A/N: I don't own anything.

David/Hatter

7

Leaving

The back of my eyelids turned red, so I gave up sleep, and opened my eyes. I looked down, and saw Alice had fallen asleep with her lips on one of my many scars. I sighed, as I absently started to mess with a lock of her hair.

This could possibly be my last day in the World that I was born in. I knew very well that if I stayed to long in the Upper World, I would completely loose my memories of this place. But the problem was that most of my favorite memories were from here. (Seeing Alice soaking wet, saving her life many times, proposing to her, and a few nights ago just to name a few.) As I thought about it, I realized that I would end up with very few things to remember since I spent many Wonderland years in the Underland.

There was a knock on the door, braking through the silence.

"Come in."

The door opened a little, and Number Ten peeked his head inside. "I see everyone is dressed." he sighed with relief, before he walked in. "King Jack asked for you two to come for breakfast before you leave."

"Alright, as long as you don't mind leading the way again," I told him.

"It would be an honor, sir." he bowed, and I smiled. I gently nudged Alice, and her eyes fluttered open. "Yes, Dave?"

"Breakfast time," I whispered in her ear. She sat up, yawned, then stretched her arms out. "Okay…" then she noticed Number Ten, and waved. "G'morning!"

"Good morning, Alice of Legend!" he bowed again, and she rolled her eyes. I knew it annoyed her when people called her that, but now there she was the Alice of Legend; just a different legend.

"Come on, let's go to breakfast!" I suggested, as I jumped to my feet. I took Alice's hand into mine, and followed Number Ten out of the room with Alice by my side.

Once again, the table was filled with food, and Duchess and Jack were already sitting down. When we sat down, one of the suits asked me what I would like to drink. "Tea, please," I told him simply, and Alice told him that she wanted the same.

"So…did you want to say anything else about the cookie jar assassin?" Duchess asked, as she leaned on her hand, looking directly at me.

"Oh, he threatened to kill me when I had one of my insane moments," I told her, shrugging as if it was completely normal. Sadly, for me, it was.

"It's more like you have sane moments…" Jack muttered, glaring at the table cloth.

"I'm the Mad Hatter, what do you expect?" I asked, smiling proudly.

"I really don't know," Jack admitted.

"Oh, and Dodo joined the Queen," Alice spoke up, and I nodded. "Yep. Held a gun at my face. …Again."

"Dodo?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. "Wasn't he part of the Resistance?"

"Yep. But I think he just liked the idea of shooting me…again." I shrugged casually.

"Who wouldn't?" he asked, and Alice sighed. "Really, guys, can't you two get along for once?"

"I wouldn't mind, but I'm not sure about Prince Charming here." I nodded at Jack, who rolled his eyes.

"Maybe, if he wasn't Mad!" Jack glanced accusingly at me, and I stuck out my tongue like a five-year-old.

"Jack, don't make me flip you over in front of Duchess," Alice warned.

"I wouldn't mind," Duchess informed her, and I smirked. "Neither would I."

"Hatter, I'll flip you over, too! Fiancé or not!" she informed me, and I sighed. "Fine…"

As the drinks arrived, Alice asked, "Duchess, is that your real name?"

"Actually, no, it's not. But I never really had a choice in what name I was going to take, so I just accepted Duchess," she informed her, as she took a sip of her apple juice.

"What's your real name?" Alice asked. I sighed, knowing she still didn't understand the entire concept. People who don't naturally give out their real name usually didn't tell someone their name unless they trust that person. And Duchess and Alice never really got on each other's good side. (Which is mostly because over half of the time Alice spent with her was when Duchess was Jack's fiancée.)

Duchess looked her over, and sighed. "Paige."

I since I was leaning back in my chair, I fell back against the ground, startling one of the suits that had food in his hand. He dropped it on my face, and I sighed as egg yoke ran down my nose. When it got to my lip, I licked it off, and gave a thumbs up to the apologizing suit above. "Give my complements to the chef!"

"Hatter, are you okay?" Alice asked, as she knelt down next to me. I flashed her a full fledge grin, large teeth and all. "As a butcher's dog!" I quoted, and she smiled, slightly shaking her head. "Isn't that Charlie's line?"

