"I've waited a long time for this."

At Noon the next day was when Harry Hook would lose his head. He was moved down to one of the cells, where he spent the night - a guard standing post on either side of his cell door making it impossible to break out or for anyone to break in.

Harry hadn't slept a wink - how was he going to get out of this one? Cheney had his claws in Artemis, deep and he didn't think there was anything he could do at this point. How was he supposed to get close enough to kiss her without Cheney stepping in? And he didn't think there was any other way out of this execution other than convincing Artemis to spare him.

Harry, who had been leaning against the wall and starring out the small, barred window, slowly turned to see Cheney standing just outside his cell door. Cheney's face held a wide, Chesire grin while Harry's was wiped of any emotion.

"Leave us," Cheney motioned, and like the trained soldiers they were, the two guards marched down the hall, leaving the two boys alone. Cheney dragged the hook he'd confiscated across the bars loudly before hooking it around the bar with a taunting smirk. "Are you ready to die, Harry Hook?"

"I should be asking you that, Cheney Cat." He hit both hands against the bars with a loud rattle, but Cheney didn't even flinch. "I'll get out of here and I'll make sure ya wish you'd taken my head years ago when ya had the chance."

"Maybe. But, you're the one in the cage, and I'm the one wearing the crown." He winked, turning on his Van covered feet to head down the Hall. "Guards! Prepare the prisoner for execution, it's almost time."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers." The guards lining the walls sang together.

He laughed darkly, his voice seeming to echo off the walls like a cliche Villain in the movies. "Welcome to the end of eras, Ice has melted back to life. Done my time and served my sentence, dress me up and watch me die. If it feels good, tastes good, it must be mine," He sang, dragging his nails across the painted portrait of Artemis Hatter and leaving three claw marks across her porcelain face.

"Dynasty decapitated, you just might see a ghost tonight and if you don't know now you know. I'm taking back the crown," He hopped up onto the throne, standing on the plush red cushion as he stared around at the throne room. It would soon be his.

He grabbed the Queen's red cloak and hooked it around his shoulders with a flourish. "I'm all dressed up and naked. I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

"The crown, so close I can taste it," he dropped down into the seat, dancing his feet across the floor. "I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

He pushed out of the seat and let the cloak flap around him as he took off across the room. "Sycophants on velvet sofas, lavish mansions, vintage wine. I am so much more than royal, snatch your chain and mace your eyes." He tapped the guards shoulder and when his back was turned he snatched the crown off the stand and kept walking.

"If it feels good, tastes good, it must be mine. Heroes always get remembered, but you know legends never die," he fixed it onto his platinum locks and checked his reflection in the mirror. Winking at himself, he sang, "And if you don't know now you know."

"I'm taking back the crown," he pushed open the double balcony doors with a flourish, the early afternoon sun beating down on him and shining off the crown that would soon find a permanent home on his head. "I'm all dressed up and naked. I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

He leaned into the railing, his eyes taking in his kingdom. "The crown, so close I can taste it. I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

The hundreds of Jacks marched in synchronization, singing together. "Mortal kings are ruling castles, welcome to my world of fun. Liars settle into sockets, flip the switch and watch them run."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

"I'm taking back, back, taking back, back the crown," He hopped over the ledge and slid down the pipe to the courtyard. "I'm all dressed up and naked, I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

He unhooked the cloak and draped it over his arm as he marched across the garden to where Queen Heart was sitting. "The crown, so close I can taste it. I see what's mine and take it."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

He dropped to one knee right in front of Artemis, holding out her crown and her cloak, "your Majesty."

"Oh, Cheney, rise." She told him and he straightened with a smirk - fixing the crown on her head and clipping the cloak around her shoulders when she stood.

He hooked his finger under her chin with a smirk and a shimmer in his purple eyes that her own reflected, "it's time."

"Bring out the prisoner!"

***

Harry was marched out to the Courtyard, by two Jacks - one holding each of his arms. Everyone was there, the Queens army lined the borders of the garden, but he saw a lot of familiar faces there to witness his demise. His eyes found Uma's through the crowd and she gave him a small nod, silently letting him know they had a plan.

