Chapter 5/6.

A/N: So it's finally here... day 5. Alice's birthday. I got a bit excited - it really ought to be about three chapters, considering it's length. =P Hopefully it makes up for the long wait getting to this point. I had initially intended this chapter as a one-shot story - but then I realized that Hatter (and Alice...and the story, for that matter) needed some time and room to grow. =)

*Minor and totally spontaneous HP references. =P

The Mad Hatter was scared to death.

He stood under the tree, clutching his hatbox and bouquet of flowers.

This world was so dim – not even after closing his eyes and shaking his head several times could he make the colours come. It was so still and silent.

He was afraid to take a step. He mustn't make noise least anyone hear him.

"You should go to the garden, where she'll come out during the afternoon. She always does. Otherwise she won't see you." Those were the White Rabbits final instructions. So naturally Hatter did just the opposite and stood stock still where he had come up.

"He'll miss her, frozen like that," said Dormouse.

"He's absolutely still," said Tweedledee (or Tweedledum). "Absolutely still terrified, that is," finished Tweedledum (or Tweedledee).

"Do something, do something, oh, can something be done!"

It was Alice's birthday, and she was restless. Her mother had respected her wishes, and had not invited their friends and neighbours. The big house was very quiet. Alice didn't mind the quiet, but she wanted something to happen. She had a vague sense that something was about to happen, but then of course, she was a traveler and a merchant. She lived expecting things to happen.

Alice glanced outside from her seat at her writing desk. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out – not a glaring sun, but a soft and gentle one. She imagined there would be quite a lovely breeze, too. So she went for a walk, as she did everyday, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

But she gave the flowers less attention that she normally did. Alice was dreaming, her mind on the many adventures she had encountered in the past few months. She and Lord Ascot had built up extensive shipping routes to South Asia, and she knew her ships like the back of her hand. She loved the ocean in all its many moods – including the rough angry seas, which always gave her a hard time. Lord Ascot was generous in his praise, frequently telling her she had done good work, and that her father would have been proud of her. But she wanted more than good – she would settle for nothing less than impossible. That was what her father sought.

Those who were acquainted with her saw her as either the most brilliant businesswoman of her time, or the most unmarriageable female anywhere. Most of her trade partners believed the former, and most of England believed the latter.

She shook her head ruefully. This "decorum" business had never been high on her list of priorities. Her proposal scandal with Hamish had spread all over the country, and it was really becoming a bit too hotheaded for her liking. People wondered whether she was in her right mind, and could never understand why she smiled when they asked her if she had not gone a bit mad, and might she not want to see a doctor?

The clock chimed four, and it was time for tea. She should take tea with her mother, although she dreaded the way her mother glanced worriedly at her when she thought Alice wasn't looking. Alice was sure her mother secretly shared the general opinion on her matrimonial ineptitude. Before retiring inside, Alice lingered by the camera obscura, which had been left on the garden table from her mother's photo-etching session the day before. Alice had many good memories – she wondered what she would have done if she had one of these devices at her disposal during those times. Could she capture the twinkle in her father's eye? The blueness of the Agean Sea during a calm day? The absurdity and incredibility of the world at the end of a rabbit hole?

Almost subconsciously, Alice glanced up towards the gardens. She saw a white rabbit.

"Does she see him?" Inquired the White Queen.

"Is she coming?"

"No, she's not."

"Wait… yes, she is!"

Alice had never spared a second thought. She sped across the gardens, following snatches of White Rabbit. Across the lawn she went, past a row of trees, down the hill…

And then she stopped.

Impossible, she thought. And heard his reply in her mind, only if you believe it is.

I don't believe it.

No, you DO believe it.

It didn't occur to Alice to start running again, as she had chasing a half-vanishing rabbit. Would he disappear? He certainly looked pretty rooted as she walked towards him.

He looked a little windswept, and his hat sat slightly lopsided over his left ear. But otherwise he was exactly as she remembered him. He held some sort of fancy box in one hand, and a bunch of pretty blue daisies in the other. Alice took in the apparition inch by inch as she approached. Neither flowers nor man seemed out of place here at the corner of her land under the sprawling oak tree. Why shouldn't she expect him, if she was expecting anything at all?

