Once Again : Part 3 : Return to the Future

Part 11 : Year Mark

Alice lasted a year in Underland. It was her year anniversary. She wanted a very special present for the occasion. Remember Hamish? Remember how he killed her crew, and then said she died as well? She wanted to go tell him off. Alice asked Chess and Hatter to come with her to the Overland. Mirana told her that she could use the looking glass. She rerouted it to Hamish’s house.
    Alice Hatter and Chess passed through the mirror, and waited in a room that seemed like a bedroom. Alice sat in a large chair in the corner of the room. Chess sat in Alice’s lap and allowed her to pet his head. They heard footsteps from the downstairs, walking up the stairs. Hatter stood next to the chair. Hamish opened the door and began looking around, but almost screamed at the sight of the three.
    “A-Alice!” Hamish said, in fearful shock. “You… you’re-”
    “Not dead?” Alice asked, petting Chess. “Of course not. You just made that up, remember?” Hatter smiled at the look of fear in Hamish’s face. Hamish looked at Hatter.
    “Who is this clown?” Hamish asked hastily. Alice sighed and looked up at Hatter.
    “Care to explain?” Alice asked. Hatter smiled and squinted his eyes at Hamish slightly. Hatter turned his head a 360 degree angle as he walked over to Hamish. Hamish screamed. Hatter smiled and stepped once closer to him.
    “I'm the Mad Hatter,” Hatter said evilly. “Who are you?” Hamish looked at Alice. 
    “What do you want from me!?” Hamish asked abruptly. Alice smiled and walked over to him.
    “Just for you to know that this little crime of yours,” Alice warned him. “will haunt you.” Hamish gasped as Alice Hatter and Chess went through the looking glass. Alice laughed evilly as she stepped through.

    Alice clapped happily as they walked to the Malmorial. Hatter, and Alice chatted as they walked. Chess smiled, watching them, knowing that something seemed to be bothering Hatter. Hatter and Alice were not talking for a moment. Hatter began to remember his plan. He was going to propose to Alice. They weren't in a very proper relationship if they were not married, right? 
That’s what he was told. Hatter went to his home and got the hat from his night stand. Hatter went to pay those at the tea table a visit. Alice was taking a nap. Hatter sat at his chair and contemplated while looking at the top hat. Mally walked across the table to him and looked at the hat. She looked at Hatter’s worried expression. Mally giggled.
“What’s bothering you?” Mally asked. “You seem really off…” Hatter shook his head.
“I'm just… thinking…” Hatter said. Piper smiled mischievously. Piper sipped his tea, as Hatter took a bite of a scone. 
“About Alice, I presume?” Piper asked, smiling again. Hatter nearly choked. He put the scone down. 
“What’s new?” Hatter asked, knowing what Piper meant. Piper shrugged, and looked down at his cup, while Hatter sipped his tea. 
“Marriage, perhaps...” Piper said, stirring his tea with a spoon. Hatter spit his tea back into the cup, and put the cup down. Hatter sighed.
“What do you want?” Hatter asked Piper. Piper shook his head.
“You're too scared to ask, aren’t you?” Piper asked Hatter. He knew Hatter too well, just like everyone else. Mally and Chess looked at eachother. 
“Ask who, what?” Chess asked. Mally nodded agreeing with his question. Hatter looked at Piper and then the blue hat. Piper looked at Mally.
“He wants to propose to Alice.” Piper said happily. Mally gasped, excited. Chess raised an eyebrow. Thackeray laughed. Hatter sighed shakingly.
“That IS your first hat!” Mally cheered. “I was wondering why you had it.” Hatter looked at the hat.
“He’s being a wimp...” Piper remarked, raising his eyebrows. Hatter grumbled. “You didn't object…” 

Later, in the afternoon, Hatter was outside of his house door. He had the hat hat in his hands, and had finally decided that he DID want to marry Alice. Hatter was shaking as he attempted to open the door. He stopped himself.
“What if she says no…?” Hatter asked himself quietly. “Surely I should have to be prepared for that… But either answer is scary………!” Hatter stood there for more than a minute before opening the door. He walked in finding Alice reading a book at the dining room table. Alice smiled at Hatter. Hatter walked up to Alice and took a deep breath.
“Alice…?” Hatter said, holding up the little hat. Alice blinked at the hat and then at Hatter.
“Tarant?” Alice asked, using his first name instead, feeling the seriousness of the moment. Hatter sighed.
“Alice Kingsleigh,” Hatter repeated. “Will you be my wife?” Alice gasped and then looked at the hat. She was in shock. She had never expected a proposal, she already felt happy as it was. She smiled in tears and nodded to Hatter hugging him. Hatter hugged her back and placed the hat on her head. Hatter smiled as he had asked her the one question that seemed impossible.