AN: Things are about to get a bit mad for Alice and Hatter. Are you ready to return through the looking glass?
Chapter 2: Through the Looking-glass
"Are you ready?" Hatter asked, taking Alice's hand as they stared into the shimmering reflective surface.
She looked at him and nodded. "Yes."
With one little breathe, they stepped forward and tumbled through to Wonderland.
They landed on the hard floor with a thud. Hatter, who landed first and on his feet, caught Alice before she could make contact with the tiles.
"I still hate that fall." She said, moving a stray hair from her face.
"At least now you have me to catch you." Hatter cooed in her ear, trying to cheer her up.
The couple walked out of the room where the looking-glass and into a long corridor of the palace/ casino.
"Ah, there you are." Jack said urgently as he spotted his last hopes. "We're having a strategic meeting, now." He led them to a small room filled with Wonderland's "armed forces".
"Now," Jack started. "Alice, Hatter, what do you recommend to bring down the hag?" Everyone looked at them.
"Well…" Hatter began, unsure of what to say.
"Is there a bargaining piece?" Alice asked, remembering how the ring was key to the takedown almost a year ago.
"Only Wonderland." The Duchess stated in her cold voice.
"Ah." Was all Alice could say.
"Do it." Hatter said. "Bargain Wonderland."
"Are you mad?" was shouted by several occupants of the room.
"Perhaps. But the only way to stop one who is truly mad is to think that way. The Queen of Hearts is mad, we all know that. If she wants Wonderland, let her think she's getting it." Hatter then explained, raising an eyebrow in a way that made Alice swoon.
"He's right. As crazy as it sounds, making her think she's getting what she wants in the only way to win." Said Alice.
"Fine. I knew that…. That it might come down to this, I had only wished it wouldn't." Jack stated, pounding a fist into the diamond table they sat at.
The plan was made. Wonderland itself would be put on the line for its own safety. It was a plot that only a mad hatter could concoct and thus it was. The troops were formed and first thing in the morning, they would leave to negotiate with the devilish Queen of Hearts.
"Alice, Hatter," Jack called as the meeting room emptied. "Thank you. Truly. To, make up my disruption though, I would like to offer you a drink or two… from my personal stash. Please?"
"Well, sure. We could all talk maybe. As friends, catch up." Alice smiled, taking Hatter's hand as she often did.
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In Jack's "Pub"
"You have wine?" Alice said, sipping from a glass.
"I grew quite fond of the stuff while I was in your world." Jack laughed.
"So beside's your beast of a mother, what else has happened for you Jack?" asked Alice. She was curious about her past lover's current life.
"I got married to the Duchess shortly after you left. The sale to oyster's emotions was put on prohibition. Not to much though. How about yourselves? You seemed a bit preoccupied when we arrived."
"Well…" Hatter said, grabbing up Alice's hand lovingly.
"We got engaged a few months after we returned to my world. My mother was a bit… taken aback when she saw our…reunion." Alice giggled.
"Really?" Jack said, surprised. "I… wow… congratulations, to both of you."
"Thanks. It means a lot, I'm sure, to both of us." Hatter said, shaking Jack's hand. In the midst of this gesture though, an odd feeling seemed to swell. Jealousy maybe? Hatter wasn't sure why, but being in Wonderland again with Jack and Alice was making this emotion boil up with out a tea.
"It truly does." Alice said, standing and hugging Jack. This brought the mild boiling of Jealousy up to a full blown explosion. Hatter was turning red trying to control himself. Alice noted this.
"Hatter? Are you… are you alright?" Alice asked. She looked deeply into his eyes but they kept his secret.
"Fine. Are you ready to go to bed? We have a long day in front of us." Hatter said in a mild mannered tone.
"Yes. Your right." She smiled. Alice gave Jack another hug.
"Can I talk to you for a moment, in private, before you go… to bed?" Jack whispered in her ear. She nodded, yes.
"Hatter, wait outside for me." She said, giving him a peck on the lips.
"Alright." With that, Hatter walked out the door of the pub and closed it half way.
Jack sat down next to Alice, very close to Alice.
"Alice, can… can I ask you something?" Jack asked coyly.
"Of course." Alice said, unsure of were this was leading.
"Alice, do you…. How could you actually love him? We dated just as long and when I asked you to marry me you said no. Why?"
"Jack…" Alice started. "He, well you both saved me while I was here but Hatter had more on the line and through all of out fights… I fell in love. Hatter almost died for me. And I said no to you cause… I wasn't ready. It was the wrong time. "
"Alice… I almost died for you too. In case you forgot."
"I haven't Jack but it was your mother, she could have been tricking all of us with that ruling. Hatter was actually shot and tortured." She cringed at the memory.
"Alice…" Jack was a bit self conscious about the next question he wanted to ask. "do you still have feelings for me. I still have them for you." He finally spit out.
Alice was shocked. She didn't know how to respond. "Jack… I… no, I don't. I love Hatter. I love him with all my heart. I…" before she could finish, Jack had flung himself at her and pressed his lips to hers.
Hatter looked into the room just in time to see this.
"No." was all he said before walking off to the bedroom.
Jack and Alice broke apart and not even a second later, Alice slapped him.
"Ass! Jack of Hearts, I don't care who you are. You can't do that! I don't love you. You're married and I'm engaged." Alice then stormed out and to her bedroom where Hatter awaited.
OOOO! I bet you guys weren't expecting that! Hope you enjoyed chapter 2. Please Read and review!
The Poison Owl
Peace. Love. FanFiction
Team Hatter!
