Author's Note: Greetings to you, Reader!
Firstly, I do not own "Alice in Wonderland", either the book or the film version. None of the characters are my creation, they belong to Lewis Carroll, the mad genius. (And Tim Burton may have had someting to do with the newer versions of the characters...)
Secondly, this is my first FanFic and I'm honestly nervous about it ^-^; Concerning the whole story, reviews would be wonderful and I would like to hear your thoughts because I don't want to become stuck in my own ideas – I want to grow as a writer! So if you see ANYTHING, let me know, please. As far as this first chapter goes, be prepared for an overdose of romatical sappiness ^_^ Not every chapter will be like this – I promise! – but this first one is meant to be an uber-cute opening for the following chapters.
And now, without further ramblings and ado, I give you "The Unabridged Version":
AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW
With the purpose of allowing him to feel what was around him through the senses of touch, smell and premonition (otherwise known as fantastic guesswork), he closed his eyes. I simply can't pay attention to my other senses if my eyes are distracting me with everything they can see. Colors and shapes are terribly entertaining; however, if my eyes are given more of my focus than everything else, my other four senses may come to feel unneeded and cease working – where would I be then? He was lying down in the grass in the back garden of his home. The grass was soft, and it cordially bent low so he could lie there comfortably. His ankles were crossed; the toes of his left foot were tapping to no particular rhythm. His breathing was deep and slow. Opening his mouth, he savored the air, which was sweetened with the flavors of late summer. His hands were tucked—hold on a moment…That tickles. Tarrant sneezed.
He reached up with his right hand and found a strand of his vibrant red hair atop his nose. It had disturbed the Peace of the afternoon and needed to be dealt with for its naughtiness. Back beneath the hat, you! There now; where were we? There was the grass, my ankles, my left toes, inhalations of the air, and um…oh, yes: His hands were tucked beneath his head and his face was turned up toward the sun; the wonderful, feverishly warm sun.
The sun had not shined so warmly in Underland since…well, since before…Alice. His lips lifted at the corners as he chuckled to himself with pleasure. Alice changed everything. She always did, but repairing what was broken was the top hat of her Great Accomplishmen—"
"Why are you smiling?" a voice inquired from Somewhere-Above-His-Head.
Whenever that voice of curiosity sounded, the hatter felt an instinct to draw that Person into a close embrace and attempt to satiate their inquisitiveness (Tarrant knew full well that Curiosity, when it develops correctly, is forever unsatisfied and will be asking questions eternally. But half the fun of Curiosity is asking questions, while the other half is answering as many as one can. Tarrant enjoyed this latter half).
Tarrant's right eyebrow raised itself up, hoping to communicate an invitation to the Owner of the Voice. A rustling noise, followed by the sensation of smaller body settling in beside him, laying its head on Tarrant's left shoulder, indicated that the invitation had been accepted.
"Now," Tarrant sighed contentedly, "the air is sweet with summer and spiced with Muchness. How delightful!" He grinned. "And how are you on this Golden Afternoon, my darling?"
Alice, the Owner of the Voice, laid her hand over Tarrant's heart, "Perfectly well, thank you. But you didn't answer my question; why are you smiling?" She looked toward his face and waited for his response.
"Right now," said the Hatter, "I am smiling because I have something beautiful in my arms." He turned his head down to look into her face so he could see her blush – she always looked lovely in that particular shade of pink! Blush she most certainly did; she also giggled softly and buried her face into his chest. He leaned further down and kissed her forehead, pulling her closer into his side as he did so.
"Oh, my Alice," he said with his arm drawn around her, "I will always smile when you are close to me. But you wanted to know why I was smiling when you came over to me, is that right? Really, you should have restated your question to say that you wanted to know why I had been smiling rather than why I am now smiling, because if I told you why I was smiling in each moment I'd have a new reason every minute, and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing, seeing as life is being so good to us and making it only right that we take pleasure in expressing our joys, it would make things much more confusing for conversation. Not that our conversa—"
"Hatter…" Alice stopped him and sighed.
