The White Queen glanced up from her book, a cup raised delicately to her dark lips which quirked at the no doubt absurd image of her Champion sprawled across the remains of her tea set.

"Alice," She smiled in what appeared to be relief as she snapped the book closed and returned her cup to the tabletop, "Your timing is as immaculate as ever I see."

"It's something I've been working on," Alice quipped, taking the Queen's offered hand as she finally managed to struggle upright, "Though Absolem disagreed."

"Ah, how is the old boy?" Mirana beamed as they surveyed the mess that remained as Alice shifted off the table and dropped into the seat beside her.

"As unpleasant as ever," Alice mused in response, "So quite well I would assume."

Mirana was about to reply when a gentle knocking diverted their attention to the small auburn haired woman stood uncertainly by the doors. "I hope I've not arrived late your Majesty?"

"Mirana please, and no you're not dear Tyva," The Queen bid, "Quite on time in fact as Alice has only just arrived herself."

"Tyva?" Alice murmured to herself, finding the woman's face familiar in a way she couldn't quite place until she approached and her eyes widened in recognition, "Missus Hightopp-"

The woman smiled kindly, "Hello Alice, it's so nice to finally meet you."

"And you," Alice beamed in response, ignoring her offered hand to embrace her instead, "I'm so sorry I'd not had time on my last visit. It was terribly rude, forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive my dear," Tyva soothed as they sat, a well-dressed amphibian clearing the remnants of Alice's landing to place a fresh tea set upon the table, "Tarrant explained the comings and goings of your duties as Champion."

"Still," Alice shifted back and forth on her feet, her cheeks burning rather shamefully, "I should have made time, you're the Hatter's family after all."

"Speaking of which," Alice paused as Mirana stood rather abruptly to rummage about in the silverware drawers for a time before she returned, "Tyva if you wouldn't mind, we have an item of rather urgent business to attend to before we take tea."

The small silver blade she held glinted in the morning sun as she took Tyva's offered hand and drew a thin line of blood from her palm before she turned to Alice.

"Quickly now my dear or else you'll find yourself in a world of pain any minute now."

"Why?" Alice held her hands to her chest protectively.

"You need to be tethered to this world," Tyva offered encouragingly, "A grounding to one already of it to transition into it."

"Makes sense I suppose," Alice extended her arm out, "Absolem did mention something about a substitute, mind I didn't quite understand why-"

"Obviously we'd be only more than happy to explain the situation," Mirana agreed as she struck with a speed and dexterity Alice found highly commendable in how little pain she felt, "Once you're no longer at risk of your head imploding that is-"

"What?!" Alice gaped at the seriousness of Mirana's gaze only to suddenly double over, the breath seemingly ripped from her lungs as a searing pain tore through her skull.

"Focus on my voice Alice, that's it," Tyva soothed, clutching their injured hands together with a grip almost more painful than the scalding heat that suddenly shot up her arm, "Don't worry, it will be over shortly."

"What's happening-?" She groaned as her blood felt like fire burning through her veins and Alice cried out through her clenched teeth as the throbbing in her head intensified. "It hurts-"

"I know," The Hightopp held her, whispering words into her ear she could barely hear yet understand before she pressed a kiss to her temple where the fire raged most incessantly behind her eyes, heat and light flaring as her heart were suddenly gripped and bound by an unseen force.

Then just as swiftly as it had begun, both heat and pain subsided to nothing and her body relaxed as a tension she'd not realized she'd been holding fell away and she slumped against Tyva's side.

"What just happened?" Alice whispered, the occasion seeming to warrant reverence even if she didn't quite understand why as she opened her eyes to observe the woman gently stroking her hair

"The restoration of hope." Tyva's eyes widened in astonishment and Alice looked to the queen for an explanation.

"Hope?"

"Oh my," Mirana's lips seemed unsure on whether they should smirk or smile as her hands clutched delicately under her chin, "It appears we might have been slightly off on our original assessment."

"If only I possessed the will to be outraged." Alice drawled in irritation. "But I find myself so suddenly filled with calm that I can't bring myself to be annoyed at your continuous avoidance of my questions."

