♥--------♛--------♥

The first day was exhausting to say the least. Frederick had kept you on your toes as he dished out a variety of different practices to teach you with that were all either pointless or obnoxious, usually both. It was now the third day you had been in Wonderland and the week was going by incredibly fast. Today you had more lessons with the king to much of your chagrin. 

You put on your dress for the day and made your ways out of the king's bedroom, which you had been sharing ever since the first day. It was embarrassing at first but you eventually just got used to it. He'd always end up cuddling with you when you slept. You wouldn't imagine the mighty and most intimidating King of Hearts to be a cuddly sorta guy but he certainly was to you at night. Making your way down the corridors of the castle of hearts that you were still getting used too. You asked one of the guards where the king was located, in which the card directed you towards a large empty ballroom. This was the first time you had gone into this ballroom and you were shocked by how beautiful it was. There were stain glass windows all around the room of different images that had many hearts. A huge diamond chandelier hung from a fixture on the ceiling and reflected off light that glittered throughout the rectangular shaped room. The King of Hearts was seen standing there and looking off into the distance at the stain glass, seemingly in thought. 

You thanked the guard that had led you here before strolling over to the king. You noticed there was a chair right beside him that had a stack of heavy looking books lying on it. You glanced from the books and over to the king who turned his dark eyed gaze over to you. "Good to see you could make it. Today's lesson shall be a special one."

"Special? How so?" You wondered aloud.

Frederick smiled in that way that was painfully sweet but almost sickeningly so. "I will not tell you and ruin the surprise of it. Here this." He said before grabbing a single lengthy book and handing it over to you. You stared at the book for a moment in puzzlement before looking back up into his jet black eyes. 

"Am I reading something?" 

"You do ask too many questions. I'm the one who asks the questions here, you just listen and obey like a good girl. Now take the book, (Y/n)." The king urged you to take the book that looked like from the title it was about Wonderland's history. It might had been an interesting read if you were supposed to read it. However, that was not what the king had in mind as he gestures towards your head. "Now place the book on your head."

Giving him another look of confusion, you take the book from him. Glancing down at it, you weren't sure why he told you to put it on your head, but you listened to him so you didn't evoke his wrath. Putting it carefully on your head, it wasn't an extreme challenge to keep it balanced there but it did feel heavy. The king examines you for a few seconds in silence before nodding at you. "Good. Now walk with it. Keep your back straight and your head up high! A good queen always has perfect grace no matter where she is," Frederick explained to you as you awkwardly began to walk straight with the heavy book on your head. It still wasn't difficult but you were slightly annoyed as Frederick kept coming up to you and titling your chin up to look higher and grabbing you by the shoulders to straighten you to be in perfect position. 

"This isn't so hard." You said as you strutted back and forth like a super model walking down a runway. His eyes were so focused on your every movement it was almost unnerving. It was like his eyes were eating up your form, they almost looked lustful. 

"Then let's make it harder," The king watches you for a few moments until grabbing another heavy book about jabberwockies and placing it on your head on top of the other book. It became a bit harder now with the weight of both books slowing you down. You bit your lip and tried balancing the two books. "Don't drop them. You're wobbling! Keep your head higher! … No, no, you're stance is all wrong!" Shaking his head, he comes back over from behind you and grabs you from behind by the waist. Your eyes widen and you immediately feel a blush rising on your cheeks as he holds your waist to straighten you out again. You felt him lean in so that his front was leaning against your back, you could feel his heated breath on your neck as he goes to whisper huskily in your ear. "Now you do it like this. My way…" You were physically shaking while he smirks haughtily to himself and goes to kiss to the side of your neck from behind. You let out a high-pitched gasp and almost drop the books as he trails ticklish kisses down your neck. "Don't drop them…" He mutters into the kisses that were driving you mad with strong different emotions. 

You stay stiff as a board but accidentally find yourself moving your neck ever so slightly to let him have better access of your neck. He sucks on your tender skin and leave his own possessive marks. You were trying to keep in any sensuous noises from escaping as you closed your eyes together tightly and fought with all your might. You felt him nibble a little at your neck and it was just enough to make you gasp again and then let out a loud moan that instantly embarrassed yourself. The books on your head were wobbling again as you felt like you were about to fall over from the king doing this to you. It was torture that you refused to admit you were taking explicit pleasure from. 

"F-Frederick…" You spoke breathlessly as he continued to attack your neck with sweet passionate kisses. 

