AUTHORS NOTE:

I would like to thank those who have commented thus far as well have stuck with me. I TRULY appreciate them all and while I haven't commented on every one, trust when I say, I have read them all and hold them dear to my heart. They all inspire me greatly.

I would also like to thank Yami, my best friend fer eva. He's helped me out a tremendous amount. Not to mention keeping me entertained by playing the role of Chessur or other various characters in order to grant me new ideas.

I apologize for the obvious spelling errors in my last chapter, it was quite late when I was writing it and tend to slip when my brain isn't sharp.

I wanted to set up an introduction for a few of the other characters before going full on into Alice and Hatter's fun filled adventures (or maybe not so fun) so we have a base for comparison. I always like a sturdy base for my stories before jumping head first into the plot line. And I enjoy holding out on the real sappy gooey loveness, that romances always bring, until you can hardly stand it. And then BAM you get hit with the giddy giggles for the next few hours. Chapter 7 will be the beginnings of unveiling just what oddities are sneaking around in Underlands shadows.

For those who are waiting for a bit of fluff. It's….definitely in the beginning stages within this chapter.

WARNING: I also changed the rating to 'M' for Mature content because I wasn't sure how far I would go with any of my future chapters. Precede with caution….or if you just don't give a damn…then…tra la la!

Cheers!

…

Chapter 7: Braw not Bra…

"I fear the activities of tonight will require extra attention, my lady." The soft drawl of a voice came through from the terrace. The Queen turned from the double doors, after knowing the girl had been properly whisked off to get ready for the events of that night, and glided out to meet the blue quivering flutterby that stood clutched to her afternoon teacup. "I apologize for attaching to your china wear but I am distinctly aware of your passion for sugar lumps…and felt it would be far too imprudent to simply stick my face in the sugar bowl…."

The white female laughed lightly and walked over to pour a thin layer of tea into a saucer. Plucking a few sugar cubes from their basin and setting them within the dark substance, she watched in amusement as Absolem dive bombed the dissolving white grainy corners. Mirana settled down where she had been waiting for the wise flutterby and cleared her throat.

"As you were saying Absolem…Why would we need more attention on the ball?" she readdressed.

The flutterby perched atop of a crumbling mound and gave her a calculating look.

"The Oraculum has foretold of Stayne returning to Memorial in the efforts of stealing our champion away." The queen brought a hand to her lips in a muted gasp. So this was why Absolem had been so urgent to speak with her. "The hall needs to be guarded, my lady. Far more than the usual. He will sneak inside with disguise and force himself on Alice. Tarrant must be there to keep her safe."

"Oh dear…and it is too late to call off everyone using masks."

"Perhaps that may work to your advantage, if you work it just right…" Absolem crawled closer to cordially sit upon his Queen's hand. He looked like a fetching ring if he stilled is wings long enough. "Concealing Alice within a camouflage will blend her within the crowd….as long as she does not keep to herself she will be fine this night."

"I hope you are right," Mirana replied to her advisor. "We can not lose her to the shadows…"

"As long has she has muchness about her….and Tarrant to shield her…I believe any ill will that is at work, will be foiled."

"I wonder what has happened to my si-…She-who-was-banished…dead I presume if Stayne was able to break free."

Absolem gave her a regretful look. He knew both girls when they were but little tikes, long before Iracebeth had been consumed by jealousy and greed. He knew of the white queen's pain when it came to her sister. Such an unfortunate circumstance.

"Maybe not….but perhaps if it is true, it is for the best." He said slowly in thought, "perhaps in another life she will be a better person. At least she would be out of her lonely misery and self pity." He watched the woman's facial expression closely before she nodded.

"You are right, as always, Absolem." She smiled, raising her hand to give him a gentle and ever so light kiss on his brow before walking back into her abode. "Lance." She called to her knight and gave him a whimsical smile. "All the guards will be placed on duty tonight. Every. Single. One." She pronounced clearly. "We will be having an uninvited lurker within our midst tonight and I refuse to allow him to spoil the engagement."

"Yes, your majesty." He gave a quizzical look.

