Little Wonders, by Rob Thomas

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours
Still remain

Let it slide
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Till you feel it all around you
And I don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Hatter had certain expectations when he woke up that morning. He would spend a few minutes reading while he had his breakfast tea, as he always did. He would take his time selecting his outfit for the day. He would spend several hours in his office catching up on paperwork and receiving visitors who might have some information to barter with. It would be a standard day.

And yet here he was now, on the run from both the Suits and the Resistance, in the company of a crazy old man and a hard-headed Oyster. He was riding a horse – something he'd not done in many years – through the Forest of Wabe and heading to parts unknown to lay low. How had his day gotten so twisted around?

Still, with all of the really terrible things that had happened to him today, Hatter found that in this one moment his life was very, very good. The horse had set up a steady, rhythmic pace that was unexpectedly soothing. Alice sat behind him, and he was completely distracted by her closeness.

No woman, with the exception of Carlotta St. Delaware, had ever caused Hatter so much trouble. And yet…there was something about her. She could be at turns tough and vulnerable, and her loyalty to her boyfriend was staggering. He'd never had such close contact with an Oyster, and was surprised to find that he wanted more.

"You comfy?" he asked Alice. She clearly was not, sitting up behind him and holding on the rope that held Charlie's contraption.

"No," she said, shifting behind him. "Of course not."

"Why don't you just lean forward, put your arms around my waist, and let my body take the weight."

Hatter could feel her hesitation; he knew she didn't completely trust him. He was surprised when she let out a sigh and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him. Alice rested her cheek against his back and sighed again.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing," Hatter said. But that was a lie. It was far more than it should have been. He relished the feel of her there at his back, and the way it felt being in her arms. It made him suddenly wish for things he knew could never be, and he forced himself to stay in the now. To appreciate this one moment, and remember it.

Hatter resisted the urge to put his hand over hers, to feel her soft skin again as he had on the ledge. He found himself thinking of her lips, and those beautiful blue eyes. He wondered how her hair would feel if he ran his hands through it. And mostly he wondered how it would feel to have her hugging him this way because she wanted to be close to him, too.

Alice snuggled in closer, and Hatter could tell by her breathing that she was drifting off to sleep. He could feel every contact point between them. There was no turning back now, he knew. No matter what happened from here on in, he'd do whatever it took to protect Alice, and see her safely home.

He'd do anything for her.

AN: Awww. Just another little happy Hatter moment. Hmmm. I'm going to have to throw some more angst at you guys so you don't get spoiled. LOL!