WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS LEMON!!!! READ AT OWN RISK. . . .Otherwise, enjoy. Please review. I appreciate it. -DarkMage6

6. Meeting in the Middle and the Caterpillar

Alice sat up slowly in her bed, unknowing of the time. She winced when she raised her arm to rub her eyes. She glared at her right arm and at the stitches there. She had passed out by the fourth stitch. Some of the shock had worn off, so she was more aware of the pain.

"Gods. . .I'm suck a wimp." She whispered, closing her eyes.

The bed moved and the Mad Hatter was sitting beside her, his arms about her.

Alice leaned into him, happy to let him hold her up.

"You okay baby?" He murmured.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said. "How are the kids taking it. . .And their mom?"

"The kids. . .They're missing their sister, but they are keeping each other company. As for their mother. . .She'll move on eventually. I don't mean that to sound cruel but. . .You'd just have to know their mother." He murmured. He rubbed his face in her hair and sighed. "I thought you'd never wake up. You've been asleep for nearly two days straight."

"Two days?" Alice yelped, jumping out of his grip and the bed. She touched her hair and grimaced. She had to look like hell and smell just slightly better.

The Mad Hatter stood up and stretched, all his muscles visible under his skin. "I understand why, of course. But I missed your smiles and your laughs. It was so quiet. Disturbingly quiet."

Alice frowned and looked around the room. In it was a few things that he had been obviously sewing on. "You never left me side for more than a few minutes at a time, did you?"

The Mad Hatter actually tried for a sheepish look but failed. He grinned at her and shrugged his shoulder. "I love you. I couldn't leave your side for more than a few minutes. Any longer was agonizing."

Alice shook her head. "I'm going to take a bath. I can't stand my own smell."

"Alice. . ."

Alice turned and looked at him. He was standing there, almost lonely looking. He held her gaze for a moment, then turned away.

"I do love you." He said, still looking at the ground. "Just wanted to make sure you knew."

"Thank you." Alice said, not being able to say what he wanted to hear back. She liked him. He was kind, protective, caring, and capable of the love everyone else thought was beyond him. . .But he was still a lunatic, murderer, and a stranger.

'That you've had oral sex with. He's not that big of a stranger to you. Third base is right up there with cozy with and used to.' Her conscious whispered.

Alice frowned at her own reflection as she entered the bathroom and shut the door.

Her reflection was still her own. . .but it wasn't. She was quickly becoming someone she didn't know. Or maybe she was quickly becoming like Mirror Alice.

She pressed the heels of her palm into her eyes and remembered the little rabbit, Susan, that had been snatched up in the jaws of a predator. That terror in that little rabbits face just before life faded from its eyes. She remembered killing the feral Cheshire to protect those little rabbits. Killing that beast didn't bother her. It was the coldness that she had done it that killed her.

She and the Mad Hatter weren't to different. She knew, that the look he got when he was ready to kill, that look he had when he had shoved her, telling her to run . . .It was the same look she had given the beast. It was going to roar at her. . .to challenge her. And she had taken that opportunity to kill it.

She took deep even breaths to steady herself.

When she looked at her reflection again, she stared at the cold look in her eyes. Nothing. She felt nothing in that moment.

The Mad Hatter opened the door and stared at her, his eyes just as cold for an instant before softening, looking at her.

"Alice." He murmured.

He walked past her, and began running her bath water. As the tub filled, he stripped her of the clothes she wore and sat her in the water.

"You're going to go into shock again baby. Forget about what happened." He told her.

"Do you forget the people you kill?" Alice asked.

The Mad Hatter frowned at her question. "Baby, listen to me. You killed to protect people. I killed. . .I kill because I'm addicted to it. What I do is nothing like you had to do. Before I killed the guard, I had never killed to protect anyone. Do not. . .Do not for one instant think that you are turning into a killer like me. You will never ever be a killer. . .I won't let you."

"So. . .You'll kill me?" Alice asked, her voice small.

"I would never kill you." the Mad Hatter told her, summoning a wash clothe and rubbing it over her skin. "I would them for you. Their blood would be nothing on my already soiled hands. And you should feel no guilt for wanting some people to die. Some just deserve it."

Alice took the rag from him and began to scrub her skin hard.

The Mad Hatter just sat back and watched her.

Alice scrubbed her skin, and gently washed around her gash. She scrubbed her hair then drained the tub. As she stood, so did the Mad Hatter.

He grabbed a towel off of the shelf and wrapped her in it. He lifted her out of the tub and carried her up the 'her closet.' He sat her on her feet and dropped to his knees in front. He stared up at her, the both of them nearly eye level.