"You're mine…" He whispers back which sends chills down your spine. You couldn't protest nor did you want too. He felt like a lifetime as he kissed your neck until he came up to your jawline. You relished in the kisses, unable to ignore the fact that you loved it and wanted more. It wasn't until the two heavy books on your head slipped off and made impact with the ground loudly when you were both taken out of your lust filled moment with one another. Frederick backed off and gazed down at the books that were now lying sprawled out on the marble floor. You felt your neck where he had left his possessive markings, before also looking down at the books sheepishly. The king shook his head while tsking, "You dropped them, (Y/n)." He started to say almost scoldingly as he turned his eyes to look back at you who turned around to look at him. 

"How could I not when you were…-" You stop yourself from saying the rest as you knew anymore and you would probably anger him for blaming him for making you drop them. 

"When I was what?" He challenged to much of your dread. You blushed furiously and scratched the side of your cheek nervously. "Well?"

"You were…-" You gulped and were about to say it anyway but he interrupted you before you could.

"You failed your lesson today." He sighed, "Perhaps, next time you will do better. As a queen you must ALWAYS have grace given any situation. You dropped the books so go ahead and pick them back up." He chided you which piqued your annoyance. How in the world did he expect you to keep those books balanced when he was standing there assaulting your neck with kisses! You make a faint glare at him and then bend down to pick up the books like he told you too. He seemed to watch you bend over which made you mutter 'pervert' under your breath. It was a good thing he didn't hear as you picked them up and placed them back on the chair with the other books. 

"Frederick… I have an honest question but please do not be offended by it." You said as you looked at him as he stared at you with his head raised high, almost arrogantly. 

"I told you I ask the questions but I will let it go this once. What is it?"

"How did you expect me to keep those books balanced on my head if you were well… kissing me." You said a little quickly from your nerves. His face didn't contort to that of anger like you expected, instead it remained indifferent. 

"Grace is always a factor of being a queen. As my queen you shall be as graceful as a butterfly. I expect in 'every' situation that you will retain grace but your actions prove to be clumsy. We shall pick that. Your lesson on grace is not over just yet." He told you before glancing blankly over at his card guards that were off to the sidelines. "I request music! Make is quick!" Frederick watched his guards quickly speed away to get instruments to play for the king and you. 

You didn't quite understand his logic. He wanted you to be graceful when he was trying to be romantic with you? Sure, you could understand helping you with your etiquette and teaching you legitimate things about being a queen, but grace, really? Was that really what he was so worried about from you? You didn't even what to begin wondering what he had in store that music had to be involved. Was he going to make you dance while you held books on your head? Maybe, he wanted to play musical chairs and see if you were graceful enough to get the single chair he had. At this point, you wouldn't be surprised if it were something as ridiculous as that. "Frederick… What will the music be for?"

"Another question?" He looked irritated that you had asked him another question when he obviously didn't like them very much. You knew it was treading dangerous waters but you nodded to him in response. 

He scowled as he went to answer you, "NO! NO MORE QUESTIONS!" He yelled which made you fall into silence. You didn't feel like crying at his outburst, but you did feel peeved that he still couldn't control his temper. "You just want to ruin the surprise don't you? Well, I'm not letting you!" He continued to say which made you look at him funny. 

"I didn't know there was a surprise…" You said being completely honest. He abruptly smirks at you which takes once again a total 180' mood swing. He replies back with a much sweeter tone of voice that had a threatening edginess to it. 

"Yes, my dear. There is a surprise and I would like for you to not ruin it for yourself. So… stop asking questions." He deadpanned which made you sigh and shrug your shoulders.

"If you say so," You replied and waited for the cards to come back. It didn't take them too long to come back with a whole band of them that held musical instruments to play with. They got together and began to start playing beautiful instrumental music that sounded classically divine. The King of Hearts steps up to you and extends his hand out to you. You break your gaze from the cards playing and turn to look at him curiously. He smiled at you in a way that looked close to a smirk. There was a twinkle in his dark eyes that looked playful in a way. 

"For you next lesson in grace. I want you to take my hand and to keep up with me. If you can, I will forgive you for your last failed lesson. How about it?" He asked charmingly as he kept his hand out for you to take. You stared at him and his hand for a moment before gradually reaching out and letting him take your hand into his own. "Very good." He said before taking a step near you so that you were very close. You tried not to blush at the proximity as he goes to make it even worse as he places his other hand behind your back. You were now in a dancing position which gave away just what you were about to do with him. "Dance with me, (Y/n). Stay on your toes and keep your eyes on mine at all times." He took lead as he began dancing you across the floor. You weren't very familiar with dancing and were terrified you would step on his feet and make him blow up on you. He seemed to be a much better dancer than he was a croquet player as he swept you across the floor almost effortlessly. "Have you ever danced before?" He asks you as he keeps your eyes on him at all times. 

You wanted to advert your eyes away shyly but you tried with all your will to keep them settled on his own. "Not frequently, no. Hardly ever…" You tell him which makes him nod with a smile forming. 

"Then I shall teach you not only grace but how to dance."

