"I missed you…" Hatter whispered as he broke the kiss, and looked down at the women he had fought for since they had first met, and then found her lips on his again, this time by her doing. The electricity that sparked between them as they kissed grew steadily more as the kiss lengthened, Alice running her hands through his gravity defying hair, Hatter pulling her closer to him, his hands around her waist, his hat on the floor, forgotten during the passion of their reuniting kiss. The moment was interrupted when someone cleared their throat.

Hatter grinned as Alice pulled away, blushing after she noticed how intimately close and tangled together they had been, in front of her mother of all people. Hatter bent down and picked up his hand, holding in one hand, and holding Alice's hand in the other.

"Alice, who is this??" Carol, Alice's mother, asked, her eyes wide as she looked at the two of them standing together. Alice sighed, unwilling to tell the whole tale, simply because it would take a long time, so she settled on telling her a short version.

"Mom, this is David, but everyone calls him Hatter. He's a….former student of mine." Alice said, pausing to give herself time to come up with something else to say when Hatter stepped toward her mother.

"Hello, Carol. I am a long time friend of Alice's. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Hatter said, sticking out the hand that Alice was not gripping tightly behind him in anticipated faer, intending to give her mother a handshake. Carol ignored Hatter and his offered hand, instead glancing around him at Alice.

"Alice, I need to speak to you, alone." She said sternly as she began to walk to the kitchen down the hall. Alice gave Hatter an apologetic look, squeezed his hand which she had never let go of, and followed her mother down the hall into the kitchen.

"What are you thinking? What about Jack, and who is that man out there!? You two seem to be very fond of each other!" She said, her voice starting out in a quiet whisper so Hatter wouldn't hear, but despite her efforts, her voice grew louder until she was almost shrieking. Alice winced at the anger in her mother's voice as she grappled with trying to come up with something in response.

Meanwhile, Hatter stood in the entryway, trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation but finding it hard since her mother was yelling. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his dark brown jacket, trying to distract himself from listening in on the fight. After a moment, he decided on thinking about Alice. That would definitely distract him.

She had looked so cute in her jeans, tank top and small over jacket, even though he still preferred the wet blue dress and tights over those. He couldn't help but grin at that thought. He absentmindedly wondered if she still had the dress, or if she had gotten rid of it because it was ruined from all the water when Alice returned, her mother in tow, both frowning. His eyes narrowed slightly. He was a con man, and he could always tell when something was going on. His mind was cleared when he caught sight of Alice, and he was filled with an emotion he could only describe as love and want.

"Hatter, can I speak to you, privately, please?" Alice asked, looking up at him, her eyes growing bright and the smile coming back to her lips as she came in to the room and saw him. Hatter nodded, looking only at Alice as he followed her back down the hall, but this time, they did not go to the kitchen. They headed straight for her room. As they entered, she turned to him with a smile.

"She can't hear us in here, so we can talk freely." She said with a smile. Hatter's heart seemed to swell as he saw her smile, and he closed the distance between them quickly. He took her into his arms, and again found his lips on hers, and deepened the kiss. Alice crushed herself against Hatter, trying to get as close to him as possible. She knew that from that moment on she never wanted to be parted from him again. Then a thought came to mind. Why was he here? Had he just come to stay goodbye or would he stay?

Her mind was taken off the subject when she felt Hatters tongue in her mouth and his hands slowly creeping up her back to bunch in her hair. He had wanted her for so long, and now he finally had her, forever. Her thoughts reflected his as she eagerly kissed him, his tongue sliding between her lips, exploring gently at first, then his kisses grew fiercer as his hands slid down to her hips, pulling her as close as he could. Alice felt this, and responded in kind by gripping his hair in her hands to hold his face to hers, both of their breathing coming in heavy gasps. Then a knock came at the door. Alice froze, but Hatter didn't.

"Honey, I'm going to go out. I'll be back later tonight. You two behave yourselves." came her mother's voice through the door. Alice began to speak, but Hatter bit her lip teasingly before she could.

"Hatter….My mother…." She said breathlessly, letting his hands slid up under her shirt toward her bra, his mouth moving down to kiss her neck.

