VIII-Would You Let Me? (Alice)

[Charlie Baker]

I know you're out of my league
But that won't scare me away, oh, no
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
.......But I'm gonna try

The trials and tribulations that Charlie had faced recently, sure did put a whole lot of things into perspective. His ability for one, it had changed him vastly. Charlie wasn't as shy, reserved and ant i social as he had previously been. Funny that, since he'd had his abilities for a while and had never really tapped into them. He'd often hid in his room, shying away from the possibilities but secretly dreaming of something more. He had super abilities for crying out loud, any comic book geek would have been thrilled but Charlie had just been petrified.

That was until he'd met Alice. It came to be that the young agent had inspired Charlie so much so that he'd gathered a new lease on life. He wanted to become something more. He wanted to put his abilities to good use and show the world what it meant to be a hero. Though, he couldn't do such a thing from his bedroom, could he? The past few months saw Charlie a changed man and everyone saw it.

He was happier now, he seemed far more comfortable in his own skin and rarely shied away from new opportunities. There were still a few things for him to figure out, but all around he had to say that life was finally taking shape. Charlie was able to be the person he knew he could be and take the world in both hands. Sure, he had a long way to go still but was fairly optimistic that things would work out.

Having gotten up early, Charlie was showered and groomed, dressed and ready to head out. He couldn't remember the last time he'd primped and preened himself so much, he'd never been one to gussy up back when he hid behind his glasses and the mounds of curly brown hair. Nowadays, he tended to get attention..the right kind and that prompted him to try and look presentable. His sister was right, to look good made you feel good and Charlie couldn't have felt any better right now.

Though, he was nervous and rightly so. He hadn't seen Alice for a few weeks, because of work commitments and him continuing to try and find himself. He'd missed her, she meant a lot to him and they'd been through a lot together. He had arranged to meet Alice today so as per usual, was sat in the same old coffee place they'd first met, twiddling his thumbs, waiting for the blonde to arrive. He couldn't wait to see her, he had so much to tell her. Sure, he kept a lot of what he wanted to say in his head, then again what good would that do with a girl who could read your mind?

Everyone knew it, they could see it in his face, his eyes, his smile and the way he looked at her. Charlie loved her, whole heartedly. He had experienced a whole lot with that young woman, felt things he never thought he could feel. It was a complicated situation, Charlie wished it could have been easier for them both. If he could have made it easier, he would have.

Charlie knew one thing for sure, he loved Alice and the sooner she knew that, the better...hopefully.

[Alice Taylor]

For the past couple of months, Alice had been shying away from the public more and more. She had a busy schedule with filming for a new show as a recurring character. Alice's character was well-received, and the producers wanted to sign her on as a regular. It would provide for a solid gig for another year, which helps in negotiating for good movie roles. Filming would begin a few months from now, but Alice turned the opportunity down.

After her well-documented cross-country travels with Charlie to help specials in need were posted on her charity website, specials and civilians had been pouring in with emails regarding how inspired they were with all Alice had done to help, and it encouraged many across the nation to hold similar programs to mend the relations between the two groups. While Alice still answered emails from time to time, she had secretly passed most of the executive duties to others in the organization, believing the face of a celebrity special was no longer needed to keep her ideals alive. It was never about her anyway, and it was time to step back from it all, at least for the next little while.

The young blonde had not spend nearly enough time with her lovely fiance. Even as her current project was coming to a close, Alice had spent less and less time going home to Claudia. It didn't stop Claudia from calling to check up on Alice on a nightly basis, but she didn't mind. Claudia really loved Alice.

She had also been pushing her other friends away. Not that Felicia ever really wanted to see Alice other than for the performance of lewd acts, but she had hardly visited the Solers since the birth of the twins. She offered her assistance often in babysitting. Not so much lately. Alice really didn't want to think about all of that. Motherhood was a big responsibility, and she could see now that it would be rude to try taking it away from new parents. Well, new for Inaki anyway.

As of last month, Alice had requested a leave of absence from all Company duties. It really didn't make much of a difference nowadays whether she was involved with any Company business at all. Alice had found a better way to carry on the Company's cause, and it soon turned into its own small entity with the slogan of "One World, One Heart". It wasn't until recently that she wanted to make sure the Company won't send her out for field work. Directors had their suspicions, of course, but they soon approved the leave of absence. Administrative-wise, Alice thought the approval was almost too quick...

