𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣. ⏱

9. The Darkness I

    Have you ever been so happy that you wanted to cry so much, but you actually couldn't shed a single tear? I hope you've been, because it is how Alice and Tarrant felt when she told him she's going to stay with them forever in Underland.
He couldn't believe it for a while and started to lose his sanity, to the moment she snapped him out of it with a hug.
After that wonderful news they were hugging each other for a very very long time, like they didn't want this to end. They promised that their friendship would never change, no matter what else they will go through, as it hasn't changed for the last ten years when they haven't seen each other.
There was no Alice without the Mad Hatter and vice versa. It was a special bond.

   Days were passing quickly and soon became a full month and a half after their return.
The Island they rescued Doctor Cornelius from became the property of Mirana's Kingdom. They knew there was much more to explore. Later. Much later.

Everything was fine lately.
Alice was sleeping much better, as they managed to significantly subdue her daydreams.
With Time they've been working on healing Alice's grief. They were slowly cutting the remorses about her mother's death and leaving her sister in London. It was taking a lot of long conversations and pointing out the triggers. Her foggy memories didn't collide on the surface of time so often anymore.
It made her relation with Time even deeper, when she had to admit in his presence, how many layers of pain she had inside and from where exactly it came from.
Alice felt like she's mimicking Time, as she talked about her hidden anxiety. Her mind was at full speed then and all her words were tangling constantly.
Sometimes it wasn't about what she was talking about. It was about how she could tell him everything and it was relieving.
She was still writing her thoughts down, but not as frequently as before.

***

   Alice woke up as always, laying next to Time in an enormous bed, but she let herself close her eyes again.
-Give me five more minutes…but don't time me, please - Alice stuck out her tongue a little bit, playfully.

-Hm.- Time smiled and then pleased himself by just watching her. She was so naturally beautiful. Her skin was so pale, her hair long and curly, straw blonde.
A few minutes later she stretched her arms and pulled him closer, cuddling with him and running her fingers through his hair. He pressed his lips against her neck, stroking it slightly. He was inhaling the sweet scent of her body and she was purring blissfully.

-Mmm…I almost forgot to ask…- She whispered. -...Do you think that star you've talked about would answer me too?
-Yes. Why not?
-I don't know, maybe it answers to the Wonderland people only?
-But…we are all made of the same mattery, Darling.
-We are?
-Of course. We are subject to the same world, but mirrored.
-It explains a lot…but there are still so many questions- She backed off a little and covered her mouth, yawning. -...And what was that you were asking about?
-If should I tell you the truth… - Time began and Alice opened her eyes and looked at him, curious. The curiosity in her was always awake and ready to take the lead.

-...that I love you. - The corners of his mouth lifted upwards - Morning', miss lazy.

She smiled at his sight and gentle touch on her cheek. - I love you too. Good morning, mister busy. - She reached his face as well, holding it, looking into his eyes very deeply and for so long.

-I won't count how many times I've been holding my own cheek, imagining how it would feel if it was your hand. - He confessed.
-You don't have to imagine anymore. If there is anything I could do for you, I will do it even now.
-I have to think about it and use it wisely - He smiled. - For now, please, just kiss me. Like this is our last kiss ever.
-Are you sure you want to stay here and be kissed to the end of the world? - She smiled back and then placed a long, tender kiss on his lips. Each touch of their lips fueled another, more passionate one.