Finding Normal, or Something Like That

Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own. Darn!

Here's chapter eleven, in which Alice gets sick and Hatter and Alice snuggle.

Alice knocked lightly on his office door. His head snapped up and he smiled at her. She was wearing her cloche hat.

"It's late, Hatter. It's time to leave for the night," she said, walking in, her voice still soft.

He stifled a yawn, stretching and rubbing his eyes. He was getting tired. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he saw that it was already quarter to ten and the shop closed at nine on weekdays, though the few staff he had stay to close were most likely finishing cleaning up right now. By this point, they all knew who Alice was and would let her in, even after they locked the doors. He would be back in six, for some early deliveries.

"I suppose so, Alice."

She walked around his desk and leaned over the back of his chair, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Hatter leaned back a bit, as she put her chin on his shoulder. He pressed his cheek against hers. Her skin was extremely cold. She had, it seemed, just come in from the February weather.

"You're really warm," she murmured. He could hear the exhaustion in her voice. Alice had been teaching numerous classes at the dojo. One of her junior instructors was out with the flu and another had sprained his ankle the week before, so she was in quite a crunch at the moment, taking over their classes.

Hatter turned his head to kiss her on the cheek.

"Can't sleep here, Alice," he said. "It's not comfortable." She moaned as he disentangled her and stood up. "Don't worry, love. We'll be home soon enough then you can snuggle all you like."

"I like snuggling."

"Me too."

He put his arms around her, pulling her close. She shivered some, sniffling, and he worried that she might be coming down with a cold. Flu season was in full swing and enough people had had colds coming through both the dojo and the tea shop that they were both susceptible, especially since they were both working so hard.

Ten minutes later, he was locking the door as the last of the staff left. Alice was beside him, yawning widely.

He put an arm around her in an attempt to warm her up, though it didn't work so well. Carefully, he guided her to her car, which was parked, thankfully, not too far away. She got into the passenger seat with little protest. By now, he was proficient enough at driving that she would let him drive periodically, with very little complaint. Hatter also was thankful that Jack had been very detailed about his emigration to this world and, among other things, had supplied him with a driver's license.

He pulled out of the parking space and began the trek to his apartment. It was closer to the shop than Alice's and Alice needed to sleep. He would telephone Carol later, to let her know that her daughter was with him and sick. No doubt, Carol would fret and worry, like any other good mother, but she wouldn't break down the door. It was probably just a cold that Alice had caught and she needed to sleep it off.

For once, he was glad that it was late. There weren't as many people on the roads as he slowly navigated his way towards his apartment. While he had the basics of driving down, he was still working on the whole speed thing. Flamingos were one thing. Cars were completely different.

A loud, long series of hacking coughs from the passenger seat raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

Pausing at the red light, he looked over at Alice. Worry filled him. She had curled herself into as much of a ball as she possibly could, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. Reaching down, Hatter turned up the heat a little bit more.

"Alice, I think you need to get someone to cover for you tomorrow," he told her as the light changed to green and he gently accelerated. They were almost there.

"Can't," she meekly protested, sniffling. "Two people are already out."

"If you don't get someone to cover for you until you're better, I will tell your mother and we wil cancel your classes until you're well."

She coughed again. "I'll see how I feel in the morning."

At the moment, Hatter decided that was probably the best that he was going to get out of her. He turned his attention back to the task at hand.

Finally, after several minutes, a few stoplights, and a couple of turns, he was pulling the key out of the ignition, unbolting his seatbelt, and gently rousing Alice. She had managed to doze off a tiny bit, though it was a fitful sleep. The combination of trying to sleep in the car while sniffling and coughing was not pleasant. She managed to turn and look blearily at him.

"Let's get you inside!"

She didn't disagree, which was why, five minutes later, he was helping her into his apartment, though, by help, he was really supporting most of her weight.

In the past nine months, Alice had gradually moved her things into the apartment. It had started when she had left her shampoo there and had grown since then. Now, she had a neat drawer full of spare clothing for when she spent the night. Her toothbrush sat in the holder next to his and her cloche had been accorded a special place next to his hat of the day on the night table. But Hatter didn't dwell on those thoughts.

