The Other Side of the Mirror Chapter 1, an alice, 2009 fanfic

The Other Side of the Mirror

By Ava Telcontar

Uatu, the Watcher as was the custom of his people observed. His job was to observe Earth; more specifically, Earth 616.

It should be noted that cosmic beings do not sulk. Uatu, a being eons old, certainly didn't pander to such immaturity. But, it should be noted that he was less then pleased with his currant lot. So, he had broken his oath of noninterference…four hundred times. Was that reason enough to bind the majority of his powers and ground him to the moon? Was this a just judgment?

The Watcher snorted and sat down behind his telescope. He rubbed his weary eyes. Well, back to work. He peered through at Earth in all its blue-green glory. Nothing caught his interest until the tell-tell flicker of a dimensional portal caught his attention.

Once upon a time, a boy followed a girl through the Looking Glass…

This caught the Watcher's attention, "Is that Alice…?" and then Uatu, the Watcher began to laugh.

Once upon a time, a boy followed a girl through the Looking Glass…

Alice thought her heart would burst from happiness. Hatter was real! He was here! And he was kissing her! Now, Alice had been kissed before. And kissed well; however, there was just something about this tender fierceness that turned her bones to jelly.

He pulled away just long enough to whisper, "I've missed you," before molding his lips once more to hers.

She was only dimly aware of her mother staring in open mouthed astonishment at the sight of her daughter making out with a stranger. The truth was Alice didn't care. She just wanted to stay in the circle of his arms.

"Huhmm," interrupted Carol Hamilton.

Reluctantly, they came apart. A little. The Hatter rested his forehead against hers. Carol felt as if she were interrupting something very private.

"So, I take it you know David, Alice?" her mother tapped the tip of her toe impatiently on the shiny hard wood floors of their apartment building.

"Yes," Alice breathed. She didn't look away from the Hatter's dark eyes. "I know…David?" She blinked at him.

The Hatter smiled down at her, "David Maurice Harrison Write is what my parents called me."

"David. I like it. It's pretty."

"Thank you," he replied.

She rubbed her nose against his, "I still like Hatter."

"So do I," he chuckled.

Her eyes flicked to her mother's face. She sighed. "I have to go talk to my mother before she explodes."

"What? Literally? All over your very shiny floor?" The Hatter asked.

"No! Metaphorically," with great reluctance she pulled away from him and began to back away from him. She didn't want to look away for fear he'd disappear. Alice paused. She looked over his plain outfit and her curious gaze fell on his perfectly straight hair. "What's with the hair?"

The Hatter groaned, "Charlie. He attacked my head with a brush. And did this too me. I look like a button merchant."

Alice giggled. She walked up to him and ran her hands through his hair creating odd angles and waves and wild curls. The Hatter's eyes rolled back in his head as her fingers explored his locks. She stepped back and admired her handiwork. "Better."

She turned to her mother with a sunny smile, "Let's, go to the kitchen. And have that talk." Alice waved a finger at the Hatter, "You'd better be here when I get back."

He flipped his hat in air and affixed it to his head, "I promise."

The Hatter had very good hearing. And he wasn't afraid to use it. So, he listened into the mother/daughter talk without shame.

Alice leaned against the sink and regarded her mother calmly. Carol, for her part, was stalking around the kitchen like a restless panther.

"Would you like to explain what that was?" Carol demanded.

To her consternation, Alice smiled dreamily. Alice didn't do dreamy when it came to guys. With Jack and those who came before Jack she'd been level headed and sensible. Not dreamy.

"A rare perfect moment," Alice mused to herself.

Carol frowned. The Hatter stifled a triumphant crow.

Alice stood, "Do you trust me?"

Carol stopped pacing. What kind of question was that? "More then anyone in my life."

Alice hugged her briefly. "Good. Now listen. I could tell a convoluted story about how I met him. But, it would be a lie."

Carol pursed her lips.

"The truth is a wiggly weird thing. It's one of those things in my life you've asked me not to talk about." Alice wrung her hands together as her mother absorbed that one. "Let me ask you this. Is Wolf good for Virginia? Is Giselle good for Robert?"

Her mother nodded slowly, "Yes." Carol thought about it. It was like that, was it? Things happened to Alice on a depressingly regular basis; strange things that defied logic.

