Magnificently Mad

Heavens Evangel

Rated: Maybe M...

Pairing: AlicexHatter/Tarrant, Mirana/OC

Disclaimer: Alice in Wonderland does not belong to me, nor do any of the characters, the world, or anything that has to do with this series. The only thing that belongs to me are OCs.

Alice watched her go and laid back in bed, thoughts swirling in her mind. She would take care of what she needed starting tomorrow. She was hopeful that by the end of the week she would be able to return to the only place she ever really felt at home and back to her beloved Hatter. A smile crept onto her face as she thought on this, her eyes finally drooped as she fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Two: In Which Preparations Are Made

Nivens and Mally arrived at the white castle just an hour after leaving Alice's company, both bubbling with excitement. "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Mirana looked up to them from her papers and smiled. "You've returned. What word have you?"

Mally jumped up and onto her shoulder where she whispered the news.

"Really?! This is wonderful news. Did she say how long?"

She shook her head. "But knowing Alice she'll try to get everything done within the week."

"Then we too, must prepare for her arrival, although quietly."

Nivens nodded jumping up and down. "She looked older but not by all that much. I think you may have competition with her Your Highness."

Mirana couldn't help but give a smile. "That's good; I haven't had competition for years. Perhaps this will give me a break from people staring at me all the time."

Mally burst out into a fit of giggles.

Nivens shook his head at the partly mad dormouse.

Alice awoke the next morning, her head filled with six impossible things. One, Mother and Margret will live peacefully without me. Two, the company will continue to expand and flourish in my absence. Three, I can leave my assets to my mother and leave an inheritance to my nieces and nephews. Four, my business partners will understand that I have other matters to attend to. Five, I can return to Underland. Six... I can tell Hatter how I feel. As Alice thought of her six impossible things for the day, she had gotten out of bed and unclothed herself to wash, brush her teeth, and fix her hair before getting dressed again and heading down for breakfast.

Helen already sat at the table and smiled when Alice arrived down the stairs and entered the dining hall. "Alice, good morning dear."

"Morning mother." She greeted with a soft smile as she sat down. She fixed her skirt so it would not ride up in the process or get wrinkled.

"So, your preparations start today dear?"

"Yes, I'm going to call a meeting to relieve myself of my duties and pass them on to someone else. Then I'm going to work on getting my assets together and gather some things of importance to me before I go."

Helen nodded, serving Alice a plate of breakfast. "Well, eat up, it seems you've got a long day ahead of you."

She nodded and began to eat her meal, all sorts of hopeful thoughts ran through her head. Hatter... I'll get to see Hatter again. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest at the prospect of seeing him once more and being able to stay. She was elated that her mother was so supportive of this

It had been well into the morning when Lord Ascot, her elder partner arrived at her home with a few others upon her request. She nodded to them and led them all into the study, her brown eyes set with determination. Once they were all settled into seats in the study she nodded once more to them all. "I believe you're all wondering why I called you to my home today on such short notice."

They all looked at her with rapt attention, wondering truly why she would call on all of them.

"I have reached a critical time in my life where I must think of what I am going to do with the rest of it. So, I've called you all here today to inform you that I will be stepping down from my post to pursue other ventures." She heard surprised gasps but only shook her head. "I will not change my mind, if the company continues on this path it will flourish more than it ever has before. And I have faith in all of you."

"But Alice who would replace you?" Lord Ascot asked his brows furrowed. He knew he could never keep this adventurous girl tied down for too long, but the thought of losing her brilliant mind scared him.

"I have a list of people in mind who could do so already prepared for you Lord Ascot. The choice on who gets the job is up to you."

He sighed; there was no fighting this girl when she was determined to do other things. "Well you know our arms are always open to you."

She nodded. "Yes sir, to that I am grateful."

"Well... then I'm sure you have other things to do..."

Alice nodded and saw them off out of the study and out of the house. "Fairfarren."

