A/N: I have missed this story and the fluffy family goodness. Thanks to futrCSI1490 for one of the ideas. This chapter is a bit of a companion chapter (in a way) to chapter 19, "Just Like You." But instead of Will being like Alice and Charlotte being like Tarrant, it's vice versa. It's been started for a while now and I've been meaning to finish it, but … well, you see how that's worked out. It's a bit longer than the others, but it's also been in the works for quite some time.

Daddy-daughter day had been a tradition for years and years. Since before Charlotte could walk, Tarrant had been taking her for walks or to play or whatever struck their fancy that day. That's why it made me so happy to have a boy. Mommy-son day became our tradition.

Today we were playing in the gardens. Will had a wooden sword from Landrew that was probably over half as tall as he was. It reminded me of Hatter and his over-sized sword that he used on the Frabjous Day. He had just finished circling me with rocks. I asked him what it was all about.

"Mummy, you be the princess in the tower and I'll rescue you from the dragon!" my five year old told me.

"So, I'm in a tower?" I asked, gesturing to the rock circle.

"Yep."

"What if I don't need rescued?"

"Muuuummy…" he whined. If not for his blond hair, I would swear that I was looking at a miniature Tarrant. With those sparkling green eyes that just seemed to say, "for once, please just let me rescue you." The big sword helped with that appearance.

"All right. I shall play the part of the Lady in the tower. Please, Lord Hightopp! Rescue me!"

"I'm coming, Lady Mummy!"

An epic battle ensued. He ducked and dodged. He swung the sword and ran. And finally he jumped into the air and cut the dragon's head off. It made me realize that Tarrant had obviously described what I did to the Jabberwocky in much greater detail than I had. From how he jumped and sliced, I was sure that was what I looked liked.

"The beast is no more! And now I shall rescue the fair lady in the tower," he announced as he began running circles around me.

"There really are a lot of stairs to get to the top," he explained.

I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. It was adorable the way he kept running "up the stairs" to get to me. Finally he stopped and elaborately opened the door.

"Fair Lady Mummy! I have saved you from the dragon!"

"Oh, thank you, Lord William! I have been locked in this tower for ages. I am unendingly grateful for you slaying the dragon."

"Come then! Let me return you to Lord Daddy," he said, reaching for my hand.

We exited the room and then ran back down the stairs. After our last lap, we fell to the ground laughing. Playing with my children was the highlight of every day.

"Mummy, this is so much fun. Do you think Daddy and Lottie have this much fun?"

"I don't know, Will. I would imagine they have plenty of fun themselves. But I will tell you that I certainly have fun during our time as well. Tons of fun, in fact!"

He smiled at me and I instantly saw Tarrant. Will even had a bit of a gap in his teeth. He favored his father more and more these days.

"So, now what shall we do?" I asked, pulling my knees up to my chest. I could just see my mother rolling her eyes at my un-ladylike position.

"Would you mind telling me a story?"

"Of course not! What story would you like to hear?"

"Will you tell me about how you fell in love with Daddy?"

I was taken aback slightly. I never expected my adventurous five year old son to ask about such things. But, he was his father's son, so I'm sure there was a romantic side there as well.

"I would love to tell you about that. Now, you remember how Mummy came to Underland a second time, right?"

He nodded. "You were tiny and you rode on Daddy's hat!"

"That's right. And we walked toward Mamoreal until we were found by the Red Queen's cards."

"And Daddy tossed you to safety on his hat!"

"Exactly. Well, right then I knew there was something special about him. He risked everything for me. But I knew I had a big job ahead of me. There was some adventure along the way, but once we were reunited at the palace, we talked on the balcony. I still thought he was a dream and all of this was as well. Such a fantasy land couldn't be the truth!"

Will beamed. "But it was!"

"Very much so. And as we talked, I began to wonder just how I was falling in love with a dream. Finally, the Frabjous Day came. I realized what I had to do. This place was real and I had to save Underland, if only for the Hatter. He meant so much to me. As the battle continued, I saw him fighting and knew that I loved this brave but kind soul."

"And then you won and Daddy proposed and you got married!"

"I thought you wanted me to tell the story," I teased.