"Your mother is going out. We have the place to ourselves." Hatter muttered against her skin as he kissed her neck, and chuckled when Alice let out a small moan, her head moving to the side to give him better access. She loved the feel of his lips on her skin, and didn't even notice when they moved their activities to her bed. It didn't matter that her mother would be back in a few hours. All that mattered was that for the moment, they were together, and they would make the most of it.

*****

Hatter woke slowly, feeling better then he ever had. Alice was curled in a ball in front of him, his body curled around hers in a gentle embrace. He smiled as he watched her sleep, a small smile on her lips.

"Hatter…" she muttered in her sleep, and her face fell into a frown. Hatter brushed a strand of hair out of her face, wanting to make the frown disappear, and Alice's eyes fluttered open. She blinked slowly, and then smiled when she remembered where she was and who she was with. She turned slowly in the bed toward Hatter, propping her head up with one hand, and pulling the blanket up to cover her with her other hand.

"Hey." She whispered, smiling. Hatter smiled back as he cupped her face with his hand and leaned in, kissing her gently. That was the thing she remembered the most about what had happened. When it came to sex, Hatter was so gentle with her, like she was something fragile. That was what she loved most about him. He treated her like she was something to be cherished and kept safe. He would always come to her rescue whenever she needed him.

Then, it hit her. She loved him. For the first time in her life since her dad left, she was in love. It was almost as if Hatter could read her thoughts in her eyes because he felt the same way, and made his feelings known.

"I think I would have missed you even if we never had met. I love you, Alice, more then life itself." Hatter whispered, his hand still cupping her cheek as he ran his thumb along her bottom lip softly. Her eyes burned with tears when she heard his words. She didn't know how long she had been waiting to hear him say those words until they were out in the open.

Alice leaned forward, her lips crushing against his in the sudden feeling that had taken her.

"I love you too Hatter, more then you will ever know." She whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she kissed him fiercely again. Hatter wrapped his arms around her while they kissed, and rolled her onto her back so he was on top. His kissing was fierce, but his hands were gentle as they wiped away her tears.

*****

The next morning was an awkward one for both parties. Carol walked out to a sight she didn't expect to see. At her kitchen table sat Alice and the mysterious man known as David Hatter, eating breakfast quietly. Alice was munching on a piece of toast and chasing each bite with a swig of orange juice, and David was holding a steaming cup of what she suspected was tea, by the tea kettle that was sitting on the stove that hadn't been there the night before.

She didn't say anything though. Alice was a big girl now, and no matter how much she wanted to protect her, she had to let her do things on her own. So, she sat down opposite Alice, since David was sitting next to her, and smiled at the two of them.

"So, how did you two um…sleep?" she asked, taking in their clothes, which were the exact same they had been wearing the day before. They looked at each other, Hatter grinning, Alice blushing with a smile on her face before either of them answered.

"Best sleep I've ever had." Hatter said as he squeezed Alice's knee gently under the table, grinning mischievously. She squeezed his in return, grinning and nodding. Despite how strange Carol found all of this, she didn't say anymore about it.

*****

"Hatter!" Alice screamed as she was jolted awake by the terrible nightmare she had just experienced. She was drenched in sweat, and fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. She had dreamed that Hatter had run away, back to Wonderland after she confessed her feelings for him. It seemed like forever ago that they had spent that magical, yet restless night together. Hatter sat up quickly, his eyes wide as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. It had been a few weeks since he had ventured after her though the Looking Glass, and into her world.

Since then, they had moved into the flat above her dojo, which he attended until he escalated to black belt within the first week of his training due to his right arm, the old sledgehammer everyone in Wonderland called it. Alice had thought about having him as a second teacher, he was certainly good enough, but Hatter declined. He just wasn't made out for the whole teaching thing. He eventually got a job as a bartender. Since he had been the owner of a tea shop in Wonderland, he thought it wouldn't be much of a transition.

"Shhhh. It was just a dream, love." Hatter muttered as Alice turned toward him and buried her face in his bare chest, sobbing madly. She just couldn't stop. The dream had been so real, she felt like he was really gone. She gripped him tightly with her arms while he pet her head softly and whispered comforting things to her until her sobbing turned into hiccups. She sat up, looking at him, her hands touching his face softly, just to make sure it was really him, that he was still there and hadn't left like in her dream. She would have started crying again, but Hatter touched her hand with his and spoke.

