Almost Alice

1Disclaimer: I not own Alice in Wonderland, the characters, the fandom, the songs used herein or references to the movie. All rights remain with respective owners. I make no money from these writings.


Imagine a place you can always escape to An island off the coast of nowhere A new destination of your own creation Just waiting till you choose to go there Blue treetops and velvet skies Blue ready to blow your mind Oooo This is a place where your mind can escape All the problems today and go far, far away This is a time with no history Welcome to mystery Imagine a city where every things pretty And you sir, you rule the kingdom You call the shots you can do what you want to Oh just imagine the freedom Blue treetops and velvet skies Blue ready to blow your mind Oooo This is a place where your mind can escape All the problems today and go far, far away This is a time with no history Welcome to mystery Blue treetops and velvet skies Blue ready to blow your mind Oooo Imagine a room where the flowers they bloom Through the cracks in the floor and the ceiling Just you and the missus and roses and kisses My, what a wonderful feeling Oooo This is a place where your mind can escape All the problems today and go far, far away This is a time with no history Welcome to mystery This is a place where your mind can escape All the problems today and go far, far away This is a time with no history Feel no misery Come and visit me Welcome to mystery

Welcome to Mystery -Plain White Ts

Days later Alice emerged from the hatter's room on her own power. She had spent hours weeping and railing against herself at the world.

Worlds.

She refused to eat or drink. To let Tarrant repair the damage to her long locks. She didn't even want him to change the bandages on her wounds. She didn't deserve it. She tried several times to push him away, but he knew the lonely mind that madness preyed on and refused to go. Sometimes he'd pinned her down to his bed and made her be still. "You'll injure yourself again". Then he would carefully change the linen strips and apply her medicines again.

When she refused anything for her poor stomach he nearly growled in frustration. Finally he had forced her onto his lap, and spoon fed soup to her and weak tea. "You mustn't fall ill now" he told her. She wanted to fight him but when she saw the care in his eyes she found she couldn't. Besides, his presence, mad or not, was comforting to her.

The first night of her normal sizeness he had opted to sleep in a room across the hall, but when she woke crying and shouting he had rushed across the hall and curled himself around her. Holding her close and sang her nonsensical songs she had liked as a child.

After that propriety be damned, he would not leave Alice alone in the dark.

"Am I a terrible person?" she whispered to him in the darkness of his room one night.

"Of course you aren't" he assured her, "You are the very best kind of person."

"Meaning I am mad" she had muttered.

He had rolled her over onto her back to face him, "A wise girl once told me all the best people are. And after all, we are all a littlemad here." He smiled down at her.

"Have I lost it again?" she asked. He arched a brow in question as she stared quizzically up at him.

"What's that?"

She closed her eyes and breathed the word, "Muchness…."

Tarrant wanted to say a great many things, promise that all would be well, that nothing would bother them again. But he knew that simply wasn't true.

"Alice" he whispered, nose touching hers. They'd never been so close. Her eyes fluttered open, her heart skipped at his nearness, "You've not lost it. You've just put it on the shelf for a bit. You can take it down again when you need it."

"Don't I need it now?"

He leaned up to press a soft kiss to her brow, just as she recalled him doing as a child. "Not at all my dear" he said confidently, "Mine will suffice for now. Hightopps are well known for muchness after all. Or at least we were before the bloody big head and that long legged, stinkin, putrid knave of a half mon…and I'll kill im lass tha I weel.". His eyes shifted to orange as he thought of the knave.

A small cool hand cupped his cheek, "Tarrant." Her voice was soft, soothing.

He closed his eyes, opening them to the vivid green she knew so well. "I'm fine."

She nodded and closed her eyes, turning her nose into his sleeve and breathing deeply. She drifted to sleep with the scent of lemon biscuits and Earl Gray tea dancing in her senses.

Tarrant nearly groaned when she rolled closer to him. The last time Alice had been here, she was thin, tiny. Now she had more curve to her. Lush breasts that were flattened against him at the moment and hips that were softly rounded. Aye, she was built for proper loving, and loving at the moment would be far from proper.

