"You could stay." The words lingered like smoke and hung in the air around her making her heart slow. It was almost as the though it were difficult to breathe. Such a prospect, to stay in Underland. She was welcome here. There was no one to judge her or think her a disgrace. They were all just as mad as she was. Just as mad as she'd remembered.

"What an idea," she began, a gentle smile rising to grace her lips at the sound of his voice. "A crazy, mad, wonderful idea."

Alice pursed her lips slightly, her brow furrowing. It wasn't a frown really, so much as a sad look that harbored all the grief and sorrow of any goodbye. Especially the kind that could easily be forever. Forever. It was a long time. Longer than Alice knew she'd last. Underland though, it was different. It had the potential to live on and thrive. Who knew? Possibly forever. Would another lost child find her way down the rabbit hole? Would it save her from herself?

Only time could tell. But what was time but simply an illusion? An illusion that dictated the lives of so many in her world. There were things back home she needed to do. Problems she needed to face. Obstacles her time in the mad world had given her the courage to overcome. She could not stay.

"But I can't." Her gaze rose to meet his and she could only feel a pang of guilt deep her chest as his face fell. "There are questions I have to answer. Things I have to do."

Alice looked down at the cold little bottle in her hand and flipped up the cap, swallowing down the Jabberwocky's still warm, oozing blood.

Always drinking such strange substances, she thought almost fondly, taking a deep breath and putting on a cheery face as she forced herself to make eye contact with the Hatter again.

"Be back again before you know it."

"You won't remember me."

"Of course I will." The strength of her voice surprised her. Maybe because the thought of forgetting the Hatter was unbearable or perhaps it was because she figured she would forget eventually, but wanted to reassure him and herself that she wouldn't. "How could I forget?" Perhaps a bit of both.

"Hatter?" Her lip quivered slightly. "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

"I haven't the slightest idea." The dark distress in his eyes betrayed his quirky little smile.

As he leaned toward her she took in a sharp whiff of air, letting his scent of fresh linen and sweet roses fill her nose. She missed him already. In that moment she nearly wrapped her arms around him, nearly gave him a small peck on his red lips, but she didn't. It wouldn't be right. Would it?

"Fair farren, Alice." He whispered and she felt his warm whispers in her ear.

Alice wanted desperately to close her eyes for a moment to hold back the tears that were threatening her eyes. She wouldn't though. She wouldn't take her eyes off her Hatter. Instead she'd take him in with big, sad eyes and try to remember.

With a final look and the shadows of a smile it all faded away. So quickly it went too. Here she was back where she'd started from, but she wasn't the same. She would remember.