A/N: Here's Chapter 11 as promised! This chapter will feature Alice and the mysterious man that looks like Hatter. I wanted this chapter to end with her going to Underland but the more I write I realize I need to add more to the Aboveland story for it to make sense! All I ask is that you bare with me, I know it's going slow but I really want this story to be great and sometimes taking my time and planning it out, and doing my research helps me to not make any mistakes thus you get a great story to read! Thanks!

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

*On The Wonder in Aboveland*

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 Jabberwocky 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.

The stranger looked at Alice with recognition.

"I can say the same about you, Miss Kingsleigh." The stranger stated as he stepped closer to her.

It was the man that Alice had trampled in her escape from the garden maze on the day that was supposed to be her engagement party. Now that she got a good look at him she realized he looked like the Hatter and didn't at the same time. His hair was long and curly and went past his shoulders. He wore a dark green business attire this time with a small dark green matching top hat. His hair was too long to be the Hatter's and the closer he got to her she realized his eyes weren't lime green and his pupils were perfectly straight. Yet he did have green eyes and auburn colored locks. He was wearing colors that though they were in style they were also considered bold or eccentric even for the time period. He looked to be about Hatter's height and build as well.

"And what may I ask are you doing sailing half-way across the world, Miss Kingsleigh? And on Lord Ascot's ship whose son I believe you turned down? You didn't change your mind did you?" He asked teasingly.

"N-No I didn't, change my mind that is. Lord Ascot was my father's business partner and best friend before he passed away. My father always wanted to expand his business further so instead of marrying Hamish, I agreed to be Lord Ascot's apprentice to accomplish my father's dream." Alice stated proudly.

"Sounds like your father was a lucky man to have a daughter such as yourself." He said.

"Yes, I hope so. I'm sorry I don't believe I ever got your name Mister...?"

"Tarrance Hightower but you can call me Tarrance or Tarry, whichever you prefer madam." He said showing a gap-toothed grin.

Alice had to really hold her tongue so that she wouldn't make the mistake of calling him Hatter again, but the similarities were enough to make her stomach feel all funny again.

'Wait! Didn't he speak with a Scottish Accent when she first met him?' She thought inwardly.

"Oh, well you can call me Alice then. Just one question Mr. High- I mean Tarrance, I could've sworn you spoke the language of the Scots when I met you?" Alice asked.

"Hmm slip of the tongue I suppose. Haven't been to my homeland in quite some time. But yes, I'm a Scott. I was born and raised there until I was about 12 years of age and then I came to live here in England."

"Oh I see." Alice said as she noticed Tarrance looking at her as though he was trying to remember something.

"I have a question for you as well." He said.

"What is it then?" Alice said.

"Why did you call me Hatter at the Garden Party when you ran into me? It wasn't because I was wearing a hat was it? I have a friend that's a hatter that has a shop near the Victorian Docks in London but we don't look anything alike." He rambled.

Alice noticed he was rambling as well and it was all she could do not to gape at him.

"Um Tarrance?"

"So sorry dear, I didn't mean to ramble." He apologized with a small frown.

"I'm so sorry I called you that, I must've sounded silly. It's a funny story really, you look like someone I know and he is in fact a hatter or milliner but I don't know his real name. At least not his first name anyway." She said, feeling that nagging guilt creep up inside of her for not knowing the name of the only person in the world that understood her and risked his life to save hers on several occasions.

"Sounds like you know him well and did I understand that you don't know his name?" He said skeptically.

"I'm afraid so, he never told me and I never asked. All his close friends just called him Hatter or Hatta but never by his first name. No...wait...there was one friend of his that called him by his name but he said it so low that I couldn't quite make it out then." Alice said.

"Hmm how peculiar, and I take it from how you speak about this um Hatter that he has caught your fancy?" Tarrance asked. He wasn't sure why but something deep inside him was telling him he hoped she wasn't. Yet he didn't know why, he only just formally met Miss Kingsleigh and was already jealous of a man whose name neither of them even knew. He shook his thoughts away, after all, why should he even care? The sea must be getting to him.

"I-I suppose, but I'm not exactly sure what my feelings toward him are as of yet. Ever since I can remember we've just been friends. The last time I saw him it was the same until I had to say goodbye and something changed I think. It was hard to say goodbye and when I think about him my stomach feels funny like it's full of butterflies." Alice said.

"Ah, maybe your feelings for this gentleman are more than just a fancy or at least that's what I've always been told by people that have fallen in love."

"I-In love?" Alice asked feeling her stomach flutter again or maybe it was her heart.

"Yes, the butterfly feeling, as you put it, is the feeling most people describe feeling before they fall in love with someone." He said.

"Are you certain?" Alice asked.

"I don't know, I've never been in love so I wouldn't know. Maybe I can answer that for you in the near future or maybe you can tell me if it's true." He smiled at her.

She smiled back at him.

"Yes, maybe so."

