Chapter 10! Ready, set, Read!

Alice watched as her Hatter became more and more distant from her, his bandaged hand reached out to catch any part of her, her hand her leg, her dress anything to stop the unimaginable from happening, but he couldn't get a good enough grip on anything and his blue angel fell of the ledge and down to the earth.

She didn't scream, like she had so many times when she fell down the Rabbit hole, instead she just stared up at the night sky's twinkling stars, so far away and getting farther as she fell. It was as if some part of her ha acknowledged that she was dying and now, wanted the last thing Alice would see before she closed her eyes forever, to be the stars. Maybe because that's one of the things that she could always share with her old life, the stars would never stop shining here or there, even if she stopped being able to see them shine.

Alice closed her eyes tightly, waiting for her to feel the siring pain as she hit the cold stone below her. Her back breaking, her heart stopped, oxygen leaving her lungs, no matter how much she would gasp for them to return.

But the impact never came, suddenly, Alice felt warm arms surround her and she couldn't feel air pushing the back of her skull. Instead air pushed on the other side of her head and when Alice opened her eyes she saw that she was on the ground. She looked around quickly, trying to make sense of what had happened when she felt the arms around her tighten and make her look up.

Holding her was the boy with the messy brown hair and the deep dark eyes, with a small smile on his face.

"We have got to stop meeting like this." He told her, his smile getting wider by the minute.

"Nicholas?" Alice whispered, blinking rapidly. What was he doing here? Had she died?

Had her returning to Underland been one of her beautiful dreams?

"Who'd you expect?" Nicholas asked pushing back one of her blonde curls behind her ear. "I couldn't let you just leave me up there in the land of the boring while you had all the fun."

Alice stared at her friend open mouthed. "How did you get here?"

"Here on the ground or here in Wonderland?" Nicholas asked playfully. "Because I'm here on the ground because I had to save you."

Alice laughed shakily, extremely nervous about how Nicholas had gotten here, Alice hadn't ever heard of an above lander coming to Underland but she didn't know if the laws were against it or not. "No, I mean here in Underland."

"I followed your directions." Nicholas smiled mischievously. There really easy to understand when I don't have to chase you around the forest."

"I'll have to remember that next time we're trying to find Underland again." Alice promised.

"Great. He stared at Alice a bit anxiously. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you when we landed did I?"

Alice shook her head, a smile on her lips. "I'm fine, are you?"

Nicholas shrugged looking around. I think I am, but I don't think I can move."

Alice panicked. "You can't? Why? Are you hurt?"

"Alice, relax." Nicholas told her, "I can't exactly move because you're still on top of me."

Alice glared at Nicholas then pushed herself off him, landing onto her knees and pulling Nicholas up by his hand. "There, it's a miracle."

"Hallelujah." Nicholas laughed and gave Alice a surprise hug, which she returned with just as much enthusiasm.

"I missed you so much." He whispered pulling her close to him.

"Me too." Alice whispered back. "You worried me so much."

"You worried? Nicholas pulled back, holing Alice's hand. "I thought you fell down the wrong hole and hit your head onto a rock or something."

Alice laughed a genuine laugh. "I'm glad you have so much faith in me."

Both of them laughed happily, ecstatic to be back in each other's company, when there was a sliding sound and the indistinguishable sound of a blade being whipped through the clean cut air.

Both of them turned their heads and saw the Hatter, holding his sword in front of him, his eyes a darker red then before, but with a tint of orange in the mix.

Alice's eyes widened as she pulled her hand back from Nicholas' and reaching for his elbow instead, pulling both of them up quickly. "Hatter…"

Nicholas took as step back, Alice not even daring to release her grip on him. "Alice, is this the Hatter?"

The Hatter didn't move from his dangerous stance as they talked about him like he was some famous person, but Alice did nod softly. "Yes, you read about him in my book didn't you?"

Nicholas nodded slowly. "Yes, but its not going to be the easiest identifying everyone since you hardly put any pictures in it." He narrowed his eyes curiously. "But his eyes aren't green, like you said."

Alice nodded again. "I don't think he's very happy to see you here." Alice skillfully darted the reason why he wasn't happy to see Nicholas, knowing it as clearly as the hat on top of Tarrant's head.

Nicholas sighed. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

"Ay, you should be." The Hatter said, speaking for the first time, his Scottish brood seemed even more venomous then before. "You slurvish-"

"Hatter!" Alice yelled pushing pas the sword and placing both hands on her friends face. She was not in the mood for the Hatter to be yelling at her friend and cursing in ways that even Alice didn't understand half the time. "This is Nicholas, my friend." She spoke calmly as if she was talking to a frightened cat that might scratch her. "He just saved my life, can you please not yell at him?" Her eyes pleaded with the Hatter's, whose sword was still pointed at Nicholas. Alice sighed and laid one of her small ivory hands over his bandaged one. "Please."

The Hatters sword fell to the ground with a loud clang.

Yes…it's short…I'm kinda busy and I has writers block! Grrr!