Hmmm does the relationship deepens. Well anyway, I hope that you enjoy this chapter and that you review after you're finished. I like this one, it's pretty cute, but that's my opinion. Anyway, read on.

She didn't want to go back and that was the honest truth. She wanted to pretend that she was a full oyster, that she had never seen Wonderland, but she knew she had to finish it. Hatter had stood up for her, given her a choice and she had said yes. What did that mean? Did that mean she wanted to go back but just didn't know it? Samson thought of her father and her mother. She thought of the world that they had lived in once upon a time, the garden, the books her father brought back from the Other World. She and her sister would sit by the fireside with her father and read his books while mother painted. She wanted that world, perhaps other Wonderlanders did too.

"Oi, pearl for yeh thoughts?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine."

"Yes, yes generic ansah for I'm deeply deeply troubled."

"Not deeply, just a little."

Hatter, sat down beside her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her. The arm was comforting as it pulled her close and she could tell he was certainly strong too. This close, she could smell him, this close she wasn't so worried.

"I wanna go back but I don't wanna go back, that make sense?"

"Yes. No. Well, you're afraid and that's fine. But this time we'll be goin' through somethin' a bit more prepared-like."

"Prepared? How?"

Hatter looked down at her, his hand giving her arm a light squeeze.

"Why you 'ave the most knowledgeable man in all of Wondaland at your disposal."

"That right?"

"You doubt it," he said a grin on his lips. Samson couldn't help but smile in response.

"No, I don't."

She called in sick to work and really she did feel it. Her stomach was rolling and every few minutes she felt as if her heart was trying to rip out of her chest. James answered and asked if she needed anyone to come over. She'd politely declined saying that it was just a wretched stomach virus. She'd never called in before so it was all new for her and he'd immediately believed her. As she put the phone down she saw Hatter, a rucksack in his hands. He had on a different hat, one more battered. She supposed it was the hat he'd missed. His clothes were different too, she supposed that he had brought them back from Alice's.

"Everythin's packed."

"Yes, everything's set."

He looked at her and she guessed he saw something especially sad in her eyes because he tossed the bag onto the couch. He strode over to her, yellowed shoes clicking on the wooden floor. His fingers closed over her shoulders, urging her to stay still.

"Repeat aftah me. I, Brie Samson."

She giggled and tried to shrug away, but he only moved his fingers to cup her face. Her heart immediately started hammering and her lungs shriveled until she couldn't even feel herself breathing.

"Repeat aftah me," he whispered softly.

"I, Brie Samson."

"Am undah the protection of Hatteh."

"Am under..."

"Come on, love."

"Under the protection of Hatter."

"Good, good. Where I will be kept, very much safe and guarded."

"Where I will be kept very much safe and guarded."

His thumb stroked her cheek and he smiled softly. She couldn't find the muscles in her mouth or she would have smiled back. After a few seconds, when it seemed he finally realized what he was doing, he let his hands fall away. With an awkward cough he moved back and picked up the rucksack. She wondered what it meant, him touching her. She wondered if he still loved Alice, if Alice had finally told him how she felt. She was too nervous to ask and as she removed her fingers from where Hatter had put his own hands, she realized she'd wait for him to tell her.

Alice was in cargo pants and a hoody. She had a light bag of her own and looked more fierce than Samson remembered. Jack stood there as well, dressed in his usual impeccable suit. She and Hatter jogged over. In front of them all was the mirror. She had not gone through this mirror, but knew it was the one that had led the oysters to the processing center. They stepped through the glass on the other side, dazed and confused. Suits dragged them as though they were lifeless dolls. She remembered that the moment her father returned home he'd drink a bottle of emotion, a water-like liquid, Clear Conscience. He'd take one, sometimes two drops, before speaking to his family.

"Are all of you ready?"

She nodded, mostly to herself. Jack nodded at them all before stepping through the glass. Alice followed after, glancing back once, at her. Hatter looked down at her once more, his deep brown eyes holding hers. He took her hand in his and the two of them stepped through the Looking Glass.