"I have to be graceful when I've hardly danced before?"

"Indeed, you do. Perhaps, you are a born dancer and can keep up with me. You can do this, I trust." He says as you dance around in circles with him. Once again logic went out the window which was not a surprising thing in Wonderland. "When we are wed, I want you to dance with me and impress all the lord and ladies that will be attending. I only ask for perfection." He chuckles which makes you nervously laugh back. You certainly were far from perfection but it's true when he says he searches for perfection. If not that then a beheading would suffice. Even though you were not used to dancing, you weren't doing horribly with him. In a way that he danced and kept the lead made you feel much more comfortable. You were actually able to enjoy swirling around the room and giving away to the lovely soft music that played. Being so close you could really see how handsome he was. His face was sculpted without flaw and those dark eyes could set a heart ablaze. In this case, you didn't want to admit you felt any attraction to King Frederick, but you just couldn't stop that nagging little feeling that bubbled up inside and made you feel so warm all over. Yes, indeed, you were very attracted to him but you still couldn't call yourself ready to marry him. You knew him for three days now. They did say three times the charm, but you weren't so certain that was true in this situation. 

"I could never give you perfection… Even if I tried…" You said to him after a moment. He lowly chuckles and shakes his head.

"Nonsense. You are perfect… Just a bit clumsy is all." 

You couldn't help but smile back at that backhanded compliment. It was so very like him and you determined that was the reason you did smile at it. "How can I be perfect if I'm clumsy?"

"Because you are 'perfect' at being perfectly clumsy, of course." He said like it was the most obvious of things. You couldn't help but laugh at that. It was so ridiculous but you were starting to get used to ridiculousness here in your new life. He quirked an eyebrow at your laughter and seemed perplexed by it.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Oh… No reason… It just sounds kind of contradictory. Clumsy is considered a flaw."

"But you are 'perfectly' clumsy, my dear. That is the difference." He says before suddenly surprising you as you goes to spin you around. Your dress flares out like a spinning flower as he twirls you around. You smile as he brings you back but right into his arms. He stopped dancing with you as he brought his hands to settle on the sides of your arms. You furrow your brows in confusion and go to stare up at him questionably for an answer on why he stopped. "(Y/n)…" 

"Yes, Frederick?" 

"Close your eyes." You didn't have any reason to distrust him or disobey. You wondered what he now had in store as you do what he says and close your eyes to blackness. You just stand there for a moment and feel his hands move from the sides of your arms to around your waist. You were tempted to open your eyes but you resisted. Maybe, this was a test of some sort? Although, you had no idea how it corresponded with grace. You felt his breath on your face for the briefest of moments until suddenly soft lips collided with your own lips. "Keep your eyes closed." He murmured into the kiss. You didn't know how to react right away but a side of you was panicking while another side said to reciprocate. "Kiss me, (Y/n)…" Frederick whispered which made those goosebumps come back on your skin. You couldn't stop yourself soon enough as you opened your mouth just enough to let him have entrance. Your hands wrap around him and soon you were kissing him back with a needing want. He was being so surprisingly careful with you as if you were fragile like a porcelain doll. It only, made you want him more as he dominated your mouth the second he got the chance. You were okay to this submission and didn't fight him back much, only enough to keep it interesting. The kiss was splendid, absolutely breathtaking. You remained kissing and in each other's arms until you were the first one to pull away for air. He stared at you fondly, which you now looked back at him with a blush never truly going away the entire time. "I love you…" Was all he had to say to make your heart hammer inside your chest. 

You just stared at him and didn't know what to say. Could this really be true or was it just another one of Wonderland's mad illusions? The King of Hearts or Frederick admitted that he loved you. It seemed so sudden, too soon. You shouldn't even be here! You should be home back with your family, the one thing he wouldn't let you back too. He was the one that imprisoned you here without your freedom to leave. And he had the nerve to tell you that he loved you? You gulped and stepped away from his hold. He looked perplexed to why you moved away from him, he awaited your reply to his confession anxiously. Your lip trembled and you tried to speak but you were afraid too. Your felt a painful mixture of love and hate for the man in front of you. You HATED that he stole your freedom, threatens you, keeps you all to himself, and then forces you to make life commitments like marrying him, but then you loved him for other reasons that were undefinable. He reaches out to grab you but you retracted away suddenly from his touch. You give him one look before suddenly becoming completely irrational. 

