Notice: I have updated all of this work, changed some words and began using names for the characters not just their titles, the star is where I was when I ended this chapter the first time, it's still not done but there is much more. Please enjoy

The Hare, Hatter and Dormouse got together regularly for tea after that day. Each day Thackery fell more and more for Mallymkun. If you had asked him to, he could extol the Dormouse's virtues for hours, from his sleepy, soft-spoken manner, to the way he cleaned his whiskers after tea. One day several months into their acquaintance Thackery came to tea with very grand news.

"Lads! Lads! I've some grand news!" He shouted as he bounded into Hightopp Glen. Dormouse shot up with a squeak

"THE BRITISH ARE COMING!" He shouted as his dream continued for just a moment longer than his rest. "What? I'm awake..." he said in a calmer tone even though his whiskers continued to quiver.

Tarrant looked up at Thackery with a smile, "Well do tell us what it is now that you have even poor Mallymkun's attention." He gestured at the smaller creature who he saw was beginning to doze again "quickly now." he said with a bang on the tea table, jolting the poor mouse again.

"Ach, sorry lads. I'm just so excited. I've finally been promoted to February Hare!" He beamed "Can you believe it!?"

"That's...great..." Dormouse mumbled as he fell back asleep, nestling his head in his arms on top of his plate. The February Hare (he really enjoyed his new title) smiled at the Mouse.

Hare was about to sit when Hatter said, "Pass the tea." He said it quite mischievously and when Thackery passed the tea he found out why. Hatter proceeded to pour hot tea onto Dormouse's nose.

The Dormouse mumbled something, then the trio heard a low rumble from behind, they turned and saw that the Cheshire Cat was slowly apperating behind them. "Hello January, Hatter." His disembodied head nodded at them before floating towards the table. As his head hovered over a chair his body began to apparate into the chair and he picked up one of the extra tea cups.

"It's February Hare now," Tarrant drolly informed him.

"Is it?" Ches turns to the beaming Hare, "Congratulations my friend."

Mallymkun sits up slowly, smacking his lips sleepily. "Oh, hello Chessur." He manages before he yawns and reaches for a teacake slowly

"Hello Mallymkun." Ches says with a predatory smile and reaches for a teapot. Ches frowns at the empty tea pot, Thackery picks up one of the full ones and offers it to Ches. "Yes thank you February."

"Would you like some sugar with that?" asks the Hare, pushing the sugar pot in his direction. Hare then leans on the now sleeping Mouse so that he can better speak to Hatter "I was very excited to receive a summons from Her Majesty to the palace, I didn't expect to be summoned for some time still. I humbly accepted her offer, of course, and was headed for her doorstep by four." He picked up a spoon and twirled it in his fingers for a moment.

Ches sipped his tea quietly as Tarrant replied also leaning over the Dormouse, "I'm quite glad for you my friend, but why were you there so early? I didn't think the Queen entertained before four thirty."

"Aye, that's true, but I wanted to be early and thank god I was because the short line of people I was in and who needed to see Her Majesty had grown a mile long by four thirty, I would've been late for tea!"

Mallymkun raised his head slowly forcing the Hare and Hatter to sit up before saying, "And it's terribly rude to be late for tea..."

"True," the excited Hare said as he continued his story, "and I widnae dare to be rude to The Queen. So I waited in line for near an hour and a half before I was finally in front of the gate."

Suddenly Mallymkun starts up "Gate, date,... late...hate..." he begins to close his eyes once more and the Hare hides his doting smile behind his teacup.

"Well?" Chessur drawls, sounding as disinterested as usual, though his eyes betray his interest.

Thackery sets down his cup and tosses a cupcake at the cat "I was getting there." He replied indignantly.

"Twenty or so minutes after just made it to the gate The Queen was finally able to see me, the guards ushered me in and I was announced before Her Majesty.

'Thackery Earwicket, January Hare, to see you Your Highness.' Said one guard and I walked in and bowed before Her Majesty. 'Yer Majesty,' I said as I approached her throne, ' 'tis a privilege to be summoned by ye.' It's then that Her Majesty says, as she does, 'Tell me, dear Hare, have you believed in six impossible things today?'

"Of course as i was going to see Her Majesty today, I had indeed, 'Before breakfast, my Queen.' I replied. 'Very good, now,- Oh OW! Drat!' she said, she called out to a guard for ice to bee brought, then she 'ow'-ed again, before standing and coming down the steps of the dais and twisting her ankle just as the ice arrived.'l at this the small gathering, minus the dormouse who was sleeping, gave a smattering of applause at their Queen's foresight and the guards forthrightness about attaining ice. Mallymkun startled awake again, thistime nibbling on some cheesecake before sleeping once more.

Thackery waited for the applause to trail off before continuing his tale

"After Her Majesty iced her ankle for a moment she continued with our business.

'I believe you may know why I called you here today,' she began, starting towards the window slowly.

I nodded and said 'Aye, Yer Majesty, but I hadno' expected it for a while yet.'

Her Majesty nodded her head and replied 'yes well I have been watching your progress and decided to move it up.'"

More to come, please have patience and review