A/N: Ok, back to the Hightopps. Sorry for all the bouncing, but I kinda like the madness that is the order of this story. Seems a bit apropos, yes? Though, I certainly do realize all the inconsistencies that it's made. One day, some day, I'll be able to fix those.

The morning after we saved Tarrant's family was wonderful and strange. When we got to the kitchen, they were already there and half finished with breakfast.

"Still early risers, I see," Tarrant remarked as he accepted a plate from Thackery.

"Still a late sleeper, I see," Moibeal teased. "It was always impossible to get him up early!"

"And nothing has changed," I said with a smile.

I could tell that poor Tarrant couldn't decide between being embarrassed at having his wife and mother talk about him like that or being completely elated that his wife and mother could talk together at all. But he seemed to choose the latter.

"So, mhac, what shall we do today?" Macbean asked.

"Whatever you want, faither. We can tour the castle, we can make hats, whatever you're up to."

"I would like teh talk."

There was silence. I don't think anyone expected the talk so soon. But, these were the Hightopps and they certainly never beat around the bush.

"Well, I suppose that would work as well," Tarrant said softly. "But we'll need to eat first."

"Aye, aye. I wouldnae deprived yeh and the bairns of food," Macbean said with a smile.

Breakfast became a bit more quiet than I expected, now that we were staring down the discussion of what happened, and why, and what had happened since.

Once we finished eating, Tarrant smiled nervously. "Well, where shall we go?"

"I've noticed that th' gardens are beautiful," Moibeal suggested. "Would there be all right?"

"Aye, I think it would be. Thackery, sir, always a delicious meal," Tarrant said as we began to leave.

"Yer're righ'! Always 'tis! T'would be e'en better if'n yeh weren' always so late!" Thackery replied as he tossed a ladle at us. Tarrant effortlessly ducked, causing the ladle to hit the wall instead of his precious hat.

"Dear me. What happened to him?" Moibeal asked.

"The madness set in with Ears even more than with me. Still a fantastic cook, though," Tarrant whispered to her.

Finally, we reached the gardens. We sat amongst the flowers and waited for someone to speak.

"Well, I'll ask if no one else will," Briallen began. "What happened to us?"

"Bri, yeh've never been one teh pull any punches, 'ave yeh?" Tarrant asked, brogue coming out quickly. I knew this meant that he was anxious. I could almost see him physically fighting the color change in his eyes. I reached over and grabbed his hand. He took some deep breaths and calmed down.

Briallen smiled her answer.

"All righ'. The Horunvendush Day started out so wonderfully, as you all saw. There was dancing an' frivolity an' 'twas a perfect day for th' Hightopp clan. But then th' Red Queen…" pause, hand squeeze "… she sent the jabberwock teh destroy all o' it. Th' fire burned down th' village an' killed e'ryone in sight."

"But, Tarrant, how did you survive?" Moibeal asked, not knowing her question would set him off.

He frowned, took a breath and then froze, staring out into nothing. I instantly grew worried. It was so very rare that this happened. The madness was, of course, always present, but over the years of peace and family happiness, the bouts were fewer. The occasional spell hit, but the dishware was usually the only victim. But this, this … catatonic state was something I had only seen a few times.

"Tarrant?" Moibeal asked softly.

He didn't reply, only stared. I began to worry and knelt in front of him. It almost seemed that his rapidly-turning-yellow eyes were looking through me. I grabbed his face and ran my thumbs over his cheekbones. "Tarrant … Hatter … come back to me, darling. It's all right now."

His eyes were getting dangerously close to orange. I couldn't imagine what was going on inside his head, but I was certain the voices were yelling and the terrible memories were flooding back.

"Hatter, sweet Hatter," I whispered. I didn't want to startle him. "Where are you, darling? What is happening?"

"Downal wyth Bluddy Behg Hid!" he muttered.

"She's gone, my love. It's finally over."

"Nae ... it'll never be over..."

"It is! We've won!"

"We cannae win! She's got the jabberwock! She'll figure us out ..."

"The jabberwocky is dead, Tarrant."

"Bluddy Behg Hid ... Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat ... How I wonder where you're at ..."

"Oh Tarrant. Look at me!"

"Up above the world so high, like a tea tray in the sky..."

"Hatter, it's Alice. Please come back to me."

He stopped singing. "Alice?" he squeaked. His eyes finally focused, but only marginally returned to green.

"Yes, love. It's me." I pressed a soft kiss to his lips and asked, "Are you back?"

"I ... I'm fine," he said in a raspy, unsure voice.

"Daddy? Stop looking so silly!" Charlotte said, unaware of what just happened.

"Buttercup?" He shook his head. "Oh dear. What happened?"

"Your mother asked about the Horunvendush Day … and you went away for a bit," I explained as I finally dropped my hands.

"Oh," he replied, looking down. "Terribly sorry, all. Lost my focus it would seem. I'll try to not let it happen again."

His family sat and stared uncomfortably. It would seem as though they got their answer as to what the Horunvendush Day caused.

I could tell that Moibeal was itching to comfort her son, so I moved away from him as soon as I felt he was calmed. She hurried over and took his hands into her own.

"Mo mhac? Are yeh all righ' now? 'ave yeh come back teh us?"

"Aye Mathier, I'm well… at least, as well as I can be."

"Is this th' madness yeh spoke of?"

He nodded.

"Madness? What is wrong wit' yeh?" Macbean asked, obviously forgetting the conversation from our previous visit.

"Faither, tis difficult to explain. After yeh all were killed, I threw meself into mah work. Too much. Th' craft affected meh. But please, don' worry yehrself abou' it. Alice 'ere always kens 'ow teh bring me back."

"Mhac, I'm so sorry fer what yeh've been through. Yehr life 'asn't been an easy one, but yeh've pulled through. Though, not without some consequences."

