A/N: I love Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland, I just had a slightly different ending in mind, and after rewatching the film this weekend, I had to write it down. I blame Johnny Depp... and my eating too much sugar... and other stuff that I forget :P
Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to Lewis Carrol, Tim Burton, Disney, and other folks that aren't me.
I. A Dream Come True
After telling everyone just what she thought about their situations, as well as her own, Alice could think of nothing better to do but dance a little jig for all to see. Perhaps it was a poor imitation of the futterwacken she was thinking of, but it was good enough for her in such a moment, and a tribute to the man she wished she hadn't felt the need to leave behind.
The applause was unexpected, but rapturous despite its singularity. Alice turned quickly to see who was there, the shock written on her face only increasing when she laid eyes on him. Though his clothes, from the shoes on his feet, through the suit he wore, to the tip of his fine hat, were all so much smarter and less colourful than before, his vibrant green expressive eyes gave him away in an instant.
There were no other people in the whole of the garden now, not to Alice. They had parted in two waves, leaving a clear path between her and the only other who could matter in such a moment. He was there, and she couldn't understand how, but she hoped against hope that she knew why.
Alice felt no ground beneath her feet nor eyes upon her as she ran to him, stopping but a step in front of the hatter that looked somewhat less mad in this moment. She could not stop smiling, her expression fit to match his own as she grasped his hands.
"I am so happy you're here," she told him. "You can't possibly imagine!"
"I can," he nodded, and she could not doubt then that he was as pleased to see her as she was to see him.
She laughed from the relief of his just being here, until she noticed his eyes move left and right to those that would watch them. She had almost entirely forgotten anyone was there at all but the two of them.
"Alice," he whispered, leaning in closer to her ear. "I fear this is a land with much less muchness than I am used to," he told her.
"Don't worry about that," she told him, squeezing his hands tighter. "Between us, we shall help it find it's muchness, for we have enough to spare..."
"And enough to share," he completed a rhyme and managed to make himself laugh into the bargain.
In a moment, one of Alice's hands slipped away, the other pulling him along behind her to face one of the older women in the crowd. Though he had never met her, somehow he knew her instantly.
"Mrs Kingsley," the hatter bowed in an over-the-top manner, removing his hat as he did so.
"Mother, this is Mr Tarrant Hightopp," Alice introduced with a smile. "If you could keep each other company whilst I speak with Lord Ascot, I promise to explain the moment I return," she told her startled mother.
When Alice turned and walked away, she was not the least worried about what might happen next. Perhaps leaving a man with the reputation for being completely mad with her mother who had a generally nervous disposition was not the brightest of ideas in any usual circumstance, but Alice had quite decided her life was not to be usual or normal at all.
In any case, she was not afraid of Tarrant making a fool of himself, or even her mother doing the same. The truth of it was, she was not afraid of anything anymore. Since she did not have to marry Hamish and had Tarrant here instead, Alice was certain this was a dream come true, and nothing can hurt you in a dream.