She couldn't recall how long ago that had been, as she made her way down the stairs, garbed in a nightdress Tarrant had fashioned for her. In the downstairs parlor she heard quiet voices. An oddity for anyone around the hatter. She paused outside the door, knowing it was rude to eavesdrop but not caring.

"But Absalom is never wrong!"

"He might be. The compendium is lost. We have no history, no set future."

"What kind of life is that McTwisp?" it was Mally's voice.

"That just can't be" Tarrant said now in somber tones, "A mad hatter cannot rule Underland."

The march hare giggled from some unseen corner.

"Absalom says the legend of the kingmaker is very specific." Chessur spoke, floating near the doorway in lazy circles. As he passed, Alice thought he saw her, but he continued on alerting no one to her presence.

"All royals must fall by it and so they have. The wielder must mingle his blood with that which is spilt for the new crown to appear or creation will wilt."

"Wilt?"

"Die Mally."

"Oh dear" the poor page whispered, his whiskers wiggling in his agitation.

"But I didn't do that" Tarrant stated calmly, far too calmly. Almost sanely.

"But you did. The blood does not dry or fade until the crown appears. Now there are two potential rulers for Underland. You or Stayne. There can be no one else, the spell is already cast! You will have to choose a champion."

Alice stiffened against the wall. Images of the Jabberwocky assaulting her every sense and memory.

"No" Tarrant said simply.

"No?" a chorus of voices rang out.

"You would let our world fall to ruin once again?" Chess asked.

"Listen here you floatin peacock of a feline. I never said I'd do that, no, but I'll no be choosin a champion. I know verra weel who you'd like to see picked. Alice isna weel. If there be fightin to be done, I canna ask that o her. I can see to it meself." The dangerous brogue danced through the room and into the hall.

"Tarrant.."

"I've made up me mind Mally. I nearly gutted tha codfish afore. I can do it again. Ye forget, I'm no just a simple hatter now am I?" It was the most determined and logical his mad half had ever sounded.

"So you are going to be the king of Underland?" Alice asked, slipping into the room, meeting a gaze that burned like embers in a winter grate. He prowled slowly closer, looking more dangerous than she liked. Those eyes slid down the length of her as though seeing every hidden thing. His hand lifted to her shoulder and his fingertips brushed her arm, "Get ye back to bad lass, I'll come by and by."

She shook her head at him and the others twittered nervously.

The shadows beneath his eyes grew darker and she touched his hand where it rested near her wrist, "Tarrant. Stop."

He blinked several times, the orange fading slowly, "I'm fine. You really should be resting Alice."

She arched her brow, "An order from his majesty?"

He reacted as though she'd slapped him, dropping his hand. "Please Alice. You aren't really yourself at the moment."

She nodded her head, "No, I'm really not" she agreed, "But I never will be again if I don't work through this now will I?"

Well, that was true enough. He had nothing to say to that.

"So you will be king" she said softly. Trying to imagine the hatter before replacing the grace and regal air of the white queen.

"I'd really rather not" he admitted, "I make hats… oh! and fabulous tea."

"Who else is there, other than Stayne?" she asked.

Chess shook his head in the air, "No one."

Tarrant looked unhappy with that statement. "Well, there must be someone who can make a better king than me" he snapped.

Alice saw the situation going rapidly downhill, "Look everyone just calm down. Lets sort though this shall we?"

Five sets of eyes locked on her as their owners sank into their chairs.

"We don't really know what to do or how to go about this isn't that right?" she asked.

They nodded.

"Well then, instead of figuring out what should be. Lets figure out what shouldn't."

They shrugged and nodded. It seemed rather backwards but this was Underland after all.

"Stayne can't have Underland!" Mally announced and all agreed.

Alice nodded, "Well that gives us a place to start. How to stop him though? Since he wants that crown so badly, I suppose he'll try and get rid of you as soon as possible Tarrant."

The others nodded.

