Alright so another chapter up. I've actually finished writing the whole thing, I had alot of time on my hands this weekend and creativity just struck and it's all done so I just have to post now. In the meantime enjoy this chapter!!
She was standing on a hill just outside the kingdom. Purple velvet jacket wrapped around her again. She was waiting for Hatter but figuring he wasn't going to come back, why would he, after all she put him through these past few days. He was probably sitting down having a cup of tea right now. He wouldn't come back. She turned around and wiped a tear away from her eye. That's when she heard a rustling just below the hill. She stood attentively waiting for some strange creature to pop out. Instead she saw Hatter, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the smile on his face and she did nothing to suppress the happiness she felt. He walked up next to her.
"Its good news, the resistance wants to help, their sending an agent to take us to Caterpillar." He said a bit out of breath.
"That's a….quite a steep hill." He said sheepishly.
"You okay?" He asked.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming back." She said truthfully. He gave a mock hurt expression.
"Still don't trust me." She couldn't answer, didn't know how to at the moment. They stayed on the hill a while longer talking about what would happen after all this was over, but it wasn't until they were back at camp that she asked him the question that had been bothering her since she got here.
"What'll I do, if I get stuck here?" He looked at her intently.
"Then I'll make sure your okay." He said, she could tell he meant it. He moved closer to her and she took in his warmth.
"I think your luck is finally changing." He said.
He leaned his face in closer, as did she, glancing at his lips waiting. She wasn't scared of it anymore, she wanted it. She wanted to know what it felt like to be pressed into him, to be wrapped up in his arms, to have that perfect Cupid's bow mouth against hers.
He was close, hands softly resting on her elbows. She closed her eyes and felt his warm breath on his face. She smiled this was it, this was what she wanted, he was what she wanted, and she could stay in this moment forever.
"It certainly is." Came his voice, she shook herself, not Hatter's voice; it was far too sharp and cold to be Hatter. She opened her eyes only to realize how close they were, her lips inches from his, and Jack had ruined it.
"Hello Alice, hope I am not interrupting." He said smugly. Alice clenched a fist, he knew he was interrupting, but what was he doing here in the first place?
-----HPOV-----
I couldn't believe it, of all the times for Jack to show up it just had to be now. I glanced at Alice for a second I couldn't read her face but I decided I'd had quite enough of Jack. I advanced toward him grabbing a stick off the ground, the first thing I could find.
"You really think you can take me on with that?" Jack asked smugly
"I am not an old man." I said with what I hoped was the same amount of smugness.
"Oi!" Charlie shouted from the ground where he was tied up. I'd apologize to him later.
"Look if anyone is fighting here it's me and I am a black belt remember?" Alice said stepping between us.
"Come Alice I've brought you a horse let's get out of here." Jack said commanding her like a pet. I pushed down rage.
"She's not going anywhere with you." I said.
"You know she can't stay here." Jack shot back.
"Look stop it both of you, I need to know about my dad." She said taking hold of my arm, I am sure she could easily tell how furious I was.
"Is he here?" She asked Jack
"Yes, He's alive and well and if you let me I'll take you to him." He said Alice was falling for it I could tell.
"Really?"
"But we'd better get going, we don't have much time." He said. Alice walked up to him
"Where is he?"
"Were moving him into the city and if we hurry you can see him by nightfall."
"What do you mean moving him?"
"I have people helping me." He said. I was done taking his lies.
"What people?" I asked stepping up to him.
"Do you want to see him or not?" He asked Alice ignoring my question.
"Yes of corse, right. Wow um, Okay." She said.
"Don't tell me you trust this guy."
"He knows where my dad is." She said, I suppose she was trying to convince me that he was telling the truth.
"He'll say anything to get his hands on the ring." She had to believe me.
"No he hasn't asked for the ring he doesn't want the ring do you Jack?" She said turning to him
"Yes I do." He said flatly.
"You do?"
"It's just all an act." I told her, hoping she'd come to her senses.
"It's the only way to get you home safe; the looking glass won't work without it." He said, easily explaining away the real reason for wanting the ring. I turned away; I couldn't believe this was happening.
"Yes of corse." Alice said, falling right into it again
"Don't be fooled by this Alice, he's working for his mother, blood and water you remember?" I said, there had to be a way to get her to believe me.
