Title: Button, Button. Who's got the Button?

Author: MoonbeamDancer

Rating: G, may go up

E-mail: Since I can't put it in the actual story anymore, look in my profile.

Author's Notes: No, I don't own them, Disney does.

Chapter One: In Which Alice Is Late For Tea.

"You could stay you know." the Hatter looked at the vial in Alice's hand, a wistfulness to his voice. "Would that be so bad?" What he really wanted was for her to stay with him, but the words stayed clogged in his throat, even now refusing to come out.

Alice stared at the vial of bright purple blood before looking up at the Hatter. "I can't there are things I must do. Things that need to be finished," Even as the lies came from her mouth, her heart of hearts hissed "Liar! Stay here! We truly belong here and you know it." She popped open the vial with her thumb.

The Hatter nodded, she was right, even if caused his heart to spasm and break in two. He leaned over and whispered "Fairfarren Alice." into her ear, lips brushing her cheek. Alice gasped at the light contact and hastily swallowed the vial of blood, the liquid burning it's way down her throat. As the blood hit her stomach and began running through her bloodstream, Alice's vision became smokey and began to fade out, her body being thrown back into the real world. The last thing she saw, was the Hatter's eyes as they blazed bright green, unblinking at her before being swallowed up in the black smoke.

Alice awoke with a start, her head ached and she touched the back of her skull gently. A small bump, but it didn't feel like anything else was wrong. She sat up slowly and climbed out of the rabbit hole, brushing as much dirt as she could off her dress, once she was topside. Her gloved hand caught on something and Alice looked down to see. Tucked into her right glove, soiled and worn as it was, was a small silver button. It looked to be about the size of one made for a jacket or coat. It also looked like it had come off the Hatter.

"Where did you come from?" she asked it, knowing full and well that it couldn't answer her. Or at least she hoped it couldn't. Alice started making her way back to the party, she needed to set somethings straight and she may as well start with Hamish and how she couldn't marry him. She tucked the button back into her glove for safe keeping, intending to do something with it once she was back home.

"Why Alice? Hamish and his family are very well off, it would have been a wonderful match. Why did you say no?" Her mother questioned on the carriage ride home. "His mother had been planning this for most of your life and you go and ruin it by running off and saying no."

Alice pressed her hands together, wondering just what she should say. What could she say that would make any sense and not make her family think she was mad? It's not like the truth would work after all. "I stand by what I said before mother, we are not right for each other." She was silent the rest of the way home, despite her mother's best efforts to get an answer out of her.

Later that same evening, Alice sat in her bed chamber on a chair by the window. The view from it, afforded her one of the side garden, but she paid scarce attention to it. She instead was focused on her gloves and took them off. The pair was damp with sweat and the soft, delicate fabric had turned from white to a grubby gray from ground in dirt. She laid them on the small side table next to her and looked closer at the button in her palm. It was small and silver with an indention in the center with four holes to slip thread through. Alice turned it over in her hand, looking to find any marks on it, there were none that she could see. Hoping to uncover something, Alice moved to her wash basin and mirror. A quick glance told her that, not only was the button a bit in need of cleaning, but so was she.

Soon Alice and the mysterious button were bathed and ready for bed, but only the button shone in the light from it's quick bath. Alice sat in bed, turning the small bit of metal over and over in her fingers, mind wandering as to what the button could mean or how it ended up in her glove. The pair of which was still on the table, now worn and dirty and in need of being thrown away. But Alice couldn't do it and so just let them sit there, a silent testament to her journey. Mind a whirl with confusion, Alice blew out the candle next to her and laid down, tucking the button under her pillow and commenced to try and sleep.

"You're late." A voice called softly from her left. "But the tea is still warm, come sit down."

"Who's there?" Alice asked as the table seemingly appeared out of thin air. The semi foggy air.

"I am." replied the voice, gently guiding her to a chair, one arm pulling it out for her.

The voice was very polite and it wasn't until the person's arm brushed by her, that she realized who it was. His very scent should have given it away. The smokey smell of tea leaves. He sat to her left and placed a fresh cup and saucer in front of her.

"Is orange blossom alright?" He asked, lifting a pot. Both the pot and cup pattern matched, pale blue with silver vines.

Alice nodded. "It's fine and hello Hatter."

Tarrant smiled as he poured. "Hello to you too, Alice. Scone? There's blueberry and apple."

"Apple, please." The plate was help in front of her and Alice picked one.

"Cream or sugar?"

"Sugar, two lumps and thank you."

The sugar tongs clicked against the bowl and she stirred the sugar into her cup.

"Welcome." He watched her drink as he poured his own cup.

Alice looked around, wondering where the Dormouse and Hare were. "They're normally here with you Hatter. And why am I here?"

"Normally yes, but they're currently sleeping and opted for real beds, this time around."

She nodded, putting down her cup. "Hatter-"

"Tarrant." Came the reply.

"Excuse me?"

"That's my name, remember?"

Alice nodded, recalling that Chessur had called him that.

"I'd like it of you called me that."

"Alright, Tarrant. Why am I here?" she asked again.

"Why is anyone here?" he rasped.

Alice laughed, nibbling on her scone. "I'm serious. I know I can't really be hewre again, I'm at home, asleep in London."

"Oh really now? Are you sure, you're sure?"

Alice nodded. "Very. I'm asleep at home." She drank. "I got home and after taking care of the button-"

"Button?"

"A little silver one with four holes in the-"

"Center with a rounded edge." finished Tarrant.

"Yes, how did you know?"

Tarrant swallowed the last of his cup. "I've heard of them before." He swirled the bits of leaves in the bottom of the cup before flipping the remains onto the saucer. He stared at them, trying to decipher their meaning.

"It'll be light soon, you should be going."

"But Tarrant, what about the button? What does it mean?"

"Soon."

The sky lightened to lavender and Alice woke up.