Authors Note: Thanks for the great comments on my last Alice in Wonderland story "The Hat Maker"! I really am happy everyone liked it. But a lot of people stated they would have liked to see Alice go back to Underland with Hatter. I originally didn't think of that when the ending came up, also, I wanted my story to be unique from all the other stories that have been coming out since the premiere of the movie. However, I am going to give the idea a try so as to please some people. The plan isn't that bad and I think I can make a pretty good and unique story out of it. This is NOT a sequel to "The Hat Maker", this story is a totally different one. So, here it goes...:

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I woke with a start from my dream of talking flowers, futterwacking, and disappearing cats.

"Alice, you are terribly hard to awaken. Get up, it is time to get dressed. Make sure to wear your corset and stockings today, your welcome home party is to be held at Lord Ascot's home." Margaret stated while she pulled back my comforters, encouraging me to welcome the new morning.

I gave a light sigh. Why do I always wake up at the wrong time? Why do I even wake up at all? Its been almost 3 years since I last saw Underland and my many friends. The memories seem to be fading, but as long as I can dream, I think that their faces are safe in my mind.

"I will not forget them this time" I said to myself as I washed the crustys from my eyes. It seems that every time I do come back from Underland, my mind feels as though I should simply forget it or brush it off as a dream of some sort. Thankfully, I had feared something like this would happen so I wrote out my whole adventures in my diary. Even if I do forget why I was in Underland, I can simply go back and read my passages.

Finishing the mundane task of lacing up my brown boots, I checked over myself in the mirror. Mother had bought me the new blue dress while I was overseas, it fit snugly, but thankfully I could still breath.

I headed for downstairs so I could meet with mother and Margaret. As I descended the stairs I found them both at the door looking at me as though I have kept them waiting for much too long.

"Its about time. We have been calling for you for about ten minutes now. What were you doing up there?" mother asked while she checked me over to make sure I was properly dressed before we left the house.

"I was thinking mother. I did not hear your calls at all, I must have been in a world of my own" I admitted with a slight smile. My world was far better then this one, that's for sure.

Mother gave a sigh and looked at me sternly. "Well its good that we're ready now, we should make it right on time. So lets go. No need to be tardy to another party at Lord Ascot's" she said, shooing Margret and I out the door before having Marcus, our butler, lock it.

The ride to Lord Ascot's was rather long, taking us about forty-five minutes just to get to his enormously long driveway, which then takes us five minutes to ride down till we reached the mansion. On our way, mother and Margaret became engrossed in another discussion about me and my ring-less wedding finger. Iv learned to block it out since I returned back home a week ago.

"Alice? Alice? Alice are you even listening to me?" Margaret's voice sounds as I pop out my entranced state of mind.

"Oh so sorry, I was thinking again" I proclaimed.

Margaret went on, "Well, while you were thinking, I was telling mother about Fredrick Gillingham. You know, Lowell's good business partner. He's single and has asked Lowell about you on a number of occasions. Perhaps I can arran-"

I cut her off, "Margaret, Mr. Gillingham simply isn't the right man for me. We are just too different from one another. I think the only real thing we have in common is how devoted we are to our work, but that seems to be all."

"Then what is the 'right man for you' Alice? You are twenty-three years old and you have yet to find a suitable husband. Maybe its time to think about how bad this is making the family look, rather then what goes on in your silly little head!" Margaret said sternly.

Her accusations threw me into a loop. "At least I am standing up for what I want out of life, instead of simply putting up with what society wants for me. They do not know who I am and what is needed to make me happy!" I stated defensively.

"Girls! There is no need to fight. We have arrived and I expect you both to be on your best behaviors." mother said, cutting into our argument.

When we stepped out of the carriage, I made it my mission to stay away from my sister as much as I could at the party. But...perhaps I should think of an answer to her question.

What do I consider as the right man for me? In all my years, I have never truly asked myself this question. The only man that I have ever truly loved is my father. He was someone who understood me and my creativity and influenced me to dream of unthinkable things.

"Think of an answer?" said a voice from behind me. I jumped slightly and spun around. Margret gave me a smile. "Not to seem out of line Alice, but really, what is your answer?" Margaret asked me the question again.

I looked at her defensively, "I haven't come to a conclusion. But Maargret, what man in this day and age would allow me to daydream whenever something comes to my mind?" I said honestly.

"Maybe one just as mad as you..." she answered with a sigh.

I gave a small laugh, "The only one as mad as me, or rather, even madder, doesn't....live...in this world" I finished in a daze.

"What in the world are you on about Alice? If they don't live in this world, then what world do they exactly live in?" she questioned my odd answer.

"Uh, Margaret, if you will excuse me." I said as I broke out into a run, heading towards the garden.

This was all too simple. How could I have ignored him so many years ago when he had been staring me in the face, trying to tell me something with his eyes? Or was I simply out of my mind to think such things?

The mad hatter in love with me? Preposterous!

But, a voice in the back of my mind was telling me to not rule it out. Love is a funny thing, and it can make you do the most bizarre things. Like letting a loved one go because that is what they wanted.

"Or jumping down a rabbit hole after realizing that you shouldn't have left in the first place." I said out loud to myself as I search for a big hole at the base of a tree.

After a couple of minutes, which felt like hours to me, I finally was able to find the location of the hole. Nothing about it had changed at all throughout these three years. It was still never ending and I was still able to easily fall into it.

I looked behind me towards where the party was being held. Was I a fool to want to leave this place? Was I doing the right thing? Why is a raven like a writing desk? I haven't the slightest idea.

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Author's Note: That is all I am going to give you for now. This story will be in multiple parts. It could be two chapters or it could be ten. I know the plot of it so far so I am going to try my hardest to make it a good read for you all. I will try to have the next chapter up by tomorrow, but college can make my days seem short. However, I do have spring break next week so I will be writing as much as I can. Writers block please don't stop me now!

Stay tune for chapter 2.