As soon as they were in the door, he swept her up into his arms, bridal style, and carried her into the bedroom. She turned her head against his chest, groaning some.

"Yeah, you're definitely sick, love," he softly told her.

"I hate being sick," Alice admitted as he set her down on the bed.

Hatter chuckled as he pulled off her shoes. "I don't think anyone likes being sick." She only responded by pulled the comforter over her head, burying her head into the pillows, moaning softly. "I'll be right back."

A hole appeared in the pile that was formerly known as Alice. He could faintly see an eye giving him a pouty look. "Why?"

He chuckled some. "You need medicine."

The hole disappeared even before he had turned to leave. When he had returned a few minutes later, with some cold medicine that one of them had, thankfully, stocked in the medicine closet in the bathroom and a steaming mug of tea, Alice had shifted herself to get more comfortable. Now, he could see her head, but that was about it. He noted, absently, that her hat was already on the night table.

Alice accepted to medicine with a quiet, "Thank you," before making a face as she knocked back the liquid medicine in one fell swoop, making a face as it went down.

Hatter felt sympathetic as he traded her the empty medicine cup for the tea, which she accepted readily. For all the good it did, cold medicine tasted nasty. He knew because Alice had forced some on him when he had gotten a cold on New Year's Eve, effectively changing their plans that night. She took a long sip of the tea, letting the honey that he had added soothe her throat as best it could.

"Alright, young lady," he told her, imitating her mother, "time for you to try to sleep."

She giggled a bit, but that giggle quickly turned into a cough. "In my clothes?"

"Yes, in your clothes. You have enough spare clothes as is. What's a few more?"

"Good point." As he went to get up, her hand shot out and grabbed his, pulling him back down to the bed. "Where do you think you're going?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I need to call your mother to let her know that you're sick and you're spending the night here."

"Oh. Okay."

"Drink your tea. I'll be back in a minute."

She gave him a tiny smile as she took another sip of the tea. Hatter leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before taking off his hat and dropping it on the night table next to hers. As he turned to leave, he saw her look at the hat and then snuggle down, sighing a bit.

Running a hand through his hair, he walked into the living room area of the apartment and found the telephone. Quickly, he dialed the Hamilton phone number. After two rings, Carol picked up.

"Hello?"

"Carol, it's David."

"Oh hello, David. Is everything okay? Is Alice alright?" He could hear the concern in her voice.

He sighed. "Alice came to pick me up from the shop and, well, you know how stubborn she is. The girl refused to admit that she's sick, so I've got her in bed right now, on medicine and such."

Carol sighed. "Alright." Her voice was soft, motherly. "Call me in the morning to let me know how she is and do try to get her to find someone to cover her classes for her tomorrow. She needs to rest."

"I'll see what I can do."

"And you should take some time off tomorrow as well, David. You've been running yourself ragged with your shop."

He had to chuckle. Trust Carol to mother him as well. "We'll see."

"Good. Tell Alice to sleep and you get some sleep as well."

"Okay, Carol. See you tomorrow."

"Good night."

After he had set down the phone, Hatter laughed. Carol was incredibly persistent when she wanted to, a trait that he had noted she had passed down to her daughter. Though, given that both of them were stubborn as well, it was a good thing that he was learning how to handle those traits with as much ease as he could muster.

Quickly, he hurried around the apartment, turning off the few lights that he had turned on when he was bringing Alice in and locking the front door.

Turning, he walked back into the bedroom to see Alice finishing up the last of the tea and set the mug on the night table, nestled between their hats. He spared a brief glance to said table, realizing that it was getting very full, between both of their hats, the alarm clock, a lamp, and the mug.

Though, as he gave it more thought, he realized the presence of both of the two hats on the table was very symbolic. Before Alice, he had never seriously considered having a committed relationship. But now, it was the only thing he really wanted and he had it, with the woman he loved, Alice.

He gave Alice a little smile as he finally slipped off his jacket, tossing it onto the large, comfy chair in the corner. "Your mother told me to tell you to get sleep and to have someone cover for you tomorrow."

"She would," Alice scoffed as he sat back down on the bed and began pulling off his shoes. "I bet she told you to take some time off as well."

