A/N: - I know that this is a long shot, and people might not read this, but I wanted to come back to this story since I think that it is just too good to leave alone… and I would LOVE it if you commented on it. I know that I AM A HUGE procrastinator, and I apologize for that, (to those of you who know me…) but I have been going through quite a lot in the past 6 months or so, which includes my father dying on September 1st. I think that I have a decent reason for taking a little break… But he absolutely loved my writing, and told me that he was especially proud of this one so this is for you daddy!

Now… this may be a K+ rating now… but I don't know how I am going to go with this. This story is quite literally writing itself, and I am just giving you a warning now.

YAAY For Alice&Hatter Fans! ^^

Disclaimer: - I do not own any of the Characters portrayed in this story besides the one or two characters of my own. They either belong to Lewis Carol, and/ or Tim Burton.

One Year Later-

Alice looked around at the familiar surroundings as she walked through her front door once again. She has just gotten back from Vancouver, Canada, covering a type of blockage that remained stuck until someone with a great and mad mind, could fix it. "Who better than Alice for the job," Lord Ascot said as he brought her along with him. She had done the long and exhausting job, but now she's back from what feels like an eternity, but really just 3 months from home. She stands with a smile on her face but with a tiring head, mind, and body.

Yes she had hoped to be back so soon, with her warm bed, her stories, and even her things. My, my how she valued the little trinkets that she had collected, but could not take with her on strong and adventurous journeys like Vancouver. And what use are they to her while she is working? So as she had often wished, she is just happy to relax and to be at home with nothing to do but sleep 'till Kingdom Come…

"Alice," her sister Margaret shouted in surprise as she saw her baby sister. They ran to one another and hugged each other tightly.

But then again, not all wishes can be granted.

"Oh, Margaret, I have missed you so much." Alice replied a whisper of jetlag.

"Well, it's about time that you have gotten back because I have some really good news. Come," she said as she pulled Alice's hand, forcing her to drop her bags, dragging her to the back where a tea party was set in honor of either Alice's homecoming, or the big news. "Sit," Margaret said as she practically shoved her into her seat.

"Hello, my darling! I have missed you so," their mother greeted Alice happily with a kiss on the forehead.

My Homecoming, of course!

Alright Margaret, everyone is now present, now what is the splendid news?" their mother asked in a very happy state as if she knows.

"Mother, you are particularly gleeful this morning, if I am to be so bold." Alice mentioned.

"Yes, of course darling, go on Margaret." She ignored Alice's comment. Margaret just smiled as her mother read her mind. "It's what I think it is, isn't it?" her mother added.

"We're pregnant!" she said jumping up and down. Alice smiled and attempted to cheer until she saw Lowell's face. He shows a hint of regret and a bead of sweat beyond that pretty boy smile of his. "Alice," Margaret woke from her concentration. "Aren't you happy for me?" Margaret asked as she tapped her husband's hand. "…us,"

No, the "big news"… that figures,

Alice stood. "Oh, ecstatically happy," she rose her voice into a squeal in happiness. "I was just deep in thought for a moment there,"

"Thank you," she said as she sat next to her husband.

Of course, he should feel this way. Since I have been gone for the past 3 months; Lord knows what has been going on in secret behind my sister's back. He better be worried about me. Let's just HOPE that he is not as stupid as he was at engagement party…

She looked beyond her hopeless brother-in-law and onto her mother on the end of the table. She sees happiness and almost silliness; almost… Mad, as if she was like… Oh, but that's just nonsense. My mother would never go upon mad people let alone become one.

"So, Alice what was it that fathomed you to go deep in thought?" Margaret asked as she sipped her tea and slipped her hand above her little sisters to wake her once more.

"Just things here and there, not really in particular; I have just learned to think things through and see with a better eye as I have grown within the past year or so." Alice said as she winked at her sister then started to space out once again.

"Well, I for one am so glad that you are now thinking reasonably before acting for a change." She said as she blew inside of her cup.

"I beg your pardon," Alice asked as she grabbed onto her spoon. "But what is that supposed to mean?" Alice asked as she squint her eyes at her changed sister.

"Oh Alice please, I just meant that you are more mature now and now you know a little better about what is right and wrong. You now know what is past the end of your nose, and can make fewer mistakes (like the engagement party incident in which took years to prepare.) You know better now…" Alice interrupted her.

"Well if people didn't keep it a secret from me for, I don't know, 19 years, no time would have been wasted. And you darn well know as well as I do that nothing was going to happen between me and Hamish even if I DID accept the proposal. And that is a personal matter, so I trust that it shall never be brought up again."

