A Birthday Gift for Gloriann
Title: Follow Your Heart
Author: aunteeneenah
Rating: K
Word Count: 1,528
Pairing: Hatter/Alice
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. I just bend them to suit my needs and then put them back together. I make nothing from this.
Summary: Hatter is pretty sure he made a mistake letting Alice go and he needs his friends to help him.
A/N: This is a Birthday present for Gloriann. I am ashamed that she asked for this last year and I finally finished it when I realized it was, once again, her birthday. Sorry, m’Dear. Forgive me?
Hatter!
“I missed you.”
*****
He had just stood there, watching her being pushed through the mirror, sending her to her own world. Why hadn’t he told her the truth? That he couldn’t live without her? He knew the answer, it was because he had nothing to offer her.
Now that the Queen of Hearts had been dethroned and Jack was King, Hatter had no idea where he stood. He was no longer in charge of a tea shop and, in fact, the tea shops had all been disbanded and the product destroyed. There was no longer a resistance so he wasn’t needed there, either.
Hatter had spent his entire life involved in the battle to save Wonderland in one way or another. As a boy, he’d been a courier, darting about delivering messages, and as he got older he became more involved in smuggling people and supplies, all while running the tea shop. He’d told Alice he’d had a foot in each world, and Dodo had called him a leech because he wasn’t forced to live underground but what Dodo couldn’t seem to grasp was that living as he had required him to stay sharp and use his wits to stay alive. His single purpose had been to help the resistance in any way he could and then he’d met Alice and she’d thrown his world into chaos.
*****
Hatter was talking to the White Knight whom he still considered mad as a box of frogs but he was a good friend and one of the bravest men Hatter knew.
“You know, I was happy before Alice came along… relatively speaking. Women found me attractive, I had an active social life.”
“Ah, yes,” the Knight looked at Hatter, “but were any of them important to you?”
“Well, no. That was the idea. No women hanging about crying because I wasn’t able to commit to a relationship.” Hatter seemed lost in thought. “Those were the days.”
“It seems to me,” answered the Knight, “that you were a very lonely young man.”
Hatter looked at his friend and had to admit that there was much truth in his observation, and was quiet as he replied, “There were a few girls when I was younger that I would have liked to connect with, settle down, but I knew that the path I’d chosen wouldn’t allow it. I had to stay alone in order to play my part.” He looked at the Knight. “Alice changed that. She was strong and stubborn and pigheaded, but she was just right for me and now I’ve gone and messed it all up.”
“Are you certain about that?” asked the Knight. “From what I could see and hear, Just Alice was not that pleased to be leaving you.”
“You’re barmy, “ laughed Hatter.” She couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
“No, I’m pretty sure about what I saw and heard.” The White Knight smiled at Hatter’s confusion. “You were so busy trying not to say what you so dearly wanted to say, you completely missed not only what Alice was saying, but how she said it. You need to go to her, follow your heart. It’s not too late for you and Alice. Go.”
Hatter grinned at the Knight. “I need an audience with the King.”
*****
The King and the Duchess were deep in conversation when Hatter was lead in by the Ten of Clubs. “Your Majesty,” he said with a low bow, “Hatter.”
“Hatter!” Jack was sincerely overjoyed to see Hatter. Although they hadn’t met under the best circumstances -- Jack had been really quite jealous when he’d found Alice in Hatter’s arms - Jack had come to the realization that Hatter was a valuable ally. “What can I do for you?”
“Your Majesty, I’d like your permission to go through the looking glass.” Hatter did his best to keep his voice respectful, although the memory of Alice in Jack’s arms wasn’t a pleasant one, Jack had shown himself to be a true friend and was proving to be a good and just King.
“Where is it you’d like to go?” asked the King, smiling as he knew very well where Hatter wanted to go.
Hatter smiled back. “Yes, your Majesty, I’d like to go find Alice.”
“Very well,” replied the King looking Hatter over, “but you’ll need new clothing.”
“Oi, what’s wrong with my clothes?” Hatter looked at himself. He thought he was really quite dapper in his paisley shirt and leather jacket.
The King laughed. “They're fine for here in Wonderland, but I’m afraid they’d draw the wrong type of attention in the Oyster’s world. Come along, we’ll find you something.” He kissed the Duchess’ hand and the King and Hatter left the room together.
*****
They entered a large room full of different types of clothing.
Hatter looked around with his mouth hanging open. “What’s this?”
“As a resistance operative, I was frequently obligated to go undercover in the Oyster’s world so I collected a large amount of clothing.” The King scanned the room looking for something. “Ah, this is what I was thinking of for you.” He removed a pair of black jeans, a white vest, trainers, and a khaki jacket. “These should do well. I’ll have my tailor make any alterations necessary so they’ll fit you.”
“Aren’t they rather … um… plain?” Hatter was confused. Wonderland was very colorful, as were its inhabitants, and he thought it odd that in the Oyster world things were so boring.
