themadmaiden

Title: A Date for a Wedding
Fandom: Adventures in Wonderland
Characters: Alice, her mother, Mad Hatter
Prompt: 023 Lovers
Word Count: 1584
Rating:
Summary: Alice's mother tries to convince her daughter to get a date for a wedding.
Alice's age: 24

--

A Date for a Wedding

“But Alice he's a wonderful young man.” Alice's mother said as they sat down at the table in the restaurant
“I'm sure he is mother.” Alice replied in the tone of someone who has gone through the same conversation many times. “But I really don't want to date him.”
“Alice.” Her mother sighed. “I know I can be a pest but please. You're twenty four years old and you haven't seen anyone for the past three years. Just because you met one....bad apple... doesn't mean you have to give up on finding love forever. Don't you think you're making too big a deal out of it?”
“A big deal...?” Alice stared at her mother through wide eyes. “He dumped me on valentines day because he 'met someone else'” She said these last things with air quotes and her mother sighed again.

“I know, I know, he was in idiot. But don't you see, you're making yourself miserable over this. Promise me you'll at least stop refusing everyone who asks you out. I'm sure that there's someone out there that's perfect for you. You just haven't found them yet. Besides it's only this one thing.”
“Fine mother.” Alice said as she glanced through her menu knowing it was the only thing that would get her mother off the topic. “But don't expect me to come running in with a date tomorrow.”
“I won't.” Her mother replied taking a sip of her water. “I'm sure that I'll get to meet the young man before the day of the wedding.”
Alice rolled her eyes and quickly changed the subject.

<><>

Getting home Alice stretched out on her sofa. The conversation she'd had with her mother had struck a nerve. It was true that she hadn't been on a date in three years and it wasn't because she hadn't been asked out. She just didn't want to go through every thing that being in a couple meant. She wasn't sure was willing to trust again. She and Gram had been so close, in every way. She had even been sure that he'd been going to ask her to marry him. However as it turned out he'd just been using her. A cruel blow dealt out on Valentines day of all day's.

Sometimes she wondered if she would ever be able to trust anyone like that again. She wasn't sure but sometimes she wished she could, sometimes she just felt extremely lonely. All of her friends in university were part of a couple and sometimes she was just tired of being the odd woman out.

“I should just stop feeling sorry for myself.” Alice said more to herself then to anyone as she got up off her sofa. Walking into her bedroom she decided that she might as well go and visit Wonderland it wasn't as though she she had anything else to do.

She walked through the mirror wondering if she was she merely trying to escape her problems.

<><>

Alice was sitting on a the bank of a river, staring and randomly throwing a few skipping stones. She had originally been planning to go visit one of her friends but when she stopped she just hadn't felt like moving from this comfortable spot in the grass.

Throwing another stone Alice wondered briefly what was going on with her life. Her mothers endless comments had seemed to finally have broken down the almost spell like daze she'd been under. She had been pushing people away because she was afraid of them getting to close. Afraid of getting hurt again perhaps she had missed her chance to met someone special.
As she watched her stone skip across the water she sighed. Maybe she should met this Allen her mother had been talking about, would it really hurt? Her mother seemed to think that she'd like him.

Her concentration was suddenly broken as someone sat themselves down next to her. She looked over to see her friend the Mad Hatter smiling over at her.

“Hi-yah Alice.” He greeted her warmly as he always did and Alice smiled softly as she returned his greeting. The Mad Hatter never failed to lift her spirits even when her mood was in it's darkest. However right now she hoped that he wasn't feeling too talkative as she really needed to think.

<>

There was a moment of silence as the Mad Hatter looked over at his young friend.....no not young anymore...as she gazed over at the river. She looked like she was deep in thought over something important, something sad. He wanted to stay silent because of this, as he didn't want to break her concentration. He knew that when she was thinking like this she didn't want to be disturbed. But at the same time he hated seeing her sad.

