The Right Man
Fandom - Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Length - Oneshot
Characters/Pairing - Alice, Tarrant, Helen, Mirana, AlicexHatter
Rating - K+
Summary - Alice once told Hamish that he wasn't the right man for her. Now, she's going to find the one who is.
Author Notes - Created for axelsonfire in disney_uberland's Fic Request challenge. The prompt was: After refusing Hamish, Alice returns to Wonderland to find the "right man for her". This has spoilers for some of the movie.
The Right Man
Alice knew that look. She had escaped it for a short time while doing business in China. However, she was back in London now, not even two days, and once again Helen Kingsleigh was after her daughter to settle down. “I’m not asking you to give up the trade,” Helen insisted. She had come to accept that Alice was a forward thinking young woman, very much like her father in character. She knew she could no longer restrain Alice from doing whatever she pleased. There was something different about Alice, at least there had been since she reemerged dirty and scarred after running from Hamish Ascot’s proposal.
This brought Helen back to her point of interest. She looked at Alice as she rummaged through her belongings as though she were about to go on another journey. This was something that baffled Helen a little, yet seemed unimportant at the moment. “One day, my dear, you may find yourself lonely without a husband and only your father’s business to keep you company. And by then it may be too late,” Helen, just as Margaret had also, suggested that Alice’s beauty couldn’t last forever - at least not in the perfect sense that men expected of their wives. “Your father wouldn’t have wanted you to expand his business only to live in loneliness. And neither do I,” Helen tried to make Alice understand that she was only thinking of her well being.
Alice stopped what she was doing for a moment. Her mother’s words hit a raw nerve within her. The truth was she already was lonely. If she were being completely honest with herself, she had been lonely from the moment she had crawled out of the rabbit hole. For months, she had thought about her promise to return to Underland…to him. And each day that went by without keeping that promise, Alice felt more and more alone. “I know, mother,” Alice answered feebly before returning to her odd task.
“Then, please, for my sake try to find someone,” Helen hoped Alice was actually listening to her. “You know, Hamish is still unattached. And with your good standing with Lord Ascot, perhaps things could go more smoothly for the both of you. It could prove to be a better match than it was before you left.”
Helen hadn’t meant any real harm in the suggestion, but Alice turned and looked at her mother as though she had completely insulted her. “I meant it for good when I rejected his proposal,” Alice stated bluntly. “Hamish does not care for me, or I for him. He had every chance to prove he was sincere in wanting to marry me after I left. He could have written. But his feelings for me didn’t run so deep as to assume I wasn’t as half-mad as everyone else at the party thought.” Alice attempted not to smile in spite of herself at her use of the word half-mad.
“That’s just it, Alice,” Helen was not one to raise her voice, but her tone was every bit as forceful. “There isn't even a handful of well-to-do men in London willing to go that far. You know as well as I do your choices will make it very difficult for you to find a husband. If there were more men in London like your father, I wouldn’t be so concerned, but there aren’t. At the moment, Hamish is your best and only option. He will respect his father’s wishes and in time I’m certain you will make agreeable companions.” Helen admitted that the words sounded cold on her tongue. She wanted more than agreeable companionship for her daughter, but logic demanded security above love. Waiting for a novel romance was foolish after a certain point. Alice’s Aunt Imogen was proof of that.
Alice’s eyes became steely and her temper flared beyond what was to be expected of a proper young woman. “Hamish is not the right man for me!”
“Who then?” Helen looked at her daughter just as determinedly.
The question rang in Alice’s ears as though it had been a gunshot. The last bit of logical resolve she had, that had been fighting her to see reason, fell dead. Now more than ever before, she was certain it was Time. Her mother’s question echoed Margaret’s question from the engagement party, but before Alice had not been able to answer. There hadn’t been anyone else to compare Hamish to back then. Now there was.
“There is somebody else,” Alice finally responded. Helen looked at her with mixed emotions. She wondered whom else there could possibly be. “I don’t have any way to explain it, but I think he’s the right one for me. I’m almost certain he already loves me, for who I am, and always will.” Alice smiled as she thought of how desperately she had been asked to stay in Underland and hoped she hadn’t misjudged the meaning behind it. “I have to find out for myself, mother. I’m leaving,” she announced decidedly.
Suddenly, it made sense to Helen why her daughter seemed to be going through her things. Alice seemed to be sizing up what was and wasn’t important enough to take with her. Did she mean she was leaving for good? “Alice, I don’t understand. Who is he? Where is he? What about your father’s company?”
