"What are you doing here?" Jack was a little surprised at the anger his presence at the tea party had stirred up.

"You mean I wasn't invited?" Jack pretended to be offended, but Hatter shot him a deadly glare that told him to nock it off. "I'm trying to help Alice get home."

"Alice", Hatter repeated the name, looking to where Alice and her friends were speaking with The Queen.

"It seems like you know her."

"That's none of your concern, White Knight." Hatter snapped.

"You can call be by my name, you know." She didn't meet his glaze. There was a short silence, that Jack decided to brake. "It's good to finally see you again."

"I wish I could say the same to you", Hatter said dryly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important matters to deal with." She turned to leave, but Jack caught her arm.

"Hatter, I'm sorry about what happened. Believe me, not a day go's by that I don't regret what I did."

"You left a note telling me that you were leaving and not coming back, telling me to forget you. You could have at least looked me in the eye when you ripped out my heart." She willed away the tears that were about to form in her eyes. She didn't want Jack to know that she still had feelings for him.

"I didn't know how to tell you. I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't enough." She pulled her arm from his grip, but turned to face him. "You should leave the tea party, leave Alice, if you know what's good for you."

"Is that a threat?" Jack asked, taken a back.

"No, it's a warning, you don't know what you're about to get yourself into."

"I'm not about to just abandon someone who needs my help." Jack wished he could take back those words the moment he said them.

"You've had no trouble doing so before", Hatter was grateful that her voice didn't break as she said this.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say-"

"I know." Hatter's voice came out softer than she had intended it to. "I need to go."

Jack watched her leave, and wish more than anything that he could take back all of the wrong that he had done her. He wished that there was someway for the two of them to start over.

He remembered the way that he had hid in the shadows, unnoticed, and watched Hatter read his goodbye letter. He remembered the look of disbelief on her face. He had debated saying something to her, but by the time he had summoned the nerve to the moment had passed, and she was gone. He knew that he would never be able to change that moment, that he would end up regretting it for the rest of his life.