"(Y/n)?" He says as you begin to back away from him. He tries to come back to grab you again but you suddenly take off like the wind away from him. You had turned around and started running as fast as your feet could take you away from him. Frederick could do nothing but stand there with wide eyes left in shock as you fled from the ballroom. You didn't know where you were going but you had to retreat from him. Every logical part of you was gone as you ran through the hallways past many identical guard cards that watched you in confusion as you ran. You were heading towards the front entrance of the castle which would be your exit. You burst through the large heart shaped doors and ignored the cries from the guards. You could hear them running after you as you kept running in a blur. You were only able to keep running without tiring out from the adrenaline that was rushing through your veins. You ran into the front garden that had hedges made into a giant maze that you had to navigate through. You didn't care where you were going as long as it was away from the castle, especially the king. A cluster of card guards were trying to reach you and then find you as you became hidden within the maze's labyrinth. Tears were streaming down your face as you ran, your makeup was running down your face and making you look like a mess. 

It took you awhile until you found an exit to a forest that had signs everywhere all saying different things like 'up', 'down', and 'that way'. You didn't know which way would lead anywhere but you supposed if it wasn't the castle it was the right way. You went down a path that had a sign that read 'yonder'. You hardly know where that meant to go but you followed it and hoped the guards would not find you. You were free! You couldn't imagine the pure outrage that King Frederick was most likely in right now. You didn't feel guilty for running nor did you feel much anything but sadness. You kept walking down the seemingly endless path alone by yourself. The forest seemed to get darker the further you went on through it. You could see pairs of eyes looking at you from all directions. It made you shutter and worry that you walked into some place dangerous. You were alone other than Wonderland's woodland creatures that seemed to watch your every move as you went to sit down on a hollow log. You sat there and brought your hands to your face and simply wept your heart out. "I just want to go home." You said in the midst of crying. "I wish more than anything I can just go home. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my old life…" You continued to sob into your hands.

"Then go back if you miss it so much~" A voice purred. 

You immediately look up and look around fearfully, "W-who said that?" 

"Why me, of course. Who else?" The voice replied. There out in a distance tree branch appeared to be what looked like a forming grin and eyes that appeared out of nowhere. You gasped and look frighten of the disembodied grin and green eyes staring at you from afar. The voice from the grin chuckled and soon enough you could see purple strips forming before a human looking cat man sat on a branch. He swore a stripped purple and pink long sleeved sweater, had short purple hair, and had black pants. His bright emerald green eyes stared at you as he continued to grin at you with pointed sharp teeth. 

"Who are you?" You questioned the cat who was sitting on the branch staring at you. You could see his fluffy stripped tail swooshing back and forth behind him as if he was happy to see you. 

"They call me… Cheshire. And you my dear appeared to be in a little bit of a predicament," He said while never once ceasing to grin which slightly unnerved you. You wiped away at your tears with your arm and gave him a suspicious look. 

"How do you know that?"

"Weeelll~" He slurred while he leaned forwards on the branch, "You wouldn't be crying if you were not in a predicament of some sort. You said you want to go home. Why not go then?"

"I-I'm lost and I don't know how to get back home. I'm not from Wonderland, you see."

"Hmm.." He ponders for a moment before flashing you another bright grin that showed off his teeth, "Aren't you the Queen of Hearts? Not so officially so, of course. I've heard from the great grapevine that the king has finally found his bride-to-be. Aren't you ever so lucky? You still have your head in place!" He says as his body disappears for a moment leaving a floating head in place. It creeped you out and you were relieved when his body came back to being visible. "Which is quite a feat when one meets the king. So why ever should you be crying if you are so fortunate?" 

"I'm not fortunate at all! The king is forcing me to be his Queen of Hearts! I don't want to be his queen! I just want to go home, but he has imprisoned me to stay with him forever! It's not fair, I just want to go home! That's all I ask…" Your voice breaks at the end as you sniffle and rub at your eyes again. Cheshire lays back on the branch in a relaxed position and hums to himself. You felt annoyed by how calm he seemed to be to your pained sorrow. Couldn't he just leave you alone if he wasn't going to tell you the way home? 

"But~ You still have your head. So you are fortunate, my dear~." He suddenly disappears and appears right next to you. You jumped startled as he giggles from you being startled by his abrupt appearance. 

"Yes, I'm glad I have my head! But that doesn't change the fact I'm stuck with him forever. What do you make of that!?"

"Fortunate!"

"Ugh… Fine but I just don't get it. Why does he want to marry me? He even told me he loved me… that was until I ran away…" 

Cheshire sat next to you on the log which made you feel instantly awkward around the strange cat man. His cat ears twitched on his head as he turned to look at you while still grinning, "Oh, how sweet! Who knew the king had such a side~! He must be absolutely furious that you left him. Do you think my dear that you can out run the king's guards forever?"

