I'm so sorry this took so long to get written guys. Just going by the pattern I had already established as far as POV, this chapter was SUPPOSED to be from Cat's point of view. Unfortunately, Kitty has been playing coy and just plain rude to me. I eventually had to just scrap the pitiful amount I'd managed in several month's of trying and start over in Jack's POV. At least I finally managed to get some forward momentum going right?

Disclaimer of Doom: Still not mine except for the Cat Cheshire, and even she tends to act as if she only belongs to herself!

Chapter 8: Of Introductions and Garden Parties

There was a moment of stunned silence, well silence other than the mad giggling from the Cheshire in the corner. Jack was almost amused by the view of a discomforted Hatter, but he wasn't nearly as fond of the thought of Stephen having yet another moment of confusion completely beyond his control. Hatter finally spoke, though Stephen was already backing away.

"Thanks for that welcome, mate, but I'm afraid I'm already spoken for and all," he smiled that aggravating smile as he backed up and waved toward his Alice, but Stephen didn't smile back.

"I believe he thinks you're someone else, Hatter," Duchess said and then leveled a disappointed stare at Cat. "Kitty, that was cruel."

The Cheshire's head shot up out of her hands, and her gaze darted back and forth, and then the little thing's face fell.

"But it wasn't meant to… she didn't try to. I didn't means it to be more than a funny thing and things, and I didn't mean to be cruel." She turned pleading eyes to Connor and then to Stephen who'd retreated to the bed. "Honest, I didn't. I'm not... I'm not-"

"It's alright, Cat me dear. All in fun, yeah?" Hatter interrupted her, and the Cheshire seemed relieved, though who could really be sure with that one. The former-tea shop owner moved to give Cat a one armed hug, then grinned and shrugged to Alice. "It's not like he's the only random bloke who's been hugging me lately now is he?"

Stephen raised an eyebrow at that one, and Alice shook her head and sighed.

"He ended up at a Pride Parade." Jack guessed that had something to do with Oysterlander slang, though the term wasn't ringing a bell. His cousin on the other hand scoffed a moment and then looked concerned.

"I'm not…"

"Oh no, of course not. Never said you were, mate." Hatter grinned again, and Jack felt relieved that once again, he and Stephen seemed about as confused as each other. "Just said you weren't the only bloke getting all touchy about me person. So who'd you think I actually was if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's a Connor. A Connor Temple, one half of bookends the other by the name of Abigail-don't-call-her-that-it's-Abby." Cat seemed to have gotten over at least some of her fear of reprisals and had taken it upon herself to answer for Stephen. Luckily he looked more bemused than annoyed. "Works with the Stephen in the ARC they do. The A-R-C not the A-r-k. Animals yes but not all two by two and too tidy like."

Once again Jack felt more than a little in the dark by whatever Oysterlander term Cat had clued into with this one, but Stephen seemed to had followed all of her rapid spate of trivia. He even seemed genuinely amused this time.

"Not too tidy at all. It'd be an understatement to say it's a mess at the ARC most days." Stephen ran a hand across his face looking suddenly exhausted. "And she's right, Abby and Connor were part of the team I worked with. And Connor is the one who's damned near identical to you." He pointed over at Hatter who waggled his eyebrows over at Alice. Jack just tried to ignore it.

"The Connor's younger than the Hatter though he is," Cat added, then wrinkled her brow. "Isn't he or isn't he? I thinks yes the Connor is. Yes yes yes." Her hand crept up to her head and she began to rock slightly, and just as Jack realized there might be something off about her appearance, Stephen was moving in and gently pulling her hand away from her face.

"Duchess, it seems someone's lost her gloves again." Stephen said it quietly, but the Cheshire still flinched as if she'd been struck.

"I didn't mean to and I don't knows where they went. Just ran off stupid things. The right never knew what the left's gotten up to. No sense in asking none at all." She shivered all over, and Duchess gathered her up in her arms again. "Methinks the Duchess over-doned it a bits. Just a bits or three." The Cheshire shuddered again and burrowed her way into her friend's embrace. "Too many too many in all one spots, I says. Too many thoughts and washy wishes and dreams all cluttering about the place." She tried to explain that to Duchess, straining to sound somewhat clear. Jack wanted to look away from the damned near pitiful sight, but it was almost impossible. "Should all spread out in the outside. Given the givens, the dreamy ones need room to stretch their legs. Yes?"

Jack hadn't a clue what she'd meant with that last bit, and he found himself at a loss. He watched as Duchess, Hatter, and Alice looked about the room at each other, trying to figure out what she'd said.

"She wants some air, and I do too. Any reason we all need to stand around in a bedroom?" Stephen finally broke in, impatience clear in his tone. Jack had half a mind to be offended by his cousin's attitude but thought better of it. He imagined he'd be just as brusque were the situation reversed.