"It is a side effect I believe," Mirana flittered away only to return a moment later with a small mirror. "Or perk, if you will, of the bond you now share as a member of Tyva's clan."

"What?" Alice's eyes went wide as they met the mildly amused Hightopps sparkling eyes.

"You are our Champion and Tarrant's dearest friend Alice," Tyva offered kindly, "Even if I didn't already consider you family, it was the least I could do to help after everything-"

"While obviously I appreciate the gesture," She replied somewhat uncertainly, "What I don't understand is why it was necessary to begin with?"

"Those who visit the realms of magic are provided a grounding to the here and now, a guide appropriate to fulfilling the wants and needs of their quest," Mirana offered with a wave of her hand, "Tis but one of the many functions of our world to provide an insight to those in yours. That being said however, in light of your rather backwards association with our dear Hatter, I had always wondered as to whether it was you who chose him, or he you?"

"If it wasn't for the Hatter I wouldn't have become the me he'd remembered me to be," Alice murmured, "It was here that I put away my grief and found the will to stand upon my own two feet. Discovered that nothing was ever impossible as long as I believed it to be otherwise."

"Indeed you did my dear," The Queen agreed, "But further to that you learnt the importance of family and the dire repercussions for those left abandoned in the wake of seeking those impossibilities."

"Belatedly, yes." Alice glanced away, pointedly ignoring Tyva's knowing gaze. "As to your questioning of our choosing of each other, I've also spent much time considering the possibilities, though mostly to no avail as yet."

"You are a most wonderful and welcomed contradiction indeed dear Alice." The Queen smiled fondly, "Though I don't imagine he'd have you any other way."

She tried to ignore the blush that crept up her cheeks when another thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Absolem said it was because of the Hatter that I could return without officially being summoned as Champion," Alice mused on her dreams of late, "Because he'd asked me to stay, but our connection was incomplete?"

"For reason's you are yet to discover, it would have proved most-" Mirana tilted her head as she considered her words carefully, "-inappropriate, for Tarrant to have provided a more permanent binding. Therefore, Tyva, as his closest blood relative substituted in his stead."

Alice fidgeted uneasily, "Something's happened to him hasn't it?"

"Yes," Mirana nodded, "Something so far beyond our ability to heal. But you-"

"I've been dreaming of Underland," Alice admitted, her eyes glazing over as she recalled the same dream she'd had every night for the last eight months, "Of Tarrant."

The Queen's gaze shifted pointedly to Tyva.

"It's always the same," She added absently, "He calls out to me but before he'll tell me what's wrong he's gone and I beg him to just hold on, that I'm coming, but I can't- I couldn't get back-"

"Interesting," Mirana shared another knowing look with Tyva before she handed the mirror resting in her lap out to Alice, "Tell me Alice, what do you see?"

Alice blinked in confusion as she returned to herself, "A mirror?"

The Queen smiled fondly as she gently set the object against her fingertips, "But do you notice anything interesting about its contents?"

"I don't need your mirror to know I look like a walking disaster." Alice huffed irritably.

"Please, my dear," She pouted, her eyelashes fluttering against her pale cheeks and Alice suddenly understood why her sister had been so irritated with the woman's ability to win others over in the past, "Humor me?"

Alice groaned as she caved, her gaze shifting to the reflection staring back at her.

Obviously she appeared just as she'd expected to after her rather spectacular landing, hair askew, cheeks still as pale as ever and the black rings under her eyes just as present as they'd been over the last few months of restless sleep.

"I look like death warmed over." She groused, her eyes not surprisingly bloodshot and weary.

"Look harder." Mirana urged with an obnoxiously knowing curl of her lip that earned her a scowl.

But then Tyva shifted slightly at her side, the sun's rays uninterrupted as they streamed through the terrace doors, her eyes suddenly catching the light and there it was.

"No..." Alice gaped at the familiar hue that flickered ever so slightly around her now quite obviously enlarged iris.

"Oh yes." Mirana disagreed oddly pleased with whole situation.

"Oh but surely this cannot be good," Alice turned her wary gaze to Tyva, "Can it?"

"It's very rare I'll admit," The woman offered with a small smile, "And although not inherently a Hightopp trait, it is rather unique to only one."

