Alice has always been insecure about love. Her father being taken from her on the day she had broken down and cried in his arms didn’t help. For a long time she had blamed herself for him leaving. Ok, in reality she still blamed herself, up until she traveled to Wonderland and found that he had been taken, unwillingly.
Then there is Hatter. So perfect, handsome, and so sure of himself. She had been drawn to him, who can blame her? Who wouldn’t want a man like him? But her insecurities had come in and made her push him away. Jack? Jack had been safe to date because he was using her, but that was par for the course with the men in her life.
Now here she is, sitting in her apartment, depressed, lonely, heartbroken. She had chased the perfect man from her life. But, in her defense, she had listened to his comments on missing Wonderland from their first date.
They went out to an Italian restaurant and ate while talking. They joked about how the food here was different from Wonderland.
Hatter had been grinning and he commented, “I never thought I would miss borogrove. Of all the foods to miss!”
That was the first time he had brought it up. She had worried if that had been a quiet suggestion from Hatter that he was missing Wonderland, and wanted to return. It hurt her that he couldn’t just tell her. But, for the rest of the night, his attentions were on her, her only. He even took her to see Wicked, which she had mentioned that she wanted to see.
But Alice just couldn’t forget. No, Not her. Not with her memory. She was scared of the heartache if he left. So she tortured herself for months. She asked him questions about Wonderland to try to see if he wanted to go back. And sadly, he answered every single one of them.
The last time she had asked one of those questions that has been bugged her from their time in Wonderland.
Hatter and Alice had been at her place. They had been watching movies and talking, Nothing out of ordinary for the two of them. Hatter was in a corner of the couch and she had been lying against him. His arm was around her, his other hand playing with her hand.
Then Alice asked him, “Who was Carlota St. Delaware?” She wanted to know.
Hatter looked down at her and answered, “A girl I dated in Wonderland. Why?”
Alice shook her head and slid out of his arms. She gets answers on all the questions she really doesn’t know and the one that she doesn’t? He wimps out. She moved out of his arms and when Hatter tried to hold her, she told him, “I will be right back.” She got up and went to the bathroom.
Alice stood in front of the mirror and just tried to stop herself from crying. She needed to get him to leave now before he regrets leaving Wonderland for her. Everything is Wonderland this, Wonderland that. He will begin hating her for him leaving his homeland. And her heart just couldn’t take it. She loves him too much. So she needs to get him to go back.
Alice came back in the room. She was surprised to see Hatter sitting on the edge of the sofa. He had turned off the movie and was waiting for her. She looked at him and asked, “Hatter, what is wrong?” Did he guess what she had decided?
He looked up at her and asked, “Alice, what is wrong? You keep asking me questions. I answer them truthfully, but you pull away from me more and more. It has been eight months. Eight months that I have been trying to be patient. But this is too much. Tell me what is wrong?”
Alice stared at him and she shook her head, “It’s nothing, Hatter.” No, she can’t do this yet, no! She is not ready yet!
Hatter stood up and moved to her quickly. He looked down at her and told her, “Now that is a bloody lie, Alice. I love you. I just want to know what is going on. How can I fix it if you don’t trust me enough to tell me?”
He pushed the wrong buttons and Alice’s temper flares up. Alice glared up at him and finally told him, “I am tired of listening to what you miss from Wonderland. If you miss it so much, Go BACK! I have tried to be nice. I have tried to be patient. But like you said, enough is enough. Go back to your world, Hatter.”
Hatter took a step back and then scrunched his face in thought. He asked with a genuine sound of confusion in his voice, “Alice, where did you get this idea? The only time we have brought up anything from Wonderland has been your questions. Or times we are talking about our adventure. Alice, what is going on?”
Alice just stared at him, “Go home, Hatter. Leave.” Please… pretty, pretty please. Just go. She needs him to leave before this gets too painful.
Hatter watched her and asked again, “Alice, trust me. I am home.”
Alice took a step away from him when he tried to pull her into his arms. She walked to the door and opened it. She stood there, not staring at him. She was remembering the last time she did this, but then her heart wasn’t breaking. It had been actually a sense of relief to send Jack packing.
“Alice?”
She refused to look at him. She couldn’t or she would throw herself into his arms begging him to choose her, forget Wonderland.
Hatter moved slowly to the door. He tried to reach for her again and she moved away. His hand dropped, his whole body radiated misery and rejection. He tried one last thing, “Alice, I am not leaving. You are my home. I love you.”
Alice finally said something, “Go home to Wonderland, Hatter. You told me once that Wonderland was your home and you couldn’t leave it.” She knew it was a shot below the belt, but he is making this too hard!
Hatter’s shoulders dropped more. He stared at her but when she refused to move; he turned and walked out the door.
Alice shut the door and slid down it, the tears she had hidden from him poured down her face. She had sent her love out the door. But it was for his own good.
It had been a bad decision, but one that her brain had said needed to be made, while her heart, soul, and body was arguing about it. And Alice can’t take it.
She wants Hatter. She wants his arms around her, his voice in her ear. She craves him so much she is broken, unable to be in her silly life. She had made the decision to find him and beg for him to come back her. For them to talk.
So where to find the man of her life? Well that has been a problem; she has gone everywhere and not found him.
As she sits in her bed she looks over at her nightstand and sees her old Alice in Wonderland book. Then she realizes what she needs to do, where Hatter is. She gets up and gets ready. She almost has a panic attack when she couldn’t find a critical element, but she finds it and smiles for the first time in months. Now to find Hatter.
Hatter had woke up and made himself breakfast earlier that day. He hasn’t seen anyone for over a week, but today, today he will need to go and get food. But something makes him delay and he cleans up his site, taking his time.
But then he hears the sound of boots on the concrete floor. His eyes widen, and he jumps up, his heart pounding. Can it be her?
Alice decides that it has been taking too long to walk up to Looking Glass, and to be honest, she just wants Hatter’s arms around her, his voice to tell her it is all ok. So she starts running, since she knows very well these boots can handle her running in them.
She runs around the corner, realizing she is about to repeat what she did the first time. But this time, this time someone catches her around her waist and pulls her to them.
Hatter couldn’t believe it when Alice ran around the corner in her blue dress, raspberry tights and oh ye gods! Those boots!! Then he snaps to the fact that she is going too fast and is about to dive head first into the Looking Glass. Reacting to that, he grabs her and uses her momentum to swing them away from the Glass and to pull her to him.
Alice gasps, she knows these arms, and that scent. She says softly, “Hatter?”
Hatter can’t help himself and he kisses her head. He answers just as softly, “Alice?”
Alice turns in his arms and flings her arms around him, sobbing. Hatter holds her tightly, rubbing her back and trying to calm her down. He hears her tell him, “I ::sobs:: am s-s-s-orry ::sob::, you d-d-d-didn’t leave, :gasping sob:” then the words that make his heart light, “I love you!”
Hatter pulls her even tighter in his arms, he hears her gasping breath. Making a decision, he picks her up, moves them away from the Glass room and to the office he had just had finished next door. It is decorated it similar to the one in Wonderland, but with wood floors, since he can’t seem to get grass to grow.
He sits down on the white couch and holds her to him. Time passes, but to the two of them, it is like time has stopped just for the two of them.
Hatter is determined to make sure that Alice is his. They will talk.
Alice calms down, and they sit there for a second just being. But she knows this is her fault and she tells him, “I am sorry.”
When Hatter goes to interrupt her, she tells him, “Please, don’t. Just listen, I won’t be able to finish unless I say this now.”
At his nod, she continues, “I am sorry for all of this. You always talked of Wonderland, I began to feel like nothing, and was scared of you leaving me when you realized that you loved Wonderland more than me. So I decided to ask you questions, hoping you would realize this. But you answered them and never left. So I pushed you, partly because the one question I wanted answered you didn’t. Dammit. Why don’t these things sound like they do in your head?”
