A/N: Hi folks! Here's Chapter 7 as promised and this chapter will feature Alice/Tarrant/and new characters. Please read and review! Especially review; because without them I have no idea if you still like the story, I have no idea of knowing if I've made any mistakes that need correcting, and I have no way of knowing if there's anything you'd like to be added or taken out of the story. So it is important that a writer receives your reviews whether you know it or not. =)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Lewis Carroll's, Disney's, or Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland anything. The plot and characters I create are mine!

Rating: T

*In Aboveland*

It had only been a couple of weeks since Alice's engagement/business partnership celebration. Lord Ascot was able to purchase a large trading vessel the following Monday after the garden party. He took Alice to the docks that Tuesday to show her the surprise. The minute she opened her eyes she immediately loved the ship.

"All she needs is a name." Lord Ascot stated as he turned his face to her and smiled.

She thought about it for a minute. Her mind started to drift to her friends in Underland. She thought about the White Queen Mirana, the Tweedles, Bayard, Chessur, McTwisp, Thackery, Mallymkun, and Hatter. Thinking of Hatter, she knew she had to give the ship a muchy name he would approve of.

"The Wonder!" She announced proudly.

He nodded his head and smiled. "The Wonder it is then!" He said while giving her a fatherly side hug.

*Two weeks after the Garden Party*

Alice was in her room packing her last trunk when her mother flew into the room and shut the door.

"Alice! Please! Please think this through! This trip to China could be scandal!"

"Mother, I've told you I don't care what society thinks and I wouldn't wear a codfish if they told me to."

"Oh Alice…I understand you want to complete your father's dream and if he were here he'd be planning it with you but you must understand I don't like the idea of you running off to a foreign land in a ship full of men!"

Alice grabbed her favorite blue dress, the one she wore to the garden party, and placed it in her trunk. She gave her mother a glare.

"Mother, my decision is final! I'm not just doing this to accomplish father's dream, although it is a wish of mine. I'm doing this for all of us. If this venture is successful, you will all be taken care of." She said with determination.

Helen's eyes shown with pride for her daughter at her determination, Alice always thought of others before herself.

"I figured you would say something like that which is why I've arranged for you to have a Governess and a maid to accompany you on the trip."

Alice immediately grimaced.

"Mother, I can take care of myself! Why can't you just trust me for once? I slayed a..."

She realized she almost let her dream world escape her at her mother's strange look.

"Slayed what…? Oh never mind…Alice, sweety, it's not that I don't trust you, I just don't trust some men. Alice, the world is not as innocent as your dreams and there are men that would try to steal your virtue."

That made Alice remember how Stayne had tried to force himself on her when he thought she was Um. The thought made her shudder. No her dreams were not as innocent as her mother claimed, that is if they were even dreams. She could've sworn this last one was real.

Her mother continued, bringing her back to sturdy ground.

"Alice, I promise you'll have my whole blessing on this trip if you would just accept the Governess and the maid you will be sharing. I promise you will like them both as I thought of you as I picked them out among the others. I believe them to be a little mad in their own respected ways."

Alice smiled and gave her mother a hug.

"Ah well, I take that has a yes then." Helen laughed.

A chime from below signaled that they had company.

"That must be the Governess and the maid now. Come along and meet them."

Alice and her mother made their way down the stairs. Helen dismissed the butler who had originally answered the door and opened it to reveal the Governess and her maid. Alice was immediately stunned by the sight of them, especially the Governess. She looked oddly familiar. Both women had blonde hair. The Governess's hair fell past her shoulders and it was so blonde it could be mistaken as white. Her skin was equally pale and almost translucent. She wore a gray business dress suitable for the time period with a small hat adorned with what looked to be white pearls. The only makeup she seemed to have on was some dark red lipstick that seemed to bring out her chocolate eyes.

The maid was much shorter than her Governess and more than likely was the shortest of the women in her household. She had blonde hair as well but it was more of a sandy blonde and her skin though fair was slightly tan compared to lady standing next to her. Her eyes were brown as well but were the color of honey. Her garb was a dark red with little decorated patterns on the dress part, almost tribal or clan looking.

"Please do come in! We can get further acquainted in the sitting room and I'll ring for the butler to bring your things into your guest rooms."

Once in the sitting room Helen introduced everyone.

"Alice, this is Governess, Marlaina White and her maid, Miss. Mallory Taylor and this is my daughter Alice Kingsleigh, whom you'll be accompanying on tomorrow's trip."

