A/N: Going good so far? I had to post this today, so sorry if I can't thank anyone for chapter one reviews. Enjoy chapter two!

Absolem returned her to normal size when she got out of the Round Hall. She looked around at Underland, enduring how much the place had changed. It was so peaceful now. Alice looked around for Absolem, but he was nowhere to be found. He must've slipped away. She strolled through the forest, feeling she was being watched. She tensed, remembering her dreams, but then another idea came to her.

"Chess," she said warningly. The cat appeared at her feet.

"Dang, thought I could get you," he said paranoid. "It works on everyone else." Alice told him that she was not just 'anyone else.' Alice asked him to take her to the Hatter and the Hare, but no further than there. He obliged as a reward for catching him before he reappeared.

"Just beyond the leaves," he said when they'd walked for a while. "Goodbye." He evaporated, and she was left alone. She pulled back the leaves, seeing the tea table. She smiled and walked towards it.

However, she was surprised when she got there. Not a single soul was sat around it. It was completely empty. Then, she thought Chess had tricked her. She brushed it off, remembering how sly he could be.

She sat at the table anyway. She found Hatter's tea pot still full of tea. It was also still warm. She looked for a fully assembled tea cup to pour the liquid in. She picked one up and began drinking the tea. The taste of vanilla swayed in her mouth. She was confused, for Hatter had never made vanilla tea; at least, not when she was around. She felt lonely, sitting there alone. Hatter would have March and Mally when he sat down. She glanced around at her scenery, becoming absent minded. She didn't notice that March's front door was opened and certain Hatter had walked outside for some air. He laid his eyes on Alice, just sitting there. He didn't say anything, he only walked over to the table. Alice, still absent minded, looked at the tea cup in front of her.

"Lonely feeling, isn't it?" Tarrant said from behind her. She gasped, turning around to see the madman himself.

"Tarrant," she said, standing up. "I didn't realize you were there." He didn't reply as he pulled her into a hug. She hugged him in return, knowing now how much she really had missed him. "Yes, it is a lonely feeling."

"Well, hopefully it is no longer," he said, letting Alice go. "I shall join you." He sat in his chair, Alice on his right. He poured himself and Alice a cup of the fresh tea.

"I didn't think you made vanilla tea," she said, starting conversation.

"Oh, I don't usually, but yesterday wasn't an ordinary day," he replied.

"How so?"

"Well, Mally got sick, and she can't talk. Somewhat of a relief. Absolem joined us for tea for like, three seconds before he just disappeared, and I started thinking about y...stuff," Tarrant said, catching himself from revealing a little too much information to her yet.

"Oh," Alice said. "Sorry about Mally."

"She'll come around," he said. "What brings you back?"

"Funny you ask," she said. "Absolem found me." He smiled.

"So you just got here?"

"Yeah, and I thought I'd find all of you here," she finished.

"Do you have a place to stay then?"

"No."

"Then, please, stay with me and March," he said, and she noticed a hint of sadness in his voice. He wasn't sure if she would agree or not, but he wanted her to.

"Okay," she said slowly. "But I could always stay with the White Queen."

"No Alice, please don't," he begged. "If you do, she'll whisk you away. Then, I hardly ever get to talk to you. No offense to her, but it's true." She smiled, knowing he was right. That sounded like something the queen would do, unintentionally, of course. So, Alice agreed to stay with the Hatter and the Hare.

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