"But not openly." Chess added, "You are more than capable of beating him on the field of combat. Its not a risk he will want to take until the last minute.."

"So we go get him?" McTwisp asked.

Alice nodded, "Yes. Maybe. Do we know where he is?"

Thakery chuckled madly and tossed a sugar cube at her, which she dodge easily. "Maybe the red palace. Ha some tea lass." He poured a steaming cup for her and set it on the table.

She blinked. "Its still there? I hadn't thought it would be. But that is so expected."

Chess rolled onto his back, stretching his toes in the air, "There have always been two sides to Underland. Those who follow the light and those who choose the dark. He will have followers, though perhaps not many. Once he kills Tarrant, it won't matter anymore."

"Well that isn't going to happen" Alice snarked roughly, "Everyone is light and dark Chess, even us. It's the choice of which to be more of."

She sat down on the settee beside the hatter, running her hands through her frazzled hair, "Why can't this be as easy and slaying?" she asked half heartedly. Tarrant reached over to pat her knee comfortingly, they were very close. Knees and elbows touching but she didn't seem to notice and he certainly didn't mind.

"It is" Mally said, "We just have to slay Stayne."

Alice smiled mirthlessly, "Of course the Vorpal sword won't work on him. Sorry Tarrant."

He shook his head quickly, "I never intended you to do it at all Alice."

He covered her hand with his own and squeezed gently. She nodded, "I know. I heard from the hall."

She looked up at Chess, "I can't go home can I?"

"You are home!" Tarrant interjected but she kept her gaze on that cat.

"I don't think so Alice, no. Only Absalom would know for certain." he replied quietly.

Alice rose to her feet, "Then I suggest we figure out what we need to do, and quickly." Then she rushed from the room and Tarrant wanted so badly to go after her. He forced himself to remain seated to give her time.

"She's right you know" McTwisp said then, "There won't be much time. Things won't be right until we get to work."

"We do have one advantage" Chess said lazily.

They turned to look at him.

"Well he doesn't know she's here yet. I would think getting to the white palace must be the first thing to do. Its safer there. Now Tarrant, I know that look, I know you like your home, but this is the first place he will look for you. Imagine if the worst happens and poor Alice were left to face him alone? No sword, in her wounded condition?"

They shuddered to think it.

"And he did go especially to destroy the passage. There must be something about Alice that frightens him. Something that throws his plan all snickwickety." Mally said.

And they could all agree on that too.

With nods the others agreed to prepare for the journey to Marmoreal.

Alice was sitting near the window when Tarrant entered quietly. He closed the door softly not wanting to alarm her.

"Alice?" he asked gently.

She turned and gave him a lopsided smile, "I'll be alright." she said, she lifted a hand to her head and felt her damaged hair, "Could you help me with this?"

He nodded, "Why not come downstairs for some tea? I'll be happy to fix your hair, though I am afraid I will have to cut it."

She sighed, "I know. Don't look so sad, it's only hair. It will grow back."

She sat very still, Mally perched on her knee as Tarrant worked on her hair. She heard the rapid snicketysnick of the scissors and wondered idly if he would leave her bald in the end. But all too soon he announced he was finished and Mally cocked her head this way and that studying the new look.

"That bad?" Alice asked.

"Just different on you is all. It looks quite nice actually," Mally insisted. She wasn't usually one to share kind words with Alice, but she was truthful.

Tarrant handed her a mirror and allowed her to study his handiwork. His orange tinted, bandaged fingers itched to play in the softness again. Her hair was just barely brushing her shoulders. It wasn't bad at all, just different. Just as Mally said. She nodded, "Thank you Tarrant that looks ever so much better."

Mally handed her a spoon and Alice accepted her tea. Savoring the flavor of the sweet dark tea. Looking into the pristine white cup, watching the dark brew swirl, she recalled Mirana. "I'd like to go see her if that's ok? The queen?" she blurted out.

She looked up to see Tarrant nod, "We'll be heading to the white palace tomorrow."

