I own noting I swear, the characters were already like this when I got here. The real people responsible for this are Burton, Disney, and Carroll

~Chapter 5~

"I see." Said Alice rather calmly. It was not the reply that the Hatter had been hoping for. He had been anticipating for more of an 'Very well, let's go and slay the Jabberwocky and then I will stay with you in Underland forever.' But from the way Alice was acting he was beginning to think that Alice had perhaps lost her muchness all over again. He was about to say so when there was a knock on the parlor door and the maid entered.

"Begging your pardon ma'am," Lizzie curtsied. "But there is a messenger at the door for you."

"Thank you Lizzie, I will be there shortly." Alice replied, rising from her chair.

She was grateful for the interruption because the look of disappointment and worry on her friend's face was almost enough to make her agree to return to Underland. But Alice knew she couldn't leave her daughter behind. If she did not survive the battle in Underland, then who would look after her? Henry? No, he acted as if he didn't even have a daughter. And she could not send Sophie to her sister; that would only be a burden on Margaret. And then there was Lowell. Alice had never trusted him and she did not want that kind of man around her little girl. She could not even send Sophie to stay with her mother, regarding Helen's failing health. Alice went through all of this in her mind as she walked to the front door.

Back in the parlor, Tarrant was starting to feel uneasy about one of the flowers in the vase on the table. He kept getting the feeling that perhaps it was watching him. Thought when he tried to greet it and offer it tea it remained silent, just like all the other plants in Otherworld. So he made his way over to the wall to examine a portrait of a rather handsome older gentleman. He had Alice's eyes and nose, and there was also something about the face.

"It must have been from you sir, that Alice got her muchness. She is quite an extraordinary woman, if you don't mind me saying so. sir." Tarrant then took off his hat and bowed politely to the painting.

He had just replaced his hat when Alice returned; she looked pale and shaken but there was also a shadow of excitement in her eyes. However those eyes were also beginning to fill with tears the longer she looked at him.

"Alice, are you alright?"

"I will be." She breathed. Then wiping her eyes quickly with her hand she said. "I have things that need to be done… I need to go out for a few hours, please stay here and wait for me. The servants will get you anything you need or want." With that she whipped around and headed back out towards the front door, Tarrant following fast upon her heels.

"Wait a moment, what has happened? Alice?" She was unlocking the door but the Hatter put his hand against it to prevent her from opening it. He could see tears rolling down her face, thick and fast. Those tears were ruining her lovely features.

"I don't have time to explain now, Tarrant, I will tonight…before we return to Underland." Her final statement surprised the Hatter so much so that he took his hand from the door and stood there dumbly. Alice slipped by him, down the stairs and into her carriage that quickly drove away.

How did she get away so fast? He wondered silently. Perhaps she has learned evaporation skills?

The maid, Lizzie, approached the Hatter a moment later and asked if he needed anything. He replied no, but should he be needed, he said he would be walking about the grounds.

Outside the day was warm and bright, but the sun was starting to show it's weariness as it was leaning towards its home in the west. While he walked he came across more and more statues of figures from Underland; giant mushrooms, a table complete with a tea service. Sitting atop the teapot was a figure of a mouse; Mallymkun forever etched in granite. There was also a section of the garden that housed two rows of rose bushes. On one side there were white roses and the other side was red. Tarrant shivered involuntarily, reminded of the garden that it signified.

The wind started to pick up, blowing colder, causing Tarrant to decide to move back inside. Spotting a door, he was not overly surprised when he entered the kitchens. The cook and, more surprisingly, Sophie greeted him. The little girl was no longer dressed in blue, but much duller mint green dress, however this was covered by a large cooking apron.

"I say, weren't you supposed to be taking a nap now?" He chided. The cook looked at Sophie with disapproval.

"Young lady, you told me you had your mother's permission to be helping me in here."

"Please, Cookie; I wanted to bake a cake for my new friend the Hatter." They had already made the cake batter and were getting ready to pour it into cake pans. Tarrant felt the need to intervene.

"My good woman,' He addressed the cook. "What if we say, should anyone ask, that it was I who asked our dear Miss Sophie to help with dessert tonight?" The cook looked unsure.

"If there is any complaint from your mistress, I will be completely to blame." He added and after a moment, the cook gave a nod of assent. Sophie was so relieved and happy that she jumped from the stool that she had been working on, and gave the Hatter a hug.

"Thank you so much, you won't be sorry, Mr Hatter! It will be the best cake ever!"

The afternoon passed quietly. The Hatter played a few card games with the butler, but hadn't taken into account that he didn't know any games from the Otherworld, and the games he did know used an entirely different set of playing cards; so he spent the rest of the daylight redesigning one of Sophie's bonnets. It had been in dire need of his hat making skills in his opinion and Sophie agreed, saying it had been a present from her Aunt Margaret.

Dinnertime came and went without Alice returning. Sophie had finished decorating the cake but she didn't want to eat any until her mother got home. Tarrant left the kitchen and was standing in front of large bay window looking out over the drive from the second storey. He wondered if he should go out, looking for her; perhaps she had been attacked by a monster and eaten? That would have been most unfortunate. He began to look around for a good, sturdy club to go after the aforementioned monster when the sound of an approaching carriage snapped him back to reality.

Alice exited the carriage and instructed Harvey to bring out a fresh team of horses. As she entered the house, she asked Lizzie to bring the housekeeper to her at once. The Hatter watched her from the top of the stairs. Her face was like stone. When the housekeeper came Alice handed her a large envelope telling her that everything she would need had been arranged.

Word of Alice's return reached the kitchen and Sophie came running out with the cake being brought from behind by Lizzie.

"Mommy, look! What we made for you and Mr Hatter!" She said excitedly. Sadly, Alice barely even glanced at the cake. Once Lizzie had set it down, Alice went over to her and gave the young maid a few instructions. Lizzie bowed and hurried from the room.

"We worked so hard on it though." Sophie pouted.

"It's lovely dear but we will have to have some later. Now run along, I need to speak with Mr. Hightopp alone"

Sophie looked slightly hurt from her mother's words, but dared not disobey when Alice looked as tired as she did. She gave the Hatter a slightly mournful look and turned, hurrying up the stairs to her nursery.

Once alone Alice dropped her strong outward appearance. She looked so worn and tired that she could hardly stand. Tarrant's heart started to beat faster. He needed to go and hold her, to comfort her…But she was married.

"Tarrant." She said firmly "We are returning to Underland tonight!"

Hello everyone, thanks for waiting for my new chapter. I know that the last one was short, so I hope this one makes up for it.

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