She groped around for a convincing argument. "Virginia married Wolf! Robert married Giselle!"

"Yeah. I know," her lips curled up into a little smile.

Carol's eyes went wide. The girl who'd had a breakdown when she'd been proposed to was looking all thoughtful and content at the notion of matrimony.

Who was this David person?

"I have to sit down," said Carol weakly.

"You took a month off work, just for me?" The Hatter asked.

Alice shrugged, "Well, you have come all the way from another world. And I'd be remiss not to get you acclimated. 'Sides the city would never forgive if I let you go unsupervised."

"Oi!"

They had left the apartment as soon as they could, her mother's gimlet eye making them both really uncomfortable.

So, Alice and the Hatter ambled down the streets bustling streets of New York. The place was so alive! Most Wonderlanders were under the mistaken impression that the other world was a dull, gray, place.

Not so.

This was a loud, vibrant fist to the face. The Hatter had to consciously block out the emotions that throbbed and bubbled around him. He found that by focusing on Alice's feelings that he could phase out the persistent smog of sensation that drenched the city.

They passed a young man cooing over the corpse of a dilapidated car. "It's too soon. She's too young."

His girlfriend rolled her eyes, "She was a '94 Yugo. Trust me. It was her time."

The Hatter wore his hat and Alice, a grayish jacket. He absently wished he'd brought the velvet coat. She'd looked so good in velvet.

"How long do will you be saying?" asked Alice tentatively.

David took her hand and pulled her to a stop, "I'll only leave if you tell me to go."

Alice sucked in a breath.

"And possibly, maybe not even then."

"Oh. Okay," she smiled.

"I don't think I've properly introduced myself," he whisked of his hat, through it in the air and bowed. He slowly straightened. The hat seemed to hover in the air before falling back on his wild hair. "You are addressing, David Write: Ambassador of Wonderland."

"Ambassador of Wonderland. Are you kidding?" laughed Alice.

The Hatter began to circle her like at their first meeting. "Oh, I see. You don't think I'm qualified." He leaned in and smelled her hair.

Okay, it was creepy and a little hot.

"You think that I'm an uneducated lout. I'll have you know I graduated from Carroll College with top honors; in Economics and Applied Criminal Psychology as it 'appens."

"Hatter, not what I meant. Just really, Ambassador of Wonderland?" she asked.

The Hatter stuck out his chin, "Yep. It's official and in Jackie-boy's official paperwork, my job is to guard the mirror, tend our other world holdings and…look after you."

She made a face, "Do I need looking after?" Alice tone was full of indignation.

"Having met you? Yeah. I'd say so," he replied cheekily.

Alice hit him in the arm and laughed.

"Ow," he rubbed his arm. She packed quite the wallop.

She smiled at his hurt little boy face. "Holdings? Does that mean you've a place to live?"

"I have many choices. I could take Jack's old penthouse (didja know he owns the building?) but, it's too much like taking over his life. There are a few other apartment buildings, a brownstone." He rubbed a finger over one dark brow. "I rather like the looks of the mansion."

"Mansion?"

"Yeah, the Cranston Estate. It's big. Lots of room. It's where I moved the mirror," the Hatter said.

Alice nodded, "Sounds good."

"Also, I got one of these." He pulled out a battered black wallet and fished out an unlimited credit card and waved it at her. "Full access to the pot. I won't need to find a job. A gentleman of leisure. That's me."

Alice tried not to look relieved. The idea of the Hatter in the job market was horrifying. She had a sudden vision of the Hatter as a barista standing on top of his cart yelling at all the 'coffee loving cretins and their ridiculous orders!'

He slipped the card back into his wallet and pulled out another card, "It's for you."

Alice looked at the card like it was poisonous. "I can't accept that."

The Hatter sighed. He rather thought she'd be difficult. "Ya don't have to use it if you don't want too. But, I'll have to explain to my boss why cultural attaché attached to the Wonderland consulate hasn't taken her generous compensation. And I don't want to have to explain."

Alice's smile was disbelieving. "Cultural attaché attached to the Wonderland consulate?"

"Didn't I just say that? It's in all the official paperwork. Come on Alice, take the card. The boss, he nags." He waved the gleaming bit of plastic back in forth in front of her nose.

Alice rolled her eyed and snatched the card from his teasing fingers, "Fine." She stuffed the offending rectangle into her purse.

