A/N: Well here's chapter 8 as promised! So please read and review! Enjoy!

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

*The day Alice sets sail for China in Aboveland*

Alice sat at the table sipping her tea trying to shake off her jitters from last night's dream. Her mother was the first to come down and was shocked by her daughter's early arrival at the breakfast table.

"Why Alice, what are you doing up so early? You're usually the last person to wake." Helen said full with concern.

"I couldn't sleep, I had a bad dream." Alice said dejectedly.

"Oh Alice, not those dreams again! Was it the same one?"

"I'm afraid so…"

Even though it was never the exact same dream, it was always about the same place and its people. She never wanted to worry her mother with them any more then she had to. Her father had always embraced them saying she had an over active imagination but her mother wouldn't understand.

Her mother took her into her arms and hugged her.

"I wish there was something I could do. Even when you were little, I and your father tried to get a doctor's advice but he said nothing could be done to control dreams or make them go away."

"I miss daddy so much."

"I miss him too! If he were here he'd know what to do to scare those ole bad dreams away." Helen said smiling down at Alice. Alice returned a teary smile.

"Today, his dreams come true." She stated proudly.

"Only because his daughter dared to dream just as he had, despite the rules of society. Although I wish you could stay, only because I love you and worry about you, I'm so proud of you and what you are about to accomplish. I only hope that you will write to me and let me know how your trip fares."

"Thanks mother, I promise I will."

"Also if you should happen to meet a Lord you fancy along your journey, I and your sister would love to hear the details. Just make sure you are properly chaperoned!" Her mother said with a wink.

"Mother!"

"Please don't forget to wear your corset and stockings! I know you hate them but you need to be decently dressed in the company of other business associates."

Alice just sighed but she was at least grateful that her mother was allowing her to go on this trip. She shook her head at the thought that her mother and sister was still hoping that she would eventually settle down and marry a Lord.

She secretly wanted to marry but she wanted it to be for love and it wouldn't matter to her if he was rich or poor. Of course he'd have to be open to going on adventures with her. He'd have to love tea and it wouldn't be bad if he was just a little half mad. Most importantly he'd have to allow her to be herself and always believe in her. As she thought of these things, a certain green eyed, orange-haired man popped into her head giving her that odd feeling in her stomach again.

Before she could contemplate it any longer, Marlaina and Mallory came down to eat. The girls chatted endlessly about their upcoming trip like giddy school girls. After breakfast, Marlaina and Mallory started making their trips to and from the docks so they'd have more time to shop before their maiden voyage. Alice sent some of her trunks along with them but stayed behind. She wanted to tour her house and grounds one last time before she left. She decided to go outside for one last look around.

*Backyard of the Kingsleigh Estate*

Alice made her way through the garden behind her home and sat on her favorite bench. She took a deep breath and sighed while looking at all the different variations of flowers, especially the white roses that lined the limestone patio. While Alice reminisced about past times, something in the bushes rustled around bringing her attention to them.

"M-McTwisp? Is that you?"

The rustling came closer and an old medium sized red-orange tabby cat stepped out from behind the bushes.

"Oh Dinah! I almost forgot to bid you farewell! How horrid of me!" Alice said as she picked up the nearly 14 year old cat. Alice had gotten the cat as a present from her father a week or two before her first trip to Underland in which she had called it Wonderland.

Alice smiled as a blurry memory of how some of her Underland friends had taken the 'news' about her cat that she constantly brought up whenever she met someone new.

One memory that came to mind was when she brought up Dinah at the Tea Party. A then sleeping Mallymkun had shot out of the teapot trembling and sliced the air with her hat pin sword. Thackery had yelled "CAT!" and had jumped down Hatter's waist coat which had instantly angered Hatter as he danced around and clawed at his clothes to pry Thackery off of him, all the while yelling in Outlandish about Abovelanders and their damn cats. Alice couldn't believe she had forgotten such a funny memory. She'd have to tell Hatter about it once she returned.

She looked down at Dinah in her arms.

"Oh I wish you could go with me on this adventure Dinah but I'm afraid you wouldn't like being on a ship at all. You'll have to stay here and guard the house and keep Mama company." She said as she hugged the cat to her one last time and turned to go back inside.