He let the towel drop from around her and slowly, he ran his hands up from her calves, to her thighs, over her hips, up her side, over her breasts, up to her neck, and then his hands resting on each side of her face.

He kissed her deeply, pouring everything he felt into that kiss.

Desperate for something beside what she was feeling at current, she kissed him back desperately. The Mad Hatter groaned and buried his hands in her hair, his kisses turning to near bruising level.

He pulled away and trailed kisses down her neck, to her collar bone, and finally to her breasts. He nuzzled them gently, then just rested his head there.

He took deep breaths and forced himself to release her body.

"I. . .I'm going to go fix you something to eat. . .Why don't you find yourself something to wear?" He said shakily. He stood and stumbled for the door.

He looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes smoldering black again.

Alice frowned at his back as he disappeared.

Did I do something wrong?

She sighed and just sat in the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest and resting her head there. She wanted to have sex with him. She wanted to be a little normal in the not so normal world. She wanted to be a woman with a man. . .Nothing more. There would be time later for her to be Alice with the Mad Hatter. Time for her to sort out everything else.

She felt tears run down her face, and she was angry that she was crying.

"Why did I ever come here? I should have died. . .I should have let Mirror Alice just stay here for those last few moments she would have been alive. At least she knew how to live." Alice whispered.

She forced herself up, forced herself to get dressed, and then walked down stairs.

She heard the Mad Hatter messing around in the kitchen, and she felt the need to go outside. She snuck out with no sound and took a deep breath.

The Cheshire Cat was sitting on the step, waiting, it seemed.

"You okay?" He asked her.

Alice nodded then stopped. Finally, she shook her head.

The Cheshire Cat grinned. "I feel the same way, don't worry."

He stood up and held his hand out to here. "Can I show you something? It's in his secret garden that you ran into on your face day here. . .But its something I think you need to see."

Alice swallowed but nodded again.

The Cheshire Cat lead her to those gates that looked so innocent. She stared at the illusion of the roses that hide the horrors and the smell.

The Cheshire Cat turned and waved his hand over her face. "A little spell so you won't smell anything." He explained.

He walked into that place with her in tow and pointed to a body sat in the middle of the waste land of bodies. It was female, whoever it was.

"Up until yesterday, the body that used to hang there was of the Incubus that stole the Red Queen away. But yesterday, he pulled down that old body, and just threw it to the side. He hung up a new body. I saw him run from the house and into the Tea Party garden. He was gone for only four minutes, but for every second of those four minutes. . .there was screams. Someone had wondered into his garden from the dream world. Do you know who that body is Alice?"

Alice shook her head no.

"It's your step-mother."

Alice gasped and looked back. Sure enough. . .She could imagine a head on that body. . .And it would fit her step-mother to a tee.

The Cheshire Cat pointed to a body hanging from a blackened and dead tree.

"The boy. . .he was fifteen when he died, bullied you at school. You cried when you got him, and was in your room. The Mad Hatter pulled that boy in and killed him. You were so mad when you found out. . .But in your world, he was in a accident that involved sleep walking, it seemed."

One by one, the Cheshire Cat pointed out bodies that the Mad Hatter had killed for her. Bodies she didn't know about. . .

"He said that the guard is the first person he killed to protect me." Alice said, her voice sounding a little high, even to herself.

The Cheshire Cat frowned. "To actually protect you, yes. All these other though. . .It was for his pleasure, but also to alleviate some of your pain. Alice. . .I don't like the Red Queen, I really don't. But after what happened the other day, with little Susan dying, and those feral Cheshire's coming for you, I think you should go to the Queen. As you can tell, you really aren't safe here. You live with a mad man."

Alice took a deep breath through her mouth and exhaled out her nose.

"I thank you for your concern and for this enlightening little field trip. But I'm going to go back inside the house now. I trust you know the way out of the Mad Hatter's property?" Alice said coldly.

She walked back into the house and had just shut the door when the Mad Hatter walked out of the kitchen, holding a plate of food.

"Were you outside?" He asked, stopping.

"Needed some air." Alice said, walking toward him. At the sigh and smell of food, her stomach grumbled loudly.

The Mad Hatter smirked and lead her into the living room. Once he made her settle on the couch, he gave her the plate of food then sat beside her.

Alice inhaled the simple meal of breads, meats, and cheeses, along with the diced up fruit. It was good and filling.

Once she finished, he took the plate and sat it to the side.