"How do you know so much about Earth anyway?" she wondered.

"Books. I studied up. Had to take a written test with essay questions and everything."

Her arm began to throb. Alice rubbed the bit of her arm where the mark had been. Her face registered discomfort.

The Hatter settled his hand to the small of her back and directed her towards a bench. "I would ask what's wrong. But, I think I know. You're going to want to sit down"

They sat. And he waited until her breathing evened. "Let me see your arm," the Hatter asked gently.

Alice shrugged out of her jacket and held out her arm. The greasy green mark of oyster victim-hood was gone. Her skin was pale and as unmarked as ever.

"How long has it been hurting?"

"Off and on since I've got back," she smiled wryly. "I'm not going to like this? Am I?"

The Hatter ran through a succession of odd noises, "Um. Er. Eeee." He ended with a short, "No."

He ran his finger over her inner arm and a shimmer followed his touch. A smallish ornate W in grass green, purple with swirls of gold flickered into existence and faded away into her skin.

"What the hell was that?"

The Hatter rubbed the back of his head, "It's like this. Wonderland's in love with you."

Alice felt her mind go blank. "Huh."

"You made quite an impression."

She shook her head, "What does that mean?"

"It means, love, that because you saved my world it decided to reward you. He continued to stroke her arm soothingly.

"Reward me? How?"

"By making you its champion," the Hatter's eyes stared intently at her still features. How was she gonna take this?

"How can I be the Champion of Wonderland? I live here."

The Hatter wriggled to a more comfortable position, "And you have access to a magic looking glass should you ever be needed. It's not all bad ya know. The job does come with perks."

"Like what?" Alice gripped. Champion of Wonderland. It was so big.

He smiled comfortingly at her, "You'll live a very long time. Illness won't come near you. And you'll have a touch of magic."

It didn't sound too terrible. She wondered what the catch was. "What's the catch?"

"At some point, Wonderland will require your services," The Hatter brushed dark hair away from a pale cheek.

"Okay, then."

"That's it? No, 'I'm being forced into indentured servitude by a fictional world in a kid's book' rant?"

"Does this look like a kid's story to you?"

The Hatter laughed, "No."

Alice leaned her head against his shoulder, "I don't do freak outs. Remember. And there is nothing I can do about it right now. I need time to think about this for a little while. It's a lot to take in."

They just sat together in comfortable silence letting the roar of the city wash over them.

Only to be interrupted by the Hatter growling stomach. It was loud and had more of a touch of gurgling.

"Hatter! When was the last time you ate?" Alice demanded.

The Hatter shrugged, "Two days."

"Hatter, what were you thinking?" Alice was cute when she was livid.

"I was worried about you," his voice was a touch defensive. "After, I admitted you to the hospital; a scary nurse scared me away. And then I was running errands, moving the mirror, taking over the finances (and I don't trust that accountant). I snuck in at night and watched you sleep."

Her glare softened, "Hatter…"

"I'll I've had was a paper cup filled with the most revolting tea-ish substance known to man and mice." He shuddered at the thought. "And some of that liquid candy with the bubbles that comes in tins. I quite liked them," The Hatter said thoughtfully.

Alice smiled, "Let's go get you some food." She wandered over to a crosswalk and stuck out her thumb. And wondered how long she'd have to wait…

A taxi pulled up in front of her. She looked at her thumb. She looked at the taxi. Never had she'd gotten one so fast.

She shoved a protesting Hatter into the back seat before sliding in and buckling up, "Bella Notte, on 4th and Vine."

The Cab swung into the parking lot.

"What do I owe you?" Alice asked.

The cabbie shrugged, "Never mind. Have a good time."

Alice stared. It was an arresting sight. A New York cabbie who didn't want to drain her wallet dry, would a commemorative plaque be too much to mark the occasion?

The Hatter prodded her shoulder, "If the nice man doesn't want your money, don't force it on him. Right?"

He looked about the interior of Bella Notte with interest, red and white checkered tablecloths, dim lighting, music and smells that were making him salivate. No drooling. It wouldn't impress your date. Wait. Is this a date?

A peppy looking waiter led them to a table and served them water.

"So, what's good?" asked the Hatter.

Alice replied, "We are going to have pizza."

"It's a food then?"

She laughed loud and long.