"Tarrant." Alice supplied rather unnecessarily.

"Yes." Tyva agreed, squeezing her hand.

"But what does it mean?" Her brow furrowed, "Did something go wrong?"

"Wrong?" The Hightopp laughed incredulously, "Heaven's no dear girl nothing's wrong."

"Quite the opposite in fact," Mirana added with great enthusiasm, "It's proof your tether to the Hatter remains somewhat intact."

"But wouldn't that have been obvious since it was the tether that pulled me back to Underland in the first place?" Alice shook her head as her confusion mounted, "The red thread-"

"Red?" Tyva's eyes suddenly widened in surprise as she looked to the Queen. "A heartstring?"

"Impossible." Mirana muttered incredulously.

"Nothing in Underland is ever impossible as you all delight in reminding me," Alice scoffed, narrowing her gaze to Tyva, "Now explain. What's a heartstring and what does it have to do with me and the Hatter?"

"A heartstring is both a blessing and a curse," The Hightopp sighed, "Though I fear in our current predicament the latter might prove far more prevalent, and for that I am sorry Alice."

She sat forward, worry creasing her brow. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

"The fact you are bound by one," Tyva squeezed her hand in sympathy, "And that what's to come will cause you unimaginable grief because of it."

"Why, what's happened while I've been gone?" Alice switched her gaze between the two women as panic began to set in amidst the confusion when they both remained silent and she began to fear the worst, "What aren't you telling me?"

"Perhaps it might be best," Mirana offered with a somewhat uncomfortable head tilt towards the terrace doors, "To discover it for yourself."

Alice's gaze followed to the house by the falls beyond, "So the Hatter is here?"

Mirana looked uncertain, "In a manner of speaking."

"What?" Alice glared at the Queen as she stood, "Why didn't you say?"

"Alice please-"

Ignoring Tyva's pleas, she practically sprinted through the open door towards Hatter House, her legs burning and her heart pounding frantically in her chest the closer she got.

She could feel it she realized, felt him close and her heart couldn't help but to sing with glee despite the Queen's warnings.

"Hatter!"

Her boots slid across the damp pavement of the old castle ruins as she rounded the last turn, the circle of Cherry blossoms surrounding the stone table where she'd landed the last time inciting a grin worthy of the Cheshire himself which only widened as she finally set eyes upon her target.

"Hatter!"

She cried out at the familiar silhouette stood under the crumbling garden arch that turned at the sound of his name.

"Alice?" His eyes widened in recognition, "Alice is that really you-"

A second later she impacted against his chest so hard were he anyone else she might have feared she'd done him an injury, but he took her sudden weight head on, his arms wrapping about her as he steadied them with a chuckle.

"Oh my dear Alice, you're here," She felt him smile into the wild curls of her hair, "I knew you'd come, I just knew it."

She pulled back to gaze up at him with a watery chuckle. "You did?"

"Well of course," Her breath hitched as he stroked a tear from her cheek softly with his gloved thumb, "My dearest friend, whom else would I entrust to stand by my side and ensure I shan't walk down the aisle without my hat nor the ring for my bride?"

Alice's heart suddenly dropped through her stomach to crush the bread and butterflies that had begun a foxtrot at the feel of him against her.

"You- your what?" She stumbled as her head swum, his soft touch gently steadying her at the elbow as she gaped up at him, "You're getting married?"

"Is that not also a custom in your world?" He frowned, obviously perturbed by her less than jubilant enthusiasm.

"Yes of course, but- but you-" She murmured, fearing she might for the first time in her life faint as she found herself caught between bewilderment and heartbreak, "Married?"

He sniffed somewhat indignantly as he muttered a response. "You seem shocked?"

"That's because I am," She breathed as he guided her to one of the stone chairs, "Though I meant no offense, it was merely not an occasion I had thought to foresee upon my return, as joyous as I'm sure it is to have found someone to share your life with Hatter, I just-"

She stared up at his face, different now than she once remembered it to be but still so very beloved and now marred with a disappointment that tore her shattered heart even more to pieces.