It was getting late and a bell rang throughout the ship. Alice looked around confused to why there was a bell ringing. A young sailor approached them.

"Aye Missus Kingsleigh and Lord Hightower, Lord Ascot sent me to be getting you for dinner down below. Says he wants all his guests to meet each other and talk business with yews." The Sailor stated.

"Tell him we'll be on our way." Tarrance ordered.

"Aye-aye Sir!" The Sailor said as he rushed back to tell Lord Ascot.

"I take it you've never been on a ship before, Alice?" Tarrance asked.

"N-No, I can't say that I have."

"I've been on many, I'm a fabric merchant and business owner so I've sailed many places to try to find the best fabric for my clients. If you'd like, I can show you around the ship and teach you the ways of the sea?" Tarrance asked.

Alice loved that idea, after all, the real reason she wanted to sail to China was for the adventure. As she thought about it a certain green-eyed Hatter popped into her mind yet again. She began to wonder what it would've been like if he was on this ship with her instead of this man, though nice and respectful, that looked like him.

"Why yes, I'd like that very much!" Alice stated excitedly.

"Then it's settled! Now shall we go to dinner?" He smiled as he held out his arm for her to take.

The gesture took Alice by surprise and she was hesitant to take his arm and it didn't go unnoticed.

"I'm sorry, I forgot that you said I looked similar to your beau. I didn't mean to offend you or make you feel uncomfortable in any way." He said drawing his arm back.

Alice realized how rude she must've come across to the only gentleman other than Hatter, her father, and Lord Ascot, to have been respectful of her.

"No, I'm sorry! It just caught me off guard!" Alice said while boldly taking his arm in hers.

"Shall we?" She said pulling his arm in the direction the Sailor went earlier.

"Yes, we shall."

*In the Dining Room of the Ship*

Lord Ascot sat at the head of the long rectangular table before him, there were several old business associates before him and some new. He looked forward to introducing everyone to one another as many of them had a great business venture before them and as everyone had a different business or role he was sure that there would be no conflict of interest. After all, they would be one of the firsts to trade with China.

Already seated to his left was a couple of men that had been a part of his and Charles Kingsleigh's freight company. The new business associates along with a few non-business related guests were to his right and left with a seat next to him that would soon occupy his nephew and Alice would be seated next to him.

He couldn't believe he had allowed Helen and Margaret Kingsleigh to put him in the middle of this game they had planned on trying to hook up his nephew with Alice. Though he had to admit as much as he thought the world of Alice and her family, he could see a better match between his nephew and Alice then he could ever see with her and his son, Hamish.

Before he could ponder more, Alice came into the dining area arm in arm with a man. Lord Ascot couldn't believe it and he was pretty sure that if Alice's mother and sister were here that they wouldn't believe it neither. He would also be willing to guess that if Alice knew whose arm she was latched onto, she'd most likely recoil back as though bitten by a snake.

"Ah, so glad that you two have finally joined us. Please have a seat!" Lord Ascot said.

Alice was going to sit by Lord Ascot but Tarrance had beat her to it so she sat on Tarrance's right since that was the only seat left. Next to her was Marlaina White, Mallory Taylor next to Marlaina.

Alice looked around the dining table. She noticed a few old gents that were business associates of her late father and Lord Ascot such as a Mr. Smith and Mr. Hopkins. She noticed some new faces among them as well.

"Now that we're all here, I will go around clockwise and say your name, when I do please tell us a little about yourself. I think this is a great way for everyone to get acquainted with one another." Lord Ascot said.

"Mr. Eric Smith" Lord Ascot said.

He was an elderly man, with a bald spot with white puffy hair and a curled mustache. He was possibly the oldest man there and was pretty short and pump.

"I'm an original sponsor of Lord Ascot and the late Charles Kingsleigh. I run a big bank in London and I've sponsored many other notable ventures as well. I can never say no to a good investment." Mr. Smith said keeping it strictly business.

Mr. Hopkins was much the same and Alice would venture to say these men never had any muchness what-so-ever. Alice was starting to grow bored and afraid she'd fall asleep at the table before their food ever came if the introductions continued to be this tiring.

"Mr. Jared Mays" Lord Ascot said.

Everyone looked to the next speaker. Alice noticed the man was slim but muscular. Maybe about 5'7 in height. He had shoulder length blonde hair tied in a tight ponytail and had long bangs that nearly covered his eyes. His eyes were something to see. They were blue with mismatched pupils almost similar to the Hatter's.

"As Lord Ascot said, my name's Jared Mays. I run a landscape business, we design gardens for the well to do. I'm known for my specialty in garden mazes. I'm on this venture to discover new plants that I might bring back to London, especially Bamboo. I also own an orphanage that takes pride in finding the best homes for children who were more or less thrown away or lost their families tragically. Oh, I also love to collect things made from crystal." Lord Mays said.

