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Still in Alice's POV and still telling Charlotte some stories.

As I was putting Charlotte to bed the next night, she sighed quietly, but continued with, "May I ask you another question?"

She was much more excited with her questioning than yesterday, so I knew this would be a much more pleasant conversation.

"Of course you may."

"When did you know that you loved Daddy?"

I smiled. A much more pleasant conversation, indeed.

"Oh, it was the Frabjous Day."

Charlotte scrunched up her face, obviously disapproving of the not so idealistic setting.

"Well, it was! Before that, of course, I felt things changing within me. But it was as I was battling the jabberwocky, that I glanced over and saw your father sword fighting the Knave. He looked so gallant and brave and he was risking his life for me. I knew right then, that something was different. And I was sure it must be love."

This part of the story seemed to make my daughter feel better. She beamed just thinking of it.

"So, when did Daddy propose?"

"Propose? Well, that same day."

Now her smile was so big, it threatened to split her face. My obviously romantic four-year-old was swept away by her parents' whirlwind romance.

"Will you tell me about it?" she asked, so hopeful.

"Of course.

*Flashback*

Right after we had won the battle, the first person I sought out was Tarrant. I was beyond happy to see that he fared well. And that all our friends had as well. As promised (if the Red Queen was defeated), he did his very best futterwacken, much to the amusement of all. And then the White Queen approached me with the vial of purple jabberwocky blood. Telling me it would send me home, if I wished.

"You could … stay," Hatter said, his voice full of uncertainty at the thought of me leaving.

I didn't know what to do. But I knew that standing here in his presence was not helping me to make clear thoughts. So, I did the one thing I could, I drank the potion, knowing that I could always come right back.

But the strangest thing happened. I went nowhere.

"Well, that's peculiar," the White Queen murmured. "It should have taken you home, if you wished."

I looked at my Hatter. "Perhaps I didn't wish to go home … just yet."

Hatter smiled one of the biggest smiles I had seen. "Well, then we should just make you comfortable here until you wish to return."

"Well, perhaps we should return to the castle," the Queen said. "I think we could all do with being away from this horrid place."

I climbed back onto the bandersnatch and Hatter proudly guided both it and the Queen's horse back to the palace.

When we reached the courtyard, the Queen told us that she was planning on taking her horse to the stable and then taking a rest in her chamber.

Hatter helped me off the bandersnatch's back and said, "You've got a very important date and you mustn't be late! In an hour, return to this spot. Take some time to clean up and come back looking your loveliest. But no longer than an hour! Do not be naughty!"

I, of course, knew he meant what he said and that I needed to be back in an hour. I hurried to the chamber the queen had given me and began to clean up. No one wants to continue on in armor for any longer than they have to. Once I had a wonderful bath and selected a green (the same shade of Tarrant's eyes) silk gown from a selection that the queen had apparently left for me, I was ready to go.

I made my way back to the courtyard to find (not surprisingly) that he had set up a tea party.

"Welcome back, Alice. You are only a few minutes late, and I will ignore that this time."

I smiled as he pulled the chair out for me and then hurried to his own seat. It was just a small table, so we were seated very close.

"Hatter, do you mind me asking what all this is for?"

"I do not mind you asking and so I will answer." Nervous giggle. "Why, you just saved Underland. Should a hero not have some tea?"

His voice seemed a bit shaky, but I let it slide.

"Well, I suppose I should."

Soon after, he began babbling about the use of feathers on hats and what my thoughts on the matter were. I had no answer.

Suddenly, he began feeling around his jacket, as if he had lost something. It didn't surprise me, as it seemed he would misplace things all the time. Finally, he found a very small box and stared at it. After some consideration, he placed it on the table and slid it across to me, using only the tip of his finger to do so.

I looked at the box and then back up to Hatter. He waved his hand at me, as if to hurry me along in opening it.

Once I did, I found a beautiful diamond ring with a few sapphires and emeralds on it as well.

Now, I'll admit that I was completely taken aback. I stared and stared at the ring, knowing what it was for.

I stared and stared so intently and for so long, that I hadn't realized that Hatter had come over to me and was now kneeling next to me.

"Alice, my only Alice. I know this world is not your own, but I know you and I know the other world is not yours either. Would you please do me the honor of staying here. Staying with me. Being … my wife?"

It was the most sane I had ever heard him in his life. Never had he sounded so less like a madman and more like a man … in love.

I knew that saying yes would mean that I would probably never see my home again. But would anywhere be a home without him?

"Oh Hatter, yes. I will be your wife."

