This is my first Alice Fanfic, and I'd love some comments. Constructive criticism welcome, of course. This is just some snippets from a longer story I'm working on. It's kind of a story, kind of a screenplay, I don't really know. There are summaries for the missing bits. Not the best, I know. I found myself focusing on Alice and the Hatter (Gee, I wonder why? I'm a dorky romantic at heart). So please read, hopefully enjoy, and leave a review if you'd like. PS: PLEASE read to the end.

It's one year later. Alice has returned to Underland at the request of Nivens McTwisp, the white rabbit. Upon arrival she learns that the White Queen has been put under a spell, though no one knows by whom, and her reign has become tyrannical. She and the Hatter set out to reach the Queen and try to break the spell. Alice loves being back in Underland, and she wants to help her friends, but she also needs the White Queen's help to get home. They successfully get into the palace, but a slip of tongue on Alice's part causes their true identities to be exposed. Alice and the Hatter have been captured and they are in a jail cell. The Hatter has seemed strangely resentful toward Alice, though it's clear he enjoys having her around. She's noticed that he's different from the last time, he seems less himself.

Hatter (mumbling): …ridiculous…my second time in a cell…imprisoned twice because of you.

He wheels around to face her

Hatter: This is your fault.

Alice: I know, alright?

She tears up and he looks upset.

Hatter: I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I can't think in here! It's so small, so dark.

Alice: And it's all my fault.

Hatter: I shouldn't have said that.

Alice: Well it's true, isn't it? Never mind, I don't want to talk about it. Let's just go to sleep.

Hatter: I'm not tired. And anyway, I don't think I could sleep tonight.

Alice: Fine. Well I'm tired. So I'll just…(She looks around the cell. It's empty) Oh. There's no bed.

Hatter: I suppose not.

The tension was unusual. He was filled with regret that he had hurt her. He only wanted to protect her, so why was he acting this way? He knew why, though he didn't want to admit it: he was frightened. He was scared that she would leave again. He watched her as she lied down and fell fast asleep. He sat across the cell, looking at her. She was curled up like a kitten, her blonde wavy hair fanned out around her head. The moonlight coming in through the skylight was shining on her hair and face. He got up and sat next to her on the ground. He was sitting up against the wall and she was stilled curled up on her side, her back facing him. "Goodnight, Alice," he said softly. She stirred. Oh no. Instead of waking up, though, she rolled over and faced him. She was pressed against him, her head resting on his chest. Her arm was lying carelessly across his torso. He was too shocked to move or speak, but after regaining his senses he said "Alice" quietly, trying to wake her. She didn't move. He wondered why he'd spoken so quietly if he'd meant to wake her. He decided that he was just surprised, and couldn't quite find his voice. His entire body was tense and he was now nervous she might wake up. He didn't dare move. He looked at her face, relaxed and peaceful. Beautiful. The word popped into his head without him thinking. "Goodness. I really can't think here. This place fills my head with nonsense," he breathed. Then slowly, carefully, he lifted his arm and puts it around her. He wasn't even sure why he did it. He decided it was because he was worried she might get cold. She stirred again, and began to pull away from him. Why was she always doing that? Again without thinking, he tightened his grip around her, and pulled her back to him. He fell asleep.

She woke up, dazed and exhausted. She flickered one eye open, and then the other. Everything was blurry, but she was pretty sure it was morning. She was on her side, and she tried to sit up. However, something was holding her in place. What on earth…she looked down at her waist, and saw a hand wrapped around it. A familiar hand. She whipped her head around and there was the Hatter looking up at her, looking equally sleepy and confused. With a great shock she realized the position they were in. She was practically on top of him! She quickly pulled away from him, but his arm was still tightly around her. "Hatter!" she said, frustrated. He was clearly still half asleep. "What…oh!" He snapped into consciousness and yanked his arm away, blushing. "I'm sorry. I was…" he trailed off, looking bewildered. "Asleep," she said. "You were asleep. As was I." She got up and walked to the other side of the cell, trying to avoid his eye. "Yes. Turns out I was more tired than I thought," he said. "How did you sleep?" This was so strange. She still had a shocked expression on her face, and she wouldn't turn around, but he was acting completely normal. Well, if he was going to act normal then so would she. "I slept wonderfully," she said, turning around. She was surprised to see him looking very pleased. She realized the implications of her statement. "I mean, well, not wonderfully," she said hastily. "But I slept alright. And you?" His expression didn't falter. "I slept wonderfully," he said.

To be continued…