Hatter has had enough, “Alice. I love you and only answered the questions to satisfy your curiosity. I have nothing for me back in Wonderland. You are here, you are my life, my love. I have been here for the last eight months waiting for you. And Alice?” When she looks up he stares intently into her eyes and tells her with steel in his voice, “Don’t you ever feel less than perfect. If you ever feel like your nothing, just remember, you are perfect to me.” He kisses her. He knows they have a lot to talk about, but right now, they will work it out. Alice is here in his arms and they will fix this.
Yes it is VERY disjointed, but bear with me. Alice is upset. And Hatter? I write him so much better. Always have and always will I guess.
Ok, I am having a problem writing what I want. I am in a weird mood, and I really can’t explain it. It is not happy, and so I guess that is why I can’t write. So I decided to write this one shot in hopes that it will help out. If not, well then you guys get a surprise chapter.
Also, Hattie, thanks for the pic.
Song I listened to for this chapter: The Man Who Can’t Be Moved by The Script
Hatter woke up to another day. He is glad it is not raining, not that it doesn’t matter, he isn’t moving. His mind flashes to the reason he is here, as it does every day, all day long.
He had no idea where they went wrong. He remembered when he first came to this world to be with Alice, how happy they both had been. They enjoyed their time together, exploring this world.
Hatter remembered their first official date, the phone conversation before and the actual date.
“Hatter, we don’t need to date. It seems like a step back after everything we have been though!” Alice protested when Hatter called her asking for a date. She was genuinely shocked by his question.
“Alice, I just want to give you everything. I love you and want to do this right. I never took you on a date!” Hatter tried to figure out what is wrong with the suggestion of a date. Isn’t this what people in her world do?
Alice sighed, then told him in a teasing voice, “Well, with all the running we did, it would have been hard to do a traditional date; whatever a traditional date would be in Wonderland. But, you could argue that our first date was in the Kingdom of Knights.”
Hatter scoffed at that suggestion and answered her, “Yeah with Charlie there, and then ending the night with a fight? Then, after all that, you left me to go to the Casino even after I told you how dangerous it was?” Then his voice dropped and he asked her, “Alice, what is wrong?”
Alice replied, “Hatter, I just am leery of dates. Once I start dating someone, everything seems to end quickly after that. I don’t want us to end. I… care about you. A lot.”
Hatter closed his eyes and asked, “You don’t trust me, Alice?”
The pregnant pause from her seemed to tell him everything and his heart dropped.
Before he could say anything Alice asked him, “What time are you picking me up?”
Hatter grinned, told her the time and quickly hung up. He had a lot to do.
He showed up at her apartment with a bouquet of tulips. Hatter had heard about Jack and his presentation of roses to both of them, but he didn’t want to be compared to the bloody King of Hearts. He calms himself down by telling himself that he was the one who had Alice. She picked him!
Alice opened the door wearing the purple coat over a black dress. She smiled in enjoyment over the tulips, she had mentioned to him in the past that they, along with roses, are her favorites.
Hatter couldn’t help himself and he kissed her. Then he held her to him before he released her to look into her eyes. Quietly he asked, “Are you ready, luv?”
Alice smiled shyly at him and replied, “Yes.”
They went out to an Italian restaurant and ate while talking. They joked about how the food here was different from Wonderland.
Hatter had been grinning and commented, “I never thought I would miss borogrove. Of all the foods to miss!”
Alice had been joking, but at his words, her smile dropped.
Hatter didn’t miss anything and asked, “Alice, what is wrong?”
Alice looked down and then she looked back up and her face brightened as she told him, “Nothing, just remembered something from work. So, where else are we going?”
No matter how much Hatter had tried to find out, she never told him. Not then, nor when they went to see the play, Wicked.
That was the first time Alice had drawn away from him and never told him what was wrong. Sadly, it was not the last.
There would be innocent conversations and she would either pull away from him, or she would ask him questions about Wonderland.
At first he thought she was regretting that she had turned down Jack.
Later, he thought she regretted that he had come here to her world.
Then one day he had had enough.
He confronted her.
Hatter and Alice had been at her mom and Alice’s place. They had been watching movies and talking; a normal night for the two of them. Hatter was in a corner of the couch, with Alice lying against him. His arm was around her, his hand playing with her hand.
Then Alice asked him, “Who was Carlota St. Delaware?”
Hatter looked down at her and answered, “A girl I dated in Wonderland. Why?”
Alice shook her head and slid out of his arms.
When Hatter tried to hold her, she told him, “I will be right back.” She got up and went to the bathroom.
Hatter sat there and watched her leave. The blue shirt she was wearing reminded him of her dress he first saw her in. That color remained his favorite on her.
He sighed and rubbed his face. Why did she ask these questions and then withdraw from him? He decided enough was enough. Eight months of this was more than enough time for her to talk to him. Now he was going to get some answers from the woman he loved.
Alice came back in the room. She was surprised to see Hatter sitting on the edge of the sofa. He had turned off the movie and was waiting for her. She looked at him and asked, “Hatter, what is wrong?”
He looked up at her and asked, “Alice, what is wrong? You keep asking me questions. I answer them truthfully, but you pull away from me more and more. It has been eight months. Eight months that I have been trying to be patient. But this is too much. Tell me what is wrong?”
Alice stared at him and she shook her head and told him, “It’s nothing, Hatter.”
Hatter stood up and moved to her quickly. He looked down at her and told her, “Now that is a bloody lie, Alice. I love you. I just want to know what is going on. How can I fix it, if you don’t trust me enough to tell me?”
Alice glared up at him and finally told him, “I am tired of listening to what you miss from Wonderland. If you miss it so much, go BACK! I have tried to be nice. I have tried to be patient. But like you said, enough is enough. Go back to your world, Hatter.”
Hatter took a step back and then scrunched his face in thought. He asked, with a genuine sound of confusion in his voice, “Alice, where did you get this idea? The only time we have brought up anything from Wonderland has been your questions. Or times we are talking about our adventure. Alice, what is going on?”
Alice just stared at him and told him, “Go home, Hatter. Leave.”
Hatter watched her, and he asked again, “Alice, trust me. I am home.”
Alice took a step away from him when he tried to pull her into his arms. She walked to the door and opened it. She stood there, not staring at him.
Hatter couldn’t believe it. Why was she doing this? “Alice?”
She refused to look at him.
Hatter moved slowly to the door. He tried to reach for her again and she moved away. His hand dropped, his whole body radiated misery and rejection. He tried one last thing, “Alice, I am not leaving. You are my home. I love you.”
Alice finally said something, “Go home to Wonderland, Hatter. You told me once that Wonderland was your home and you couldn’t leave it.”
Hatter’s shoulders dropped more. He stared at her but when she refused to move, he turned and walked out the door.
Alice shut the door and slid down it, the tears she had hidden from him poured down her face.
Hatter had stood there, staring at the door, as he heard her crying, and felt helpless to fix her. After a long while, he finally went home.
Hatter tried for months to get her to understand that he was still in love with her. Nothing worked. He now was camped in front of the Looking Glass. He refused to go back to Wonderland. Plus he knew the Glass wouldn’t work for him, there is no part of him that wanted to go there. That was the magic of the Glass, it will only allow those who really want to go to Wonderland to come through. His life, love, they were all here.
Jack had set up Hatter very well in this world; making it where he could do anything he wanted. The only stipulations? That he love Alice and buy this site. He was the Keeper of the Looking Glass. For this, he never had to work or worry about anything.
