Since Alice had been gone, Wonderland still remained the dream-like place as it was the first time she visited it when she was just a child. And it was just a while back she was here for the first time since her childhood. Here she was again, on an adventure with her most trusted friend, the Mad Hatter. He had always looked handsome in her eyes, and it was something else to see him again. It brought back up feelings that had long been since forgotten. Out of everyone she ever met here at Wonderland, it was the Hatter that made more sense to her than anyone. Feelings for him returned as the group made their way to where the disturbance was to be.

"Hatter, how long has it been since I have been gone?" Alice questioned.

The Hatter's orange eye brows turned inwards a bit before lifting and looking to her, "It has been just three years."

"Three years…it hasn't been that long in my world, I can say that for sure."

"But you're here now. You're you. With me." The Hatter smiled, still wearing that infamous hat with the fraction upon it.

Alice couldn't help but smile as the Hatter said that, "I am glad to be here with you, Hatter. There's no one else I would want to be with than you." It was then the Bandersnatch came up alongside Alice in hopes he would get some attention. Her hand came over and stroked the creature for a few moments before turning to look where they were going.

"I'm afraid of what were going to find. I do not want it to be serious that we have to take action upon it before reporting back to the White Queen," Alice's eyes furrowed as she thought of all the possible things that could very well be lurking in the far distance.

"It could be anything. So long as it isn't the Red Queen, then I believe we will have our work cut out for us." Nodded the Hatter who seemed to not take his eyes off of Alice for some reason. Large green eyes gazed upon her, "Alice, since you've been gone, I hoped you would come back sooner. Things were left unsaid, and I know that it must be rather odd coming from someone as mad as I am. But I would very much like to talk to you about it one time."

Alice looked upon her dear friend with a light smile, listening to his words. "I would like to do that, Hatter. When we find camp for the night, we shall have to talk." And it was then she reached her hand out and took hold of his gently. Hatter's brows furrowed once more slightly at the hold of his hand, but after a few moments relaxed and enjoyed the touch of her hand. Alice didn't know what was going to be said that night, but it made her look forward to what was ahead for the day and prayed it would all go smoothly for them to be able to talk.

Meanwhile, the caravan of misfits were on the move. Having been alerted of those that were on their way to stop them from infiltrating the Queen's Castle. These were the last of the people that stood behind the Red Queen, and wanted so much for her to take the throne once more. But now, it seemed to be getting trickier now that there was an army coming to see just what they were planning to do…

I do want to apologize for having not gotten this chapter up. I have been really racking my brain as to what to do with the story, and I decided to touch on what the Hatter and Alice have for each other. It's something I had wanted to see in the movie, actually, and I hope it's sustaining enough for now til I figure out what to do next. Again, I apologize, and I hope you all are enjoying the story thus far.