Four knocks.

Time shuddered.

Should he answer this time? Or should he continue to ignore her requests for entrance? It had been so long since he'd last seen her. After realizing that she had fallen in love with someone else, he became more withdrawn. He still let her visit Nowhere, but the visits weren't like they were before. There was clearly a wall between them, one that only grew with every passing day. Her visits soon became less frequent, and eventually, he stopped answering the door altogether.

Four more knocks.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He knew why she was here. He knew, so what use was it putting it off? Did he think that if she didn't actually tell him then it wouldn't be true? It was childish, but somehow he knew this was what was in his mind as he ignored her.

Again, four knocks.

Swallowing hard, he turned to gaze at the distant, swirling clouds. Pathetically, he wanted to see her, even when he knew that the news she was about to deliver would shatter what was left of his heart. But seeing her, even under such circumstances, made him feel alive.

And yet killed him all the same.

Once more, four knocks sounded throughout his office, and Time finally sighed and allowed the portal to appear. The door opened, and Alice stepped through, looking almost surprised that he had let her in.

She gave a hesitant smile. "Hello."

He nodded and forced a smile of his own. "Hello. Fancy seeing you here."

"I've been knocking for a while."

Turning away to busy himself with some random scenes, he replied, "Have you, now?"

As he flipped through scenes that meant nothing to him, he could hear her take several steps towards him. "Yes. You didn't hear me?"

"Afraid not."

There was a pause. "Actually, I've been knocking for a few months now without a response."

"Hmm, strange. Must be a glitch in the door. I'll have to check into that."

He could feel her beside him now. Her presence was like fire, filling him with warmth and drawing him closer and closer. But just like with fire, he knew that if he reached out to her, he'd get burnt.

"Time, I have something to tell you. I wanted to tell you a while ago, but—"

"You're married."

"Um, yes. I—"

"To Reggie Chataway."

He glanced over at her and found her staring up at him, her brow furrowed. "How—"

"I'm Time, my dear, that's how." He turned back to a random scene in Hearts. "I happened to flip by the scene. You looked lovely, by the way."

That was a lie. He had decided to torture himself by watching the entire ceremony that had taken place in the forest, with all her thief-friends in attendance. And he continued to torture himself by replaying her walking down the aisle again and again and again, just so he could gaze upon her beauty. He had never seen her wear a dress before. A springy, lacy little number, white as snow. And flowers. She'd worn a woven flower crown atop her head, the blooms in bright, pastel colors.

She had looked like an angel.

And she had never seemed happier.

But it stabbed him through to the heart knowing that her smile was meant for the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle—

Reggie Chataway.

Still tall and gangly, his eyes were filled with tears as he watched his bride approach. He had attempted to tame his unruly hair and had donned something like respectable attire. That goofy smile was on his lips, and it only grew larger the longer he stared at Alice.

Time hated to admit it, but Reggie truly loved Alice.

And she truly loved him.

Just like she was truly over him.

But he wasn't over her.

"I wanted to invite you," Alice said, wringing her hands anxiously. "But I couldn't get the door to appear."

Time caught a glimpse of a simple wedding ring on her finger, and he had to tear his eyes away. "Oh, I'm sorry to have missed it. Glad I caught a bit of it from here, though." He turned back to the frozen scene before him. "So how have you been otherwise? Life is treating you well?"

"Yes, things have been great, actually. Although, I've missed spending time with you."

"Well, you know how it is. We're both busy, important people. You'll be even busier now that you're a wife. Tell me, does marriage agree with you?"

From the corner of his eye, he saw a soft smile tug at her lips. "In fact, it does. I've never been quite so happy. Reggie is sweet and funny and far more logical than I am. He helps to keep me out of trouble. Well, some trouble."

He clenched his teeth and focused on his scenes. "Sounds like a good chap. If he's keeping you out of trouble, I suppose that means you won't have much use for that pocket watch."

There was a long moment of silence, and Time turned to find Alice staring at him, her eyes filled with pain. He furrowed his brow and took a step towards her, worried that something was wrong with her.

"Alice, are you—"

"Is that your way of saying you want it back?"

He paused and blinked. "Want what back?"

"The watch. Is that your way of saying you want it back? That you don't want me coming to visit anymore? That our friendship is over?"

Her eyes were filling with tears, and Time's heart began to melt. "Alice, I—"

"Is that why you've been ignoring me? And why you wouldn't come to my wedding? Are you tired of me now? Am I annoying you? Do you want me gone?" She swallowed. "Is this your way of saying goodbye?"

A single tear slid down her cheek, and she wiped it away furiously. She went to turn away, but Time, unable to ignore her distress, grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her back. He held her shoulders and met her eyes. They were filled with furious despair. It almost made him laugh. She was incapable of feeling anything without intense passion.

"Alice, you're my best friend," he said gently. "I could never tire of you. I'm sorry that I missed your wedding and that I've been out of reach as of late. But I promise to be better. Really, I do. This isn't the end of our friendship. I swear."

She nodded, though the tears were still leaking from her eyes. After a failed attempt to wipe them all away, she threw her arms around Time's waist and squeezed him tight. Her touch ignited something powerful inside of him, and while he knew it would hurt him later, he allowed himself to give into her embrace. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close.

"I just don't want to lose you, Time," she said, her words muffled as she pressed her face into his chest. "You're too important to me. It would break my heart to not have you in my life."

Swallowing hard, Time leaned his chin against the top of her head, trying hard not to become intoxicated by her familiar scent. "As would mine. I won't let that happen, Alice. I promise."

After a moment longer, she released him and smiled. He returned the gesture, hoping she didn't see the pain behind his eyes as he again caught a glimpse of that ring.

"Maybe you can meet Reggie one of these days," she said.

He nearly grimaced as he replied flatly, "Yes, maybe."

"I mean, I won't bring him here. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with your powers that be."

Her mocking tone made the corner of his mouth twitch. "That might be for the best."

"But maybe in the forest or something. I really think you'd like him."

He sighed and forced a smile. "If you like him, Alice, I'm sure he's wonderful."

She grinned, and he was relieved to see that her playful feistiness had returned. It felt like the wall had broken down just a little. But the ring on her finger reminded him that it was still there, whether she knew it or not.

"I'll visit again soon," Alice said as she reached out and pulled open the door. "And next time, I'll bring spiced bread."

He smiled again. "I'd like that."

She flashed one last grin and then disappeared.

Letting out a long breath, Time turned back to the unimportant scene in Hearts. He swiped it away and pulled up Alice's wedding, fast-forwarding to her walking down the aisle. He froze it and gazed at that beautiful smile once more.

And thought of everything he couldn't have.