He still loved Alice with his whole being and the first purchase he had made was this warehouse. He had met and complied with every demand on him. Now he waits and hopes that Alice will wake up one day and come running to the Glass, wanting him. He is the man who couldn’t be moved. Not by anything or anyone.
He is waiting for Alice.
Yeah told you I am in a mood. Maybe I will write a companion piece to this, or something… Just had to write something.
Song I listened to for this chapter: Someone That You’re With by Nickelback
Hatter was walking out the door and ran into the new neighbor moving in across the hallway. ‘Wow! Is she good looking!’ He was going to introduce himself but she was juggling a couple of boxes, so he immediately jumps to help her.
“Thanks. My brother and mom are late coming to help me and I think I grabbed too much on this trip.” She thanks him grinning ruefully. She was 5’5″, long brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, fair porcelain skin. She was slim, but not all bones. She had all the curves a woman should have, but she looked as though she worked out normally. She was wearing jeans and a short sleeve blue t-shirt with flip flops. He loves a woman who was confident enough in themselves to dress casually.
Hatter grins at her and tells her, “No problem. You need help, luv?” He hopes she will agree. He has nothing he would rather be doing than help this woman and hopefully get to know her better.
He walks into her apartment and sets down the boxes in the stack that she must have already brought in. He turns and introduces himself. “My name is Hatter. Well, it’s actually David, but me mates call me Hatter.”
“Hi! My name is Alice. And my friends call me Alice. Where are you from, David?” Alice grins at him, tilting her head showing her amusement.
Hatter laughs and tells her, “You can call me Hatter, Alice. I am from England, Yorkshire actually.” She is delighting him with her teasing.
“Well Hatter, it has been really nice to meet you.” Before she can say anything else, Hatter hears some arguing down the hall.
“No, she is in 208, Mom. And I saw the moving truck outside. She must be already in the apartment!” A broad shouldered blonde, blue eyed man, dressed in a tight green GAP t-shirt and stonewashed jeans walks in with an older blonde, blue eyed woman, in a white blouse and khakis. The family resemblance was unmistakable in the eyes of all three.
Hatter watches as the man hugs Alice in a bear hug. She laughs and tells him, “Charlie, you need to let me down!”
Charlie sets her down and then notices Hatter standing there. He extends his hand and says, “Good morning! My name is Charlie, the big brother to Alice, here.”
Hatter shakes his hand and tells him, “My name is Hatter. I live across the hall. Saw your sister trying to juggle boxes and lent a hand.” He grins at him.
Charlie throws his head back and laughs. “She always tries to handle more than she can.”
Hatter notices Alice’s grimace on her face at her brother’s words. He could just imagine how she feels. His brothers are a pain in the butt most of the time, but never have any of them said anything like that to each other, even in the teasing manner that Charlie says it to his sister.
Alice turns to David, “It was nice meeting you, Hatter. We will probably see a lot of each other, being neighbors and such. Thanks for the help, but now that my family has finally showed up, we can get this sorted.”
David smiles at her again and tells her, “No problem. Please don’t hesitate in letting me know if you need some help or anything else.” He hopes she will take him up on his offer.
Alice smiles back at him and tells him, “I will! Have a great day!”
Hatter grins and tips his hat to everyone and leaves. He starts whistling as he walks down the hall. He needs to talk with some people today and get some other things done. But for the rest of the day, as he works, Alice was constantly on his mind.
That night when he returns, he sees the moving truck is gone. He grins and goes up to his apartment; maybe he will see if Alice needs anything?
That was earlier, now he was standing here looking out the peep hole. He had heard someone knocking and his curiosity got the better of him. He was spying on his pretty neighbor. What Hatter sees upset him, to say the least. There is a tall blonde man in a suit standing outside her door with a bouquet of flowers.
Then Alice, pretty Alice, opens the door and is grinning at the man. He watched as she is surprised by the bouquet. Alice moves inside the apartment for a couple of seconds then returns with her purse and they leave.
Hatter leans his head against the door. He didn’t know who the bloke is, but he sure does hate him right now, going out with the person he wants to be taking out.
The guy looks familiar to him and he frowns trying to think who he was. Unable to think of who the bloke is, Hatter moves away from the door, going back to his desk and works. Later that night it dawns on him that the guy is from apartment 408. Bloody hell he moves fast!
Hatter’s phone rings and he looks at it briefly before he grins and answers it. “Hiya Carlotta! What you be needing tonight?” He listens to his brother’s girlfriend talk and finally says, “Alright! I be getting ready and I meet you both there?” After listening to her instructions, he rolls his eyes and agrees as he hangs up.
He meets up with his brother Santo and Carlotta at the bar around the corner. The three of them are close, in fact Hatter dated Carlotta when he had first arrived back in the States and they had separated as friends. He had introduced her to his brother and the rest is bob’s your uncle.
Tonight Carlotta and Santo see that their brother is distracted, and finally, after receiving an “uh huh” for the fifth time, Carlotta demands, “So who is on your mind Hatter?”
Hatter jerks and looks quickly at the two of them staring at him. “No one. Why you ask?”
Carlotta laughs and tells him, “You have not been listening to the two of us all evening. The last time I ever saw you this distracted, was when we dated. So who is on your mind?”
Hatter sighs and tells them, “A new lady moved in across from me. I met her this morning and she’s friendly. And very pretty. Her name be Alice and I just cannot seem to get her out of me mind. I was thinking of seeing if she needed anything and some bloke from the floor above managed to get to her first.”
Santo and Carlotta look at each other and grin. Santo tells his little brother, “Well, well, well. My little brother has finally found someone that interests him! So what are you going to do about it?”
Hatter groans and tells them, “I have no bloody idea. I do know I want to get to know her better.” His head falls on his hands.
Carlotta moves to him and rubs his back. “Hatter, try to get to know her better. Try talking to her. Use that charm of yours. Don’t just give up.” She looks concerned and glances over to Santo.
Santo nods and tells Hatter, “C’mon bro, tell me about her.” The rest of the evening is spent with Hatter telling them what little he knew and them talking about what he can do.
The next day he was taking out the trash and sees her coming out of her apartment with a load of boxes crushed. Without even thinking about it, he jumps to grab them from her.
“Here Alice, let me help you.” He grabs most of the boxes and would have grabbed the rest but she smiles and nods her head negatively at him.
“Thanks, Hatter. I see chivalry is not yet dead in England.” Alice teases him, as she notices his face fall. This causes Hatter to cheer back up.
They continue to talk as they walk to the dumpster. Once they deposit the trash in there and the boxes in the correct container, they turn to walk back.
Hatter was happy, Alice has a great sense of humor and they were really talking. He was getting ready to ask her if she wanted to catch a movie when the bloody bloke from the floor up above comes down the stairs as they were walking up.
“Alice! I was hoping to meet with you, want to go see a movie tonight?” The bloke from above was cheerful and has taken her hand as he speaks to her.
Alice blushes and glances at Hatter. She then straightens up and answers, “Jack, I would love to. What time would you like to come to pick me up?”
Hatter couldn’t listen to them anymore. He grins at Alice and motions with his head that he is going to head to his apartment. Once he gets back inside, he hits the door as he slides down it. Who in bloody hell is this blooming Jack? He shakes his head and moves away from the door. He spends the rest of the day straightening his apartment. Later he leaves to deposit some more recyclables in the bins and he hears her music on and her singing along to it. He smiles, entranced by her and her antics. Hatter swears to himself he will do better and will win her.
The next day he doesn’t have a chance to do anything since he was obligated to the family dinner. He drives to his foster parent’s house in his Jaguar. He uses the drive to think of what he could do to win Alice and starts making a plan. Before long he pulls into his parent’s home and gets out looking at all the cars. He is puzzled why there are so many people here.