She stopped when she was in front of him. "You're late, you know."

He just stared at her.

"Say something!"

"He's gone dumb!"

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," purred Cheshire.

Alice waited, unperturbed by his silence. When Hatter didn't react, she reached over and took both his wrists. "Will you stay?"

Alice's touch felt very warm against his cold, clammy skin. Hatter tried to find himself. "…For tea?" The Hatter whispered, hesitantly.

"For tea."

They were silent for a moment as Hatter gathered his wits. "It's so…"

"Big?" Alice supplied. "But this is nothing compared to the frightening things you and I have done, right?"

What YOU have done, Hatter wanted to say. He was not sure what he actually did said, but it prompted her to respond, "Oh Hatter, where is your muchness?"

Hatter looked at her. Alice was smiling at him.

Alice had a beautiful smile. She was here. She had asked him to stay. Hatter began to feel much better.

His green eyes began to twinkle. He grabbed Alice's hands – forgetting about the presents he was holding, which promptly tumbled to the ground. His leg looked ready to dance and carry her with them. "Alice, Alice, Alice. I am ever so glad to see you! I knew I'd find you. You'd find me. Oh, happy birthday. I do hate rabbit holes! Alice, you have so much to tell me!"

Alice laughed. She bent down to pick up the box. "What's this?"

"Open it." He smiled conspiratorially at her.

Alice raised her eyebrows – it took both her hands just to hold the elaborate box. Hatter didn't miss a beat. He lifted the lid himself.

"Oh-h-h… it's beautiful Hatter. For me? Why – "

Hatter placed his hat on Alice's head, where it sat perfectly, of course – as he knew it would, a triumphant star of dark blue upon her golden curls. "There. Now it's beautiful."

And just as he had taken her hand when she was in Wonderland, now she took his and led him to tea. They would have tea outdoors, of course.

"The flowers! He forgot the flowers!"

"I am NOT going back again," sniffed the White Rabbit.

"It's too late, anyhow," piped March Hare.

"No it's not – I saw her looking at them. She liked them."

Alice brought out her best china, and a generous selection of teas from all over the world. She snuck into the pantry and robbed it of its many delights. Hatter sniffed at this and that, all curiosity and back to his normal self, but his gaze constantly drifted back to Alice. She sounded fine, but he couldn't help reassuring himself that she was in one piece, that nothing had hurt her during their time apart. After Alice had finished piling tea dainties on the table, he poured tea, and together, they sat down for a merry feast.

Alice told him stories of her travels – he was a good listener.

Hatter was a good conversationalist, too, and had lots to say about his birthday planning. She didn't ask him why he had decided to visit her in the first place, and he didn't elaborate. Instead, Alice asked after his friends, hoped the White Queen was well, and helped clear one thing up for him as he puzzled over it.

"Absolom sounds like a woman?" Alice repeated, not sure if she heard right.

"I declare, maybe all that smoke did something to him," Hatter confided.

"… Are you sure?"

"Yes, he sounded just like – like, somebody's grandmother, I should think."

"I haven't the faintest idea." Alice had seen Absolom flitting about on some of her travels, but besides a quick brush of her shoulder, the butterfly kept well to himself. Certainly he had never spoken. "Hmm… the accent – did it sound like zees?"

"Yes, yes! That's precisely it!"

Alice laughed as things became clear to her. "He must have stayed with me longer than I thought when I was in Russia. Come to think of it – I was spending a lot of time with the shiphand's grandmother. That might explain the voice, too. After all, Absolom is good at metamorphosis."

"What?"

"What?"

"WHAT?"

"Good ol' bugger!"

Hatter had been non-too interested when the White Rabbit had described the camera obscura. But now he was fascinated. A box that could capture memories? Forever? Could he be captured on a plate? Could Alice?