“Hey Alice.....?”

-

Alice glanced over to see the Mad Hatter looking over at her with concern in his eyes.
“Yes?”
There was a pause as though the man was trying to decide what to say, or whether or not to say anything at all.
“Yes?” Alice prompted him, though not unkindly. She didn't usually see the Mad Hatter at a loss for words.
“....Alice........why are you sad?” Alice blinked in surprise at this. True her friend had a tendency to speak his mind but even so......
“I'm not sad.” She replied with a smile that she hoped looked cheerful. “I was just thinking.”

However the Mad Hatter shook his head in complete seriousness. “No, you're thinking about something sad, I can tell.”
“How can you tell?” Alice said offhandedly.

“It's your eyes.” The Mad Hatter replied, “They're looking at the river like, like” He searched for the right comparison as Alice silently observed her friend. “Like someone completely alone.” He looked over at Alice then and she was struck by the sincerity in them. “But you're not Alice. You've got lot's of friends.”

Alice shook her head. “No, it's not that......” She trailed off as she tried to describe it without saying too much. “I was just thinking about Michael.”
“Well no wonder you're sad. Why would you want to think about that jerk for?” The Mad Hatter said with a frown on his face. Alice shook her head slightly amused at her friends indignation on her behalf.
“I know it's silly but I miss.....” She trailed off and looked away.
“You miss....him?” The Mad Hatter filled in almost tentatively and Alice shook her head.
“Not him, just being with someone.....” She trailed off again and looked down at her knee's. “I've just been so...lonely.”

The Mad Hatter regarded her curiously. “But Alice, you have lot's of friends.....and you're always saying how much you enjoy that school you go to?”
“I know, it's just that....” Alice struggled to describe her state of mind. “Being with someone and having a friend is....different.” She sighed as she looked down at the river. “All my friends have boyfriends and some are even engaged. I guess I'm just a little jealous that they've found someone.....that loves them.”

She trailed off after this, as a tear dripped down her cheek. She didn't notice but the Mad Hatter was acutely aware of it.

“But....I love you Alice.”
Alice shook her head, sure he was getting friendship confused with love. “Not like that you don't.”

However she was suddenly caught off guard as a gloved hand took hold of her chin. She found herself suddenly looking directly into the Mad Hatter's eyes. His hand was holding onto her chin gently and there seemed to be something almost intense about his eyes. He looked very much like he was trying to make up his mind about something.

“What are you doing?” She asked her friend, almost nervous at the intensity of his gaze.
“Oh, deciding whether or not to tell you the truth.” He replied offhandedly, never letting go of her chin.
“The truth about what?” Alice asked.
There was another pause as the man's hand seemed to falter and Alice could have sworn that he almost let go.
“Well then tell me the truth.” Alice said filling in the silence.

“Alice, I love you.” Alice blinked in confusion as the Mad Hatter said this. Hadn't they just been over this?
“But.....”She was suddenly cut off as the Mad Hatter leaned over and kissed her and not a peck on the cheek either.

Her thoughts were suddenly thrown into turmoil. Her best friend was kissing her and she couldn't think of anything else.

When he pulled back the Mad Hatter seemed suddenly nervous and didn't look at her. Alice however was glad as she was trying to understand what had just happened.

There was a long pause until Alice looked over. “What did you say?....” She asked quietly, almost whispering.
“Alice....” The Mad Hatter said as he rubbed his forehead nervously. “I.....” He sighed as he shook his head as though admitting defeat. “I love you Alice.”
Alice didn't know what to say.
“But I understand.” The Mad Hatter said after a moment. “If you don't.” He shook his head, “just forget it....”
However he was cut off suddenly by Alice. “Would...would you be my date for my sisters wedding?”

There was a silence and Alice looked over to see an expression on the Mad Hatters face that she'd never expect to see there before. He was smiling, looking almost embarrassed. He leaned over and softly kissed her check. “Of course.”