Almost Alice

RememberI will still be hereAs long as you hold meIn your memory RememberWhen your dreams have endedTime can be transcendedJust remember me I am the one star that keeps burningSo brightlyIt is the last lightTo fade into the rising sun And with you whenever you tellMy storyFor I am all I've done RememberI will still be hereAs long as you hold meIn your memoryRemember me I am that one voice in the cold windThat whispersAnd if you listenYou'll hear me call across the sky As long as I still can reach outAnd touch youThen I will never die Remember I'll never leave youIf you will onlyRemember me Remember I will still be hereAs long as you hold meIn your memory RememberWhen your dreams have endedTime can be transcendedI live foreverRemember meRemember meRemember me

Remember me - Josh Groban

The others could barely stand to watch as Alice and the hatter fought savagely. Both were bruised and bleeding. The clang of blades rang loudly in the relative silence and all waited with baited breath.

Tarrant's madness battled her forgetfulness. His heart breaking with each swing on Alice, who had always been the best part of himself.

"How could ye let him kiss you?" he demanded angrily, "That vile arsewipe cloth of a knave!"

"Why not? He is lord and master is he not?" Alice asked simply.

From the side he could hear Stayne laughing. "Once she kills you hatter, I will bed her, what think you of that?"

Tarrant slapped the blade from Alice's grip with his own, his fury lending him much strength, "O'er my dead body" he snapped as Alice spun to retrieve her weapon.

But Tarrant grabbed the breastplate of her armor and tugged her struggling form close. "He will ne'er be your lord and master lass. Ne'er!" he growled at her and slammed his lips to hers.

Alice struggled for only a moment and then he felt her lips soften against his own, and he could have purred with delight.

Tarrant pulled back to look down into her eyes, "Do you know me?"

"Tarrant!" she cried out, and the hatter drew her close, armor and all.

"Yes Alice, that's exactly right!"

Stayne was livid in his fury, "You bitchwitches tricked me!" he shrieked and he hurried across the field.

The hatter looked up at the cry of his friends, "Watch out hatter!"

Alice spun to face Stayne and before Tarrant could move, Stayne had stabbed her with the black sword. Alice gasped, falling back against Tarrant, clutching the breastplate where blood flowed freely from the wound he'd caused.

Tarrant jerked her back as the knave reached for the golden armor, swinging his sword and lopping off a long fingered hand. "I'll take ye a piece at a time if I must" he snarled.

Stayne howled in rage and pain, clutching the bleeding stump of his arm. "Damn you to the very bottom of the human hell hatter!" Tarrant lunged forward but the swirling black mist was there and Stayne, the witches and his men were gone.

"Alice!" Mally shouted, her little feet carrying her across the chessboard.

Tarrant spun to see Alice struggling to rise. "Don't move!" he shouted, rushing to her side.

She struggled to breath, tapped her breastplate repeatedly, "Can't….br…breathe!"

Tarrant grabbed hold of the breastplate again and tore it lose, the leather straps giving way under his panicked grip.

Alice sucked in air, gulping it into her greedy lungs. Tarrant laid her gently on the ground, running his hands over her, feeling the wet of her blood. "Oh my Alice" he said sadly and lifted the chain mail covering her chest. She wore a thin white strip of bandage beneath it. But the blood seemed to come from near her arm.

The knave had pierced the softness of her breast near her arm, it was a nasty looking gash but not so very deep Tarrant saw. He glanced behind him and lifted the breastplate, noting the wicked dent in it. It had taken the brunt of the blow and seemed to have pushed the blade off course.

"I'm ok" she whispered, feeling very tired of a sudden, "I… I'm so sorry Tarrant."

He ran his hands over her cheeks, frowning when some of blood marred her cheek. "No, I understand. Just rest now. I'll take you home."

"To the cottage?" she asked in a quiet voice.

He shook his head, "Not safe enough yet, but soon enough." He glanced over to see the bandersnatch at the edge. "Care to help an old friend out?" he asked.

