And Dream Away

Chapter 43

Finished me shower and got into some clean clothes. Went back out in the office to look for a hat. Me hair had been naked too long. Brushed the glass off a bowler and tried it on.

After Rufe had showered and we'd found some clothes for him, Alice picked a jacket out of me closet and put it on. Charlie sat there silently glaring at us.

"now go we Can?" Charlie asked sarcastically. "first nap a take to want don't you Sure?"

Alice looked at him in surprise. "Charlie! Why are you talking backwards?" She went over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He blushed and looked away.

"backwards talking not am I!" Charlie pounded his fist against his armor. "not I'm!"

"I've arranged some horses." Ten said. "Unless…you'd rather go on Flamingos?"

"No!" Alice and I both said at the same time.

"Yes!" Charlie stood. "Yes!"

"Charlie, you can barely fly one, you can't carry Chess and fly." I said patiently.

"Why didn't Jack take a Flamingo?" Alice asked no one in particular.

"Limited range." Ten nodded. "He'd have to walk after that. But where is he going?"

"Well then why didn't he use one of the portable teleports?" She asked.

"You have to go there first and place a beacon. It's calibrated to the teleport." I explained. Had several beacons on earth, but none here. "Where is Jack going?"

"Well how did he get to your loft then?" Alice went on.

"Must have left a beacon there at the party." Rufe answered. "Must have been planning this for awhile."

"Well how did you get to New York in the first place? To earth?" Alice demanded.

"The Queen didn't close the teleport for a long time. People came and went all the time." I shrugged. "Well, people who didn't mind owing the Queen favors." Glanced at Rufe.

"Charlie can you use your powers to find Jack?" Alice asked him.

"Jack about start you Don't!" Charlie stood and picked up Chess. "Knights the of Kingdom the in Chess interface to going am I!"

"Where is Jack going? Or is he just running?" I asked again.

"We don't know. No one does." Rufe said quietly. He still hadn't said much. Alice hugged him, squeezing him tight. Thanked him. Promised meself we'd have a talk soon, him and me.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Ten reached in a hidden pocket. "Brought these up for you." Handed me the velvet box and the notebook. The notebook I put in me jacket pocket. The velvet box I held in me hand and looked at Alice.

This wasn't the time, but I couldn't see any time being the time. Walked over and went down on one knee, then just knelt on both.

"Alice." I held the box out to her. "I bought this the first day I got to your world. I knew then that I …I couldn't live without you. Didn't want to live without you." Took a deep breath. "I know this isn't the best time, but I love you Alice. You know who I am, what I am and you still love me." Held the box closer to her. "There's never gonna be anyone else for me." She looked at me and at the box, no' moving.

"You did say you'd marry me, down in … in the room." I swallowed hard while she just looked at the box. "Remember? Or did I dream that too?"

Dropped me hand to put the box in me pocket or throw it in a corner, I dunno, but she grabbed the box and opened it. Gave me a small smile and took the ring out o' the box.

"It has an inscription." I said softly.

She tilted the ring to read it. "David loves Alice loves David loves Alice loves..." She turned the ring reading it over and over. She looked at me and said gently. "All I know of love, I learned from you."

"Alice." Choked on her name. "Oh, Alice."

"Who's David?" Ten looked confused.

"David Who's" Charlie looked around. "hmmm?"

Alice held the ring out to me. I took it with shaky fingers. "Put it on me." She held out her left hand and I slid the diamond on her finger. "I love you Alice." Folded her hand in mine and kissed her.

"I love you too." She hugged me tightly. "I love you."

"David Who's?" Charlie asked again.

"You didn't think his real name was Hatter, did you?" Rufe asked laughing slightly.

"Ok, you got the mushy stuff over, can we get this show on the road?" Cat whispered in me head.

"Congratulations." Rufe smiled at us. Alice stood and walked to him.

"Congratulations." Ten and Charlie said softly.

"I never had a brother." Alice said softly and hugged Rufe. "I'm glad it's you." Rufe grinned and hugged her, looking at me over her shoulder. I'd really have to find out what happened in Jack's room.

"Charlie, will you give me away?" Alice asked Charlie, still standing there holding Chess.

"away you Give? Wha? " Charlie looked at her. "whom to you Give?"

"Earth wedding custom." Rufe answered. "Usually the father gives the bride to the groom in a ceremony."

"Uh…. Oh. JustAlice honored be would I." Charlie bowed, almost dropping Chess. "along move should we think I now But. hours few a in dark be will It."

"YES! Can we please, just go!" Cat whispered in me head.

"I want to stop at that medical place where they worked on me." Alice said. "You go on ahead Charlie, we'll catch up."

"Alice," Charlie said, "did they what you tell can she, again herself is Chess Once."

"It's pretty far away from here." Ten said. "In the wrong direction."

"We still need to find out which way Jack went." Alice said giving up on medical for now. "Charlie, are the Jabberwocks still working?"

"Yes." Charlie stood at the door. "nice be would Kingdom the to Teleport." Charlie said over his shoulder.


AN: awww. There ya go, a little bit of fluff. Hold tight.