Once Again : Part 3 : Return to the Future

Part 2 : Explications and Entertainment

Alice was sitting at the table with everyone else, and had too much on her mind: "Did Hatter already know I would go to the past?... Did Piper ever perform with his abilities?... Did Mally have a problem with Chess?... What happened between Hatter and Chess?"
Alice wanted to ask all of those questions but it felt like a lot to her. If Chess could turn into the moon, how overpowered was Piper? More questions... too many more questions... Alice decided to ask the fun ones first:
"Did you ever use your abilities to perform on stage?" Alice asked at a normal day's tea party. Hatter started dying of laughter.
"P-Piper.. we have to-" Hatter said holding his breath. Piper was stiff with his ears down. "I told you we'd have to do it, she was gonna ask at SOME point. Did I not tell you?"Piper nodded reluctantly.
"I don't mind performing for her," Piper said. "But first of all: You haven't sung for years. And second: I haven't performed for years, so there." Hatter snickered.
"I still practice, and you can only play every SINGLE instrument..." Hatter countered. "So... I think you're dramatic." Piper lifted an eyebrow.
"You're one to talk, hm?" Piper sat back in his chair, Hatter rolled his eyes. Alice noted that Piper and Hatter mainly joked around, and so far, from what she could see, Piper didn't anger the Hatter.Then Alice noticed something.
"Sung?" Alice asked. "As in: sing?" Hatter shrugged.
"I practice while I work sometimes." Hatter said, then he looked back at Piper. "Why don't we just do our favorite song? I know damn-well you know that song by heart."“Do you remember it?” Piper asked. Hatter gasped jokingly.
“How could I forget?” Hatter put his hand on his chest. “It was our favorite song, of course!” Hatter looked at Alice then at Piper. “How about we do another town show?” Piper’s ears folded back. Alice was sitting quiet, she wanted to know where this was going.
“Tarant, you know-” Piper bagan.
“I know you want to do it.” Hatter said, folding his arms. “Performing along with being taller was, and I’m sure are, your favourite interests.”Hatter finished. Piper debated in his head for a moment.
“Oh- fine!” Piper decided. “But only because I miss performing.” Hatter grinned.
“We know what to do.” Hatter said. “So all we need to do is prepare.”

Hatter and Pier planned for 2 days for the performance. Alice and Mally were in the front row seats of the small theatre they were using. 
“He can sing…?” Alice asked under her breath. Mally, sitting on her shoulder, giggled.
“It won’t be as bad as you think.” Mally said. “Infact, he’s quite good.” Alice laughed a bit.
“Not that I think he’d be bad… well…” Alicw shook her head. “No, I just never really connected ‘Hatter’ with ‘performer’… or singer… or anything of that sort.” Mally and Alice hushed when the lights turned off. 
Hatter and Piper were on stage, Piper held a flute looking thing, and Hatter stood at a microphone. The song they performed was obviously about love, or at least that’s what Alice could make out of the lyrics. After the show, Hatter and Piper stood with their arms out smiling at the crowd. Piper turned his head to wink at Mally. Alice could hear Mally giggle a little over the clapping crowd of people.

Backstage, after the show, Alice Mally, and all the others cheered for their friends.
“Not bad for the first time in years, huh?” Piper asked shakingly. “I hate being on stage…..” He whispered, walking to a nearby bathroom.
“Why didn’t you tell me you could sing?” Alice asked, hugging Hatter. Hatter chuckled.
“Well I never said I couldn’t.” Hatter joked. “Did you enjoy the show?”
“Of course. That was very exciting, and entertaining if anything.” Alice reviewed. Hatter, Alice, and everyone else chatted for very long before Hatter noticed that Piper was nowhere to be seen. Hatter walked to the men’s room and found Piper sitting at the counter where the mirrors were. Hatter saw him looking at his own reflection, contemplating, wondering, and… slightly sad-like really. Hatter sighed and sat next to him.
“Hello, Piper.” Hatter greeted. Piper flinched and turned to Hatter. “Is something wrong?” Piper sighed.
“You’re lucky, Tarant…” Piper looked back at his reflection. Hatter gave a confused look.
“What…?” Hatter started fidgeting. “What do you mean…?” Piper didn’t face the Hatter.
“Mally liked you… Alice likes you… and not to imply, but I find to see how you are extremely charming.” Piper leaned his head to the side. “Did you ever ask Mally why she was attracted to you?” Hatter nodded.
“Yes.” Hatter said slowly.
“What did she say?” Piper asked, looking at Hatter now. Hatter flinched.
“Well,” Hatter began. “She said that she had no idea quite why… but she also told me that it was because I cared. About her and everyone else I assume, why do you ask?” Hatter asked.
“I just…” Hatter watched as Piper’s face turned bright pink.
“I see.” Hatter said, smiling. “How long have you-?” 
“Sense before I left…” Piper interrupted. Hatter’s eyes widened.
“Really?” Hatter put his hand on Piper’s shoulder. “Why haven’t you said something?” Piper sighed. 
“She doesn’t feel the same…” Piper sighed again, in doubt nonetheless. “What’s it worth saying’ if it takes me nowhere?” Hatter shook his head.
“You never know, Piper, she could feel the same.” Hatter encouraged. Piper shook his head.
“Maybe…” Piper said. “We should go before they entaragate us.” Piper got up and walked out, as Hatter watched him walk away with his cracking heart in hand.