A Mad Thanksgiving

"Do you think she'll come?" the Mad Hatter asked the March Hare worriedly.

"I can't say," Marchy said for the hundredth time that afternoon. "Sit down, Reggie, you're making me dizzy!"

Reggie did sit down, but was instantly back on his feet pacing the length of the table, up and down, and up and down. He had been walking about in this manner since noon wringing his hands and worrying the brim of his over-sized hat until it was bent out of shape.

"I'm sure she won't come," he said, trying to convince himself. "But what if she does?!" He brightened up at this hopeful thought.

"You have to stop doing this to yourself. I think you've gone through every scale of emotion just since breakfast!" March Hare was quite finished listening to his friend build up his hope and then smash them, but he was a loyal man and wouldn't abandon his comrade in this time of need. "You sent the invitation and set this beautiful table, you can do nothing but wait now."

March Hare was, as usual, right. Reggie had sent his invitation to Alice for a Thanksgiving Day tea six days ago, but had never received a reply. He knew Alice well enough to not put it past her to never show up, but he also knew her well enough to never put anything past her. There were times, albeit it short and far in between, that Reggie thought that Alice did like him. In these moments, Reggie thought he might have a chance at winning her heart entirely, but something always happened. Usually something stupid happened to him, like the time he was about to declare his intentions to her when Prince Phillip and Gaston had gone charging past in a neck-breaking race and thrown the poor hatter into the pond. When he pulled himself out, he was drenched from head to toe and covered in pond scum. Alice had cracked up laughing and Reggie left dejected and heartbroken. His second attempt he planned a little better, a quite candle lit dinner next to the moonlit river. He had asked the coat rack, who played at Belle's and Beast's wedding, to fiddle something sweet for them. Through a series of tricks and disguises, he had managed to get Alice to show up. The coat rack drew his bow across the horsehair strings and the evening was filled with magical music. Reggie stood, his best coat and newly brushed top hat gleaming in the moonlight, and smile on his lovable face and a rose in his lapel. Alice had been surprised to see this and, after a little pleading and begging, she sat down to the delicious supper he had prepared. Reggie also sat down to share in this romantic meal, except...the leg of his chair sunk into a particularly muddy part of the bank and he fell flat on his back once again covered head to toe in mud and scum. Before Alice could say a word or even rise from her chair, Reggie stood and walked away.

However, this time around Reggie was determined to make sure nothing stupid would happen to him or to his plans. Everything was perfect and today was the day he would tell Alice how much he adored the very ground she walked on. Today, on Thanksgiving Day, he would tell her how 'thankful' he was to have her in his life, even though she wasn't really in his life and more like on the outskirts, just out of his reach.

He had everything prepared. The table, that was usually a cacophony of mismatched cups and saucers, and chipped teapots, had instead been laid with three settings of fine bone china with gold trim. There was matching silverware at each setting, on top of silk napkins, with a mug, flute, and, of course, a teacup. The center of the table was spread with covered serving dishes of Thanksgiving dinner with beautiful fall colored flowers and a cornucopia. He had indeed thought of everything, even Emily Post would be proud of this table setting. But would Alice?

There was a crunch of gravel from the street, Reggie's head shot up like a pop gun. The squeak of the gate hinge, he stood to attention, his hat back on his head. There she was, in her holiday finery. Her blonde hair had pulled back at the sides, braided, and pulled into a bun while the rest hung loose and soft. Her gown was blue and silver, a wide silver sash tied around her slim waist. The bodice was embroidered with silver thread with the sleeves hanging loose of her pale shoulders. Reggie's heart fluttered in his chest like bread-and-butterflies.

"You came?" Reggie asked in a whisper. March Hare also stood at the sight of the winter angel before him.

Alice tossed her hair. "It was a last minute decision, you know, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it. My other plans fell through." She continued naming off reasons why she was there instead of somewhere else in a haughty voice.

Reggie just smiled, he knew when Alice was lying. There was the fleeting thought that maybe, just maybe, she liked him too. "I'm glad you did." He offered his arm to her, to escort her to the table.

Alice stopped short in her excuses. "Oh." She was surprised by his chivalrous attitude and hesitantly took the offered arm.

She allowed the Mad Hatter to escort her to the table and show her to a seat. She looked at the table and was surprised again. Gone was the insane tea party that never ended, here was a holiday spread that even Cindy or Aurora would envy.

"The table is beautiful," she complimented Marchy.

The Hare shook his head and pointed to Reggie, "It was all him, Alice. I merely provided the table top and chairs."

She gave Reggie an impressed look. "It's very nice," she told him.

"It was nothing, only the best for you," he said humbly, adding the last part with shaking nerves.

Alice blushed prettily.

The meal passed with everyone laughing and enjoying the food. The main course went without a hitch, and dessert was just as enjoyable. Soon it was time for tea to be served. Here Alice felt herself get tense. Reggie and Marchy tended to get a little unpredictable around tea time. She was having such a good evening she would hate for it to end on a bad note, she was having so much fun with them. It was surprising how much she was enjoying it, normally she dreaded doing anything with Reggie.

Marchy poured the tea while Reggie laid out some small cakes and biscuits. They all took their cups and began sipping at the beverages.

"It has been uncommonly cold this fall," Reggie remarked, very uncharacteristically, about the weather.

"Yes," Marchy absently agreed.

Alice noticed that they were both being strangely calm and well-behaved, and smiled as she watched them making an effort to not offend her.