“I know it doesn’t make sense,” Alice couldn’t deny that much. Everything about Underland was impossible, but the more she was away the more she knew it was where she belonged. “But please trust me. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back. I promise.”
There were tears brimming in Helen’s eyes, threatening to spill out in a most improper manner, but it didn’t matter to the torn mother. She moved closer to Alice, studying her face in an attempt to memorize the strength, beauty, conviction she saw there. “I can see how much he must mean to you,” Helen couldn’t ignore the sparkle she’d seen in Alice’s eyes. “For that reason, I hope it does work out. I trust you, Alice.” Helen smiled and took her daughter’s hands lovingly.
Alice had the final consolation she needed. She would have left with or without her mother’s blessing, but having it insured her freedom from any uncertainty that might have haunted her once she’d made it to Underland. “I love you, mother,” Alice embraced her mother warmly before setting back to finalizing her journey.
Underland was every bit as magical, mysterious, and haunting even, as she remembered. It seemed to be night time, which was a little unnerving for Alice as she made her way further into Underland. She was her proper size thanks to having brought some Upelkuchen with her through the door and she had thought to bring one dress with her to change into quickly. Now, Alice walked quietly, attempting not to wake the flowers or any other creatures, with only a very small briefcase in her hands. She had clung to it with all her might during her fall down the rabbit hole, as it contained everything she wanted to remember should she never make it back to her home for even a visit.
As Alice wandered alone, she wondered where she should go to find Hatter. Would he be at the mad tea party, ever waiting for her to return? Would he be at Marmoreal because he was royal hatter again? Would he be at a home of his own which she’d never seen? As these thoughts began to fill her mind, Alice wished for Chessur to materialize and lead her to him as he had done before.
Suddenly, there was a noise nearby and Alice wasn’t sure if she should be hopeful or frightful. “Chess?” she whispered cautiously. There was no answer and she grew even more uneasy. Everything was still right in Underland wasn’t it? Things had not taken a turn for the worse in her absence had it? Alice tried to convince herself she had no reason to worry, but another sound from the darkness around her nearly sent her to a jolt.
If it wasn’t for a slight breeze and a very familiar odor, Alice would have lost her muchness in a mad dash. After all, it wasn’t a dream this time and she knew something could hurt her. However, she did recognize the smell and it wasn’t a minute later she found herself staring into the eyes of the Bandersnatch. At first she eyed him curiously, wondering if he remembered her or if he was even the same she’d encountered previously, but as his massive tongue lovingly licked the scars on her arm, Alice’s fears were put to rest.
Alice wasted no time in tackling the friendly beast with her hands, petting him like any common pet. Then she mounted him and whispered in his ear before the Bandersnatch turned and began a steady gallop. Alice watched the colors fly by her in a blur. Even in the dark of night, they were colors which had made London seem dull in comparison. Eventually, the sun began to rise and Alice felt her heart beating faster with anticipation. Things were beginning to look familiar again in the light of day. Memories began flooding back to her as she realized she was getting close to the Bandersnatch’s chosen destination.
At last, Marmoreal came into view and it wasn’t long before Alice was in the courtyard of the White Queen’s palace. She dismounted, trusting the Bandersnatch had understood her request and brought her to where she needed to be. There were several gasps and murmurs as those present in the courtyard noticed her. She simply smiled and nodded here and there while maintaining her course towards the palace itself.
Having heard the commotion, Mirana met her at the door and led her inside. She held up her hand to gesture to anyone else not to follow for the time being. “Come with me,” the White Queen smiled, a twinkle in her eye, and led the way. “He’s in his work room,” she added as they walked, sensing the question Alice wanted to ask. Alice couldn’t believe her ears. Was she that easy to read, she wondered. Then again, it didn’t matter. She was grateful that the queen understood her desire to see Tarrant Hightopp first and foremost. Mirana finally stopped at the end of a hall and pointed towards a door. She smiled at the returned Champion with the same look of hopefulness her mother had worn when discussing Alice’s marital future. Laying the backside of her hand softly on one of Alice’s cheeks, she said, “Underland is complete again.” She then gave a very slight wink and left Alice to her task.