"Ah, details, details!" I waved it off, and she rolled her eyes. She touched my nose were the egg yoke still was, then licked her finger. "You're right. This is pretty good!"

"I-I'll get some more! Sorry again!" the suit apologized one last time, before he rushed off, holding his hands to the back of his neck. I couldn't help but smile at that. He was probably grateful that the Queen wasn't still in charge, or she would of decapitated him on the second.

"Well…I would go change clothes, but seeing that I didn't bring any, and that I have no clue where in this palace my room is, I guess I get to stick with the eggs." I shrugged, as I got to my feet. Alice smiled impishly, as she tousled my hair, with the yoke still in it.

"Alice, yoke isn't hair gel," I informed her, and she shrugged.

"You can borrow a some clothes, and wait while your clothes are cleaning," Duchess suggested.

I opened my mouth to say no thanks, but Alice answered for me, "Sure, Paige!"

"Come with me," Number Ten told me, and I sighed before I followed him out.

When I went back to the dinning room, I was wearing a black t-shirt and khaki pants. But I also taken a shower so that I didn't have egg yoke/hair gel in my hair.

"So…you're going to leave after your clothes are clean?" Jack asked, forcing himself to look at me. I gave a slight nod. "Apparently."

"Well…this is going to be fun day…" Alice muttered sarcastically.

"Absolutely brilliant!" I agreed, just as sarcastic.

"Uptown Girl by Westlife," I said, and the song started to play on the radio. Alice rolled her eyes, as she recognized the lyrics to the song. I started to hum the words without really realizing that I was, since I knew the song by heart now.

Once I found the song in the Upper World, I had declared it as my theme song. Alice found it amusing at first, and she still does a little, but I play it whenever I can, so I think she's starting to get annoyed by it.

"Hey, David. Can you maybe find a different song?" she asked, as she theatrically covered her ears with her hands.

"Sure." I shrugged, then said over the music, "Poison by All American Rejects!"

I sat down next to her on the bed, and when the song started, I started to sing the lyrics. She stared at me, looking surprised. I simply gave her a confused look. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't know you could sing!" she stated, and I shrugged. "I'm not that good."

"David, you're bloody brilliant!" she informed me.

"I thought I was the one from Yorkshire."

"No, you're from Wonderland!"

"Touché." I granted her that.

"Isn't that French?" she asked. I shrugged. "How should I know? I'm Wonderlandian!"

She snickered, and I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please be quiet, you little New Yorker!"

"I'm not little! I'm fun-sized!" she defended herself, crossing her arms. I chuckled, before singing the lyrics to her again.

Duchess

"Jack, please, calm down!" I begged, as I watch him pace back and forth. He ignored me, and continued to rant on about Hatter and Alice.

"I can't believe he doesn't care enough to let her keep her sanity!" he loudly stated, as he stopped, and glared at the nearest person, who happened to be me.

"Jack, he does care about her, and you know it!" I told him.

"He doesn't care if she lives or not! Or if she gets locked up in a place full of mental people!"

"They don't care! If she gets locked up, then he would go crazy, which would result in him getting locked up! All they want to be is together!" I informed him.

"I know, b-" he started, but I interrupted him, "And he didn't lie to her about who she was! He didn't lie to her about being engaged! He truly loves her, Jack!" I shouted, getting frustrated because he wasn't listening.

He stared at me, probably surprised that I had raised my voice at him. Or maybe he was surprised by the slight hint of pain when I said engaged.

I took this chance to ask, "And did you really love her?"

He stared at me for a few more seconds, then shook his head. "No."

"Have you ever loved anyone?" I demanded.

He was quiet for a while, looking thoughtful. After a few seconds that stretched on, he gave a slight nod. "I…I think so."

This surprised me, and as I looked over his expression, I knew that he was telling the truth. "Who?"

The answer was simple. One word. One name. "You."

David/Hatter

As the song "Tea Party" by Kerli, Alice rested her head on my chest. We were laying down on the large bed, just listening to random song, most of which came from the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. She was amused by the song choices, especially the last one.

"It's like the slutty, female version of you!" she informed me, and I chuckled under my breath. "I think that's the point, Alice."

"I know, but I just can't see you as a slut!" she smiled as she gently kissed my mouth. I just stared at her, not saying anything.