You lowered your head depressingly and shook your head, "No… It's only a matter of time until they find me…" 

He titled his head while his strips disappeared and reappeared on his sweater. "Find you they will. Then what will you do? You will face the king's wrath one way and that's his way." He snickers, "Perhaps, if he truly loves you he will spare you of an execution." You didn't reply back to Cheshire as you kept looking down deep in thought and feeling sorry for yourself. Cheshire starts humming a song again and disappears from beside you but now appears standing in front of you. His grinning face was no comfort to you as you kept your eyes lowered from his catlike green ones. "Ignoring me certainly won't save you~ Perhaps, you never should have run away in the first place."

"S-shut up…" You grumbled and brought your hands to your ears in attempt to ignore him. He snickered at this and knelt down in front of you in an animalistic crouch. You glared up at him as he was doing everything to gain your attention back on him. 

"Shutting up won't save you either~."

"I said shut up…"

"Oh my, obviously my presence is not wanted. Oh well, it was nice knowing you, your majesty~."

You grunt and glare at him as he begins to disappear slowly as his stripes begin to fade before the rest of him does too, the last thing to fade was that awful grin of his. It seemed almost uncanny the moment he left you heard shouting coming from the distance. Your eyes widen as you realize that those shouts are most defiantly from the king's guards. You throw yourself up and were about to run but you were already sighted before you could.

"There she is! Your majesty!" They called out as the three guards stumbled up towards you. You sighed and knew it was inevitable. You looked at them and didn't bother to run. At least, you had some time away from the king. Unfortunately, you were pestered by Cheshire the whole time which was almost equally as obnoxious. "Your majesty! You must get back to the castle! The king is having executions left and right! He's absolutely furious!" One of the card's explain to you with a fearful look. You felt a twinge of guilt for being the cause of probably many guards deaths. You sighed and stepped over to them in defeat. 

"Just take me back…" 

"Thank you!" They all said at the same time before they gladly began leading you back without defiance. You didn't know what to expect when you got back but you knew it wouldn't be good. Returning back to the castle with the guards guiding you back, you entered through the castle doors and you swore you could almost already hear his screaming ringing in your ears. They take you to the throne room where the king was found looking beyond livid. 

"OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!" His voice resonated throughout the entire large room. You peeked through the doorway at him to see him pointing furiously at a group of guards that had failed to find you. Other guards grabbed onto them and began taking them away to go to the chopping block. Your face contorts with disbelief that he was literally this outraged that you left him for such a short time. Taking a deep breath and being urged by the guards to get moving inside to stop the king from his rampage. You opened the door all the way and stepped inside. 

"Frederick… I'm back." You said almost emotionlessly. 

His dark eyes flashed in your direction and immediately he goes storming over towards you, "Where were you? Why did you leave!?" He yelled at you loudly. You flinched from his tone of voice and replied back softly,

"I needed time to think. I went to the forest." You told him. His angry eyes had a hint of what appeared to be worry. Had he been worried about you? He scoffed and brought his hand to his temples and tried taking in ragged breathes to calm himself. Something he didn't seem to try often until now. He didn't seem to soothe himself very well but at least he tried. 

"And what did running away from me did you gain!? Do you know how worried I was about you!? I don't worry for anyone!" His voice falters as he looks away from you with pained filled eyes. An intense silence fills the room as he stays silent for a moment as the two of you stood there not saying a word to one another. "Do you know why I worried for you?" You didn't ask why but simply looked at him questionably. His pained dark eyes turned back to look at you as he frowned deeply, "I worried about you because I care about you, (Y/n)."

"Why do you care for me?"

"Why?" He repeated and scoffed at your question, "You are actually asking me such a nonsensical question? I care because I do. There has to be no other reason behind it." Stepping towards you, he could tell you had been crying from your smeared makeup. He extended a hand and began softly rubbing under your eyes to rid of the mascara streaks that ran down from your eyes. "You were crying." 

You feel that painfully annoying feeling come back as he treated you so gently, yet he could talk to you so harshly. His actions spoke so differently from his words. You wish he would at least be consistent and either be one way or the other but he wasn't. You didn't speak but just look away from in shame. He brought his hand to your cheek and caressed it softly. You look back at him and try not to cry in front of him from how he was making you feel for him again. The tug a war match between your emotions was strenuous and it seemed like the side that felt for him was winning out. "I'm sorry…" You murmured.

He suddenly took you and brought you into an embrace. It was a side to Frederick you weren't so used to seeing. He was being so loving and gentle with you. You couldn't help but succumb to his embrace on you as you fell into his arms and began crying. He rubbed circles in your back soothingly as you cried. 

You remained like this for a few minutes and King Frederick never once yelled at you again after it. He remained completely sympathetic to your emotions. It wasn't until he led you back to the bedroom to get some needed rest after being emotionally drained. He had tucked you in and kissed your forehead before leaving you alone. You laid there in confusion to what you felt. Your thoughts went wild as you laid there until your exhausted body finally let you drift to sleep. You dreamt of a certain cat man and King Frederick that night. The haunting grin of Cheshire was still fresh in your mind, while the confession that the King of Hearts had given you was even fresher. 

