On his way home from the palace, for luncheon, Thackery stopped at the Hatter's shop, to check on his friend. However, when he tried to enter, the establishment was closed. This caused the Hare a great deal of concern, so he diverted his travels to go to Tarrant's house to see if everything was alright.
The Hatter had been preparing himself since he saw Alice that morning. He had washed and trimmed his hair, powdered his skin and perfumed his body. He would not usually do such things but he found himself needing to do them for Alice. He was surprised to have Thackery knocking at his door. However, he happily invited his friend in.
"I see you are quite changed." The March Hare noted.
"Yes, I am going to have afternoon tea with Alice." Thackery was shocked at his friend's change of heart. However, he would not question it, not wanting to tempt fate.
"Very good. I am sure she looks forward to it."
"I do hope so, for I am looking forward to it very much." Truth be told, Hatter was terrified. He had stared at the confirmation of tea with Alice from the Queen for many minutes when it had arrived. He was unsure still if he wanted to see her or speak with her, but there was only one way to find out.
Alice had been told about her afternoon tea engagement whilst she was bleaching her dress, which she had changed out of into a deep brown outfit.
"Oh my dear, I insist that the women here do such things." Mirana had cried out when she had seen alice slaving over her lemon juice and boiling water.
"Oh it is not problem. I am not afraid of a little work." Alice smiled back at Mirana.
"Very well. I have come to tell you that the Hatter shall be joining us for afternoon tea today." She announced and Alice felt herself go stiff.
"Are you quite alright?" Mirana asked her.
"Yes, yes positively so." She whispered, still remaining still.
"There is no need to be nervous, my dear. I have had a dress picked out and ready and the Hatter shall be so delighted to see you." Alice knew that this was not true. Mirana had said herself that Hatter had been heartbroken by Alice. Why would he be delighted to see the person that broke his heart? It was all too impossible.
"I shall change once I have finished my dress." Alice nodded and smiled, trying to convince Mirana of her well-being.
"Very well. I shall see you then." And she waltzed away in the airy way she always did.
Alice was unsure whether it was the natural bleach affecting her head, but she felt rather dizzy after the Queen left. So she decided to take a seat. She had been gone from Wonderland for so long that Alice feared she would not be the impossibly imaginative, silly girl she was when the Hatter had last seen her. She was sure that part of that remained. But she was also certain that with time, she had grown up and let some of those childish ways go.
The Queen knew that she should not be there for Alice's tea with the Hatter, so she arranged to meet with the March Hare on "urgent business" in order to leave them alone. Alice received this news via a note left next to her dress on her bed.
Terribly sorry, Alice, but I won't be able to make it to afternoon tea today, Queen business and all the like. But do have a good time without me.
Mirana.
Alice huffed out a sigh. With the Queen there, she would not be forced to come up with conversation. But now with just her and the Hatter she felt her nerves bubble up into her throat.
The dress was rather beautiful. That was one lovely thing about all of this. Made of a light mint, it fell just above her ankles, just the way she liked it. Alice wondered how the Queen had so many dresses that were just her taste to lend to her, but pushed that thought to the back of her mind.
The Hatter's legs shook all the way to the palace. He brought a pouch of his favourite tea, grown and aged by himself nonetheless. He was escorted to the garden, there was a beautiful table set out in the corner, by the white roses. Hatter took his seat and placed his tea in the pot to brew. His hands shook as he adjusted his hat. He had dressed in his deep purple suit, wanting to look his best. The green of his bowtie matched his eyes rather perfectly. He sat perfectly still whilst waiting for Alice, not wanting to put a hair out of place.
Alice tied the laces of her boots tight, feeling a tightness in her chest also. She smoothed her hair and pulled at the waistband of her dress. Her feet were heavy as she made her way out into the garden, her hands twitched and her breath was quick.
She saw him before he saw her. She hid behind the square bush and peered her head around, before jumping back. He was just as she remembered him. Large orange bushy hair with an exquisite hat, as per usual. A charming bowtie and a terrified look on his face to match. Wait, no that didn't seem right. Alice looked again. Yes, the Hatter looked absolutely terrified. This made her nerves dampen a little. Perhaps if he was scared as well they might be as bad as each other. So, she took a step out into the garden, head held high.
