As it had done on his way here, the wide underskirt of Dumas’s dress swelled up like a parachute, slowing his descent -- and the descent of anyone else holding on to him.  Seeing the fear on Meryl’s face, Dumas attempted to pull her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist if she let him.  “Don’t worry,” he tried to reassure.  “Hitting the ground doesn’t hurt at all.”<br/><br/>Usually he was the person who required reassurance, and it was Deidre’s job to provide it.  But Dumas found that he enjoyed being the brave one occasionally.  Although he’d only stayed for a very little while, he felt certain that his solo trip through the portal had done him some good.  Smiling, Dumas watched the flotsam and jetsam tumbling around them.  “Look at that,” he exclaimed, gesturing at a brightly painted rocking horse.  “I had one just like it when I was a little boy.  I suppose it might actually be mine, for all I know.”  A wistful sigh escaped Dumas.  “Andre says that the portals are full of all the things that get forever lost in either world.”<br/><br/>After a few more moments of falling, they finally landed inside what seemed to be an impossibly large, hollow tree.  About four feet off the ground, there was a hole -- just large enough for someone to climb through.  Without hesitation, Dumas did exactly that.  And, when he found himself safely back in the Wonderland forest, he beckoned for his new friends to join him.  “Come on.  There’s still plenty of time to get to the tea party.”<br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>Deidre nodded when Andre asked if she still planned on attending Hatter’s tea party.  “Yes, I think so.  Dumas will probably turn up there -- you know how much he love’s Alix’s baking.  And I do like visiting Hatter.  Even if he seems so sad sometimes.”  For a moment, Deidre stared off into the distance, not really seeing anything in particular.  Most of the adults that she knew seemed rather sad much of the time.  Even the bitch queen, beneath all her anger and spite, was sad.  It must be something about growing up.  As she got older, Deidre expected that she would also get sadder, and she accepted that.  She just wished it wouldn’t happen to Dumas.<br/><br/>“Are you going, Aybee?  I’m sure it will be lots of fun.”<br/><br/>Deidre paused when they reached a strange metal circle bearing a very familiar insignia.  Was it just a coincidence?  Or did this have something to do with Wonderland?  Apparently it did, because Andre lifted the heavy disc, revealing the portal beneath it.  Deidre’s delicate nose wrinkled as she caught a whiff of the dank, rotten smell drifting upwards from the darkness.  “If I thought that Ludovica had any control over the portals, I’d say she did this just to spite us.  But I suppose that beggars can’t be choosers.”<br/><br/>Although Deidre had appreciated Andre’s help during her first trip, she now wanted to journey through a portal without being held onto.  Drawing a deep breath, she gave Andre a friendly wave, and then jumped into the darkness.