I have been wanting to do a holiday set of stories for years but I have never found the right fandom.

So this is the first of I have no idea how many. (be gentle.)

Enjoy...

"Tell me again how we got roped into this?" Arthur asked.

"It's Philli's ninth birthday and she wanted a costume party." Eames responded.

"I know why we got dressed up. What I mean is why did I trust you to get the costumes and let you wear that one instead of this." Arthur said pointing to his immaculate suit completely with fancy pocket watch.

"Because you didn't know where to get them, you love your goddaughter and Ariadne asked."

"Ah, that's the reason."

"Besides, I don't look that good in white."

"Are you guys ever going to knock or are you gonna stand there talking forever?" came a voice from behind them. "This isn't exactly light."

Both men turned around to face their friend and colleague, Dominic Cobb.

"Nice hat," Eames said and promptly knocked on the door.

"James don't climb on that." came Ariadne's voice from inside. She opened the door and began to laugh. "Oh, I'm so glad I have this," she said and snapped a picture.

The flash went off before any of them could react. Dazed Arthur and Eames were easily parted to let the hat wearing man pass them.

"I'm so glad, you agreed to wear this. You look great." She said straightening out his coat.

"Honey, the cake?" Dom said lifting the pastry.

"Oh, off course. I'm sorry." She said and moved out of the way so he could slide past her.

"It's ok." He replied giving her a peck before disappearing into the house.

"That is still weird."

Ariadne put her hand on her hip and eyed him and Eames up and down, "that coming from a grown man dressed as a bunny."

"I'm a hare." Arthur said indignantly.

"Hare, shmare, you're still adorable either way."

"Shut up, Eames."

"No, seriously. You're so fluffy I could die."

"Touch the tail again and you will."

Ariadne muffled a laugh and led them in. "You can put the presents on that table and food and drinks are outside on the patio." She turned and gave them a quick hug. "Thanks for dressing up, this means a lot to her.

"Our pleasure, where is the darling princess, anyway."

"I'm not a princess. I'm the queen of hearts."

Arthur, Eames and Ariadne all looked at the little girl squirming to get down from her father's arms. "Daddy, put me down."

"Yes, your highness." Dominic bent down and let go of the little girl.

"Uncle Eames, you look just like a playing card."

"That's because I'm the Knave of Hearts." He bowed and kissed the little girl's hand, "at you service, my queen."

She giggled and spread the skirt of her dress in a curtsy just like Ariadne had taught her.

"Happy Birthday, Phillipa."

"Thank you, Uncle Arthur. I like your ears. Can I touch them?"

Arthur smiled and dropped to the ground. She rubbed the soft white material and smiled at him. "They're really soft."

"You should feel his tail." Eames said innocently.

Ariadne hit him and Dominic just smirked as he rubbed where she had punched him.

"Thank you. I dressed up just for you." Arthur said tapping her nose affectionately while ignoring Eames completely.

"The white rabbit is my favorite."

"Well now I feel extra special." Arthur replied and let her guide him, talking nonstop the whole way, off to the porch where the rest of party was taking place.

"You guys did a nice job," Eames commented admiring the paper lamps and puffy paper teapots that dotted the way to the kitchen.

"Thanks but Ariadne deserves all the credit. She's the one that got all the decorations and the costumes." Dominic said hugging the woman to him.

"It wasn't that hard," she said waving off his compliment. "Come on you two, we should go cut the cake now, so she can open her presents."

"We'll be right there."

She left and both men admired the view. "Eames, I'll let that slide because its my little girl's party and I'm in a good mood but if you ogle Ari like that again, you'll really need an eye patch."

Eames chuckled and reached into his pocket. "You are known for being crazy so I promise not to drool over the very short skirt and schoolgirl look she's sporting. At least not within your view though I can't speak for Arthur."

He handed Dom the box he had procured for him and asked, "I thought you and her were gonna dress up as the red queen and king, what happened?"

"Philippa wanted her and Ariadne to both be Alice but I thought that would be creepy, you know."

Eames nodded wisely. Cobb's daughter as young Alice and Ariadne as adult Alice would have looked wrong given the fact that her and Cobb were dating. "That would have met with some interesting comments, I agree. The kids like her a lot then?"

"Yes, it's a relief." Cobb said and opened the box Eames had handed him.

"Whoa," Eames whistled at the ring nestled inside. "That is some rock, is that big enough or do you want it visible from space?"

"It is a bit bigger than I remember."

"A bit?"

"Hey this is what happens when you entrust something like this to Saito. I should have known better. Think she'll like it?" He asked nervously.

"Dominic, it could be from a Cracker Jack box. She would take it as long as it came from you. She's as madly in love with you as you are with her."

"Thanks, for bringing it. Can I get you a drink or are you the designated driver?" Dom asked slinging an arm over the forger's shoulder.

"I though you'd never ask."

Outside Arthur had been helping Ariadne move plates aside to make room for the cake as well as rounding up the rest of the children. He looked up and saw Eames give Dominic a small box.

'Is that...?'

He looked at Ariadne but she hadn't noticed anything, she was too busy talking and directing guests to the food, taking pictures of Philippa and oohing appropriately over every gift.

Drinks in hand the men wandered back to the party. Dom handed Arthur one while covertly searching for her. "She's over there."

Cobb clinked his glass, "Thanks."

He snuck up behind her and she squealed in surprise knocking off his hat by accident. She picked it up, said something and he laughed.

Philippa waved her little scepter and Ariadne nudged him. Dom went back inside and came out with an Alice in Wonderland cake. She lighted the candles, Eames turned off the lights and the whole family sang Happy Birthday.

Arthur watched as she meticulously removed the candles and Dominic put a stack of paper plates in front of her. She cut and he passed the cake. She sat and lifted James onto her lap and he wiped the child's face. He took James from her lap and up into his arms and she fed him a piece from her plate.

They thanked everybody for coming and together cleaned up the mess, mostly him since she was off seeing the rest of their family. Stephen and Madelyn handed Dom an envelope and they too left.

The patio was now back in its pristine condition and the three of them retired to the living room while Dom put the kids to bed. Him and Eames waited until Dominic returned to say their goodbyes.

The two friends waved at the couple in the doorway and got into Arthur's car. "He's asking her tonight, isn't he?"

"Did you see them?" Eames asked.

Arthur glanced at his rear view mirror. They were still in the doorway; she was wearing his hat and looking up at him and he was looking back at her with his hand dangerously close to the bottom of her skirt.

"I never put the Mad Hatter and Alice together when I read the story." Arthur replied.

"I never read the story." Eames said looking at the same image Arthur was glancing at, "but it makes sense now. Are you ok?"

"It was a crush, nothing like what they have. I'm actually happy that we didn't work out, it gave Dom a chance to get to know her outside of work, I am happy for them."

"Its because of you that they are this way. Remember she followed the white rabbit, that is how she ended up in Wonderland and met Hatter."

"That's true." Arthur said proudly. "You want me to drop you off."

"Nah, I'll crash at your place. I might meet someone there too."

Arthur laughed, "in your dreams, Eames."