Another chapter to ring in the New Year. I accomplished some goals, got back from court unscathed and managed to have a genuinely great day. With all this good happening I figured you'd wanna chapter. But yeah enjoy, review and I do not own any characters of Alice or the Beatles and their song.

She hated the sensation of falling down and not knowing when you'd stop. It wasn't that she was afraid of heights or anything, just that sensation of free-falling. She landed on a patch of rough grass, the wind successfully knocked out of her. She inhaled and already felt the hot crackle of power course through her lungs. If she were to sing now, things would happen, even her voice at times had been unnecessarily enchanting. She looked up to see Jack looking down at her. His hand was outstretched and she grabbed it and stood, grateful.

"It's been awhile," Jack said softly.

"Here it has, in the Other World not much time has passed. I used to be older than you."

"Yes, you did but things change."

Samson looked about the place, the decrepit skyscrapers that seemed bottomless in their height. It was a honeycomb of abandoned buildings all in a state of disuse. This was precisely the way that she remembered it. She looked out towards where the House of Cards would be and saw-"

"Nothing. Nothing's there."

"Course not, love. Alice's partin' gift."

Hatter took a few steps, dusting off his hat as he walked. He flipped it back onto his head and she smiled at the simple trick. He winked before turning back to Jack.

"You said you needed our 'help. With wot e'sactly?"

"White Rabbit. If I were to give our current lack of restoration a name, that's what it would be."

"The people that tried to kidnap me? But they should be...out of business by now right? There are no more tea shops, the Queen's out of power-"

"And so now they have a chance at it, Alice. With her gone full profit returns to them. They have also acquired a new Carpenter."

"My father but-"

"A new scientist was vanished from your world and they use him to their benefit. Their location is kept secret within their ranks but still they manage to get oysters' emotions back on the street."

"How do they...make them happy," Samson asked slowly.

"We are not sure but they have certainly added variety. Emotions such as Charismatic, Euphoria, and Optimism have been added to their repertoire. There is rumor of an Oyster and Wonderlander breeding program, but again it is just a rumor."

The idea that there were others like her and her sister, terrified Samson. The idea that they were bred instead of being born of chance sickened her to the core.

"Right, well I have arranged for safe travel to the Fortress."

"Fortress," the visitors asked warily.

Jack smiled but in a way someone who was weary would smile. This could only mean that the Fortress was not borne from good things. This meant that things were not on a speedy road to recovery just as he had said.


She had forgotten that horses were considered expedient travel in Wonderland. The soreness in her legs and waist attested to the same forgetfulness. They stopped after a few hours ride and started camp in the woods. These woods were the woods that she remembered, trees tall as heaven and dense as darkness. She remembered that there were Jabberwocks in other more dangerous forests, how she and sister had never had to fear them. She had even, for a short time, had one for a pet. Her father and mother, however, had not liked the idea at all and had made her take him back. She smiled at the memory, she barely five feet, riding a giant beast through Wonderland.

"You're smilin', wot's on yeh mind?"

Jack had turned in early and Alice had long since fallen asleep. Samson briefly wondered if the other woman had done that on purpose. She wondered how she felt about the idea.

"A good memory of this place."

"Share it with me?"

"My voice used to work on animals too. I brought home a Jabberwock once but my mom and dad wouldn't let me keep him."

"That's coz their humongous blightahs and because a cute lil girl should no' have pets o' that size."

"How'd you know if I was a cute little girl? I could have been a hideous thing with buck teeth."

Hatter, smiled but it was the smile more lover-like than friend. It made Samson's skin shiver.

"Someone as beautiful as you can no' evah have been hideous." His voice had lowered during the statement and it was all that Samson could do to hold back a declaration of love. Squelching down the emotion she found herself unable to say anything. They remained quiet at the small fire both of them retreating to their own world. She surprised herself when she spoke first.

"Is it my voice?"

"Wot?"

"That makes you notice me? Is that what it is?"

"Course not! Noticed you before, in Other World, before the voice. 'Sides, you noticed me first, din't you?"

She had, hadn't she. She'd picked him out, sitting there at the fountain. How could no one else have helped him before her, looking as lost as he'd been?

"Sorry for asking. I feel as if I have t' do that here."

"You might, bu' not with me."

And she believed him.


Samson woke slowly. She rubbed her eyes and yawned until she was certain her jaw would break. She had remembered to pack a sleeping bag, thankfully, though Hatter had told her he'd improvise. She wondered how he'd slept. She sat up and saw him sitting against a tree, head down, hat pulled over his face. She looked to see that Jack had already started a small fire and was preparing breakfast.

