A/N: I don't own anything.

In love and lost

She knew she missed Underland, though. Or, more specifically, a certain Mad Hatter.

Did he remember her? Did he dream about her as often as she did of him? Did he lay awake at night? Thinking of her? Was he safe?

She smiled to herself, remembering the moments they shared alone. Teasing, talking, playing…

He made her sing, he made her dance in the rain; she'd even learnt Scottish.

The next memory saddened her.

In love and lost, always yours, you make me sing, make me dance in the rain! I give you everything, EVERYTHING in me; make it yours if you love me!

"I do like you, Alice." He'd once said. "More than I probably should."

"But I like you too, Hatter."

"You don't see, lass." He said. "I'm not from your world."

"So?"

"It would never work, even I want you here."

"And if I stay?"

"It still would never work."

He had a nice laugh. His eyes had a way of shining with laughter when he was happy, and they had a way of glowing with anger.

"When you go to sleep tonight, don't fear. Our precious memories will guard you silently."

"Letting you go is not an easy task." She said. He smiled sadly, his skin paling. He lifted a hand and caressed her cheek.

"I know, darling." He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

When his hand touched hers, her blood went both cold and hot at the same time. She didn't know how it was possible, but it was.

"Come on, Alice, it's not hard."

"There's no music, Hatter." She reasoned.

"So?"

He pulled her up, and they started doing a rather odd version of a dance that seemed to include the waltz, the salsa and the jive.

But they could never be together – as he said. When she was a little girl, he was an adult Hatter. Now that she was an adult, he hadn't aged.

"I don't want to be alone either." He said. "But I'm confident I'll find someone. Just as you will."

So there she stood, back in her world, ready to give the man with a caterpillar on his shoulder an answer. She couldn't have the Hatter, but she could have someone else. She was still young, still pretty – and her head buzzed with ideas of flying and traveling and enjoying her life.

Thus she declined his proposal. Why on earth should she be worried now?