It had been a long time since he'd walked this particular garden path.  Oh, nothing about it was the same but that was the essence of it.  The more things changed the more they were the same after all.  Hare smiled his best smile, the one he rarely used as he skipped along making sure not to miss a single carefully placed shell.  So thoughtful of Hatter to set them out and save him the effort of having to ring the bell.<br/><br/>"Come along now," he sang out cheerfully as he pulled at the leash in his hand, headless of how his capering pace might be difficult for the poor blindfolded girl to keep up with.  And, of course, with her arms bound behind her back so it was devilishly hard for her to catch herself when she stumbled.  He'd lost count of how many times he'd had to pick her back up but her scraped knees and the disheveled state of her clothing testified to it being more than a few.<br/><br/>"We're almost there," he cajoled impatiently as he tugged her along, "You do want your birthday surprise don't you?"  It was a rhetorical question.  Of course she did.  Who did like birthday surprises?  Well, the Hatter didn't.  But that was the Hatter for you.  Of course, he was the standard that you judged mad by so you couldn't really blame him for it.  It bothered some people but not the Hare.  He loved seeing the Hatter's face turn that perfect shade of red that made that dainty vein in his temple pulse and throb just so like it might explode.  Some day it would and he really really really wanted to be there to see it.<br/><br/>It had been an age since he'd seen his dear friend Hatter and he missed him just terribly.  Why hadn't he answered an invitation to tea sooner?  Oh right, because they were enemies and it wasn't proper for enemies to take tea together without business.  Such a pity that.  But today he had business to discuss and thus he see his beloved Hatter.<br/><br/>It was a frabjous day indeed.<br/><br/>He skipped from one eggshell to the next and found himself with no more to tread upon.  Looking up his eyes fell upon the gaping hole in the wall and the Hatter framed therein.  His lips curled into a smile so wide it hurt.<br/><br/>"So good to see you again you fucking bastard!" he cried out brightly as he pulled Cinnamon up short beside him and then threw his arms wide and stepped closer to give the other man a fierce hug.