"I hope you are keeping yourself warm," Reggie expressed his concern to Alice.

"Oh, yes, thank you." She took another sip of tea, trying to work out the strange behavior these two were exhibiting.

"I hope you have enjoyed your dinner with us as much as we have enjoyed having you," Reggie continued in his attentions to her.

Alice gave him a rare smile and was amused as he lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yes, Reggie. I've had a lot of fun tonight. You made a delicious dinner and you have been very good company."

Reggie gave her an embarrassed smile. "Thank you."

Alice was confused. At this point in the conversation, he would have been bouncing off the walls and chattering on about something completely nonsensical. She couldn't believe that the day had gone by so well, no mishaps had occurred...yet, and Reggie hadn't done anything odd or unexpected. Alice was impressed and, deep down a voice told her, a little disappointed. Even though things usually ended with him making a fool of himself, she almost missed his crazy antics that she knew were just to impress her. She couldn't believe that she was even thinking these thoughts but the more she looked at the Mad Hatter the more she realized that this polite man in front of her, politely sipping tea, was not the Mad Hatter she wanted.

"Curiouser and curiouser," she said to herself. "I had no idea I felt this way. Hmm?" She returned her attentions to the conversation taking place between Reggie and Marchy about the state of the roads. Suddenly it struck her that this was the maddest tea party of theirs she had been to yet! Where were the battle cries of "clean cup!" and the broken china, and Reggie pouring tea into his shoe, and Marchy jumping up on the table doing the can-can? This was insane! Finally, she just had to know what they were doing!

"What's going on here?" she shouted at the two unsuspecting men.

They stared at her blankly, her eyes boring into theirs. Marchy took a long sip of tea and Reggie swallowed hard enough to be audible.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "What do you mean?" As far as he knew, he had managed to suppress all his natural tendencies and keep the conversation on normal subjects. What could he have possible done wrong?

"You are acting weird! Well no, actually, you're acting normal, but that's weird for you!" Alice set her cup down hard enough to slosh the tea out of her cup and into the saucer. "And that's the first time anything has been spilled! What are you up to, Reggie?" She gave him an accusing look.

Reggie hung his head. "I have to admit that I did have some motives other than a good holiday."

"I knew it!" Alice pointed her finger at him in victory. "Spit it out, Hatter!"

"I'll just go refresh the pot." Marchy took the teapot and quickly made himself scarce.

"The reason is," Reggie took a deep breath, he closed his eyes so he wouldn't lose his courage. "The truth is that I wanted to show you that I could be normal and that not everything I do is a disaster, and that I can sit in a chair with landing on my face, and that I can talk about "normal" things, and that you are the reason that I'm trying so hard." He peeked at her with one eye; she was sitting in her chair with a very thoughtful look.

"So what you're saying is: You wanted to prove to me that you can be a gentleman and show me a good time that didn't require a monkey and a banana?" Alice verified.

"Um, I'm not sure where the monkey came from, but basically: Yes." Reggie took his hat off in a nervous habit and started fidgeting with the already worn brim.

Alice gave Reggie a good, hard look. "That's probably the sweetest thing you have ever said, Reggie. However, I have to admit that I think I miss your insanity and strange ways. You are awfully amusing, you know, and I know that you are just trying to impress me but for some reason things always go wrong for you." Alice gave a delicate laugh before continuing. "I'll never forget the time that Phillip and Gaston knocked you into the pond. I felt so bad for you, but I couldn't help laughing, you were so comical! I am sorry for laughing, and I would have said so then but you left before I could."

Reggie's mind had skipped all the unimportant parts of that speech and had latched onto one thing. "You miss it?"

Alice gave him a sweet smile. "Yes, the whole time I've been sitting here, having a good time - don't get me wrong - but I couldn't help thinking that it just was a real Mad Party unless something completely unexplainable was happening. Not that it isn't fun to be able to have a normal conversation with you now and again, but I kind of wish you would do something unexpected." She gave him a smile and a shrug.

"Okay." He leaned across the table and kissed her.

Alice sat very still and very quiet for about ten seconds while Reggie fretted that he had just done something very stupid indeed. Finally she broke the silence, "That was unexpected."

Reggie gave a short, nervous laugh. When her eyes finally refocused, she looked at the panicked hatter sitting across from her.

"I'm sorry," Reggie apologized and truly meant it.

"Normally I would have slapped you for that, but right now I'm not really inclined to."

"Really?" Reggie just couldn't believe he was hearing these words.

"What's more, I think I kind of liked it." She batted her eyes at him and gave him a sly smile.

"Really?" Reggie was suspicious.

"Yes." She leaned in close to him, looking up at him through her lashes.

"Really?" His voice was very quiet and his heart had stopped beating several seconds ago.

She laughed gently. "Are you going to keep saying that or are you going to kiss me again? Isn't this what you've wanted to do forever?"

"Yes." He couldn't look away from her deep blue eyes.

"Reggie, every time you have tried to impress me something has always happened, and I used to think that I was glad, but now that I've thought about it I would be miserable of you ever left. I think I...like you, though it wasn't until today, when I saw how far you were willing to change for me, that I realized it."

"Really?" It came out a hoarse whisper.

"Reginald, if you say that word one more time then I swear: you will never kiss me again." Her face was inches from his.

"Okay."

When Marchy returned with the pot of tea, he found Reggie with his arms around Alice, both of them face to face with no indication of separating anytime soon. He had no idea how he had done it, but somehow Reggie had gotten the girl of his dreams. At least for Thanksgiving.