Chapter Ten
Alice and Hatter barely had time for breakfast before the Scarab arrived, setting down in an empty swath of green grass. The sight and sound of it still made Alice apprehensive, and the appearance of a very familiar club only heightened that feeling.
"Lady Alice. Sir Hatter." The Club nodded his head. He was dressed in a plain black suit, with a bowler hat on his head. His pointed black beard still reminded Alice of a spike.
"Hi…uh…" She was at a loss for words. Had she ever known his name?
"Ten, isn't it?" Hatter asked.
"Respectfully, I'm known by my real name now. Sandro." He gestured to the Scarab.
"It's okay," Hatter said, taking Alice's hand. She gripped his gratefully. He knew her so well, knew she was nervous. Not just about flying, but about the Scarab itself and her memories of it.
Sandro offered them spaces in the cockpit, but Hatter declined on Alice's behalf. Instead, they sat in one of the smaller rear chambers, where there were individual seats that were actually quite comfortable. They didn't do much talking on the trip over to the Palace; Alice just kept hold of Hatter's hand and tried not to think about another time she was on the Scarab.
"Are you okay?" Hatter asked after a while.
"Bad memories," Alice said, staring at the metal wall in front of her. "They put me on a Scarab to take me back to the Looking Glass. They told me you were dead. My father didn't know me. It was the most alone I ever felt in my life."
Hatter put his hand on her cheek, turned her to look at him.
"It's all done with, Alice. You're not alone anymore."
"I know." Alice leaned into him, nuzzling his neck. "Neither of us is."
*o*o*o*
Jack's office was large and tastefully appointed in varying shades of beige and grey. His desk was a large, cumbersome piece made of dark wood that looked out of place amongst the more modern lamps and chairs. And he clearly wasn't taking any chances this time; two Aces stood stiffly behind his chair, their backs to the wall. The King's nose was swollen and bruised, and both eyes had blackened. Alice bit back a smile.
"Please sit," Jack said, his voice nasal. Alice and Hatter sat in two of the wingback chairs that faced the massive desk.
"I'm glad to see that you're well, Hatter."
"Piss off," Hatter replied pleasantly.
Jack sighed. "You have every right to be angry with me. What I did was…unforgiveable. I am sorry."
"Look, we just need to get Hatter's inoculation and we'll go." Alice couldn't stand to hear Jack say one more insincere word. She'd had quite enough of his lip service already.
"Yes, well, that may pose a problem."
Alice stiffened. "What problem?"
"All of our inoculation was kept at the Casino," Jack said.
"Can't you make more?" Alice felt a tightening in her chest. She needed to take Hatter home.
"It took Carpenter…"
"His name was Robert," Alice interrupted tersely.
"My apologies. It took Robert nearly three years to develop the inoculation. My remaining scientists, the ones not lost when the Casino fell, are trying to reproduce your father's work, but they lack his…brilliance."
"You're saying Hatter can't go back to my world."
"Not until a new inoculation has been developed. No-one can go there. That's why I've shut down the Looking Glass."
Hatter and Alice looked at each other and she could see the panic in his eyes. It matched her own. They had to go back, their lives were there – Hatter's job and Alice's mother, the dojo and the stupid goldfish that Hatter won at the fair.
"You're more than welcome to stay here at the Palace," Jack offered. Alice shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
"Yes, I thought not. I'm told that accommodations have been made for you elsewhere in the City." Jack looked at Alice for a long moment. "I can send you back through the Glass, if you like. Hatter could follow once the inoculation is ready."
Alice was aware that Hatter had become quite still beside her. Was he afraid she'd take Jack up on the offer and just leave him here? She thought they'd dealt with that fear. She thought Hatter wasn't worried anymore that she would change her mind about him. Alice looked down at the sapphire engagement ring on her finger.
"No," she said. "Hatter and I are staying together. For as long as it takes."
Hatter ducked his head, but Alice could see the flash of relief that had passed over his face. He gripped her hand tightly in his, his thumb making little circles on her skin.
"As you wish," Jack said. "I believe you have an escort waiting for you outside. He'll show you where you are to stay. I'll be in touch."
Clearly dismissed, Alice and Hatter left Jack's office and were taken back outside by two Spades. Waiting for them out on the ledge was a familiar figure in red armor, a wide grin on his young face.
*o*o*o*
Toby led the way along the ledges from the Palace further up into the City, his very posture indicating that this was a very important job. Alice held on to Hatter's hand; though some of her fear of heights had dissipated since her last trip to Wonderland, it wasn't gone altogether, and Hatter made sure they kept as close to the wall as possible.
