A/N: Have you guys seen this poster?:

http:// www. comicbookmovie. com/ images/ users /uploads/ 9186/ aliceinwonderland_ img1_720 .jpg (Don't forget to remove the spaces)

I feel like I could cut everyone else out and make a lovely portrait of those two.

I had to laugh. Charlotte had never been so excited.

"Mummy! Tonight is the ball, right?!"

"Yes, Lottie, it is. Tonight is the father-daughter ball."

"Daddy and I are going to dance and have so much fun!"

Her orange curls were bouncing as she jumped up and down.

"And no mommies or brothers either!" she added.

I smiled. "That's true. Will and I will just have to find something to do up here."

Mirana had announced the ball two weeks ago. I really had to figure she did it just for Charlotte, but there were enough fathers with daughters in the kingdom to justify it.

"So, how do you want your hair tonight?"

"It won't matter. I'm wearing Daddy's hat!"

Ever since Tarrant made her a copy of his signature hat, it was the one she wore the most. And since tonight wouldn't have to be about proper attire necessarily, we told her she could wear her top hat. After all, who would expect the hatter's daughter to come without a hat?

"Well, that's true," I agreed. "Perhaps we'll just leave it down then."

Tarrant was just as excited about this night. He had been talking about it just as much, constantly asking what he should wear.

I told him he could wear a burlap sack and Charlotte wouldn't mind. Tarrant and Charlotte reminded me so much of my father and me. They understood each other and were best friends. It was a connection that only fathers and daughters know.

"Mummy?" Charlotte said, breaking me from my thoughts. "When can I start getting ready?"

"Sweetheart, it's only just after lunch. You must wait a bit longer."

She pouted. It was the exact pout her father would give me. I had to fight the smile. I didn't want her to get offended.

"I know you want to go to the ball with Daddy, but let's go for a walk to pass the time. All right?"

"I guess," she said.

Once I had Will all settled in his carriage, we went down to the lake for a walk.

"You really love your Daddy, don't you, sweetheart?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Mummy. He's such a great Daddy. He reads me stories and tells me funny jokes and dances the futterwhacken just to make me laugh."

"Yes, he is good at all those things."

"And he's got the same hair as me!"

I chuckled. "Indeed, Lottie. You did get Daddy's hair."

"I think Daddy is the best Daddy in all of Underland!"

I recognized that thought. I certainly thought my father was the best in all the world, too.

"I'm very glad you think that, sweetheart. I know he loves you too."

I glanced up at the castle and saw the window to Tarrant's workshop. He looked so intense at what he was working on. But then, as if he knew I was staring, he glanced up and saw us. He waved excitedly.

"Charlotte, wave to Daddy!" I said, calling her attention to Tarrant.

She turned and waved with the same enthusiasm as her father.

He blew her a kiss and she blew one back.

"Ok, Lottie, I think it's about time for Will's nap. So, let's head back."

"Can we stop at Daddy's workshop?"

"Yes, but just for a minute. I think Daddy is working hard on something."

We walked back to the palace and headed to Tarrant's workshop. I knocked on the door, but I was sure he knew we were there.

"There's my date for this evening!" Tarrant called as we entered the room.

"That's me!" Charlotte cried, running to him.

He picked her up and spun her around. "Are you excited for the dance?"

"Oh yes! I can't wait to go!"

"Good. Me too. Are you being a good girl for Mummy?"

"Of course, Daddy."

"Would you like to see what I'm working on?" he asked.

Charlotte nodded enthusiastically.

"This is for one of the ladies of the court." He showed us the lovely creation he was making.

"Oooh," Lottie cooed.

"It's beautiful, Tarrant," I said, admiring the workmanship. Not that I needed a reminder of his talent. I had an entire room of hats.

"All right, Lottie. It's time for us to go back. We'll read some stories and then it will be time to get ready," I told her.

She looked reluctant to leave, but still excited at the thought of getting ready.

"We'll see you later, Daddy. I love you!" she said, hugging him tightly.

"Don't be late," I warned, kissing him.

"Never! That would be naughty," he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Charlotte and I pushed Will back to our chambers. I put him down for a nap and told her to pick some books to read. She definitely inherited my passion for reading.

We sat on the small couch and she cuddled up with me. Though, after the first book, she was asleep, leaning against me.

I had a feeling she would wear herself out with all the excitement. I moved slowly and laid her on the couch, covering her with a soft blanket.

I went over to the other couch and got my own book. Perhaps I would nap as well.

While we were all sleeping, Hatter returned home. I was awakened by a pair of soft lips kissing my own.

"Time to wake, Sleeping Beauty," he whispered softly in Outlandish in my ear.

I shivered at the sound and opened my eyes.

"Well, hello, lass."

I smiled. "Are you ready for your date?"

"Aye. I just need to change." His voice returned to normal. "And perhaps wake the other princess."

I sat up and stretched. "You wake her, I'll go get her clothes ready."

