A.N.: Thanks for the reviews you guys! You're all beautiful!

The beginning is what I wanted to add to the end of the second, but didn't know if it'd be a fluff overdose. Hope this chapter is up to par~

Alice felt an odd warmth as Tarrant laid down beside her. He was pressed up so tight to her. She was incredibly happy that he was there with her. That way, when she wakes up in the morning, she'll know it wasn't just a dream. She really was back in Wonderland. When Tarrant wrapped his arm around her, she let out an involuntary shudder that had nothing to do with how cold it was. The inappropriate thoughts that she had been trying so hard to suppress were breaking free. His forearm was actually touching her breasts. When he breathed in and out, he pressed harder or softer onto her body. Alice had no idea what was going on, but deep in her stomach she felt an unnatural sense of longing. She didn't understand it. All she knew is she wanted the Mad Hatter to be around a lot more.

Tarrant woke up that morning before Alice did. The first thing he noticed was a warmth all around his body. Something was pressing against it. He opened his eyes.

Alice must of turned around in her sleep, because now she was laying in his arms, his head had been resting above hers. One arm was under the pillow, and the other hand was resting on her hip. His breath quickened with seeing her in this position. He could feel her breath on his throat. Her lips grazed his neck as she breathed in and out.

He had no idea the proper etiquette for getting out of this situation. Any move could awaken her, and that would bring up awkward questions. After laying there, incredibly confused, for about five more minutes, he opted to slyly wriggle from her clutches. Mainly for the fact that he couldn't take feeling her all around him for much longer. It was so, for lack of a better word, peculiar. Of course he liked the sensation of someone touching him, but, it was Alice. He remembered when she was just a little girl. It took him a full ten minutes to get out of her arms without her awakening.

The moment he was free, he made his way downstairs as silently as he could. By the time he was on the bottom step, it occurred to him that it was probably incredibly rude to leave her in the bed alone, but he couldn't think of anything else to do. She would be disgusted to wake up like that. He should be too. Just.. Why wasn't he? He shook off the thought, and busied himself with making him and Alice some breakfast.

Alice woke up a little while later, sleepily walking down the steps and joining him in the kitchen. While they ate, Tarrant told her more of what had been happening in Wonderland in the two years she had been away.

"S..so you're telling me that since the White Queen rules Wonderland, she's emotionally and mentally attached to every portion of it?" Alice asked, while sipping the tea that Tarrant had handed her.

"How very grave it is." Tarrant responded, nodding sadly.

"So now that she's but a marionette for some neighboring land, whomever is pulling the strings could destroy Wonderland from the inside, without ever setting foot in it's bounds?"

"Exactly so. Now you see the true volume of our problem? We could be being attacked by a neighboring or foreign land, we'd never know, and we'd never be able to prove it until they come to take over." He paused for a moment and looked out the window, contemplating all the snow. "That, however, is just a rough guess. I'm rather impressed with whoever is doing this. No amateur could pull this off."

"I still don't understand how they could penetrate the castle unnoticed, nor how they could slip something to the White Queen! How could that be allowed?" Alice slapped her hand down on the table to emphasize her point. It did nothing but annoy her teacup, who stood up, said a few choice swear words at her, and dumped the hot tea down her front.

"Do pardon the teacups.. They do get quite offended easily.." Tarrant said casually, examining a spoon, while Alice jumped onto her feet in shock. The Mad Hatter threw her a hand towel to dry herself. She caught it, and sat back down eying the teacup with a look of great resentment. "Well, you know the White Queen," Tarrant went on as if nothing happened, " She always puts just a bit too much trust into people. She might of let him in personally, or one of her guards could of not been paying attention on his shift. The Red Queen was terrible, curse her soul, but, you have to admit, she got things done."

"But you wouldn't think he'd go in personally, would you? I mean, he must be in some position of power to be able to pull this off," She waved her arm in the direction of the window. "It could of been anyone. They could have even took control of someone who worked close to the White Queen and had them do it." Alice said grimly, while patting her shirt dry of tea.

"Exactly so. But, to put take control of someone so successfully. You'd need to be an expert. Whoever it was probably had this all planned out for ages until they acted. Whatever their plan was, I could almost guarantee you it was executed perfectly. The White Queen may be too kind for her own good, but, certain members of her guard are far from it."

"How do you know it was someone from a different land, though? Couldn't it be someone right under her nose?" Alice asked nervously, her thoughts going back to the Red Queen.

"Well, such magic is incredibly foreign to Wonderland. Only a select handful could of studied it." He saw the nervous look on her face, and quickly added, "But the Red Queen had no brains in her. Incredibly thick, you know? Never in her life could she pull this off."

"Can't we rally all the people who were against the Red Queen to help? I'm sure if they knew what's been going on, they would of acted already!"

"I wish I could. This weather is nothing compared to what it's like by the others' houses. I'm planning on moving when the seasons change again."

"How long has it been winter?"

"It's been quite some time. We're due for a change soon, I bet you. Oh! That reminds me," He got up and walked over to a sewing machine in the corner of the room, and took off the cloth that was covering it. When it was off, Alice realized it wasn't a cover at all, but a dress. It was a very beautiful light blue color. "I figured you wouldn't fancy wearing my clothes you know, so I made this a bit ago.. It's fine if you don't fancy it much, but I just assumed it woul-" He was cut off by Alice hugging him tightly. He stopped talking immediately, and hugged her back. Alice kissed him on the cheek, thanked him, and said she would be down soon wearing it.

When she disappeared up the stairs, he snapped out of his shock. The skin on his cheek seemed to sizzle, and he wondered just how much she meant by the kiss. It was obviously to thank him, but, he couldn't help, deep down, wishing it was something more. He absentmindedly stroked the skin on his cheek where her lips just were, thinking about what excuses he could find to kiss her in the future.

Alice shut the door to the bedroom behind her quickly, blushing feverishly at what she had just done. Of course he would understand it was just to thank him, but, in the bottom of her heart she wished she had more excuses to kiss him like that.