"Lottie's already told me. I just wanted to hear it from you," he said, blushing a bit.

'Definitely his father's son,' I thought to myself.

"Well, it's a story that I love to tell, so I certainly don't mind."

He smiled at me and my heart melted. I was so blessed that he was mine.

Just then, two heads of curly orange hair caught my eye.

"Hi Daddy! Hi, Lottie!" Will called, waving enthusiastically.

"Hi, Will!" Lottie replied.

And then Will stood quickly. "Lord Daddy! I have saved your Lady from the dragon's tower!"

He reached for my hand and tugged, silently asking me to stand. I did and winked at Tarrant as they approached.

"Yes, Lord Hightopp, this brave knight rescued me from the beast," I said dramatically.

"Well, good Sir Bean, it appears that I am in your debt. Perhaps I should make you a hat worthy of such a brave knight."

"Ooh, I would like that very much!" he said excitedly. And then remembered the game and returned to his serious demeanor. "I mean … yes, that sounds very nice. Thank you."

"So, did you and Daddy have fun, Lottie?" I asked.

"Oh yes! Daddy and I went on a nature walk and collected leaves and looked for animals and we put all the leaves in this book and I talked to some of the animals and –"

"Lottie…" I interrupted.

"Hmm, thank you, Mummy."

Charlotte was like me in many ways, but she definitely inherited Tarrant's temper and his ramblings.

"Let's get back to the castle and get some supper," I suggested.

"Race ya!" Will cried as he took off. I knew Lottie would keep an eye on him as she was even faster than him.

Tarrant and I walked briskly behind them.

"So, he rescued you from a dragon, eh?" he said with a laugh.

"I know. But I decided that sometimes, other people can do the slaying."

"I've been trying to get you to say that for years! Suddenly our five-year-old son says it and you believe it?"

"Something about those green eyes…"

He stopped suddenly and pointed to his own eyes. "Alice, same eyes here."

"Yes they are," I admitted and kept walking.

As I turned back, I saw my poor husband just shaking his head in defeat. He learned long ago that it's just better to let me go on things like this.

(POV switch to Tarrant)

Another daddy-daughter day arrived. These were wonderful days. Not that I didn't enjoy time with Will, of course. Bean was my boy and we had wonderful times together as well. But these were days that had been spent for years before Bean was born. There's something very special about the relationship between a father and his little girl.

Today, Lottie decided she wanted to go on a nature walk. I was fine with that, so we started in the gardens and wandered into the woods. The flowers greeted us as we went down the paths.

"So, which leaves would you like to put into your book?" I asked her.

"They're all so beautiful, I don't care which ones we get," she said.

The problem with the beautiful Mamoreal was that there wasn't much variety when it came to the trees. They were mostly all white and pink. The leaves were mostly petal-like as well. It didn't seem to bother Charlotte much, though, as she scooped up some pretty pink petals and spread them evenly onto the paper of the book.

"There. Those are lovely, aren't they, Daddy?"

"Indeed, Buttercup, they are."

She beamed at me with her mother's smile and I just couldn't help but melt. Charlotte was really looking like Alice these days. She may have still had my crazy hair and my pale complexion, but with those blue eyes and that gorgeous smile, she was my little Alice.

"Daddy, I love our little adventures," she said sincerely.

"I do as well, Buttercup."

"How long have we been having our days?"

"My … well, you're 11 now, so 11 years. We've been doing this since you were just a few months old."

She smiled and then her face turned serious.

"Daddy, now that you mention my age, I was wondering something."

Oh dear. I knew I was in for it with this.

"When will I be able to ride Bandy?"

I was right.

"Bandy? Didn't Mummy say you wouldn't be allowed to ride him until you were 12? I distinctively remember that conversation."

"Well, yes, she did say that. But I'm over 11 now which means I'm closer to 12 than ever. In fact, since we've begun this conversation, I'm already closer to 12 than when we started. Doesn't that count for something?"

I wanted to smile, but had to keep a straight face. I had always known that she was my little Alice. And after that argument, I had never been more sure.

"No, Buttercup, I don't think that counts. Mummy said 12 and I'm sure she meant 12. There's no rounding up here."

"That's not fair."

"Now, wait a second, Lottie. I don't think you're being very fair asking something like that. You know the rules."