The carriage was on its final trip to the Kingsleigh Estate. Once it stopped, the groomsman opened the door to let Alice and Helen inside. Marlaina and Mallory were already seated. About 35 minutes later they arrived at the docks.

*The Docks of London*

Alice's sister, Margaret, and her brother in law, Lowell, were there to greet them. Since the girls wanted to shop for some new garments to wear, Lowell offered to take Alice's remaining trunks to the ship. He mumbled something about wanting to bid farewell to Lord Ascot and a few others.

Alice joined her mother, sister, and the other two girls in the market square near the docks. They shopped around and bought a few things. Alice was relieved to have found a thick enough dress so that she wouldn't have to wear a corset all the time. She only hoped that the weather would be somewhat cool so she could wear it on occasion. After most of their shopping was done, Alice noticed Marlaina coming toward her.

"Do you happen to know the time Alice?" Marlaina worriedly asked. Alice glanced around and noticed a street clock on a nearby building.

"It's almost 3:30pm, why do you ask? Our ship doesn't leave until 5 O'clock."

"Oh no! My sister's going to strangle me for sure! We were supposed to meet her and her husband at 3:15pm outside Mr. Liddell's Hat Shop!" Explained Marlaina.

Alice's ears perked up at the mention of a hat shop but didn't say anything. It seemed as though it didn't matter where she went and what she did that there'd always be something that reminded her of Underland. The girls made their way to the shop. Helen and Margaret didn't follow. They stated they were going to go back to the docks to take a tour of the ship with Lord Ascot until it was time for them to depart.

As they approached the shop, a young woman with fiery red hair was impatiently waiting on them.

"Well Marlaina, it's about time you showed up! Do you have any idea how long we've waited for you?"

"I'm so sorry Elizabeth, I'm afraid I didn't have a pocket watch on me! I deeply apologize." Marlaina stated sincerely.

Alice was somewhat shocked at the woman's appearance. Elizabeth didn't look anything like Marlaina at all. Her curly hair was pulled up in a semi-bun while the rest cascaded past her shoulders and down her back. It was a darker shade of red. Her skin was more like Mallory's as in fairness. A small amount of freckles dotted her cheeks and she wore an elegant dress that was almost the same dark shade of her crimson hair. The only thing that her and her sister shared was that they both had eyes the color of dark chocolate.

"I guess I can forgive you this one time but you have to promise to bring me back something from China!" Elizabeth stated elbowing her sister's arm.

"Where's tha husband of yers?" asked Mallory informally.

"I'm right here!" chuckled an unusually tall man coming up from behind Mallory.

He looked to be about 5.9 ft which was above average for Victorian Englishmen but not abnormal. He sported a dark gray upper class business suit. His shoulder-length nearly black hair was pulled back in a tight pony-tail. His skin was slightly tanned and he seemed to have a strong muscular build that radiated even from his suit. He had one bright green eye as the other was covered by a black eye patch.

"Alice, I'd like to formally introduce you to my sister and her husband. This is my older sister, Elizabeth, and her husband, Lord Stanley Hart. Stanley and Elizabeth this is Miss Alice Kingsleigh, the woman I and Mallory will be accompanying. I'll be teaching Miss Kingsleigh Chinese culture and the language." Marlaina stated.

Alice couldn't get over how Elizabeth and Stanley made her think of a couple of people she knew but couldn't place her finger on it.

"Pleased to meet you!" Alice said shaking their hands properly.

"Likewise!" Elizabeth said. Alice smiled at them both but her gaze kept lingering on Stanley's eye patch and Elizabeth noticed.

"Stanley used to be in Queen Victoria's royal guard. He was in charge of training new soldiers, mainly young men as it is easier to break them down and build them back up into greater men than what they were before."

"Elizabeth, darling, I doubt this nice young lady wants to hear any of this!" Stanley protested but Elizabeth gave him a look and continued.

