Hey guys! Thank you for your feedback/comments on this story, I appreciate it so much :) I'm super sorry that the chapters are so short; I'm trying to work on that! Stay tuned -teatimeforever🐇
'This is going to take a while' Alice thought as she was greeted by Mirana's massive garden surrounded by pine trees, the same one the White Queen led her through so that she could speak with Absolem. The same one where she wept before she came to a grand realization. "I really am a stupid girl," she whispered to herself while replaying the blue caterpillar's words in her head. 'I should have warned Mirana. Who knows what William is planning to do' she thought. She shook her head as horrid thoughts ran through her mind. She needed to do something, but first, the Hatter needed her help. She continued onto her path through the courtyard, confused on where to look for her friend. Where did he run off to? "Hatter!" she called out as she entered the dimly lit garden.
"Tarrant, what's the matter?" Chessur snuck up behind then appeared right next to the Hatter, startling him tremendously. Tarrant was sat on the bench where Alice once sat, pondering on whether she'd face the Jabberwocky or not. He was enjoying the serene view of the waterfall before him. He was just starting to collect the idea that Alice was going to get married - and he probably couldn't do anything about it. "You blasted cat! You scared the living daylights out of me! You ill-mannered creature!" he yelled at the cat almost not letting him finish his question. Chessur was slightly taken aback at his outbursts. "You've just confirmed to me that something is bothering you," the cat said, showing a bit of compassion to his friend. "It's that obvious," Tarrant said in a low voice and questionable tone, taking his gaze away from the waterfall to his lap. His head fell and he sighed. The cat had known that ever since the Frabjous day when Alice decided to leave Underland, the Hatter had lost a bit of his muchness. He, and anyone with eyes, could see that Alice and Tarrant loved each other very deeply. They instantly clicked and they had this special bond. Though he let her go twice, Tarrant's feelings for the young blonde girl remained the same. It was obvious to all their friends - especially Mally. Reading the Hatter's thoughts, Chessur spoke up, "Why don't you just come clean and tell her how you feel about her?" Tarrant looked up at him in surprise at first then responded, rather angrily, "I can't. Don't you see," he paused and looked steadily at the waterfall as his tone became softer, "certainly she doesn't feel the same way about me or she wouldn't be getting married...besides, even if she did care for me, we're from two different worlds, Chess." Chessur glanced sorrowfully at his friend and he was almost sure he saw a single tear roll down his pale cheek. The cat placed a comforting paw on his shoulder. "You both are such blind idiots," Chessur simply mumbled and disappeared immediately, leaving the Mad Hatter puzzled.
"Ha-?" Alice called out while turning a corner and seeing her friend sitting on a bench overlooking the waterfall. She smiled at the sight of a calmer hatter. She slowly walked in his direction and sat down next to him. He turned to her quickly and smiled down at her instantly when he recognized her. "You found me," he grinned. "I sat here before I fought the Jabberwocky," she started as she looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs, "Absolem helped me on that decision very much...And that moment was also when I began to comprehend the idea that Wonderland was Underland. And that it was real...And so were you." She turned her head a little to meet his eyes and faintly chuckled. He smiled back at her but he was still a bit disconnected, she could see. "Tell me what's wrong, Hatter," Alice said to him, looking up at him completely, never diverting her stare. 'Perhaps Chessur had a point' Tarrant thought to himself as he decided it was time for her to know what he had been holding in for so long. "First, you tell me something," he demanded. "Look...I can't stop...and...I haven't stopped thinking about you since the Gribling day. And I've always felt there was a part of me missing when you weren't here. And I just can't keep this thought, these sentiments, in any longer," his large green eyes met her hazel ones, he saw that she had a dumbfounded look on her face but continued, "After our adventures, I can't deny that I've fallen hard for you, Alice..." He searched her face for some type of reaction but only saw bewilderment. She looked at him as if she was hypnotized. The girl seemed at loss for words. He instantly felt shame and regret for pouring his heart out to her. "I knew that was a bad idea. Oh, I'm ter-," he began to apologize but was cut off as Alice leaned forward swiftly and caught his lips in her own. Hatter's eyes grew bigger in astonishment, but he gently closed his eyes as he got lost in the kiss. He carefully placed both his pale hands on Alice's cheeks as she pulled him closer by grabbing onto his arms, both fully engulfed in the kiss. This was everything they both could have ever wanted; this kiss filled one of those empty holes they both felt each time they were isolated from one another. Though he enjoyed the moment, the voice inside Hatter told him this kiss was wrong.