♥--------♛--------♥

Days went by until it was wedding day. After the day you ran away, the king tighten up his watch on you to make sure you wouldn't run away again. You found it pointless and completely senseless to try and run away again. You had no where to go. The king had treated you much differently the past four days. He hadn't yelled at you at all and he was treating you much more sweetly. Of course, he only shows this when you're around others, than that he's still his normal haughty hot-headed self. During the four days that had passed your feelings for Frederick had only grew. You still couldn't say you were ready to be married to him, but you at least could say you genuinely felt like you liked him. Like was a good place to start and then maybe eventually love, but you needed much more time before that happened. 

You were standing in you and Frederick's room as you were dressed down in an extravagant white wedding ball-gown dress that you begged to not have any hearts or red in it. The king gave you want you wanted for a dress, thankfully, and you had to admit the dress was gorgeous; fit for a queen even. You patted the sides of your dress and stared at you reflection in the mirror. You weren't sure if you were ready for this. You knew it was coming and you had the entire week to prepare for it but now that it was actually here your feelings were more intense. You would be officially proclaimed the Queen of Hearts this day in Wonderland. You could only imagine what a Wonderland wedding would be like, especially with the king involved and possibly other mad residents of this land. 

You adjusted your golden tiara in your hair and put on your white veil that attached to the back of your tiara. Your (h/l) (h/c) hair was in a classy style and your makeup was applied to perfection. You truly looked bedazzling. You heard a knock at your door and assumed that it was one of the guards calling for you. You let out a sigh and head over to open up the door to see your friend the Four of Hearts that had been the first one to lead you to the King of Hearts. "Oh, it's you!" You said with a smile forming on your (pink/red) painted lips. The card smiled back at you and bowed to you.

"Hello, (Y/n)! The others sent me to come and get you. How are you feeling?" He asks you. You make a thoughtful expressions before shrugging your shoulders.

"I feel a mixture of things. I honestly don't dread it as much as I had, but I don't know if I'm still yet ready to be married to him. I guess, I don't have much of a choice, though."

He smiles at you sympathetically, "I believe you will come to find it's not so bad. The king really cares about you. I've seen the way he treats you compared to others. To be honest with you, (Y/n). When you ran away I thought he was going to behead you but he didn't and that alone shows how much he cares. The king doesn't ever let something like that off free. He loves you." He said which made your heart flutter at the thought. You wanted to sigh again but you stifled it. 

"I hope you are right. I'm sorry, I ran away and had your friends beheaded because of my actions."

He chuckles and waves it off, "It sounds horrible but I'm used to it. It happens all the time. Here's a little secret though for you. Just because the king commands us to behead each other doesn't mean we always do it. Sometimes, we fake executions and he never notices." You opened your mouth and started to laugh at that. "Don't tell him I said that though or my head is finished."

"My lips are sealed." You replied with a secretive smile as you placed a finger to your lips. He chuckled again and then gestured for you to follow him. 

"Thank you for that. Now let's get you to your wedding. My head will certainly roll if you're late." You nod and follow him down the corridors of the castle of hearts. You were having the wedding outside in the garden by what you had heard. The Four of Hearts takes you outside to the gardens. You could hear cheerful music playing as you went towards the location. The Four of Hearts pauses and looks back at you, "Just wait a moment, please, your grace." He told you before heading forwards to alert the white rabbit that you were here. The white rabbit anxiously nods and goes to alert the musicians to start playing the wedding march. You hear the classical music begin to play soon after and you knew that was your cue to start walking down the aisle. 

You took a deep breath and started to slowly walk past a hedge and into the garden and down the aisle of various people that were sitting off to the sides in their chairs. Your (e/c) eyes settled on the man that was down the aisle at the wedding arch decorated with red roses. He was there dressed in the finest royal attire that still had a hearts themed design to it. His dark eyes looked down at you and he held a proud air that looked elated to see his Queen of Hearts walking down the aisle towards him. You tried to smile but you felt such uncertainty of what you were about to take part in. You knew life wouldn't be so bad as the Queen of Hearts, but you still couldn't help but terribly miss your old life. Your old life was gone now though, you had to learn to move on and accept that Wonderland and all it's madness was now your new life. 