"Morning."

"Good morning to you, Samson. Care for a spot of tea?"

"Tea?"

"Earl Grey, something I found I liked from Other World."

Samson shuffled out of the sleeping bag and shuffled over. She squatted down near him and watched Jack prepare tea. He dipped a teabag into a metal tin and handed it to her. She took the warm cup in her hands and held it near her face. The steam warmed her skin and she sipped at the tea gingerly.

"I am sorry, you know, for bringing you back. I had tried my best to avoid your help, especially since I had seen firsthand what my mother did to you."

"It's alright."

"It wasn't, Samson. What the Queen, my mother, did to you and your sister-"

"I know. But it doesn't matter now, it's over."

"Yes, but it hurts you still."

Samson took another sip from her tea, letting the liquid burn down her throat.


Soon the three of them were drinking tea and eating ham and toast. They were all in something of an awkward silence. She supposed it was because of how closely they were intertwined. Jack had been something of a childhood acquaintance, Hatter was something of a love interest, and Alice, the way that Jack kept sneaking glances at her over his cup, she assumed Alice had been a little more than friendly with the king.

Great.

There was only one way to end the tension. She looked at the group, caught Hatter's awkward look and smiled softly. If ever she were to test herself, it would be with them first.

~What would you think if I sang out of tune,

Would you stand up and walk out on me.

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,

And I'll try not to sing out of key.~

And just like that it caught them. She had known it would but it had been such a long times since she'd seen it work. The scientists had never been sure if it was Wonderland that brought out the captivating sound from her or if it was something that her body did on its own.

~Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,

Mmm,I get high with a little help from my friends,

Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.~

Soon, the three of them were clapping along to her rushed together song. Really, she had discovered long ago, it didn't matter what she sang, she'd hook anyone, it was the intent. The stronger she sang, the more emotion she felt, the more it resonated with the people around her. She just happened to like the Beatles. Hatter stood and held out his hand to her. A dance. She shook her head and continued to sing. Alice took his hand and the two of them stood.

The two of them danced in a uncoordinated step and Samson couldn't help but smile at the pair. She didn't mind using her voice this way, when it did this, helped the people she cared about, lifted them up. She remembered when it was only her family that heard her. It had simple like the scene before her.

~What do I do when my love is away.

How do I feel by the end of the day

No, I get by with a little help from my friends,

Mmm, get high with a little help from my friends,

Mmm, gonna to try with a little help from my friends~

She continued the even as they all turned to her dreamily. She laughed at the completely blissed out expression on everyone's faces. Hatter was clutching his hat to his chest dreamily as he approached her. He bowed comically and raised an inviting eyebrow. She hadn't known an eyebrow could be so inviting but she nodded all the same. Whatever he wanted, it didn't matter to her, she wanted to make him happy.

~Do you need anybody?

I need somebody to love.

Could it be anybody?

I want somebody to love.~

~ Would you believe in a love at first sight?

Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.

What do you see when you turn out the light?

I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,

Mmm I get high with a little help from my friends,

Oh, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends~

As he approached she got a little nervous. As Jack and Alice began to dance she noticed that Hatter was only getting closer. Her heart began to pick up that familiar flutter it did whenever he paid particular attention to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and her song almost faltered. Her heart which was fluttering before was now hammering at a jackrabbit pace.

"Don' stop, eh love?"

Her head was against his chest and her fingers were flat against his chest. Her voice went lower, still holding the other two but wrapping itself firmly around Hatter.

~Do you need anybody?

I just need someone to love.

Could it be anybody?

I want somebody to love~

They moved in a slow circle and Samson could honestly say she hadn't been this happy in a very long time. Hatter leaned over her, and his scent enveloped her in an all encompassing bubble. Was it slightly wrong that she was enjoying Hatter's attentions that much? She almost dreaded coming to the last stanza because then he would let her go.

~Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,

Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Ooh, I get high with a little help from my friends

Yes I get by with a little help from my friends,

with a little help from my friends~

When she finished Hatter let out a shuddering breath and stepped away.

"Tha' was amazin'," he breathed.

And then he put his hat onto her head. Samson felt her face heat immediately and turned her head.

"Alright everyone, a little morale, now let's be on our way."

Jack nodded at her and smiled and with his smile and Hatter's hat, things were turning out to be more brilliant than she'd ever hoped.