Alright, just to sum up: What do you think would happen if Alice Kingsleigh, upon her return to London, found her old freind the Mad Hatter waiting for her? A slight shock, no doubt, but what if he came bearing evil news for her beloved Underland? Choosing to return to the place of childhood dreams, what might await her?

I'm just saying here and now, I own nothing to do with either the book, or the movie Alice In Wonderland. All credit goes to those directly responsible for making the above media happen, save the words on the following pages.

A/N: Ok, I'm gonna have to do an 'I'm sorry' A/N here. I think this is all I'm going to write on this particular story.... dont be mad, please. I've tried to give some kind of ending in this chapter, though it's not how I wanted it. At the same time, I'm leaving it open, so if I see the movie again and the muse strikes, I can come back. So for the time being it's up in the air, but were I you I'd count on no more of Back Down The Rabbit Hole from now on. Again, I'm sorry, but it's hard when you've only seen the movie once, and that was weeks ago... Yeah. Thanks again for all your reviews and everything!

Chapter 4

It didn't take the two long to get a carriage to Lord Ascot's estate. They made the trip in relative silence, save a remark here and again about the past few years.

At the estate, the grounds-keeper informed the pair – with a second glance at the Hatter – that Lord and Lady Ascot were having tea in the garden, near where Hamish had 'proposed'. With a quick thank you, the two headed to the Rabbit Hole, in the opposite direction from the Ascots.

"If this doesn't bring back memories…" Alice mused, crouching next to the old tree which housed the hole in its roots.

"I quite agree, Alice." The Hatter noted, leaning slightly over the hole to peer down.

"Before we go, tell me two things?" Alice asked suddenly.

"Anything."

"First, what's your real name? I feel silly, calling you Hatter all the time."

"Tarrant. Tarrant Hightopp." He answered after a moment's pause.

"Tarrant. Good, I had hoped there was a real name to everyone in Underland, not just their nicknames or what-have-you."

"The second thing?" He pressed.

She met his eyes then, hers laughing. "Did you ever find out why a raven is like a writing desk?" She asked with a laugh.

He laughed too, before answering, "I haven't the faintest idea." Just as he had when she left Underland after slaying the Jabberwocky.

She flashed a dazzling grin, her warm eyes glowing. "And have you moved on to letter N or O yet?" She joked, remembering his previous fascination with things beginning with M.

"Not hardly, dear girl, not hardly." His smile broadened, if possible.

"Good. Now, who ought to go first?" Alice asked, gesturing to the hole at their feet.

"I will, and perhaps I can keep you from hitting the ceiling quite so hard." She laughed to think of falling and hitting the ceiling. If only John could share this part of her, it would be perfect. Maybe... But maybe not.

"Then by all means…" She motioned downward, and with one last smile the Hatter slipped into the earth, through the hole that still barely looked large enough for a rabbit to get through, let alone a grown man.

Alice counted to sixty, then fell, feet first, after her friend, grabbing her skirt and holding it tightly around her legs just below the knee when she was a few feet from the mouth of the hole.

She twisted easily past furniture hurtling past, bouncing once of a bed at one point, slowing herself by hanging briefly off a cupboard at another, her stomach lurching every few minutes as she fell.

There was a sense of expectation, of looking forward to all things Underland. It was as if a part of her heart had been missing, and as she fell, the tear was steadily mending. And the only thing better than the thought of returning to her beloved Underland, was the thought of who was waiting for her at the end of the fall.

A/N: I always meant the end to be sappy, so this is sad even to me... Anyway, I'm sorry it's sub-standard, but I've lost my muse, as it were, for the time being. Please review my last chapter, and if you have anything at all good to say about the ending, please tell me, because I dislike it hugely.

Thanks for reading, and for all your great reviews!

Liza Chase