"It's getting worse isn't it?" Jack could plainly see how much Hatter was fighting with herself, even at that very moment.

"Yes", Hatter said slowly. "I don't know what to do. I'm becoming the person that I've been fighting for so long." Her voice broke as she said this.

"It's going to be ok", Jack said, trying to comfort her. "We'll find a way to save you. Love can always find a way." He wiped a tear from Hatter's cheek.

"But what we can't. I was set on this path the moment that I was brought into existence."

"You're a good person, I don't believe that this'll get far enough for you to forget that."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Promise me one thing", Hatter took a breath as she said this. "If I do loose sight of who I really am, if I past the point of no return, then promise that you'll end my existence."

"What?" Jack shook his head, wishing that he had heard her wrong.

"I'm not saying that it will happen, but it could. Please, Jack, I don't want to be the monster that we both know I'm capable of being." Jack sighed, seeing the desperation in her eyes.

"Alright, I promise."

Jack realized the time had come for him to carry out his word. If he didn't innocent souls would meet their ends. He knew that Hatter had wanted him to kill her, she wasn't the girl that she used to be. She had lost herself to the darkness with in her. He knew that he had to do it, he had to kill her, but he didn't think that his heart could handle it.

Years ago he had told himself that he was immune to feelings. He thought that he had said goodbye to Hatter for the last time, and without her he had no reason to give into emotion. His broken heart had disengaged, in an attempt to numb the pain that leaving her had brought. Now, every emotion that he had worked so hard to repress invaded his core and held his thoughts hostage.

Hatter had asked him to kill her, he had given his word. His word was supposed to be his bond, an unbreakable code. When he agreed he hadn't thought that the situation would ever accrue. If he had known that it would happen, would he had still promised?

Being a hero meant having to make scarifies for the greater good. This was what Hatter wanted, this he had to do this.

He would keep his promise, and his heart would break.