[i]Collaboration between Ghost Shadow and I[/i]

"I wonder where that cat went..." Heather muttered as she looked around. She had found the library and the dungeons, and now she had entered a bedroom. It was clearly not Rumpelstiltskin's, from what she could guess anyways. The furniture and the bedsheets were far too feminine. Though the Cat was nowhere to be seen, she could still hear the sound of his singing resounding through the halls of the castle with no discernible source except [i]everywhere[/i] and [i]nowhere[/i] all at the same time.

"How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On ev'ry golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!"

As Heather looked around, she was getting slightly annoyed at the fact that the cat couldn't be discerned anywhere specific. Before she could say anything though, she heard the cat howl as though he were in extreme duress before a horrible silence fell throughtout the castle. 

"Cheshire? Cheshire, are you alright? Where are you?" 

She was prepared to help the cat if he was hurt. She was a doctor after all, she could tend to wounds if the situation called for it. 

Though there was nothing to answer her call, a strange order of sounds came from one of the nearby sitting rooms. Shuffling, groaning, and clattering as something fell to the floor; resounding an echo off the old, wooden floors. Heather hurried over to where the sounds were coming from and she saw, not a cat, but a human man instead. 

The man who lay, nearly unconscious, in place of the Cat began to rise very slowly. He appeared well-dressed for the time, sporting a dull-brown colored frock coat with a plaid pattern over a burgundy colored double-breasted waistcoat with a golden floral pattern alongside a white button-up shirt. A golden cravat occupied his neck and he wore black-colored trousers about his legs and light brown leather shoes to compliment his feet. A gold-chained fob watch nestled itself in one of his waistcoat pockets. 

The man himself appeared to be indeed quite handsome: His frame was tall and slim, though his shoulders were broad. His face was sharp and finely boned, yet slim and not at all unattractive. His dark brown hair was messily splayed about, yet maintained the appearance of both style and formality. His eyes were a light blue color that seemed to stand out among the rest of his apperance. Around his neck was the same heart-shaped key that the Cat shared. 

Heather widened her eyes, and her mouth was open in a slight gape, at the sight of the handsome man. Had it not been for the key around his neck, and for his voice, Heather probably wouldn't have been able to recognize him as Cheshire. 

"Wh-what happened?" The man asked, obviously confused as to what was going on. As he finished speaking, he seemed to grind his teeth together, looking discombobulated. "That's...strange." 

:It looks like we're both wrong on that concoction you had. It worked...with a delayed effect. You're human, Cheshire!" She answered. Heather then suddenly heard Hyde comment in her thoughts 
"[i]And he's a [u]fine[/u] piece of work right there,[/i]"
After Hyde gave a mental wolf whistle, Heather's face morphed into confusion and surprise and she couldn't help but yelp out "What?!" in reaction to Hyde's comments, a blush evident on her face. 

"Human? It worked? I'm...I'm free?" As if to convince himself, he swept over to a mirror that hung against the drying, cracked wall. Though the mirror wasn't in much better shape, it was enough to show an image. "I'm free." He said in disbelief, his hands moving up to meet his face, running through his mess of hair. 

"After all these years." He said in a hushed, almost reverent tone before abruptly interrupting his reverie as Heather shouted. "What? Taken aback? I told you I was charming." He said with a flirtatious smirk. 

Heather blushed and stuttered, embarassed by her sudden outburst.
"N-n-n-no! It's-It's not you. It's Hyde, I'm shouting about-"

Her blush darkened even more when Hyde started imagining things Jekyll wouldn't dare imagine, and she yelped, somewhat angrily, as she turned away from Cheshire "Hyyyde!"

The Cat, well, [i]not[/i] *a* cat, seemed to take this outburst as a compliment, and as if on cue began straightening his clothing; dusting off his coat lapels, straightening his cravat, and mussing up his hair. 

"It's been so long since I've been human. So many old...parts are back." He stated, obviously still in shock from the sudden transformation. "I'm still the Cat you used to know. Just...not a cat anymore. New and improved!' He said, holding his arms out to enunciate the fact. 

Heather turned back to look at Cheshire, her blush gone, and she had calmed down, and she commented after she cleared her throat with a fist in front of her mouth, "I can tell. Congratulations, Cheshire,"

"Yes, thank you. Cheshire...that simply won't do for a human anymore. I've...I've forgotten my old name." He said in a hushed tone, serious. Heather blinked, unbelieving that someone could forget their own name. "Amazing, the things you can forget." He went sadly, sitting down in one of the dusted chairs. 