"Then am to assume you will not wish to be in attendance?" It was clear he thought her about to reject his request, but how could he possibly think she'd deny him anything when it had been her express intention in returning to Underland to ensure she'd never again have to gaze upon such a forlorn expression as the one he now wore.

"Oh no, that's not it at all," She stood, her hands reaching out of their own accord to smooth down the soft plum velvet lapels of his coat, "You'll have to forgive my slurvish nature dear man. I admit I was never much good at sharing, and after all this time I've just missed you so terribly much you see."

"So you'll come then?" His lips curled into a pale imitation of what she knew them capable of as she straightened his tie, the ascot she held fondly in her memories still noticeably absent from his rather conservative fashion choice she noted sadly.

Perhaps this was what Mirana and Tyva had also been referring too?

"You're my oldest and dearest friend Hatter, of course I'll be there," She assure him with a small smile, "Any time you need it in fact if that is what you require of me?"

"Anytime?" She ignored his warm breath against her cheek, instead focusing on his neatly trimmed rusty orange brows which took root in his hair as he took her hands, "Truly, you mean-?"

"I'm staying," She nodded, trying to find it in her to muster a little more enthusiasm, "For good this time. Though I do not know where at this point."

She frowned, suddenly realizing she'd not thought much further than finding him and never letting him go again.

"I'm sure Mirana would let me stay with her until I found som-"

"-Nonsense," She lifted her gaze as he tutted, suddenly clutching at her hand and dragging her in much the same fashion as he had along Thackery's tea table and earlier still, through the streets of Witzend to his Father's hat shop, "You'll stay with me of course."

"But what about your family? Your fiancée?" She cringed at the desperately bitter tone of her own voice as he shot her a curious yet somewhat confused glance over his shoulder as he opened the door and she followed him inside.

"What about them?" He disappeared through a small archway to potter about the cozy little kitchen she'd not had the privilege of seeing the last time she'd visited.

"Don't they live here with you too?" She puzzled, settling to the right of what was clearly his chair positioned at the head closest to the hearth. "Or will at any rate?"

She watched him as he set about tending to the kettle with a soft chuckle.

"My parents have their own shop at Salazen Grum, why in Underland would they live here?"

"Salazen Grum," Her eyes widened as her mind recalled her previous memories of the port-side kingdom as they'd ridden by on their way to save his family, "It would appear I've missed more than I'd realized."

"Underland may seem different from when you were last here with us yes," Hatter agreed seating himself at her side, "But we are all much the same as we ever were."

"I know," She offered a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she reached out to rest her hand atop his before rethinking her actions and placing the hand in her lap instead, "I've a lot to catch up on I think."

The sight of the hurt that flashed briefly across his decidedly dull green eyes at her refusal to touch him again made her chest ache uncomfortably.

"Then perhaps we should start at the beginning," He offered, "And go on until we reach the end?"

She smiled at the familiarity of his response, the kettle whistling its competition and he stood to retrieve it and settle it down beside the teapot as it steeped, the warm tendrils stirring her memory.

"Do you know it's been more years than I care to count since the last time we've had tea together?"

"Has it?" He queried as he poured, offering out her cup.

"Merry unbirthday Hatter." She bid as she took a sip of the brew he still apparently favoured.

"Unbirthday?" His smile faltered somewhat as he replied, "I'm sorry dear, you'll have to forgive this dottery old fool, I'm afraid my memory isn't quite what it used to be."

"I know it's been a long time Hatter," She chuckled, watching his grip shake ever so slightly as he poured out his tea, "But not so long surely that you can't remember our first tea party?"

"It is hard to explain but yes-" He braced himself against the table as he sat, as if he were frailer than his earlier appearance belied and the movement itself caused him a great deal of pain and she reached out to aid him.

"Hatter what's wrong?"

He waved her off with a resigned curl of his lips, "I'm an old man."

"No you're not." She snorted an amused objection.

"Oh but I am," He shook his head, "And feel it more acutely with each passing day let me assure you."

"It's happening again isn't it?" She queried with wide eyes, "You, your memories- you're fading?"

"Not as far as I'm aware no," He mused into his tea. "A little frazzled in my old age perhaps though."