'Finally, someone that had a little muchness!' Alice thought. 'May the rest of the introductions wouldn't be so bad.' She noticed Marlaina was giving Lord Mays a flirty glance from across the table.

"Thank you Lord Mays! I believe it was you that designed my garden maze about a year ago." Lord Ascot said.

"Yes, I believe it was." Lord Mays stated.

"Lord Chester Mooney" Lord Ascot said.

Alice looked over to him. He sat right across from Mallory. He had a familiar face and straight white teeth that seemed a little too big for his mouth. He had dark brown hair..almost black and piercing teal blue eyes. He was very short, maybe a head or two taller than Mallory but shorter than any man on the ship.

"I used to work for Queen Victoria as a spy to make sure the Spanish or the French weren't planning any over-taking. I'm now a lawyer and I've done some diplomat business in the past. I know some of the Chinese language and I'm going along on this trip with the lot of you to insure that we have a peaceful trade with them." Lord Mooney stated.

"Thank you Lord Mooney! Now Lord Thaddeus Wicker." Lord Ascot said.

He was a middle-aged man, maybe in his late 40s. He had brown hair with a touch of gray. He was slim and maybe about 5'6. He sat at the very end of the table opposite Lord Ascot.

"I-I'm a T-TEA merchant. I-I Heard that CHINA had a-all kinds of TEA! I-I apologize if I s-say anything o-out of line, r-rude, or o-obscene. M-my doctor in F-FRANCE says I-I have T-Tourette's Syndrome named after my doctor w-whom discovered it. I-I'm from S-SCOTLAND though I haven't l-lived there in some t-time." Lord Wicker said.

"Miss Mallory Taylor"

"Um a maid employed to Lady Alice Kingsleigh. Um from Scotland as well. Wen um not doin mi service as a maid I make clothin' und practice sword makin. Me pa was a blacksmith und I un only child sew I continue tew make swords und other weapons." Mallory stated proudly.

Some of the gentlemen snickered at the thought of a woman making weapons.

"I think it's great that you can make swords Mallory!" Alice spoke up defending her friend.

Tarrance got a good look at Mallory and thought she looked very familiar.

"Yes, I must agree with Miss Kingsleigh, I think it's great that you make weapons. I'll have to have you make me a sword." Lord Tarrance Hightower said.

The others stopped laughing when Tarrance spoke.

"Aye that wud be great Lord Hightower. Wat kind of sword wud ye be wantin" Mallory asked.

"I tew hail from Scotland ma dear, a traditional Claymore wud be mor like it." Tarrance said letting his accent show.

"It'd be un honor!" Mallory smiled and slightly bowed her head in respect.

"Lady Marlaina White"

Marlaina explained that she was a Governess employed by Miss Alice Kingsleigh's mother to teach Alice Chinese language and culture and above all to be her chaperone.

"Lady Alice Kingsleigh"

"Most of you either knew my father the late Charles Kingsleigh or you've heard of him. He was known for being a tiny bit mad in his business ventures but he always accomplished his goals except for one, he died of a fever before he could set out to expand the business. I'm his daughter and most of you may think I'm a little mad myself and that may be true. I, like my father, like to believe in as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast. I'm here today to accomplish my father's dream to expand further but the idea to expand to China is one of my own. I'd like that formally thank Lord Ascot for letting me become an apprentice in this venture as it is still very much a man's world out there. " Alice stated proudly.

"Thank you, Alice. I've always thought of you like the daughter I never had. I only wish that my son, Hamish, had taken interest in this company as you have. I know that if Charles were here to see this, he'd be very proud of you and he wouldn't have given it a second thought to bring you along." Lord Ascot said dotingly.

"Last but certainly not least, my only nephew, Lord Tarrance Hightower." Lord Ascot.

Alice gasped. She couldn't believe it. She had made fast friends with the man her family had wanted her to fall for. Not only was he Lord Ascot's nephew but he could pass as an Aboveland twin for her Hatter.

'Her Hatter? Why did she keep referring to Hatter as hers?' She thought getting that weird feeling again.

"Thank you Uncle, everyone, as most of you may know I'm a fabric merchant so I set out to find fabric for my clients such as Milliners, Tailors, and the like. I try to find the rarest fabrics and the newest colors to keep up with the styles of tomorrow. I've heard rumor that China has some of the finest silks and that they sell it cheap so that's why I'm sailing half-way across the world with you all fine gentlemen and ladies. I also enjoy sword play and tea! Oh and I enjoy solving riddles! Edgar Allen Poe is one of my favorite authors." Tarrance said smiling at Alice who was staring with her mouth open.

"My dear Alice, you mustn't hold your mouth open like that. Why you might eat a fly!" Tarrance said teasingly.

Alice promptly shut her mouth. She thought about retorting back but the ship's chef and servers came in with their freshly cooked dinner.

A/N: Wow this took a long time to write! Probably one of my longest chapters! Anyway there will be more in the next chapter which I hope to have up soon! Anyway please read and review!