Author's Notes: I really want to thank everyone that's been reading this story and reviewing. I'm trying to get past the angsty sappiness. I think probably by the next chapter. Anyway I hope you enjoy and I hope I continue to do so well in writing for you guys.

Chapter 10 – Bandersnatch Scratch

Alice walked carefully downstairs, her emotions were a jumble of confusion and worry, and her body throbbed where the hatter had bruised it. Tarrant trailed behind her like a silent nervous shadow; she used the silence for an opportunity to look around his house. The beautiful hats she had seen displayed on his wall the last time she visited were torn down and strewn about the living space, portraits of his family and friends were torn the frames broken and canvases ripped. Invoices and various other papers littered the surfaces of many of the tables, and on top of everything was a thick layer of dust as if the house had been neglected for a long time.

They approached the door and Alice could see Tarrant hesitate his hand hovering over the knob as he swallowed heavily his adams apple bobbing like a trapped thing. She took his hand linking their fingers together and squeezed slightly, "It'll be alright Hatta." She said forcing a nervous smile to try and reassure him.

Tarrant looked down at Alice and gave her a wavering smile in return, "I'm not sure I'm okay Alice. I fear I've gone completely around the bend this time." His lips trembled as he stared down at her and his eyes shifted with mercurial ease between green to yellow and back again.

Alice remained silent because she wasn't sure if she could reassure the Hatter because she wasn't sure how stable he was anymore, her wrists ached and her bottom lip had a small split in it from where it had been cut on her teeth when he had forced the kiss on her. However she smiled at him once more and squeezed his hand harder this time, then with a deep breath she turned and pulled the door open. The daylight blinded her momentarily and she lifted her free hand to shield her eyes thinking that the motion was becoming quite the habit, which caused her to giggle half hysterically.

Below in Tarrant's yard was a large assembly of people, his family stood about worried looks on their faces as they waited with a nervous air to see what would happen. Mirana stood at the front of the gathering surrounded by six of her guard as well as a man with black hair and eyes such a pale blue they appeared white. They both wore the pure white of Mirana's court and one their heads rested matching silver crowns. 'Must be King Merrick, Hatta mentioned when he visited me.' Alice thought as she attempted to step further out of the door only to be stopped by Tarrant's death grip on her hand and his refusal to come out of his out. Alice looked over her shoulder at him and smiled, all she could see was the silhouette of his body and the light glinting off his anxious green eyes.

"I'm alright everyone, "Alice said having shifted as far outside as she could with one of her hands anchored to Tarrant's.

"I beg to differ Love," said an all too familiar voice as Chessur appeared in front of Alice. "Your appearance and bruises tell another story than one of being alright." He said as he floated lazily around Alice ignoring Tarrant's presence for the time being to examine better the disheveled state of Alice.

A gasped went through the crowd and Zanik and the other Hightopps looked worried, the Bandersnatch growled low narrowing his eyes at Tarrant. "I told you I'm Alright. I fell up the stairs in Tarrant's house." Alice tried to explain lamely knowing they would all know it as a lie.

"Indeed and I assume the stairs have fingers?" Mirana asked looking at the bruises on Alice's wrists.

"Maybe, it is Hatta's home after all," Alice said trying to lighten the mood and all the while feeling Tarrant like a weight attached at the end of her arm.

Mirana smiled slight then sighed and shook her head, "Unfortunately Tarrant Hightopp has left me no choice in the matter." She waved at three of her guards while looking passed Alice to Tarrant. "Release Alice, and submit for evaluation of your conduct. " She said her voice while kind held an edge of steel in it. The three guards approached the steps with purposeful strides.

"No! You can't just lock him away Mirana!" Alice pleaded backing toward the door and Tarrant trying to block him with her smaller body.

Mirana looked at Alice and sighed, "I have no choice Alice. He attacked the champion of Underland."

Alice acting on instinct turned and shoved Tarrant further into the house then slammed the door in the face of the guard, her free hand twisted the lock and she leaned back against the door looking at her friend a tired smile on her face. "Now what?" she said as the guards thumped on the other side of the door.

Tarrant jumped as one of the guards pounded on the door and squeezed Alice's hand, "you should just let them take me Alice. I'm not safe for anyone to be around, especially you." He rasped his eyes glinting with tears.

Alice waved her free hand and gave a little squeak as the guards hit the door again, "posh and fiddle sticks. I'm always safe with you Hatta, I know that."

