I know. It's been forever since you've had a chapter update for my loyal readers. See the Favorites and Follows have made my days when I've seen them filling my email inbox. Had a lot going on in my life. My 14 month old daughter that broke the laptop that I had started this on is now three yeas old and now she has an almost six month old brother. Gotten married. I had gotten another laptop, but it came at a bad time and I had no motivation to write. But that problem is now over. So here is Chapter Seven of Finding Wonderland. Hope you enjoy!

Finding Wonderland

Chapter Seven

Alice slowly comes awake as morning sunlight streams in from the French doors that are open. Did Hector come in last night and open them to let in some fresh air? She moves to roll over, but an arm around her waist keeps her still. The blood in her veins still as fear begins to set in. A masculine groan confirms the gender of who's in bed with her.

"It's too early to get out of bed." The familiar voice of Hatter drifts to her ears and soothes her nerves as the memories of last night come crashing back to her. She and Hatter have finally have been reunited. After eight long years. Hatter groans again and pulls Alice closer as he buries his face into her neck.

A small giggle escapes Alice's lips as a smile curves her lips. "We left the French doors open last night, Hatter." She comments softly.

Hatter groans again. "Light is evil." He comments sleepily with a hint of irritation if Alice isn't mistaken.

"That must be why you hate White so much." Alice teases.

Hatter groans again. "No. The reason I hate that vile albino rabbit shaped rodent is because he doesn't have an original thought in his head. Queenie tells him to jump and he eagerly does it, without question." On top of the fact that White Rabbit likes to spend his days pissing Hatter off.

Alice laughs at the creative insult Hatter has for White Rabbit. "He does do that, doesn't he?"

Hatter gives a nod of his head. "He was in the marshes doing recon when I recruited him to come find you."

A confused look crosses over Alice's features. "Why? All that lives there are dragonflies, horseflies, and dwarf trolls."

"Dang, and I thought that the Tweedles live in the marshes." Hatter comments. "He was there because Queenie told him to."

"She had to have been punishing him for something." Alice thinks aloud. "Dwarf trolls are too primitive and are honestly too antisocial to be of any use to the queen."

"And do you honestly think that Heartless Wench will tell us why she sent Rabbit to the marshes?" Hatter asks. He moves so that Alice can see his face as he cocks an eyebrow at her.

"Most definitely no to you, Hatter. You have a habit of calling her heartless wench or queenie. You never show her respect." Alice answer honestly.

"They call her the Queen of Hearts for a reason. She likes, no enjoys, collecting hearts because she doesn't have a heart of her own. And are you saying you give her respect?"

"Yes, Hatter, it does. Everyone in Wonderland deserves respect."

"But she's the one that kept you from returning to Wonderland one you were released from the asylum." Hatter argues while his fingers idly play with the ends of Alice's hair.

"She was doing it to protect Wonderland." Alice counters. Hatter's always looking for a reason to hurt someone he doesn't like, which is everyone in Wonderland besides Dormouse and March Hare. Alice too, but she's not native to Wonderland.

Hatter glowers at her.

Alice glowers back. "Don't you dare try to use me as an excuse to hurt anyone." She says and forces herself out of Hatter's arms. Alice pushes herself out of bed and moves to her dresser to open the top drawer to pull out another set of matching bra and bikini string panties, but in an emerald green color instead of a shade of blue. Hector requested one of the female maids to get her clothes. Alice had given the maid the correct sizes and what she was into. She would have to say the maid did a good job.

Alice hears Hatter force himself out of bed. Hatter has never been a morning person. He'd rather snooze the morning away with Alice in his arms. Hatter walks up behind her and wraps an arm around her waist.

"Please don't be angry with me, Alice." Hatter says softly. He rests his chin on her naked shoulder.

Alice forces herself out of Hatter's arms. She quickly dons her bra and panties, and jeans and another tank top. "Why shouldn't I be angry, Hatter? I know that Dormouse and March Hare are the only people you like in Wonderland, but you don't need to keep me from have more friends. Queen, the Tweedles, Knave, Cheshire, and Caterpillar are my friends; along with White. They give me respect so I give them respect. You get back by what you give, Hatter. You hate them and don't hide it so they don't see a reason to give you anything better." Alice states hastily; trying to keep herself from yelling at the man she loves.

Alice loves Hatter. There's nothing in this world or any other that can be done to change it. But she can't stand how Hatter tries to keep her locked away like some precious gem that needs to be protected at all times. She looks at Hatter and sees the sadness that plays over his features. She quickly pulls on a tank top and jeans before stepping close to Hatter and raises her hands to cup his face in her palms.

"I still love you, Hatter, and there's nothing out there that can change that. I can accept your opinions and everyone in Wonderland, but I will not be the reason you hurt them. More like I refuse to be." Alice says softly and presses a kiss to his lips before stepping away and exiting her bedroom. Thankful that Hatter isn't dressed so he can't follow her.

Alice walks down to the hall to the only other door that's closed. There are plenty more rooms, but her grandmother liked leaving the rooms open. That way you know who's in what room, or more like what room is occupied and what rooms aren't. She raises a hand and gives a light rap against the wood.

"One moment, Alice." She hears White Rabbit say from the other side of the door. A moment later the doorknob turns and the door opens to reveal White Rabbit dressed only in pants, his white blond hair disheveled by sleep.

A deep blush enters Alice's cheeks as she tries not to think of how low his pants are riding on his hips. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." She says and then feels like an idiot for deciding to go to White simply because Hatter was irritating her. Alice makes a turn so that she can walk away, but a hand immerges and grasps her arm with a gentle touch.

"You wouldn't be here if you weren't upset with Hatter." White Rabbit observes. "I was already awake but not dressed when you came knocking on my door. Please come in." He adds and pushes the door open wider for Alice to enter.

"Again, I'm sorry. It just seems to me that Hatter is trying to use me as a reason to hurt people. He was trying to get me to hate the queen. Saying that the reason everyone calls her the Queen of Hears is because she collects hears since she doesn't have one of her own." Alice says in a somewhat ramble as she walks into White Rabbit's guest room.

"It's true. Queen of Hearts doesn't have a heart of her own. She did at one point, but not anymore." White Rabbit answers and goes about finishing getting dressed for the day. "But answer me one thing, Alice."

"What?"

White Rabbit looks at her as his fingers moves through his hair trying to fix it. "After seeing Hatter after eight years, do you still love him? Love him enough to perform the Bonding Ceremony?"

"Yes." Alice answers without any hesitation.

"Then that's all that should matter. As long as there is love between the two of you, that's all that should matter to make it work. Like mind people don't do well together in any kind of relationship beyond friendship."

Alice takes a moment and gives a nod. "You're right."

"I'm always right when it come to a matter of common sense." White Rabbit states calmly.

I know. You waited all that time just to have such a short chapter. writing the chapters on a counted paged number. Since Chapter six was as long as it was chapter seven was short as a result. Now I'm going to go back through and read through the first six chapters since it's been so long since I've worked on this fic. I'll have Chapter Eight up next week or in a few days since I already have it written. Updates are a going to be little sporadic since I have two children to take care of and I'm working on getting an original story off the ground for myself. See you next time my lovelies!