The Reunion

Can you ever forgive me?

No

Alice couldn't get the awful word, or the accompanying awful look on The Knave's face, out of her head the whole walk back to the pub.

"Penny for your thoughts," said Hatter. "Isn't that what you used to say?"

Alice smiled an amused smile. She loved when Hatter tried to use phrases she brought from her world.

"I'm not sure they're worth that much," Alice replied.

"Are you worried the tea won't work?" Hatter asked.

Alice shook her head. "No, it will work. The Knave knows what he's talking about."

Hatter put a hand to her shoulder and brushed her flaxen hair back. "Then, what's troubling you?"

The Knave, she thought. She hadn't intended on talking to him about it, but he guessed it anyway.

"The Knave?" Hatter asked. "Because he said he won't forgive you."

"Can't," Alice corrected. "He said he can't ever forgive me. And I can't say I blame him."

The last time Alice had been in Wonderland, she and Rosaline tried to steal a heart from the Red Queen (the Queen of Hearts back then). They needed to restore it back to one of Rosaline's friends. And Alice knew just the person to help them. She called on Jack, The Knave, who was known to be one of the best thieves in all of Wonderland. And the only one to have successfully stolen from the evil queen.

But when they learned the price of stealing from the queen? Alice couldn't tell Jack. He would have backed out. And Alice couldn't let Rosaline down. Not when she was falling for her. She was a princess, for goodness sake. This was all Alice had to offer her.

Alice really didn't think it would end up as badly as it did. She was willing to go ahead with the plan, even knowing the price, and not tell Jack about it because she had truly believed it would all work out. She believed they would all be okay.

They weren't.

The three failed in their mission to retrieve the heart. Rosaline's dear friend was gone forever. They were never caught, but they did run into someone who had been caught stealing from the queen before. And they discovered the horrible price he paid.

The queen removed one of his eyes and kept him in her castle under eternal servitude. He was immortal now, but only allowed to stay that way to serve her. While wearing an unflattering eye patch.

When Jack found out that was the price, and that Alice had known about it before their little adventure, he was furious. He vowed never to speak to her again - and told her never to come calling on him for a favor ever again.

She hadn't, until that day. But she knew he would help Rosaline. As long as the favor was for the princess, Jack would help. Rosaline never knew what would have happened if they were caught. She never betrayed him. She was a far better person than Alice could ever hope to be.

"He can," Hatter replied, putting an arm around her shoulders. "And he will."

Hatter kissed the side of her head, getting a mouthful of hair.

Alice wasn't sure she believed that, and didn't think Hatter did either, but she gave him a grateful smile that he at least said it.

They made it back to the pub and Alice gave Rosaline the tea.

"Do you feel all right?" asked Alice.

Rosaline blinked rapidly, as though trying to clear her mind. She must have had a jumble of memories just flooded back into her brain. Alice gave her a moment before asking again.

"Rosaline? Are you okay? Do you know who I am?"

Rosaline smiled her gentle, sweet smile. "You're, Alice. Beautiful, Alice."

Hatter’s lips quirked in disgust. Then he mumbled, “Remarkable Alice.  Wonderful Alice. Daring Alice. Mad, crazy, stunningly beautiful Alice.” His eyes raged as he went on. “To say she is only merely beautiful is an insult. She is so much more than that.”

His rant was so quiet, Alice was sure only she had heard. She wasn't sure where that had come from, but she shrugged it off. She would forget about it for now and ask Hatter later. For all she knew, it was just one of his madness rants. He often went on crazy tangents, and was prone to mood swings.

Alice put a hand to Rosaline's cheek. "Yes, Rosaline. It's me, it's Alice. I've come back to Wonderland."

I came back for you, she finished silently. All for you.