A/N: I'm so, so, so, so, so, so, so sorry that this is so late. I was toodling along today, y'know, doing homework, reading PostSecret, and other usual Sunday activities, and all of a sudden, it's 11:15, and I realize, "Crap! I have to write fic!" So, this isn't going to be my best, because I gave myself so little time to write it (It's currently 11:58 where I am), but it's here, and you'll all be able to read it tomorrow. Another note at the end, as always (though, at this point, the notes might just be longer than the actual fic.) Enjoy!
I disclaim.
Jack contemplated slipping the Ring to Alice. She had shown in these past six weeks that she was an intensely trustworthy and loyal person, though also very independent. She had exhibited her independence tonight by rejecting the offer to "meet his family," and even more so by essentially kicking him out when he offered her the Ring.
That had been impetuous of him, but he had panicked a little when he received that frantic text from his Resistance contact in this world. Giving Alice the Ring would make her a target, which he definitely didn't want; despite his less-than-honest reasons for making contact with her, he was—regretfully—falling for this Oyster.
No, he decided, he wouldn't give her the Ring, and damn the consequences.
Alice was sorry to see Jack go. She hadn't been lying to her mother when she said that he was different, but he moved much too quickly. She must have been more insistent in asking him to leave than she had thought: he never showed up to another class, never called, never picked up his phone, and never dropped by any more. It only contributed to her sureness that no man would ever stick around.
But then one did. His name was David, and he worked part-time in Construction to pay for the few University classes he could take. Which was how they met, in a class in Sociology. He was sweet to her, and obviously head-over-heels, and she found herself liking him, a lot. More than any of the others.
And so, this time, when a man got down on one knee, she said yes. And lived a happy life. A quiet life. And she was...fond of David.
But sometimes, she had the most vivid dreams about a place where emotions were bottled, and knights truly existed, and a despotic queen ruled her people with a quick fix and an iron fist.
And she dreamed of a man. One who loved her enough to take a bullet, to run in front of a wild beast—when she woke up, she put the name Jabberwock to it, though she didn't know why—and to give up everything to be with her.
She could never decide, when she woke up, whether these dreams were good or bad. They put in her a yearning that she could not fulfill, because she didn't know what she yearned for. She never told David about them; he wouldn't understand. He was a good man—reliable, loving, tolerant of her mood swings and recklessness, but not terribly deep. Not simple, but unwilling to look down into a problem when the solution seemed to lie on the surface.
And so she existed. And for as long as she lived, she had a fondness for men in hats, and men with Yorkshire accents.
And she didn't know why.
A/N 2: So, there it is, it's kind of ramble-y. I don't mean to suggest in it that Alice is unhappy, just not as happy as she would have been had she gone through the Looking Glass. I just think that she was meant to meet Hatter, and she could only be truly happy with him. I dunno. Feedback is much appreciated, especially since this one is so random.
Also, I have a few more ideas floating around, but if any of you have an idea for a What-If scenario let me know in a review, since my store of ideas is running a bit low. I have enough for a few more weeks, and I'm sure that as I rewatch Alice again (and again, and again) more will come along, but it's always good to have a bunch.
One last thing. You should all watch Primeval. It has Andrew-Lee Potts (Hatter) in it, and he's adorable. I started watching it for him, but the show is addicting.
That's all, I swear. Till next time,
HeadPhones.