A/N: I've been writing a Charlie and the Chocolate fanfic for a while so I've finally gotten around to posting again. My groove is back after it escaped for a while!

The next day, Tarrant begged Alice to visit the hospital. Nivens had returned, but he was still asleep on the couch. They were in Alice's room, and the sun had just risen.

"Please Alice," he said again. Alice got out of bed, putting on a robe.

"Alright," she gave in. "If you seriously think you'll be fine. Come on downstairs." Tarrant followed her and she put a fresh pot of tea on the stove. She sat with him in the living room again. Tarrant had shed a few more tears and Alice brought the tea when it was ready.

He sniffed the air. "I-is that r-raspberry tea?" he asked.

"You bet," she answered, handing him a cup. She was unsure as of to why every time she or Nivens made tea, Tarrant hadn't any memories of his parents. He didn't seem upset when he'd had a cup or two. He could still have memories, and she'd convinced herself that he would tell if he wanted her to know.

They heard a yawn on the couch across from them. Nivens opened his eyes and stretched out on the couch. He was wearing pajama bottoms with clocks and computers on them. She smiled. So Nivens.

"Nivens," she said. Nivens looked at the other couch seeing Alice and Tarrant. While Alice looked straight at him, Tarrant glanced once. Then, his attention was strictly on Alice again.

Nivens read the look on Alice's face, and it told him multiple things. He yawned again, sitting up.

"Tea's on the stove," Alice said, and Nivens walked into the kitchen.

"Are you sure?" Alice asked Tarrant one final time as Nivens got his coat.

"Yes," Tarrant said, and Alice had no choice but to let him go to the hospital. Nivens didn't mind, but it was the walk he hated the most. None of them could drive anything, and the hospital was at least a quarter mile away. Alice asked about March, but Nivens wasn't too concerned. March could handle being on his own. After all, the tea in the pot was gone. He'd be fine.

Nivens let them both inside the hospital, and he asked for the room number. When the nurse led them the right direction, Nivens took his two friends to see Tarrant's dad. Alice became nervous all of a sudden. Tarrant had wanted to be here, and that meant Alice came with. She didn't intend on meeting his father. Last night, you'd thought it would be cool to visit his father she told herself. This gave her more confidence.

"He's awake," Nivens said, and Alice looked at Tarrant as if to ask him one last time. He gave her a reassuring glance as best he could and they entered the room.

"Tarrant," his father said, immediately upon seeing him.

"Father," he returned, squeezing Alice's hand beside him. He couldn't tell his father about Mother yet, for that would just bring more shock to him. His father's eyes opened more and as they laid upon Alice, and it became obvious to her who was responsible for Tarrant's eye color.

"Whose this?" he asked.

"This is Alice," Nivens introduced.

"Ah, the lass you told me about. Come here Alice," Tarrant's father urged. She came to the side of the bed, Tarrant still holding her hand.

"You're just like Nivens described. You'll take care of Tarrant?" he asked.

"Yes, but you can survive this," Alice said with confidence. "It's not impossible because nothing is impossible."

"Ah, I see you are the perfect friend for my boy. Always into something and believing anything is possible," Tarrant's father said smiling, then letting out a cough. "My mind can fight this, but my back tells a different tale." A nurse came in to give Tarrant's dad pain medication. Tarrant exchanged a glance with Alice, and all she felt she could do at the moment was smile to comfort him. Nivens looked at his pocket watch; but then he realized it was still spring break. The nurse left the room.

"I'm glad to see you're making new friends Tarrant. You had your mother and I worried over it. No offense Nivens, but Tarrant does need a few other friends," his father said.

"None taken," Nivens replied. At the mention of his mother, Alice squeezed his hand a little harder. He gave her another glance but she kept the firm grip.

"You two were worried I wouldn't make new friends?" Tarrant asked.

"Yes, you always hang around with Nivens and March. I know the three of you were so tight, but we had to move a few towns away. I see you are keeping in touch," his father said. Tarrant gave Alice's hand a tighter squeeze.

"Excuse us for a moment," Alice said, taking Tarrant out of the room.

"Nice girl," she heard his father say before turning the corner. Right when they turned the corner and there was no one in sight (oddly), Alice pulled Tarrant into a hug.

"Want to go back?" she asked. He couldn't speak so he just nodded. Alice knew why and she came back into the room with Tarrant after he calmed down some more. Nivens shot her a glance as they came back in. Alice returned it, suggesting they should leave. Nivens had to make an excuse.

"Ah! The clock Alice!" he said, acting. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Hightopp. We were just passing through this part of town. Thought I should introduce Alice. Now, we are running late."

"Oh!" Tarrant's father said. "That's alright. Thank you for bringing them Nivens. See you Tarrant. Nice meeting you Alice!"

"Goodbye Father," Tarrant said before leaving, and Alice tightened her grip on him again to make sure he could get the words out.

They returned to the house and after Nivens took their coats, Tarrant sat down and embraced Alice again. They both knew his father didn't know, but that must have only made it harder. Tarrant was still glad to have gone, and Alice was still with him.

That night, Tarrant went upstairs but that was about all he did. Alice had to leave his side so she could change and all. He sat on the bed, just sobbing uncontrollably. Alice came out of the bathroom as quickly as she could to be by his side again. Her hair was still wet, but she didn't care.

Tonight, Tarrant couldn't find sleep as quickly as he usually could. Alice thought he would tire himself out, but the tears kept coming. She tried getting him to fall asleep, but he couldn't just lay down and fall asleep that easily.

"My father made the neatest stuff," he began through a few tears. She knew he would start rambling, but it was about his father, so she decided to listen. He went on about how his father created numerous objects and gadgets. Some had made his family's life easier and some ended up in failures, though his father had told him nothing was a failure.

Alice was once again snuggled up against him as they held each other and she listened to everything. She sighed, knowing Tarrant could be awake all night. He was trying to control the tears, but he wasn't succeeding so far.

Alice kissed him; she thought that if he kept talking, he would start chocking on his tears. When she released, Tarrant at least looked into her eyes. She could read his emotions through his eyes, which made it difficult for him to keep a secret. She knew he wasn't falling asleep any time soon.

Any time soon turned out to to last until seven the next morning, and Alice had stayed awake with him all night. He finally slept peacefully beside her, and she collapsed into him from exhaustion.