A/N: I am so sorry for the delay on this chapter! I hate not having time to update. Grrr.

Another thanks to EbonyRayne for an idea in this story.

Thank you all so much for your amazing reviews! I am flattered and so grateful that this story has over 400 reviews! I love knowing that I'm not the only one to love these two. I have the best readers anywhere!!

A few months after Will was born, I really wanted to return to London to see my mother. I knew she was over the moon with another grandchild (thanks to the letters delivered by Absolem, our less-than-excited post-butterfly) and I desperately wanted them to meet.

So, it was then that Tarrant gave me the surprise that he and Mirana were working on, a mirror that would serve as a doorway between the worlds. All we had to do was walk through it and we would be back in my old room. Letters could be delivered through here as well. (Much to the relief of a certain blue butterfly.)

I wrote my mother our last letter via Absolem, letting her know that the mirror was set up and to check for letters in my room periodically. And that we would be coming to visit soon.

When the day came, I was bouncing with anticipation.

"You know, cricket, the last time we went to see your mother, you were much less excited," Tarrant teased.

"Well, that was before I knew how wonderful it could be. Now, I'm very happy to return. So hush!"

We packed up the children and walked through.

"Amazing!" I exclaimed as we walked out into my room. "So much easier and much less disgusting than jabberwocky blood."

Hatter smiled. "Indeed."

We hurried downstairs to find my mother and sister.

"Margaret! I didn't know you would be here as well," I said, rushing to her to hug her.

"Mother wanted to surprise you," she replied.

"And where are—"

"They both stayed home," Margaret interrupted.

I decided against asking why. I was fairly certain I knew the answer already: Tarrant.

So we sat and chatted for some time. Charlotte loved the attention from her grandmother and her aunt. And Margaret enjoyed braiding Lottie's long orange curls.

As we were sitting and talking, suddenly an odor struck my nose. I glanced to Tarrant, who was obviously smelling the same thing.

"Oh dear," he sighed.

"Can I assume that … smell is from William?" my mother asked, sniffing at the baby on her lap.

"I'm afraid so," I answered as I began to stand.

"Alice, stay with your family," Tarrant said as he stood. "I'll change Will."

He took the baby from my mother and left with the bag of supplies.

My sister's jaw almost hit the ground. "He changes diapers?"

"Yes. He has always been wonderful with the baby chores," I said, trying to hold back my smile. I'm sure Lowell barely held his child at all, let alone take the dirty jobs.

"Daddy is such a good daddy!" Charlotte chimed in. "He does everything!"

"Yes, he seems like it," Margaret said absently.

"He changes the diapers and burps baby Will and he still tucks me in every night. And he makes so many hats for Mummy!"

In that instant, I choked on my tea and blushed redder than I probably ever have, giving myself away.

My sister, observant pest that she was, caught on immediately.

"Hats … I see. And how many hats does your mummy have?"

"More than I can count!" Lottie answered proudly, not understanding what she was giving away. "There's a room that is just wall to wall, top to bottom hats! Daddy is always making a new hat for Mummy."

My mother was trying so hard not to laugh, but Margaret didn't have the same decency.

"Little sister! You …" she trailed off, not wanting to say something wrong in front of Charlotte. "Well, you must be a busy woman!"

I knew she was trying to make me uncomfortable, and to a point, she was succeeding. But two could play this game.

"Yes, well, we are very busy people. But something has certainly confused me in the past 10 years. After you were married, you told me that I should lay back and think about tea time. I don't know how you could focus on tea time or anything else for that matter."

By this time, my usually very composed mother was practically bursting keeping her laughter in.

"Mother!" Margaret whined to her.

"Margaret, heavens. Alice is just giving you a dose of your own medicine. And if she and Tarrant are busy people, then that is certainly their business. And if she has a hat for every time …" she glanced at me for confirmation. I nodded, covering my eyes. "Well, then she must have an extensive collection."

"Tea time, indeed," Margaret grumbled.

I decided if we were going to play this game, then I was going to win. "I mean, of course, there was that one occurrence actually at his old tea tables. I'll admit to thinking of tea time then," I said, casually taking a sip.

Mother stood at this, shaking her head. "All right then, Alice. Lottie, dear, perhaps we should see what is taking your father and brother so long, yes?"

"Yes, grandmother," Lottie replied, oblivious to the conversation around her. And so she took my mother's hand and they left.

"And now you chased off Mother. You and your hats," Margaret snipped.

"You, sister, were the one who asked about the hats and pushed the conversation. I merely answered your questions. If you want, I'm more than happy to continue answering your questions. I have a very happy life with Tarrant both in and out of our bedroom. He's got a lot of muchness."

"You and those nonsense words."

