Hello, friends! Es moi!! Hehe...Okay, so I loved writing my Alice in Wonderland, 2010 fics The Raven and the Writing Desk and The Raven and the Writing Desk Pt. II so I decided to write another AliceXHatter fic for you all! This one is based off my absolute favorite scene in the movie: The one in the Red Queen's palace where the Hatter is chained up making hats for the Bloody Big Head and Alice comes to visit him and he goes mad... My absolute, number one, most favorite scene...^^ Anyway, this is a two-shot...Part one is the scene through the Hatter's POV and part two is Alice's POV. Please, please R&R!!! After all, Tarrant is on my side. :)

Disclaimer: You would have to be half-mad to think I own any of these wonderful characters or the movie or the scene this story is based off of... But I do wish I could own the Hatter...that would make me happy... Haha

~Rosebud5

______________

Have I Gone Mad?

Hatter

Ttttrrrrrmmm… The steady hum of the sewing machine soothes me. Calms my mind. It is nice to be making hats again. I try to forget who I'm making them for. I try to forget I'm chained up in the bloody Big Head's palace. I try to forget my neck is on the line. I try to forget everything except the process of making hats. The steady, sane process. Not insanity. Not madness. Needle, thread, and turn the fabric…Sanity.

Suddenly, I'm aware of the door opening. I look up quickly, and feel my heart race faster. Alice. She's at least seven feet tall now…Why is she always changing? No, no, don't think. Sew. Steady. Keep your sanity. Especially around my Alice.

I feel her come up behind me. I have to smile. Her hair falls right beside my shoulder as she towers behind me. "They're beautiful," she whispers. "You must let me try one on."

"It is nice to be back in the old trade again," I smile, concentrating on the fabric. I don't want her to put one on. These hats aren't worthy for Alice… The Alice…No, don't think. Don't go mad. Not in front of her.

"If only you didn't have to make them for her," Alice mutters, and I feel her looking at me.

The bloody Red Queen…I'm hatting the enemy…

"What's a hatter worth…?" I feel myself whisper. "Hatter…hatter…"

Tarrant, don't lose it now. Don't ruin this…

Crash! Did I do that? Yes, I did. I'm running…Get me out! It's so crowded! I'm trapped in here! I can't escape...

I'm going mad, blast it! Not now...Yes, now! Must...ESCAPE!!! Those chains around my ankle...Get them off! Jabberwocky...It's coming...It took my family. It can take me. And I can't escape!

"Hatter!" I vaguely hear Alice shout my name. I feel her hands grab my arm and turn my around. And then her hands cup my face.

Affection.

This is something I haven't felt in a while. My insanity drops, and I'm face to face with this towering Alice. She looks so worried for me. Worried? For me? I must say something to calm her...

Nothing insane, Tarrant...

"Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?"

Blast.

Alice bites her lip, her thumb gently stroking my cheek. I feel so small in her hands...Tiny, actually. Mally must feel like this in my hands...Tiny and vulnerable. I must remember that.

"I'm frightened, Alice," I find myself admitting. "I don't like it in here. It's terribly crowded." I swallow and look up at her, fear filling me. I know the answer, but I'm afraid I'll turn her away by my asking this. "Have I gone mad?" It comes out in a whisper.

Gently, Alice puts a hand on my forehead. I stand nervously, waiting the verdict. I like the feeling of her hands on my face. I feel...safe. Safe in this fire pit of a prision.

Suddenly Alice takes her hand off my forehead and puts it back on the side of my face. "I'm afraid so," she whispers. My heart sinks. "You're entierly bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are." And she smiles.

I have to smile back. All the best people are... I'll have to keep that one tucked away forever.

________________

Well? Hope you liked it and maybe even awwed once. :) And now onto Alice's POV!! :)