Poor Hatter…Angst, angst for all! R&R (DISCLAIMER:: I do NOT own ANY of the characters or places mentioned in this story. Mr. Carroll does. Dang it.)

Goodbye

I can't enjoy my tea parties any longer.

I know I cannot ever fully love them as I used to.

It is not my fault, it's that wretched Alice's fault. That wretched, disagreeable, stubborn Alice.

She had continued to dream of Wonderland even after her dreadful run in with the queen… she continued to dream of me. I had felt quite (to my shock,) honored. Such a pretty little girl wanting to dream of me.

We had become friends.

Such close friends that I was surprised at myself for not noticing she was no longer a pretty little girl, she was a beautiful young woman.

"Girl," I had asked one day, "do you wish to dream of Wonderland forever?"

She had looked at me curiously.

"Do you wish to stay in Wonderland forever?"

I frowned. "What nonsense child, you never answer a question with another!"

But she merely waited.

"I do." I finally snapped, annoyed.

"Then I do wish to dream of this place forever."

"Whatever for, my dear?"

She turned a ghastly shade of red, I believe what is called a blush, which, much too contrary belief is not at all attractive, it rather made her look like a strawberry. Such nasty fruit.

"Certainly not for such an oblivious hatter as yourself!" She grouched, frowning terribly.

Wait…

"Do you dream of Wonderland for our parties together?"

She straightened in her chair a bit.

"I suppose so."

I had smiled then, very pleased.

She continued to visit me more often, bothering the Hare infinitely, but absolutely delighting me.

Then, one day, I found myself waiting for her to come.

"Alice." I had sighed happily, finally seeing her walk toward the white gate.

We had the most wonderful party that day. She didn't even get angry with me from tipping the jam on her white dress.

At the end of everything, she had kissed my cheek and said goodbye.

Then she faded away, just like at the end of every visit.

I wish I had kissed her perfect palm before she faded… for that one, final time.

Perhaps she got tired of me.

Or maybe she just couldn't remember Wonderland anymore… maybe she was too grown for it, and she had moved on to less childish dreams.

That was all I was.

A childish dream.

A dream that never should have fallen in love.

Every one of my parties are tainted now.

Tainted with the memory of her smile, of her bright eyes, of her haunting laughter.

But the worst of it… the worst of it was the memory of her fading.

The memory of her fading, and of me, too stupid to even remember to say goodbye.

Aww… that was sad to write…anyways please R&R