"But things are looking on the up and up. I can find myself a new name, start a new life." His eyes darted to her for a moment, "Find a wife." He said lastly, crossing one leg over the other. This new form seemed to give him more confidence, if such a thing were even possible. 

Trying to ignore that last bit and not blush, Heather came to a realization.

She said to him seriously "Wait a minute. I don't think you're out of the woods yet, in a manner of speaking. There's still the matter of whether or not this transformation is permanent or not. I don't think you would want to turn into a cat again." 

Cheshire's smile seemed plastered on his cheeky face, grinning from ear to ear in a manner not unlike his very same grin in cat form. However, on her hypothesis, the smile quickly dissipated. 

"No, I...never thought of that." He said, rising slowly. "I suppose the only thing to do is wait and see what happens, eh?" He suggested with a small smirk, looking her up and down. Now that he felt truly...normal, he could take time and appreciate the 'form' of the girl in front of him. 

"Or you could talk with the imp and make sure it stays permanent..."

He looked her up and down as one would observe a new sculpture, raising his eyebrows and nodding to himself as if she wasn't even there. "Well, my observations are finished!" He proclaimed cheerily, ignoring her last statement, that same smile shone on his face once more. Though this time it looked much more normal...more human. 

When he made his proclamation, Heather couldn't help but notice how natural his smile was, and it made him look even better than before. She couldn't help but feel the joy he felt when he smiled like that. She shook her head of such romantic thoughts, and she asked "I'm sorry, observations? I'd be more worried about the concoction's permenance if I were you." 

"From my point of view, I see it two ways: one, I can worry over my potion that could potentially return me to cat form, or two, enjoy this time now. As a human." He said, putting his hands in his coat pockets, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and back again. 

"Plus, it seems you and Hyde enjoy this attention." He said with yet another smirk and playful shrug. 

Heather tried to keep herself from blushing though failing miserably as she commented seriously, "Hyde's enjoying the attention. I for one remember that you were a cat, and that we just met today. For all I know, you could be hacking up a ball of fur any moment now. No offense intended."

Heather liked to think of herself as a woman of reason and science, who wasn't easily swayed by her own emotions. 

"Eh, you could. Or you could assume I'm just a devilishly handsome man with renewed vigor and...[i]potency[/i]." He said, letting the words practically roll off his tongue. But he appeared to be done with his flirtatious comments as he headed towards the door. 

"I need to walk around - on two legs. Been some time. If you change your mind, which I'm sure you will, you need just say so!" He proclaimed with a small flourish before he was out the door and down the hall. 

As he started walking, she followed him, and she said as she walked with him, "I'm only walking with you in case you fall over, or need help," She knew that if it had been a long time since he walked on two legs, then he would no doubt be shakey, so she figured that he would need the help. 

Cheshire only smirked in response. And true to her words, he did oft stumble or trip over his own two legs. The weight distribution issue that came with practically losing half your legs would be crippling for some time. Heather managed to catch him, and help him stand up, holding his arms during the incident. 

"Ah, yes, thank you." He said graciously as he tried walking up and down the hall once more. This was so familiar and yet so new at the same time. A limbo of emotion and ownership at the same time. 

"You're welcome." She walked with him up and down the hall once again. She could see that his was going through a lot of emotion, and she remained patiently silent, smiling a little. It seemed that he got what he wanted, and she was happy for him. 

"Now then, let's sit down for a bit. I'm still getting used to all my old faculties." He said as he tried walking back to the sitting room where he could rest his legs. "So, doctor." He began casually, "I assume you're in servitude of Rumpelstiltskin to 'free' yourself from Hyde, yes?" He guessed, scratching his chin as he spoke. 

Once he was sitting down, she sat down in a different chair, next to his, and when he asked about her deal with Rumpelstiltskin, she answered "You are correct. My condition in the deal was that I become Rumpelstiltskin's apprentice and that I would never go back to my own world," 

"Steep deal. Undoubtedly he'll try and find some way to benefit himself at the sake of your own happiness." He said, leaning back in his chair as he spoke. 

"As long as they're safe from Hyde...that's all that matters," She muttered to herself with a nod, looking at the floor.

