A/N- Just a quick note to start off. First of all, thanks to everyone for the reviews and constructive criticism. I have really taken them all to heart and am trying to catch more of my errors. I hope everyone is enjoying this story and will keep reading and reviewing to tell me what you think. I'm personally not sure how well I am doing on this particular story. Thanks again, Lizzy.

It was decided that there would be a large tea party the next day in honor of Alice's return, and of her and the Hatter's marriage.

The castle was bustling with activity as everyone was preparing the cakes, setting up the tables, and of course, getting dressed in their best for the party.

The Hatter had offered to make Alice a dress for that evening to match the purple hat that he had given her for their wedding. Alice had protested, saying that there was no possible way the dress would be ready in time, and she didn't want him to be working all day just because of here. But the Hatter had insisted.

So when the sun began to fall down, Alice went to the 'hatting' room to see her dress.

As soon as she arrived outside the doors, Alice heard crashing noises coming from inside, as well as the loud hum of a sewing machine.

Knowing that the Hatter wouldn't hear her knock, Alice pushed open the doors and walked inside.

"Ah!!" The Hatter exclaimed startled, hiding something behind his back.

It was then that Alice noticed how undressed Tarrant was. She glanced at him and noticed that he was just in his underwear and an unbuttoned purple dress shirt. Alice surprised herself by thinking how well he looked in this particular clothing, imaging how well he would look with out it as well.

Hatter stood still, eyes wide as saucers, while Alice blushed profusely.

"I came to get my dress." Alice explained with an awkward smile.

The Hatter relaxed a little after the initial shock of Alice seeing him undressed.

"Oh, yes…right!" He squeaked out, pulling the dress from behind his back. It was in a deep magenta color, sleeveless dress with purple ruffles at the bottom and purple embroidered flowers at the top of the bodice. It matched that hat he had given her perfectly.

"It's so beautiful." Alice gasped, running her fingers over the flowers.

"You like it?"

"Of course I do, Tarrant. You made it for me." Alice smiled sweetly at him, noticing that he hadn't moved a muscle since she came in the room. He was also messing with his hands nervously. "Is something wrong? I can leave!"

"No! No." He insisted, nervously looking down at his attire again, "It's okay, right? We are married…" He quoted her, earning a smile.

"Yes, yes we are." Alice noticed a magenta vest that matched her dress on the table, and helped him into it, buttoning up his shirt and vest.

He smiled shyly down at her as she buttoned his collar. All of this was so new to him, but at the same time, wonderful.

"Now you just need the perfect tie!" Alice said patting his chest.

As Alice went searching for a tie, Hatter pulled on a pair of pinstriped black pants.

"Aha!" Alice exclaimed, tossing a black, purple and magenta striped tie in the air.

"You found one?" Hatter asked, surprised

"Yep," Alice began to tie it into a bow under Tarrant's chin, "Perfect!"

The hatter smiled at her brilliantly, turning in a circle to show off his attire.

"Now, you have to get dress! We don't want to be late, you know! It would look a little strange if the guests honor were late for their own party, wouldn't it?"

"Don't worry. I'll be right down. I just have to grab my hat from upstairs, and change into my dress!" Alice called back to him as she ran towards the door and up the nearest flight of stairs.

"Are you ready?" Tarrant asked, squeezing her hand.

Alice adjusted the hat on her head so that it was slightly to the side, and then adjusted his as well. Hatter smiled at her and she nodded to tell him that she was ready.

Two guards opened the double doors in front of them as one of them announced, "Presenting Champion Alice and her new husband Tarrant Hightopp!"

The large ballroom echoed with loud applause as Tarrant and Alice walked in, holding hands. In the front of the crowd was the White Queen, surrounded by their closest friends.

Hanging from one of the walls was a large banner reading, 'Congraglations Hatter and Alice!'

Hatter wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion, staring at the misspelling.

"Thackery made the sign," Mally explained, rolling her eyes.

The couple just smiled at this, and glanced around at the rest of the beautiful decorations and at the large crowd that had gathered to celebrate their joy.

"This celebration is going to move out onto the lawn, where we a large tea party set up to celebrate Underland's favorite couple!" Mirana announced to everyone, so that they began to file out into the gardens.

Alice was startled when she heard a loud purring behind her.

"Chessur!"

"Well, isn't someone happy to see me! I would watch out Tarrant." Chessur taunted, turning in a circle around the Mad Hatter's hat. "Of course I would be willing to drop out of this completion for that lovely, large hat of yours…"

"Nice try." Tarrant said, holding onto his hat and pulling Alice closer to him, his arm wrapped protectively on her waist.

