Alright, first of all, let me just say that I love all your comments, but I don't really enjoy people telling me what to do. My story is the way I write it and though it doesn't always seem like it, I do know what I'm doing. I brought Irisa in because I wanted her to balance out Nicholas, because Nicholas caused Alice not to get with the Hatter, almost as much as Irisa did. Just because I put down my story involving Alice and Hatter doesn't mean it's just going to be the and no one else, I like my stories because their lives intertwine with others, and it makes things more interesting and real. And if you don't like that, stop reading. But, i do get where your coming from. Maybe I'm being to clynical. oh well. Sorry about my little rant, Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Alice in Wonderland.

Everyone just stared at the girl with the rainbow eyes.

Alice, surprising, was the one to recover first. "Irisa….that's wonderful." She stood and hugged her friend. "Congratulations." She looked over at Hatter while she hugged her friend and saw that his face was utterly white and his eyes where sparkling topaz. "Congratulations,"

He still looked stunned, and Nicholas was actually the one to say something. "Um…..Alice?"

"Actually," Irisa sighed and turned to the Hatter. "I'm not finished…" She sighed and clasped her hands in front of her chest, over her unborn child. "Hatter, I don't know exactly how to say this….but…."

"What is it?" Margret asked.

"Hatter," Irisa shut her eyes and then said quickly. "Hatter you're not the father."

Everyone went just as silent as the Hatter. And this time, Hatter spoke. "I know,"

"You know?" Alice asked.

"Well," Tarrant admitted. "We've never…..well…..And I know that I couldn't be the father." He raised an eyebrow at his wife. "But, I do wonder who the father is."

Irisa flushed, and so did Nicholas, so the answer was as clear as if it was said. Only Hatter said in a quiet voice. "I see,"

"Tarrant, I'm sorry." Irisa pleaded, tears threatening to spill over her eyes. "It's just…." She looked over at Nicholas. "You know I love you, I always have but it's just well….not the same."

The rest of the meal went on in an awkward silence, and finally it was over, and they all returned to where they were supposed to go.

. . .

"Are you angry with me?" Irisa asked, appearing out of thin air as Alice stared up at the luminescent moon Twilight that fallen over the land quickly and silently, and Alice had watched it at her balcony, like she'd done so many times.

"No," Alice replied, tuning to face her friend. "Why would I? It's not your fault you're pregnant."

"Oh, I don't mean that." Irisa said a matter of factly, leaning against the balcony's stone wall. "I mean, about me. Just me."

Alice turned and faced her friend. "What do you mean?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Irisa asked, her oddly tinted eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "I was always in the way. Of you and Tarrant," She smiled softly. "I as his wife, a long ago memory and I didn't even give him the chance to as if he wanted to stay with me. And I didn't think of anyone else. And now I'm back again, interrupting everyone else's lives. But….I'm kind of glad in a way too."

"You're confusing me Irisa," Alice said softly. "You're glad you stood in the way of us?"

"Oh, no." Irisa shook her black hair. "I'm sorry about getting in the way of you too, yes, but now I'm kind of glad." She smiled at Alice's blank look. "This is kind of like, I don't know, me trying to get you together I suppose." So, I mean…." She held out her hands and made a little pushing motion. "Go, go get him."

"Alice smiled. "Well, if you put it that way." She cocked her head slightly. "What are you going to do about Nicholas?"

"Oh, well probably go to London." Irisa explained. "I want to go there too." She shrugged, "Maybe we'll even travel the world like he wants to, but we won't be able to tell his father though. We'll probably even start going by my last name instead of his. At least, my maiden name. Nicholas and Irisa Carroll."

Alice smiled at her friend. "I'm glad you two have a plan."

Irisa smiled just as someone knocked on the door. With a mischievous grin, she ran inside the room and opened it, then it shut once and then a single pair of footsteps came out into the balcony.

"Good evening," He said with a gapped tooth grin, tipping his hat.

Alice smiled, much bigger than Chessur could ever have. "Hello, Hatter."

He walked over to where Alice stood and they just stood at each other, smiling. He looked much more different from what he had when she'd last saw him at the table, his face pale with shock, and his eyes were greener than Alice had ever seen them.

"Do you have any idea why a raven is like a writing desk yet?" Alice asked.

Hatter shook his head, his smile somehow growing. "Haven't any idea in the slightest."

Alice nodded. "Neither do I,"

The two were quiet again, an awkward silence that neither knew how to get out of. But finally, Hatter found a way.

"Alice I'm sorry for….the things that I said to you," He said and then his voice got quicker. "The things that Stayne had made me say, but that is no excuse that I said them. I also apologize for not believing you and what happened in your bedroom. I hadn't the slightest memory of what happened,"

"Hatter," Alice said quietly.

"And I want you to know that I'm not sorry that Irisa loves Nicholas. I am not sorry in the least." He continued. "And I know how that may sound but-"

"Hatter," Alice said a little louder.

"I'm not. And that's because I am in love with you. I am in love with you Alice Kingsley. I haven't always been in love with you, where as you were only a child when you first came to Underland but after you came the second time I felt new feelings towards you. More than I'd felt to Mirana or Mally and when you left it absolutely-"

"Hatter!" Alice cried, and both their hands went to their mouths while they just stared back at each other.

"Hatter….."Alice whispered, then took a deep breath. "I love you too,"

Hatter's eyes widened. "You, still?"

Alice nodded. "I don't care, if Stayne made you say cruel things to me, or that your wife is in love with my best friend, or that everything lately has been utterly and completely upside down." She grabbed his hands and held them tightly in her own. "I love, you. I love you Tarrant Hightopp."

They stood there for a few seconds, each taking in each other words as well as their own, and finally, after both of them have wanted to for so long, they leaned in and their lips touched.

Okay, do any of you really think I would let Hatter even touch Irisa like that? Um, no. But Nicholas, as i said in the beginning is free game. This is not my very last chapter though, there is actually going to be an epilogue next, so keep your eyes open. Review please!