*I am so sorry about the lack of update! But my life has been crazy bad lately an is only now getting better. Again sorry!*

I wake from the burning sun shining brightly right into the back of my skull and feel the soft, warm mussels beneath me. I look up to see Hatter smiling down at me and say "good morning" with my inherited cheesier cat grin. He gives me a large toothy smile and says "waking up with a beautiful woman in my arms, defiantly makes it a good morning" I blush at his comment then lean up for a sweet, tender kiss.

When we've packed up and headed out back to our friends I ask, holing his waist tightly "Hatter? What are we now? After last night I mean" he glances towards me and says "I don't know, but I do know that I really care about you Jackie, and last night was more than just a bit of fun to me, an I hope it was more than that for you to" I nod and agree "it was. So now what? We just follow are feet and see where they take us?" he smiles back at me and says "sounds like a good plan to me" I return his smile and hug him from behind, giving his shoulder a quick peck.

We arrive at the camp sight within the hour to find Charlie asleep and Alice no where in sight. Hatter wakes Charlie and asks where she is, then I see a woman's figure standing on the hill above and say "Hatter, she's up there" as I point to Alice. He walks over to me, taking my shoulders in his hands and says "I'll go tell her the news, you catch Charlie up" I nod happily as he leans in for a quick kiss then scampers off to Alice.

I sit with Charlie and tell him about our trip to the city, well some of it, when an alarm goes off and he says "someone has broken through the perimeter! Lady Jackie, go quickly, inform Harbinger and Just Alice. I will do what I can" I just nod and climb the hill and say "HATTER! ALICE! The alarm went off, someone's here!" they run to me, as we rush down the hill Hatter takes my hand and says sternly "stay behind me and if I say run you run, got it?" I smile cheekily and say "not a chance in hell" he shakes his head at me with a small smile as we reach the bottom of the hill and see Charlie tied up.

Then a posh voice with blond hair emerged from the camp and said, holding Charlie's sward "hello Alice, not interrupting anything am I?" on his last word Hatter picked up a large stick and pushed me behind him as he approached Jack "you think you can take me with that?" he glared "am not an old man" I gave Jack an look of pure hatred as Alice intervened in their pissing contest.

I walked behind Hatter zoning out of the conversation when my mind wondered to the many ways I could hurt Jack for what he's done to Alice. However I zone back in as he says "So, Alice, who are you going to trust to get you, your friend and your father back home? A resistance insider and future king who's already scheduled your return trip through the looking glass, who cares for you more than any one else in the world? Or this man?" Jack finished, motioning with a tiny sneer toward Hatter. As Hatter drops his stick I take a hurried step and slap Jack so hard that my hand burns as I shout "WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? A FUTURE KING? SO FUCKIN WHAT! YOU'RE THE REASON FOR ALL THIS! You gave Alice the ring, then abandoned her here and then… you broke her heart! And THIS man, who's name is Hatter by the way, helped us, clothed us, took a bullet for us, saved us from YOUR mother, gave up his home and safety for us and you think you have any right to look down your noise at him! He is a thousand times the man you could ever hope to be you pompous arrogant cowardly twat!" Jack just stand there looking at me in shock.

I hear Hatter chuckle behind me and turn to she Alice gob smacked and Hatter grinning as he walks over to me arms open wide and says "that's my girl" as he gives me a twirling hug. I smile as Jack shakes of my screeching and turns to a gapping Alice and asks "Alice where's the ring?" she looks over to the red king and her eyes go wide as she rushes over and says "it was right here! I swear! I put the ring on his finger!" I then pitch in "and I moved it" all eyes look to me as Jack asks "where is it?" I look to Alice and then Jack and say "if your lying to us, I'll kill you myself. Understand?" he nods and I turn to Hatter and say "I put it somewhere I knew it'd be safe, with someone I trust" I smile at Hatter's confused face as I take off his hat and fumble a bit, getting the ring out off the tear.

I hesitantly give it Jack as he says "thank you my dear" I then hear Hatter say "Jackie, Alice, I wish you all the look in the world" before I have a chance Alice says "but your coming with us Hatter" Hatter backed away with an apologetic look on his face. "I don't think I figure in the future king's plans." Alice had to ask again, and turned to Jack, "He's coming with us, right?" Jack stuffed the ring in his pocket. "The Resistance was very clear, you are to both come on their terms, alone." She glared. "Hatter stood by us!" I shake my head as I look at Hatter "It's not my call to make, Those are Caterpillar's rules, and I will abide by them. Its what's safest for you, your friend and your father." I glare at Jack with still tears and say "my name is Jackie. An Caterpillar can go fuck his rules" Hatter takes my hand to calm me "Hey, I wouldn't wanna go with this guy anyway." He says with sorrow "What? But--what will you do?" Alice asked worriedly.

Hatter pasted a smile on his face, "Me? You're kidding. Believe me, I'll be fine. Besides," Hatter took a breath "you're better off with this guy. Your both better off. Go." And he walked away.

I ran after him and pulled his arm so he turned to me, then kissed him fiercely on the lips then say as his forehead rests against mine "I wont leave you" I can feel my tears fall as he looks at me and says "ye you will, because am asking you to, because you're a good friend and would never desert Alice. That's one of the things I lo…like most about you. Who knows, maybe when this is all over, you an me could do pizza, but for now she needs you more than I do. So go" I nod my head as I lift it from his wiping at my cheeks as I promise "I'm coming back, so don't think for a second that its that easy to get rid of me" he smiles to me and we have a long hug and kiss goodbye.

I say goodbye to Charlie and leave on the horse with Alice and Jack, looking back until I cant see Hatter anymore.

I'm silent the whole trip, even when Alice turns to me and asks every now and then "you ok?" I jus nod, and lie, because I'm not ok, I don't feel safe with the prince or happy that I could soon be going home, I just miss my friends, I miss Hatter. I refuse to give Jack even a nod when he asks. Fucking prick. However my mood lifts when I see a figure standing on a large near by hill above, I'd know that hat anywhere and suddenly I feel safe again.