The King laughed at Hatter’s confusion. “Yes, they are, but you’ll find that you’ll blend in wearing this clothing. Now, what are your plans? Are you going to look for work?”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t know anything about that world or any type of job I could do?” Now Hatter was concerned. He couldn’t just show up at Alice’s door empty handed and expect her to support him. Maybe he’d have to rethink this whole plan. He said as much to the King.
“Not a problem.” The King smiled. “When I was in their world, I made many contacts so I should be able to help you find something.”
Hatter looked at the King with a quizzical expression on his face and asked, “Why are you helping me?”
Jack thought carefully before answering Hatter’s question. He knew that Hatter came from a background where he had to be totally self-reliant. He couldn’t rely on anyone else nor could he trust anyone. “Hatter, to be honest, I had pretty much dismissed you as a loose cannon and wasn’t sure we should trust you, but Alice made me see you in a new light. I find I can trust you with my life and although I had thought Alice would be spending her life with me, I see now she never really loved me.”
“Are you saying she loves me?” Hatter was amazed at this.
“Well, she certainly cares for you deeply,” answered the King. “Now, let’s get these clothes fixed up for you, with some others, and find you employment.”
*****
After some investigating, Hatter found he was quite handy with his hands so the King was able to help him find employment with a construction company . They had also worked out when to send Hatter into the Oyster world. He wanted to be there to meet Alice when she came through the mirror and see the look of surprise on her face so, wearing his new clothes and carrying a bag with his others, Hatter stepped through the looking glass into a new adventure.
*****
Having been met by one of the King’s contacts, Hatter was taken to his new place of employment. He enjoyed the hard labor, and at the end of the day he was able to fall into bed in his small, one-room flat and sleep soundly.
Finally, the day came when he knew Alice would be coming through the looking glass so he hurried to the construction site where, to his horror, he found her lying on the ground, unconscious. He called for help and an ambulance arrived to whisk Alice away to the hospital. Hatter followed and was met by Carol, Alice’s mother, who thanked him profusely for finding her daughter, and when Hatter asked if he could stop by to see how Alice was doing, Carol looked into his eyes and said they’d be pleased to welcome him into their home.
*****
Later on, Hatter (who was now known as David), stood outside the door of Alice’s home and was suddenly overcome with nerves.
“Bloody hell, I wasn’t this frightened when I was facing the Jaborwocky!”
He almost lost his nerve but then thought of Alice’s sweet face and the way she had felt in his arms and knew there would never be anyone else for him, and knocked on the door.
Carol let him in and called out to Alice; “Alice! Come meet David.”
And suddenly, there she was. She stood in the hallway just looking at him and then, amazingly, she ran straight into his arms and he knew he would never let her go.
Author: aunteeneenah
Rating: K
Word Count: 1,528
Pairing: Hatter/Alice
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. I just bend them to suit my needs and then put them back together. I make nothing from this.
Summary: Hatter is pretty sure he made a mistake letting Alice go and he needs his friends to help him.
A/N: This is a Birthday present for Gloriann. I am ashamed that she asked for this last year and I finally finished it when I realized it was, once again, her birthday. Sorry, m’Dear. Forgive me?
Hatter!
“I missed you.”
*****
He had just stood there, watching her being pushed through the mirror, sending her to her own world. Why hadn’t he told her the truth? That he couldn’t live without her? He knew the answer, it was because he had nothing to offer her.
Now that the Queen of Hearts had been dethroned and Jack was King, Hatter had no idea where he stood. He was no longer in charge of a tea shop and, in fact, the tea shops had all been disbanded and the product destroyed. There was no longer a resistance so he wasn’t needed there, either.
Hatter had spent his entire life involved in the battle to save Wonderland in one way or another. As a boy, he’d been a courier, darting about delivering messages, and as he got older he became more involved in smuggling people and supplies, all while running the tea shop. He’d told Alice he’d had a foot in each world, and Dodo had called him a leech because he wasn’t forced to live underground but what Dodo couldn’t seem to grasp was that living as he had required him to stay sharp and use his wits to stay alive. His single purpose had been to help the resistance in any way he could and then he’d met Alice and she’d thrown his world into chaos.
*****
Hatter was talking to the White Knight whom he still considered mad as a box of frogs but he was a good friend and one of the bravest men Hatter knew.
“You know, I was happy before Alice came along… relatively speaking. Women found me attractive, I had an active social life.”
“Ah, yes,” the Knight looked at Hatter, “but were any of them important to you?”
“Well, no. That was the idea. No women hanging about crying because I wasn’t able to commit to a relationship.” Hatter seemed lost in thought. “Those were the days.”
“It seems to me,” answered the Knight, “that you were a very lonely young man.”
Hatter looked at his friend and had to admit that there was much truth in his observation, and was quiet as he replied, “There were a few girls when I was younger that I would have liked to connect with, settle down, but I knew that the path I’d chosen wouldn’t allow it. I had to stay alone in order to play my part.” He looked at the Knight. “Alice changed that. She was strong and stubborn and pigheaded, but she was just right for me and now I’ve gone and messed it all up.”
“Are you certain about that?” asked the Knight. “From what I could see and hear, Just Alice was not that pleased to be leaving you.”