"Does Hyde...wish to come out now?" He asked, straightening up his posture. "I am still quite intrigued at the prospect of a different you." He said with a small smile, hoping to show there were no ulterior motives. 

Heather lifted her head and gave Cheshire a look as though he had just grown another head, and gained pink polka dots on green skin. She answered him "Yes, but she's not coming out, because 1) I'd rather not lose my virginity over a fling, and 2) she'd kill you once she's done with you. She's already ranting about praying mantises in here," She poked at her head when she spoke the last two words,

She could hear Hyde whine "[i]Awww! Didja have to tell him that, Heather? You're no fun at all![/i]"

"Well, there's nothing wrong with the first part!" Cheshire objected with his trademark grin. 

Jekyll glared at Cheshire's objection and said "A respectable scientist such as myself does not go and sleep around like that," 

"I mean, it's no question you're attractive." He went on confidently, sure to offer just the smallest of winks. 

When he complimented her, she managed to keep away a blush and she looked away a bit saying "Thank you."

She never thought herself to be attractive. As a scientist, not many men were interested in her. She figured it was because she wasn't the type to be an idiotic yet loving housewife that they wanted. 

"Do I count as sleeping around? Hm, interesting." He said, just now hearing her last comment, and abruptly switched moods. No doubt trying to get used to this new form once again, his behaviors and movements were erratic at best. 

"What-No! We haven't gone that far! UGH!" Jekyll blushed.

"I guess you preferred the cat, eh?" He asked, deathly serious. 

She had no answer for him. She just rubbed her temples in irritation, trying to get rid of the rising headache.

She was getting quite frustrated at how easily confused she was getting and she asked "All of your flirting is making me dizzy," She then decided to ask him, "Don't you have family you want to go and see as a human?"

Cheshire's grin was quite plain as Heather seemed to have trouble comprehending the art of flirting. His smile was, however, quickly lost when she mentioned family. 

"No..." He responded coldly to her question, his eyes narrowed and his mouth curved into a deep frown. 

Memories hit him like a slap in the face as his hand instinctively went to the key around his neck, fingers enclosing around the cool, metal surface. 

A shudder began to overtake his body as the memories practically exploded in front of his face. 

A glint of tears seemed to create a sheen over his eyes as all the memories he had hidden away before were releasing against him. Jekyll blinked when he answered coldly but noticed his facial expression. She felt horrible as she saw tears pour down his face. All because she asked about his family. She must've brought up some really horrible memories. 

[i]That very same day that his fate was sealed. The look on her face as they laid her head down on the cold stone of the headsman's block, the bite of the Executioner's axe as it felt for its mark before rising to strike. 

Her pleading eyes had met his in the courtyard. "Help me, please..." She had tearfully asked of him, the one task he could not fulfill as both of them knew what was about to happen. 

The Queen, that wretched creature on her throne; as beautiful as sin and as cruel as venom had given the fatal command.

Everything stood still, a terrible silence as time itself groaned to a halt, as if giving a moment's peace. 

The Headsman's axe rose above his head as it prepared to deliver the killing stroke. The girl on the block, a teenager no older than 16 desperately looked about for her brother's face, a final comfort...but he had disappeared. Turned and ran, played craven, turned coward. 

He had ran faster than he ever had his entire life, the only sound being his boots on the stone pathway and the sound of each labored breath and heartbeat pounding in his ears. The sound of the axe carving though muscle, bone, and skin resounded throughout the courtyard. He never stopped running...never stopped......never stopped.[/i] 

On the surface, Cheshire struggled to keep his composure together as tears seemed to flow down with every breath. He had buried the memories in time, drowned them in his sorrow, and yet they still lived on. 

She looked sadly and she said to him sincerely, as she held his hand again "I'm so sorry..." 
Of course...what good were apologies? They weren't any good at all, she knew that. An apology wasn't going to fix the wrong she had committed. 

Cheshire had turned away from her, too proud to let her see him in so broken a state. His hand reached up to the key again. This...last memento, this only remaining piece of her he had left. 

"Memory is a curse more often than a blessing." He finally said, his voice seeming to gain some composure. 

"The past must be paid for. The cost of forgetting is high." He said, as if to convince himself. 

