Alice was walking around the Hatter's kitchen, which seemed to be the only clean part of his house. She was watching him fumble around in his pockets. He was looking for something, she could tell. "Alice?" he said.
"Yes, my Hatter?" She looked over at him, he was still frantically searching for whatever was in his pocket. Finally, he took her hands and got down on one knee.
"Alice, w-will you..." he started, when the March Hare came skipping in. He gasped, "Hatty!" "Marchy!"
"Alice!"
"Hatter?"
"MARCHY!" Hatter said, as if it were a warning. March Hare stumbled out, and ran into the doorway. Hatter shook his head, and stared back at Alice. He took a deep breath, and said. "Er, Alice? Will you...will you join me for tea?" She looked shocked and releived at the same time. She helped him up, "Sure," she said. "I'll make another pot of tea for you," and Hatter bolted out of the room.

Hatter was sitting at the table with the Cheshire Cat, his head in his hands. "I'm a failure, Chess. I'll never be able to ask her to marry me!" Cheshire patted his back, "There, there Hatter. You're not a failure," he said soothingly. "Thank you, Chess, you're a true friend," Hatter sighed. "If you were a true friend, you would give me that hat," said Cheshire. Hatter held the hat to his side, keeping it out of Chess' reach. "Now's no time to joke, Cheshire," Hatter said. Chess sighed, "I know," he said, "I know." Hatter looked up, "Alice is taking a long time, shall I check on her?" Cheshire Cat laughed, "You're too...protective, Hatter. You know that saying..."
"What is it?"
"Well, I thought you would know."
Hatter boldly stood up, "I'm going to ask her, no games this time," Hatter said proudly. "Atta boy, Hatter!" said Chess, encouraging him to go on. He started towards the house, finally finding the little gold ring in his pocket.

He moseyed into the kitchen, where he found Alice. He cleared his throat, and she turned around. "Hatter!" she said, "You startled me!" He blushed, "Sorry, " he said. "Oh, it's alright," she said, smiling slightly. "I wanted to ask you something, Alice," Hatter said, squeezing the ring in his pocket. "Yes?" she said. Hatter took a deep breath, and got down on his knee for the second time. He swore he would ask her this time. He pulled out the little gold ring, much to Alice's surprise. "Will you marry me, Alice?" She gasped, "Hatter! This is...I don't know what to say!" He looked up at her, "Then say yes," She had tears streaming down her cheeks, "I can't, Hatter. I just..I have things to see, questions to be answered. I'm...sorry." Hatter was shocked, he hadn't expected that. He could feel tears burning behind his eyes, and swore he wouldn't cry in front of her. She kissed his forehead, and walked out of the room.

Hatter was in his room, in hysterics. He could see a puff of smoke form into the Cheshire Cat through his blurry vision. Chess floated over, and held the Hatter tenderly. They stayed like that for a few moments, when Hatter said "Ch-Chess? W-Where's Alice?" Chess rested his paw on Hatter's shoulder, "She's gone"
"W-What do you mean?"
"Hatter, she's in Overland. I'm so sorry."
Hatter was furious at himself, his eyes glowing red, and out of his anger he picked up a lamp and threw it. He watched it shatter into a million pieces, just like his heart. He went to pick up a vase, when Chess whirled him around. "Hatter!" Hatter turned around, his eyes turning their normal shade of green. He stared into Chess' eyes, and whispered "I'm sorry." Chess patted his back. "I remembered that saying," said Cheshire, "If you love something, let it go."

Hatter went back into the kitchen to make a pot of tea, when he saw a peice of paper laying on a teapot. It was a note, and Hatter secretly hoped it was from Alice explaining why she had to leave. The note read:
"Dearest Hatter,
I have gone to 'Overland' for a while, but I promise you I'll be back soon. As I said, I have questions that need to be answered, and things I need to do. I promise I will be back before you know it. I'm really sorry about leaving so suddenly, but there's no need to worry for me, I'll be fine.
Love, Alice."
Hatter read the letter over and over again. He carefully tore off "Love, Alice" and put it in his pocket, next to that little gold ring.

It had been a week since Alice left, and Hatter was officially depressed. He was at the large tea table along with the Doormouse and the March Hare. The Doormouse put her little paw on his finger. "I know what will make you feel better. How about some tea?" Hatter sighed, "Not even tea can cheer me up this time." They gasped, "Don't be unreasonable, Hatter!" Doormouse squeaked. "You're right, Doormouse," he said, and poured himself a cup. He stirred it, even though it wasn't hot at all. "Why are you sad, Hatty?" said March Hare, picking up a piece of cake. "It's just that...I've waited so long for Alice to come, and the moment she comes, I scare her away." March Hare paused, as if in deep thought and said "You were happy waiting for her the first time, you can be happy waiting for her the second time, too!" Hatter stared in disbelief, "You said something that makes sense for once!" Marchy looked pleased, "I'm not as mad as you think I...cake..." Hatter laughed for the first time that week. "Hurray! You're cheering up already," Doormouse cheered. March Hare looked at the Hatter,"Hatty?" he said, "Are you all the way happy?"
"I suppose so."
"Good, because the White Queen is here."