"It seems your cousin will be poking his nose where it doesn't belong." She watched him as his hand instantly went to his sword out of habit and wrung his hand until his glove was taught against his skin. A dark look came about his features, making him look far more like his kin than he ever would have liked to admit.

"Stayne…I will end him tonight if he even dares…" his body seemed to relax when he came into himself. "I apologize, my lady." He bowed. "I will get right on your orders when you are safely within the sight of Demetrius."

"Oh come now sir Lance." She gave an airy look as she twirled towards her closet to pick out her outfit for tonight's festivities. "The maids will be in here shortly to prepare me. Demetrius will not even be allowed in. Go now. I am not the one who Stayne is after…oh and Lance…" she watched him open the door. "If Alice is not already with him, kindly relay what I have told you to Mr. Hightopp and make sure he is prepared to be Alice's escort for tonight…with weapon and all." She disappeared within the closet, chatting with the flutterby on her hand.

At the same moment, Alice was in the middle of choosing her own gown. She had each garb laid delicately to the top of her tousled bed and wondered instinctively which one would catch the eye of a certain mad man more. She quite liked the looks he had been giving her the night before, even if she was flustered when within the moment, and wanted to stir up a bit more of that feeling.

Although, for the most part of her day she had been preoccupied, the mortal had speculated just where Hatter had been and why he hadn't come to call upon her. It made her a bit saddened. She had only been back a few days and would have thought the two of them would be around one another constantly….at least that's how it was the last time she was there. The moment Hatter was free from the Red Queens wrath; he had come strait to Memorial and stuck to her like a fly on honey. Perhaps he had other things to do, she thought positively. She couldn't possibly assume he could be with her all the time— which was just silly.

But then again, the more vulnerable state of her mind countered, what if he were angry with her. Even if he hadn't shown a wink of loathing since her third return, she was sure he had a way suppressing at least some of his emotions….right? She had been gone for a while. She knew that….she told him she would be back before he knew it and yet it had already been nearly half of a decade later before she decided to return. Nevertheless he understood she needed to patch up loose ends before returning once more….didn't he?

She frowned.

Or, if Alice could think of an even worse situation for herself, she played with the notion of him being neglectful to come see her due to the fact he was entertaining someone he had met while she had been away these past years. Which, in all rights, she shouldn't blame him…he was a striking man even with his pale complexion and mad character. She couldn't expect him to wait forever…

Then again, she mused. Did they even have anything to begin with? She hadn't even realized she had been thinking along those lines until now. He was her best friend, her confidante, her strong hold… She would do anything and give anything to make him happy….and yet when she pictured him with another it sent her strait into a brood. The thought of another girl wrapped about his arm was enough to take a vase and throw it at a wall.

Oh and she was tempted. Which actually scared her a bit.

"Your mind is reeling. I can see it on your face." Alice blinked and focused on the bobbing head of the Cheshire cat, who was giving her skeptical look. "It's senseless to dwell on the 'ifs' or 'buts'…." Had he read her mind? She blushed and gave a scowl.

"Right your head to your body and kindly remove yourself so that I may get dressed!" She snatched a gown and lugged it away to get dressed by the mirror. "No peeking!"

"Would it really matter if I did?"

"Yes it would!"

"I don't see how it should…" he stuck his head back to his shoulders and rolled upside down in the air.

"It isn't proper, Chess."

"Your kind has others help them dress all the time."

"Women have other women help them dress… and you most certainly are not a girl, Chess. What would Hatter think if he knew you were in here while I was unclothed?" Saying his name at that moment only made her even grumpier.

"Who says I am either or?" His eyes gleamed with an unknown insight. Alice just stared at him.

"What?"

"Never mind, never mind." He put his paws over his eyes again, much like he did earlier that afternoon. Only when Alice decided to let the others comment slip did she begin to dress down then on into the ever flowing ruffles of white lace. This time the back was far more intricate that her sundress and required her to begrudgingly ask for the cats quick fixing paws. "Keep your eyes on the job." She snipped.

"I don't have any attraction for flesh. I much prefer the body being covered in something soft and sleek."

