AN: This is a response to a prompt from Stars May Fall, in which Hatter faces Carol alone. The next few chapters are all responses to prompts you guys have submitted. Can you believe we're almost finished? Only five more letters! If you want me to keep writing, keep submitting prompts, otherwise I'm going to take a break from this to continue working on Down the Rabbithole - which is turning out truly epic if I do say so meself.

Unsure

It took a lot to make David Hatter nervous. He had grown up on the streets, served in a resistance, faced down Mad March and the Queen of Hearts. Hell, he'd punched a Jabberwock in the face. After everything that he had done in his life, it didn't seem like there would be anything that had the ability to make him anxious. He certainly thought there wouldn't be.

Then Carol Hamilton invited him to a dinner - alone.

It wasn't so much that he was afraid of Alice's mum. She just had a great talent for making him uneasy. He'd never been great with mothers in the first place. He wasn't the sort of bloke most of his lady friends would take home to meet their parents, and for good reason. He might be charming but most mums frowned upon the tea smuggler. The few times he'd met a mum, it hadn't ended well.

The whole situation was all the more frightening because she was Alice's mum. His feisty, perfect Alice. The Alice that gave his life purpose again when he lost everything and the Alice that he would do anything for.

Even face a dinner alone with her mum.

Hatter took his hat off and smoothed his hair down one last time. After a quick check that his appearance was as good as it would get - and he looked rather dashing, if he said so himself. These Oyster clothes might not be his style but he had managed to put together an outfit that suited both the Oyster styles and his own. Clearing his throat, Hatter knocked and even the sound was tentative.

The door slid open to reveal Carol Hamilton in one of her favourite blue floral dresses. She smiled warmly. "David, come in," she said and stepped aside to let him. He slipped into the flat and reflexively smirked when he felt the wave of Amusement coming off Carol. She thought his nerves were funny. It was time to pull out the Hatter charm.

From inside his jacket he pulled out a small bouquet of brightly coloured wildflowers. "For you, ma'am," he said and presented them to her with a grin.

"Oh David, you didn't have to," she said but she took the flowers and sniffed them, her eyes sparkling. "They're lovely. Let me get these in some water and then I'm nearly finished in the kitchen. Come join me."

Hatter followed her down into the kitchen and he helped to set two places at the dining table while she put the wildflowers into a vase. She laid out a delicious smelling chicken dish and a salad, and then they sat down opposite each other at the table. "So David, Alice tells me you've gotten a job," she started conversationally.

"At a bakery," he agreed, rubbing his sweating palms against his trousers before picking up the silverware. "Bit hectic but I like it. Learnin' lots 'bout bakin'."

"That's nice," Carol said with a smile. She poured a bit of a vinaigrette dressing onto her salad and then looked across the table to meet Hatter's gaze. "David, relax," she said and laughed. "You're not in trouble."

Hatter let out a nervous chuckle. "Sorry," he said and felt his cheeks warming. "In my 'sperience, it's not good when a girl's mum calls you 'round for a chat."

"I just want to get to know you a little," Carol said, although she'd raised her eyebrow at his comment. "Since you've been spending so much time with Alice lately."

"'Cause you don't trust me so far's you can throw me," Hatter finished for her. There was no point pretending; snogging Alice on their supposed first meeting hadn't made the best of impressions and the badly cobbled story they'd supplied afterward hadn't ever stuck with Carol.

"I didn't say that," Carol said. Hatter arched an eyebrow sceptically. "I know you're lying to me about how you and Alice met," she went on, "but I never said I don't trust you."

Hatter frowned thoughtfully. "I don' follow."

"Look, David, I know Alice better than anyone in this world," Carol said, setting down her silverware and squaring off with him. "And it doesn't take a genius to see the change in her since she started spending time with you. She's happier than I've seen her in a very long time. You're good for her."

"I think she's the one who's good for me," Hatter said honestly. "Makes me a be'er man, she does."

Carol smiled briefly and then her expression got more serious. "You know enough about Alice to know that she's had a rough time of things," she said.

"Her da leavin, you mean?" Hatter asked and the pieces came together. "You wanna make sure I'm not gonna rabbit on 'er too."

"Alice has grown rather fond of you," Carol said, nodding. "You're the first person she's really opened up to since her father left us. If things don't end well between you..."

Hatter nodded in understanding. "Mrs. 'amilton, can I be honest with ya?" he asked. Carol gestured for him to continue. "I norm'ly wouldn't be so forward, but in this situation I figure it's best. Truth is, I love Alice. I know it seems fast, but we've been through more'n you know. I love 'er and I wanna spend my life with 'er, if she'll 'ave me. If I 'ave any say in it, I'm not goin' anywhere and you got my word on that."

Carol seemed to appraise him for a long minute, her eyes scrutinising him like she could see through him. Hatter struggled not to fidget under her intense gaze. Finally Carol smiled and picked up her fork. "That's all I wanted to know," she said. "Unless you'd like to tell me where you really met my daughter...?"

"Think that might be a story for anoth'a night," he answered cheekily and Carol laughed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told ya. 'Sides, I reckon Alice might wanna be 'ere for that one."

"Fair enough," Carol said and took a sip of her wine. "So, David, how are you enjoying being in New York so far?"