The bandersnatch moved forward, allowing the hatter to lift Alice up and slide up behind her. He wrapped one arm around her waist, and took his scarf off with the other. "Lets bind you for now."

He wrapped the colorful silk around her middle, stemming the flow of blood.

"Such a terrible place to stab a person" he muttered.

"Only a breast Tarrant." she replied sleepily.

"Yes, but an awfully nice one" he defended.

Alice smiled up at him and he pressed his lips to her brow, "I won't fail you again Alice. I swear."

She shook her head, "You didn't this time….don't leave…breastplate….."

Chess appeared then, catching the golden plate in his paws, "See you at the castle."

The hatter nodded and watched the cat vanish as usual, before he drew Alice back against him, laying both legs over one of his.

And they were off. The swift bandersnatch covering field and forest in long loping strides.

Alice moved in and out of wakefulness, Tarrant keeping an anxious eye on her. He noticed a strange purple liquid at the corner of her mouth and wiped it away.

"Have to stop" she panted out during the ride, "So Sick."

The bandersnatch skidded to a halt and Alice was barely off his back before she was kneeling in the brush.

Heaving painfully, she spent long minutes under the watchful eye of bandersnatch and hatter alike. Her skin grew clammy and sweaty, her hair sticking to her and her armor was terribly hot now.

Tarrant moved close, "We haven't clothes for you now" he reminded her, eyeing the purple puddle before her. She nodded and leaned heavily against his long leg.

The potion of waking forgetfulness, was working it's way from her small body.

He couldn't have been more relieved.

Alice wanted to smack him for giggling so happily when she felt so miserable, even if she did understand why he should be happy.

"I'll be back , keep an eye on her" he told the bandersnatch and wandered off through the trees to the small brook he knew babbled nearby. He pulled his kerchief out and drenched it in cold water, then made his way back to Alice.

Without preamble he slapped the soaking scrap to her brow.

Alice sighed with relief, the chill forcing the sickness back. "Its nearly gone" she rasped.

"Good" he told her, "Once back at the palace, you are taking a cool bath and getting into bed."

She knew there was much to discuss, but just this once, she let decided to let him have his way.

"Sometimes I really love you" she mumbled as he flipped the cloth. She missed his happy look.

Stayne lashed out all around him, his fury and frustration palpable. He spun on Espelth.

"You knew!"

She blinked at him looking bored, "I gave the girl the potion to forget and she did. I cannot control the magic of another." she said plainly.

His face twisted in his anger, "You lie! The hatter has no magic!"

"Doesn't he?" she countered, "Always he shared a connection with her, even when she was a small girl. Didn't you once say so yourself?"

"So?"

"He has magic. He is her magic, she is his magic. They cannot be separated. Don't you see that? From the very first time Alice entered Underland, she was his. Irrevocably his."

"Madness. Nothing is like that."

"Everything is like that! Don't you believe in the fairytales that made this place?" she asked him, "True love's kiss can break any spell. You won't be able to use Alice against him."

Stayne threw his gloves across the room, "I want her!" he screamed.

He turned his cold gaze on the gathered witches. "You kill her, and make her mine."

Alice was silent in the milky water, the thick froth of bubbles shielding her and Tarrant knelt near the basin, carefully washing her face clean. "I'm fine Tarrant" she said then, "I am well enough to bathe."

"You might disappear ." He told her.

"Tarrant." she said, tone warningly low, "Men don't belong in a lady's bath."

With a sigh, he rose and handed her back the cloth. "I always belong where you are Alice."

His look was gentle and she smiled slightly and shooed him outside.

"Fine" he relented, "But I am sitting right here, the door cracked."

Alice felt much better after her bath, though Tarrant refused to leave her alone and sat right outside the door as he had said he would.

"Are you still there Alice?" he called for the hundredth time.

"Yes! For Pity's sake yes" she grumped through the cracked door, "I won't vanish on you again you know."