She nodded in turn. "I'll need some clothing. Can't very well march to war in a nightdress." she mused.

"I'll make you some lovely dresses" he assured her.

"Tarrant, can you make me some trousers instead?" she asked.

His red brows rose high on his forehead, "T..Trousers?" he asked sounding perfectly scandalized.

She nodded, "Of course. It would be more practical for travel and fighting."

He eyed her. It made sense, but ladies simply didn't wear trousers. Although the thought of Alice's lovely legs encased in his creations made him grown warm. Why, when he thought of all the places his clothing would rub against. He shook his head quickly to remove the image.

"Tarrant?" she asked again, "Will you?"

He smiled, "Of course."

He rose and strode to his study which was covered with wire mannequins and fabrics. She followed after him. He stood before a low stool, "Please come over here" he requested and helped her step up onto the stool.

"I'll need a few measurements" he told her, his tape in hand. He measure the outside of her leg to her hip. His hands running ever so softly to flatten his tape against her. The diameter of her waist. And he inhaled deeply of the perfume that was Alice alone. When he measure the inseam, Alice blushed brightly. When he measured her chest his voice seemed to tighten slightly.

It didn't take long, and soon enough she was sitting in the wingback chair watching his hands fly over the fabrics, cutting, stitching, adjusting. He was a wonderful to watch. Stillness did not come naturally to him now and his movements here were smooth and fluid. Here was the grace of a king, she thought to herself.

She fell asleep there, in his study. The soft swish of fabric, the scent of him, lulling her to rest. Tarrant glanced up several hours later to see her curled in the chair. Once again he had lost track of time. She looked peaceful and he sighed with contentment. She seemed to belong there. Why couldn't they just remain as they were right now? No crowns, no battles, no enemies lurking.

But that was just not the way things worked. He looked at the neatly folded garments he had made and then back at her. He rose and moved to kneel before her, brushing her hair from her face. She started to wake and he slowly slipped his arms around her lift her against his chest and moved upstairs with her.

"Tarrant?" she mumbled in that sleepy hushed voice.

"Here Alice. Its time for bed, I think" he replied, smiling when she snuggled closer to him, her little fingers twining in the hair at the nape of his neck. Her face pressed into the hollow of his shoulder.

He laid her in the center of the large bed, then untangled himself from her grip to take off his coat and shoes. Then he curled beside her, sighing again when she rolled against his side. Her head finding that perfect little dip at his shoulder to nestle in.

"Good night Alice".

They set off for the white palace the next morning, Alice dressed in her trousers and waistcoat. The Hatter had even made her a top hat of her own. All in shimmering shades of purples and blues. Quite the handsome suit if he did say so himself which he did.

He'd made her coat a bit longer for decency's sake he told her. Truth was, no one should be able to view the bum of Alice so easily in his opinion. But he kept that part to himself. She had smiled, "I could pass for a boy now. What a wonderful disguise."

"Yes" Tarrant agreed then added under his breath, "A beautiful boy." Then they'd locked up his home and made their way into the woods towards Marmoreal, and the white palace.

As they walked, close together hands sometimes brushing, Alice took in all the beauty of Underland. "A lot changes in three years" she mused aloud, "These trees were all dead looking and dark. Remember?" Tarrant cast his green eyes up to the pale blue leaves of the trees and the many blossoms.

"I remember."

"Its so lovely now" she went on, "We have to make sure it stays this way. It can't go back Tarrant."

"I know."

She looked down and gently linked her fingers with his own, seeing him smile, "I am sorry that I can't be your champion Tarrant. That I can't just slay with an enchanted sword this time."

He pulled them to a stop, searching her eyes and leaned closer to her, "Alice. You are always, have always and always will be just what I need you to be. Just yourself. Just Alice. That is far more than enough."

She felt her eyes prick at his kind words and stood on her tip toes to press a kiss to his cheek, "Thank you Tarrant. For always" she whispered to him. Then she was walking again and Tarrant felt a funny flop in stomach as he touched his pale cheek.

A not altogether unpleasant one.