Finding Normal, or Something Like That
Chapter Five
Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own
Here's chapter five, in which Hatter reels from his spending an afternoon with Carol and some plans are made for his lovely tea shop.
Hatter stifled a sigh of relief as the door closed firmly behind him. He pulled his hat off of his head, turning it over in his hands. What a day!
To say that Carol should have been an interrogator and that Dr. Dee and Dr. Dum could have learned a great deal from her was an understatement. He was absolutely worn out from having to make up a back-story about his life. It was only a large amount of luck that he was able to use a good amount of information about his life in Wonderland to appease her answers. But he could tell that she didn't buy all of his answers.
And Carol had seemed to like him the last two times that he had met her.
Well, he wasn't completely sure about her yet. Underneath it all, he could tell that she didn't like Jack – almost as much as he didn't like Jack. Hopefully, she saw him as an improvement over Jack. After all, he still was that nice construction worker who had found her daughter and apparently was completely in love with said daughter.
At least, he could be totally honest with her about that. He was madly in love with Alice and would do everything and anything for her. Even leave his home for her.
Still, it had been very tiring.
But he had been very grateful when she had turned the topic to his tea shop. There, he was on more stable ground. When he had started talking about the different types of teas that he wanted to sell in the store, she seemed very receptive.
Actually, he had been quite surprised that she could easily talk business and logistics, as well as have a fairly extensive taste and love for tea – one that could, maybe, rival his own. She had even given him a few suggestions for teas that he didn't know.
Alice's second class had run over and she had had a few students who had questions, so she had been kept longer than any of them had thought. So, when she had returned to the loft, she was exhausted. But that hadn't stopped her from laughing when she got into the loft, only to find Hatter sitting on the couch with a dazed look on his face.
Carol had waved it off, saying that they had had an enlightening conversation. That his tea shop had such potential. Alice had given him a sympathetic look.
Eventually, both Hamilton women had taken pity on him and let him leave, though with a promise from Alice for another date tonight. He could have legitimately hugged both of them then. Carol was an intense woman, he had quickly realized, especially once she got her mind set on something.
Though, to say that he was nervous about a second date with Alice would be an understatement. Even though their first outing together was a success, he knew that now she had had the time to soak up his presence and to get her head around the fact that he was actually in her world, not to mention the fact that Carol had had more time to get a sense of his character and, as such, relay her view of such to Alice.
Which was why, three hours after he had left, Hatter was back at the Hamilton apartment, freshly showered, hair sort of combed, dressed a bit more Hatter-ish (per Alice's request), and his hat firmly in hand.
This time, Alice was the one who opened the door. And, when she did, Hatter felt his breath get taken away. She wasn't in that blue dress, but damn did she look good. She was wearing a black skirt and a blue top that revealed just enough to make him want to defy Carol.
"Hi Hatter," she said with a smile. Then, softer, "I am so sorry."
Before he had a chance to ask, Carol's voice rang out, "Oh good, David, you're here."
And Alice pulled him into the apartment.
Hatter felt his stomach clench. Judging by the way that Alice stepped in front of him, he knew that she was trying to shield him from another one of Carol's interrogations.
"Mom," she said, warningly.
"Oh Alice, stop being so over-dramatic. It's not like I'm going to interrogate the boy. You act as if every boy you bring home is going to run away as soon as he's met me."
He couldn't suppress the little snort. "No, only the cowardly ones," he added quietly.
Both Carol and Alice stared at him. In retrospect, it was probably not the best thing for him to say, especially given the fact that not two days earlier (in this world's time line), Alice had been pining after Jack, who had, in fact, run away after he had met her mother.
But, like in so many other cases, the Hamilton women surprised him. Carol smiled widely at him, laughing heartily and Alice shook her head. He could see in her eyes that she wasn't going to deny it. And that she had followed where his mind had gone. She had probably thought the same thing that he had.
"So, what are you two planning on doing tonight?" Carol asked, the laughter still in her eyes.
Hatter got the sense that she was playing a bit of an act, as if she was testing him. It was really throwing him for a loop. He prided himself for being able to read people very well. But this woman? She was still very much a mystery to him. It seemed that she could change directions and tact without any warning at all. That was very disconcerting.
"Well, Hatter said that he wanted to look at potential places for his tea shop," Alice told her mother, offering up the honest truth. After all, he really had to get it up off the ground now. "And then, he said that he would take me out for some dinner."
"Yep, some place nice. A little treat from me to Alice, for being so accommodating while I get myself settled and acquainted with the city."
Carol raised an eyebrow. "Acquainted?"
"Re-acquainted, I mean. I've been away so long it feels like a whole new city."
Damn his mistakes. The look she was giving him was level. She wasn't buying their cover story and he couldn't blame her. It was very patchwork and left much to be desired.
Alice shifted uneasily from foot to foot beside him. She was getting just as antsy as he was. Without so much as looking at her, he knew that she wanted to get out of that apartment. He did too because, when they did, they were going to have to shape up his cover story into something far more concrete. Even after the few meetings that he had had with Carol, the story they had come up with pretty much on the fly (after Jack's initial kernels of ideas) was getting very flimsy.
"Mom, we better get going soon. We have to hit a few places before it gets too late."
"Of course," Carol said, the smile returning to her face as she locked eyes with her daughter. "Make sure you call if you're going to be out late."
Alice nodded. "I will, Mom."
"And don't forget to be safe! I don't want any accidents."
Hatter really worked to suppress the groan. Carol must have mind-reading powers because that comment was a literal kick to the gut. Alice's hand found his and she was dragging him out of the apartment. He was more than glad to get out of there. It was getting awful uncomfortable awful fast.
As soon as they were on the street, she let out a heavy sigh.
"My mother is insane! There's no other explanation."
He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. "You know she only does it because she cares and she loves you, right?"
She looked up at him. "Yeah, I know. But it's really unnerving that she's so casual and comfortable with my sex life. That's not exactly something I want to have my mother interfering with. What I do and who I sleep with is my own choice!"
And, on some level, he understood.
But then he did the typical Hatter thing and surprised both Alice and himself by saying, "You are her only child, though. She just wants you to be safe and happy."
Deep emotion ran through her eyes. "Hatter, I am happy with you and I feel extraordinarily safe when I'm around you."
"Glad to hear that, love."
She leaned up and lightly kissed him. Hatter could taste lemon and honey.
"So, where did you want to look first?"
Alright then, children, that was chapter five. I hope I'm still entertaining you with the Hatter/Alice goodness. Please, review and let me know what you think. Still good? Needs some work?