A / N : Ugh, I wanted to get this chapter up much, much sooner than today - but for other reasons, it ended up being delayed. -_- But at least it's up now yes?

Thank you for the interest on the last chapter guys! I was a bit worried, seeing as there really wasn't much Alice x Hatter interaction in it, save for the last part of the chapter. Still, hopefully this chapter will help fill that gap, as this one is just filled with the two of them and their, normal ... ways ... anyway yes, you shall see. In this chapter, we learn just how much of a rainbow of colours the Hatter actually has buried away (researching colour names was most fun, especially when I found the colour 'alien armpit'. Honestly, what names aren't there for colours?? Still, for this story, you won't see alien armpit as a colour. That would be too odd, haha.).

Anyway, on with the chapter. I do hope you enjoy this one :)

Talking Dresses

A few days had passed since Alice's discussion with the Queen, and she was currently in the Hatters new dressroom which was located in the castle. She sat in a chair and watched as her friend rushed around.

The dressroom was, well, a mess in all honesty. But Alice knew that the reason why it was in such a state was for two reasons. Number one, the Hatter was still in the process of moving things into the room itself, leaving in his trail a rainbow of different types and colours of fabric, so many shades that even Alice wouldn't have believed they had existed had she not been witness to them. And secondly, Alice knew that what she would count as 'mess' her friend would call 'creative atmosphere', and she had neither the time nor the heart to complain about it.

Noticing a varied number of sketches lying around, Alice frowned. For some reason, he still wouldn't let her see or have any idea what the design of her dress was, and Alice's own curiosity over the whole thing was beginning to grow.

"Tarrant," She began, and watched as her friend paused what it was he was doing at his desk.

"So you've decided to use my name now?" He asked, and then continued to search about the table for whatever it was he was looking for beforehand.

"Well, I did say I would, if you didn't mind. But when I actually thought about it – I wondered if it would be strange for me to suddenly start calling you by your name in public. So, I've decided to refer to you by both title and name, that is, unless you've decided you'd much prefer to be called Hatter all the time?"

"Alice, I have already told you that I do not mind what name you decide to call me by, and that decision hasn't changed from the last time we spoke about it. I suppose I just didn't expect you to actually use it, not that I mind in the slightest-"

"You're doing it again." Alice interjected as she sensed him begin to enter rambling territory.

"Doing what?"

"Rambling."

"Oh. Sorry."

Silence passed the two of them for a few moments, well, apart from the sounds of the Hatter scurrying through boxes to try and find what it was he was in search of. Alice, finally understanding for sure this time that he honestly, truly showed no preference in what she addressed him by, smiled to herself. She wasn't sure why, but being able to know her friends real name - and even more being able to actually address him by it some of the time – made her feel joyful inside. Who would have thought that such a simple, small thing such as ones name could make their friendship seem even stronger than it already was?

"Anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to ask you," Alice spoke up after a moment, shaking her head as she did so. "What I was going to ask you however, is why I can't know the design to my dress?"

The Hatter turned to look at her then, his face filled with surprise, as if the reason why should be as simple as daylight. Noting by Alice's expression that she was, in fact, completely oblivious as to the reason why, he then answered her.

"Why Alice, for such a simple question there is an equally simple reason. I would have thought you would have known why."

Again they looked at one another and again, Alice still couldn't understand the reason why. Knowing that Alice wasn't going to understand anytime soon, the Hatter sighed.

"If you know the design now, then it's hardly any surprise later on, is it? After all, everyone knows that the best type of gifts often come as some sort of surprise, yes?"

Alice just continued to stare in confusion then. Since when had her dress been a secret and – when had it been a surprise? In fact, if it was any type of surprise at all, surely then he wouldn't have even told her about the idea in the first place. Seeing a scrap of paper next to the Hatter on the desk, Alice took to assume that that was what held the design to her dress.

"Well, can't I even take one small peak at the design? After all, it'll be different on paper then when it's actually made, will it not? So even if you did show me it now, it would still be a surprise."

The Hatters expression grew shocked again, as if the whole prospect that Alice was proposing was utterly ridiculous.

"Absolutely not! Alice dear, you really need to learn how to wait. You're beginning to grow more curious than that bloody cat. And besides, who's to say that what's on paper is what the final product will be?"

"Then I should be allowed to look at it, considering you could always alter or change the design when you start making it."

"And there is always the possibility that the dress will look identical to what it does on the paper if I choose not to change or alter anything to it. Alice, you will have to wait. The answer, is no."

Alice, knowing there wasn't any possible way for her to win the current debate she was having, sighed and crossed her arms. Sometimes, the man was just impossible. His reasoning on the matter made very little sense to her, and after all, all she really wanted was to take one, small peak at the design. How was she to know what colour she wanted when she didn't even know what the dress style would look like?