"Do you want to talk about it love?" he asked, looking into her eyes. Alice opened her mouth to speak when the door to their bedroom flew open, and before they could do anything, Jack and Charlie came bursting in, both breathing heavily. Alice's eyes widened and in a flash, she began grabbing the blanket and pulling it up to cover her, her face as red as a beet. Hatter just chuckled, which earned him a glare from Alice, so he stopped.

Jack and Charlie's eyes both widened as they fell upon the sight that was before them. Hatter and Alice, in a bed together, arms wrapped around each other.

"Well, well!" Charlie exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Jack just stood, dumbfounded, all he could do was stare. Charlie opened his mouth to speak again when Alice held up a hand.

"At least let us get decent before there is anymore talking, alright?" Alice said, her voice a bit shaky. Hatter presumed it was from her recent crying, and Jack assumed it was nerves after being caught in the 'act' so to speak, but they were both wrong. Alice had begun to feel sick to her stomach, but even she thought it was just nerves, so she pushed it aside for later.

Jack nodded, still not having said a word, and ushered Charlie out of the room to give Alice and Hatter a bit of privacy. Alice sighed as the door closed, resting her head slightly on Hatters exposed shoulder for support.

"Perfect timing, right?" Alice muttered, closing her eyes. For some reason she felt very tired too, and she began to doze until Hatter spoke.

"Well, we best get dressed and go out and see what all the fuss is about." He heaved a sigh as he got out of the bed, pulling on only a pair of pants; seeing him like that made Alice suddenly feel frisky, the tired feeling that had taken her a moment again gone in a flash. She always loved the sight of him without a shirt on, his slightly tanned and slightly muscled body, and his tussled gravity defying hair perfect in her eyes. When Hatter turned around, she grabbed him by the belt loop and pulled him back onto the bed, kissing him deeply. He kissed back until there was a knock on the door from Charlie.

"Oi! What's taking so long?" He hollered through the door. This seemed to snap Hatter out of the moment, but not Alice.

"Love, I think we should go see what it is they want." He murmured against her lips as she continued to kiss him. Alice pulled away, pouting a little, and Hatter smiled, kissing her softly before getting out of the bed again. Alice got out too and pulled the comforter off the bed and wrapped it around herself to cover her silky tank top and matching shorts.

When they both left the room, they found Charlie and Jack in the living room, Charlie mesmerized as he flipped through the channels on their television, Jack trying not to glance at them and seeming vaguely interested in the books and collection of movies on the bookshelf next to the television. Then he came across a movie that made him chuckle. He pulled it out to reveal that it was a video of the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland.

"Very interesting." He said as he turned to Alice and Hatter, pinching it between two fingers and swinging it back and forth. Hatter laughed, nodding.

"That's exactly what I said when I saw it. I mean, come on, I don't have gray hair, and I'm not old, so they got it all wrong." He said, laughing. Alice laughed too as she remembered the night they had watched it. He had been so fascinated by the whole thing, until it came time for the Tea party scene. Alice laced her fingers through Hatter's and leaned against him slightly as she sighed happily. It was the first happy memory they had made together in her world, and she would always cherish it. Charlie turned the television off and turned his attention to the couple, grinning from ear to ear again.

"Hatter, you sly fox you." He laughed, his armor chinking with his movements. Time worked differently in Wonderland then it did in their world. 3 days there equaled one hour on earth, or the Old World as most people in Wonderland called it, so by Alice's calculations, their small two weeks in their world would have been about 3 years in Wonderland, and Charlie looked pretty much the same, except maybe less hair. Then, another question came to mind.

"Wait, why are you guys here?" she asked, looking at Jack and Charlie, puzzled. "surely its not just a trip to check on us?" The two exchanged a look Alice could not read, but Hatter could. He wouldn't have been much of a con man if he couldn't read faces, and the look he saw was definitely something along the lines of a mixture of weariness and fear.

