Once again in front of the miniature windmill Alice looked at her phone to check the time.
"How curious," she said, "I could have sworn we were in Wonderland for much longer."
"Time, well it isn't quite the same over there as you know it here."
Alice accepted the fact easily and began to think about what they should do while they wait for her sister. It was soon decided that they should get another cup of tea, and a pastry or two.
A bad-mannered Alice began to speak before she finished chewing, "MmMm, this tea is good, but it's nothing in comparison to what you brewed for us."
Tarrant held back a laugh, not needing to be told that there is nobody in this world, or his, that can compare to his tea-making skills. "Why thank you, Alice."
"I'm really rather bored of this festival. Would you mind if we go back to the field where we met? We've got a while left to wait still."
"If that's what you wish Alice, I'm here on your terms, remember?" He replied with a light-hearted grin.
The same way they had left it, Alice and Tarrant skipped off to the field, arm in arm. After finding a nice spot Alice coaxed her beau into laying on the grass with her to gaze up at the stars.
"Were there ever stars in the Wonderland sky?"
Tarrant sighed, "I'm sure you've noticed that it isn't only people in Wonderland that can feel emotions. Like in your world, the skies there have seen many horrible wars. For a long time it wasn't only the nights that were grey and lifeless. Throughout the power struggles the inhabitants have become scared, and remain that way at nights. There are a lot of wretched beings that will roam the nights looking to cause harm to any who cross their path. We don't have a name for them, and we don't know where they dwell during the daylight. The skies over Wonderland had become so sad that the stars fell from the skies during rains."
Alice was at a loss for words. She wondered how such horrible things could have appeared in such an amazing place, but knew it was not the right time to ask. Instead of speaking she laid her head on his chest and listened to the sound of his beating heart. Hearing that his heart would speed up at every move she made and feeling him wrap his strong arms around her, Alice's mood was lifted. She propped herself up on an elbow to see the face she'd quickly been falling in love with.
"I want to share something with you," she said while pulling out her most prized possession. Giving him one earbud and taking the other for herself, Alice skimmed through her songs to find the one she felt could express was she was too shy to say herself. "Close your eyes and listen."
Alice hit 'play' and watched closely for a reaction that could clue her in on his feelings. A song Alice knew better than any other, and for years had been wishing to be able to feel, cut in and out of her thoughts.
'Waiting for the morning light to sneak up with the sunrise….'
Almost instantly Alice saw his frown disappear, and decided she would better enjoy the moment resting comfortably on his chest like before rather than watching like an eagle eyeing prey.
'Dreams of a better life can come true, it's all there in you….'
As the words careened through them both, Alice felt a warmth inside of her chest despite her body laying on a frozen ground. She wondered if he knew of love, living in a world so different from hers and having experienced so much strife.
'When I look at you and everything else just cancels out, for a moment there's no doubt….'
Tarrant moved his hand off of Alice's and placed it around her, on the small of her back, pulling her body in closer to his. His arms wrapped tightly around her, the warmth now extending from her chest throughout her entire body. Alice wished the feeling would last…forever.
'You took me to a place no time can erase. Yesterday I was a loser, today I'm winning. Today you're mine and the world is ours.'
As the song came to a close Alice gently tugged the earbuds out of their resting places and tucked them away before a less-than-sweet song dare ruin the moment.
She waited patiently in his grasp, now listening to Tarrant's calm breathing and heartbeat. She felt that by now he must be stargazing, while her eyes, still peacefully closed. A whispered voice broke the silence, "Alice."
She knew it was his and for the first time she noticed he had the most adorable lisp when he spoke her name.
Alice took in a deep breath and, still not ready to speak, slowly exhaled while peering up into his emerald eyes.
"This…is love?" It was apparent to her that he really wasn't sure what love is. She had already sensed that his constant seeming delight was covering a void, imagining that his life had been quite lonely. Or maybe that's what she hoped, because that would mean someone could truly understand her. Alice sat up with him so she could see deeper into those eyes.
"Is this love, Tarrant?" She paused, "I. Well I've never known love. Not a love that makes me feel the way I do when I'm near you."
His grin now rivaled that of the Cheshire Cat.
Alice now sat on the ground facing him, her knees bent over his legs. She lovingly embraced him with her chest pressed flush against his, cheek to cheek. After a moment or two had passed she loosened the embrace bit by bit until her nose grazed the tip of his. Breathing shallow and hearts racing they shared a truly passionate kiss.
Before either of them was ready for it to end, their kiss was interrupted by Alice's phone ringing. Alice wanted to ignore the call so badly, but she knew it was her sister. She let out a heavy sigh just before answering the phone. As she spoke to Margaret, Alice motioned for Tarrant to follow her and they began towards the parking lot.
"Maggie, this is Tarrant. He'll be staying the night with me."
"You mean with us," her sister retorted with a smirk before saying, "Hello…Tarrant was it? Oh…Alice, I'm bringing a friend as well." She held up a moderately sized bottled that appear to be liquor, "His name is Jack." The girls shared a giggle and they began the drive back to the hotel.
It was a quiet ride aside from the music playing throughout the car. Alice was snuggled up against Tarrant, who was curiously looking all about the car and out the window. A smile was glued to Alice's face, adoring his inquisitiveness. Before long they pulled up to the hotel.
When they got inside the room the hatter was even more intrigued than he had been in the car.
"I didn't realize," said Alice, "There is no electricity in Wonderland, is there?"
"No what?" He asked, not pausing for an answer, "What is this box for?"
Alice picked up the thin remote control from the night stand and turned on the TV. The volume was up fairly high and it must have startled Tarrant because he instantly jumped back nearly halfway across the room. Alice let out a small laugh as she watched him lose his footing and fall back onto the bed next to her.
"You're quite silly," she said, noticing that they were alone. Fearing her sister might walk in at a bad time Alice sighed at the thought of kissing the man next to her and instead did her best to explain to him what the television was.
It was obvious that he wasn't really understanding and that was ok by her since she didn't understand what made things work in his land either.
"I'm sorry Alice," he began, looking away from the TV. First seeing her odd, striped stockings, then her blue and white petticoat skirt that matched those sweet sky blue eyes so perfectly. 'So much like my Alices' past…sweet, dear Alice…'
His daydreaming was cut short, "For what?" He quickly snapped back to reality with the sound of her voice.
"Mm, Oh, yes…I'm sorry because it's you that deserves my attention."
Her expression became tender, hearing his sincere remorse. "It's ok, I don't need your full attention all of the time." As Alice put her hand on his leg and leaned in closer, her sister burst through the door.
"I've got ice and mixers! Who want's a drink?" Margaret smirked for a second before continuing, "Am I interrupting?"
Alice glared at her sister, "No Maggie, we're just talking."
"It's alright hun, we're all adults here." Continuing to receive that eye piercing glare Maggie continued, "Geez Alice, I'm just teasing…"
Shifting her vision back to Tarrant, Alice appeared light-hearted again. Patting him thrice on the leg she said, "Would you mind getting washed up now, rather than later, so I can speak with my sister for a bit?"
A bit confused by her choice of words he answered, "Absolutely…I mean, no…that is to say, I think it sounds like a wonderful idea."
As Tarrant left through the only other door in the room, Alice turned to Maggie with a smile that the two hadn't shared in years.
Note - That's all I've got for now! I'm a little torn about how to begin the next chapter. Deciding between adding a couple of short Tarrant/Alice p.o.v. chapters or just continuing the narrative. It seems so fun to experience our world through the hatter's eyes, as well as giving a little more insight to how their minds work.
Also, I'd like some opinions on whether or not Maggie should be alone in getting a little buzz! :)