A massive thank you to every one who read, reviewed and favourited 'Things Which Begin With The Letter E'

It's been about a year since Tarrant and Alice eloped so I was considering what might happen if you take a heavily pregnant Champion back to her childhood home so she can introduce you to her mother?

Enjoy...

Tarrant Hightopp looked at his wife (how he loved being able to call her that) as she sat looking out of the window. She looked stunning! She looked perfect! She looked… sad.

"Cricket?" he asked laying his hand on her shoulder. "Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?"

'No you ninny' one of the voices scolded him. 'That's not the question you wanted to ask!'

"I still haven't the foggiest idea" she told him, leaning into the warmth of the hand he'd laid on her soft cheek

"What I meant to ask" he admitted. "Was; what is the matter? You don't seem yourself today- not that you could be anyone other than absolutely Alice, and we know that you are because no other Alice is carrying my baby in her belly because let's face it…"

"Tarrant"

"Heart…" he choked out. "I'm fine love, thank you"

Alice smiled at him fondly but said nothing.

"Tell me what the hatter is" he entreated, stroking her cheek softly with his thumb. "I don't like seeing you upset"

"I know love" she nodded. "I'm sorry- it's just that I haven't seen my mother and Margaret since you brought me home."

"You miss them" he summed up.

One of the many things Alice loved about her husband was that- despite the obvious bouts of madness- he was always so in tune with her.

"I'd love to go and show you off to them." Alice told him, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Would they approve of us?" he asked nervously

"I doubt it somehow" she replied. "But it's a bit late to be worrying about that- they can't do anything to us can they?"

Tarrant pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you Alice Hightopp"

He giggled when the third member of their clan announced their distaste at being ignored in such a way.

"Yes wee one I love you too" he murmured affectionately stooping to kiss the prominent bump that was his son or daughter. "Not too long until we meet now is it?"

Alice smiled down at her husband with tears in her eyes. Since she'd first got the morning sickness eight months ago she'd known in her heart that he'd be a wonderful father. He treated the baby like it was already born: talking to it, singing it songs and telling stories, kissing and stroking her bump.

"We'd have to wait until the baby's born" Alice mused. "The Jabberwocky blood could hurt it"

"Who said anything about to Jabberwocky blood darling?" he asked, genuinely curious. "And as to waiting- why, we could go right now… in fact- I have reason to believe that you yourself have travelled by looking glass before"

"You mean for us to travel by Looking glass?" she frowned

"Of course" Tarrant grinned happily. "I mean it isn't the absolute best way to travel; but it is a perfectly acceptable means of getting from A to B"

"Can we go?" she asked excitedly.

Tarrant just grinned and pulled her to her feet.

"Is that the right room?" a disembodied male voice asked from inside the living room

A second, familiar, bodiless, female voice replied. "Yes, this is the right place"

Helen Kingsleigh, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs outside the living room; shook her head. The shock of Alice's sudden disappearance on her wedding day must have affected her more than she'd assumed.

"Mother?" Alice's voice called. "Mother, it's Alice! Are you home?"

"I don't think this can be the right place Cricket" the man's voice announced. "This place is boring- not an Alice place at all"

"I know; that's why I don't live here anymore; but I need to see my mother"

Just to check that she wasn't in fact mad, Helen peeked around the door. Her jaw dropped at the sight before her. A heavily pregnant Alice stood in the arms of a tall gentle man who had the most outlandish appearance. From his scorched top hat to mismatched socks which poked out between the too short trouser legs and brown shoes- there was nothing that struck the dowager as suitable for her little dreamer.

"Alice?" Helen announced her presence just as the man was lowering his head to kiss her daughter.

The two of them snapped apart but much to Helen's ire Alice's hand remained firmly entwined with the man's.

"Mother" the younger woman smiled sheepishly, her free hand- the left one- resting on her belly; Helen was dismayed at the sight of the two bands on her younger daughter's ring finger. "I'd like you to meet my husband…"

"Tarrant Hightopp madam" the man introduced himself with a frankly childish politeness. "I'm sorry about stealing Alice away so suddenly but she's my Alice and I needed her more than that Lord fellow you were trying to marry her off to…"

Helen didn't like the way his voice was changing as his words sped up. She was about to pull her daughter away from the obviously deranged man but Alice, being Alice merely slipped her hand out of the larger, paler, work ravaged one and placed her hands gently on his white cheeks, forcing him to look at her.

"Thank you Cricket" the man squeaked. "I'm sorry about that, love."

"Alice dear" Helen looked at her daughter, feeling faint. "Please tell me what's going on"

"Of course mother" Alice nodded. "But first I think Tarrant might be somewhat put out if I remain on my feet for too much longer"

Tarrant glowered at his mother in law who sat close to his wife, from the seat he'd been allocated about as far away from her as it was possible for him to be.

Alice was filling her mother in on all of her adventures- said mother was looking at her incredulously. 'How dare she?' the mad Hatter almost growled. 'How dare she not believe my Alice? My Cricket never tells lies!'

"The wedding was beautiful mother" Alice smiled over at him; her smile always cheered him up. "We were married by the White Queen herself; everyone was dressed in white and blue and there were so many roses and lilies. Tarrant surprised me by writing his own vows too."

"Sweetheart" His Mother in Law sighed. "What I still don't understand is why you left Martin without a word for…" she looked over at Tarrant. "This."

"Why did you marry father?" Alice asked. "You loved him, as I love Tarrant- I'd have thought that it was fairly obvious considering… Oh!"

"Alice?" Tarrant started forwards- he didn't like the stricken look on his wife's lovely face. "What's wrong Cricket?"

Alice gritted her teeth. "I have a sneaking suspicion that my water has broken"

Alice's mother gasped but Tarrant asked.

"Water? You haven't… Oh! I know this" He turned to his mother in law. "Mrs Kingsleigh, would you please be so kind as to direct me to a room where I can take my wife? I would take her home but travelling would be less than helpful in her current state you know; that isnae teh say tha' ye yersel' wouldnae ken 'ow to 'elp yer own bairn deliver her own first bairn and…"

"Tarrant!" Alice groaned

"I'm fine" he assured her, scooping her up. "Please Madam"

"My old room" Alice winced, before her mother could protest. "Up the stairs and the first door on the left"

"Right" Tarrant nodded and, with his focus entirely on the woman in his arms, he strode from the room, ignoring his mother in law's protests.

I'm torn, what do you think- should Helen come to accept Tarrant or just tollerate him as the father of her grandchild?

Let me know what you think so far and I'll post the next chapter as soon as its written.

Fairfarren all

MyraValhallah