Summary: Alice Kingsley wants to return to Underland. But one tiny, impulsive action is enough to put that hopeful future into jeopardy, and throw her head over heels into another, quite different place...a place called Otherland. Alice/Hatter pairing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Alice in Wonderland, it belongs to Lewis Carroll&Tim Burton :)

Rating: T for safety

Hey everyone! Ok I recently finished my first multi-chapter Alice in Wonderland fanfic, & literally the day after I did I was bombarded by ideas for this one! :D This starts off like a lot of other fanfiction stories, as you will see, but I promise similarities end there :) Please review & let me know if you like it& want to read more!

Alice In Otherland

Chapter 1- A Wrong Turning

Alice smiled to herself as she stood at the prow of the ship Wonder, watching as the harbour, and her homeland, came into view through the familiar English fog. It had been four years since she'd seen it last, and it looked exactly the same. The only difference was that there was a little niece waiting for her at the dock as well. And this time, she knew what was ahead of her.

'It's good to be home again,' Lord Ascot said with a smile, as he came to stand beside her. She smiled and nodded her agreement, inwardly thinking that she was not 'home' quite yet. 'Are you sure you won't consider staying on with the company, my dear?' he asked a few minutes later. 'You've done a great deal for it; and the people over there like and admire you.'

'I'm sorry, Lord Ascot,' Alice said kindly but firmly, 'but I made a promise a few years ago that I need to keep. There are people waiting for me, and I can't let them down.'

'I see,' he sighed. 'These people…they don't live in England, do they?'

She hesitated, before replying honestly, 'No.'

'Well…' he seemed to be searching for something to say. 'If you are going to leave us, Alice, you should know that I'll make sure your family is well looked after. You made quite a bit of money for the company, and I'll see to it that your mother and sister get their fair share of it.'

'Thank you, Lord Ascot,' Alice beamed up at him. If it were not for the strict rules of Victorian society, she would have given him a hug there and then. Of course, she didn't conform to all the rules of society. In four years, she had not once worn a corset or stockings.

It wasn't long before the Wonder had docked, and the gangplank was being lowered. One of the crewmembers took her luggage for her, while Alice descended the plank by herself, having kindly refused help. As soon as her feet touched on dry land, her sister rushed forward, enveloping her in a big hug and exclaiming about how long it had been, and how well she looked. Her mother joined in, while Lowell stood off to the side, bored. Lord Ascot shook Alice's hand before he left and said a fond farewell, wishing her a happy future. Her mother wondered about that when he'd left with his wife and son – both of which had studiously ignored Alice – as they were due to attend a garden party at Ascot Manor that very week. Alice shrugged it off, and distracted them by asking about the new baby.

Margaret immediately showed Alice her little Rowena Helen, and proudly brought her up to date on the ten month old darling. That subject occupied them for the rest of the carriage journey home. Rowena had curly blonde hair like her mother and her aunt, and brown eyes like her father. She laughed and smiled for most of the journey home, and it was clear to see how Helen and Margaret adored her.

'She really is a darling,' Helen said fondly, as the carriage drew up outside the house.

'She looks like you, Alice,' Margaret said genuinely. 'Let's hope she does as well for herself as you did.'

Alice looked at her sister in surprise. She'd always assumed that her sister would have preferred her to stay in London and marry well. She knew her mother did.

'Alice, dinner is at seven, you can go freshen up and rest before, if you'd like,' her mother said briskly as they entered the house.

'Thanks, Mother,' she smiled, and after bidding farewell to Margaret, Lowell and Rowena – who would return for dinner – carried her suitcases up the stairs, and collapsed with relief into her old desk chair.

Her room was unchanged, apart from fresh vases of flowers set on the tables, but she didn't notice any of this, as she got out her writing materials and began to scribble quickly. Fifteen minutes later, she sat back and surveyed her work with satisfaction. Three letters and one will. She carefully folded them up and put them in envelopes, neatly addressing them. The letters were to Helen Kingsley, Margaret Manchester and Rowena Helen Manchester. The will repeated what Lord Ascot had promised; her share of the company, and the money she'd earned would go to her mother, her sister, and any children her sister had. The letters to her mother and sister said that although she loved them, she had promises to keep and things she was late for doing. There was someone waiting for her, in a place as wonderfully mad as herself. She promised them that she would be happy. How could one not be happy in Underland? Even the time she'd spent there while the Red Queen reigned had been some of the happiest moments of her life, and she'd thought, the most impossible to forget.

