Doormouse began every day like the previous, and the one before that and before that and so on and so forth. Opening the tea shop for Hatter and praying to not be trampled by people looking for their next fix. "Gonna need a little strength tea, me self today I think."

Just as she stepped inside the tea shop and tried to close the door behind her, it burst back open and she was snatched up by her collar. Ace of Clubs had her in his grips and he snarled, "Where is he?"

"Hatter?" she asked in a quivering voice.

"No! Where is Mad March?" There was a fire in his eyes that burned straight into her meager little soul.

"I... I... I don't... Do ya mind lettin' me go?" He loosened his grip but not his stance. "I don't know where that psycho is. He ditched Hatter and me years ago so I don't know why you're comin' around here for."

Ace turned to Nine. "Stay here. Call me if you see anything suspicious. You two little whimpering peons should get along nicely." Ace and Ten headed out the door. Neither liked the insult but neither would say anything about it. When Ace of Clubs was on a mission, it was wise to not be in his way or on his nerves. Nine was actually relieved to be in a place other than at Ace's side!

"So," Doormouse said as she started to get the shop ready for the day and people began to trickle in. "What's up with Mad Marchy this time?"

"I don't know and I don't wish to know either!" Nine replied, following Doormouse around.

"Ah," she said. "Must be really bad for an Ace of any suit to leave the Casino." Nine nodded. "Well, Niiiine..." she said drawing out his name. "Would you like some tea? Some Serenity, perhaps?"

He nodded. "Indeed."

Hatter was walking down the road toward the tea shop. He had just left the library with some very disturbing news. Dodo felt kind enough to warn Hatter that Mad March was missing after doing something witnesses described as beyond the forgiveness of the Queen but no one dared say exactly what. Dodo was actually concerned that March would show up on Hatter's door. Now, let it be known that Dodo could care less if Hatter dropped dead this moment but rather he was concerned that March would be following him around and may find the library, using that as a bargaining chip for his head.

Hatter walked past a building about a block away from the tea shop when a dark shadow over took him. He looked up to see a very menacing Ace of Clubs in front of him. "Oh, this isn't good," Hatter said.

Ace looked at Hatter with that searing stare that would terrify even a Jabberwocky. "I need Mad March and I need him fast."

"Why are you asking me? The last time I saw him Spades were arresting him just there," Hatter said as he pointed to the edge of the city. "I have nothing to do with him since then. I know he's become an assassin for the Queen and that topples me for no other reason than he is helping the one that killed his own parents. Not much to say about that kind of betrayal."

"You've got a big mouth, Hatter," Ten said as he stepped up next to Ace.

"Look, guys. I don't know where he is and I don't want to know."

"Really," Ace said. "You wouldn't do anything to help the one that started that little tea shop of yours by stealing from the queen, eh?"

"I didn't steal anything. Marchy gave me everything as is and I had no reason to suspect that any of those teas were stolen!"

"Ignorance of a fact, Hatter, does not clear you of the guilt. The only reason we haven't dragged you in is because Mad March guaranteed the Queen the success of the shop in getting the teas to the people."

Ten felt the need to chime in with, "If it weren't for him, you'd be without your head by now, between the stolen goods and your parents involvement with the Resistance. So we have every reason to think you would help your old friend out."

"Well," Hatter said, taking his hat off and running his fingers through his hair. "I don't know where he is."

"You will call us the moment you see or hear from him or you will loose your head," Ace told him. "And I have suits keeping their eyes on you so I will know where you are at all times, just so you know." Ace and Ten turned and walked away.

"Damn," Hatter whispered to himself. This meant no more contact with the library and it also meant that March could very well be wanting to have Hatter help him out of whatever mess he had gotten himself into this time. He rubbed a growing knot in his neck, put his hat back on, and headed forward to the tea shop.

He was none to happy when he arrived and saw Nine of Clubs sipping tea with Doormouse. While Nine's presence was obvious, Hatter was sure that there were plenty more eyes watching him. He was their only hope in finding Mad March now. That made him a target and he was very uneasy suddenly being in a room full of people. He retreated to his office and loft area. He had roofed it in but managed to have quite the green lawn growing with water piped in for irrigation and plenty of artificial sunlight. He had good reason to roof in his personal space: one for keeping spies out, another for the ever growing smog cloud that was drowning out any sunlight from the inner parts of the city.

He walked to his desk and sat down, trying to take in all the days' events thus far. He was startled by a shadow moving on the far side of his room.

"Hello?" he called out. "Who's in here? This place is locked down and no one gets in here without me!"

"I have my secrets," came a familiar voice. A tall, lean figure emerged from the shadows and Hatter winced at seeing that face, that face that left him behind all those years ago. All that pain and hurt bubbled up to the surface again. "I built on to this place before showing it to you, Hatter. I figured at some point I would need a safe place to hide."

"It's not safe here, MAD March!" Hatter emphasized this new nickname bestowed upon him by the Red Queen. Before it was just Marchy or March but the Queen had turned him into a killing machine, so much so she would laugh and say he was completely mad. "Nine of Clubs is just down the hall, sipping tea with Dormy right now. And who knows how many eyes are now watching me!"

"Then I suggest you keep your voice down, Hatsy."

"What have you done? Wait... I don't want to know."

"Two of Diamonds and I had it out and I was the last one standing."

Hatter stepped forward to try and punch Mad March in the face with his right hand but March anticipated it and stepped aside. Hatter charged at him again and this time March grabbed him and restrained him. March had grown incredibly strong and Hatter couldn't wriggle out of his hold.

"What do you want from me?" Hatter asked out of breath from struggling.

"You are the only person I can trust, Hatsy. I need a way out. I was thinking of going through the looking glass and finding my own way on the other side." March released Hatter and Hatter stared at him in astonishment.

"That's impossible! You know White Rabbit is always at the mirror and they will never let you through since you've killed Duchess's brother! Even if you made it through they would send White Rabbit after you as well as Suits of every kind. And what do you think they will do to me if I try to help you, which I won't anyway?" Hatter was so angry at March for putting him in this situation. Some friend.

"Look, Hatter. I didn't want to do this but I am now. I made you." Hatter stared at him with loathe. "I set this shop up and now you are successful and have a nice life, a much nicer one than your parents could've ever given you while in the Resistance. Which, by the way, the Red Queen knows you help them out as well. It's by my word that you have not lost your head by now for that!"

"That's a load of crap, March! You left me to my fate years ago! I thought they were taking you away to kill you. Little did I know you were going to be in the Queen's embrace and become an assassin trying to kill anything that is still good in this world!" Hatter paused for a moment. "It would have been better if you had been killed that day."

"You traitor," March said in a low voice. "You would have starved to death on the streets if my parents hadn't taken you in. And now you spend you time and fortune on those rebels. That is how you repay my parents' kindness by helping those they despised the most?"

"And how do you honor your parents' memory, Marchy? By nuzzling up to the woman that had them murdered. And they were murdered only because your antics couldn't be tolerated anymore. Well, guess what? It's happened again and you don't have your parents to take your place on the chopping block."

March's face turned blood red and you could see his veins in his temples and neck. "That's what I have you for, Hatter."