Author's note:

Hiya! I'm back again. That's actually all I have to say. And queue the chapter: (insert trippy music here)

10. Impossible Things

Alice had been part of decorating the castle for the dance, and yet she was knocked breathless by its beauty. The big hall had been decorated in shimmering silver, all the way up from the floor to the little balcony. On the ´shelf´ stood Tarrant, happily waving for her to join him. Hastily making her way up the little staircase leading to the balcony, and Him.

"I've been waiting for you, Alice." Tarrant smiled, looking stunning as ever with his vigorously orange hair and, oddly, lavender eyes.

"How long?" Alice asked.

"All my life. Alice…" Tarrant took a deep breath. "I should have told you from the first time I lay eyes on you: I love you with all my heart, and I always have."

Alice suddenly realised everyone attending the ball had silenced and was watching her and Tarrant, displaying all emotions between confusion and admiration, jealousy and happiness.

"And I know I'm just a hatter, and you're the champion. But," Tarrant continued, lowering himself down on one knee, frantically searching his pockets. "Would you marry me?" He found what he'd been looking for, a small dove blue box, and presented it to Alice.

Alice couldn't believe her ears, or eyes either. Had Tarrant really proposed to her? And in a way similar to that dreadful engagement party she'd been forced to, the one where Hamish had proposed to her.

"I- I need a moment." Alice ran for it, out of the castle, and into the garden. There she sat down and shook her head in disbelief.

"Why, Alice, you seem to be out of your breath. What seems to be the trouble?" Chessur appeared, his grin a little less wide than usually.

"Tarrant proposed to me." Alice whispered, white in shock.

"Then you really shouldn't look that sad. You love him, don't you?" Chessur asked, swooping down to sit next to her. "Well, do you?"

"I do love him. I love him beyond everything else in this world, it's only that I was taken by surprise, that's all."

"You didn't give him an answer?" Chessur gasped. "Left him standing there without an answer? How could you do that to him?"

"Stop it, Chess! I don't know." Alice cried. "Just let me be alone."

Chessur, looking incredibly offended, disappeared into thin air, leaving Alice to ponder the situation. She did love Tarrant, but the thought of getting married frightened her.

I should marry him. It wouldn't be proper having it another way, especially seeing as we have a child.

But this wasn't London, things probably didn't have to be proper here…

But I love him!

All this thoughts made Alice head spin in a manner that made her almost sick.

Tarrant stared at the wall behind where Alice had stood. All of the hall was still silent, too chocked to figure something else out. Except for Mallyumkun, who was sporting a sunny smile, and the Tweedles, who had no clue what was actually going on.

"Alice?" Tarrant whispered sadly, tears gleaming in his eyes.

He had asked himself; what was the worst that could happen? Now he knew. Nothing could possibly feel worse than being left without an answer, could it?

If I jumped, would it hurt more?

Tarrant looked down over the railing, squinting at the floor way down below. Yes, it would probably hurt, but not more than this did. He made a shaky movement towards the edge, getting ready to jump, when he was saved by a shriek of horror.

"Don't jump, Tarrant. I love you!"

"Alice!" Tarrant chortled, principally throwing himself at the girl. "You're back."

"I shouldn't have left, ever." Alice whispered, tears streaming down both of their cheeks. Yet, none of them were sad. Not the slightest bit sad actually. "Do you remember that I used to believe in six impossible things?"

"How could I ever forget anything about you?" Tarrant chuckled at the absurdity of this. "Don't you still believe in those things?"

"I do believe in them. But now I believe in a seventh impossible thing."

"Oh? How interesting, do tell me, please."

"I'm going to marry a crazy, mad, wonderful hatter." Alice smiled.

"That's nice, who is he?" Tarrant asked, trying not to show her how sad these words made him.

"It's you, silly."

Alice reached up and kissed Tarrant, who was now wearing an expression of utter joy and chock. The crowd, having listened eagerly all the time broke into a cheer and some sighs of: "How cute they look together," coming from Mirana. Everything was perfect.

Nothing could possibly ever be perfect again. How could Tarrant propose to that great lump? She'd left him, twice. Thrice counting running off like that when he proposed. It made Mally feel sick. No, worse than sick! Was there something worse than sick? Mally didn't know, but there ought to be. Probably something related to a cat or some other despicable creature that ate mice.

I wonder if I could get Chess to eat me?

Nah, the stupid feline wouldn't eat someone he considered a friend. Even though he were a cat, he'd rather die than eat Mally, so that leaved that option out.

But what about a suicide-pact?

Mally could practically imagine herself asking Chess to help her commit suicide.

"Hey, Chess, want to eat me?"

"No, not really…"

"But what if you eat me, then I stick you trough the wall of your stomach. That way we both die."

Chess would just laugh at her, and then go tell everyone he came across of it. That wasn't any good. As if on cue, named cat turned up next to her.

"Hi, Mally." he said awkwardly.

"Hi Chess. Do you want to eat me, by any chance?" Mally sobbed.

"No, not really…"

Mally giggled at this, reasons unknown to Chessur, then smiled at him.

"Do you think I will ever be happy again?" she whispered.

"I don't think so. I know so." Chess purred, cradling the white mouse in his fluffy tail.

"Promise?" she sniffled.

"Promise. Do you want to return to the dance?"

"No, not really."

This time, both of them giggled, and none knew the reason.

Author's note:

Weeeell… I don't really know what to say about this. Anyone else noticed Chess changes from time to time, depending on what I need him to be? That's weird since he's one of the most adorable things ever alive, apart from the Mad Hatter, of course. I'm not too happy how this chapter turned out, though. But I guess we'll have to live with it...