As I walked to Charlotte's room, I heard her excited squeal. "Daddy!"

I smiled as I laid out the gown we had made for tonight. It was a beautiful salmon color to match the sash on the hat she loved so much.

"Mummy!" she cried as she rushed into her room. "It's time to get ready!"

"Yes, sweetheart, it is. Let's get you changed."

I helped her change into her gown and decided to pull part of her hair back. Then I placed her hat delicately on her head. She looked so much like her father.

Just then, Tarrant walked in. "How are my girls doing in here?"

"Just finished," I said. "Lottie, show Daddy how pretty you look."

She stepped out from in front of me and I heard Hatter gasp.

"Buttercup! You look beautiful!"

"Thank you, Daddy. You look very handsome, too," she said with a giggle.

"Shall we go, then?" He stooped a bit to offer his elbow to her and she beamed as she put her hand on his arm. But just as they were about to leave, she ran back to me and hugged me.

"Thank you, Mummy. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Have fun!" I stepped over to Tarrant. "You have fun too."

"I'll have a wonderful time with my buttercup. Right, buttercup?"

"Yep!"

"I love you," I said, giving him a small kiss.

"I love you too. You and Will behave yourselves."

"Yes, well, we'll do our best," I said with a smile. "See you two later!"

And with that, the Royal Hatter and Underland's Sweetheart went to the ball.

I went to check on Will and found him laying peacefully in his bassinette.

"Hello Will, how long have you been up?" I asked as I picked him up. My son smiled at me. Both of our children seemed to have inherited Tarrant's smile. At least I would always know when they were up to something.

"Well, what do you say to something to eat?"

He, of course, didn't answer, but sometimes with the looks he gave me, I expected the answer to come straight from his mouth.

I sat down in the rocking chair and began to feed him, wondering just how the ball would be.

*** Tarrant's POV

I am always a proud father. After living so long with nothing, gaining Alice and our children was even more than a dream come true.

Not terribly long ago, it would have seemed impossible for me to be walking my daughter to a ball.

"It's only impossible if you believe it is."

"What was that, Daddy?" Charlotte asked. I hadn't even realized I had actually said that.

"Sorry, buttercup. I hadn't realized I was speaking out loud. It was just something that I said to Mummy once." I smiled at her and she returned it. How strange to look at someone and see so many of your own features staring back at you.

We entered the ballroom and I was tugged instantly to the dance floor.

"Mummy has been teaching me to waltz. Will you waltz with me, Daddy?"

Years before, Alice had taught me to waltz as well. She said since she couldn't futterwhacken, then we needed a dance we could have together.

"I would be honored to dance with you, Charlotte."

After the waltz, I offered her my feet to dance on as we danced a few that she didn't know.

"Daddy, you are a fine dancer," Charlotte said, beaming up at me.

"And you as well, my dear. I might say that you are the best dancer here."

She blushed and despite the fact that she looked so very like me, I saw her mother perfectly in her face at that moment.

We danced quite a bit before supper was announced.

We ate and laughed the entire time. I'm sure we probably annoyed a few others, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Everyone knew the Hightopps were an odd brood, so they tended to let us have our fun.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Lottie?" I asked as we were finishing our supper.

"This has been the best evening ever!" she said, smiling from ear to ear.

We danced a little more before I noticed that she was getting very tired.

"Shall we go home now, buttercup?"

"One more dance, Daddy. Please?"

How could I deny her anything? "Of course. But this time, I shall hold you."

I picked her up and swayed and turned to the music. Before I knew it, she was asleep against my shoulder.

I carried her back to our chambers and quickly changed her into her pajamas. She was so tired she barely woke during all of that. I placed her in her bed and kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes just a bit and smiled. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Daddy."

"You are very welcome, Lottie. I had a wonderful time."

"Me too. I love you."

"I love you too." I kissed her forehead once more and went to check on Will. I found him sleeping peacefully in his bassinette. "Good night, Will. I love you," I whispered. And I finally headed to our room to see how Alice fared this evening.

She was, not surprisingly, asleep with a book on her lap.

As if she knew I was there, she stirred and stretched and woke.

"Did you have a good time?" she asked.

"We had a magnificent time. She was a perfect little lady and a very good dancer already."

"I'm so glad to hear it. You both were so looking forward to it."

I nodded as I began to undress. "I'll have to thank Mirana for having that. It was so much fun."

I crawled into bed with Alice and she curled up to me.

"Indeed. You will have to thank her." I could hear the sleep reclaiming her already

I kissed the top of her head. "I love you, sweet Alice."

"I love you too, my Tarrant."

As I began to fall asleep, I thought about what a lucky man I happened to be. The most beautiful wife anywhere, and two beautiful children with that wife. I didn't know what I did to deserve them, but I was so very glad I did it.

A/N: I adore daddy-daughter moments! I can imagine that Tarrant and Charlotte have lots of them!