His fabulous green eyes lit up and they sparkled like never before. He picked me up and spun me around.

He gently set me back on the ground and took my face into his hands. Ever so softly, he pressed his lips to mine. It was magic. "Alice you have made me the happiest hatter in Underland. The happiest man in any world, for that matter."

And then he took the ring from the table and slipped it onto my finger. I couldn't believe it. I was engaged to be married. To the Mad Hatter. And I couldn't have been happier!

But a thought occurred to me.

"Hatter, now that we are engaged to be married, I feel it's important that I know your name. What Cheshire called you back at the tea party, Tarrant, is that your name?" (I hoped terribly that it wasn't an insulting name.)

"What an observant Alice you are. Yes, my love, that is my given name. But you are free to call me whatever you like. You seem partial to Hatter."

"I think I would like to call you both."

The faint yellow color began to tint his eyes. "TarrantHatter? HatterTarrant? Perhaps I was wrong in saying call me whatever you like…"

"Hatter!" His green eyes returned along with his focus. "No, no. I should like you call you Tarrant, because it is your given name. But also Hatter, at other times, because it was all I knew you as."

"Both sound wonderful coming from you. So, I shall cherish both. And you."

"I love you, Hatter."

"I love you, as well, Alice the valiant."

*End flashback*

"Oh Mummy! It was perfect!" Lottie cheered.

"Yes, my dear, it truly was."

"Daddy isn't mad at all. Just madly in love!"

I laughed at that. What a smart little girl we had.

"You know, Lottie, I think you just might be right."

"Right about what?" Hatter asked as he came through the door.

Must he always catch our conversations at the end?

"I was right that you are mad about Mummy!"

"Well, you are a very correct girl at that. I might have to start asking more difficult questions! Perhaps we'll move on to ravens and writing desks soon," he said with that crooked smile that captured me.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, buttercup?"

"Do you think you could make me a hat?"

"Why, Lottie, I've made you a trunk full of hats!"

"No. I want one that looks just like yours!"

"Like … mine?"

"Yes, I would like one that looks just like yours."

I had always known that staying with Hatter in Underland was the right decision, but it was these moments that made me overjoyed that I had done it.

"Well, then. My Charlotte shall have one! I've never been able to deny a pretty girl a hat before."

"That's why Mummy has so many!"

I instantly blushed and it did not go unnoticed by my husband. Since we were first married, every time we made love, he made me another hat. I had more than I could count.

"Yes. Mummy has many hats because I just love to give them to her," he said, turning and giving me a wink.

I blushed even more.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Will I be as happy as you and Mummy someday?"

His expression turned solemn.

"Charlotte, I promise you that no one shall come near you unless they wish to make you happy. And one day, when a man comes to ask your crazy father for your hand, he will have to know that he must make you joyful, or he'll have a mad hatter to deal with."

Our daughter smiled. "Then I'll be fine."

"Absolutely, Lottie. Your father will make sure of it," I said, with complete confidence.

Charlotte yawned then.

"Well, I think it's time for some girls to get to bed," Hatter said, leaning over to kiss Lottie's forehead. "I shall love you forever, buttercup."

"And I love you, too, Daddy."

I kissed her as well and said, "Sleep well, Lottie. I love you."

"I love you, Mummy. Good night."

We closed the door behind us and made our way to our room.

"She really is the best thing we could hope for," Hatter said as he began to change for bed.

"She's a wonderful daughter," I agreed. "But what would you think of more?"

He had a strange expression at that. I knew that I had asked incorrectly and we were crossing the line past rational thinking. "More Lotties? Well, Alice, it would be very strange to think of 3 or 4 of her running around. I suppose there could be a potion … we could speak with the queen …would I make identical hats?..."

"No, Hatter. Nothing like that."

He shook his head a bit and looked into my eyes. "Sorry, love. Then what were you saying?"

"I was saying that we are having another child!"

"Another … Alice, are you sure?"

"You doubt me after all this time?" I teased.

"Never! Never champion Alice!" He ran over to me in just a few strides. "My Alice! Who has already given me the most perfect gifts: her heart and our daughter. And now she gives me another. You really are the jewel of my life. Oh Alice. I love you, terribly."

"Yes, I know. You're mad for me," I said with a giggle.

"Indubitably!"

"And I love you as well, my sweet mad hatter."

We spent most of the rest of the evening lounging on our bed, Hatter speaking nonsense to the baby still inside me. I dozed off while he was explaining materials to our child and dreamt of a blond little boy with brilliant green eyes and a grin that meant wonderful mischief.