Once Upon A Time: Remember Me

Prologue

I wander into the room, staring at the piles of hats, wondering if the hatter is as mad as everyone says. For as long as he's been here, everyone has warned me not to go near me. He has a short temper, they say, and he doesn't like company. It distracts him from his hat making.
I come to a clearing and see an attractive brunette throwing a hat at the wall. It's a pretty hat, embroidered with pearls and lace. "Why don't you sell any of these?" I ask.

"What the hell are you doing here?" The hatter snarls as he looks up at me. "Didn't anyone tell you? I'm crazy! I'm completely and utterly mad!"

"Oh, we're all mad here, my dear," I say in a sing-song voice and try on a top hat. "How do I look?"

He just stares at me, clenching his jaw. "Get. Out."

"I'm bored," I pout. "Let me stay for a while. Please."

"Get out!" The hatter yells and throws a hat at me. I dodge it daintily and wander back out. I'll be back for him. He doesn't know it but it's destiny.

----
"What do you mean it's destiny?" The Hatter asks me suspiciously. It's been a week since he yelled at me and I've returned with food. He had to reluctantly let me in because he's bound to be hungry.

"I met a psychic not so long ago who told me that I'd meet a man-"

"Was he supposed to be tall, dark and handsome?" The hatter smirked at me.

"You have a sense of humour! Wonderful!" I grin and he throws a hat at me but softly, in a teasing way. "No, she said that he'd be a mad man, separated from those he loves and stuck in a new land," I say. "Although you are tall, dark and...handsome."

"You think I'm handsome?" He glances up at me and I wink. He shakes his head and looks back down to his unfinished hat but I can see the slight grin. "What else did she tell you?"

"She told me that I would fall in love with him. Then, when tragedy strikes and the curse is cast, our love will help me to remember. But only me. She was very clear about that. She said that the curse would strip me of who I loved and you not remembering me would break me. But she told me to be strong because love conquers all."

He pauses from his work and stands up, turning to me with those brooding eyes of his. "And you believe her? That you'll fall in love with me?"

"Unless I meet another mad man that meets those requirements, yes, I will end up falling in love with you," I say with a grin. I try to gauge his reaction but he looks as blank as stone. Perhaps not even stone. Stone has crevices and it's every line and crack tells a tale. The hatter looks blank as fresh snow.

"I don't believe in destiny."

"I do, my dear Mad Hatter. I do."