"Do you know where we're going?" Alice asked Hatter. He looked over his shoulder and grinned.
"Course I do! This is the way to the Tea Shop."
Alice thought back with fondness on her first visit to the Tea Shop, being all cloak and dagger with Ratty. It certainly hadn't been love at first sight; Hatter had seemed dangerous, like some kind of mobster or something. She smiled at the back of his head. She was right, he could be very dangerous, but he was also loyal and brave and sweet. Stumbling across Ratty had been the luckiest thing that ever happened to her.
"Here we are!" Toby announced with a flourish. Hatter and Alice stood side by side next to the old red phone booth, staring. The outside of the Tea Shop had been painted bright blue, and the scrolling sign over the door now just said Hatter's over and over again.
"Wow," Alice whispered. She looked at Hatter, saw the shock on his face. She wondered what was going through his mind. The Tea Shop had been both his home and his business, a place he probably thought he'd never see again. And now it looked so different.
"What…" Hatter paused for a moment, and Alice squeezed his hand. "What is it now?"
"The King had it changed to a social club, Sir Hatter." Toby looked uncertain now. "Everyone comes here. It's very popular."
"Hatter?" Alice wanted to go in and see the rest of the changes, but she wasn't sure if that was the best thing for Hatter. Seeing it might upset him, and she didn't want anything to undo Charlie's cure.
"It's okay," Hatter said. "Lead on, Toby."
"Yes, Sir." Toby immediately began moving across the pavement bridge that led to the front porch. Alice and Hatter followed a bit more slowly, hand in hand. Before they even set foot on the porch, the door swung open and a familiar face peeked out.
"Dormie?" Hatter let go of Alice's hand and bounded up the steps. His former Tea Shop manager came out, still wearing that ridiculous coat with the overly furred collar.
"Hatter! I heard you were back. Come to see the old place?"
"Doesn't look much like the old place."
"Well, not much call for a Tea Shop when there's no Tea." Dormie looked down at Alice and nodded. "We're a social club now, and we do a hell of a business. Thanks to you. Your name pulls people in like you wouldn't believe."
Alice just bet it did. Most people in Wonderland considered them heroes, and she was sure the old Tea Shop was a popular place because of it. She wondered if she should be upset that her name wasn't up there too.
"Come inside and see the rest." Dormie held the door open and gestured Hatter to go on ahead. Hatter held out his hand and Alice quickly joined him, Toby following along behind.
The main room had undergone significant change. The stalls were still there, but had been turned into cozy booths. The whole inside of the shop had gone from white to dark wood paneling, making the large space feel smaller and more intimate. Up front, where the podium had once been, was a sleek, rounded bar in the same dark wood. On the shelves behind it stood bottles of what Alice assumed were liquor. The bartender was a very tall man dressed in black pants and a white shirt, a towel over his shoulder.
"I can't believe this is the same place!" Alice exclaimed. There was no music; the only sound was that of the murmur of voices, and that stopped as people turned to see who had come in. As Hatter was recognized, the soft murmur turned into a loud buzzing.
"He's back!"
"It's Hatter! He's here!"
"I can't believe it!"
Dormie grinned and rubbed his hands together. Alice could practically see the dollar signs in his eyes. If Hatter's name alone brought in the customers, having Hatter here in person was likely to fill the social club to capacity.
"Looks like you're doing alright for yourself, Dormie," Hatter said. He scanned the room, and Alice knew his keen eye didn't miss a single thing.
"I'm just the manager. It still belongs to you, Hatter."
Hatter stared at Dormie. "What are you talking about? I signed the Tea Shop over to you. Before I left."
Dormie shrugged. "I manage. I don't own."
Toby shifted noisily from foot to foot. It was clear there was something else he wanted to do, but Alice just waved her hand at him.
"So, Hatter still owns this place? All of it?"
"Well…most of it. The King has a very small share, of course."
Alice's eyes narrowed at this mention of Jack. She didn't want him to have anything to do with Hatter, no matter how small it was. Hatter grinned at her, clearly amused.
"It's alright, love. That's how the King makes his own profits, yeah? It's not just with me."
"Lady Alice…" Toby implored.
"Just a minute, Toby." Alice turned back to Dormie. "So this place does well?"
Dormie swelled with pride. "Extremely well. We turn a nice profit, even with the extra staff we have to pay."
Alice and Hatter both shot a quick glance at the bartender.
"How much staff?" Hatter asked. Dormie counted off on his fingers.
"The bartender – his name is Stork – and the cook and a waitress."