Alice carefully reached the open door and peaked into the room, trying to fight back the urge to simply dash in and make her presence known. She wanted to see him first. She wanted the benefit of observing him for a while before he observed her, if it were possible. As her eyes wandered around the room she saw hats of every kind imaginable. More than that, she saw several dresses of various shades of blue. This made her heart beat wildly again and her hope grow. Then, she found him. He was working with such passion that she’d only seen mirrored in her father’s passion for his business. Smiling, she admired the way his hands delicately worked on sewing a pattern. It didn’t seem possible these same hands could be harmful if he were provoked. They were stained with orange, laden with thimbles and bandages, and yet they were perfect. Alice was losing control as she longed to take his hands into her own.
All at once, Alice’s thoughtful observations were interrupted. She noticed his bowtie flare out as if smiling. Then, looking up curiously -as if wondering what strange new sensation had overtaken him - he locked eyes on her. For a moment, or perhaps an eternity, they stood frozen. Each one was entranced by the sight of the other. However, the spell was wonderfully broken as they hurried to one another, meeting somewhere in the middle.
“You’re back!” Hatter was the first to speak. He was so clearly thrilled to see her again it made Alice all the surer of her love for him. “Did you miss me when you woke up?” His voice suddenly changed to a timid whisper.
“Very much,” Alice nodded. “But this isn’t a dream, you know. And I didn’t forget,” she reassured him and the green of his eyes seemed to grow brighter. His unspoken, very irrational fear, of her somehow not actually knowing who he was, was silenced.
“That’s wonderful news!” Hatter exclaimed. “Because I was making all these dresses for you waiting for you to come back, but then I was afraid you forgot even though you said you wouldn’t forget, and I’m very sorry I didn’t believe you like I should have. I mean, if you said you wouldn’t forget, then I should have known…”
“Hatter,” Alice took his face in her hands, making him realize once and for all she was back and she did remember and that all madness regarding the matter could be laid to rest for good.
“Y-y-you’re not too small or t-too tall,” he went shy at her touch, but the insinuation in his comment was a bold one.
“I know,” Alice said with a smile before using her hands to bring him towards her for a kiss.
As they melded together in perfection, Alice knew without a doubt that Hatter returned her love as she had hoped and suspected. The attraction they had felt since her previous adventure went beyond mere feelings. It was a love so strong it almost seemed as though they were always destined for this particular moment. This moment where they realized both of their lives - no matter how different or far apart they had been at one time - were leading to one simple truth:
Tarrant Hightopp was the right man, the only man, for Alice Kingsleigh.
The End
Length - Oneshot
Characters/Pairing - Alice, Tarrant, Helen, Mirana, AlicexHatter
Rating - K+
Summary - Alice once told Hamish that he wasn't the right man for her. Now, she's going to find the one who is.
Author Notes - Created for axelsonfire in disney_uberland's Fic Request challenge. The prompt was: After refusing Hamish, Alice returns to Wonderland to find the "right man for her". This has spoilers for some of the movie.
The Right Man
Alice knew that look. She had escaped it for a short time while doing business in China. However, she was back in London now, not even two days, and once again Helen Kingsleigh was after her daughter to settle down. “I’m not asking you to give up the trade,” Helen insisted. She had come to accept that Alice was a forward thinking young woman, very much like her father in character. She knew she could no longer restrain Alice from doing whatever she pleased. There was something different about Alice, at least there had been since she reemerged dirty and scarred after running from Hamish Ascot’s proposal.
This brought Helen back to her point of interest. She looked at Alice as she rummaged through her belongings as though she were about to go on another journey. This was something that baffled Helen a little, yet seemed unimportant at the moment. “One day, my dear, you may find yourself lonely without a husband and only your father’s business to keep you company. And by then it may be too late,” Helen, just as Margaret had also, suggested that Alice’s beauty couldn’t last forever - at least not in the perfect sense that men expected of their wives. “Your father wouldn’t have wanted you to expand his business only to live in loneliness. And neither do I,” Helen tried to make Alice understand that she was only thinking of her well being.
Alice stopped what she was doing for a moment. Her mother’s words hit a raw nerve within her. The truth was she already was lonely. If she were being completely honest with herself, she had been lonely from the moment she had crawled out of the rabbit hole. For months, she had thought about her promise to return to Underland…to him. And each day that went by without keeping that promise, Alice felt more and more alone. “I know, mother,” Alice answered feebly before returning to her odd task.
“Then, please, for my sake try to find someone,” Helen hoped Alice was actually listening to her. “You know, Hamish is still unattached. And with your good standing with Lord Ascot, perhaps things could go more smoothly for the both of you. It could prove to be a better match than it was before you left.”
