CHAPTER 2: YOU'RE HERE (Alice's POV)

Alice didn't know what to say to her mother. Carol could tell something was wrong, but Alice knew the truth would only seem a lie.

So she said she was tired and that she just wanted to be in her room. That's where her mother found her later, putting away her father's things.

"I don't need to look for Dad anymore." This was a truth.

Her mom told her a man was coming to see if she was okay. The words filtered past Alice's ears, but she didn't pay them much mind. She was too wrapped up in her head, her sadness.

Dad is gone. Jack was a lie. Hatter... well. That hadn't gone how she'd hoped.

"Alice," her mother called. "Come meet David!"

She walked down the hall toward their living room. When she lifted her eyes, joy erupted in her.

He was here. He was real and he was here.

"Hatter!"

Alice did the only thing that made sense in that moment: she ran to him. She threw her arms around him and heard him say something; she wasn't sure what. She was too busy telling him he had no idea how happy she was to see him.

She pulled back to look at him, eager to learn why he was here, what he might say. But this time, he didn't use words.

They were kissing and it was amazing, electric. He stopped only to say he missed her and then their lips met again.

Yes! He did feel the same!

Vaguely, Alice heard her mother clear her throat. Oh, right, they had an audience. She stood back from Hatter but only spared a glance at her mom. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off the man in front of her.

His attention was equally rooted to her. His face was open with emotion, and he attempted to close it a little with banter.

"Were you not taller?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah, a bit," she laughed and looked down at her shoes. Then she glanced at his head. "But so was your hair," she teased, and he laughed.

"Alice?" her mother asked incredulously. Her tone conveyed the unspoken question "you know this man?"

Hatter turned to stand by her side so they could face her mother together.

"Mom, this is..." yeah, how could she put it? "...a good friend of mine. He's from, um, England?" She paused to look at Hatter. He just raised his brows, allowing her to continue.

"I... wasn't sure I would ever see him again." That part was sincere.

"Well," Carol stated. "This is just... sudden. David, how come you didn't mention you knew Alice?"

"Ah," Hatter stalled. He ducked his head. "Well, we haven't really known one another long. I assumed your daughter might not have mentioned me."

"She had not," Carol informed him.

"To be honest, I wasn't totally sure she would remember me." Hatter cast a glance at Alice. She wondered what he meant.

"I came to town yesterday, hoping to see Alice," he turned his face to her. "A mutual friend gave me your address. But when I arrived, there was a commotion nearby... a girl was unconscious..."

He explained finding Alice in the building, the authorities assuming he was a construction worker, his going along with it so he could stay near her.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hamilton, I should have been more forthcoming."

Alice had to reign in her smile. Hatter was attempting to charm her mother. And it seemed to work, enough so that Carol offered to get them something to drink. Which Alice knew was just her mother's way of leaving them alone for a moment.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Alice grabbed Hatter's arm and began to question him. "Why are you here? Mom said I was only gone for an hour — how does that even work? Why wouldn't I remember you? Does that happen when people go through the Looking Glass?"

"Those are... some very good questions. Do you perhaps have a few free hours?" He tilted his head at her.

"Sorry, I just..." Alice gestured to him. "You're here."

"I told you," he said, leaning closer. "I missed you."

Alice smiled at him bashfully.

Carol returned with beverages and guided Hatter and Alice to the couch. Once they sat, she made an excuse to leave them alone again. Alice was grateful; she'd thank her mom later.

"How long has it been since I left?" Alice asked him.

He made a face. "Awhile." He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her.

"They wouldn't let me just hop through after you. I spoke to the prince. He said I had to 'do it right.'"

She looked at an identification card. David Hatter.

"Is that really your name?" she asked.

"One of 'em," he replied with a grin. He fished more things out of his jacket.

"I also have keys to somewhere Jack was staying. And one of these."

"A cell phone," Alice answered for him.

"I got the feeling his highness was giving me a test. Making me wait. But they can set the glass. I left weeks after you and arrived before— " He stopped talking when Alice put her hand on his cheek.

"Your face is healed," she noted. She wondered what Hatter said to Jack in order to follow her, so she asked.

He hesitated. "I... do I have to put all my cards on the table?"

Alice was about to respond when he laughed and said "Suppose I've already shown my entire hand by showing up in your world, haven't I?"

She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. He had. "Then why didn't you say anything at the Looking Glass?"

"I thought you were still with Jack!"

Alice sat back. "No, I..."

"Yeah, yeah, Charlie told me. After you left."

"Charlie? How did he know?"

"He's a knight!" Hatter said, and Alice laughed.

"He thinks you would have made an excellent Queen of Wonderland."

Alice rolled her eyes, but she also smiled.

"I told him he'd have to take that up with Jack and Charlie said 'oh, he did! He proposed!'"

Alice nodded.

"But you turned him down."

Alice nodded.

"Said you changed."

Alice nodded.

"Said you wanted... something else."

"I did," Alice said. "But that something didn't seem to get the message, because he told me to go home!" She shoved him playfully.

"Yeah, that was... not my best moment."

"It's okay," Alice told him. "You had a lot of other really good ones."

"Did I?"

"Oh, yeah. Some top notch stuff."

"I can't tell if you're joking."

"I'm not!" she assured him. "You... made quite an impression."

"Really? You didn't say anything either, as I recall."

"I told you I had a bad track record with liking guys."

Hatter moved closer to her and lowered his voice.

"Perhaps you just needed to meet the right guy."

"Yeah. I think..." Alice pulled him to her. "My luck finally changed."

Their lips had just met when Carol interrupted.

"David, I think it's time for you to go home."

Alice looked aghast. "MOM!"

Carol held up her hand. "You're going to tell me you're a grown woman who can take care of yourself. I know that. But I brought you home from the hospital this morning. You are not going out tonight."

Alice made a face. Carol shifted her gaze to Hatter.

"David, you can take Alice out tomorrow."

Alice wanted Hatter to take her side, but he was already rising to his feet. "Of course, Mrs. Hamilton. Best to let Alice get her rest." He looked back down to her as he placed his hat back on his head. "Tomorrow, then?" he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled at him. "It's a date."