AN: First off I'd like to once again say that I do not own any recognizable characters or plots. Second, I think I should warn everyone that it may take me awhile to update for awhile. The computer that has my stories on it won't let me log in, so I have to go searching for the notebook that has the rough draft in it. And that may take some time, since I have no idea where it is. Please be patient with me!

Linlaah

Chapter 4-A Very Mad Reunion Indeed

The man stared down at Alice curiously as he took in her current situation. His eyes wandered from her face downward, until they stopped.

Alice followed his gaze, letting out a shriek when she realized where he was looking. Using her hands she attempted to cover herself up, though she knew the effort was futile.

Why me? She wondered, her mind spinning. Did I do something in a previous life to deserve such punishment? Really, had she done something horrible in her previous life to warrant so many bad things happening to her?

Probably not, but... well, it seemed horrible things liked to happen to her anyway.

The man laughed, placing his hands on his hips. "What exactly are you doing in there?" he asked.

Alice blushed, and shifted slightly so that more of the soap bubbles on top of the water covered her. "Well... I could ask you the same question. What are you doing in here?"

The man smirked. "I live here. Now, what's your excuse?"

Alice bit her lip. He lived her? Cheshire hadn't told her anyone lived here... Wait a minute... he had told her to 'have fun'. He couldn't have planned for this to happen...could he? Realization hit her.

"Oh my god! It was Cheshire!" she yelled, her temper flaring. "He set me up!"

"Cheshire?" the man asked in surprise. "Cheshire put you in here?"

Alice nodded. "Yes, he told me I needed to wash up because I stank."

The man laughed. "Yes, that seems like him."

"And..." Alice hesitated, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable around the man. "He definitely didn't tell me anyone lived here..."

"Of course not." The man sighed. "Another joke, it seems."

"Joke?" asked Alice cautiously. "This is just another of his jokes?"

The man nodded. "Yes, most likely. He hasn't done one in awhile, so we were all wondering when the next would come."

Alice sighed. Why did she have to be the one to bear the blunt of his little 'jokes'? It just wasn't fair... she had never done anything to him, so why did he have to do these things to her? The last time she had come he had first sent her off to a mad tea party, and then later he had almost gotten her killed.

"So, although I find your current situation very pleasant, I doubt you feel the same. Come out when you're dressed."

With that the mysterious man left the room, closing the sliding door behind him. Alice noticed now that there was no lock on it. Curious... Hurriedly she got out of the bathtub, making sure to pull the silver plug. She got dressed just as quickly, in the same dark green dress as before.

Looking down at herself she sighed. The dress was awfully dirty, and her normally white stockings sported brown streaks on the backs from when she was on the ground earlier. It would just have to do.

When she entered the bedroom she immediately got the feeling that something had changed in the room. And when she turned toward the window she saw what was different. There was a writing desk under one of the windows, and the man was sitting at it.

"A writing desk?" Alice murmured thoughtfully. "That wasn't there before..."

"Before?" asked the man, looking up from what he was working on. "Before what?"

Alice blinked. "Um... before I went in to take a bath," she replied.

The man stared at her as though she were insane, a look that made the teen very uncomfortable indeed. "This desk has been here for many years. There are a number around the house." He smiled. "I am quite fascinated with them, you see."

"I see," Alice said, though she really didn't see at all. What was so interesting about a writing desk?

"Do you now... hmm... are you a smart girl?"

Alice shrugged. "Smart? Well, I suppose... I wouldn't call myself as such, but I go to school and read a lot."

The man clapped his hands together, the sound muffled by dark blue gloves. "Wonderful! Then I have a riddle for you."

Alice grimaced. Ever since her last visit here, even though she had believed that to be just a dream, she hated riddles. "What is it?" she finally asked, sighing silently.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Alice's eyes widened. It couldn't be... could it? He looked nothing like she remembered, but... it could be him... For the first time since seeing him watching her, Alice took a good look at the man.

In addition to the blue gloves he wore white pants that were creased down the front, black shoes that shined, and a fancy dark blue coat trimmed in gold and lined with two neat rows of buttons. The coat's buttons were all done up, and had a high collar. However, the coat was designed so that the buttons didn't start for a good five inches or so below the top.

Although she couldn't see much of his shirt, she could see that it was white, and had a very ruffled collar, as well as ruffled sleeves. His face and neck were paler than was normal, looking like he got almost no sun. He had black lipstick on, and under his eyes were black triangles, thick at the top and needle-point thin at the bottom, reaching almost all the way to his mouth. His eyes were green in color, placed under finely arched eyebrows. His fiery hair was cut fairly short, but looked messy, as though it didn't often get to see a brush. He had long bangs brushed to the right so that they almost entirely covered the right side of his face.