Helen hadn’t meant any real harm in the suggestion, but Alice turned and looked at her mother as though she had completely insulted her. “I meant it for good when I rejected his proposal,” Alice stated bluntly. “Hamish does not care for me, or I for him. He had every chance to prove he was sincere in wanting to marry me after I left. He could have written. But his feelings for me didn’t run so deep as to assume I wasn’t as half-mad as everyone else at the party thought.” Alice attempted not to smile in spite of herself at her use of the word half-mad.
“That’s just it, Alice,” Helen was not one to raise her voice, but her tone was every bit as forceful. “There isn't even a handful of well-to-do men in London willing to go that far. You know as well as I do your choices will make it very difficult for you to find a husband. If there were more men in London like your father, I wouldn’t be so concerned, but there aren’t. At the moment, Hamish is your best and only option. He will respect his father’s wishes and in time I’m certain you will make agreeable companions.” Helen admitted that the words sounded cold on her tongue. She wanted more than agreeable companionship for her daughter, but logic demanded security above love. Waiting for a novel romance was foolish after a certain point. Alice’s Aunt Imogen was proof of that.
Alice’s eyes became steely and her temper flared beyond what was to be expected of a proper young woman. “Hamish is not the right man for me!”
“Who then?” Helen looked at her daughter just as determinedly.
The question rang in Alice’s ears as though it had been a gunshot. The last bit of logical resolve she had, that had been fighting her to see reason, fell dead. Now more than ever before, she was certain it was Time. Her mother’s question echoed Margaret’s question from the engagement party, but before Alice had not been able to answer. There hadn’t been anyone else to compare Hamish to back then. Now there was.
“There is somebody else,” Alice finally responded. Helen looked at her with mixed emotions. She wondered whom else there could possibly be. “I don’t have any way to explain it, but I think he’s the right one for me. I’m almost certain he already loves me, for who I am, and always will.” Alice smiled as she thought of how desperately she had been asked to stay in Underland and hoped she hadn’t misjudged the meaning behind it. “I have to find out for myself, mother. I’m leaving,” she announced decidedly.
Suddenly, it made sense to Helen why her daughter seemed to be going through her things. Alice seemed to be sizing up what was and wasn’t important enough to take with her. Did she mean she was leaving for good? “Alice, I don’t understand. Who is he? Where is he? What about your father’s company?”
“I know it doesn’t make sense,” Alice couldn’t deny that much. Everything about Underland was impossible, but the more she was away the more she knew it was where she belonged. “But please trust me. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back. I promise.”
There were tears brimming in Helen’s eyes, threatening to spill out in a most improper manner, but it didn’t matter to the torn mother. She moved closer to Alice, studying her face in an attempt to memorize the strength, beauty, conviction she saw there. “I can see how much he must mean to you,” Helen couldn’t ignore the sparkle she’d seen in Alice’s eyes. “For that reason, I hope it does work out. I trust you, Alice.” Helen smiled and took her daughter’s hands lovingly.
Alice had the final consolation she needed. She would have left with or without her mother’s blessing, but having it insured her freedom from any uncertainty that might have haunted her once she’d made it to Underland. “I love you, mother,” Alice embraced her mother warmly before setting back to finalizing her journey.
Underland was every bit as magical, mysterious, and haunting even, as she remembered. It seemed to be night time, which was a little unnerving for Alice as she made her way further into Underland. She was her proper size thanks to having brought some Upelkuchen with her through the door and she had thought to bring one dress with her to change into quickly. Now, Alice walked quietly, attempting not to wake the flowers or any other creatures, with only a very small briefcase in her hands. She had clung to it with all her might during her fall down the rabbit hole, as it contained everything she wanted to remember should she never make it back to her home for even a visit.
As Alice wandered alone, she wondered where she should go to find Hatter. Would he be at the mad tea party, ever waiting for her to return? Would he be at Marmoreal because he was royal hatter again? Would he be at a home of his own which she’d never seen? As these thoughts began to fill her mind, Alice wished for Chessur to materialize and lead her to him as he had done before.
Suddenly, there was a noise nearby and Alice wasn’t sure if she should be hopeful or frightful. “Chess?” she whispered cautiously. There was no answer and she grew even more uneasy. Everything was still right in Underland wasn’t it? Things had not taken a turn for the worse in her absence had it? Alice tried to convince herself she had no reason to worry, but another sound from the darkness around her nearly sent her to a jolt.
