Inspired by actual snow in South Carolina! I couldn't get this scene out of my head.

It's nearly 2 o'clock when Alice wakes up. Hatter is sitting at the window, transfixed by the sight in front of him.

She can't understand his fascination for a moment. It's just snowing. "What are you looking at?"

He whips his head around to her and grins. "It's, it's gorgeous. I'd have been a better man all my life had I known there were things like this in the world." By this point Alice has moved to sit next to him by the window. Sure, New York is definitely pretty in the snow, but it's just snow.

"You'll be sick of it in a few weeks," she promises. "It will pretty much do this throughout the winter, and trust me, it's not fun to walk to work in it every day."

Hatter's face lights up as though she's told him that he can buy as many hats as he wants. "You mean it keeps doing this? Really? That's the best news I've heard in weeks!" He really does look like a kid at the moment.

"Haven't you ever seen snow before?" Alice asks.

"No, doesn't do this in Wonderland. Hasn't snowed there since before the fall of the knights. I'd heard stories about it, but I hardly believed them. It's so beautiful." He sighed wistfully and stared out the window.

Alice is content to watch Hatter. It's been a long time since she saw anyone this excited over anything as simple as snow. Even the children around the neighborhood get tired of the fluffy, wet stuff pretty quickly. But here is, a 24 year old man, glowing like a kid on Christmas.

A hopeful grin spreads across his face. "Alice, love, you don't think that we could…" His voice drifts off. He doesn't want Alice to think he's silly, but he so wants to…

"Would you like to play in the snow with me? I haven't for years," Alice asks with a knowing grin.

Hatter almost knocks her over with his hug. Luckily they're both sitting. "Sorry love," he chuckles, pulling her up by the hand. He starts towards the door, but Alice pulls him back around to face her. "What?"

She can't help laughing. "Hatter. You're in a t-shirt and boxers. Not that I mind much but I think you'll be cold." He looks down at himself then back up at Alice.

"Oh."

Several minutes later they're both fully dressed and outside. Alice had a difficult time convincing him he really needed the boots and gloves, but now he's secretly grateful for them.

"It's all so wet," he says in shock.

"What were you expecting? It's water you know."

He blinks. "Oh, yeah. Huh. Didn't think about that." Hatter walks around, delighted with the sound of crunching snow under his feet. "It's like powder but not." He walks around for a few more minutes, kicking up snow as he does. Alice laughs as he marvels at the white around him. Suddenly he bends down. "There's something that I've always wanted to try when I would hear about the old country," he explains as Alice glances him a quizzical glance.

Alice's cell phone rings. It's her mother. "Hey, Mom. Yeah, I'm staying the weekend with Hatter." Her mother is gone on business for the week and worries about Alice more than either care to admit. "Yeah, we're fine," Alice reassures her, turning towards the apartment. "No, nothing to worry about. We've just been watching movies, relaxing. It finally snowed... I know, but I doubt we'll need the space heater. Ok – ok, Mom, we're fine. Ok, love you too. Bye."

Just as Alice puts the phone back in her pocket something cold and wet hits the back of her head. Whirling around she sees Hatter grinning like an imp. "Well, that was pretty easy." Oh, there will be payback.

They're both soaking half an hour later. Hatter hides behind a bush while Alice has taken shelter on one side of a stoop. She's shivering wet and freezing, but she hasn't laughed this much in a long time. "Truce?" she calls out, hoping Hatter will let up on his constant rain of snow.

"Sure, I'm getting a bit frigid over here," he agrees. They both scamper out of their hiding spots. Hatter's face is bright red, his hair covered in snow, but he's exhilarated. It's as though he reclaimed a small piece of lost childhood here. In this moment, Alice can see the young boy inside the man she's grown to love. She quickly moves in close, tucking herself under his arm.

"I'm really cold," she complains in a teasing voice. "If only I knew how to get warm."

Hatter's mood changes in seconds. "Well, I could think of a few ways to help you, although I'm afraid we'd have to go inside…" He smiles wolfishly right before his lips come down on hers, effectively causing Alice's body temperature to rise. Dramatically.

Before the pair can get carried away, several snowballs hit them at once. They break apart, Hatter looking genuinely annoyed. His expression softens though when he sees three sets of small eyes peeping over the bushes. Several of the local boys have a fascination with their new, slightly unkempt neighbor.

"Oy, you lot!" Hatter yells good-naturedly. "You just hit my girlfriend, you know. That's not nice."

One of the braver boys scampers out from behind the shrubs and shouts back. "But she's a girl! And you were kissing her, mister. That's gross! Cause she's a girl and all." Hatter cracks up. Alice pretends to be hurt.

"That's me they're talking about, you know. Don't you laugh at that!

"He does have a point you know," Hatter muses, smirking when Alice shoots him an annoyed look.

"Oh, now you've done it," she mutters before throwing a snowball at the back of his head. The ensuing battle lasts for half an hour. Hatter and the boys pelt her with snow, although she puts up a good fight. Alice eventually surrenders, completely soaked and exhausted. It's starting to get late anyway.

Hatter goes to shoe the boys back to their homes. "Come on, off with you," he orders with a grin. They protest by tackling Hatter and trying to pin him to the ground. He manages to stand up after a few minutes, with a child hanging off his back and two off his arms. Alice can't help but give into mirth, leaning against a tree for support as she laughs.

Eventually Hatter does shake the boys, and they head back to their homes, anxious to get there before dark. When he turns back towards Alice, she's studying him with a peaceful smile on her face. There's something in her eyes however that makes him pause. "What?" he questions her, but she shakes her head.

"Nothing, just you, that's all. Let's head inside."

They both change into dry clothes. Hatter sets a pot of tea brewing and joins Alice, lounging on the couch. She's been thinking about Hatter. How much fun he was to be around – he'd certainly brought her "inner child" out today. And how natural, how right he seemed with the kids. She'd never really wanted any, but then again she'd never really been with the right person. Maybe with Hatter, though. At least the thought didn't terrify her nearly as much with him.

"You're deep in thought. What's on your mind?" he asks, sliding her into his arms.

Alice leans her head against his shoulder. "Nothing much, just stuff. Girl stuff. You, however, were brilliant today. Did you enjoy the snow?"

He chuckles. "It was lovely, but I don't think I would have appreciated it without you."

"Funny," Alice replies, "I was thinking the same thing."

I figured Hatter would have quite a bit of childlike excitement about snow. I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews/comments are really appreciated.