Author's note:

Awh, Rachel Harvey, *blushes* gee… There will probably be a sequel, and there will most certainly be a prequel. But still, gee.. *blushes even more*

And I also have to point out my skill points for today; Jenna-0 Kitchen Floor-1; I sort of managed to get lemonade all over the floor…

19. Awakening

"Should his eyes really look like that? They're really quite curious." Chessur eyed Tarrant's face carefully. "And wasn't his hair less bright?"

"I don't know." Mally slapped him. "It might have something to do with him having been stuck in the madness."

She could have a point there…

Tarrant grinned in his peculiar manner. "This is curious… I don't recall any of you being here. Weren't you dead?" he paled rapidly. "Am I dead?" he whimpered.

"No, you're not." the Queen smiled. "In fact, you've just come alive again."

"So I was dead…?" there was an amount of fear in his voice now, the blue eyes starting to fade into a frightened gray.

"It's difficult to explain." Mally sighed. "We'll tell you all 'bout it later, right now, I think there is someone you should see."

"Who?" Had she not been aware of the side-effects of the Midnight Moments, Mally would have slapped him, too.

"Alice, of course."

Tarrant's entire being brightened. "She's not dead, right?"

"She isn't dead." Chessur assured him, ginning widely again. "Now go see her."

Isabel cautiously poked the pile of fabrics in hers and Alice's room, it was almost as tall as her, and it looked like it was going to fall over any second.

"Mummy!" Isabel shouted. "Why is there a pile of laundry in my bedroom?"

Alice joined her in looking at the pile. "I don't know, sweetie. I haven't the slightest idea. Maybe your father put it there…"

"He couldn't have, he's not well."

"Oh, but he could." Tarrant stuck his head in the room, grinning widely enough to make the ´Cheshire cat go green in envy. "Missed me?"

"Tarrant!" Alice cried out, literally throwing herself at him. "I've missed you so much, how did you get back? That doesn't matter now, you're back, and you're here and it's wonderful that you're here-"

"Shush." Tarrant whispered, swiftly silencing her with a kiss. "I thought you were dead, Alice. Don't ever let me think that again."

"I would never do that. Ever." Alice realised she had tangled herself with Tarrant in a crude manner. They broke apart, blushing vigorously, Isabel staring at the pair.

"Uh…" was all either of them could say.

"It's okay." Isabel smiled. "Carry on." Leaving the room, she added; "And I've always wanted a sibling."

After a brief silence, both Alice and Tarrant broke down in giggles.

"How long until our wedding?" Tarrant asked. "I knew, but I've been gone some time, and nobody will tell me."

"Haven't the slightest idea." Alice giggled, snuggling up by his chest. "No one would tell me, either."

Author's note:

Another short chapter; but the next one will most certainly be a longer one. Ooh, a wedding will be coming up quite soon.

Random question of the day:

When watching/reading about professor Umbridge in Harry Potter, am I the only one to yell; "Her name is Um, idiot?"

It would be nice to know if I'm not the only one to do this… Or I might learn I'm the only one, and that wouldn't be very nice, though.