Here is Chapter Three! It's my longest yet, although the big adventure has not yet started. If I keep going at my current pace, my story's going to have to be really long. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers, who have praised and motivated moi, the humble writer. Here's the disclaimer: Alice, Hatter, and all other characters and settings belong to SyFy. I only take them and play with them sometimes. Unfortunately, I always have to give them back.

The Dinner

When Alice woke up the next morning, her first thought was 'What happened last night?' She rose and realized that she still had all her clothes on, so she went to take a long shower. After she finished and was dressed, she walked in the kitchen to get some breakfast and found her mother there. Carol was making eggs and smiling.

"Morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?" Alice shrugged.

"Well enough, I guess. Hey mom? Why did you say that Ha-David was a step up from Jack?" Alice was really curious about this; she had thought that her mother liked Jack.

"Well, he just seemed a little, I don't know, oily to me. He seemed like he was trying to butter me up, that he said things to make me like him, not because they were true. That, combined with the way he treated you, won him a life's supply of distrust from me." Carol shrugged and turned back to the eggs, leaving Alice to ponder over what she had said. Her mother had picked up on Jack's lies immediately, whereas she had believed every word out of his mouth. Alice was overwhelmed with anger, but she bit it back down. Although Jack had lied to her and manipulated her, he had a good reason for doing so, and everything had turned out well. If Jack hadn't lied to her and led her through the Looking Glass, she never would have found out about her father. She never would have met Hatter. With that thought, Alice's anger disappeared completely. She sat down, thinking.

"Sweetie?" Carol's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Do you want eggs?"

"Yes, please, Mom." Alice smiled at her mother, wondering how she ended up with someone like Carol when there were Mary Elizabeth Constance Devilious Hearts out there. She took a moment to feel bad for Jack before shoving him in a drawer in the back of her head. She didn't want to think about him anymore.

"And sweetie?" Carol looked at her daughter, curious. "Why do you call David Hatter?" Alice jumped little, taken by surprise. Carol continued, oblivious. "Is it because he wears a hat?" Alice remembered her own thoughts on this subject a few days ago. It felt like forever.

"No, it's because he's…" Alice thought about the bogus line he had fed her. "Yeah it is, Mom." Carol presented Alice with a plate of eggs, which Alice consumed, ravenous. "Hey Mom? Let's not talk about last night again." Carol smiled maternally. She knew how hard it was for her daughter to talk about her feelings and such things.

"Of course, sweetie." Alice brought her plate to the sink and smiled at her mother.

"Mom, I have to go shopping, okay? I need some things for…um…" Alice wasn't good at lying.

"Go spend the day with David, sweetie. It's fine." Carol rolled her eyes at her daughter.

"Mom, I'm not going to…yeah, I am. See you tonight, Mom." Alice grabbed her bag and walked out the door. Once said door was firmly closed behind her, she ran down the stairs and out to Hatter's apartment. She had never been in love like this before. She just wanted to see Hatter. When she got to the door, though, a little voice niggled in the back of her mind. 'Whoa,' it said, 'aren't you moving a little fast? You've only known this Hatter guy for three days. Do you remember how charming he can be? He can convince anyone of anything. What kind of person wears bulletproof armor around, hmm? One who thinks that they have reason to be shot, that's what kind.' Then the door opened and there was Hatter. His face spread into a huge grin and that stupid niggling voice disappeared, along with all of Alice's doubts.

"Hey," she said. "Can I come in?" She felt like a teenager in love. The feeling was weird, but she liked it.

He rolled his eyes. "No, you may not. You will just have to stay out here." He smiled again. "Get in here!" Alice smiled and Hatter's heart melted. He lived for that smile. Alice walked in and sat down on the couch, one of the only pieces of furniture not covered in red, hearts, or cards. The couch was dark leather and Alice wouldn't have pegged it as Jack's taste. He seemed more posh than that.

"C'mere. I have a secret for you." Hatter sat down next to Alice, who raised her eyebrows and leaned closer suspiciously. Hatter motioned her closer, closer…and captured her lips in his. The kiss took Alice completely by surprise and left her gasping. Hatter jumped off the couch laughing.

