Finding Normal . . . Or Something Like That
Chapter Sixteen
Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.
Emzigale07: Jack's getting some love in this chapter, you'll see.
Everyone: I thought the letters would be a nice touch-back to Wonderland and the world that Hatter had left behind. It would be a nice evolution for the future.
Here's chapter sixteen, in which a Wonderland interlude takes place. It's not a long chapter, just a brief break from the fluffiness of Alice and Hatter.
Jack stepped through the Looking Glass and emerged in the small transport room in the newly rebuilt House of Cards. He sighed and looked around the room, straightening his suit. It was weird for him to be back in the palace, especially since his mother had been in charge prior to him. He genuinely wanted to make Wonderland a better place than it had been under his mother's regime, though he still felt strange at times, being called the King. He usually associated the King with his father and his father wasn't exactly the best role model in the world, either for being the King or as a man.
Nodding to the scientists flanking the Looking Glass, Jack stepped down off the dais. After Alice and the other Oysters had been successfully sent back to the Oyster World and Hatter had followed Alice soon after, he had made the decision to have the Looking Glass moved to a special, secure room, where it was tended by people he knew that he could trust.
He did not want to have a repeat of his mother's actions, particularly so soon after she had been imprisoned. There were still a fair number of her supporters throughout Wonderland and Jack was still stressed out about trying to track them down.
Walking out into the main lobby, the king smiled wanly, greeting those who greeted him. A few even welcomed him back. He had to chuckle.
The quiet clanging of metal on metal announced Charlie's arrival before Jack even turned to see the elderly knight. His smile turned into a genuine, full-blown grin as the White Knight walked up to him. True the old man was borderline senile, but he was an asset to Jack and Charlie treated Jack as a man. To be perfectly honest, Jack saw Charlie as more of a father-figure than his own father had been.
"Hello, Charlie," Jack said, stopping as the man drew up beside him.
"Good afternoon, my King," Charlie replied, earning a little eye-roll, a fond memory and habit instilled in him by Alice, from Jack. "Welcome back."
"How many times do I have to tell you, Charlie, you may call me Jack?" he asked.
The knight shook his head. "Jack of Hearts, you may be, but you are also the King of Hearts now and that deserves respect. Even an old knight like me knows that."
Jack shook his head. It would be a never-ending argument between them, he knew, but it was one that he had come to enjoy, if only for its sheer oddness. "Yes, but you're also my chief advisor, so that gives you some leeway with informality."
Charlie laughed some. "Was your trip eventful?"
He nodded. "It was indeed, Charlie." Jack took a step closer to the knight, putting his hand on the other man's shoulder. "I delivered the envelope to Alice and Hatter, as you requested."
Charlie put his hand over his heart and bowed his head. "My thanks, my King." He raised his head and, with a quizzical look in his eyes, asked, "How are Alice of Legend and the rascally Hatter?"
Jack laughed. "They are well, Charlie. They wanted me to pass along their well wishes to you."
"And their relationship?"
"Engaged, Charlie. They are going to get married."
A bright smile crossed Charlie's face. Unabashed joy filled his eyes and Jack knew that Charlie had seen the love between Alice and Hatter long before anyone, including the two, had seen it. Hell, Jack had been reluctant to admit that Alice had found her love (and had subsequently fallen irrevocably in love with him) in a matter of days. Still, he wouldn't begrudge them their feelings. After all, he had never loved Alice the way that Hatter does. The tea-seller had been extraordinarily passionate in his convincing of Jack to let him go into the Oyster World, to follow Alice, and that only after a few days of knowing each other.
And, as he frequently told himself, Duchess was a better match for him, even now. The blonde woman was far gentler and kinder than his memory had played her out to be. Her intelligence was a good suit for him. She had made an excellent Queen, far better than his own mother, he added bitterly. To think, his mother had been the one to find Duchess and put them together in the first place.
Still, Jack gave another warm smile to Charlie before he took his leave of the elderly knight.
Slowly, he made his way up to the royal quarters.
Initially, he had been reluctant to take them up, particularly knowing his parents. But, after much convincing from Duchess, Charlie, and the Ten of Cards, he had moved in. After his and Duchess' wedding, his wife had completely redecorated the place, making it more homey and unrecognizable as belonging to the former Queen of Hearts. For that, he was grateful.
He pushed open the door and walked in. Jack smelled the delicate scent of a home-cooked meal and raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't very often that he got to enjoy such luxuries, especially after becoming King. He had periodically, in passing, expressed such woes, mostly to Charlie and Duchess, in the confines of his quarters and away from the prying ears of court and kingly duties. Charlie, for the most part, had been the one to remedy that, bringing him, on occasion, home-cooked treats. Said treats might not have always tasted the best, but they were always appreciated.
Still, it wasn't often that he had a home-cooked meal in his own quarters. What was Duchess up to?
"There you are," his wife said, as she breezed into the main room. "I was worried you had gotten lost in the Oyster World."
He smiled. "No, it just took a little longer than I had originally thought it would."
Duchess kissed his cheek. "Jack, I know that it's hard for you to talk about your relationship with Alice and that I wasn't your first choice for a wife, but I want you to know that I honestly care about you."
Jack wrapped an arm around her waist. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead affectionately. "I know that." Sniffing again, he asked, "So what is that delightful food I smell."
"I thought you might enjoy some stew. It's from a recipe that I got from my mother that she used to make for me when I was a little girl." Duchess shifted from foot to foot, suddenly nervous. "You talk about how much you miss home-cooked meals and I thought that I could give it a go. Mind you, my cooking skills need a lot of work, but, if you're willing, this could be a regular thing."
He gave her a bright smile. "I'd like that." Kissing her fully, he realized how much he did love her. As he drew back, he said, with confidence, "Thank you."
Her smile was all the response he needed.
So that was my (hopefully not vain) attempt at Jack/Duchess fluff. It's not going to be a regular thing. I just thought that it would be a nice change of pace from Alice and Hatter (give my brain a brief respite from being witty, clever, and trying to come up with a narrative for our favorite couple). Anyways, you know what to do – REVIEW! And I'll be back with more Alice/Hatter awesomeness,