"Hmmm." She nodded faintly, watching him from the mirror as he twisted and tied the bodice of the strapless dress, marveling as to why on earth there weren't even any sleeves to begin with. Showing so much flesh to the public…wasn't that considered indecent down here in Wonderland? "Chess…why did hatter make this type of dress for me…" she admired the back layers of smooth fabric as they pooled regally down and molded into a train of lace behind her. The sides were sewn higher with beaded flowers in attempts to make the attire even more voluptuous in appearance.

"It's a newer style. It's all the rage these days. I suppose Tarrant wished to see your shoulders?" He suggested with an innocent look but quickly continued in attempts to subdue the rising steam that was emitting from the embarrassed girl. "It comes with a stole if you are that worried, Alice." He slid to her chest-of-drawers and produced a wispy see through shawl with small intricate designs of flowers sew along the edges. She gave an awed look, glancing from the beautiful piece of clothe to her own appearance.

"It is very handsome….although I fear this is all gone to no avail due to this nest I call hair…"

"Just paint yourself up and put on the extras. I'll gather someone for you." Like that he went poof.

"Uh…" she blinked and looked around. He was being so attentive to her…was it just because the Queen requested it? Even by the orders the Queen, she specifically remembered that the Cheshire didn't exactly savor in delights of taking part in anything too much beyond his own self being. Although, from experience of raising a few generations of cats herself, she had to admit that it didn't make much difference on whether a cat was normal or able to talk, they all seemed self absorbed in one way or another. Which was why she had to question the striped cats motives and in doing so it took her mind off of her latest predicament toward the mad hatter.

So much in fact, that when there was a knock on the door and she rose to answer it, she was startled out of her wits to find shocking green eyes staring back into her own.

"Good afternoon, Al-" Tarrant Hightopp stopped when he seen what she had been wearing. Delightedly surprised at her choice from the gowns he specifically made for special occasions. On closer inspection of the young woman he began to feel his breath slip away from his body as he gaped in marveled curiosity.

Of course the girl had to take it as if he had been staring at her hair. She blushed and quickly while scampering backwards, trying to fruitlessly hide her curly mess. All the mad hatter was trying to accomplish was simply savor this moment to memory. He took in her brightly painted lips and ever so gentle shimmer that poised across her eyelids. Silver speckles caught the melting sun and glittered like dew drops across her cheeks and brow.

While Alice felt as though she were simply an overly pampered lap dog that had to much fluff for its own good….to the hatter she looked like a creature that fell accidental from the heavens.

"Why are you looking so appalled, Alice?" Tarrant snapped into reality and took off his hat respectfully while slipping into the room.

"I…you….my hair." She stated helplessly. She felt so feminine. So vain. In all her travels and of all the men she had ever come across…none other could make her feel so self conscious of her looks as he did just now. He could be basking in her appearance and whispering sweet nothings into her ear and Alice would still be horrified. "Chess has been sitting on my head all day," she complained, "I haven't been able to brush it at all since I've awoken."

"I've brought you here to fix that bush of hers and look what she does? She blames me for her misfortunes." Chess appeared on her bedside and gave a roguish look.

"Chessur," Hatter scolded lightly before setting his hat to the doorknob and coming forward with a light bow. "I am here to help," he offered out a stained and bandaged hand. When she finally made up her mind and took it with a lopsided smile, the mortal noticed for the first time that they seemed a bit more put together than usual. Taking that into account, Alice raised her head to run her gaze along the freshly ironed coat sleeve, up across his shoulders and on to where she paused at his newly acquired ruffled plum that graced his collar rather than his usual misshapen bowtie.

"Hatter…" She leaned back to look him up and down. Of course he was colorful as usual, but his suit was far classier than his usual mismatched look. He gave a nervous glance and seemed to fumble over himself after she hadn't commented.

"You don't like it? I knew I should have gone for the black suit. Black is always in style. When in doubt always go for what is always fashionably appropriate. But of course I didn't. I never sat well with simply just one shade. I always found it boring." When he realized what he was saying his voice became a higher pitch while he fumbled over his words. "Of course anything is wonderful on you, Alice. But you look stunning and not at all boring in YOUR dress. You could wear a potato sack and you would look as dashing as ever! N-not saying the dress looks like a potato sack or that you should wear one….unless of course you wanted to! Then I wouldn't mind at all! Of course, not that it matters what I think- !"