She said yes, but it would take a long time. Hatter, who didn't have a perfect grasp of time in Otherland yet, eagerly suggested that they try. So Alice set up the box, and posed him and herself in front of it. Within ten minutes she knew it was hopeless – Hatter kept moving.

Now, the Hatter could sit very still for a very long period of time when he wanted to. But how could he want to when he was in a whole new world and Alice was right beside him?

"It's okay, Hatter. In Wonderland, your memories already exist forever. Right here." She touched his temple.

"I know mine do."

Alice heard the catch in his voice, and looked at him inquiringly. Hatter reached over and gently touched her temple. "But what about your memories, Alice?"

His voice was barely a whisper. They stared at each other, both acknowledging the question he had not asked.

Alice took a deep breath. "Yes…" she said, very slowly. Her voice was trembling. How could she say no, when he was looking at her like that? How in the world did she manage it before?

"…someday," Hatter finished for her. He knew that they still understood each other perfectly, even without words, as tears sprung into her eyes.

And then Alice took him for a walk in the garden, and introduced him to all her favourite flowers. The sun was beginning to set.

"He's going to ask her to come back with him." Stared Dormouse.

"Alice is coming back!" Chorused Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

"No, he won't ask it," said wise White Rabbit.

"All in good time," agreed Cheshire.

Alice and Hatter were strolling comfortably between the hedges when they heard her mother's worried voice in the garden with them.

"Alice! Alice, are you out there?"

They both stopped and listened.

"Alice! You'll catch your death in this dew. Alice!"

Mrs. Kingsley was getting louder – she was moving towards them.

"Alice, are you here? Gracious (see: Figment of Me) saw you in the gardens this afternoon – you've been out for an awfully long time. And of course you wouldn't even think to put on a shawl! Hello? Alice, don't you go frightening me!"

When Alice still didn't respond, Mrs. Kingsley's voice took on a panicked edge.

"Alice! It's getting dark! Are you hurt?"

They could hear her footsteps now, walking quickly down the path. Alice snatched at Hatter's hand and pulled him through an opening in the hedge. They found themselves pressed in by shrubbery from all sides. Twigs were sticking every which way from Hatter's top hat. "I'm going to have to answer," she whispered.

Alice could feel him nodding in the dimness. They really were quite close together.

"I'm going to have to go."

Again, he nodded. "Me too." She could feel his breath. It was amazing how much she could sense now that she couldn't see.

Don't. She wanted to say. Instead she said, "can you come again?"

"Not easily," he whispered back.

They both fell silent as Mrs. Kingsley strolled right past their hiding spot, still calling out Alice's name.

Alice looked up at him. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dimness, she could see him better. He looked very somber. "Hatter, someday I'll – "

Hatter cut her off by pressing a finger to her lips. He shook his head.

"… when I finish my work here," she managed.

She watched as he drew out the vial containing his Jabberwocky venom with some difficulty. His eyes were brilliant as he smiled. "Happy birthday, Alice."

Alice was finding it hard to speak. "You already wished me that," she whispered.

"Yes, so I did." In response Hatter drew her towards him. He adjusted her hat, pulling his fingers gently through her hair. He traced her face down to her chin, very slowly. Alice knew he was trying to etch every detail into his memory. She could feel the calluses of his work worn hands as he tilted her face upwards. Ever so carefully, Hatter brushed his lips across hers. "Happy birthday," he said again.

She tasted a wonderful sweetness, and her breath shook. "That'll do."

Before taking his mouthful of Jabberwocky venom, Hatter leaned in again. Alice could feel his smooth, high-boned cheek against hers. She closed her eyes.

"What did he say?"

"I don't know!"

"… I love you?" Suggested the White Queen.

"No, it started with an 'F', I'm sure."

"Fairfarren?" Said Tweedledee, "Farewell?" Said Tweedledum.

"No no – he said finite incantatum!" (There was a moment of silence while everyone stared at the March Hare.)

Once again, White Rabbit stepped in with the right answer.

"He said, forever is Alice."

La Fin. (Epilogue to come.)

Comments/feedback always welcome. =)