During lunch he found out several things about himself. He really liked pizza. Pepperoni, sausage with veggies and extra cheese was a form of culinary art. He learned that he hated Lipton's Iced Tea with a furious hate.

The Hatter learned things about Alice. He learned that she listened carefully and made all the right comforting noises when someone unloaded their family troubles. She took his unforeseen connection to her ex with a shrug.

He also learned that she liked hot food. Alice had ordered two small bowls filled with two kinds of hotwings. Mild and volcanic. He'd enjoyed the mild. He took one bite out of her volcano wings and his eyes watered profusely, his nose ran, and he was forced to chug down the entire glass of that horrible cold tea sludge.

Alice allowed, the Hatter to help her down out of the horse drawn carriage. This was the second time she'd wanted transportation and had gotten it immediately. Also, the second time she didn't have to pay.

If this was one of the perks, her inner New Yorker was all for it.

"I could get out of work but, I couldn't get out of my dress fitting. My friends MJ and Peter are getting married." She smiled shyly at the Hatter. "Do ya want to be my date? Maybe?"

The Hatter brought her hand up to his lips, "I'd be honored my lady." David grinned at her blush. Charlie's hour long lectures on the art of courtly love may come in handy after all.

Andalasia Fashions was a short walk and they, being in no hurry, intertwined their fingers as they strolled down the street.

"Oi!" the Hatter yelped as something smelling of sausage rammed into him. The indignantly of it. He, the Mad Hatter had just had his pocket picked! This happened to other people.

"Dodger! Heel boy," Alice called out, a furry mutt with a red bandana around its neck and the Hatter's wallet in his mouth.

The dog rolled his eyes and dropped the wallet at Alice's feet. "Bad boy," Alice then rubbed the undeserving canine's ears.

"Hatter meet Dodger. The Artful Dodger meet the Mad Hatter."

The Hatter scowled at the dog and pulled an embroidered linen handkerchief out of his pocket. He gingerly picked up his wallet. "Charmed, I'm sure."

The dog laughed, "Don't take it too hard pal. Most people wouldn't even feel me filching." Dodger lolled his tongue. The dog sniffed the Hatter, "You smell like tea leaves and trouble. I think I like you."

"Thanks."

Alice gaped at the dog, "You're talking?"

"I could always talk dollface. It's just you can finally understand me," the dog turned his attention to the Hatter. "You new in town?"

"Yes. You could say that," admitted the Hatter cautiously. He could tell from Alice's perplexed face that talking dogs were a bit unusual.

"Don't worry, kid. Once you get the rhythm of the city down it'll all work out, "advised the Artful Dodger.

Dodger sniffed Alice's dangling fingers, "You smell different. Healthier. And a little wild." The dog winked at her. "I approve. Gotta run. And don't do anything I wouldn't do!" laughed the dog as he wove his way through the traffic.

"A touch of magic?" wondered Alice. Her life was weird. Even before this. It was weird. She could deal.

"Seems like," the Hatter offered her his arm. "Can I get a suit here? I wouldn't want to clash with my date."

Alice took it, "Oh, I'm sure something could be arranged."

The Hatter sighed, "I should look into getting some clothes anyway. I didn't take with me."

Alice replied, "Then a guess a little shopping trip is in order."

"Really?"

Alice smiled, "You've got a black card. I think we can solve your wardrobe problems easily enough."

Stepping into Andalasia Fashions was like leaving the concrete jungle behind for an enchanted forest glade. Swaths of fabrics, the best of earth, Andalasian and Kingdoms One through Nine textiles glimmered under the lights.

"Alice!" trilled a voice. Alice found herself with an armful of Giselle. "You're better! How wonderful."

The Hatter blinked at this exuberant creature. It wasn't that she wasn't beautiful. She was in a strawberries and cream way. It was the emotional signature that fascinated him; a child's clear clean feelings with the emotional depth of a grown woman.

"Giselle Phillip formerly of Andalasia, meet Ambassador David Write of Wonderland," said with a grin. "He's one of your fellow other dimensional exports." Alice clasped her hands together, "We call him Hatter."

Giselle looked from the Hatter to his hat. Then she looked at Alice and mouthed Wonderland. "I guess I made you the right dress then." And burst into giggles.

Alice huffed.

"You made the blue thing she wore with those raspberry tights?" The Hatter asked.

