Title - Very good advice
Chapter title - Alice
Author - OblivionsGarden
Disclaimer - I do not own Alice in Wonderland or anything from it. I do however own Belle, her family and any other characters you don't recognize. The plot is mine too.
A/n - Just a short one, for now.

-C.12-


An eerie blue glow was cast upon the checked floor where the battle against the Jabberwocky took place. Tarrant side stepped a forgotten shield as he made his way towards the centre of the field where, surrounded by a white light, was an elderly woman with her hair pinned beneath a blue version of Tarrant's top hat, her back towards him. When he finally made it through all the remnants of the past battle, he lightly tapped the woman on her shawl covered shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, are you alright?"
The woman turned with a bright smile and chocolate brown eyes. "Tarrant!" She threw her arms around the startles hatter before stepping back with a smile. Tarrant frowned unsure of what to do next.
"It's me Tarrant, it's Alice." The woman removed the top hat, letting her silvery hair fall in curls down her back. As she did so, her skin appeared to tighten, eliminating her wrinkles, she shrank down about four or five inches, she seemed to get slimmer and her hair returned to it's natural golden blonde.
"Maybe you'd remember me like this."
"Alice! It's really you! You came back!" The hatter exclaimed before he noticed Alice's guilty expression/ She shook her head sadly.
"No, you're dreaming Hatter."
Tarrant's shoulders slumped as he looked at the former champion. "You forgot." He accused numbly.
"Yes I did. And I am so very sorry Tarrant. Truly I am. I had this hat made in China to remind me of you." She gestured to the blue top hat. "It worked for a while, whilst I was working. I planned to finish work with my father's company, set my affairs in order and then return." She sighed and sat cross legged on the floor, Tarrant soon joining her. "However, my mind got swept up with the business and all my memories of Underland disappeared. It wasn't until the day I...passed away that I remembered."
Tarrant lifted his head to look at Alice with a frown.
"I was in bed at home with a fever. I remember seeing two large green eyes, floating in the doorway. As soon as I saw them I remembered Chess. Then as all my memories came flooding back the eyes got a little smaller and they gained a face. Your face. Then the rest of you body appeared and you smiled at me and sat cross legged on the end of my bed. An hour later, after revelling in my newly recovered memories and watching your...apparition look around my bedroom, I died." Alice paused, letting a small chuckle escape her lips. "I bet my mother, sister and my husband thought me mad. Right before I died, I looked at you and asked, 'why is a Raven like a writing desk?'"
Tarrant smiled before realizing what she'd said. "Husband?" He mumbled. Alice nodded.
"With no memory of you I fell in love with someone else. I'm sorry Tarrant."
He shook his head with a small smile. "It's not you fault Alice. What is he like?" He couldn't make her feel guilty when he was in love with someone else himself.
"Alot like you actually. Of course, he had to dress like a proper gentleman most of the time but at home in private, nothing ever matched, his hair was never brushed and the smile never left his lips. He was from Scotland but his family's company moved to London. We met at the docks. His boat from Scotland made port as we arrived home from China."
Tarrant couldn't help but grin knowing Alice had been so happy. "What was his name?"
"Tobias. Toby for short. I think you would've got along with him fantastically. He was quite the dancer you know, although I don't think he could futterwacken quite like you."
Tarrant giggled with a blush before Alice continued.
"Tarrant, tell me about her."
"Who?"
"The new champion. The one you love, Tarrant."
Tarrant smiled, thankful she wasn't upset.
"Her name is Belle." he started. "She reminds me of you actually. She thought this was all a dream at first too."
Alice blushed slightly as she remembered how naive she'd been.
"She had a very good ability to fight but she doubts her muchness."
"Do you doubt her muchness?"
"Not at all. She's one of the muchiest people I've met."
"Then she'll be fine, as long as you stay by her side." Alice smiled and stood back up. "Tarrant, don't feel gui;ty for loving her."
Tarrant stood and nodded. "Alice, why is a raven like a writing desk?" Alice laughed heartily. "I haven't the foggiest, if I were you, I'd ask Belle." She smiled and pulled Tarrant into a tight embrace, just as he began to wake from his pleasent dream.