Chapter 10: Memories of Dreams

Alice sat in her chair, looking over the massive expanse of the kingdom below her. She knew the Queen was asking the few creatures that had come back if they had seen anything before they took off into the forests. She wanted to have a destination, not just randomly ride through the country side. She was fine with it for the moment, as long as they started out before the sun went down.

But as Alice sat there staring off into nothing in particular, she felt her mind shift from her daughter, to him. She felt her lips smile as she remembered the mad man that managed to make her feel safe. His wild orange hair, his eccentric clothing and wonderful smile seemed to comfort her more than anything. She would never admit it, to Olivia, James, or even really herself, but her dreams consisted more of him than anyone or anything else Wonderland had to offer. It was always him.

They would start out normal, being a repeat of what she had done that day or even what she had been thinking about, but somehow managed to always find their way to him. One that had made her wake in a slight sweat was one she had wished would repeat. It never had.

She would start with walking through the forest, a thick fog hovering over the ground making her feet disappear beneath them. She pushed the foliage out of the way and when the final leaf was moved, she saw the table before her. He would be sitting at the head of the table as usual, but there was no one else. The March Hare and Dormouse were gone, no one around for miles but the two of them. He would smile wide to her and wave his arm for her to sit at the extravagant table. It wasn't the same as it was in the 'real' world, but much a much nicer display with formal ware that wasn't being thrown around.

But every time, before she could sit, he would swoop in and grab her from behind, holding her back to his chest. They would sway and swing to music that seemed to appear from nowhere. The fauna around them sprouted their feet and moved aside, freeing a large space of green grass for them to dance. And dance they would.

Her eyes would be locked to his as he held her stomach, lightly pressing her back to his chest, his left hand holding hers tightly as they spun around the large space. She would smile sweetly, him as well, but the look of madness, the look of internal discontent gone. He was somber and calm when he smiled sweetly to her before releasing her stomach and spinning her out. She would feel the skirt of her dress grow and sway around her body before she stopped. He would smile wide and pull her to him, wrapping his arms around her as he did. When she was securely in his grasp, the smile would fade.

Their eyes locked, his holding hers prisoner and she knew she couldn't escape if she wanted to. One hand held her back as he knelt forward, dipping her slightly, his other touching her cheek as he leaned in. She would see his brilliant eyes begin to close, feel his lips nearing hers. Her heart would beat in anticipation of kissing him, but then she would always wake. Sometimes, towards the beginning, she would shoot out of bed from pure shock, her chest heaving as she tried to gather her breath, a light gleam of sweat on her skin.

A smile touched her lips again at the memory of her dream, the memory of the man. He would never change, never age in this world, and if she would have stayed behind, neither would she. But, she thought she would have a better life in the real world. And although she had a husband she adored and a daughter she would risk her life for, she still missed him. The Mad Hatter, her Mad Hatter.

"Alice?"

A cool voice brought her forward from her thoughts. Turning, she saw the White Queen behind her, the Tweedles behind the Queen.

"Are you ready?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes your highness." She smiled as she stood.

"Not her. No." Tweedle-Dee muttered to his brother.

"It is her. Yes." Tweedle-Dum countered.

"No. Alice doesn't look like that." The other scolded.

"Does too!"

"Does not!" Tweedle-Dee replied, slapping his brother's arm.

"Does too!" he answered, returning the hit.

"Hello Tweedles." Alice said in a sweet voice.

The two small, round men turned to look at her, eyes wide in shock.

"Told ya it was her." Tweedle-Dee replied proudly.

"Did not. Was me that knew." Tweedle-Dum answered.

"Enough gentlemen." The Queen smiled. "We have work to do."

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