But she had forgotten. For six months afterwards, the memories of Underland had been completely wiped from her mind. Then she had seen Absolem on the ship, and after that, gradually, everything had started to come back. The painful memories had been slowest. For months she had puzzled over how she had returned – for Absolem, although he helped a little, said it was her responsibility to discover her own memories. Until one night, two years after she had left Underland, she had woken from a dream in tears, sobbing at the expression on the Hatter's face as he had told her she wouldn't remember him. And she hadn't, at the start. After that one dream, all the memories came back, and the jigsaw puzzle of her mind was complete. And they had been in all her dreams since then. Which was precisely why she was returning now, to Underland.

Closing her eyes, Alice leaned back in her chair, and finally allowed herself to think of the Hatter. Her dearest friend, in any world, the one who understood her best. Ever since she had properly remembered, she'd missed him furiously, and had written him numerous letters, which she had kept in a box below her bed. Now they were one of the few things she would take with her to Underland, for she felt he deserved to read them even if – her heart constricted painfully at the thought – he didn't feel the same way.

As soon as that first memory of her leaving the Hatter – Tarrant Hightopp – had broken through, she'd spent about a week puzzling over why she'd left. And when she knew, she set to completing those things she had to do, and questions she had to answer. Two years later, she had finally done it, and that thought made her grin wider than the Cheshire Cat. Then Alice caught sight of the Time on her gold pocket-watch she'd acquired on her travels, and immediately hurried to get ready for dinner, pushing all thought of Underland to the back of her mind for the time being.

She allowed herself a small smile as she thought of the letter she'd written to her niece. In it, she'd expressed how much she wished she could have watched her grow up, and have memories of her aunt, but she had to go to a magical, mad place called Wonderland. She urged her young niece to find adventure and freedom out of the repressing Victorian society, and not to play heed to what her superiors declared that she 'must' wear. Alice also added that in her opinion, a corset was about as necessary as a codfish on one's head, and warned her to look out for a White Rabbit with a waistcoat and a watch. Finally she included a story for Rowena to read; a story describing all her adventures in Wonderland and the wonderfully mad people and creatures she'd met there. She hoped Margaret or Helen would read it to Rowena as a child, and then when she was older she could read it herself. Perhaps one day, she'd even fall down the rabbit hole at Ascot Manor herself.

The dinner went well, and Alice fought her hardest not to be distracted, and to contribute fully during it. It was her last dinner with her family; she owed them that much.

But as tea was being served, the dreaded interrogation came. 'So, Alice,' her mother began. 'Did you meet any nice gentlemen on your travels?'

'Of course, Mother,' Alice replied, staring into her teacup and wishing there were scones and sugar cubes flying in the air. 'Many fine gentlemen work for the company, and there are plenty of agreeable ones in China.'

'Oh, Alice, that's wonderful!' her mother gushed excitedly. 'Are any of them likely to be visiting us anytime soon?'

'I shouldn't think so, although Lord Ascot might invite some of them to the garden party.'

'Even better; then Margaret and I can have a look at them and decide if they're good enough,' Helen Kingsley beamed.

'Mother,' Alice said firmly, 'I can assure you that no one I am the slightest bit interested in marrying will be at that garden party.'

'Where will they be then?' Margaret asked curiously, as her mother looked disappointed.

Damn. Alice opened her mouth to deny there being anyone, but then she thought to herself, it wouldn't matter so much if they knew, would it? And she'd already hinted so much in her letters, anyway. 'Far, far away,' she said instead. 'Not in London, or anywhere else in England.'

'That's a pity dear, but at least you've found someone!' Helen said, eagerly squeezing her hand. 'It's a relief; we were starting to worry…'

'Worry what?'

'That you might be…' her mother exchanged a look with Margaret, before leaning forward and whispering in a scandalized air; '…a degenerate.' [A/N at end]

Alice choked with surprise on her tea. The thought had never occurred to her, and she couldn't help feeling a little indignant that her family thought that must be the only explanation for her not being married by the age of three and twenty. Swallowing her sudden laughter, she said stiffly, 'That is certainly not the case, Mother, Margaret. Did it never occur to you that I was just looking for someone as mad as myself that I could love?'