And then there was Charlie Baker. He was the first special Alice helped turn from a person uncertain about his abilities to one that took it with pride, but more than that, he now had the courage to use his gifts for good, and not evil. Charlie was Alice's Patient Zero, so to speak. She was ever so proud of what the young man had accomplished mostly on his own. What developed in the process was not what she had intended. Alice knew it was wrong to use the fact that the poor boy had a mad crush on her to give him fuel for success. It was wrong to not walk away while a decent person should have, just to make sure Charlie could become the best that he can be, even if it meant giving him false romantic hopes. They were friends... but life can be complicated when the stars align in a certain way.

Alice arrived early at the cafe where she would meet Charlie, or so she thought. By now, she should expect Charlie to be more eager to meet her, and will always be the one to arrive first. She had on a long black trench coat covering her whole frame. Alice wasn't too fussy with the make up today, and she didn't fix her hair in the morning. Waving to Charlie, she slipped into the empty seat across from the well groomed and well dressed handsome man. She skipped their usual hug this time, making sure that Charlie didn't touch her and pick up her powers. She wanted this meeting to be telepathy-free.

"Hi. Remember me?" Alice joked as she smiled nervously.

[Charlie Baker]

I know you're out of my league
But that won't scare me away, oh, no
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
.......But I'm gonna try

Charlie couldn't remember the last time he'd been so nervous. He'd changed pretty rapidly over the last few months, most of which occurred because of Alice and the support she had given him. Once shy and very distant from those around him, Charlie had never felt so comfortable with another person...especially one of the opposite sex. Alice was like a breath of fresh air for the young man, a true angel to him. He had depended a great deal upon her, but now being sculpted into a better person all around, Charlie was able to take control of his own life and ultimately his own future.

It was a nerve racking wait to say the least, part of him still expected to be sat there alone, waiting and eventually come to terms with being stood up and made to look foolish. However, Alice wasn't like that, she was a caring, considerate person and would do anything and everything she could to prevent these things from happening. They'd been through a great deal together, most of which sort of made Charlie question a lot of things..specifically his feelings for the blonde and hers for him.

Charlie blatantly cared for her, he loved her and though it was wrong on some level to love a woman who belonged to another...the heart wanted what the heart wanted and he couldn't control it. He kept a lot of his feelings at bay, the urge to kiss her every time he saw her was tough and he often had to reel himself back. He didn't want to ruin what they had, he didn't want to cause her any problems with her other half..but in an ideal world, Alice would leave her partner, Claudia and run off with him.

They understood each other, she got him..like really got him..more then he go himself. No one had ever understood Charlie like Alice did and no one had made such an effort with him as she did. She was perfect, in every single way. Sadly, life didn't always work out as one wanted, Charlie had to sit back and watch her build a life with a woman who he believed didn't deserve her anyway..and he couldn't do anything about it, regardless of the experiences he'd gone through with Alice and the feelings he had.

There road trip changed a lot between them, bought them closer in ways that he couldn't really explain or want to out of fear that maybe, just maybe it'd cause a problem for Alice. It was hard, really hard and sometimes he wondered if maybe avoiding her was better because the thought of the heartbreak he was going to experience daily was unbearable...but, he loved her...he wanted to be around her, even if it was just as friends. It was better then nothing.

His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as the blonde entered, waving him down. She looked tired, but still as beautiful as ever. She was lucky like that, one of those girls who constantly shon, constantly looked stunning, even when she first awoke...not many girls could pull that look off, apparently. Charlie wouldn't have known from experience, Alice being the first girl he'd ever seen first thing in the morning...of course apart from his mother and sister, but his opinion on the two would be awfully biased since they were family and he didn't wish to say a bad word about them. Alice was radiant, all of the time.

"Hi. Remember me?" She smiled. Charlie grinned in response "...I could never forget you. Not that I'd want to of course..." He said quietly, gesturing for her to take a seat "You look nice...different, but still..beautiful." He smiled gently. Charlie could feel his nerves getting the better of him, his tummy churning, butterflies flapping and his palms grew sweaty.

