Alice's POV

'Alice, dearheart, may I join you.' Tarrant invited, seeing me standing on the balcony where I had made the decision to defend Underland from the Jabberwocky.

'Of course, Hatter.' I said, scooting over to pat the seat beside me. He strode over and sat down. We both looked up at the stars. The night air was cool and there was a breeze that played with our hair.

'Alice?' Tarrant called softly after a moment of silence.

'Yes?' I answered softly, looking at him.

'We've known each other for a long time.' He stated with a light smile on his pink lips.

'Since I was a child.' I grinned remembering the first time I fell down the rabbit hole.

'Aye.' He said in his Outlandish accent as he smiled wider. 'And we've been lovers for quite awhile now.'

'Get to the point, Hatter.' I giggled playfully. He was dangerously close to a rant.

'I don't want that anymore.' He said quietly. That shut me up. I froze, taking in a shaky breath. What was he saying? He didn't want me? He no longer loved me? What changed?

'Don't you love me?' I asked in a small voice as tears brimmed up in my eyes. Funny how the pressure of guarding an entire kingdom couldn't break me over the years but this eccentric, wonderful man before me could do so with five words.

'Silly Alice, you've no idea how much. Alice?' He asked confusedly as a tear trickled down my cheek. He held my face in his large hands and I wondered how long he'd hold me this way. 'Don't cry, Champion.' He begged.

'You're leaving me.' I accused in my shaking heartbroken voice. I felt like I was shutting down. I didn't want to hear him actually say the words!

'Of course not! Quite the opposite!' He exclaimed, eyes wide in shock.

'Excuse me?' I asked again. What was he playing at? He says he's not leaving me but he says he doesn't want to be lovers.

'I want to marry you.' He said boldly though his pink cheeks told different. I blinked once then twice. I think my mouth was open. I closed it. Marriage. To my Hatter. Tarrant. He slipped off the bench and dropped to one knee, taking my hand.

'Alice, I know a Hatter is no rank for a Champion even if I am a royal one. And you deserve better. But I promise you, there'll be no one that'll protect you, love you more than I do, ever. You mean more to me than all the worlds wherever they may be, my muchy girl. I would be honored to call you my wife.' He said, honesty shining in his emerald green eyes.

'Yes.' I managed to gasp through the thick wall of emotion in me. I couldn't breathe. I was going to be married. Not an arranged one to a snob. To a brave, loyal, completely mad man. The man of my dreams.

He jumped up then, picking me up around the waist and spinning me round and round, our breathless laughter like music in the dark of night. I've never felt so light and free and joyous. When he set me down, he held up a gold ring with a sapphire imbedded on the top, the colour of my eyes. He slid it on my finger and I angled it so the light of the moon made it glint. It was perfect and beautiful, like the man before me.

'You've made me the luckiest man to live.' He said bending down to kiss my lips sweetly.

'Alice Hightopp had a nice ring to it.' I whispered against his mouth, smiling.

'Tell me, what possessed you to think I was leaving you?' He asked, giving me light kisses that were both short and spectacular.

'You said you didn't want to be lovers.' I accused breathlessly as his lips brushed against mine.

'Silly Alice, I could never leave you!' He said giggling, revealing the cute gap in his teeth that I loved so much. 'You've no idea how that would break me. I need you, my heart would not beat without you beside me. It nearly stopped when you left and for a long time I was afraid that you'd leave again.' He said, strong arms around my slender frame.

'Tarrant, don't you know I'd never leave you now? You're all I want here in Underland. I'll never forget how you believed in me when no one else did. I love you just as much as you love me.' I swore, hugging him tightly.

We stayed silent after that, warming the marble floor with our bodies as we watched the stars no longer just playful lovers but as two people as deeply in love as could be. I listened to his heart beat until I drifted off, his hand stroking my hair softly, knowing that his heart beat for me.

Mirana's POV

'Mirana!' I heard my name being called excitedly as the balance in my bed was disturbed. Surely whatever it was could wait. It must be so early.

'Mirana, get your immaculately white bottom up! This is important.' Alice said as I finally recognized her voice. I pried my eyes open. Slightly.

'Too early.' I mumbled, pulling up the covers to my chin. Alice could be as mad as Tarrant sometimes.

'Too early to tell you that I'm engaged?' She challenged in a cheery voice. My eyes flashed open as I shot up.

'What?' I nearly yelled.

'I'm sorry, your Majesty. We couldn't stop her.' Two chess pieces wheezed as they came in.

'Shoo!' I said, getting up to hurry them out of the door. I slammed it shut and faced a very bubbly Alice, perched on my bed.

'Oh my goodness!' I squealed finally, running to hug my best friend. We laughed and giggled and jumped on my bed like a pair of young girls.

'You are looking at the soon to be Alice Hightopp!' She said proudly, beaming a bright smile at me. I beamed one right back.

'We must make preparations! We have to plan this perfectly. The wedding of my two best friends!' I squealed in joy as I hopped up to find pens, paper and McTwisp.

For once, I didn't hear the usual groan from behind me. I grinned secretly as I went through the secret door to Pamina's room.