I find writing whole chapters to be a little more difficult these days, even though I love to. So, in the meantime, I picked up this challenge again. I could write one story in about a day and it kept the writing muse happy. I went for all Glee songs again. :) Please enjoy!


Take My Breath Away (Diana Agron and Naya Rivera, originally by Berlin)

(This is Tarrant's POV before their wedding.)

It was a day that all of Underland had been waiting for, but no one had been waiting as long as I had. It was the day that Alice and I were to be wed and I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I wasn't nervous about my love for Alice, far from it! That was one on a very short list of things that I was completely certain of.

What concerned me was ... well, me.

Was I condemning her to a life with a madman? Was I ruining any hope she had for a happy life? She told me she loves me, but did she know? Did she really know what she was getting into? I could barely live with me some days, how could I expect her to?

As I began to fear that I would go full tilt into a mad episode with worry, Chess appeared.

"You know, Tarrant, you're going to wear a tread in the carpet if you don't stop pacing," he said with an impatient tone.

"I'm in no mood for you, cat," I replied tersely.

"Oh come now. Isn't it time we let bygones be bygones? I did rescue you from that dreadful cell," he said as he rolled above me. "And I did return your hat."

I stopped and thought about that. Over the past few weeks, Chess and I really had started to get along. Maybe it was just habit to snap at him.

"Very well. What do you want, Chess?"

He began circling my head. "I've come to check on the groom. Alice is pacing her room as well, wondering if you're are well."

"Is she having second thoughts?" I asked, perhaps a bit too quickly.

"Oh, Tarrant. Are you really that unsure of yourself? Of course she isn't. She's just thinking of you and dreading the crowd. You know our Alice, she always has something on her mind."

"Aye, that she does."

Chess stopped floating around and stared at me. "You really do love her, don't you?"

"Of course I do! Why else would I be marrying her?!"

My eyes must have changed a little because Chess suddenly backed away.

"I'm sorry, Chess. I'm just scared."

"Of what?"

"Of what? Of ruining Alice's life! She'll be saddled with a mad hatter for eternity. Eventually she's bound to regret this decision, and then she'll want to leave and probably go back to London and of course I won't stop her because who could blame her and then I'll just be -"

"Tarrant," Chess drolled.

"Miserable. Thank you."

"Let me explain something to you. Alice is not only an Alice, but THE Alice. Do you really assume that she would do anything she did not want to do?"

"Nae. She's feisty like that."

"Precisely. She wants this, Tarrant. She wants you. So stop being so Hatter about it and go marry her."

When did the cat become so wise?

"Yes, marry her. I think I shall. Thank you, Chess." I began to walk to the door. "You are a good friend."

"I won't let it go to my head," he said with a wink.

I made my way down to the courtyard. There were so many guests! Thackery and Mally each gave me a thumbs up as I took my place at the front and before I knew it, music began to play. There, far down the long aisle, were two visions in white. But only one caught my eye.

Alice was breathtaking.

Her gown was like a white version of the tiny dress I made for her in the teapot. On her head was the hat I made for her. She was gorgeous.

Suddenly, Thackery smacked me with a ladle. "Air!" he cried. "Gotta breathe!"

I hadn't realized that I was even holding my breath. But who could be bothered with a trifle like air when there was an angel walking towards you?

Finally, they reached me.

"Be good to her Tarrant. She's a champion," Mirana said as she kissed my cheek.

"This I know, highness. This I know."

The Queen walked away from us as we walked up the three steps to the minister.

"You look beautiful, my dear," I whispered to my sweet Alice. "And the design of that dress … it looks familiar."

"Yes, well, I had a specific dress in mind when I had them make it. And by the way, you look very handsome."

Her compliment fell on deaf ears. Nothing could be handsome next to her. She took my breath away.


Just the Way You Are (Cory Monteith & cast, originally by Bruno Mars)

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change...

Hatter is sleeping, but I can't help but stay awake and stare at him. He would feel terribly self conscious if he knew I was doing it, but I just love doing this. We've only been married for a few weeks, but I find myself doing this a good bit.

People from London would be horrified to see him. The colorful circles around his eyes, the strange coloration of his cheeks, his snow white complexion, and his bright orange, unruly hair would cause many in Overland to run in fear.

But it's these things that make me love him more. Perhaps it sounds strange, but its his differences that attract me to him. He represents everything I despised about London. It was drab, he is colorful. It was stuffy, he is free. It was quiet, he laughs louder than anyone I know. London encouraged marrying for status, but I married him for love.

The bandages and scars represent his dedication, to his craft, to his morals and to those around him. His hair might have turned from the mercury, but it's endearing.