Alice smiled. "Pleased to make your acquaintance Governess White and Miss Taylor."

The Governess and her maid looked at one another and giggled.

"Please call me Marlaina, there is no need for such formality."She stated waving her hands around her head.

"Marlaina! Wat ave aye told yew bout talkin wit yer ands?" Mallory stated speaking for the first time in what seemed to be a heavy Scottish accent.

"Sorry, I suppose it is rather unladylike for my stature but sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it." She giggled.

Alice's smile reached her eyes. She just knew this was going to be a very interesting trip and she'd have to thank her mum for pairing her with these two. She already felt a connection to them and it was growing stronger the more they talked about each other's lives. Unfortunately evening came before they knew it and they had a hardy dinner and retired for the night as they would have to rise early to make several trips to the boating docks to load all their trunks. Marlaina had stated that she wanted to shop for some new clothing for the trip in case the weather was warmer where they were going. She said her sister and brother in law wanted to bid them farewell also. Alice happily obliged hoping she might be able to find some new clothes as well, especially some thick enough so she wouldn't have to wear a corset. She hated stockings too but corsets were the devil.

*Later that night*

Alice tried to sleep but her mind would have none of it. She tossed and turned and finally sat up. She couldn't help but keep thinking about Hatter and the man at the garden party that bared a striking resemblance to him.

It seemed every night as she neared her departure date, her mind would always replay her and Hatter's last moments together. His sad green eyes and his words 'You could stay…' plagued her every night.

It made her feel guilty all over again. After all, he was her best friend in Underland and he had believed in her when no one else would. Yet she left behind the only person that really seemed to understand her and she didn't even know his real name. She could've sworn she overheard Chessur mention it at the Tea Party 2 weeks ago Aboveland time. All she knew was that his first name began with a T and his last name must've been Hightopp, after all, he had mentioned it in the telling of his clan's demise.

She usually fell into a dreamless sleep after thinking about him but tonight would not be the case.

Alice found herself wandering in a jungle like forest until she came upon a clearing with a certain tea table and windmill. The closer she came to the table she realized she was her normal size and was immediately relieved. She searched the table for her friends. Thackery and Mally were nowhere in sight but the Hatter sat in his same chair and looked to be asleep much like he was the last time she was here. The only difference was that he had yet to look up and seemed to be clutching where his heart should be.

"Hatter!" She yelled as she ran to him. He looked up at her and his expression made her halt in her tracks. His eyes were a fiery orange as he stood up abruptly and took long powerful strides until he was inches from her. His closeness made her tremble and she thought she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Ahlice…Yew broke yer promise!" He stated with his brogue seeping in.

"Hatter, what promise? I surely do not know what you mean?"

"Da promise to remember ME!" He screamed.

"But Hatter, I do remember you! I remember everything!" She stated proudly.

"NAY YEW DEW NAWT LASS, YEW LIE!"

"Hatter, what was I supposed to remember?" She said in a confused voice.

"ME NAME LASS, WAT'S ME NAME?"

"I-I don't know Hatter, I don't believe you ever told me!" She sadly stated.

"Aye, Ah did tell ye the first time yew came here and Chessur mentioned it da last time yew were here. Yew call me yer friend yet yew can't remember me name but yew remember everyone else's, even that bloody red queen and her knave's name!"

"Hatter, I'm sorry! Please just tell me your name and I promise I'll never forget it again?"

"Yer much tew late lass, da damage is done!" He finally stated as he turned on his heel and made his way deep into the woods.

"Hatter! Wait!" She ran after him but he was nowhere to be found, almost as if he was never there.

Alice shot out of bed breathing heavily and she was drenched in a cold sweat. She hoped it was just a dream and if it had been it didn't make her feel any better about not knowing her Hatter's real name.

'Her Hatter? Where had that come from?' As she thought about it she began to feel those butterflies she felt in her dream all over again.

"Oh botheration!" She said sitting up and holding her stomach. She realized the sun was coming up and needed to get dressed for the big day. She made her way down stairs to the breakfast table and a waitress brought her a warm cup of tea while she waited on the others to come down for their morning meal.

*End of Chapter 7*

Well guys what do you think? Sorry I haven't updated in a long while, I and my husband have moved yet again and I've just got settled in so I'll be sure to keep writing and posting as much as possible cause I personally can't wait to finish it cause I think most of you will like the outcome. The next chapter will feature more of Alice and her new Aboveland friends, you will be finding out who the mystery man is, there will be more new characters to introduce, and a few things happening in Underland that may or may not surprise you!