He flagged the waitress down so they could make there order, after she left he turned his eyes back to Alice.

"How have you been?"

[Alice Taylor]

Sometimes, the more someone changes, the more someone stays the same. Charlie had changed immensely from when they first met under planned circumstances. It hadn't been overnight, but he took tremendous strides on their road trip together. The first couple of weeks the young man really wasn't sure how he could help, but by the last few weeks Alice found herself stepping back more and more from the specials they were meeting. He took so much initiative, and had so much confidence in not just his ability, but his own mental toughness to master all the abilities he came across, taking them to a higher level than even the person the power originated from. Charlie had lots of ideas, as he always did. But now, he had no fear in putting them all into action. There he sat across the small table from Alice, the legacy she would leave behind should her life ended right there. Charlie Baker can turn Alice's ideal world into a reality. He no longer needed her guidance... but he still trips over his own tongue while talking to her. Alice smiled at the compliment. "You've seen me looking far worse, but thank you regardless." Even when someone has changed, they're really still the same.

"I have been busy." Alice admitted after a short sigh. "I won't get to see you as often, Charlie. Not for a few months. But never mind that, tell me what you've been up to." Alice backed up, not leaving her hands on the table so Charlie couldn't reach her.

Dependency was a funny thing. Despite how Charlie felt when he first laid eyes on Alice, she was always treating the situation with the utmost professionalism. Charlie was an asset and nothing more, even if he was led to believe otherwise. The objective was to point a powerful special in the path of good, and allow him to naturally carry out the Company's mission. In the end, they were true friends, until an unexpected ability manifested within Alice's mind.

Two telepaths interacting with each other was a phenomenon that cannot be easily explained. To have two minds so pervasive and vulnerable at the same time to each other... with one touch, Charlie and Alice spent an eternity together, exploring each other's minds. All of their hopes and fears, histories and future plans, everything was laid bare for each other. In just a few seconds, Alice's asset learned all of his handler's past... her childhood deep in the dungeons of the Company, the horrible experiments, Alessandro Moretti's guardianship and disappearance, finding Elinor and Inaki, her first relationship from beginning to end, and everything up to meeting Charlie. All that was Alice Taylor was Charlie's to own, while Alice took in all that was Charlie's life. In just a few seconds, they became so much more than even good friends. The feeling wasn't quite love, and it wasn't quite lust. Alice and Charlie became a part of each other in mind and spirit, often quoting experiences from years ago together even though they've never met at that time, as though they were joint at the hips from birth. It caused some memory confusions for a while on their road trip, but the two soon learned to live with two sets of memories.

Alice could tell that Charlie still believe it was love between them, but she knew it wasn't quite it. She loved Inaki, and now she loves Claudia, but how she felt with Charlie wasn't the same. It was so much more... like a drug, a dependency on each other to become whole, and a sinking feeling of loss without each other's company. Dependency... was a funny thing.

Fighting all of the urges to become whole, Alice kept her distance, making sure Charlie didn't mimic telepathy. There was a cross she had to bear, and Alice had no will to let anyone else share her burden.

"What do you see in your future, Charlie?"

[Charlie Baker]

I know you're out of my league
But that won't scare me away, oh, no
You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
.......But I'm gonna try

From the second she'd caught his eye, Charlie couldn't stop grinning like a fool. He didn't even try to hide it anymore, the way he felt about her. To be honest, there wasn't much point because she'd been in his head so many times that it was possible Alice knew exactly what he was feeling. He wasn't ashamed for it, not anymore. Yes, it was hard because of her situation, but Charlie didn't seem to care anymore. She had someone she cared about, and yeah the fact it was another woman should have thrown him off but it didn't. Knowing what he knew now, there was no way that he was going to allow himself to be so awkward about it anymore.

Did he love her? of course he did. Charlie was young, they both were but that didn't mean they were naive and Charlie may not have experienced feelings like this before but he knew what he felt was real. He adored her, he practically worshipped the ground she walked on to the point where he looked a fucking jackass half the time. He couldn't imagine not being around her, when he wasn't near her he wanted to be and those feelings only deepened after the time they'd spent together and how close they'd gotten before now.