When he comes in, his nieces and nephews attack his legs telling him, “Uncle Hatter! Come on! Everyone is waiting on you!”
He leans down and picks up his niece that has just started talking. “Hello there, luv! Now tell Uncle Hatter, why is everyone waiting on me?” He makes big eyes at her and pouts.
The adorable 2 year old, Annie with dark hair and bright violet eyes laughs at him. “Unkewl Ha, I naw allowew!”
Hatter blows a raspberry at her as he moves through the house with all the other children laughing at him. He loves kids and especially the ones that are related to him. He was laughing at them and their antics as they all try to tell him about their past week and talking over each other to do this. As he walks into the kitchen, his niece squirms to be let down and he puts her down gently. He then moves to kiss his mum on the cheek.
His mum was beautiful, with all the foster children she had adopted, you would think she would have been run ragged, but she had managed to control them and her husband over the years. She is a slight woman with dark brown hair and brown eyes that matches the young man standing in front of her.
She turns to her son and exclaims, “David! I missed you!” She kisses his cheek and grins at him.
This son was a true son to her and her husband, James. This was her sister’s child, but her sister had died on the table. No one knew who the father was at the time, so Angie and James adopted him. They lived in England for 10 years before moving to the States. Once here, they adopted 3 other boys and 2 girls. James was wealthy from his inheritance and his practice as a physiologist. Angie stayed home to raise the kids. But David was their first and neither of them ever thought of him as their nephew, but as their son.
Hatter grins down at his mum and asks, “So why are all the munchkins riled up?” He moves to taste the sauce she is stirring and she hits his hand.
“David! None of that! Santos and Carlotta are here and they may have mentioned a girl?” She grins at him as he moans.
“Mum! She is me neighbor and yes I like her. But I cannot seem to be able to get a date or anything other than some casual chit chat as I help her take out the trash.” Hatter grouches at her. He had hoped to keep this quiet for now.
“David, now you know your mum and I have been waiting for you to bring a girl home to the family.” James was laughing at his longest adopted son as Hatter rubs his hand across the back of his neck. James was tall, dark and handsome. Literally. He was 6’4″, had dark mahogany hair with grey eyes. Even now the woman in his practice nicknamed him Dr. McSteamy. Angie had laughed herself to tears when she heard and had gotten herself a t-shirt that said I am with Dr McSteamy to wear at the company picnic.
Hatter shakes his head and tells them both, “I am trying, but some bloke named Jack has been asking her out before I get the chance.” He watches his dad walk up to his mum and pulls her close to him. This is what he has been wanting. He didn’t do much casual dating because he wants the connection he sees in front of him.
The rest of the family chooses that moment to pour into the kitchen from wherever they were before he came in. Santo and Carlotta grin as they see Hatter getting the attention of the family. They know he was never going to say anything and so they told everyone. They didn’t do it to be mean, they just wanted the family to know and help support their younger brother. Hatter may have been the first adopted, but he is the baby of the family. And everyone loves Hatter and wants to see him happy.
Hatter moans and tells Santo, “You couldn’t belt your mouth could you?” Everyone laughs at him and he grins at them.
Jennifer, one of his sisters, tells him, “Hatter, we just want to see you happy. And from what these two have told us, you are sunk hook, line and sinker. So we all came down to try to help you out.” She grins at him as her two children look up at her and her husband, Jake.
Brent chuckles at the look at Hatter’s face. “Well to be truthful, the girls told us men to leave you alone. Actually they said if we can’t tell you something that was not testosterone heavy, to keep our mouths belted up.” The rest of the family laughs at Brent’s poor attempt to mirror Hatter’s accent.
Hatter grins at his family. “I be more than happy to take advice from the better halves of this family. I remember your advice given to me once in high school. I don’t think I have ever lived it down yet!” He grins at his brothers, both the adopted and married ones. He loves his family.
The rest of the evening is spent talking about Alice and what he can do to get her attention. His mum said he is doing a great job, with helping her as much as he has. The family agrees with her and helps form up some more plans. The planning took the entire evening and was lively. No meeting of the family is not without its jokes and this evening is no different. But all the joking is never mean. Most of it was when anyone notices Hatter getting a little preoccupied.
As the evening winds down, everyone is in the sitting room. Hatter had left to grab a drink and was now leaning against the door jam watching his family. His ever present hat is perched up on his hair. He felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and he looks back at his sister, Layla. She grins at him and tells him, “We love you, Hatter. You do know that?”
Hatter nods at his sister. Layla resembles their mum a lot for one not blood related to the family. She is small, petite and has light hazel eyes with her black hair. She is also the closest to Hatter, which is saying a lot in this family.
“Layla, this sounds all great, but I really like Alice. I have no idea how I am going to get her attention.” He puts an arm around her as they look out on their family.
“Hatter, it won’t be easy, but you helped Aaron and I get together. In fact, you have played a pretty significant role in getting most of us together. We just want to help now.” Layla looks up at Hatter. He smiles down at her and goes back to watching the family. She can see the want in his eyes and her heart goes out to him. Hatter is very kind and she has told the truth, he has helped every one of his brothers and sisters find their true love. Now it was their turn to help him.
Soon after that, the family breaks up and they all leave. Angie and James wave goodbye as they watched all their children leave in the mayhem. They are always shocked no one is left behind or in the wrong cars with they all leave in such a chaotic mess. But they grin down at each other as they see the last car leave.
“So you think the plans are going to work?” Angie looks up at her husband as they move to go inside.
James grins down at her and answers, “I have no idea. But I do know something will happen with all of them working towards it. Who knows, maybe I will get to meet my missing daughter?”
They grin at each other and close the door to the house.
The plans were easy. And Hatter starts on them the following morning. He walks across the hall and knocks on Alice’s door. He could hear her music on in the apartment and grins again.
Her door opens and Alice grins as she sees him. “Hatter! Good morning. What can I do for you today?”
Hatter grins at her and sheepishly asks, “My niece is here and I don’t have any syrup for her waffles. Do you have any that I can borrow?”
Alice’s eyes widen and then she answers him quickly. “Yep. Hold on one sec.” She leaves the door open and yells over her shoulder, “I just bought some last Friday.”
Hatter admires her body as he watches her bending over in the cabinet. Hey, male here! I would have to give up my man card if I didn’t admire! She turns around and he grins at her. She smiles back and comes back to the door. She hands him the syrup bottle.
“Alice, why don’t you come over and have some breakfast with my niece and I.” When she starts to protest, he interrupts her and says, “Nonsense. You are supplying the most important part of the meal according to my niece. Please join us, Alice.” Just then his door opens and Annie peaks out at her.
Alice’s heart melts at the adorable 2 year old and agrees. Hatter smiles and moves out of the way.
Alice grabs her keys and joins him. They move across the hall and Alice drops down to Annie’s level. She tells her, “Hi, I am Alice. What is your name?”
Annie smiles shyly at her and answers, “Annie. This is Unkewl Ha.”
Alice laughs and arches an eyebrow at Hatter. “Uncle Ha?”
Hatter grins at her and tells her, “She is the only one allowed to call me that. Well… her and my other nephews and nieces until they can say my name right.” He smiles at the memory.
Alice watches him thoughtfully. They move into his apartment and she can see breakfast was on the table.
Hatter had made bacon and waffles. He moved to the kitchen and came back with an extra glass, plate and utensils. He motions for her to take a seat. When Alice sits down, he sets her place and then helps his niece get her breakfast as Alice watches. Hatter doesn’t even think of it, he makes sure Annie is taken care of, before he moves to take his place.
Alice joins in the conversation, but she is watching him and his interactions with his niece. It was obvious that Annie adored her Unkewl Ha. And Hatter adores her right back. It makes her smile to watch the two. And they don’t ignore her at all. But…the two of them? Adorable is what came to mind.
