It was grieving process; putting away all her father's things. Alice was surprised at how many things of his she kept close. Even when her mother finally accepted he wasn't coming back, Alice wouldn't let her sell his things or throw them away. Now she could finally move on.
Carroll, Alice's mother watched silently from the doorway. "What's this about?" She asked casually, as if everything were still normal. They were for her anyway.
"I don't need to look for Dad anymore," she replied, tossing out a brave grin. She placed the box of her father's things on the floor. "It's time to move on," and then went on to roll up her 'dad map.' She'd have to throw that out too.
Carroll looked confused. Alice didn't blame her. She'd never get it unless she knew what happened, and Alice didn't think she'd ever be able to tell her. Not really. That didn't stop Carroll from trying to think of something to say. Fortunately for Alice, the doorbell rang before her mother could say anything.
"Oh!" her mother said, remembering. "I almost forgot, the construction worker who found you wanted to stop by to see how you were." She started heading toward the door, but then stopped to throw in, "very sweet."Alice almost smiled. She was already trying to set her up with someone new.
Carroll was under the assumption that Jack was no longer the boyfriend. Alice told Carroll she caught up with him before her "accident" and they fought, leading to a dramatic break up. The emotional turmoil of this break up resulted in Alice's carelessness and getting into her accident. As nice an impression Jack made on her mother the night before, Carroll was no longer all that impressed with him. On some level Alice did feel bad about that, but it's not like he really wasn't the cause of her being there. Also, he'd never be around again so he wouldn't need to worry about Carroll's disapproval anyway.
"Alice!" her mother called from the living room. "Come meet David!"
Putting away the last thing of her father's, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Alice went to join her mother in the living room. She had no intention of allowing her mother to set her up of course. After Wonderland and Charlie, and Hatter it would be a while before she did something as normal as dating. Especially after Hatter. She already missed him. She missed him even as she gained consciousness in the hospital.
Her thoughts dwelled on him, not her father as she walked down the hall and into the living room, so when she saw the man standing in the center of the room, she thought at first her mind was playing tricks on her. But no, it was him. She knew his face.
"Hatter!" His name was on her lips before she could stop herself. She practically leaped at him, but he caught her, his arms wrapping securely around her waist as she flung her own arms around his shoulders. Silently she prayed she wasn't dreaming, and that his was her Hatter.
"Finally," he said, holding her tighter.
She grinned. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
Then he pulled away, but didn't completely let go of her. Hatter, her hatter looked at her. He looked so different. His spiky hair was smoother and straighter. His hat was off, and his wardrobe had completely changed. He looked so different, but he was still Hatter. Her Hatter.
Then her Hatter kissed her.
And she didn't even hesitate in kissing him back.
"I missed you," he whispered against her lips.
This admission thrilled her. So she kissed him again.