"You big liar! You cheater!" Alice crossed her arms and pouted like a five-year-old. She wouldn't usually act like that, but Hatter's immaturity was contagious. He just laughed again. "That was an ambush, you know. Strictly against the rules." Alice pouted some more, wondering why she was doing so. This was so different than her usual behavior. Part of her was really frightened by this and wanted to stop, but a larger part of her liked it. It felt so free.

"You didn't like it?" Hatter seemed genuinely upset by this prospect, but mirth danced behind his eyes. Alice rolled her eyes and snorted.

"It's was wonderful. Now c'mere, because I have a secret for you, but you have to close your eyes." Alice smirked a little as Hatter came over and closed his eyes, obviously expecting more kissing. Instead, Alice snatched his omnipresent hat of his head and ran.

"Oi! That was my hat!" Hatter bellowed as he jumped up and chased his girlfriend around the flat. Alice was laughing her head off as she danced away from her disgruntled boyfriend. This was hilarious. "C'mon, Alice, please? That was really unfair. Please?" Hatter switched tactics and stood where he was, making a pleading face. Alice looked at him, his chocolate big puppy dog eyes, and she melting. She walked over, taking he hat off her head…but just Hatter's expression changed o one of triumph, she pushed the hat back on her head and danced away again. Hatter growled. "You little…" So saying he chased her back to the couch and tackle her. "Got you!" He grabbed the hat and pushed it back on his head before standing up, triumphant. Alice just rolled her eyes again.

"Believe it or not, I actually have a reason to be here." She fixed her boyfriend with the most serious look she could, considering that his hair was more messy than usual and he was giving her this goofy grin. "You're coming to dinner with my mother tonight, and you need a back story. Where you came from, your family, how we met, et cetera, et cetera. You also need a better knowledge of this world."

"I have a wonderful knowledge of this world!" Hatter was indignant.

"Do you know how to use a computer?" Alice raised her eyebrows.

"Umm…no. But I can learn!"

"I know. That's why I'm here. You're going to learn about computers, money, how to act around people, and whatever else you need to know to fit in better. No, Hatter," Alice cut off Hatter's retort, "You don't fit in. Yet." She walked over to the computer in the office with Hatter trailing behind. It was going to be a long day.

oXo8oXo

At 6:10 that afternoon, Alice left Hatter's flat. She went grocery shopping and got all the ingredients for spaghetti and meatballs, which Hatter promised her he loved. When she got back to her flat, it was 6:30. Alice put the grocery bag down on the kitchen counter and went to her computer. As she sat down, she realized how much this was like the last time a boyfriend had come over. That night was the start of her adventure in Wonderland. Maybe tonight would be the start of a new adventure. She wasn't checking Parent Finder today, though. Instead, she sent an email to Hatter's new account. She reminded him to wear the black fedora instead of the porkpie and to wear the outfit that they had picked out earlier. She reminded him to be there at six sharp. Love you, she ended the email. She hoped that Hatter remembered to check his email. If he showed up dressed like a Wonderlander, she would club him.

Carol walked into the room just as Alice was signing off. "Okay," she said. "Let's make pasta." Alice smiled and followed her mother. At five minutes to seven, Carol shooed Alice into her room. "Go! Do your makeup and everything. I can finish this." Alice walked into her room, moving straight to her closet. She needed to wear something nice and not blue.

"No more clichés for me," Alice muttered to herself as she looked through some dresses. She didn't have many fancy clothes. Alice finally decided on her 'little black dress'. It was velvety and hung to just above her knees. "Perfect," she thought. She paired the dress with nude stockings and some low silver heels she had. This was more formal than usual, but she had a feeling that Hatter would like the look. At least, she hoped so. Alice finished her hair and makeup just as the door buzzed. Alice walked over ad opened it, her stomach fizzing as though she had swallowed a hundred anti-acid tablets. Why was she so nervous? It was just Hatter. 'No,' Alice thought, 'there's no just about it.' She opened the door and there stood Hatter.

"Wow," the man in question said. "You look amazing." Alice blushed.