"The consequences gave me Alice and she gave me two beautiful bairns. 'Twas worth it," my husband said, giving me the grin that let me know he was fine. I noticed that most of the accent was gone as well, so I felt better.

Gwen shifted a bit and looked at me. "Alice, are yeh sure we ain't dead?"

This was clearly difficult for a 12 year old girl. It was difficult for me as well!

"Gwen, I can swear to you that you aren't dead. I know it's very hard to understand that you've been sent forward in time, to a whole different place really. But you are here, very much alive and safe now."

She smiled and seemed to accept that answer.

"So, I take it that Alice 'ere was the one to slay the jabberwocky? The Alice?" Macbean asked.

I blushed a bit, but Tarrant was happy to answer, shaking off his previous funk immediately. "Aye she was! Took the Vorpal sword and just cut the bloody thing's head off!"

"I thank yeh, Alice," Macbean said to me. "I thank yeh for avenging us and all the rest of the Hightopps. Well, maybe not us, now that we're back, but originally when yeh did it we were gone, so I suppose since we were gone when yeh did that, then yeh did avenge us, only –"

"Macbean!" Moibeal said.

"Aye, I'm fine," he whispered.

"Like father, like son," I teased Tarrant as I nudged him with my elbow. He pouted, but I knew he was just kidding.

"So, then after yeh slayed the jabberwocky, the White Queen was able to take back the crown?" Macbean continued.

"Yes, it's been wonderful ever since," I replied.

"So, how did yeh both get so close with 'er?" Moibeal asked. "I've never heard anyone call her Mirana like that before."

"Well, after the battle, we saw each other so much and began to talk. She gave me away at our wedding. And once Tarrant returned to work, sometimes Mirana and I would just sit and chat if she had a moment. Soon enough, we realized that we were really the sister that the other one needed, hers, of course, being banished and mine being in London."

"I think it's wonderful!" Tarrant's mother said. "And she's with child?"

"Oh yes! A little girl. She and Landrew are quite happy," I explained.

"The White Queen back in the throne. She's married and expecting a baby. My son is married with two little 'uns. 'is wife killed the jabberwocky. I can see tha' we've missed much!" Macbean said, obviously a bit overwhelmed.

"Don't let it worry you, Faither. All is right now, so we should just enjoy it!" Tarrant said, his eyes a glowing green.

Macbean smiled and slowly the rest of the family did too. The girls were convinced they were actually alive and Moibeal was just grateful to play with her grandbabies. I glanced over at Tarrant and his smile told me that he was fine and completely content.

"Gwen, Bri, why don' yeh take yehr niece an' nephew and go explore th' gardens," Macbean suggested.

"Perhaps just yehr niece," Moibeal said. "This little 'un will be needing a new diaper."

Briallen quickly grabbed Lottie's hand and they all ran away before anyone could be asked to change Will's dirty pants.

"Give him here, Moibeal," I told her. "I'll change him."

"Nonsense! I've changed many a diaper in my day and I havenae lost my touch," she replied, smiling. "Changed more than I can count on yehr husband 'ere."

"Mathier…" Tarrant groaned.

"Oh hush, you! And Alice, I thought I told yeh to call me Mathier as well."

"You did. I'm sorry, Mathier" I said as I handed over the baby. I knew what battles I had lost. And with Moibeal, I lost most of them before they even began.

She softly sang an Outlandish lullaby to Will as she changed his diaper and rocked him to sleep. The scene would have been beautiful by itself, but considering our out of the ordinary circumstances, it was a miracle to behold.

"She's in her glory, poppet," Tarrant said as he watched his mother hold his son. "I always thought she'd be amazing at this, but now seeing it …" He sniffled as he stifled a sob.

"Dinnae cry, now mo gradh," I said, using my best Outlandish accent.

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Thank yeh, mo bhilis."

We both watched as Macbean scooted closer to his wife and watched Will sleep. Then we glanced over and saw Charlotte having so much fun with her aunts.

"This is impossible," he whispered. I don't think he even realized what he was saying.

"Only if you believe it is," I replied.

He gave a soft chuckle and whispered again, "Indeed".

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch. I called the girls back over and we went inside to eat. The rest of the day was just spent chatting and eating – a long-cherished Hightopp tradition, I learned.

After the long, but wonderful day, Tarrant and I lay in bed.

"Beloved, I cannot even begin to thank you for the gift of having my family here," he said before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Our family," I corrected him. "I love those people as much as the Kingsleighs in London. It's nice to have a crazy father again, and a warm and loving mother, and now I have two little sisters!"

"Don't get too excited about the sisters, poppet. They're more trouble than they're worth."

I gently smacked his arm. "You're only saying that because they're safe now."

"Aye. As annoying as they were – and I'm sure still are – I'm thrilled to have them back. I can't believe I'm actually able to say that. My sisters are home. Mathier will be teaching them sewing again. My father will be giving them away at their weddings. I might be an uncle someday! Well, biologically. Jacob is wonderful of course, and I mean no disrespect to you or to Margaret … or Brandon for that matter, but he doesn't count as much in this conversation. My point is only to say that I am happy that my sisters will have the same opportunity as us, and of course Margaret and –"

"Tarrant!"

"I'm fine … thank you."

I shook my head, giggling. It felt so wonderful to feel this way, knowing what I had given to Tarrant. And to the children. And, frankly, to myself. We now had a full family. Family in my old world and family here as well.

I knew there would be times that weren't this wonderful. Like all those times I had to explain to Moibeal that we were finished having children and even though I knew she would like to see me through a childbearing time, it just wasn't going to happen. I considered turning her loose on Mirana, but figured the monarch had enough on her plate.

Nonetheless, our family was complete.