Lost in her own thoughts, Alice didn't even notice that the Hatter had returned to his task of looking for something, and it wasn't until he next spoke that she realised that he had in fact found it.

"Ah! There you are! Hiding away in another box were we?" The Hatter turned and caught Alice's expression, her eyebrow raised slightly as he proceeded to talk to the object in his hand. Of course, she didn't want to assume it was inanimate, as she had done that many a time since her stay in Underland, and later learnt that in actual fact, the items were in their own way, alive. She honestly wouldn't be surprised if whatever her friend was talking to would actually reply to him.

Still, she caught the Hatters signature smile, and after he was standing straight again watched as he beckoned her over.

"Come here Alice, you're needed."

Without saying anything in reply, Alice got up from where she was seated and preceded to walk over to where he was. As she reached the table however, she quickly glanced, looking for the piece of paper she saw only moments before. However, she noticed that it had disappeared, and could only assume that the Hatter had known she was looking at it and had decided to hide it. She frowned; sometimes that man was a lot more sneaky and clever then he let others know him for.

"Now Alice, if you want your dress to fit you properly, you will have to allow me to take your measurements –" Alice noticed then that the object in which he had previously been talking to was, in fact some measuring tape. "Of course, I could make the dress without them – seeing as you are very much the correct Alice size, but if I did that, then there is always the possibility that the dress would be either too big, or much too small. And we don't want that do we?"

Alice almost found herself laughing at her friends rambling again. Instead of interrupting him, she decided to wait until he was finished, and nodded for him to continue and take the measurements. After all, a dress that didn't even fit would not be a good thing, especially after all the work that he would have put in to making it.

A few moments passed, and the Hatter continued to take measurements and note them down on a scrap piece of paper, and then take more measurements and repeat the same procedure. At times, Alice was sure she sensed him hesitating slightly, and she almost wanted to chuckle. Of course he'd be slightly nervous over taking something such as her measurements; he was a gentleman after all.

After all the measurements had been taken, the Hatter looked at Alice again and smiled. Alice felt herself smiling straight back, the annoyance from earlier gone completely from her mind. He turned to put the measuring tape away and put the paper somewhere safe on his desk, and without turning around began to speak.

"If you wish, you can pick what fabric and colours you want me to use."

Alice blinked, and looked around at the mess of the room again. Oh, but where would she even start with the searching? It was like a rainbow in the room!

"Really?" She replied, still looking around in awe. Something within her told Alice that the mixture she saw around her now was not all of her friend's massive collection in colours; and that in fact, there was a lot more hidden back in his house.

"Of course!" The Hatter turned around again, and saw Alice still awestruck at the colour around her. "There are plenty of colours to choose from; let's see, here we've got red, purple, pink, ruby, banana, apricot, cerulean, jazzberry jam, dandelion, magneta, razzmatazz, bubblegum-"

"Wait, how can you have a bubblegum colour? What colour even is that? Surely bubblegum comes in various colours?"

It was the Hatters turn to blink then. After he did so, he stared at Alice in confusion.

"No, bubblegum is very much a colour."

"I don't believe that. Bubblegum comes in different colours, it could be blue or it could be pink."

"Yes, but the colour itself is pink. Look," Alice watched as he rushed to one side of the room, threw a few pieces of fabric away behind him, and picked up the one he was looking for. He held it up so that Alice could see it. "See? It's pink. But paler. Bubblegum."

"Well what an odd name for a colour!" She replied. In all honesty, Alice had never been good at knowing the various names different colours had. Of course, there were the obvious – red, blue, green – and so on, but when it came to names such as 'bubblegum' and, 'jazzberry jam', she was lost. And of course, when the Hatter suggested she pick out what colour she wanted for her dress, he would include all the various random names for various shades, wouldn't he? Suddenly, Alice sensed that picking a colour was going to be much more difficult then she originally considered.

She walked over to a pile, and began looking through the colours. Honestly, where did she start? They were all very pretty colours, and would all make a fine dress in their own way. Alice had no idea where to begin.

After a moment, she picked up a shade of yellow, and looked at it. It was a rather nice shade, and it reminded her of sunny days. Yes, it would probably make a lovely colour for her dress. And it made a change from her normal choice in the colours of which she wore.

"What about this, Tarrant?" She asked.

Hearing his name called, the Hatter walked over to Alice and was by her side in no time to see what colour she had picked. Looking at the colour however, Alice saw his face fell slightly, as if disappointed by her choice.

"Oh no Alice, no this simply won't do."

Confused, she looked back at the colour, as if trying to find the fault in it.

"Erm, what may I ask is wrong with the colour?"

"Oh nothing's wrong with the colour. Heavens no! It's just – this is for your fairy tale dress, is it not?"

Confusion setting in even more, Alice nodded slowly to reply.

"Well – yes, that's what I thought it was for at least."

"Precisely. And because it is so, it has to be special and represent you. And I'm afraid Alice dear, this colour doesn't do either – not to mention one of the women in your 'fairy stories' already took the colour yellow as their trademark."