"It's not nonsense. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. There's just so much about him. He's brimming with muchness."

"Oh, Alice, are you actually referring to…" she trailed off.

"Not specifically, no. Would you like to know about that as well?"

"Heavens no!" she replied, aghast.

I paused and really looked at my sister. She had aged so poorly in such a short amount of time.

"What is wrong with you, Margaret? You used to be so full of life. I think you've lost your muchness."

"Do you honestly not know?"

"Apparently not."

"Alice, I'm … jealous. I'm jealous of the wonderful life you have. You live in a fantastic land of dreams, you have tea with the queen, you are married to a man who worships the ground you walk on, you have two beautiful children. Your life is perfect. Mine … mine is a disaster."

"It's not a disaster," I said, knowing that it probably was.

She scoffed. "My husband is a cheat. I live in a loveless marriage. I fear that my son will grow to be just like his father. My life, Alice, is a disaster. I don't mean to be so cold with you, but I just wish I had half of what you have."

"I wish there were something I could do to help you."

"Yes, so do I. But there's nothing. Life is what it is."

"How long have you known he's been cheating?"

"For some time now. Probably a few months before you went away."

"And is he still up to it?"

"I do not know. It seems to have stopped, or he has gotten better at hiding it."

I smiled a bit. Hopefully, Tarrant's little "talk" helped.

"Why are you smiling?" she asked, knowing the gears in my head were turning.

"Margaret, I'm sorry to tell you that I knew Lowell is a dog. Right before I left, I caught him with a woman in the gardens. I wish now I would have told you, but ultimately you knew anyway. At the end of our last visit, Tarrant told him to stop and … threatened him in a way."

"Lowell wouldn't be scared so easily, especially from …" she trailed off again. I knew she was holding back from saying something rude about my husband.

"I don't know about that. Tarrant can be quite persuasive."

She gave me a questioning look.

I tried to figure out how to say this delicately, without making her terrified of Hatter. "Tarrant has been through a lot in Underland. There was a war there and he fought valiantly. It brought out a side of him that he doesn't like to use, but does when he has to. He spoke with Lowell and hopefully it did something."

"I think there's something you're leaving out, Alice. But I'll let it go. If it helped, then I'm grateful for it."

"I'm so sorry, Margaret."

She shrugged. "Like I said, it is what it is. Perhaps things will start to get better."

"I'm hoping so, sister."

"I miss this, you know," she said. "I miss being sisters."

"You'll always be my sister!"

"Yes, but since you've been gone, I've missed you."

For a moment, I felt terrible for leaving. But then Hatter returned with our children and my mother. I saw him holding Will and with a hand on Lottie's shoulder. And then I suddenly regretted nothing.

"But I cannot deny you what you have," Margaret whispered. "How could I ever deny you this happiness?"

I nodded slightly. I hated knowing what my sister was going through, but I still couldn't help but love my own life.

"So, what were you ladies discussing?" Hatter asked as he sat with us again.

"Mummy's hats!" Charlotte announced.

"And your tea tables," Margaret teased.

"Alice!" Tarrant said, instantly blushing.

"Well, it wasn't my idea!" I defended. "Don't worry, though. I defended your muchness."

My mother rolled her eyes. "Alice, some modesty now, please!"

I knew she was referring to Charlotte, so I dropped the subject. Though, I still couldn't help but giggle a little bit.

It was nice to be like this. Sitting with the most important people in my life. Laughing and teasing. We had supper and then it was time to leave.

"Margaret, if you need anything, please let me know," I said, hugging my sister.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I was so cold toward you early," she said, hugging back tightly.

"I understand now."

"You have a beautiful family."

"Thank you," I whispered, unsure of what to say to her about that.

"Alice, thank you for visiting," my mother said, hugging me as well. "Maybe now with your new mirror, you can visit more often?"

"I would love that," I said.

After all the hugs and kisses and goodbyes, we travelled back through the mirror into our chambers. It was already bedtime for the children.

As we got into bed, I thanked Tarrant for our new door to London.

"Sweetness, it was nothing. I love knowing that you can visit your family whenever you wish now."

"It was wonderful to talk with Mother and Margaret again."

"Yes, and just what exactly were you and Margaret discussing?"

I blushed. "Well, Charlotte actually dug me into that hole. She told them about my room full of hats and Margaret figured out what they … represented."

"I see."

"And once she started to tease me about it, well, I just retaliated."

"It's all right, cricket. I had siblings, I know how it happens. At least you defended my muchness!"

"Not that it needs defending," I said, running my fingers down his chest.

"Feeling the need for another hat, love?" he asked, smirking.

"Oh definitely. If I'm going to get teased for it, I'm going to reap the benefits!"

Tarrant leaned over to kiss me and began the inspiration for my newest hat.