I glance to his hat, sitting on the nightstand, never too far from him. His hat is a part of him. I so rarely see it not on his head. But it's also a tragic reminder of the devastation of his clan. The last remaining piece of their history. I sometimes wonder why he doesn't remove the price tag, but I think he hates to make any changes to it. It must be as preserved as their memory is in his mind.

Suddenly he's stirring. I debate whether I should quickly pretend to be asleep, or let him catch me.

"Poppet, I know you're awake," he mumbles as his eyes barely open.

"How did you know?"

"Sweetness, no one can be stared at that intensely and not wake from it."

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't help thinking of all the ways you aren't like Londoners."

He quirks an eyebrow at me. "Did that list include the fact that I've never been to London?" he asks with a smile.

"No, but I suppose it should. I was just thinking how you are completely different from any other man I've met, with the exception maybe of my father."

"I shall take that as a compliment, dearest."

"It is meant to be. I'm just so grateful to have you in my life. I love you so very much."

"And I love you as well, beautiful. What brought all this on?"

"I don't know. Sometimes I just look at you and think on how perfect you really are."

"Pfft!" he scoffs.

"You can disagree all you like, but I think you're perfect."

"Then we shall have to agree to disagree, yes?"

"I suppose so," I said, playfully sticking my tongue out at him.

He made the same face at me and then kissed my forehead. "Now, perhaps we should get back to sleep?"

"Yes, perhaps. Good night, darling."

"Good night, my love."


We Found Love in a Hopeless Place (Glee cast, originally by Rihanna)

Never would I have expected to fall in love ... in Underland ... with a Mad Hatter. But that's exactly what happened. I didn't see it when I first arrived. I was so confused by the tea party and the talking animals. Then I was riding on a hat. I didn't fall in love then, but I was certainly intrigued by the man wearing the hat. And once I was tossed on that hat, I was beginning to see the character of the man. The integrity, the bravery. He was much more than the madness that everyone saw. Once we met again in Salazen Grum, and he lied to keep my identity secret, I knew I could trust him.

But when I returned his hat, it was then that I began to fall for the man.

It was in that terrifying, hopeless castle that I began to see love. After he succumbed to the madness, it was me that seemed to snap him out of it. The look in his eyes drew me in. Yes, they were an unnatural color, but they were full of such pain. I just wanted to hold him and tell him it would be ok. That I would be there for him. But there was the matter of our height difference.

"Why is it you're always too small, or too tall?" he asked.

I could only smile my reply. After all, I was thinking the same thing. Would I have kissed him if I were my right, proper Alice-size? I'll never know. I'd like to think yes. But perhaps we weren't ready yet.

We had found love in that hopeless place, but we hadn't confessed it yet, or really defined it for that matter.

I had certainly never loved a man before besides my father, and what I saw of my sister's love was a joke to me. That wasn't love at all. I didn't know if I was in love or not. And he wouldn't have understood either. Very few people wanted to be around the Mad Hatter, let alone love him. He was frightening and strange. Only other mad animals, or kindly queens, would befriend him. The feeling was just as new and unnerving to him.

But it built, and built, and after a midnight chat on a balcony, a confirmation that thinking of 6 impossible things before breakfast is an excellent idea, and a futterwacken, I knew what I had felt in Salazen Grum.

It was love. Even if it started in such a place.


Blame It on the Alcohol (Glee cast, originally by Jamie Foxx & T-Pain)

It was a little known fact that Alice could not hold her liquor. I first found out about a week before our wedding. The queen had sent us a basket of gifts and in it was a bottle of the best wine in all of Underland ... a big bottle.

"Oh, cricket, you must try this! It's delightful!" I said as I popped the cork and poured a glass.

A few glasses in and I noticed Alice getting more and more giggly. Then she began to get a little handsy. Before I knew it, she was passed out on the couch and I needed to carry her up to her bed.

As for this night, I don't know what possessed Alice, but when the Queen planned an all ladies outing, she thought she would be fine.

"Please, poppet, do be careful. Don't drink too much," I asked seriously.

"Hatter, I'll be fine. I'll have Mirana and the other ladies to keep me in check."

I wasn't sure I trusted the other ladies and I had seen at a few royal occasions that Mirana wasn't the strongest drinker either. I decided I would follow the group. If I got caught, I could get in serious trouble, but better I get in trouble with Alice than she in get trouble elsewhere.

Once they left, I followed their carriage at a safe distance on my horse. It was so loud in there, I doubted they would have heard me if I was directly behind them.

They stopped at a local tavern that had apparently been bought out for the night. When the queen threw a party, she did it right.

