Chapter five - Reunion

Dinner last night had been wonderful. Alice had gotton used to the attention which was overwhelming at first, and was glad that the creatures of Underland only had nice things to say about her. It made her feel more like she was welcome, and less like they wished she hadn't come back. Though behind Alice's smile, she felt broken inside. How could her best and most dearest friend miss her homecoming? He said he'd be waiting for me she repeated in her head over and over, trying to figure out why he wouldn't be. Alice had been gone much longer than a few months last time, and didn't quite understand how the Hatter could replace her this time. Stupid Jane she thought, feeling petty and jealous. Alice knew that Jane wasn't to blame, she was for ever leaving in the first place, which may have led the Hatter to believe she didn't want to be there. Oh I don't know! was her last thought before flopped onto her bed and fell asleep.

The first thing Alice saw when she awoke was the shelf on which her three magnificent hats sat upon, and remembering the events of last night, just curled up into a ball, and cried. The only time Alice ever cried these days was over the Hatter. Not being able to see him, and now, him not wanting to see her. But if that was the case, where did those hats come from? She hadn't the slightest idea. "Okay!" She called throwing the blankets off her and wiping away her tears "I don't care if he wants to see me or not, I want to see him, and I'm going to, then he can tell me to my face what exactly is going on!" and with that, she damn near marched out of the room. Walking down the hall she almost walked direnctly into Tweedledee, or maybe it was Tweedledum, she wasn't sure. She was just so used to calling them 'the Tweedles' she never took the time to recognize them by name. "Sorry, I really must watch where I'm walking" she apologized to him "It's okay Alice! But why are you in such a hurry?" he asked her. "I am going to see the Hatter, do you know where he is?" the Tweedle just stood there and started playing with his hands, which seemed to have become suddenly interesting, he was thinking whether or not he should tell her, "I know about Jane" she told him, hoping it might make it easier on him to reveal his whereabouts, which it did, "he's having a tea party." Alice giggled, of course he is she thought.

She had forgotten exactly how to get to their tea table but thought If I walk for long enough I'm sure to find someone who knows the way! And off she walked, she walked on roads and through meadows, past gardens and ponds, she saw many different kinds of creatures, but each one that she asked, did not know the way to the Hatter. Alice was about to give up and turn back, if by some miracle she could remember how, when she heard a shattering noise, and not long after she heard some yelling, why, that sounds to me like a mad tea party, she began to smile again and ran toward the noises. As she got closer she could hear singing 'A very merry unbirthday to you' excited, she ran even faster toward the noises. When the table came into view she slowed down and stood behind some trees to see what was happening. Surely enough she saw a man with bright orange hair, stunning green eyes, a quirky suit and or course, a rather large hat, he looked so very happy. Her attention was then drawn to a young teenage girl sitting across the table from Thackery, who was, as usual, having an argument with the Hatter. The gilr looked bored and out of place. Alice wondered how anybody could feel that way in Underland, after all, it was the most wonderful place Alice had been in her life. Deciding that she had stood there spying long enough she slowly emerged from the trees where she was hiding. "Am I late again?" she asked with a smile on her face as she approached the table. Everyone fell silent.

The Hatter didn't look in Ailce's direction out of fear that it may not be her. He had been having rather vivid hallucinatoins of his friend recently. Alice felt hurt that he didn't look at her, she thought that maybe he didn't want to see her and this was his way of saying so. Alice felt her stomach drop, and her heart break a little. "Hatter?" Alice called from the other end of the table, "Hatter why won't you look at me" she asked him "because, you're not really here" he replied, still not looking at her. Oh dear, he thinks I'm a hallucination... "No. It's really me Hatter, I came back. I came back for you." her voice was almost a whisper, but Tarrant heard her perfectly. He wanted to believe so much that this really was his Alice, but he needed a way to prove it. "Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?" he asked her, "I haven't the slighest idea" she said softly as she placed her hand on the side of his face. It's really her! he thought, a smile breaking out across his face.

"Alice! You have no idea how much I have missed you, I mean, I even contemplated going to the Above land, but then Mirana told me that would be foolish and that someday you would return! Although she didn't know I'd already tried and failed so many times, I just needed to have you back Alice, I needed my friend to talk to, and have tea with and help me investigate things that begin with the letter M-" "Hatter!" Alice yelled, laughing while doing so "...I'm fine, thank you" he replied in that squeaky voice yet again. Alice didn't want to cut him off, she had missed his mad rambles so much, but she also didn't understand half of what he was saying he was talking so fast. Alice hadn't realized it, but right when he saw her Tarrant's eyes had gotton even more green, if that was even possible. Alice knew this meant he was happy and scolded herself for ever thinking the worst of him. Of course he'd want to see her, they were indeed, the very best of friends.

Suddenly it all made sense to Jane. Why the hatter was always so sad, and the way everyone was so secretive around her, and most of all, the feeling that she didn't belong here. She was just a replacement for this Alice, who she assumed was Underland's champion. As was expected, Jane felt hurt. Hurt that her friend the Hatter, could possibly lie to her, and all the rest of Underland too! Maybe this place wasn't as wonderful and perfect a Wonderland as she thought. Alice noticed the hurt expression on Jane's face, and it made her feel terrible. "Hi, I'm Alice" she said, probably being over friendly, but that was Alice, nice to everyone, "you must be Jane" she continued when Jane failed to respond "Ye-yes, hello" Jane replied, obviously feeling uncomfortable. "Would you like some cake?" Alice asked, handing her a small red box, inside were four small cakes, "I brought them from the castle, they were leftover from last night's dinner" she explained. Jane took one and looked at it strangely. "Don't worry, it's not going to make you change size!" she laughed, taking one and biting into hers at the same time as Jane. "Dinner?" the Hatter asked, confused. "Yes, there was a welcome back dinner for me last night, I was suprised you weren't able to make it, you did get your invitation did you not? Nivens said he left in the mailbox at your house" explained Alice. "No, I didn't recieve any mail yesterday, he replied, yet even more confused. "Oh well, you're here now! And if you ask me this tea party reunion is much better than a formal dinner, it's too crowded and noisy to catch up at those things he said, pulling Alice onto his lap, and pouring her a cup of tea.