It wasn't like what other people had been through together. Charlie knew absolutely everything about the blonde, as if he'd lived the life she had. He knew it was thanks to his ability, but regardless he knew things that Claudia could only dream of knowing and experiencing with Alice. It was the same for Alice, she had been let into Charlie's world and thus on some level they'd become apart of one another's lives and memories. Hell, even if he'd wanted to Charlie would never have been able to forget nor tear himself away from Alice because she had now become apart of him and his very existence.

"I won't get to see you as often, Charlie. Not for a few months. But never mind that, tell me what you've been up to." He dreaded those words and the once boyish grin on his lips fell south, he furrowed his brows. He couldn't even reach over to her because she'd distanced herself from him. Charlie looked at the space where her hands had previously been, before looking at her again. He focused, he was trying to get into her head..but only for a moment. He felt wrong, trespassing like that. The man softly shook his head, dropping his eyes to the table almost shamefully before slowly lifting them back to Alice. He didn't want to talk abut him or what he'd been doing, he knew she was dodging the subject by changing it so quickly.

Charlie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. For the first time falling back into his old habit of becoming nervous and somewhat dishevelled by what he had been forced to hear. "How come, Alice?" He asked curiously. He wanted to know why, he hadn't seen her for sometime and he got that she was busy but he couldn't help but feel as if she was purposely pushing him away right now. He watched her intently, slowly leaning forward against the table. Their were people around them, people talking and probably listening and he didn't want to have the conversation with everyone else in the building.

"I didn't...it wasn't something I did right? or something...It's not because of..did I do something?" He whispered, he really wanted to know why the sudden change. One minute she wanted to be around him all of the time, they'd gone away for a little while together and got so close and now here she was..giving him the cold shoulder? What had changed?..

"What do you see in your future, Charlie?" She asked him. Charlie sat up again, his back straight against the seat. He eyed her silently, an almost nervous laugh escaped him. "You probably shouldn't ask me that right now.." He told her softly. Charlie lowered his eyes to the table, letting his hand rub nervously at the back of his neck. He could feel himself getting hot, anxious as it were. He was nervous of being honest to her, especially now that it seemed as if she wanted space from him.

He lifted his head, eyes beaming back at her again "I can't lie to you. For one, you'd just pick it outta my head anyway's. But, even if you couldn't..I can't." He confessed swallowing the lump in his throat. Charlie leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply before speaking up "You.." He answered hesitantly, with the slight look of dread on his face. Charlie grinned, shaking his head in disbelief "I know, it's stupid. Especially with everything and all and..that..well, you seem to..definitely not want me around right now..." His voice cracked. He was mortified to be honest, it was written all over his face.

He forced a smile, shrugging slightly.

[Alice Taylor]

Despite how much acting she was doing to keep her physical emotions in check, Alice was more than glad to see Charlie again. They had gone through a lot together, and when special powers were all knocked out in the middle of their cross-country trip, at the time when Alice was most vulnerable, Charlie was there for her every step of the way. They were everything to each other, and Alice really couldn't imagine a life without Charlie in it. It would be like carrying on missing an arm and a leg, half a lung and half a heart. She could live, but it wouldn't be the life she wanted. But, to care for someone that meant as much as one's own flesh and bones sometimes meant the greatest sacrifices.

Alice had wanted to focus on Charlie, to know what he had wanted in his future. It would be easy to simply scan his mind to get the information, but Alice wanted to hear it from his mouth, his own lips and tongue. Alice could read his mind all she wanted, but it wasn't the same as reading his heart.

"I care a lot about you. You should know that. I don't know if I will ever stop caring about you. Charlie, you have protected me when I was at my weakest, and I thank you for every moment we've spent together. You knew our meeting was not by chance, and even knowing you started off as a mere asset for my work, you would still come and have coffee with me. Where will I find a friend like that again?" Alice said, trying hard to put on a brave little smile. Anything to let Charlie know he was not at fault.

"But, things get complicated." Alice returned her left hand hidden under the table back on top, raising it to Charlie, where he could reach it. The sparkle from Alice's engagement ring shone bright even with the cafe's dull lighting. She spoke again before Charlie could reach the hand, her face grew serious.

"Listen carefully, Charles Baker. Everything I am doing right now is for your own good, but... it's selfish of me to make that choice for you. Therefore, I will let you decide."