"One day he was training them to fence and they were supposed to use practice swords. One of the recruits picked up the wrong sword but Stanley was confident in his own training so he allowed him to stay and practice. Then it was Stanley's turn to fence with the young recruit to see where he was lacking. They had nearly gotten through the whole session when the boy made move for Stanley's stomach but Stanley had put too much force into blocking the move and the sword shot upward impaling his left eye."

"Oh my! That's terrible!" Alice gasped.

"It was and it was my own fault. I should've made him retrieve his practice sword. After the incident was ruled an accident, the recruit was dishonorably discharged. I was lucky enough to be able to receive early retirement so now I own and run a Private Detective Establishment here in London and the recruit in the story you've just heard is my business partner." Stanley stated.

Alice was at a loss for words.

"Yes a sad story indeed but it does end well! Now if I can only convince Elizabeth to stop feeling as if she has to explain how I lost my eye to everyone we meet." Stanley chuckled. Alice smiled timidly while Elizabeth just rolled her eyes at her husband.

The group continued to chat mildly about the trip and other things. Alice found herself losing interest in what topics her friends touched on. She was literally trying to stay awake until someone ran by them at a fast pace. The man bumped Alice slightly but managed to snap her awake as she looked up. All she saw was his retreating back and a cascade of auburn curls that seemed to spill from under a top hat. The man yelled an apology but continued until he reached the door of the hat shop. It took Alice a minute to realize that her and her new companions had moved several yards away from the hat shop.

As the man entered the hat shop, Alice caught a glimpse of his face. He seemed awfully familiar. She knew she had seen him somewhere before and then she realized he looked similar to the man she had trampled at the garden party. She never did get his name and she was determined to find out, so she excused herself from the group and told them she'd meet them back at the ship.

Alice walked to the hat shop and peered in the dark windows hoping to see if there were other people inside but she saw no movement and heard nothing beyond the store's door or its windows.

Finding her nerve, she took a sharp intake of breath to steady her and went inside.

She half expected to see her mystery man either shopping amongst the hats or behind the clerk desk but no one appeared to be about. The store was dimly lit and there were shelves full of hats of all sizes. Alice browsed through them but somehow she didn't find any that caught her eye.

They looked nothing like the hats the Hatter had made for the Red Queen. They were in the traditional Victorian shades of black, white, and gray. What colored hats the store did have were made in darker hues. She turned as if to leave but something caught the corner of her eye. She turned to see a large top hat on display next to the clerk desk.

It reminded her of Hatter's hat and yet it didn't at the same time. It was in the traditional Victorian gray with a black slash that wrapped around the hat near the base. It held a small peacock feather and a hat size tag of 10/6. The hat was clearly styled for a man but Alice was fascinated by it anyway. She reached out as if to touch it.

"Excuse me Miss, Can I be of assistance to you in anyway?" A man behind the counter asked.

Alice snapped her hand back quickly and looked to the man that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He was shorter than the average Englishman and although he had starch white hair spilling out from under his black hat he looked fairly young. He had dark brown eyes and freckles that seemed to dot his cheeks. His nose was bulbous and his two front teeth extended past the rest giving his mouth a rabbit or beaver look about it.

He had noticed her looking at a hat on his display and frowned.

"I'm sorry Miss, but a client I do business with just reserved that hat. If you would like I can make another one for your husband or beau?"

"Oh no Sir, I'm not married nor am I courting anyone." Alice answered a little hastily.

"Oh I see, then can I interest you in a hat or bonnet for you Miss…?"

"Alice Kingsleigh and the reason for me being here is that I thought I saw a gentleman that I knew enter the store but apparently he is gone now."

"Oh! You must mean Lord Hightower? He was just here a few minutes ago. He's the client I reserved that hat for that caught your fancy. I'm Mr. Liddell by the way." Mr. Liddell said while holding his hand out to shake hers.

"This client of yours…does he have long curly auburn hair by chance?"

He gave her and odd look.

"Yes, he does indeed, but you would know that right? I thought you said you knew him?"

"I met him once at a garden party but never got his name, I'm afraid."

He looked at her as though he was trying to remember something important and then smiled.

"Ah I see! You're 'that' Alice Kingsleigh, the one who left Lord Hamish Ascot standing in the gazebo. Lord Hightower told me all about it. He said you plowed over him in the process." He laughed.

