Tea Time

Alicia groaned as she tried her hardest to finish her fifth pancake. The delicacy was drenched in syrup, made from the finest maple trees in the Enchanted Forest. But after her third pancake, she couldn't eat anymore but she refused to stop. It was just that good.

"Stop before you get sick, Alicia," Regina scolded the young girl. Ali finally put down her fork and groaned as she patted her belly.

"I regret nothing," she mumbled and opened one eye as she heard the chef's walking in again. The cooks had various plates of desserts, such as fresh fruits, crackers and jam, creampuffs, and taffy bits. Alicia's mouth watered when she set her eyes on the creampuffs. She reached for one but as she did, Regina smacked her hand away.

Alicia squeaked.

"No more food for you."

"Regina..." The young girl whined.

"No, you'll get a belly ache if you eat anymore. Behave. You are not to get sick at this ceremony," Regina said and Alicia grumbled in her chair. She obeyed, not wanting to upset her friend. She straightened her back.

"May I be excused then?" Ali asked Regina nodded.

"But wait, I need you to do something!" Snow stopped her before she could leave. Alicia groaned internally and scolded herself for not leaving quicker.

"I need someone to help me greet the guests today," Snow continued and Alicia gave a pained smile. But nonetheless, she nodded.

"I'll gladly help," she said and Snow looked happy.

"Wonderful, the guests will be here at noon so please be ready, dear," she said and the princess nodded. She then left the dining hall, heading upstairs to see if she could manage to sneak in another thirty minutes of sleep. But when she walked in two of her maids were already there, looking for a special dress for her to greet the guests in.

"Ready to change, my lady?" One of them asked. Alicia sighed as she stared at the dress.

"I supposed so, Nurse," she replied and Ali lifted her arms above her head, waiting to be changed.

She began to realize just how often she needed to change.

~

"Have you noticed we always have to change for everything?" Alicia asked as she and Snow stood at the entrance of the castle. The first carriage was just arriving.

"No. Why do you ask?" Snow questioned and Alicia shrugged.

"I've changed like a billion times since I arrived," she muttered and Snow chuckled.

"You'll get used to it eventually."

The entire morning and early afternoon, Alicia had met more people than she cared to admit. Her mind was in a daze after the second hour of standing around and greeting random people who she would probably never see again.

She met Aurora, her husband Philip, and their little baby. Alicia always felt weird being around babies. She was never really exposed to them and she feared them because they were so fragile and she was so powerful. She felt like she was going to break the baby.

"She's beautiful, Aurora."

"Yes, she is, isn't she?"

Alicia watched as Snow and Aurora gushed over the drooling baby. Ali scrunched her nose. She wouldn't get near it.

"Princess Alicia, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." Ali turned towards the voices.

"Duke, Duchess, welcome to the Royal Castle," Alicia said with her princess smile, a smile that was clearly fake to anyone who knew what her true smile looked like.

More people went by, and finally, by the early evening she was dismissed. She rushed away before anyone could stop her.

Alicia dreaded the day to follow. Emma's wedding was tomorrow, so it meant Ali had to live in a castle with people she didn't want to meet for a second time. When she arrived at her room she instantly walked in and slammed the door behind her. She tugged at her hair and blew out a breath of air.

She couldn't stay there. She needed to get out and distract herself. Alicia was about to jump out the window when she heard a knock on her door. Alicia groaned loudly and stomped over.

"What?!" She snapped when she yanked open her door. Regina narrowed her eyes at her and smacked the young girl's forehead, Alicia hissing at her.

"Don't snap at me," the queen said as she shoved her way into Ali's room.

"In about three hours, we're having tea in the gardens and you are attending," Regina said and Ali whined.

"No, I don't want to," she groaned and threw herself on her bed, pulling the blanket over her.

"You have three hours to spare, Ali. I suggest you savor them," Regina said one last time before leaving. Alicia didn't come out from under her blanket as she heard the door close.

Alicia closed her eyes and yawned.

A quick nap wouldn't hurt.

~

"I need to stop taking my three-hour naps," she mumbled under her breath. Alicia stared down at her hot tea in distaste. She hated herself for taking a long nap only to wake up and be tossed into a social event. She was seated at the huge, round garden table and Alicia hadn't looked up once. She frowned at the drink. She wasn't a big fan of hot drinks.

"Darling, can you pass the milk?" Alicia looked up and to her left. The boy smirked at her and her eyes slightly widened.

It was the boy who had helped her in the forest. Now, he wore a fancy suit with no random boys around him. He seemed cleaner as well. Ali glanced around at the other guests quickly but noticing none were looking.

"The milk, love?" Alicia hesitated before handing it to him. She was confused as she stared at the attractive boy who had helped her.

"Staring is considered rude, princess," he whispered to her. She lowered her head before speaking under her breath.

"Why are you here?"

"Thought it was obvious. Here for the tea," he said cheekily as he raised the cup to his lips. Alicia frowned. She raised her own cup to her lips and took a sip. She cursed under her breath when she accidentally burned herself.

"I shall ask once more, and an honest answer would be great, why are you here?" Alicia hissed.

"The wedding is tomorrow. I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said. Ali continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes.

"What's your name again?"

"Peter Pan, your highness," he whispered. Ali gave a grump before turning away with her chin up high. She began to rack her brain for any information she had heard about Peter Pan from her governed lessons. She constantly took lectures on the many different royals that would be her allies when she would be queen. She learned about all the kings, queens, princes, princesses, dukes, and duchesses. But she had never heard of this Peter Pan.

She turned to the person to her right.

"Henry, have you ever heard of a fellow by the name Peter Pan?" She whispered. The young boy lowered his cup and scrunched his eyebrows.

"The name doesn't ring a bell," he muttered and grabbed a cookie. Alicia lowered her gaze and sighed.

Tea continued to be served through various conversations, mostly about the wedding to occur, but there were also some who gossiped between their treats. Ali tried to reach for a cake but was constantly shut down by Regina's glare. She huffed but knew the queen was right. She had already eaten enough sweets during breakfast. She didn't need to eat more. She would eventually get sick.

"Your Grace, Sir Killian is asking for your presence," a maid whispered into Alicia's ear. Ali narrowed her eyes but nodded. She stood up.

"Please excuse me," she whispered as she left the gardens. Her heels clicked rapidly as she rushed into the castle and headed towards the east wing, where Killian had been isolated away from Emma.

Alicia knocked on the door and became concerned when she heard a grunt and a glass shatter from inside the room.

"Killian? Are you alright?" She asked and the door suddenly opened. There stood a panicked Killian with various ties around his neck and various sashes all twisted into a knot. His hair stuck everywhere, his clothes wrinkled and he was missing a shoe. Ali raised an eyebrow at him.

"What the bloody hell happened to you?" She asked and Hook let out a shaky breath.

"I need help."

*unedited*