Giselle nodded, "Oh, Yes. The tights were her idea. Guess where I got the inspiration?"

The Hatter leered cheerfully at Alice, "I liked the tights."

"Stop it," whimpered Alice.

"I need a suit that won't clash with anything you've created for Alice," Said the Hatter.

Giselle circled him noting build, coloring and posture. "And a hat."

"Yep."

The forest nymph in the big city floated over to her assistant.

"Is she real?"

"She's as real as you are." Alice giggled.

"What?"

Alice decided not to tell the Hatter about the danger of bursting into song and dance routines while in Giselle's presence. The look on his face would be something to treasure.

May, the assistant led Alice to a changing room.

"Oh, hi!"

Alice wondered for the hundredth time why Betty Suarez didn't exchange those braces of doom for invisalines. Those things couldn't be comfortable. "Hi, Betty. Did you ever reconsider taking my class?"

The tiny Latina shook her head waving her fluffy black hair, "Like I have time to let you throw me around."

"I'll call Daniel. Invoke the Pavlovian Overprotective Male response," Alice threatened.

"You wouldn't," Betty protested.

Alice smiled slyly, "You'll be on the mats before you know it."

Betty groaned.

The be-spectacled girl held out the dress she'd just climbed out of. It was black and satiny with elaborate white beading. "It's for the black and white ball."

"I think certain males," 'Daniel' in particular, "will swallow their tongues."

Betty blushed. "Who's the cutie you walked in with?"

Alice glanced up to see Hatter going over various designs with Giselle, "Mr. Right," she said without thinking.

Betty laughed. "Really?"

"It's his name. David Write. With a w," Alice sputtered.

"Sure, if that's the way you want to play it."

Alice had never been so thankful to see a dress in her life.

"Thanks May!"

"You're welcome, sweetie." May smiled at her, showing all her teeth. "Did you know you've been ogling the boy's bottom for the last five minutes?"

"Kill me now?"

In addition to his 'Accompanying Alice to a Wedding Suit' he chose three other designs including one with tails.

"Do ya make coats?"

"I could? If someone wanted me too."

The Hatter worried his bottom lip, "I want Alice to have a closet full of velvet coats."

"Oh," Alice seemed to be measuring his insides as she measured his arms.

"Six to start with. To be sprung on her at intervals, like every second Tuesday," he ran his hand over burgundy velvet.

"She looks stunning in velvet," mused the Hatter. He gave Giselle a sharp look, "Can you make them toast and tea warm in cold weather, lined in silk or satin, and impervious to projectiles and bladed weaponry." He thought a bit, "Better throw in resistant to fire, and blunt objects while you're at it." The Hatter paused and recalled Alice's penchant for falling into large bodies of water, "And waterproof."

"You know our Alice very well," Giselle was all aflutter. Alice had finally found her one true love! It was all she could do not to dance around the room. "Yes. Yes I can."

"So, what do you think?" Alice turned in a slow circle and gazed expectantly at the Hatter. She nervously fingered the skirt of her gown.

The dress was a taffeta, tea length design that left her pale shoulders bare. It was also a rich chocolate brown that made her look like some delicious dessert.

Alice blushed as the Hatter stalked towards her with darkened eyes. She gasped when David pulled her into his arms, dipped her so low that her hair brushed the ground, and gave her the most toe-curling kiss of her life.

Giselle clapped her hands together in delight and May let out a raucous whoop.

After promising Giselle that 'they'd do brunch soon' they were suddenly back out in the afternoon.

They shopped a bit, perusing men's formalwear shops and trendy second hand stores for the Hatter's new wardrobe.

She bought him a porkpie hat that resembled the one he'd been wearing when he left Wonderland.

He pulled a protesting Alice into a jewelry store and bought her a pair of diamond and silver teacup earrings. She wore them out of the store only after he'd nibbled on her neck.

Also, he dithered a bit before buying Carol a butterfly broach. The Hatter had dismissed the pearl necklaces with a shudder. It would be both creepy and in bad taste, he'd explained.

At the Barns & Noble, he'd simply walked up to the counter and said, "Two copies of every book, movie and music disc to be sent to this address." He grinned unsettlingly at the flustered salesgirl who flushed and took his credit card with trembling fingers.

Also, he purchased a number of novelty tea sets.