Tarrant pulled his hand free wrapping his arms around himself in a hug and backed away, "but I've gone mad Alice. Truly mad this time."

Alice smiled up at him, "all the best ones are Hatta."

"I'm scared…" Tarrant said looking past her to the shuttering door.

"Alice the champion allow us to retrieve the hat maker," one of the guards yelled through the door.

Alice leaned heavier against the barrier and looked at Tarrant, "do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?" she asked with a smile.

Tarrant blinked and a crazed giggle escaped his lips, "I haven't the slightest."

Alice sighed in relief seeing much of her friend recovering in the man before her, "give me a moment and then we'll talk." She said then turned and swiftly unlocked the door and stepped through slamming it closed before the guards could get passed her.

"I am the Champion of Underland, and my word is second only to the Queen," she paused and nodded to the man next to Mirana. "And king. I order you all and plead with the Queen and King to leave me alone with Tarrant for a while. I am alright, and I do not need rescuing." Alice looked out over the large crowd that seemed to be growing larger because of the commotion and people ending their work day. "Please Mirana," she said looking to the queen. "I think I'm the cause of this somehow."

Mirana looked up at Alice then to Merrick torn between protecting her champion and helping her friend, she closed her eyes a moment then gave a nearly imperceptible nod. "As you will, however I will leave guards posted around the house. You have to but yell and they will come to your aid."

Alice nodded and Mirana turned ordering the citizens of Witzend and the Hightopps back to their own dwellings. "Alice you should come to the palace soon," Mirana said before ordering the guards to form a perimeter and allowing Merrick to help her mount.

"I shall come soon with Hatta in tow," Alice said and watched as the royal couple and two of the six guards rode away with relief.

Alice took a deep breath and nodded ever so slightly to Zanik and Olivia before turning and re-entering the house, she looked at Tarrant who was seated at the foot of the stairs his head between his knees.

"They've gone Hatta," she said softly moving and laying a hand on his oily curls. "I think we should clean and get changed and then we can talk."

Tarrant slowly raised his head and nodded ever so slightly, "I'll show you where the wash room is."

Alice followed him upstairs and into an elegantly furnished wash room, a large copper sat in the middle of the room and black and white marble covered the walls and floor. "It's beautiful." She said looking around her. She spotted the faucet to the tub and giggled slightly, it was shaped like a tea pot.

Tarrant remained silent as he ran a bath then set out a towel soaps and body cream for her; he turned and nodded slightly before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

"That went well," Alice muttered to herself striping off her torn clothes. Dried salt from her dip in the ocean cracked and fell away in large flakes falling to the floor as she disrobed. Once finally done she slid into the tub letting out a sigh as the almost too hot water settled into her bones, she leaned her head back against the edge of the tub with a sigh. It had been a long confusing scary and nerve wracking day and she could feel the exhaustion pulling at her bones. Before long her breathing evened into sleep and she dozed in the tub allowing its subtle tea scent to relax her aches away.

Tarrant paced the hallway outside the washroom them turned and walked down the hall to his bedroom, he stripped out of his soiled clothing and washed in the frigid basin of water on the dresser before dressing once more in a fresh pair of trousers and a forest green shirt, he pulled a jacket from his wardrobe and then put it back. He ran a brush through his damp curls and looked in the mirror, his reflection stared back and he was surprised at how dark the skin around his eyes was. "Ye look like hell…" he said to himself then turned and walked down the hall to his work shop to retrieve the dress he had picked out earlier.

With a heartfelt sigh he went back down the hall feeling like he was walking in circles and giggled to himself before knocking on the door softly, when he received no answer he knocked again.

"Alice?" he called softly though received no response. Worried and half scared that Alice had disappeared again he entered the washroom to find her still in the tub her head back against the rim and her eyes closed in sleep. He stared down at her face frowning at the bruises on her wrists and arms, he moved around and knelt next to the tub after placing the dress on a chair and rested his cheek on the rolled edge. "I knew you would come," he whispered to her still form and lifted his hand trailing it down her cheek and shoulder to her upper arm where he traced the three scars from the Bandersnatch.

Alice slowly opened her eyes at his touched and they widened at how close his face was to hers, "Hatta wha?"

"This is how I knew it was the real you, Da wouldn't know about the Bandersnatch scratch." He whispered his fingers still tracing over the scars. "When I saw this, I knew you couldn't be a fake Alice." He looked at her with eyes that had gone a deep green almost the same color as his shirt, "You're my Alice…at last."