i do not own Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

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Chapter Three

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The March hare stared into his teacup where the sugar cube landed after it hit his head, and Mallymkun, the dormouse, was giggling and taking sips of her tea.

The Hatter was sitting in his chair, smiling and laughing with his friends.

As Mallymkun took a bite of her scone, she noticed Alice walking up behind the Hatter.

"She's back!" Mallymkun said amazed, throwing a piece of her scone at the Hatter to get his attention.

The Hatter blinked when the scone collided with his nose and turned around in his chair when Mallymkun kept pointing behind him.

He quickly stood up and stared at Alice, baffled. She'd returned! She was there, back in Underland, standing in front of him and he was at a complete lost for words.

Alice couldn't comprehend anything anymore. All she knew at that moment was she was in front of the Hatter, in Underland, for as long as she pleased. She ran forward and hugged him tightly.

The Hatter was shocked by the sudden contact, but hugged her back, whispering in her ear, "Welcome home, Alice."

She smiled ear to ear when she heard this, digging her head deeper into his neck, taking in his sent of tea, sugar and honey.

Mallymkun watched happily, leaning on a spoon while the March Hare pulled at his ears and twitched slightly.

Alice pulled away first, smiling at the Hatter, "I've missed you all terribly!" She glanced at the table, "I see you're still having tea."

Hatter nodded happily and led Alice to the seat next to his, "Why yes we are! We have a seat all ready for you, my lady!" pulling out her chair.

As Alice took her seat, Mallymkun scurried over to her, "What took you so long to come back, luv?"

"I've been traveling. I've answered all of my questions up there so now I can stay down here for as long as I please." she said happily.

The Hatter clapped his hands, "Oh that's just wonderful! And you're right on time for the Frabjous day ball the White Queen is having."

"A ball? That sounds like fun." Alice smiled, wondering what a ball in Underland would be like. Alice had attended balls 'up there' and they were probably the most boring events in her life. But she was in Underland now. And a ball in Underland would probably be the most fun thing Alice could think of.

Mallymkun nodded, "It is. We've had it every Frabjous day since you slew the Jabberwocky."

"I hope it isn't formal. I haven't brought another dress." Alice said, staring down at her slightly dirty blue dress.

"Oh, no need to worry dear! I'd be happy to make a dress and matching hat for you for the ball!" Hatter said, pouring Alice a cup of tea while holding the teapot three feet higher then the cup.

"But you're a hatter." Alice said confused. "What's the difference between a hat and a dress, really? I'm positive I can make a proper dress for you, dear! On one condition." he said, holding up his pointer finger after placing the teapot down.

Alice nodded. "You let me escort you to the ball. I am a rather good dancer." Hatter said, smiling so Alice could see the gap between his two teeth.

She giggled and nodded, "I'd be happy to have you escort me, Hatter. Thank you."

He clapped his hands together, "Wonderful! Now, would you like some-" he was cut off when March throw a sugar cube at the Hatter's head and it bounced into Alice's overflowing teacup. "-Sugar?" he finished.

Alice laughed and sipped her tea.

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Alice followed the Hatter, Mallymkun and the March Hare back into March's home that night. With the lights turned up, Alice had a better look inside. She now understood why nails were sticking out of the door; it was cracked and thick pieces of plywood where nailed to the door.

Alice giggled, picturing either Hatter or March trying to hammer the cracks shut. She giggled even harder when picturing Mallymkun trying to do it.

"I'll show you to your room. That is, if you wish to stay here." Hatter asked, staring down at Alice as he stood on the steps of a spiral staircase.

Alice nodded, "Of course I wish to stay here. Where else would I go?" she asked. The Hatter was about to say something, but quickly closed his mouth so he wouldn't give Alice any ideas that would cause her to leave.

"Well then, follow me!" he said, walking quickly up the stairs. Alice followed and stood behind him as they walked onto the second floor. Alice counted every squeak she heard as they walked across the hard wood floor.

Hatter pointed to the first door by the stairs, "This is Thackery's bedroom,"

"Thackery?" Alice questioned. Hatter paused, "Ah, the March Hare." he made clear. Alice nodded. 'I never knew their first names. How very interesting.' she thought.