Oh, he could get to like this gentleman of leisure business.

"Two of everything?" she wondered.

"For Jack-Jack. And Charlie," He explained.

The Hatter had gotten actual tears in his eyes when she took him to McNutly's Tea & Coffee Co.,Inc. And then he gave her a hickey on her clavicle.

He wandered up and down the isles with a dreamy look in his eyes, pausing now and then to sniff different packages.

The Hatter sipped his tea like a wine taster tasted wine. He would role it in his mouth before swallowing. Then a pompous remark would follow, just like a wine taster. He fell in love with a blend called Formosa Oolong (Tung Ting Extra Fancy). It wasn't just because of the name.

An hour and fifteen minutes later Alice pulled the Hatter and his improbable bladder out of the tea shop.

Evening was coming and lights were lighting up. Alice and the Hatter were sauntering and swaggering through Time's Square. The Hatter, who could only conclude he'd listened to many lectures on chivalry, was carrying their many bags.

"DOOM DEMANDS THE HEAD OF REED RICHERDS," a person dressed in a green tunic over a suit of armor, a metal mask and a green hooded robe completed the look. He was standing on some kind of hovering disk. That hovered.

"Alice, dearest," the Hatter asked, his voice remarkably calm.

"Yes?"

"Who is that?"

"Dr. Victor von Doom, mad scientist, sorcerer, king of Latveria. Supervillian and all around badass," Alice replied as if she were introducing the mailman.

The reaction of the masses of people milling around Time's Square reacted in a predictable and sensible manner. They ran from the lunatic with questionable fashion sense.

Another man was suddenly there. He was blond, absurdly handsome, and he was wearing a flowing red cape over blue armor. He wore a winged helmet.

The Hatter approved of the helmet. It had style.

Also, he had a really big hammer.

"Halt! Doom, your villainy shall not go unanswered!" the guy with the nifty helmet rang out.

"And it that corner, is the Mighty Thor, God of Thunder and founding member of the Avengers."

"SILENCE, INSOLENT GODLING. YOU WILL NOT SWAY DOOM. WHERE IS REED RICHARDS?"

Then there was the other half… the half who made bets. The people who retreated a scant few feet and seemed happy to observe. One woman dark haired women was munching popcorn and making sarcastic comments.

"Shouldn't we move back? 'Cause it looks like them two blokes…are going to come to blows."

Alice laughed, "And miss the show?" Naturally, Alice belonged to the second group of people.

"Alice, when I sound like the voice of reason, one can assume that something's wrong. Okay?" The Hatter said slowly. She was leaking a potent reckless glee he'd never felt from her before.

Alice kissed him once. Hard on the mouth, "Everyone's mad. You're mad too. Or else you wouldn't have come."

"Fair enough," replied the Hatter. He could feel that kiss in his toes. Also, this was kind of fun to watch.

"I SHALL RIP OUT HIS HEART!"

" 'Ow I ask you. Does he talk like that? With the big letters?" the Hatter demanded.

Alice shrugged negligently, "Who knows?" Her lips curled up, "Do you know what's upsetting?"

"Couldn't imagine," the Hatter huffed.

"He does this, like three times a year. And he can't be arrested."

"What?!!" he squeaked. They ducked as von Doom threw a car over their heads.

Alice rolled her eyes, "Diplomatic immunity. He is after all a head of state."

"We don't have diplomatic immunity, do we?"

"Nope. We work for a secret embassy from a fictional land. So, try not to get arrested," said Alice.

"Doom, your infantile temper tantrums must come to an end!" called Thor.

"Try not to get arrested? Not stay out of trouble?" the Hatter asked.

Alice rested her chin on the Hatter's shoulder, "I don't ask the impossible. You and trouble go together like tea and scones."

"I'd be offended if it weren't true."

A shadow fell on the pair. Clinging upside down from the streetlight was a figure dressed in red and blue with a black spider on his chest. He wore a mask with big creepy eyes. "Hello Alice. Who's your friend?"

"This is the Hatter," she patted her companion on the shoulder.

The head tilted, "'Cause he wears a hat?"

"He's mad," Alice said merrily.

"Oookay."

The Hatter elbowed her.

"Oh. Right. Hatter, this is the amazing, the spectacular, neighborhood friendly, Spider-man!"