And on his head was that ridiculous black top hat, with a blue ribbon rapped near the base, and that strange 10/6 symbol attached to the left side of it. Yes, Alice decided. No one but him would wear an outfit like that.

And the thought of Hatter seeing her naked... Alice blushed, and had to look down for a few seconds before she could look at him again. When she did she smiled.

"Because they were both written on," she responded.

Hatter stared at her blankly. "Written on?" he questioned.

"Yes," Alice said. "It is a writing desk, so naturally someone has written on it before. Also, there was a poet once who wrote on a raven." At his stare she added, "Well, figuratively. He wrote about a raven."

Hatter continued to stare, before shaking his head. "I have never heard of such a strange thing before. It's easier to just say that a raven, and a writing desk, are not the same at all, and should not be compared."

Alice quirked an eyebrow. "That's simpler?" she asked him.

"Of course," Hatter said. "But that's only if you see."

"See what?" Alice pressed, a familiar feeling of annoyance rising within her. She had forgotten how obnoxious he could be at times.

Hatter shrugged. "You don't know either?"

Alice sighed. She was getting no where with this.... she might as well just try to change the subject before she got even more confused. Examining his face once more she frowned.

"Hatter, are you wearing earrings?"

He nodded. "Why of course! Don't you?"

"No, not usually," Alice said.

Hatter frowned. "Are you ever going to tell me who you are? Or should I get Cheshire here to explain you to me?"

Alice laughed. He really hadn't figured out who she was yet? "Hatter, it's me, Alice."

"Alice? I don't know any Alice," Hatter said.

"What... you... don't?" Could he truly have forgotten her?

Hatter smirked. "Just kidding. Of course I know an Alice. You're much cuter than her, though."

Alice flushed. "W-what do you mean by that?"

"Simply what I say," Hatter said, standing up from the writing desk and making his way over to the girl. Placing a hand on her shoulder he smiled. "It's good to see you again, Alice."

Alice returned his smile, though she was still wondering about his previous statement. "It's great to see you again too, Hatter."

Before she could even blink she found herself wrapped tightly in Hatter's arms, her face pressed against his chest. Alice normally hated to be touched, but this didn't bother her at all. It was strange, and quite unusual... instead of feeling bothered, she felt warm and safe... wanted, even.

"Everyone has missed you." Hatter lowered his voice. "I've missed you..."

Alice felt heat rush to her face yet again. My, she certainly was blushing a lot today... She used to never blush at all, and ever since she saw Cheshire earlier, all she seemed to do was blush. These people had such a strange effect on her...

"I missed you too..." she murmured, her voice muffled further by his clothes.

Hatter pulled away enough so that he could look into her eyes. His green orbs were piercing, the look they gave her hot. The look resembled anger, but Alice had a feeling it was something completely different. He slowly smiled, and the look was replaced by one of glee.

"You know, Hare missed you too. Dormouse did as well."

Alice smiled as well, and took a few steps back. "I missed them too. Are they... are they here in the village?"

Hatter nodded. "Yes. In fact..." He took out a gold pocket watch and looked at it for a bit before putting it away. "They'll be here soon for tea."

Tea? Oh no... Alice had a bad feeling about this.... The last time she had sat down for 'tea' with them, was the last time she had enjoyed having a cup of tea. So naturally she was not looking forward to the possibility of another such tea time.

"Oh... so perhaps I should leave then?" Alice asked, hoping against all hope that he would agree with her.

Too bad he didn't. "No, no, no! We can't have that, my dear. You must stay so we can give you a proper welcome home!"

Alice paled. This wasn't good... "No, that's really not necessary... I should get out of your way. Besides, Cheshire told me to meet him later, and--"

Hatter cut her off. "My dear Alice, we are throwing you a welcome home party! Besides, Cheshire owes us all for not telling us you were returning." He smirked wickedly. "His payment is letting us give you a party."

There was no use arguing with him... Alice wished that she could just leave, and not have the stupid party, but she knew she had no say in this. Maybe it won't be as bad as the last one, she thought hopefully. She had a terrible feeling that it would be worse, though.

"Alright, alright..." Alice sighed, and ran a hand through her wet hair. Her hand got stuck however, in the tangles. She tried to pull it out, but somehow managed to only get it more stuck.

Hatter burst out laughing. "Alice, do you need some help?" he asked, when he had calmed himself enough to speak.

Blushing in embarrassment, Alice nodded. "Yes please..."

Hatter walked up behind her and frowned as he picked up one long piece of hair. The ends were split, and even though it was wet, he could tell her hair was a bit dry.

