Disclaimer: Not Mine!

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"What about this one, M'sieur?" the oily salesman asked, frustration creeping into his tone. This was the twentieth ring he had shown to the madman in the obnoxiously bright orange coat.

"No, no, no!" Reginald cried, flinging one arm over his eyes and inadvertently knocking his hat to the floor in his distress. "Alice, dear Alice, I've failed you!" And, with that histrionic announcement, he crumpled into a heap on the floor.

The salesman sighed and rolled his eyes heavenward before darting around the counter to scoop his client up. "Now, now, sir, there is no reason to despair! I'm sure we can find...something," he added encouragingly.

Reginald sniffed, morosely shoving his perpetually gloved hands into his pockets and returning to the counter. "I suppose."

As he didn't sound too convinced, the salesman, Pierre, dug an old, rarely used key from his pocket. "I will show you something, M'sieur, that you can never speak of again," he warned, making the Mad Hatter swear on his hat that he wouldn't tell. Reginald nodded immeadiately, mood suddenly bright again as he hopped over the counter rather than waste time going around it.

When they reached the back of the store, Pierre used the rusty key to open an even rustier lock and proceeding to open the door it was connected to. Once inside, the light was flipped on and Reginald stared in wonder at the shelves around him. Each tiny glass case housed one piece of jewelry apiece, each more marvelous and unique than the last. "Follow me, sir," Pierre startled Reggie out of his thoughts and led him down the aisle. "You like tea, no?'' he asked conversationally.

Too dazed by all of the shiny things around him, Reggie only nodded, jaw stuck open like a fish's.

"Here we are!" Pierre the oily salesman announced grandly, stopping at a shelf near the back. "What do you think of this, mon ami?" Lifting a glass box off of the shelf in front of them, he held it out to Reginald, who gently took if from him and opened it to get a better look. Inside the case, nestled among the dark velvet, sat the prettiest ring this Mad Hatter had ever seen. "It's perfect!" he nearly squealed, grabbing the stunned salesman into a hug before bounding back out into the main store to complete the sale.

At The Hatter Home

Alice was sitting at the kitchen table, mail sorted in front of her as she flipped through The Tea Times, a catalog of unique and rare tea sets. Apparently, Reginald had a subscription. She had a blank sheet of paper at her elbow, pausing every few minutes to scribble down tea pots and cups that weren't in his collection for his birthday, or, rather, one of his many un-birthdays. She smiled fondly and shook her head as she realized how much he had rubbed off on her. Her peace was short-lived, however, when the object of her thoughts came bounding through the door carrying a shopping bag.

She scrambled to hide her list, eventually just shoving it in her pocket and pretending that she hadn't had a momentary panic attack.

"Baby cakes!" he cried, seemingly oblivious.

"Reginald, please," she implored, cheeks crimson.

"All right, all right, Tea Cup," he told her, tacking on the "endearment" at the last minute. With all the drama of any actor, he carefully placed the bag on the table and dug through the yard and a half of tissue paper. When he was finished, the table and floor around it were covered it shredded paper and Alice was staring at him in shock. "W-What are you doing!" she demanded, grabbing his hands before he could continue his destructive path through the bag.

"Looking for your ring, Cricket," he replied blithely, tugging one hand free and grabbing the box at the very bottom of the rumpled bag.

"My ring?" she asked in wonder, staring at the small velvet box in his hand. "W-Will you show it to me?" she asked shyly.

Wordlessly, he popped the box open with his tumb and revealed the ring to her. "Alice Pleasance Liddell, will you marry me?"

Blinking tears from her eyes, all she could think to say was, "Shouldn't you be on one knee?"

He dropped like a stone to the floor, on both knees instead of one and looked up at her pleadingly. "Please, sweet pea?"

"Well, I guess since you did get me a ring and I already agreed to it a week ago...I guess I have to," she told him cheekily once she regained her composure.

"..."

"That's a yes, you barmy Hatter!" came the March Hare's voice from the other side of the door.

"...It is?"

"Yes, Reginald, it is," Alice confirmed before jumping into his arms and sending them both sprawling.

A few minutes later...

"...So I'm supposed to put the ring on your finger when you say yes?"

"Yes, Reginald."

"But, why?"

"I'm not really sure, actually. But it is considered to be very romantic."

"Oh, all right!" Reginald scooped up her left hand and, prying the ring from its velvet holder, slipped it on her finger and leaned back to admire it. "Lovely," he announced proudly.

As both Alice and Reginald were both lounging in the kitchen floor at this point, discussing the proper ways to propose, the March Hare was rather shocked when he finally managed to convince himself that it was safe to go inside.

"Let me see!" he demanded, hopping over to stand looking down at the blissful couple. Alice dutifully held her hand up for inspection. "Very nice, Reg, old chap," he finally said, voice ringing with approval. The silver band was beautifully crafted, with a small silver teacup in the center holding a round diamond that peeked over the rim of the "cup."

"We thought so," Reginald said smugly, earning himself a light shove from his now-official fiance.