Tarrant may have been mad, but he was not a stupid man. He noticed how strangely the others were acting all of a sudden, and the castle was getting busier. One of the voices piped up in his head. Maybe they're just celebrating something, Frabjous day is coming up. He raised a brow at how reasonable the voice sounded. Why should I care anyway? It's not like the person who gave us all this peace will be here to celebrate it. His eyes swirled to a deep yellow. He shook it off and went back to work on his hats, his only true comfort. He noticed the hat was starting to become another one for her. How many had he made now? He lost count. He turned in his chair, his messy hair had gotten longer over the last few years and he managed to keep it more... kempt. He had to look his best since he was once again Royal Hatter.

The smell of vapor entered the room, the sound had been silent, or perhaps it had been loud, he had been too far into his thoughts to have noticed it either way. Chessur floated around, annoyed. He didn't even notice him there. HOW RUDE! He inwardly sighed, then a grin slowly rose to his face. "Hatter~" He purred close to his ear, causing the man to jump almost out of his chair and out of his depressing thoughts.

"Chess..." He frowned as he righted himself and looked at him. "What is it?"

"I came to admire your.... sweet.... hat." He stared over at the hat that was missing from the Hatter's head, a hat he hardly wore any more since Alice left. He'd wear it again if he had a person to wear it for.

"Leave the hat alone Chess, we discussed it."

"Ah yes, saving it for a special occasion." He gave a large smile. "Well you're a hatter you can at least make me.... a copy of such a glorious hat. I'd very much like one."

Tarrant fought the urge to roll his eyes. "A hat on a cat, a cat in a hat..." The madness began to resurface if only for a little bit. "A cat in a hat sitting on a mat and snapping on gnats while having a chat."

"Hatter."

"I'm fine..." He cleared his throat. "Why are you really here Chess?" His brows furrowed.

"I told you why, I want a copy of your hat."

He sighed. "Fine, I shall make you one if it will make you leave me alone." He sat back down and set the hat he had in his hands on a wooden head. He stared at it for a bit, he admired the blue satin he had chosen for the design. It had been similar to his own but smaller, daintier, definitely for a woman, a woman he wished was his. Even in his thoughts he ranted like a madman.

Chess nudged him, concern in his eyes. Her highness was right, he's definitely not the same... this surprise will be good for him.

Tarrant just gave a nod. "I'm fine." He squeezed out before beginning to work on a hat for Chess. "If you don't mind I will be changing the colors to something more suitable for you."

"That's fine." He looked back to the magnificent hat and almost drooled at it. It had to be the peacock feathers, or the shiny pins, or the long sash that dangled. The cat in him began to stare at the shiny parts catching sun light; he could feel his eyes getting wide with delight.

Tarrant raised a brow and looked at him. "Chess."

"Precious.... hat." He popped the t, dying to run his paws against the hat. It was just so unique.

Hatter was beyond annoyed at this point. "Chess, the hat will be ready in a few hours, come back then."

Chess shook himself out of it, it was worse than that time he found that patch of cat grass in the forest. He cleared his throat. "Yes, I'll come back later, until then Tarrant." He poofed away, but not before rubbing his mist against Hatter's hat in delight.

Tarrant shook his head. And they call me mad, get that cat near shiny things or that, cat grass we found that one time and he gets all strange.

Chess appeared by the queen's side and gave a large grin.

Mirana looked at him. "Well?"

"Doesn't suspect a thing. I have him working on a hat for me." He fought the urge to drool.

Mirana caught it and surprised a giggle, she cleared her throat. "So how did he seem to you?"

"Defiantly not himself highness."

"Yes, but that will be remedied. Chess, I need a favor of you."

"Yes?" He looked at her with interest.

"Watch over Mally, I fear she may crack and ruin the surprise." She said with a sigh.

Chess gave a look, he was hoping it would have been something more important then to watch a dormouse. "Very well... highness."

"You'll be well compensated." She smiled and pulled out a blade of cat grass from a pocket hidden in her dress.

Chess' eyes widened. "C...Cat....grass...."

"Go now Chess, You'll be highly rewarded once this is over."

Without another word, he poofed away.