“You’re barmy, “ laughed Hatter.” She couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
“No, I’m pretty sure about what I saw and heard.” The White Knight smiled at Hatter’s confusion. “You were so busy trying not to say what you so dearly wanted to say, you completely missed not only what Alice was saying, but how she said it. You need to go to her, follow your heart. It’s not too late for you and Alice. Go.”
Hatter grinned at the Knight. “I need an audience with the King.”
*****
The King and the Duchess were deep in conversation when Hatter was lead in by the Ten of Clubs. “Your Majesty,” he said with a low bow, “Hatter.”
“Hatter!” Jack was sincerely overjoyed to see Hatter. Although they hadn’t met under the best circumstances -- Jack had been really quite jealous when he’d found Alice in Hatter’s arms - Jack had come to the realization that Hatter was a valuable ally. “What can I do for you?”
“Your Majesty, I’d like your permission to go through the looking glass.” Hatter did his best to keep his voice respectful, although the memory of Alice in Jack’s arms wasn’t a pleasant one, Jack had shown himself to be a true friend and was proving to be a good and just King.
“Where is it you’d like to go?” asked the King, smiling as he knew very well where Hatter wanted to go.
Hatter smiled back. “Yes, your Majesty, I’d like to go find Alice.”
“Very well,” replied the King looking Hatter over, “but you’ll need new clothing.”
“Oi, what’s wrong with my clothes?” Hatter looked at himself. He thought he was really quite dapper in his paisley shirt and leather jacket.
The King laughed. “They're fine for here in Wonderland, but I’m afraid they’d draw the wrong type of attention in the Oyster’s world. Come along, we’ll find you something.” He kissed the Duchess’ hand and the King and Hatter left the room together.
*****
They entered a large room full of different types of clothing.
Hatter looked around with his mouth hanging open. “What’s this?”
“As a resistance operative, I was frequently obligated to go undercover in the Oyster’s world so I collected a large amount of clothing.” The King scanned the room looking for something. “Ah, this is what I was thinking of for you.” He removed a pair of black jeans, a white vest, trainers, and a khaki jacket. “These should do well. I’ll have my tailor make any alterations necessary so they’ll fit you.”
“Aren’t they rather … um… plain?” Hatter was confused. Wonderland was very colorful, as were its inhabitants, and he thought it odd that in the Oyster world things were so boring.
The King laughed at Hatter’s confusion. “Yes, they are, but you’ll find that you’ll blend in wearing this clothing. Now, what are your plans? Are you going to look for work?”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t know anything about that world or any type of job I could do?” Now Hatter was concerned. He couldn’t just show up at Alice’s door empty handed and expect her to support him. Maybe he’d have to rethink this whole plan. He said as much to the King.
“Not a problem.” The King smiled. “When I was in their world, I made many contacts so I should be able to help you find something.”
Hatter looked at the King with a quizzical expression on his face and asked, “Why are you helping me?”
Jack thought carefully before answering Hatter’s question. He knew that Hatter came from a background where he had to be totally self-reliant. He couldn’t rely on anyone else nor could he trust anyone. “Hatter, to be honest, I had pretty much dismissed you as a loose cannon and wasn’t sure we should trust you, but Alice made me see you in a new light. I find I can trust you with my life and although I had thought Alice would be spending her life with me, I see now she never really loved me.”
“Are you saying she loves me?” Hatter was amazed at this.
“Well, she certainly cares for you deeply,” answered the King. “Now, let’s get these clothes fixed up for you, with some others, and find you employment.”
*****
After some investigating, Hatter found he was quite handy with his hands so the King was able to help him find employment with a construction company . They had also worked out when to send Hatter into the Oyster world. He wanted to be there to meet Alice when she came through the mirror and see the look of surprise on her face so, wearing his new clothes and carrying a bag with his others, Hatter stepped through the looking glass into a new adventure.
*****
Having been met by one of the King’s contacts, Hatter was taken to his new place of employment. He enjoyed the hard labor, and at the end of the day he was able to fall into bed in his small, one-room flat and sleep soundly.
Finally, the day came when he knew Alice would be coming through the looking glass so he hurried to the construction site where, to his horror, he found her lying on the ground, unconscious. He called for help and an ambulance arrived to whisk Alice away to the hospital. Hatter followed and was met by Carol, Alice’s mother, who thanked him profusely for finding her daughter, and when Hatter asked if he could stop by to see how Alice was doing, Carol looked into his eyes and said they’d be pleased to welcome him into their home.
*****
Later on, Hatter (who was now known as David), stood outside the door of Alice’s home and was suddenly overcome with nerves.
“Bloody hell, I wasn’t this frightened when I was facing the Jaborwocky!”
He almost lost his nerve but then thought of Alice’s sweet face and the way she had felt in his arms and knew there would never be anyone else for him, and knocked on the door.
Carol let him in and called out to Alice; “Alice! Come meet David.”
And suddenly, there she was. She stood in the hallway just looking at him and then, amazingly, she ran straight into his arms and he knew he would never let her go.