She looked over my expression, then narrowed her eyes. "You weren't, were you?"

"Um…how about another song!" I suggested, as I jumped to my feet. "Alice by Avril Lavigne!" I told the radio, and the song started playing. Alice got to her feet, walked over to me, and looked me in the eyes. "Hatter, were you?"

I didn't say anything, so she grabbed my arm, and flipped me over onto the bed.

"Now, please tell me before I throw you to the ground!" she told me as she pinned me down. I looked up at her, and sighed. "I was for a while. Before my sister died." I quickly cupped my hand over my mouth, wishing I didn't say the last part.

She stared down at me, sympathy clear in her eyes. She got off of me, then laid down, with her head on my chest. "You never mentioned anything about your family before."

"I know." I gave a slight nod, forcing myself to pay close attention to the song lyrics so that I wouldn't think about my sister.

"Why not?"

"Let's just say that I had…a tough life."

"David, explain."

I just stared at the ceiling, refusing to speak.

"Dave, please tell me!" she searched my face, seeking an answer. I sighed, and looked down at her. "Alice, do I have to?"

She nodded. "We're engaged; we shouldn't be keeping secrets from each other!"

I opened my mouth, but the door opened, and Number Ten walked in, holding my clothes which were folded.

"What is it?" Alice asked, as she turned her head to glare at him. He took half a step back, and I forced a laugh.

"What's so funny?" she asked, turning back to face me as Number Ten was stuttering apologizes.

"Well, I know your not pregnant!" I told her, smirking while relief flooded me.

"Why do you say that?" she inquired, giving me a confused look.

"Mood swing," I told her simply, and a faint blush lit up her cheeks. I smiled, and looked over her shoulder at the suit. "Thanks! You can just set them anywhere!"

"O-okay, sir!" he nodded, quickly putting them on a table before rushing out, closing the door behind him.

"Alice, could you leave the room?" I asked, and she raised an eyebrow. "It's nothing I haven't seen before!" she informed me.

"Yeah, but that was in the dark."

"Are you being self-conscious?" she asked, sounding amused.

"A little. Could you at least turn around?" I admitted.

"Fine."

"Where is his Royal Ass anyway?" I asked, as I impatiently tapped my foot against the tiled ground. Number Ten shrugged.

"I'm right here, Hatter!"

I turned around, and saw Jack and Duchess walking towards us, hand in hand. Alice smiled, and leaned against my shoulder, slipping her hand into mine. Jack noticed, but only smiled.

Smiled?

"Are you alright?" I asked, as I looked him over. He laughed, then nodded. "Couldn't be better!"

Duchess reached into Jack's pocket, and my eyes widened. Was she seriously going to do that in public? I knew she was probably a little slutty, but I didn't think it'll be like that!

She pulled out a small box, and handed it to me. She smiled, then glanced at Jack. "Consider these as early wedding presents."

I looked from her and Jack, then to the box, and shrugged. I opened it, and saw two rings in them, both with identical stones on them. As I looked at the stones, I quickly noticed something familiar about them…

Alice gasped, and looked from the rings to them. "I thought there was only one!"

"We recently found a way to make more, and we couldn't think of two other people that should take every chance to visit us!" Duchess informed us, smiling.

"Why did they have to be rings?" Alice muttered, as she glanced at her engagement ring.

"It was that or necklaces," Jack informed her, as he put his arm around Paige's shoulders.

"Can he wear the ring and I get a necklace?" she asked, and Jack chuckled. "Of course!"

I handed him one of the rings, and he took it without hesitation.

"Thanks, Jack," I told him, forcing myself to be polite.

"You're welcome. And visit anytime. Both of you."

"We might," Alice told him, as she smiled up at me. We walked over to the Looking Glass, and as we were about to walk through, Jack requested, "Hey, Hatter, could you say "hi" to Carol for me?"

"Will do." I gave a slight nod, before I smirked, and pushed Alice through the Looking Glass. Again.


A/N: In the mini-series, Alice fell through the Looking Glass, although they didn't have the ring. I guess people can go to Wonderland from the Upperworld, be need the Ring of Wonderland in order to leave. But just in case, I gave them their own rings for future needs. Don't worry, they'll get back to Wonderland in Part 3. But first, Part 2.