Hatter opened the door to let Alice see inside. The room was a disaster. The bed was ripped and dirty, with feathers from the pillows everywhere. The wood floor had water stains on them, and from the looks of it, it was from tea rather then water. The window was broken and so huge it took up half the wall it was on and it looked out at the front of the house, where the tea tables were.

"Ah…very…nice?" Alice questioned. Hatter laughed and closed the door. Alice didn't quite understand why he was laughing, but knew her friend to be mad so she let him be.

The next room was Mallymkun's room, and Alice knew who Hatter was talking about when he told her it was Mally's room, since the only two people left were her and the hatter, and Alice was smart enough to realize that.

The room was normal size; same size as the March Hare's. A whicker basket on the floor with a mini pillow stuffed into it and a blanket on top of it. Alice assumed that was Mally's bed. Scattered across the room was crumbs and mini sized teacups, and scattered clothes that belonged to Mally. She also had an identical window in her room that was in the March Hare's room, only a tad bit smaller.

After Mally's room their were three doors left. One of them, Alice presumed, was the lavatory, the other the Hatter's room, and the last the guest room she'd be staying in.

The room farthest to the end was the Hatter's room, and he was happy to open the door to let Alice see inside.

Since this was the Hatter's room, Alice felt comfortable stepping inside and looking around. It was much messier then the other two rooms. A king sized bed up against the far wall with a small rectangular window on the wall next to it, millions of fabrics and hats scattered on a large table and shelves in the room, and a wardrobe next to the door, one of the doors opened and showing the number of jackets and pants hanging and folded inside. Alice could also count the number of tea trays in the room. She giggled when she counted nine trays of cups and teapots in the room.

"It's very you, Hatter." Alice told him smiling. He walked up next to her, "You think so?"

She nodded, "Oh yes. Very much so."

He smiled happily, "Splendid! Let me show you to your room now, dear Alice!" he said, gently taking her hand and leading her out of the room to the door next door.

The door opened out into the hall, revealing not a bedroom, but a staircase.

He lead her up the stairs, and they walked into a circular room that seemed like an attic, with windows all around them. A small bed was across the room, with a small table next to it and a lamp. Against another wall was a dusty wardrobe.

Alice ran a finger across the wall, and slight grimace appeared on her face when she saw the piled up dust.

"Do forgive the mess. The White Queen had told me after you left that it would be a while before your return so I didn't have to prepare a room too soon." he paused and glanced around the room, "But…it has been a while. I am sorry it's still so messy. I'll be happy to help clean."

Alice smiled at him, "No need. I can handle the dust myself. Although, you said you could make me a dress for the ball. I was wondering if you could also help me fill that wardrobe over there." She said, walking over to the wardrobe.

Hatter's heart did a type of flutter when he saw Alice smile and couldn't remove his eyes from her as she walked past him to the dusty wardrobe.

"Of course I can help with that! It would be my pleasure!" he said happily, running down the stairs, "Just give me one moment!" he called.

Alice opened the wardrobe, and a giant ball of dust blew up in her face, causing her to cough and back away. She rubbed her eyes and a Rocking-Horsefly flew out and up to her face.

Alice stared at it until it finally flew away and Alice was brought back into reality. She looked back into the wardrobe and saw a pink rag on the floor of the empty cabinet. She grabbed it and started dusting out the cobwebs when she heard footsteps coming back up the stairs.

Hatter reappeared, smiling happily and holding up some measuring tape. "I'll just need the lady's measurements and I'll be ready to make her the most muchyness and Alicey dress in all of Underland!"

Alice laughed and happily held her arms out to the side as the Hatter walked around her, measuring how long her arms wear, her neck, head and waist and wrote them down on a small notepad he had stuffed into his pocket.

Hatter stood in front her Alice, whose arms were still out at her side, and wrapped the measuring tape around Alice to get the finally measure of her bust. He found it quite an awkward moment as he did it, but Alice didn't seem to mind too much. Considering the Hatter announced before he measured her that he was a gentlemen and she had no need to worry about anything. But that didn't stop the Hatter's blush appearing on his pale face when he asked Alice to hold the tape in place while he wrote down the size.

"Do you have any preferred colors?" he asked, tipping his hat slightly so Alice couldn't see his blush. She shrugged, "I do like light blue. But you can surprise me if you'd like."

