This chapter is kind of weird... it was made from bits and scraps of attempts at chapters. But okay, that's life. I posted a new one shot, but it got like... no traffic or reviews. Bummer. That's the way life works :/ I've been busy with school... so this is what I managed to get done :o Maybe I'll be able to post a new one soon without passing out five hundred times.

"It's horrid!" I exclaimed, looking down at my cup. "I mean… I've never really considered any woman this way before… and now all I have to do is kiss her and suddenly I'm ready to do… well, things I know we can't do. Forbidden things. What can I do? I've still got six and a half weeks before the deadline, and she has no idea that I need her in more ways than I originally thought…"

"If only there were some way to let her know about the plan," Chess grinned.

"No, Chess," I sighed. "Queen Mirana has made it clear that I'm not to interfere. And I'm not to "influence" anyone to interfere. She has to figure this one out on her own."

Chess took a sip of his tea and disappeared in a blue puff of smoke. "And if she doesn't?" his voice asked.

"If she doesn't… well I don't know. I suppose we won't be allowed to wed, then," I replied.

Chess quickly reappeared above my shoulder and I jumped out of my chair in surprise. "Bloody Cat!" I shrieked. "Don't you have any manners at all?"

"I've heard Mally and her cousin Bladelyn have been plotting something horrid for you both," he said nonchalantly.

"And where did you hear that from, exactly?"

"I never disclose my sources."

"I see."

I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he wound himself around my hat. "Of course… I might be willing to part with the information… if you might be willing to part with something dear to you."

"I would never give you Alice!"

"No, Tarrant," he rolled his eyes. "Your hat."

"Oh. I would never give you that either. Alice loves my hat."

He disappeared, his distasteful expression being the last to go. "Are all the thoughts that go on in your daft little head about Alice?"

"Yes," I smiled, picking at the bandages on my left hand. "Haven't they always been?"

He did not reappear, but I could tell that he was smiling too.

"You seem distant tonight, Hatter. Are you alright?"

I looked up to a set of soft brown eyes examining every inch of my face. I forced a smile and then turned my attention back to the mixing bowl in front of me.

"I'm fine, love. Just a bit tired is all."

She cocked her head slightly and leaned farther over the counter between us. "Are you sure? You don't feel ill or anything?"

She closed the gap and pressed her lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes and let a sharp breath escape my throat. She was so delicate… it was almost like being touched by a kitten. My heart thrummed deeper into my chest until I felt it beating against my spine.

"Really, Alice," I said. "I'll be absolutely fine. I'm just going to put this icing in the box to chill an then head off to bed. Would you-"I caught myself as the question formed on the tip of my tongue. She wasn't going to like it.

"Would I, what?" she insisted.

"Would you mind sleeping in the guest room tonight? I… I think I need some time to myself this evening, dear."

In truth, I didn't want to risk her rubbing against me in her sleep as she usually did. I couldn't hold myself back anymore and I didn't want to risk hurting her.

Her face twisted in hurt for a moment and then quickly returned to it's usual pretty expression. "Of course not, Hatter," she choked gently.

I felt like the biggest donkey in the world as she leaned up and kissed me on the forehead.

"Have sweet dreams, okay?"

I swallowed hard and forced yet another fake smile. "You too, love."

I did, in fact, not have sweet dreams that night. Nightmares kept swarming my head… a pair of large teeth scraping away at pale flesh, a high pitched call for help, a denied marriage proposal, a clock with blood running down the face ticking, ticking, ticking, and then finally ringing… thick red paint splattered all over a tiny face…

I woke up in a cold sweat. It took me only a few minutes to crawl out of bed, open my wardrobe, and swiftly select a white button up shirt and green pair of trousers. I tied on my ascot and buttoned my vest before grabbing my jacket and heading across the hall.

"Alice?" I called, knocking on the door. No answer.

"Curious," I muttered. I tired to turn the knob but the door was bolted tight. I knocked again, and after still getting no response, I stepped back and kicked the door in.

Upon stepping foot into the room, I realized that something wasn't quite right. The bed clothes were disturbed, suggesting that someone had slept there, yet the window was opened and a breeze was flowing in. I walked around to the side of the bed and noticed the trivial amount of blood on the pillow.

"Alice?" I whimpered.

It did no good. The room was empty and Alice was gone.

WOW. An actual plot? Like, seriously. Wow. Didn't think I'd be able to do it :D Anyway, review and maybe I'll update pretty soon.