"Alice, you need to take better care of your hair," he told her, pulling a comb gently through the worst of the tangles.

Alice glanced back at him. "Where did that comb from from?" she asked curiously.

Hatter smirked. "Do you really want to know?"

She shook her head. "Not that badly, no."

"Good," Hatter said. "Now... this may take awhile..." He paused. "So... what did Cheshire tell you?"

Alice flinched as she felt him tug rather roughly at a particularly bad knot. "Not much," she replied. "Actually, I'm not sure if he even told me anything."

Hatter laughed as he moved onto another part of her hair. "I can imagine. Well, you'll be told everything in due time, my sweet."

Alice frowned, but said nothing. More secrets... she had been here less than a day, and yet all she seemed to get were secrets. It seemed like the more she wanted to know something, the less she actually learned. She had hoped that Hatter at least would tell her something... as far as she knew he was quite a chatterbox, and yet she hadn't gotten a thing from him.

"When exactly is 'in due time?'" Alice asked him.

Hatter shrugged. "Due time is in due time. You will know when it is time when it is time."

Alice bit her lip to keep from stomping on his foot. "That's not exactly what I meant, you know..."

"Of course I know," Hatter bragged. "I know everything and anything, and yet nothing at all."

What did that even mean? Alice was tempted to ask, but refrained, knowing he would go into a lengthy description that she didn't want to hear. Hatter was the kind of person who could talk for hours about something that he knew nothing about. It was a gift, but a very annoying one at that.

"So... about this tea party... I will actually get to drink tea, won't I?" Alice asked uncertainly.

Hatter scoffed, moving on to the final part of her hair. "Of course, why would you even think that you wouldn't get any?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Because the last time I joined you for tea, I ended up getting none at all. I kept getting moved with all of your 'clean cups'."

Hatter laughed. "Oh, well, those days are in the past. My dear, you will have as much tea as you like. And I believe March is bringing some cakes as well. He's an excellent cook, you know."

"Actually I wouldn't know, but I'll take your word on that."

"My word is law," Hatter said in a mocking tone.

Alice let out a sound that most of the world would call a snort. "Right, sure it is."

Hatter put his comb back where it came from and moved in front of Alice, a pout on his black lips. "Oh, but Alice, why must you make fun of me so? I made you look so pretty!"

"Because, oh dear sir, you are mad," Alice retorted, smiling faintly.

"Very true." Hatter walked to the stairs and looked back at Alice. "Coming? Or do I need to give you some incentive?"

Alice was pretty sure he was joking, but the part of her that wasn't entirely sure was worried. The look in his eyes wasn't a threat, it was more like a promise. A promise of what was to come. Whatever it was, she really didn't want to find out.

–

"Alice, sweetie, I can't believe how long it's been!" Hare cried, grasping her hand from his place next to her at the table.

Alice smiled. "I know, it has been too long... I've really missed you... All of you." She looked at all three people.

Hare had changed the least, she decided. He was still lean and wiry, with a thin face and high cheekbones. His light brown hair was cropped close to his head, and his blue eyes remained the same. He had three earrings in one ear, two in the other, and he wore numerous rings on his fingers. His clothing consisted of a blue shirt and black dress pants, plain and simple.

The only thing that had really changed about him was that he had developed a habit of calling her 'sweetie', just as Hatter had started calling her 'my dear' or other such things. Alice found it hard to believe that they were going more mad, but well, it was always possible.

"Alice, why were you gone so long?" Dormouse asked her. "Did you...stop believing?"

Alice sighed as she looked at her friend. Dormouse wasn't the small woman's really name of course, but a nickname Alice had given her five years before. It had stuck, and now everyone called her that. Dormouse had tan skin, and blond hair a few shades darker than Alice herself. She wore Gothic clothing, and wore lots of dark black eye makeup.

"I... suppose that I did... after returning to the other world I tried ever so hard to find my way back here, but I never could. I think that after one too many disappointments I started to believe I had simply dreamed the whole thing up." Alice shrugged. "But I'm back now, so no need to worry."

The others exchanged glances as she spoke, all three noticing that the teen referred to it as 'the other world', not 'home'. Although it probably meant nothing, it gave them hope.

"No, no worries at all." Hatter held out a teakettle. "More tea?"

Alice smiled and nodded. "Yes please." She held out her cup, which he refilled. Bringing the cup to her lips she took a sip, sighing in pleasure as she swallowed. "This is the best tea I have ever had."

"But of course," Hatter said smugly. "It is my own recipe, is it not?"