After breakfast, Alice tries to help with the clean up, but Hatter refuses, telling her she is a guest. Then he turns to Annie and asks her, “Annie, what is the rule about guests?”
Annie looks at her and tells Alice, “Guess relas an haw fun.”
Hatter grins and asks her, “And since you are the hostess, what is your job?”
Annie grins and tells Alice, “I ener… ener… I play wiff you!”
Alice’s heart melts and she tells Annie, “I will be more than happy to play with you!” She looks up at Hatter and she grins.
Hatter smiles back at her. They move into the living room and he cleans up the kitchen. When he finishes, he walks back into the living room. What he sees has him smiling and leaning against the entryway. Alice is on the floor playing with Annie, Candy Land. His heart turns over some more and he knows he is falling for her more.
Alice looks up at Hatter and smiles. Hatter smiles back and then moves to drop besides them. The three of them spend the afternoon playing games. Hatter and Alice trade some looks as they play with Annie.
At 3 o’clock Alice sighs and tells Hatter, “I have to go and finish cleaning my apartment. And unfortunately, I have a dinner I am obliged to go out on.”
Hatter’s smile drops slightly, but before anything can be said, he tells her, “Thanks for the syrup and the company today. Let me walk you across the hall.” He leans down and whispers something to Annie.
Annie jumps up and tells Alice, “Nice to mee ya Awice.” She hugs her and then goes back to playing.
Alice looks down at her and smiles. She then looks up and Hatter holds out his hand to help her stand up. She puts her hand in his and he pulls her up. They stand there close for a couple of seconds, staring at each other. Then Hatter puts her hand in the crook of his arm and pats it. They move slowly out of the room.
Hatter walks her across the hall and deposits her at her door. They both smile at each other. Hatter moves, cups her head softly and tells her, “Thank you very much Alice for spending the day with me niece and I. Now, if you would please move inside and lock your doors, luv, I wish to make sure you are safe before I go back.”
Alice just nods at him and does as he asks. He grins to himself and once he hears the locks engage, he moves back across the hall. Mission accomplished for today.
Jack had taken her out for dinner that night, but Alice had not been as happy to see him when Hatter peeked across the hall. She looks distracted. Hatter smiles to himself.
He hears them when they got back and goes to check on Alice. She is still distracted and keeps glancing at his door. When Jack goes to give her a goodnight kiss, she dodges it and enters her apartment instead. Hatter grins to himself and went to bed.
Today was the next step. He has left a bouquet of wild flowers outside her door this morning. Now he is just waiting for her to open the door.
Alice opens the door, sees them and then she smiles. She leans down, read the card and her smile got bigger as she looks across the hall to his door. She picks them up, goes back into her apartment. She comes back with just one daisy in her hand and a huge smile on her face as she goes to work.
Hatter smiles to himself and says softly, “You didn’t need to take one with you, Alice. There will be plenty for you all day long.” He then goes to his office and works for the rest of the day.
Later that day, Hatter goes to his balcony to enjoy the evening and for a break. He had completed a long web conference earlier and needs the breath of fresh air. He leans on the railing and then his whole demeanor changes from the weary man to a happy one. He was watching Alice return home.
She was smiling, but when she looks up and sees him, her smile grew bigger.
Hatter smiles back at her.
She calls up to him, “Wonderful day isn’t it, Hatter?”
Hatter starts grinning and calls back, “And it just got better, Alice.”
She nods and heads into the stairwell.
This starts a pattern with the two of them. Hatter leaves her presents in the morning, sends her flowers at work. He also makes sure she always has fresh flowers in her apartment.
At first it was Hatter who would borrow odd items from her, but soon it became both of them who would journey across the hall to “borrow” items from each other. In reality they were spending a lot of the time talking to each other about everything and nothing.
Hatter’s family kept showing up and she slowly met them all. Alice and Layla got along famously and Layla was the one who invited her to the Friday get together. These were for the support of Hatter from his family, since he was not dating and they didn’t want him stuck in his apartment. That had started when Bryan had come over and seen Hatter pacing by the phone; Alice had gone out. But that night, there had been no discussions except about family and having a great time by everyone. Alice became a steady fixture at their meeting place after that, always by Hatter’s side.
Three weeks later, Jack is disgruntled when Alice tells him loudly that she would no longer see him. She did this one day coming home from work when her subtle hints to him had been ignored.
Jack waylays her as she was heading to towards the stairwell, interrupting her and Hatter’s daily greeting. “Alice, sweetling, you have not returned my calls. How about we go out tonight and talk while you get your phone checked out.”
Hatter’s fist clenches at Jacks’ condescending tone. But before he could do anything, Alice remarks back loudly, “Jack. I told you I was not interested anymore. There is nothing wrong with my phone, I have not returned your calls intentionally. Now, please get out of my way, you are interrupting my relaxation time.” She then glances up at Hatter and smiles.
Jack sputters and then looks up to see what she is smiling at. Seeing Hatter, he glares at him and then stomps away. Alice and Hatter stare after him, shocked at his childish reaction and then glance at each other. They crack up laughing.
Hatter then calls down to her, “Alice, since Jack has interrupted your relaxation time, would you like to join me for some wine?”
Alice smiles and tells Hatter, “I will be more than happy to.” And that adds another piece to their pattern. That is Monday.
Friday morning, Hatter walks over to Alice’s door and knocks. She answers the door happy and he hands her a bouquet of baby roses. She looks from them to him, surprised.
“Alice, I figured I would surprise you today and just hand your flowers to you. They were too pretty to leave and I also wanted to see you this morning.” Hatter smiles at her. He is happy to see her smile get bigger as she accepts the flowers.
She then leans close and kisses him on the cheek, “Thank you Hatter. They are beautiful.”
Hatter’s smile gets even larger and he tells her, “No more beautiful than the person holding them. Have a great day, Alice.” He turns and walks down the hall to the stairs, leaving a surprised and very happy Alice behind him.
Over the course of the day, Alice had a large bouquet of roses delivered to her as well as other little things. Her smile never faded all day long.
When she came home, Layla was sitting on the curb waiting on her. “Alice!”
Alice looks at her and then glances at Hatter’s balcony, trying to see if he was there.
Layla grins and tells her, “He isn’t there. But I am here to help you get ready.”
Alice looks disappointed for a second. She is beginning to treasure their afternoons together. She enjoys getting to know Hatter as well as she has.
Layla’s grin gets bigger and she tugs on Alice’s arm. “Don’t worry, you will see him soon enough. Now tell me about your day.”
Hatter smiles to himself as he listens to his sister’s chatter as they walk up the stairs. It had been hard not to greet Alice as he normally does, but he admits his sis was right. When he hears them go inside, he heads into his own apartment to get ready for tonight. Tonight is the night he tells her.
The group was gathered at their normal place. Layla drags Alice through the crowd, noticing Alice was looking for Hatter. She is so happy that her brother has found his love. And seeing the faces of her family as they watch Alice, they are just as happy.
They were here to be support for Hatter, knowing how nervous he was. He hid it well and in fact he had added to their plans so well that everyone could tell how much thought he had put not only into this, but they remembered his help with all of their relationships.
Hatter was watching them and was happy. If everything went as well as he hopes, he will have Alice as his someone. He takes a deep breath and moves over to them. He walks up behind Alice and softly tells her, “You’re even more beautiful tonight, Alice.”
Alice turns in her chair and smiles at him. She then throws her arms around him, telling him, “I missed you today. Your evil sister kidnapped me.”
Hatter’s smile grew even bigger and he tells her as he holds her close, “I’m sorry, luv. Will you ever forgive me?”
