Firsts

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the latest reviews! You guys are awesome, and really push me through everything. This one is going to be short, semi argumentative, and sweet, but it needs to be done. Enjoy!

I would give everything I own

The first day that Alice moved into Hatter's apartment was a week later.

She thought him delirious. Asking her to move in with him after he fell on the pavement. She chalked it up to him cracking his head open. Then he asked her again in the hospital. The nurse was behind him stitching up the gash, when Hatter took Alice's hand in his, and said once again, "Move in with me."

Alice just rolled her eyes, and said, "Yes, I might as well, I sleep there so much already."

That night she helped him into bed. His head was throbbing, and he just took some medicine to help him sleep it off. Alice removed his coat from the bed, and brought it over to the rack.

She felt the red box in the pocket, and pulled it out. Alice's hand trembled as she held it in her palm. "Oh, my god," she whispered. Alice quickly stuffed it back in his jacket and skipped into the bedroom.

"Hatter?" she murmured into his ear. "Hatter?"

"Mmmmmm, I don't wanna go to work," he mumbled.

Alice giggled. "You don't have to go to work." She touched his ear lightly. "Hatter? I wanted to tell you…the answer is yes."

/

Alice waited all week. When he made no mention of the red box, she began to pick fights with him.

Hatter was lugging a large cardboard box stuffed with books into his living room. Alice sat on the couch, watching him pointedly. "You know, Hatter, you could be more enthusiastic about this whole thing," she muttered.

He threw the box on the wooden floor, hitting his toe in the process. His eyes widened, and he let out a long expletive, "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!"

"Oh, god, are you okay?" Alice asked.

Hatter stumbled over to the couch, and ripped his sock off. His toe was red, and swollen. "Why are you being such a bitch?" he exclaimed. "The past few days, you've been the worst I've ever seen you."

"I'll get you some ice," Alice offered, and ran out to the kitchen.

"Thank you," Hatter ceded. He shook his head after her, but accepted the towel covered ice pack she brought back. "So, what's going on with you? Do you not want to be here?"

"No, I do!" Alice exclaimed.

"Then why are you being a bitch? You have been one massive bitch, Alice. I feel like I haven't been doing anything right this week," Hatter said.

She paused. "I guess…I'm just scared," she said lamely.

"Scared? Alice, I thought we had moved past all of that," he groaned. "You know that I would do anything for you, you're my life. What do I need to do to really show that to you?"

Alice looked up at Hatter's eyes. They were tense, like one wrong word would threaten to break them open. Ask me, the little voice niggled in her mind. She opened her mouth, and promptly shut it. "Nothing."

"I want you here, Alice," Hatter said. His voice cracked. "I want to wake up every morning with you, and um, hopefully fuck you, make love, whatever you want, every night. Got it?"

She leaned over and kissed him. "Got it." Alice gingerly touched his toe. "Is it broken?"

Hatter removed the ice pack. "Gods, Alice, I hope not. I've had enough of your world's hospitals for a long time."

"You threw the box down," she pointed out.

"Only because you drive me batty, woman!" Hatter chuckled weakly. "You're not leaving, are you?" the question came out gently.

Alice shook her head. "No. Never."

Hatter hesitated. "You promise?"

"You're stuck with me," Alice's throat caught on the last word. She shook her head, and stood up. "I'm going to make a cup of coffee. You want anything?"

He wordlessly shook his head, and watched as she strode into the kitchen. The red box was in his pants pocket.