Her Mad Hatter by Marie Hall

Hatter.” She did not wish to give him hope. She had a life she needed to get back to. Responsibilities. She had a Shoppe to run and Tabby was probably crazy with worry. Not to mention her mother and father were probably, even now, calling every cop on the island to do a thorough search for their missing daughter. They’d all think something horrible had happened to her.
    Somehow, someway she’d figure out how to save Hatter, how to get Wonderland to accept her. But she couldn’t stay permanently. If there was some way to hop between realms, then that could be a definite possibility. But she had to go back eventually.
    The light in his eyes dimmed and he sat back, staring out at the garden with unseeing eyes.
    Her fingers shook as she reached for a small bowl of grapes. “The food is wonderful,” she said, desperate to get him to look back at her. She hated to see the sadness touch his eyes.
    “Leonard will be pleased.”
    Her lips quirked and she glanced around. A tiger-striped butterfly touched down on the table. Its gossamer wings moved gracefully. The animals and flowers were so normal today. She’d kind of hoped for more, maybe a butterfly with pads of butter for wings or rocking horse flies. Of course, that had been a cartoon and she shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up. “I’d like to tell him thanks. I know I love it when a customer tells me that.”
    He nodded, tapping the other teapot on the table. “Leonard, awake. Alice wishes to thank you.”
    Shock made her drop the succulent red grape an inch from her mouth as the furry head of a tiny mouse popped its head out.
    “Oh my gosh!” she squeaked. “A mouse. A...a-”
    The food that’d settled in her stomach with the sweetness of sun warmed honey, suddenly felt like a brick. She breathed hard around the gag.
    He rubbed black little eyes, large ears twitching as he looked around with a furtive sneer. “Mice!” His high-pitched squeak matched her own. “Where? A pox on them.” The teapot rocked precariously as he shook a tiny fist. His nose wrinkled at a furious pace. “Nasty flea ridden vermin they are! And in me garden no less.”
    Huh? She looked at Hatter. What was... didn’t the mouse know... he was the mouse?
    Hatter patted Leonard’s head with the indulgent grin of a proud parent. “Leonard’s my chef, and friend. Are you not, wee one?”
    His voice had gone soft, gentle. The cadence left her spell bound, watching as a shaft of light suddenly filtered through a hole in a fluffy white cloud, illuminating his features. He looked like an angel.
    But only the fallen would make her fell the sudden violent lust rushing hot through her veins. She swallowed hard.
    “Right o’, guv’nor,” Leonard chirped. “Indeed.” Black beady eyes glanced up at her.
    Alice tried to see him as Hatter did. Soft brown fur, long whiskers twitching with each breath. The little eyes turned soft, filled with light as he reached his hand out to her. “Oh aye, yer majestic Hatter, she is a lovely one. Ain’t she?”
    His hand was still open, plump pink fingers curled toward her, and she realized he wanted to shake hands. She smiled. He really was kind of cute. Alice gave him her finger and he shook it.
    “I loved your food, Leonard.”
    He beamed, winked at Hatter as if to say I-told-you-so, and turned back to her.
    “I’m a bit of a foodie myself,” she said.
    “Are ye now?” Leonard twitched in delight. “And do ye prefer the sweet to the savory, as I do?”
    “She owns a Cupcakery.” She glanced up at Hatter who’d answered for her. “The creations would make you green with envy.”
    How did he know that about her? Had all the other Alices baked too? She bit her tongue at the irritating thought.
    Leonard gave her a sage nod of respect. “As it should. As it should.” He raised his arms high above his head, exposing sharp teeth and a pink tongue as he gave a mighty yawn. He smacked his lips and patted his head. “Perhaps, Alice girl, we’ll swap