Dormouse and Hare looked from their cups, to him, then back to their cups. Glancing at each other, the two simultaneously placed their cups on the clear glass table, before taking sips of water from their glasses.

Alice stared at them in confusion, and Hatter in hurt.

"Why did you do that?" Hatter asked. "And as soon as I said it was my own recipe?"

Dormouse looked down at her lap and began twiddling with her thumbs, leaving Hare to answer for them.

"Well, Hatter... it's just that... sometimes you put strange things in your own blend... and Dor and I would prefer to not drink them."

Alice stared down at her own cup before looking at Hatter suspiciously. "What... kind of things?"

"Oh, just some herbs, and some of this, some of that," he responded.

"This and that?" Dor asked nervously. "What is... this and that, exactly?"

Hatter looked thoughtful for a few seconds before replying. "Dandelion, chamomile, lavender, vanilla beans, cocoa beans, some orange flowers I found, and some other things."

Alice blinked. "What strange things to make tea out of..."

Dormouse bit her lip, twisting her hands together. "Um... the o-orange flowers wouldn't happen to have had white and red spots on them, would they?" she asked.

Hatter nodded. "Why yes, how did you know?"

"Hatter, I can't believe you!" Hare complained, making a gagging noise.

"What?" Hatter asked. "What's wrong with those flowers?"

Dor shrugged. "Nothing, if you don't mind getting severe laughing fits."

Alice let out a giggle, then clamped a hand over her mouth. "L-laughing fits, you say?" She giggled again, then again, until she was laughing outright.

Hatter frowned. "That wasn't supposed to happen. Hmm...perhaps I should buy a book on plants."

Hare rolled his eyes. "That would be wise."

They all turned to look at Alice, who was still laughing, much to her dismay. Oh, why couldn't she have normal friends instead of ones who used random plants in tea? The laughing just didn't seem to be stopping either. Alice wondered if it were possible to actually die from laughing, because she seemed to be getting quite close to that point.

Dor glared at Hatter while attempting to keep from laughing herself. Sadly it was a futile effort, and within minutes all three were laughing like mad.

–

The party continued on for a few more hours, until Hare started yawning loudly.

"Excuse me," he said after the fifth time he had yawned. "I believe it is time to depart."

Dor nodded as they all stood. "Yes, I need to wake up early in the morning to help the wood fairies with something."

Alice and Hatter walked the two of them to the door, Alice wondering whether or not she should go with them, Hatter not thinking anything at all.

Hatter smiled when the reached the door. Embracing his old friend he grinned. "See you tomorrow, March?"

Hare nodded as he pulled away, a strangely happy look on his face. "Of course. Tomorrow's going to be quite busy."

Dor nodded as she draped an arm around Alice. "Very true." Turning to the girl she smiled shyly. "See you tomorrow?"

Alice returned her smile warmly, hugging the short woman. "I'm looking forward to it. You and I really need to talk some more." She glanced at the two men who were watching them. "Without such unsophisticated company."

The two women laughed, much to the confusion of the men. It was Hare's turn to say goodbye now, while Dor and Hatter spoke quietly to one another.

Alice stared at Hatter and Dor for a bit before turning her attention to Hare. "Is there something going on between them?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, nothing like that." Despite the confidence he said this with, he too looked at the other too, a slight jealous look on his face. Turning back to Alice he smirked. "Not too much madness for you, was it?"

Alice grinned. "No, just the right amount." She gave him a hug before pulling back. "See you tomorrow, Hare."

Hare nodded. "See you."

–

When the two had gone Alice looked uncertainly up at Hatter. She felt quite uncomfortable being alone with him now that the others were gone.

"So..." she began. "Should I leave as well?"

Hatter shook his head hastily. "No, no. Of course not. You can stay here the night."

Alice bit her lower lip. "Is that a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Hatter asked.

"Oh, no reason." Only that you're a man and I'm a woman, well... sort of anyway, Alice thought to herself.

Hatter smirked, seemingly realizing what she was thinking. "You can sleep upstairs in the bed. I have somewhere I need to be tonight, so sadly I cannot join you."

If she hadn't known it would be rude, Alice would have sighed in relief. But wait... "Where are you going to go?" she asked.

"Out," Hatter responded. "Nothing to worry about, I just have some errands to run."

Alice frowned. Even though the sky was still the same dull gray color it had been since she arrived, she knew it must be past midnight. "Errands?" she asked.

Hatter simply nodded. "Yes, errands. Now, you should get some sleep. It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

Leaning down towards her he reached out a gloved hand and tipped her chin upwards so their eyes locked. He then closed the distance between them and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

Before Alice even knew what was happening he was gone.