Mirana sighed softly then stood up to go over the details. There will be a happy ending, I'm sure of it. No not an ending, a beginning. She smiled to herself and went to where she was hiding the small details.

Alice spoke with her lawyer and was just beginning to get things together. She was determined to provide her family with the funds she accrued over the last four years. She wouldn't need them in Underland. A thought began to form in her head. What will I do when I'm there? I'm sure Queen Mirana would give me something to do. She thought about how happy she'll be when she and the Hatter see each other again. But what if he doesn't want me? She grimaced at the thought, feeling depression come down heavy on her like high tide crashing into a strong, yet crumbling mountain. Her lips pursed together in a frown as her brow furrowed. Alice, you will be happy. She sighed a bit. I hope. She shook her head and went back to writing up papers with instructions of what to do with her money. In no way was Lowell to have his filthy hands on it, the money was strictly for her mother and her niece and nephew's schooling.

While she prepared she hadn't noticed the eyes peering at her from the crack of the door, nor did she notice the person leave with a smile upon their face. Finally I'll be rid of that ridiculous girl, this is splendid news. Soon I'll have access to all that pretty money she has. He smirked. Once I do I'll get rid of that idiot wife of mine, those nasty children, and that doting mother in law. He laughed to himself. This calls for a celebration. He ran into Helen in the hall way. "Oh, Helen, is it true that Alice is going somewhere?"

Helen gave a weary look. "Yes it is."

"Well, we should give her a going away party shouldn't we?"

"Well I'm sure her niece and nephew would want to see her off."

"Yes... they did somehow manage to take after her." There was a frown beginning to form on the left hand corner of his mouth, but he fought it off and forced a smile.

Helen nodded. "Wonderful children indeed."

"Yes... wonderful." He wanted to gag, oh how he hated, no loathed those children.

"Well, you're right; a party should be in order. Thank you for the idea Lowell."

"Yes well you're welcome." He forced another smile and walked away.

Helen watched him go and frowned. I have a feeling he's up to no good. I should have never let Margret marry that man. She sighed a little. She went to the door to peak in and saw Alice hard at work. She sighed once more and opened the door. "Alice."

"Mm? Oh good evening mother." She smiles.

She smiled to her as she went into the room. "Don't you think you should rest now?"

"Well yes but I'm going over some important details."

"Such as?"

"The money, conditions over and who will be receiving it."

"Oh?" She sat in a soft plush chair and looked at her, waiting for more details.

"Well, the most important condition." She looked it over, "is that Lowell will not be able to have one filthy hand on the money. You will preside over it Mother, should Margret or the children need it you can disperse it."

Helen was surprised that she would trust her to it. "Me?"

"Yes you mother. I don't trust Lowell with money, or with Margret or the children for that matter. I dislike that man terribly."

"I do as well my dear. I regret letting her marry that louse."

Alice was yet again surprised by her mother. "Mother I've never heard you express such sentiments towards Lowell before. I thought you liked him."

"Well while you were away I saw him do things that I dare not repeat to Margret."

"You as well then?"

Helen looked at her surprise. "You've seen him?"

"Yes, four years ago at the would be engagement party of Hamish and I. I caught him with some woman named Hattie something or other. I'm sure she wasn't the first nor the last. He's got such darkness in his heart."

Helen sighed. "Divorce is such a nasty thing, but... Margret should not remain in such a relationship. She's wasting her years with that man."

Alice nodded in agreement. "She'll have to see that for herself."

Helen nodded as well. "Indeed, but with children in the middle it will be quite difficult."

"Indeed."

"Well I'll leave you to it. Don't go to bed too late Alice, you'll need your rest to tackle the rest of the things on your list."

"Of course mother." She watched her stand and go to her.

Helen went and kissed her on the forehead. "Until tomorrow Alice."

"Good night mother." She watched her leave the room and close the door behind her. Alice sat back and rubbed at her eyes. She didn't have time to worry about Margret, she was older than her and had a mind for herself, Alice had Alice to worry about right now. She nodded to herself and went back to work.

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Author's note: Thanks to all who added the story and who reviewed so far. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. FF keeps formating my stories wrong .