A/N: Hi Folks! Thanks for the wonderful reviews; they are truly uplifting and motivating. Here's Chapter 4 as promised! There will be a lot more going on in this one than the previous chapters and a couple of new characters along the way as well. Enjoy and please review! =)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Lewis Carroll's, Disney's, or Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland anything. The plot and characters I create are mine!

Rating T

*Ascot Mansion in Aboveland*

Alice had been sitting near the fountain thinking about Underland as someone made their way toward her. Alice looked up to see none other than a very angry Hamish Ascot making his way to her. She instantly frowned at what she knew was to come.

"ALICE! How could you? How could you do that to me in front of the ton? I'll be the laughing stock of the town! A simple no would've been fine BUT NOO… you had to bring up my digestion problems as well and let the whole of London know! I thought we were at least friends, friends don't publically humiliate one another-"

"HAMISH!" Alice interjected.

"I deserve to know why?" Hamish stated getting to his point. He honestly didn't know why Alice would've rejected him so easily. His family and her family had always been close knit. They grew up playing together when he wasn't sick. Hamish had been rather unhealthy from the moment he was born to his late teens. Their families had planned their marriage not too long after Alice was born. True she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen but even he had to admit he didn't share her crazy ideas or thoughts. She would tell him stories of grinning cats, talking flowers, red queens and white queens, mock turtles, hatters with mad tea parties and so on. He thought they were fascinating when they were children but it was time to grow up.

While Hamish awaited his answer, Alice had been thinking hard about what she did. She was glad she had gained her muchness back and she was going to try her best to make sure she never lost it again! She thought of some of the things she had said to her friends and family members earlier and realized that she may have come across a little harsher than she meant to. Especially her Aunt Imogene, after all, there might have been a prince at one time as anything is possible. She had only meant that had there been he would've come for her aunt a long time ago.

"Well Alice, I'm still waiting or am I not even worthy of a proper answer?" He stated in a rather sullen tone as he crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his foot rather impatiently.

"No Hamish, you deserve an answer. Come and sit with me on the bench."

He complied but made sure there was a great deal of space between them.

"Hamish, I didn't mean to intentionally hurt anyone with what I had to say but I had to make a point that I have to live for me and not everyone else." She stated sincerely.

Her words must've hit a nerve because he twitched and then proceeded to speak but nothing came so she continued. After all, Hamish had a bad reputation for being a mother's boy.

"Hamish, when I said you weren't the right man for me; the reason is that I don't love you. I'm fond of our friendship together but nothing more."

"You said NO because you don't LOVE ME?" It was all he could do to keep from laughing hysterically. Had it been any girl other than Alice they would've jumped at the chance to marry a wealthy young lord be it love or not. Marriage in high society was a duty and was rarely in the name of love.

"I'm afraid so, you know I'm not like other women, to marry someone I don't love would be rather horrid. Would it not be horrid for you as well?" He pondered it a moment longer.

"I suppose you could be right, just maybe but why did you have to let everyone know about my health problems, it's embarrassing enough as it is?" She flushed.

"I wasn't trying to humiliate you, I'm awfully sorry. I was trying to get a point across to your mother."

"My mother?" He questioned.

"Hamish, if you don't want any more proposals ending up with the girl running away, you might want to let your mother know to not bring your health issues up to your future bride."

"Oh…" He nodded in understanding.

"Hamish, you are an honorable man and you'll find a girl worthy of you one day, but that girl isn't me. I only hope for your sake that you'll marry for love and not whoever your mother throws at you? Again, I'm sorry if I came across a little harsh earlier, I hope that we can still be friends at least, after all, I'll be working with your father."

Hamish seemed to be spaced out during her whole spill. He finally shook himself out of it.

"You're right Alice; I seem to be seeing clearly more than ever and thank you kindly for helping me. Of course we'll still be friends as long as you don't bring up my health issues to the public again?" He playfully added.

Alice only smiled and playfully punched him in the arm.

In the distance they could hear their mothers calling for them both. Alice and Hamish went different directions out of the garden maze to further prevent scandal.

Alice was running at her full speed as she exited the maze and turned. She immediately crashed into someone and they both fell hitting the ground pretty hard.