"I believe we were doing something earlier." He murmured, kissing her jaw softly. "Would you like to continue Alice?"

"I would. . .in the bedroom." Alice told him.

He had her in his arms and was half way up the stairs already. Alice laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Sadly though, the flash of the little rabbit appeared in her mind.

Alice grimaced and buried her face into his neck, breathing in his smell that was uniquely him.

"Where have you gone?" He asked her as he walked into the bedroom.

Alice shook her head and kissing his neck, inhaling his smell, desperate to be close to him again. She didn't want to remember the last moment of that little rabbit, didn't want to remember that feral Cheshire dying, while she watched without passion.

He laid her on the bed and stood over her.

His leather pants were stretched tight over his groin, doing nothing to hide his erection, and he was already removing his shirt.

Once he tossed his shirt aside, he gazed down at her hungrily. His lips parted slightly and he let out a shaky sigh.

"How far are we going Alice?" He murmured, stretching out beside her on the bed. His hands immediately went into her hair, playing with it and its still slight damp ends.

"As long as I don't say stop. . .As far as we can." Alice murmured back, gazing up at him.

The Mad Hatter was up in a heartbeat and pulling her to her feet.

"I will go slow on you. . .I will be kind in the taking of your virginity, but right now, I just need to see you naked." He panted.

Alice let him strip her out of her pants and shirt. He ran his hands over her ribs slightly before he removed the bra she had managed to find, and then he slid his hands back down and hooked his thumbs through the small elastic bands on her underwear and yanked them down as well.

She stood there, naked, while he gazed at from his place on his knees.

Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed her like he had earlier. Hungrily, desperately, but still loving.

Alice kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands threading through his hair, and nails teasing his scalp.

He growled in his throat and his hands started their slow dance up her body. Strong hands ran from her ankles, to calves, to just behind the knees, up the outside of her thighs, over her hips where he stopped for just a moment to massage them, then over her waist, her rib cage, to her breasts.

He pulled away from the kiss, his eyes black and searing.

"Bed." He told her hoarsely.

Alice backed slowly until her knees touched the end of the bed. She sat on it and slowly started moving backwards toward the headboard, her eyes never leaving his.

Once she found the pillows, she leaned back slowly.

The Mad Hatter stood up slowly and his hand went to the fly of his leathers. With a deliberate slowness that was erotic and not teasing, he unbuttoned and unzipped them.

His erection sprang free and the pants dropped to the floor. The stepped from the leathers and put a knee up on the bed.

"You're so beautiful." He told her, then he slowly crawled up the bed to her. Once he was over her, on all fours, and bent his head down and kissed her again.

This time though, it was soft, slow, and full of so many promises.

He slid his lips over her cheek and to her jaw where he nipped gently on his was down to her neck, shoulders, and then to the side of her left breast.

He took one of her puckered nipples into his mouth and sucked.

Alice let out a shaky sigh and threaded her hands through his hair again.

He bent the bud gently causing her to cry out.

"That's a sound I love to hear." He told her.

He gave attention to the other breast before he traveled further down her body.

When he slid his hand up between her legs she parted them willingly.

His mouth descended hungrily on her womanhood, causing her to cry out again. It didn't take him to long to bring her to an orgasm. He didn't stopped that, he continued to tease with his tongue for a while, before he inserted a finger slowly into her.

As he worked that finger into her slowly, he nuzzled the inside of her thighs. A few minutes later, he inserted a second finger. He bit the inside of her thigh, gently.

Alice whimpered, close to another orgasm.

"Come on baby, I love to see you in the cusp of an orgasm. Let me see that again."

Alice tumbled over the edge again, crying out, as he growled lowly in approval.

He rose up slowly, over her again.

He ran himself over her lightly, teasing.

"Please." Alice whimpered, raising her hips.

He let the head of himself penetrate her. Alice sighed happily as he groaned low in his throat. He pushed in slowly, an inch at a time, until he reached her maiden head.

Alice watched him swallow slowly, before he caught her gaze.

"It's okay." Alice murmured.

The Mad Hatter raised himself up, his weight on his arms, and pulled out until just the head was inside her. He then thrust back in quickly, tearing her maiden head.

He held himself still and waited.

Alice's eyes were tightly shut, her breathing fast and low.

"You okay baby?" He murmured.

Alice nodded and whispered, "Give me a second. . .You're just big."

"Ah, and with the compliments." He teased.

She smiled up at him, her eyes opening.

"I'm okay." She told him.

He lowered his weight down onto his elbows, and tucked his face against hers, sighing.

