A/N: Updating might be slower now. Working on other stories on the side of this one, so forgive me. This chapter may seem short, but it's all I got for now.
A knock at the door interrupted her moment.
"Excuse me," Nivens said. "Tarrant might wake up soon. May I have a word? I made some tea." She got off the bed and came downstairs with him. He poured her a cup and they sat down.
"Look," he said. "I haven't really met you properly. You already know my name is Nivens, but I'm very grateful for what you're doing for my friend Tarrant."
"Oh, thank you," she said. "You such a good friend to him. You and March went through quite the plan."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Oh, your laptop is Tarrant's room. I just thought of that."
"Thanks," she said.
"Anyway," Nivens said. "I wanted to just talk with you. But, I'm just thanking you for everything you've done so far. Tarrant has another friend now. That was always hard for him, making friends. We all just go together so well. I mean, I'm a techie person, March is random, Tarrant is kinda mad, and you're..."
"A daydreamer," she filled it in for him.
"Perfect," Nivens said. "See? We don't know why we fit, but we do. We all love tea, maybe that's how we got started."
"I wouldn't be too surprised if it was," Alice remarked. "You guys are just so cool. I've never met anyone like you guys. I mean that in a good way." They spent the evening talking about things. The topic was mostly random, but she learned more about him and March as she talked with The White Rabbit.
"I'd bring him upstairs if you want to sleep in a bed tonight," Nivens said as he saw Tarrant turn over. "His dreams can be quite... well, he moves a lot."
"Oh," Alice said. "I could, I guess."
"It's a suggestion," he told her. "I plan on taking the couch. March I guess can take his parent's room for now. I don't know how long his father will be in the hospital." Alice found that to be an excellent point. Nivens told her he would contact the hospital, for Tarrant's father knew him better than Alice. In fact, they realized Tarrant's father had never even met Alice.
Alice carried Tarrant upstairs to the guest room, where the bed was a queen size, so they both fit. Nivens did the dishes after Alice and him ate. March was still passed out and probably would be until morning.
She laid him on the bed, and then she adjusted his position. She put his hat on the nightstand. As she got ready for bed, she heard him talking in his sleep. He was mumbling at first and she finished brushing her teeth. She came back to him, he kept mumbling, and she couldn't understand him. She crawled in next to him.
He began tossing and turning even worse. "No!" he finally screamed. She shook him.
"Tarrant," she said over and over until he sat up with a start. "Tarrant." He looked to see Alice and the guest room.
"I...s-s-saw it...like I was there," he gasped for air.
"Tarrant," she said again softly. "It was only a dream." She sat up next to him and urged him back down. He faced her as he laid back on the bed. She came closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. He returned the hug, letting the tears fall again.
"Oh Alice," he said. "I miss her." She laid next to him, and curled herself near him. Her figure fit perfectly next to his, like they were two perfect pieces to a puzzle.
"It's okay," she said. "I never knew my father. He died when I was little. I know what that hole feels like." He just held her, but really she was holding him. She was his comfort. "Please try and get some more sleep. You don't get upset when you're asleep." He was still tired, despite the fact that he had slept most of afternoon.
His dream was awful. He saw the accident with his own eyes like he was there. It frightened him terribly, but when he saw Alice, all the bad feelings went away. As long as she was there, he wasn't afraid. His mind dreamt up crazy things, but when he woke up, there she was.
"Alice," he said, trying not to cry. "I love you...so much." Alice smiled and she kissed his cheek.
"I love you too Tarrant. It pains me to see you like this. If there is anything you need, tell me or find me, please," she said.
"Just...hold me," he said, letting fresh tears fall.
"No problem," Alice said, snuggling closer. Tarrant cried himself to sleep, and Alice felt him relax finally. He was asleep and she felt his breathing slow, and she put her head to his chest. She laid there, just listening to his heart beat. Tarrant rolled onto his back and she put her head on his chest. She could stay this way forever.
The morning sun crept through the window and it shined right in Alice's face. When she opened her eyes, she was still leaning against Tarrant. She sat up, stretching. The clock told her it was seven-thirty. She sniffed the air, smelling vanilla in the air. Nivens had made Vanilla Tea this morning, and she knew it.
Movement was beside her as she saw Tarrant's eyes open. She kissed his cheek.
"Hello," she said and he looked back into her eyes.
"I smell tea," he remarked. She nodded, and they both went downstairs. There was Nivens in the kitchen and March was watching TV.
"Good morning you two," Nivens said. "Tea's on the stove." Tarrant sat down and Alice brought the tea over. He didn't speak at the table or much for the rest of that day. Nivens worked on Alice's computer, clearing history and setting up a new email for her. He was just being cautious.
Tarrant mostly stayed quiet, but he didn't go anywhere without Alice close by. She made Nivens and March a decent breakfast, and later that day, Nivens called to speak with Tarrant's father. He hung up the phone.
"Alice," he said. "We have to go to the hospital."
"Why?" she asked.
"Come here," he commanded, and after giving Tarrant a few words of comfort, she went to Nivens. "His father isn't doing so well. He's been in and out of consciousness and his physical condition isn't fairing. They thought he was going to get better with the drugs, but his body wasn't reacting the way the doctors expected. I don't know if Tarrant should come. I don't want to put him through more."
"Nivens," Alice said. "You know he won't go anywhere without me."
"I know. Maybe I should just go," Nivens said. "I don't want to upset him."
"I'm telling him," she said.
"What?! No," Nivens whispered a little to loudly.
"I'd rather have him realize both are gone then just lying to him. He either grieves twice as long or he grieves twice," Alice said. Nivens sighed.
"Alright, but you're dealing with him. You're good at that stuff, not me. I'll go down myself. His father will die they say sometime today or tomorrow. He's in shock and his back is the worst," he told her.
"Okay," she agreed. She went back over to Tarrant, not wanting to break the news. She wouldn't tell him until his father died. She wished she could have met his father. He seemed interesting.
"Nivens," she said and he turned around before heading out the door. "Tell him about me, and that I'll take care of Tarrant."
"That's a big thing to commit to," Nivens said.
"I know," she said. "But I'm going to do it." Nivens knew she meant it. He would make sure to mention Alice to Tarrant's father. He shut the door behind him, and March went upstairs...with a tea pot.
"Tarrant," she said, and he looked at her. "Come here." She urged him to come closer. She wrapped her arms around him. Then, she held him by the shoulders. She made her face level with his. Alice pressed her lips to his, and at first, Tarrant had no reaction. Then, he kissed back with some emotion. She held that kiss for as long as she could before needing air. When she released he stared at her in slight confusion.
"Do I need a reason to kiss you?" she asked. He had no response, and Alice pulled him on to hug him again.
He shed tears for the next few hours. She pulled him away, catching a few tears on her fingertips.
"Listen," she said, but she didn't get the chance to finish.
"I heard Nivens," he said. "My father may die too."
"Tarrant," she said sympathetically. "He could make it. It's not impossible."
"I know," he said. "Only if I believe it is. But, please Alice, believe with me. I'm not sure if I believe, if I even believe, that my belief is good enough. All I'm saying is if you believe, I'll believe more than I originally would..."
"Hatter," she said.
"I'm fine," he choked out.
"I'll believe with you," she promised. "Because I can believe in six impossible things before breakfast."
Review plz! I hope the next few chapters will be longer. It will get better too!
