Chessie stood in the shower with her eyes closed, enjoying the warm water pressure gently against the nap of her neck. She felt the warmth spread from her neck to the tips of her fingers and toes. She smiled as she appreciated this. She felt strongly for Alice for having such a big heart. She watched the water turn from black to clear before turning the facet off and just enjoying the warm steam all around her body. She liked this apartment. It felt so much like home; so warm and inviting. She got out of the shower and saw her beautiful light pink Betsey Johnson dress. She picked it up feeling her heart twinge. She saved up so much money for this dress. She wanted it so badly for her 18th birthday. She wanted to feel so much like an adult. She wanted to grow up with a bang and look beautiful for it. Before the fire, her parents looked at her like they were so proud of her. They both loved the way she looked in it, all grown up. She sighed sadly and folded it up. She knew that no matter what happened after this point, she needed this dress. After all, it was all she had left. She opened the door slowly and found the towel and a pair of flannel pajamas behind the door. She grabbed them and got dressed. She felt so warm and comfortable in the pajamas. She hung the towel up to try and held on tightly to her dress. She shuffled her way into the living room and saw that there were a couple cups of tea just sitting on the table. Hatter was lost in thought and Alice was outside on the phone. She walked up behind him.

"Boo." She whispered and he jumped five feet in the air. He turned around and smiled at her.

"Help yourself to a cup of tea." He said cheerful in his British accent. She smiled and sat down besides him She put in a teabag and poured some hot water. She loved the way tea smelled. Her mother had it once a day. She smiled and he looked over at her.

"You like tea?"

"More than you could imagine." She said looking over at him. "My mother had a thing for it. Once a day she made sure she drank some. She said it reminded her of an old friend." He looked over at her and searched her expression.

"What happened to your mum?" She looked up at him sadly.

"She's gone." He felt sympathy for the girl.

"Was her name Maggie?" He asked his heart racing in his chest. She looked over at him confused.

"Yes… you knew her didn't you?" They made eye contact. "That's why you feel familiar. You're the Hatter." He looked at her in shock.

"How…?" She smiled.

"She told me stories of her childhood. She said she had a friend they called Hatter who always invited her for a cup of tea." He fiddled with his fingers.

"What else did she tell you?" She smiled simply.

' "That was all." He looked at her sadly.

"How old was she when she died?"

"36." She was running her finger along the mouth of the cup. "She was young. She had more life to live." Her eyes were filling up with tears. Hatter didn't know what to do. He had never needed to comfort a girl before, let alone one he partically knew.

"I can take my tea elsewhere, if you'd like." He said awkwardly. She looked up at him with her sea-green eyes and shook her head.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" She said as a tear fell from her eyes. "I'm scared. I've never had to do this before…" He put his arm around her gently and she pressed her face against his shoulder. Next thing he knew her arms were locked around his waist and she was crying heavily. He felt it soak through his shirt. He rested his head against hers and rubbed her back gently. He looked up and saw Alice watching them curiously through the window. He waited until she had her back turned before kissing her forehead.

"I promise you'll be safe."

"What if they come back?"

"Who?"

"The people who started the fire."

"They can't find you here. I knew your mother, and I'll protect you like I would have protected her." He whispered closing his eyes. He felt a strange sensation behind his eyes. It was like he felt everything as deeply as she did. He never would have guessed that the first person he ever fell for would die. He never guessed that her daughter would be here in his arms right now, looking so much like her that it hurt him. He remembered that afternoon in the fields and his heart broke. He opened his eyes and felt the girl clinging to his shirt so tightly. He held her as close as he could, wanting her to be as close to him as physically possible. He wanted to save her, because he couldn't save her mother.

Chessie let go slowly as her tears began to subside. Something about this man made her feel alright. She didn't know if it was because he knew her mother, or because he felt as strange as her mother. She looked up at him with bloodshot eyes and he held her face gently and wiped off her tears. They looked into each others eyes and had a mutual understanding. Alice came inside confused and sympathetic.

"Chessie honey, are you alright?" She asked kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hand. She smiled at Alice and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks." She sniffled. Alice kissed her back.

"If you're tired, you can have my couch, I'll go get you some blankets and pillows alright?" She looked at Hatter. "Hatter will help me go find them." He nodded and follwed her. Chessie moved from the kitchen chair to the couch and buried her face into the cushions.

"What was that?" Alice asked accusingly. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"We were sharing a moment."

"First you don't tell me why you called her Maggie, and then you're kissing her forehead and comforting her. Theres something I don't know." He put his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet.

"It's a long story." He muttered. She sat on her bed.

"I have time."

"But she doesn't. Look, can we please just give her the blankets so she can sleep?" Alice shook her head.

"If she's staying here and you know her, I need to know how."

"I don't know her, that the thing."
"Then who the hell was Maggie?"

"Her mother alright!" He shouted running his fingers through his hair. "I knew her mother when she was young. She was my neighbor and we were best friends." Alice looked up at him curiously.

"So, she's not from here is she?"

"Her mother left when I was sixteen. She escaped wonderland. I don't know how she did it, but I expect someone else knew. They killed her. She's dead." Alice gasped.

"Who would do such a thing?"

"I don't know, someone who believed in the old ways. Look, can we please give her the blankets now?" Alice stared at him sadly. She didn't like this desperation coming from him at all. She didn't like that the day turned from so happy to so somber.

"You want to help her don't you."

"Well, so do you. That's why you let her come here."

"You didn't want me to."

"Because she looks so damn much like Maggie, don't you understand?" She shook her head. He sighed. "I'm done with this conversation. Please. I'm begging you to drop it. Now isn't the time for explanations. I'm staying here to."

"But-"

"No, none of that. That girl needs me." Alice touched his arm gently.

"I can take care of her, I'm more than capable." They stared each other in the eye.

"I know, but kind of like following you over here to see you. Something's telling me I need to stay." Alice had a million thoughts running through her head. First off, why was he so dedicated to this girl? What was Maggie to him? Did he fall in love again? Why did he suddenly want to help out? He obviously knew something about this girl that she did not. She felt a bit of jealousy as she saw the look in his eye. She knew they were better off as friends, but she couldn't help it. He helped her so much in Wonderland. She wanted him to protect her again. That was where their love was. Not in real love, but in the protection he provided. She knew the logistics of it, but she wanted that feeling again. She nodded.

"Fine. You can stay with her in there." She said feeling defeated and curious. She went to her closet and handed him some pillows and blankets. "Just make sure she's alright."