When he saw her, Hatter stood and took off his hat, clutching it to his chest. It was impossible, her being here. She should have stayed in her world, where she belonged. But she hadn't. Alice had returned and Hatter couldn't quite fathom why.
"Hello, Hatter." Her voice was as clear as a bell. Hatter was taken aback, his eyes on her lips, so infatuated that he had to rip himself away.
"Alice, it is so wonderful to see you again." He replied, his voice far too excited.
Alice smiled at Hatter, sitting on the right corner of his head chair. The silence hung in the air for a short while.
"The Queen sent her apologies, for not being here." Alice began.
"I am rather shocked that even you are here, Alice." Hatter blurted out before thinking. Alice looked up from her hands in that moment.
"I am not sure what you mean." She replied, shaking her head.
"Well, it is rather impossible that you have returned." He explained.
"I could not remain in my world any longer." Alice whispered and Hatter understood.
"I understand." He comforted her, smiling in a way he hadn't since she had left.
Alice had not seen such a smile since she had been in the human world. It was a sight for sore eyes.
"Should I pour the tea?" Hatter asked, reaching for the pot.
"No, I shall pour it today." Alice brushed her hand over his to take the pot from him. Hatter was taken aback. Alice had never offered to pour the tea before, but Alice was now a woman, in every sense of the word. Her touch sent a shiver down his spine and the look of her staring mischievously at him with those large brown doe eyes rendered him useless as he agreed for her to pour his tea.
Alice poured the tea elegantly, ensuring not to overfill the cups.
"Do you still make hats for the Queen?" She asked, sipping on her tea.
"Yes, and many other people in Wonderland." The Hatter boasted.
"I am glad. Your hats always were the finest." She muttered to herself but the Hatter heard and felt his cheeks burn as they blushed.
"And what shall you do now that you have returned to Wonderland, Alice?" Hatter asked.
"I'm going to be a Doctor." Alice had not made her mind up until the statement left her mouth. The Hatter was very impressed.
"That is fascinating. So no more quests for you?" He jested.
"Not unless I am needed." Alice replied.
"I feel i have done my fair share of questing." She added.
"That is very true, very true indeed." The Hatter responded.
"And shall you live with the Queen?" He asked.
"I do hope not. I should hope for a place of my own." Alice stated, wanting to move out of the Queen's palace and begin work as soon as the Queen saw fit.
The Hatter had found he had run out of things to say.
"This tea is rather wonderful." Alice admired his blend and the Hatter took this opportunity to tell her about the blend and the process of making it. Alice sat and listened carefully. She loved listening to Hatter babble on about his tea, he was so fascinating once he became passionate about a subject. The way he slurped his tea between frantic sentences made Alice giggle and this caused the Hatter to smile. He had not heard her giggle since she had left.
However, the mood soon dipped when Alice looked at Hatter with large doe eyes.
"Hatter, I have heard of how sad you were when I left. I am sorry. You must know that I never wanted to leave you." She placed her hand over his and he looked down at the ground.
"I didn't know anything. You were just gone and never coming back." He remembered out loud.
"Well, I am back now and I am not going anywhere. We can be friends again." She smiled at him, but he did not look back. Alice wanted to be friends, but Hatter could not deny what he felt for her, the feeling that was much more than friendship, the feeling that had made him so upset when she had left.
"It will take time." He whispered and Alice smiled.
"I know. But I am willing to put in the time if you are." She continued to look at him until he finally looked up into her eyes. How could he deny her? It was Alice, his Alice. Even if she was not his completely, she meant the world to Hatter. He nodded, unsure how to articulate his feelings.
Tea time was almost over and Hatter wished he could stay longer with Alice. But he knew it was not proper to do so.
"Alice. Would you come and have tea with me tomorrow, at my home?" He asked and Alice felt her cheeks warm from the request.
"Yes, if you shall have me." She smiled.
"Always." He whispered and once again, it was just Hatter and Alice, it was how it was before. Alice knew that it would take time to win the Hatter's trust back, but she was willing to put in the work for her dearest friend.