"I'm terribly sorry sir, I wasn't looking where I was going, are you alright?" As she looked up at the poor man she had nearly trampled, she had to do a double take. He wore a dark blue suit with a matching bow-tie and a top hat. His long curly auburn hair spilled over his shoulders. She was almost too scared to look into his eyes but being the curious one she finally did. He had bright green eyes just like she suspected.

"Um fine lass." The man spoke with a heavy Scottish accent.

"Hatter?"

He gave her a confused look but before he could speak back an older lady grabbed the girl in front of him.

"There you are Alice! I've been looking all over for you! I'm sorry if my daughter has been a bother to you kind sir and we must be going." Helen stated as she continued to drag Alice towards the party once more.

He continued to stare after the girl and the girl likewise. Alice managed a small wave and he nodded back.

'Alice? Wha un oddly familiar name?' He shook it off and turned to go back to the party.

*In Underland*

Hatter sat at his tea party as usual contemplating what the White Queen had said two days ago about Alice. He couldn't wait for her to come back! He'd have to make her plenty of dresses…oh and a hat as well! He sipped his tea and continued to daydream until something rather sharp pierced his hand.

"OWW! Wha yew do tha for?" He screamed out, eyes turning orange.

"Ye been actin like ah love sick pup eva since ye found out tha she be returning to us!" Mallymkun stated putting her hat pin back on her belt. "Tha lass migh no even feel tha same! Did yew think she will or iz tha hat on tew tight?"

Mally looked up and realized she had gone possibly too far. Tarrant's eyes were turning into a color she had never seen before…red. The circles around his eyes had gone complete black. Thackery who had been looking at a spoon the entire time glanced up and screamed "RED!" and ducked under the table. She had hurt him deeply but the rage she was expecting never came. Tarrant's eyes went back to orange and finally green.

"You're right Mally, I don't know if she'll feel the same but I have to have hope." He got up from the table and walked away; leaving two very confused friends behind.

He figured he'd make his way to Marmoreal. He could complete a few orders the queen had given him to keep himself busy until Alice came back. He continued walking until he thought he heard something up ahead. Before he could contemplate anymore, something ran out of the bushes and crashed into him. As he got up all he could hear was someone muttering about being late.

"McTwisp, what brings you to our end of the woods?" Tarrant asked as he dusted himself off.

"OH NO! I mean noth-nothing at all Hatter. If you'll excuse me I must be going or I'll be late!" He stuttered.

"What the Rabbit means is nothing is definitely something, in Aboveland anyway." Something said as a cat appeared out of the smoke surrounding it.

"CHESS! How COULD you? You know I can't tell him THAT!" McTwisp screamed.

"Tell him what? I only mentioned something and Aboveland in the same sentence, if anyone has let the cat out of the bag, I believe it's you." Chessur lazily stated.

"Tell me wha?" Tarrant said as his voice was taking its Scottish brogue. When McTwisp refused to answer, Chess spoke up.

"He means he can't tell you that there is something brewing in the Outlands, possibly trouble, possibly nothing. The White Queen has sent for him to retrieve Absolem or was it Alice? Hmm I really don't know nor do I care."

Tarrant's eyes turned orange once more and the circles around his eyes became smoke grey.

"G-Great CHESS, YOU JUST HAD TO ADD TO IT DID-DIDN'T YOU?" McTwisp raged.

Tarrant picked McTwisp up by his waistcoat and growled. "Ye will tell me everything!"

"FINE, as I have NO choice!" McTwisp told him about the new picture in the Oraculm and about the White Queen sending him above to find Absolem to see what it meant. Tarrant listened intently and when McTwisp finished, he set him down. Tarrant turned towards Marmoreal and stomped away. He could hear McTwisp's panicked voice in the background but that didn't stop him.

If Absolem and McTwisp could go to Aboveland, he didn't see why he couldn't go as well and was going to talk to a certain White Queen about how to go about it.

*End of chapter 4*

Well, what did you think? Please read and review! Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. My job increased my hours and school got in the way a bit. I'll have the next one posted up as soon as I can but I don't want to rush it too much. Hope everyone's having a great week!