Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing related to Batman. Any and all one-shots in this collection of one-shots were inspired by Charlotte A. Cavatica's lovely ideas from her Waiting on the Shingle, chapter seven, unless otherwise stated. Anyway, thanks to Ms. Cavatica for making it possible for plot bunnies to attack me. Please enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. –Ches.

#7

Comfort

It was over.

It was over.

If it was over, then why did she feel so empty? Why wasn't she happy and wanting to forget about Jervis to move on with Billy?

The better question was: why did she feel like she wanted to cling to Jervis, to forget Billy, and stay forever in Wonderland?

Alice shivered and pulled the blanket closer around her.

Billy went to put a hand on her shoulder.

She moved away from him.

He let his hand fall, but wasn't happy. He could understand Alice's wish to not be touched. He wasn't feeling very social himself and he hadn't been the one Jervis Tetch had focused upon the most.

There was a slight commotion outside the office before the door was swung open and Ari entered, ignoring the policemen that attempted to stop her.

"Alice! Are you all right?" Ari kneeled down in front of Alice.

Alice stared at her before tossing herself into Ari's waiting embrace.

Ari gently stroked her hair and whispered reassuring things into her ear as Alice cried on her bare shoulder. "Everything is going to work out, Alice. Trust me."

"H…he l…loved me." Alice sobbed.

Ari met Zeek's gaze as he came to stand in the doorway. She shot a quick glance at Billy.

Zeek nodded and suggested to Billy that they go have a cup of coffee and let the two women talk.

Billy left with Zeek, never noticing that Zeek kept at least four inches of space between them at all times.

Once the door was shut, Ari directed Alice back into her seat on a bench and stood up.

She dusted off the knees of her black jeans and pushed the long sleeves of her black and grey striped sweater up past her elbows. She fixed Alice with a look once she had sat down next to her. "He loves you."

Alice nodded as she wiped away her tears with the lace-edged handkerchief Ari handed her. "That's what all this was about. You were right Ari. He loved me, and I was blind and never saw it. How did I miss it?"

Ari pulled her into a hug, letting Alice rest her head on her shoulder. "You never thought that it would work, just as Jervis did. It's understandable that the two of you got mixed up. I'm going to ask you a question, and I want the complete and utter truth when you answer it. All right?"

Alice nodded.

Ari took a deep breath and let it out. "How do you feel?"

Alice looked up at Ari. "I feel lost. I feel like I don't want to be here."

"Where do you want to be?"

"With Jervis."

The answer just popped out without Alice even thinking about it.

Ari smiled softly. "I think your heart just spoke, Alice."

Alice sat straight up. "But I'm going to marry Billy. I…I can't want Jervis. He kidnapped people and made them his pawns."

Ari stood up and crossed her arms, baring her shoulders and collarbones even more. "Why did he do it, Alice? Answer me that and then tell me you can't want Jervis Tetch."

Alice just stared at her best friend in shock.

Ari arched an eyebrow. "Well? What's the answer?"

Alice looked down at her folded hands. "He did it to get my attention. He did it to show me how much he loved me. He treated me like a queen the night before."

Ari reached out and captured both of Alice's hands. "And I'm certain that Jervis treated you the same tonight, even though you don't remember much. You are very much Jervis's queen, Alice; of that I have no doubt. Do not let anyone tell you different. No matter what other people think or believe, you and I both know that Jervis could never willingly hurt a single hair on your head. He would die before hurting you or allowing anyone to hurt you."

Alice nodded. "All right."

Ari smiled. "Good. Now, I want you to come stay with me for awhile. Just until you get back on your feet. Or you can move in with me if you want. I've a big enough place that it wouldn't be any trouble. I'll leave that up to you."

"I'd like to just stay with you for right now. I'm a little shaken up and I need to just think. I can't do it with Billy around." Alice replied.

Ari nodded. "And you take as long as you need. I'll go see about springing you from this place and get Zeek. I'm sure we can talk him into staying over for a few nights just in case we need something or to help you feel safer."

Alice gave a small half smile. "I'd like that."

Ari gave her hands a squeeze and left the room.

Alice sighed, feeling as if she were caught in a maelstrom of emotions.

There had been a couple times before that she'd felt like this and only one thing had helped her feel stable and more balanced. And that thing was gone.

Later that night she lay in Ari's guest bed with tears streaming down her face.

She never wondered at the incredible power his touch on her shoulder had to calm and soothe her, and she didn't realize until later that maybe she should've thought about it a little more.

Billy's touch never affected her like that, even when he kissed her.

It seemed that Jervis was more than just her boss; Jervis Tetch was the one who completed her.

Alice wiped away her tears and closed her eyes. She knew what she had to do.

With that decided, Alice fell into a peaceful sleep filled with dreams of being treated like a queen by her beloved Hatter.

Ari and Zeek quietly crept away from the cracked doorway to the guest room.

"Do you think she's figured it all out?" Zeek questioned.

Ari lifted a tart off the silver tray sitting on the coffee table after she curled up at one end. "My dearest Knave, she knows where she belongs and with whom she belongs. It's only a matter of time before no one can keep them apart. The two of them are who they are after all, and no one has ever been able to refuse the Rulers of Wonderland anything they have their minds set on."

"But Cheshire, this isn't Wonderland. And we did overthrow the Queen of Hearts and the Chess Queens." Zeek returned.

Ari's eyes became yellow with slits for pupils.

She fixed Zeek with a freezing look. "I'm quite aware that this is not Wonderland, Knave." she stated coolly. "I am the Head Advisor. The only reason we were able to overthrow the three is because they were Hell-bent on destroying Wonderland with war when it was unnecessary. And they were not the true rulers. The true rulers would never destroy Wonderland that way. They can't destroy Wonderland. Now shut up and let me enjoy these tarts we stole. It's not every day that the new Queen of Hearts makes peach-pomegranate tarts."

Zeek had no choice but to listen to her.