Author's Note: Hello everyone! Sorry this took so long, the next chapter will be coming soon!


Returning Home

"Oh, hello", Alice said flashing him a bright smile, "would you like to come in?"

Tarrant stood staring at the floor, twirling his hat in his hands. He had on an outfit similar to the one he'd worn on her first return, except it was more formal in some places. He looked very handsome.

"Oh yes, well, perhaps I should wait until you've changed", he stumbled over his words as he finally looked up at her. Alice had completely forgotten her attire. Embarrassed she crossed her arms, attempting to rumple the thin fabric.

"You're fine, come in, come in", she said hastily, stepping aside. He hesitated before entering.

"Always the gentleman", she thought affectionately.

She began to close the door but he caught her hand, then immediately jerked it away. The feel of his fingertips sent shock waves up her arm. If she could have her way, she would much rather share the evening alone with the Hatter…

Alice shook her head slightly, clearing her thoughts, "What is it?"

His voice shook a little, "I came to ask if you would like to have some tea before dinner. It always seems to help with my appetite", his voice cracked on the last word. Alice was confused by his behavior, but it looked like she was getting her wish.

"He seems absolutely terrified", she thought, "surly he doesn't expect me to say 'no'".

His hat was a blur in his hands.

"I would love to have tea, as a matter of fact, I was just about to get dressed, shall I meet you in say…five minutes?"

But his nerves continued to be on edge, "Five minutes? Yes that's fine, that's fine", he backed towards the doorway, knocking into it.

"See you then", and with that he darted out of the room.

Alice stood staring at the door. His nerves had caused her to forget her own, and slowly her stomach began to do flip-flops.

They would be alone.

The actions that took place in the carriage ride played over and over again in her mind as she dove into her trunk.

Alice was not the type of woman to be concerned about her appearance, but she felt a strange urge to find something…"nice looking".

Clothes were tossed about the room in every direction, until something lacey caught her eye. Crumpled at the bottom of her trunk was a black and pale-pink dress Margaret had given to her upon her return to London. Alice had grumbled when she was forced to wear it at her welcoming dinner, but her sickly mother had told her it looked lovely, so she obeyed her sister.

She quickly dressed and stood before one of the many mirrors. Alice thought it appropriate, but something was missing. She looked around the room and spotted Tarrant's hat he had made. Putting it on, she kicked her clothes into a pile and headed out the room quickly.
Knocking on his bedroom door she began to panic.

"Okay Alice, this is your chance, don't screw it up".

She was starting to believe that the only way she would ever know Tarrant's feelings would be to reveal her own.

Tarrant

Tarrant's hands rarely shook, but he was having trouble steadying them as he finished setting the small tea table. Mirana had been kind enough to stock his quarters with a tea set and while he was dressing for dinner, the Hatter had a sudden idea how to put it to good use.

After the frenzy in the dining hall, he washed and unpacked his things, all the while thinking about Alice. How her hair seemed to catch a sunbeam and wear it, showing it off whenever she turned her head, her eyes were bright and full of laughter, and whenever they moved in his direction he was aware of every nerve in his body. But the thing he had never had the chance to fully indulge in, until this afternoon, was her skin. Alice had embraced him before, and even when she was no bigger than Mally he could feel how smooth and soft she was. But the pleasure of being able to freely explore her this afternoon had been almost too much for him. She felt like a flower petal, velvety and supple. Tarrant couldn't help but imagine what other parts of her body felt like.

He respected Alice as a lady, but wanted her badly.

He knew that their physical attraction was increasing at an alarming rate, but of course he didn't mind it, as long as she didn't. Tarrant, no matter how swept away, knew where to draw the line, and if he ever felt that Alice was uncomfortable, there would be no questions asked. The most important thing is a lady's innocence, and he would die before destroying that for Alice.

But the invitation for tea was not a ploy to get Alice alone for lust.

Tarrant was already aware of tomorrow evening's events, which Alice knew nothing of. This would be the perfect opportunity to declare his feelings. There was to be a ball, to officially welcome Alice back to Underland. Mirana was aware of her dislike to be singled out, so she had asked Tarrant to be her escort to make her feel more comfortable.

Of course he said yes.

She also had requested that he break the news to her, thinking that he could do better convincing.

At this he begged her to reconsider.

But the Queen assured him that Alice would oblige. Tarrant has always trusted Mirana one hundred percent, but this time he was skeptical. He was to tell her the night before so she wouldn't have much time to change her mind.