You were now standing in front of King Frederick who genuinely looked happy for once. His eyes were soft and loving which almost made you feel guilty for feeling so detached from everything that was happening. "Citizens of Wonderland, we are gathered here today in the face of this company to join together this man and woman in holy matrimony…" The white rabbit began to speak as the minister for the wedding. He continued with the vows but your focus was on Frederick. He smiled at you in a way that wasn't an arrogant smirk, but it was genuine and something you didn't see often. You listened back in on the white rabbit after a few moments of just staring back at Frederick. "If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Everyone remained deathly silent. You doubted anyone would have the guts to speak up against the wedding. If anyone did they would earn their one way ticket to the chopping block for sure. Frederick stayed quiet and so did you. The white rabbit looked around and when no one spoke against you being together, he continued on with the wedding process. The king took your hands into his own and you held them together. Your hands did seem to fit almost perfectly in one another's. As the rabbit was speaking, you noticed something strange appearing behind the king's back. It almost looked like the king had a bushy pink and purple stripped tail. Wait, a second! Your tried not to look startled as you saw the Cheshire's tail swooshing to and fro behind the king's backside. You could see his head form behind his shoulder and there he was grinning at you with those sharp teeth of his. You glared at the intrusive cat man that was obviously trying to start trouble. 

Frederick notices you glaring not at him but over his shoulder. He furrows his dark brows in confusion and glances over his shoulder only to see nothing there. "What are you looking at?" He whispers to you loud enough for you to hear over the white rabbit's voice. You lifted a hand and pointed at his other shoulder where that blasted cat was now appearing. The king looks over to his other shoulder and sees nothing and grows irritated. He looks back at you with narrowed eyes that seemed to say, "Stop fooling around." 

You frown and try to ignore Cheshire who kept trying to evoke a reaction out of you as he kept materializing and disappearing behind the king. "There's a cat guy appearing behind you." You whispered to Frederick. He furrows his brows and looks back over his shoulders just to see no one. 

"Don't play games right now, (Y/n)." He whispers back in annoyance.

"I'm not! He's right there!" You said a little louder as you pointed on top of his head where Cheshire was floating over his head. Frederick looks up and growls as he sees nothing. "He's disappearing!" You said which made the white rabbit pause from the vows to look at you oddly for speaking up. You looked embarrassed and quickly go to shut up as you sheepishly smile at him and the crowd watching. "Uh sorry, go on.." You said and the white rabbit nodded and went on with his speech. Cheshire was snickering which made you want to go over and nail the cat boy in the face. 

Cheshire was now giving Frederick bunny ears with his tail. You just tried to ignore it and not laugh at how ridiculous he was making the king look. The vows were taking forever and it felt like a lifetime until the white rabbit finally came upon saying the last words of his speech. 

"Do you the King of Hearts take (Y/n) to be your wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotions, forsaking all other, keep yourself only unto her as long as both shall live?" The white rabbit said before looking to the king for a reply.

"I do," The king said earnestly while Cheshire at the same time was grinning behind him and mocking everything he said. You felt so annoyed by the cat you were about to step up and grab him by the neck and strangle him. You didn't picture your wedding day to be ruined by a stupid cat man who was insistent in getting you in trouble. 

"And do you (Y/n) take the King of Hearts to be your husband, to live together in holy the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotions, forsaking all other, keep yourself only unto him as long as you shall live?" The white rabbit now turned to you for your answer. You adverted your eyes from Cheshire and looked at Frederick straight in the eyes as you replied back softly.

"I do." 

A guard of hearts came up to administer the rings on a red velvet cushion. He knelt down on one knee as he kept the cushion with the rings up for you and the king to take. Frederick took the ring and went to slip it onto your finger as the white rabbit spoke. You exchanged rings and finally got to the part your heart had been waiting for. "And so, by the power vested in me! I pronounce you husband and wife, and may your days be good and long in Wonderland. You may now kiss the bride."

Frederick smiled sweetly towards you as he went to wrap his arms around you. You completely blocked out the Cheshire cat as you focused only on the king as he brought you into a deep kiss. You closed your eyes as you kissed him so you didn't have to see Cheshire. The kiss was so passionate and full love. Perhaps, the king really did love you in the way that he said he did. You kissed him back and you could hear the crowd cheering and applauding in the background. "You're stuck forever now," A sly faint voice was heard in your ear once you pulled away from the kiss. Those words resonated in your mind and you made you feel unsettled. You knew it was the Cheshire cat toying with your mind. He wanted you to start panicking or causing a stir but you refused to let him have his way. After all, as the Queen of Hearts it was now only YOUR way and you refused to let him as his own. 

King Frederick took your hand into his own and began leading you down the aisle hand in hand. You glared behind your shoulder as Cheshire was standing behind you grinning and waving you farewell with his hand and tail. 

You grumbled under your breath about the troublesome cat as you went on with Frederick to the reception party that was held in a courtyard nearby. There were red clothed tables packed full of different arrangements of teas and finger foods. The courtyard was also decorated divinely with wedding decorations and many blossoming red roses that actually looked real instead of painted. You couldn't believe all this was for you and your wedding. Everything looked really expensive and refined. Some of the cards were playing classical music off to the sidelines. You were still holding the king's hand as you peered over at everything in surprise. "You're officially my Queen of Hearts now." Frederick said as he squeezed your hand affectionately. You turned your gaze to him and smiled and nodded. 

