Introduction: Hello, everybody. I don't know whether anyone would remember me from years ago, when I wrote only for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's GSR pairing and CSI: NY's D/L pairing, but I'm back now, with a whole new Fan Fiction on a whole new subject. This story is based on Tim Burton's 2010 movie version of the book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", written by Lewis Carroll in 1865.

Preface: What happens, after Alice returns 'home', and chases her dreams? She will forfill all that she intended to, but the great unanswered question remained in her heart..

Disclaimer: All rights go to Lewis Carroll, Tim Burton and all co-writers and co-producers. I do not own any character in this story. This fan fiction was meant purely for fun and not for any commercial goals.

Chapter Summary: I've deliberately started with the Movie's ending, where Alice says goodbye to the Hatter and everyone in Underland. This to cause no confusion starting the real Fan Fiction. I will try to update regularly, but I'm not sure how this will work with my school/work/RL schedule. I hope for the best.

Notes: I've made Lord and Lady Ascot Alice's Uncle and Aunt for making matters easier, just so you know. ;)

R&R, though the second is a bit much to ask for when this chapter is nothing but a Movie Scene. Regardless, thanks for Reading, perhaps Review if you have the time, and I hope you enjoy.

~Chirachi

Alice felt her heart flutter involuntarily as the Queen rose, holding the vial with purple Jabberwocky poison gingerly. Cheshur vanished from her side as the Queen danced towards her and held out the vial.

"Will this take me home?" Alice asked uncertainly, as she took hold of the vial gently, examining the purple fluid inside.

"If that is what you choose." the Queen answered, in her tone the slightest hint of guiding. While her face softened and she smiled gently, her hand slid up to softly caress Alice's cheek in goodbye. Alice smiled despite of her insides, where a doubt was growing and twisting inside her stomach.

"You could, stay," she heard a soft voice add behind her. She would have been shocked, had she not recognized the voice, but now she only smiled and turned around to face him.

"What an idea. A crazy, mad, wonderful idea." she replied, watching his face brighten slightly. Her stomach reacted to that, though, and she had not expected the butterflies to swirl around inside. Her smile faltered.

"But I can't." The resent in her voice was plain, and the smile on the Hatter's face dropped slowly as her words sank in.

"There are questions I have to answer.. Things I have to do.." her voice was strong, yet only on the outside did her resolve remain strong. Inside it wavered, doubt nagging in her mind. The Hatter's face did not change; it seemed a mask, trying to hide his true feelings. She saw it, and it did not make leaving easier. Before she would change her mind, she thus quickly drank a bit of the poison.

"I'll be back before you know it..!" she tried, calling a smile on her face with all her courage. The Hatter smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.

"You won't remember me." he whispered, the regret in his eyes more plain than he'd wished. Alice frowned at that, after all her hard work to conceal her feelings, too.

"Of course I will! How could I forget?" she countered, her fierce disagreement ending in an uncertain question, searching for a hint of hope in his green eyes. They held only sadness. The Hatter had given up on hiding his emotions, it seemed; the grief on his face was plain as he looked at her.

"Hatter.. Why is a raven like a writing desk?" she asked, desperately calling that infectious smile back on his face before all would be gone. He smiled, a small, sad smile that could not completely erase the hurt.

"I haven't the slightest idea," he replied softly, a hint of amusement reaching his voice. Then he leaned forward and, in a tone that only betrayed his hopeless wish for her to stay, whispered his goodbye to her.

"Fairfarren, Alice.."

Alice frowned, looking up at his sad face, trying to find the words to say, to tell him it would be all right, that she would come back to him, that she could never forget him, that she loved him…

And then all went black: The face of the Hatter disappeared in a cloud of grey as her memories faltered and the last flash of her so-called Wonderland faded before her eyes. She was back where she used to live. But was she home?

The end of the movie part of this fan fiction; I hope you'll like the story! Please review if you have nothing better to do.. ;]

~Chirachi