He nodded happily, completely forgetting the fact he was blushing a few moments before. "Wonderful! I have a perfect idea for your dress then, my dear!" he said as a giant parade of ideas flooding into his mind of colors that would look amazing on Alice.

She handed him his tape back and the Hatter quickly walked over to the stairs, "Is their anything else you might need before bed?" he asked.

Alice smiled and shook her head, "Being here is enough, thank you."

Hatter nodded and exited the room, wondering if it was the light, or if Alice really had blushed just then.

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Clank, clank, clank!

Finally, after hours and hours of trying, they broke. They broke in two and Knave cried tears of joy as he hugged his freed wrist that was finally separated from the Red Queen.

Iracebeth rubbed her wrist, sighing slightly when she felt the metal collar locked around her wrist. After all, Knave could only break the chain, not the cuff.

"Finally," she mumbled bitterly. She stood up and brushed off her dirty and ripped dress. She glanced over at Knave, and snarled, "Get up!"

He glared at her, wishing her still had his dagger. But those damned white knights confiscated it when his banishment began. "What do you want?!" he asked.

"I need your help. I can't do it alone!" she stated, thinking he should have already known this.

He stood, glaring down at the short and big headed ex-queen. "What makes you think I'd ever help you?!"

She stomped her foot. She had no idea what she could say to persuade him into helping her again. He had tried to kill her once, and even begged for the White Queen to kill him so he wouldn't have to spend another moment with her, but was denied that kindness. She wondered herself why he'd want to help her.

"Just help me get my revenge on Alice and I will never utter one word to you again!" The Red Queen bargained.

Knave paused for a moment. 'Was she really good to her word?', he thought. "Just to capture her?" he asked.

She nodded, grinning, "I just need to capture her. I want that little blonde twit dead and I want to do it myself, since no one else could! Not even my beloved Jabberwocky!" she began to whimper slightly at the thought of her dear Jabberwocky, dead because of Alice.

"You won't need me at all after I help you capture her?" he asked. She nodded, "Because the moment I capture her I'll kill her! Simple."

"You won't try to use her as ransom for the thrown?"

"My stupid little sister wouldn't give up her thrown for Alice!" Iracebeth laughed. Knave shrugged, walking pass her, "I don't know. Queen Mirana is a very kind person and it is because of Alice she is the Queen of Underland again. I'm sure she'd do anything to insure Alice's safety."

Iracebeth laughed, "Please! I'm sure that is just an act my sister is pulling! No one is that kind! She is evil deep, deep down, but is just too afraid to show it." She paused, "In fact, if I take Alice, her evil side just might show."

"New plan!" Iracebeth said loudly, "We'll kidnap Alice, hold her for ransom for the crown, and if I don't get it, I'll kill Alice."

"What happens if you do get the crown?"

"Kill her anyway." She said coldly.

Knave shook his head. He was about to say he wasn't going to do it, fearing he'd get a punishment worse then banishment if he was caught. He could be killed!

But, what if they weren't caught?

But what if they were?

He couldn't figure out what to do. But…it was because of Alice that he was banished. She defeated the Jabberwocky and because of her defeat the White Queen won and regained her crown and banished Knave with Iracebeth. She wouldn't even let Knave keep his only dagger so he could be rid of Iracebeth and have a peaceful banishment.

In his mind, all the blame went to Alice. She came back to Underland, figured out she was The Alice and slew the Jabberwocky, insuring the Red Queen's defeat.

He nodded, "I agree. I will help you this last time in getting revenge on Alice. But that's it. I won't help you after that."

Iracebeth smiled, and was so tempted to hug him, but stopped herself.

'I'm coming to get you Alice!'

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To be continued

A/N:

new chapter! i hope you enjoyed.

i hope the characters arent too OOC. that is one of my pet peeves and i tried my very best :(

Spring break is here and I am ready to write! yay! so at least 2 or 3 chapters might be posted this next week! :D yay! lol. anyways, thank you all for the reviews. they made me very happy.

also, their is now a section in Movies for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland,2010) but idk if i should change the category to that yet. i dont think their are that many stories there, so this story might become less popular. idkk........but i do know now i'll be looking for awesome Alice/Hatter stories in that category ;D haha.

anyways, review/alart/fave/all that jazz

tootles.

~Taylor