"What have you done now, Jack?" Hatter sighed; his voice sounding tired as he pinched the bridge of his nose with the hand that was holding Alice's. The last two weeks had been the happiest in his life, and he didn't want anything to ruin it, but there stood Charlie and Jack, most likely needing their help back in his native world. He knew he couldn't refuse though. No matter how much he called Alice's world his home, Wonderland would always be his home too. As if Alice could see these thoughts pass through his eyes, she squeezed his hand.

What if this turned out just like her dream? What if Hatter ran away back to Wonderland? Then, her head began to swim with nausea. Her legs began to wobble as the bile filled her throat and she dropped Hatter's hand and the blanket and raced to the bathroom, Hatter in tow.

"Alice, are you…" his voice trailed off as she began throwing up in the toilet. He didn't know what else to do, so he held her hair away from her face as she threw up, rubbing her back and cooing comforting things to her as tears spilled from her eyes. Jack and Charlie came rushing to the bathroom too, but Hatter knew Alice wouldn't want an audience, so the only thing they saw was Alice bent over the toilet and Hatter holding her hair before the door was slammed in their faces.

*****

Hatter waited patiently, glancing at the clock that hung on the wall. He didn't know much about them in this world. Time worked differently in Wonderland, but Alice had at least taught him how to read one. It was 4 in the morning as he sat, waiting for her to finish, still cooing comforting words to her as he held her hair for her, his other hand rubbing her back comfortingly. She stood when she was finished and before Hatter could get her in his arms, she dodged him and grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste and brushed her teeth. She had to get the disgusting taste out of her mouth.

"Are you ok Alice?" he asked, looking at her like she was something fragile. Alice glared at him. She didn't like being vulnerable in front of him, but he had already seen her at her worst, so she decided that it didn't really matter. A hurt expression came over his face when she didn't answer and when he saw her glare, and Alice saw this. She felt bad for not saying anything, and glaring when he was only trying to help and make her feel better. Hatter opened the door to reveal Jack and Charlie standing close by, and Alice's arms wrapped around him from behind. He froze as she hugged him.

"I'm sorry, Hatter, I was just not feeling well. I think it was the food we had last night. I feel better now though, I promise. You know how I hate to feel vulnerable, even with you. I can't help it." She muttered into his bare back, and Hatter turned when he heard tears in her voice. He hugged her gently, and kissed her head.

"Its fine love." He whispered into her hair as they hugged, and Alice looked up, smiling. Someone cleared their throat behind them, breaking up the moment.

"If you don't mind, we have some serious business to attend to." came Jack's voice, and Hatter couldn't help but grin at the envy he heard in his tone. They turned, not hugging anymore, but their hands entwined, Alice draped in the blanket again and Hatter wearing only pants, and followed Jack and Charlie back into the living room. As they sat down, Alice began to laugh as she remembered the last time their moment had been interrupted by a throat clearing. Hatter ginned.

"So, you were remembering that too then?" he said with a chuckle. Alice nodded.

"Yup. The look on mom's face was priceless." She said with a smile, squeezing his hand. Hatter nodded returning the smile by flashing her favorite sexy smile at her, through no effort on his part since he was thinking about what happened after that. Alice grinned as she thought about the same thing. She slapped him on the chest playfully with her free hand.

"You and your dirty mind Hatter, honestly." She said with a grin, and would have leaned in to kiss him eagerly if it were for Jack beginning to talk.

"Anyways, on to business." Jack said, his tone still sprinkled with a bit of envy. Hatter and Alice turned their attention to Jack, both still grinning. Charlie was looking at the two of them expectantly, although, he was also trying to ignore their little moments out of embarrassment like he had when Alice was in Wonderland and her and Hatter had been arguing in the elevator of the casino.

"Yeah, yeah, we heard ya. So what is it?" Hatter spoke as he and Alice sat down on the couch next to Jack and Charlie. Alice curled her legs up onto the couch, with the blanket still draped over her, which she had moved to include Hatter just for the sake of feeling his warm skin touching hers. When she was comfy, she turned her attention to the two Wondelander's. Again, Charlie and Jack exchanged a look before Jack elaborated.

"Well, there's problem in Wonderland." He said, his voice a bit quiet.