Authors Note: I am in no way an accomplished fanfiction author, but I just had to get this out of my head and onto paper (digital paper, that is). I woke up a few weeks ago with the beginnings of this story floating in my mind from a dream. The story, incomplete, yet teasing me with flashes of plot, has been haunting me ever since. I hope a few of you will enjoy it. It will be slow going as my schedule doesn't allow much time for writing, but it will get there eventually.

First chapter is short, but it'll pick up...I promise!

Also, I love reviews! Hopefully some of you will like this story enough as it goes along to shoot me a review :)

~JVM

PS: I own nothing – all belongs to Disney and Tim Burton. Everything except my own personal fantasies of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter, that is. :-)

xXx

"You could stay." The Mad Hatter said, hopefully. Despite his desire to the contrary, he already knew the answer. It had not been foretold in the Oraculum that the Champion would stay. She would return to her own home, back to the place she called London. The White Queen Mirana, sensing the Hatter's growing attachment, had warned him the day before.

"What an idea, a crazy, mad wonderful idea." Alice paused, smiling, considering the possibility, before turning back to the Hatter. "But I can't, there are questions I have to answer, things I have to do."

Alice was torn. She wanted to stay. So much of her felt at home here in Underland, so much more a part of the world than she ever had in London. But she had a family, she had responsibilities to attend to. And most importantly, she had finally found her muchness. Her father would have been so proud of this muchness, boldness, confidence. Alice wanted a chance to continue the dream of his business, to live up to his great name. She had a fantastic idea for a new trade route and had the vision to carry it out.

"I'll be back again before you know it!" Happiness sparkled in her eyes as she spoke to the Hatter. He was the best friend she had ever had, and she would make her way back to him soon. And what grand stories she would have for him! Adventure, comedy, daring...maybe even romance.

"You wont remember me…" Hatter closed his eyes and spoke softly.

"Of course I will, how could I forget?" Alice smiled at the Hatter's worry. Underland had given her so much; she owed it to the land and its extraordinary people to hold them in her heart and in her memories. She had forgotten the last time, but she had been such a child then. Her mother and other adults had spent so many years insisting that her memories were nothing but dreams, fantasies concocted by an odd child. But now...this time would be different. She was grown now, she knew her own mind, and had faith in it. No one would be able to coerce her into betraying Underland this time.

"Hatter, why is a raven like a writing desk?" Alice reached for the Hatter's hand and squeezed gently before releasing it again.

"I haven't the slightest idea." The Hatter's breath caught at the contact. If Alice had noticed his reaction, she hadn't let on. If only Alice was staying, Hatter mused. She was so beautiful, so kind, so Alice.

Hatter watched as she brought the vile to her lips and drank it down. He smiled at her one last time, knowing that which she did not. Hatter knew that the blood of the Jabberwocky would strip her of all memories of Underland, and of him. He also knew at that moment, his eyes would be not his habitual green, or the yellow of anger or agitation, but blue. The midnight blue of sorrow.

Tarrant Hightopp, known to all as the Mad Hatter, had suffered much in his life. His trade had poisoned his mind and left him teetering for years on the edge of sanity. The destruction of his clan and the reign of the Red Queen had simply finished what the mercury had started, pushing him over the edge into madness. Just when he felt as though he had finally found someone who understood him, accepted him, she would be lost as well. Yet, he dared speak no more to the Champion. He had no right to keep her here and away from her home.

As Alice faded quietly into the aether, the Hatter turned away. He took a deep breath and looked around him. The Red Queen and her army had been defeated, the Jabberwocky was dead, and the White Queen would rein in Underland once again. His friends were free and rejoicing the coming peace. Even though his heart ached, all was not lost. Far from it, in fact. This was just the beginning.