'Of course it did, Alice!' her sister cried. 'We never seriously thought that you might be…that. It was just a stray thought. And we're so glad you've found someone to love, honestly. Perhaps you could introduce us, soon?'

'I'd love to,' Alice smiled, but sadness glinted in her eyes. Yes, I'd love to, but I can't.

The rest of the evening passed away merrily, and happily. As good a farewell dinner as any, though only one present knew it as that. When the clock struck eleven, their mother rose from her chair, declaring that she needed a good night's sleep.

'Goodnight, Mother,' Alice said fondly, hugging her tightly, and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. 'Fairfarren.' If her mother was surprised, she didn't show it. Forty-seven years of conforming to society's laws had taught her that. She only hugged her daughter back gladly, and smiling at them both, went up to bed.

Margaret followed soon after, and with a heavy heart Alice bade goodbye to both her and her little daughter. Lowell seemed eager to go; he'd spent most of the evening smoking cigars and reading in the other room, having no desire to talk to Alice, or her mother. He had a suspicion that Alice's mother also knew of his lies and lecherous deeds. Alice fought to hold back tears at the thought that this would be, in all probability, the last time she would see her sister. Lowell's impatient sighs did nothing to make her hurry her farewell, and when they'd gone, she immediately made her way to bed, where she allowed a few tears to fall before falling soundly asleep.

'Alice!' the whispered hiss broke into her peaceful slumber, and roused her quickly.

'What?' she mumbled, propping herself up on her elbows. Then she saw the blue shape fluttering before her. 'Oh, Absolem! I'm so sorry, am I late?'

'What happened to staying awake?' he growled irritable as still fully dressed, she stood up from the bed.

'I'm sorry; I was just so worn out after all the farewells, and the travelling too. I only meant to have a quick nap…what time is it?'

'Twenty past two. Hurry up, and be quiet; everyone is asleep, I already checked.'

'Thank you, Absolem. What would I do without you?'

'Nothing, stupid girl. Do you have your letters?'

'Yes.' Alice put her letters to Hatter, and the rest of Underland, in her pocket, along with her watch, her mother's necklace, and a photo of her family all together – before her father's death. She laid out her letters to her family on the dressing table, and she was ready to go.

'Come on then!'

Then carefully, quietly, they made their way down the heavily carpeted stairs, and the grand, empty hall. Absolem opened the door easily, and they slipped out into the darkness of the grounds unseen.

It was a half-hour walk to Ascot Manor, but Absolem kept Alice entertained with tales of what had happened in Underland since her departure. Four years had also passed there, and he assured her that they were all missing her, and looking forward to her return.

'As much as I miss them?' Alice couldn't help asking.

He had replied solemnly; 'Perhaps even more.'

Finally, they were at the rabbit hole. It looked the same as it had four years ago. Alice took a last look around at her homeland. But not her home.

'I'll be waiting at the bottom,' Absolem said gravely, and vanished.

The young woman took a deep breath. She'd made her decision. There was no going back now. Even as she'd drank the Jabberwocky blood, she'd known deep inside she'd be back. No matter what Hatter had thought. 'Fairfarren, England,' she whispered, and jumped.

She didn't scream as she fell; on the contrary, she laughed aloud, and looked around her with interest, as she'd been too scared the last two times to do so. Shelves lined the hole, filled with all sorts of odd, random objects. Then she felt the hole widening up, and she knew she would hit the bed soon. At long last. But before she did, she suddenly saw a photograph falling with her, and impulsively reached out to grab it, lunging forward and missing the bed as she did so.

Oh well, she thought to herself. It doesn't matter; it's only a bed.

As she continued to fall down, down, little did she know how wrong she was, and how important a certain Bed actually was.

Absolem waited impatiently at the bottom. Time passed, and finally he entered the Room of Doors himself, but saw no Alice, conscious or otherwise, there. Grumbling to himself, he unrolled the Oraculum, and what he saw there filled even the wise, absolute Absolem with fear and dread.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed it so far! Next chapter should be up soon. I just wanted to say I have nothing whatsoever against gays or lesbians but unfortunately Victorian society did, and they were often called 'degenerates'. I don't mean to cause offence to anyone at all, but it is a sad fact of the Victorian era, and I thought that it would probably be a worry of all Victorian mothers. Poor Oscar Wilde was even exiled because of it :(

-Salsaxxx