"Then why am I alone, why aren't there five hundred suits at my back, and how did I find you here in the middle of the forest you think I just followed my nose?" He said smoothing things over again, I was beginning to realize he was very good at that, and it pissed me off more than anything.
"How did you find us?" I asked there had to be an ulterior motive to what Jack wanted and I was going to find it.
"You sent for me." He said simply. This shocked me, and Alice as well, I could see she was confused.
"Come again?" I said.
"I am the agent who's supposed to escort you to Caterpillar." He said.
"You know Caterpillar?" Alice asked.
"Very well, Caterpillar recruited me into the resistance. That's why I stole the ring and escaped to your world. It was supposed to trigger a coo but unfortunately, well you saw what happened. But if you give us back the ring we can give it another try. "He said. I could not believe this, would not believe this.
"You wanna overthrow your mother?" Alice asked
"I've seen what she's done in close up, and I know perhaps better than anyone that if I don't stop her she'll destroy Wonderland." He said.
"So who are you going to trust to get you and your father back home? A resistance insider and future king. Who's already scheduled your return trip through the looking glass, who cares for you more than anything in the world." Building himself up that's what he was doing, this was not happening.
"Or this man?" He said looking at me. Impossible, as if I didn't already hate him enough. There was no way she'd stay with me now. I dropped the stick and stepped away from her, she glanced at me but I tried not to let any emotion come through.
"Where's the ring Alice?" Jack asked. Alice glanced at him for a bit.
"It's where it belongs." She said, looking behind her at the red king.
"Right under my very nose." Charlie said.
"I wish you all the luck in the world Alice." I said trying to be nice.
"You're coming with us Hatter." She said.
"I don't think I figure into the future kings plans." I said a little meaner than I should have but I was mad.
"He's coming with us." Alice said turning to Jack.
"The resistance was very clear they want you to come on their terms, alone." Jack said, placing the ring in his pocket.
"But Hatter stood by me." Alice argued. I took her arm.
"Hey, I wouldn't wanna go with this guy anyway." I told her then turned away.
"What will you do?" She called to me. I turned around trying to put a smile on my face.
"Me? You kiddin? I'll be fine. Trust me your a lot better off with this guy. Go." I said pushing back the few tears that I refused to let fall.
"Come on Alice." Jack said taking her hand and leading her away, she kept looking back at me but I refused to glance her way, I was too afraid of what I'd do if I saw the look on her face.
I waited till I was sure they were gone to let myself drown in my anger. I lashed out at the first thing I could find punching a tree with my right fist causing a gaping hole to appear in the middle of it. I hissed and shook my fist then rested my forehead on the tree hitting the thing again with my fist.
"I don't believe the tree is the problem." Charlie said from where he still lay on the ground.
"Sorry Charlie." I said walking over to him and helping untie him.
"Well I'll get the horses." Charlie said taking the lead.
"No, Charlie I.." I stopped.
"You're not going to go after her?" Charlie asked. I didn't know what to say.
"I don't, I." I really didn't know how to answer.
"You're telling me that after everything you two have been through together, After you earned her trust."
"I didn't earn her trust Charlie or she'd still be here. Look can I just take a horse, head up to the hills for a while, I just need a little time." I said, I knew I had to go after Alice, maybe I really did earn her trust I mean we did almost kiss, almost being the operative word but it was the most affection she'd really shown me the entire time she was here. I needed to go after her. I wouldn't tell Charlie he'd done so much for us already I didn't want him getting hurt.
"Guinevere is ready to go if you want to take her but be careful." Charlie said.
"I will, thank you Charlie." I said turning to the stable and getting up on the horse. Charlie had turned away working on a fire for tonight. I turned away from the trail that led to the hills and instead went in the direction Jack took Alice.
Okay so I am sure you guys realized that halfway through this switched over to Hatters point of view. I felt like I had to write a little in his pov, it's not the last time eaither, there about 2 more parts from his point of view. Also i don't know why I wrote Hatter in first person and everything else is in thrid person it just seemed right. So sorry if that's confusing.
Also I am gonna do a little begging here and say that I check the stats on this story and can see that it's getting lot's of hits and visitors I'd just love for you guys to review. I enjoy reading your feedback, positive or negative it let's me know what the reader wants and enjoys so if you could review that would be great!! Thanks everyone!!!!
~Tara~