"I'm afraid so, though it was not my intention to trample your friend." Alice blushed.

"Lord Hightower has been my friend in business for quite a while. He's a fabric merchant and he supplies me with the fabrics I need for my hats. He was just here to take an order from me. He left out the back door. He said something about being late for a business trip that was going half-way around the world."

What he said made Alice remember her own trip.

"Oh dear, do you happen to know the time, Mr. Liddell?"

He took out his pocket watch and glanced at it.

"It is 20 minutes until 5 O'clock Miss Kingsleigh."

"Oh no! I'm going to be late to my own business trip! Do you know the quickest way to the docks?"

"Sure, follow me Miss."

They went to the back door of his hat shop and he gave her some quick directions. She thanked him quickly and ran down the street.

"Miss Kingsleigh, I know I don't know you too well but something tells me you'd be a perfect match for Tarry!" Mr. Liddell spoke to himself and chuckled after she was gone.

*The Docks*

Alice ran until she reached the docks. She scanned the crowd and sighed with relief when she spotted her mother and sister speaking with Lord Ascot.

"Well Alice, it's about time you showed up. Lord Ascot was just inquiring as to where you might be. I hope you were not chasing anymore white rabbits, were you?" Her sister, Margaret teased.

Lord Ascot only chuckled and placed a hand on Alice's shoulder.

"Don't worry Alice, for once you were not the only one running late. My own nephew arrived about 10 minutes before you and I had told him to be here at 4:30pm because I had business to discuss with him."

Alice was just relieved she hadn't missed her boat.

Margaret pulled Alice away from their mother and Lord Ascot. Alice noticed her sister's eyes were twinkling a bit more than usual and she knew what that look meant.

"Alice, you really should meet Lord Ascot's nephew. He's quiet handsome!" Margaret said smiling.

Alice just rolled her eyes.

"Margaret, how many times do I have to tell you and mother that I'm not ready to settle down and the fact that I want to marry someone out of love and not because of their title, fortune, or who they may be related to?"

As Alice said this, Hatter's sad face from the day she left Underland popped into her head. She shook the image away but the feeling in her stomach remained.

"Alice, I think this is one gentleman you could love if you give him a chance. Mother has already invited him to your homecoming ball after this trip is over with."

Alice thought to herself and then smiled. She would just ask for his name and be sure to stay away from him.

"May I ask this gentleman's name so that I might be further acquainted with him?"

Margaret noticed the mischievous glint in Alice's eyes.

"No Alice, I and mother have agreed to not tell you his name and don't look at me like that. We know you'd want his name just so you could avoid him like the plague."

Alice was furious that she had been figured out but she could always ask Lord Ascot.

"Oh Alice, don't even bother to ask Lord Ascot because he won't tell you. That's right Alice; he's in on this game too." Margaret said triumphantly.

Alice only sighed. She knew when she had been defeated but her curiosity was growing intense now that she had two mystery men on her mind such as the mysterious Lord Hightower and now Lord Ascot's nephew. She also hoped that when she returned from China that she could visit Underland once more and find out Hatter's real name. The dream she had last night still haunted her.

It seemed ironic that she had three names to find out for three men; one being her best friend in Underland, one being a poor man she trampled all over, and one who was related to the Ascots whom she hadn't met at all and if he was anything like Hamish she hoped she would never have to meet him.

Margaret and Alice made their way back to their mother and Lord Ascot.

Alice spoke to them a little while longer and then bid them farewell, promising both that she would write them. She made her way to the ship and climbed aboard. She noticed her brother in law heading her way and realized she didn't know where her cabin was.

"Lowell, you took my trunks to my cabin earlier didn't you?"

"I did, Alice. Why, is there a problem?"

"Oh no, I was just wondering if you could show me where my cabin is? Alice asked.

"Oh certainly! Follow me this way."

He took her below the main ship deck. They came to a wide hallway with four cabin doors. There were two doors on the left and two doors on the right. The first door on the right was hers.