If it wasn’t for a slight breeze and a very familiar odor, Alice would have lost her muchness in a mad dash. After all, it wasn’t a dream this time and she knew something could hurt her. However, she did recognize the smell and it wasn’t a minute later she found herself staring into the eyes of the Bandersnatch. At first she eyed him curiously, wondering if he remembered her or if he was even the same she’d encountered previously, but as his massive tongue lovingly licked the scars on her arm, Alice’s fears were put to rest.
Alice wasted no time in tackling the friendly beast with her hands, petting him like any common pet. Then she mounted him and whispered in his ear before the Bandersnatch turned and began a steady gallop. Alice watched the colors fly by her in a blur. Even in the dark of night, they were colors which had made London seem dull in comparison. Eventually, the sun began to rise and Alice felt her heart beating faster with anticipation. Things were beginning to look familiar again in the light of day. Memories began flooding back to her as she realized she was getting close to the Bandersnatch’s chosen destination.
At last, Marmoreal came into view and it wasn’t long before Alice was in the courtyard of the White Queen’s palace. She dismounted, trusting the Bandersnatch had understood her request and brought her to where she needed to be. There were several gasps and murmurs as those present in the courtyard noticed her. She simply smiled and nodded here and there while maintaining her course towards the palace itself.
Having heard the commotion, Mirana met her at the door and led her inside. She held up her hand to gesture to anyone else not to follow for the time being. “Come with me,” the White Queen smiled, a twinkle in her eye, and led the way. “He’s in his work room,” she added as they walked, sensing the question Alice wanted to ask. Alice couldn’t believe her ears. Was she that easy to read, she wondered. Then again, it didn’t matter. She was grateful that the queen understood her desire to see Tarrant Hightopp first and foremost. Mirana finally stopped at the end of a hall and pointed towards a door. She smiled at the returned Champion with the same look of hopefulness her mother had worn when discussing Alice’s marital future. Laying the backside of her hand softly on one of Alice’s cheeks, she said, “Underland is complete again.” She then gave a very slight wink and left Alice to her task.
Alice carefully reached the open door and peaked into the room, trying to fight back the urge to simply dash in and make her presence known. She wanted to see him first. She wanted the benefit of observing him for a while before he observed her, if it were possible. As her eyes wandered around the room she saw hats of every kind imaginable. More than that, she saw several dresses of various shades of blue. This made her heart beat wildly again and her hope grow. Then, she found him. He was working with such passion that she’d only seen mirrored in her father’s passion for his business. Smiling, she admired the way his hands delicately worked on sewing a pattern. It didn’t seem possible these same hands could be harmful if he were provoked. They were stained with orange, laden with thimbles and bandages, and yet they were perfect. Alice was losing control as she longed to take his hands into her own.
All at once, Alice’s thoughtful observations were interrupted. She noticed his bowtie flare out as if smiling. Then, looking up curiously -as if wondering what strange new sensation had overtaken him - he locked eyes on her. For a moment, or perhaps an eternity, they stood frozen. Each one was entranced by the sight of the other. However, the spell was wonderfully broken as they hurried to one another, meeting somewhere in the middle.
“You’re back!” Hatter was the first to speak. He was so clearly thrilled to see her again it made Alice all the surer of her love for him. “Did you miss me when you woke up?” His voice suddenly changed to a timid whisper.
“Very much,” Alice nodded. “But this isn’t a dream, you know. And I didn’t forget,” she reassured him and the green of his eyes seemed to grow brighter. His unspoken, very irrational fear, of her somehow not actually knowing who he was, was silenced.
“That’s wonderful news!” Hatter exclaimed. “Because I was making all these dresses for you waiting for you to come back, but then I was afraid you forgot even though you said you wouldn’t forget, and I’m very sorry I didn’t believe you like I should have. I mean, if you said you wouldn’t forget, then I should have known…”
“Hatter,” Alice took his face in her hands, making him realize once and for all she was back and she did remember and that all madness regarding the matter could be laid to rest for good.
“Y-y-you’re not too small or t-too tall,” he went shy at her touch, but the insinuation in his comment was a bold one.
“I know,” Alice said with a smile before using her hands to bring him towards her for a kiss.
As they melded together in perfection, Alice knew without a doubt that Hatter returned her love as she had hoped and suspected. The attraction they had felt since her previous adventure went beyond mere feelings. It was a love so strong it almost seemed as though they were always destined for this particular moment. This moment where they realized both of their lives - no matter how different or far apart they had been at one time - were leading to one simple truth:
Tarrant Hightopp was the right man, the only man, for Alice Kingsleigh.
The End