Hey guys! This whole chapter is fluff so I hope you like fluff! It's about time we had some here!

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Disclaimer: I don't own Alice in Wonderland

Chapter 6- A Flutter

Hours had passed…how many hours, Lydia did not know. It was dark now and there was a light fog rolling through Marmoreal. Lydia now lay on her bed, belly down, looking out at the night sky. Her eyes were stung from crying, her mind hurting. The words that Lyriana had spoken to her played repeatedly over and over again in her head. Everything she said appealed to Lydia but scared her. If her grandmother were here Lydia knew exactly what she would want her to do. At the same time however, Lydia didn't know if she could abandon her world even if she wanted to. What was she going to tell the Queen? So many people were waiting on an answer from her. She had to respond.

It just didn't seem fair. She had no time to think about it, no time to feel like she was making the right decision. But maybe it was supposed to be that way, for now anyway.

Sighing out a heavy breath, Lydia sat up and rubbed her eyes. They needed her answer. The girl stood and put on a robe over her nightclothes and left her room headed for the Queen's study where she was sure to find her.

The hallways were lit with flickering candles lighting the way. Lydia, lost in thought, must have taken a wrong turn because she suddenly realized she was lost; in a part of the castle she had never been. As she tried to reverse her steps a person humming caught her ear. Lydia stopped in her tracks and turned to follow the voice. It grew louder and louder until Lydia was in front of a door that was cracked open slightly. She peaked into the room to find The Hatter working on something, presumably a hat. To her complete surprise, she felt her heart flutter in her chest.

Lydia was so drawn to him but she couldn't put a finger on what exactly it was. He was kind that was for sure. She knew he cared about her. Yes, he may be mad, but it was precisely that quality that Lydia grew fond of. She most certainly didn't feel this way about Phillip and she had known him for quite sometime.

As she watched longer she noticed at how happy he was when working at his trade. He was full of life, working smoothly and with such grace and passion. Passion. Lydia had no passions she could think of.

Wanting to see a little better, Lydia pushed the door open a little more, but the door creaked loudly as it moved and Tarrant shot up from his work to find Lydia at the door, a surprised look on her face. They stared at each other for a moment or two and Tarrant put his work down.

"Lydia," he said. "You're up and about."

She nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry I disrupted your work. I was on my way to the Queen's study but I must have taken a wrong turn."

"It's quite alright," he assured her. "You are always welcome here," he said, indicating the room around him. It was a beautiful room, and quite large too. It was filled with hats of all sizes, shapes and colors.

Lydia slowly stepped further into the room and to the back wall where the hats were all arranged. She walked over to them and ran her fingers over them, admiring their beauty and fine detail.

Tarrant watched her. He didn't know what to say or if he should say anything at all. When Lydia made it to the end of the line of hats she turned to him and smiled.

"I want to learn."

Tarrant was confused. "Learn what?"

"I want to learn how to make a hat."

Tarrant quickly smiled and his large eyes grew wide with excitement.

"You do? Well that's just splendid Lydia. I'll teach you everything I know. You'll be a divine hatter in no time!"

Lydia's smile grew wider and she walked over to him, right up to him so that their bodies were almost touching. Without hesitation, Lydia took his hands in hers. His hands were warm from all of his work. The sudden touch from Lydia made Tarrant warm all over. She tended to do that to him. As they stood together, Tarrant searched her face as the smiled weakened and turned into a worried one.

"I'm staying, Tarrant," she said finally. "But I need you to tell me everything is going to be alright."

He looked right into her eyes and she looked right into his.

"I can't promise that," he said in almost a whisper. Lydia's face fell and she looked away from him. This wasn't the answer she had expected and Tarrant realized that. As he felt Lydia try to let go of his hands and move away, he held them even tighter. She stayed, but looked down at her feet.

Tarrant then let go of one her hands and brought his hand up to her chin, lifting it so they could meet eyes once again.

"Nothing in life is ever easy, Lydia. It is an eternal riddle. But you must remember, you have that muchness inside of you. We all know you have it."

Lydia could feel her eyes filling with tears but they didn't fall. She nodded and then looked back up at him. Her eyes locked on his. She then did something she didn't expect herself to do. Lydia slowly raised her hand to Tarrant's check and touched it. It was soft. He didn't know what was happening but it just was. Tarrant raised his hand and met it with hers that was on his cheek. They looked at each other again. Nothing was stopping them. Tarrant slowly moved in towards Lydia within moments, he had touched his lips to hers. It was each their first kiss. It was quick, nothing much, but Tarrant suddenly broke away from her quickly.

"I'm sorry," he began. "I'm so terribly sorry. I don't know what came over me. How could I be so stupid?" His eyes had changed and he turned from her and began pacing frantically.

"Tarrant!" Lydia said comfortingly taking his face between her hands. He looked at her and slowly returned to normal.

"There is nothing to be sorry for. It was just a kiss. Only a kiss."

This time Lydia moved in and kissed him tenderly and for a bit longer than the last time. She then broke away and smiled at him.

"I'm not sorry," she said.

FLUFF!

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