Hatter instinctively stepped in front of Alice in a protective manner.

"What do you want?' Alice was surprised at the anger in his voice; he had just confessed that Madelyn was his little sister yet he sounded like he would kill her if she came to close.

"Hatter. Please, I know I screwed up, but let me at least get you guys away from here." Her voice sounded sincere but by Hatter's body language Alice could tell he wasn't convinced.

"Go back to him, that's what you chose now you can live with it." Completely confused by the siblings' exchange Alice had to fight the urge to jump in and ask what the hell was going on.

"I love him." Sadness engulfed Madelyn's demeanor when she said those words.

"I know, and I don't want to complicate things anymore for you by making you choose. Now go back to him." The anger radiating off Hatter was almost tangible to Alice and she hated seeing him like this, it reminded her of how dangerous he really was.

"I'm sorry." Cheerfulness returned to Madelyn as a wide smile appeared on her face. "But I can't do this anymore." The smile remained but there were tears spilling out of her emerald green eyes. She slipped her hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small gun.

"What are you doing Maddie?" Worry was replacing the anger in Hatter's voice as he took a half step towards Madelyn.

"You won't help me," She cocked the gun, "I love a man who will kill me if I screw up one more time." She lifted it to her temple. "And to top it all off, there is nothing I can do to make it any better."

Before she could pull the trigger Hatter closed the distance between them and grabbed her arm aiming the gun into the sky. They struggled for possession of the gun until finally Hatter knocked her on the ground and snatched the gun out of her hand.

When he got up he saw why the gun slipped from her fingers so easily after she hit the ground. Her head had hit a rock and she was bleeding.

Alice didn't know why Hatter was just standing there looking at his sister unconscious on the ground but she didn't have time to wonder. She rushed over to Madelyn and checked her pulse.

"She's alive." Glancing over her shoulder she saw Hatter nod and start numbly walking over.

"Let's get her somewhere safe." He slowly lifted her into his arms. "I think if we walk west there will be a boat that the resistance used." He smirked a little when he saw the confused look on Alice's face.

"The resistance was always prepared for captured or on the run members to be able to get away. The way they prepared is by leaving food, water and transportation throughout Wonderland." Alice nodded in understanding and they walked in silence for a long time.

ooooo

The boat was very similar to the one they used on their first journey in Wonderland together. Hatter gently placed Madelyn in the back taking off his jacket and folding it to act like a pillow for her.

Once he was satisfied that she was comfortable he took the driver's seat with Alice sitting by his side.

"I think we should go find Charlie, if anything he can at least feed us a give us a place to sleep."

Alice was thankful to have Hatter back with her; he always seemed to have a plan. She smiled knowing she was safe, safe-ish, as long as he was with her.

"What are smiling about?"

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

"It's alright love, I understand." He gave her a flash of his brilliant smile that melted her heart. "Now go to sleep, it's gonna be a while before we reach Charlie's."

ooooooo

"Alice love, wake up." Hatter was gently shaking her shoulder and she half expected to open her eyes and be in her apartment nice and warm under her blankets. However she found herself in a small boat.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she looked around. Hatter helped her up and out of the boat and, after putting on his jacket, picked up Madelyn and carried her out of the boat. It was getting dark and Alice hoped they could get to Charlie's before it was completely dark out because a night time encounter with the Jaberwock would no be fun.

Alice could tell that Hatter was tired and even though her nap had rested her she still wanted to sleep more so she didn't try to start up a conversation. The only thing that broke their silence was Charlie greeting them.

"Harbinger, and of course Lady Alice. What do I owe this pleasure?" The smile on his face disappeared when he noticed Madelyn in Hatter's arms. "Why would you bring that vile creature to my home?"

"Who are you calling a vile creature?" Hatter spat back.

"You Harbinger brought Lady March here!" Alice had never heard the Knight so angry.

Looking at Hatter Alice could tell if wasn't holding Madelyn he would have pounced on Charlie by now.

"Please, just stop. Look Charlie, Madelyn needs help and you were the only person we could think of." While she was talking she slowly placed her body between the two angry men.

"For you Lady Alice I will do anything. However I will warn you that the dark arts are telling me nothing good is going to come from this."

Hatter walked over to the old rusted bed Alice had slept in a little more than three months ago and set Madelyn down. Alice could tell by the way he was walking he was going to pass out from exhaustion.

"Go to sleep, I'll look after her." She grabbed his arm and leaned against him for a moment before steering him away to find a place to sleep. He settled on sitting on the ground leaning on the same fence he was sleeping by when Alice ran away.

Charlie had gone off the catch something for them to eat leaving Alice alone to tend to Madelyn. It took her fifteen minutes to find a cloth and bowl. She filled the bowl up with cool water and quickly walked over to the rusty bed.

Kneeling next to the bed she started to clean the blood from Madelyn's face. She looked as if she was in some sort of fight before her struggle with Hatter. Alice took this time to study the smaller woman's features and was surprised that she didn't realize she was related to Hatter the first time she saw her.

Madelyn's brilliant green eyes suddenly cracked open and her face cracked into a smile that showed off a dimple just like Hatter's only on the opposite cheek.

"Alice?"

"mhm."

"I know Hatter won't tell you about what happened between us so I want to explain. You deserve to know."

"You can tell me whatever you like, but right now get some rest."