They wouldn't let him go down like that.

He was led up onto a platform in chains for everyone to see him like some prize - or an example. An example of what happens when you cross Cheney Cat. The one Jack forced him to his knees, while the other grabbed him by the back of his neck and forced him down onto the stand to bare the back of his neck.

The executioner balanced the Axe against his neck and the reeled back only for a pair of arms to grab him and throw him to the ground. Jay kicked the Axe out of his reach, "sorry, no matter how much I hate the dude, we kinda need him for what comes next."

"What is the meaning of this!" Artemis shrilled, pushing up out of her seat on her throne and Cheney was quick to unsheathe his sword. "Guards!"

A sudden blanket of blue fog filled the courtyard, making it nearly impossible for anyone to see even two feet in front of them. But, the sound of sword against sword was clearly heard as the kids from the isle and their new friends in Wonderland fought off the Army of Jacks.

Matt ran up onto the stand and helped Harry out of the cuffs, letting them fall to the concrete with a clatter. Harry immediately rubbed at his raw wrists in relief. "It's time to save Wonderland, my friend." He held out Harry's sword to him.

Harry smirked as he took it and tucked it into it's sheathe before his eyes found Matt's once more. "What about Cheney?"

"Don't you worry about him," Matt smiled slyly, fixing his top hat on top of his head. "You just worry about Arty." He took off running and Harry was close behind him. "Hey, Cheney, over here!" Matt ran off in a different direction and Harry could vaguely see the purple eyes of the Cheshire's son through the blue fog.

"I'll will not let a mad man ruin this for me," he grumbled, taking off after the red headed boy.

Harry took that as his chance and ran right up the few steps to the throne and right in front of Artemis. Her eyes widened at his sudden appearance, not having seen him approach through the fog. "What do you think you are doing."

"Being the hero for once."

Before she could say or do anything else, he captured her face in both of his hands and claimed her lips. He kissed her like he'd wanted to for what felt like an eternity, he claimed her sweet lips and stole her breath as he gave her his own. He never believed in true love or happy endings, those were only for the good guys - the Prince's and Princesses. He was Villain, that wasn't in the cards for him - at least not until now. Because as he kissed Artemis Hatter, he knew this was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. And that alone was a happily ever after in his books.

He slowly pulled back, just enough to stare into her brown eyes. She blinked up at him, the shimmer of purple dancing across her iris' and disappearing forever. "Harry?" She whispered and he felt his lips split into a smile at the sound of his name coming off her lips.

Only for it to drop as her eyes rolled back and her knees buckled beneath her. "Artemis," he quickly shot forward to catch her and helped her back into the chair. "Arty."

Everything seemed to hit her all at once - the memories, the feelings, everything danced on the back of her eyelids like a slideshow. The time they danced in the moonlight on her balcony, the time they met in the endless maze, all the flowers he'd ever picked and given to her, all the smiles, and the laughs, all the adventures. But, one stood out among the rest.

The stars decorated the sky like Christmas lights, and the moon illuminated the dark forest reflecting off the water. Yet, Artemis couldn't look away from the Pirate in front of her that she dragged down to the docks. She'd take the throne in a weeks time and she was having doubts, and the only one she wanted to share them with was him.

"In a week, I'll take the throne to Wonderland," she said quietly and his bright blue eyes met hers.

"That ya will, darlin," he agreed, his eyes searching hers and being able to read the indecision in them as clearly as if it was written on a piece of paper. "But, not if ya don't want to."

She shook her head, "it doesn't work like that. It's not up to me."

"Says who?" He challenged.

"Years of prophecy. I take my throne on my 16th year, like it was foretold." She rolled her eyes at her own words - Absoleum had told her parents that a dozen times over from the moment her mother found out she was pregnant. There was no deviating from the path laid out for her.

"Forget Prophecy, love," he took her hand in his tightly. "What do you want?"

Her eyes danced between his, the fear she had of voicing the one thought she had a million times over the past three years melting away. "I don't want to be Queen," she whispered, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders as she did so. "I want an adventure... with you." She admitted.