Hatter raised an eyebrow at her. "She did, in fact."

"Are you?"

"Only if you're not well enough to teach your classes tomorrow. I can't just up and leave you behind when you're sick. What kind of boyfriend would I be then?" he asked her as he pulled off his button down, leaving his undershirt.

"The Jack kind."

Her comment made him stop halfway through pulling off his belt. Then he started laughing loudly. "Well, when you're right, Alice, you're right."

"I know," she answered, sniffling a bit. "Now, are you going to help me feel better by snuggling?"

He lifted the covers to slip next to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Alice leaned into his embrace. "I wouldn't think of doing anything else."

Alice kissed him. "Love you, Hatter."

"I love you too, Alice."

Hatter settled himself down for a good night's rest but, as he soon found out, even cold medicine had its faults.

Which was why, when his alarm went off at half past four, he slapped it off in a quick second before rolling back over to study a fitfully sleeping Alice. Some combination of having a sick bedfellow, being extraordinarily concerned for said bedfellow, and having the early feel of a cough catch up with him had led Hatter to not getting a lot of sleep. In fact, all he wanted to do was pull the blanket back over his head and sleep all day.

However, as he pulled himself out of bed, he cursed early morning deliveries. On normal days, he wouldn't get in until around seven but today, he was supposed to get a very large shipment and needed to be in early to accept the delivery.

One of his managers, Francesca, had a key and she typically would be in around the same time he was, if not earlier, to start getting things ready for the day, which included setting up the floor and getting the baked goods prepared, along with Anderson, a chef who he had brought in to handle the food.

As he pulled himself into the shower, Hatter let his thoughts take over.

Francesca had been one the first people he had hired, having walked in upon seeing the "Help Wanted" sign he had put up on the shop while it was still under construction and had amazed even Carol. After getting her on board to act as the front-of-store manager, he had let her take the reins to hire the rest of the front staff as well as the few bakers that they needed, including Anderson, who was very unassuming but very talented.

He had been down on his luck when he, like Francesca, had walked by and seen the sign on the front of the shop. Hatter had hired him as soon as he had tasted some of the man's lighter fare. Turns out, food to complement a tea shop was Anderson's specialty and the rest was history.

Hatter successfully suppressed a sniffle as he walked back into the bedroom twenty minutes later, and began fishing for clothes. After he dressed and grabbed his hat off the night table, he gently prodded Alice's shoulder, waking her up. She peaked her eyes open at him.

"I've got to go to the shop for a delivery."

"Stay."

"I'd love to, but I have to go." She groaned at him and he felt instantly bad about having to leave. "How do you fee, love?"

"I think you and Mom are right. I'll see who can cover for me."

He bent over and kissed her forehead. "I'll leave early today. I promise."

She gave him a sleepy smile. "Okay. Hatter, take the car. It's cold out there and I don't want you getting sick."

"Will do, Alice."

As he walked out the door, a little after five, Hatter shook his head. Alice really did know him, though he knew by now that he was already catching a cold.

But, twenty-odd minutes later, at five thirty, when he was pulling up to the shop, it didn't surprise him to see Francesca parking her car as well, Anderson not too far behind her. He met up with them at the shop's front, unlocking the door as he did.

Anderson took one look at him as he walked in the door and said, "David, I'm not letting you into my kitchen today."

Hatter raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Because you're sick and I do not want whatever cold you're carrying to carry over to the food or tea."

He winced. Anderson knew what cards to play, bringing in the tea. "But we have the delivery."

Francesca laid a hand on his arm. "David, go home. Get some sleep. The shop can last one day without you. Anderson and I can handle it today. You've been driving yourself into the ground. And you've had almost no time for Alice."

She had a point.

"Did Carol call you to make sure I slept?"

The two shared a look. Anderson answered, "She didn't have to. Now, as soon as the delivery gets here, go home!"

He didn't protest, which was why, an hour and a half later, he was crawling back in bed next to Alice, who only smiled and snuggled closer to him.

Well, this actually turned out longer than I thought it would. So, yay, two long chapters, one after another! Now, you know what to do. Go! Review!