"This is...truly embarassing." He finally said *actually* looking at her again. "Our worst traitor can be ourselves at times. Emotion is a necessary evil. It can build or destroy as it will." He said, seeming to act more like the Cat she knew as he recovered from his small breakdown. 

Heather was silent as he spoke, not as a flirt, but as the clever cat...er, man...whatever she had met earlier. She sighed and said intellectually, trying to console Cheshire, "Memory...is what you make of it, but it's important to not lose any of them. It is only through memory that we can do anything to honor those who are gone,"

"Only a few find the way; some don't recognize it when they do; some don't ever want to." Cheshire responded, equally as intellectual. He grabbed the key, pulling it up and over his head. 

He held his hand out towards Heather, wanting her to take it. "This belonged to my sister. It was the key to her diary. A kindly guard gave it to me in the dungeon after her execution." He said, somewhat revealing the reasoning behind his emotional breakdown. 

Heather blinked when he took the key off around his neck and held it towards her. After he mentioned what the key was and who it was from, as she held it and looked at it, she handed the key back to Cheshire, knowing how important it was to him. 

She said as she gave the key back to Cheshire, "I see. Once again, I am terribly sorry for your loss."

"Duly noted." He replied, taking the key and returning it to its spot around his neck. "Her death was my punishment. I was not, shall we say, civil with the Queen. She didn't like my attitude. So, being the malignant bitch that she was, she had my sister executed to teach me manners. Surprisingly enough, that didn't help my mood. And soon it was my head on the chopping block." He confessed, his voice sharp, but not directed at her. 

Heather listened carefully, and she found that she didn't like this Queen he mentioned at all. She commented sincerely after he had told her "That's horrible. Why is such a woman like that Queen?" 
She quickly amended "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to." 

"No, no, it's fine. The Queen rules under totalitarian regime. She is Queen because there are none able to challenge her power. I was the closest thing to a rebel she ever had to deal with. Even earned a nickname...The [i]'Dark of Heartness'[/i]." He said in a dark tone, obviously proud of such a title. 

Heather muttered "Right. And if anyone else who could challenge her came along, then they'd be too scared to do it," She noticed that he seemed proud of his nickname, but she didn't comment on it. She asked "Where does this Queen rule anyways?"

"Queensland." The Cat responded bluntly. "Aptly named, if you ask me. Demonstrates her humility and self-sacrifice for the people." He said sarcastically, an edge of bitterness to his voice. 

"Though she wishes to expand her rule, she is still limited to her own land. But I believe she will try and [i]spread out[/i] as much as she can. Absolute rule is her destiny, as she believes." Cheshire explained seriously. 

"But enough of the Queen. The memories hurt me. I need a new name." He said, abruptly changing the subject. 

Heather agreed "You're right. How terribly rude of me! I'd be happy to help you come up with a new name,"
She asked "Let's see...I don't suppose there are any initials on your person...like on a handkerchief or something like that?"

"Not that I recall." Cheshire responded, obviously confused as he was thinking hard. "I like words and names that begin with the letter 'A'. Ansem, Alexandre, Arcade, Adamska, Andrew, Aiden, Albert, Adrien, things like that. Or maybe names with 'S', those are good too." He said, quite erratically as he was bouncing off names quickly on the spot. 

Heather thought through all of the names she had ever heard carefully, and suggested "Let's see...How about Axel? Axel Stevenson?" 
She thought the name Axel suited Cheshire, but of course, she knew that it was entirely up to him. 

"Axel? That sounds preposterous!" He exclaimed, looking almost disgusted. "We need something more...more refined. Formal. Alexandre, yes....that wil work well enough." He said, as if speaking to no-one in particular. 

"Alexandre Frost." He finally said after thinking a few moments. "Classy, refined, inspiring, intimidating. I like it!" He proclaimed with a dark grin. 

Heather nodded and said, trying to ignore the dark grin on his face, "Alright then. Alexandre Frost. It's nice to meet you," 
She figured she might as well say it. It's as good of an introduction that she was going to get. 

"Indeed." He responded with a smile and a short bow, taking her hand in his and kissing it with another flirtatious smile. 

Heather blushed again when he smiled, bowed, and kissed her hand with a flirtatious smile. She knew that he was going to flirt with her again, so she cleared her throat, and she suggested "Why don't we go look around the castle some more?"

"Yes, let us be off." He agreed cheerily enough, heading out the door.