"Fine. She's not my type anyway. Not enough fur…." Chessur grinned before he disappeared before he reappeared in the garden. "Coming you two? This is your party!"

Hatter kissed Alice on the cheek quickly before they went out into the rose gardens.

The tea party was lovely. It included all of the Hatter's favorite tea flavors, as well as a large chorus of his favorite song, 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat.' There even was 23 story cake, each layer a different flavor, with miniature dolls on top, one with a large top hat, another in a powder blue dress.

After everyone had finished his or her tea and cake, it was starting to get dark in the courtyard outside. Then suddenly, thousands of lightning bugs appeared and light the outside of the courtyard, giving it a magical glow.

Several animals went to the side and began playing music including a stork that played violin with its feet and a platypus that played the trumpet.

Alice laughed out loud when she heard the music; its quantity was something she had never hear before. It made she want to smile, jump up and down, and fall into a peaceful sleep at the same time.

Soon couples began to fill the dance floor, dancing to an upbeat jig. Alice watched their strange movements excitedly. Their dancing was so unlike anything that she had seen back in London.

The Hatter looked over at Alice, noticing her wistful look at the dancing couples. "Care to dance Mrs. Hightopp?" Tarrant bowed, offering her his hand with a shy smile.

"I would like to, very much…"Alice said with a sad smile, "But I don't know how."

"Of course you do! We danced before!" Hatter pointed out, pulling her by the hand towards the dance floor.

"That was different! I don't know how to do this sort of dance!" Alice confessed, looking down at her shoes.

"Well it's a good thing you've got such a good teacher than!" Hatter grinned at her, showing off his gap teeth. He then pulled her into his arms and placed her hand in his. "Just follow me." He whispered in her ear, before twirling them both in a circle.

After spinning in circles for a long time, Alice was slightly relieved when the song changed in favor of a slower one. Thinking that they were done dancing, Alice started to walk away, but was pulled back by the Hatter quickly. "You didn't think I was done with you yet, did you?"

Alice smiled as they began to waltz just like they had in the rain. Hatter pulled her closer so that their cheeks were touching and continued to move them in a slow dance.

"I love you Tarrant." Alice whispered in his ear, causing a bright smile to appear on the Hatter's face.

"Me too, my dear." He said, kissing her cheek, not caring how many people were probably watching them. He then spun her out and back into him as the song started to pick up speed.

"Do you want to go somewhere more…private?" Alice asked timidly when the song change back into a fast, upbeat rhythm.

"Yes…"Tarrant breathed emotionally, lust showing in his eyes. He then took her hand and they both ran out into a less visible part of the garden.

Pulling her behind a large hedge, the Hatter kissed Alice's mouth greedily. They both gasped for air, not wanting to stop. Tarrant began exploring her neck and shoulder hungrily, as she played with his hair, scrunching it between her fingertips.

"They will probably be wondering where we ran off to." Alice sighed as Tarrant pulled her tighter against him.

"Mmm hmm…" He muttered against her throat, still kissing her.

"Should we go?" Alice asked before he cut her off with his lips in a passionate kiss.

"Hatter? Alice? Where are you? They want you to do the futterwaken!"

They broke apart when they hear Mally calling from not far away, both of them panting.

"We should go." Hatter whispered, kissing Alice's hand.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight…" Hatter leaned forward and peaked her on the lips before pulling her out of the hedges in front of a very startled mouse.

The Hatter sat on the bed, fidgeting with the bottom of his nightshirt. Alice was in the bathroom changing out of her dress from that night. Tonight was it….

He was very nervous. Alice was the first woman he had ever had any sort of interest in before, so all of this was extremely new to him, as it was to her.

"Alice?" Hatter said nervously outside the door, wondering what was taking her so long.

"Just one minute!" Alice called from the other side of the door

Tarrant turned back to the room and went to sit back down on the bed again.

"What do you think?"

He turned around to see a vision of beauty. Alice had all of her hair loosely on her shoulders, wearing a very short, silky blue nightgown.

"Breathtaking…" He said, closing the distance between them and taking both of her hands in his.

He rubbed his hands up and down her arms tenderly, before Alice surprised him by kissing him passionately on the mouth.

"Right where we left off…" Hatter said, smiling against her lips, before he lifted her up as carried her to the bed.

Alice giggled naughtily as he carried her.

"Are you ready?" Alice asked shyly when they were both situated on the bed.

Tarrant just gave her a loving smile and kissed her deeply, leaving no question if he was, in fact, ready.