He felt his lips twitch into a slight smirk as he raised her hand to his chest and held it there. "You can have whatever ya want, Artemis."

A single drop hit her cheek, causing her to flinch slightly and then it was a down pour. Harry looked around, confused on the sudden rain until his eyes landed on Artemis, who was smiling despite being soaked.

"Maybe we should head inside." Harry offered.

Artemis grabbed his hand in both of hers when he tried to leave. "No, wait. It'll clear up, just give it a minute." She squinted as she looked up at the dark clouds rolling across the sky.

Harry's blue eyes drank her in, her blonde hair sticking to her skin as the raindrops rolled down her face but the smile never left her lips. "Here," he shrugged off his jacket. "at least take my coat." He pulled the red jacket around her shoulders and her one hand came up to hold it there.

She smiled, looking down at the wet coat around her before her brown eyes flickered up to his, "I want this... forever." She took a slight step forward, bringing her free hand up to rest on his chest.

He watched her for a moment, his lips twitching into a smile. "Then that's what you'll get, love." He told her and her smile widened.

Artemis gasped back to the present, her one hand clutching the arm rest of her throne and the other in Harry's hand while his free one held her face, trying to get her to look at him. His eyebrows were furrowed with worry. "Are ya alright, love?"

"I'm fine," she whispered breathlessly, drinking in his face like she'd never see it again. He was here, he saved her. "I remember..." his eyes widened as she let out an incredulous laugh. "I remember, Harry. You saved me." She squeezed his hand in hers.

He smirked, gently rubbing his thumb along her cheek as he held her gaze, "did ya ever doubt that I would." She shook her head rapidly, cupping his jaw and going to bring him back in for another kiss, but before she could a voice broke in.

"No!" The fog had begun to clear up and Harry met Cheney's gaze across the garden as Artemis pulled herself up beside him. "You! You ruined everything!"

He stalked forward, his eyes flashing a deep purple. Artemis was quick, grabbing Harry's sword from his belt and held it out in front of her at the boy she once called her best friend. "Stop!" He froze in his spot, letting out a short laugh. "Don't make another move, Cheney, or it'll be your head."

His laugh grew as he held her unwavering gaze, "you're gonna choose this pirate over me?" He challenged, like the mere thought was unheard of to him. "You are nothing without me, sweetheart. You were a helpless, scared, little mad woman until I stepped in to show you what being a ruler was. It's better to be feared than loved, Heart."

"No, you're wrong," she shook her head, dropping the sword to her side. At this point she just felt sorry for him. "Guards! Take him!" She called out, but no one moved. She looked around confused, still seeing the Jacks surrounding the borders, spears aimed inwards. "What's going on?" She whispered, clutching Harry's arm.

Cheney laughed, "I told you. You're nothing without me. Take them... take them all." He snapped and the guards closed in on them as Cheney walked through them unscathed and still in command. He didn't need Artemis to take Wonderland, he wanted to. But, if she as gonna stand in his way... he'd take her out too.

"Harry!" Uma called out and he turned to see her toss him one of the guards spears and he easily caught it. He twirled it in his hand, helping Artemis fend off the Jack's coming at the 12 of them by the dozens.

"Harry, what're we going to do?" Artemis asked, her back pressed up against his as he caught one of the Jack's attacks on the spear - only for it to break in half.

"Bloody..." he broke off, when an idea came to him. He raised his hand to his lips and let out a loud whistle. For a moment, nothing happened, and then suddenly the ground began to thunder and the fighting slowly seized as the curiosity over took them.

Harry's lips broke into a mad grin as the Bandersnatch broke through the guards, knocking a fourth of them over without a care in the world and stopping right before Harry. "Ah, atta boy." He easily climbed up the creatures side and onto his back.

Artemis starred up at him with wide eyes as he held out a hand to her, only for her shock to slowly melt into an impressed smile. She grabbed his hand and let him haul her up onto it's back and she looped her arms around his waist. He clicked is tongue and lightly kicked the Bandersntach's side, signalling him to go.

The creature plowed through the Jacks and one by one he picked up his friends and carried them out of the garden and disappeared into the endless maze.