As the ladies got out of the carriage, I noticed that none of them looked the same. Mirana's white hair was now a brownish color and Alice's was a stark black. The other ladies from court also looked different. Mirana must have wanted to get out of the castle, but not be recognized either.

They went in and began their night out. It all seemed harmless at first, but then the drinks kept coming. They began to get louder and louder. Soon enough, some were giving each other unsolicited advice on lovers, some were laughing, some were crying. I darted into the tavern and paid the barkeep to cut them off. A disappointed group of ladies "climbed" back into the carriage to get back to Marmoreal.

When they returned, Mirana announced that everyone should go back to their rooms, including Alice. Thank goodness we had a room at the castle for just for these occasions. (Well, maybe not this specifically...)

I met Alice at the front gate and asked if I could escort her to our room.

"Oh, darling, you can escort me anywhere!" she slurred.

When we walked through the front door of the castle, Alice's hair instantly changed back. The potion must have worked that way. I was glad because it was too strange seeing Alice not looking like Alice.

As she staggered and swayed, I decided it would be easier to carry her, rather than balance her. Once I got her to our room, handsy-Alice was back.

"Hatter, you are devastatingly handsome ... have I told you that recently?"

"Yes, love, though not nearly as inebriated. I think it's time to get you into bed."

"Ooh, I like that idea! Now if I could just get these buttons on your coat undone..."

I sighed. "Alice, the buttons on my jacket are already undone."

"Oh, well that's much better then! Tarrant, do you realize you wear too many layers? Don't you find it tiresome? A coat, a vest, a shirt, a tie, a coat and a tie and a vest, and a shirt and -"

Alice could also ramble as much as I could when she was intoxicated.

"Alice," I interrupted.

"Tie. Thank you, darling."

"Alice, dear, I think you need to let me undress you and get you to bed."

"Yes! I've been trying to get you undressed!"

"No, sweetness, for sleep. You are far too far gone for any lovemaking. I won't take advantage of you."

"You wouldn't be! Let's go!"

I shook my head. I would really need to scold Mirana for this.

"Alice, could you just lie down please? I'll be right back."

"Oh, I'll definitely get on the bed for you, love!"

Alice clamored onto the bed and I left the room. I had nothing to get, but I knew what would happen if she laid down. When I returned just a minute later, there was a sleeping Alice. Even completely out, she was still easier to undress and redress than a squirmy Alice.

I got myself ready for bed and climbed in next to her, planning my talk with Mirana...


Control (Glee cast, originally by Janet Jackson)

This is a story about control, my control
Control of what I say, control of what I do
And this time I'm gonna do it my way

Growing up, I always felt constricted. I felt wrong in my own skin. I didn't belong here. The rules didn't fit me. The clothes didn't fit me. The colors and the weather and the relationships didn't fit me.

I had no control over my own life. Someone chose what I ate, what I wore, who I saw, especially after Father had passed away. How could people live like this? How could they be comfortable under these conditions?

I certainly couldn't.

But where could I go? There wasn't anywhere in London, or the world for that matter, that really let women have any of the freedoms that men had. Very few places would understand me and let me be me. And even if I found those places, how would I get there, support myself, do what I wanted?

And then I was tricked into an engagement party. My own mother deceived me to marry me off to a lord. Was this what my life had become? Forced into an uncomfortable dress, to dance uncomfortably and get engaged to a very uncomfortable man? This was not my life. I couldn't do it.

I ran off and searched for a rabbit in a waistcoat. I never expected him to lead me to a magical world, but he was a good distraction in the meantime.

After I found my Wonderland, I found control. No one disagreed with my choices. I was allowed to be me.

"Poppet, where are you right now?" Hatter's voice breaks my daydreaming.

"What?"

He giggles. "Yes, you must have been far away. Where did you wander off to?"

"London," I reply.

His eyes dance with yellow for a moment. "London?"

"Don't worry, darling. I was merely remembering how stuffy it was there and how little control I had. And how much better things are here. I get to do things my way without being made to feel strange."

"Oh. Well, that makes me feel much better." He paused. "Do you miss it at all?"

"I don't miss anything about London, except maybe Mother and Margaret. Otherwise, I left nothing behind that I regret. Keep swinging."

Tarrant picked up his feet and began swinging again. A wedding gift from Nivens was a beautiful porch swing. He didn't look like a wood craftsman, but he was actually quite good.

"We've only been married for a month, Hatter. Are you that worried already I'll want to go back to London?"

"Overland was your home for many years, dearheart. It wouldn't be a surprise if you wanted to return."

"My home is wherever you are, my love. Especially if there are no stuffy rules."

Hatter grinned. "I would never take you anywhere with a lack of control, poppet. Never."

"Then we are quite set. Keep swinging."

"As you wish."