Chapter 6

On the ninth day, the couple went back to visit Mirana. She'd sent a letter requesting a visit from them, mainly to see how Tarrant was doing.

So, they walked to the castle, Tarrant complaining along the whole way about how swollen his feet were and how much it hurt to stand for long periods.

When they finally arrived, Tarrant was in a foul mood, snapping at anyone that looked at him funny. This included Absolem, who'd snickered to himself when he saw Tarrant's giant stomach.

"Are you sure it's not twins?" the caterpillar asked, taking a pull from his hookah, "It looks like there's more than one baby in there."

"Shut up," Tarrant scowled, "There's only one! I can feel it kicking and there's only one!"

Alice took his hand, trying to calm him. "Relax, Tarrant. You know how Absolem is."

She'd almost gotten him calm when Chess appeared, lying in the tree above. His first question was whether Tarrant had swallowed a balloon, which set the hatter off again.

Mirana came into her court yard to find him yelling at cursing at the cat and the insect, his words barely recognizable because of his thick brogue. Chess and Absolem seemed to be amused more than anything.

"Now, now, let's all calm down," she said, catching Tarrant's attention. He immediately stopped yelling, but still looked very angry.

"They were making comments," he said, trying to defend himself, before starting to cry again.

Mirana sighed. "It's alright, Tarrant. Calm down." she wrapped an arm around him. "And the rest of you, find something better to do!"

Chess rolled his eyes, but apparated away, while Absolem just smirked continued to smoke his hookah.

"Let's go inside, shall we?"

So Tarrant and Alice followed Mirana inside the castle. She took once again led them to a private room to chat.

"You look good, Tarrant," she said, once they were settled in. "Glowing, even."

"You don't need to lie," Tarrant spat, crossing his arms. He instantly recognized his error with this, and moved them away. His chest was still sore. "I'm fat and disgusting and freakish. I know it."

Alice sighed, feeling frustrated that they were straying into another one of Tarrant's 'pity-me' moments.

"You're none of that and you know it. ANYWAY," Mirana said, before Tarrant could reply, "Have you thought of a name?"

"Roslyn if it's a girl, and perhaps Jacob if it's a boy," Alice replied, "But we're not even sure if we're going to keep it. Perhaps it'd be better off with a set of parents who have more than we do. People who are better prepared."

Mirana shook her head, "If you need anything at all for the child, please know that I'll happily provide it. It's not every day our kingdom has such a miracle occur!"

"Miracle," Tarrant repeated, scowling, "You mean accident."

Alice glared at him, "Don't talk about out future child that way."

Knowing that he wasn't going to win this argument, Tarrant looked away.

"Have you seen a doctor at all?" Mirana asked, changing the subject slightly.

"No." Tarrant answered.

"Well you should. You'll need someone there when you give birth."

"Any decent doctor in Underland is just going to laugh at me," Tarrant said, frowning. "I don't know if I can stand that."

"I wouldn't laugh."

"You're not a doctor."

"But I have more than enough medical expertise to help you deliver the baby."

"True..." Tarrant replied, considering it. "Maybe you could help?"

"I'd be delighted to. According to my reading – I've done a lot of research, since I last saw you – You should be developing a birth canal through which you can have the child."

"I know," Tarrant grumbled, "It's there."

"Good, then that'll make things easy. Well, not easy, per say, but we won't have to cut you open."

"Wonderful."

Alice rested a hand on Tarrant's leg, "It'll be fine, love."

"You're not the one who has to push a watermelon through a golf hole," Tarrant snapped, "So don't tell me that it'll be fine."