Author's Note: First Alice fanfiction I've written! I couldn't help but continue it, Hatter is too adorable! Please don't get confused, it starts just after the end then flashbacks to just after Alice leaves Wonderland, the it will go back to just after the end. Got it? Good. They will be going back to Wonderland for sure, there will not be mushy Hatter/Alice fluff (but there will be a good amount of utter cuteness that I just can't resist!). Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own Alice? No. I do not. Go with your instincts and don't assume that I'm the owner of anything because in fact all I own is my flash drive, a few clothes, and some hair and make-up products. Yep. Also, I am assuming that the mother's name is spelled "Carroll" because that's how the writer's pen name was spelled.

The Insanity of Power

Chapter 1: I Missed You

Alice's focus on Hatter's sudden reappearance was so singular that her mother's confused presence had slipped her mind. Hatter pulled away from Alice and acknowledged Carroll, then a quick glance back to Alice, taking note of her disappointed eyes.

He wasn't sure that coming here was a good idea in the first place, she seemed very willing to get rid of him, of course looking back on their last conversation he had probably overdone his aversion to her remaining in Wonderland. Yes… defiantly overdone. Now her mother stood in front of him waiting impatiently for an explanation. Not knowing how much Alice had told her, he stole a glance at Alice once more, pleading for help. To his relief she stepped forward.

"Mom, I… have some explaining to do, over dinner maybe?" Alice smiled weakly, hoping her mother wouldn't be opposed to having the Hatter for dinner. Carroll nodded, a perplexed look decorating her pale powered features, and strode into the kitchen.

When Alice and the Hatter where alone he smiled again, pointing two fingers into his flat hair with a brilliant expression, "What do you think? I figured my old garb might cause a riot…" Alice twisted her lips to the side calculatingly, then reached a hand up and messed his hair until it looked almost normal. She shook her head.

"I appreciate the attempt but won't you miss the hat?"
"Ha! Unbelievable, all this time you were all I cared about, I followed you around and gave you the grand tour and helped you find your fa… boyfriend all at great personal risk and you're worried about me missing my hat?" He paused, biting his bottom lip in uncertainty. "Yeah… yeah I need that hat." Alice grinned and led him into the dining room.

The Hatter quickly decided he liked Carroll. The table before them was brimming with deliciously homemade food. He was ravenous, he hadn't eaten in two days. The last meal he saw was with Charlie in the ruins of the kingdom. After Alice left he hadn't even thought about food…

*****

The day before…

He watched her fall through the mirror, until she was just a memory. He couldn't handle this. Using his last bit of energy, he sprinted past the empty stock house, grabbed some clothes and washed out his hair, no need to scare the oysters. To avoid the muddle that was no doubt surrounding the looking glass he would wait until he was sure every one of them was safe on the other end.

After an hour of impatient toe-tapping and tossing out the bottles of emotions he decided everything should be clear. He grabbed the glass door of his wardrobe to use as a mirror, cringing at his dull appearance. He had to get back to Alice now though, he could never let her think he didn't want her around.

The station was, to his relief empty. Everyone congregated in the hospital now, working on solutions to the bottles emotions, trying to get their affairs in order, finding people, finding jobs. Anything to keep them busy he guessed. Wonderland was a fast-paced place.

When he was in sight of the looking glass he paused, it looked incredibly thick and solid. If he had hesitated any longer, he would have turned back around, eaten a lot of chocolate and cream cake and tried to forget. So instead, he charged at the looking glass, not remembering to take a breath in his determination to see Alice. He landed finally in a dark warehouse. He lay there a full minute with his eyes closed trying to get rid of the banging in his head, then decided he would very much like to stay in this world, just so he could avoid going back through the looking glass.

Once he realized how cold and uncomfortable the concrete floor was he stood up and looked around… he hadn't planned for this part. Finding her might be an issue. Someone must have found everyone who was brought through the looking glass. A large group of confused and scared humans would draw some attention. He would not find anything in the warehouse so he made his way out of the maze of hallways and into a bright alley. Eventually he came upon a tall white building, similar in shape to Wonderland's hospital, but without the ever present grey gloom.

Looking around momentarily at the life that filled even a hospital he was amazed, life like this hadn't been present in Wonderland for a century and a half. The receptionist was a pretty, young blond oyster with a starched uniform. He walked to the desk a little distracted, but forced himself to look at the lady. He was taken aback by her flirting. Her whole mood changed when he appeared, her eyes became sharp and flirty and she crossed her legs. He tried to keep his eyebrows from furrowing but he knew they did because she answered him with a bit of a frown.

"May I help you?"

"Looking for an Alice"

"Last name?" She didn't look up this time, she was typing away at her computer. This gave him a moment to think… she had said it once, he was sure. Then he found it, positive this was right.

"Hamilton. Alice Hamilton"

"Relationship?" The woman was focusing harder on the screen now. Hatter replied before he could stop himself, this façade would be too fun.

"Husband." He smiled politely at the young secretary as her frown grew. Without further question she gave him her room number.

Someone was sitting beside the bed that held Alice, she was asleep, midnight hair lying wildly all over her face. Hatter quietly knocked on the door and the woman sitting beside her rose slowly.

"Yes?" she questioned at the door without completely opening it.

"Hello, I'm," He paused for a moment, staring behind the woman's shoulder and trying to glimpse Alice as he thought. "David. You must be her mother?" He asked, holding out a hand.

"I am, what can I do for you?"

"Oh I'm the um," another pause, he ran through a mental list of occupations that he hoped would coincide with this world "construction worker who found your daughter, can I see her?" he asked, peering once again over her shoulder.

"She hasn't woken up yet. I'll give you our address though. She should be discharged tomorrow, come by around 12. She walked slowly back to the bed and grabbed a pen and slip of paper from her purse, after jotting down their address she handed it to Hatter and smiled, "Thank you for taking care of her." The she shut the door. Hatter closed his eyes, clutching the scrap of paper. If you only knew the half of it. He thought. Then, with nothing else to do until 12 tomorrow he left.

He quickly found their address, only tree blocks from the hospital. With the memory of it's location in his mind he walked off, wandering all night until the morning came, thinking of nothing but seeing her in the afternoon.

To Be Continued…