Alice sighs and tells him, “Only if you make it up to me, Hatter.”
Hatter grins and asks her, “Will you join me for a dance?” She draws back and looks into his eyes. She knew he danced very well, but hardly did it. Carlotta told her it was because he likes to dance with either family members or with someone he likes. She saw his sincerity in his eyes and agrees.
The two of them dance for a couple of sets. Then a slow song came on and Hatter asks her with his eyes if she will stay with him. She nods and he pulls her into his arms. They gently sway with the music.
Hatter tells himself, this is it. Ask her. He is very nervous and finally asks softly, “Alice?”
Alice answers him, “Yes?”
Hatter swallows and starts, “Alice, I don’t know if you have noticed, but I really like you. Actually I believe by now it is more than just like, but…damn.” He takes another breath and tries to start again, “Alice, I have watched you go out with Jack. I have paced by the door and phone waiting for you to come home, hating that you may be out with him, getting ready to kiss him. I have liked you from the minute I ran into you across the hall. But every time I tried to ask you out, Jack beat me to it. I wanted so much to be the one you were out with. But now, now I would like to ask you if you would like to be that someone with me?”
He was staring into her blue eyes as he finishes. Alice smiles at him and tells him, “I have been waiting for you all this time. I will love to be that someone you are with and for you also to be with me.”
Hatter grins at her and then he kisses her right there. Alice melts into his arms as their lips move against each others. They kiss until someone tells them, “Get a room you two!”
They broke apart to see Layla and her husband Aaron grinning at the two of them. Hatter and Alice grin to each other and Hatter pulls her closer to him. He murmurs to Alice, “Thank you.”
Alice smiles back at him and tells him, “Thank you, Hatter.”
The two of them start to date. They meet in each other’s apartments for movies, never abandoning their prior habits, just adding more.
Charlie stops by one day to chat with Hatter, telling him as the man of the family, he has to tell him to be careful with his sister. Then Charlie grins and tells him, “Now that is out of the way, I am glad you are the one she likes. Finally a sane one!”
After that Charlie starts to join in on the Friday meetings, being welcomed into their group. He and Alice love Hatter’s family and were both generally awed to meet all of the clan. The following weekend they are both invited to join in the family dinners. They both love all the children and have been to every dinner since then.
Alice’s mom soon joins the dinners. She gets along with Angie and James very well and just like Alice and Charlie, adores the munchkins.
This continues for a year, until it was time for Hatter and Alice to renew their leases on their apartments. They both thought it was silly to continue to pay for two apartments when they were over in Hatter’s most of the time. But then Hatter tells Alice, “My house is almost finished. Would you like to see it and see if you still want to move in with me?”
Alice stares at him flabbergasted. She quickly nods, remembering him mentioning that he was building a house. She never put two and two together to realize it was his own house he was building.
They go the following evening to look over it and Alice is impressed.
They walk through the house and Hatter gently moves her to the backyard. She takes a deep breath when she sees a table for two in the middle of the gazebo. The gazebo is covered in fairy lights and is breathtaking. Hatter escorts her to the table.
They enjoy dinner, talking about the house. Once they are done, Hatter moves to her side and then drops down to one knee. “Alice, I have loved you since I first saw you. My feelings for you have never diminished; only grown in the past year. I don’t want to live my life unless you are beside me every step of the way. I remember all you have told me about what your dream house and tried to put every one of them in this house. This house, which I hope to live with you in as your husband, if you want me; Alice, will you marry me?”
Alice gasps and then tells him, “Of course! I love you, Hatter!” She jumps into his arms and he catches her, kissing her. He holds her hand out and gently slides the ring on. She doesn’t even glance at it, just holds him close.
The year they spend planning the wedding speeds by. Everyone tries to help and Alice gets all of her and Hatter’s family involved in the wedding. She manages to actually have one of those rare weddings, a stress free one. Everything and everyone gets along and there are no snags.
Both Hatter and Alice are thrilled with their families and soon, it is their wedding day.
Alice is standing at a mirror, shocked at how beautiful she looks as both of her mothers look on with pride. Her brother comes in and tells her, “Alice, you are beyond words. Hatter is one lucky dude. Of course, so am I, getting to walk you down the aisle!” Both James and Charlie are walking Alice down the aisle today.
Alice smiles at them and asks, “Hatter?”
Charlie smiles, “He is waiting for you, calmer than most grooms actually. He told me that he was just eager to start your lives together. You lucked out with that one sis.”
Alice nods, knowing how lucky she is.
The wedding starts an hour later and is perfect. Both Hatter and Alice only had eyes for one another during the ceremony. Their love for each other was so very present, that the ceremony was just an affirmation of their love.
During the reception, a lot of teasing took place about “The Plan” and how blind Hatter had been to Alice. Both Alice and Hatter took it well, eventually turning the tables when a video was shown on how Hatter had helped every one of his siblings get their spouse. The ribbing will not end, but the two of them show that they have no problems getting back at the rest of them.
That night, they dance slowly and Hatter asks Alice, “Are you happy, luv?”
Alice looks at him and replies softly, “Yes Hatter. Thank you for running into me in the hallway.”
Hatter smiles down at his wife and tells her, “You’re so very welcome. Thank you for being that someone with me.” They kiss…
Summary: Challenge!! Write this song as an Alice songfic and a Twilight Shot. Same song, 2 different stories.
Author Notes: Yep. I wondered if I could, and Brumier said yep. So here it is. This one will NOT be the song as a fic, I am saving that for Twilight. This instead is Hatter meets Country. Remember, there just has to be a line in the story for it to qualify! Also, I live in Houston. I sympathized with Hatter, and only enjoy happy country. No freaking ‘my wife hates me’, ‘my dog is dead’ and ‘I love my truck’ songs. Unless it makes fun of those.
Alice and Hatter visit Alice’s family in Houston. While they are there, Alice decides that she wants to go dancing tonight. But not just any type of dancing, no, she wants to go country dancing.
The only problem? Hatter. Whenever she wants to listen to country, he gives her an odd look and turns the channel.
Now Alice understands someone not liking the genre, she didn’t for the longest time until her cousin Amanda dragged her to a country bar. And she then proceeded to have the time of her life. This time all her family decides to go with her. Her aunt wants to teach Hatter to two-step.
Hatter just stares at her and whines, “Alice, Country Music? What is this? From what I have heard, there will be dancing and there is always a bar fight. You can’t tell me that there is nothing else to do in this city, the fourth largest in the United States, but to go country dancing?” He parrots the information they received in the tours they had gone on in the past day, as they traveled the tunnels below Houston. But nowhere was the fabulous shopping they had been tempted with. Seems like Tropical Storm Alice shut them all down.
Laughing, Alice looks over at her boyfriend. They have been inseparable since he came through the Looking Glass to be with her. She loves him, and has shocked her family and friends with how she accepts him in her life. Right now, he is standing before her dressed in dark jeans and a dark grey long sleeve shirt, the first couple buttons undone. He is wearing a black fedora that is pushed way back on his head. He is looking about mouthwatering as a man can be. Alice very firmly tells herself that there will be no sex before they go. Then to test her determination she peeks at him. Yep, still looking like sex on a stick. No sex, no sex, no sex.
Unknowingly saving her cousin from attacking her boyfriend, Amanda knocks and enters the room. Her eyes sweep over Hatter and she smirks. Putting her hand on her hip and arching an eyebrow, she asks, “Are you whining about getting to go to a bar, getting Alice drunk, and dancing with her? Really? Well, if you don’t want to go, fine. We are going.” Her smirk grows, one thing the family has learned, is that Hatter is deeply devoted to Alice and that he does not like to share her with anyone that is not deemed part of Alice’s family.
