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"So Jack and his mother with their golden goose, were never hungry ever again. And Jack lived happily ever after… the end," Hatter whispered.

By now Alice was already asleep. She had dozed off somewhere when Jack cut down the beanstalk. She looked so adorable! He'd always liked watching Alice sleep; she looked so cute and peaceful. But little Alice made his face crumple into that 'aw, so adorable' gushing look. Duchess had been doing it all day when ever Alice said or did something cute… which was a lot.

Gently he kissed her head and walked back to the others who were waiting for him in the front half of their large room.

"Well that's something I never thought I'd do," he said. "Seriously Jack, I bet you never had to read your girlfriend a bedt-" he stared at Duchess who had plonked herself on the ground and was playing with one of the teddies. "Never mind!" he said quickly.

"You know what I don't get," Duchess said from the floor. "Why did Alice only recognise you? She still has no idea who Jack and I are, but she ran right to you screaming your name."

That was a very good question indeed. She did seem to know him somehow. He didn't know if she remembered everything about him, it didn't seem that way. But she knew him.

This was so damn frustrating!

"That still doesn't answer how we're gonna change her back, it's just bringing up some more damn questions!"

"We could always send her to Caterpillar, at the hospital of dream. He'd help her out."

"No!" Hatter yelled thumping his right hand down on the desk and the corner of it broke off. "Uh… sorry 'bout that."

"It's alright Hatter," Jack said. "Just calm down so you don't break anything else."

"Look, I don't care if the guy is a genius. 'Yay he ate a shrinking mushroom to escape the Suits and he changes everyone back to normal!' I don't care okay. You know what he'll do to her. He'll lock her in a room and make her act like a grown up. And every day he'll walk past and look in that window like she's some sort of zoo animal!"

"Hatty?" the small voice said behind him. He turned to see Alice standing there rubbing her eyes. He must have woken her what with the yelling and the table.

"I'm sorry Sweetheart. Did I wake you?" She didn't reply; she just stood there tugging on the strap of her dress.

"My dress hurts," he walked over to her and looked at the dress. Where the straps were, her skin was bright red. It had to be too tight for her.

"Can we get Alice a new dress?" he said.

"I like blue!" she cried.

"Yes I know you do," he grinned. Duchess smiled and sent a Suit to go grab the tailor.

"So sorry I'm late!" a woman said from the door. Hatter cursed inside. "You know how it is with that silly Looking Glass."

Hatter turned to face Carol. He was trying to think of a gentle way to say 'hey! Your daughter's three again!' when Alice ran out from behind him.

"Mommy!" she cried giving her a hug. Carol held on and stared down at her daughter in shock.

"How…" she tried to say, but she just couldn't get anything out.

"Ball!" Alice cried seeing a gold ball sitting in the corner. Little Alice was almost as easily distracted as he was! "It's a froggy ball! Hatty come play," she grabbed him by the hand and started dragging him away. It would never stop amazing him how strong little kids could be.

"Ah… you guy's fill her in. Princess Alice summons me!" Duchess couldn't help a little laugh at escaped her lips.

"I'm the princess and you're the frog!" Alice told him. Then she chucked the ball away and pretended to cry.

"What's wrong little Princess?" he asked.

"You're meants to hop!" she commanded. He bobbed down into a frog pose and pulled a funny face which had her giggling on the ground.

For a three year old she was very stubborn and acted very well. There was no mistaking this little girl for anyone else. She was pretty much a short epically adorable version of the woman he fell in love with.

"And pop!" he sprung up as she gave him a peck on the lips. "I'm a prince again!"

"Don't kid yourself Harbinger!" Charlie said walking into the room.

"Cha-lee!" Alice yelled and tackled him. The poor old man fell to the ground with Alice pinning him down.

"Alice," he said. "You've shrunk!"

"No! I'm big! I'm getting bigger," she said defiantly.

"But you're only five!" the old man said slightly confused.

"Five!" Hatter suddenly cried. It made sense! Why her dress was too small, why she was acting very well. "She's getting older!"