He huffed, "Not taking the chance. I can't help it."

A sigh reached his ears and then her voice, softer now, "I know. Thank you."

He heard small steps and then the door opened and there she was staring down at him in his seat. He escorted her down the hall towards her room, when she pulled to a stop.

"Alice?" he asked, "Are you alright?"

She frowned slightly, "I knew what was happening a little. I knew his kiss felt wrong."

He shook his head, "I don't blame you Alice."

She lifted her eyes to him then, "I feel like I can still taste him here." Her voice was a whisper and her fingers touched her lips.

"I can solve that." he assured her and dipped his head, to bestow on her a sweet kiss.

He went slowly, pressing her upper and lower lips in turn, then the corner of her mouth. Alice flung herself against his chest, wrapping her arms around him and he lifted her against him, one arm supporting her bottom, the other her back as he kissed her with all the loving madness he had inside.

She was hungry for him, she sucked his tongue into her mouth and he groaned, feeling his knees nearly give. He slammed her against the wall, nearly devouring the sweetness of her mouth now. Her legs were locked around his waist and she felt the hard length of him grind against the secret heart of her that needed him most.

"Tarrant…" she panted.

"Room…" he mumbled and pulled them from the wall to pull her after him. Throwing the doors wide and kicking them closed behind him.

Alice felt the softness of the bed give under her as he laid her down, rising over her. His mouth found her ear, her throat, peppered kisses across the top of her breasts. He paused to lay a loving kiss to the bandage over her wound.

"I love you Alice" he told her, looking up to lock eyes with her. "When you left I thought I might die of loneliness. Only you can make the crowd stop shouting in my head."

She cupped his cheek and leaned into her touch, his lips finding the soft flesh at her wrist. "I am mad. But also mad with love for you." His gaze was uncertain and also hopeful.

She smiled softly and pulled him down for a soft, gentle kiss. "I do love you Tarrant, no matter that you are mad."

"Will you stay with me always Alice?" he asked, "As a Hightopp?"

She beamed, "Once we get all this sorted out." she promised.

"Then I have to do this properly" he said more to himself than her and he started to move away.

She grasped him tightly, "Tarrant?"

He smiled a lopsided smile, "A little taste won't hurt though."

Alice was about to ask what he meant but he was kissing her again, his hands finding the dainty ribbons on her night dress and tugging them. She sat up, locking her arms around his neck as he tried to draw back. He merely shrugged out of his coat and shirt and wrapped her in his arms once more.

Those talented fingers danced homage along her spine, making her press closer to him. She whimpered sweetly when those nimble fingertips flitted over her sides to brush against the underside of her breasts. His mouth fell to her throat and her head fell back to give him access to tender flesh.

Kisses and nibbles filled her head with delight, her stomach with butterflies. He palmed her breast as he bit down gently where shoulder and neck met. She groaned out his name, feeling silken slickness on her thighs. He bent her backward over his arm, her chest jutting out to him and he pressed a hot kiss to the valley between her breasts.

Turning his face into one creamy globe and then the other. Nipping and kissing until they were speckled with bright red marks from his mouth. He eyed them then, growling softly in appreciation of the sight. He laid her back against the linens and closed his mouth over one pink peak.

Suckling hard and she nearly came off the bed, her hands everywhere. Until he caught them and pressed them to the blankets on either side of her face. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips red and swollen from his kisses and Tarrant thought she had never looked more lovely in all her life.

"I can please you Alice. If you allow me" he breathed against her shoulder. She opened dewy eyes to stare up at him in wonder.

He kissed her softly, slowly and she felt his wonderful hand slide over her stomach, as he rolled half atop her. She felt the teasing caress at her knee and instinctively bent it closer to her body to cuddle him betwixt her thighs.

His palm smoothed the flesh of her calf and higher still, taking the soft billowy cotton with it. Until fingertips lightly brushed the very heat of her. He glanced up at her then, "Not properly dressed. Naughty." he gently chided and when she blushed, he nipped her chin, "I like it."