Alice was speechless. So, she couldn't use the yellow – because someone – a someone who was entirely made up at that - had already used that colour in their own dress? How utterly ridiculous! Still, not wanting to anger or upset her friend, Alice put the fabric to one side, and decided to pick up another colour.

"Okay, what about this then?"

The Hatters face creased up into what was, most definitely, one of disgust then.

"Oh most definitely not! That doesn't reflect you in the slightest!"

"Alright ..." Alice looked around her, starting to feel slightly annoyed at the mans objections. Again, she picked up another possible colour candidate. "How's this?"

"No, pick another."

Again, she picked up another colour she liked, and trying to hide how frustrated she was feeling right then, spoke once again.

"... This. One?"

"Don't like it in the slightest."

Alice threw the fabric down unto the pile then, looking back at the Hatter sharply at his ever so blunt and straightforward - and not so helpful for that matter - comment.

"Just who is this dress for?! Me or you?"

The Hatter fell back slightly then, as if taken by surprise at Alice's outburst. Well, what did he expect? He was in one of 'those' moods, those moods being the type that obviously wanted to see how much they could annoy Alice. And Alice herself was in the mood where she couldn't handle such annoyance from him.

"Why Alice, for you obviously. Why on earth would I be designing a dress for myself? And if - for some unfathomable reason I was designing a dress for myself - why would I take your measurements if it was intended for me? Dear, you really are being most silly right now."

"Tarrant, forgive me if I sound – childish –" Alice couldn't understand why she was asking for forgiveness over her acting childish when it was the other way around from her point of view, but – still. It was either that or to continue arguing until he got annoyed, which she really did not want to see. Or put up with for that matter. "But, if it's my dress, why am I not allowed to choose my own colour for it?"

"Oh you're more than welcome to choose your own colour for it, of course you are! I just – figured you might want some advice. Especially seeing as you complained so much about wanting to see the design. I can however, shush if you'd prefer?"

Alice looked at him then, and noticed that he was indeed, telling the truth. And she couldn't help but smile slightly. Sure, he was being most annoying at that moment in time, but Alice could tell in his expression that he was doing it with the truest and most well implied of intentions. At such a thing, Alice only wondered how she could deny his advice, or get mad at him.

"Oh you don't have to do that, Tarrant. I'm sorry. We'll just, carry on searching through these colours until we find the perfect one. Together. Is that alright?"

She watched him smile then, and they proceeded to search through the colours together.

"What about this one?" She asked after a few minutes, holding up a piece of pink coloured fabric.

"Alice have you not been listening to anything I've said? This dress is meant to reflect you, not someone else."

Alice sighed. Perhaps this was going to take even longer than she thought it originally would. There were too many colours to choose from as it was, and it seemed that no matter what she picked, her friend would always find some fault in her choice. Even if he was doing it out of good intentions, it still didn't stop those intentions from also being rather annoying all the same.

Then she saw it. A perfect, beautiful colour that caught her eye and made Alice wonder why she hadn't noticed it before. She blinked, and went to pick it up. It was beautiful, or at least she thought it was. She turned around to find the Hatter – who was also searching through various colours himself now – and when she noticed where he was, called to him.

"Tarrant, how about this?"

He looked over to her, and noticed the colour fabric she was holding up. Alice noticed his smile grow then, and she instantly knew she'd made the correct decision finally.

"It's perfect! See? I knew you'd find the perfect colour eventually."

She rolled her eyes and smiled herself, partly wondering if this whole task was so she would find a colour in which he wanted to use for her dress, and that in actual fact, it really wasn't much her decision at all. Still, she really did love the colour – and was surprised on how it had not caught her attention before. Sighing slightly, she replied.

"Good, I'm glad we've found a colour that we both agree on."

Still smiling, the Hatter walked over to her. He leant over, just so his face was level with her ear, and whispered something to her.

"Now, shall we get to choosing what fabric to use?"

He pulled away, and Alice noticed his smile grow then. She sighed, the annoyance she was feeling only moments before returning to her once again. Something within her gave her the feeling that the two of them searching for fabric would be just as hard and irritating as it was for them to pick one simple colour.

Really, who was the dress really for?

I hope that chapter wasn't too odd lol. You see in my mind, I have the image that the Hatter is very much a perfectionist over his work, and in his mind, he already knows exactly what Alice's dress should look like. And as a perfectionist often is, they won't settle for anything less then their image. And not to mention, he thinks Alice's dress should be highly special, yet all her choices in colour were either too dull and boring, or reflected existing fairy tale princess dresses. He's awfully picky :)

Hopefully, the next chapter will be up soon. Thank you for reading this chapter, and thanks again to those that have been following this story from capter one. Don't forget to review if you have anything to say. Because reviews make my day, and I honestly - don't bite (well ... much.)