Alice pressed a finger to those frantically moving hot pink colored lips of his and gave her most assuring of smiles.

"You are very handsomely dressed, Hatter. I wouldn't change anything about it….aside from placing your hat back on top of your brow where it belongs." Hatters own nervousness gave Alice a sense of confidence as she squeezed his hand to finally tug him towards her vanity. "Have you got a mask too?" She asked conversationally while sitting down. "And you know how to help me with my hair?"

He nodded twice, showing her he had heard her but wasn't quite able to speak just yet. A hand rose to glide about a stray cascading lock, his mind suddenly lost momentarily as he curled it about his finger.

"Hatter?"

"Whit woods ye loch me tae dae, lassie?" he said in a soft slur while fire began to stain the edges of his green irises.

"I…." she stared at his expression and swallowed slowly, "Whatever you find suitable…."

"As ye wish," he took the liberty of slipping open drawers and rummaging around until he came across things that would help him at his work. Just like hat making and she could only imagine dress making, he swiftly began to pull her locks carefully through a comb. Before long, her hair was completely restyled to fit the elegance that matched the rest of her.

She batted her eyelashes and gave a smile at his work.

"It's perfect…." Although she did not get much time to admire it for she was whisked to her bare feet and twirled a few times where she stood.

"Guid…" The blonde had noticed the more time he spend touching her hair the more his eyes had time to bleed into the deep orange that so commonly graced him when he felt an over flowing amount of emotion. Alice just didn't know what kind at the moment. "Yer hair stays intact." He concluded while keeping her closer, longer than Alice felt he needed, while inspecting his handy work. "Hmmm…" He brushed away and went about selecting various accessories to adorn her body. She wasn't quite sure what to say about that. He was neither yelling nor flopping about in a fit of rage. He was simply helping her get ready for the ball.

So she stayed quiet and lifted a hand or shifted in her spot when he barked an order. She shivered yet again when he slipped a simple chain with a small Celtic ornament about her collar.

"Are ye braw?" he murmured which caused Alice to jump and blush in surprised.

"Bra?" she finally turned and gave him a look, "Bra? Are you asking if I have my undergarments on because I find that a bit personal…..loon." which from what she gathered from her travels about the world, meant 'boy' in translation from the Scottish tongue. She distinctly caught both embarrassment and amusement flickering upon his face before he chuckled.

"Ah speart if ye waur freezing, lass…ye waur shiverin' up a st'rm 'at ye waur."

"I'm fine." She lied while moving away to search for some fitting slippers. Her gloves, she noticed, were a pale red…which not only matched her lipstick but also adorned accessories in Hatters own attire. "I never knew Hatters liked carrying swords around," she lifted a bit of her dress to slip each foot into ruby colored slippers.

"Nae until noo…" there was such spite in his voice that Alice's gaze snapped up to look at him in confusion.

"Oh?"

" Come, Alice…thaur is much tae teel ye in th' wee time we hae affair th' baa."

He whisked her away so charismatically that it left her speechless again. She hadn't noticed he had snatched up her shawl, nor her mask. What is a girl to do?

…

Ending Notes :

Flutterby- The butterfly was formerly known as flutterby but was changed due to the fact that they were believed to steal milk. Hence, flutter to butter….and it sort of just stuck I suppose. I have been trying to figure out when it was changed but so far I am coming up with nothing. I figured the Underland population still calls them as Flutterbys instead of Butterflys….for originality and the sake of my amusement.

OMG I found this English to Scottish accent translator….and it makes hatter sound soooooo much hotter when he's goin all rogue. Loooooove it

Braw not bra- So…I am sure women didn't call their undergarments bras back then…..but…COME ON that was priceless! I had to do something!

And yes! Tarrant obviously knows his way around Alice's room because he helped the Queen fix it up for her. Poor Alice she never remembers what she is suppose to say or feel with those charming Underland citizens….whether it be the queen or Tarrant.

PLEASE COMMENT~! Chu!