"Cook? You serve food here?" Alice looked around but she saw no evidence of a kitchen or a menu or anyone doing anything but drinking. Dormie just shook his head.
"People have to eat, don't they? We have some basic offerings, plus tea for anyone who doesn't want the hard stuff." He pointed to two doors behind the bar, on opposite ends of the room. "We put in a kitchen and a store room there."
"How did you do all this?" Alice asked, gesturing to the room as a whole. It must have cost a pretty penny, and she was pretty sure there hadn't been much money left once the Tea was gone. She looked expectantly at Dormie, but it was Hatter who answered.
"Jack. As King, he would have funded renovations. Then he gets his cut when the profits start coming in."
"Lady Alice," Toby interrupted. He did his best to look stern. "I must insist we move along. I have to show you the flat before I can return to the Kingdom of the Knights."
"What flat?"
Toby led the way back to the front hallway, and Alice saw that there was another door there off to the side. The Knight in Training opened the door, revealing a flight of stairs, and bowed low as Alice and Hatter moved past him and started up; Dormie stayed behind.
At the top of the stairs was a narrow landing and another door. On the floor in front of it was a green mat that said 'Welcome' in bright white letters. Hatter opened the door and he and Alice both stepped over the threshold.
It was a spacious apartment, larger than the one they shared back home. The large living room was the only room visible from the door; a long hallway led back to the kitchen, a formal dining room, three bedrooms and a bathroom. The living room floor was actually a plush carpet of green grass, but everywhere else the floors were polished wood. It was fully furnished with an eclectic mix of tables, sofas, and chairs, not to mention one whole wall of shelves that were full of books.
"How?" Alice asked Toby. She couldn't believe this place, it was amazing.
"A lot of people pitched in to fix it up for you," Toby explained from the doorway. "We didn't know if you'd come back, but just in case Sir Charles thought you should have a place to stay."
Hatter turned his back to her, but Alice saw the shine in his eyes. He was clearly overwhelmed, as was she. Trust Charlie to think of something like this. She didn't know who had helped pull it all together, but she was so thankful to them.
"You can come in, Toby," Alice said. He shook his head.
"I can't. Not unless you formally welcome me." He pointed down to the mat. "One of Sir Charles' inventions. Only welcomed visitors can cross. It's a security measure."
That got a chuckle out of Hatter, who pulled himself together and turned around to regard Toby.
"You are welcome to visit us any time, Toby, Knight-in-Training."
Toby grinned, and walked in. "Thank you, Sir Hatter. And now I must take my leave."
"Already?" Alice asked with a smirk.
"Sir Charles will be needing me," Toby said, seriously.
"Thank you, Toby," Alice said. "And tell Sir Charles we'll come out tomorrow and take that tour of the Kingdom that he promised."
Toby grinned. "Of course, Lady Alice! I shall impart your message."
With a quick bow, the Knight in Training took his leave, closing the door behind him. Alice wandered around the living room, her fingers trailing on the white sofa that used to be in Hatter's office. On impulse, she pulled off her socks and shoes and walked barefoot in the cool grass. This was so Wonderland! She could hardly believe they were here.
"What are you thinking, love?" Hatter asked her. He was leaning against the wall in the hallway, studying her. Alice smiled back at him.
"I'm thinking I can't believe we're here. I'm walking in grass that's growing in the living room and it's amazing! This whole apartment is amazing."
"You're not…upset?"
At the odd tone in his voice, Alice frowned. It took her a minute to figure out that he might be worried how she felt being stuck here, however temporarily it may be. She stretched out on the white sofa, keeping one foot on the grassy floor.
"I'm upset because of what Jack did to us. I'm upset that my mother is worrying about us and I can't get word to her yet." Alice wiggled her toes. "I'm upset that you're standing there asking me that stupid question, when you could be over here helping me christen our second apartment."
Hatter was at her side in an instant, covering her face with kisses.
"You asked me once, what would happen if you got stuck here," Hatter murmured. "I said I'd make sure you're okay. I meant it then, and I mean it now."
Alice caressed his cheek. "I know. As long as we're together, everything will be okay."
AN: Here's a longish chapter for those faithful readers who have been begging. LOL! So, Hatter and Alice are stuck in Wonderland, at least for now, but they have a hopping social club and a swanky apartment. It should be all chocolate and cream cake from here on in, right? I don't need to use the Black Arts to know that's probably not going to be the case! Dun da dun dun!
Thanks to everyone who has been following along with this story, especially my reviewers. Those reviews really do make my day, and encourage me to keep this all going. You guys rock!