Disclaimer: Must I say it? Alice doesn't belong to me. It belongs to SyFy and Lewis Carroll. And now I feel depressed… *sniffles*

A/N: Enjoy!

Summary: Post movie. Hatter is mugged and left in the street for dead. He wakes up in a hospital, unable to remember who he is. How will Alice find him? Or will she lose the love of her life forever? Alice/Hatter


Prologue

Hatter really didn't understand Oysters. They all had their little routines and habits that couldn't be broken, no matter what, or their lives would immediately slide into chaos. Such as wearing the same color sock on each foot. He really didn't understand that. Or why it was socially unacceptable to wear certain clothes in public. He loved the silk plaid pajama pants he had bought a few weeks ago, but Alice wouldn't let him wear them in public for some reason.

He loved Alice, too. That was the only reason he put up with all the funny little habits of hers, like watching celebrity shows on the telly almost religiously, or refusing to use anything except peach-scented body lotion. He didn't care what she did, as long as she didn't tire of him and leave for someone better. He couldn't help having that thought constantly at the back of his mind, no matter what he did to get rid of it. It was always there.

He woke one morning, after staying up late to watch one of the mentioned celebrity shows with Alice, to find pandemonium.

As he opened his eyes, reflexively reaching out for Alice, he found that she wasn't there. Her pillow was still dented in the exact shape of her head, but the sheets were cold. She had been gone a while. He got up from the bed and changed into a silk shirt and tie, along with some patterned trousers. He flipped his hat onto his head, then went in search of his Alice.

It was strange now that she was living with him. In a good way, obviously, but strange nonetheless. Jack's flat had been his, and his alone, for almost three months before she had come to a decision to move from her mother's place and join him. Now he constantly found bras hanging on the bathroom doorknob and pink razors in the shower and a new floral shampoo to replace the kind he normally used. It had taken some getting used to, almost a week, but now he had fallen into a regular rhythm. He enjoyed sharing a home with Alice. The only thing he didn't enjoy was her cooking. He made sure to take care of dinner every night, not only to save them from any potential arguments, but also to prevent either of them from getting food poisoning.

He found Alice in the kitchen, dressed in her spotless white gi for the beginner's class she was scheduled to teach that morning. Her dark hair hadn't yet been pulled back into a ponytail, hanging instead in tangled strands around her face. She was bent over to reach into the refrigerator, staring intently inside.

Hatter wrapped his arms around her from behind. She straightened, leaning back into his embrace. "Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?" He nuzzled the top of her head with his face, breathing in the strong scent of peaches.

"Fine," she said, pulling away and turning to face him. His arms dropped loosely to his sides. "Hatter, I've got to be at the dojo in an hour, and I haven't even finished getting ready yet."

He nodded, easily hearing the tension in her voice. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, of course something's wrong!" she cried, pale cheeks flushing with color. "There's no more milk!" She turned back to the refrigerator and lifted the empty plastic bottle to show him. Only a tiny amount of white liquid remained in the very bottom.

"I think I used the last of it in the casserole last night," he said. "Sorry, love. I'll pick some up later."

"I can't have cereal without milk, Hatter," she said. It was true. This was another little unbreakable Oyster routine, as Hatter had learned. Though he thought that it tasted quite good when dry.

He turned to go get his coat from the rack in the living room. He didn't even ask why she couldn't have something else, like toast or eggs. Alice liked to have cereal and only cereal every morning before going to the dojo, because anything else made her feel too full. She had for as long as Hatter had known her, and wasn't likely to change that habit overnight.

"I'll be back soon," he said over one shoulder, opening the door while shrugging into his coat. She looked around the corner of the kitchen, still holding the empty milk bottle. He mimed blowing her a kiss, and she returned the gesture, though not as enthusiastically as usual. But he didn't mind; after all, it was still early, and no one could be expected to be completely cheerful when they'd only just woken up. He stepped out into the hall and was gone.

He hurried down the hallway, footsteps muffled by the thick red carpet, then across the lobby and out onto the sidewalk. The cold wind was biting, blowing across his exposed face. He made sure his hat was secure and pulled his coat closed. He set off at a brisk walk, towards the closest convenience store. If he hurried, he could be back with the milk before Alice had to leave, and she could eat her cereal and be off for the dojo right on time.

The store was only a few blocks away, so it didn't take him long to reach at a brisk walk. He went inside and straight to the freezers at the back, where he picked out a brand of milk Alice liked. He went up to the front and placed it on the counter. A bored-looking teenager rang up the purchase and waited impatiently. It took him a minute to count out the right amount. Even now he still had trouble with Oyster money. It just didn't make any sense.

After paying, Hatter took his receipt and the milk and left the store. He strode towards the flat, cutting down a trash-strewn alleyway to make up for lost time while checking his watch. If he kept up the pace, he was definitely going to make it. Alice could have her cereal with milk and be off to the dojo. He could stay home and clean up the flat, since today was his day off from work, and then he could surprise her with a nice dinner when she came home again. And maybe some of those scented candles she liked, to make things…romantic.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the figure stalking him through the shadows of the alley. He didn't notice it coming closer and closer, or the deadly weapon rising into the air.

Something solid slammed into the back of his head, and Hatter went down hard. The container of milk hit the ground and exploded, white liquid flying everywhere. The concrete tore into his palms, drawing blood. All he could see was stars, twinkling strangely around the corners of his vision.

Before he could recover, the object hit him again, this time in the middle of his back. The sudden pain cleared his muddled brain, and he quickly rolled over onto his back, clenching the fingers of his right hand into a fist as he prepared to fight back.

It was too late. Now a knife slashed downward through the air, piercing the skin of his stomach. Again, again, again. All he could see was a strange gray fog, circling around the masked face of his attacker. And then, when it seemed like the crescendoing pain couldn't possibly get any worse, a baseball bat came down through the air and crashed into his head.

Everything spiraled into blackness.


Please review, everyone. This is my first Alice fic, so I'm kind of nervous about it. Does everyone seem in character? Be sure to let me know! :D