And he gentled his hands further, and stroked her lightly until her thighs trembled and fell open to his questing touch. Deftly he parted the petals of her and found the jewel he sought. Alice gasped, arching up to his touch and he smiled against her mouth as he stole her breath in deep, drugging kisses.

And with each touch, each stroke, each pressing of his fingers he took her higher, ever higher. Her breath leaving her in sobbing pants of need and burning desire. "You are like a flower Alice." he murmured to her and she could feel the tight bud of herself spring to life.

Tarrant slipped a single finger and then two deep within her, finding the proof her innocence, the tight passage, gripping his fingers, and he groaned against her. Her hips rocked against him and his own need felt the tremors of delicious friction. "Bloom for me Alice." he whispered to her, and with a flick of his wrist, that right bud exploded into a burning blossom of incandescence and she shouted for him, her whole being tightening around him.

The hatter pulled her close, whispering his love in her ear. Feeling the weight of body in her lassitude. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and settled her against the sheets once more. "You are beautiful my Alice."

She stroked his cheek, the fatigue of the past few days catching up to her. Relaxation taking hold.

There was a knock at the door, and she struggle to stay awake. Tarrant pushed her down, "Rest now Alice, I won't be long."

She nodded.

Tarrant cast one last look at her as he crossed the room, he yanked the door open staring out with malevolent orange eyes.

"Hatter. You are needed. There is a problem." Mally whispered, "Maybe you should get Alice too."

"Let her sleep Mally." was all he said.

McTwisp was in a fine state when the hatter arrived. "There you are!" he cried out, "Oh it's a fine mess now Tarrant."

"What is?" the hatter asked, his darker half still not entirely pleased at having to leave Alice.

"Underland now has three potential rulers!" The rabbit snapped, "This is a fine kettle of fish."

"Who'd want a kettle of fish?" Thakery wanted to know.

"I don't see how this is a problem." Tarrant replied, ignoring the hare.

McTwisp threw his paws in the air, "You and Stayne are already going to have fight to the death before a new crown can appear. Without it Underland will die and now Alice is in the mix too. He stabbed her with the sword. She's in the same boat as you!"

The hatter felt ill. He sat down heavily in his chair. "There has to be a way."

"Well I certainly don't see one." McTwisp announced, "We're finished."

Tarrant watched as the rabbit, hare and dormouse left the large chamber. Then he propped his chin in his hand and started to think. The scent of Alice reached him and he groaned before switching hands.

"All gone to lament the end?" Chessur called from the doorway.

"Hello chess."

"Absalom went to check on something he will be back in the morning" the floating cat offered.

"I can't do it" the hatter said softly.

"Can't do what?"

"The knave I can kill, but not her, not my Alice." his sorrow was nearly solid between them. He lifted sad eyes to the cat, "She agreed Chess."

"To what?"

"To stay for always."

Chess smiled widely, "Of course she did."

"As my wife."

Chess blinked, "You two are engaged then?"

"Once everything is sorted out here, but now I don't see how that can happen."

Chess floated closer, brushing his tail against the hatter. "This is Underland you know." he said then, examining his claws.

"Yes?"

"You don't have any hope?"

Tarrant stared at the cat for a long minute. "Perhaps I had, or haven't learned to hope so much yet."

The cat turned somersaults, "You look tired Tarrant."

The hatter nodded.

"Take yourself to bed. Hold your Alice. We can speak with Absalom soon enough."

Tarrant rose slowly and made his way to the chamber where Alice rested. Pushing the door open, he saw she was fast asleep, the light of the moon spilling over her. He closed the door and moved closer to view the pool of light surrounding her.

Then he shrugged out of his trousers and pulled on loose sleeping pants and slid in beside her, gathering her close and tried very hard not to think of impossible situations.

From beyond the window, two luminous eyes fixed on the bed.

"The impossible is often quite possible here, or had you forgotten?"