Disclaimer: Original Alice belongs to Lewis Carroll, and the miniseries to Syfy.
Author's Notes: Spoilers for part 2.
By Any Other Name
"So, who's David?"
"David? Ah, yes, isn't he the the very kind construction worker who saved your life? You also kissed the life out of him in front of your mother, if I recall," replied Hatter, holding hands with her on one side, a hat carried on the other. He grinned and very pointedly left the question unanswered.
"Oh, I don't think I'll be forgetting the lecture my mother gave me after you--excuse me, he left, that's for sure. But I thought the man I kissed was named Hatter. I might be terribly upset to know that he lied to me," she smiled back, one eyebrow raised.
"It's not lying, exactly. It's more of a ...partial-truth."
"Which one's your real name, then?"
"Both, actually, if you must know."
"Wait, so your name really is David? David Hatter? Oh, you have got to be kidding me."
"Yes, and this is why I don't go spreading that kind of information around. How many people do you think would take me seriously with a name like that? David Hatter, oh, how very impressive. Just Hatter, though. That makes a statement, don't you think?"
"Oh, I think it's cute. Davey, Dave--. Well, maybe we'll just stick with David."
"And that. That kind of thing is exactly the problem, Alice. Nicknames."
"You don't like it," she leaned up to his ear and whispered, "David?"
He shivered and whispered back, "Well, it's not so bad when you say it. Just you, though."
She laughed, even as identical chills ran down her spine from the smile he gave her.
Names have a lot of power. To Alice, though, it didn't matter what this crazy, wonderful man called himself. She'd want him by her just the same.
Even if her mother had already taken to calling him Davey behind his back.