"And I still quite adamantly object to your claims on senility," Alice huffed, "You remember me after all-"

"Well of course I do," He tutted at the implication otherwise, "You are Alice, and being so, I would know you anywhere."

His brow furrowed, "Although admittedly, how that is I don't quite recall-"

"But it's the sum of our memories that makes us who we are," She shook her head distraught, "All our adventures, all we'd done together do you really not recall?"

"Do not think it doesn't pain me to recall our shared past as nothing more than a fantastical story Alice," He grimaced, shifting somewhat uncomfortably in his chair, "To not know the sensation and emotions of having experienced it for myself."

"Oh Hatter," She did reach out to him then, her lip trembling but she held herself together despite her want to shake him out of it and scream at him until he remembered, "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"Oh my dear girl," His expression turned resigned once more as he shook his head, gently patting the back of her hand, "No one is at fault for the way I am."

"But you are not you," She objected vehemently, pulling away to pace the length of his kitchen in agitation while ultimately trying to ignore the throbbing in her chest, the skin around her eyes tightening and she wondered idly if she'd somehow also inherited a few of his darker traits through her connection to his clan.

Bizarrely she felt him shift behind her, her ire flaring at the distinctly absent feeling he instilled within her as she turned to face him.

"You're missing something." She poked a finger none too gently into his chest as he'd once done to her, "In here."

"Am I?"

"You've lost your muchness," She accused, glaring up at him in an attempt to draw out the part of him she knew should have raised his objections at this point, the absence of the wild and fiercely protective outlander who'd stood at her side in battle against the Jabberwocky paining her more than his lack of lisp or colour.

"The madness that made you, you, is gone." Her breath left her body in a rush as a great weight felt as if it had settled itself against her shoulders.

"One cannot survive in a world of madness alone." He uttered softly.

"This world is the very definition of madness," Her laughter was shrill as she returned to pacing the kitchen as he watched on silently, "And you were never alone, you had your family and Mirana, Mallymkun, Thackery, me-"

She bit down on her tongue to silence any further comment as the grand clock on the mantle chimed the hour loudly, a rather effective diversion she thanked Time himself for providing to cease her tirade and what was fast becoming an admission of her feelings for him under less than ideal or appropriate circumstances considering his betrothal.

"I'm sorry." She slumped back against the counter, holding her hands clasped before her when they refused to stop twitching, urging her to reach out to him. "I didn't mean to take my frustrations out on you."

"It is I who am sorry to have upset you so, but I'm afraid I must now leave you for a time," He moved to collect his hat, the shiny black creation looking completely unsuited to his face and entirely out of place on his person as he set it atop his head, "I have an appointment I must keep in preparation for the ceremony tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" She felt herself pale even further, if that were even possible by this point, "So soon?"

"For some soon takes an eternity to come," He commented absently as he turned for the door, "For others, mere moments."

"Of course," Alice muttered as she followed numbly, "I won't keep you any longer. Mirana's no doubt expecting me back at the castle."

"Do offer my regards won't you." He bid as they strode the path away from his home, the falls behind them stirring a rather painful memory for Alice of the Frabjous eve they'd stood together on the balcony at Marmoreal and she'd insisted he was still a mere figment of her imagination.

"I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to visit what with these pending nuptials and all."

"I'm sure she understands Hatter," Alice offered with a small nod and a sideways glance at his stoic expression, "And please, extend my congratulations to your betrothed."

She swallowed, pausing to face him as their paths split between Marmoreal and Trotters Bottom, her words leaving a distinctly sour taste in her dry mouth.

"I do hope you'll both be very happy together."

"Thank you my dear," He smiled, tipping his hat as he turned to leave, "I'm sure we shall indeed."

She watched him go for a time, his gait so very unhatterish and about as dottery as his newfound cadence.

"Oh Hatter," She whispered into the wind, "What's become of you?"

She turned away at the emptiness she felt building up in her chest and without a second thought her legs picked up speed and she raced back down the path to Marmoreal. The decidedly displeased champion of the realm in search of its Queen and the somewhat overdue explanation on the current state of her beloved milliner.

"Mirana!"


Dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUUUUN! Ah I'm so entertained right now. Hope you enjoyed. xo T85