Glaring back at the woman, is it a family trait, the arched eyebrow? Hatter growls out, “No one dances with my Alice, but me. I’m going.” Then he squares his shoulders, “But I ‘m no’ wearing boots or cowboy hat!”
Following behind Amanda, is her mom, Sue, and her sister, Tiffany. They start laughing at his demands and Sue tells him, “No, no boots or hats. Your hat is good enough.” At his look, she lifts her eyebrow at him, “Now are you ready? Garrett, Allen, and Ryan are waiting for you. And Alice, your brother will be meeting us there with his wife. With Charlie and Martin and their normal following.” Then she grins, knowing what Hatter’s reaction will be.
Groaning, Hatter does not disappoint her as he sits on the bed. “What is with you lot and your bloody Amanda’s? There is this Amanda, yer brother’s Amanda, yer bestie’s sister Amanda and yer like-a-brother’s wife Amanda. Did ya all have an Amanda magnet to attract that many of them?”
All the ladies start laughing. This is nothing they haven’t talked about before, but they also remember the whole family getting together for a party when Alice and Hatter arrived. Hatter’s face with being introduced to them all was priceless. It is now a favorite trick for the family.
Soon as the whole crowd sorts themselves out, they all wish Tiffany and Garrett’s adorable daughter, Caidence, a good night as well as Alice’s grandparents, who have volunteered to watch Caidence. They pile in the cars, then Sue calls them and they all chat using the speaker phones in the cars. Hatter just shakes his head at the teasing and joking going on. This family is crazy, but he loves it. He puts his arm around Alice and pulls her to him. She looks at him, lifting an eyebrow, yep a family trait. He smiles at her and enjoys watching the family.
They pull into a parking lot and Hatter can’t contain the groan. There are lifted trucks everywhere and he can see the men in boots and cowboy hats. When he exits the vehicle, he looks over and sees Garrett and Allen wearing the hats and boots also. “Ya blokes be killing me here. Killing me.”
Alice grins at him and tugs them into the club. As he walks in, he can see the haze of smoke and the country music is pounding. He shakes his head but looks down at his lovely Alice. She is wearing a blue button up shirt and a jean skirt. He had been very careful on not letting his mind think too much on how easy it would be for them…nope no thinking on that, Hatter me boyo.
He walks with the rest of the family toward a reserved area for them; Sue had called in earlier saying that they have a party of 25 coming in. The club had no problem reserving the area for them. They move through the crowds and Hatter became very aware of the admiring glances the ladies in their group are gathering. He tightens his arm around Alice after one tall guy leers at her and licks his lips.
When they make it over, more of Alice’s cousins are there with Alice’s best friend, Martin, and her brother. Martin had brought his sister and her husband. Some of Alice’s friends, Hattie, Alaina, and Brumier are also in attendance. Can this family do anything without all of them?
Alice squeals and launches herself at Martin and the rest. They all laugh and joke around, enjoying being together. Martin has his arm around Tara; someone Alice had introduced him to, and also one of Alice’s best friends in high school. They are all talking, having a great time. Shots are bought and downed; those teasing Alice on her alcohol and how they just need to feed her copious amount of alcohol to keep them all warm. Hatter is enjoying the teasing and bantering. There is no discomfort as no one has trouble bringing him into it.
As the night progresses, a lot of the couples leave the group to dance, and the men of Alice’s family also take her out on the floor. But later that night, Hatter almost looses it when it is his turn to buy the drinks. He goes up to the bar, gives the order and then leans against the bar, waiting for the shots, screaming orgasm, to be readied. Looking out on the dance floor, he sees Alice in the arms of another man, as he dances with her. Then he realizes it is the man from earlier that he saw leering at her.
Hatter clenches his fists when he sees her fighting the man and he pushes away from the bar. Before he makes it on the floor, her cousin Jeff and Charlie are at his side. They move with him as he stalks up to the man.
The man realizes what Hatter hasn’t seen yet; the rest of the men of the family had been slow on the uptake, but they were all behind Hatter now. And let me tell you, watching that group of men with a very angry Hatter leading is nothing for the faint hearted. But this guy, is drunk, and his eyes lit up seeing the potential for a fight.
When he is close enough, Hatter growls at the man, “Wha’ you doing with me Alice?”
The tall man sneers down at the smaller man as Alice continues to fights him, “We are dancing you idiot. What y’all doing interrupting a man dancing with a pretty lady?”
Hatter moves quicker than the man can track and pulls Alice away from man. He pushes her behind him, with Jeff and Charlie moving to block her from the man. Now let me tell you about these two. Charlie, huge bear of a man, all muscle and red hair, Jeff is an ultimate fighter and a cop. The rest of the family is not slackers either. So, for the man not to take the hint still, well he is an idiot.
But, before any punches can be thrown, mainly Hatter’s, therefore ending the fight, the bouncers move in. Hatter glares at the man, as Alice flings herself into his arms. He checks her over and tucks her into his side. As they move off the dance floor, he asks her, “What happened?”
Alice is still shaking, but Hatter’s arms around her make her feel safe. “I came out of the bathroom and he grabs me muttering that I need a real man to show me how to dance.”
Hatter growls and pulls her tighter. The group head back to their tables and once Alice is fine, the incident is put behind them.
But Hatter doesn’t forget. It was only a matter of time before the man makes another move. Eventually he asks Alice to dance, knowing she wants to go, but she has denied the rest of the family. While he has never two-stepped, he has watched the dancers and asked Sue to show him earlier, before the incident. He had been serious that no other man, besides her family and friends, are going to dance with her.
Hatter leans down and asks Alice, “Ya want to dance, luv?”
Alice whips her head up to him, and quickly agrees. She grins as he takes his latest shot and downs it. He then escorts her to the floor. They dance to the slow dance, reminiscing on Wonderland. Alice loves to tease him, but secretly is loving being in her man’s arms.
As they talk about all the things they have experienced in Wonderland. She hears a familiar song and giggles. When Hatter asks her what it is, she tells him, “You can’t stop love.”
Hatter looks down at the woman in his arms. He tells her, “No, you can’t. And I do love you, Alice.” He then kisses her, his mouth on hers, his lips caressing the heavenly softness that is Alice’s lips. He, as always, remembers their first kiss in her mum’s apartment. He ends the kiss and they stare into each other’s eyes, their love for each other very evident.
Then they both laugh when they hear a side of the room erupt in cheers. He shakes his head and tells her, “Your family.” Alice couldn’t agree more and laughs harder.
They finish the dance and go back to the table. They endure the teasing and gave as good as they got back at the group. Final call is announced and they pay up the tabs and the men escort the ladies out the door.
Once outside, they stand in a circle, discussing the merits of going to Whataburger for breakfast since IHOP is usually packed at this time. Most of the ladies are cuddling with their significant others, the men having their arms around them. Hatter is not the only one bestowing loving kisses on their heads and trying to keep his lady warm. They are all very affectionate with each other.
Out of nowhere, a punch is landed on Hatter’s jaw. He swings around, shoving Alice towards the middle of the circle. In front of him is the man from earlier, pissed and drunk. The man glares down at the Hatter and tells him in a drawl, “Y’all took my fun away from me. Now ya going to pay.”
He swings his arm back to punch Hatter and Hatter ducks. He springs back and swings his right arm and punches the man once, dropping him where he stood.
Alice runs up, and Hatter keeps her behind him, watching the man at his feet. There is no way he is going to let Alice get hurt.
Jeff walks up to him with the rest of the family, shocked. He looks at the man and then back to wiry man beside him, who still looks pissed. He casually tells him, “Remind me not to get on your bad side. Ever.”
Everyone starts laughing, and the bouncers arrive. They had seen the altercation on the cameras and they have already called the police. Once they show up and the family gives their statements, the man is carted off, still unconscious.