"Well Alice, here's your cabin as promised. Right across the hall from you is the cabin Marlaina and Mallory will be sharing, next to them is a Lord Jared someone and on your side of the hall next to you is Lord Ascot's nephew." Lowell said with a wink.

"Oh no, not you too!" Lowell just grinned. Alice frowned but then she remembered the garden party and grinned.

"Lowell, if you will not tell me Lord Ascot's nephew's name, then I will tell Margaret what I saw you doing at the garden party!"

"You haven't told her already? I'm surprised at you Alice; keeping secrets from Margaret are you?"

Alice was taken completely off guard by Lowell's question but she shook her head that she hadn't told her yet.

"Then I suppose she hasn't told you either?" Lowell asked.

"Told me what?" Alice demanded.

"What you said at the garden party made me think and I felt guilty about what I did so when we got home that night I told Margaret the truth. It wasn't easy and she was angry at me for days. Sometimes she didn't even talk to me but she eventually forgave me and we've made a vow to restart our marriage anew."

Alice couldn't believe it. She was proud of her brother in law for coming clean and even more proud of her sister for being able to forgive him.

"Well it seems as though you and Margaret have gained your muchness back?" Alice grinned

"Yes, I believe so. Well I must be going Alice and wish you all a safe trip."

He bid her farewell.

"What kind of word is muchness and what does that even mean?" Lowell asked to himself once he was out of earshot. He just simply shook his head. There were some things he'd never understand about Alice.

*On the Wonder*

Alice quickly looked around making sure all her trunks were there. Once that she was satisfied that everything she brought was here, she looked around the room to better get acquainted with it. She'd be living here for a few months on the rough seas. It looked rather cozy. She had a decent sized twin bed with clean sheets and a thick quilt. The cabin had a small desk for writing letters and a cherry wood dresser with a large mirror attached to it.

She noticed there looked to be two closet doors in her room. She opened one to reveal a spacious closet large enough to hang her dresses in. She opened the second door to reveal what looked to be a shared washroom or bathroom between her cabin and the one next to her. She was relieved to find locks on the inside of both of the doors.

As she exited the washroom, she heard the Wonder's foghorn blow to signal that it was time to set sail. She wanted to watch as her ship left the harbor so she ran back up to the main deck. She looked over the railing to see her mother and sister still chatting with Lord Ascot. She waved down to them and they waved back. Lord Ascot bid Helen and Margaret farewell and made his way to the ship.

Alice was so excited that her dream was finally coming true. She made her way to the bow of the ship and was happy to see the setting sun peeking out from behind the clouds and fog that normally surrounded London. The vibrant colors of the sunset reminded her of Underland. She hoped Underland wasn't just something she had dreamed about but she still wasn't sure. After all, why had she returned to Aboveland with the dress she had on before she fell into the rabbit hole? Wouldn't she have had on the armor she fought the Jabberwock in? Just as she was about to contemplate it further, she noticed something bright blue on her shoulder. She turned her head to get a better look. It was a large blue butterfly but it wasn't just any butterfly. This one had an almost human looking face and an eye-glass with a chain on his left eye. He winked at her and flew above her face.

"Hello Absolem!" Alice said smiling. He nodded to her and flew back towards London. Her heart nearly swelled at the thought that she now had confirmation that Underland was indeed real. As the ship started to move further from London, Alice continued to stare out at the sun kissed ocean ahead. She was unaware that someone had approached her from behind until they spoke.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" A young gentleman asked behind Alice.

"Yes it is!" She said while turning to greet the stranger. Once she saw him she gasped.

"O-Oh my, it-it's you!" Alice said.

*End of Chapter 8*

So what did you think? Who could this man be? Hehe! This by far is my longest chapter and there's still more to come, more characters to introduce and there will be more between Tarrant/Alice soon as their story is the basis for this fan fiction so I promise I haven't forgotten them! I'm just writing a story to fit the last scenes in the movie so that it makes sense. Right now I'm going slow with it because I want my characters to be well rounded and I want to build a good foundation for the story and include some characters from the old Lewis Carroll story and the Disney version that were sadly not included in the Burton version. But anyway please read and please review! Anyway thanks to you, the readers for all that you do! =)