Tarrant blinked. "I'm fine," he wheezed. He then paused a moment and made a second attempt to answer her, "I was smiling because I was remembering something."
"What were you remembering?" She said with her famous "concentrated curious" expression.
"Do inquisitiveness and curiosity become stronger in you as you grow, darling?" Tarrant chuckled, "I was thinking about the time you saved Underland."
"To which time are you referring, Tarrant?" said Alice in her Proper Voice.
"Ah yes, there were a few occasions, weren't there?" he laughed. "But specifically I was remembering the most recent time; the time you mended everything."
Alice nodded her head, but Tarrant sensed something sad about her response. He asked her if he had said anything wrong, but when her reply was a quiet "No," he turned on his side to face her.
"There is no such thing as inexplicable sadness, Alice," he said, "What is the matter?"
She also turned to face him, resting her head on her hand. "I don't like to think about all of that very often. My life in Overland ended twice and I almost lost you before I found you, Tarrant."
Tarrant brought his hand to her cheek, "But so much good came of all that; there is evidence of that everywhere you look in Underland! You shouldn't be bothered about the past anymore, Alice. "
Alice frowned, "I know that, but I sometimes have trouble forgetting everything. Pain seems to have a good way of keeping itself remembered."
It was Tarrant's turn to frown then. Stroking her cheek, trying to comfort her, he said "We can't forget our pain. But pain makes joy stronger, just as darkness makes light brighter." He leaned in closer to her and brushed a light kiss against her face, "I like to think that remembering all the Bad that was here makes seeing all of the Good a greater joy." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he returned her embrace, "Have I told you before exactly how you mended my life?" he said.
Pulling away somewhat, Alice shook her head, "I've heard bits and pieces from you, Mallymkun, and Thackeray over time, but tell me the whole story. I want to know why you think I deserve you."
The haberdasher laughed out loud, "Oh, no. I don't think you deserve me at all, darling!"
Alice sat up at that, "Well, what do I deserve then? Perhaps I should start searching for him, since you wouldn't want to waste your time on someone who is lesser tha—"
"Alice." He tapped her nose lightly and she became silent. "That is not what I meant," He said as he lay down on his back, his hands supporting his head, "You know, that isn't the first time you've rambled on like I tend to." His left eyebrow took its turn communicating; except that this time it was a message of "I think it is adorable that I'm beginning to rub off on you" instead of an invitation.
Shaking her head, she said "I must spend too much time with you; I'm picking up your eccentricities."
"And you are most welcome to them." Tarrant smiled. Becoming more serious, he sat up and gently turned her face to meet his, "To be clear, though, when I said I didn't think you deserved me I meant only that you deserve far better than I will ever be able to give you."
"Oh, is that right?" Alice playfully slapped his arm, "Well then, Mr. Hightopp, would you care to convince me of that? Will you tell me how I 'mended your life', or no?"
"Why, to convince you I'd have to start at the very beginning!" he exclaimed.
"There is no better place from which to commence a story," Alice said easily.
Tarrant pretended to think it over a moment, stroking his chin as though it were a difficult decision. He snapped his fingers as though an brilliant idea had just come to him, "I'll tell you everything, all the way from the very beginning, if you also tell me your parts as the story goes on."
"Agreed," replied Alice, "and let's not leave anything out, even if it is unpleasant. We should know all of this about one another already, I think."
"It seems as though that would be proper, doesn't it?" sighed Tarrant. He turned on his side again, facing Alice, and beat his hand on the ground, "All right then, the Unabridged Version, from the Very Beginning!"
AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW-AiW
So…how was it? Terribly sappy, yes, but aside from that? Were both characters acting like themselves? Was the progression slow or scatterbrained? Would you even be interested to read more?
Love to hear your thoughts!
~Rhys