He pulled out and thrust back in, she cried out.

He growled lowly in approval, and set into a steady pace.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Mad Hatter watched Alice as she slept. Her skin was still flushed from all the love making they had done nearly all day. Once he started, he just couldn't stop. He made love to her until she practically passed out.

He ran his hand lightly through her hair, smiling as she nuzzled into it.

He rested his head on his arm that was stretched above him. He was prepared to watch her all night, as was his pleasure. . .But he knew he had worked to do.

She came to him. . .as an escape. He knew it, and he selfishly took that window just to be with her again. He wanted to be with her. . .Wanted things to be like they had been. But things were changing, and not necessarily for the worse. . .But different. The difference between Alice and Mirror Alice was that Alice had free will. Something Mirror Alice had in only small amounts. . .

He smiled at her and got up slowly, careful not to wake her.

He dressed quickly, dressing up for an audience with the only person he would visit with no harm intended in Wonderland.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

The Caterpillar was beautiful. No doubt about that. She lounged back on a large mushroom, a cigarette in her hand.

The Mad Hatter smiled to her as he approached.

"Mad Hatter!" She greeted standing up and walking to him, arms open.

The Mad Hatter hugged her quickly, then stepped back.

"How Have you been Cate?" He asked her.

"I am well. I am to be married, if you haven't heard." She told him. "He is another Caterpillar that is from the Wild Woods."

"Congratulations." the Mad Hatter told her. "I hope he is good to you."

"If he isn't, I'll just let you know, how about that?" she laughed.

The Mad Hatter smiled wickedly at her, "You really willing to make that promise?"

She slapped his shoulder. "Stop that."

The Mad Hatter just grinned and took a seat on a small mushroom, reserved as a sitting place for guests. The Caterpillar took her seat and let her expression turn serious.

"I have heard about Alice, and that she is here with us for good. I also heard that there was an attack by feral Cheshire's. Little Susan was lost to us, as I felt her passing. It was quick, and she felt no pain, be assured of that."

The Mad Hatter nodded.

"But you are here for Alice. She was forced to do something that has changed her, in her own mind. Mad Hatter, Alice will feel what she feels. One day, she will come to terms what she has done, but it will be on her own. Don't force her." The Caterpillar told him.

The Mad Hatter sighed. "She isn't happy with herself. And I caught her looking into the mirror. With the look on her face, I knew what she was thinking. . .Of course, there is now the smallest stain on her soul from that one act of self defense. She protected them, and there is a small stain on her soul. I am rather angered by it."

The Caterpillar smiled at him. "We all have stains on our souls, Mad Hatter. Some of us more than others. It is but a small speck of dirt in an otherwise pure clothe. And eventually, or sometimes, those stains can disappear. I'm sure if Alice stays her path, she'll be fine."

The Mad Hatter nodded.

"Why don't you bring her to see me in a few days. I shall introduce you to my intended, and you can re-introduce me to Alice. How does that sound?" The Caterpillar suggested.

"I think Alice would like that." The Mad Hatter said after a moment. "Alice has only met three people besides me and the kids. The Cheshire Cat, The Queen, and one of her guards that are now dead."

The Caterpillar nodded. "I had a vision of you killing him. You are always covered in blood in my visions, Mad Hatter. It would be refreshing to see you without blood."

"I'm not sure you would want to see a vision of me when I'm not covered in blood. I'm either with Alice, or killing." the Mad Hatter teased. "But by all means, if you can't stay away, look all you wish."

The Caterpillar snorted. "You are not my type."

The Mad Hatter grinned. "I don't have enough arms?"

The Caterpillar crossed her two arms. Only about a year ago, she had changed into her butterfly form, but as the leader of her people, she would always carry the name the Caterpillar.

"Is your husband moved onto his next form?" the Mad Hatter asked, trying to shake her ire.

"No, he is a wild one as I said. It is rare for them to move to next form, but it doesn't matter. He is strong and powerful in his own right." the Caterpillar said.

Mad Hatter nodded and looked around. "Are you renouncing your title?"

"No, I cannot. There is no one who wants my place. No one wants to council the Red Queen, or play host to the Mad Hatter when he visits." She said grinning. "Now, I believe that you and I should end this visit. Alice will be waking up soon. If you head back, now, she'll awake when you enter the bedroom again, and never know that you have been gone for so long."

Mad Hatter nodded and stood. "Thank you for the council Lady Caterpillar. Payment?"

"Just bring Alice to see me soon. Thank you."

They bowed their heads to each other and the Mad Hatter took his leave.