Well, I quite honestly don't know what I'm doing with this anymore. I'll try to finish it soon, I think, but no guarentees on Writer's Block. :/

Alice's POV:

I giggled as Tarrant splashed into the water in front of me with a joyous shout. The man was so much like a child, it charmed me right to my heart. He turned then, sending up a splash of water with his arms as he did.

"Come on in, my Alice, the water's wonderful!" I stepped forward to meet him, grinning at the cool feel about my ankles. He came towards me, open-armed and soaking wet, and I shouted in mock fear at his dampness, turning away and pretending to run. Catching on, he gave chase, and we splashed our way through the knee-high parts of the lake.

"Eeek!" I squealed aloud as his arms encircled me, hugging me tight and thoroughly soaking my back. I could feel goose bumps raising where the cold water touched my skin.

"Gotcha," he brisked into my ear, and the goosebumps that arose on my arm had more to do with his sexy Scottish accent than the cold. I giggled in what I hoped was a way that didn't reveal the fragile state of my nerves. With nothing else to do, I settled back against his chest, staring out at the sea. We sat there in comfortable silence for a few moments, staring out at the vast expanse of the ocean.

"Does it ever seem... scary to you?" The low voice didn't shatter the silence, merely flowed through it. I scrunched my eyebrows as I thought about it.

"Sometimes. Well, I suppose kind of... Lonely. Like there's so many wonderful things that a person could get distracted trying to follow all of them, and not realize it until they were floating somewhere alone in the middle of it all."

I tilted my head, feeling a sudden gust of loneliness. "I suppose I could get lost in Wonderland much the same way... I mean, I would never be lonely near the towns, but areas such as the Tulgey Wood, the Outlands.."

Areas without you, my mind added silently.

"Well, that's why you stay away from the Tulgey Wood," he exclaimed with some anxiety, staring into my face as though he were worried i might wander off into the Wood in front of his eyes. "And the Outlands, now that that slurvish Red Queen and her Knave are banished there.."

"Hatter?" I asked, slightly concerned at the orange beginning to flow into his eyes.

"Fez..." he murmured, and jumped, shaking his head and smiling down at me. "I'm fine."

I giggled. Somehow "fez" seemed to be connected to his state of well-being, but as long as it worked, that was good enough for me.

"So, what are you making at the moment, Hatter?" I asked, anxious to get him away from the topic so close to my true feelings about him. He brighted.

"Ah, yes, at the moment, if I remember correctly, I'm making a hat for one of the Queen's ladies - the Queen herself, that is, already having a hat, otherwise known as a crown, and a hat better fitted to none!" he grinned brilliantly for a second before continuing.

"However, nonetheless the Queen has indeed asked me to make something for her - a gown, in fact, a testing of my skills as I have not yet done. I've made dresses, that is, lovely sun dresses for my family - my sisters.. But never something on this scale! Nothing so elegant! Although, if my hope precedes me, I intend for it to be only a prelude to the more exciting gowns."

"But what could ever be better than a gown for the Queen? And why would she need a gown? She has plenty, for all occasions too, I would assume.. Not that you're by any means an incompetent gownmaker," I babbled, hoping I hadn't insulted him. "I would trust you making a gown for anyone, for any occasion."

"Would you really?" The Hatter looked exceptionally pleased at this. "Even for yourself?"

"Especially for myself," I assured him.

"Well, then," he inhaled, taking my hands in his. "Might I be permitted to make you a gown for the ball? One of the very highest quality, I would say, perhaps one of the crowning achievements of my craft? I mean, you don't have to, I would thoroughly understand if you would be... uncomfortable with the thought, or perhaps preferring someone fully sane and fully in the brain - have I made a rhyme? - to be the honored one to make your dress, or perhaps the materials, although I could acquire whatever suited your preference and fancy and was, of course, Alice-like, being the hatter to the queen and all... Although, perhaps, I could possibly reference you to another dressmaker if you should like, one who would be professional and not slurvish..."

"No," I whispered into his rant, and his face fell slightly.

"No?" He opened his mouth to speak again, and I quickly laid my hands on his upper arms.

"No, no, Hatter, I would love to have you make my dress!" I split into a grin. "There would be no greater honor.. I know of your skill with fabrics."

His face soon stretched into a smile, and his arms came up to encircle my waist in a hug.

"Oh, brilliant, brilliant! It'll be such fun!" His childish beam made me giggle, when a thought struck me.

"Wait a second... What ball?"

"Oh, yes... Mirana is throwing a ball, somewhat in your favor, she calls it a social gathering to celebrate your returning to stay with us for good. Just before you leave on your travels amongst Underland." He smiled tentatively, waiting for my reaction.

"I - well - we hadn't thoroughly planned that out yet, have we? The travels, I mean? I should very much like a tour guide along the way, and I'm sure you know as much about the land as anyone. Would you come with me?"

He perked up instantly. "Ah, yes, my Alice, I would love to! And in return, would you like to accompany me to the ball?"

I froze. Wasn't that like a date, him asking me to a ball? Wasn't that what couples did nowadays?

Trying not to hope too hard, I grinned back at his childish face, leaning back into his embrace.

"Ah, yes, my Hatter, I would love to!" I joked.