Alice closed her eyes and lowered her head, picturing the scenery she wanted to describe before transferring her words directly into Charlie's mind to avoid people eavesdropping.

"Your future is so bright. Charlie, you are a great man, and I mean it. Your gift is not only godsend, but it is one of a kind. Every special power in existence is at your disposal. If you put your mind and heart into it, one day, you will truly be the most powerful of all, and a hero to mankind, like those you look up on in the comic books. You will change the world for the better, and be adored and admired by millions... if you choose to leave me."

The final words transmitted stung Alice more than she would admit. Alice took a deep breath, and continued.

"If you choose to keep me, all of that could never come true. To keep me means to bear all of my blessings, but also all of my curses. You won't give up on me once you've chosen to keep me. That I know is a virtue of yours. You will spend much of your time caring for me, and protecting me from the monsters that will follow. You will be there, fighting for me, through the thick and thin, in sickness and in health, 'til death will your duty to me end. All of this will be your life as your dreams melt away, day by day, month by month, year by year... you will never be who you want to be, if you choose to have me."

An emotion wreck on the inside, Alice opened her eyes and looked up at Charlie, as if she was completely indifferent to the issue.

"If you take my hand, you will take my powers. You will then know what I'm hiding from you. If you don't, I will reach my hand to your forehead, and rip out all the memories of you using my telepathy. It will help you with your longing for me, and you can move on with your brilliant life."

Alice thought she was stronger, but with each passing second her poker face to Charlie was starting to crack. If more time passed by Alice will make the choice for him, and she will regret it forever.

"You have ten seconds..." Alice uttered, voice shaking as terribly as her body was.

[Charlie Baker]

Right now Charlie kinda wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. As much as he hadn't wished to do this, he was more or less putting his heart on the line for her. Could it be more wrong? The fact was that not only was Alice engaged..but to another woman. Sure, they'd gotten close on their trip, closer then they really should have and he figured on some level that alone had given him false hope. Charlie felt like an idiot, regardless of what had happened Alice still went back to Claudia and as far as he could see...this was how it was always going to be. It was true, people wanted most what they couldn't have. It wasn't a school boy crush, Charlie worshipped the ground Alice walked on because he was head over heels in love with her. Sadly, from how it seemed...she didn't feel the same.

For the most part, he kind of wanted to walk out now and not look back just to spare himself heartache. "I care a lot about you. You should know that. I don't know if I will ever stop caring about you. Charlie, you have protected me when I was at my weakest, and I thank you for every moment we've spent together. You knew our meeting was not by chance, and even knowing you started off as a mere asset for my work, you would still come and have coffee with me. Where will I find a friend like that again?" Alice spoke, and though the reassurance it meant a lot...in the end it didn't mean anything because regardless of all the things he'd done, said or the time they'd shared...he was still no closer to getting what he really wanted.

He'd started off a project of sorts, but now..he meant something to her. Sure, it wasn't near as much as she meant to him but it was something at least.

That was a word that he wasn't fond of coming from Alice. Friend. That's all he'd ever be, a friend. A man who was completely in love with her, who'd have to listen to her talk about her life with her fiancée and watch the two of them grow old together. Charlie wasn't too sure if he could be her friend anymore, as much as it pained him to consider it...being the third wheel in it all was getting to be a little too much for him. He couldn't stand seeing her with Claudia, or even hearing her very name mentioned. It was nothing personal about the woman, just jealousy because she had the one thing he really wanted more then anything; Alice.

Charlie sighed slightly, dropping his gaze to his hands on the table where he begun to twiddle his thumbs.

"But, things get complicated." You're damn right their, he thought. As she stretched her hand out for him to reach, he was almost replied by the shiny diamond of her engagement ring. Jealousy was certainly one ugly emotion, he wasn't ashamed to admit this though. Of course he was jealous of what they had and the life they'd share together. He didn't know Claudia that well but he knew that they weren't right for eachother, if they had been then perhaps he and Alice wouldn't have grown so close and they definitely wouldn't have got mixed up in the situation that they'd found themselves in during their trip together. Charlie had to wonder how much of that trip Claudia knew about, because he doubted she knew everything that went on.

