Down the Rabbit Hole #JustWriteIt #AltEnding #Wattpad10

Finding the way back home

"The White Queen told me you intended to stay, but Chess said you were already leaving. It's a bit confusing, you know." Tarrant face was grave and dim, his eyes almost yellow. "I'd better say goodbye at once. It was great seeing you again. Fairfarren, Alice."

"Wait! I thought you wanted me to stay, long ago you asked me to..." She felt tears burning her eyes,trying to escape, but she did her best to restrain them.

"I did...and I do, truly, it is just that..."

"What is it, then?"

"In your book, you describe so many amazing things about the outer world, such as the things you've seen and done, the people you met. If you stay, you'd be leaving behind all those terrific things. I wondered why you'd come back. And then, I learned about your aunt, and suddenly everything was clear to me, you were seeking the truth about Imogene, and once you found it out, there is no more reason to stay."

"No! It's not true. I mean, you're right in part. There are indeed incredible things out there, but they did not matter to me, I was willingly leaving them behind. I'd do it without regrets. However, I didn't come back because of my Aunt Imogene. I had no idea she was involved with the King of Hearts before today. And I must confess it unsettled me. The truth is that I came back because my world lacks a very precious thing, the only thing that can make me truly happy. What I was searching,I knew I could only find here."

"Are you sure it is here? If there is something you can only find here... I can help, I know Underland as well as my hat, I will look in every corner, search everywhere,and, and I can get people to help too; everyone in Underland will be willing to help if your happiness depends on that and..."

"Hatter!" Alice placed her hand on his arm, breaking in his endless flow of words.

Looking down to her hand, he noticed a silver box she was carrying. "Oh, I see. You've already found it. What is it? May I see it?"

Alice opened the lid and let him peek inside. His eyes browsed quickly over old letters and stopped on the blue flask, resting on its golden letter label: Outerland ticket – one way.

I see you have already arranged the transport back home." He gave her a half-hearted smile.

"I did." She replied facing the ground. "I also found a truth I was not looking for and sense says I should come back and deliver this box to my aunt. However, what I was looking for is not in the box, and my heart says I can't leave without it."

"What is it, Alice?" Tarrant asked with a serious tone of voice. "Why did you come back? What are you looking for?"

"It's a who, Tarrant, don't you see? It's you! There was not a day since I left that I didn't think of you or night that you were not in my dreams. My world is beautiful and full of wonders but makes no sense without you in it." 

His face suddenly changed, but Alice did not see it; his eyes turned bright green and color came back to his cheeks. He resembled the Tarrant he used to be, before all misfortunes came to him, suddenly he felt whole again, but Alice did not see; she was looking down.

"I am helplessly in love with you, Tarrant." Alice said not louder than a whisper, and her voice died away. In her mind, a sad thinking took over her: Certainly, my love is unrequited. I gave him all the signs, but he didn't react. I should just take this box and go back to my world. Make my aunt some company and share her misery. Tears burned harder the insides of her eyelids, and she finally let them flow. I shouldn't have said anything, just being able to be near him was good enough for me, she thought, feeling the warm long restrained tears wash her face. She was feeling so awkwardly shy for the independent woman she used to be.

He did not answer at once, but stood there silent, his green eyes as bright as hope. His hands lifted her face. "You said my name for the very first time, Alice. It sounds so beautiful on your lips..." He traced her lips softly with his stained fingers. Their eyes met and gleamed. Alice was mesmerized by her reflection in his eyes. At last, she learned how Tarrant saw her. That was the best gift life could grant her. She knew he was able to see himself in her eyes too and all she was feeling. But she was not afraid anymore. She placed her right hand on his cheek, making him close his eyes under her touch. And then, he pulled her closer and closer until their lips finally touched. Alice embraced her love letting all her passion flow, and he responded with the same intensity, lifting her feet from the ground!

The legend says night grew old and the day came, and there they were, still kissing. Some say it was the longest kiss in Underland history and others say they are still kissing today!

But it didn't happen that way. That was just the legend; a happy ending people find in storybooks. In fact, they were just too afraid to stop, afraid that their dream would shatter and they would be parted forever or worse, afraid that they could wake up and find out nothing they lived was real. Eventually, Tarrant plucks up his courage to look at her in the eyes, and said: "I deserve to know how long we do have." 

Alice took the blue flask from the box and placed it in his hands. "As long as you want me in your life."

He looked from her to the bottle in his hand and slowly removed the golden drop-shaped stopper. "You are giving up on sense by placing your destiny in the hands of a Mad Hatter."

She smiled carelessly. "Chess says I'm madder than you. I believe he is quite right. I trust you with my life, Tarrant. You always do the right thing in the end."

Calmly, Tarrant spilled the bottle contents into the box until there was not a single drop left. The papers and objects become soaked with the sticky liquid and soon began to fade away. He quickly shoved the flask back into the box and closed. "Forever, that's the minimum time I request." He grinned as both observed the box disappear from Alice's hands. And so their story together began.

On that very day, the White Queen gathered all the court for an announcement: "I am very pleased to tell you that our dear Alice is back and she intends to stay with us for good. I believe this occasion deserves celebration. We are setting a garden party tonight to welcome our old new Underland citizen!" 

There was clapping and cheering, as Alice was very dear and known by all Underlanders since the Frabjous Day. Soon, everything was ready for the welcoming party. There were lots of food and beverages and all kinds of dances. Hatter did his Futterwacken Dance, and Alice could accompany him reasonably well this time. The party lasted all night, but before the night was too old, Alice and Tarrant sneaked out, walking through happy citizens who were too busy eating, dancing, or drinking to notice them. 

He took her finally home and in his shelter, she mended his soul, sewing it back together piece by piece with careful and precise skills. Then, she opened her chest and gave him her heart willingly and in return he filled her emptiness with his mad soul, now whole. Their lips uttered no word, as no word could describe what they were feeling. There was no need for promises or vows. Love was declared in their eyes in clear, loud voice. Wearing no more conventions or etiquette she offered herself to him as she truly was, pure and true. She undressed him from his fears and took him in her arms in sacred nakedness. When their bare skin touched in intimate embraces, her heart in his chest rhythmically pumped his blood through her veins giving the tone of their symphonic poem. Carefully, as if exploring the most exquisite fabric from overseas, his fingers touched every and each inch of her body, while her kisses sailed his sea of stains, passing through all his perfect imperfections. He got lost in her mind, body, and spirit. She dived into his madness and found her home. His hungry kisses fed her starving soul. They blended in one as they were meant to be, defying time and space, there they were in a perfect union. Made for each other and yet so unlikely, they were forever lost in the maze of love. At last, they were where they belong.