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The young woman in blue faded away. I felt the mist of her touch on my fingertips.





"Alice... you could stay." The words felt like acid. I couldn't ask her to stay in Wonderland. She has a family, and intire life ahead of her. That would be incredibly selfish.





"Hatter," my Queen said with a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright. 'Twas her wish, and one mustn't fret over another's happiness."





I looked towards her and smiled. "Why would I be upset about her leaving. It's only Alice. Besides, we're only a dream. A mad dream..."





She held my face and kissed my forehead. "Only if you believe it is."





I hate when people use my own logic against me. Extreamly rude and unfair. I grinned. "Tea?"





"Oh, but, of course!"







*****



"Hatter, have you seen March?" she asked me with her head tilted to the side.





"I don't believe I have. Nope not one bit. No March Hare. But what is a tea party without the Hare. Well it isn't a party at all, but a small gathering. And no party means no tea. No tea means no par–"





"Hatter!"





"Ty. But no, not a sight of him in quite a bit. Why do you ask?"





"I'm worried. I haven't seen him all day. That's absolutely so unlike him. He loves his job." Her eyes quickly became glassy and a tear rolled down her face.





I slipped my hand into my coat sleeve and dabbed her cheek. "Please, Ivory, do not cry. He's probably drinking tea somewhere or spreading news somewhere." I hadn't seen him since the battle, but hate to see the Queen worry and cry.





"I suppose you're right."







*****







After my tea with the Queen, I had to rest my head. All the talk of the Hare and Alice made my head swirl more than usual.





And of course, Chess had to interupt my quiet me time in the woods so he could chit chat.

"Why so glum, Hatter?"





"I'm not glum, cat. Go away, I'm busy." I admit I was rather rude but I was not in the mood for his tricks and jokes and games.





"Oh yes, I can see you are perfectly busy with..."





"Walking and thinking," I finished for him.





"Uh, sure. Walking and thinking, or thinking and walking. In any order. What are you walking and thinking about? Or thinking and walking about, if you prefer."



Now he was bothering me. "Go away!"





He disapeered almost completely, only leaving a grin that said faintly "We all know... but do you?"