"Hello, Absolem," Alice said to the butterfly on her shoulder. He had indeed seen her in another life. Not only his new life, but also Alice's as well. She was free of her mother's matchmaking, free of her sister's ideas, and free of Hamish! But also free of Underland. And how she missed Underland.

She missed the White Queen, the Tweedles, the White Rabbit, and the Hatter. Mostly the Hatter. She didn't know what had caused it, but somehow, she had begun to feel a strong connection to him. Like he made her muchier. He gave her her muchiness. And maybe she had restored his.

She stood on the ship that was ready to take her to Asia, alone. Her family was waving at her from below, for they weren't coming with her. And Alice had a feeling that would be for the better. Because she planned on climbing the mast once she was out of their sight.

The Kingsleigh family looked on from afar. They were going to miss Alice, as much of a problem as she was. Her mother laughed to herself. Alice forgot her corset again.

Soon, a man went running through them and up onto the ship. They all watched him run. He ran in the most peculiar way, waving his arms about, holding his jacket closed. He made it onto the ship just in time.

Alice didn't know what all the commotion was about on the ship, but she wanted to find out. She smiled. Curiosity always did get the better of her. She walked through the ships crew until she found a group of people pushed tightly together, making a circle around whoever was causing the commotion. She pushed her way through to find a man. And on his head was the strangest hat.

"Alice!" he called with a slight lisp.

"Hatter!" she said, rushing closer to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. His green eyes went bright when he smiled, but then his face dropped into a frown. All the people were still staring at them.

"There just so many people, citizens, workers, crew, peo-"

"Hatter!" she said, before his little rant went any further. His eyes had started to turn an orange color, to match his hair, but now they started to fade. The circle around them started to break. He smiled.

"And what about you Alice! What are you doing here?" he asked, his entire mood swinging.

"I'm an apprentice now. For my father's company," she said. Hatter smiled.

"I was my father's apprentice," his eyes turned a deeper green. His face went blank as he went into a flashback that Alice couldn't see. This had happened quick frequently to her in Underland, so she knew it was best to wait until his eyes started turning black before she drew him out of it.

What was he really doing here? She couldn't help but wonder if he had come for her. He couldn't have. He's never shown any feelings towards me, friendship at the most. His eyes were turning black.

"Hatter! Hatter!" she yelled. He drew quickly out of his thoughts.

"It was the Red Queen's doin' ya know," he said in a Scottish accent. "They're deaths."

"Yes, Hatter. But the Red Queen is gone now. The White Queen is back in rule!" Alice said, leading him away from the group, into the kitchen on the ship. They sat at a table, while she made him tea. He looked at home, smiling his teethy grin.

"Underland is perfect thanks to you, Alice," he said, sipping his tea. Alice smiled.

"Slaying the jabberwocky was my 6th impossible thing," Alice said. Hatter understood what she meant immediately. "What happened on the Frabjous Day? After I left, I mean?"

Hatter smiled, "I futterwackened until my head almost fell off." Alice laughed with the Hatter. Soon, his smile faded. "I truly am mad, aren't I?"

"Everyone is Underland is, Hatter. And that's why I love it," Alice said. Hatter's smile grew very large and he sipped his tea. Alice couldn't stop staring at the Hatter. When he finished his tea, he held out his cup for more and noticed Alice staring at him.

"What is it?" he asked, trying to find something to look at his face with.

"Oh, there's nothing on your face, it's just… I find you so interesting, Hatter," Alice blurted out. Hatter's pale skin started to turn a pinkish color.

"Thank you, Alice. I find you intriguing too," Hatter said, his lisp less noticeable. Alice thought that Hatter's pink tone on his cheeks would've started fading, but it stayed there. His skin looked more like hers. More… normal. And she didn't like it.

"Why did you come here, Hatter?" Alice asked. Hatter's eyes grew gray, his eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't know, my dear," he said. Then his eyes brightened again.

"What color are your eyes?" Alice couldn't help but ask.

"They were a pale green, long ago," Hatter said. "When I was called Tarrant Hightopp actually."

"I don't think I'll ever call you Tarrant. It's not you," Alice said, taking a bite of a cake. Hatter smiled again.

"More tea, please?" he asked, holding his cup out for more. Alice poured some tea into his cup and watched him sip it.

"Well, how did you come here?"

"The White Queen. She let me use some Jabberwocky blood," Hatter said, his lisp starting to return. Alice was confused.

"Why did you get Jabberwocky blood? And why did you use it to come here?" Alice asked.

"I got it for my bravery. And I couldn't think of any other use for it," Hatter said, looking into his cup.

"No other use besides coming to see me?" Alice asked. Hatter nodded vigorously, smiling.

"The rest of Underland just isn't as muchy as you, Alice. I've missed you," he said.

Alice surprised herself by saying, "I've missed you, too."

The Hatter smiled his smile again. They sat in complete silence, which was better for Alice. She needed to be alone with her thoughts.