Warning: This story may contain spoilers. I suggest watching the movie first in order to understand this story completely.

I adore the movie, but I still wish that maybe, at the end, Alice would have bumped into someone much like, but not exactly, the Mad Hatter. So, I decided to make an alternate ending of my own like that, lol.

Oh, and I only own Alice in Wonderland in my dreams. :P

"Hello, Absolem," Alice said, as the recently changed caterpillar landed on her shoulder. When he flew away, her eyes followed.

"What are you looking at?" A voice from behind her asked, seconds later.

With her head still tilted toward the heavens, she smiled. "My friend."

"Your friend is up in the sky?"

"Yes, he is a butterfly. A beautiful blue one."

"Hmm, I prefer bread and butterflies, myself."

What a curious thing to say, Alice thought. I half expected myself to say something so strange. She turned around to face the mysterious voice.

It was a man, a bit older than she. He had green eyes and red hair; But even still, there was no denying that he was a handsome fellow.

The man smiled, revealing an obvious, but fairly small, gap between his front teeth. A second later, a frown formed over his lips, hiding his teeth completely. "I'm sorry, miss. Did I frighten you?"

It was then Alice realized, as her hand was currently covering her mouth, that she must have let out a gasp at the sight of the strangely familiar figure standing before her. "Who are you?"

"Tarrant Hightopp," He answered, tipping his hat.

"What are you doing on this ship?"

"My shipment of hats are aboard here," Tarrant explained. "All set for China."

"Hats?"

"Yes, ma'am," He nodded. "I'm a hat designer, you see. A 'hatter', if you will."

Alice pointed at the topper that had made it back to the top of his head. "One of yours?"

She figured it must have, as it was different from most hats she'd ever seen. It was tall and black, like a normal top hat, but with flaps coming out the sides, almost like wings.

"It is," He pulled off his hat and smiled. "I call it, a 'Raven'."

"A raven," Alice repeated. "Like a writing desk?"

Tarrant's face scrunched up. He looked down and flipped the topper over several times in his hand. When he looked back up at her, he was smiling. "Why, I suppose it could be."

Still curious, she asked, "Would you care for...a cup of tea?"

"Oh yes," He grinned, his gap reappearing. "But maybe later. Right now, I'd much rather climb that sail there." His hand waved over behind her. "Join me?"

Raising an eyebrow, Alice followed the man's hand and gaze and noticed a rope hanging not far from her head, leading up to the ship's main sail. She faced Tarrant again. "Are you mad?"

"Perhaps," He winked. "But, can tell you a secret?"

"What?"

He leaned close to her right ear and whispered, "All the best people are." When he pulled back, there was an even wider smile on his face. Alice could not resist smiling back. He held out his hand.

And she took it.

Short and hopefully sweet. Story has been edited as just recently I learned the Mad Hatter's real name. lol. Comments are love. :]