"The garden would give plenty of room for all, I think. There's enough seating as well," Jack offered with a wave to the door, and after a shrug Hatter turned and dragged Alice with him out into the hallway. Cat and Duchess followed close behind, the Cheshire clearly anxious to be out of the now rather claustrophobic room. Considering the circumstances and the tea running through her blood stream, Jack didn't blame her. He'd never considered what a crowd of people would do to a Cheshire's gifts. It made his mother's use of the tribe even more cruel, forcing them into the sort of atmosphere that would cause them the most pain and anxiety. And being his mother, Jack figured she'd likely enjoyed that little side effect. Just one more way to prove she was in charge more than any mere servant. Than any mere slave really when it came to the Cheshire tribe.

He forced away thoughts of his mother as he followed Stephen out of the room and after the strolling group headed toward the Royal Gardens. Jack had enough family drama right in front of him, he mused, watching the way Stephen managed to move as if he wasn't wounded in the slightest, carefully hiding the weakness from anyone who might be watching. His cousin was alert too, his eyes taking in everything as they passed. Jack wouldn't be surprised if Stephen had the route memorized by the time they reached the Gardens, and even better, had several other routes figured out just by watching where they intersected with this one. Granted, this was Wonderland, and some of those "clear paths" were likely nothing of the sort. Still, it was better than some Wonderlanders who'd lived their all their lives could manage. There was a reason every room had a bell pull and/or an intercom – without them, they'd likely lose a staff member per month to the rather haphazard designs of the place. They'd probably lose more than one in the longer months, he guessed.

He was actually surprised Hatter seemed so confident in his destination. The ex-pat Wonderlander and Alice were turning down corners as if they'd done it hundreds of times before. Perhaps more of the Resistance had been squatting here during his mother's reign than anyone might have thought. With the Great Library, that made two major hide outs she'd been unaware of. The thought tickled him a bit.

Jack followed his cousin around one last corner and then out the double doors a pair of Suits were holding open. The sun was shining, and with something like relief and joy, he lifted his face up to the warmth. It seemed like months since he'd gotten outside instead of barely a day since fetching yon Cheshire from the Hospital of Dreams.

Perhaps the mad little thing was on to something with her desire to escape the closed in room where Stephen had been sequestered. She was certainly reveling in the open air, turning somersaults and then just falling backwards onto the grass with a boisterous laugh. Hatter looked tempted to join in on the antics, but a quick shake of Alice's head had him sitting on a bench with a disappointed huff.

The rest of the group drifted his direction, dragging over chairs or benches as they chose. Jack was surprised to see Stephen sink down to the grass near Cat; he hadn't thought his cousin would be able to move quite that easily let alone choose such an uncomfortable spot. It didn't stay uncomfortable for long though, Jack was bemused to see. As Stephen settled himself, Cat sprang up from her sprawl across the lawn and moved to steal cushions from some of the unclaimed seating scattered about the garden. She returned looking nothing so much like a giant pile of pillows. The Cheshire dumped her spoils beside the wounded man, and between the two of them, they managed to arrange the cushions until Stephen could recline himself as easily as he had back in the bedroom. She stood back to survey her job well done and then nodded sharply.

"There. That's better is it isn't it?" She plopped down on a cushion of her own, crossing her legs and propping her elbows on her knees, then resting her chin in her hands. "It's nice as nice out here good, Heart Sir. I offer compliments and cakes to the gardeners and all! Only not the cakes as I hasn't any but if I dids I'd given them out to anyone as wants them I would."

Jack managed to keep the discomfort off his face as he nodded politely at the Cheshire's announcement. She was right after all; the gardeners had done a spectacular job making this part of the Royal Gardens comfortable and welcoming. He might not offer cakes, but perhaps some sort of recognition was due. He made a mental note to have 10 put together a list of what sort of things would be appropriate in such a situation.

"Cake is always appropriate…" Cat muttered, only just loud enough for Jack and his cousin to hear, and Jack was less than amused to hear Stephen chuckle a little. Must he encourage the Cheshire? "Yes, yes he musted so there she says."

"So," he said, in an effort to bring a close to the various side conversations that had been going on as every one settled themselves in their chosen spots, "Hatter, I gather Duchess has already informed you of why you were needed?"

"That she did. Something about the effects of the Oysterland on a Wonderlander on a more permanent basis, yeah?" Jack and Duchess both nodded in response to Hatter almost as one, and Hatter went on without pausing for them to insert any kind of clarification. "So, to be perfectly honest and considering all the facts as I see them and have experienced with the lovely Alice beyond the Looking Glass… Well, I haven't a clue what the aforementioned effects might turn out to be. Haven't lived there long enough."

As his words sunk in and he shrugged almost cheekily, Jack sighed. Why had he expected this to be any simpler than anything else had been thus far? He risked Duchess's wrath to glare at the Cheshire who was staring off into the space around Hatter and Stephen by turns

"Tell me, Cat. Why exactly did you demand I send for Hatter if he isn't able to answer any of our questions?"

She didn't answer for a long moment, almost long enough for Jack to reach the end of his patience. Then she turned her gaze to him and grinned wide.

"Because now that he's here, I can answers your questions."