During his bath he thought of different ways to approach her, but no scenario seemed to end in a 'yes'.

While putting on his gloves he knocked over a teacup. Setting it back onto the table, he had a brilliant, scandalous thought.

He would invite her to tea before dinner, and tell her about the ball in private, that way, he could use any convincing he could! Tarrant knew that Alice held complete power over him, but he hoped that maybe he could influence her a little bit if she resisted the idea. He knew that kissing the daylights out of her in front of everyone during dinner would be improper; a private tea party beforehand would be just the ticket. Tarrant never considered himself a Casanova, and his nerves had got the best of him when he asked her to come to his room. If she were to completely reject the idea, the entire ball would be ruined, and it would be his fault.

He jumped at the knock on the door. He straightened his hat, drew a deep breath and marched to the door.

Alice

When Tarrant opened the door he stopped short, looking her up and down.

"You look beautiful Alice", he said quietly. Alice started to fidget as he gazed at her, feeling self-conscious.

Tarrant seemed to come to his senses, "S-sorry, please do come in and have a seat".

Alice walked past him into the dimly lit room. It was so poorly lit she could hardly make out the walls. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness she spotted a small, marble table set for two near his window. Alice stood still, fearing that she would trip over something. She took a hesitant step forward and bumped into something hard.

"Here, how silly of me. These lamps must seem much stronger to me" he said apologetically, taking her by the hand. Alice immediately laced their fingers together, and she could see Tarrant's white smile shine through the darkness.

"You see, lately I've been finding myself working on into the night, under candle light".

"What are you making that's been occupying so much of your time?" Alice inquired, as she settled into her seat.

"Oh, you know, this and that" he said waving his hand in the air dismissively.

Tarrant reached for the teapot, but Alice stopped him, "Allow me".

"Oh…yes, by all means, thank you kindly" he said slightly surprised.

Alice began to fill their cups, "You know, I don't think I've ever had the honor to serve you tea Hatter".

"This is true, but it gives me great pleasure to serve my lady anyway I know how".

"None of this "my lady" nonsense, I'm just plain Alice".

"Believe me Alice, you are anything but plain".

She hoped the darkness was hiding a majority of her blush, "You're quite fetching yourself" she said with a small laugh.

He gave another dismissive wave.

"Tarrant" she said sipping her tea, "you're a very handsome man, surly you realize it. I'm surprised I didn't return and find you drowning in love letters". Though her tone was light and joking, there was truth hidden in her words. During her time away she had found herself day dreaming about Tarrant's life in Underland, wondering whether he had found someone to love yet. She would always grow inexplicably cranky at the thought.

"I admit members of the Hightopp clan are blessed with pleasing attributes, good looks being one of them", he said wriggling his eyebrows as Alice laughed at him, "Yet, I never found myself involved in the rings of flirting that went on in court. I was quite content with myself".

"What about when I left?"

She hadn't meant to ask, it just slipped out. Jealousy had gotten the better of her.

He smiled knowingly.

She tried to recover, "I mean, I assumed you would have returned to court after Mirana was reinstated. I could tell you missed it".

"Alice", he shook his head slowly, smiling, "Don't you understand?"

Alice watched, heart pounding, as he rose from his chair and kneeled in front of her.

"Alice, the day you arrived in Underland is a day that will be forever celebrated, not because you saved Underland, but because that day Alice Kingsleigh, my soul recognized it's match, because that day…is the day my heart would forever beat only for the sake of your existence…"

Alice had to blink back the tears that were threatening to spill over. The happiness she felt in that moment was too much for words, all she was capable of was a cry of joy as she fell from her chair and into his arms. They kneeled on the floor together in a tight embrace.

"Tarrant I feel so terrible that I left you", her words were muffled as she pressed her face into his neck, "I missed you, and I was wretched. All I could think and dream about was you. I tried to pretend otherwise, I was so blind" she was beginning to cry now. Alice tried to calm herself, embarrassed by her outburst.

All of a sudden he was kissing her, anywhere his mouth could get to, her eyes, her forehead, her cheeks. She grabbed his face, and forced his lips on hers. Tarrant's hands slithered to the Alice's back and pressed her body to his, Alice could feel his arousal grow through her dress as she slowly moved her hips closer. The heat from their bodies began to fill the room, and soon a thin layer of sweat began to cover their skin. She tilted her head back to give him access to her neck. His kisses trailed from her jaw bone, down the center of her throat and stopped at the top of the gown. Growling, he ripped the front buttons of her dress open, exposing her breasts.