Hatter has been holding Alice in his arms for most of the time, only letting her out of his arms when she was interviewed. Once she is back, he pulls her into his arms, needing to have her there. He looks around and shakes his head as the family moves to leave.
Alice notices and as they move towards the vehicles, she asks, “Hatter?”
He looks down at her and tells her softly, “In all me time in bars in Wonderland and in New York, never have I needed to punch a man. I come out here, go to a country bar and I get into a bar fight.”
Garrett laughs overhearing him, and tells him, “Well, you needed to experience the whole country bar thing.”
Hatter laughs and he quips, “But I guess that is how the stories go, Man gets girl, goes out with family to a country bar, gets in fight.”
Sue reminds him, “But you forgot the best part. You won the fight and the girl.”
Alice looks up at him and he meets her eyes. “Yep my prince defended me, but then he always has.”
Hatter pulls her to him and tells her softly, “And I always will.” He kisses her gently and tells her softly, “And you can’t stop love.”
Here is part one. Part two will be Suds in the Bucket under Twilight. I will post it shortly for those who want to see.
Story: A random thought… sound off for a new story? Who knows?
Song:You’re Beautiful by James Blunt
Written by: Kittyinaz
Summary: Hatter visits New York City. He catches a ride on a subway and shared a moment with a stranger.
Author Notes: I heard this and this story flowed. Helps with my aggravation, can’t find songs for stories, or can’t find a freaking name for a character to post one that is written. It is short. I am sorry for that, but it wouldn’t leave me alone. It’s got as bad as some of the other fics.
Hatter had not wanted to come through the Looking Glass, but it was either that, or spend time in the prisons under the lake. And was it no wonder he had accepted banishment instead? His hat would have been ruined in the dank dungeons.
Truly, it was a small thing that caused his banishment, but what isn’t a cause for punishment in the time of the Red Queen? Though, he still wondered what was so bad about mentioning that he liked the color blue. It wasn’t even to the Queen; it was just in passing to Mad March. And now, he had to come here to the world of the Oysters until she had gotten over her rage.
He had a job here, he hadn’t fallen that much from grace, but then when you outsell the other entire group of Tea Shoppe owner’s by a factor of fifteen, no matter how mad the Queen was, she wouldn’t kill you. Well, at least not for something so small. If he had insulted her to her face, well, that would have been a death sentence.
Hatter sighed, flipped his hat onto his head and made his way to the front door. He reminded himself that in only two more days, he will be back in Wonderland.
He shrugged on his jacket and locked the door behind him. He drew down the gate and moved quickly off to the entrance of the subway system. He kept his eyes open, not that many messed with him after the first week he had been here, when you smash in someone’s head as easily as he had, the thugs in the neighborhood kept a wide berth from him. They knew danger when they saw it.
Moving fluidly down the stairs, Hatter moved quickly through the gate. He heard the subway coming and didn’t want to wait for the next one. He made his way to the edge, careful to make sure he was out of the way of the rush of people who were going to exit when the train stopped.
Hatter stood there, his head angled slightly down. His jacket was pushed back by the hands in his pockets, the perfect pose of not caring what was going on around him. But that was all it was, a pose. He had learned his lessons the hard way in Wonderland. It had come a long way from the charming children’s story it was in this world.
When the train arrived and emptied of the people who were rushing home, he moved with a practiced ease into the train. He looked around for a seat, then noticed that even with the flow of people who had just exited, there still were no more seats available.
Hatter leaned against one of the poles, then actively looked around at his fellow riders. This was one of the few perks of living here. He could people watch to his heart’s content during this time; most of his fellow riders either did the same or blocked the world out in their own pastimes.
He saw the almost mandatory old unwashed man sitting in the corner, asleep in a safe area for the price of a subway ticket. Even with the cramped car, there was an open area left around the man.
His eyes traveled and saw a business man who worked on his tablet and spoke on his phone as he hurried to finish some work that should have been left at the office. Hatter noted the wedding ring and wondered if the man had learned to at least leave his work behind when he walked into the door to his wife.
The next person to catch his attention was a short haired blonde woman, who read a book. She caught his attention when a butterfly fluttered around her head and she looked up at it, her face full of wonder. When the train stopped and the doors opened, the butterfly moved off the train.
She watched it leave with a smile and looked around to see if anyone else had seen it. Hatter smiled lightly, as he allowed her to see that yes, it really had happened.
With the smile on his face, he looked over at the next people and had a shock. There sat a man who was a dead ringer for Jack Heart. His hair was dark and styled carelessly, and nothing like the dandy he had seen in his multiple court appearances. But what convinced him that the man couldn’t be the next King of Wonderland, was the devotion in his eyes for the woman beside him. No Heart would have that look for another human being.
Then Hatter took a closer look at the woman, and what a woman she was! Her long brown hair was loose, falling around her face as she laughed at something her companion told her. Her blue eyes sparkled with mirth, her beautiful mouth letting loose some of most appealing laughter he had ever heard.
The train slowed, coming up to another stop. The two got up, the man helped her as she tried to keep her balance as the train swayed. She looked up to get her bearings and at that second, her eyes moved and met his. An electric shock went down his spine, and he was sure she had felt the same thing when her eyes widened. But then, miracle of miracles, she smiled at him.
Hatter thought of what his future could be with her beside him. It would be full of love and laughter. He could see them sitting at a table, laughing over dinner, enjoying the fact of them just being together. He thought of them sitting in the park, his head on her lap as she read a book, her hand absently playing with his hair as he watched her.
Their future continued to flash in front of him, one of the most poignant was of them hiding under an awning from the sudden downpour that had caught them out on a date. The two of them laughing at silliness of it all, then he watched as their mirth fell to the side, love and devotion taking it over as the moment caught up to them. Her in his arms, held close to him. The look that passed their face as their faces edged closer to each other. The merging of their lips as they lightly caressed each other’s, the hesitant look on each other’s face as their lips separated for a second, then the meeting of their lips into a full kiss. His hand creeping up to caress her neck, holding her to him as her arms wrapped around his neck.
The train lurched and made Hatter’s eyes jerk away for a second. That second was all it took for him to lose sight of his Angel. When he looked back, he realized that during the time their eyes had matched, the lurch was of the train as it came to a stop. And in that second, she had exited the train. Before he could move to go after her, the doors slammed shut and the train started again.
Hatter relaxed against the pole as he sighed. He shook his head slightly, he had never believed in love in first sight, but the reality of it rocked him to his core, it had changed everything for him.
Then, as he became conscious of his reality, none of it could ever happen. He was a Tea Shoppe owner, a con man. He was in this world for only two more days before he had to report home on if this city was suitable for more Oysters to be taken from. Once he was back, he would resume his position and continue to sell the Tea’s made from Oyster’s feelings.
But, at the same time, the truth of it all made his stomach turn. He thought of what he was going back to do, and with the truth of the fact being that he had fallen for one of the Oysters, he could not just sit back and let them be harvested. Even the thought of his Angel being in Wonderland sent shivers down his spine. No, he couldn’t condone the way of life in Wonderland anymore.
The train slowed and he looked up to see it was his stop. He glanced back at the last spot he had seen his Angel, knowing that he would never be with her.
Hatter moved off the train, his mind churned with the new truth he had come to see in that moment. A truth that will last for the rest of his lifetime.
Well, hmm. That turned out a lot different than it was in my head. Again, another time that my characters took my story and made it their own. And no, I didn’t change the beginning, because, well I wanted you to see how odd things work out. So I guess this was a precursor to Alice? Let me know what you think.
Also, there is a scene from another movie in here, can anyone guess the movie? It is one of my favorites and I wrote the whole thing from memory. But it could have happened!
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