"Not so bad yourself." That was an understatement, she thought to herself. Hatter had combed his hair a little, but Alice had told him to leave it mostly. She had said that he wasn't himself without his mussed up do. His black fedora was perched on top of his spiky locks and he was wearing a light purple-blue dress shirt. He was also wearing dark dress pants and a black leather jacket. It was almost identical to his tan jacket except in color. Hatter bent down and planted a short kiss on Alice's lips before following her in.

"David!" Carol came out of the dining room, a big smile on her face. "Come in! The table's set and everything's ready." Alice squeezed her boyfriend's hand and led him in. When they were all seated, Carol turned to Hatter. "So, David! Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?" Hatter smiled; he and Alice and worked hard to create this back story and he was fairly certain that it was convincing.

"I'm from Yorkshire. Me mum and dad owned a tea shop. I was their only child. Unfortunately, when I was eight, they were killed in a fire. I lived with me aunt until I was eighteen, and then I came here for college." Hatter's smile had turned sad; what Alice didn't know was that his parents had died in a fire. Carol nodded knowingly.

"I'm very sorry to hear that. So how is your aunt?"

"She's still alive, although she's about seventy by now. I plan to visit her soon, but I don't know when."

"That's good. Well, as you may or may not know, Alice lost her father ten years ago. It was hard on both of us." Carol looked strangely peaceful as she said this. Alice thought it was because her mother finally knew that Robert hadn't left, that he had been faithful.

"Yes, Alice told me. I'm very sorry. It's hard to lose someone you love." Everyone was quiet for a moment as they thought about it. Then Carol broke the silence.

"So, David, what was your major in college?"

oXo8oXo

The dinner was wonderful. Hatter said all the right things, everyone enjoyed the food, and Carol completely bought the story. After dinner and dessert, Hatter had to go. Alice walked him to the door.

"Thanks for coming," she smiled. "It was really great."

"Yeah," Hatter agreed. "Your mum bought the story hook, line, and sinker. I think she likes me!" Alice rolled her eyes at this proclamation.

"Do you like her?"

"Yes. Your mother is very nice. And she makes great spaghetti!" Alice laughed.

"You should know. You ate enough for two! How can you consume that much, Hatter? There isn't an ounce of fat on you, and you're not the biggest person I've ever met."

Hatter just winked. "Extra fast metabolism." Alice rolled her eyes.

"Well, as much as I would love for you to stay and eat all of our food, you have to go. It's 9:30, and my mom needs her rest." Hatter laughed.

"Well, give me a kiss for the road, then." Alice obliged, pecking him on the cheek. He just shook his head.

"Sorry, Alice, that doesn't cut it." And before she could protest, he kissed her full on the mouth. When they broke apart, both were gasping a little.

"Now go, before I have to knock you out and carry you to your apartment. No, Hatter," Alice added when she aw hat he was actually starting to consider the idea. "Goodnight, you goof."

"Goodnight," he said. He started walking away and Alice closed the door. Funny how she missed him already. The little voice in her head took that as its cue. 'Look how attached you are,' it said. 'What are you going to do when he eaves you? You'll die, my dear.' "Shut up," Alice told it, whispering. "We'll never know because he's not going to leave."

"Did you say something, sweetie?" Alice looked up to see her mother come in.

"No, nothing," Alice smiled. "So, what do you think of Hatter?"

"He's very nice," said Carol. "I like him. Poor young man, losing his parents at eight. It must have been horrible. He's very sweet, though. So, he's working in construction until he has enough money to open a shop?" Alice nodded. "Well, honey, you have my full approval," Carol joked.

"Thanks, Mom," Alice laughed. "Well, I'm really tired; I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Alright, sweetie. Goodnight." Alice changed out of her dress and shoes. She pulled on some comfortable pajamas and lay down on the bed. Even though she had meant to go to sleep, she stayed awake for hours, her thoughts circling like birds in her head.

So that's Chapter Three. Hope you liked it. My muse is always hungry and cookie baskets are greatly appreciated. The review button beckons you. Give in to the temptation and let me know what you think! More reviews equals a happy author! Also, I have to agree with Casy Dee and catesy: Hatter loves clothes! Why else would he keep a rack of clothes in his office? Smiles and happiness!