"Alice, how are you supposed to get out of here without a husband, a family, or even a life, staying in mother's house? There is a whole other world out there past the adventures of being in business of trade. Hopefully you will grow up soon enough not to miss out like Aunt Imogene."

"Excuse me, but I happen to applaud her for doing what she wanted and I have done a lot more this year than you have done your whole life, Margaret. I don't need a man in my life for it to be adventurous. I don't need love!"

"So, you're saying that you have never even considered love with anyone?" her sister asked as she stood. "Not even a, so called crush?" Alice quickly changed the subject.

"Why are you making such a big deal out of this?" Alice asked as she looked up to her big sister.

"Well have you?" her sister asked. Alice looked away as she felt her cheeks get a little warm. Her sister smiles, "So you have,"

"I have what?" Alice quickly covered up her blush.

"Well, I guess it doesn't really matter," her sister hit a tender spot. "You obviously don't care about him enough to go back to him, let alone bring him up in a friendly conversation." She said as she sat down slowly.

Alice paused as she looked at the perfect couple. "I must say that you and Lowell deserve each other, Margaret. You think that you are so perfect, with the perfect husband, and the perfect baby coming in your perfect house staying away from the not so perfect me! Look at who's talking about being blind, when…"

"Alice," their mother shouted stopping her rambling.

Alice exhaled deeply. "I'm fine…" Alice whispered. "But what makes you think that I don't care for… Waitaminute…" Alice saw what Margaret was doing. "Hey!"

"Where does this boy live?" she asked her sister as she placed her chin on top of her hands. "Vancouver, Hong Kong, Brazil, America, Scotland," Alice started to blush as red as a red rose. Margaret paused as she realizes she found the right answer. "Oh, a long distant relationship," Margaret shouted with a smile clapping her hands together. "And with an accent no doubt, how romantic!" she finished sarcastically.

"You don't know what you're talking about, big sis," Alice said very quietly as she stood in perfect silence. "You have no idea. It's almost as if… as if falling in love with an "idea"," Margaret fell into silence as well.

"Wow, he really means something to you." she said quietly.

Alice quarreled "Damn you Margaret how is it that you are so good at making even the nicest days that I ever have turn into sewage? You make me wish that I was still working on the other side of the world?"

"Alice," their mother shouted louder.

"Thank you for, once again helping me realize that you have a better life than I, my lovely sister!" she shouted so loud their neighbors could hear. "And on a lighter note," she mellowed out, "even if I would ever fall in love AND magically become betrothed to a crazy enough person to accept me for WHO I AM, I would rather be married to someone as mad as a Hatter that with someone like that!" she shouted as she pointed to Lowell.

"That is quite enough," their mother pulled Alice away and rushed her inside.

Alice stood in silence and faced her back to the world. "Oh, and by the way," she said in a kind note as she turned to face everyone in a sweet face. "I am excruciatingly happy for you and your bundle of joy. Let's just hope that your toddler over there won't get too jealous of the lack of attention and do something… regrettable," she commented crudely making fun of Lowell with a watchful eye in an incredibly dark humor that very few would through their heads back and laugh.

Alice didn't have to read her mother's mind to run up stairs away from the world without her stuff, in solitude… where she knew that she would be safe.

"How can she be so crude?" she shouted to herself as she started to cry. She stood as she tried to add up the jumble of happenings that was just witnessed not moments ago. Alice backed up on her bed and collapsed upon the fluff of her sheets and pillows. "Oh Lord, how could I be so crude, that was not the right thing to say to her. Oh, what am I going to do?" she asked as she curled up into a ball, smothering her face with her hands started to silently cry about the angry things that she had said to the 'used-to-be-happy' couple down there. But before she can even try to start to fathom on what happened, she slowly started to drift away, and drifting away brings back… memories…

Memories…

'You could stay'

Familiar faces

'What an idea…"

Faces one could only dream,

'…Our Champion…'

Faces that seemed so unreal,

'Alice,'

The voices in her head

'Alice,'

Won't heave her…

'Alice'

Millions of images…

"Alice," a kind voice became…

Don't you just love a cliffy? I now that I am bad. But I hope that you review if you like for me to continue ^^

And please keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers. My father is pretty much the only reason why I decided to try this again. The chapters won't be as long... and I think that, that will help.

Yes Terrant is coming soon. I Absolutely Promise. I just have to create a small buildup - Oh and because I actually care about my grades now... I will not be posting very often, mainly because I have my D.A. to keep up with, school (Oh Lord...) and other stories... I have to do something to keep my mind off of my father!