"I suppose I am…" 

"Would you care to dance?" He asked you charmingly as he smiled down at you. 

"I'd love too," you replied as he goes over to take you upon the dance floor. The place was already crowded with the other guests that were enjoying themselves with different things. Frederick led you a dance that you now had the proper practice in to not make a fool of yourself. You shouldn't have had been quite nervous though since there was much worse fools at this party, especially the shorter man with a large green top hat with a hare that were singing about unbirthday parties at one of the tables. You'd make sure to stay far away from those two. Even though you were first uncertain about the wedding, now that you were married, you surprisingly didn't feel any dread. You just felt happy. 

Perhaps, this could work out. Maybe, being married to the King of Hearts wasn't so awful. He seemed to change a lot from when you first met him. He was still execution happy but he seemed more caring and even more kind towards you. You felt something for him and perhaps you weren't ready for this wedding, but even so you still got through it and you were trying to look forward to making a life for yourself here in Wonderland. You would terribly miss your loved ones, but it seemed impossible now to go back. Did you even truly want to go back? Now that was a true mystery. 

 ♥--------♛--------♥

After that day, you remained in Wonderland for about a full year. Your old life seemed to ebb away as your new life took over. You felt like you were truly falling in love with King Frederick now that you had the time to get to know him even more. Till this day, he still treats you much better than he treated others. He was still ill-tempered but you did have the power to calm him down at times. You wondered what your family and friends would think of you now as a queen of a castle in a whimsical place like Wonderland. They probably would never believe you. 

You smiled to yourself as you fondly remembered them. You missed them dearly but your life now wasn't so terrible, you actually grew to like it. Out in the rose garden, you walked beside Frederick as you strolled through the garden together. You noticed that the roses were now all actual red roses. It was one of your very first decrees for the rose bushes to be replanted with the proper red ones that the king loved. He smiled coolly as he plucked out a single red rose and went to tuck it into your hair. You smiled bashfully back at him, especially when he leaned down to press a placid kiss onto your forehead. 

"I love you, sweetheart." He told you sweetly which made your face grow warm. It was always a pleasant thing to hear from Frederick that he loved you. It always made you feel so overjoyed. 

"I… I love you too, Frederick." You replied back shyly and for the first time actually telling him you loved him back. 

He looked stunned for a moment but soon was grinning almost as much as the Cheshire cat. He stepped near you and brought you into an embrace. You closed your eyes and listened to his steady heartbeat as you leaned your head against his chest. You truly meant what you said to him and you could feel the love that he conveyed with touch alone. 

You remained there hugging each other for the longest of time, just reveling in each other's closeness. It wasn't until you noticed a certain cat man standing off in the distance with a grin on his face. You glared that pesky cat that wouldn't leave you alone. "There's that cat again…"

"Not again with the cat, (Y/n)…" The king sighed as he let go. You pointed at Cheshire and he on cue disappeared from sight. Frederick turned around to look but saw nothing, that was until he noticed something that looked like a striped bushy tail behind you. He furrows his brows and was surprised to see you appeared to almost look like you had a fluffy tail. "(Y/n)! You have a tail!"

"What?" You look behind you and see nothing there. The King of Hearts grumbles as he realizes what was going on.

"Cheshire…" He growls deeply. 

You both could hear the cat man mischievously snickering now as he went visibly running away from the two of you. Frederick's temper goes off the chain as his face reddens, "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" 

You sighed heavily and brought a hand to your face as Frederick blew up on the Cheshire cat that finally revealed itself to him. The guards went running after the elusive cat boy that was nowhere to be seen. You watch as Frederick runs off to find Cheshire to have him beheaded. "Oh boy, here we go again." You said to yourself and weren't at all surprised when a slick voice replied to you.

"He's not very good at this is he?" Cheshire said as he appeared next to you with a large unnerving grin. 

"Go home, Cheshire." 

The cat snickered and ruffled your hair with his clawed hand, making you glare him irritably. 

"Now what fun would there be in that, my dear? You can't behead someone you can't catch…" Cheshire said in amusement before his body began to disappear until he was just a floating disembodied head. His laugh echoed out as his head began to disappear and only his vibrant bright green eyes and his large sharply pointed grin could be seen before also fading away. 

"One of these day, Cheshire. You're gonna regret it. Just one of these days…" You said before sighing heavily. "I suppose, I better go find my husband before he beheads everyone in the castle." Shaking your head in annoyance, you go to leave the rose garden to find your hot-headed husband. 

It seems like it was just another typical day in the life as the Queen of Hearts.