Alice now knew she had a perfectly good reason for ignoring the use of corsets.

They stood and backed into the wall, knocking over the small furniture. His dark red eyes locked on hers as he bent down and began placing kisses down the valley of her chest, and then up again. Her body was shaking and her legs growing weaker by the moment, she could feel the proof of her own arousal beginning to spread between them.

Alice never had felt more desirable in her entire life. The Hatter's stealthy hands began massaging one breast as the other pulled up her dress, until he was touching the velvety skin on her thigh. She bent down and kissed him deeply before unbuttoning the rest of the dress. Tarrant slipped the garment off her shoulders and stared at her naked body. Alice's first instinct was to cover herself, but the way his eyes gazed hungrily at her nude body made Alice completely forget about any shamefulness. She loved him, she wanted him, and this time there would be no interruptions.

The light from the moon spilled over his face, lighting up his features. He was so beautiful.

She pulled him back up to her level and kissed him gently before whispering to him, "I want you Tarrant…I need you".

Alice poured every bit of herself into those words as she cupped his face. She had missed him, and she would never get enough of him.

He stared intently at her, breathing hard.

"…This was always how it was supposed to be…me and you", she knew why he was hesitating, but he had no reason to be conflicted. She would never love a man like she loved him; it would be Tarrant forever, so she would be making no mistakes tonight, whatever they decided.

Steadily, eyes still locked, he lifted her hand and brought it to his lips.

"Always…"

She nodded with a smile and put her mouth to his neck, dragging wet kisses up to his jaw.

Tarrant ran his hands down the length of her body, then quickly picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. He was on her in an instant.

But before he could so much as kiss her, Alice pushed her hips upwards, grinding them against his hardness. The rough moan that came from him sent her mind into a frenzy. He bent down and whispered into her ear, his breath hot,

"I'm gonna make yeh pay for tha' woman" he pulled back grinning at her, laid beside her and started to slowly run his fingertips down her side, tracing the skin below her navel. Alice bit her lip and yanked at the heavy blankets, trying to keep her hands preoccupied. He waited a moment and then continued his fingers across her hip bone and drew circles on her inner thigh. Alice thought she would explode, but the teasing felt delicious.

She moved slightly, causing his hands to bump into her folds. This time, it was Alice who moaned.

"Tarrant, please" she managed to whisper. He chuckled and leaned closer to her.

His finger gave one quick twitch and grazed her pulsing mound. Stars burst in front of her eyes as her body jerked and convulsed beneath his hands.

"I wan' teh hear yeh say me name again lass", his heavy accent was driving her mad with desire.

Alice pulled his face down and kissed him deeply, then whispered, "Tarrant".

Before she was even done with his name he slipped his fingers into her core. She let out a surprised cry and threw her head back in ecstasy. Tarrant kept switching from her dripping sex to her throbbing nub. Alice could feel herself building to a climax, but she was trying to hold onto herself for as long as she could, but the way his teeth nipped at her neck was causing her to fall into blissful oblivion.

Alice was suddenly aware that Tarrant was fully clothed as she took hold of his collar.

She reached for his trousers while she spoke, "Hatter, you're far too over clothed".

Her comment seemed to fuel the fire as he pressed his mouth hard against hers while she yanked down his pants.

His throbbing member demanded attention as Tarrant pushed it into her hand. Alice couldn't help but smile with pleasure at the way his body yearned for her touch. She took her finger and softly teased the head of his cock. His hands worked vigorously as he panted into her ear.

She was lost in pleasure, both from his hands and the delight she was returning to him. Tarrant sucked and licked her neck while she began to slowly stroke his length, then moving her hand faster, until he was swearing under his breath. They moaned and shook together until the hairs on Alice's neck stood on end, and her climax came roaring forward. She clutched at his chest while her juices flowed over his fingers.

They lay together, still for a moment as Alice's heavy breaths slowed.

When she turned to look at him he was already gazing at her, his eyes back to their bright green. He looked at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world, and she wanted to tell him exactly how she felt, that she wanted to spend every waking moment with him for the rest of her days.

But before she could open her mouth he placed a soft, long kiss on her forehead.

He pulled back and studied her as he smiled to himself, "You're an unmatched beauty…my Alice"

She began to kiss him softly until she could feel her desire building itself up again, "I will never understand why I deserved all of this, all of you", she murmured.

Her hands began to snake downward, but he stopped her.

Tarrant took her hands, "Before we go any further, I want to …ask you something"


R&R Please!