"And what's that when it's at 'ome?"

"He's not from around here is he?" Spider-man asked bemusedly.

Alice giggled, "Spider-man and Thor are what we call superheroes."

"Ah. The good guys then," asked the only slightly enlightened Hatter.

"We try." He looked at Alice out at the square. "What's that all about?"

Alice shrugged. "What's it ever about."

The spider themed hero shrugged, "Once more unto the breach…" He leapt into the fight.

"Henry V! Charlie could recite it from memory by the time I left," said the Hatter.

"Hey!" Spider-man yelled. He shot webbing at Doom's hands. "Chowderhead, Doc Reed and fam are currently off planet. Doing something sciencey. So, why don't you just go back to the old country? You can play with your little friend some other time!"

"ANNOYING INSECT!"

"Arachnid! If you don't mind. You'd think a scientist would get it right," Spidy dropped down next the Viking God. "Hiya, Thor."

Thor nodded at him, "Well met, boon battle companion."

"He's multiplied!" the Hatter said of Doom.

"No, those are just Doombots. A lot of them."

"Hum." In a sweeping move he dropped the bags and spun around to take out a doombot in the chin with his right hook. It fell to the ground twitching. A fist sized dent interrupting its circuitry.

Alice fished a thing out of her purse. It looked like a prop from a science fiction movie, one of the one where the protagonist fought giant bug or space zombies. She dashed into the street, ignoring a protesting Hatter; she took aim at a doombot and fired. A wave of bluish light slammed into the doombot.

The Hatter pulled her away from the quaking 'bot and behind a car. It exploded bits of metal and wire going everywhere.

He glared, "Warn me next time."

Thor smashed his fist into Doom's face, "Noble Spider! Who are those two?" He nodded to where Alice and the Hatter were dismantling a doombot. From the feet up. "The unusually helpful civilians?"

Spider-Man spun in midair to avoid a laser whip. That's new. "Oh, that's Alice. And she'd not a civilian. She's one of us. Just doesn't know it. And the other guy and his right hand of doom…"

The hero thought a bit before bursting into delighted laughter. "That's the Mad Hatter. That's great! Alice and the Mad Hatter. What an awesome name for a superhero team."

"Think again, web-head. You'll never see me prancing about in spandex," Alice yelled annoyed.

The Hatter's head shot up, "Why not?

Carol Hamilton arrived home at around ten thirty. She hoped her daughter was prepared to have a more involved talk…

She turned into the living room and came to a full stop. The room was littered with mostly empty paper take out cartons, Alice's yearbooks and photo albums spread out willy-nilly.

And the Hatter was spread out on the couch in his socked feet, hat pulled over his eyes, snoring gently. Alice was tucked securely in his arms, her head under his chin.

It was down right adorable. Carol huffed and fetched a soft blanket and tucked the two in, the talk could wait.

She bit her lip, smiled and went to find a camera.

David 'Hatter' Write

Wonderland Embassy

The Lamont Estate, New York

New York, United States of America

Earth 616, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy

His Majesty, Jack of Hearts

The Heart Citadel, Wonderland

Through the Looking Glass

Jack snickered at the address on the thick package. Trust the Hatter to make his address look more impressive then the other guy. So, the official report. The Hatter had it tidily bound in a see through plastic binder. There were three of them.

He opened the flipped through the first taking note of the many post-its in Alice's neat scrawl. Then he turned to the first page. A newspaper clipping from the Daily Bugle was carefully pasted to the first page. It was a picture of the Hatter leaning against a smashed up car with his hat over his eyes as Alice handed Thor, his mighty hammer. Photograph by Peter Parker, byline by Jack Taylor.

The post-it read, "Hi, Jack! Remember to practice your leg kicks!"

Jack groaned. He hadn't been practicing. He'd end up staring at the ceiling the next time he saw her.

He turned to the first page, "Your Nibs, it is my honor to report that Earth maybe madder then Wonderland ever thought to be…

Notes

Marvel Universe

Uatu the Watcher is a member of a race that watches and records what happens in the universe. He is assigned to Earth. He has a tendency to break his oath of non-interference and lend aid to humanity.

Oh like you don't know who Peter Parker is.

The Mighty Thor. See above. Mjolnir is the hammer. 'Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.'

Dr Victor Von Doom, King of Latveria

The Daily Bugle