"Listen carefully, Charles Baker. Everything I am doing right now is for your own good, but... it's selfish of me to make that choice for you. Therefore, I will let you decide." What was she talking about. He grew confused, his brows furrowing as he viewed the beautiful blonde who sat opposite him. Charlie wasn't certain of what was going on here and he believed that until Alice allowed him, he'd be none the wiser for some time. What was his choice? Where was this conversation headed?..only time would tell.

Once more, she was in his head enabling the two a little privacy. "Your future is so bright. Charlie, you are a great man, and I mean it. Your gift is not only godsend, but it is one of a kind. Every special power in existence is at your disposal. If you put your mind and heart into it, one day, you will truly be the most powerful of all, and a hero to mankind, like those you look up on in the comic books. You will change the world for the better, and be adored and admired by millions... if you choose to leave me." Alice begun. Had this been several months ago, the life she described was something Charlie could only dream of and sure, yes he still wished to be admired by those around him and be able to protect them...times had changed and he'd grown up. Charlie knew he'd never be the kind of hero he read about in comic books growing up, they were just stories and life wasn't as smooth sailing as that. Charlie grew somewhat anxious now, because it appeared that a proposition may soon be placed which could ultimately change everything. For the better?..he wasn't sure, but he was eager to find out.

Besides, now...being a hero wasn't the most important thing. Crazy as it sounded, Alice meant more to him then proving his worth or trying to be favoured. The idea of leaving her, now that she'd said it..pained him. Yes, he knew if he did so it may have spared him heartache because he wouldn't have to see her with Claudia anymore..but could he manage without her?..he doubted it and even if she hadn't been there, she'd still be in his head like she always was.

"If you choose to keep me, all of that could never come true. To keep me means to bear all of my blessings, but also all of my curses. You won't give up on me once you've chosen to keep me. That I know is a virtue of yours. You will spend much of your time caring for me, and protecting me from the monsters that will follow. You will be there, fighting for me, through the thick and thin, in sickness and in health, 'til death will your duty to me end. All of this will be your life as your dreams melt away, day by day, month by month, year by year... you will never be who you want to be, if you choose to have me." This was the choice he was supposed to make? He was so confused right now. What was she saying? that she was going to leave Claudia? that Charlie had his chance to prove himself with her?

At the time he'd managed to completely ignore the negatives, focusing more on the fact that she was saying that Charlie would get to have her if he wished. He'd have been a fool to say no, but then again things were never this straight forward...something wasn't right here because it seemed almost too good to be true. He could have her in an instant if he wished it?...without any catches or hidden meanings?...the look of confusion consumed him as he observed the blonde.

It seemed to be this way and from the sounds of it, she wasn't talking about a few weeks or a trial run, she spoke of months, years...his whole life..was she serious?

He remained silent simply watching her with confusion, he had so many questions, so many things to say but right now...he couldn't muster up anything but the occasional vowel sound. She opened her eyes and he felt his heart start to race, keeping his gaze on hers. Charlie felt his stomach tie in knots as a lump formed in his throat further preventing him from speaking. He glanced down at her hand as she gave him his final ultimatum "If you take my hand, you will take my powers. You will then know what I'm hiding from you. If you don't, I will reach my hand to your forehead, and rip out all the memories of you using my telepathy. It will help you with your longing for me, and you can move on with your brilliant life." Regardless of it all, he knew the choice was easy to make. He'd considered everything and in his head and heart, his life wasn't going to be all that great if she wasn't around. From the moment she'd come into his life, everything got better..he couldn't just throw that all away.

She gave him ten seconds, Charlie didn't need that long. Almost instantly after the last words left her lips, he extended his hand across the table and took her hand tightly. "My life wasn't all that great before you. I'm sure, whatever comes to follow I can handle." He told her confidently, still without a clue as to what it was she was hiding and how it'd affect him. Charlie didn't care, he'd made his decision now and he was damn well sticking to it. He wasn't going to leave her nor let her take away his memories, sure he had suffered a great deal over having to see her with Claudia but his memories of her were mostly good and the kind he'd like to keep.

"What are you hiding?" He asked curiously keeping her hand tight.

