Marmoreal...

They had been camping out in the throne room for hours upon hours...and all for the love of Alice. As soon as Mirana had found out that Alice's waters had broke, she had gathered the group of them in the room and said that they were not to be disturbed unless it was for a matter of utmost importance. They had made the throne room into what could only be described as looking like a teenager sleepover...but with tea! Tea calms the nerves. They were all watching the large ornate looking glass that was occupying the room.

It was late at night.

Mirana was sitting in her throne (which had been moved especially for better viewing of the mirror) and was drinking a strong cup of tea, Thackery was sitting on a pile of blankets (and one on his head for some reason?) and was holding a ladle closely to his chest, the Tweedles were sitting in a tent which they had made out of blankets, McTwisp was sitting next to the queen quivering with worry (he had already fainted three times at the sight of blood!), Mally was inside a teacup on the table, Chess was lying on a blanket on the floor for once and he had Tarrant's hat on his head...and lastly, Tarrant was pacing restlessly whilst watching the scene play out in the mirror.

"Tarrant please sit down; pacing like that will not help anybody!" Mirana said. Tarrant complied and sat in front of the mirror.

"I can't do it!" Alice screamed with another push.

"Yes you can Alice!" the Tweedles shouted, for once agreeing with each other.

"Alice you have a beautiful baby girl." the midwife smiled as she handed over the tiny baby wrapped in a soft pink blanket.

The occupants of the room cheered with joy. hey looked at the baby through the mirror and couldn't deny the beauty of her. She had the same blonde hair as her mother, but they couldn't be sure of her eyes because she hadn't opened them yet.

An electric buzz was in the room and they sat in a comfortable silence until...

"I was thinking of the name Eloise Mirana Mallymkun Kingsleigh." she smiled.

"Such a wonderful name!" Mirana exclaimed with joy.

"Just like her mother's." Tarrant said without tearing his eyes away from the mirror.

"It might sound bad but I have no idea of who the father is." Alice stated.

The truth was...neither did they; Absolem wouldn't tell them.

"Whoever he is, he is the luckiest man in Aboveland." Tarrant smiled sadly. Mally moved to his shoulder and tried to comfort him.

"Look Alice, did a man do something to you that felt wrong in any way?"

"No. Well apart from that tradesman who asked me to go to his home to see 'just how large' his 'boat' was and how smoothly it could enter a small, tight port which had never been touched."

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Yes...Well I am glad that you declined. Let me ask you Alice, do you know what he truly meant by that?"

"Why yes, he was asking me to join him at his house to see his boat. It felt wrong because you shouldn't go off with strange men that you don't know, especially if it is to their home."

Everyone gaped at the mirror.

"Good heavens! McTwisp do they not teach females about this until they are married?" Mirana asked, clearly in shock.

"No they don't. They usually find out from their husbands on the wedding night."

Everyone stared at him in shock and then faced the screen again.

Lord Ascot sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"Well Alice, I feel as though I should tell you this now because you have given birth to a child and I am your responsible adult... Now how do I put this?" he paused. "Well when a man and a woman get married, or not in some cases, they...amm...Have you heard anything about what happens in the marriage bed?"

"Well now, this will be awkward!" Chess stated.

"No because you find out on your wedding day. Margaret has only told me that when the time comes I need to 'lye back and think of England or tea time' and 'submit to my husband's every whim'."

"Oh my word! That is awful!" Mirana exclaimed.

"Okay well, firstly I would like to say that if you find the right man then you won't have to do either of those things." he paused. "How do I start? Amm...well on the wedding night a man and a woman engage in behaviour which is inappropriate to be done in public." he stopped and looked at Alice.

"What like passionately kiss whilst hugging?"

Everyone chuckled softly.

"Oh Alice. So innocent!" Tarrant said softly.

"Amm...well...that is to say that it is done...in the nude."

Alice gasped scandalized. "Completely naked!?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at this. She seemed thoroughly scandalized by it.

"Yes and well...men and women have different parts down below. You did know that right?"

"Yes I did. There was that sweet baby boy at the last port. The different parts are how each gender go to the toilet. It is also how you tell which gender they are when the are babies." she smiled at her daughter which was now asleep in Lord Ascot's arms.

"Yes but that isn't the only thing that the different parts do."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well when a man and a woman engage in the nude hug...the man puts his part inside the woman...and that is how a baby is made. The woman loses her innocence. Though a baby is not made every time they hug like that."

"Yeah...really awkward!" Chess exclaimed.

Alice gasped. "So that is what he meant. But wait! I didn't do that with anyone! How...how did I come to have Eloise?"

"I don't have a clue. It must be a miracle." he passed the baby back to Alice and it started waking up.

"She's opening her eyes for the first time!" Alice exclaimed. Everyone watching looked at the looking glass with anticipation.

Lord Ascot stood up and looked over the baby. As her eyes opened they gasped.

There in front of them where the brightest green eyes that had ever been seen on Earth.

Everyone gasped and looked at Tarrant. It was an understatement to say that he was shocked. Mirana handed him a strong cup of tea and Mally jumped off of his shoulder.

"Tarrant. What exactly did you and our champion get up to after you met her the balcony on the eve of the Frabjous Day?" Mirana asked softly.

"This is impossible! I didn't even touch her!"

"Only if you believe it is. Isn't that what you say?" a voice drawled. Everyone looked towards the window to see that Absolem had entered.

"Well the proof is there Hatter. Why don't you just admit that you and our champion got up to some scandalous behaviour the night before she killed the Jabberwocky!" Chess smirked and disappeared.

"Oh my word! I sent a pregnant woman to slay the Jabberwocky!" Mirana said nearly crying. Mally leapt onto her shoulder.

"There there Mirana. You weren't to know. It would seem that he decided to give her experience in more than just sword fighting."

"No I did not!" Tarrant growled.

"It's true. He didn't." everyone turned backed to Absolem who was sitting on top of the looking glass.

"But then how?" Mirana asked.

"You shall find out in due course. Now if you will all excuse me, I have a young half-Underlandian baby to meet. Congratulations Tarrant!" and with that he flew through the glass.