Oh my god, i'm so sorry about the lack of updates! I couldn't find a way of finishing the story that i liked, and now my iTouch has decided to hate me and not let me send the stuff i wrote in the 'notes' app as an email. Therefore i apologise profusely for the crappy formatting (i'm writing this in FF editor and have no idea how it will look), i just wanted to get this up before people kill me for the cliffie :s Anyway... here it is, i hope you like it. Last chapter tomorrow! Love you. Dray xx

"ALICE!"

She felt warm arms around her from behind, pulling her back sharply. They fell to the floor, Alice on top of the Hatter. They untangled themselves and stood. Alice turned to face the Hatter, only to be enveloped tightly in his arms. She relaxed into the hug, more grateful than she had ever been that he had not let her fall.

"How could... What on earth were ye thinkin, lassie? You could've... If I hadn't..." Alice could tell that the Hatter was shaken. She felt guilty that she had put him through that, but the relief overrode every other emotion. Well, maybe not every other. She leaned back to look at him.

"Do you know me, Tarrant?"

"Yes." He said softly. "You are Alice Kingsley, the champion of underland and my dearest companion." A tear slipped down his cheek. Alice kissed it away.

"What's the matter?"

"I wanted to protect you. The Red Queen... She said that I didn't belong here. She said I was dangerous to you, and she's right."

"No. She doesn't decide that. Not even you get to decide that. I know that you aren't a threat to anyone, and all of your closest friends know it too. You belong here, Hatter." Alice put a hand on his cheek and looked into his sparkling green eyes. "With Mirana, with Mally and Thackery... With me. I love you, Tarrant. Don't you ever dare leave me like that again, do you hear me?"

He managed a weak smile.

"Alice..."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

She was shocked into silence. He had never voiced his feelings to her before, and she had assumed that he never would. It was difficult to tell with the Hatter because most of the time he acted like a child, but sometimes he could surprise everyone by being very sensible and serious. After her earlier panic, she was reassured that he did in fact care for her. She was dizzy with relief and happiness.

He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her towards him slowly. Their lips met softly and the Hatter put his other arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Alice let herself be swept away by the feeling of him standing so close. The Hatter was controlling the situation - a fact that Alice was thankful for, as she was in no state to form any coherent thought other than 'thank Time he's back.' He had finally accepted that Alice loved him.

"Don't ever dae that again, ye hear? If ye... I dinnae know what I'd dae wi'out ye."

"Nor I without you. I thought you'd never come back to me. I can't lose you again, Hatter."

"And you won't. I think we ought to go and see Mirana, she will want to know that we're both in one piece."

He offered Alice his arm and they went into the throne room, happy to have each other back again.