"I know, Daddy. And I'm sorry. But it just looks like such fun."

"Yes, I'm sure it does to you. But I'll let you in on a secret. The bandersnatch is smelly. Your mother does her best to keep him clean, but there are some smells that you just cannot get rid of. Bandersnatch is one of them."

Charlotte giggled. "That's why Mummy needs a bath after she gets back with him!"

"Oh yes, that is certainly why."

She laughed some more. It was like music to hear my little girl laugh.

"You're very silly, Daddy."

"Yes, your Mummy tells me that all the time."

"She's right."

I mused on that for a bit before Charlotte snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Perhaps I'll talk to Mummy about it," she said.

"About what? My silliness?" She confused me so quickly that I was certain my eyes changed a bit. She replied before I could ramble out my further questions.

"No, Bandy."

I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. Alice's stubborn nature was another trait our daughter received from her.

"Well, Buttercup. You can do that if you wish. But I really don't think you'll get anywhere with her on this. I think she said what she meant and certainly meant what she said. That's not to say that Mummy isn't a wonderful person, because she very much is. Especially seeing as how Underland probably wouldn't even—"

"Daddy…"

"Yes, thank you. I'm fine." I would never admit it to her, but that was a fake rambling in hopes of distracting her from the topic.

"Maybe she'll see my side."

"Yes … maybe … but don't get your hopes up."

She nodded, but I was sure the issue wasn't being dropped at all.

"Perhaps we should head back now. I think it's getting to be supper time," I said, hoping again to change the subject.

"I am getting a bit hungry," she admitted.

We packed up her book of leaves and petals and began down the path. When we came to the fork, I went to the left and she began down the right.

"Buttercup, this way," I said.

"No, Daddy, it's this path."

"Charlotte, I think I know which way is the way back to the castle."

She put her hands on her hips and gave me the "Alice glare." "Daddy, that will take us to the stables. This way will take us to the gardens and the castle."

I looked back and forth and realized she was right. I didn't want to admit it, but my 11 year old daughter knew the way before I did. My argument was that she had me in such a tizzy that I wasn't thinking straight. But the fact remained…

"Fine. We'll try it your way."

I could hear her grumbling, "Try it my way … what's to try? It's the right way!"

Soon enough, we had made our way back to the gardens. Will saw us and waved. Charlotte waved back and turned to me. She said nothing, but even the few seconds she looked at me said, "See? Told ya so!" My little Alice indeed.

(POV back to Alice)

After dinner and once the children were in bed, Tarrant and I discussed our day with the children.

"It was a lovely day with my little knight. He reminded me so much of you with that sword and his bravery. Little adventurer that he is. And he's got your romantic streak as well. Wanted to hear all about how we fell in love."

"A little romance is a good thing," he said sweetly.

"Indeed. Part of the reason I fell in love with you. Didn't matter what I said though since Lottie had already told him the story."

"Lottie! Alice, that girl is you. All you," he said. I gave him a questioning look and he continued. "She has your stubborn nature on things. She actually got into an argument with me on which path was the right path."

"And who was right?" I nonchalantly asked.

"Well, after careful consideration, she was. But that isn't my point. What I'm saying is that I might as well been staring into your eyes as she explained which path was which."

"That's my girl!"

"Also, she says she's ready to ride the bandersnatch."

"I told her that she has to be 12 to ride Bandy. No arguments."

"And I reminded her as much, but she wants to appeal the verdict."

"Well, the court of the honorable Alice Mommy Hightopp is not in session. Especially where Bandy is concerned."

"You certainly love that beast."

"And he loves me!"

"He really does. I still cannot believe you tamed him. I don't think you realize just how feared that animal was. Still is, to be honest."

"Nothing to fear. Bandy is sweet!"

"Now perhaps. And really only to us and Mirana. I think he only likes me because of you."

I smiled. As fierce as he looked, and as much as I feared him originally, the bandersnatch really just had a bad reputation. One I think he liked.

"Well, for what it's worth, I like you too," I said, as I pulled the covers up.

"Thank you, sweetness. I like you as well." He giggled and kissed me, adding, "Good night, love."

"Good night, Hatter."