[Alice Taylor]

Still trying to keep it all together, Alice was looking directly at Charlie as she gave him the ultimatum she thought she'd never have to give anyone. The blond had been watching Charlie carefully as she spoke, reading his reactions like she was reading his mind. Alice promised herself that she wouldn't pull things from the poor boy's head, but the advantage of knowing someone on the level that she knew Charlie brought forth a sort of intuition, one that helped Alice literally read everything Charlie's thinking like he was an open book. She knew Charlie was very confused, and she knew Charlie felt terrible that Alice never fell in love with him the way he did with her. Alice was able to distinguish the difference between her immensely strong bond with Charlie through their telepathic link, and her love for the beautiful Claudia, whom was a being that continued to love Alice the way Inaki used to. Love, to Alice, was not merely to know someone inside and out. It was a feeling that was very hard to describe even through telepathy. She was bonded with Charlie, but she still loved Claudia, because while both feelings were very powerful, they were separate. Alice thought it would be confusing for Charlie, because the one he telepathically bonded with was also his fixation of affection. Even if he could access her point of view, Charlie's mind would have every reason to block and skew the facts. Love is blind, after all.

Perhaps it was because Alice thought there was still a way to make Charlie see that he shouldn't confuse their very unique relationship, and maybe she thought Charlie would be far more unpredictable, and likely Alice's expectations were also skewed because she didn't want to have to hurt Charlie emotionally every time her engagement ring flashed before his face, but Charlie reached out for her hand immediately, making his mind up without a second thought. Alice always knew this was the likely scenario, and that their link with each other was strong enough that Charlie, or even Alice for that matter, would not want to leave each other. What surprised her was how quickly the young man reached out and grabbed her hand. Alice had the perfect set up, a perfect way to tell Charlie what she was hiding. All of it fell apart once she felt her power being pulled and copied by Charlie, and as they linked each other's minds, all of Alice's carefully planned scenarios cracked before Charlie's desire for the truth. In general, Alice was fairly good at dictating the pace when she and Charlie connected their minds. This time, Charlie was far more powerful. Could it be the fear of what's to come that weakened Alice's power? Either way, Charlie would now be receiving the rawest version of the truth...

********

Alice found herself sitting at a throne in a sort of throne room. There seemed to be no one else around, save for Charlie sitting on a throne right next to hers, their hands still firmly clasped together. The two of them resembled their real life physical beings, except they were both dressed like the King and Queen of whatever castle this was. There were some windows around, and peering outside, the placed was surrounded by clouds where solid ground was supposed to be.

Monarch's Flying Castle! Alice thought to herself, except since she was psychically linked to Charlie, the thought was audible and echoed through the royal chamber they were in.

To accommodate visitors, Alice shaped the landscape of her mind into a fantasy land she called Wonderland. Everyone that visited her mind could use their own creativity to generate impossible objects and structures only limited by imagination. Monarch, Alice's kitten, created a big flying castle for herself. Alice thought that as an in-house cat, Monarch was always stuck indoors, but always yearned to have the freedom to go where she wanted, hence her very creative flying castle. As she was figuring out what part of her mind they currently resided, this information was being fed to Charlie as well. From here on in, Alice and Charlie's thoughts and feelings were completely transparent to one another.

Directly in front of the thrones, closer to the centre of the room, was a rather large glass sphere, held up by an elegantly carved out short marble pillar. If someone were to carefully examine the surface of the marble, they could see that it was the chronicles of Alice and Charlie together in comic book form, etched on to the stone. It began from that fateful day when they "ran" into each other and hiding out at the comic book store, to working out at the gym with Frank Rook and being attacked by the RSF, to their incredible trip across the country together when Alice manifested telepathy, all the way up to this meeting at the cafe. Inside the sphere was a young woman completely nude, curled up in the fetal position and floating about, either because the sphere was filled with water, or simply because in Wonderland, nothing had to make perfect sense.

Alice was so ill-prepared for this. Charlie was simply going to learn everything she was thinking of on the spot. She genuinely wanted him to find out for himself. In a panic, Alice quickly released Charlie's hand, and transformed herself into a crystal statue. The only way for Charlie to discover this for himself and not through Alice now was for Alice to shut off her own conscience. Her mind was still open to Charlie, but she was no longer thinking. For the moment, Charlie was all alone in this floating castle, save for the giant globe before him.