, before Jefferson steadied her and took them from her.

"I was perfectly capable of carrying those," she said stubbornly.

"Where did you get that money from?" Jefferson said ignoring her.

"I just sold a few Wonderlandian goods," she sniffed.

"What did you sell?!" He gasped. She pulled out a piece of the growth bread from her pocket with a sly grin. Suddenly things clicked into place. "What happened, Alice?" he asked suspiciously.

"Well they wanted to see if it worked, so they had a bite. I don't know why it caused such a fuss. I mean what do you expect when you eat magical growth bread? I did warn them you know," she said coming to the trail that led into the woods and to Jefferson's home. Jefferson's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh he was fine, I sold them a potion that shrinks one in size as well," she said nonchalantly. When they finally made it to Jefferson's house his arms were tired with the weight of Alice's clothes. He dropped them onto the floor and then threw himself face down onto the bed with a thump.

"You can put those away," he said with a voice muffled from the blankets.

"You're such a baby, Jefferson," she said picking up a dress and hanging it up in his wardrobe.

"Says the one who didn't carry anything," he accused.

"I carried your fabric!" She said in defense. He sighed and decided to drop the subject, he was already worn out from the long walk, and he didn't have the energy to argue, even if it was merely in jest.

"How much money did you make?" He asked with curiosity.

"I'm not really familiar with your lands money," she said picking up the pouch and throwing it towards him. "See for yourself."

"Alice," he said slowly.

"Yes, Jefferson?" she said still preoccupied with hanging up her new clothes.

"This is more than I make in a year!" He exclaimed.

"Really?" She said, dropping the dress she was holding to the ground.

"What do you we take another little shopping trip tomorrow?" Jefferson grinned.

Thank you Supercilium for editing this chapter, you're a doll!